Page 53 of Ra
Azi’s eyes widened as she shuffled to the right. “Ra?” she whispered.
Ra faced the audience. “Are your devices ready?” he asked.
Phones came out of nowhere, all pointed in his direction as excited laughter and talking moved through the crowd.
Ra walked slowly toward the stage. At the last moment he shoved his arms into the air, like he had thousands of times, demanding worship from throngs of humans and attendants under his rule. “I am Ra, god of the sun, creator of all! I cast blessings upon you!” he called out in a deep booming voice.
A roar went up through the crowd as they all reacted to what they thought were theatrics.
“Sit on the throne,” Dr. Weaver said, her head canted just slightly to the side.
He looked at her, unable to determine what her game was.
“No. Don’t. We don’t know…” Azi started, stopping before she said too much, her eyes darting toward Dr. Weaver before shooting back to Ra.
“All will be well, dear Azenath,” he promised, meandering past her, pausing to drop a quick kiss on her lips, before he turned toward the throne. Much to his surprise, a man stood there, holding one end of the velvet rope in his hands, clearing the way for Ra to get to the throne.
“Abasi, what are you doing?” Azi exclaimed, taking a few steps toward him.
“Let me be Ra,” Ra said calmly, seemingly taking control of the entire situation.
“No! What if it sends you back to the others?”
“Then you pretend it was all staged,” Dr. Weaver said, still staring at Ra, daring him to sit on the throne.
Azi’s gaze swung to Dr. Weaver’s, wondering just what she knew.
Ra, still holding his arms in the air, calling for ultimate capitulation, made his way up onto the dais.
Abasi bowed in reverence, holding the pose as Ra paused beside him, dropping his hands as he prepared to step up to the throne.
“If I return to the temple, you will protect Azenath,” Ra ordered.
“Yes, Ra,” Abasi agreed, his eyes glued to the floor, not daring to look him in the face.
Ra stepped up on the dais, and shoved his hands in the air again.
The audience roared with approval.
From the stage it looked like a wall of phones, all documenting every moment.
“You are witness to the new age of the gods! Blessed be Ra!” he shouted, as he locked eyes with Azi and slowly lowered himself to the throne. For the first time in his life he knew fear. He didn’t want to go back to the temple to be locked away for an eternity with the other gods. He didn’t want to give up this second chance at life he’d found. But even more than that, he didn’t want to give up Azi. His heart thundered as he came into contact with the throne. Hesitantly he allowed his body to be supported by it. His adrenalin began to rush as he realized he hadn’t been flung back to the temple. He was still sitting in the auditorium with Azi’s gaze glued to his. Assured by the fact he remained in the auditorium, he leaned into the god he used to be, reclining ever so gracefully, like a cat, seductively draping itself across a window sill as it condescendingly surveyed its world.
The crowd went wild.
Ra stood and gestured to Azi, as the crowd quieted to better hear what he was about to say. “Thank you, dear Azenath, for finding me, freeing me, and giving me a second chance at life.I am ever grateful, and ever yours.” He bowed to Azi, and Azi blinked her teary eyes as relief flooded her. She’d really thought he would disappear when he actually touched the throne.
“Well, this is certainly a surprising turn of events, though not an unpleasant one. I dare say the contributions to support our mission of preserving the history of Egypt will be pouring in. Excellent job, Ra. And you, Azenath, not that I ever doubtedyou,” Dr. Weaver said just loudly enough for Azi to hear.
“What is going on here?” Azi asked quietly.
“I’m sure Ra will fill you in. He was just demanding a short while ago that you be made aware of all that’s happening around you.”
“I don’t understand. How do you know Ra?” Azi said softly, trying to not alert the audience.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this ends our presentation. We hope you’ve enjoyed it, and please speak of it to everyone you know who is interested in the ancient gods of our people. Goodnight,” Dr. Weaver said into the microphone, completely ignoring Azi’s question. The lights in the auditorium came back on, and almost immediately the stage was filled with people with more and more questions, as well as those who wanted to rave about the show, and meet the actor who so perfectly embodied Ra. Because that’s what her presentation had turned into, a show.
Azi recognized many faces as she introduced Ra — the actor— to everyone who waited to meet him. And she introduced him to many more that she’d never seen before at all.
