第37章

“WhatshallIdo？“mutteredSeti，ashepassedme。 “Idonotaltogetherlikehiscompany，nor，Ithink，doestheladyMerapi，butheisanillmantooffend，Prince，“Ianswered。“Look，heistalkingwithhisfamiliar。“ Setireturnedtohisplace，andshakingoffthemothwhichseemedlothtoleavehim，fortwiceitsettledonhishead，Kicamebackintotheshadow。 “Whereistheuseofyourputtingquestionstome，Ki，when，accordingtoyourownshowing，alreadyyouknowtheanswerthatIwillgive？ WhatanswershallIgive？“askedthePrince。 “Thatpaintedcreaturewhichsatuponmyhandjustnow，seemedtowhispertomethatyouwouldsay，OPrince，’Stay，Ki，andbemyfaithfulservant，anduseanylittleloreyouhavetoshieldmyhousefromill。’“ ThenSetilaughedinhiscarelessfashion，andreplied： “Haveyourway，sinceitisarulethatnoneoftheroyalbloodofEgyptmayrefusehospitalitytothosewhoseekit，havingbeentheirfriends，andIwillnotquoteagainstyourmothwhatabatwhisperedinmyearslastnight。Nay，noneofyoursalutationsrevealedtoyoubyinsectsorbythefuture，“andhegavehimhishandtokiss。 WhenKiwasgone，Isaid： “Itoldyouthatnight-hauntingthingwashisfamiliar。“ “Thenyoutoldmefolly，Ana。TheknowledgethatKihashedoesnotgetfrommothsorbeetles。YetnowthatitistoolateIwishthatI hadaskedtheladyMerapiwhatherwillwasinthismatter。Youshouldhavethoughtofthat，Ana，insteadofsufferingyourmindtobeledastraybyaninsectsittingonhishand，whichisjustwhathemeantthatyoushoulddo。Well，inpunishment，daybydayitshallbeyourlottolookuponamanwithacountenancelike——likewhat？“ “LikethatwhichIsawuponthecoffinofthegoodgod，yourdivinefather，Meneptah，asitwaspreparedforhimduringhislifeintheembalmer’sshopatTanis，“Ianswered。 “Yes，“saidthePrince，“afacesmilingeternallyattheNothingnesswhichisLifeandDeath，butincertainlights，witheyesoffire。“ Onthefollowingday，byherinvitation，IwalkedwiththeladyMerapiinthegarden，theheadnursefollowingus，bearingtheroyalchildinherarms。 “IwishtoaskyouaboutKi，friendAna，“shesaid。“Youknowheismyenemy，foryoumusthaveheardthewordshespoketomeinthetempleofAmonatTanis。Itseemsthatmylordhasmadehimtheguestofthishouse——ohlook!“andshepointedbeforeher。 Ilooked，andthereafewpacesaway，wheretheshadowoftheoverhangingpalmswasdeepest，stoodKi。Hewasleaningonhisstaff，thesamethathadturnedtoasnakeinmyhand，andgazingupwardslikeonewhoislostinthought，orlistenstothesingingofbirds。 Merapiturnedasthoughtofly，butatthatmomentKisawus，althoughhestillseemedtogazeupwards。 “Greeting，OMoonofIsrael，“hesaidbowing。“Greeting，OConquerorofKi!“ Shebowedback，andstoodstill，asalittlebirdstandswhenitseesasnake。Therewasalongsilence，whichhebrokebyasking： “WhyseekthatfromAnawhichKihimselfiseagertogive？Anaislearned，butishishearttheheartofKi？Aboveall，whytellhimthatKi，thehumblestofyourservants，isyourenemy？“ NowMerapistraightenedherself，lookedintohiseyes，andanswered： “HaveItoldAnaaughtthathedidnotknow？DidnotAnahearthelastwordsyousaidtomeinthetempleofAmonatTanis？“ “Doubtlessheheardthem，Lady，andthereforeIamgladthatheisheretoheartheirmeaning。LadyMerapi，atthatmoment，I，theSacrificertoAmon，wasfilled——notwithmyownspirit，butwiththeangryspiritofthegodwhomyouhadhumbledasneverbeforehadbefallenhiminEgypt。Thegodthroughmedemandedofyouthesecretofyourmagic，andpromisedyouhishate，ifyourefused。Lady，youhavehishate，butmineyouhavenot，sinceIalsohavehishatebecauseI，andhethroughme，havebeenworstedbyyourprophets。 Lady，wearefellow-travellersintheValleyofTrouble。“ Shegazedathimsteadily，andIcouldseethatofallthatpassedhislipsshebelievednooneword。