The Pursuit of
Shugat-Nergal
A story about Ancient Sumer
by James W. Bell © 2002 - 2004
28
Nergal narrowed his eyes at the intruder. “Who the kur do you think you are?”
“He’s Shugat-Nergal,” Denisha spoke through frozen lips, “the Thief of Uruk.”
Nergal turned. “Quiet,” he growled. Then he looked at the man again. “Well?”
The man stopped, holding his staff horizontal with both hands. “The lady is quite right,” he answered. “I am Shugat-Nergal, master thief of Uruk.”
The King of the Underworld harrumphed. “Have you no modesty? Or have you arrived with the mistaken idea you can tell me how to proceed with these women?”
“One of the women,” Shugat pointed his staff at Nanay, “is a goddess.”
“I know … a minor love goddess. But do you realize who I am?”
Shugat raised an eyebrow.
“I am Nergal, King of the Underworld.”
Shugat genuflected. “My lord, my apologies.”
“Conditionally accepted. Do you know what these two have done to me?”
“Sire, I am willing to listen.”
“They’ve caused the death of my prize ushumgal, that’s what.”
“These two? My liege, I would have thought a beast so powerful would have easily withstood them. But then, dragons are usually passive, are they not? Tell me, my lord, was yours aroused?”
“By the gods, yes. By Bau, Queen of the Marshlands. When she learned Inanna had sent zu-birds over Kutallu, she ordered all swamp creatures to defend the marshes. My ushumgal was sent to the northern border to guard the Iturungal Canal.
“When these two,” Nergal pointed at Denisha and Nanay, “tried to ferry across, my ushumgal went into action. I’m told it killed the boat owner and thwarted the crossing, but then came ashore to silence the woman shouting curses at it. That’s when this snip of a goddess summoned Ishkur. He rode a cloud down from the mountains and smote my ushumgal. Used lightning bolts.”
“So, my lord, that’s why you blame the death of your ushumgal on these two?”
“Haven’t I just finished telling you so?”
“Yes, sire, but know that they were innocent bystanders. It was I, not they, who caused the death of your ushumgal. It was I who falsely concocted the story Inanna was invading the marshlands. Yes, she sent her zu-birds to Kutallu and was planning to go there herself, but not to invade. She was going to see the paradise I’d told her was located there.”
“You?” Nergal eyed Shugat up and down. “A major goddess like Inanna taken in by a lank-jointed mortal like you? Phfaw! I don’t believe you.”
“This time,” Denisha mouthed, “he’s telling the truth.”
“For a mortal,” Nanay added, “Shugat-Nergal is exceptional. He has outwitted many. He would be a challenge to any god.”
“Is that so?” Nergal smiled and clomped around Shugat-Nergal, looking him over. “You don’t look so damned clever to me. Tell me, are you strong?”
“Your highness, I am a lowly mortal, one as weak as a field mouse.”
Nergal rubbed his hands together. “I think vengeance is going to be sweeter than I dared hope.”
“Perhaps, my liege, but you’ll have to let the two ladies go first.”
“What in kur are you trying to tell me?”
“I speak of your own protection, my lord.”
“Hah! Do you think I’d listen to advice from a mere mortal?”
“My lord, the Underworld is the den of nefarious gods just as Heaven is a haven for the divine untouchables. But, the surface of the Earth, my lord, is the habitat of human mortals and it is theirs, to whom the gods gave dominion.”
Nergal grinned. “What the gods have given, they can take back.”
“Perhaps, my lord, but not easily.”
“No?” Nergal said. “We shall see.” He suddenly reached out and grabbed for Shugat.
Shugat-Nergal ducked and evaded the hairy hand. Using his staff to fend off the angry god, he withdrew to higher ground where the earth had boiled upwards when it fissured. Nergal followed him onto the mound. “Stand still, mortal. I’ll teach you …”
“You’ll have to catch me first,” Shugat taunted.
Nergal followed him the slope to the top of the rise in front of the fissure. He lunged at the human. Shugat sidestepped and dropped to one knee, feinting with his staff to hold Nergal at bay. Then, Shugat tried to spring up, but tripped, falling forward, and butting the god with the end of his staff.
Nergal was knocked backwards. The rim around the fissure crumbled and the god fell into the hole from which Namtar had emerged. “What in Kur!” he shouted as he flailed his arms and disappeared.
29
“Oh, Shugat!” Denisha gesticulated. “You’re so brave!” Though her body was immobile, her bright eyes followed him. “Will you set us free?”
