The Cult of Sekhmet

Jewel of the Cat Goddess
Episode 2: The Cult of Sekhmet

FX: ETHEREAL MUSIC

ORPHEUS‌ ‌(THE‌ ‌HOST)‌

The story of Eons and Stars is a patchwork, a seeming miscellany that spans the world and beyond. The story can seem overwhelming, with depths of understanding that can be at times paralyzing. It is a hard shell with a secret inside and one must start with a crack to even begin to understand its contents. And for our paltry crowd at the Ultima Verbi, the last refuge of the written word in Arkham, Professor Johnathan Whateley is cracking that shell and giving a peak to his attendance.

FX: ETHEREAL MUSIC FADES OUT AND ROOM NOISE AND SMALL AUDIENCE FADE IN

THE PROFESSOR
(Friendly, to the crowd in the bookstore)

Like I said, after the ordeal in the temple it took us several days to see the city of Cairo again. We came striding over the dunes on camelback early in the morning watching the sunrise over the cairene skyline. Ripe with palaces, apartments, smoke, and dust. Beauty is relevant, and from where we came it may have been the most beautiful sight either of us had seen in quite some time.

FX: ROOM NOISE FADES TO THE DISTANT SOUNDS OF CAIRO.

THE PROFESSOR
(Talking to Charles)

By God, Charles, we did it… and we made it!

CHARLES

Yes, we did Professor.

THE PROFESSOR

We will be famous.

CHARLES

You are already famous, Professor.

THE PROFESSOR

Then we shall be more famous, revered in the Valhalla of archeology, deified in the pantheons of adventurers!

CHARLES

Bathed in the hubris of ego.

THE PROFESSOR

Well, yes there may be a little of that as well, but first, we shall book passage back to Arkham and then bathe with the mistress of prosecco… or whatever spirits or libations we can find in this cat box of a city.

CHARLES

Punnery, rhyme, and thinly veiled racism, Professor? How beneath you.

THE PROFESSOR

Jesus, Charles, just because the city is a hot, dusty, litter box of a hell hole doesn’t mean I’m racist. I don’t wanna live in an igloo either, but I’m sure the company is nice.

CHARLES

It is rather hot… and dusty.

THE PROFESSOR

Now, who’s the racist you herculean aryan-looking vessel of entitlement.

CHARLES

Like you are one to discuss entitlement. I’m surprised you haven’t choked to death on all those silver spoons.

FX: BACKGROUND SOUND FADING DURING NARRATION

THE PROFESSOR
(narrating to the audience)

In our way, we bickered on, enjoying our morning and looking forward to our future convalescence. We booked passage on the fanciest ship we could find, the New Amsterdam Luxury Liner departing in Safaga, and would leave Cairo that evening by train. This gave us a few hours, so we found the first bar we could find, the Egyptians called it a cafeteria, and started the wait off right, with several strong glasses of bouza, an Egyptian beer made from bread and grain. A meal in a bottle that could fill a starving gut, or at least temporarily cauterize it.

FX: SOUNDS OF A BAR FADING IN

THE PROFESSOR
(Talking to Charles)

Lord, Charles, I have never been so terrified for so long in all my life. Getting out of the temple complex was just the start, to be followed by thinking we were going to die in the desert without a guide.

CHARLES

Yes well, I think I would rather take my chances alone on a camel than with that guide.

THE PROFESSOR

Yes, I guess you’re right.

CHARLES

Trust in Allah, but tie up your camel.

THE PROFESSOR

What’s that?

CHARLES

It’s a saying around here. It means Have faith, but also take prudent action.

THE PROFESSOR

Good advice.

CHARLES

What do you suppose the jewel is worth, Professor?

THE PROFESSOR

I assume it is the true definition of priceless, or at least valuable enough that I would rather not be sitting in a shady cafe in Cairo holding it in my pocket with hours to wait till our departure.

CHARLES

As much as I love running around playing adventurer, I will appreciate getting back to tea and newspapers for a while. The train ride will do us some good.

THE PROFESSOR

Agreed.

FX: CROWD OF PEOPLE COMING INTO THE BAR

TUCKER

Shots of bourbon for me and the boys and a round for all my friends!

