Chapter Nine: Counter-Attacks

 ~~/*\~~ Satau ~~/*\~~

Satau woke up to the sound of a scream. It was a shriek of horror. Satau nearly levitated from his cot, running towards the sound. The guards did the same.

“The Apis Bull!” Someone was screaming. “He is dead!”

Satau ran to the enclosure at the heart of the temple. The cry was being taken up by others in the temple, the word spreading faster than Satau could run through the corridors. The Acolytes were pushing to follow. Most of them didn’t have the authority to enter the sacred place, but they all came anyway, rushing to see if the terrible news was true.

The Apis Bull, the finest in all Egypt, was laid flat, dead eyes staring. There wasn’t a mark on him, nor any trace of blood. The headpiece he always wore, with the polished sapphire plate, showing the sun held between his horns, was laying on the ground.

Satau saw the moment that the High Priest pushed past everyone, and went to the crown directly, picking it up. The headpiece parted in his hands, the priceless object broken clean in half where it had fallen.

“How did they get in here?!” Someone shouted.

The guards were shaking, shattered; clutching at their spears helplessly, even as they sank to their knees. “There was nobody, Priest!” One of them insisted, voice gibbering. “We were on duty every night. The way these corridors bend back and forth, there’s nowhere that isn’t under constant watch. There’s no way to get anyone in here!”

“Then they poisoned the food, or the water. Something!” Jannes cast about, shock making him rage. “Which man screamed?”

“I did, my lord!” The acolyte was facedown, prostrated before the dead animal. “I was bringing him fresh water. It cannot be the food, because the other animals are all alive. And it cannot be the water, because I only just brought it. I drew it from the well myself!”

“You Drink It, Then!” The Priest roared, and gestured for the guards to haul the young man upright. He dragged the young man by the neck, over to the trough, forcing his head under the water. “Drink! DRINK IT!”

It was horrifying. It was desperate. It was a confession that nobody had slipped into the Temple. And above all, it was hope. Because if this trembling acolyte, barely more than a child, was to keel over dead, then it meant poison was to blame, and not something more powerful.

Jannes kept him under until they could hear gulping, and then he let the acolyte up. The boy stood on trembling legs, certain he would be dead soon… But nothing happened. He just stood there, afraid to meet anyone’s gaze.

The waiting let tempers cool, and Satau looked around. The room was crowded and full of scared people. The hallways and corridors of the Palace were the same. The only sound was their murmuring, and the Acolyte, frightened and spluttering as he coughed. Everyone was terrified. The Acolytes prayed their ritual chants. The Guards clutched their weapons, watching each other nervously, certain they would be blamed somehow.

We clutch at our ankhs, and the guards at their spears. Everyone has a talisman to ward off fear. Except the Hebrews. They have no icons…

Their deity-incarnate had been slain, the sun icon between his horns broken, despite the constant attention of their Temple, the constant guard of their warriors, the fortifications of the Palace itself.

As the coughing acolyte got himself under control, and it became clear that he was not poisoned, Jannes recognized that everyone in the room was terrified, including himself. “It has happened before.” He said finally. “The Apis Bull is returned to dust in each generation. Each time, we find his new Incarnation. Yes, this is unexpected. But it’s hardly unprecedented. The traditions go back further than any of us have been alive. Do not forget our role. We serve the Gods. Always.”

It was working, but not as well as before. Everyone had seen him strike the boy, crazed by the moment of the unexpected. Even so, they did as habit and tradition had trained them, and obeyed.

“Bring in the Solar Barge. We must arrange the funeral rites; and begin a search for the new incarnation.” The Priest said roughly. “Satau! Arrange a company of Acolytes who have attended to duties here. We need people who know what best to look for, when we find the new form of our Sun God.”

~~/*\~~

Satau hadn’t even had his breakfast yet, but he hurried to the stables, and told the attendants to ready his horse… only to discover that Sari had fallen with the dawn.

His own horse wasn’t the only casualty in the stables. Satau had been the first one to ride Sari, and felt his heart break for an animal that had trusted him so much. The two of them had crossed half of Egypt together. Livestock was one thing, but a horse was something special. Something personal. More than a pet, a companion. For the charioteers and the cavalry, they were partners. Even comrades of shared battles.

How many people are mourning their companions now?