The Goddess of Love interrupted. “Denisha, Namtar has us prepared for the Underworld. We’re paralyzed, frozen in Death’s grip. There’s nothing Shugat or any other mortal can do for us.”
Denisha cast longing eyes at Shugat.
“I’m sorry, Denisha, I think the goddess is right. I don’t know how to undo the bonds of Death. But, when Nergal returns, I will try to bargain with him.”
“Returns?” Denisha whispered.
Shugat nodded.
“Yes, Nergal will be back,” Nanay mouthed, “to recoup his status and self-esteem. I suspect he will return to put Shugat to death.”
“It’s important,” Shugat said, “neither of you laugh. Don’t make him angrier.”
Denisha snorted. “As if we were in control. My nose itches,” she said and Shugat scratched it lightly. “But, Shugat, if you can’t undo our bonds, how will we ever get free?”
“I –” An underground rumbling distracted Shugat. Slowly, the noise grew louder. Then Nergal’s head reappeared in the fissure, his hair matted with dirt, his dark eyes filled with rage. He put his hands on the rim of the hole and climbed out.
Shugat immediately went into a double bow and ended on his knees with his forehead touching the ground. “Great King, a thousand apologies for my clumsiness.”
Nergal pulled himself fully out of the fissure and stood, shaking off clods of dirt. “You stupid fool!” he shouted at Shugat. “You could have run me through with that staff of yours! Look at what happened to me!”
“A thousand, thousand pardons,” Shugat went on. “Sire, in the future, I’ll watch my step. I’ll be more careful and make sure it never happens again.”
“As long you carry that staff, you oaf, you’ll be a threat.”
“True,” Shugat-Nergal said and hurried to his feet. He held out the staff, offering it to King of the Underworld. “Take it, sire, for I would never wish to harm you.”
“Well …” Nergal accepted the staff, “… that’s better.” He hefted it. “A king needs something solid—like this.”
“Indeed, sire. I can tell it has already increased your stature. Now, you need only release these two.” He nodded at Denisha and Nanay.
“You still think you can tell me how to dispose of them?” Nergal thundered. “No!” he shouted. “No, no, no, no!” he said and thumped the ground with the staff for emphasis.
“I only mention it, sire, for your own protection.”
“For my protection? I have your staff now. What else do I need?”
“These two were witnesses, sire.” Shugat-Nergal rolled his eyes at Denisha and Nanay. “They saw me accidentally knock you into the hole.”
“Harrumph. As you said, it was a mishap. Regrettable, but only a chance occurrence brought about by an awkward mortal.”
“Exactly, sire. That’s just what they’ll say. They’ll say they saw your majesty knocked into a hole by a clumsy mortal.”
Nergal said, “What in kur do I care?”
“Tell me, sire,” Shugat said, “will you send them down into the Great Below while the event is still fresh in their memories and they can recall every lamentable detail of the unfortunate happening? Once below, your worship, their memories will freeze and never change. Will you have them recall your being brought down by a mortal for the rest of eternity? Sire, I point this out for your own good.”
“You are impertinent.”
“Sire, it’s your reputation I’m trying to protect. For your own sake, let them go. If they resume their earthly lives, their memories will grow crowded and old ones will fade. They may even come to remember today’s event dimly or possibly forget it altogether.”
“True,” Nergal said, “but, what of my vengeance? I had looked forward to wreaking it upon them.”
“You’ll have me instead, sire. I have been the cause of both your loss and your mishap. Would you not feel better taking out retribution on me?”
“You are a man.”
“True. But I point out, sire, that if you take the Goddess of Love down into the Underworld, not only will you risk certain censure by the Assembly of the Gods in the Great Above but you will face countless questions from your wife in the Great Below when she sees you bringing down another goddess … especially one so young and lovely as Nanay … into what has been exclusively her domain. Sire, I can picture it now, …”
Nergal thumped the ground with his staff. “Enough, mortal! You have made your point.’
“Then if I agree to go down to the Underworld with you, you’ll let the ladies go?”
“By the gods, mortal, your words weary me. But, yes, I’ll free them and take you down,” Nergal said. He walked over to the fissure and called into it. “Come back up here, Namtar, I need you again.”
Smoke issued from the fissure and once more coalesced into a pale young man with black hair. “I have returned to take them down.”
Nergal pointed at Denisha and Nanay. “Nay, unbind these two.”
