~~/*\~~ Satau ~~/*\~~
Two weeks after the great Hailstorm had ended, Moses and Aaron returned, moving to stand in front of Pharaoh. “How long?” Moses asked, sounding genuinely mournful. “How many times can you pretend this isn’t happening? How many calamities will you force your people to endure? Just let us leave, and we’re out of your lives forever!”
Pharaoh laughed at him. “Moses, look outside. It’s a beautiful day. You can’t frighten us with a bunch of stories about storms.”
“Your people seem concerned enough.” Aaron challenged. “Does that really mean nothing to you? You are in authority over two nations. One is no longer yours to command, and the other is losing all faith in your ability to do anything at all.”
“You can try to claim that you stopped the storm, but my people know better.” Pharaoh said smugly. “Egypt has been informed that it was I who stopped this… unfortunate natural phenomenon.”
Moses sent a look to the Royal Court. They had all been sent out of the room when they met with the King during the Hailstorm. It was clear that none of them had told him about Moses addressing the court directly once they were out of the Throne Room. They all knew that Moses had also promised to end the storm. None of them were willing to contradict the King.
“If you continue to spin these lies, and claim credit for my power, then there will be severe consequences.” Pharaoh sneered at them. “Ask anyone in the marketplace, anyone in the fields. They all know who to thank for the respite from the weather.”
Moses nodded to Aaron, who turned and spoke again. “And who will give them respite from the Locusts?” He challenged.
Pharaoh stopped, the smile on his face froze in an instant.
“Before the hailstorm, one of your people asked me: Why like this?” Moses said seriously. “The God who made all men, and knows every thought in your heads, and every corner of your heart could certainly force you to speak the words He wants to hear. But He has allowed your heart, and those of your servants to become unresponsive, so that all these signs and wonders may be displayed. Before you and your people.”
Aaron nodded. “For a hundred generations, the Hebrews will be telling the story of what happened here. Of what their God can do to fight on their behalf. Your empire, such as it is, is still the dominant military, economic, and religious power that this world can muster. And before Jehovah it is nothing. Every empire across the world will hear of this, when you, lord Pharaoh, are forced to submit before Jehovah.”
Pharaoh had gone still. Moses and Aaron had neatly outlined his worst nightmare. “Before I allow any other nation to hear any rumor of defeat…” He said darkly. “Before I allow anyone to find out that Egypt was defeated by its slaves, before I bow to you… I will sooner burn all your people to death.” Pharaoh warned. “Remember that. I will not submit. Get. Out.”
Moses regarded the order, and then leaned over to Aaron, speaking the words softly to him. Aaron relayed them powerfully to the Court. “This is what Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews has said: ‘How long will you refuse to submit to Me? Send my people away, so that they may serve me. And if you refuse, I will bring locusts on your nation tomorrow. They will cover the surface of the earth so that you cannot see the ground. They will devour everything that escaped the hail. They will eat up the trees and orchards, and everything that is green, until there is nothing left for you. They will fill every house, and those of your servants, and those of your people. More locusts than you or your ancestors have ever seen, from the time your Dynasty began until now.’.”
Moses nodded, and turned to leave. Aaron followed.
The second the two of them had left the room, Faas rushed forward, bowing and scraping his face along the floor. “My King, please! Egypt is in ruins! That wheat crop is our last bit of capital that we might still salvage!” He looked up at the King. “And I know I’ll probably be executed for this, but when the wheat crops go, I will have nothing to feed your people, and my life is forfeit anyway. Great one, I beseech you: Let the Hebrews go.”
Pharaoh glared at him. But something strange had happened. Something that had never happened before. Nobody was coming to argue Pharaoh’s side. Nobody had dared speak a word against him. It was worth their lives to try. And yet, nobody was arguing the point. They were all looking at each other, waiting for someone else to commit first. After a lifetime of full-throated support, or at least expressive groveling, the sudden silence was conspicuous.
“Bakennifi.” Pharaoh said shortly, not looking away from Faas. “Speak.”
“With what’s left to the stores, we might be able to survive until the next crop, but it will be the greatest financial loss in Egyptian History.” His chief Advisor said slowly. “If we lose all the wheat crop the same way we lost the Barley and Flax, it will take half our treasury to keep our people alive, let alone rebuild. And that’s assuming there’s no more Plagues coming afterwards.”
