“Wait, you have a husband?”
She stopped, smiled, and touched his face again.
“Your concern is endearing, but he is long dead. He sat upon his throne as happy as a feeding pig while I rotted in captivity. Now he sits in hell and I shall never make the mistake of trusting a lovesick fool again.”
“I'm sorry for your loss.”
“I am not. He was a lustful boy that never grew into a man. I gave him up.”
“Wait a second,” Jesse said. She turned and raised an eyebrow.
“I don't believe we've been properly introduced,” he said.
“If there is a more thorough way to introduce one's self, I would like to know it.”
“Let’s start with your name.”
“Ah, I have been called many names over the years. Take me to the others. All your questions will be answered in time, Jesse.”
They continued until they reached the concrete barrier. The sun was still above the horizon, and it cast a strong light that made Jesse squint. Nathan, Danielle, and Blake, were sitting under some umbrellas that they had found. Tim was wading in the ocean. The woman glared at Jesse, raised her eyebrows, and pursed her lips in anticipation. He jumped over the barrier, and offered his hand. She took it, stepped onto the barrier, and stepped down onto the sand. Her leather sandals and ankle jewelry seemed at once in and out of place at the beach. He felt like the classic era would have been more fitting for her. She wore the same sort of bronze armor and odd outfits that the galla wore. He had no suspicion that she was in league with the vile creatures, but he was curious about the connection between the two.
Nathan noticed them first, and he said something to the others that Jesse could not hear. Danielle yelled for Tim. They all came over to Jesse and the strange woman.
Nathan stood in front of the others. He was not wearing his armor, but his sword belt hung loose on his waist. He still towered over Jesse, but all the fat was gone from his frame. The others did not have on their arms and armor. Tim and Danielle were wearing only their underwear. Their ribs were jutting out and their hipbones were visible. Only Jesse remained hearty, and he knew that the woman next to him had something to do with that.
“So, you've found your psychic. What do we do now?” asked Nathan.
The woman seemed amused by Nathan's statement, but she remained silent. She turned to Jesse and waited, expecting some action.
“I guess introductions are in order. This is Nathan, and then Danielle, Blake, and Tim," said Jesse pointing to each of them as he said their names. He did not know her name. She had lived in his dreams, and they had been making love for hours, but he had no idea what her name was.
“I am Inanna, the goddess of love and war, the queen of heaven and earth, and now the last god of man.”
“What?” said Nathan. His face betrayed his emotions, which was out of character for him. He looked incredulous and angry.
“I have been called many names across the eons. My original name is Inanna, which was given to me by the first people — the Sumerians. I am the morning and evening star, the keeper of holy me, the daughter of Sin and Ningal, and the patron of the lost city of Uruk.”
Nathan, Tim, Blake, and Danielle stood there casting doubt-filled looks at each other.
“You can save your doubts for later. For now, let us go to my boat and feast.”
“I'm not going anywhere yet,” said Nathan and his hand slid down to the handle of his sword. Inanna's demeanor darkened.
“Hey man, let's just calm down,” said Blake.
“I'm calm,” said Nathan. “I'm just not going anywhere until I get a better explanation.”
“What information do you require?” asked Inanna.
“Who you really are, for starters. No one here is buying that bullshit that you're a goddess. Danielle here thinks she's a goddess too, but at the end of the day she's just a person like the rest of us.”
“Don't bring me into this, Nathan,” said Danielle.
“We're all in this,” said Nathan, his frustration and anger were palpable.
“We followed him,” said Nathan and he pointed to Jesse, “All the way down here — hundreds of miles on those bikes and in that shitty, little boat. Now we're here, and you're here, and I want some answers that make some damned sense. Is that too much to fucking ask for?”
“What more proof do you need?” asked Jesse. “She healed me back in Eureka, and now she's here. Just like the visions I had. She even warned us about the attack on your castle. How did I know to come right here and not a hundred miles from here, or a thousand? How did I know to come here, Nathan, and how did she know I was coming? There's no one else here.”
“I call bullshit. I call bullshit on all this.”
