Set amidst the haunting, mysterious beauty of Ancient Egypt, The Second Coming of the Star Gods is an epic tale of magic, political intrigue, and mythology. Rich in historical and mystical detail, the story centers on Khem and Tiye, two young apprentice priestesses in the Temple of the Sun.
As the girls are initiated into the secret arts of dream interpretation, astronomy, and astral travel, a battle for the great empire's throne is being waged between the Pharaoh and his half-brother--a battle in which the young apprentices will unwittingly play the decisive role.
Engaging and hypnotic, The Second Coming of the Star Gods creates characters and a world so real you won't want to soon leave.
The Second Coming of the Star Gods
A VISIONARY NOVEL
By Page BryantHampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc.
Copyright © 2004 Page Bryant
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-57174-343-5Contents
Preface,
Chapter One: Journey to Heliopolis,
Chapter Two: The Holy Order of Nut,
Chapter Three: Pharaoh's Dream,
Chapter Four: Visions of the Past, Present, and Future,
Chapter Five: The Meeting,
Chapter Six: The Stone Head of the Desert,
Chapter Seven: The Star of Isis,
Chapter Eight: Partners in Magic,
Chapter Nine: How Magic Came to Egypt,
Chapter Ten: The Man Who Would Be Pharaoh,
Chapter Eleven: Ra, Mighty Monarch of the Gods,
Chapter Twelve: Powerful Men Meet,
Chapter Thirteen: Hawk-Man Dreams,
Chapter Fourteen: Sokar Is Appointed Co-Ritualist,
Chapter Fifteen: A Mysterious Death in the Temple,
Chapter Sixteen: The Face of Death,
Chapter Seventeen: Murder in the Temple?,
Chapter Eighteen: The Moon—Mistress of the Night Sky,
Chapter Nineteen: Baptism in the Lotus Pool,
Chapter Twenty: The Living Ascension,
Chapter Twenty-One: Khufu Gathers His Resolve,
Chapter Twenty-Two: Khufu and the Dark-Robed Figures,
Chapter Twenty-Three: The Stars of Sothis,
Chapter Twenty-Four: A Prophecy Revealed,
Chapter Twenty-Five: Sokar Honors the Star Gods,
Chapter Twenty-Six: An Ambivalent Encounter,
Chapter Twenty-Seven: A Night in the Dream Temple,
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Predictions from the Chief Astrologer,
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Star Waves and Omens of the Second Coming,
Chapter Thirty: Strategy for Kingship,
Chapter Thirty-One: Man in the Shadows,
Chapter Thirty-Two: An Initiation Chamber Beneath the Sphinx?,
Chapter Thirty-Three: Nepthys, the Passive Goddess,
Chapter Thirty-Four: Pharaoh's Dream,
Chapter Thirty-Five: The New High Priestess of the Temple of the Sun,
Chapter Thirty-Six: The Star Woman's Vision,
Chapter Thirty-Seven: Time to Consult the Oracle,
Chapter Thirty-Eight: A Time for Amulet Making,
Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Invitation,
Chapter Forty: The Apparition of a Spirit Woman,
Chapter Forty-One: The Secret Chamber under the Sphinx,
Chapter Forty-Two: Reporting the Dream,
Chapter Forty-Three: Dedication of the Temple of Thoth,
Chapter Forty-Four: Hail to Thoth,
Chapter Forty-Five: Danger for the King,
Chapter Forty-Six: Sekhmet, Lioness of the Desert,
Chapter Forty-Seven: The Calling,
Chapter Forty-Eight: The Sirius Council Meets Again,
Chapter Forty-Nine: Journey to Memphis,
Chapter Fifty: Khaba's Ghost Appears,
Chapter Fifty-One: The Prophecy of the Blue Star,
Chapter Fifty-Two: An Ancient Scroll of Spells,
Chapter Fifty-Three: Omen of Danger,
Chapter Fifty-Four: The Goddess-Bearing Comet,
Chapter Fifty-Five: Incident in the Holy of Holies,
Chapter Fifty-Six: In the Presence of Sekhmet,
Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Two Hawks Deal with Bakka,
Chapter Fifty-Eight: Final Preparation for Inundation,
Chapter Fifty-Nine: The Cycle of Life,
Chapter Sixty: Awaiting the Dawn,
Chapter Sixty-One: The Eve of All Tomorrows,
Chapter Sixty-Two: The Rising of the Great Star,
Chapter Sixty-Three: Into the Path of Stars,
Chapter Sixty-Four: The New Initiations in Heliopolis,
Glossary,
CHAPTER 1
Journey to Heliopolis
