ABACUS (19 page)

AP's third morning working with Nekhti was like the others—natron-shoveling followed by bandage-making—little wonder his friend was so keen to succeed in the priesthood. As they worked away in the heat and the smell, AP asked, out of interest, whether they ever embalmed anyone important.

“We've got one in there now,” said Nekhti, jabbing a thumb toward the workshop. “His name's Nehy, the vizier for Upper Egypt. You must have heard of him, he was the second most powerful man after the Pharaoh.” [26]

“Yes, of course,” AP fibbed.

When Kate failed to show up for their afternoon rendezvous, AP suspected the worst—Snakebite must have attacked her. But suppose she just couldn't get away from Tamit? If that were the case, she would have left a note. AP hurried to the healing stone. There was no note. What to do now? Without knowing where Tamit lived, and unable to search the innermost parts of the temple, he could do nothing.

AP spent an agonizing afternoon in his secluded workshop, trying to think positively. With Kate's busy new social life, there could be many reasons why she hadn't shown up. What if Snakebite had captured her though? At best, he would have taken the abacus, leaving them stranded. At worst? AP didn't want to think about it.

The sun was low in the sky when AP emerged from his seclusion. Maybe Kate had now left a note. He checked the healing stone. Still nothing. Would she be at their sunset rendezvous? He dashed across the courtyard.

“Hey, where are you going?” shouted a familiar voice. “What's the rush?”

AP swung around, bewildered.

“You went straight past me, just as if I wasn't here!”

“Oh, sorry, Nekhti. I didn't see you. I…I was miles away.”

“What's wrong?”

“Nothing. Nothing's wrong at all.”

Nekhti was unconvinced.

“I've got a bad headache, that's all. I get them sometimes.”

“My mother will have something for that. Come on, you can take it before supper.”

“You go ahead,” said AP. “I'll be along in a while.”

Nekhti hesitated.

“Go on, I'll be fine. I just need a bit of quiet time, while the sun goes down. Then the headache will go away.”

Darkness had fallen long before AP left the temple and headed for Nekhti's house. He wanted to stay longer but knew it was hopeless. Something terrible had happened to Kate, he was convinced of that now.

Silent at supper, AP spent a sleepless night staring at the stars, wondering what to do. He must find Tamit and see if she knew what had happened to Kate. That would difficult because Tamit spent so little time in the public part of the temple. He had to find a way of getting into the inner parts of the temple. Sleep finally came shortly before sunrise.

“You're very quiet,” said Shedou as they walked to the House of Embalming and Purification that morning. “Still got your headache?”

“Yes,” said AP. “Sometimes they go on for days.”

“There's a healing stone at the temple. You should offer a prayer when you go there today.”

“Maybe I will,” AP replied.

On the remotest chance Kate had left a message overnight, AP headed for the healing stone. There was no note. Mind racing, he wandered over to his hideaway.

Just as he approached the building he saw the most incredible sight—Kate, heading straight for him. “Where have you been?” they sang in unison. After expressing relief at seeing each other, they worked out what had happened.

“The day before yesterday we'd agreed to make this the rendezvous,” said Kate, nodding toward his workshop.

“I thought we were still using the old one,” said AP. “But the important thing is you're safe. I thought you'd been…hurt.”

He then told her how Nekhti's house had been ransacked. “Snakebite must realize you've got the abacus now,” he said grimly. “He's going to come after you, Kate.”

“Well, he won't be able to get into Tamit's house. It's surrounded by a high wall, with a gate that's manned 24/7.”

“He'll likely try when you're out on your own, like he did with me.”

“But I'm never alone. Tamit's always there—or I'm in the temple, surrounded by priests.”

“Okay, but you must be extra careful now.”

Kate promised she would be. Then she had an idea.

“Snakebite's already frisked you and searched Nekhti's house, so he knows for certain that you don't have the abacus. The smart thing now is for you to take it back. We can fix it so it won't slip from your kilt. Let's go inside and do it right now.”

After taking care of the abacus, AP wanted to tell her about the device he had built, but Kate was too preoccupied with the other night's dinner party. AP listened patiently.

“I wish I'd had a camera, you wouldn't believe some of the things I saw.”

“You could've taken one with you.” AP grinned. “I've made one for you—a pinhole camera. Come and take a look.”

