Blessed Lands Egypt Chapter Thirteen
Blessed Lands Egypt
Author: J Carrell Jones
Table of Content
Chapter 13
Akila walked into the room and gently called Honute’s name. She shook him lightly. “Honute, you can wake up now. I’ve finished recording.”
She started removing the alligator clips from the many electro-contacts along his chest, shoulders, calves, forehead and neck.
Honute opened his eyes and smiled. “All done?”
Akila nodded. “You have an excellent ability to go into a deep trance.”
Honute stretched and placed his loose fitting shirt back on. “Hours of prayer can do that I guess. May I be able to see some of the readout? I’ve never seen what a trance looks like on paper.”
Akila answered certainly. She walked him into the control room and sat him at a desk. She flipped a switch on a monitor and the screen sparkled on. She tapped at the keyboard in front of him.
Honute found himself mesmerized by Akila’s presence. She was close enough for him to smell the perfume she was wearing. It smelled of Nile air and lotus blossoms with a hint of honey. It reminded him of Hypatia’s fragrance, but it had a slightly different smell. Then he frowned and wondered what Hypatia was doing this moment. Was she thinking about him?
Akila noticed the frown. “Honute, is something wrong?”
He looked up. “No, not really.”
“Is there anything I can do? Do you want to talk?”
His lips thinned out as he pressed them together. “I don’t know how appropriate it would be.” He shook his head. “No, everything is fine, really.”
Akila slowly said, “Okay, but if you need to talk. I’m here. Okay?”
He nodded and smiled. Then said, “Is this me in a deep trance?”
Akila laughed softly. She had the graph up when he had an erotic episode, more of a thought actually, but he didn’t need to know that. “No, this was when you were thinking about something that got you agitated. It could have been the thought of anything.”
“Really?” Honute looked worried. “This machine can read thoughts?”
Akila shook her head, “No, not at all. And maybe that was a good thing.”
Honute laughed nervously, not completely convinced that the machine hadn’t caught him with his pants down.
“Really, Honute. The machine, in this case, the EEG machine only picks up brain signals.”
“Okay.” Honute said.
“Here.” She pointed to a spot on the screen. “This pattern is called Beta waves. It occurs when a person is awake and conscious of the surrounding world. You became intensely aware of something, right here, then after several minutes you relaxed into an Alpha state.”
Honute looked at the squiggly wiggly lines. He squinted thinking that maybe the lines would make better sense. They didn’t and he opened his eyes wide. He wondered what type of wave pattern he would be generating now. Akila’s aroma was deeply satisfying.
“During Alpha state, a person is relaxed. Usually day dreaming happens here. It’s the start of mediation. And this point is when you enter Theta state. It normally occurs when a person is dreaming or has a deep connection with the sub-conscious mind. Divine inspiration has been known to come out of Theta state.”
Honute nodded. He was beginning to see the patterns now. “And this line?” It was long and sinuous.
“Deep sleep. And if you notice, just after it there is a combination of states. You started mediating here. The only reason I know you were not awake is the absence of Beta waves.”
“You can really tell? Fascinating.”
“It is fascinating.” Akila answered.
“What other tests will I have to go through?”
“Well, tonight we’ll have to do another baseline recording.”
“Another one?”
Akila nodded, “Yeah. Your sleep patterns. I’ll have to stay up most of the night and monitor the equipment.”
Honute frowned. “That won’t be any fun. Watching me sleep.”
Akila just smiled and shrugged.
“I’ll have to sleep in these clothes? Can I go home and get a change?”
“I’ll ask Dr. Theoris if she could run you home. . .”
Honute thought about this morning’s encounter. “Maybe I can catch a cab. I really don’t want to burden Dr. Theoris with such a simple task.” Akila smiled again and Honute loved it. His gaze locked on her full lips and he nearly stammered. “M-maybe, I don’t have to go home. I just need some place to wash up.”
“We have a bathroom, with shower, down the hall. I use it sometimes when I have to work late.”
“Will you be getting any sleep?” Honute asked.
“Some, but don’t you worry about me. I’m a night owl! I’ve stayed up for nearly forty-eight hours working on school reports and student papers. It’s nothing.”
Honute looked into Akila eyes and felt guilty that he stopped thinking about Hypatia. But the fact was they had drifted apart months ago and the connection had been lost between the two of them long before that.
Akila looked at her watch. “Oh, we should head down to Dr. Theoris’ office. She wanted to see the two of us.” She headed for the door.
Honute got up and happily followed. He wondered which combination of waves would appear now. He intently watched Akila’s slim frame walk gracefully down the hall.
Ferruk sat on the couch. He turned to Ayruyi and commanded, “Get us some coffee.”
