Only Misplaced - Part 4
A thick hand wrapped around Daniel's throat, and Teal'c moved with such a startling speed that he would have knocked Daniel back if Daniel hadn't been held in place by Teal’c’s clenched fist. The grip choked off Daniel's thoughts, jerked him fully back to a not very pleasant moment. Eyes blank, Teal'c stared at Daniel, his face inches away and grim as a warning totem.
Daniel smiled-or he tired to. He noted-with the one detached part of his mind that wasn't trapped in the hot flare of panic-that it difficult to do anything with your breath wheezing out of a choked windpipe. "Hey," he said, and it came out a dry croak.
Since he didn't want his neck snapped, he just rested one hand on the arm that gripped him. He fought the instinct to try and claw against muscles for his air and freedom.
The thick-handed grip slackened and finally let go, and Teal'c glanced around. His stare started to focus, but his pupils were blown so wide that his eyes lacked even the faintest rim of warming brown. "What has transpired? I do not recall how I came to be on the ground."
Shifting his hand to rub the fresh bruises, Daniel cleared his throat, then said, "You were right."
Teal'c turned, looked at him and nodded as if Daniel had said a hell of a lot more than three words. Glancing down, Teal'c put a hand over his symbiote pouch. "There was a drug. Needles?"
"Can you walk? Or should I-?"
Grabbing Daniel's shoulder, Teal'c dragged himself to his feet. Daniel did his best not to fold under the weight, and then he stayed put, crouched on the ground, nursing his bruised throat.
Where had this shorthand of sudden understanding come from? Or maybe Teal’c thought explanations were irrelevant now. Daniel wondered if they did know each other a lot better than any of them knew. He wasn't used to that. What else had he missed lately? What other connections were already formed, like words written in stone that just needed someone to really look at them to understand what was utterly obvious.
"We must go." Teal'c took a step and his knees started to buckle.
That had Daniel on his feet, and he dragged the staff weapon up with him. He wrapped an arm around the other man, pushing the staff weapon at Teal'c.
"Yes, well, we can take it slow. We're supposed to take it slow." He wanted to thumb on his radio and call for Jack, but he had both hands full with Teal'c leaning on him, and his ankle throbbing.
A hum behind them interrupted. The whine had Daniel clenching his back teeth, and he didn't want to look because he'd just realized what it was and he was getting tired, too, of losing things. But Teal'c looked back, and then a sharp bitter tang scented the air.
Teal'c glanced at Daniel, a surprising sympathy in his eyes. "Your books."
Daniel glanced back and let out a long breath. Yep, pack gone. Books. Everything. But he didn't have much of a choice at the time-and he hadn't had time for distractions. Oh…damn. Oh, well. He shrugged, and tried to find a place to put Teal'c's arm that wasn't pressing on burning muscles. "It's not like they were first editions." Teal'c's eyebrows lifted, but Daniel pushed, and they staggered forward, steps almost fitting and Daniel limping. "They weren't rare. And they weren't mine-Jack said to just write down the books I wanted, so I did. I'm sure they'll get me new ones."
"Still, it is a loss."
Daniel glanced at him and frowned. Something in those words teased at him-a weary acceptance, a certainty as if this was the way of things. The nuance of accent and the stress on certain words was always important, and Daniel knew he'd missed something vital here.
Then Teal'c added, "I am not pleased to be proven correct about this place."
Their steps settled together, and Daniel let out a breath. Good thing he'd had years of walking places. He'd never been on a dig that had the luxury of more than two working vehicles, and he'd never been able to afford his own car, and Abydos...well, the less said about riding mastadges, the better.
"That's nice-actually, it's good to hear anything from you. I wasn't sure I would."
"I am in your debt."
"For what? Letting you get in the way of those dart-needle things?"
"It is my position to look after you. O'Neill has said-"
"Jack, you'll notice, says a lot of stuff, and you shouldn't pay attention to all of it. He also thinks a big enough weapon equates security." Frowning, Daniel glanced at Teal'c's staff weapon, then at Teal'c. "Uhm...of course you might-"
"It is not the size of one's weapon, but how one wields it that matters most, Daniel Jackson. And why do you now smile?"
Head down, Daniel shook his head, then looked up and fought down the grin. "It's just...we have a similar saying that applies to...uhm, did Jack tell you that one by any chance?"
"He did."
"Ah," Daniel said and nodded. Being suckered on this, in other words; Teal'c knew the inference, but wasn't letting on that he knew. He shifted his grip on Teal'c and had no idea what else to say.
Teal'c kept his stare straight ahead and then said, his tone flat, "Those men on Chulak had an honorable death-far better than one by execution."
Daniel missed a step and struggled to keep walking as he turned to get his stare on Teal'c. Where had that-ah, their earlier conversation. The question unanswered. And the anger surged hot in his veins and face. "What-you owe me, so this is-a debt settled? Communication's supposed to be about a free exchange, not held hostage to some kind of idea about bargaining. And what the hell do you mean by better? My experience is that dead's pretty much dead no matter how you get there."