“This is so cool,” said Kate a few minutes later. She was standing on the chair with the device pointing through the tiny window. “I can see a perfect picture of the temple, all upside down. Can you make it the right way up?”

“No, that's it.”

“Do you have to use the black cloth?”

“Yes, the picture's too faint otherwise. And it can only be used to see things outdoors, in bright sunlight. There's not enough light indoors.”

“So how should I announce my new powers?”

“I'd start with another dream.” He paused, thinking. “
I've got it. Hathor pays you a visit. She's wearing a black cloth over her head and is holding this strange device. She tells you it's how the world is seen in the afterlife—upside down and in miniature.”

“That's good,” she said, beaming. “And they'll be blown away when they see this. It's so neat!”

“We just need some cloth to cover up the pot and make it look more mystical.”

Before leaving, they agreed to always meet at AP's hideaway. Aside from avoiding further confusion, they could talk freely without being seen.

Chapter 30: Ramesses the Great

Within hours of Kate's demonstrating the camera in the temple, word of the new priestess's miraculous powers had reached the ears of the most supreme being in Egypt—the Pharaoh. Tamit's father was duly summoned to the Royal Palace. After a brief consultation with the senior member of the Pharaoh's council, the decision was made that the new priestess would attend the palace to demonstrate her celestial device to His Majesty.

“I can't believe it!” Kate blurted the following day. “I'm actually going to meet a real living pharaoh, the Pharaoh, in his Royal Palace—in three days' time!”

AP had never seen his sister so excited. “That's absolutely fantastic! I'm really happy for you. I'd give a lot to be going too.”

“So come along!” she said enthusiastically.

“How can I? The Pharaoh's asked to see you, not me. There's no way I can tag along. You're not visiting a friend's house—you're summoned to see Ramesses II!”

“I can fix that! I'll tell the High Priest I had another vision. Hathor told me I must take a certain wab to the palace when I see the Pharaoh.”

“So how's this mysterious wab going to appear on the scene?”

Kate thought for a minute. “What if I said he'd walk up to me at some particular time and place, on the day of the visit?”

“Okay,” said AP, “and suppose I were carrying something special that I handed to you?”

“Hey, I like that. What could it be?”

“Um…something simple. How about a bunch of papyrus? I can collect some down by the Nile.”

“Sounds good to me.”

“You'd better bring me something to wrap it in. I don't want anyone seeing it until the right moment.”

“Okay.”

“What time have you got to be at the palace?”

“Three o'clock. I'm being driven, in a chariot. Tamit's father has a fleet of them. We're going to leave from the Temple of Amun—he's the main god. It's on the other side of the town.”

“I'll be there! All you've got to do is find out when you're leaving.”

“I'll do that tonight and tell you tomorrow.”

“Talking of telling,” said AP, “you haven't told me how you demonstrated your magical device to the priesthood.”

“I put on a performance, like you did at Camelot.”

AP smiled.

“Tamit was taking part in the early morning ceremony and I went along, just to watch. So there was this great procession through the temple, led by a chanting priest, with all these others carrying offerings of food and drink for the god. People had been up for hours baking bread, and cutting up meat and stuff. I was following along with all the priests and we were heading for the alter room, the room with the golden door. It was a wild scene.

“While all this was going on, a high priest went inside the sanctuary—that's the small room where the god's statue lives—and he opened up its shrine, which is a special cabinet. He

then washed the statue, sprinkled it with oils and perfume, dressed it, and put on its jewelry. Can you believe that? Now the god was ready to receive the offerings.”

“How can they get all that food and drink into the sanctuary?” asked AP. “It's so small.”

“They don't. They just take in a selection on a tray. Once the god has ‘taken' what he wants they share out all the rest.”

“You still haven't said about your magical device.”

“I was just getting to that. Well, there I am at the heart of the temple, surrounded by all the priests, and I'm thinking, ‘I can't do this.' But I've got to. So I take a deep breath and start talking in this mystical voice about my dream of Hathor. I say I want to show them this wondrous device.”

“Did you have the camera with you?”

“No, I didn't want to carry a heavy flowerpot through the temple.”

“Good point.”

“I left it in your workroom. I would have chosen somewhere special, like the Sacred Lake, except I was afraid someone might find it. So I told them they must follow me. It was amazing, having all those high-powered priests trailing behind me, like I was taking a bunch of kids to the zoo!”

