Dream Boat

Chapter Thirty-five

When Claudia came to, she was surprised to find that she was not on a ferry boat on that one-way trip across the River Styx. No three-headed dog barked, no ghosts walked up to welcome her, there was no slap-slap-slap of oars on dark, grey, oily water.

She wished there was.

Because this was worse than death. This was living hell. As thunder rumbled in the background, she tried to move and found she'd been trussed up and gagged and that the harder she struggled, the deeper the bonds bit into her flesh. Her naked flesh. She stopped struggling at once.

You fool. You silly, bloody fool. The minute you realised what you'd walked into here, you should also have realised that he'd have heard your scream. What was he going to do? Ignore it? But so shocked had Claudia been by this whole tableau, so sickened by the discovery beneath the jackal mask that she hadn't been able to control herself.

Now she was about to pay the ultimate price.

Claudia began to shudder uncontrollably. And what of Flea? What price did that poor bitch have to pay? You led her to this. Her death is your fault, you should not have brought her to this evil valley. You should not have interfered! She flashed a glance to the girl's body with the black jackal's head.

Sixteen and thinks she knows it all. Imagines she can handle every problem life dishes out, that she is tough. But, hell, she isn't — wasn't. Flea was young and vulnerable, she needed protecting and you failed her. When she needed you most, you bloody failed her.

But all I wanted was to save her from a life of misery and wretchedness living off the streets.

Well, you saved her that all right. You condemned her to a terrifying death…

Claudia felt a tidal wave of nausea wash over her. What would Flea have felt, when the noose tightened round her neck? Did she die cursing Claudia? Claudia gulped back the sobs. Knowing Flea, she'd have died cursing herself.

Oh, Flea. What have I done? I set a sparrow among the hawks, and I deserve to suffer for your death. All I ask, oh mighty Jupiter, is that you let me see the face behind the silver mask before I die that I may return to haunt it.

She closed her eyes and tried to push back time. To forget the present, disregard the future, to go back — back — where life was full of childhood innocence, to a place of long-forgotten memories, of adolescent pranks and children laughing… Except time refused to budge, and the present throbbed with pain and heat and horror… Which bastard set this hellish table? What demon was so sick that he was beyond being wicked — perhaps, even, beyond evil? Suddenly, the nausea threatened to engulf her. The mind behind this invidious tableau was quite insane.

A man can never have too much power, she thought. Was it Min? Second in command, but nevertheless still second. Reporting to a younger brother went against nature and the grain. 'Never underestimate my power,' he'd hissed. 'Never misjudge the influence I carry.' And don't forget that lightning switch of personality. 'I never force a woman,' he had boasted. Claudia thought of her leather bonds which tightened with the slightest exertion. The same knot which she'd noticed round Flea's neck! Sweet Janus, the killer didn't force his victims. As they struggled for breath, they slowly strangled themselves.

Her shoulders began to shake involuntarily, tightening the bonds. Blood drizzled down her wrists and dripped off her fingertips. The rabbit face of Penno flashed before her. Preoccupied with rites and rituals — and with Seth in particular — he re-enacted ceremonies in the privacy of his own room. Were they only fantasies? Whoever planned this tableau needed to work in hurried snatches, and Claudia's stomach lurched at Penno's twig-like fingers wrapping rolls and rolls of linen over these poor brutalised bodies.

Bandages! These were Shabak's speciality, look at the way he dressed Geb's scald — tight, fast and utterly professional. And he'd know all about knots, would Friend Bluejaw. As the commune doctor, who'd be better placed to coax the trust from vulnerable young women? Women such as Berenice, who'd accept medication for her baby without suspecting it was poison. With a squad of eager helpers waiting for his commands, Shabak would not risk being absent for too long and suddenly Claudia saw the swarthy medic embalming 'patients' in his secret cave. Whistling while he worked.

Or was Neco's curious whistle the last sound these girls heard? Neco, who loathed himself so much that he stripped the very flesh off his own back in penance. Why do you hate yourself so much, Neco? Is it because of what you've done to these poor girls? Don't think I don't know what the bleeding and the bruising and the (holy Janus!) bites signify on Flea's young flesh. You rape them and you torture them, mentally and physically, and then you walk away and let them choke themselves to death. Is that why you whip yourself, Neco? To dull the pain inside your twisted mind?

What was it Min said of Neco? Doesn't tolerate familiarity. Of course not. Men like the killer don't. They can't. Intimacy is incomprehensible to them, they Claudia's heart fluttered. What was that? Footsteps. A whistle. A brisk rubbing of hands. Sweet Jupiter, whose hands? A light flickered in the distance. Growing nearer. Nearer…

Despite her gag, despite the gnawing bonds, Claudia gasped.