“Seriously, man,” said Blake and stepped between Inanna and Nathan. “How can you doubt this? It's too weird not to be true. This isn't a coincidence — I mean, Jesse was cut to shit and run down that night we met him, and in the morning he looked like fucking Hercules. Throughout the whole trip, he stayed strong while we all got thinner and weaker. If there is a cause to all this, then I'm betting it has something to do with her.”
“Fucking nonsense. He must have stolen food, or maybe the wounds weren't as bad as they looked. All I know is she isn't fucking God. All right?”
“I didn't steal food,” said Jesse.
“Those wounds were deep, man. I dressed them myself. It's real. Whatever the shit this is: it's real.”
“I'm not going to follow some random bitch onto a boat.”
With that, Nathan drew his sword.
“Put it down!” Danielle yelled.
“Stay the fuck back,” Nathan bellowed. He took a combat stance. The others backed off, except for Jesse and Inanna.
“You'd best get out of the way, Jesse,” said Nathan. “I've been training with this weapon for years, and I've seen you fight with that axe. You don't stand a chance. I'll cut you down if I have to. I just want some fucking answers.”
“You've got your answers. You just choose not to believe the facts in front of you,” said Jesse as he walked forward. “I'm not stepping out of the way.”
Inanna set her hand on Jesse's shoulder and pushed him aside gently.
“That word, bitch, it is used to describe a female dog, correct?” said Inanna.
“Yeah,” said Nathan.
“If you refer to me as a dog again, I will cut out your heart, have my servants cook it in a red-wine sauce until it is tender, and then I will eat it in front of your loved ones, you thick-headed whore's son.”
She drew her sword. The polished bronze blade sent golden beams of light into the air. Nathan laughed.
“A bronze sword? Are you fucking kidding me? Good steel can cut through bronze like butter. And this right here: this is good steel.”
“You remind me of my dead husband. If you do not stand down then I will send you to him.”
With that, Nathan dashed forward. Jesse’s heart pounded as he watched the two draw close to each other. Inanna held her sword low and circled away from Nathan. Nathan thrust at her. She turned her body just enough for him to miss and smacked his sword away. He drew his sword back and slashed at her. Her movement was too fast for Jesse to follow. She stayed just out of the reach of Nathan's swing no matter how fast he thrust or slashed at her. Frustrated, he grunted and began to swing at her over and over again. Each time he missed, and when his sword got close enough, she batted it away like an annoying bug.
“Have you quite finished yet?” Inanna asked.
“No!” yelled Nathan and he charged her. This time she stepped forward, and in a single fluid motion disarmed him and sent him falling into the sand.
“Enough of this shit,” Jesse shouted. He walked over to Nathan and grabbed him. Nathan tried to shake him off, but Jesse was too strong. Nathan's face had gone red from embarrassment and anger.
“It's real,” Jesse said an inch from Nathan's face. “She's real. All of this is real. I know it is h
ard to believe, but for fuck's sake, the dead are walking the earth. Is it so much harder to believe that we've met a god?”
Nathan stammered for a moment, and just stared at Jesse in disbelief.
“I do believe in God. I thought maybe this was all part of His plan, but now, fuck, I don't know.”
“I don't know either, Nathan,” said Jesse and he released Nathan. He continued, “I really don't. I don't have the faintest idea what's going on, but I know that if we are going to get answers, then those answers are going to come out of her.”
“All right, all right, I'm sorry man. I'm so sorry,” said Nathan and his eyes welled with tears. “I didn't know, I fucked up. I fucked up.”
“You don't need to apologize to me,” said Jesse. He pointed at Inanna and said, “I think she's the one that's going to want the apology.”
Nathan stood up and dusted himself off. He looked over at Inanna. She sheathed her sword and crossed her arms. The look she gave him could have turned a glacier into steam. Nathan bowed his head.
“I'm sorry, ma'am,” he said, he continued on slowly, pausing and thinking about each word. “I'm just very confused by all this. It won't happen again.”
“Kneel,” Inanna said. Nathan knelt. Inanna walked over to him and placed her hand on top of his hair. She grabbed his hair and made a fist. Jesse expected her to slit his throat and kick him into the sand.