And for a moment, just a moment, the King seemed to be listening. He looked to Queen Ramla, who was becoming present more often at Court. At his look, she spoke. “You were worried about our people turning to Moses for direction. Goshen is unaffected by these Plagues. Their food supply will be more appealing to our people than any words from their God.”
Dead silence. Every eye was on Pharaoh for a moment that seemed to hang for eternity.
Pharaoh’s mouth was a thin line as he regarded his wife. “General Aadesh.” He said finally. “Do you still believe that this story Moses gave us about going out into the Wilderness is a cover for a military action?”
“I do, my lord.” The General nodded. “There’s simply no land out there that’s suitable for a million people. Not unless they plan to walk for months, and there’s no food out there for such a large populace. If there was, we’d have colonized it ourselves by now.”
“There’s not enough food left in Egypt for them to take along if they want to cover a journey that long.” Faas put in.
Pharaoh sighed. “Get Moses back in here.”
~~/*\~~
Satau got the job of bringing him back. Moses and Aaron hadn’t even reached the steps to the Courtyard yet.
“I know you.” Moses said suddenly as they walked back to the Throne Room. “I’ve seen you before. In Goshen. You were… disguised, then. But you’ve been back since.”
“Takarut is an old friend of mine.” Satau excused. “He’s staying with Tzioni and Leahe.”
“Satau.” Moses nodded. “Tzioni has spoken of you. You’re the one that saved Leahe after Pharaoh took her arm.”
Satau winced. “Yes. I did that.” He said quietly.
“Such talk is not likely healthy for you.” Moses agreed. “But it was still a kind act. Without reward, without expectation, just simple kindness for another person. If nobody else has said it, young man… thank you.”
By this time they had returned to the Throne Room, and Satau couldn’t respond. It would be worth his life to appear familiar with Moses in any way.
What followed was something unlike any confrontation that had gone before. It was an actual negotiation. “Moses,” Pharaoh said, and it sounded almost conciliatory. “You must appreciate my position. When you leave, whether you go alone or with a nation following you, I still have an empire to run.” He gestured at the two men, still in sackcloth and sandals. “You’re talking about a great exodus. Can you give me a plan that won’t suck Egypt dry? That won’t destroy our Workforce? That won’t change everything? I’m responsible for this nation, and you’re telling me to upend every single thing about it.”
“Can you offer us a plan that won’t force an entire nation of people to remain slaves?” Aaron countered. “This is not an economic demand, it’s a moral one. How is it a moral compromise if we agree to leave half Jehovah’s servants as your slaves? Can you give us a compromise that won’t result in more abuses? More suffering? More death?”
“From an economic standpoint alone, our losses would be-”
“A lot less than they would have been if you’d said yes when this whole thing began.” Aaron cut him off, and everyone in the Court traded looks in awe. Nobody interrupted the King. Nobody. “If you’d said yes before, you’d still have livestock, you’d still have storehouses.” Aaron continued. “Who knows what you’re risking by saying ‘no’ again?”
“Threats are not helpful to negotiation.” Pharaoh commented archly.
I’m sure Leahe thought the same when you cut her arm off. Satau thought absently.
“Jehovah has demanded submission. As Pharaoh, I cannot do that. Politically it’s an admission that I don’t believe in Egypt’s gods.”
“Do you?” Moses asked, sounding genuinely curious. “After all of this?”
And despite himself, Satau noticed everyone looking at Pharaoh subtly, waiting to see his reaction.
“I have no trouble accepting that you have found yourself a god.” Pharaoh said graciously. “And if you wanted a Temple of your own to worship at, it would be within your rights. It’s your people that won’t respect the beliefs of others. It’s your side that’s convinced there’s only one god.” Pharaoh challenged. “An act of obedience to Jehovah is a denial of our own.”
“Your gods have failed at every step. It’s an admission that you’ve noticed.” Aaron countered. “Your people are crying out for it.”
“They’ll cry out louder if they have to rebuild without workers.” Pharaoh retorted. “Relief from these Plagues are your responsibility too, if you’re causing them.”
“You can make them stop any time you want.” Moses put in. “Let My People Go.”
Pharaoh scowled, back to where they started. “Rebuilding from our losses will take an entire Slave Workforce. We can’t match it with Egyptian Workers. Nobody in Egypt will accept-”
“The conditions that slaves live under every day?” Aaron summed up.