"Experience?"
Looking away, Daniel pressed his lips tight and then he took a breath and let it out. And he shook his head. "Somewhat long story there."
"We are not lacking in time, Daniel Jackson."
With a glance at Teal'c, Daniel decided he'd stepped into that one as well. He also decided he was going to teach Teal'c chess-it was about time he found someone who could give him a decent game. And since they had time, he told Teal'c about Abydos and Ra-about getting shot, and dying, and taking a breath again in a gold sarcophagus.
"You were revived by a god?"
Teal'c sounded impressed, but Daniel didn't see any reason for it. "Well, it's not like I managed to get myself into it. But it does sound amazing-mythology made into fact. Almost...'The gods rejoice when they see Ra crowned upon his throne, and when his beams flood the world with light...the earth becometh light at his birth each day.'"
His step hesitating, Teal'c pulled away. "You know the sacred prayers of Ra-his priests' words?"
Daniel had let the other man go, but he hovered close, unsure just how steady Teal'c was-as if he was any better-and unsure if the anger flaring in Teal'c's eyes was for him or something else.
"Ah-that's bad? But it's just a quote from The Book of the Dead-which is actually an incorrect description for the various papyri we've found in tombs. It's also referred to as The Book of Coming Forth by Day, but Pert Em'hru could better be translated as ‘manifested in the light…’ which sounds a lot like Goa'uld technology, doesn't it?" He stepped forwards, excitement gathering, quicken his pulse and his words. "Do you know any of the other prayers? Could you write them down for me? We really should make a comparative study."
Teal'c pulled back, and Daniel would swear he looked a little wide-eyed shocked. Daniel spread his hands wide. "What? What did I say?"
Teal'c started walking again, and Daniel slanted a glance at him. Teal'c was leaning too much on his staff weapon, putting his weight on it. Limping after him, trying not to favor his bad ankle too much, Daniel pulled his canteen off his belt. He drank some of the water and offered it over, but Teal'c only shook his head. Sweat, stained red, glazed the back of his neck. They couldn't rest, and since there wasn't anything else he could do, Daniel kept talking.
He started with the Rosetta stone-how any understanding of hieroglyphs had been lost for over a thousand years on Earth. Why not start there with talking to Teal'c about his field, since so much of Egyptology started with Champollion's translation. His words wandered as aimless as his steps, sliding over to papyri discovered over then years. That led to how the Latin papyrus comes from the Greek papyros, but the Greeks also had another word for it-byblos, which made its way into English as bilio and bible. He gestured with his canteen as he spoke, until Teal'c took it from him.
Daniel shifted to how the Ancient Egyptians knew papyrus as djet, as in the djet pillar used so often in art, which has rings at the top, not unlike the flare of the plant's burst of leafy ends.
Of course, in Proto-Sino-Tibetan, djet meant to be afraid, which evolve into thit in Burmese, or….
Oh crap….
Stopping, mouth open, Daniel stared at Teal'c. "Uh, those rings on a djet pillar...the rings the top. And the straight column. Inside a column of light. Transport rings-djet pillars. They're the same. Which means I really am going to have to rethink everything I know about Egyptian culture."
Teal'c looked at him and kept walking. "You know a great deal, Daniel Jackson."
Hurrying to catch up, Daniel took back his canteen and quoted, "'All men by nature desire knowledge.' Aristotle wrote that over two thousand years ago. But I think I prefer, 'When you know a thing, to hold that you know it; and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know-this is knowledge.' That's Kong Qui, who became known as K'ung Fu-tzu or Master K'ung, although Western culture knows him better as Confucius. But I suppose western and eastern doesn't mean much to you?"
"It is a geographic designation upon your world. And do we not all have many identities?"
"As in First Prime of Apophis? But that one's you left-along with all the others you had."
"Indeed."
The word came out slow and heavy and made Daniel look at the other man. What else had Teal'c left? And what things did he now want to leave unspoken because the words would summon memories so vivid and close they could crush? Was that what they had in common-this avoidance?
Their lives had been taken from them, plundered like a tomb, which left the dead unable to live in the afterworld. Without help to guide them to the life beyond, the dead would wander this world-shades that brought misfortune. Was that what both he and Teal'c had become?
Nice thoughts for a sunny day. He flicked on and off his radio, which he'd been doing now and then, and he wished for a good reason to call Jack. But if he called Jack now, he'd have to tell him Teal'c had almost died. "Think we need to warn Sam and Jack about the walls?"
Teal'c kept walking and didn't look his way, but amusement drifted into his voice. "I do not believe O'Neill or Captain Carter will close their eyes and wander off the trail. Their purpose is to find us."
"Ah-right." Daniel bit his lower lip. And was that meant to slight what he'd done? Or just an observation? "I guess Sam is a little busy."
Teal'c kept his steps short, as if each one took focus and thought, and that wasn't good. Then he said, relevant of nothing, "Captain Carter explained to me that it is your custom to offer an apology for a transgression."