FX: THE BAR PATRONS CHEERING. BACKGROUND SOUND FADING DURING NARRATION

THE PROFESSOR
(narrating to the audience)

In the middle of our much-needed relaxation, a group of Americans entered the bar, complete with cowboy hats and boots, and these fellas were ready to drink. Charles and I continued our conversation, but it wasn’t long until this new group of Americans noticed our akin accents and the group’s leader struck up a conversation with us.

TUCKER

Other Americans I hear! Ya mind if I sit with ya?

THE PROFESSOR
(Talking to Tucker)

Of course not, glad to meet a fellow countryman so far from home. What’s your name?

TUCKER

Name’s Tucker, and you two?

THE PROFESSOR

I’m Professor Johnathan Whateley and this is my partner, Charles Charters.

TUCKER

What brings you all to The Gift of the Nile. (ending with mocking mystery)

THE PROFESSOR

An educational visit mostly.

TUCKER

Ah, scholars, knew there had to be some good reason to come to this hot as ass sandtrap.

CHARLES

And what brings you and your company to the east?

TUCKER

Well, we’re a band from Mecca, California, the band’s called Mecca, California too, and we’ve come to the cradle of civilization to bring to them our special brand of country music.

CHARLES

Seems an odd place to sell your particular brand of Americana?

TUCKER

Well, yeah maybe, but given all the problems between the US and this part of the world, we figured we could show ‘em that the US is more than a kickass military, we also have some kickass tunes, I mean, we are called Mecca, California after all.

THE PROFESSOR

While I find the notion somewhat noble, it does seem a little dangerous?

TUCKER

Woo boy, you ain’t kiddin’. There was a moment or two when playing in Saudi Arabia people started to look a little angry, but all in all, it’s been good times for the most part.

CHARLES

Do you have anything I may have heard?

TUCKER

Yeah, our song “When I’m Missing Home, I Turn to Mecca” is working it’s way up the charts back home.

THE PROFESSOR

And you played that song in Saudi Arabia?

TUCKER

Yes, sir. It’s our closer.

THE PROFESSOR
(subtly mockery)

Well, let me buy you a drink and we can toast to the luck of the vacuous.

CHARLES

You are a lucky man Mr. Tucker.

TUCKER
(oblivious to the sarcasm)

Well, I have to admit our guitarist is flipping the bill, his dad’s from that old rock band, Ginnung, some metal-ly sorta classic rock thing, but he gave us carte blanche for the tour, so, here we are. But our tour is finally over and we’re starting the trip home to Mecca Tonight. We catch the Red Sea Riviera Express to Safaga where we board the New Amsterdam and head back to the states.

THE PROFESSOR

What a coincidence, that is our itinerary as well.

TUCKER

Well, ain’t that fate. It’ll be nice to have some yanks to dream about home with on the trip.

FX: BACKGROUND SOUND FADING DURING NARRATION

THE PROFESSOR
(narrating to the audience)

And so the day was wasted away, sweating in the cairene bar and drinking more than we probably should have. After getting our fill with the band, and with night approaching, we decided to walk to the train station and work off some of the food and drink. It was pleasant as the sun started to go down over Cairo, but I couldn’t help feeling that something was wrong.

FX: SOUNDS OF THE STREETS OF CAIRO

THE PROFESSOR
(talking to Charles)

You know, Charles, this isn’t my first time in Egypt.

CHARLES

I had imagined it wasn’t, Professor.

THE PROFESSOR

I came here as a child with my father.

CHARLES

In search of the jewel?

THE PROFESSOR

No, on that adventure it was in search of already discovered Egyptian artifacts. My father was much more a scholar than an adventurer, but we all still knew the roles we had to play to live up to the Whateley name. The adventure never ended. Passed down from one generation to the next. One generation reading the books, the next following the path, back and forth for generations. The problem is that both are easy fascinations to lose yourself in. My father was lost in books and relics, in the finite details, he was not so good at the larger picture or taking in the local scenery. For safety purposes, I was forced into becoming good at looking up and taking in the world as my father was looking down, taking in the minutia.

