Ancient Times #29

byKRoache

753 followers

4 years ago

TJ felt enough time had elapsed for him to once again to turn his attention to the winding up of the village.

Troubles on the domestic front had lessened slightly. The inundation problems were no more.

TJ’s spy had recently informed him that progress was good, and targets were being met in the village. This needed to somehow be thwarted. The fact that there seemed to be a new contentment and pride about village life these days meant that TJ needed to act fast.

Relations between Manetho the Nubian, and the village, were slightly worrying. Perhaps there was some scope for possible devilment and retribution there? TJ felt the need to do some digging.

*****

An elderly palace scribe named Rudamon, who was totally opposed to the ethics and politics of TJ, had immediately spotted the potential in Im.

The unique boy from the village had caught the eye of Rudamon some years before when he had toured the village. He was aware of Im’s possible usefulness in the unique way this young boy acted and spoke. Rudamon believed the time was now right. Rudamon had decided, to prepare Im to be his successor.

Im was no doubt a rising star, and Rudamon himself wasn’t getting any younger.

The invitation to the palace and following interview had been a mere formality. Im, however, hadn't mentioned to anybody beforehand. He wanted to make sure it was a done deal before spilling the beans.

Before Im had even arrived at the palace, Rudamon had decided he was going to offer the boy lodgings, a job and the benefit of his knowledge, wisdom and experience.

Im although not totally surprised by the offer was extremely flattered. Of course, he immediately accepted. Rudamon wasn’t obliged to make TJ aware of his plans, but he did so as a courtesy.

*****

“Oh that’s marvelous,” said Zem dramatically, “One in and one out.”

Im could see he wasn’t making a very good job of breaking the news to his father. “I’ll be able to open the batting for the village, and maybe even hit a few boundaries. I’ll visit home often too.”

Zem’s silence told Im that the advantages of him working from the palace were beginning to dawn on his father. “Mmm.”

Imhotep left Zem to go and find An who he knew would be far more understanding.

Zem’s more bad news which turned out to be, in fact, quite good news, didn’t take long to wear off and leave him with the trapped feeling he had felt since An had dropped her bombshell.

He felt like he still hadn’t sobered up since that day over a week ago when Manetho had visited in such a happy mood.

After cursing himself for not being able to keep it in his pants, and then for not using anything, he cursed An for not using anything. If Zem had been able to think about it rationally, he would have realized that his bit was over, except for maybe a few sleepless nights.

“I’m so proud of you Im,” beamed An.

“That’s great Imy,” said Mai, hugging her elder brother and smiling.

“Nice one bro’,” offered Ky.

Im had found the rest of his family, minus Aby, in the kitchen. He now basked in the glow of their admiration and respect.

Im had never thought he could evoke such affection in his family. Im liked this feeling, and was now more determined than ever not to let his family down. He would give them reason to love him more.

*****

“That… that halfwit,” stammered TJ. “That jumped up little rambling, insulting village idiot.” TJ couldn’t believe it.

“Yes, Im from the village is to be my understudy. He is of like mind politically and philosophically. His intellect and knowledge surpasses anybody of his age I have come across,” said Rudamon.

“You’re mad,” offered a wide-eyed TJ.

“There is nothing more to be said,” snapped Rudamon before TJ could finish speaking. With that he turned on his heel and hurried out of the Tjaty’s office.

TJ was left staring at a blank wall with the annoying feeling of being snubbed. That self-righteous scribe and his ineffective apprentice weren’t going to get in the way of pharaoh’s right-hand man. The disparate pair would be no match for TJ and his team. He was so piqued that he swore very loudly several times and threw and executive toy at the wall.

*****

“Imy, is it true you’re going to be doing your stuff up at the palace?” inquired an excited Aby as she headed for the barn.

“It appears so,” grinned Im.

“Cool. My brother practically royalty,” said Aby, whilst smiling and leaning on the barn door with one hand behind it fondling something.

Surely things couldn’t get any better as far as Im was concerned. He tried to get his feelings under control as he headed back into the house to find An, to elicit her true feeling regarding the impending new member of the family.

“Does he really want it? Do I really want it? Can we cope?” Im wasn’t sure if his mother’s questions were rhetorical or not.

“What do you want?” asked Im.

“Hmm. I want it all to be over with and everything to be back to normal is what I want,” said An.

“You do realize that when your child appears nothing is going to normal again in this house for a very long time,” pointed out Im.

An nodded to herself, “I know.”

“Father has been temporarily knocked out of his safe, lazy little routine, and he’s scared. It will soon dawn on him that his input to the future production and welfare of his offspring is going to be negligible. In fact, until he or she is about five he probably won’t even acknowledge the child. Sound familiar? The difference this time is you will have much more support, apart from father that is.

Everybody else is sensible, wants to help and is available. I’m only down the road and will be home often. It isn’t even as if the event is just around the corner. Stop worrying and enjoy the time you have left before a new bundle of joy comes along to surpass all of your expectations, and brings you to new joyous heights.” Im having finished his little speech, hugged his mother, kissed her on the forehead, and walked out of the room like a statesman leaving the podium.

An wanted him to know how in those few short minutes he had brought about in her a change of heart and a new optimism. She wanted him to know how much she loved him. An just couldn’t bring herself to say it though.

*****

Im slowly walked around the village that had been his home all his life so far. Tomorrow he started a new life as trainee administrator in the palace. He knew he would eventually achieve greatness, but the excitement at this moment in time was almost too much to bear.

Imhotep knew he wouldn’t sleep much tonight,