Daniel was the one to stumble now as he shot a fast, worried frown at Teal'c. Just where was this going now? Off on a new tangent, like their path? "Uh-she did, did she? Why?"
"Because I asked her if you would seek retribution…"
"Y'know, maybe we should just radio Sam about those wa-"
"…for the mistaken assumptions I made."
"Uh-what?" Daniel missed another step, and pulled in a sharp breath as pain jabbed into his ankle. He didn't want to look at Teal'c, and didn't want to get into what they seemed to be headed into now.
Teal'c slowed his pace, anyway, forcing Daniel to glance at him-and his words came out slow as well, forced and awkward for once. "I will tell you that it disturbed me to have O'Neill described you as a guide."
"Well, that's..." Frowning, Daniel stopped and stared. "You're talking about what happened with the…not what you did when….uhm, didn't you say earlier the point of training was to learn something about each other? Well-we did, so…why disturbed?"
"The bashaak of a guide is not pleasant."
"Bashaak? Instruction?"
"Training. A Jaffa's bashaak starts when he is a child. For a guide-"
"Yes, I know. You said guides are taken from the local populace. You find some guy who seems to know something and you put him in a uniform, which, when you think about it, does sound a little like what they've done with me. But I offered. And it's not like Jack's given me a crash course. Well, mostly not, at least not with, uh, more crash than course."
"For a guide, training is short and painful."
"And, yet-knowing that, you still did what Jack asked. Or what you thought he was asking. That's not a bad thing. It's kind of reassuring. It shows you will do what Jack says-not that Jack's always right. But he tries to keep the people with him alive. If he can. And he's at least...well, Jack's mellowed a little. But there tends to be a certain kind of thinking associated with the military on our world. And it seems to relation to that whole idea of training-conditioning predictable responses. As if that's such a good idea."
"It is necessary. In battle, there is little time for thought. But this has little to do with the topic of which I speak."
"Which was?" Daniel asked and he was still hoping like hell he could get Teal'c off the topic. He'd really like to forget the whole training thing, along with too many other things.
He could still picture Teal'c's expressions-the quick, subtle shifts on his face as he'd listened to Jack's instructions, and the abrupt blanking.
One second Daniel had been facing Teal'c. The next-Teal'c had swung his staff, swept Daniel's feet out, swung the staff around again and activated it. And acidic ozone had scorched the air in front of Daniel's face.
Rubbing the tip of his nose, he remembered how a spark had jumped from the sizzling tip of the staff weapon to tingle on his skin like sunburn. Teal'c had started to yell orders at Daniel even as Jack had yelled, 'What the hell?'
It hadn't taken long to get Teal’c’s weapon put away, but it had taken time to sort out that the Jaffa idea of a guide was a lot different from anything you'd find in an Air Force manual.
Staying in step with Teal'c, Daniel wondered just what was in a Jaffa manual, if there was one.
He was too aware that Teal'c still wasn't walking straight, that the other man's toes dragged slightly. And those damn punctures hadn't stopped bleeding-they were staining the back of the arms of Teal'c's jacket.
"I suppose if we can avoid any more misunderstandings that would be..." Impossible? He didn't want to say it, and with his ankle twinging at every step, his shoulders now a dull ache, he kept walking. He was glad now that he'd lost his pack and that useless helmet. "By the way, you never did say what happens to the guides? Do they become Jaffa at some point? Or are they sent home after some mandatory time?"
Teal'c kept his stare fixed ahead-and Daniel was starting to think it was a focus thing. As in, look at some distant point to keep moving, keep walking. Maybe it was a good thing they couldn't stop because maybe Teal'c wouldn't be able to get moving again.
Daniel couldn't help but think, however, that one of the things you were supposed to do after a snake bite was to lay down to slow the venom's circulating to your heart.
But there was no noticeable slur when Teal'c spoke-the words came out crisp and certain. And that flat tone, Daniel was starting to understand, didn't mean a lack of emotion, but all emotion pressed down to something bearable. "After they are dressed as Jaffa and instructed-"
"Pounded into line?" Daniel offered, remembering his own pounding and trying to make light of it.
Teal'c didn't even glance at him, but kept walking and speaking like he was something of a local guide himself. "-they are kept with front line units and sent ahead of the battalion on any world that is invaded. When they die under enemy fire, the enemy's location is revealed."
Daniel blinked-and blinked again. "That's it? That's their entire career? No retirement options?"
This time Teal'c looked at him. Daniel met that stare and he glimpsed some of what Teal'c must have been thinking when Jack said Daniel was like their version of a guide-the guy you put in front to die.
Oh hell.
Wetting his lips, Daniel let out a breath. He had no idea what to say, but something needed to be said. "So…not so much guides as…well, I'd say sacrificial offerings, but there doesn't seem to be much offering on their part."
"There is not."
He nodded. The implications settled low in his chest, like one of the meals the military seemed to think weren't indigestible. "I guess I'm glad you weren't too happy to think Jack might want to use me for...that. Of course-we're using you as something of a guide. Not the putting you in front to die part, but I mean, we are relying on your experience to a large extent."