Theoris appalled said, “No, you will not!”
Ayruyi stopped.
Ferruk turned to Theoris and said, “Please allow my servant to perform her duties.”
Theoris jumped up and nearly ran toward Ferruk. Ivoniyut stuck out an arm and blocked her from getting any closer. Theoris screamed, “How dare you display you chauvinist ways in my office.”
Ferruk stood up. He leaned close to Theoris and said, “My bodyguards are trained to react with deadly force. Please don’t rush up on me again.” He sat down and turned to Ayruyi again. “Get us some coffee now!”
Ayruyi hurried out.
Akila rounded the corner to the main hallway toward Dr. Theoris’ office and nearly collided into a young woman. The woman wore the traditional attire marking her as a slave.
“Excuse me.” Ayruyi said winded. “But could you please show me were I may be able to get coffee for my master?”
Akila’s face contorted into a mixture of shame and anger. She had a severe disdain regarding slavery. For all the good things within the Blessed Lands servitude was not one of them. Akila felt a bit of pity toward the young lady, but there wasn’t much she could do about her captivity. Servitude was protected under the Blessed Laws given to the people by Pharaoh. “Coffee? I can show you. Where are you coming from?”
Ayruyi bowed. “Thank you. From Dr. Theoris’ Office.”
Honute stepped up next to Akila.
“Dr. Theoris is my boss. We,” Akila pointed to Honute and herself, “were going there.”
Honute frowned when he realized the young woman was a servant.
Ayruyi saw Honute and bowed deeply. “Priest personage.”
Honute bent his head in a bow. “What is your name?”
“Ayruyi, good priest.”
“Call me Honute, please, and not so formal.” Then he turned to Akila. “I didn’t know Theoris had a servant.”
Akila replied, “She doesn’t.”
“Oh.”
Ayruyi spoke up. “My master is Ferruk, Head Priest of the Middle Lands, Vizier of the Area for Pharaoh, Friend to the Royal Family. He is here to speak of important matters with Dr. Theoris.”
Honute’s eyes widened. “The holy priest of the Area is here?”
Ayruyi nodded and said with as much impatience in her voice as she dared show in the presence of a priest. “My master has requested coffee for all present. I would be most grateful for your assistance.”
Akila nodded and said. “Ayruyi, follow me. I can help.”
Ayruyi looked relieved and bowed deeply. She followed Akila and Honute into the large office.
Theoris’ expression turned ugly. Her gazed pierced deep into Ferruk. She stepped back. “You know, I changed my mind.”
“Oh really? In what way?” Ferruk asked.
Theoris turned and sat at her chair. “I could care less why you are here. Take your cinder heads and your slave and leave.”
Ferruk laughed.
Theoris’ temperature rose a degree for each second Ferruk chuckled to himself.
“It’s not that simple, Theoris.”
“The hell it is not. You stand up and walk out. The door is to your right.”
Ferruk leaned forward. “You’re making this difficult, you know that?”
“I’m about to make it impossible in a few minutes. This is my office, which . . .”
“. . . which is part of my University, Dr. Theoris.” Said the Chairman of the University, Dr. Pilboluti. Dr. Jeyrulis, the president of the University was a half step behind him. Pilboluti continued, “Vizier Ferruk. Please forgive Dr. Theoris. She misunderstood you I am sure. Her research is completely and absolutely open to you.”
Ferruk bowed his head slightly. “I admit that I did not get a chance to explain to Dr. Theoris that Pharaoh, through me, supports her research.”
The two University officials beamed and bowed deeply. Pilboluti stepped over to Theoris and handed her a letter.
Theoris thought about ripping the letter to shreds but common sense and a notion of civility squelched that urge. She read it. It was an official letter from the offices of Pharaoh and it left the Vizier of the Middle area to observe the research and report as Vizier saw fit to report research. Theoris looked up. She felt nearly defeated.
Pilboluti smiled widely and said, “Now that everyone is in agreement that Vizier Ferruk is to be an observer for His almighty and most exalted Pharaoh who is incarnate of Ra, most powerful deity of the heavens, we may get down to work.”
There was silence for a moment. Theoris handed the letter back to Pilboluti, who took it, folded it, and placed it in his coat pocket. She turned to the doorway.
Ayruyi, Akila, and Honute entered the office each holding a tray of coffee, tea, and date cakes. Ayruyi placed the tray on a table off to one side of the office. She picked up a cup and saucer and walked it over to Ferruk. He took it, tasted it, and nodded. Ayruyi quietly sat next to him. Akila served the two bodyguards and Honute gave cups to Pilboluti and Jeyrulis. He then gave Theoris a cup of tea. She thanked him and he bowed slightly.
