error is spread over all things; that the race is not to the swift,
neither the battle to the strong. That he who disdains ease and comfort,
though poverty is a disgrace and misfortune a crime, recognizes that
wealth consists not in great possessions but in few wants; looking upon
ownership as a trusteeship and therefore a responsibility; content with
what life gives; thinking himself and conceding to others the right to
think; living and letting others live; believing there is nothing after
death and death is nothing; is as well off as he who struggles to be a
blind leader of the blind. Would I could believe that we shall live many
lives and each a preparation for a higher one. Our religion, like our
government, as it grows old grows complex and rotten. What we need is a
simple government, a simple faith and one God."

(Nefermat) "What you say is the vilest sacrilege. Your belief, if
general, would lead to chaos; to the destruction of our holy order. You
shall find there is a hell for the unbeliever; your mortal life shall
end and your immortal begin as soon as our mother's body is prepared for
Osiris. You shall know the difference between soul and body and have
your doubts as to a future state tested and dissolved."

(Rahotep) "I would not be too hasty with the death sentence. What
matters it what Tepti may think! He is a good embalmer, reticent of
speech and his belief in death and nothingness if expressed would
neither find believers nor corrupt our faith. The thought of
non-existence is not acceptable to the Egyptians; it lacks enthusiasm,
it lacks certainty, it lacks hope; there is no appeal to pride or
power."

(Nefermat) "I cannot overlook such utterances from a priest of Osiris;
he must die."

(Rahotep) "He is one of your priesthood; you are sole arbiter of his
life or death, but were he one of Amun's and I demanding his opinion had
been so answered, and it was delivered as to stone ears, as his was to
us, I would pass it by. However, if you are bent on his death, which I
regret, I would ask his body, hoping by my intercession, Amun may
convince him he has a soul."

(Nefermat) "As you like. I am through with the sacrilegious beast as
soon as he is dead. I would not give his body tomb room in the temple of
the dead."

Whereupon the two high priests departed, leaving me with very sober
thoughts.

Within an hour, three priests of our order, the death watch, took up
their abode in my chambers, which I was