Of the men she had suspected, this surely was the lowest on her list and yet, dear lord, she should have guessed! Her heart began to thump. Who had access to the kitchen staff and was in charge of the commune's security? Who was so desperate to keep the guards out of the valley? Who'd be worried sick about any potential breach in the security? Only one man. The man who would not want them stumbling across a certain ancient cave.

Claudia could only stare as his broad, hairy hands pulled back the foliage from the scrambling fig across the entrance. The first night she arrived, the night she'd helped Shabak bandage the burn, Geb's hair had been damp, she remembered. It was raining that night. He'd just come in from the rain. Just come in from killing Berenice.

In the entrance to the cavern, the Keeper of the Central Store held up his torch, his eyes wide and manic, his skin shining with sweat. That bruise on his knuckles… she'd spotted it, and never thought to question its cause. Her heart was crashing wildly now, skipping several beats. Let it be quick, she prayed. Please let it be quick.

His eyes made contact with Claudia's.

Her heart stopped.

With a grunt, he lunged forward and ripped off Claudia's gag. 'What the hell-'

Fffff

The sound was so soft, Claudia barely heard it. Like a swish of cotton, or a light exhalation of breath, the sound was soft and sensuous in the silence of the cave.

As though captured on a marble frieze, everything happened in slow motion. Geb's eyes bulged. He teetered on his feet. Then slowly — oh, so slowly — the Keeper of the Central Store pitched forward. With an arrow protruding from his back.

Her heart began to grind back into action, each beat like a blacksmith's hammer on the forge. 'Marcus! Oh, Marcus, thank the gods you found me.' She owed him one for this, she really did!

But In the flickering light of Geb's torch, her eyes caught a flash of silver. Her marrow turned to ice.

No one had come to save her. Geb wasn't the killer.

Perhaps attracted by the light, perhaps attracted by the unfamiliar silver mask, Geb — like Claudia — had merely stumbled on the cave. His eyes, she realised now, had been bright from drink, not from insanity, she'd caught a blast of palm wine on his breath when he ripped away her gag. Geb had been as surprised as she was!

'Always like to keep a bow handy.' The silver figure glided into the cave. 'In fact, I had to put an arrow through a dog the other day. Caught a whiff, y'see.' He indicated the figures round the table. 'After that I had to lock the buggers up. Yours with it.'

'W-why haven't you killed me?' Claudia's voice was little more than a whisper.

'Tut, tut, girl. Mustn't believe that tosh 'bout Seth being the Devourer of Souls.' The silver figure leaned over the inert form of Geb and didn't seem to notice that Claudia's gag was gone. 'Seth doesn't kill, my child. He is not a beast like Anubis there, or Bast. Even this — ' Placing one foot on Geb's back, he hauled the arrow out and, outside, thunder masked the groan the big man made. He doesn't realise, Claudia thought, the silver killer doesn't realise that Geb is still alive! 'This was self-defence,' said Seth, brushing Geb's blood from his costume. 'Must apologise if you feel I'm tardy in consummating our relationship, my dear, but you will receive my holy seed, I promise. You see, I have something really special planned for you, Osiris.'

'Osiris?'

The silver figure misunderstood her question. 'Oh yes, Osiris must be last, because he's the only other human god present at the table. Isis over there was first, then the animals followed after — of course, their order was not important — but the ceremony must end with Osiris. Begin and end with the human gods. Begin and end with the humans.'

Silver hands picked up the gold mask and held it to the tiny light he'd brought, and while he admired it, Claudia's teeth began to chatter. This went far beyond sex and control, this was about domination of souls.

'Osiris thinks he's the son of Ra, y'see, but Seth is Ra's true son. He's shown me the path to eternal resurrection and soon the people will realise that Mentu is nothing but a Pharaoh over fools, the King of Clowns, a con man. Only Seth has the power over immortality, and I — ' he stretched out his silver sleeves — 'am prepared to confer this immortality on you, my chosen Council. Together — ' he reached for a small pot in the middle of the table — 'the eleven of us will control the destiny of mankind. Together we can rule the future.'

'And the past?'

'The past is nothing,' he said, dipping a brush in the contents. 'The future is spread across the heavens and Seth alone can read the magic written in the stars. Seth alone knows the secret spell.'

Slowly he began to stroke the paintbrush over Claudia's face, and she knew the colour would be blue.

Bright eyes glittered behind the silver mask. 'The future is my power and the future belongs to me,' he intoned quietly. 'And soon, very soon, my child, this future will be yours.'

Finishing his artwork, he stepped back to admire it, oblivious to the thunder and the white strikes of lightning.

'I have been twice blessed tonight,' he said, cheerfully touching up Claudia's cheek, one brushstroke here, another there. 'First, the jackal comes trotting like a tame dog,' he chuckled, giving Flea's mask an affectionate pat. 'Saw her, y'know, running down to the kennels. So easy to convince her I'd taken the puppy away to comfort it when it took fright during the storm, kept him safe up here in this cave. Then what do you know? Ra delivers you to my table, allowing me to advance the divine schedule.'