Theoris took a sip of tea and said. “Gentlemen, this is Priest Honute. He has volunteered to help us out in the research.”
Honute turned and bowed to Pilboluti and Jeyrulis. They each returned the gesture. He then turned to Ferruk and bowed deeply. “Most High Priest, I am one of your simple servants, giving praise and salvation to the populace in the Landful district of New Heliopolis.” He stood up.
Ferruk had been sipping his tea when Honute bowed and gave the introductory of a lesser priest in the presence of a superior. Ferruk placed the cup down at the same time Honute stood up. He nearly dropped the cup. In the twenty years of being a priest in the circles of powerful people Ferruk never once lost his composure or demeanor. Today was the closest he had. “May Ra, Osiris, and Isis guide you through his living journey. From what temple do you give praise to?”
Honute thought he noticed something off from Ferruk. It unnerved him for a second, but he regained proper deportment and slipped into the familiar posture of a lesser priest addressing a superior. “Thoth, Temple of Science, Reasoning and Thinking, honored Priest Ferruk.”
Ferruk acknowledged Honute.
Theoris took the whole scene in with disgust. The whole notion of male posturing smacked at her sensibilities as silly and wasteful.
Akila watched disturbed but managed to look indifferent.
Ayruyi just watched. This was nothing new to her. Ferruk demanded lesser priest give him due respect. She was relieved that Honute was spared the extreme indignities Ferruk can put on an inferior.
Ferruk turned to Theoris. “Now that we have an understanding. I will leave you to your work. I’ve assigned my routine and public functionary duties to my assistant. Everything else that is important I will handle down here for the remainder of your project, Dr. Theoris.”
Theoris grunted and begrudgingly nodded. “Shall we meet each morning or would a daily report emailed be to your satisfaction?” She hoped the latter would be to his liking.
“A daily report would be best and we can meet each Tuesday. We are entering the cycle of Bast and Tuesday would be most appropriate.”
Theoris nodded again.
Ferruk stepped away from the couch and walked toward the door. One bodyguard was on the other side surveying the area and the other lingered back a little. He would effectively cover Ferruk’s retreat. Ayruyi would pace herself behind Ferruk. He turned, nodded to everyone and left.
After a moment Theoris turned to Pilboluti. “We’ll talk later, when I’ve had a chance to calm down.”
Pilboluti nodded and walked out. Theoris’ words sank in and by the time he reached the doorway his posture was that of a beaten man ready for his punishment.
Jeyrulis followed silently.
Honute and Akila remained quiet.
Theoris turned to Honute and didn’t say a word. His pitiful actions angered her still. On one level she knew it wasn’t his fault. It was the nature of his position. And besides, his behavior demonstrated the very reason he was a good candidate. It was on the other level of gut feeling that his actions sickened her. He dropped several niches on her measuring stick. She slowly tore her gaze from Honute and looked at Akila. “I have an engagement to attend to. I will leave you to finish up with today’s measurements. Tomorrow we’ll plot the baseline and begin with stimuli testing.”
Akila nodded.
Theoris switched her computer off and walked out the door.
Honute stood watching as she walked out. He turned to Akila. “I don’t suppose I’m to know what just happened?”
Akila had also been deeply disturbed. She slowly shook her head several times. “No, you’re not expected to.”
Honute nodded and felt somewhat better. He considered blessing the room with a prayer but decided against it. Something important happened today and he missed most of it. He looked at Akila and saw a bit of coldness in her eyes. Her warmth had vanished and that was a tragedy. He would bless the room tomorrow.
Akila wasn't sure whether she was mad at Honute, Ferruk, or herself. Theoris had been her mentor and teacher for a few years now and she admired the woman greatly. She saw her as a role model and poster child for independent liberal minded women. For Ferruk to walk in with an obvious submissive servant was one thing, but to watch Honute bow out as the dominate male was another. The scene tore at her heart and left her with mixed feelings.
On an intellectual level she understood Honute's and Ferruk's interplay. It was vital for the continued insurance of the established hierarchy of priesthood. But in her summation, short years as an adult and teachings handed down from Dr. Theoris, it still stank.
On the emotional level, however, the feelings were somewhat different. She was beginning to fall for Honute and that bothered her. The fact was he didn't look the part of a priest. There was something about him that contradicted his complacent meekness. The way he firmly placed his feet on the ground had a finality that would give Ra pause in moving him. The way his biceps, deltoids, and triceps flexed underneath his tunic sleeves. And when he walked his body moved with a gracefulness that rivaled many in Pharaoh's Royal Dancing Troupe. The man's body screamed warrior and alpha, but his demeanor and personality shouted beta and subservient. He was just one total dichotomy of meek and brawn.