Page 25 of Ra
“One does not contain a god, Azenath. One worships a god.”
“That won’t be happening. And you completely skipped over choosing and preparing the items to use for display.”
“I did not. I just hadn’t addressed it yet. How long will the shipping take? It is in another city?”
“No. It’s only a short ride, but it still must be done with the utmost care.”
“Are there not servants to do this for you?”
“There are employees to do this, yes. But they’re not servants!”
“The point I am making is that there are people to see to it. It is not required that you do it yourself.”
“I must make the phone call, though, and start the paperwork to have it done. And I always oversee it personally, so I do have to do it myself.”
“Very well. What other things can the servants do in your stead?”
“They are not servants!”
“What can the people do for you?” he asked pointedly.
“I really need to oversee it all.”
“What else?” he pushed.
“There are photos, too, that have to be processed to present on the white boards behind the podium, there are pamphlets that must be printed, there are any number of preparations that must be seen to. I have to prepare my speech — I can’t get up there and ramble like an idiot. I have to consider my appearance! I have to go shopping to find some clothes to wear. I can’t show up in shorts and hiking boots.”
“Communicate your desires to the people that will oversee it for you. How is that best done?”
“An email?” she said, making it sound more like a question.
“What is that?”
“A letter,” she said, thinking he might understand that word better.
“Send your letter. And do it quickly. We are going shopping!”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“We’re going shopping. I wish to go to the market places. You promised me clothing of my own, and you’ve just said you need some as well. Let us go shopping.”
“Ra, I really don’t have time for this.”
“Then I’ll go shopping on my own. Perhaps I’ll have them make offerings of clothing for you, as well. It will be one less thing you must do!” he said happily as he turned and started for the front door.
“Wait a minute! You can’t go anywhere without me. And what do you mean make offerings?”
“Offerings. Surely you know what offerings are. Food, clothing, gold and jewels, perfumes, females, asses — the beasts of burden kind usually, the building of temples, the singing of songs, anything they find pleasure in they gift to me because they seek my favor. I’m sure those of my people who believe in the old ways will do the same today.”
“People don’t make offerings. You have to buy whatever you need or want.”
“Ridiculous! Everything I’ve ever possessed is because people gifted them as offerings.”
“Have you never earned anything at all?” she asked.
“Did you not listen to me? My people desired my favor. They offered me what I needed and wanted in exchange. I earned the offerings by giving them what they needed.”
Azi looked at him for so long without speaking as she tried to work out a way to contradict his reasoning that her eyes began to cross.