Chilly silence. The Court was almost holding their breath, waiting to see which way the Empire would turn.
“Moses, do you really expect me to let a million people go out there, only to discover that there’s nothing to eat?” Pharaoh tried a new tactic. “Your people will lynch you and come back to invade my country. Your little magic tricks have made sure that Egypt isn’t what it used to be. If I let you go, I may as well burn the Palace down right now.”
Moses spoke. “We won’t return.”
“I have no reason to take your word for that.” Pharaoh rose from his throne, standing with them. “So I suggest a compromise. Leave the women and children, so that-”
“So that you can hold them hostage.” Aaron countered. “So that our men will be forced to return under threat of our children being abused?”
“Or worse.” Moses spoke up, the problem in his speech not hiding the hidden anger in his voice. “Because if we don’t come back, our men will die out, and your people will move in on our women and… create a new generation of slaves.”
“That’s my offer. Take your men, but leave the women and children here.” Pharaoh barked. “And please remember that this is the first time in history that a King has negotiated any kind of compromise with his slaves. When this whole thing began, you asked only for a three day journey so that you could sacrifice to your God.”
“And you rejected that offer. When this began, you responded by denying Jehovah’s existence, and doubling the workload.” Aaron countered. “You don’t think it’s gone beyond that now?”
Pharaoh sneered, as if demonstrating to the Court. “You see? You give in on anything, and they decide they want more. Generosity is my only mistake with you people. Get out!”
Aaron looked to Moses, who nodded. “We will go.” He said calmly. “When the Locusts have done their work, we’ll try this again.”
The warning issued, Moses and Aaron walked out. The instant they were gone, Faas threw himself at Pharaoh’s feet again. “My King, let them go!”
Pharaoh let out a snort of disgust and rose from his throne, wandering over towards his guards.
“Egypt is in ruins, and if we lose the wheat crop, we’ve lost it all!” Faas begged in panic. “Half the Plagues so far have had a devastating result on the food supply. Nobody believes the gods can fight this. Nobody believes in anything at all anymore, and you’re the only god left that can make it stop. Let them believe in you, great King-”
Pharaoh had casually taken a sword from his Royal Guard, and turned to run it through Faas’s throat. The movement was so casual that it took a moment for everyone to notice. A quick spray of blood flashed out over the marble, and Faas dropped.
The Priests all twitched, knowing it could be any of them next. So did the Court, knowing Pharaoh was ready to murder them all. Faas had been saying what everyone thought, and it had gotten him killed. Nobody dared speak next.
“Do you understand what’s happening here?!” The Pharaoh nearly shrieked. “The Priesthood is the ruling class of Egypt. The only educated ones, including the scribes, are taught in the temples. The provinces are administered in the temples. The food is distributed in the temples. The administration, the political power, the economic trade, medical care, and all civilization in general... is run, maintained, and ordered from the temples!” He let that sink in. “That’s why the Plagues are hitting out at the domains of our gods. The war is between Jehovah and all of Egypt’s entire social, economic, and political hierarchy. This is a war of the gods! Why do the Priests want to surrender?!”
Nobody had even broken rank to collect the body. None of the Priests would meet his gaze. The Priests had made their appeal, and Moses had upset the careful balance enough to make Pharaoh respond with a sword.
“Am I not a god of Egypt?!” Pharaoh kept raging. “As long as I fight, the gods of Egypt fight with us. Does my Priesthood not listen to the will of our gods?! Of THIS god?!”
Head down, well behind his father, Satau heard that and felt something shift in his head. It was a question he’d been asking himself for a while.
~~/*\~~
“Why does Jehovah not simply make Pharaoh think differently? If he could control the weather, the water… Surely he could control Pharaoh like a puppet. Make him say any words you like?”
Once the Court had let out, Satau had all but run to the stables and galloped to Goshen. He’d been going there so often now that nobody was even surprised to see an Acolyte of Ptah riding through their streets. He hadn’t noticed, but his every journey there was getting more and more desperate.
“I had the same question not that long ago.” Takarut nodded. “But I understand now. God has not declared war on Egypt. Egypt declared war on Jehovah. By taking His people as slaves.”
“And if Jehovah had a problem with that, He could have stopped it happening. Why did He wait until now? Why does freeing them have to be violent at all?”
