Blessed Lands Egypt Chapter Two
Blessed Lands Egypt
Author: J Carrell Jones
Table of Content
Chapter 2
Dr. Theoris ran the simulation again. She pushed her dull dark gray framed glasses high up on the bridge of her nose. The glasses were a gift. Her father gave them to her when she received her first Ph. D. That was twenty years ago. They bothered her then and they bothered her now.
The computer predicted that the two atoms would behave as one. “Akila, could you get me the data on the Entangle Range?”
“Yes, Doctor.” Akila had been Dr. Theoris’ assistant for five years. Akila was working toward a Doctorate in Magickal Manifestation.
Theoris had been the leader of Manifestation investigation for the last decade. No one in the Blessed world could match her accomplishments. So, it was fortunate that Akila was able to work with the Doctor on her last step forward into the unknown science of Magick. “Here you are, Doctor.” Akila handed a thumb drive to Theoris.
Theoris took it and slide the black matte rectangular device into her computer's port. She clicked out several commands from the keyboard and hit the enter key. The Plasma flat-screen monitor pixilated a graph. Theoris’ glasses slid to the tip of her nose. Subconsciously she pushed them back up. She nodded at the results and turned to Akila, who was waiting patiently. Theoris pressed her lips together. “This proves that anyone can perform magick.”
Akila nearly shrilled with delight but squelched the impulse quickly. If Theoris could remain calm then she could to. She tried to sound as dry as Theoris sounded. “Yes, Doctor. Excellent news.”
Theoris looked up at Akila and smiled. Her student was working out perfectly. She was learning to control all irrational behavior and act and think objectively. Theoris considered herself blessed. Akila was brilliant, level headed, young, and cute all at the same time. Her poise and curvature was almost beguiling. Akila’s two little ponytails rested on each shoulder. Theoris particularly liked and appreciated the sky blue bows at the end of each ponytail. She knew that Akila was going to make a lot of great contributions of her own one day. Theoris nodded. “Yes. The next thing we must do is begin experiments. The Human Trials Committee gave us the go ahead to start the studies again. We can experiment on one person. Do you have any suggestions, Akila?”
Akila smiled. “That is good news Doctor. I actually do have a suggestion.” She had considered the Manifestation Theory correct. She had to. Why else spend all that time and money on getting this degree? “I was thinking that we need an individual who is already working in a position that would require an extreme belief in magick.”
Theoris nodded and encouraged Akila to continue.
“We should be most careful of the extreme zealous cults. They tend to be over enthusiastic and might be a trifle dangerous.”
“My thoughts exactly.” Theoris said and pushed her glasses up.
“Maybe a local priest. Someone devoted to the trade, but not overly ambitious.”
Theoris smiled. She nodded. “Excellent idea. I personally know the head priest of the Temple of Thoth, god of intellect, arts, writing, and all that is science. He’s been trying to date me for the last ten years. Maybe I’ll take him up on his tedious offer.”
Both women giggled.
Honute rose early the next morning. He noticed Hypatia was not in bed. He heard clanking in the kitchen. He dressed himself in a slumber robe and walked out of the bedroom into the kitchen. Hypatia he noticed had discovered last night’s dinner in the refrigerator. She had heated a leg and thigh of one of the game hens. The mushroom sauce was in a small pool next to the meat. She dabbed a tear of monkey bread in the sauce, bit and chewed a piece off while eating a chunk of hen leg. She looked up and a frown formed on her face.
Honute chose to ignore the look and greeted her with a smile and a cheery, “Morning, Wife. How are you feeling?” He grabbed an empty cup and placed a bag of date and cilantro tea in the cup. Hypatia stared coldly at him. He felt her eyes pierce deep into the back of his neck as he filled his cup with water. He continued to ignore her as he side stepped to the microwave and placed the cup in and set the timer to sixty seconds. He took a deep breath, let it out, and turned to face Hypatia.
“I want a divorce.” She said.
Honute froze in shocked surprise. “What?”
She repeated but this time the words came out biting. “I want a divorce.”
Honute felt as if the words had teeth and ripped a piece of his heart away. He was at a loss as how to answer.
“Well, are you going to say anything?” Hypatia challenged.
“What would you have me say? ‘Don’t divorce me?’”
She answered, her upper lip curled in a way that made her look ugly. “Don’t you want to know why?”
He nodded slowly. When she had that look on her face Pharaoh himself withdrew and hide.
“I no longer love you.”
The microwave dinged.
Honute’s head snapped back as if it were struck. “But why?” He started, “I know we don’t see much of each other any more.” He was at a loss and desperate for a way out. “We can make time. I’ll ask Setenaju to ease my responsibilities. We can make it work. . .”
She cut him off and simply said. “You are not the man I thought I married.”
“W-What do you mean?” He stammered out.
“You are weak and complacent.” She said. “You have no ambition. All you do is tend to the Temple and sweep and wash at the feet of Thoth. You grab what is given to you instead of taking what you want.”
“But, Hyp, you knew I wanted to be a Priest when you married me.” He grabbed a chair next to her and sat down. He reached out to her hand.
She withdrew it as if his touch was venomous. She placed both hands in her lap.
Honute cleared his throat. “I told you from the beginning of our relationship that all I ever wanted to be was a priest. Nothing more.”
She looked down at her hands, rage barely in check, and said with a clenched jaw, “I know, but I thought you were just being humble and didn’t want to scare me away with boastful talk.”
His face twisted up from hurt and disbelief.
“I was wrong.” She said, her face turning a deeper pink. “I want someone ambitious, not a lower minion priest caring for an abject sycophantic god!”
Honute looked heavenward and uttered with conviction in his voice, “Oh, Lord-God Thoth, please forgive the words coming from Hypatia. Her heart is filled with hate, but it is not toward you. Please over look her. . .”
“Shut up!” She yelled. “I hate you and your god! You and your fawning over a god of letters!”
Honute slammed his hand on the table surprising both of them. “Thoth is not a lower god. He is part of the Ennead and must be given proper respect. As a scholar, Thoth should be your god. . .”
Hypatia got up from the table. “I no longer want to be with someone who is just content with bathing a statue. I’ll be staying at the University. I told the landlord that you will be responsible for next month’s rent. When you get back from your daily minion feet washing and blessing I’ll be gone.” She walked away into the bedroom and slammed the door.
Honute sat at the table in disbelief. What had he done wrong? Apparently, Isis hadn’t heard his prays last night. He got up and walked to the bedroom. He lightly tapped on the door. “I need to dress and get ready for work.” He tapped again.
A moment later the door opened up and Hypatia throw out some of his robes and sandals. She shut the door again, hard.
Honute gathered up his clothes in his arm as if they were a symbol of his pride. With a bowed head he walked into his office and got dressed. Luckily, he had access to the second bathroom that was between both rooms. Twenty minutes later he walked out of the apartment and followed the long worn path to the Temple of Thoth, god of intellect, arts, writing, and all that is science. Today he had to cleanse his thoughts and be pure of heart and mind. Today, Guriamon, the head priest wanted to talk to him. Honute prayed to Ma'at, Thoth’s wife, for a good outcome. He needed it. The other shoe hadn’t fallen yet.