Desert God. Wilbur Smith

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      Before each boat was lifted through the first lock the sails and masts were lowered flat on the upper deck. Then the hull was covered by woven reed mats until it resembled a shapeless mound of trash. When the citizens of Thebes awoke the following morning and looked across the river they would see nothing untoward on the far bank. The three great triremes had disappeared as though they had never existed.

      It was almost sunrise the next day before we had towed the ships across the plain and moored them at the entrance to Mamose’s tomb. The men were exhausted so I ordered Zaras to issue them with extra rations of dried fish, beer and bread, and let them rest through the hot hours of the day.

      I walked back along the towpath of the canal to the temple. The priests seemed to have recovered from the strenuous rituals, devotions and prayers of the previous evening. They rowed me across the river in the temple skiff. I was on my way to report on the success of our expedition to Pharaoh.

      This was a pleasant duty to which I was looking forward immensely. My devotion to Pharaoh is exceeded only by that I had for his mother, Queen Lostris. Of course, it is futile to compare superlatives so I deliberately do not mention my royal princesses in this equation. Let it suffice to say that my devotion to the royal family extends to all its members.

      My tame priests landed me on the steps below the bazaars of the waterfront of the city, which were already thronged despite the early hour. I set off through the narrow streets towards the palace gates. Under my battered helmet and filthy face mask nobody recognized me, although a gang of small ragamuffins danced around me calling me vile names and throwing stones at me. I caught one of their missiles in mid-air and returned it with considerably more force than I received it. The urchin who was clearly leader of the gang screamed with pain and clutched at the wound in his scalp, which was fountaining copiously, and he led his followers in the flight for safety.

      When I reached the palace gates I removed my disguise, and the captain of the household guards recognized me at once. He saluted me respectfully.

      ‘I must see Pharaoh!’ I told him. ‘Send a messenger to tell him I am waiting on his pleasure.’

      ‘I offer you my apologies, Lord Taita.’ I did not correct him. I was becoming accustomed to my new title. ‘Pharaoh is not in Thebes, and we do not expect his imminent return.’

      I nodded. This came as a disappointment, but as no real surprise to me. Pharaoh spends the greater part of his time and energy in prosecuting the interminable campaign against the Hyksos in the north. ‘Then take me to the chamberlain, Lord Aton.’

      When I reached his private rooms Aton rushed to embrace me at the door. ‘What tidings, old friend?’ he demanded. ‘How went our venture?’

      ‘Grave tidings indeed.’ I assumed a gloomy expression. ‘The treasury of the Supreme Minos in his fort at Tamiat has been plundered, and King Beon has been murdered.’

      He held me at arm’s length and stared into my face. ‘You jest with me, good Taita,’ he accused me. ‘All honest men must weep to hear it told! Who would commit such heinous crimes?’

      ‘Alas! Both committed by the same hand, Aton. One that you might recognize, mayhap?’ And I held up my right hand before his face. He stared at it with cleverly feigned mystification. To have survived so long in the role of royal chamberlain one had to be a gifted thespian.

      Then he shook his head and began to chuckle, softly at first, but the volume of his mirth built up swiftly until he was snorting and hooting with glee. He staggered around the room bumping into the furniture and laughing. His belly and every other part of him were shaking with laughter. Then abruptly he stopped laughing and fled to the adjoining closet. There was a moment of silence, but before I could follow him there came a sound like the flooding of the Nile through the cataracts. It went on for some considerable time before Aton returned to where I waited. Now his expression was once more serious as he adjusted his robes.

      ‘You are fortunate, my dear friend, that I reached the pot in time, or you might have been drowned like King Beon.’

      ‘How do you know Beon was drowned?’

      ‘I have ears and eyes other than those you see in my face.’

      ‘If you know so much, then tell me about the treasure of the Minos.’

      ‘I have heard nothing of that.’ He shook his head ruefully. ‘Is there aught you might have learned about it?’

      ‘Only that you were wrong.’

      ‘In what way was I wrong?’

      ‘You told me that the treasure might amount to a hundred lakhs, did you not?’ He nodded and I went on:

      ‘You sadly miscalculated.’

      ‘Can you prove it to me?’ he demanded.

      ‘I can do better than that, Aton. I can let you weigh it,’ I assured him. ‘However, I must get a message to Pharaoh before we leave the palace.’

      Aton pointed to his writing case, which lay open in a corner of the room. ‘Write your message and Pharaoh will have it in his hand before nightfall,’ he assured me.

      My message was short and cryptic. ‘Please be patient with me,’ I begged Aton as I handed it to him, ‘but I have not bathed or worn fresh apparel for almost two moons. I must visit my own quarters here in the palace before I return with you to the tomb of Mamose.’ I did not think it worth mentioning that neither had I seen my two little princesses since my return.

      As soon as I reached my quarters I sent one of my slaves to the quarters of the royal women to convey a message to Their Highnesses.

      The two of them arrived with the force and fury of the khamsin wind out of the desert just as I was stepping into my hot tub. They are the only ones in all the world that I allow to see me unclad, except for my slaves. However, my slaves are all eunuchs as am I, so they are of no account.

      Now Tehuti and Bekatha perched on the marble surround of my tub and pestered me with questions. They took no notice of my nudity. Once many years ago Bekatha had spoken for both of them on the subject: ‘You are just like me and Tehuti; all three of us look so much neater without all those dangly things hanging in front of us.’

      Now she paddled both her neat little feet in my tub and complained, ‘It’s been so boring since you went away. Whatever were you doing that took you so long? You must swear that next time you will take us with you.’ I poured a pitcher of hot water over my head to avoid taking the oath she had set for me.

      ‘Did you bring us a present, Taita? Or did you forget?’ Tehuti took over the interrogation. As the elder sister she has a firmer grasp on the intrinsic value of things.

      ‘Of course I brought you both something. How could I ever forget you two little pests?’ I replied, and they clapped their hands with delight.

      ‘Show us!’ Bekatha chirruped.

      ‘Oh yes, darling Taita,’ Tehuti agreed. ‘Please show us. We do so love you.’

      ‘Then fetch me my pouch.’ I pointed to where it lay on my couch in the adjoining room, and as always Bekatha was first to reach it. She came dancing back to me, brandishing the leather pouch. Then she flopped down on to the marble СКАЧАТЬ