"My death would be of no consequence."
"What? As in your life doesn't matter?"
"I have betrayed my god-I should have died on Chulak."
"So this is borrowed time?" Daniel stopped as the realization hit him hard in the chest. "God, you really did choose them. You picked them for the job. You did have it all set up in case it went the way it did!"
"Daniel Jackson, we must-"
"Move. I know...I know." Letting out a breath, shoulders dropping lower, Daniel started walking again. But the memory of dead men with holes burned into their chest and the stench of scorched flesh wouldn not stay buried. Stopping, he threw his hands wide. "How the hell could you do that to them?"
Leaning on his staff, Teal'c turned, patience schooled into his face. "Daniel Jackson, we must continue."
"Didn't you say just now that you owe me?"
"Indeed," the word game out low, more growl than speech. Daniel put his hands on his hips and waited. Teal'c added a few more words, exhaustion creeping into each of them, "They were guides."
Oh…well that explained it.
Blinking hard, Daniel wanted to say something but he had no idea what to say. His hands fell loose to his sides. Not Jaffa, after all.
Teal'c had taken the men marked for death already-the walking dead. Men who'd had the most basic of training, who had no value other than to betray an enemy's location. And he'd done what-sacrificed them to save others. Those men had been marked for death already-hell, for all Daniel knew, they'd been terrorized and made to believe that it was kill or be killed.
Head down, he started walking again. He heard Teal'c next to him, his breathing slightly labored, steps dragging, staff weapon thudding into the ground every other stride.
Letting out a breath, Daniel asked, "Did you ever let a guide go?"
"No."
Daniel nodded and he thought he understood. But he didn't. He'd also thought he had something in common with Teal'c, but he was beginning to see through that illusion-he couldn't imagine these choices. One dies so three can live? He could understand an individual making that choice. If you believed it was worth it, that was the right of the individual. Your life; your choice. But to be forced...it made no sense-and he couldn't find a way for it to make sense.
On the other hand, those guys had been willing to shoot and kill unarmed people. Those wouldn't have been clean, fast executions, not for the men, women and children standing around in that room. A few would have died at once, but the rest would have stood there, taken shots, had arms and legs burned, had wounds left. God, those people had been made into target practice.
What the hell did it say about him that he was shocked by this, but not horrified? He wasn't backing away from Teal'c. What-he didn't have the sense to be afraid of this guy?
He looked for a tremor of something inside him, and couldn't find it. He hadn't been afraid on Chulak, either, even when Teal'c had been knocking him around-of course, back then, he'd been terrified for Sha're and Skaara. But he looked at Teal'c now and he just saw a guy who'd been through a lot. And who'd lost even more-maybe even a big chunk of himself.
Thank god the radio crackled and Sam saved him from having to face the fact that he seemed to be fine with hanging out with these people who could kill so easily. "Daniel, we should be just about on top of your position."
"Hey, Sam." Turning, he glanced around, saw nothing but trees. "Uh-where are you guys?"
"We should be-"
"Daniel, question is, where they hell are you?"
"Well, Jack, we're here. Oh, by the way, you may want to stay away from any walls if you bump into them."
"Daniel?"
The single word was drawn out with frustration overlaid by a thin coating of restraint. Hearing it, Daniel's pressed his mouth tight. No way was he giving into the twinge that tone pulled from him. This was not like he was late turning in a research paper late or anything.
He heard the click of another radio and Teal'c added, "This world has additional defenses, O'Neill. I would urge caution."
Glancing over at him, Daniel thought about mouthing a silent thanks. He went for a small smile instead. Teal'c returned it with a fractional nod. Daniel was just glad to not have to add a lot to Jack and Sam's worries-they all seemed to have enough at the moment.
"Still not seeing you guys. Sam, are you sure-?"
"Daniel, we're right on top of your signal."
He looked up-then down. "Uh, Sam, maybe it's not top, but the other way?"
"Daniel?"
The word was drawn out again, and Daniel hurried into the explanation that tone demanded. "Jack, our entire walk, it's seemed like we're on an incline. This place can't be that big-I mean, it's just not efficient."
"So, whoever built this had to be logical?"
The radio crackled, then Sam's voice came back, fast and excited, "Concentric circles-a ramp? Is that what you're suggesting? But how would they maintain a consistent illusion within a confined space-are you suggesting a networked system of some kind?"
He wasn't, so that left him blank for a moment. He asked, "Why would they put us in something like an indoor stadium where we could meet up? Maybe they even use different doors opening out from the Stargate so that it'll split groups-put them on different levels or ramps."
"Thereby leaving each group more vulnerable to the defenses of this world?"
Daniel turned to Teal'c. "Yes. Another defensive measure. That's all we've seen so far."
"Goddamnit-I officially hate this place. Why couldn't these people settle for showing us their home movies to make us want to say a quick good-bye?"
"Sir-that's it. Daniel, that has to be the key-the projection of the illusion. Something within the space you're in, whether it's a hall or ramp, has to be creating the scenery around you. There has to be a constant."
