Timewyrm: Genesis Part 6

En-Gula shook her head. Her eyes were bright with tears. "It was only just beginning," she said. "Ishtar was with me on the balcony. I couldn't see her, but I could feel her there in the darkness with me - hunting me. I have never been so afraid.

I did not dare to make a sound, but I could sense her here, in my head, seeking me out, and I had to move. I crawled on my hands and knees round and round the balcony, as fast as I could, like an animal in a trap. I could feel her eyes below me, as if her sight could pierce the floorboards of the balcony. She was playing with me, as a cat plays with a mouse. She could have pounced on me at any time, but I could feel her amus.e.m.e.nt as I crawled hither and thither above her. . . " The girl started to sob quietly.

"What happened?" Ninani said, too excited to let En-Gula stop at this critical moment.

En-Gula sniffed twice, and wiped her eyes. "The G.o.ddess was distracted, lady. She forgot about me. Dumuzi and one of the palace guards had entered the room below me. They had brought two priestesses to receive the Touch of Ishtar. I felt her eyes leave me, and after a while I found the courage to drag myself to the edge of the balcony and look down.

"I knew the priestesses, my lady. One of them, Belkeli, had been kind to me ever since I entered the temple. She was struggling in the arms of the guard. The other priestess was on the floor, asleep or unconscious or drugged.

"Ishtar did not cover her nakedness. She stood in the centre of the room, drinking in the sight of Belkeli's fear. And then she began to change."

"Change? How?" Ninani breathed.

En-Gula gave a long sigh. "I think the G.o.ds look like us only because we would shun them if we were to see their true forms," she said carefully.

"Ishtar is not like us. She made of metal, my lady. She is a living statue.

And although her arms and shoulders are like those of a woman, she had the body of a serpent. No legs, my lady. She writhes across the floor like a snake. A gigantic metal snake.

"And her face is worse, because it is so nearly like a woman's face. But hard, and cold, and sharp, with movements that are not supple, like the expressions on your face or mine, but that are like the twitching of an insect's legs. And instead of eyes, she has burning coals set in her head.

"I think I screamed, but any noise I made was drowned by Belkeli's yells as the G.o.ddess slithered towards her. Ishtar spoke quietly and cruelly, and stretched out her right hand. I could see Belkeli shaking as the G.o.ddess stroked her hair. Ishtar's hand reached Belkeli's forehead, and I heard the sound like the hiss of a snake. Belkeli stopped moving, and when Ishtar removed her hand I could see the mark on Belkeli's forehead. I could not stay to watch any more. I felt ill. I crawled away."

"When I met Belkeli the next day, she was different. She had no kind words for me, no gossip. I asked her if she was well, and she replied as if I were a stranger. The worst of it was that even as she spoke in a dull voice, and would not meet my gaze, I saw a tear gather in the corner of her eye."

Ninani tried to keep her voice calm. "And the other priestess?" "I never saw her again," En-Gula said. "But I spoke to one of the guards, one who at that time had not received the Touch, who told me that he had helped to dispose of her body. Her veins were drained of their blood, my lady - and her brains were missing from her skull!" Ninani was as appalled as EnGula. Seeing the girl fighting back the wave of horror, Ninani threw aside her dignity and rank. She grabbed the girl, pulling her close. Like a baby En-Gula clutched at her, sinking her head onto Ninani's shoulder. Great sobs of pain shook her. Finally, she shook herself free of Ninani's compa.s.sionate embrace, and stood up. She wiped at her nose and eyes.

"I am sorry, my lady," she whispered. "It was so terrible to see."

"It is almost as terrible to hear about it, En-Gula," Ninani a.s.sured her. "But now you do not have to keep it all to yourself. Let us be friends."

Surprised, En-Gula nodded. "As you wish, princess."

"Good." Ninani led the girl to her couch, and gestured for her to sit beside her there. Somewhat hesitantly, En-Gula did so. "Now then, my friend - there is one thing I must know from you. This G.o.ddess you serve - how do you feel about your oaths now?" En-Gula considered her reply very carefully. "Lady, I am sorry for the first time in my life that I ever came to serve Ishtar."

"That's what I hoped to hear." Ninani smiled, but without warmth. "Because I want your help, En-Gula. I wish to destroy this G.o.ddess before she destroys us all."

Shocked, En-Gula jumped to her feet. "Lady!" she cried. "It is not possible, surely!" "It must be possible," the princess insisted. "You and I must find some weakness in her, or some magic that can overcome her. There must be something that we can do! There must be!" "I am not as certain as you are, lady," replied the priestess. "But - well, the alternative is to keep on living as I do, while Ishtar Touches or eats my friends." Resolutely, she shook aside her forebodings. "I will do all that I can," she agreed.

