Kiya and the God of Chaos

by Philippa Bower

  Chapter Eighty Eight: Meri

  Ramala sat cross legged beside the birthing box and cradled the baby on her knees. “What an easy birth,” she said. She gently wiped the blood and mucus from the baby’s body with the damp towel.

  Easy? thought Kiya. That was hardly how she would describe it. “How is the baby?” she said.

  “He is fine,” said Ramala, holding him up for inspection. “A beautiful baby boy.”

  Kiya looked at her son with joy. He was perfect - plump and smooth and golden. She held him in her arms while Ramala cut the cord and bandaged the end. Kiya kissed the baby, feeling how soft the top of his skull was beneath her lips. She felt his love like a glow that echoed the love she felt for him.

  “You must have a wash, my dear, and then you must rest,” said Ramala. She took the baby and followed Kiya out to the trough in the back yard. “It is extraordinary,” she said.

  “What?” said Kiya, as she cleaned away the blood from between her legs.

  “The love I feel coming from this baby. I have never experienced anything like it.”

  “I know. I felt it when I was pregnant but it continues even now.”

  “What is his name? Have you decided?”

  “There can only be one name – Meri, for Meri means love.”

  “You are right. My grandson, Meri.” Ramala gazed tenderly down at the baby and he opened his eyes for the first time. Kiya saw with a shock that his eyes were not brown, like most Egyptians, but a brilliant blue that seemed to shine as brightly as the sky. “What strange eyes he has,” said Ramala.

  “Let me take him,” said Kiya. She held the baby against her breast and he closed his eyes once more. He nuzzled against her, feeling for her nipple. His questing mouth found it and he started to suck. She felt her body tingle as he fed and her heart was filled with joy.

  Ramala went indoors to prepare the seating ledge as a day bed for Kiya. A flurry of movement caught Kiya’s eye and she looked up to where a flock of sparrows had settled on the balustrade of the roof and were looking down into the yard with bright, inquisitive eyes.

  The baby in her arms stirred, opened his eyes, and reached up as if to greet them. Kiya felt his love for the pretty creatures and they must have sensed it too, for a few of the bolder ones flew down into the yard. Some perched on the side of the trough, others landed upon the beaten earth, almost touching Kiya’s naked feet. She stood as still as a statue, hardly daring to breath, as they clustered around.

  Ramala called from the house, “The bed is ready.”Her voice disturbed the birds and, with a clatter of wings, they flew back up to the safety of the roof.

  Kiya was thoughtful as she carried the baby indoors. The love she thought was for her alone extended to others and even to birds. She lay on the bed and Ramala covered her naked body with a sheet.

  The baby snuggled against her, found her breast and suckled greedily. Meri, my beloved son, she thought. How difficult it will be to share your love with the world.

  After a while Teos came into the room. He looked nervous. “Is it over?” he asked.

  “Yes, you are safe to come in,” said Ramala with a laugh. “Look, you have a fine grandson.”

  Meri had fed and was asleep. Kiya gently lifted him into the arms of Teos. “What a beautiful baby,” he said. “What is he called?”

  “Meri,” said Ramala. “We must have a birth ceremony and bury the placenta beside the door.”

  “I will get my spade,” said Teos. He was about to hand the baby back to Kiya when Meri woke and regarded Teos with his strange, blue eyes. Even from a distance Kiya could feel the love the baby felt for her father. Within the shadow of Teos’s arms the baby seemed to glow with an inner light. Teos looked stunned then he handed the baby to Kiya and hurried from the room.

  By the time Teos returned with his spade, Kiya had dressed and combed her hair. She held her sleeping baby and watched Teos dig a hole beside the front doorstep. Ramala fetched the placenta, which had been left in the birthing box. Kiya shivered when she saw it. It looked like liver and reminded her of the horror of watching the Minotaur devour a girl.

  As if in response to her emotion, the baby’s love grew stronger. How could such a miraculous baby have been conceived? Thought Kiya, she must have had knowledge of such a portentous event. She remembered the night when a star came down from the heavens. It rested upon her bed and then sank down as if absorbed into her belly. She recalled the warmth and the sense of wonder. Could the moment of conception have been then?

  Teos finished digging the hole and Ramala placed the placenta into it. The three of them stood gazing down at the dark-red mass while Ramala said the prayer of the birth ceremony.

  “In the name of Tawaret, we thank thee

  In the name of Heget, we thank thee,

  In the name of Bes, we thank thee.

  Twin soul of Meri, who nourished him in the womb.

  May your presence at our door protect him.

  In the name of Amun.”

  Kiya watched as Teos shovelled the earth in on top of the placenta and prayed that Meri would survive the troubles of a wicked world.

  “That is strange,” said Teos as he straightened from his task. “My back doesn’t twinge any more.”

  “Really?” said Ramala. “That is good news, my love. My salves must finally have worked.”

  “Unless...” Teos looked at the baby.

  Ramala followed his gaze. “You think Meri might be a healer?”

  “No,” said Kiya. “He is just a baby.”

  “You said yourself that you must learn to share him,” said Ramala.

  “Yes, but not yet.”

  “Don’t get upset, my dear,” said Ramala. “It has been a long day. Come, let us eat supper. A new baby will probably disturb our sleep so the sooner we get to bed the better.”