The long journey would soon be over. Rashid and his family had secured space ona cargo vessel sailing north from Abydos to the city of Heliopolis in the Delta.For days the trip up the Nile had provided Rashid and his wife, Bata, and theirchildren, Khem and Atef, with endless sights of what life was like outside theirbeloved Abydos. They saw desert dunes on one side, oases and fertile fields onthe other during their daily sojourn on the thirst-quenching river. Thetravelers saw peasant men herding camels, sailed by countless villages withtheir meager huts nestled along the water's edge, and smelled the smoke waftingfrom cooking fires through groves of date palms, mixed with odors of animaldung, roasting fish and fowl, and the hot, parched dust of the arid land.Children played joyfully in every village. Women pounded clothes on rocks at theriver's edge, while engaging in lively chatter about the latest news. Waterbuffalo walked in circles, endlessly pushing turnstiles to irrigate the crops.Village after village floated by, each a stage upon which the drama of the dailylives of the fellahin, the most common among the Egyptian people, unfolded.
Rashid was a fisherman by trade. In the cool winter months he helped build homesto supplement the family's income. Bata and Rashid were good parents who lovedtheir children. They led quiet, honest lives. Aside from her duties as a wifeand mother, Bata was a fine embroiderer and spent much of her spare timestitching colorful images on fine linen garments that were brought to her bywomen of the wealthier class.
Abydos was a flourishing metropolis that had long been an established religiouscenter. The city belonged to Osiris. Temples erected in his honor dotted thelandscape, but none was more impressive than the Grand Temple that served as asort of cenotaph for the god.
Osiris was a good god. He had watched over Egypt for a long, long time, maybeforever. It seemed that He had been especially good to Abydos as it was theplace where legends say his head was buried. Since Khem was very young she couldremember the stories about Osiris told to her and Atef by their father. Rashidhad always felt the need to make his children aware of the divinities, as theyare the source of all things in life, including life itself. Above all else,Rashid had said, Osiris is the god of resurrection. To Khem this meant that nomatter what might come, life continues.
One memory that stood out in Khem's mind was of being lifted to her father'sshoulders during the Festival of Osiris so she could see the procession ofpriests pass by. Her eyes had drunk in the sight of the Osirian barque, theweskhet, bearing its sacred cargo to the temple to be purified. Ahead of thefellahin went the jackal-god, Wepwawet, the herald of Osiris. Scores of priests,court jesters, and common celebrants went before the royal barque, their songsand antics telling the stories of Osiris's conquests. Gods don't always have itso easy, she had thought. People want to harm or even kill them. Their lives arenot always filled with the luxury and sanctity that one would expect to beaccorded a deity. Though somewhat confusing, this was what had endeared Osiristo her from the earliest times she could remember.
Though the common people could not witness the purification of the god, as thattook place within the Holy of Holies deep inside the temple, when the festivalwas over, Khem felt a strange sense of security just knowing that Osiris wascleansed and all was right with the world for another year. In her young mind,whenever trouble arose within the sphere of her life or when she became anxiousover things that disturb a child's peace—a broken doll, a stubbed toe, a tear inher favorite sheath—she would remind herself that, come what might, Osirisreigned. He protected her and made things right. It was a thought that neverfailed to calm her fears and soothe her hurt feelings. Never did she suspectthat such reassurance from the god himself did not cross the minds of others herage. To her, it was natural. It was a...