“Jehovah isn’t just hitting people with Plagues to hurt them. He’s vindicating His name. It wasn’t until the third plague that Egypt even recognized Jehovah as real. After this many, you’d have to go a thousand miles outside Egypt’s borders to find someone who hasn’t heard what Jehovah is doing, and why.”
“Does it have to be so… destructive?”
“I wonder if my grandfather asked the same question when he was told to toss every baby boy he could find into the Nile.” Takarut retorted.
Satau twitched. He had been there when Takarut found out his grandfather’s part in such a devastating secret. “I’ve been thinking about that night.” Satau admitted to his old friend. “The thing is, I was there when Leahe had her arm chopped off, as a demonstration of power. I had to threaten the healers with damnation in the next world to get them to take the life of a slave seriously. It was hard to take Jehovah seriously. At least, it was at first. No icons, no Priests, no temples… What’s the point of a god who has none of these things?”
“I know. I had this conversation with Tzioni and Leahe many times.” Takarut admitted.
“If Jehovah is a god, why do they insist on treating him like a child’s invisible, imaginary friend?” Satau demanded. “Not one statue of Him anywhere. Do these people not honor Him at all?”
Takarut snapped his fingers. “Hey, remember who you’re talking to. I was there when all the factions in the Court broke down bickering, backstabbing… the one thing that made them all stop and face the same way was when your father led them in worship of Ptah.”
“It hasn’t gotten any less divided since all this began!” Satau nodded. “But all the factions of Egypt come together before the gods.”
“Before the statues.” Takarut countered. “But the Icons have no power. What’s happening has proven that.”
“The power of them is their worshippers.” Satau said automatically. “Icons are how you recognize the presence of the gods. They’re worth more than anything else in the country for that alone.”
“I made all those arguments myself. Egyptians worship their idols for the same reason the Hebrews refuse them.” Takarut said seriously. “Because symbols have meaning, and that brings power. Power that belongs in one place only, to one person only.”
“A person they can’t see.” Satau insisted. “How can any number of people unite behind something invisible?”
Takarut gestured around. “I asked one of the Elders that question. How could anyone feel close to a creator without an Icon? He pointed to a bird, and told me to try and make one.” At Satau’s scoff, he nodded. “It’s true. All of Egypt’s gods have very specific dominions. Jehovah ‘causes to become’. It’s a Name that encompasses all things, but especially Creation. Look at the stars. Count them if you can. Imagine the one who hung them in the sky being defied by an ordinary man.”
“Well, that’s the point, isn’t it? Pharaoh isn't an ordinary man.”
“No, he isn’t. He’s the one man that can make this stop.” Takarut admitted. “And he won’t, because he’s also the only one insisting he is equal to the creator of the universe. None of the High Priests claim that, even if they act like it sometimes.”
Satau had no answer to that.
He spread his hands out. “This is going to end with Jehovah getting His way, sooner or later. And when the Hebrews walk out of Egypt, there won’t be a gold statue of Jehovah leading the march. Just His people. The only thing that He’s keeping protected are His worshippers.”
~~/*\~~ Nate ~~/*\~~
The power went out and didn’t come back on. The battery powered radio said that the public works were offline due to massive staff walkouts. Partly because the economy crashing meant nobody was being paid. Partly because the streets were too dangerous to travel, for those few willing to keep the world turning without payment.
With the power and water out, those in hiding had little left to do but pray and wait for it to be over. The weather turned a bit to send a light patter of rain against the windows, but nobody went to look.
It was odd, Nate reflected, how fast the friendships had formed. Witnesses always had something new to talk about with each other. The meetings, the literature, the shared hope served as a fast introduction for members of a worldwide family that hadn’t met each other. Sealed up, keeping the chaos outside, had made the bond even tighter; as though the house was a foxhole.
Conversations happened according to whoever happened to be awake. There was little food left, and most of them had little appetite, waiting it out. Every sound from outside could have been a threat, so the hours they kept were unusual, and in shifts.
Alvin and Nate happened to find each other in the quiet kitchen. He was reading his Bible by a small flashlight, careful not to shine a light at any of the windows. Almost every house in the street had been raided or abandoned, except the one they hid in, which was another miracle in itself, but they made every effort to make the place look unappealing as a target for hungry looters.
Alvin didn’t even look up as Nate came over, reading the passage he was focused on. “For then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again.” He looked up. “I actually expected it to be harder. It’s been harder, for Witnesses. I’ve read stories about the Nazi Camps, the conditions then… To be honest, this is better than I ever thought to pray for.”