Ninani laughed, this time with real pleasure. "Excellently spoken! En-Gula, whatever a princess and priestess can accomplish, we shall do. Let us only pray it will suffice."

Ace found the city of Kish quite amazing. Despite her worries, Gilgamesh had kept his mouth shut at the gate, and the four of them had been hurried through without exciting any interest in the guards. Once inside, they began to wend their way through the narrow, crowded streets.

Close to the gate was the merchants' section. Shops that looked very similar to pictures Ace had seen of the Middle East in her times lined the streets. Canopies kept the sun off both products and people. The wares were laid out on tables or mats for inspection. Fruits, vegetables, tools, cloth, clothing and pots were plentiful. Though most traders were now packing up for the day, there were enough wares still on display for her to realize that Kish was a prosperous city. She mentioned this to Enkidu who nodded in agreement.

"Kish and Uruk - the city we come from - have been the biggest two powers in the whole of Mesopotamia for as long as can be recalled," he explained.

"Gilgamesh and his advisers think that Kish's day is done, but the king of Kish, Agga, is no fool, and his policies have built up both the army and the wealth of this town."

Ace glanced back at Gilgamesh. "I gather you don't agree?" "Who am I to agree or not? I have no real voice in council, and I'm only allowed to hang around because Gilgamesh likes me. None of the n.o.bles will listen to my ideas."

"I would," Ace a.s.sured him.

"You're an unusual person, then," he smiled. "My ideas are strange, I warn you. I think that Uruk and Kish would get along better if they were allies, rather than enemies. When I was a child, my mother told me that the reason my people died out is that we could not co-operate. These hairless humans took advantage of that folly, and managed to destroy my race. I've always been afraid that the same thing might happen to all humans one day."

"Trust me," Ace told him, "the human race will be around for a good long time yet."

"Of course I trust you," Enkidu replied simply. "You are the G.o.ddess Aya."

"Right," she sighed. "I keep forgetting that bit."

The Doctor stopped a few of the pa.s.sers-by, and asked directions to a good inn. After the men finally agreed on one, the Doctor led the other three there. It stood just off the main street, and was a small building. Ace judged that it couldn't have more than five or six rooms, and was hardly surprised when she had heard the innkeeper telling the Doctor that he had exactly one room left, take it or leave it.

"We'll take it," the Doctor told him. Nodding to Enkidu, he said: "Pay the man, will you?" Enkidu did so, counting over the copper discs with care.

Ace tugged on the Doctor's sleeve. "Oi," she complained. "Professor, I don't mind sharing a room with you, but I'm not so sure about his high-and-mightiness there."

"Gilgamesh?" The Doctor seemed uninterested. "Oh, he'll probably get roaring drunk and pa.s.s out. I know his sort."

"So do I," Ace snapped. "I met plenty on Iceworld. Some of them just get drunk and make pa.s.ses."

"If you're worried about your virtue," the Doctor replied, "you could always go back to the TARDIS."

She sighed. "According to Enkidu, there are lions on the prowl at night."

"Well, make up your mind - the lions out there or the wolves in here?"

"Thanks a lot," she grumbled, and sat at the closest table. "You're all hearts."

"One of my failings," he replied, dropping onto one of the stools himself.

"Innkeeper - beers over here, if you would, and have one yourself on us."

Enkidu joined them. "Let me guess," he said, in resignation. "I pay for the drinks, too?" "You don't expect a couple of deities to carry money, do you?"

the Doctor asked rhetorically. "We've better things to do with our time." The innkeeper put down four pots of barley beer, and accepted Enkidu's coins with alacrity. Gilgamesh grabbed his beer and downed it in two gulps.

"Have mine," the Doctor offered, pus.h.i.+ng it across. "And Ace'll probably give you hers, too," "I'm old enough to drink my own," she retorted, unwilling to give Gilgamesh anything at all of her own.

"Yes, but I doubt it'll be to your liking," he told her, watching Gilgamesh making ma.s.sive inroads on the second beer. "It's hardly likely to win CAMRA approval."

Sullenly Ace took a sip, and almost spat it out. "What's this made out of?

Pig vomit?" "Close," the Doctor smiled. "Barley. They've not yet invented the sort of beer you'd like. To the natives of this time, that's ambrosia."

"Don't you mean ammonia?" "Right," the Doctor said, getting to his feet.

"I'm not going to be long. Enjoy yourself."

"What?" Ace couldn't believe her ears. "I'm coming, too."

