HOUR OF DEATH

Quarter past seven found Sherry trembling through the streets of Giza, the city was deserted safe for afew cats that walked in pairs and made close to human sounds. Though she knew it as a death trap to walk through the city at that hour, she had very little options. Being a maiden at the palace meant triumphing every sort of threat to put a pinch of bread in the mouths of her beloved . A sudden lightning made a cross sign in the sky and a million or perhaps more stars began falling, before the resulting bang of an earthquake, she thought she saw an heavily dressed creature cross the next street. Though her insides were already melting, Sherry remained constantly in motion. She knew the city and its magic, atleast one person would be dead that very night but that would neither be her child-Phil nor her. They never killed women. The lightning continued striking and once or twice a wolf could be seen whispering something into the other's ear, there was every other sign to confirm the presence of magic in the city. Sherry walked on and on, she was now very close to Pogocio, the other side of the city where the less fortunate lived. Phil would sure be asleep. The buildings in this street were old and rusty, built in an ancient Asian design, the houses had won the test of times but were very odd in appearance . There were signs of nearly all the wild animals on the dilapidated walls, all the sky bodies from stars to the moon and even hawk feathers. The people in this town worshiped magic and one or two magicians resided next to Sherry's block . At midnight a wolf could be heard making familiar voices then a cat would return in the same spirit. It was rumored that local magicians received their powers from the lead wolf but nobody knew where it lived, black cats were it's messengers and no one ever dared walk close to a black cat. The house was cold but she was glad to be home, Phil was breathing softly in her mat covered by a patterned cloth. She was however woken by the sound of her mother lighting their oil lantern. "Hello mom, what's the time?" Phil asked in a tired voice. "It's the time for cats, the wolf is still as sleepy as you", Sherry replied calmly. "But you said the streets are full of dark magic after dusk, why do you like walking in the dark?" "Becouse the devil doesn't like hurting women, and again because I have to feed your little stomach". " Today we saw a black bull which had a cross on the forehead, we were playing at the social arena when it appeared. Before we shouted it had already dissappeared". Phil reported fearfully. "Next time you see it don't shout, it doesn't harm, it is just one of the messengers of the dark kingdom", Eddy was familiar with all these. "When will you take me to the palace? I can help in your duties then atleast we can make it home in time". "You're hardly fifteen, the queen mother doesn't need minors in the palace". "But I won't remain fifteen forever remember", Phil complained. "Then I will take you with me when you grow of age dear". That was enough to send Phil back to her soft sleep, she was a young girl of about fourteen but her figure was dominating. Towering high than her mother, Phil was ready to conquer the world with whatever it took. Chances were that after growing abit older, she would get a job at one of the masters homes in the other part of the city where she would start earning a little. Maybe it would help them relocate to a better and bigger house, but all that was tied to the constants of age and luck. Sherry took some sacred oil and sprinkled it below the door, she then took some powder which was wrapped in a pattern cloth and poured some over Phil who was sound asleep. She then touched the portrait of a cat which hang on the kitchen wall three times and bowed. Such was the only way to confer protection to your house and honor the spirits which were the very gods of magic. The following day started with light flashes but the sun was still finding its way into the city. Sherry was seated at the rooftop balcony of their old flat, this afforded her the full sight of Giza. The town looked old with nearly all its buildings almost succumbing to the test of time. Afew tarmac roads crossed here and there though very little vehicles utilized them nowadays, accidents had become so frequent that not a single driver could risk their lives by driving in the city, except the ones who knew how to make and destroy magic. One driver who lost both legs at an accident had reported to have seen metallic black horns at the center of the road, the horns were making little jumps on their own at the watch of a black cat that was watching from one side of the road. In an attempt to escape the car rolled so badly in a ditch. One passenger died, all the witnesses confirmed that there was not such a thing as the driver reported but deep down they knew the road and its relationship with the spirit world . "Hello Sherry, how's it here", Laura who was Sherry's neighbor and friend called. " It's all