Part 10 (1/2)
Ninani, her fears for her father etched into her face, prostrated herself before him. She was determined to try to speak to him again. After a moment, he glanced up, and scowled.
”Daughter,” he said, in a low growl, ”this is a bad time to talk. The temple of Ishtar has been attacked, and the G.o.ddess is furious. She has voiced all kinds of threats against the city. I must think. Leave me alone.”
Obeying his commands despite her fears and worries, Ninani retreated from the throne room. As the guards closed the doors, shutting her off from her father, she turned to see her maid Puabi, almost hopping from foot to foot.
”What is it, old woman?” the princess asked rudely.
”My lady, terrible news.” She fell into step beside her mistress as they returned to the princess's rooms. ”Strangers have attacked the G.o.ddess Ishtar in her -” ”I have heard that news,” Ninani said coldly. ”It's a shame that they didn't drive her out.”
”Have a care, saying such things!” Puabi whispered in horror. She glanced about them, in case anyone had heard this remark. ”We are blessed by her presence. But...”
”But what?” ”Lady, according to one of the acolytes that I spoke with, one of the temple girls was helping the strangers that attacked Ishtar. My niece, En-Gula!” Stunned, Ninani whirled about. ”What happened to her?” she asked urgently. ”Does she live? Has she been captured by the G.o.ddess?”
She could imagine what might happen if Ishtar made the girl speak.
”The attackers fled,” Puabi replied. ”En-Gula went with them. Lady, I'm so sorry! I didn't know that she was such a wicked child! Attacking the G.o.ddess in her temple! What is the world coming to? Young people in my day -” Ninani let the nurse prattle on, and thought hard. Whatever En-Gula was doing, she alone knew that the princess was plotting against Ishtar. A few words from the girl, and Ninani might well be doomed, for all her royal blood. What was happening? Ninani s.h.i.+vered, imagining all of the possibilities. If Ishtar were to find out . . . Or her father, even . . . Who had the girl plotted with, and what was she doing now? Her stomach churning with uncertainty and fear, the princess of Kish felt the corridor spinning about her. With a cry, she collapsed to the hard, stone floor.
11: PARTY PIECE.
To Ace's surprise Gilgamesh's palace was nowhere near as grungy as she had feared. Uruk looked similar to Kish - a city with walls, next to a stream - and about the same size. A bridge led across the river to the main gateway, where winged lions carved from imported stones stared down at her. The roads were wide, and astonis.h.i.+ngly clean. Trees were planted in the streets and squares, and the buildings were in good repair. To her eyes, the oddest thing was that there were no windows in the buildings. She mentioned this to Avram, who smiled.
”It is for privacy, lady,” he explained. ”Each house is built about a central open courtyard, and the windows let onto this. It would be unseemly for a family to allow themselves to be overlooked by the most casual of pa.s.sers by, would it not?”
Ace remembered the rows of windows in Perivale, all looking out onto the road and all protected by frilly nylon curtains. ”You may have a point,” she agreed.
In the centre of the town a huge ziggurat stood. This was a stepped pyramid rising over two hundred feet into the air, with a temple atop it. It had seven levels, each with a walkway leading around the entire structure, and with altars on every level. People swarmed all over it. The edifice dwarfed all of the, other buildings including the royal palace, which was a mere two-story building, albeit built on a grand scale.
The guards at the city gates had alerted the council of n.o.bles to the return of Gilgamesh as soon as the party had been sighted approaching the city.
Several of the n.o.bles appeared as Gilgamesh led the way to the palace, and they fell on their faces in the street. It didn't do anything for their clothing, since the roads were not particularly dry.
Obviously pleased with his reception, Gilgamesh reached down to touch one of the prostrate n.o.bles. ”Get up, Ennatum,” he said, with mock severity. ”I trust all has been well since I left?”
Ace didn't like the s.h.i.+fty look on Ennatum's bearded features. Despite his oily words, he didn't seem overjoyed to see his king return. ”Lord,” the adviser said, rubbing his hands together, ”the city prospers, and all rejoice that you have returned safely. A feast is being prepared -”
”Good,” Gilgamesh said dismissively, striding on towards the palace. The guards fell in about him, and the growing procession continued.
Glancing about Ace saw another of the n.o.bles, a short, fat man who struggled hard to keep up. He seemed as white as a sheet, and she wondered why. Didn't he like Gilgamesh? Well, she couldn't blame him - the king was certainly a royal pain in the backside - it seemed odd. Then it clicked. Gilgamesh had been ambushed as he had tried to enter Kish -and someone must have told the Kis.h.i.+tes to expect him. With a wicked grin, she made her way to the tubby traitor, and nudged him in the ribs.
”Oi,” she said, softly. ”Who rattled your cage? Surprised to see the king back, are you? Didn't think he'd make it?”
The man stared at her and almost fainted from terror. Bingo! Hit it in one!
she grinned at his terror. ”Chill out,” she said. ”If he's too thick to notice what's going on, I won't tell him.” She sauntered on, leaving the stunned traitor to his own terrified thoughts.
