Chapter Eighteen - Eneduanna’s descent

Eneduanna lay crumpled in her bed like a discarded rag. This was the price of the Ritual, she told herself; Her veins polluted with toxins, the clarity of her mind fading into oblivion. Avatar of Inanna.

Her head was tormented by headaches and seizures. Visions filled her mind without warning, before fading again without memory. Prophetic images of future and past came and disintegrated in waves of pain and exhaustion that had her nearly drooling at times.

She groaned softly under her sweat-soaked sheets. Eneduanna’s radiant skin had turned pale.

Her closed almond eyes widened to narrow slits as she heard someone approaching.

Heabani carefully opened the door to her chamber. Her vision was unfocused and blurry, but she recognized the small bright-coloured silhouette.

A jab of pain struck behind her forehead and she dropped her head back onto the pillows.

‘Mistress..’ Heabani’s voice reached her somewhat dimmed, but the worry in his voice was noticeable.

‘Im fine.’ She spoke with a whispered hiss, slowly dealing with the sea of pain inside her head. Heabani shuffled closer. ‘Is there something I can do to aid your condition, most revered one?’

‘Your concern. Is noted.’ Another nail hammered behind her eyes.

The presence of Heabani seemed to make things worse, forced her to actually be present consciously instead of drifting away in dis-eased tranquility. The command to banish him rested on her tongue, but she refrained from driving him out just yet. Undoubtedly he had come to relay important matters of some sort.

She raised herself up slightly. From partly opened windows she heard the sound of heavy rain, occasionally interrupted by a thunderous rumble.

The light in the room was dim, only lit by a single sputtering candle.

Heabani’s melodic voice reached her again. ‘I just came from below. I feed him, watch him....’

‘What of it?’ She spoke with irritation, though her narrowed eyes opened further.

‘The Hurrian is weakening, rapidly. I fear sickness followed by death.’

‘He is strong. He will manage.’

‘With the regime he is under…’

‘Do not doubt me, servant. He has simmered down there for a good amount. In time I will see if his meat indeed has become tender. Do not concern yourself too much with this soul. You have more important matters to attend to, do you not?’

‘Yes, of course, naturally. I have been working hard to serve you. I, and all of us, most Revered one. New armies are built before the gates of the city. Recruits are whipped into shape, forged into warriors under the stern command of the King.’

‘The King…’ Eneduanna repeated weakly. She had difficulty with listening to Heabani’s words, her energy used elsewhere, sucked away into an invisible pit.

Heabani frowned. ‘I'll make it quick, mistress. As promising as the preparations might be, not everything is going well. Our food supplies are dwindling. The grain we took from Larsa will last us until winter. There are simply too many mouths. The other Kingdoms are realizing our needs and increasing their export prices. Ur has halted any trade with our ports.’

Enedduanna groaned, this was the last thing she wished to discuss. ‘Let them starve.’

Heabani’s powdered face made a series of nervous twitches she knew preceded him going against her will. ‘Hungry people are unruly. Starving people riot and turn against their rulers.’

‘Youre suggesting the city will turn against me?’ Eneduanna laughed, embracing the pain it brought. ‘-They will eat each other before that happens.’ She shook her head, her voice showing signs of exhaustion. ‘Gather the males, young and old, and we will march them all off to die. Less mouths to feed. Empty the slums, the strong and devoted will survive.’ She felt her lucidity falter, her consciousness pulled deep inside again alongside a wave of nausea. The tall priestess fell back between the pillows.

Heabani bowed his head. ‘But what off the Isine demand? We have the gold. It can be done. Ur and Eridu stand no chance without their northern ally. We will extend our influence in all directions.’

Eneduanna’s eyes were closed but the mouth of the High-priestess opened. ‘She has taken too long already.’

‘Revered one?’

Eneduanna turned to her side, showing him her back. ‘Go. now.’ Her voice was distant and hostile.

Lighting flashed from outside, illuminating the room for a short fraction of time, as the eunuch quickly fled from her chambers.

The rain splashed outside. From the heavens came a torrent of water. It battered her shutters, she heard it spatter on the roof. The rain came from the sky and it held no regard for the laws of the city, the barriers, the gates. It went wherever it wanted, flowing through gutters and rooftop pipes, cleaning dust and grime that had accumulated for months, flowing over, dripping down. The water entered the crevices, the small alleys, the secluded courtyards. It would fall in the thorny gardens, on the hidden graves. It would melodically tap on the helmets of guards, and it would ripple on swelling canals. It went, unstoppable, pulled down to whatever depths needed to be filled, and down she went.