“The world isn’t all the same. Other Regions are following different directions.” Nate offered. “And just between us, don’t mention these thoughts to Del or Paige. His wife and kid are locked up right now; and he has no idea what’s happening to them. Paige will likely never see her husband again.”
Alvin agreed, conceding that. “I spoke with her about that. Almost makes me feel guilty that I haven’t lost more people. I’m lucky. Everyone I love is either in the Truth, or waiting for a Resurrection.” He let out a breath. “I shared those thoughts with Paige; to focus on all the people we’re getting back. I honestly don’t know if it helps.” He looked back in the direction where she would be dozing. “I hope I’d be as courageous as she is, if I had to make a choice like that.”
“When it’s over, we’ll be telling this story for a thousand years.” Nate nodded. “I have no doubt Jesus was right about this being the worst chapter in the history book; but remember, it’s not for us. Just like the Flood wasn’t meant to hit Noah, and the Ten Plagues weren’t on the Israelites. Ask yourself, how devastating would that last Plague have been if they had ignored the Direction? Or worse, if God hadn’t seen the distinction between His followers and His opposers?” He gestured around the room. “How bad a situation would we be in now if we were out there like everyone else?”
(Author’s Note: I wanted to take this moment to remind everyone that all the Tribulation sequences I’ve written are speculative. What the actual situation will be like, or what directions will come from the Society, or how God will act to protect His followers in those days are unclear. Exactly how much we’ll have to go through on a personal level is unknown. For the most part, I’ve tried to make the ‘miraculous coincidences’ as close to actual examples as possible. The conversation in this scene is essentially my reasoning on the subject.)
“It’s always been like that.” Paige put in, and they both jumped, surprised that she was awake. “We’ve been begging our loved ones to become believers long before Tribulation broke out. It wasn’t just because this day was coming.” She gestured to the Bible in Alvin’s hands. “We’ve always known that the best way of living was by God’s direction.”
“That’s a fact not limited to this period.” Alvin offered, turning the pages. “It says so in Isaiah 65.” He read it out. “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: ‘Look! My servants will eat, but you will go hungry. Look! My servants will drink, but you will go thirsty. Look! My servants will rejoice, but you will suffer shame.” He skipped a few verses and ended the reading with a smile. “‘For look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be called to mind, Nor will they come up into the heart’.”
~~/*\~~ Takarut ~~/*\~~
Takarut was now a regular at all the meetings that the Hebrew Elders held. After a long day of toil, most people were too tired to want to attend, but most made the effort. Their faith had been a source of, and a reason for endurance for as long as these people had been alive. But as the Plagues started, everyone had made a special effort.
“The Livestock of Egypt is halved, the farms are destroyed.” Tzioni addressed those gathered around him. “We’re all worried that they’ll recover their losses by taking what little we have.” He paused as everyone nodded in agreement. “And it could happen.” He said easily.
There was a murmur at his casualness.
“But remember, none of this is to save our wealth.” Tzioni said. “We’re slaves. We have none. We barely have enough to feed ourselves, given the hard labor we’ve been doing all day. Wealth and possessions have not saved Egypt.” He paused. “And we know that all the money in the world is of no interest to Jehovah. He created all the gold and silver in the ground, why would He care who’s holding the most of it for a short time?”
A chuckle rang out. There wasn’t really room for all those to be assembled in rows, so they gathered around him, sat on the rooftops, leaned on the fences. Anywhere that they could listen, or share something encouraging. Such meetings had been their oasis, where they could dream openly of freedom.
“If we need further proof of what Jehovah valued more than money, look to his servants. Indeed, many of them had wealth and gave it up to serve Jehovah. But He never abandoned them. For example, remember Lot. As nephew to our Patriarch, Abram; Lot journeyed to and from Egypt. Between Abram and Lot, they had accumulated wealth and possessions. Enough livestock that on returning to Canaan; the land could not support them all. Lot split off from his uncle, and chose some of the best land… near the city of Sodom.”
Takarut glanced around. He could see everyone nodding. They’d all heard the story before. The slaves were taught only by each other. Takarut was still a scribe, and had been able to provide some service by acting as a record keeper for some of the older ones, recording their stories for the future.
