Infinite 01 - Infinite Sacrifice

from my residence to bring her.
    Hoping to see Bastet before she returns to her father’s house, I need to stay in the city. I calculate how long I’ll have to wait before I can take her as my second wife. I smile, thinking of the large dowry her father will give in light of her great disgrace. How auspicious this all came to be! I pull my sheets back ritualistically and accept that I will have to go to sleep with dirty feet that night.
    Khons’s hunched and twisted form walks in front of the courthouse. As he watches me coming, he lifts up a deep goblet of dark red wine and spills it down his throat. Then the heavens rain down upon only me, soaking me through to the skin, while leaving Khons perfectly dry. In anger, I lunge at Khons with a spear but upon inspecting his body, see a dead ox. I refill Khons’s spilt goblet with its blood and drink.
    Even though the sun hasn’t risen enough to shed light, I reach for my satchel and dart out of bed in the direction of the Temple Library. I slink into the scribes’ study, and the deaf old man doesn’t even stir at my entrance. I creep up behind him while he affixes his seal to the letter he’s just completed.
    I say right behind his head, “What has you working so early, Khons?”
    He jumps and drops the wax he’s holding above the candle and gasps.
    “Oh, so sorry to frighten you. You must have been deep in thought.”
    I walk around to the side of the desk so I can see his face, but he continues to look down. Trembling, he tucks the letter into his robe’s deep pocket.
    “Oh, you are shaking. Have you not had your breakfast yet?” I notice the untouched tray of breads, figs, and wine on the three-legged low table beside his desk. “You have not touched a morsel.” I click my tongue twice. “We must not spoil this offering.”
    I turn back to see Khons, quaking as he grips his desk for support, and I motion him to sit on a cushion at the table.
    He shakes his head and says, “I am waiting for Aapep to come and assist me into the city.”
    “Well, that is perfect. Have a seat, and we can put something in our bellies while you wait.”
    He glances toward the door, searching for some way out. I smile, knowing he can’t make his way down the corridor without assistance. Hesitant, he hobbles over, protecting the pocket.
    “What business do you have in the city this early?”
    He coughs a few times, clearly trying to gain time to think. “I requested permission to record the execution of your slave this morning. I think it will be important to document it.”
    How clever he thinks he is.
    I stare at his face—so odd with its many tiny spots—a thing of rarity among people of dark skin.
    “Oh yes, yes. Good idea. You are so wise, Khons.”
    I touch his hand, and he recoils slightly. I draw back, place goblets in front of us, and fill them, the scarlet liquid spinning for a moment as Khons watches the door.
    “Ah, thank you, truly a feast. Khons, can you fetch me that knife on your desk to cut the bread?”
    As he turns his back to get the sharp knife, I spill the contents of a small flask into his goblet.
    He returns and says, “ I will do the honor of cutting, thank you.”
    I smile. He thinks I might harm him with the knife. He slices the wide flatbread, wraps the knife in linen, and tucks it away in the satchel worn at his side. I can hardly contain my laughter—he thinks he avoided a threat! Khons picks up his goblet with a tremorring, spotted hand and drinks thirstily. He replaces it and is mid-chew on a large piece of bread when he begins to choke.
    He spits his bread at me and gasps out, “You murderer! You have Nun’s blood on your hands and now mine!”
    He reaches up, holding his neck, gagging as frothy blood dribbles out of the corners of his mouth.
    He drops to the floor and gurgles, “May Ra eat your heart!”
    One last rattle and his eyes go blank as his breathing ceases. In haste, I wipe his mouth, pick up his bony body, and place it at his desk. Putting the inked reed in his hand, I leave it propped on an empty piece of paper. Aapep will soon be here and surmise he died alone. I drink my wine and spill the poisoned wine into a linen cloth, wiping out any remnants. As I am leaving, I realize I forgot the most important thing! I reach into his robe and remove the vital scroll.
    Foolish Khons.
    ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
    Once home, I take the letter out in the safety of my dwelling and read his perfect writing:
    Most