Eyebrows lifting, Daniel turned and glanced at Teal'c. Head tilting to one side, Teal'c frowned. Then he lifted his staff weapon and shot out the sun.
Daniel smiled-or he tired to. He noted-with the one detached part of his mind that wasn't trapped in the hot flare of panic-that it difficult to do anything with your breath wheezing out of a choked windpipe. "Hey," he said, and it came out a dry croak.
Since he didn't want his neck snapped, he just rested one hand on the arm that gripped him. He fought the instinct to try and claw against muscles for his air and freedom.
The thick-handed grip slackened and finally let go, and Teal'c glanced around. His stare started to focus, but his pupils were blown so wide that his eyes lacked even the faintest rim of warming brown. "What has transpired? I do not recall how I came to be on the ground."
Shifting his hand to rub the fresh bruises, Daniel cleared his throat, then said, "You were right."
Teal'c turned, looked at him and nodded as if Daniel had said a hell of a lot more than three words. Glancing down, Teal'c put a hand over his symbiote pouch. "There was a drug. Needles?"
"Can you walk? Or should I-?"
Grabbing Daniel's shoulder, Teal'c dragged himself to his feet. Daniel did his best not to fold under the weight, and then he stayed put, crouched on the ground, nursing his bruised throat.
Where had this shorthand of sudden understanding come from? Or maybe Teal’c thought explanations were irrelevant now. Daniel wondered if they did know each other a lot better than any of them knew. He wasn't used to that. What else had he missed lately? What other connections were already formed, like words written in stone that just needed someone to really look at them to understand what was utterly obvious.
"We must go." Teal'c took a step and his knees started to buckle.
That had Daniel on his feet, and he dragged the staff weapon up with him. He wrapped an arm around the other man, pushing the staff weapon at Teal'c.
"Yes, well, we can take it slow. We're supposed to take it slow." He wanted to thumb on his radio and call for Jack, but he had both hands full with Teal'c leaning on him, and his ankle throbbing.
A hum behind them interrupted. The whine had Daniel clenching his back teeth, and he didn't want to look because he'd just realized what it was and he was getting tired, too, of losing things. But Teal'c looked back, and then a sharp bitter tang scented the air.
Teal'c glanced at Daniel, a surprising sympathy in his eyes. "Your books."
Daniel glanced back and let out a long breath. Yep, pack gone. Books. Everything. But he didn't have much of a choice at the time-and he hadn't had time for distractions. Oh…damn. Oh, well. He shrugged, and tried to find a place to put Teal'c's arm that wasn't pressing on burning muscles. "It's not like they were first editions." Teal'c's eyebrows lifted, but Daniel pushed, and they staggered forward, steps almost fitting and Daniel limping. "They weren't rare. And they weren't mine-Jack said to just write down the books I wanted, so I did. I'm sure they'll get me new ones."
"Still, it is a loss."
Daniel glanced at him and frowned. Something in those words teased at him-a weary acceptance, a certainty as if this was the way of things. The nuance of accent and the stress on certain words was always important, and Daniel knew he'd missed something vital here.
Then Teal'c added, "I am not pleased to be proven correct about this place."
Their steps settled together, and Daniel let out a breath. Good thing he'd had years of walking places. He'd never been on a dig that had the luxury of more than two working vehicles, and he'd never been able to afford his own car, and Abydos...well, the less said about riding mastadges, the better.
"That's nice-actually, it's good to hear anything from you. I wasn't sure I would."
"I am in your debt."
"For what? Letting you get in the way of those dart-needle things?"
"It is my position to look after you. O'Neill has said-"
"Jack, you'll notice, says a lot of stuff, and you shouldn't pay attention to all of it. He also thinks a big enough weapon equates security." Frowning, Daniel glanced at Teal'c's staff weapon, then at Teal'c. "Uhm...of course you might-"
"It is not the size of one's weapon, but how one wields it that matters most, Daniel Jackson. And why do you now smile?"
Head down, Daniel shook his head, then looked up and fought down the grin. "It's just...we have a similar saying that applies to...uhm, did Jack tell you that one by any chance?"
"He did."
"Ah," Daniel said and nodded. Being suckered on this, in other words; Teal'c knew the inference, but wasn't letting on that he knew. He shifted his grip on Teal'c and had no idea what else to say.
Teal'c kept his stare straight ahead and then said, his tone flat, "Those men on Chulak had an honorable death-far better than one by execution."
Daniel missed a step and struggled to keep walking as he turned to get his stare on Teal'c. Where had that-ah, their earlier conversation. The question unanswered. And the anger surged hot in his veins and face. "What-you owe me, so this is-a debt settled? Communication's supposed to be about a free exchange, not held hostage to some kind of idea about bargaining. And what the hell do you mean by better? My experience is that dead's pretty much dead no matter how you get there."
"Experience?"
Looking away, Daniel pressed his lips tight and then he took a breath and let it out. And he shook his head. "Somewhat long story there."
"We are not lacking in time, Daniel Jackson."