“You are forgiven, but if you threaten me or my lover again, I will lop off your head, hollow out your skull, and have my servants use it as a chamber pot.”
“I understand,” said Nathan.
“Rise,” said Inanna. Nathan stood up with defeat in his eyes.
“Does anyone else have anything they need to get off of their chests?” she asked.
The others shook their heads. Inanna scanned them. Each of them lowered their heads when she made eye contact. Jesse caught a glimpse of something in the ocean.
“There is my boat,” Inanna said, and she pointed toward the ocean. A long wooden boat, with oars jutting out the sides, came into view.
“Where did that come from?” asked Tim. “I was just out there swimming.”
Within a few moments, the boat came within fifty yards of the beach. They could see dozens of holes in the side of the boat with oars sticking out. It was an ancient boat, but it looked immaculate, as if it had rowed out of a history book. When the wooden spectacle neared the beach, a small raft was lowered into the water by ropes. A man rowed the raft up to the beach, and dropped to one knee without a word.
“Shall we,” said Inanna, but she did not wait for a reply. She stepped onto the raft with the same confidence and elegance she had demonstrated before. Jesse followed.
“Yeah, let’s all just hop on the magical wooden boat with the random goddess lady. This couldn’t possibly end badly,” said Blake. Danielle came upside the back of his head with a hard slap.
“Ah fuck!” Blake yelled and rubbed his head.
“Just shut up for once,” said Danielle. She leaned in close to Blake, “I want to see how this plays out. It can’t be any worse than what we’ve been through already.”
“Fine, whatever,” Blake said.
“Hell, I’m excited,” said Tim.
“News of the century,” said Blake.
They boarded the raft. The rower wore loose clothes made of a crude fabric. His hair was long and ran down his back in a thick braid. He did not make eye contact, nor did he say anything to anyone. Inanna nodded to him and he rowed them toward the ship.
A crewmember unrolled a rope ladder when the raft neared the large boat. Inanna went up first, and Jesse and the others followed. The ship was large. The main deck had rows of seats for the oarsmen, and a huge table and chairs. Everything was wooden and bedecked in ornate carvings. The hull had plaques inscribed with a strange text. The outside of the cabin was decorated with several ancient paintings.
“What kind of writing is that?” Tim asked.
“Cuneiform,” said Jesse, “Sumerian stuff. It’s all triangles and lines.”
“Can you read it?” asked Tim.
“I don’t know anyone that can, except for college professors. I remember it from my ancient history courses.”
“I can’t picture you in history class,” said Blake.
“You don’t have to,” said Jesse. He patted Blake on the shoulder and walked around the ship.
At the bow was a captain's cabin, and above it a platform with a stone podium. The same snake from Inanna's pendant was carved into the podium, and next to the snake was a tree. In the tree was a feral woman with wild hair.
Inanna stood at the head of a long, rectangular table. She sat down with grace, and gestured to the other head of the table. Jesse sat there. The others came over and sat on either side. Inanna waved over a crewmember. This one was a woman, and she wore a simple dress. Her hair was long and braided and she had the same amber skin as Inanna, although hers was not without mortal blemishes. Inanna spoke to her in a language that Jesse did not recognize. Blake waved at her and smiled. She stared at him blankly for a second before she left. His smiled faded and he looked down at the carved wooden plate in front of him. Tim leaned over and nudged Blake in the arm.
“She’ll come around,” Tim said. Blake laughed.
“They will bring food shortly,” said Inanna. “I hope you have strong appetites.”
“Lady,” said Blake, “I haven't eaten hardly anything that hasn't come out of a bag or a can in a long time.”
“Blake,” Inanna said, with a stern tone, “I do not know what passes for manners where you are from, but if you refer to me as lady again I will have my servants throw you overboard.”
Blake swallowed hard and looked down at the table.
“Sorry,” he said, “I didn't mean anything by it.”
Jesse looked at Inanna and gave her a look of disapproval. She cocked her head, and made a thin smile.
