Ra’s Nightly Journey: The River That Disappeared

The boat stopped. No rock had struck it. Beneath Ra’s hull, the river had vanished.

Ahead, something moved across the darkness. Apep had swallowed the water.

Far away, a child slept beside an unlit hearth. Her family expected morning. Here, the sun’s boat had no water beneath it.

Seth stood at the prow. Elsewhere, stories called him dangerous. Here, danger was exactly what the boat needed.

He faced the serpent while the gods raised their voices. Strength held its attention. Sacred words worked against its grip.

The gods spoke again. Seth held the prow. Nothing moved. Then the serpent’s enormous body began to heave.

Then water broke from Apep. It rushed into the empty channel and struck the hull.

The boat rose. Seth held his place until it passed.

At the world’s edge, darkness thinned. The child woke beside her family’s hearth. Someone reached for the cooking pot.

Tonight, Apep would return. For now, the river ran, the boat sailed, and there was another day to live.