The Egyptian by Mika Waltari

Posted by admin_akashic on Mar 4th, 2022 in Stories

Metufer said impudently, “I also have watched and prayed to be worthy of initiation, for this next night I have other things to do than to tarry here. And to me also Amun appeared, as the priest can testify, and his form was that of a huge wine jar, and he spoke to me of many sacred matters that it is not fitting I should repeat to you, but his words were as sweet to me as wine in my mouth so that I thirsted to hear more and yet more until the dawn.”

Then Mose plucked up courage and said, “To me he appeared in the shape of his son Horus, perching upon my shoulder like a hawk and saying, ‘Blessed be you, Mose, and your family and all your deeds, that you may come to dwell in a house with two gates and have command over many servants.’ This is what he said.”

Now also the other initiates hastened to relate what Amun had said to them, and they talked eagerly, several at a time, while the priest listened laughing and nodding his head. I do not know whether they spoke of their dreams or whether they were lying. I only know that I stood apart alone and said nothing.

At last the priest turned to me, knitted his shaven eyebrows and said sternly, “And you, Sinuhe, are you not worthy of initiation? Did not Amun appear to you in any shape at all? Have you not seen him even in the likeness of a little mouse for he manifests himself under many forms.”

My entry into the House of Life was at stake, so I summoned courage and answered, “At dawn, I saw the holy veil of the sanctuary stirring a little, but I have seen nothing else, and Amun did not speak to me.”

Then everyone burst out laughing, and Metufer laughed and slapped his knees and said to the priest, “He’s dumb.” Then tugging his wine-soaked sleeve, he whispered something to him, his eyes still upon me.

The priest looked at me again sternly and said, “If you have not heard the voice of Amun, I cannot let you be initiated. Yet, for all that, we may find a remedy, for I believe you to be a steadfast youth, full of honest purpose.” When he had said this, he vanished into the holy of holies, and Metufer came forward to me and looked at the miserable expression on my face and smiled in a friendly way and said, “Have no fear.”

A moment later, we all jumped, for through the darkness of the hall came the braying of a supernatural voice that was unlike the voice of any man. It seemed to come from everywhere at once — from the roof, the walls and between the pillars — and we looked about us to discover where it came from. The voice said, “Sinuhe, Sinuhe, you sluggard, where are you? Come swiftly and bow down before me, for I have but little time and cannot tarry all day for you.”

Metufer drew aside the veil of the sanctuary and, pushing me in, gripped the back of my neck and bent me to the floor and into the attitude in which salutation is made to gods and Pharaohs. But I raised my head at once and saw that the holy of holies was full of light, and a voice came from Amun’s mouth, saying:

“Sinuhe, Sinuhe, you swine and baboon! Were you then drunk and sleeping when I called you? Verily you should be cast into a pool of mud and eat dirt all your days, but for your youth’s sake I will have mercy, even if you are stupid, lazy and dirty, for I have compassion on those who believe in me, but all others shall be cast into the abyss of the underworld.”

Many more things were spoken by the voice, howling and reviling and cursing. But I no longer remember it all nor desire to remember, such was my humiliation and bitterness of spirit for as I listened, I could detect through the superhuman reverberations the voice of the priest, and this discovery so shocked and horrified me that I could no longer give ear to it. After the voice had ceased, I remained lying before the statue of Amun until the priest came in and kicked me aside, and my companions made haste to bear incense, ointments, cosmetics and red cloths.

Each of us had a task allotted to him, and remembering mine, I went out to the forecourt to fetch a vessel of holy water and the consecrated towels for washing the god’s face, hands and feet. On my return, I saw the priest spit in Amun’s face and rub it with his tainted sleeve. Then Mose and Nefru painted his lips and cheeks and eyebrows.