Inanna clasped her hands together and spoke, “I should apologize as well. You all have come a long way, and this must be difficult for you all to understand. I have not shared the company of humans in a long time, except for my servants, but they do not speak to me as you have. They live for me and my pleasure. They would slit their wrists if I asked to see the color red. I do not expect you to submit to me in such a way, but take care with your words. We gods have fiery tempers. Now, please eat and drink. You may ask me whatever questions you have once the food arrives.”
The food came out in stages. First were fruits and vegetables: fresh avocados, dates, figs, and other produce that amazed the group of tired travelers. They ate with reckless abandon. By the time the fish and bread came out, they were nearly full. The bread had a hard crust and a dry interior, but it came with side dishes of oil to soften it. The fish was massive and it was served whole. After they had managed to eat half the fish, some servants came out with large horns of dark, cloudy beer. They all drank, until they could not drink anymore. The rest of the evening was a blur. Random questions were blurted out once the alcohol had lowered the fearful passengers' inhibitions.
“What does a god eat?”
“The same as you.”
“Do you age?”
“Slowly.”
“Can you die?”
“It is possible. Other gods have, but not I.”
“How did you get servants?”
“The same way a singer gets fans. I earned their admiration.”
The questions came suddenly and they were answered with speed in a soft, apathetic tone.
Servants led all but Jesse and Inanna down to the lower decks to sleep. Inanna looked across the table at Jesse.
“Are you satisfied?” she asked him.
“Almost,” he said. With that, she stood up and walked to the heavy wooden door of the captain's cabin. Jesse stood and followed her. He felt like he was gliding. He had not experienced such pleasure in his life. His belly was full of succulent food and he was about to bed a goddess for the second time i
n one day. The door opened and they entered her cabin.
Dim light from a single oil lantern gave the interior of the room an intimate feel. Aromatic oils and sandalwood incense thickened the air. In the center of the room was a large bed with silk sheets. It called to him. She undid her dress with a single, deft motion and let it fall to the floor. Her profile was astounding. The small space between her upper thighs made him rigid in an instant. She released her hair from the braid and let it fall freely on the skin of her back. Her body was a work of art and she moved it with the skill of a dancer. She stepped over the fallen fabric and lowered herself onto the bed. He removed his clothes and tossed them aside. As he set his knee onto the mattress, she grabbed him and pulled him on top of her. She wrapped her legs around him and he clung to her. They wrestled with each other with raw passion until the moment of climax. When they had both had their fill he let himself dissolve into unconsciousness. He slept a deep, dreamless sleep. When he awoke, she was still beside him and awake as well. He rolled on his side.
“So, tell me of this husband of yours.”
“It was first love,” said Inanna and she continued with a narrator's voice. It felt to Jesse that she had invented the art of storytelling. She spoke with an artful precision.
“My brother told me to marry Dumuzi, who was a shepherd, but I wanted this farmer. Shepherding is lazy work compared to the farmer, some simpleton leading animals around and taking from them. A farmer cultivates, harvests, and they are the heart of civilization. But this Dumuzi was a proud man, and bombastic, so he used his words to make himself sound more the man. Whatever the farmer could do, he said he could do better. Where the farmer had grain, he had milk and cheese. Where one suitor had intoxicating beer, he had nourishing milk and cream. Where another had coarse flax, he had soft wool. I was young, so I fell for him. We made love and had two sons, but as we grew older, we also grew apart. He thought he could just be the shepherd king and not care for his wife anymore. A woman has many needs, a goddess has many more, and he could not satisfy them. I was busy taking what was rightfully mine: the powers of the universe. One power that I coveted more than any other was control of the underworld. So, I went down there. Things went poorly. I was caught and killed. I was saved and brought back to the land of the living, but the rules of the underworld are firm. One cannot simply leave the land of the dead, not unless they have a replacement. My servant saved me, and I could not repay her with death. I was followed by the galla to each of my temples, and at each temple, my followers were mourning me. When I came to my husband's palace, our palace, I saw that he sat upon his throne smiling and acting kingly while I had been rotting in captivity. He paid the ultimate price for his transgression. The galla took him. Now he sits in hell, in my place, and I do not mourn him.”
The Lost Gods Page 19
