Before the Throne

48

HORUS CALLED OUT, “Sulayman Tadros!”

A thickset man of medium height came in, walking until he stood before the throne.

Osiris asked him to speak.

“A skilled engraver,” said Sulayman Tadros, “I lived through the rule of four caliphs: al-Mahdi, al-Hadi, al-Rashid, and al-Ma’mun. And tens of governors all in a row, most of them conquered by wantonness, bribery, and oppressiveness. In their day, numerous uprisings broke out, and in some of them the Copts — the native Egyptians — both Christian and Muslim, and the Arabs, would all unite against the persecution, cooperating with each other to drive it out. Finally, al-Ma’mun himself came to restore order, and justice prevailed. Conditions improved for all the people, whatever their religion.”

“Did you join any revolutions?” asked Abnum.

“No, but I lost a son in one of them,” Sulayman Tadros replied.

“Seemingly, things were moving in a new track,” said the Sage Ptahhotop.

“You truly deserve our empathy,” said Osiris. “Go to your final trial in peace.”