drinking nothing, sequestering himself in a room with
the dead, until he, too, died.”
Sutekh was quiet for a moment. The smell of lotus
blossoms carried in from the garden. The sound of the
water trickling down a cascade of rocks into the pool
was soft and relaxing, the environment deceptively
calm. “I will see him after Hades’ minion. I am interested to know what this human was willing to sacrifice
his life for and how that sacrifice may be of benefit to
me.”
And so it began, the endless procession. The chosen
souls were granted their time. Sutekh was unfailingly
polite, listening to each plea. The end was invariably
the same. He explained kindly, softly, that no, sadly, he
could not return them to life. That was not within his
power. Then he offered a boon, a gift, to each one.
EVE SILVER
25
Would they like a loved one left behind to come into
some money? Would they like a child to have a chance
for an education? Perhaps aging parents to be comforted in their time of mourning?
When the supplicants grasped his hand and thanked
him, he shook his head and said, “This I am very glad
to do for you. I do it with an open heart. The heart of
a friend. Friends do for each other, care for each other.
I do this for you and you become part of me.” He
watched them carefully, his golden beauty and soft
voice and air of steely command lulling them. Gahiji
had seen it so many times before. “I will keep you
here, with me, my friend. Right here. Not in a distant
place, but close to me, as close as can be. Do you want
