The Lost Gods (26 page)

“All right,” said Jesse.

“If anyone can do it, man, you can,” said Tim.

“Let me tell Blake and Nathan about all this,” Danielle said. “They don't need any fuel to feed their doubts.”

“Yeah,” said Jesse. Danielle kissed him on the cheek and walked to the bow of the ship. Tim patted him on back.

“So you're telling me that isn't heavy?” Tim said pointing to the axe.

“I’m telling you. It feels light in my hands,” said Jesse. Tim laughed.

“I feel like we need to change your name. Jesse just doesn’t cut it anymore.”

“To what?”

“Something more inspiring, especially with that axe. Your name should be something like Gargax the Eater of Dreams. Maybe Jesse of — ah, I don't know.”

“Please don't call me Gargax.”

“I won't. I'm just saying, when this is all over you'll need a more fitting name.”

Jesse shook his head and picked up the axe. He walked into Inanna's cabin.

She had changed into another set of lavish robes. She sat on her bed with her chest plate in her lap. She looked up at him when he entered. Her eyes were red and puffy.

“I didn't think gods cried.”

He sat down beside her and put his arm around her shoulder. She ran her fingers across his brawler's hands, her index finger going over each knuckle.

“If I told you this was my thousandth battle, you would have to believe me. I have seen more death than one should see in hundreds of lifetimes.”

“But you've seen more life and beauty than anyone else. That must be the upside of being immortal.”

“I'm not immortal. I have not even lived one hundred lifetimes. It is not so many generations that separate you from my first people. But, I had to watch them all die, them and so many others.”

“You couldn't have stopped it?”

“I tried, but I failed. I am afraid my powers are limited, as is true of the other gods. I had champions before, but my people suffered long droughts and famine. There were no champions during those hard times. Soon, raiders came and laid my people to waste. In time, a new empire rose up from the waste of Sumer, and I was worshiped again. Those people had a different tongue. They called me Ishtar. They were sometimes a cruel people, but I loved them all the same. They too fell in time. We gods were helpless to stop the whims of the humans. We could turn the winds against an army, shake the earth, or set the wild brush ablaze with a single thought, but we cannot stop the will of so many people that have decided on war. It pains me to say, but a united people are more powerful than the gods. That is why I needed you. You see how you inspire people, in ways that I do not. They love you, and they do not love me. My time has passed. I am irrelevant.”

While she talked, Jesse envisioned the rise and fall of peoples over the course of centuries. He pictured their cities, their cultures, and their temples emerging, only to be smashed out of existence by an encroaching group. The whole of human history played out before his eyes in a waking dream. He saw them raise Inanna and the other old gods up, only to abandon them for new gods and new leaders. He saw Inanna helpless as her temple was destroyed, and her priests and priestesses were put to the sword. He saw her flee and wait. She watched as the world shifted between powerful hands. All those powerful men and women were long dead. The dream dissolved. Inanna hunched over with her head in her hands: her confidence diminished.

“What about your servants? You inspire them don't you?”

Teardrops hit the floorboards.

“They are not inspired. I saved them from slaughter and kept them alive for millennia. In return, they owe me a blood debt that can never be repaid. They will die in my service, and soon, it would seem.”

“You can release them. It would be the right thing to do.”

“So they can die on their own? No, they will stay with me until the end. It is all they know, but if they survive and I do not, you have my permission to free them.”

She lifted herself up and regained her composure.

“I won't need your permission at that point. You'll be dead.”

“You speak the truth,” said Inanna, and she gave him a soft slap on his cheek, “but I do not like your tone.”

“You've been a goddess too long,” said Jesse and he kissed her.

“Far too long, but I fear I will die soon.”

“Do the gods fear death?”

“This god does. If I kill my sister, what will my afte
rlife be like? I will be alone in the underworld with those that we just killed. I do not presume that they will be happy to see me.”

“I'm sure they'll understand eventually. And I'll be down there soon enough to protect you.”

“Perhaps you can compete with my dear departed husband for my attention.”

“I think I can handle him,” said Jesse and he held Inanna.

“He would run screaming,” Inanna whispered into his ear. She grabbed his arms.

“I want you to visit my temple.”

“One of your temples is still standing?”

“Not standing,” said Inanna in a playful tone, and she spread her legs.

“Oh,” said Jesse. They made love again, for the last time on Earth. Still, Jesse could not shake the thought that death was waiting for all of them. He knew there would be a moment, not far ahead, that would be the last time he and Inanna saw each other alive. After they were finished, they lay in bed facing each other. They stared into each other's eyes. Neither looked happy, but they both had a desperate need for intimacy.

One of the
crewmembers shouted something. Inanna sat up.

“Land,” she said.

“So it begins,” said Jesse.

“As you say,” she said as she rose from the bed.

Fourteen

A Blade In The Dark

Before they landed the ship on the beaches of southeast Iraq, Inanna commanded her servants to bring all the arms and armor from below deck to the banquet table. A collection of combat wares that spanned human history was laid out before them. Nathan picked up several pieces and examined them with childlike wonder. Danielle saw an authentic Renaissance saber and lifted it off the aged wood of the table. She cut letters out of the air and twirled.

