Belief: A Novel of Ancient Egypt

By Paul Morrison

BELIEF is a historical novel set in 1574 B.C. during a crisis period in Pharaonic Egypt. The book depicts the struggle to expel the foreign invaders from the east, the Hyksos, and the difficulty in trusting a new god whose promises are too good to be true and also too vague to be trusted.
Hori, a junior priest did not mean to serve a new god. He just wanted a little attention, but through his irresponsible and foolish lies, he ends up in a terrible situation. The events he unleashes soon become uncontrollable...
An uneasy truce rules the divided Egypt, but in 1574 B.C. a pharaoh emerges, a man who seeks to expel the invaders and restore Egypt to its former glory. Pharaoh Seqenenre Tao knows his plan is a dangerous one and that his supporters are divided. The possibility of victory over the foreign invaders is a remote one. The old gods have seemingly abandoned Egypt to its fate; something else will be needed to rally the people in the long struggle ahead. Can this new god, the Sand God help the pharaoh overcome the invaders? How will this be done and more importantly, what will be the demands from the god in achieving this?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paul Morrison
• Release date: Sep 20, 2016
• ISBN: 9781925074284

Paul Morrison

Paul Morrison, a retired museologist, has also been a writer for most of his life. “I cannot remember a time when I was not writing, even when I was five or six years old. I grew up with books such as TREASURE ISLAND, 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA and THE TIME MACHINE — these and the many other books which I read in my early years fed my imagination, a voracious imagination transporting me to faraway places, other worlds and to other times in both the recent and the more distant past...” Many of these worlds and places are visited in the novels and short story collections he has written.Besides a love of fiction, Paul also reads widely on ancient history and archaeology. “I am particularly interested in Ancient Egypt, mainly Old Kingdom Egypt during the age of the pyramid builders. I have always been intrigued as to how the pyramids were built and also about the lives of the pharaohs and the workers who constructed the pyramids. There were many questions filling my mind, but few if any answers.” This inquiring interest led to the GIZA TRILOGY books, THE PHARAOH, THE SPHINX and THE THREE QUEENS, a monumental work of well-researched fiction set against the backdrop of the three pyramids on the Giza Plateau. Together, with their associated books, THE DIVINE LIGHT, ETERNAL EGYPT (Supplement to the Giza Trilogy), and SECRET OF THE PYRAMID, these books total more than 1.3 million words! Other books written by Paul cover a wide range of subjects including historical fiction, science fiction, ghost and detective stories as well as many other genres.Paul currently lives in Hobart, Tasmania with his wife in a house overlooking the Derwent River. “The magnificent views of Hobart and Mount Wellington inspire me in my writings — but the most important inspiration is my wife, Helena.”

Book preview

BELIEF

Paul Morrison

Copyright 2013, Paul Morrison

All diagrams drawn by and copyright the author.

Watercolour renderings by the author.

ISBN: 978-1-925074-28-4

Dedicated to my special Helena who continues to encourage and believe in me.

Table of Contents

Timeline of Ancient Egypt, 1663 B.C. – 1570 B.C.

Map of Ancient Egypt, c.1600 B.C.

Scenario

THE SIGN OF THE SCORPION

ABANDONMENT

A BLESSING FROM THE GOD

PHARAOH SEQENENRE TAO

OPENED DOORS, CLOSED DOORS

BEFORE THE BATTLE

THE BATTLE

DEATH OF PHARAOH SEQENENRE TAO

THE STOLEN GOD’S REVENGE

DISCIPLES OF THE GOD

THE NEW PHARAOH

INTRIGUES AND SUSPICIONS

THE GOD REFUSES TO SPEAK

FRIENDS AND ENEMIES

THE PLANS OF PHARAOH KAMOSE

THE FORTUNES OF THE SAND GOD

THE FATE OF THE SAND GOD

TRUST?

THE HARD AND SORROWFUL YEARS

ONE LIFE FOR ANOTHER

AHMOSE, THE WARRIOR PHARAOH

THE VICTORY

EPILOGUE

About the Author

Scenario. The Hyksos, (the Desert Princes) rule much of northern Egypt, including the Delta and the deserts to the east. They are a Semitic people who first entered Egypt in 1663 B.C., sweeping all before them with a weapon unknown to the pharaohs: horse-drawn chariots. The pharaohs, however, still cling to power in the south of the country, having set up their capital in Waset, (City of the Sceptre). An uneasy truce rules the divided Egypt, but in 1574 B.C. a pharaoh emerges, a man who seeks to expel the invaders and restore Egypt to its former glory. Pharaoh Seqenenre Tao knows his plan is a dangerous one and that his supporters are divided. The possibility of victory over the foreign invaders is a remote one. The old gods have seemingly abandoned Egypt to its fate and something else will be needed to rally the people in the long struggle ahead…

THE SIGN OF THE SCORPION

THE DESERT STRETCHED out in all directions and even the narrow belt of green, the fields beside the Nile were swallowed up by its blinding glare. Hori had been following the trail in the sand for more than an hour. The trail was nothing more than a faint and wiggly line following the contours of the sand dunes in a westerly direction away from the Nile. He was about to give up on his pursuit when Hori noticed the black object in the sand barely fifty paces away. He hurried forward, his body filled with sudden excitement.