In her mind Eneduanna saw a light fall from heaven and descending into the world below. Seven gates awaited barring the light from entering where none returned.

The Image of Inanna stood vibrant, her form coiling and swirling, the colours of red and gold and blue and green, like a chest of gemstones she was, and she contrasted sharply with the drab landscape around.

A great gate was before her, old and weathered, ancient. Barred, sealed. Of grey and black stones and rotting cedar wood.

Inanna, the holy Queen of Heaven, her hair dancing like snakes and curling upwards to the sky from where she came.

With a slender fist she banged on the Gate. The strikes were thunderous, deafening, six times a crushing blow on the old wood.

Eneduanna who listened clasped her ears in pain. Inanna turned and watched her; eyes of azure smokeless fire. The Queen of shining colours raised her fist again for the seventh time.

Eneduanna raised upright from her bed, a loud desperate gasp for breath as her lungs filled again with air. Coincidentally a loud crash of thunder, an illuminating flash in the distance, and then the darkness again. She was covered in sweat. Her head pulsed. She took a few moments to recollect what she had seen, this time remembering.

Already she felt the pull backwards, back to the pillows and the soft blankets, and what lies below the bed, below the world.

Her mouth moved without her command and it spoke: ‘Seven.’

Eneduanna attempted to get to her knees, to crawl out of the bed. But the bed would not let her go. The sheets stuck to her like glue, binding her with rope and chains and slowly rattling her back in. Unfriendly bed, she lacked the strength to escape its grasp.

Eneduanna’s thoughts were clouded. She struggled to remain upright. A fear of what would come when head would fall back on the pillow.

‘Aid!’ She yelled with all that was left of her strength.

The door of her chamber opened and a pair of priestesses rushed inside. Behind them the eunuch, face lined with expectant worry.

Soft hands touched her bare shoulder, preventing her body to fall onto the bed and into the elsewhere.

‘Its coming.’ Eneduanna murmured. ‘She is testing me, testing my body.’ She groaned as another jet of pain surged through her head. Her spine, likewise, tingled and shook as if a burning snake was coiling through. It bit and filled her with venom.

Eneduanna swallowed. ‘Listen well and do as I say. Have the people of Uruk pray, in the wet streets and on the flooding canals have them go on their knees, have them soaked and devoted. Inform them the storm will bring down the Queen of Heaven. And you, my priestesses -’ She raised a weak hand to touch their faces. ‘I take trust in you. Dress me, prepare me for the world where the birds have human faces. I can’t do it by myself. Dress me in the scarlet robe of ladyship and place in my hands the rod and ring. slide over my right ring-finger a circlet of gold and fasten to the robe the golden pectoral inscribed with the words ‘’Lu janu - janu‘.

Painted eggs should be struck in the fabric over my breasts and hang from my neck a beaded necklace of lapis lazuli. Lastly wrap my hair and head in an azure blue scarf. As I lay with closed eyes, decorate my skin, my lips, my eyes...’

Eneduanna’s felt her eyelids become heavy, her resistance faltering. She bit her lip to remain awake, and she tasted blood iron. ‘-Lastly, bring me the Hurrian. Cleanse and purify him as fast as possible and deliver him before I am already gone.’

The priestesses rushed away. Heabani remained with the ailing Eneduanna. She felt her eyes prick and become wet. She felt afraid. ‘She wishes me to do this, but I might not survive. From this slumber I might not awake.’

The eunuch tried to assure her with a confident smile. ‘I know you will. You are our High-priestess, our light in the dark. Guide us to heaven. Who else but you, Revered one?’ He bowed his head in devotion, but her fear only increased. The onset of panic came, but she was not strong enough to move. Her full lips quivered as they parted. ‘Watch over me Heabani.’

His soft hands caressed her hair while they waited. The rain continued and a violent wind emerged, swirling, raging, its force spiraling around and forcing the clouds to move along its path. It blew through the gardens and rustled the branches, shaking off the petals and leaves. Above the noise of the storm faint prayer became audible.

***

The sound of dripping water had awoken him long before he felt cold liquid wash over his toes. In the dark there was nothing to be seen, but he heard the sound of the stream. Its gurgling grew stronger, soon an audible flow down from the staircase in the distance.

Water rising and sloshing at his ankles the Hurrian rushed to the bars, pulling them again like he had done so many times, and like all other attempts he found himself locked and barred.