MakingnoanswertohimandhistalkofAmon，sheaskedonly： “Whydoyoucomeheretodomeillwhohavedoneyounone？“ “Youaremistaken，Lady，“hereplied。“IcomeheretorefugefromAmon，andfromhisservantPharaoh，whomAmondrivesontoruin。I knowwellthat，ifyouwillit，youcanwhisperintheearofthePrinceandpresentlyhewillputmeforth。Onlythen-“andhelookedoverherheadtowherethenursestoodrockingthesleepingchild。 “Thenwhat，Magician？“ Givingnoanswer，heturnedtome。 “LearnedAna，toyouremembermeetingmeatTanisonenight？“ Ishookmyhead，thoughIguessedwellenoughwhatnighthemeant。 “Yourmemoryweakens，learnedAna，orratherisconfused，forwemetoften，didwenot？“ Thenhestaredatthestaffinhishand。Istaredalso，becauseI couldnothelpit，andsaw，orthoughtIsaw，thedeadwoodbegintoswellandcurve。ThiswasenoughformeandIsaidhastily： “IfyoumeanthenightoftheCoronation，Idorecall-“ “Ah!Ithoughtyouwould。You，learnedAna，wholikeallscribesobservesoclosely，willhavenotedhowlittlethings——suchasthescentofaflower，orthepassingofabird，oreventhewrithingofasnakeinthedust——oftenbringbacktothemindeventsorwordsithasforgottenlongago。“ “Well——whatofourmeeting？“Ibrokeinhastily。 “Nothingatall——oronlythis。JustbeforeityouweretalkingwiththeHebrewJabez，theladyMerapi’suncle，wereyounot？“ “Yes，Iwastalkingwithhiminanopenplace，alone。“ “Notso，learnedScribe，foryouknowweareneveralone——quite。Couldyoubutseeit，everygrainofsandhasanear。“ “Bepleasedtoexplain，OKi。“ “Nay，Ana，itwouldbetoolong，andshortjestsareeverthebest。AsIhavetoldyou，youwerenotalone，forthoughthereweresomewordsthatIdidnotcatch，/I/heardmuchofwhatpassedbetweenyouandJabez。“ “Whatdidyouhear？“Iaskedwrathfully，andnextinstantwishedthatIhadbittenthroughmytonguebeforeitshapedthewords。 “Much，much。Letmethink。YouspokeabouttheladyMerapi，andwhethershewoulddowelltobideatMemphisintheshadowofthePrince，ortoreturntoGoshenintotheshadowofacertain——Iforgetthename。Jabez，awell-instructedman，saidhethoughtthatshemightbehappieratMemphis，thoughperhapsherpresencetherewouldbringagreatsorrowuponherselfand——another。“ Hereagainhelookedatthechild，whichseemedtofeelhisglance，foritwokeupandbeattheairwithitslittlehands。 Thenursefeltitalso，althoughherheadwasturnedaway，forshestartedandthentookshelterbehindtheboleofoneofthepalm- trees。NowMerapisaidinalowandshakenvoice： “Iknowwhatyoumean，Magician，forsincethenIhaveseenmyuncleJabez。“ “AsIhavealso，severaltimes，Lady，whichmayexplaintoyouwhatAnaherethinkssowonderful，namelythatIshouldhavelearnedwhattheysaidtogetherwhenhethoughttheywerealone，which，asIhavetoldhim，noonecaneverbe，atleastinEgypt，thelandoflisteninggods-“ “Andspyingsorcerers，“Iexclaimed。 “-Andspyingsorcerers，“herepeatedafterme，“andscribeswhotakenotes，andlearnthembyheart，andpriestswithearsaslargeasasses，andleavesthatwhisper——andmanyotherthings。“ “Ceaseyourgibes，andsaywhatyouhavetosay，“saidMerapi，inthesamebrokenvoice。 Hemadenoanswer，butonlylookedatthetreebehindwhichthenurseandchildhadvanished。 “Oh!Iknow，Iknow，“sheexclaimedintonesthatwerelikeacry。“Mychildisthreatened!Youthreatenmychildbecauseyouhateme。“ “Yourpardon，Lady。Itistruethatevilthreatensthisroyalbabe，orsoIunderstoodfromJabez，whoknowssomuch。ButitisnotIthatthreatenit，anymorethanIhateyou，inwhomIacknowledgeafellowofmycraft，butonegreaterthanmyselfthatitismydutytoobey。“ “Havedone!Whydoyoutormentme？“ “CanthepriestsoftheMoon-goddesstormentIsis，MotherofMagic，withtheirprayersandofferings？AndcanIwhowouldmakeaprayerandanoffering-“ “Whatprayer，andwhatoffering？“