Steve Doyle

Die Not a Second Time

“Any luck?” The thin old man stood in the doorway, his bent frame leaning toward me, blue eyes nearly popping out of his wrinkled face. A band of white hair circled his shiny bald head. The sight of him amused me, especially when I considered his reputation as an esteemed academic.

“Well yes, I have had some success translating the text.”

“Excellent! Excellent!” He opened the door wider and stood aside, ushering me in. He smiled and rubbed his hands together like a schoolboy expecting a sweet treat.

We sat on an ancient couch before an ornately carved coffee table. From my briefcase I withdrew my translation, neatly typed on clean, crisp paper. Beside it I placed the papyrus, worn and discolored from the ages. I flashed the archaeologist a sidelong glance. “Authentic?”

“Removed it from the tomb myself.”

The papyrus did appear ancient but I had no way to verify it dated from Egypt’s twelfth dynasty. I had only Dr. Nieland’s word it had come from the tomb of Sinuhe, a royal scribe of King Amenemhet I. Sinuhe, fearing accusation of complicity in a plot to murder the king, fled to Syria. Years later, having been assured protection by the new king, Sesostris I, Sinuhe returned and even resumed his post as royal scribe. He died of natural causes around 1960 B.C. His undisturbed tomb was discovered in 1993 by Dieter Arnold and the papyrus I’d translated had been retrieved at that time by Dr. Thomas Nieland, the man seated before me now.

I pointed to the aged scroll. “What you have here is a remarkable story, the author of which claims to be Sinuhe himself.”

Dr. Nieland picked up my translation and looked at it briefly before handing it to me. “I’m afraid my eyesight isn’t what it used to be; would you mind reading it to me?”

“Why, certainly. I’d be happy to.” I accepted the manuscript from him and began reading.

I awoke in complete and utter darkness, for the place of my being was not lit. My first thought was to scold the lazy servants who had allowed the fire to go out. But in a sudden moment of panic I cried out. I found the resounding echoes of my own voice unsettling and I dreaded to think where I might be. With a great effort I forced myself to remain calm and attempted to reassure myself. I had spent a lifetime preparing for this journey, had dutifully studied the Book of the Dead. After a few moments I managed to stop shaking and felt I could breathe normally again. I called out to my ka statue¹, the creation of which I had overseen myself, “Akhensanehet, likeness of Sinuhe, courtier to kings, reveal thyself and do my bidding.”

Echos of my own voice followed by eerie silence. Was the statue not in the tomb? Had the workmen forgotten it? Had something horrible happened to it? My thoughts raced to tomb raiders and thieves. If my ka statue had been destroyed or stolen, I would be utterly alone in this place and have no hope of completing the task before me. A booming voice shattered the silence. “Here I am! Use me as you wish.”

Enormous relief! The statue had eyes with which to see and limbs with which to move things. I wasted no time but entered it at once. Although carved in the image of my younger days, I found the body stiff and could move only with great difficulty. Its eyesight was actually poor but adequate for my needs and I located the sarcophagus inside which my coffin lay. Though awkward, my ka statue possessed sufficient strength to remove the heavy lid of limestone. Inside the coffin, beneath the golden funerary mask rested my khat², carefully wrapped in clean linen, the folds of which should contain all the magical amulets I would need for my journey through Tuat³ to the Hall of Judgement.

Because priests had performed the ‘Ceremony of the Opening of the Mouth’, I would be able to use my own body to see, hear, eat, and travel in greater comfort than if I had been required to use my cumbersome ka statue, but before entering I intoned the spell that would ensure my heart would not betray me upon the Scales of Maāt, She Who is Truth:

My heart my mother, my heart my mother, my heart my coming into being! May there be nothing to resist me at judgement; may there be no opposition to me from the Tchatchaut⁴; may there be no parting of thee from me in the presence of him who keepeth the scales! Thou art my ka within my body which joins in strength my body components. Mayeth thou come forth to the place of happiness to which I am advancing. May no lies be spoken against me in the presence of the God of Judgement!

