Gamers and Gods: AES

  Chapter 24: Am-heh: Am-heh broadens his horizons

  “Everybody's lessons are painful. His lessons were painful for everybody.”

  – JPK

  Am-heh prowled the Realm of Egypt and smelled the other godling's presence. It was clear to him that this was a chance to redeem himself in the eyes of Atum. If this was a Covenant match, and all the humans had were inexperienced bastard Transcendents and not a lot of them, then all he had to do to improve his standing was eliminate the competition.

  Am-heh sniffed the strange air of this place again. The other was distant, and he could not see where – there was no directionality to the trace. Growling, he paced down the avenues of Thebes, looking for victims to grow his power.

  Abruptly, he saw a pair of humans appear from out of nowhere next to an obelisk. How did they do that? he wondered. For a moment he had the fleeting thought that they might be Transcended, but his nose never lied and it said they were incarnate mortals. Eagerly, he strode toward them.

  They saw him coming. Why were they not fleeing? One of them, the male, actually raised a hand and waved at him as he was walking up to them. Then the fool spoke.

  “Heya. Have you got a second? I was hoping you could settle something for me. I think you're Anubis, but Talia says I'm wrong.”

  “You're wrong,” the woman snapped. “The intro said Anubis is the jackal-headed God. That's not the head of a jackal, Bjorn.”

  “Honey, it's a new game. They're probably still working on the graphics. You can't expect them to get it perfect the first --”

  “Wrong again, Einstein. Realm of Egypt's been around for at least two years. I couldn't find him in the Guide, but he certainly isn't Anubis. You're not Anubis, are you? Tell him you're not Anubis.”

  “I am not Anubis,” he agreed. “I am Am-heh, the Devourer of Millions.”

  The man's eyes went strange then, as if he were reading a book Am-heh could not see. “Hmm. I can't seem to find you in there either. What is it you do?”

  Am-heh smiled, showing more teeth than any human would ever have. “This,” he said.

  Chapter 25: Aes: Aes has another visitation from Cheiron