Bob’s Memoir: 4,000 Years as a Free Demon
9
An Heir to Justice
I SUPPOSE there is no way to avoid telling you, though 4,000 years later, the pain can be renewed with an unthinking word. But the story cannot go forward unless I move backward and tell you about losing Aria.
She had brought dozens of women through our home in Knossos for entertainment, true to her word to Zeus that she would always see that her husband had variety. Now, I knew from Zeus’s example that leaving a bunch of bastards loose in the world was problematic. I didn’t want to be known as leaving every woman in Knossos with child, so I had consulted with Zeus and he told me how to assure that no woman I laid with conceived. But Aria wanted my child. She had been denied that privilege by Basarti of the shriveled dick. With all the women he tried, he had fathered no children. I considered her request and found it tickled my instincts as well. The night I decided to satisfy her desire, she conceived.
For a long time, the other women made over her and some left to pursue the same dream with a husband. All wanted to bless Aria’s child. We were happy as her womb grew with our child.
“Boy or girl?” I asked her.
“Ah! He kicks like a demon,” she laughed. “And I’m sure he weighs as much as a full-grown goat. I’m huge! Soon you will need more wives just to bring me food and carry me to the privy.”
“Oh, but I am sure she will be an angel like her mother,” I said. “She will have your golden hair and be the most beautiful in the land.”
“You still flatter me after these years together. Ten years! They have flown so fast. If we had waited any longer to conceive, I’d have been too old.”
I had to stop and consider that. I was sure Aria was not yet thirty, but perhaps humans aged at the same rate as some large animals. What if she had the same lifespan as a horse? We might be nearing the end of our time together. I could barely think of her in those terms. I was not ready to lose my Aria. I would never be ready.
She was near full term when the pains became more than she could stand. We knew the child was arriving soon. We had no idea what it would be. I began to worry that it might not be boy or girl, but rather a beast. The pains became unbearable and I could see the infant moving in its mother’s womb. Nimia tried to get me to leave and let the women take care of things, but I was not about to leave my Aria’s side.
Then my son… the damned creature… tore through my precious girl’s womb with his horns, leaving a gaping wound that none could staunch. My Aria died in my arms as our son devoured the womb from which he was ripped.
I am not proud of what I did. Zeus had told me how my immortality could be ended and what would happen to me. I considered joining Aria in the primordial mass. But instead, I ripped the head from my half-demon son and devoured him myself. I crunched his bones in my teeth and sucked the marrow out of his horns before grinding them to powder and making a bitter drink of them. When I was done, I shit out the waste that returned to the primordial mass it was born from.
Nimia held me in her arms, the only other of the women who had ever seen my true demon form, and rocked me back and forth against her breast as I swore, I would never again impregnate a human woman.
Now, I was a respected husband and king—avatar for a god with a goddess for my wife. Bao had every reason to want a child. What was I to do?
I walked along the walls of the city that night, surveying the prosperity of Bathra. Twice around the entire city I walked as I contemplated what to do and wept for my sweet Aria. I cried out to Ninra and Namri for help and could not hear their answer. It is said that on that night the people heard the mournful spirit of a long past saint crying for the blessing of Bathra.
Obviously, adding to the harem would not solve the problem of an heir. But as I passed a point where I could see the temple courtyard, I saw a man sitting quietly next to the pool. It was still hours before dawn, so I knew he wasn’t just early for work. I came down from the ramparts and went to see what was troubling him.
“What brings you to the temple at this hour, brother?” I asked.
“Ah… I… Uh… had a dream. I was told to come to this spot and wait for the god to make use of me. I wouldn’t want to offend the god, so I rose from my bed and came here straightaway.”
I thought it strange that he would be sent to this particular location just at a time when I was walking by. I’ve learned well, though, not to ignore the commands of a god.
“Tell me about yourself,” I said. “You are devoted to Ninra?”
“And to Namri—very much, sir. I have been in Bathra for a year and helped with the building of this wonderful temple. The gods have been very kind to me, giving me friends, work, food, and care. But the one thing I have most desired, they cannot grant me,” he sighed.
“Do not underestimate what the gods can grant,” I said. “What is it that you desire?”
“I want to be a priestess of the goddess Namri and serve in her holy temple. But obviously, there are limitations.”
“Yes,” I chuckled. “Most priestesses I have known were women.”