Would this be his end? A miserable end. The Hurrian grimly thought, cursing loudly in the dark. He felt the waters rise, he heard it splash over the steps and into the rapidly expanding pool. Damn you Heabani, may the Gods curse you, little bastard without cock. And you, Eneduanna -

His ears twitched as he discerned something descending rapidly. The glow of light again, and with it his hopes multiplied.

‘Here!’ Sjerub yelled with hoarse voice. A pair of Priestesses with soaked robes hastily descended with bare feet, wading through what was already a pool of knee-deep blackness.

They inspected him with curious eyes, then quickly opened the lock and pulled open his jail. He stumbled out. He was out.

‘With us, now.’ They commanded. ‘-The most revered one’s mercy is boundless.’ They guided him up the stairs, a steady downward flow of water making the steps slick. It was like climbing upwards through a river, and the current was increasing in strength. The spatter of rainwater extinguished the torch, but the three continued. Above an exit, where faint light shined.

Sjerub blinked his eyes with perplexion as he emerged from the subterranean prison. Where had the sun gone, the shining bright and scorching rays, the light that pounded the land into dust and desperation?

The sky was grey and black, and it was as if a sea had been released from heaven. There were no droplets, there were direct streams, jets of water falling to the earth. A swollen, pregnant storm howled through it all. It spiraled around, with the storm’s centre directly above them like a great round eye watching them.

The wind whipped into his face, lashed his naked-wet body. He struggled, but the priestesses pulled him up and forced him to continue. He passed gardens whose pleasant flowers had been removed and withered, leaving only hard stalks with endless thorns.

The Temple soon rose before him. Its many windows showed warm orange light, contrasting with the darkening outside world.

Inside the loud noise of the storm was dimmed, thick stone walls sealing them off from the outer world. The Hurrian’s long brown hair dripped and he shivered from the cold.

The ticking of rain from the ceiling, where a circular glass dome was being battered by the storm, great flows of water running over its surface as if the temple stood at the bottom of a lake.

‘Come, come.’ One of the priestesses urged with impatience. They went through doorways, over stairways and through long dim-lit hallways. Occasionally a candle was shining from a corner or an alcove. The frequency of the lights increased until they reached a large cedarwood door, far higher than the others. The height of Eneduanna, and the Hurrian tasted a bittersweet brew of emotions. Before the door a radiant floor of candles almost blocked the way. The priestesses pushed the door open and the Hurrian followed.

Inside the light was even stronger, a sea candles surrounding a long bed.

In the midst of the light Eneduanna lay, her skin shining with sweat, eyes half closed, her dark brown hair taking up a shine of beaten copper. On the floor, and everywhere else around, hooded priestesses, eyes cast downwards as they whispered hymns and incantations.

Heabani was hunched over the High-priestess holding one of her limp hands. The eunuch’s head turned to see the Hurrian enter, then immediately returned to his mistress without saying a word.

‘Come, man, come…’ The voice of Eneduanna, soft but still expectant of obedience.

His naked body shined in the candle-light, the scars running over his deteriorated muscles, his wetness slowly drying up in the warm glow of the chamber.

His mistress gestured him closer and Heabani stepped back for him to lean over towards her mouth, where soft whispers flowed out. ‘Your name is Sjerub of Aratta. I will make you Sjerub of Uruk, prince of my blessed city. None will hurt you. Out of the prison, I grant you your freedom.’ Eneduanna gave a faint smile. ‘You served me well, Hurrian, you can go - if you wish.’ There was no intoxicating voice, no binding of his mind, just a soft and vulnerable line of words.

She groaned softly and closed her eyes.

Sjerub stepped back. Freedom. White garments were placed over his shoulders. Prince. He did not understand. The powerful and tall High-priestess had become silent, her mouth twisted in pain. ‘What is happening?’ He asked. He leaned towards Eneduanna again but the priestesses held him back.

Heabani placed his hand on his struggling arm. ‘The High-Priestess is going into ritual. Her soul is to be judged, cleansed and prepared. Things will happen in this chamber which you do not understand. You must leave now, dear Hurrian.’

Faintly hearing footsteps move away through the cold hallways of her temple, Eneduanna gave up her feeble resistance. A powerful overwhelming wave crashed over her. She sunk into her bed; deeper and deeper she went. She could see the priestesses look at her with troubled faces, Heabani as well. Her eunuch said something, but she could not hear, his mouth moved but he was voiceless. The others in the room were weeping.

