TerebinthSometime during the night, a doctor came to check on him. The man's face, lit from below by the battery-powered lantern he carried, was familiar, even though he was not actually one of the Luxor medics. David recognised him at some whole other, deeper level. His bronzed, perfect features set off a chime within. So did the scars that laced his body. David knew he was looking up at Osiris, and knew he was dreaming.Osiris did not speak, merely studied David from head to toe, examining him as a doctor might, diagnosing.''I've strayed,'' David said. ''I know that. And even though I have been killing your enemies, it's not been in your name or the name of your sister-wife. Please forgive me.''Still Osiris said nothing, and now he was holding a djed-pillar, the ribbed column that was his sacred emblem. It was a sheaf of corn. It was a leafless tree. It was a backbone. It was all three at once, and it was laid on its side, the position that symbolised defeat and death.Carefully, gently, Osiris began rotating it from horizontal to vertical.
