บท 29: Dark secret

*ancient Egypt *

(Sun god's abode)

"Ok then, be it as you have said. The ritual must hold"... Ra said.

Shu bowed to him in appreciation. "When is the ritual? " Ra asked as he creased his jaw on thought.

"Its supposed time is tonight supreme father" Shu answered with confidence in his voice.

"Can we still push through with it tonight?"Ra asked, judging from the fact that the sun was already at its peak and preparations for the rituals, last more than a day or even. And half a day was definitely not going to be enough, especially now that they were planning on sending him a message with it in the future which was like a millineum away from their time, like many centuries away.

"No supreme father, am afraid the ritual can't hold again today" Shu said with a sigh, feeling disappointed and worried.

He really wanted everything thing to be hastened, due to his fear of what Aposis might do to his children in the time they were at. Shu knew that Aposis had a grudge against Geb for what he assisted the supreme father do to him in their own past, and can't just take Nut for the purpose of getting her to Geb, if there wasn't something big he was planning against them. He just wanted his children safe from the demon god.

"Supreme father, we seem to be forgetting something" Tefnut said abruptly as she entered the room.

"Tefnut?"Shu gasped "l thought l asked you to rest at the, what brings you here then are you ok? " he said all in one breathe as he cupped her face, and looked at her with worry.

"I am very fine Shu, l am very ok just that l have a suggestion that l think you all might be missing out". She said with a sly smile, feeling proud of herself.

Shu looked at her in admiration, wondering what her suggestion might be. "What is that? " he finally asked.

"This is the future we are talking about right? " she rhetorically but got a nod from Shu.

"So l was wondering, how about we tell lsis send a message to the future us, warning us in the future about the return of Aposis so that we can attack him first, before he takes us unawares. By so doing, our own Geb and Nut would return back to us, to their own time" she said with a smile of victory at the last sentence.

Shu's head lit a bulb. Why did he think of this earlier, why didn't his mind tell him this. And the best of it all was that it didn't need any preparations to be done, just them and their consciousness and it could even be done this night. Thats it! That's exactly what they were going to do, he thought with a smile.

"Good thinking Tefnut" he said to her with the most adorable smile.

"Thank you my love" she really, sending the smile back.

"Supreme father" Shu turned to Ra, "we can try that, and am sure it would work. All we need to do is summon lsis and let her carry out the convey of consciousness " Shu said with all eagerness of soul.

He knew if they gave it a try, that it was going to work and the convey of consciousness wasn't going to take time and resources as the annual earth ritual would.

Moreover, he was sure it would work and there was no doubt about that, unlike the earth ritual that would have to depend on Geb's level of wit.

Ra didn't bulge at their words. He just stood there with his expression stoic, like what they said made no sense.

"Supreme father? " Shu called in confusion, as he couldn't understand why sun god Ra wasn't speaking nor making any point at all, or did he not understand what they were saying. No! Shu knew too well than to believe that Ra didn't get them or hear what Tefnut said.

"Supreme father are you not going to say anything? " he asked with frustration. "You heard fully well what Tefnut suggested and your not speaking to be either for or against it, what's going on?".

"Yes Shu... I heard what you and your consort have said but its not an option so let it aside" Ra said with authority.

'Not an option ' did she hear right or was Ra just bluffing. Tefnut couldn't believe her ears. Was the supreme father really condemning hr idea or is it that he did understand. Because if he did, he would know that it was the only way to get him Geb, his greatest and only weapon against Aposis, expect if he wanted to be destroyed by him.

Shu too was dumbfounded at the Sun god's words. How could he reject and condemn the idea which he saw as the most brilliant and wonderful idea they have come up with in their quest to retrieve their children, Geb and Nut from the grip and grudge of Aposis.

At this, he knew something was wrong. Ra couldn't have just rejected the idea all for no reason, especially a reason that was more dangerous to him to be able to forefiet his hold on Geb and defeat on Aposis for. ' What could it be 'he wondered as he stared at Ra, who was now seated intently.

"Supreme father" Tefnut started, no longer being able to bear her confusion concerning what Ra just blurted about her idea, which she was sure would work. "Please give this a rethink, because l sure and can prove beyond all reasonable doubt that... " she was cut off by Ra's hands in the air.

"I said l heard you the first time Tefnut" Ra roared "and my answer still remains the same. The convey of consciousness would not hold because l do not approve of it! " he said in an almost upset voice.

"But... "She tried to say again, but was interrupted by Shu.

"thats enough Tefnut" he said softly, " l will take care of this" as he wiped away the tears that had already welled up in her eyes.

"Are you sure? " she asked now letting the tears flow.

"Yes am sure" Shu said reassuring her.

She took a deep breathe before teleporting back to their abode.

Shu now turned to Ra and said "are you going to tell me what is really going on or are you going to keep in the dark? " he asked in a serious tone.

Ra looked at him seeming lost "what do you mean? " he asked coldly.

"I am sure that the sun god of Egypt, the supreme father of all gods won't say no to a very sure way of his success and victory, if he wasn't going to loose something of more worth than his success and victory over a life time foe like Aposis".

Ra knew very well, what Shu was talking about. And of a truth, he(Shu) was right. He could never let go of his success and honor by finally destroying Aposis for anything, and he wouldn't, but not this way. He understood what Tefnut suggested and knew very well that it would work. But he wasn't comfortable with the idea, as it would leak a secret that he had been covering for over centuries to the whole Egypt. And he wasn't going to let it snap out just because he wanted Geb by his side. Even though his triumph over Aposis depended on it, the consequences of the secret leaking was more than he wrestling himself out against Aposis, even if he was certain that he would loose without Geb. Atleast it would just be between him and Aposis, without the involvement of other gods, which would make it more drastic.

"Of course Shu... I want victory over Aposis at all costs. But l do not agree with the convey of consciousness as l am not comfortable with the idea. I think we better stick to plan a which is performing the earth ritual". Ra said as he avoided Shu's blue orbs from giving him an eye contact, because thats the only way he could read his mind, as a superior god over him. But if it were other gods and mortals who didn't weild the will of mind veiling, all he needed to do was just focus on their thoughts and he would hear them.

Shu knew his father was lying. But the big question was WHY. What was he hiding and why was he hiding it from even him. He can understand if he doesn't want to share it to other deities, but he was his son and closet god.

Shu and Ra had their relationship above a father and son. Infact sometimes they had this intimacy like brothers or best friends. That's why Shu dare not defile Ra, even he knows everything and even how to cause his downfall. Now that was his biggest worry, because he thought he knew everything about him, but he now realizes that its not true. He has this dark secret he was keeping from and Shu was bent on finding out.