The stick poked gently at the object and the scorpion stopped, turning to raise its long and sweeping tail to strike out at the foolish annoyance that had disturbed its journey across the sand dunes. The venomous stinger was fast but the hand controlling the stick was faster. Within seconds, Hori had flicked the scorpion into the reed basket; the basket was quickly placed on his head and Hori, a wide smile on his face turned and headed back to the distant river. He knew that Neferkare, the high priest of Ra would be proud of him but in truth, Neferkare considered the faithful Hori to be nothing more than a nuisance...

The temple of Ra was the largest temple in Waset and Neferkare, its high priest the most influential and important priest in the royal capital. None, with the exception of the pharaoh, Seqenenre Tao held as much power. It was even whispered in the corridors of the royal palace as well as in the prayer chapels of the temples that Neferkare, through his marriage to the eldest daughter of the pharaoh, would succeed the elderly Tao on his death. This was despite Seqenenre Tao having several sons. Neferkare, the high priest was indeed an ambitious man who had little patience for others, including Hori, the young man who served as a junior priest in the temple of Ra.

Hori was always asking questions and Neferkare was always avoiding these questions. Why does Ra not give Pharaoh the power to drive the Hyksos away? Or, If the gods are all-powerful, then why do they not destroy the weaker gods of the invaders? The questions were many but the answers few. On this particular day out in the desert, when Hori was following after the scorpion the question earlier in the morning had been, How best can I serve Ra?

You serve him here in the temple, Neferkare, the high priest had reply. There was frustration and anger in the reply. Neferkare was sick and tired of the endless questions from the junior priest.

However, I can do much more than this, answered Hori. They were standing beside the gate which led into the large and open courtyard in front of the temple. The day was a particularly warm one, with a hot breeze blowing up from the south. The frustrated Neferkare glanced towards the desert beyond the city. The heat was making him irritable and he needed a rest from the foolish and continued questions.

You must find a scorpion, ordered Neferkare.

Why must I find a scorpion? asked Hori. Neferkare sighed heavily. There were always one more question.

You must find a scorpion because Ra demands this of you. Hori, do you wish to offend the god with your curiosity? You are a servant of Ra and a servant never questions his master. Ra demands you find a scorpion, the largest scorpion you can find and that you bring it back to the temple. Hori nodded that he understood.

I will find a scorpion in the coolness beside the walls of the temple. The god will wait only a few minutes before his request is fulfilled. Hori quickly collected a reed basket and a stick from the temple storeroom, but when he returned to the gate the high priest was there waiting for him. Neferkare pointed to the distant desert far beyond the river. He wanted to rid himself of Hori, at least for the morning.

"The scorpion must be a desert scorpion. The ones within the city are only small and weak scorpions. The god will be offended by these small and weak scorpions." Hori nodded once more that he understood and then hurried down the street that would lead him from the city. In his curious mind, he was wondering why Ra required a scorpion. Ra was the falcon god and a falcon would have been more befitting of the god.

Now, Hori had finally found and captured his scorpion...

He was still some distance from the mud brick walls of the city when he noticed the trail of yet another scorpion. A sudden thought came to him. Why not present two scorpions to Ra? Filled with excitement, the young priest quickly followed the new trail, which led him in a northerly direction away from the city. He walked for more than an hour before he saw the second scorpion scurrying across the hot desert sand. The stick was clutched tightly and the basket prepared. The venomous insect was flicked into the reed basket and again, the triumphant Hori turned and made his way in the direction of Waset and the coolness of the river.

In his tired mind, because the heat was more oppressive than ever, he thought how grateful the god would be for the special gift of two scorpions. Hori struggled up one sand dune and down another, carrying the reed basket on his head, but always his thoughts were of serving his god. He knew that Neferkare would be greatly pleased. He was descending a particularly steep sand dune when suddenly the soft sand slid from beneath him and Hori stumbled, the basket and its contents spilling high into the air. In anguish, he lay flat on his face, watching as the two scorpions scurried away in opposite directions. There was a loud curse and the basket and stick were quickly gathered up to resume the hunt, although Hori had little strength to do this. The desert heat had drained his body completely. It was then that he saw it. The shadow lay at the bottom of the sand dune.