Ennatum had seen Ace approach Gudea, and the fool's ashen face had spoken volumes. Why couldn't he mask his emotions? The girl, whoever she was, didn't glance at him, so he was safe - for now. It was obvious, though, that it was time to dispose of Gudea before he blabbed.
Avram stared around curiously. He'd never been in Uruk before, but it looked like a wealthy city. A musician might make a good living here, he mused. Especially if an idea he'd been mulling over bore fruit. He smiled encouragingly at En-Gula. She looked pale: she'd been brought up in Kish to look upon the inhabitants of Uruk as murderers and rapists at best. This trip was merely the lesser of two terrifying evils for her, despite Gilgamesh's a.s.surances of royal protection. Both Avram and En-Gula knew that kings have notoriously short and fickle memories.
As for the Doctor: his thoughts were his own. He fingered the devices he'd slipped into his pockets after the midnight trip into the TARDIS, and hoped that his conclusions were correct. So far, all the evidence pointed the same way.
They arrived at the palace. Guards threw wide the main doors, and Gilgamesh strode in, regally ignoring everyone who threw themselves down in his path. He made his way directly to the throne room, and collapsed into his throne.
”Right,” he said, when everyone was gathered around. ”First, I'm taking a bath and oils. Then I want a feast. After that, Doctor, you and I will talk with my council and lay our plans. Ennatum, see to it that the Doctor and his friends have one of the royal suites. They'll need to refresh themselves before the feast, too. And get them some clean clothes. Well -what's everyone waiting for? Get to it!” He clapped his hands, and a whirlwind of activity began.
Ace was escorted away by a couple of servants who were measuring her up even as they walked alongside her. She saw the Doctor and Avram taken through one set of doors, and she and En-Gula were politely but firmly ushered through another set.
She looked about the room torn between mortification and amus.e.m.e.nt. It was a bit different from her old bedroom in Perivale. The stone walls were broken only by small, high windows. Light was provided by reed torches, soaked in foul-smelling bitumen, set in holders at intervals on the walls.
There were two low beds, covered in furs and a coa.r.s.e kind of cloth.
Instead of pillows there were wooden blocks. A few chairs and small tables were scattered about the room, most carved into uncomfortable-looking animal designs. Panthers and antelopes seemed to be the favourite themes.
En-Gula seemed equally to be stunned by all of this. ”Such luxury,” she whispered, staring about her.
Ace snorted. ”If you like this lot, you'd love Perivale,” she grinned.
The girl stared at her. ”Is Perivale the home of the G.o.ds?” she asked.
Ace was momentarily lost for words. She replied carefully.
”Not exactly. More like the back end of nowhere. But compared to this pad, even a council flat is luxury.”
En-Gula shook her head. ”I do not understand you.”
”Don't worry,” Ace told her. ”Sometimes I don't understand myself. Oi! What are you doing?” she demanded, as one of the servants started to tug at her jacket.
”Preparing you for your bath,” the young girl replied, bowing low.
”Well, keep your hands to yourself,” Ace snapped. ”I don't need any help to take a bath.” She had to admit, though, that after the events of the previous night she felt that it would be lovely to lie back and soak in a tub.
En-Gula shook her head slightly. ”Lady,” she said, ”I do not know how it is where you come from, but here you must allow them to help. It is their duty.”
Glancing around at the four young girls, Ace shook her head firmly. ”Push off,” she told them, as kindly as she could. ”Just point me to the bath, and I'll handle it myself.”
She obviously wasn't getting through to them. Trying again, En-Gula explained: ”Aya, these girls have been ordered by the king to help you. If they do not, he might have them executed.”
”What?” Staring at the servants, Ace realized that the priestess was telling the truth. And she wouldn't put it past that regal loony to kill the girls, either.
Sighing, she held out her arms. ”Okay. But be careful with the jacket, or I might save Gilgamesh the trouble of killing you.”
Though En-Gula was more used to serving than being waited on, as the king's favoured guest she too submitted to the ministrations of the serving maids. She and they were equally amazed at both the quant.i.ty and kind of clothing that Ace wore. After they had fussed over her underwear and sneakers long enough, Ace yelled at them to get on with the bath.
Ace had expected a good soak in a tub. She was disappointed. Two of the girls brought in what looked like the type of old tin baths she'd heard pensioners talk about using in front of their fires half a century before she was born. Standing in one as she was directed, Ace gave a shriek as a bucket of cold water was tipped over her head.
”Grief!” she finally managed, teeth chattering, ”don't you heat the water here?” The chief serving girl looked puzzled. ”Whatever for, lady?” ”Well, I think you'd live longer with less shocks like that,” Ace managed to say before a second pail was tipped over her. Spitting out cold water, she flinched as two of the girls began to sc.r.a.pe at her with what looked like b.u.t.ter knives. ”Oi, what are you doing?”