“But, sire,” the Underworld herald remonstrated, “I just finished binding them!”
Nergal’s voice turned icy. “Don’t argue, Namtar. Do as I say. Unbind them.”
“Yes, sire.” Namtar bent down to grasp the edge of the invisible Cloak of Death. “All I do is work, work, work,” he grumbled as he pulled it off.
Denisha and Nanay were both surprised to find themselves able to move again and made little gasps as they took first steps.
“I have unbound both, sire, as you wished.”
“Then depart, Namtar,” Nergal said. “Return to the Underworld. Go.” The young man gasified and, hissing furiously, jetted back into the fissure with loud noise.
Nergal grimaced. “Sulky boy,” he said and turned to the Denisha and Nanay. “Now, you two must leave.”
“Without Shugat-Nergal?” Denisha asked.
“Of course! He’s coming down to the Land of No Return with me. It’s part of our deal. Haven’t you been listening?”
“Oh, Shugat!” Denisha cried. She went to him and threw her arms around his neck.
The tall thief held her and patted her on the back. “Don’t worry. Go with Nanay to Zabalam.” He whispered in her ear. “Leave quickly before Nergal changes his mind. Wait for me in Zabalam. I will meet you there.”
Denisha hushed, drew away and wiped her eyes. She motioned to the love goddess and went to untie the donkey. Nanay got in the boat, pulled up the mooring pole and pushed off. Denisha switched the tow donkey and Shugat watched them move away, headed upwater towards Zabalam.
30
When they were out of sight, Shugat said, “Well, My Lord, I’m ready.”
“You’re really willing to go with me to the Land of No Return?”
“I made a deal, sire. I am an honest thief.”
“Nanay was right, Shugat-Nergal. You are a most unusual mortal. Most humans would have realized how foolish they had acted and would now have been cringing in abject fear or started struggling in a vain attempt to escape. You do neither.”
“I intend to keep my word, sire.”
“Very well. I’ll have Namtar come up and cover you with the Cloak of Death. No offense. It’s to dress you properly for the Underworld. I am ready to take you down.”
“Sire, whatever you desire,” Shugat said. Then he wiped his mouth with his hand and ran his tongue over his lips. “But I find myself thirsty,” he said and looked Nergal in the eye. “I would enjoy a last pot of beer … and a round of good conversation. I don’t suppose you would have an extra pot of beer down there, would you?”
Nergal narrowed his eyes at the thief. “We have countless pots of beer,” he said, “but they are reserved for immortals. There’s no beer for the likes of you.”
“Of course.” Shugat cocked his head. “I imagine you have plenty of drinking partners down there … your wife, your brothers-in-law, your sisters-in-law ...”
“Drinking partners?” Nergal snorted. “There’s only my wife and her family.” He whispered into Shugat’s ear as if he might be overheard. “They’re all alike, jabbering and screeching like hyenas. You can imagine what drinking with them is like.”
Nergal cackled and Shugat laughed with him.
“You know, sire, finding someone intelligent like you - someone who enjoys a drink - it would be nice to share a last drink with you before I die.”
“Are you trying to escape final judgment?”
Shugat nodded. “Not at all, sire. But I have just lost a woman, one very dear to me. You witnessed it. By Nin, a drink and a little company would help me get over my loss.”
“Come to think of it, mortal,” Nergal said, “I too have just suffered a loss, my prize ushumgal. I too feel the need of a drink … and talk.”
“Then, sire, why do we not drink together? For companionship.”
“Companionship … that would be a welcomed change. I have plenty of beer below, but damned little companionship. Yes, we could go down there and commiserate with each other. Shugat-Nergal, I’d like that.”
He went to the fissure and again summoned Namtar who came out smoking. “Yes, sire, what is it this time?”
“We’re coming below, Namtar. The human mortal and I. We need you to clear the way, sweep the rubble off the stairs.”
The young man pointed at Shugat-Nergal. “You’re letting him in without first covering him with the Cloak of Death?”
“Namtar,” Nergal said, “I am king. Don’t ask questions of me, I don’t have to explain. Just go. Clean up the stairway.”
The young man disappeared into the fissure. There were sounds of grumbling and sweeping. When both dwindled away, Nergal climbed to the top of the rise and stepped into the fissure. “There are stairs all the way down,” he told Shugat and went down a couple of steps. When only his head was left showing, he said, “Follow me, but watch your step.”
“I always do,” Shugat said and followed Nergal down into the Underworld.
To Chapter 31
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