Chapter 2 — 5000 years ago

A noisy wind was disturbing the hot sands of Egypt. The city beyond the dunes was palpitating with a strange kind of fervor.

It was that windy day that Gebseth Pharaoh chose for the destruction of the old temple of Nisraldûm. The people gathered at proximity of the ancient edifice, curious to witness that unusual event.

For many a year had Gebseth meditated the destruction of that old temple.

It was the abode of ancient and forgotten gods that were hardly revered anymore by anyone. His plan was to destroy the temple and build instead, at Nisraldûm, at the very same place, a new temple, this one dedicated to his own glory. After all, he himself was a god. At least this is what his flatterers were telling him, and what his counsellors were implying when bowing deeply in front of him.

The temple of Nisraldûm was a strange building, so ancient that no one remembered who built it. It had always been there, long before the beginning of the dynasty.

The whole thing was lacking symmetry, and was obviously not the product of a clear architect's mind, but was probably the result of various epochs, all layered in its stones, each of them having unthoughtfully added something to the previous elements. The people who built this must have been foolish and superstitious.

Pharaoh wanted instead something geometric, based on rationality, not on superstition, something perfect to mirror the perfection of his reign.

He first thought that a sphere would be the most perfect shape for his future temple, since a sphere is the purest form that human mind can conceive, but his architects were negative about it, pretending a sphere would be too hard to build. Then, Pharaoh declared that a pyramid is the most perfect shape that human mind could conceive. Hence, a pyramid it would be.

It is true that ordinary people were still attached to the ancient walls of Nisraldûm. They didn't know much about them, but they still felt a sense of sacredness when it came to the temple.

The building was inlaid in several locations with metallic radiant gemstones which were said to be fallen from the skies. People heard from stories that true gods use to live there, this explains why they were so reluctant at first to consider the destruction of such a place as something positive, albeit for the sake of a new perfect construction.

After all, there was plenty of room to build something new elsewhere. Why this insistence on crushing what already existed?

Gebseth's skilled magicians created miracles to make reluctant people comply. They built animated statues that were able to move on their own (put in motion by some complex hidden machinery which worked with burned coal and vapor) and many other marvels that proved their master's superior power.

"A true god such as us…" declared once Pharaoh "is to be worshiped for his own sake. But it is out of generosity that we build a new marvel, for the people to rejoice and find pleasure in the sight of this perfection." It was with trembling awe, agitated anticipation, and a hint of regret, that people gathered in front of Nisraldûm for the upcoming destruction.

But several priestesses and followers of Bastet, the cat goddess, interfered with the ceremony. Some of them shouted out to the Pharoh himself, which was a very imprudent way to speak to a living god.

"We are here to stop you." said a young priestess. "This project of yours shall not be fulfilled."

Gebseth was sitting on his high throne, separated from the people by a long stairway. On both sides stood slaves with huge fans made with red ibis feathers.

"Who are you?" asked Gebseth, wincing with amusement.

"My name has no importance. I speak in the name of my Lady."

"Who is… ?"

Four carriers approached, bearing a palanquin on which was placed a small box. The box was actually a wooden frame closed with opaque curtains. Two golden eyes appeared between the curtains and gazed at the Pharaoh.

Then the curtains flung open and a black cat jumped down on the ground. She wore a golden nose-ring, golden earrings, and a silver pectoral with the eye of Horus carved on it. Her pace was confident and agile, and she walked straight to the monarch.

 "Bastet is how they call me" said the cat "but I have many names."

Everyone in the audience looked at his neighbors to confirm he was not the only one who heard the cat speaking. Indeed, everyone perceived it even though no audible voice was heard. Gebseth was baffled. What kind of magic was this? His magicians never managed something like this. 

"Back off, Pharaoh. I will not allow this."

Pharaoh finally snaped out of it.

"So you people brought a speaking cat and thought your king would be impressed. You'll have to learn it the hard way…

"Well, I am the one who teaches lessons." replied the cat.

Pharaoh burst out laughing.

"Who you think you are to speak like that, kitty?"

"Haven't you heard me? I am the goddess Bastet. I am the protector of homes, of innocent children, the guardian of the tradition, the punisher of those who transgress against divine will. I warn you in the name of the One who sits on the universal throne."

"I am the supreme god! What do you think you're going to do?"

"Oh, let me tell you what I'm going to do. I will dismember your djet, extinguish your ka, send your ba directly to the underworld. I'll erase your ren from the sacred stones and from the memories of the future generations. I will clean the floor with your shut and toss it in the shadows of the deepest night."

"How… how dare you ?!" asked an outraged counsellor of the Pharaoh who thought it was his duty to say something. But Gebseth laughed again.

"How are you going to do all this things? You're just a cat! And I've got a full army of slaves to crush you. I'm not afraid of your cheap magic."

"I have an army too." replied the cat.

At this moment appeared on the top of the hills surrounding the city men mounted on horses, men going on foot, hundreds of them. Hermenoptes, the young general was standing in his chariot pulled by two horses, and on his shoulders two cats were sitting. Other cats were carried by the other men.

"I have no slaves" added the cat goddess. "All my supporters are but free men, willing to fight for the true good."

 "This is high treason!" cried Gebseth and he gave the order to his guards to stop the rebel faction and kill them all. Pharaoh's archers were immediately placed in defensive position.

"Your majesty!" intervened the counselor "They have cats with them…"

As Bastet's army was rushing down the hills, Gebseth's archers — who were supposed to make their arrows rain on the enemies — were reluctant to actually shoot. They still held a sacred place for cats in the deepest regions of their souls, and they would have regarded the killing of one of these holy animals as an unforgivable crime.

"Damn it! Shoot your arrows!" commanded Gebseth.

"Do not!" said Bastet. "Surrender your arms to my men, and you'll live."

The archers obeyed the goddess and dropped their bows. When Bastet's men arrived, rushing on their horses, a few soldiers tried to fight them with their swords but soon got defeated. All Pharaoh's defenses got destroyed in no time. Men were fleeing everywhere, or surrendered to the victorious army. Gebseth himself and his counsellors had to flee.

Now the old shrine was surrounded by Bastet's priestesses and soldiers. Hermenoptes, the young victorious commander, bowed before his goddess.

The day was over and the sun was setting on the horizon. When the last golden rays disappeared, a cool darkness descended on the silent sands. The gathered people saw Bastet approaching the temple.

With her nimble paw she touched one of the gemstones which were inlaid in the walls, and suddenly all the gemstones began to shine quaintly. It was a slow blue luminous palpitation at first, then the gemstones started to shimmer more and more rapidly, until a great beam of light finally departed from the roof and shot at the stars.

Up there, in the starry night, something sparkled between the constellations of the Great Bull and the Crocodile.