The Pursuit of
Shugat-Nergal
A story set in Ancient Sumer
by James W. Bell © 2002 - 2004
34
“Shugat-Nergal,” Ereshkigal repeated. She smiled and ran her tongue over her lower lip. “I like that. Your name sounds wicked, like my husband was—when I first married him. But tell me, how do you know of Magir-Sin?”
“Your Highness, the whole Land has heard how Magir went seeking riches in the caves of the Mountainlands and chanced his way down into the Netherworld. He was, I believe, the only one besides Inanna to have ever returned, was he not?”
“That was because of his unexpected appearance. Magir-Sin took us by surprise. Namtar had made no calls in the Great Above, so no arrivals were scheduled. The Anunnaki had gone on vacation … the gods do rest occasionally, you know.”
“But, my lady, I heard you were greatly impressed with Magir and had a hand in his escape.”
Ereshkigal stiffened and raised an eyebrow. “I warn you, Shugat-Nergal, don’t trust all you hear. Magir-Sin brought me news of the above and all that Inanna was doing. Your situation is quite different.”
“How is that, Your Highness?”
“Two hundred Anunnaki are in session as we speak, gathered to judge two ladies. My husband abruptly canceled their deaths so the Anunnaki grow impatient, awaiting the chance to judge. That’s you, my dear Shugat. As soon as they discover you have finished drinking with my husband, they will summon you.”
“A shame,” Shugat said and hung his head in deep melancholy. “But I still think it was a good try, one well worth the risk. Even knowing what I know, I would do it again.”
“Do what?”
“Risk everything to see you.” Shugat paused as if recalling a past conversation and then looked up at the goddess. “Magir-Sin told me many things about you. He described the luster of your alabaster skin, the sheen of your pitch black hair and the gloss of your blood red lips. He said you were a goddess of incomparable beauty.”
“Really?” Ereshkigal smiled and allowed the door to her room to open a bit wider. “Tell me, Shugat-Nergal, now that you’ve seen me, what is your opinion?”
“I think perhaps Magir-Sin understated. To me, you are a goddess of unrivaled allure.”
“And also beautiful?”
“Your Highness, how can I tell through a part-closed door? But then, what is beauty? It is an ephemeral thing, attractive when fresh and innocent. But, given time, it fades and soon disappears. Allure, on the other hand, contains an air of mystique. It is the art of seduction, the come hither look in a lady’s eyes, a skill learned by practice, sometimes in devious affairs.”
Ereshkigal smiled broadly and stroked the clip holding her robe closed over her breasts. “Tell me, Shugat-Nergal, how have you come to know of devious affairs?”
“Your Highness, are you not aware of my exploits? In the Great Above, I lived an adventurous life as a master criminal. I was known as The Thief of Uruk. As I developed my career, I dared many brazen encounters. Though I was occasionally caught, I always managed to escape. I gained fame as the sly one, the quick-witted fox who knew magicking.” Shugat gestured with his hand, waving it in the air. Then he opened it and Ereshkigal’s clasp lay in his palm. He held it out and offered it to her.
Ereshkigal gasped and looked down to see her robe gaping open. Hastily, she clutched it together and reached for the fastener. “How did you do that?” She pinned her robe. “I see you’re well practiced in magicking, Shugat. Your audacity gives you an aura of feral magnetism.” She threw the door open. “Come inside. I must know more about you.”
Shugat looked into the room, dimly lit by an orange glow coming through vents around the perimeter of the floor. The only furnishings beside wall hangings were a sleeping shelf built against the far wall and a bench. Both were covered in what he took to be black felt, as in a mortuary. He hesitated. “Your Highness, didn’t you tell me the Anunnaki would soon be calling for me?”
“Let them wait, Shugat. I am queen of the Underworld, and what I want is what I get. It’s been a long time. You must come in.”
“My lady, if you insist,” Shugat said and entered. The goddess closed the door behind him and bolted it.
35
“Your Highness, may I ask you a question of a personal nature?”
“Shugat, call me Ereshkigal, and I’ll give you leave to ask any question you wish.”
“Your – Ereshkigal, does it not worry you to be alone in a bolted room with a thief, especially one as daring as I?”
Ereshkigal came up to him. “I assure you, my dear thief, I am fully capable of taking care of myself.”