She attempted to speak back but there was a void around her that absorbed her words. Down she went, descending until the people watching here were but a tiny image, a small frame, a tiny speck of light, and then nothing. The void absolute.

For the longest time there was nothing, she saw nothing, although she felt as if she was falling. Faster and faster she fell, cold air blowing past her skin, and a wind roaring past her ears in deafening noise. She closed her eyes and she saw bright colours, impossible forms and shapes.

Then it was silent again.

She opened her eyes and found herself collapsed on a soil of gritty grey dirt. Her mouth was dry and she was thirsty. Slowly she pushed herself up, seeing moistureless drab-coloured sand and dust around her. The land stretched out into low hills of grey earth and dark weathered rocks.

A land of nothing reached until the horizon, illuminated weakly by a black sun.

She turned around and there was a great gate. She had seen the gate before in her vision.

Old grey and dark stones arching over ancient partly-rotten wood, wet splinters curling off its surface.

She could walk around the gate, a single gate surrounded by nothing, and its doors were closed both ways.

This place troubled her, the dim light, the colourless world. It made her feel anxious and vulnerable. But here it was where Inanna had sent her.

Golden circlets around her wrist rinkled as she raised her fist to the wood, and he she shouted aggressively. ‘Open up! I am all alone and I want to come in!’

Her raw voice trailed away into the desolate world. A cold wind blew past her, blowing dust over her fine scarlet dress. She prepared to knock again as the door opened up just a sliver.

A single yellow eye, level with hers, peered through. ‘Who are you?’ An unfriendly male voice demanded. The voice resonated, making the dust around the gate tremble and form patterns.

‘I am Eneduanna going to the east.’ Eneduanna replied.

The yellow eye averted. ‘Eneduanna. En-ed-u-anna. Hmmm - I do not know that one, your name is not in the ledger.’ And the eye returned, scanning her from head to feet, rolling over the contours of her breasts and hips. A content grunt came forth from behind the door. ‘If - you are Eneduanna going to the east, why have you travelled to the land of no return? How did you set your heart on this road?’

Eneduanna placed her hand on the wood, pushing slightly. ‘Holy Inanna sends me.’

‘Inanna…’ The doorman grumbled. ‘Very well.’ He spoke with rolling sigh. The door opened and a large figure became visible, two yellow eyes on a face marked with deep dark grooves, lines all over his skin so his features were difficult to discern. He wore clothes like that of a man; simple woven garments, but his feet were like snakes, thick and coiling.

‘I am Neti, chief gatekeeper. I guard this world were you should not be, but you seem eager enough so I’ll let you in.’ He raised a grooved long nailed finger. ‘-On one condition. Take off the scarf around your head, so I might see that beautiful hair of yours.’

Eneduanna met the doorman’s expectant yellow eyes, then ripped off the cloth and revealed her long dark-brown hair.

Neti nodded contently, a thick tongue licking his lips, and he slithered away from the entrance.

She followed with uncertain steps. Through the gate and into another world, as arid and hopeless as the previous. Across the grey-yellow sand stood another doorway, similar to the previous.

Neti already awaited before it. ‘Like what you see, beautiful En-e-duanna-who-is-sent-by-Inanna? This is my world.’

A flock of black birds flew overhead. They were small like sparrows but had human faces. They landed atop the second gate, and their screeching was loud and painful to the ears. Neti grimaced. ‘Away with you, damn birds. And silence for my guest!’ He gestured towards Eneduanna and the birds with human faces followed his hand, beak-mouths closed for a short moment before erupting in screeching laughter.

‘Neti, neti! When will I get beautiful feathers?’ A ragged bird asked. ‘Give me green and blue and yellow and I will leave you alone.’

‘I'll give you a roasting in the oven, little soul, if you dont leave now!’ Neti thundered, dust forming up over the sand like lightning. His grooved face showed the hint of redness, and long crooked teeth became visible from his opened mouth. The birds flew up, laughing all the while as rose in the dark sky. They circled high above to where their screeches were dimmed and faint.

Neti reached out his hand to Eneduanna. ‘Tall one, tall one, I dont see many tall ones pass through, but neither see I many living. Come if you want, Eneduanna. Truly, you dont belong here but if you want you should tell me to open the door for you.’

‘Let me in.’ Eneduanna stated. ‘I come here with divine purpose. Send me all the way.’

