SG1-12 Do No Harm by Miller Karen

Author:Miller, Karen [Miller, Karen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
Publisher: Fandemonium Books
Published: 2012-02-02T02:53:46+00:00

The shrine of rebirth was housed in a cave eaten into the side of the valley by wind, water and time. Kneeling in reverent supplication before its sacred statue, flickered by candle light, Khenti could feel the anxious thoughts of his fellow Elders kneeling behind him.

“Speak,” he said gently, as beyond the cave’s entrance the evening breeze flowed down the valley and the setting sun gilded the lazy river. “We are alone here. Our words will pass no further.”

“Our strange visitors have magic, Khenti,” said Madu. “They possess the power to defeat the evil spirits living in the earth and in the air. They say they wish to be our friends. If we ask them, they will share their magic.”

Khenti shook his head. “You do not know that.” Indeed, he suspected there would be no sharing without first Mennufer paying a heavy price. The look he’d seen on Jack’s face was the same look to be found on the traders from Zigooola’s other villages.

Nothing is given for nothing. The first rule of trade.

“They said they would help us, Khenti,” Sebak whispered. His surviving family had perished last rebirth. He was a man steeped in unending sorrow. “We must beg them to help us. Rebirth is upon us. Do you not smell its sweetness on the breeze? Do you not feel it scraping over your skin? Adjo is waking. The nightmare comes.”

“Yes. Of course I feel it. Am I not born of Adjo? Every one of us feels it, Sebak. But as Mennufer’s senior Elder I cannot act like a frightened child.”

He did not need to look to know that Sebak was offended. “I am no frightened child!” Sebak protested. “I am a man who fears for the people of our village. Since we were small boys we have seen that with every new rebirth fewer and fewer of us are strong enough to stand against it. Every rebirth we lose more to death. And not just in Mennufer. You know that, Khenti. I fear that when the youngest child among us today is as old as I am he will be the last of our people.”

Panahasi grunted in agreement. “That is if he even lives so long, and who can say if that will happen? Sebak is right. We must ask our visitors for their help.”

“I too think Sebak speaks the truth,” added Madu. “Be guided by us, Khenti. Ask for help.”

They were foolish, his Elders. They did not understand. Lifting his head he stared at the shrine’s brutal, bestial figurine then turned to face them, glaring.

“No, brothers. We must stay silent. If they are told what comes to us at rebirth they will flee through the chappa’ai. They will take their magic medicines with them and we will suffer alone, as always we have suffered alone.”

“But they call themselves friends,” Sebak protested weakly. “Daniel has pledged to help us in many ways.”

“Daniel is a good man but he is not their Elder. Jack is their Elder and he is a man with a stone heart for his people.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.