“The gods smile upon me,” Shugat said, feasting his eyes on the voluptuous curves of the goddess facing him. “I like mature women, those who know men and how best to please them. To me, they are irresistible. I know Nergal must thank the gods to have a mate like you.”
“Bah,” the goddess said, “perhaps once upon a time. But Nergal has since grown to care for nothing but solitude. If he had half the chance, he’d sleep eternity away.”
“And you …?”
“I’m different.” She touched his arm lightly. “Can’t you tell? Though fate has condemned me to be the queen of the Underworld, I yearn to experience life. I want something more than two hundred bald-headed Anunnaki prattling around me. I have grown desperate to feel earthly desires and be filled with mortal lusts.” She inched closer to Shugat.
He held out his arms. “Ereshkigal, your wish is my command.”
She moved into his arms and gazed into his eyes. “You mortals are so deliciously intense, constantly on the move … always with a goal in mind. Maybe that’s because we gods have cut your lives short and allowed you so little time. I want to experience that hot passion of the moment.”
“Ah, Divine One, have you a pot of beer?”
Ereshkigal reared back. “What the kur does a pot of beer have to do with anything? You’ve just come in from drinking with my husband.”
“Ereshkigal, the beer is for us, to set the mood.”
The goddess raised an eyebrow. “My ardor is already aroused; I need no drink.”
Shugat sighed. “I must admit, I do. With a mortal, I would be primed, but, in the presence of a goddess so powerful as yourself …”
Ereshkigal snickered. “So it’s you who needs the beer?”
Shugat nodded. “Only so …” he looked at the goddess and his eyes searched the depths of hers. “…I can pay proper court to the supreme goddess.”
“The supreme goddess. I like that. Dear Shugat … you are daring.” Their faces were only inches apart. Ereshkigal took his head in her hands, pulled him closer and kissed him full on the mouth. “There, I’ve done it! I’ve been wondering what it would feel like to kiss a thief.”
“There’s more to come.”
“I hope so.”
“Beer would help bring it about.”
“Then, by the gods, we’ll have it.” Ereshkigal walked to a wall and pulled a cord. Within moments, there was a knock at her door. She opened it and a servant in a white shroud entered, possibly the same Shugat had seen on the porch.
“Bring us a pot of beer with two straws,” the goddess ordered
The figure bowed and disappeared only to return almost immediately with the vessel and straws. “Put it over there, on the floor by the bench,” Ereshkigal told him. She took the straws from him. “Now go,” she told the servant and followed him to the door, closing it and bolting it again when he went out.
“Is bolting your door a wise thing to do?” Shugat asked.
“Do you ask because of my husband?”
Shugat nodded.
“Nergal’s a heavy sleeper. He’s not likely to wake up soon. But, if he does, so what? He has never minded any dalliance of mine so long as he can personally exact vengeance in turn and put the perpetrator to death with his own two hands.” She smiled at the memory of her husband’s enjoyments. “In fact, his greatest pleasure is playing the role of executioner.”
“Ereshkigal, you’re making this sound risky for me.”
The goddess walked back to Shugat, took his hands in hers. “I thought you were the brave one, you loved risk … sought it … lived for it.” Then she broke out in laughter and sat on the bench, patting the cushion beside her. “Come, sit beside me; the risk is less than you imagine. This is the Underworld, the Land of No Return. My dear Shugat, you’re never going to leave here alive. The only question is when and how you’ll die.”
“My choice would be to die in bed.”
Ereshkigal hesitated only a moment. “That can be arranged. I can envision the scene now. You and I are lying in my bed. You have your arm around my naked body, holding me when –”
“Your Highness, please!”
The goddess waggled a finger. “Shugat, dear, call me Ereshkigal—like I told you.” She scooted closer to him. “You mortals are so squeamish about death.”
“Would I still interest you if I were dead?”
Ereshkigal tittered. “Don’t be silly. When a mortal dies, there’s nothing left but his shade. As shades are insubstantial and have next to no self esteem, they develop the habit of following the living, bothering and pestering them to gain what little attention they can. We can’t afford to have them running loose down here, so we put them away. Dear Shugat, if you were dead, I’d have to have you put away.”
“But while I’m still alive …?”
