Page 27 of Ra
“I do not believe you would allow anyone to lock me away anywhere. And if my people realize who I really am, I believe they would flock to serve me. Not fear me, or believe the world ending. It is most certainly not ending — I have much yet to do. So, neither of your threats will happen. And you do not give me the credit you should. I am revered.”
“Ra? Think about it. Since you’ve met me, have you been able to do anything at all that make you seem other than human?”
He glared at her.
“You tried to smite me from the face of the Earth!”
“I’m not the god that smites. I was just going to blast you into oblivion.”
“My point is, that you couldn’t. You do not have your powers. You’re no more powerful than I am. You need to stop thinking about what you would have done in your time, and consider only what you can do in my time.”
Ra stopped arguing for the time being and rode along in the passenger seat quietly. He was staring straight ahead, giving the impression that he was not even interested in the things they drove past, but she had no doubt he was still taking it all in.
Eventually Azi pulled off the highway and into a large group of buildings surrounded by a long, double row parking lot.
Ra watched as Azi chose a parking place and brought the car to a stop, then turned off the ignition.
“This is an outdoor shopping center. It’s a shopping area, with each store having its own dedicated private building, but in the middle of all the buildings are food vendors, and tables and benches. We should be able to find everything we need right here.”
Ra pushed the door open and got out of the car the moment he heard her finally unlock the door with the controls on her side of the vehicle. He paused and surveyed the buildings, the vehicles, the stores and the people coming and going, some carrying bags, others not.
“You ready?” Azi asked.
Ra gave a single inclination of his head and fell into step just slightly behind her.
Azi took her time getting to the clothing store, giving Ra ample opportunity to observe everything he saw.
When she came to a stop in front of the store they were going in, she pulled open the glass door and waited for him to finish looking at the clothing displayed in the windows.
Ra seemed to finally notice that she was holding the door for him and walked toward her. Just before he stepped over the threshold and into the store he looked down his nose at her. “I would not have blasted you into oblivion even if I could. I’d have just frightened you enough to be in awe of me.”
“How magnanimous of you,” she quipped.
“I am! You see? Though I had no display of power to provide for you, you still see the true me! I knew I chose properly!”
Azi stood there, holding the door open after he’d already gone inside, his words rattling around in her brain. Then she realized she heard his voice as he introduced himself to the store’s employees.
“Hello, my people! I am Ra!”
“Ra!” Azi called out as she rushed toward him.
“And this is dear Azenath! You may address me as dear god. She does.”
Azi forced a laugh, making it as dramatic as she could, slapping her thigh as she laughed. “Ra, stop teasing these people!” she looked at the attendant and grinned. “I tell his mother all the time she should not have named him Ra. He jokes with people all the time, even at not so appropriate times!”
The man chuckled and nodded. “I would, too, had I been given such a name.”
“I keep telling him somebody is going to think he’s serious and lock him away!”
The man laughed again. “One can’t be too careful. But in the meantime, what can I help you with today?”
“We both need clothing. I need several business outfits, and he’ll need the same as well as several casual outfits, lounge wear, and shoes.”
On realizing how much they’d be buying, he immediately became more accommodating and friendly. “I know I can helpyou both find whatever it is that you need. Do you have any particular styles in mind?”
“For me, I’ll need elegant meets academic meets business.”
The man seemed a little confused.
