By Way of the Wilderness Read Free Page B

focused on Moses’ story. He was not as good a speaker as many, but he was full of the adventure and could make the battles come alive for his mother. He spun his tale of military conquest while the servants brought and served them a meal. He continued talking with his mouth full, barely pausing long enough to chew and swallow.
    Kali reveled in hearing his exploits. Ever since pulling him out of the Nile as a helpless infant, her life had become focused solely on him. She thought of that long-ago moment now as he sat beside her, glowing with health and strength, and she stroked his hand, proud and happy in his success.
    Finally the story drew to a close. Kali begged for more, but Moses shrugged his shoulders. “That’s all, Mother. Do you want me to think up some lies to tell you about how brave I was in battle?”
    â€œYou don’t have to lie, my son. I’ve heard from your lieutenants how very brave you are.”
    Moses laughed. “They wouldn’t dare speak ill of their commander, would they?”
    â€œNo, that is true.” She paused. “Son, there’s something I must speak with you about.”
    â€œI think I can guess what it is, Mother.”
    â€œYes, you probably can, but I have to say it anyway. You must be more careful in your observance of our ceremonial laws.”
    Moses knew his mother was going to say this, and he sighed with frustration. For reasons he could not explain, he had no interest in the vast pantheon of Egyptian gods. He knew he was not an Egyptian by birth—Kali had not kept that information from him—but being a prince, he had tried his whole life to accept the gods and make them his own. The more he tried, however, the more he hated them all.
    He did not know why he had such a deep aversion for the gods, particularly for Osiris, the Lord of Death, seated on his throne ready to judge the souls of the dead when they were brought before him. He also despised Horus, the son of Osiris, with his falcon head. It was Horus that, according to Egyptian theology, brought the dead before Osiris, took out the heart and weighed it. Then the dead man was either taken to some sort of paradise or transformed into a black boar. Moses saw in Egypt’s religion nothing but death. The pharaohs spent their lives building tombs and collecting riches to go in them, believing they could enjoy the death they could not escape.
    â€œYou know how I feel about this, Mother,” Moses said. “We’ve discussed it many times. Why are you bringing it up now?”
    â€œBecause I think you could be in real danger.”
    â€œI know that Jafari despises me,” Moses said. “He may be the high priest of all of Egypt and almost as rich and powerful as Pharaoh himself, but he is not going to touch the pharaoh’s own grandson, is he?”
    â€œYou cannot assume that, my son,” Kali insisted. “He is a dangerous enemy. I have been aware of his hatred for you for a long time.”
    â€œWhy do you suppose he hates me so?”
    â€œBecause you are a threat to him. He hates anything he cannot control.”
    â€œWell, he can’t control me, ” Moses said, his eyes narrowing in anger. Then he saw the troubled look on his mother’s face and could not bear her anguish. “I promise you, Mother, that from here on I will be more attentive to the ceremonies of the gods.”
    â€œBut you don’t believe in them, do you?”
    â€œNo, I do not. I wish I could. It would make life much simpler.” He looked at her and turned his head to one side. Reaching out, he put his hand on her cheek and asked quietly, “Do you believe in them, Mother?”
    â€œWhat else is there to believe in?”
    â€œI don’t know,” Moses said slowly, gazing out the window at the distant horizon. “But there must be more than the gods of Egypt.”
    Kali shook her head at her son’s musing. Why was it so difficult for