“Ah, that’s different. While you’re still alive, I want you with me so I can experience you.”
“That’s good, my queen,” Shugat said, “because that’s the way I feel about you.” He reached for his straw and stuck it in the beer pot. “Let’s drink to getting to know each other,” he said and pretended to take a sip.
Queen Ereshkigal put in her straw and appeared to drink.
36
Taking a sip, Shugat said, “I toast the most seductive goddess of them all.”
“And I salute the most interesting mortal I’ve met,” Ereshkigal said and put the straw to her mouth.
“You don’t seem to be drinking.”
“I’m not.” Ereshkigal put her hand on his arm. “Shugat, I told you, I’m ready.”
“Then …” Shugat said and deftly slipped the rings off her fingers, removing them one by one and kissing each finger in turn.
“What are you doing?” Ereshkigal asked. “Those are my rings. Why are you taking them off?”
“Dear Ereshkigal, compared to your beauty, the rings, though finely crafted, seem but tawdry ornaments. I am removing them so I can become better acquainted with your exquisite fingers.” With one hand, he gently stroked her arm, while, with his other hand, he discretely put her rings in his moneybag. Having tucked them away, he said, “I drink to the fairest arm I’ve seen,” and pretended to enjoy another sip of beer as he worked his hand up her arm.
Ereshkigal patted his cheek, “You are so romantic, Shugat … and so much more alive than my husband.”
Shugat put his hands around her neck and removed her necklace. “To the most heavenly neck I’ve seen.” He kissed her alabaster neck below her ear as he slipped the necklace into his moneybag.
Ereshkigal said, “Here’s to the most eloquent swain that ever wooed me.” She kissed him fervently on the mouth.
Shugat returned the kiss as he eased off her robe and explored the divine proportions of her body with his hands.
Ereshkigal closed her eyes.
Shugat took off her breastplate and felt the fullness of her ripe breasts.
Ereshkigal moaned.
Shugat removed her chastity shield and searched the warm recesses of her thighs.
Ereshkigal wiggled, gasped and went limp on the couch.
Ereshkigal’s breathing sounded restful. Shugat rose and surveyed the goddess’ body, its sinuous curves of alabaster ornamented with curly black hair. Her eyes were closed but her lips beckoned and yet threatened. “You are truly enchanting,” he whispered and knelt ever so carefully to kiss those lips.
Ereshkigal smiled. She wasn’t asleep but kept her eyes shut. She didn’t stir.
Shugat rose and straightened. Then he tiptoed to the door to unbolt it.
At the sound of the bolt being lifted, the queen of the Underworld sprang to life and sat upright on the couch. “Where in kur do you think you’re going?”
“Ereshkigal! You fooled me. I thought you asleep but I see you’re not.”
“You’re damned right!” Ereshkigal shouted angrily. “Your tricks are like those of the gods! You are not about to play one of them on me!”
Shugat hesitated a moment, then darted back into the room to grab her clothes off the floor. He dashed out with them in his arm, slamming the door shut as he left.
Ereshkigal ran to the door and pulled it open. “Shugat!” she hollered. She heard only the echo of her shout and the faint sound of footsteps going down the stairs and out the palace door. She almost ventured out before she realized all her clothing had been taken. “That damned thief!” she swore and slammed the door shut. “He’s made off with my clothes!” Then she looked at her fingers and felt her neck. “And all my rings and necklace! The bastard! He’s taken everything – he’s stripped me stark naked!”
Her eyes began to burn with anger and brightened until they became a fiery red with infernal heat. “That double dealing thief,” she growled. “I’ll see him thrown into the flames myself.”
Then she went to the wall to ring for her lady-in-waiting. There was a prompt knock at the door. When Ereshkigal opened it, a young girl dressed in a tunic of bleached linen entered. Her eyes widened at the sight of her mistress.
“Stop staring!” Ereshkigal said. “I need you to bring me a complete change of clothing.”
“Yes, My Lady,” the girl said and turned to fetch the garments.
“Then,” Ereshkigal added, “notify the Anunnaki in the judgment chamber that they can damn well adjourn and go home. Tell them the Queen of the Underworld has decided she will personally judge the recently arrived scoundrel, the one called Shugat-Nergal.”
To Chapter 37
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