With a glance at Teal'c, Daniel decided he'd stepped into that one as well. He also decided he was going to teach Teal'c chess-it was about time he found someone who could give him a decent game. And since they had time, he told Teal'c about Abydos and Ra-about getting shot, and dying, and taking a breath again in a gold sarcophagus.
"You were revived by a god?"
Teal'c sounded impressed, but Daniel didn't see any reason for it. "Well, it's not like I managed to get myself into it. But it does sound amazing-mythology made into fact. Almost...'The gods rejoice when they see Ra crowned upon his throne, and when his beams flood the world with light...the earth becometh light at his birth each day.'"
His step hesitating, Teal'c pulled away. "You know the sacred prayers of Ra-his priests' words?"
Daniel had let the other man go, but he hovered close, unsure just how steady Teal'c was-as if he was any better-and unsure if the anger flaring in Teal'c's eyes was for him or something else.
"Ah-that's bad? But it's just a quote from The Book of the Dead-which is actually an incorrect description for the various papyri we've found in tombs. It's also referred to as The Book of Coming Forth by Day, but Pert Em'hru could better be translated as ‘manifested in the light…’ which sounds a lot like Goa'uld technology, doesn't it?" He stepped forwards, excitement gathering, quicken his pulse and his words. "Do you know any of the other prayers? Could you write them down for me? We really should make a comparative study."
Teal'c pulled back, and Daniel would swear he looked a little wide-eyed shocked. Daniel spread his hands wide. "What? What did I say?"
Teal'c started walking again, and Daniel slanted a glance at him. Teal'c was leaning too much on his staff weapon, putting his weight on it. Limping after him, trying not to favor his bad ankle too much, Daniel pulled his canteen off his belt. He drank some of the water and offered it over, but Teal'c only shook his head. Sweat, stained red, glazed the back of his neck. They couldn't rest, and since there wasn't anything else he could do, Daniel kept talking.
He started with the Rosetta stone-how any understanding of hieroglyphs had been lost for over a thousand years on Earth. Why not start there with talking to Teal'c about his field, since so much of Egyptology started with Champollion's translation. His words wandered as aimless as his steps, sliding over to papyri discovered over then years. That led to how the Latin papyrus comes from the Greek papyros, but the Greeks also had another word for it-byblos, which made its way into English as bilio and bible. He gestured with his canteen as he spoke, until Teal'c took it from him.
Daniel shifted to how the Ancient Egyptians knew papyrus as djet, as in the djet pillar used so often in art, which has rings at the top, not unlike the flare of the plant's burst of leafy ends.
Of course, in Proto-Sino-Tibetan, djet meant to be afraid, which evolve into thit in Burmese, or….
Oh crap….
Stopping, mouth open, Daniel stared at Teal'c. "Uh, those rings on a djet pillar...the rings the top. And the straight column. Inside a column of light. Transport rings-djet pillars. They're the same. Which means I really am going to have to rethink everything I know about Egyptian culture."
Teal'c looked at him and kept walking. "You know a great deal, Daniel Jackson."
Hurrying to catch up, Daniel took back his canteen and quoted, "'All men by nature desire knowledge.' Aristotle wrote that over two thousand years ago. But I think I prefer, 'When you know a thing, to hold that you know it; and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know-this is knowledge.' That's Kong Qui, who became known as K'ung Fu-tzu or Master K'ung, although Western culture knows him better as Confucius. But I suppose western and eastern doesn't mean much to you?"
"It is a geographic designation upon your world. And do we not all have many identities?"
"As in First Prime of Apophis? But that one's you left-along with all the others you had."
"Indeed."
The word came out slow and heavy and made Daniel look at the other man. What else had Teal'c left? And what things did he now want to leave unspoken because the words would summon memories so vivid and close they could crush? Was that what they had in common-this avoidance?
Their lives had been taken from them, plundered like a tomb, which left the dead unable to live in the afterworld. Without help to guide them to the life beyond, the dead would wander this world-shades that brought misfortune. Was that what both he and Teal'c had become?
Nice thoughts for a sunny day. He flicked on and off his radio, which he'd been doing now and then, and he wished for a good reason to call Jack. But if he called Jack now, he'd have to tell him Teal'c had almost died. "Think we need to warn Sam and Jack about the walls?"
Teal'c kept walking and didn't look his way, but amusement drifted into his voice. "I do not believe O'Neill or Captain Carter will close their eyes and wander off the trail. Their purpose is to find us."
"Ah-right." Daniel bit his lower lip. And was that meant to slight what he'd done? Or just an observation? "I guess Sam is a little busy."
Teal'c kept his steps short, as if each one took focus and thought, and that wasn't good. Then he said, relevant of nothing, "Captain Carter explained to me that it is your custom to offer an apology for a transgression."
Daniel was the one to stumble now as he shot a fast, worried frown at Teal'c. Just where was this going now? Off on a new tangent, like their path? "Uh-she did, did she? Why?"
