Anubis

Authors note: I wish to thank Mrs. Catherine Harvey Ball for her invaluable assistance, her firm editing, and her marvelous artwork. Without her, this story wouldnt exist.

Anubis

written by Nightshade
Storyline by Catherine Harvey

“Lord Anubis, please, I beg you,” the peasant pleaded. He knelt before the ebon skinned god as the figure impassively weighed the mortal’s heart. He rested the heart on one side of the golden scales against a long, white, softly glowing feather. After a long moment, the scale tilted. The heart sank lower, and with a nod the mortal’s shade was dragged off screaming. Then, with a moist crunch the god devoured the heart.

When that day’s allotment of souls was done, the jackal headed deity returned to his home. He passed through the ebon arches and entered his private chamber. After a moment, Bastet, the feline headed goddess of the home entered. “Lord Anubis,” she purred with a half nod of her head. “Lady Bast,” he replied and moved to her. Once the doors of his chamber were fully shut, they embraced tightly, clinging to each other as closely as they could. The doors burst open and the personal guards of Horus filed into the room. “Lord Anubis, Lady Bast, you will come with us.”

The two gods were brought before Horus himself. The light of the torches glinted off the curve of his falcon beak. “You are accused of upsetting the balance of things. By this ‘romance’, you have tilted the scales of the universe. Have you anything to say?” Bastet took the hand of Anubis, “My lord, judge Anubis not too harshly. All he knows is destruction and death. I sought only to teach him more.” Horus raised his hand, “Your intent was noble, my lady, but misguided. Your roles in this realm are separate and important. Judgment has been made. You shall both be banished to the world of mortals for a year and day, that you may learn to accept your paths that you are destined to follow. At the end of that time you shall be judged as to your worthiness to return.” They lowered their heads as they were taken away.

Jonah, a human mortal, walked along the street. He whistled softly while holding the hand of his wife, Alira. Suddenly, a wave of dizziness swept over them and they stumbled. “Jonah,” Alira moaned as she leant on him. “I feel it, Ali.” The wave passed and they looked at each other. ~What body is this?~ a dark voice echoed in Jonah’s head. “Did you…” Jonah looked to his wife and saw her face pale as she nodded. ~So small and furless, but it shall have to do.~ a female voice with a purring undertone rang in Alira’s cranium. “Jonah, I’m scared.” Alira clung to Jonah as he gulped nervously. “M, me too, darling. Lets get home.”

“That’s impossible,” Jonah shook his head as the couple sat in the living room. “Gods don’t exist, and they certainly couldn’t get into a mortal’s body like this.” ~Why do you doubt?” Anubis rumbled. “It does seem incredible,” Alira sighed. "But we can both hear these voices. so even if we are crazy, we both can’t be crazy the same way.” ~This one has a point!~ Bastet purred. “Look, if you’re going to stay awhile, first stop calling me ‘this one’, okay?” Alira snapped. ~My apologies.~ the goddess said. Anubis huffed, ~We cannot stay like this, we must return to the afterlife.~ “Look, I’m not crazy about the arrangement myself,” Jonah sighed. “But here we are, so lets cope the best we can. You say you were exiled here to earth? Then lets teach you all about it, so you can get out of our heads.”

Jonah closed a book with a wide yawn, “And that’s the last one.” He yawned again, gesturing at the pile of books all around the room. Alira rubbed her eyes, “Can we please go to bed now? We’ve been up past midnight for three weeks now.” Anubis nodded Jonah’s head, ~Yes, we do need you two to be well if we are to be the same.~ Bastet sent a private thought to Anubis, ~You surprise me, lord, showing concern for mortals.~ her thought was half teasing. ~Merely a matter of logic,~ he responded stiffly, ~We are dependent on these forms for now.~ ~Of course,~ her reply was skeptical, tinged with a trace of sarcasm.

the sun was high, bright and warm as they moved along the zoo paths. ~these animals are kept here, why?~ Bastet inquired "for their protection, and to educate our children about them." Alira replied. ~does not the lion run free in the wilds, as it was back home?~ Anubis looked bemused through Jonah's eyes. ~you read as i did, things have changed much since our time in the world~ Bastet sighed.

as they left the zoo grounds, a small boy ran across the path and tripped, tumbling to the ground. "mommy!" he cried, rolling around holding his knee. his mother hurried over, picking him up and rocking him gently. as the child was taken away, Bastet turned towards Anubis. ~perhaps some things have not changed that much after all.~

the news finished, and Anubis looked to Bastet. ~such horror in this world, violence and destruction.~ ~and yet there are those who fight against it, regardless of the cost to themselves.~

The final day arrived. The humans sat in their living room, held hands, and waited. “Do you think we’ve done enough, taught them enough?” Alira asked as she turned to Jonah. “I guess we’ll have to wait and see. They said the judgment would be today.” As in answer, a blinding shaft of light appeared. The majestic figure of Horus took shape within it. He stepped forward along with two guards. The trio stood before them. “It is time, Lord Anubis, Lady Bastet. Arise,” as Horus spoke, the pale images of the exiled gods rose out of their human hosts and took solid form. “You exile is ended, and judgment is upon you. Have you learned of your proper place among the gods?” Anubis stepped forward, “Yes, great Horus, we have indeed.” For once in a long whole, the jackal smiled. “But we have found it leads us here.” Horus looked at Anubis in shock, “Blasphemy? Explain yourselves.” As Bastet took Anubis’ hand, he gestured to the two humans, “These mortals are far more than we ever knew, even as we rested in our lofty palaces. They have greatness in them that can put even the gods to shame. “How can you say such things?” Horus sputtered. “They have created weapons, caused pain, misery, and suffering.” Anubis nodded, “Yes, and despite it all, they have what we never did or will have. Love and hope.” Jonah laughed and clasped Anubis by the wrist, as Alira hugged Bastet. “You tell him, friend.“ Jonah exclaimed. “Anubis smiled, “Gods are no longer needed Lord Horus. The Mortals have moved beyond that. Judge us as you will, but we now know our true places.” “Very well,” Horus boomed, “Since you two have abandoned your proper roles, my judgment is this…”. He raised his hands and blazing lght enveloped the Gods...

FOUR YEARS LATER

“Hurry up, Ali, come on. They’re expecting us, “Jonah said, pointing to his watch. They drove to a small house by the edge of town. Jonah rang the bell and a small child with jet black hair answered. “Auntie Ali, Unca Jonah!” she squealed, hugging them both. “Good to see you too, Isis, are your parents home?” The child nodded, “In the kitchen.” The followed her and as they entered the room a slender woman with dark green eyes hugged Alira, as her muscular companion shook hands with Jonah warmly. “Welcome, welcome,” the man boomed. “It’s been ages, make yourself at home.” “Isis has grown so much, “Alira giggled as they all sat down at the table.
As they sat and talked and laughed, a small cat scampered along the bookshelf in the other room. As it passed, it knocked over a small book. And from between its pages, seeming almost to glow, fluttered a long, white feather.

the beginning

we hope you enjoyed this story)

-authors note-
this was a request based on the marvelous picture sent to me by miss harvey. it seemed to me that the gods wold be a bit out of step with modern life, and i wanted to show that man, for the most part, had progressed beyond the superstitious past.
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