God Was Busy

Chapter 4

These were moments when I swear time had stopped. I could see our neighbors were gathered around to see what was happening, it was both embarrassing and relieving, embarrassing because everyone knew what I did, relieving because now I don't have to hide our hunger from anyone. I followed the Vigils and as I have watched them carrying other criminals and murders.

one Vigile with a tanned face- wind-whipped into an impressive leathery crust, clearly their leader said. "This way,"

Marcus ran towards me and hugged me from behind. He must have realized what was happening, I was going away, the look on his face—I wish I could forget it, but I can't—one vigil put his hand on Marcus's chest and stopped him there.

I didn't look at his face again and I stood up straight in the chariot. The rest of them also sprang in two more chariots. It will be a short ride from the meadow to the agora. I have never been in a Chariot before. Rarely even ridden on a horse.

The leather-faced Vigil stood next to me and started the chariot, but Marcus started running after us again

"Marcus no," I said but he didn't stop, Trying to grasp my arm, screaming "sto—op , sto—oop."

And then he actually reached the handle, for a moment he got distracted and his feet tumbled, his white chiton fluttered around him as he fell—like a singed moth. It seemed to be a long time before he hit the ground, though it could only have been seconds. His cry faded to a stricken silence, I slowly stepped to turn my face away. The leather-faced Vigil standing next to me, stared at me, awkward now, uneasy, like a puppy who isn't sure what to do with the rabbit caught in his jaws.

for the first time, I would have gladly welcomed death. Then the humiliation of this journey, everyone watched us in the marketplace. Though no one knew what I did yet everyone had a comment to pass, I put my hands over my ears and gathered every last scrap of strength. I needed something else to focus on.

The vigil had a coin badge on his left shoulder to pin up his chiton. The one that men with high positions wear, I have seen the exact same with my father every day after work he would take it out and put it on the palm of his hand. He would pass the other hand quickly across it, mutter some magic words, and the coin would vanish. With age, I started to know it was a trick but was never able to see how he did it. He would then pretend to search it inside his Tunic, patting himself all over.

"Where's it gone? Oh, don't tell me I've lost it. Have you got it?" I would shake my head. Then he would reach forward, feel behind my left ear, and produce the badge. I would rather be inclined to stand on my six years old dignity, and yet at the same time, I would be fascinated because I never could see how it was done. He would give it to me and I would place it on the table beside his bed for the next day.

Finally, we left the crowds behind and drove towards the farmlands. where Hasapis was standing in his work clothes, his father beside him, as we drove slowly past them, I realized maybe there was nothing romantic between us. I always liked the way he protected me and my family. maybe I made everything up in my mind.

"Listen," he said as our chariot slowed down crossing a wooden bridge, "This will be over in no time, I will come there to meet you," his father glared at him but said nothing, I knew what he was going to sacrifice if he ever dared to visit me on the construction sites.

I nodded. A little bud of hope tried to bloom in my chest again but I crushed it before it could turn into a flower. I swallowed my tears down like poison and closed my eyes and broke another of my father's promises. I prayed to Gods — all Gods, the sun that my mother worshipped, the cobra that Hasapis's family worshipped. even the current king Khufu whom the people of Rhesus worshiped.

Nothing happened. Well, of course, nothing happened! Isn't nothing that generally happens when you pray to these gods?

No god I know of listens to the prayers of slaves, no matter how hard I find to admit it, that was what I have become now, a slave. After all this, I had lost hope of my prayers being answered.