He looked up, shocked. Khnem had joined him. “There’s not a mark on him.” Satau said faintly. “Not a mark, not a drop of blood…”

Khnem nodded slowly, no idea what to say. “Take my horse.” He said finally.

~~/*\~~

Satau went with the other acolytes, from one herd to another. Egypt ran their herds of livestock from the Temples, and the Palace; so the inventory was available to them right away. The herds were managed on grazing lands, but that was directed by government order.

The moment they reached the first stockman, they knew it wasn’t a trick played on the Palace animals. By the time they reached the second herder, they knew what they would find everywhere they went.

Livestock had dropped all over Egypt, in every farm and herd. The small holdings on the edge of the country, the prize herds for the wealthiest customers… None had been spared. Some of the herders were there watching. There had been no attack, no sound. The animals simply fell over, dead.

Including the Apis Bull, their Sun God-Incarnate.

~~/*\~~ Paige ~~/*\~~

Paige pulled her coat up tight around her collar as she went into work. Retail was never the most certain of jobs, and the supply problems were starting to become noticeable. Stocking the shelves had become an exercise in creatively hiding which products were missing. Empty shelves sent the wrong message to customers.

Paige walked through the store, trying to be invisible to her coworkers, as she reached the manager’s office and knocked. He called her in, and she immediately pulled an envelope out of her pocket. “Sir, we need to talk.”

“Indeed.” He said dryly. “I think I can guess what this is about.” He saw the envelope in her hand. “Is that what I hope it is?”

She shook her head, heart racing. “Nosir. I… I can’t sign the Renouncement. I know you want me to, and I know it’ll cost me my job, but I just can’t do it.”

He shook his head, disgusted. “Paige, I know your situation at home isn’t always easy, financially. Truth be told, you’ve taken more shifts than you should under OH&S rules; and worked when you were sick, even despite company policy…”

“I needed the work.” She said in a small voice.

“So what changed? The Renouncement is a no-brainer. It’s a global requirement by law.” Her employer looked personally offended. “What’s so ‘noble’ about your religion? Everyone else has signed.”

“It’s not about being better or worse, sir.”

“Then what is it about? What do you think the upside is here? What do you possibly think is going to happen that will make this okay for you, but not anyone else?”

Paige was praying with her eyes wide open. “The law requires that I no longer answer that question.” She slid the envelope to him. “It’s my resignation. I can’t sign. And that means you have to fire me, and report the breach. Unless I quit for ‘personal reasons’. Then you don’t have to turn me in.”

He scoffed. “I had a bet with Aubrey about that. She knew you wouldn’t sign. You know her feelings on this topic.” He gave her a hard look, then picked up the envelope and tore it in half. “No. I don’t accept your resignation. You’re fired.”

“Y-you can’t do that.” She stammered.

“I know. But the supply crisis is hitting the store harder than I’d like, and either I get a bounty, or Aubrey does. I am genuinely sorry about this. But all you had to do was sign.” He picked up his phone, dialing quickly while she stood there, in shock. “Yes, I’d like to report a violation of the FRA. One of my employees has refused to accept the new rules.”

RUN! The thought hit Paige full force and she turned to run for her life.

She was still in the store when someone in the store uniform saw her running past. “Oh, I knew it!” Aubrey raged after her. “You filthy traitor! You psycho!”

Paige came out of the shop at a run, and headed for the train station automatically. She didn’t have a car, and she had to get distance. Swiping her card, she heard Aubrey coming after her, screaming abuse.

Rushing past the crowd, her coat flapping a bit behind her, Paige ran for the nearest train, not even caring where it was going. “Stop her! She’s an illegal!” She heard Aubrey shout behind her.

She made it onto the train, just as Aubrey caught up, clawing at her. Aubrey was pulling her back, trying to haul her back off the train by the collar. Paige twisted and writhed, trying to get free, and her coat came loose, just as the doors started to close. Paige overbalanced and fell hard to the floor, Aubrey glaring daggers on the other side of the doors; still clutching at her torn coat.

The train started moving. Most of the others in the traincar were pointedly not noticing. One or two women came over to help her up and ask if she was alright, and what was going on.

“You need help? Can we call anyone?” Her ‘rescuers’ surrounded her.

Paige patted her pockets automatically. Her phone had been smashed when she landed on it in the scuffle. She couldn’t even get it to power on. How do I get home now?