Neti smiled and reached for the lapis-lazuli necklace around her neck.

His ugly hands were far too eagerly for her liking, so Eneduanna stepped back. ‘Away with your hands, whether you are demon, man or snake-abomination, you will not place your fingers on me without permission.’

Neti bowed his large body slightly. ‘Ofcourse, of course. Accept my apologies, Eneduanna from above.’ He kept his hand open expectantly. ‘The necklace then.’

Eneduanna took off the lapis-lazuli beads and handed them over. Neti opened the second door leading to more nothingness.

A burned and charred land, red hues over black. Another lone door stood on the abyssal plain. Eneduanna angered when she sighted the third door. ‘What is this? You want more payment? What kind of game are you playing with me Neti?’

‘Be satisfied, Eneduanna, a divine power of the world below has been fulfilled. Eneduanna, you must not open your mouth against the rites of the world below. Now, if you wish to continue, give me the painted eggs that hang over your breasts.’ He slithered closer, and one of his large snake legs slapped over her feet, sliding back fast after he had touched her skin. ‘-How warm you are, Eneduanna-from-above. Now give.’

Eneduanna unfastened the painted eggs and tossed them at Neti’s thick snake appendages. Through the third gate she went, and at the fourth gate she took off the golden pectoral, at the fifth she took off the golden ring around her finger, and at the sixth gate the rod and the ring were taken from her hands.

Neti awaited before the seventh gate, eyes gleeful and his pockets filled with Eneduanna’s possessions.

‘How much further?’ The High-priestess demanded.

Neti licked his lips. ‘This one is the last, Eneduanna-from-above. Behind here is the true below; the palace of the underrealm. But what can you give to pay for your passage?’ He cocked his head. ‘No rings, no jewelry...’ Neti shook his head with a sigh, then fixed his yellow eyes on her.

‘-Take off your dress.’ He demanded with sudden harshness.

Eneduanna didn’t move and Neti slithered closer. ‘Your dress, great mistress, and I open the last door for you.’ He swayed like a cobra, rising above her as his snake legs swelled and lengthened.

‘You touch me you die.’ Eneduanna snapped back. ‘Repulsive beast. Its good you live down here in the land of sad dust. May you never feel the warmth of a woman, solitude instead of love.’

Neti grimaced, lowering again with his swollen feet coiling around themselves on the ground. ‘That is not nice of you, traveler. You are far from home and should be more friendly with me.’

‘Why?’ Eneduanna spoke. ‘Youre not the God of these worlds. You are just a doorman.’

Neti frowned. ‘Silence!’ Dust shot from his snake-feet in spirals. ‘-And what do you know of love anyway?’ The doorman continued on softer tone, ending in a chuckle.

Eneduanna straightened and raised her chin with pride. ‘I have entire cities worshipping me. Many thousands, men and women, old and child. From the day they are born they learn to love me.’

Neti shook his head and wiggled a grooved finger at her dismissively. ‘Worship is not love Eneduanna. Not true love at least. And all quite one-sided. Tell me, do you have many lovers?’

‘I have at my feet whomever I decide.’

‘Your heart is cold Eneduanna. Who needs pity then, you or I? Have you ever opened your heart to another? I bet its like a locked cage and within there is an arid flower deprived of nutrients.’

Eneduanna’s mind flashed back to the garden of thorns. Just a moment before she suppressed it again.

Neti gasped. ‘A-h-h-h, that I tasted, that I felt. There might be hope for you yet, the great Eneduanna-from-above struck by the same affliction as her subjects. It is suffering, beautiful tall one, but I truthfully say I enjoy the suffering. Now, let's get back to the issue of the last portal. It leads to the palace of Ereshkigal and I still require payment. Now what do you have to offer mé?’ He grinned. ‘Oh, I know. Your dress, give me that beautiful dress.’

She sighed and lowered her cloths, first revealing her breasts under fine collarbones, continuing over her slender body until she hesitated at her hips.

Neti was silent, yellow eyes wide, savouring every moment. The tails of his feet flapped restlessly. She pushed down the last part of the dress, scarlet cloth lowering, showing the triangle of dark hair, and the garment of ladyship dropped to her feet.

‘Pick it up for me.’ Neti groaned.

Eneduanna kicked the dress towards him, covering herself with her arms. The hairs of her skin pricked up as a cold wind blew past, rustling of dead leaves.

The doorman picked up the dress with tenderness and opened the last door. She walked past him and entered where Inanna commanded her to go.