With that I began removing the wrappings, careful not to lose any amulets. It was a slow process, the statue being very clumsy to manoeuver. I pity those who are forced to rely on it through the careless preservation or criminal destruction of the khat. Such things should not be allowed to happen.

Once the task was finished, I exited the statue of stone and reinhabited my once earthly abode. Astonishment and dismay! My eyes had shrunken in their sockets and become useless! Near panic, I groped for the Udjat-eye⁵, praying that the entombers had not forgotten it. At last I felt it. I grasped it and touched it to my face. Great joy! Instantly I could see, better than I had in life, as if Re had brought the sun itself into my chamber. With my vision restored and clutching the ankh⁶ that would restore life, I arose.

I looked around, thrilled at the discovery of lavish food and gifts. My friends and relatives had been very generous toward me. Famished and grateful I dined heartily on wine, cheese, bread, cake, beef and fruit until I had satisfied my hunger. Then I spotted the tools of my trade. People who care for me had thought to provide me with a palette and ink, a water-pot, papyrus and reeds of various lengths. Even a wrist-rest for my comfort. I decided right away to record my journey beginning with my first awakening and the consciousness of my ka.

Nearly sunset, my journey would soon begin. I waited for the boat that would take me across the river to Abydos, the place of Osiris, Lord of Eternity, before whom I was expected to be kneeling at midnight.

Then I saw the ushabtis, rows upon rows of them, tiny stone statues placed in my tomb to do my bidding. I would bring them with me as they could bake bread, make wine and perform all sorts of useful tasks. I found stone moulds, which my friends had left for me and which my ushabtis could use to make more amulets if I found myself lacking. My generous loved ones had also left a cache of weapons: spears, and arrows as well as a large sword.

Out of the darkness the boat appeared, steered by Hrafhaf, He Whose Face is Backwards. I addressed him by name and said, “You will transport Sinuhe, scribe of pharaohs, who has a good heart, across the river.”

The god replied, “Sinuhe, who claims to have a good heart, have you also offerings for me in return for my services?”

I ordered my ushabtis to place some provisions into the boat of Hrafhaf, which they quickly did.

Hrafhaf never turned his head to look upon the heap of food. “Come aboard, Sinuhe, who has a good heart indeed, and I will ferry you across the river.”

I climbed into his boat, commanding my tiny army of ushabtis to accompany me, and addressed the mighty river, “Oh, Nile of Tuat, whose waters are swiftest, I am Sinuhe, purest of heart. You shall carry me and not try to devour me. You shall keep all the evil creatures that hide within your waters at bay such that none shall harm me.”

The river answered, “If you have a pure heart my water is cool and sweet. But if there exists evil within your heart my water is boiling hot and bitter. Drink of it now, if you dare, for if you dare not I shall devour you!”

With some hesitation I gingerly drank of the river and it tasted good. With enormous relief I realized our safe crossing would be assured. As we pushed away from the riverbank an evil soul tried to jump upon the boat, but Hrafhaf, who looks always behind himself for just such a reason, swatted it with his staff and sent it into the water which began instantly to boil violently. With hideous screams the destroyed soul disappeared.

We soon arrived at the other side of the river where I almost stepped upon the shore without first addressing it, a serious error. “Bank of the river, that controls the flow of the mighty Nile of Tuat, you shall allow Sinuhe, greatest of scribes, to tread upon you and you will not cause him to fall.”

“As you command me, I obey,” came the reply, after which we disembarked with safety.

Hrafhaf said, “Here I leave you, but be it known that you must pass through the Seven Arits⁷.”

“I am prepared for them.” I felt my confidence growing. “I know the words to be spoken before each as well as the names of each doorkeeper, each watcher and each herald.”

