Free THE GOD'S WIFE by Lynn Voedisch

his old eyes shielded from the sun. “All the gods are like the colors that dance off a highly polished jewel, beautiful aspects of the light — the greatest god.”
    Nebhotep spoke of a knowledge complex and ancient.
    “In the beginning was the primordial ooze, and all gods emanated from the One. Some rose in favor and others, like Set, were reviled. Today, it is Amun’s turn for glory. But never forget that he is joined with Re, Eset and Horem-heb and all the others. The One and the Many.”
    “Whom we will see when we die?” she asked, her eyes downcast in reverence.
    “Don’t be a fool, Neferet. We see them every day in everything we do. Even your cat is but an aspect of the highest one. You must behave as the wife of the most high and not a slave who longs for glory in the afterlife.”
    Neferet bowed and returned to her own scrolls, pondering on her role as the adored lover of the all-being god. Her mind swam with conflicting ideas. As one of the few women in the kingdom educated to read and write, she usually devoured her daily reading with the joy of privilege. Today, she had been too distracted to keep her mind on the devotional prayers.
    Now, she set her diadem on her braids as her servant called out the hour. The time arrived to dance her love for her immortal spouse.
    #
    The close air pressed her skin and dust flew in a small eddy behind the effigy of Amun. Neferet’s skin prickled at something wrong within the tight confines of the sanctuary. Her nose picked up a peculiar scent, familiar but sinister. Just as she bowed to Amun before beginning her dance, a hand shot out and seized her at the wrist. Her senses jolted, and she struggled to pull away. Could the idol come to life again? This hadn’t happened for weeks. Why now?
    However, when she looked through the gloom, she fastened on a pair of close-set eyes that she despised. Hiding behind the statue was Zayem, and he held her fast. How he had gotten into this sacred space was impossible to imagine.
    “What do you think you’re doing?” she hissed. “The musicians will see you.”
    “I’ve been here before, and they’ve never guessed.”
    “You what? It’s absolutely forbidden …”
    “Lots of things are forbidden by our long list of rules, but I do as I please. Haven’t I always?”
    Neferet scowled at this interloper, this filth of a human being. She couldn’t imagine how to continue with her duties with him interrupting her ritual. She wrestled her arm away, bruising it against her thick bracelets, and stared with fury in her eyes. She wondered for one frenzied moment if he was there during the time the statue had become flesh and blood. Had she done those depraved things with him and not Amun? Had he posed as Amun? Her stomach went sick at the thought of it.
    “What do you want?”
    “Only to watch your ministrations.”
    “It is forbidden. I cannot.”
    “You can’t just leave. There will be talk. The priests will ask why you didn’t satisfy Amun.”
    “ You will spread the gossip, you worm. You are lower than Set.”
    “Ah, but even Set has his worshippers. I will sit here and watch.”
    Neferet bit her lip and decided to dance a bit. What could be the harm in that? But she would truncate the ritual lovemaking. Amun would understand. He enjoyed god-hood, after all. So, with little animation, she began to gyrate her body, and Zayem leaned back upon his elbows as if he enjoyed the view.
    When she finished, with the slightest kiss to the idol’s diorite lips, she gathered up some figs to eat.
    “So, you do eat the god’s dinner.”
    “Shut up. You know the priests’ role. Don’t be an idiot.”
    He grabbed for the bread, but she slapped his hand away with an angry swat. Her heart heaved in her chest, and she finally spoke loud enough for outsiders to hear.
    “Sacrilege. Only a priest may touch the god’s food.”
    Zayem stared at her with saucy superiority before backing out of the holy chamber, now empty of