Free Gilgamesh Immortal (Chronicles of the Nephilim) by Brian Godawa Page A

need not abolish it to avoid universal administration. You merely apply it selectively.”
    “Thank you for the technical clarification,” mouthed Gilgamesh with a touch of contempt. He looked back at Enkidu, “As you may have figured out, this is Sinleqiunninni, the king’s scholar, or technical clarifier.”
    “Ummanu, to be most accurate terminologically,” added Sinleqiunnin ni.
    Gilgamesh spouted, “Well, we would not want to be terminologically inaccurate, now, would we?”
    Sinleqiunni nni said, “Actually, if I may…”
    “No, you may not, Sinleqi ,” said Gilgamesh, shortening the name as an example of his shortened patience. And the scholar shut up.
    Gilgamesh looked back at Enkidu and said, “I have much to discuss with you Enkidu. But first, if the lady permits, we shall, you and I, pay a visit to the Queen Mother, goddess Ninsun.”
     
    Gilgamesh walked Enkidu through Egalmah , the Great Palace temple of Ninsun, his Queen Mother, in the temple district at the center of the city. Though she was a high priestess of Shamash the sun god, she was also a goddess herself and so his altar was on the roof of her own temple for convenience.
    Enkidu could not get all the temples straight, there were so many of them. A pantheon of gods was a tiresome notion to him. It seemed more sensible to him to worship one god, whoever created them, but he could not make heads or tails of those either. Was it Aruru, the goddess who supposedly created Enkidu? Was it Mami or Nintu who mixed clay with his flesh and blood? Was it Enki or Nudimmud who made mankind from the spilt blood of the god Qingu? He thought he might consult with the king’s scholar for clarification, but then thought better after his previous encounter with him.
    Nevertheless, there were so many different contradicting versions of creation, that he could not get them straight. And that very diversity was a symbol to him of the confused state that humanity seemed to be in. It was as if the Creator god had pulled away from them and this was the result of such abandonment. But who could that Creator god be?
    They came to Shamash’s Gateway, where Ninsun would pray to the sun god. It was a modest room in an otherwise ostentatious temple palace. Gilgamesh had wanted his mother to meet his new Right Hand, and he wanted it to be a surprise. So he had Enkidu hide behind a pillar for Gilgamesh to introduce him.
    Gilgamesh saw his mother kneeling and praying in the gateway. He approached silently so as not to startle her. When he was within hearing range, he heard her prayer of complaint to Shamash.
    “He is just a domesticated Wild Born bastard. Born in the wilderness without father or mother, raised by animals. His hair is ratty and unpleasant. What shall I say to my son if he appoints him to power in the kingdom?”
    “You could say, ‘ Well done my wise and noble son,’” Gilgamesh’s voice interrupted.
    She turned to see him standing behind her with a frown.
    Gilgamesh continued, “Since you are already privy to the intelligence of the fight, Mother, you will apparently be unimpressed to hear that I have appointed Enkidu to the position of my Right Hand. I am sorry to disappoint you.”
    He was not sorry. He just enjoyed making sarcastic barbs. He loved his mother, but he was not ruled or manipulated by her. He listened to her counsel, as he did all others, but he did what he thought was right. He was lord and king of Uruk.
    “My son,” she protested, “do you fault me for my concern? He has no lineage. He is not royalty. I only seek to protect your throne above all else.”
    “Yes, you do,” he said. “And so you will no doubt appreciate knowing that I have never in my entire life met a man I could trust. Until this day. Mother, I have gazed into the Abyss. I know the nature of man. And I tell you, there is no guile in Enkidu of the steppe.”
    She was as deeply moved by his sentiment as Gilgamesh was in saying it. He continued, “He is appointed