Page 54 of Ra
Azi repeatedly introduced Ra to person after person, and all marveled at his acting abilities and raved about the theatrics added to the end of the academic presentation.
“It was truly a genius touch, Dr. Clement! A wonderful way to connect all those in attendance with the time periods you havethe fortune to be blessed to work in daily!” one of the last of the audience said, while shaking her hand enthusiastically.
“Thank you,” Azi said, trying desperately to hold on to some semblance of her historian persona, while doing her best not to be overwhelmed with whatever else was going on behind the scenes that she had absolutely no part in. “I’m so glad you enjoyed the presentation.”
“Enjoyed it?! We were completely captivated. So much so that we’re tripling our contribution from last year.”
“How very generous. I can’t thank you enough.”
“Sure you can! Be sure to bring Ra back for the next one!”
“Or one of the other gods… perhaps they’ll all come back!” Dr. Weaver teased from behind her.
“Oh, dear god… please don’t even say that,” Azi said.
“You know, I’m beginning to think that ‘dear god’ was not spoken in the vein in which I thought it was,” Ra said.
Azi couldn’t even form words to explain to him it most certainly was not. She simply resigned herself to stand beside Dr. Weaver as Dr. Weaver schmoozed the crowd and thanked the department’s benefactors for their healthy donations.
Hours later, when everyone was gone, Ra and Azi stood on the stage as Dr. Weaver turned to look at them.
“I don’t understand,” Azi said.
“I’m sure you will shortly. I, however, will not be here to help enlighten you. I have other things to tend to. I am sure that Ra, the god of all creation…” Dr. Weaver said.
“And the sun,” Ra interrupted.
“Of course, and the sun,” she said sarcastically, “will see to it that you fully understand.” Dr. Weaver turned her back on the lot of them, and regally walked away, disappearing into the curtains hiding the backstage area.
“Where is she going? Why is she leaving? I am so confused,” Azi said.
“There is so much to tell you that I’m not sure where to begin,” Ra confessed stepping closer and taking her hands in his.
“Dr. Clement, if you will allow me, I can explain,” Abasi said, as he walked onto the stage pushing a wheelchair before him.
“And I can help,” Dr. Henry Clement said.
“Father?” Azi said, truly shocked to see her father there. “What are you doing here?”
“Abasi brought me. I felt I needed to be here.”
“What is going on?” Azi demanded, as she pulled her hands free from Ra’s.
“And why did Dr. Weaver leave? How does she know you? She knows you! How does she know you?”
“I’m sure she’s decided she’d rather not be a part of this,” Ra grumbled.
“Do you know Dr. Weaver?” she asked him point-blank.
“I do. Rather well,” Ra said with a sigh. He looked Azi in the eyes as he prepared to deliver the whole truth. “But I’ve always called her Neith.”
“Neith… Ra, stop it! This is not a time for your games,” Azi said irritatedly.
“Is she really?” Azi’s father asked. “All this time, I was dealing with Neith! I had no idea! It does explain a few things, though.”
“She is,” Abasi said steadily.
“How do you know?” Azi demanded of Abasi. “How do I not know?” Azi shouted. “What is happening here?”