“So, we have some shepherds here right now. Imagine a flock so vast that you cannot support them all on your grazing land.” Tzioni continued. “But what happened next? We know some of the story. Lot and his fortune came under attack, and was rescued. But then, much of what happened directly afterward is lost in history… Until the night Jehovah sent His angels to rescue Lot and his family from destruction directly. Remember, they did not find him on the edge of his enormous fields, full of grazing sheep. They found him in a house in the city itself.”
Takarut blinked. He’d only heard the story once or twice, and hadn’t noticed that before. The story changed slightly with each person who told it. It had to, if only because nobody had a perfect memory for such things. That was the whole purpose of being a Scribe.
“What happened to him in those intervening years that his enormous herds were now gone?” Tzioni asked. “Well… truthfully, we do not know for sure. But what we do know is that when Lot and his daughters were saved, they didn’t take their animals with them. They didn’t take any wealth, assuming they still had some. They escaped with little more than the clothes on their back, and Jehovah still saw them safely to a new home.” Tzioni let that thought sink in. “Jehovah made no effort to save the money. You know why? It’s because every animal in every herd, every precious stone ever dragged from the Earth, every valuable thing that humans have fought over… all of it was created by the hand of Jehovah. Every bit of it belongs to Jehovah, and He will bless whom He sees fit with Prosperity.”
A louder murmur, this one of agreement.
“And all those who wonder why certain people have riches and power in this world? Look to Egypt. Our masters have enjoyed prosperity, thanks to our labor. And now it is worthless. Nothing compared to what is happening.” Tzioni said with fervor. “Jehovah God has never needed wealth to save His servants. All he needed was Himself. The time is close now, and getting closer every day when we leave Egypt, and make a life for ourselves. A life where we will not toil for the profit of masters, and where we build homes and warehouses for ourselves, rather than others.”
~~/*\~~
“You have a problem with what you heard?” Leahe challenged him later.
“Jehovah is not moved by wealth or political power. That much is obvious.” Takarut reasoned. “But He’s not doing this to free slaves. He’s doing this to save His ‘chosen people’. If He had a problem with slavery, then every empire in the world would be facing these Plagues. I’ve met representatives from half a dozen empires and Kingdoms during my time in the Court. Every civilization in the world has been built by slave workers.”
Leahe set her jaw. “I wouldn’t know. I only know what it’s like to be a slave here in Egypt.”
“And when you become a free woman? When Israel arrives at your Promised Land? Will you build your own cities, or will you take slaves? If there’s anywhere on the map that ‘flows with milk and honey’, it’ll be owned by someone. Will you use the whip to put other people to work for you?”
Leahe nearly passed out at the sudden thought. “That’s… an interesting question. One that Jehovah will answer. After we’re free.”
~~/*\~~
Satau was still his father’s assistant, though in truth, he had come to realize his only role was a safety net. His job was to observe everything a High Priest did, so that if anything happened to his father, Satau could take over. And after everything he’d seen in the war of the gods, it was a role he didn’t really want, though he hadn’t yet admitted that to his father, or to himself.
The Priesthood gathered to discuss their situation. Nobody asked them to perform miracles any longer. They were asked to undo or prevent the wonders of Jehovah, and everything they had tried had failed.
“We’ve run the numbers four times. Our livestock need to be replaced if we’re to have any hope of still having any herds next season.” Jannes summed up. “Pharaoh has ordered that there be no such purchases of fish and barley to recoup our losses. He doesn’t want the current situation and the results to become known to our neighboring empires. It stands to reason that he will make similar orders concerning livestock.”
“Then what does he plan to do?” Sabola asked. “Because with the disruption between the food supply and the crop, we’re expecting a much larger demand for our livestock. Much of which is already hurting. A certain percentage of our livestock was slain by Plague. There were others killed by infection from the gadflies, or the sores… To say nothing of the attrition caused by food riots and banditry.”
“You aren’t telling us anything we don’t already know.” Jannes put in. “And if Moses is right about the locusts, we won't have anything to feed our cattle anyway. I’ve issued emergency orders to seal up the granaries and mills more tightly so that not even a locust can get in. That includes the hay and grasses we keep for feeding the animals.”
“Then how do we get in?” Someone asked in disbelief.
“We don’t.” Jambres said tightly. “If tomorrow’s plague is as bad as Moses predicts, then there will be no way to get in without losing the stores. We’ll have to wait it out. These plagues have always had their season. We can last one more.”