"Not this time," he said, pus.h.i.+ng her back onto the stool. "I'm just popping out to take a peek in the local temple. You stay here and look after Gilgamesh. Try and talk to some locals, get the gossip, that sort of thing. I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Don't do this to me, Professor," she begged. "Not with him." "Suffering builds the character," he replied. In a conspiratorial whisper, he added: "Ace, I could be wrong about this temple being so important. But Gilgamesh is vital - I really need you to stick with him and make certain nothing happens to him. He's destined to do a great deal in his lifetime, and I'd feel happier if I knew he had a rest of his lifetime."

"And what about me?" "You can rest later." He winked. "Just keep the drinks flowing. And keep your ears open." Saluting her briefly with his umbrella, the Doctor slipped out of the door.

Ace stared unhappily across the table at Gilgamesh. He had just stolen her beer, and was making inroads on that, too.

It was going to be a very long evening.

8: BAND ON THE RUN.

En-Gula glanced fearfully from side to side as she slipped through the shadows into the temple of Ishtar. Plotting against a G.o.ddess was a new venture for her, and she was half-expecting a very unpleasant reception when she returned to the temple that had been her home for half her life.

Ishtar had eyes and ears throughout Kish, and despite her precautions EnGula was by no means certain she had kept her scheming from the attention of the G.o.ddess.

However, everything seemed to be normal. The evening watch had sounded the trumpets, and the city gates had been locked while she was returning to the temple. Now the sacrificial fires were being banked for the night, and the priests getting ready for their evening meal before retiring.

The few votaries left in the temple were finis.h.i.+ng their prayers and departing with the setting sun. The cleaners were sweeping the flagstones, and it would soon be time for all the priestesses to gather for their final meal of the day. En-Gula was none too soon in getting back: her absence would certainly have been noted had she missed the meal. While it was unlikely that Ishtar would read anything suspicious into one such minor aberration, En-Gula was wise enough to know that while she was plotting the downfall of the G.o.ddess it was best not to draw any attention to herself.

Despite her brave front with the princess, En-Gula did not really think that they could succeed. Ishtar's powers were too immense, and the feeble strengths of even a priestess and princess could not match them. She and Ninani had agreed that what they needed more than anything was some hint of a weakness in Ishtar's armour, or some suggestion of magic that she might be vulnerable to. Until then they could only exchange information and plans. It was hard to believe that she, a low-born orphan girl, should be granted the ear of the princess. To her astonishment she had discovered that Ninani was a likeable young woman, and quite human. Despite the social chasm between them, they had become cautious friends in the course of their conversation. En-Gula could never have imagined such a possibility even a few hours ago. The royal family of Kish was the subject of much speculation in the temple, but none of the priestesses had ever before been in contact with royalty, save for the times when King Agga had briefly visited the temple for the rituals.

Lost in her thoughts, En-Gula almost screamed when a strange figure stepped out of the shadows and politely raised his hat.

"Good evening," the Doctor said, blessing her with his best smile. "I do hope I've not called at an inconvenient hour?" Realizing that this strangely-attired little man could not be one of Ishtar's messengers sent to call her to retribution, En-Gula managed to catch her breath. Her heartbeat gradually slowed. "I - I'm sorry," she stammered. "You startled me."

"I'm so sorry," the Doctor murmured. He had thought about many things on his way to the temple, weighing up the pros and cons of his various choices. Should he keep his disguise and try to slip inside the sacred portals? Or should he cast aside the cloak and brazen his way through? He wasn't too surprised when he found himself deciding that the latter course might suit him best. Catch people off-guard, give them something out of the ordinary to consider, and then be terribly polite - it usually worked wonders.

This time, he'd almost given some poor girl a heart attack. "Take a deep breath, and let it out slowly." he advised. "It will help."

En-Gula took his advice, and managed to calm her frayed nerves. "Please,"

she finally said, "tell me what I may do to help you." "Actually, I just popped in on the off chance that the G.o.ddess might be in. Or, if she's busy, I'd be happy to talk to the high priestess. Or priest." He studied her costume.

"Isn't it draughty for you, undressed like that?" En-Gula blinked, trying to follow his speech. She glanced down at her bare b.r.e.a.s.t.s and looked puzzled. "All of the priestesses of Ishtar dress like this, stranger. Did you not know that?" "Having a little trouble with the memory," the Doctor confided. "It's not as sharp as it used to be."

"Oh." En-Gula was totally lost by this remark. However, his request had been plain enough. "You wish to see the G.o.ddess?" "If I've come at an inconvenient time," he smiled, "I could call back. Or should I make an appointment?" His gaze wandered from the girl and took in the interior of the building. There was something at the back of his mind trying to catch his attention, but he couldn't quite tempt it into the open where he could see it.