fine from my house, atleast I've got no ill news this morning",she replied without turning. "Because the death of Alamano doesn't mean anything to you, probably", Laura returned with a dead tone. "What are you trying to say, did I not meet Alamano yesterday at the shop, he's as healthy as the word itself", Sherry was now all senses. "Maybe you needed to see his body, a deep cut in the lower abdomen and a missing liver, he's being buried today", Laura avoided Sherry's eyes. "Oh curse of times, the world has carved in. The madness of a nation is consuming the very solitary minds we ones had hopes in, come on fate, come on you devil of Torah, come on..." Sherry was almost losing mind. "Hold on dear, maybe there's an hope. Maybe the spirits of Giza will accept defeat, we live on hopes because that's the little our mother nature has offered so far". "And when that time comes, we will all be gone, long dead ". The two ladies stared at the city in a gay mood without uttering another word. Phil was playing at the social arena with a number of kids including Laura's. Once or twice Sherry would start sobbing but then assume calm in time. The sun was radiating its lumiscent rays across the odd looking streets and beyond the many lines of the royal class blocks, the palace lay like a sleeping lion. Sherry was reporting for the afternoon shift so she had the whole morning to herself. Laura was mostly free. "So tell me, do you believe prince Deenario any sane? I heard the whole palace is stuffed with this stars and this moon thing", Laura began. "Simply because I cook and wash dishes doesn't mean I have any secrets about the building", Sherry returned with measured stoicism. "Speaking of dishes, how many people do you serve. I hear there's no more than five people in the whole building". Sherry found this hard to answer. Besides the presence of only six members of the family, she was always instructed to prepare meals for thirteen. There were special plates with strange signs on them which she served separately, as instructed. Of course she never questioned becouse such interest in the inner circle affairs could have seen her permanently out of the palace doors. "Well, let's forget about that. I hear the king is building an elephant structure at the city gardens. Maybe a new hospital?" She changed the subject. "You should have seen the proposal, who builds a building as ugly as the dinosaur. With eyes burning like incense, the colors of a dragon?" Laura supplied mockingly "In a city where nobody can pet a cat due to the conflict of interest, anything is possible", Sherry replied carelessly. "Will you help me with my laundry, I thought it was abit early". "At your service, her majesty". They all broke into laughter. "I hear cats do laundry at the palace, your work should be much easier". "You're such an old grey bully". It was almost noon so Sherry put on her best dress and a large matching necklace. It was good for any lady to look decent especially when the palace was expecting visitors. This was not an exceptional evening for afew senior fortune makers would be visiting to pay tribute to the prince. The sun was meltingly hot as she crossed the empty streets of the town. Noon was believed to be just as sacred as sometimes after dusk, the city inhabitants called it the hour of prey. To indicate the hour spirits made afew rounds to let off steam. Many years ago, a person could go missing at noon almost each week. After a careful scrutiny the council of magic makers agreed that spirits needed their time to get some air. Marking noon as sacred. Sherry had never believed any of this so she focused on the road, thinking about the future of Phil, destiny of the liver thirst creatures that were almost sweeping a whole village, the extra food she prepared for unseen guests... All these fought for space in her head and added the heat father sun was radiating, she felt like crashing. "Hi Sherry, in early today?" prince Deenario asked with arrogance. "Always at your service, my lord", Sherry answered bowing twice. The prince nonchalantly then placed her cap on the table, Sherry thought she saw something like a silver star bounce off the cap. "Make a feast today, we're expecting some solid individuals tonight". "Ofcourse the fortune tellers. .." Scap! He spit with venom, "Forget about those little tumbocrats". "I'm sorry, my lord, how many should we prepare for". "About twenty or so, I'll serve everything myself". He said with finality. Never in her stay in the palace had she seen the prince serve any meal, this had to be a great feast. A strong breeze was sweeping the whole compound, there were sudden sounds of cats then the voice of a frog. Sherry drank all this in intricate cloud of confusion. Prince Deenario's cap had changed to a dazzling white color. Was she dreaming, no, the cap had been something like blue. Anyway, in the tunnel of magic anything could happen, she brushed her suspicion. Darkness was falling and with it came the visitors, or maybe the invisibles.