“All of them. I wish I was a woman,” he sighed. “Have you seen them? They are strong and beautiful and glow with the light of the goddess within them. They are kind and caring. There is never a child who weeps that is not comforted. No injustice comes before them that is not made right. They are the blessed of the goddess.”
I had to agree with that. In fact, if I ever had my own priestesses, I would want them to be like the blessed priestesses of Namri. Like my wife. Not that there would ever be a reason for me to have priestesses. I just shared this man’s admiration of them.
He had an interesting thought, though. He was born a man but wanted to be a woman. How ridiculous.
“I will consider his request,” a voice whispered beside me. I turned to see the goddess incarnate standing beside me. It was apparent that the man did not see her, in fact, was oblivious to all around him.
“You will?” I asked, surprised.
“Yes, but both you and he must fulfill the need of my vessel Bao.”
“My goddess, I am devoted to my wife, your vessel, as I am to you. I will do anything for her. But surely you know why I refuse to father a child on her.”
“I understand, my lover. But still, she must bear a child. Here is what you must do.”
I listened, glancing frequently at the unresponsive man. The goddess gave me instructions and I followed them closely, seeing the man transform into my likeness. The goddess told me how to enter him and direct his steps, leaving my own body in her care at the temple.
We returned to my bedchamber and I saw my beloved wife, stretched casually naked across the bed. On the floor next to our wedding bed lay Portia and Nimia, clasped in each other’s arms. I guided the man to my bed and he removed his clothes. He caressed my wife and I could feel his interest rise.
“My husband, have you come to make love to me again?”
“My love, I have come to plant a child in your womb. The goddess has spoken to me this night and it shall be done.”
“Oh, my love! My adored husband. Take me and make me the mother of our children,” she declared.
It was a strange sensation to feel this other body—this other man—caress my wife and bring forth her essence so that he… I… we… could slide into her vestibule where we made love for what seemed a long time, depositing a full load of semen in her repeatedly. When my wife was fully sated, I directed the man out of bed. Instead of gathering up his own clothes, he took one of the dresses worn by Portia and we stole out of the palace without disturbing a soul.
When we returned to the pool, the goddess awaited us with my body, which I slipped back into. I looked at the man as he dissolved back into his original form and restrained my jealous hand from murdering him. The goddess intervened.
“You have come to the temple seeking to become a priestess, but now you have sampled the pleasure of the man’s body as he plants his seed in a woman. Do you wish to abandon this and still become my priestess?”
“My goddess, I have no desire but to serve you. Would that I could change this man’s flesh into that of a woman so I could serve you in your temple.”
“Then so be it,” the goddess said.
Before me, I saw the man, still naked, change his shape. His cock disappeared into his lower hair. His breasts grew. He shrank somewhat in size, but still retained the fine muscles that marked so many of the goddess’s priestesses. His skin became fair and his hair lengthened. His lips filled with the seductive pucker of a woman.
“Now,” the goddess said, “my faithful servant, Bob. You have done what was very difficult for you but was necessary for your wife. Here before you is one you cannot be jealous of. Examine her. Touch her. Feel the heat of her woman’s parts and sink your manhood into her. Verify that this is, indeed a woman fit to be a priestess of the goddess.”
I was hesitant at first, though the woman who stood naked before me was quite desirable. I had seen the transformation. I touched her breasts and let my fingers explore her nether region. For her part, she helped me from my clothes and made sure my staff was ready to mate with her. I bent her over the bench next to the pool where she had sat and thrust my manhood deep within her. There was no longer a question in my mind. The goddess had created a woman and that woman would become her priestess. I bellowed my satisfaction as she panted her own and then I withdrew. I can only say, she glowed with satisfaction. I picked up the dress we brought from the palace and helped her into it. She helped me into my clothes.
“Now come with me, my sister,” Namri said. “You will enter my service as my priestess. Bob, you should return to your wife and make sure she knows how deeply you love her.”
I left as Namri escorted the new woman into her temple. Bao welcomed me back into bed with open arms and open legs. I erased all memory of the feeling of being in the man as he fucked my wife and of fucking the woman he became. I held my wife in bed long after the sun rose, worshiping her and assuring her we would have a fine child blessed by the goddess.
