2
Gun stammered, “I’m not ready!”
Urmah said coldly, “You will be.”
The rest of the men went out of the small chamber, and quietly got dressed. They were soldiers now, and they had their orders.
“You’ve gotten soft with your easy living,” said Guntab. “Was she angry with us?”
Urmah shook his head. “We are to attack him now, that’s all she said. I will get robes for us all, to go to the palace.” He turned to Gun. “And a sword, for you.”
They all followed Urmah again to another chamber. Here were weapons, and each of the men picked some. Saj, a bow, but Luhunga kept his spear. Guntab took the throwing knives out of his fur skirt. Allul took two short swords. Gun looked through the weapons. Urmah returned, his arms full of robes. He plucked a sword off the wall and shoved it at Gun.
Gun made a noise, something like fear, and took the blade. Allul took a robe, and put it on over his blade. Guntab took his robe, and the rest took theirs, Gun taking his last.
“Now we go,” said Urmah. He started to lead them out of the chambers, down a couple of stairs to the base of the ziggurat. They crossed the plaza to the palace, and walked through the gate. Since most of them were bald, except for Urmah and Gun, they were let inside without anyone stopping them.
It wasn’t until they got into the courtyard inside the palace that they didn’t know where to go. Saj looked up at the sky, and pointed below. “In there.”
They walked in a line toward the entrance. They all kept their hands near the blades or at the ready as they walked in single file through the halls, passing exposed chambers. Saj led, his fingers on his bow, an arrow nocked.
He turned another corner and stepped aside. Urmah came into the room. The rest of the men spread out in the room, and saw two large men, Gilgamesh with Enkidu, both alone in the bath.
No guards. No women. No weapons.
All six men at the same time bared their weapons. Gilgamesh turned toward them. “What is–”
With a roar, Gun raised his sword and went at Gilgamesh. At the same time, Saj let loose an arrow, Guntab a throwing blade. Both hit a mark, but not the mark that was meant, for Enkidu stepped between Gilgamesh and the rushing man and weapons.
The sword bit deep into Enkidu’s neck, shoulder. The arrow hit his other shoulder, while the blade caught the right side of his breast. Luhunga rushed forward with his spear, and impaled Enkidu through his side.
Seeing that they had not hit Gilgamesh, Guntab took aim again, this time at Gilgamesh’s neck, and threw the blade. However, he watched as the blade changed its trajectory, all on its own, and slammed into the neck of Enkidu.
Urmah turned around to face the guards that were coming into the chamber. Guntab, knowing something was stopping him from killing Gilgamesh, turned and fought side by side with Urmah. Allul, a whirling mass of swords, sliced through the guards.
Saj was the first one to say it: “I can’t hit him!”
Gilgamesh got out of the bloody bath as Gun went toward him again. This time, Gilgamesh was ready, and dodged out of the way of the swinging blade. “Go out, go out!” yelled Urmah.
Luhunga retrieved his spear, and held it before him. Like a machine, Saj let off arrows into the crowd of guards at the door, who went down like wheat.
“Gun!”
“I will kill you!” Gun roared, and went at Gilgamesh again. Guntab turned back around to see Gilgamesh grab Gun and throw him into the pool. The robe took on water, and Gilgamesh jumped back into the bloody mess.
Saj yelled, “Clear, let’s GO.”
“We’re not leaving Gun!” cried Guntab, starting to head back.
Gilgamesh had grabbed Gun by the hair and shoved him head first into the pool.
“OUT, NOW!” yelled Luhunga, shoving Guntab out the door. They ran at a break-neck speed down some hallways, Saj leading the way to the palace’s outer edge and the water.
“Allul!” Saj called.
Allul came forward and looked out into the night, then said, “I see one.” He ran down toward the edge of the stairs, and there was a moored boat. Allul undid the ties while Urmah jumped into the boat. They heard the noise of the palace awakening, lights being lit all throughout the palace.
When everyone got on the boat, Allul put his hand in the water. A great rush of water came from his hand, and the boat pushed away from the palace steps. Guntab stared up at the palace, as the boat jerked out into the Euphrates.
“Gun is dead,” said Urmah, “May the Lady accept Her to Her bosom again.”
“Gun can’t be dead,” said Luhunga. “Only the Lady takes us in death. So She promised.”
“I’ve drowned numerous times,” said Allul, as he let the boat lazily drift downriver. “It isn’t pleasant, but I haven’t died.”
“This is all my fault,” said Guntab.
“Yes,” said Saj, “It is.”
Said Luhunga, “That’s why you’re going to stop him from getting buried alive.”
Guntab looked to his brothers. None looked sympathetic to him, so this meant he was going to have to do this alone.