I approached the first arit and addressed the gods there. “Hail Sekhet-hra-asht-aru, Keeper of the Door; Hail Meti-heh, Watcher of the First Arit; Hail Ha-kheru, Announcer of Arriving Souls. I am the mighty one who maketh his own light. I have come unto thee, a god-like ruler...”

[Here the papyrus is damaged and unintelligible. -S.D.]

The herald, Ha-kheru, announced, “Here cometh Sinuhe, who maketh his own light. Make way before him.”

[Here, again, the papyrus is damaged to the point of being undecipherable and the narrative concerning the other six gates is lost. -S.D.]

Thus I passed by each of the Seven Arits, without a single challenge, for I knew the prpoer words to utter before them all.

Once past the final arit, I came upon a temple, outside of which stood a guardian. I addressed him. “Hentet-Arqiu, staunchest of guards, I am Sinuhe, greatest of warriors. You shall let me pass.”

“Sinuhe, if you are the greatest of warriors and defeat me in battle, only then shall you pass.”

What? Shock! Thinking quickly, I commanded one of my ushabti to do battle with Hentet-Arqiu. “I will do it!” he shouted, rushing forward, charging at the glaring guard.

My dismay increased further when Hentet-Arqiu raised his sword and smashed my little soldier to rubble with a single blow. “Sinuhe, greatest of warriors, do you not know your ushabtis may take on your labor, but in Tuat you must face your own challenges?”

I immediately drew my sword when Hentet-Arqiu advanced upon me. It felt comfortable in my hand as I wielded it, though many years had passed since I last held such an instrument. Luckily, my old skills had not abandoned me. I parried the blow of my opponent and dispatched him, slicing off his head which rolled before my feet. I shouted to the threshold, “I am Sinuhe, slayer of Hentet-Arqiu, you shall let me pass!”

Long silence. Nervous apprehension. Finally a reply, “You shall pass, for you are the greatest of warriors, but beware, for Set, God of the Night Sky, awaits within.”

I knew my mighty sword would be no use against the god Set, the Evil One, but I carried with me the figure of Isis. I gripped it tightly. No sooner had I stepped over the threshold when I heard a booming voice like thunder. “Who are you that dares enter here? I do not know you!”

“I am Sinuhe, scribe to kings, a great warrior with a pure and holy heart.”

“Where do you think you are going, Sinuhe, great warrior with a pure and holy heart?”

“I am traveling to the Hall of Maāt to kneel before Osiris, Greatest of the Gods, and be judged by him.”

Set bellowed. “Osiris I have hewn in pieces and scattered across Egypt!” The god appeared out of the shadows and began to approach, something of a manacing smile upon his jackal-like face. “I think I will hack you up as well!”

Terror! I tried desperately to hide my fear. “You shall not, for I am protected by Isis who restored life to Osiris.”

Set laughed and continued his advance toward me shaking his massive head from side to side. “Isis can only help you after I chop you in pieces and then only if you are worthy of her efforts. No, Sinuhe, great warrior with a pure and holy heart, I think you shall die a second time!”

Panic! I fumbled for another tiny statuette, praying I would not drop it. “Wait! I also have the blessing and protection of Nephthys, Sister of Isis, Protector of the Dead!”

As I held the figureine high it began to speak. “I am the flame of Nephthys. I have come to hew in pieces. I am not hewn in pieces, nor will I suffer thee to be hewn in pieces. I have come to do violence, but I will not let violence be done unto thee, for I am protecting thee.”

Set shrieked and threw his arms up before his face as he backed away. With growing courage I shouted at him, “You have no power over me!” and advanced as he scampered away. I strode with confidence across the room and approached the great door.

“I shall not let you pass through me unless you tell my name.”

Confidence. I knew this door. “You are the Gateway to the Place of Truth.”

“And do you know the name of the god who dwells in this hall?”

“Mâau-Taui.”

“Do you know as well the name of the god whose walls are of fire and whose throne sits on the stream whose waters feed the Nile?”

“It is Osiris, Lord of Eternity, Judge of all Creatures.”