“That was very difficult for you,” Nimia whispered. She had returned to the infinity room before dawn and later the next night I made time to join her. I had followed the example of old Assininé and had put a spell on one room of the palace that I considered my special retreat. It was locked and the door was invisible to anyone passing by. I retreated to the room almost daily for a little time with Nimia.
“My loving wife,” I said, “you are my first beloved wife after Aria and I will do anything in my power to care and provide for you. But I beg you, please, never ask to carry a child for me. My heart would break.”
“You need not fear that, my strong and handsome demon. I have no desire for children that exceeds my desire for you. But you understand that what you did was necessary and you have made your wife Bao—and your wife Portia—the happiest woman in the world. I know and she knows that Portia carries no child, but she is as invested in Bao’s pregnancy as if she were bearing the child herself.”
“I am happy they are happy,” I said. “I would endure any hardship to see them like this. My petty jealousy of a man who is no longer a man is childish and of no consequence.”
“Then prepare yourself, my husband, for the trial has just begun.”
“Nimia, what are you saying?”
“I have been studying the infinity room as I have so much time here. I come out only one or two times a week for a few hours and will emerge even less frequently in the future. I am not aging, just as you are not aging. But even in the year and a half we have been in Bathra, I see the changes coming over Portia and Bao. Bao will change through pregnancy and childbirth. She will have the cares of a mother. She will get older and older. And one day, she will die. Portia has elected to share her fate and will grow old and die with her. My beloved demon, though it may be years away, you must prepare for the loss of your loves. And you must work a spell on your body that will make it appear to age as well. Otherwise, you will be seen as an undying king and eventually your true nature will be uncovered.”
“You are wise and kind, Nimia. It pains me to know that what you say is true. But I have determined to live each day in wonder and in love. And knowing that I have you to help me makes me able to see the hard parts through.”
“About that,” Nimia began and I recoiled in fear of what she might say. “Relax, Bob. I was just wondering if you couldn’t somehow find a playmate for me here. Or, perhaps on one of my rare outings, I could look for a girl to keep me company. It is so lonely without the statues now that Portia has cast her lot with Queen Bao.”
“Of course! How thoughtless of me to think my few visits are enough in your isolation. It would be best if you sought your companion yourself. My only requirement is that she come here of her free will and with understanding of what awaits her here.”
“Yes, my love. As I have made this my home of my own choice, so shall our companion have free choice. She might not, however, want to marry you.”
“That is a blessing!” I said. “Now I must work on an aging spell that will give the appearance of aging without affecting my real aging process. Only the appearance of Prince Bob must change.”
“I may have found a spell in my reading. Anytime you find new books, please bring them to me. We should collect a nice library to keep us company on cold winter nights.”
“I’ve never heard that expression. What is a cold winter night?”
“We’ll need to discover that. It was something I read in one of the scrolls.”
As Bao’s belly grew, so did the wealth and prosperity of our city. Grain and sheep were traded to countries for gold, silver, lapis, and precious gems. So great was our wealth that I paid the debts of the poor, protecting the orphans from the wealthy and the widows from those who would prey on them. People migrated from other countries around us to worship Namri and Ninra, to work for the gods, and to become prosperous as the people of Bathra. And to each who worked for the gods, citizenship was granted and their needs were met.
And into this world, Bao brought our son, Ur-Ninra. He was a fine young man and blessed by the god. He learned well the lessons of being clean before the holy, and wise before the people. I taught him as much as I could teach and gradually had him take over the judging of complaints and offenses.
“My son,” I said, “The day is coming when you must rule over this city and our state in place of your father. What kind of ruler will you be?”
“Father, is it even possible that I could be as wise and just as you? If I were given any gift by the gods, it would be that I could serve them as faithfully as you and my mother have done,” Ur-Ninra said.
“It is well said. What will you do when our neighbors see that I am gone and decide to invade and steal our wealth and enslave our people?”
“It pains me to consider either taking a life or costing a life. But I have learned at your knee that the cost is much greater if we are not strong. I will continue to train with the army in the arts of warfare that I hope we never use. If we are challenged, however, we will rise up to meet our enemies with force and power. If they invade the lands of Bathra, they have only the choice to retreat or die. We will never take prisoners and make slaves of them.”
“And what would your first decree be when you have become king?” I asked.
“I would decree an end of slavery.”
“Now, let us consider that decree. Many consider slaves to be a part of their wealth. To them, freeing their slaves is stealing from them.”