CHARLES

Well,l that explains a lot. You are good at it.

THE PROFESSOR

I’m glad you think so, Charles.

CHARLES

Why is that Professor?

THE PROFESSOR

Because I believe that we are being followed right now. No, don’t look. Just keep your head on our course and continue talking with me.

CHARLES

Of course sir. Should we duck in an ally?

THE PROFESSOR

Not yet, we must wait till we get to one where there is traffic so as not to get stuck in a dead-end. This damn city is not exactly planned as we would expect.

CHARLES

Right

THE PROFESSOR

Not this alley but the next we are going to start running to the left following the cart traffic.

CHARLES

Okay.

THE PROFESSOR

Hold, hold, ready?

CHARLES

Yes, Professor.

THE PROFESSOR

Now!

FX: BACKGROUND SOUND FADING DURING NARRATION

THE PROFESSOR
(narrating to the audience with intensity)

And we ran, behind us there was a commotion of camels and falling baskets. As I turned I saw a group of three men, all in black, swords unsheathed, coming after us. We darted right down another main thorofare as Charles slapped a camel with its rigging, sending it back toward our pursuers. Rounding another corner we came to a halt. In front of us stood five more men in black cloaks, armed with Khopesh, a curved Egyptian sickle sword. The leader of the group yelled to us from across the square.

FX: SOUNDS OF THE STREETS OF CAIRO

CAT GODDESS CULTIST
(from a distance)

You must return the eye. If you do, you will not be harmed

CHARLES
(under his breath)

He’s lying

THE PROFESSOR
(frustrated)

I know he’s lying

THE PROFESSOR (CONT)
(yelling to Cat Goddess Cultist)

Why must I return it?

CAT GODDESS CULTIST

The eye holds the balance. You must return it!

THE PROFESSOR

We are not thieves. We have no intention of keeping it for ourselves. It is for the world to learn from.

CAT GODDESS CULTIST

Such arrogance, you will pay for your offense!

FX: BACKGROUND SOUND FADING DURING NARRATION

THE PROFESSOR
(narrating to the audience)

The man and his cohorts charge, swords raised, but you don’t bring a knife to a gunfight. Charles pulled his pistols from his holsters and laid waste to the advancing men as the gathered crowd scattered in fear. We ran faster than I thought possible, through the streets of Cairo, a band of cat jewelry cultists on our tails. Cutting through a bathhouse we made our way toward the train station, through the winding dusty streets, attempting to lose ourselves in the crowd. There have been many times in my life that being a white man has been of some advantage to me. Running from unquestioning cat goddess loyalists through a sea of dark-skinned people parting way for panicking westerners was most certainly not one of them. The bread trail we left was more of a conspicuous track leading our hunters right to us. In the distance, we could hear the howl of steam engines. So we ran. The cultists had learned their lessons about bringing knives to a gunfight as bullets went whizzing by us, some striking locals causing all the more open spreading panic in the streets.

FX: TRAIN WHISTLE IN THE DISTANCE

CHARLES

There, that train that’s ours, Professor. Will you make it?

THE PROFESSOR

I will!

FX: BACKGROUND SOUND FADING DURING NARRATION

THE PROFESSOR
(narrating to the audience)

… I yelled fasting after my companion and protector. The loud racket and vibration of our boots on the wooden landing helped to part the remaining crowd on the boarding platform. With a final leap, we made it to the doors of the departing train in time to see our pursuants fall behind. With a whistle of the boiler, we were safe again traveling on the Red Sea Riviera Express.

FX: ETHEREAL MUSIC

ORPHEUS

Oh Professor, could it really be that easy? You play it so well to these fools who live vicariously through your stories and aspire to acquire a signature on the inside flap of your little book. You are old, but still, spy enough of mind to know that it was not easy then and it still is not easy now. So, tell them. Tell them of the train, of the warning, of the beast and of the swarm. Don’t leave them waiting, Professor, they want to hear more. But, for that, you’ll have to return for the Next Episode of the Jewel of the Cat Goddess as the Professor and Charles learn their fate from The Diva of Divination.

FX: ALL SOUND FADES OUT. END EPISODE.