world. It is nothing like the world you knew. And I will help you—if you will help me.” James lifted a hand, forefinger pointing in a way that every male of every age would understand, then picked up half the broken artifact in his other hand. “But if you touch my woman, I’ll put you right back inside this statue forever,” he said.
Utanapishtim narrowed his eyes and leaned slightly down, bringing him nose to nose with James. “You…brave. You challenge me—as Enkidu did Gilgamesh.
But you…weak. Cannot fight me…now.”
James looked up, frowning. How did Utanapishtim know? Could he sense the weakness he himself was trying so hard not to reveal? He added extra-sensory perception to his mental list of the old one’s powers.
“You raise me,” Utanapishtim said with a slow nod.
“If I…desire…you woman, I will…allow you…fight me for…own her.” He bowed as if he had bestowed a great gift.
“Utanapishtim, we don’t own women anymore.
They are equal to men in this time. They are free to come and go as they please, to choose the man they wish to be with.”
The ancient one’s face split into a smile. “You…
James of the Vahmpeers. You make me to laugh.”
“It’s not a joke.”
Utanapishtim chuckled aloud, slamming James on the back with one hand. “Woman. Free to choose.
Ahahaha! Why she choose any man, then?” He laughed some more, then caught his breath, swiping a tear from the corner of one eye. “Keep you woman, James of the Vahmpeers. You are freed me prison and made me to laugh. You are worthy to you Loo-see.”
It was going to be a long, slow, uphill battle, teaching this guy, James thought miserably. Oh, not the language. He was speeding along on that. But the twenty-first century? No way. This once-great priest king was in for one hell of a culture shock.
“Now, show me…this.” Utanapishtim turned toward the television set, eyeing it.
“I don’t think you’re ready just yet, my friend. But let me try to explain.”
Utanapishtim held up a hand for silence, moving toward the flat screen and placing his palms on it.
As he did, he closed his eyes for a long moment, and when he opened them again, he whispered, “Ahhhh.
Is magic.” He walked directly to the remote control on the wall, picked it up and eyed it for a moment, and then he aimed it at the TV set and turned it on.
James stood there gaping. “How…how did you—?”
“Like you…I am…power. I…take inside by…” He pressed his palms together. “By touching?”
“Mmm. Touching. Yes. I touching and I…I…what word? What word?” He spotted a book on a stand and went to it. He held the book, which was about yachting, between his palms and closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, mere seconds later, he nodded once. “Now all this,” he said, opening the book and fanning the pages, staring at them in wonder as he did. “All this.” He snapped the book closed again. “In here,” he said, tapping his head with the other hand.
“Just like that?”
“I…take.”
“You absorb knowledge by touching. Like a sponge absorbs water.”
“Ahh. Yes. I touch. I take. Absorb. Good word. Knowledge, yes. Words. Power.”
“Power?” That was amazing, James thought, what he’d just demonstrated. But what did he mean by that last part? He could absorb power by touching? What kind of power did he mean, or was he even using the word correctly? And what other abilities might he possess? “Do you have any other…powers, Utanapishtim?” James asked.
Utanapishtim looked away. “I hunger. And I…want up there.” He pointed toward the ceiling. “Out. Open.”
Nodding, James decided he’d best tackle one topic at a time. Utanapishtim wasn’t going to tell him any more than he wanted to anyway. It was clear the man wasn’t going to have any trouble learning—not if he could absorb knowledge by touch. God, that was amazing.
At least they’d settled the issue of a hands-off policy where Lucy was concerned.
He understood the man’s desire to be outside, beneath the stars, after five thousand years in captivity, so he led his newly resurrected guest back to the upper deck, where they sat in chairs, but only after Utanapishtim spent a few minutes studying his. They stared out at the waves rippling beneath the starry sky, smelling the aroma of sizzling beef wafting up from the galley, and James said, “I wish to tell you why I raised you, Utanapishtim.”
Utanapishtim gave a regal nod.
“There is a prophecy—a story written from very long ago—that says my people will be destroyed. That they will