"Because I asked her if you would seek retribution…"
"Y'know, maybe we should just radio Sam about those wa-"
"…for the mistaken assumptions I made."
"Uh-what?" Daniel missed another step, and pulled in a sharp breath as pain jabbed into his ankle. He didn't want to look at Teal'c, and didn't want to get into what they seemed to be headed into now.
Teal'c slowed his pace, anyway, forcing Daniel to glance at him-and his words came out slow as well, forced and awkward for once. "I will tell you that it disturbed me to have O'Neill described you as a guide."
"Well, that's..." Frowning, Daniel stopped and stared. "You're talking about what happened with the…not what you did when….uhm, didn't you say earlier the point of training was to learn something about each other? Well-we did, so…why disturbed?"
"The bashaak of a guide is not pleasant."
"Bashaak? Instruction?"
"Training. A Jaffa's bashaak starts when he is a child. For a guide-"
"Yes, I know. You said guides are taken from the local populace. You find some guy who seems to know something and you put him in a uniform, which, when you think about it, does sound a little like what they've done with me. But I offered. And it's not like Jack's given me a crash course. Well, mostly not, at least not with, uh, more crash than course."
"For a guide, training is short and painful."
"And, yet-knowing that, you still did what Jack asked. Or what you thought he was asking. That's not a bad thing. It's kind of reassuring. It shows you will do what Jack says-not that Jack's always right. But he tries to keep the people with him alive. If he can. And he's at least...well, Jack's mellowed a little. But there tends to be a certain kind of thinking associated with the military on our world. And it seems to relation to that whole idea of training-conditioning predictable responses. As if that's such a good idea."
"It is necessary. In battle, there is little time for thought. But this has little to do with the topic of which I speak."
"Which was?" Daniel asked and he was still hoping like hell he could get Teal'c off the topic. He'd really like to forget the whole training thing, along with too many other things.
He could still picture Teal'c's expressions-the quick, subtle shifts on his face as he'd listened to Jack's instructions, and the abrupt blanking.
One second Daniel had been facing Teal'c. The next-Teal'c had swung his staff, swept Daniel's feet out, swung the staff around again and activated it. And acidic ozone had scorched the air in front of Daniel's face.
Rubbing the tip of his nose, he remembered how a spark had jumped from the sizzling tip of the staff weapon to tingle on his skin like sunburn. Teal'c had started to yell orders at Daniel even as Jack had yelled, 'What the hell?'
It hadn't taken long to get Teal’c’s weapon put away, but it had taken time to sort out that the Jaffa idea of a guide was a lot different from anything you'd find in an Air Force manual.
Staying in step with Teal'c, Daniel wondered just what was in a Jaffa manual, if there was one.
He was too aware that Teal'c still wasn't walking straight, that the other man's toes dragged slightly. And those damn punctures hadn't stopped bleeding-they were staining the back of the arms of Teal'c's jacket.
"I suppose if we can avoid any more misunderstandings that would be..." Impossible? He didn't want to say it, and with his ankle twinging at every step, his shoulders now a dull ache, he kept walking. He was glad now that he'd lost his pack and that useless helmet. "By the way, you never did say what happens to the guides? Do they become Jaffa at some point? Or are they sent home after some mandatory time?"
Teal'c kept his stare fixed ahead-and Daniel was starting to think it was a focus thing. As in, look at some distant point to keep moving, keep walking. Maybe it was a good thing they couldn't stop because maybe Teal'c wouldn't be able to get moving again.
Daniel couldn't help but think, however, that one of the things you were supposed to do after a snake bite was to lay down to slow the venom's circulating to your heart.
But there was no noticeable slur when Teal'c spoke-the words came out crisp and certain. And that flat tone, Daniel was starting to understand, didn't mean a lack of emotion, but all emotion pressed down to something bearable. "After they are dressed as Jaffa and instructed-"
"Pounded into line?" Daniel offered, remembering his own pounding and trying to make light of it.
Teal'c didn't even glance at him, but kept walking and speaking like he was something of a local guide himself. "-they are kept with front line units and sent ahead of the battalion on any world that is invaded. When they die under enemy fire, the enemy's location is revealed."
Daniel blinked-and blinked again. "That's it? That's their entire career? No retirement options?"
This time Teal'c looked at him. Daniel met that stare and he glimpsed some of what Teal'c must have been thinking when Jack said Daniel was like their version of a guide-the guy you put in front to die.
Oh hell.
Wetting his lips, Daniel let out a breath. He had no idea what to say, but something needed to be said. "So…not so much guides as…well, I'd say sacrificial offerings, but there doesn't seem to be much offering on their part."
"There is not."
He nodded. The implications settled low in his chest, like one of the meals the military seemed to think weren't indigestible. "I guess I'm glad you weren't too happy to think Jack might want to use me for...that. Of course-we're using you as something of a guide. Not the putting you in front to die part, but I mean, we are relying on your experience to a large extent."
"My death would be of no consequence."
"What? As in your life doesn't matter?"
"I have betrayed my god-I should have died on Chulak."