“So what did you do when you got there?”

“I brought out the camera, all mysteriously, went up to the most senior priest, put the cloth over his head and pointed the camera at the temple. Fortunately, he saw the picture right away.”

“What did he say?”

“Nothing at first. But I could tell he was impressed.”

“Did the others try it?”

“They didn't get a chance because he wouldn't put it down! He just kept panning around, every so often letting out a great whoop. I eventually persuaded him to let somebody else have a go, but that was it.”

* * *

On the appointed day, AP went off to work the same as usual. Word of the new priestess and her celestial device had spread throughout the town—it was the sole topic of conversation on their walk to work.

“They say that when it's held up to the night sky you can see all the gods in the universe,” Shedou announced solemnly. “Imagine that! And it can even see into the future.”

“You could use it to see how your seeds turn out!” joked his eldest son, but Shedou wasn't amused.

Just to be safe, AP arrived at the Temple of Amun well before the rendezvous time. Choosing a spot in the shade, he sat down and waited.

The first indication something was about to happen was when six priests swept from the temple, looking very grand in their fresh white robes. Lining themselves up outside, they scanned the faces of the gathering crowd, like security guards. AP's heart began to race.

Moments later Kate appeared, carrying a large bag made of linen and accompanied by a priest.

Holding the papyrus before him, AP strode up to his sister and placed it in her hand. The effect on the priests was electrifying. Unbeknown to AP, Hathor was often shown as a cow among the papyrus. He could not have chosen a more appropriate symbol.

For several seconds the priests just stood there, staring at him. Then a distinguished man in elegant robes stepped forward and escorted him, and Kate, to the first chariot—he was Tamit's father. The chariot driver, bowing respectfully, helped them aboard and they set off at a gallop, followed by a fleet of chariots.

Arriving at the palace, Kate and AP, accompanied by Tamit's father, were escorted to the chamber of the Pharaoh's senior advisor.

“There are some important things I must explain before I take you to see His Majesty,” began the advisor pompously. Then, sneering down at AP, he asked, “Is this the wab Hathor spoke of in your vision?”

Kate nodded.

“First,” he said, pausing for emphasis, “when you enter His Majesty's presence you will approach His throne with your eyes cast down. You will then fall on your knees, with your head touching the ground, and remain there until He bids you to rise.”

Kate and AP exchanged indignant looks.

“Second, you will not address His Majesty unless he first speaks to you.”

He paused to let the words sink in.

“Third, you will not presume to tell His Majesty anything. The Pharaoh is the living descendent of Amun, the supreme ruler of Upper and Lower Egypt, the knower of all things.

“Fourth, y
ou will under no circumstances touch His Majesty, nor will you allow anything you are holding to touch Him.”

The advisor's gaze shifted from Kate to her wab, and he gave him such a disapproving look that AP felt even more insignificant than before.

If Kate and AP had been free to gaze around the throne room, the gold ceiling and the vibrant battle scenes on the walls would have overwhelmed them. Instead, they had to study the highly polished stone floor.

Ramesses II was a striking man. He could have walked into any room, dressed in ordinary clothes, and everyone would have noticed him. Surrounded by servants and officials, he sat on an ornate gold throne, beneath a canopy of red and gold fabric Looking like a picture book illustration of a pharaoh, he wore the traditional striped cloth over his head and shoulders.` In the center of his forehead was a raised cobra's head of gold, and he wore a heavy gold necklace. A long white gown of the finest linen covered his chest and most of his stiffly-pleated kilt. Kate judged him to be about the same age as their father.

Completely ignoring AP, he spoke only to Kate. “Have I the new priestess before me, the one with the celestial device?”

Kate had intended to sound mystical, but when she answered “Yes” her voice was barely a croak—she was so nervous.

“Bring it here so I may witness its powers,” he said, beckoning her to stand beside his throne.

Remembering AP's dire warning to use it only outdoors, Kate took a deep breath.

“As your Royal Majesty knows in all his wisdom,” she began in a confident voice she hardly recognized as her own, “the celestial device only has eyes when it is outside, beneath the Pharaoh's clear blue sky.”

“Way to go!” AP wanted to shout, but all he could do was slip her an approving glance.

