Chapter 10 Chapter nine

The famous Sais School of Medicine is located in the Nile Delta.Nefeli had been brooding in her medical school classroom for two days.All doctors who want to practice must take a test here.Many people fail this test.In a country where eighty-year-olds are not uncommon, non-elites are naturally not allowed to hire in health care units. Can young Nefiri successfully overcome her illness and realize her dream?She knows there are many examples of failure, but still does not give up the challenge.In the end, they have to pass the rigorous test of the Sayes Medical Association. A priest helped her prepare dried meat, candied dates, water, and some medical books for her to study, but some concepts gradually became blurred.She was worried for a while, and full of confidence for a while, so she stopped thinking about it and just stared at the carob trees planted all around the campus (the pod juice produced by the carob tree is sweet and delicious, which is the best symbol of sweetness and tenderness in the eyes of the Egyptians) The large garden for meditation.

After the sun goes down, the apothecary who grows myrrh and specializes in fumigation arrives.He took her to the laboratory, where several other colleagues were waiting.Each asked Nefiri to write a prescription, fetch medicines, evaluate their properties, identify some compound substances, and describe in detail the harvesting of various plants, gums, and honey.Several times, she felt a little confused and had to rack her brains. After a five-hour oral exam, four of the five pharmacists passed her.The only person who denied her said that Nefeli got the dose wrong twice.Regardless of whether Nefiri was exhausted or not, he insisted on continuing to test her expertise.If she doesn't want to, just leave Sais.

Nefiri persevered patiently, resigned to everything.In the end, the judges finally backed down. After passing the test, she didn't hear any congratulations. She went back to the room alone, and fell asleep after lying down. The pharmacist who kept making things difficult for her during the test woke her up early the next morning. "You have the right to continue. Would you like to continue? " "At your command." "You have half an hour to freshen up and eat. I want to warn you that the next test is very dangerous." "I'm not afraid." "You still think about it."

At the door of the laboratory, the pharmacist warned her again: "Don't take what I remind you to heart." "I won't back down." "Whatever you want. Take it." He gave her a split stick. "Go into the laboratory and use the medicinal materials inside to make a medicine." After the pharmacist finished speaking, after Nefiri entered, he closed the door.There was a low table in the laboratory, on which were placed several small glass bottles, and in the farthest corner by the window, there was a tightly closed bamboo basket, the lid of which was loosely woven, and the contents inside could be vaguely seen.

Nefiri took a few steps back, and what was in the basket turned out to be a snake. This snake is extremely venomous, but its venom concocts remedies that are very effective in treating hemorrhage, nervous disorders, and cardiovascular ailments.Now, at last, she understood what the pharmacist meant. After taking a few deep breaths, she calmly opened the lid of the basket.The snake in the basket was also very cautious, and did not get out of the nest immediately.Nefiri didn't move, watching intently as the snake crawled to the edge of the crate and then to the ground.This snake is about one meter long and moves extremely fast. The two horns on its head seem to come in and out from the forehead at any time, full of challenge.

Nefeli held the stick tightly, and moved her body to the left side of the snake, trying to embed the snake's head with the split part of the stick. While thrusting her hand down, she cut off her eyes: if it failed, the snake would move up the stick and attack her. Suddenly, she felt the snake's body move angrily under her hand.She succeeded. She knelt down and grabbed the back of the snake's head.She wants it to spit out its precious venom. After boarding the boat to Thebes, Nefiri had no time to rest.Several doctors asked her one question after another about their specialties in order to accept her learning results.

Nefeli has always been able to adapt to new environments, and even if something unexpected happens, she will never panic. She can face all emergencies in the world and the vicissitudes of people's hearts with a normal heart.She pays little attention to herself in order to observe more carefully and intently the powers and mysteries of nature.Of course, she also hopes to live a happy life, but bad luck and adversity can't knock her down, on the contrary, it can motivate her to get out of the haze and pursue happiness. She never held any resentment towards those who tormented her. Isn't it because of them that her determination to become a doctor is more firm and stable?Returning to her hometown of Thebes, she was filled with infinite joy. The sky here is bluer than that of Memphis, and the air is fresher.One day, she will come back to accompany her parents and take a walk on the country road of her childhood every day.

At this time, she suddenly thought of the little monkey entrusted to Blarney. There were two priests with bald heads who opened the gate for her. Behind the high walls were several temples, where the doctor's investiture ceremony was held.This is the territory governed by the goddess Mut. The word "Mut" means both "mother" and "death". the meaning of. The president of the doctor who greeted Nefeli said: "I have received a report from the Sais School of Medicine. If you wish, you can continue to take the test." "I would." "It will not be us humans who make the final decision. Now you have to meditate quietly, because it will be the judge of another life who summons you."

