Am I to collect animals to decorate a room? To entertain babies? For slaves to walk them on a lead?’ Ibrim pressed himself against me. I put an arm around his shoulders, but we were reeds in front of a howling wind. I had never seen my father so angry. ‘Are there to be no temples for my crocodiles? Are my baboons to be given no sacred burial?’ Ibrim began to whimper. Foolishly, I said, ‘I don’t know, Father.’ He bent down to yell into my face, ‘My animals are the embodiment of the gods! Does this serpent-demon think he can overturn the Ship of a Million Days? Does he think to cast the gods adrift – to spill them back into the ocean of nothingness and drown them? His father, Amenhotep, may his name live for ever, was chosen by the gods to be pharaoh over Egypt! And does his son deny that the gods exist?’ His hand reached out and snatched hold of the gold case strung around Ibrim’s neck. ‘If there is no Thoth, what good is this promise, eh? Who is protecting your brother’s life?
What do You think about Casting The Gods Adrift (1998)?