“We can, but the Temple Granaries can’t. We’re rationing food out to our people, meal by meal.” One of the Priests raged. “If we lose the stores in our temples-”
“I know.” Jambres said seriously. “You’ll have to seal them up as well. The Palace will provide a guard for when the people attempt to break through to your grain.”
“Are you out of your mind? The Temple’s authority is already hanging on by a thread! We have to keep the breadlines open!”
“If the locusts come, then it won't matter if they’ve eaten everything we’ve got in those stores!” Someone said in open worry.
“Then we have to find another food source, which brings us back to the livestock. Pharaoh has to change the order.” Someone else said over.
“That’s what Minister Faas tried to tell him, and look what happened? You want to tell Pharaoh he’s wrong, go right ahead!”
And then it devolved into a full blown argument between dozens of men, arguing their cases, begging for agreement, denying their fear, scoring points, rebuffing arguments.
“SILENCE!” Bellowed Jambres over everyone. “This is exactly the kind of breakdown we can’t afford to have before the public!”
“It’s not a breakdown, it’s triage.” Someone countered. “We’re all responsible for wildly varied people, dominions, worshippers…”
“We are all responsible for one thing, and one thing only.” Jambres said, letting the ring of authority in his voice roll over them. Despite themselves, everyone was listening to him. “I was hoping I wouldn’t have to do this. Legally, I shouldn’t have even taken it from the Inner-Shrine; but I feared we’d be working at cross-purposes, given our losses.” He went over to the side of the room, and swept a fine linen cloth aside, revealing the gleaming gold icon of Ptah himself.
The Priesthood let out a gasp. Nobody ever saw this personification of the Lord of Creation, except for the High Priest, and occasionally the Pharaoh. To be in the presence of Ptah was humbling, and everyone fell silent, some dropping to their knees.
With order restored in the presence of the idol, Jambres got them all back on track. “We need to be united in this. Pharaoh is used to factions squabbling over resources. If all those factions are in full agreement, then we’re presenting him with a simple fact: We need to replace our lost livestock. This isn’t controversial, merely inconvenient.” He let them all look from him, to the Holy Icon, to him again. “Are we decided?”
~~/*\~~
“Buy new livestock for all Egypt.” Pharaoh said flatly. “Like we need to buy enough wheat and barley to make up for a whole ruined crop along the Nile. Like we need to replace stores ruined by frogs and gnats.”
“It’s a fact, Great One.” Jannes said. “Jambres and I are in full accord, as is Bakennifi, and the entire Priesthood. We’ve been running the census of our livestock, and comparing to previous years. We need to replenish the herds, or we won’t have enough to continue another full year. Our herds are needed for food more than for breeding, unless we shore up the numbers.”
The wind whistled strongly through the Throne Room. There had been a strong eastern wind blowing for most of the day.
“Fine.” Pharaoh said tightly. “We’ll begin sending envoys to our neighbors. But just so you know, I hold the Priesthood largely responsible for the failure to counter Moses’ trickery. So a great deal of the funding for this purchase will be taken from the relevant temples. If the service they offer to the gods can’t stop their avatars being slaughtered, then they can at least compensate their worshippers, yes?”
Jambres bowed deeply. “The almighty Pharaoh is wise in all things.” He said immediately.
~~/*\~~
The minute they left the Throne Room, Jambres sought a quiet place to conspire with Jannes “Are we ready?”
“We had hoped to save this for the next plague, but we may not have that kind of time. It’ll be hard to blame his death on Locusts, but we’ll find a way.” Jannes confirmed. “Neb-en-toneb is delivering the poison to the Queen right now. She’ll be in charge of getting it past his tasters.”
“The tasters will be questioned as soon as poison is suspected.” Jambres confirmed. “If we take charge of the investigation, it’ll be obvious we were involved. General Aadesh has been convinced not to look too closely. He suspects what we’re going to do, but he’s very carefully made sure not to be certain.” He let out a breath. “The Royal Physician is ready. He will falsify the conclusion, and when the tasters say that there was no poison in any of the food they tested, it will be enough that nobody looks at the truth.”
“Half the Royal Court is hoping the next plague is on Pharaoh alone anyway. Nobody will want to challenge it.” Jannes confirmed. “Last chance to back out. Nem-ur is still barely more than a boy. That might make him easy to guide, but it will make him harder to predict.”
“No choice. It’s the King or all of us at this point.”
~/*\~~/*\~~/*\~
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