How It All Goes Down
A Demon with Free Samples
- Sadie takes over the story to tell us that she has slept like the dead— which she hopes isn't a sign of things to come. Carter looks like he's had unpleasant dreams, so Sadie asks if he's seen Zia in a vision. He looks so upset that she takes it as a yes.
- Carter and Sadie follow Bast up to the main deck and find Khufu steering according to Bloodstained Blade's directions. As they watch, the river turns to blood.
- The map Bloodstained Blade is using to guide them is a copy of The Book of the Dead, which Carter describes for Sadie as sort of like an Idiot's Guide to the Afterlife for ancient Egyptians.
- After some rapids, the boat passes into the Land of the Dead proper.
- Sadie asks why the ghosts look so sad and confused. Bast says that they're lost without Ra, who used to travel this route every night, fighting the serpent Apophis. Ra's presence would bring sunlight and warmth to the Duat, comforting the dead. But this doesn't happen anymore.
- Carter asks how that's possible, since we know the earth orbits the sun, not the other way around.
- Bast reminds Carter that conflicting stories can both be true.
- Khufu interrupts this philosophical discussion to let them know that a challenge is coming.
- The shore starts to come into sight, when suddenly the water boils, and a large figure erupts, a cross between lion and man. His fangs drip with blood.
- The lion-man identifies himself as Shezmu, and says that he smells the blood of the pharaohs. Are they going to be his snack, or will they name him?
- Carter scrambles off to look in The Book of the Dead, and Sadie gets to stall for time.
- Sadie asks Shezmu what his titles and duties are, with Isis encouraging her in her mind.
- Shezmu proudly states that he is the Lord of Blood and Wine—and also the Lord of Perfume. He offers Sadie a free sample of his perfume.
- While Sadie keeps Shezmu talking about blood (apparently his favorite subject), he admits that he doesn't have any friends. If he did, though, they'd call him Slaughterer of Souls, Fierce of Face.
- Right as Carter appears, Sadie names Shezmu: Slaughterer of Souls, Fierce of Face.
- The demon lets them pass, bummed that he doesn't get to eat them.
- The boat continues on and reaches the Lake of Fire, which is exactly what it sounds like.