“Would it be just, father, to buy the slaves’ freedom and thus to compensate their owners for their loss?”
“That would seem fair, but many will still resist. If you set a price on slaves, they may be traded and sold to others as well.”
He stopped to consider this. I could see him turning the idea in his mind. Over the years, we had significantly reduced the trade in slaves, but there were still traders who sold on the outskirts of Bathra and we had never forbidden immigrants from bringing their slaves. I hoped my son had a solution.
“First,” he said, when he had organized his thoughts, “the sale and trade in slaves must be banned. The only sale of a slave that will be allowed will be to the Crown, which will free the slave thereafter. Second, any slave that accompanies an owner into this country at his owner’s command shall be freed within ten days. No immigrant slave-owner shall be granted citizenship until all his slaves are freed. Third, no child is born into slavery. A slave-owner whose property becomes pregnant will provide for the welfare of the child until he or she is fourteen years of age. At that time, the child is free to leave the owner and appeal to the Crown for a job and sustenance. Alternatively, a slave-owner whose property becomes pregnant, may sell that slave to the Crown and the slave shall be freed. Finally, a slave whose master dies is automatically freed and is to have an equal share of the master’s inheritance as any other heir.”
I smiled at my son.
“Have I missed anything, father?”
“Perhaps. Perhaps not. That is the problem with royal decrees that are made law. You may discover unintended consequences when the law has been enacted. You will need at that time to determine if the law was just and the consequences should be endured, or if the law has uncovered an injustice and must be changed. Strive always to maintain equality under the law for all people, citizen, slave, and visitor. If you do this and listen carefully to your advisors, you will be a just and great ruler for your kingdom,” I said.
I saw that he was good and would become a good king when I left.
Now, in our old age, my precious Bao had become frail. Beside her, Portia had aged as well, and though she had no child of her own, she treated Ur-Ninra as if she were his mother.
Nimia, having set to work organizing and building my library and home in the infinity room, seldom made an appearance in Bathra. When she did, people were amazed that she had not aged a day and they honored her as if she were the high priestess—servant of the gods. As a result, she had attracted an occasional young woman to join her, promising that she would live a very long life of youth and beauty, but would not set foot on this world again. I wasn’t sure of the terminology she used, but she had decided that crossing the threshold of the infinity room was entering a different world.
When I stepped into the infinity room, as I often did, Nimia and I were both young and as randy as goats on the mountainside. The three young women she had attracted to her side became members of the harem and were happy to share their treasures with me, though all three recognized their first responsibility as being to Nimia.
I loved Bao and Portia as if they were one and were dear to my heart as Nimia was. It saddened me deeply when they weakened and passed away, lying next to each other in the same bed and holding their hands.
“This marks the day when you shall become King and servant of the Most High,” I said to my son when I had laid my wives to rest. “The Prince of the East must return to his homeland. My son, practice justice and temperance, kindness and mercy. Be strong against our enemies and gentle among our people. Let no man accuse you of greed or gluttony. And most of all, let this temple be known throughout the world as the house of justice—the home of Ninra, god of war, and Namri, goddess of mercy.”
Having bid my wife a sad farewell at her tomb and pausing to remember the gentle and loyal Portia by her side, I set my foot upon my boat and sailed the river to the sea.
If you have read stories that convince you that this tale is merely a hodgepodge of myths and legends set in an impossible location, let me remind you that I am Bob, writing my memoir as one who lived these things some forty centuries ago. My memory is not perfect. I may have mashed names and misrecalled details. I am not an archaeologist and have never been back to that city I once loved. I set it on a path I believed was the will of the gods and a good path for my people.
And then I left.
For many years I simply wandered until I could find a suitable place far from people, where I could hide my satchel and step into the infinity room with Nimia and her three nymphs. I do not know how long we spent there, or even if time there ran the same as pace in the outside world. As I traveled, I sought books to add to our growing library, of which both Nimia and I were very proud.
“Bob, you cannot go on forever in isolation from all other people. And I am sure the four of us staying in our little home would be happier with others among us. We have a very big world here that goes beyond where any of us have explored. It needs crops and animals. People to tend them. Even a market where people gather to gossip,” Nimia said. I considered that to be a reasonable suggestion.
And that is what brought us eventually to Troy.
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