“This is amazing,” she said as she lunged at invisible enemies.

Jesse did not dawdle. He walked to over to a Roman cuirass and put it on.

“It fits,” he said and he checked the straps. “Did I put it on right?”

“I knew you would choose that,” Inanna said. She checked the straps and said, “Yes, I think you have it on properly. I would to dress you up like a Sumerian warrior, but alas, my people were not known for their martial prowess. This is more fitting.”

“Inanna,” Blake said, “this collection is worth — I don't even know.”

“It's priceless,” said Nathan.

“There's no one left to buy it,” said Danielle.

“Yeah,” said Tim and the others muttered agreement. That was a sad fact among a thousand other hard truths. They all knew that a collection of art, weapons, or anything else no longer had a value other than its practical use in this world. The implements of war that lay on the table were the last evidence of dozens of grand empires, of lavish lifestyles and conquest, which had all been cast away by time and circumstance.

Jesse watched as they sifted through the massive spread of shiny metal artifacts. He pictured the millions of guns back home gathering rust and dirt, never to be used again. All of those arms made little difference. America fell in the same fashion as the ancient empires.

Blake found a leather cuirass that was his size and slipped it over his head. He grabbed a new shield: small, steel, and round. He looked over the various maces, axes, flails, and swords and shook his head at each one.

“If it ain't broke,” Blake said to no one in particular.

Blake, Nathan, Danielle, and Tim huddled around the table and debated for a time about which weapons and armor would be most effective in a large-scale battle. Blake made the strongest case for a shield and a short, one-handed weapon. The others relented.

“Blake has the right of it,” said Inanna. “You will need as much protection as you can carry. It will be an e
xtended melee.”

Tim set his bow down as if he was laying a beloved pet to rest.

“I don’t know what I should get, guys,” said Tim.

Nathan and Blake cast near-identical looks at each other.

“What? What is it?” asked Tim.

“Well,” said Nathan, but he did not finish his thought.

“What?” Tim asked again.

“Fine, I’ll be the asshole,” said Blake. “Tim, you aren’t strong enough for most of this stuff. You are a fantastic archer, and you saved our asses many a time. But, you won’t be able to hold up a full-sized iron or steel shield for more than a minute or two. Big swords and maces are out, so are flails.”

Blake scanned the pile again. He mumbled to himself.

“There! Yeah, yes this will work,” he said and he picked up a short-handled axe a strange oblong shield and handed it to Tim.

“Really?” Tim said. He grabbed the axe and the shield. He swung the axe a few times. He crouched into a fighting stance and moved around to get a feel for the shield. “Yeah, I guess it’ll work.”

“A
Parma and an axe. Cute combo,” Nathan jested.

“I’ll split your head with it,” Tim joked.

“Try it and we’ll be down one highly animated toothpick,” said Nathan.

“Was that a joke?” Blake asked.

“Yeah, it’s this new thing I’m trying. I figure it’s my last chance,” said Nathan.

Nathan set his sword down in exchange for a short sword and a shield with a majestic lion lording over four images: a scale, a river, a castle, and a bushel of wheat.

“That’ll do,” he said to himself.

Danielle reluctantly put the ornate saber back on the table and picked up a gladius, shield, and leather armor. Each had exchanged their lamellar armor and helmets. Their replicas were sturdy, but nothing compared to the authentic arms and armor that Inanna had collected.

“You guys realize that if an archeologist ever finds us,” Blake said, “they are going to be so confused. I mean, Tim's got a medieval axe, an ancient cavalry shield, and his boots were made in 21st century America. Danielle’s got a Roman sword, Renaissance-era armor, and a Viking shield.”

The others smirked, but no one laughed.

Inanna's crew brought her a helmet, shield, arm guards, and shin guards. She put them on, and as she was checking the straps, a crewmember yelled from the bow.

“It is time. My servants will lower us down and we will march together for half a day. Then, we will see what waits for us outside the gates of the underworld.”

“So we'll just march for half a day and then fight for our lives?” asked Tim.

“Gird yourself manfully. This may be the last thing you ever do. See that you do it well. May your weapons never miss, may they smash your enemies.”

“Inspiring,” Blake said, “but I don't see that we have much choice.”

Jesse walked over to Blake and stood in front of him. He looked down at Blake and put his free hand on his shoulder.

“You still have a choice. You can stay on the boat or walk to the nearest town and try your luck. I don't want you to feel like you are being forced into this.”

Blake stared into Jesse's eyes and said nothing for a moment.

“I don't feel forced. I'm just — I'm still coming to terms with all of this. But if you think I'm going to sit here on this fucking boat or wander around Iraq hoping for the best, then you clearly haven't learned much about me on this journey.”

“I've learned plenty. I'm lucky to have you with me in this. You are still with me, right?”

“I am. If you think a Ren Faire geek is going to miss the most important battle of human history, then you're out of your damned mind.”

Jesse laughed and hugged Blake.

“When you put it that way,” said Nathan, “I'm in too.”

“And you?” Jesse asked Danielle.