"I do not really know." The girl studied him. He seemed quite a nice man, despite his outlandish clothing and his strange manner. "It's not always safe to speak with her," she finally ventured.

The Doctor raised an eyebrow. "You mean that I might be able to talk with her?" "If you are sure that this is what you really want."

"I'm not sure of anything," he admitted. "Usually when I call on deities they aren't at home, and I'm fobbed off with a high priest or some other butcher."

Struggling to keep up with his strange words, En-Gula shook her head.

"You may be able to speak with Ishtar, stranger."

"The G.o.ddess is in, eh? Splendid." Despite his apparent enthusiasm, the Doctor was disturbed. In almost every case, in his experience the priesthood of any religion insisted on pa.s.sing on messages for the G.o.ds.

This girl seemed to be completely convinced that in this temple there was no need for an intermediary. He didn't know whether this was a good or bad sign.

At that moment Dumuzi moved from the shadows to join them. His grey, haunted eyes rested on En-Gula, who cowered slightly. If the Doctor saw her reaction, he didn't say anything. "Is there a problem?" Dumuzi asked.

"The priestesses are not usually required to perform their functions this late in the day."

Extrapolating from the girl's lack of clothing, the Doctor could easily imagine the kind of service she was expected to perform. He shook his head. "I just dropped in for a chat with the G.o.ddess, actually."

"Indeed?" As he stared at Dumuzi, the Doctor saw the man start slightly, and then the expression on the priest's face s.h.i.+fted. The tired look vanished, to be replaced by one that was eager and almost predatory. "And why do you wish to see Ishtar?" "Because there's something very wrong in this city."

"Can you be more specific?" purred Dumuzi.

Tapping his nose with the ferrule of his umbrella, the Doctor confessed: "It's mostly a whiff I get. Evil, pure evil. When you've been after it as long as I have, it starts to feel like a bad stench in the air. And this city is filled with it."

"I see," the priest murmured. "And what, exactly, do you propose to do?"

"Isolate it and destroy it," the Doctor said, frankly. "I'm a sort of cosmic environmentalist. I like things to be tidied up and smelling pretty." He smiled at the young priestess. "Like this young lady."

Dumuzi turned cold eyes on the girl. "You may go now," he informed her. "I will conduct this stranger to the G.o.ddess myself."

As you command, lord," she agreed, bowing low. Facing the Doctor, she couldn't stop herself from adding: "I hope that you find what you seek, stranger."

"So do I," he replied, flas.h.i.+ng her another smile. There was something about the girl that he couldn't place. Ah well, it wasn't important, probably.

En-Gula watched as Dumuzi lead the stranger away through the temple.

An odd man. Yet, somehow, she had sensed great strength in him. He didn't look strong; quite the contrary. Yet there was strength there. It was as if the ridiculous little man was merely a cloak, covering what might lie in his depths. She began to feel a stirring within herself. Though she tried to chase the thought away, it came to her that this odd person might actually be the magical link she and the princess were after.

Ridiculous - wasn't it? Still debating within herself, En-Gula crept through the darkened halls after Dumuzi. If she were to be caught... She fought down that fear. She couldn't afford discovery - but neither could she overlook this strange feeling of hope that the stranger had somehow kindled in her. She had to see what would happen when he met the G.o.ddess...

It was worse than Ace had feared. Gilgamesh had finished his sixth or seventh beer, and had called for more. He was not improving with the effects of the drink, and Enkidu was looking almost as worried as she was.

The inn was starting to fill up as the locals arrived. Their tasks finished for the day, townspeople on their way home were drifting in for a drink and a chat. The other tables in the room were occupied now, and the background chatter was growing louder.

It reminded Ace of the atmosphere in a British pub. Some of her Mum's boyfriends had tried to curry favour by taking care of Ace from time to time.

That had usually meant a quick helping of fish and chips, then a gla.s.s of fizzy at the local while the current boyfriend sank a few beers with his mates. Ace had never much cared for the smoky, smelly atmosphere of the public bar, and had spent her time playing darts, and stealing the odd mouthful of beer whenever she could get away with it. Those experiences had left her with a mean aim and a distaste for beer-drinking drunks.

The inn had the same sort of feel to it. No smoking, of course - tobacco was still a few thousand years in the future, as was the smell of fish and chips with plenty of salt and vinegar. But the wafting stench of beer was the same, and the rattle of inane conversations and crude jokes would probably never change no matter how many thousands of years might pa.s.s. The more things change, she reflected, the more some things stay the same. Like pubs.

Gilgamesh started on his next beer, then belched loudly. This seemed to wake him up somewhat, and he glanced fuzzily towards Ace. "What? No drink?" he asked.