The Master tied a rope with thirteen knots around Nefiri's neck and told her to kneel. "The Physician's Secret ("The Physician's Secret" text is familiar to all practicing physicians, which is the basis of medicine) is to know the heart. All visible and invisible blood vessels spread from the heart to all organs of the body, so when you put your hands on the patient's head, neck, nape, arms, legs or other parts of the body to auscultate him, remember to First listen to the sound of the heartbeat and pulse, and then make sure the position of the heart is correct and the heartbeat is normal. You must know that the body is full of pipes. In addition to transporting air, blood, water, tears, semen and feces, these pipes also have air running.You should especially keep the blood vessels and lymphatic clean.When the disease occurs, it will interfere with the movement of qi. You must be able to deeply explore the cause by observing the appearance.In addition, be sincere to patients, there are only three possibilities after diagnosis, tell them honestly: "I know your disease, I will treat it for you", "I will do my best for your disease" or "I can't do anything about your disease '.

Now, meet your destiny. "There was silence in the temple. Nefiri sat on her knees, hands on her knees, eyes closed, waiting.At this time, she had drifted out of time and space, and her modest meditation made her no longer anxious.Since ancient times, Egyptian priests and doctors have been committed to the treatment of diseases, so why worry about them?Two priests helped her to her feet.The cedar door in front of him opened, and inside was a small church.The two priests just now stopped accompanying her in.Alone, with no fear or hope in her heart, she entered the rectangular inner room, and her figure was hidden in the darkness.

The door slammed shut behind him. Suddenly, Nefiri felt someone lurking in the darkness watching her.Although her arms were clinging to her sides and her breathing became short, she did not give up out of fear.She has come here by her own strength, and now she has to rely on her own strength to defend herself. Suddenly, a light shot down from the top of the temple, and it fell on the diorite statue against the inner wall.This statue depicts the goddess Seke walking upright.This frightening lioness will spread all kinds of epidemics, diseases and germs at the end of each year in an attempt to wipe out human beings.These diseases spread everywhere, causing human beings to suffer and die. Only doctors have the ability to fight against this terrible goddess, but she is also the patron saint of doctors, and only she can teach them the secrets of medical skills and prescriptions. Nefiri has often heard that anyone who looks directly at the goddess of Seke will die. So she should lower her eyes from this strange idol, from the face of this angry lioness (the reason why the Arabs did not destroy this beautiful Seq is actually because they are afraid; they call her "The Ogre of Karnak". The statue can still be admired in the Temple of Ptah today), but she looked up instead.Nefiri stared at Sekeme.She prayed that the Goddess could feel her mission of practicing medicine, and begged her to penetrate the deepest part of her heart and see her sincerity.The light grew stronger and brighter, illuminating the entire statue, so bright that Nefiri couldn't keep her eyes open. At this time, a miracle happened, and the terrible lioness smiled. Members of the Theban Physicians assembled in a broad pillared hall with a pool in the center.The president walked towards Nefiri and asked, "Do you have a strong ambition to heal the sick?" "The goddess can testify for me." "If we want to make suggestions to others, we must first experience it ourselves." The president took out a cup filled with red liquid, "This is a cup of poisonous juice. After drinking it, first identify the toxicity and then diagnose it. If it is correct , you can get the antidote and save yourself, otherwise you will only die. Sekeme will not let there be bad doctors in Egypt." Nefiri then took the cup.The president gave her the last chance to choose, "You can also choose not to drink it, and leave the status quo immediately." Even so, she drank the bitter juice slowly, hoping to detect its toxicity. The funeral procession marched along the temple wall towards the Nile, followed by a group of weeping women hired by the mourners. There is a trailer pulling the sarcophagus in front of it. On top of the temple, Nefiri is struggling with life and death. Although her whole body is soft, she can still feel the warmth and comfort of the sun shining on her body. "You will still be cold for a few hours, but there will be no toxic residue in your body. Your judgment is fast and accurate, and all our members are amazed." "If I am wrong, will you save me?" The president did not answer, but only asked: "If you want to take care of others, you must be cruel to yourself. After you recover, return to Memphis immediately to accept your first job. Journey There must be difficulties and obstacles. A young and talented doctor like you will attract jealousy to some extent, so you have to keep your eyes open and beware of people's hearts." There are several swallows flying above the temple.Nefiri thought of her teacher Blarney, the savior who taught her everything.