Slowly he placed the golden mask of Osiris, god of the underworld, over Claudia's head.

'Soon, my child, I shall return with the final member of our Holy Council and you can each watch while I implant my sacred seed inside the vulture.'

The mask was heavy. Suffocating. Heaven only knows what the others must have felt, weighted beneath the heavy animal heads. But at least Claudia's mouth was free. Who, in this storm, would hear her scream?

In the doorway, the silver figure paused. 'I've never watched before, but at the end it will be fitting, don't you think? Seth, Master of the Darkness, observing while Osiris makes his final choice.'

'Ch-choice?'

'To die, and thus follow the path to eternal resurrection. Or live and face eternal desolation in the desert of mankind.'

Under the mask, Claudia felt herself sway. Did he not realise that no one could survive these knots? She watched him disappear into the thunderstorm and prayed a bolt of lightning would strike this sicko dead.

At her feet, Geb stirred. 'Has he…'his voice was faint. 'Has he gone?' He'd lost a lot of blood, and the very fact that the arrow had been pulled out had signed his death warrant.

'Yes.' Claudia swallowed. She wondered if he knew how badly he was hurt. 'Geb, I know this will be agony for you, but you've got to help me. Please!'

'How?' Even to speak was excruciating for him.

'Untie my hands.'

'Can't — move.'

'I can shuffle closer.' Each lurch drove the leather thongs deeper into her naked flesh. She felt blood dribble down her arms and thighs. There was blood in her mouth, too, from biting on her lip. One more jump and the chair would be within his reach.

'Can't — ' he rasped, 'can't move.'

Claudia felt panic rise in her breast. This was her only chance! Seth would be back any minute. Think, think — somehow you must get Geb to help you. 'You killed your wife,' she said.

Geb's head jerked in surprise. 'You know?'

Yes, but the next bit was a gamble. 'You joined this commune to atone for your sin, didn't you?'

'Her fault,' he whispered. 'Didn't stop me. She — made me hit her. One day — too hard. Dead. Blamed her until I found the Brothers. Know now that abstinence and — aargh! — penance will make my heart weigh light at the balance.'

Jupiter, forgive me, I have no other choice. 'You imagine that a few paltry months overseeing the domestic running of this commune constitutes penance?' Claudia forced grit into her voice. 'Dammit, Geb, you bullied and browbeat everyone to get your own way!'

'Not my way. The way. We — must all suffer and endure.' His voice was growing fainter. The pool of blood beneath him creeping ever larger.

'But you haven't suffered, Geb. You killed your wife and then you got this cushy job, and all you've done is try and convert others to the path.'

Kicking a man when he was down was bad. When he was on the point of death was unspeakable. Claudia screwed up her eyes and pressed on.

'If you really want your heart to weigh light — and Geb, I have to tell you, those scales will be here soon — then you must suffer pain to win atonement. You must set me free, or Seth will gobble up your soul.'

'Too late. Don't — care.'

'Then care that he'll bloody gobble mine, you selfish oaf!'

A look of utter astonishment crossed his waxy, anguished face. Then incredibly, and with superhuman effort, Geb crawled towards her, inch by inch.

'Thank you,' she wanted to whisper, but the words would not come past the lump in her throat. Every tiny movement wracked his body and every time he winced, Claudia winced with him. She shuffled the chair round towards him. Slowly he raised his body, and Claudia blanched at the raw wound in his chest, at the blood and lumps of tissue matted in his hairy chest.

She felt his bloody fingers fumbling on the knots. Please, she prayed. Please let him have the strength to undo them — It seemed to take for ever, and the pain was excruciating, because the leather bit even deeper into her skin every time she flinched, but suddenly her hands were free, and she was throwing off the golden mask and tackling the knots around her waist and ankles.

'You've saved my life,' she said. 'Geb, I-'

But he couldn't hear. Geb, the Keeper of the Central Store, lay dead, a radiant smile upon his face.

Trembling hands closed his half-open eyes and Claudia prayed his heart would indeed weigh light, wherever it was bound. She reached for her shift.

'Going somewhere, little lady?'

The silver figure in the entrance dropped the unconscious woman in his arms. Claudia recognised the white robes of a priestess.

'The killing's over, you sick bastard.'

'Sick? I am Seth,' the figure roared. 'Master of the Darkness, the Sorcerer, the Measurer of Time.'

'You can call yourself whatever names you damn well like, but I'm telling you, it's finished. Over. Done with.'

Flea was your last conquest. Geb, your final casualty.

'You?' The silver cloak trembled with rage, the silver plaits tinkled in his anger. 'You can't stop me. Nobody can!'

