Fires were lit at intervals along the Nile embankments. The river itself now reflected many a fire that leaped, died, and leaped into life again, along the great quay fronting the temple of the Southern Apt.
Nearer, scarcely a stone’s throw away, it seemed, appeared the lights of the innumerable lamps which served to illuminate the pleasure-barge of Thi, the Queen-Mother. As Enana well knew, Pharaoh and his immediate family were accustomed to join the nightly fête from this point of vantage.
Enana raised his hands in the direction of the broad patch of buildings and trees which marked at once the royal palace and the nearby villa of Menna, the Overseer.
Suddenly a brilliant meteor shot from the highest zenith and seemed to bury itself in the waters of the palace lake. Enana’s voice rose upon the night air:
An omen, Pharaoh! an omen Thi! an omen Menna! By the Power of the Book, closed to ye are The gates of the Sky. Closed to ye are The Double Doors of Heaven! Ye shall not cross the Lily Lake of the Sky, Ye shall not sail upon the Boat with Ra! The Magic Vestments shall not be spread for ye! The White Sandals shall be hidden from ye! Yea, by the Secret Names I know, by the Hidden Talismans I possess, your bodies Shall be destroyed; your tombs shall know Them not! Your _kas_ shall not stand behind ye! Your _bas_ shall not sit upon your tombs! Annihilation is your portion; obliteration Your destiny!
Enana’s voice rose to a shrill falsetto; his whole form seemed to tremble as he cried aloud the first dread incantation:
Thoth! Thoth! Thoth! Come to my aid in thy name of Wisdom! Set! Set! Set! Descend to me in thy name of Evil! Turn thy face earthward, O Thoth! Turn thy face earthward, O Set! Enter my heart, Ye Gods; let thy Hearts become my heart; thy wisdom My Wisdom. I know thy Hidden Names, O Thoth! Thy Talismans are before me, O Set! Thoth thou art compelled, Set thou art Compelled. Hither to me, O Wisdom! Hither To me, O Evil! Send inspiration, O Thoth! Grant opportunity, O Set!
As the aged Magician’s voice shrilled out upon the night air Bata, the unhappy Unis’ aged nurse, suddenly awoke.
Softly she stole down the corridor from a chamber at the rear of the tomb, where she usually slept. Bata reached the open door just in time to hear Enana command the very gods to descend to earth. The horrified Bata fell in a faint across the threshold.