Ramesses II, smiling regally, arose from his throne and led the way outdoors, closely followed by Kate and an army of adviser, scribes, officers, bodyguards and fan-bearers. AP tagged along behind, completely ignored by everyone.

To avoid contact with His Royal Majesty, Kate demonstrated how to use the device by example. The Pharaoh gave her his full attention. He then resolved her dilemma of how to hand it over by taking it from her. Moments later Ramesses II, head and camera draped in black, scanned the nearby buildings. Everyone waited expectantly.

The Pharaoh remained ominously quiet. Then he uttered, “Nothing!”

Kate, recognizing the seriousness of the situation, moved to his side and immediately saw the problem. Because he was holding the device too close to his face, the black cloth had fallen in front of the screen. Without even thinking, she pulled the cloth taut, hoping this would do the trick.

The Pharaoh stood in silence for more than a minute, slowly scanning the buildings. Kate's heart was pounding. AP shuffled nervously. Then the Pharaoh announced, “I can see! This is miraculous!”

His advisors cheered, along with his scribes, officers, bodyguards and fan-bearers. Kate and AP gave a silent sigh of relief.

From that moment on, Kate could do no wrong in the eyes of Ramesses II. After spending some time gazing at familiar landmarks, he invited her to accompany him to his chambers. AP was not sure whether the invitation extended to him, and nor was Kate. The two exchanged anxious glances, which the Pharaoh noticed.

“I suppose your wab should come too,” he said, sounding quite unconcerned whether he did or not.

Then, placing a hand on her shoulder, the Pharaoh led the way back, pointing out places of interest along the way. Kate, now entirely at ease, talked away as if she had known him for ages. AP tagged along behind, feeling completely unimportant. Meanwhile Tamit's father was escorted into another room to await their return.

The Pharaoh's favorite topic of conversation was himself, and it wasn't long before he was reliving his heroism at the battle of Kadesh.

“The Hittites, that war-like rabble to the east, had been troubling Egypt since long before my father's reign.” He settled down in a comfortable chair for what promised to be a long story. Kate sat opposite him. “Then, during the fifth year of my reign, they formed an alliance with our other enemies.” He leaned forward, bringing his face within inches of Kate's. “It was time to march on the city of Kadesh and destroy them all!”

He explained how he had set off with 20,000 men, and how enemy spies along the way had convinced him the city had been abandoned. “So we camped on the outskirts of Kadesh, waiting for the rest of my army to catch up. But it was an ambush!” he said, raising his voice. “The hordes swept upon us like locusts.”

AP, who always enjoyed a good story, was listening to every word, though he knew his sister must be totally bored. But Kate—sitting on the edge of her chair looking enthralled—was doing a convincing job of hiding it.

“The Hittite king had twice as many men as me, and my soldiers, seeing them charging down in their chariots, turned and fled! They all deserted me, except my loyal bodyguards.”

“That's terrible,” cried Kate, sounding genuinely shocked. “What happened?”

“The enemy's chariots surrounded us. Then I saw one spot where they were fewer. So I charged at that weakness and my bodyguards followed. The sight of such outstanding courage rallied my men, and a glorious battle followed.”

From his account of events, Ramesses II was the bravest of them all, and it was entirely due to his great leadership, and to the support of his father, the God Amun, that they had defeated the enemy.

AP, unimpressed by such bragging, lost interest. But Kate sat spellbound, nodding and smiling at all the right times, asking the occasional question, and flattering the Pharaoh at every turn.

Ramesses II seemed as interested in her as she appeared to be in him. “You are a very special young lady,” he said, thoughtfully, “and a most powerful priestess. Such gifts as you possess must be treasured and protected. You will have one of my personal bodyguards to watch over you.”

Kate didn't know what to say, so she just smiled and shyly lowered her eyes. Her brother had no idea whether she was intentionally leading the Pharaoh on, or whether she was the one being led.

“Your celestial device works in the light of the sun,” the Pharaoh mused. “Maybe you can summon an equally wondrous instrument to work in the darkness of the tomb.”

He went on to explain how Nehy, his loyal vizier, would soon be making his long journey to the afterlife. “It would give me great joy to send him on his way with a celestial guide in the darkness.”

Kate glanced desperately at her brother. AP just shrugged his shoulders, so she lowered her eyes demurely and said nothing.