'Oh, that's where you're wrong.' Claudia picked up the little light which had guided Geb here. 'I'm going to stop your evil practice right here and now.' She threw the lantern at the mummy wearing the head of the cat. The bandages caught alight at once.

'No!' The eyes behind the silver mask grew wide. 'No!'

Sparks from Bast's fur danced in the air, and even while Seth screamed in disbelief and fury, one caught the feathers of the falcon, Horus. Two bodies began to burn. The stench was putrid.

'Bitch! I'll kill you for this,' he hissed. 'I'll kill you slowly, painfully, I'll have you die a traitor's death, roasted alive then boiled, but with you, I'll have the water heated slowly, no boiling oil for you, you bitch, you traitor, you!'

Move, dammit. He was still blocking the entrance. And the priestess still lay unconscious. Claudia had a feeling he'd kill her out of spite.

With a soft whoosh, a third mummy caught alight, and now the fumes and the smoke, trapped by the fig across the entrance, were unbearable. She began to splutter and retch. Seth, closer to the fresher air, stood confident. She had to make him move. Somehow, she had to get out of this cave before she passed out completely.

'All my work destroyed by one meddling bitch,' he snarled, kicking the unconscious priestess in the ribs. 'I'll flay you alive before I roast and boil you, I'll have you scream for mercy, but you wait — I'll show you none. No one,' he hissed, 'messes with the Dark Destroyer.'

'Except Mentu.'

'Mentu?' The silver figure leaned towards her. 'Mentu's nothing but a con man, think that weakling frightens me?'

Claudia swallowed the revolting fumes and smoke. 'Oh, yes,' she said quietly. 'He frightens you very much indeed. You've fought with him all your life, tried to prove that you're superior to him, but he's the one with all the money. He's the one who lives in luxury with his fine wines and his women, while you skulk in this cold, damp cave and move unrecognised among the people.'

'They'll know me soon enough. Or would have, before you interfered. I'll have to start all over, now, you bitch!'

Isis began to burn, pumping out more noxious fumes and foul smoke.

Claudia fought the nausea which churned in her stomach and her throat. Move, you bastard. Move away from the entrance! But the silver figure, gulping in the cleaner air, calmly stood its ground. 'You'll have to make a run for it soon,' he snarled. 'And then you're mine, you bitch. By all that's holy, you'll be mine, and I'll make you pay for this.'

'You know, don't you, that Mentu will never bend his knee to you? That no matter whether you make Osiris the first or last god at your table, he will never bow to you?'

'Oh, yes he will.' She'd touched a nerve. The silver figure clenched his fists. 'When his time comes to die, he'll know that Seth is his master and that he'll hold dominion over him for all eternity.'

The cow sprang into flames, her long horns arching outwards through the flames. Donata, Claudia thought. That's Donata burning

…

The smoke was choking now, she could hardly breathe. She'd have to fight him on his terms.

Picking up the high-backed chair he'd tied her to, she swished it over poor Donata's burning corpse. The dry rushes caught immediately, and with the chair on fire, she rushed at the figure in the entrance. He darted to one side, crashing into the branches of the fig. The outside air rushed in and fanned the flames.

'What's happening?' The priestess was coming round. 'What-' She began to cough and splutter.

Seth grabbed her and used her as a shield.

The rush chair was burning close to Claudia's hands. She could not attack, she'd burn the girl. Seth was laughing now. She hurled the remnants of the chair at the black jackal mask. If it was the last thing she would do, it would be to ensure Flea was cremated properly. Flames licked up the dog's long snout and pricked up ears. She could not bear to watch the rest. By her feet, Geb's long hair began to singe. The cave had become an inferno.

And shit — Seth was going to block her in it!

While Claudia had been concerned with cremating Flea, he'd knocked out the priestess and tossed her in the corner and was now sealing up the entrance to the cave.

The heat was intense, the smoke smothering her lungs. She pushed against the fig, but he'd used his special knots to anchor it. Another three or four and she'd be imprisoned.

Suddenly, by the mouth of the cave she saw the arrow he'd pulled out of Geb. Gripping it by its bloody shaft, she stabbed with all her might. Seth gargled as the point went in his throat. He teetered. His hands flew to the shaft, still clutched in Claudia's hand. And as he lurched forward, she pressed harder. With a spurt, the barb came out through his flesh.

Biting on her lower lip, she twisted, and with a rattle, Seth fell to his knees. He twitched and writhed, and finally fell still.

'Quick!' She grabbed the groggy priestess and pushed against the last corner of the fig. 'Hurry, before this catches fire, too.'

They scrambled through the branches, and the girl gasped when the saw the inert silver figure. 'Who's that?' she cried. 'Who the hell is he?'

'Who?' With a short laugh, Claudia jerked off the figure's silver mask. 'It's Mentu himself,' she said.

Who else could it be?