"So this is borrowed time?" Daniel stopped as the realization hit him hard in the chest. "God, you really did choose them. You picked them for the job. You did have it all set up in case it went the way it did!"
"Daniel Jackson, we must-"
"Move. I know...I know." Letting out a breath, shoulders dropping lower, Daniel started walking again. But the memory of dead men with holes burned into their chest and the stench of scorched flesh wouldn not stay buried. Stopping, he threw his hands wide. "How the hell could you do that to them?"
Leaning on his staff, Teal'c turned, patience schooled into his face. "Daniel Jackson, we must continue."
"Didn't you say just now that you owe me?"
"Indeed," the word game out low, more growl than speech. Daniel put his hands on his hips and waited. Teal'c added a few more words, exhaustion creeping into each of them, "They were guides."
Oh…well that explained it.
Blinking hard, Daniel wanted to say something but he had no idea what to say. His hands fell loose to his sides. Not Jaffa, after all.
Teal'c had taken the men marked for death already-the walking dead. Men who'd had the most basic of training, who had no value other than to betray an enemy's location. And he'd done what-sacrificed them to save others. Those men had been marked for death already-hell, for all Daniel knew, they'd been terrorized and made to believe that it was kill or be killed.
Head down, he started walking again. He heard Teal'c next to him, his breathing slightly labored, steps dragging, staff weapon thudding into the ground every other stride.
Letting out a breath, Daniel asked, "Did you ever let a guide go?"
"No."
Daniel nodded and he thought he understood. But he didn't. He'd also thought he had something in common with Teal'c, but he was beginning to see through that illusion-he couldn't imagine these choices. One dies so three can live? He could understand an individual making that choice. If you believed it was worth it, that was the right of the individual. Your life; your choice. But to be forced...it made no sense-and he couldn't find a way for it to make sense.
On the other hand, those guys had been willing to shoot and kill unarmed people. Those wouldn't have been clean, fast executions, not for the men, women and children standing around in that room. A few would have died at once, but the rest would have stood there, taken shots, had arms and legs burned, had wounds left. God, those people had been made into target practice.
What the hell did it say about him that he was shocked by this, but not horrified? He wasn't backing away from Teal'c. What-he didn't have the sense to be afraid of this guy?
He looked for a tremor of something inside him, and couldn't find it. He hadn't been afraid on Chulak, either, even when Teal'c had been knocking him around-of course, back then, he'd been terrified for Sha're and Skaara. But he looked at Teal'c now and he just saw a guy who'd been through a lot. And who'd lost even more-maybe even a big chunk of himself.
Thank god the radio crackled and Sam saved him from having to face the fact that he seemed to be fine with hanging out with these people who could kill so easily. "Daniel, we should be just about on top of your position."
"Hey, Sam." Turning, he glanced around, saw nothing but trees. "Uh-where are you guys?"
"We should be-"
"Daniel, question is, where they hell are you?"
"Well, Jack, we're here. Oh, by the way, you may want to stay away from any walls if you bump into them."
"Daniel?"
The single word was drawn out with frustration overlaid by a thin coating of restraint. Hearing it, Daniel's pressed his mouth tight. No way was he giving into the twinge that tone pulled from him. This was not like he was late turning in a research paper late or anything.
He heard the click of another radio and Teal'c added, "This world has additional defenses, O'Neill. I would urge caution."
Glancing over at him, Daniel thought about mouthing a silent thanks. He went for a small smile instead. Teal'c returned it with a fractional nod. Daniel was just glad to not have to add a lot to Jack and Sam's worries-they all seemed to have enough at the moment.
"Still not seeing you guys. Sam, are you sure-?"
"Daniel, we're right on top of your signal."
He looked up-then down. "Uh, Sam, maybe it's not top, but the other way?"
"Daniel?"
The word was drawn out again, and Daniel hurried into the explanation that tone demanded. "Jack, our entire walk, it's seemed like we're on an incline. This place can't be that big-I mean, it's just not efficient."
"So, whoever built this had to be logical?"
The radio crackled, then Sam's voice came back, fast and excited, "Concentric circles-a ramp? Is that what you're suggesting? But how would they maintain a consistent illusion within a confined space-are you suggesting a networked system of some kind?"
He wasn't, so that left him blank for a moment. He asked, "Why would they put us in something like an indoor stadium where we could meet up? Maybe they even use different doors opening out from the Stargate so that it'll split groups-put them on different levels or ramps."
"Thereby leaving each group more vulnerable to the defenses of this world?"
Daniel turned to Teal'c. "Yes. Another defensive measure. That's all we've seen so far."
"Goddamnit-I officially hate this place. Why couldn't these people settle for showing us their home movies to make us want to say a quick good-bye?"
"Sir-that's it. Daniel, that has to be the key-the projection of the illusion. Something within the space you're in, whether it's a hall or ramp, has to be creating the scenery around you. There has to be a constant."
Eyebrows lifting, Daniel turned and glanced at Teal'c. Head tilting to one side, Teal'c frowned. Then he lifted his staff weapon and shot out the sun.