>>5422592>>5422625>Enurudua,you think to yourself, rolling the name around your head. It's almost funny how little it means to you. "Lord who built the city". Just another name to be forgotten, as though it belonged to a stranger.
Silence descends on the bathhouse. The scribe waits patiently, stylus poised above his tablet. You close your eyes, deep in thought. For such a tool, such a weapon, to fall into the wrong hands... anyone else's hands! Ay, what a difficult problem! And all the walls have ears, for all you know. What to do...?
It hits you then. Your eyes flare open.
>"When the clouds grow dark on the horizon,>When the spears dance,>The Great Gods do grant their blessing to their chosen."The scribe begins a flurry of movement. Turned away from him, you do not see his face, and you wonder if he expected to be writing such things today. You wait until he has finished before continuing:
>"Enki, Lord of Wisdom, has blessed Nippur and its rulers thus."You pause, and suddenly your dream flits through your mind. A smirk crosses your lips. How fitting.
>"In a vision he showed the coming dark.>In a vision he carried the light into the shadows.>In a vision he gave the cleansing ritual.>This tablet recounts the vision."Yes, you think to yourself, that sound sufficiently vague. Simultaneously, there is no way for you to forget its purpose. The scribe once again grows still behind you.
>"Enki spoke thus:"Yes, what did he say...? You pause for a moment, collecting your thoughts. The machine stands in your mind; you see it move, see the men scramble around it, see it all from every side.
>"... When the shadows have been cast away from your lands,>Verily you will march into the darkened plains.>Verily you will strike at their cities.>To My chosen, I give a blessing:>The knowledge of the power of the Hand of a God.>With this knowledge you shall build it;>It shall do my wonders."You turn to look at the scribe, see his furrowed brow and acute concentration. His hands are a flurry of movement. Perhaps that was a bit too fast for him. But now he is done, looking up at you, and he has not asked you to repeat anything yet.
>"Without the arm, the hand cannot stand.>Without the field, the crop cannot grow.>The lesser part of your spears you shall take;>It is the greater part.>The greater part of your spears you shall take;>It is the lesser part.>Large pieces you shall cut out.>With those pieces you shall create an arm;>With those pieces you shall create a wrist;>With those pieces you shall create a finger; >With those pieces you shall create a palm;>From the shell of beasts, you shall fashion a yoke;>My awe-inspiring radiance, borne from stone;>The hand will hold it.>The hand will give it.>Each piece shall support its brother;>This is My will."contd.