“Advance. Your name shall be called out to him, the God of Gods.”

With this, the huge door opened and I beheld with awe the great Hall of Maāt.

Before the walls of fire surrounding the hall stood the Tchatchaut, twenty-one along the left and twenty-one along the right. I approached each in turn, speaking its name and assuring it that I had never sinned against it.

“Hail, thou whose strides are long, who comest forth from Annu, I have not done iniquity.”

“Hail, thou who art embraced by flame, who comest forth from Kheraba, I have not robbed with violence.”

“Hail, Fentiu, who comest forth from Khemennu, I have not stolen.”

“Hail, Devourer of the Shade, who comest forth from Qernet, I have done no murder; I have done no harm.”

Thus I went around the room and was met in each instance with the same reply. “Yes, I see that it is so.”

I then stood before Thoth, He Who is Lord of Justice. “Hail, Thoth, who made Osiris victorious over his enemies, maketh the scribe Sinuhe victorious in peace! Here is my heart that you may weigh it and find it just!”

Anubis, Keeper of the Scales, who ensures the balance of the beam, placed my heart on the pan to be weighed against a feather of Maāt, Goddess of Truth. Thoth stood ready to record the verdict, while the monster Amemet, Eater of the Dead, crouched, gazing hungrily at my heart which would be his if it weighed heavily.

Nervous anticipation. I watched the scale as eagerly as Amemet, awaiting the result. At the beginning of my journey I had implored my heart not to betray me in this hall.

Great joy, it did not! The scales stood in perfect balance. Horus and his four sons came to lead me to Osiris, while Amemet slinked away, a longful look at my heart.

The Greatest of the Gods sat upon his throne, a scepter in his right hand and a flail in his left. He wore a pure white crown upon his head. Behind him stood his wife, Isis, and her sister Nephthys whose protection I had called upon when threatened by Set. She seemed to regard me with a knowing smile.

With a low bow, Horus said, “Osiris, Foremost of Westerners, I bring you Sinuhe whose heart is pure and who has not sinned against any god or man.”

“Sinuhe,” spoke the Great One to me, “what request dost thou have of me?”

I knelt humbly before him. “Osiris, King of Eternity, Lord of the Everlasting, I have come unto thee and my heart holdeth right and true. There is no sin in my body, nor have I lied willfully, nor have I done aught with a false heart. Grant thou to me food in the tomb, and that I may come into thy presence at the altar of the Lords of Right and Truth and that I may enter into and come forth from the netherworld and that I may behold the face of the Sun and that I may behold the Moon for ever and ever.”

“Sinue, thou art right and true, and thy wish is granted. Entereth now into the Sekhet-heteput⁸ where thou shall live forever and never die a second time.”

Glorious existence! Thus ended my journey and began my presence in the company of the gods.

“Quite a story.” Finished, I looked up from the paper and at and at Dr. Nieland who was smiling broadly.

“It explains a few things.”

“What things?” I was intrigued.

“I told you the tomb was undisturbed when we found it, correct?”

“Yes.”

“There is some controversy surrounding that position.”

“Why’s that?”

“Well, for one thing, the huge statue had been dragged across the floor and stood before the sarcophagus, the lid of which was found leaning against the wall. For another, the mummy was missing but the wrappings were piled upon the floor. And the canopic jars were empty.”

“Really? The work of pranksters?”

“It would be quite a bit of work for a prank. The statue alone weighs a ton. But we also found hundreds of these.” The doctor lifted the lid of a small box, showing me the contents. Inside was a rather plain looking miniature statue made of stone.

I didn’t understand. “What’s so strange about this? Many tombs are stocked with such figurines. The Egyptians were terrified of facing eternity in manual labor, tilling and harvesting fields for the gods. They put these little laborers in the tomb for insurance.”

“Yes, but look at this one.” He opened another small box and handed it to me.

I peered into the box. Inside I beheld a small pile of crumbled stone—one of the statuettes, crushed to rubble.