Погребённый с фараонами
Chapter 2
Forthousandsofyearsthosebodiesrestedgorgeouslyencasedandstaringglassilyupwardwhennotvisitedbytheka, awaitingthedaywhenOsirisshouldrestorebothkaandsoul,andleadforththestifflegionsofthedeadfromthesunkenhousesofsleep. Itwastohavebeenagloriousrebirth—butnotallsoulswereapproved,norwerealltombsinviolate,sothatcertaingrotesquemistakesandfiendishabnormalitiesweretobelookedfor. EventodaytheArabsmurmurofunsanctifiedconvocationsandunwholesomeworshipinforgottennetherabysses,whichonlywingedinvisiblekasandsoullessmummiesmayvisitandreturnunscathed.
Perhapsthemostleeringlyblood-congealinglegendsarethosewhichrelatetocertainperverseproductsofdecadentpriestcraft —compositemummiesmadebytheartificialunionofhumantrunksandlimbswiththeheadsofanimalsinimitationoftheeldergods. Atallstagesofhistorythesacredanimalsweremummified,sothatconsecratedbulls,cats,ibises,crocodilesandthelikemightreturnsomedaytogreaterglory. Butonlyinthedecadencedidtheymixthehumanandtheanimalinthesamemummy—onlyinthedecadence,whentheydidnotunderstandtherightsandprerogativesofthekaandthesoul.
Whathappenedtothosecompositemummiesisnottoldof —atleastpublicly—anditiscertainthatnoEgyptologisteverfoundone. ThewhispersofArabsareverywild,andcannotbereliedupon.
