Gardens!

[venerable_ibis]

"...And of trees, of course I have the doum palm, which is dear to me, and the date and the dellach palms; the persea and the fig-sycamore; the almond and the carob; the acacia and the pomegranate. You will not see the ished-tree itself, for that is not kept in my little garden. But I think you will like what you do see, it is shady and quiet..."

As they step from the Milliways library through the door to Djehuty's mansion, he absent-mindedly takes his more usual form. On the other side lies a stone-floored hallway, warm and dry. A baboon greets them with a reverent gesture and begins to make a report to Djehuty--and of course there's no Milliways to translate. But after Djehuty nods to the baboon and makes a brief reply, he switches to French. He's made a quick study.

"This is my home--welcome, Jehan Prouvaire, Beloved of Bast. We are still in the afterlife, in the Duat, and there are many dead here, many gods and many fearsome things, but no one will disturb us in the garden but my ibises."

Comments

[vive_lavenir]

Jehan's brow furrows. "No, no. I think you may be right--except, perhaps, you're being too kind. I do enter that chaos, since I try to create, but I believe only the greatest artists and visionaries can live in its margins. I believe I see, a little, why you can't love it. Your garden has such a beautiful serenity, the opposite of any turbulence." Jehan takes a deep breath. "I do love it here," he adds, and then blushes. Even death hasn't cured him of the blushing, it seems.

"Oh!" Jehan says, as he looks at the drawing. It's remarkably elegant, but why would he be surprised at that? "I've never seen such a bird. It's not unlike the form I took during Cubefall, though there are differences...so all such birds are the manifestation of Osiris, then?"

Jehan isn't sure what Egyptian ideas on this are. But Djehuty is no doubt the best person to ask, about both gods and birds.

[venerable_ibis]

"You are a very welcome guest," Djehuty answers quietly. "I am glad that you like my garden. --Ah, no, there is only one benu. But we have also birds somewhat like it, herons and wagtails, bitterns, egrets. Of course you know my ibis..."

Djehuty is more than capable of nattering on sociably about birds and gardens, and it is a pleasant time and place for just that, while other thoughts settle themselves.