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CHAPTER TWELVE
FIRST MONTH OF SUMMER 23 RD DAY
‘Can I speak with you a minute, Esa?’
Esa peered sharply towards Henet who stood in the doorway of the
room, an ingratiating smile upon her face.
‘What is it?’ the old woman asked sharply.
‘It’s nothing really–at least I don’t suppose so–but I thought I’d just like
to ask–’
Esa cut her short. ‘Come in, then, come in. And you–’ she tapped the
little black slave girl, who was threading beads, on the shoulder with her
stick–‘go to the kitchen. Get me some olives– and make me a drink of
pomegranate juice.’
The little girl ran off and Esa beckoned Henet impatiently.
‘It’s just this, Esa.’
Esa peered down at the article Henet was holding out to her. It was a
small jewel box with a sliding lid, the top fastened with two buttons.
‘What about it?’
‘It’s hers. And I found it now–in her room.’
‘Who are you talking about? Satipy?’
‘No, no, Esa. The other.’
‘Nofret, you mean? What of it?’
‘All her jewels and her toilet vases and her perfume jars–everything–
was buried with her.’
Esa twirled the string from the buttons and opened the box. In it was a
string of small carnelian beads and half of a green glazed amulet which
had been broken in two.
‘Pooh,’ said Esa. ‘Nothing much here. It must have been overlooked.’
‘The embalmers’ men took everything away.’
‘Embalmers’ men aren’t any more reliable than anyone else. They forgot
this.’
‘I tell you, Esa–this wasn’t in the room when last I looked in.’
Esa looked up sharply at Henet.
‘What are you trying to make out? That Nofret has come back from the
Underworld and is here in the house? You’re not really a fool, Henet,
though you sometimes like to pretend you’re one. What pleasure do you
get from spreading these silly magical tales?’
Henet was shaking her head portentously.
‘We all know what happened to Satipy–and why!’
‘Maybe we do,’ said Esa. ‘And maybe some of us knew it before! Eh,
Henet? I’ve always had an idea you knew more about how Nofret came to
her death than the rest of us.’
‘Oh, Esa, surely you wouldn’t think for a moment–’
Esa cut her short.
‘What wouldn’t I think? I’m not afraid of thinking, Henet. I’ve seen
Satipy creeping about the house for the last two months looking
frightened to death–and it’s occurred to me since yesterday that someone
might have been holding the knowledge over her head– threatening
maybe to tell Yahmose–or Imhotep himself–’
Henet burst into a shrill clamour of protestations and exclamations. Esa
closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair.
‘I don’t suppose for a moment you’d ever admit you did such a thing. I’m
not expecting you to.’
‘Why should I? That’s what I ask you–why should I?’
‘I’ve not the least idea,’ said Esa. ‘You do a lot of things, Henet, for which
I’ve never been able to find a satisfactory reason.’
‘I suppose you think I was trying to make her bribe me to silence. I
swear by the Nine Gods of the Ennead–’
‘Do not trouble the Gods. You’re honest enough, Henet–as honesty goes.
And it may be that you knew nothing about how Nofret came to her death.
But you know most things that go on in this house. And if I were going to
do any swearing myself, I’d swear that you put this box in Nofret’s room
yourself–though why I can’t imagine. But there’s some reason behind it…
You can deceive Imhotep with your tricks, but you can’t deceive me. And
don’t whine! I’m an old woman and I cannot stand people whining. Go and
whine to Imhotep. He seems to like it, though Ra alone knows why!’
‘I will take the box to Imhotep and tell him–’
‘I’ll hand the box to him myself. Be off with you, Henet, and stop spread-
ing these silly superstitious tales. The house is a more peaceful place
without Satipy. Nofret dead has done more for us than Nofret living. But
now that the debt is paid, let everyone return to their everyday tasks.’
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