A short time later, Hori was digging away in the soft sand to uncover the object he had first thought to be a common rock. Though made of stone, it was not one of the many rocks that lay scattered here and there in the empty desert beyond the river. The rock was a carved rock, skilfully carved into the face of a man and with a questioning face much like Hori’s. When Hori finally removed the rock from the sand, he sat in silence to admire the commanding and all-powerful look on the mysterious face that was staring into his own. The junior priest was filled with an inspiration he only felt when standing in the inner sanctuary of the temple of Ra.

You are a god, whispered Hori in priestly reverence to the face. What is your name? The godly stone face remained silent. Finally, the humble junior priest was forced to answer his own question. This was done after first singing a simple song to appease the god which he held tightly in his hands, for it was sacrilege for any to touch a god.

I found you in the desert, whispered Hori to his silent companion, gently placing the face of the god in the reed basket. "I will therefore call you the Sand God."

ABANDONMENT

Neferkare studied the reed basket with disinterest. He did not really care if the basket was empty or not, but he was intrigued when he saw Hori struggling into the corridor of the temple. The basket seemed a heavy one, far too heavy to contain a scorpion. He watched in silence as Hori collapsed on the floor before the feet of the high priest, and then he waited with curiosity while the exhausted junior priest struggled to regain his breath.

I have something wonderful for you, said Hori.

I do not care for wonders, Neferkare replied. "I sent you into the desert to find a scorpion. Did you find a scorpion?" These last words were spoken as a demand.

I have found something far better. Hori, still collapsed on the floor of the temple reached out and removed the lid from the basket. Neferkare stepped forward and peered cautiously inside, fearful that the stupid and foolish Hori had returned to the temple with a nest of snakes. Instead, the stone face looked up into the face of the high priest. Neferkare seemed both confused and curious; his hands reached into the basket and lifted up the face in order to examine it more closely.

Is it the face of a pharaoh? he enquired.

The face is the face of a god, Hori explained proudly.

I do not know this god, said the confused Neferkare.

"It is the face of the Sand God." Neferkare remained silent, continuing to study the face. The stone was a reddish-coloured stone and was extremely heavy, for it was made of granite. The face was in exact proportion to a real face although the nose had been damaged and chipped; the eyes were enquiring eyes and the stone lips also seemed to be asking questions. Oddly, however, there was no stone head belonging to the face. This gave it the appearance that the face had somehow been peeled away from its head, as if it was a mask. Neferkare handed the stone face back to Hori.

I have never heard of the Sand God, he said. Did the god speak to you? Did it tell you its name? Hori quickly saw the opportunity to impress the high priest.

"The god revealed everything to me." There was a lengthy pause.

And? asked Neferkare finally.

I will tell you what happened. I will tell you what the god said to me and how it revealed itself to me. Hori carefully placed the face of the Sand God back in the reed basket, while Neferkare continued to stand over him. Hori felt intimidated. He was only a young man, barely eighteen years old who did all the menial jobs in the temple while Neferkare was an elderly man, the most important man in the temple who happened also to be related to the pharaoh through marriage.

"Neferkare, you commanded me to go out into the desert to find a scorpion to be offered up to Ra. I did not fail in this duty. I found not one, but two scorpions. It was on my return to the temple when a voice spoke to me from the emptiness of the desert." Neferkare moved his face closer. He was suddenly intrigued.

The voice speaking to you, was it the voice of a man or the voice of a god, or was it merely the whisper of the wind blowing across the desert? I have also heard on many occasions the whispering but meaningless words of the desert wind.

The voice was a loud and a clear voice, spoken just as clearly as the words you now speak to me. I fell to my knees when I heard the god speak. The reed basket was dropped to the ground and the scorpions I had already captured spilled out on the sand before me. They also heard the voice and seemed to understand its significance. There was an awkward pause.

How did the scorpions understand this? enquired the slightly bemused Neferkare.

"They turned in the direction of the voice and bowed their heads; their stingers raised high into the air... The voice said to me, Hori, you stand in the presence of the Sand God and you must bow before the god too. I immediately bowed my head and it was then that I saw it. The face was barely ten paces from where I was kneeling and it was this face, poking from the desert sands, which spoke to me." Hori glanced at the reed basket. The high priest followed his gaze.

What else did the god say? Neferkare was staring at the basket, expecting or hoping the voice would speak to him.

"The god merely requested I