“Yep, but I can't say I like the new outfit. There's no finesse to this stuff.”

“I don't think this is going to be a finesse sort of fight,” said Blake.

“Well now I feel like I have to say, I'm in too,” said Tim. “So, I'm in.”

“Good,” said Jesse, “I'll save the speech for later.”

“Just make it a short one,” said Blake. “If the last thing I hear in life is a long-winded speech about how fucking brave I am, then I'm going to vomit.”

Jesse did not try to console him or counter the grav
ity of Blake's statement. He just patted him on the shoulder and turned around.

“I suppose now is as good a time as any,” said Jesse.

“Lead the way,” said Nathan.

Inanna ordered her crew to beach the boat. The drop from the bow of the boat was too high, so the crew threw some thick, hemp ropes overboard. Once Inanna, Jesse, Danielle, Nathan, Blake, and Tim were on the beach, the crew began unloading essential supplies. They had no pack animals, so some of the crew carried large packs filled with water and food while others carried arms. The heat was intense, but they kept a fast pace as they ventured north into the desert. They spoke to each other for a while as they walked, but as the heat intens
ified, and their mouths and throats dried, the talking stopped. They walked until they could not bear the heat. At each stop, they drank as much water as they could manage. The crew insisted on them eating food and they obliged, but none of them had much of an appetite.

Jesse turned around and looked back toward the sea. Heat waves obscured the horizon. He could no longer see the boat or the water. All he saw was dry ground, blue sky, and an angry sun. Jesse had always imagined that his death would come during a
rainstorm or in the middle of the night. Instead, he was marching to the gates of the underworld in full light.

They resumed walking, almost at a march. Iraq was a barren landscape, all brown, white, and gray. Dry brush was the only sign that life had ever inhabited the area. Jesse could not tell if the view or the heat was more breathtaking. A craggy mesa dominated the skyline to the left and ahead of them was the desolation of the d
esert. Sand kicked up and whipped at their faces. Lizards skittered away from them as they marched. Time passed at a crawl and the sun inched through the sky like a cruel bully refusing to leave them alone. The landscape repeated itself; whatever god had created the Iraqi desert simply used copy and paste.

“There,” Inanna said, “the gate.”

She pointed to what looked like a tiny square hundreds of miles away. Jesse squinted, but he could not make out the gate. All he saw was the sun finally falling toward the horizon.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“One does not forget the place where they first died,” said Inanna.

“All right,” said Jesse, “so, what do we do?”

“We keep walking until we get closer,” she said.

“As you wish,” said Jesse.

Within twenty minutes, they could see the outline of the gate to the underworld

Jesse glanced over his shoulder and saw the clouds of dust their small army had kicked up and long bands of footprints that stretched back into the desert. He faced forward again and caught sight of a thin black line se
veral hundred yards in front of them. It was the army of the dead protecting the pathway to Ereshkigal, the path to victory, the path to salvation.

“Fuck,” said Blake and he stopped walking, “I guess I won't reach thirty after all.”

The others just stared ahead. There were countless reanimates standing in a massive row. Thousands upon thousands of them stretched to the limits of vision. They formed a rotted, flesh barrier between the living and where they needed to reach to end the final nightmare chapter of the quick, bloody fall of humanity. Jesse could not tell how thick the line was, but the length was impressive. He turned to his companions. He could not see any sign of confidence on their faces. They looked like prisoners after receiving a death sentence. They were waiting to die. Jesse stepped forward and drove the pole of his axe into the ground.

“We've reached the end of the road. We've come a long way. Right now, we can see our destination. That's a certainty we never had before. When this madness started none of us knew what was going to happen. I thought the military would stop it, but that didn't ha
ppen. After that, I was resigned to death. I thought death would come for me in the night. So every time I went to sleep, from then until now, I thought that each night would be my last. But each day I woke up and I had to begin the cycle of survival again. Right now, we've all got a choice. We can run into the fray with all our might and our fury, or we can give up and take our chances out there. Either way, we die. I'm looking at a bunch of dead men. But, if we can pull this off, then we can end this scourge for everyone. We don't know how many survivors are left out there, but there have to be others. They are suffering the same as we are. Our time of suffering is almost over, but theirs will continue unless we put a stop to it. So here's what I want. I want you to think about all the things that you lost to this, to those things out there. I want you to think about every member of your family and every friend that got killed, and I want to you think about all your favorite places that were destroyed. Over there, past those mindless creatures is what is responsible for that. Past the gates of the underworld lies a cruel goddess. She started it and it ends with her. We can finish this. I want you to take all that loss and pain, and I want you to turn it into rage: pure and unbridled. I want you to let that rage burn into a fury so strong that those things over there should be afraid of you. I'm not going to ask if you are ready to die because I know you are, but are you ready to kill?”

Jesse lifted his axe out of the ground and walked t
oward the line. Inanna shouted to her people and they followed. He had only taken a few steps when he heard a piercing scream from behind him. He turned his head and saw Danielle running full tilt toward the line with tears streaming down her face. The others yelled and followed suit. Jesse picked up his pace. Inanna gave another command and the crewmembers dropped their supplies, drew their weapons, and charged.