She looked around. “Where’s this train going?”

~~/*\~~

“Stage Three is now underway in all parts of the world. The Grace Period has ended, and enforcement is all that’s left. A statement made by the Coalition Leadership has praised community leaders around the world for how smoothly the transition has gone thus far.

“While there has been heavy fighting in some parts of the world, it’s proven to be far less than anyone feared. This war was won in an amazing amount of time. The remaining enforcement is against scattered, disorganized pockets of illegals.

“Once again, our top story: The FRA has been a resounding success, and Stage Three is now underway. All citizens are to present a signed Renouncement, or present themselves to the nearest proper authorities for trial.”

~~/*\~~

By the time Paige had switched trains and started moving in the right direction, her railway pass had been suspended. In her name, likely all her accounts would be the same. Her now former employer had given the law her name, and she was targeted.

She paid with the last of the change in her pockets to get out of the train station and started walking home. She didn’t even have bus fare. Praying while she walked, she saw the screens displaying those ‘wanted for questioning’, who were believed to be in the area. Everyone knew the alerts were just to put pressure on the Unsigned. Every few seconds, the image would change to another face, another name. She recognized some of them as Witnesses.

The screens were up in most public places, reminding passerby of the bounty for turning them in. Paige wondered if Aubrey would be able to collect until she was in custody.

That thought caught her off guard. She wasn’t just ‘hiding out’, she’d been turned in. She’d been named. Surely she couldn’t just go home…

She was on foot, and had no transport, heading towards her apartment because she had nowhere else to go. She entered the street, and knew at once she had to keep walking. There were already cars parked across from her building. But she’d lived in depressed areas most of her life, and knew an unmarked police car when she saw one.

Her husband, who had already signed the Renouncement, was sitting on the curb, having words with a man in a dark suit. Her husband looked halfway between furious and scared. He’d been pushing her to sign the Renouncement as soon as it was announced. It had caused a sharp distance between them, though neither of them could compromise on their choice.

She couldn’t go to him. Couldn’t make one last attempt. He’d signed the Renouncement, and done so proudly.

Feeling like a monster, Paige turned and walked away before anyone noticed her. He’d been her husband for years, but she knew she’d never see him again. I’m so sorry, my love.

~~/*\~~

“It didn’t even make the news.” Del said faintly, staring at his phone. “The Coalition wiped out the whole complex. Ran the fence down with tanks, and just… rolled over them all.”

Nate nodded, mournful. “I’m so sorry about your mom, Del.”

Del sank back against the couch. “I came here to try and take one last attempt at convincing her, and I couldn’t even get her on the phone.”

Nate sighed. “This won’t help, but… Very little of the success in the Preaching work is because of us. Everyone who ever became a Witness? They did it because their hearts were right, and Jehovah was open to all of them who wanted to come around. If your mom was ever going to change her mind, then…”

“Then there would have been a way for someone to remind her. Just like the most unlikely of circumstances saved my life twice.” Del nodded. “Doesn’t make me miss her any less.”

“No.” Nate agreed.

“I’m sorry about your family too.” Del finally offered. “How many people can say they watched their family sign the Renouncement on live television?”

Nate lowered his head, and started to pray. Jehovah God, I know that everyone makes their own choice. I know the majority will make the wrong one. The whole point of the ‘straight and narrow road’ is that the majority never take it. But even now, I beg of You, to search my father and brother’s heart. Find something in them worth giving them the benefit of the doubt. The Brothers have said repeatedly that the final decision is up to you and Your Son, who rules as King over us even now. Please? Please, please….

~~/*\~~

Please, Jehovah God, please…

Starting to panic, Paige tried to think clearly. She couldn’t go home. She couldn’t go to the Hall. She knew the locations of a few witnesses, and where they lived; but she had no money, and her cards had already been canceled.

So how do I get somewhere safe? The Elders always said we only had to call… except I had their numbers saved in my phone, which is trashed… And if I went to buy a new one, I couldn’t afford it… And if I went to a library or something, and tried to look up my address book that way? They’d find me, wouldn’t they? If they can kill my transit card, they surely have my details flagged…

The thoughts whirled around and around in her head, and she started walking again, praying really hard.

There was only one place within walking distance that she could go.

~/*\~~/*\~~/*\~

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