Page 12 of Ra (The Scarab Prophecy #1)

“Again, I appreciate the sentiment, but it is not necessary for you to address me as dear god. I’m right here. We are friends,” he said, smiling widely. “So, tell me what else I can do to help you.”

“There’s so much that needs to be done and you don’t know how to do any of it.”

“Name the things to be done. I am sure I can master them all.”

“Okay. First, I have to find a way to keep you contained. I have to organize the items I’m taking to put on display and have the museum prepare them and move them to the university.”

“One does not contain a god, Azenath. One worships a god.”

“That won’t be happening. And you completely skipped over choosing and preparing the items to use for display.”

“I did not. I just hadn’t addressed it yet. How long will the shipping take? It is in another city?”

“No. It’s only a short ride, but it still must be done with the utmost care.”

“Are there not servants to do this for you?”

“There are employees to do this, yes. But they’re not servants!”

“The point I am making is that there are people to see to it. It is not required that you do it yourself.”

“I must make the phone call, though, and start the paperwork to have it done. And I always oversee it personally, so I do have to do it myself.”

“Very well. What other things can the servants do in your stead?”

“They are not servants!”

“What can the people do for you?” he asked pointedly.

“I really need to oversee it all.”

“What else?” he pushed.

“There are photos, too, that have to be processed to present on the white boards behind the podium, there are pamphlets that must be printed, there are any number of preparations that must be seen to. I have to prepare my speech — I can’t get up there and ramble like an idiot.

I have to consider my appearance! I have to go shopping to find some clothes to wear.

I can’t show up in shorts and hiking boots. ”

“Communicate your desires to the people that will oversee it for you. How is that best done?”

“An email?” she said, making it sound more like a question.

“What is that?”

“A letter,” she said, thinking he might understand that word better.

“Send your letter. And do it quickly. We are going shopping!”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“We’re going shopping. I wish to go to the market places. You promised me clothing of my own, and you’ve just said you need some as well. Let us go shopping.”

“Ra, I really don’t have time for this.”

“Then I’ll go shopping on my own. Perhaps I’ll have them make offerings of clothing for you, as well. It will be one less thing you must do!” he said happily as he turned and started for the front door.

“Wait a minute! You can’t go anywhere without me. And what do you mean make offerings?”

“Offerings. Surely you know what offerings are. Food, clothing, gold and jewels, perfumes, females, asses — the beasts of burden kind usually, the building of temples, the singing of songs, anything they find pleasure in they gift to me because they seek my favor. I’m sure those of my people who believe in the old ways will do the same today. ”

“People don’t make offerings. You have to buy whatever you need or want.”

“Ridiculous! Everything I’ve ever possessed is because people gifted them as offerings.”

“Have you never earned anything at all?” she asked.

“Did you not listen to me? My people desired my favor. They offered me what I needed and wanted in exchange. I earned the offerings by giving them what they needed.”

Azi looked at him for so long without speaking as she tried to work out a way to contradict his reasoning that her eyes began to cross.

“Are you well?” he finally asked when she actually began to look pained.

“I hope so,” she muttered before she shook her head.

“Okay. Let’s look at it like this… if you see something you want or need, in order to get it, you must buy it.

Instead of giving people your favor, you give them money.

They have what you need, they give it to you, you give them money, not favor. ”

“So, money would be my favor, rather than my approval.”

“Yes. They offer you clothing. You choose only the pieces you want to wear, and they tell you how much money you will give them. You give them the money, and then they can use the money to purchase other things that they need.”

“Ahhh! In that way, I am helping them acquire all they need without my powers!”

“Yes! See? It works!”

“I do see! I understand. Take me to the place of the money and I’ll take all that I need,” he said, striding confidently out of the front door and slamming it behind himself.

“No! Wait!” she cried out, running after him. “They’ll put you in jail for that! It’s called bank robbery!”

Azi yanked the door open and ran after him. “Ra! Ra! You can’t just go demand money! They’ll put you in jail! It’s called robbery!”

“No, it is all mine anyway. Everything is!”

“Ra, please. Come inside. Put on some suitable clothes. We will go buy you your own clothes…”

“And some for you as well for your presentation,” he said happily.

“Some for me, too. And I’ll try to explain as we go why you can and can’t do certain things. Alright?”

“I do not want to put on other clothes at this time. I’m comfortable.”

“Ra, please.”

“Why? I am going to find new clothes. I do not need to put on different clothes now. I will soon be wearing different clothes anyway.”

“Ra…” she said, shaking her head again.

“Ah, I am beginning to see, Azenath. I do see. You do not wish for other females to see me without my body covered. It is too enticing for you, and you fear that other females will feel the same and not be able to withstand their need for me.”

This time her eyes actually did cross. “Yes. Yes, that’s it. I don’t want other females to see you without your body fully covered.”

“There is no need for worry, Azenath. I am not in the market for concubines at this time. Let us get your presentation taken care of first, then I shall worry about concubines. I will even consider you first,” he said pleasantly as though bestowing a gift on her.

“I shall put more clothes on now,” he said as he walked past her and toward the house.

Azi fisted her hands at her sides and clenched her jaw to prevent herself from snapping and saying something to undo the little progress she’d made in talking him into putting on clothes. “Dear god,” she whispered.

“Very well! Dear god and dear Azenath we shall be.”

Azi heard Ra open the door and walk back inside the house. She allowed her head to fall forward, her chin almost riding on her chest as she followed him back inside, too frustrated to even lift her head to look where she was going.