by Ruth Hay
In 1995 a hugely expensive restoration of Nefertari’s small tomb was completed. In order to retain the work that had been done in its pristine condition, the air cleaning system had been installed.
Anna scarcely heard this information. Her attention was captured by the many depictions of Ramses’ wife that appeared on each wall around her.
She was dressed always in the same slender robe of transparent material, fastened with a red ribbon belt that circled beneath her breasts then knotted at her tiny waist leaving two loose ends to flow downward. Her hair was jet black against her light skin and crowned with a vulture headdress that was a symbol of protection granted only to the highest in the land.
Nefertari’s kohl-lined eyes and eyebrows were not unusual in tomb paintings, but the delicacy of her features and the loving way her hands were drawn spoke of dedication and reverence for the subject.
Everywhere there were scenes of gods and goddesses welcoming Nefertari to the afterlife. Alina was struck by the detail of the hieroglyphs. These were multi-coloured carvings that made the animal shapes spring from the background as if they were live letters. No other tomb or temple had been able to retain the colours they now saw all around them.
Offering tables filled with breads and fruits, fowl and fish, were shown between the queen and her heavenly peers. Clearly, feasts were to follow her ascension. The roofs of each chamber were adorned with brilliant blue skies dotted with golden stars to indicate eternity.
The Egyptologist remarked that the five-pointed star represented a human body.
“This is the most awesome thing I have ever seen,” murmured Alina. “I am so thankful that my eyes have witnessed this wonder. We may not take photographs here but how could we ever forget this. I hope heaven is half as glorious as these Egyptians believed it to be.”
Anna felt a lump in her throat as she heard these fervent words from her friend.
She decided that all the stresses and strains of the trip were worth these quiet moments together in this magical place.
When they emerged into the afternoon light, Anna noticed the wind had risen again. A few clouds were forming in the sky but she could not summon worry about this unusual occurrence. Her mind was soothed by the exceptional experience they had just enjoyed.
The driver opened the car door for them and they were soon bumping out of the Valley of the Queens and over the bridge to the east side of the Nile.
“From death to life!” said Anna, as they crossed. “From ancient Thebes to modern Luxor!
I hope there will be afternoon tea at the residence of the principal private secretary to the Egyptian ambassador to Canada. That would be life-giving for me at the moment.”
Alina hoped their visit would not be fraught with the kind of awkward silences that had spoiled the dinner of the night before. She determined to smooth the way for Anna if that became necessary. In no way did she wish to spoil the pleasant feelings left by their Nefertari experience, or to disparage the lady who had so generously made that experience possible for them. She considered for a moment that Philip’s work in Egypt must be very valuable to the economy otherwise there was no need for Richard’s wife to be so attentive to them. It had been obvious at the Winter Palace dinner that she had not known of Anna’s connection to Richard Mason. Alina thought, privately, that despite Madame al-Sayyid’s excellent attempt to conceal her surprise, she was not pleased to find herself in the uncomfortable position of not being forewarned. The conversation between Richard and his wife at their home, after the dinner, could well have been most unpleasant
As Anna watched out of the car window, the noble monuments of Luxor disappeared behind them and they passed through an area of much poorer housing and fields of fruit trees where oranges and mangos were grown. Canals brought water from the Nile to this location but beyond that irrigated strip, the desert resumed and the dusty sand colour of the earth reappeared.
Eventually, a line of palm trees emerged silhouetted on the horizon. On closer inspection these trees were seen to be marking a driveway leading to a high-walled enclosure. Swaying branches could be seen above the stark white walls as the car drove up to heavy wooden gates.
Anna could not see any other homes in this area and wondered if there was security here to prevent theft, as this was by far the largest and most isolated structure they had seen.
When the driver punched a keypad, the wooden doors swung open to reveal a verdant garden glimpsed through decorative wrought-iron gates which now opened automatically for the guests.
The driver bowed and waited for Anna and Alina to enter this oasis. They were met by a manservant in traditional long robes who led them along a meandering path.
The sound of water was present at each bend in the path although they could not see its source. Birds flitted from tree to tree above them and brilliant blossoms hung from bushes along their way. The contrast between the garden and the desert scene they had just driven through was extreme.
A central court appeared before them and around it were shuttered rooms on two levels.
They were only beginning to absorb the cool beauty of the marble floor and tiered fountain, both of which were decorated with blue tiles, when, to their utter surprise, Richard Mason stepped out of one of the rooms.
He forestalled their negative comments by quickly and urgently whispering to them.
“I know you may not have expected to see me today but I have to speak to Anna.
Alina, I know you have no particular reason to believe me but I swear I will do Anna no harm and I must ask a great favour of you.”
Before Alina could position herself between Anna and Richard, ready to defend her physically if necessary, Richard pleaded with her again to grant him ten minutes alone with Anna while his wife was busy with a phone call from a local Canadian who was experiencing some difficulty.
“She wishes to show you some fabrics she has in the bedrooms of the house and you could occupy her while I talk briefly to Anna. Please, Alina! This is very important to me.”
There was no denying the sincerity in Richard’s face. Anna could hardly recognize the confident, assured man with the upright posture she had once known. She left the decision to Alina as she was the one who would have to deal with the formidable second Mrs. Mason.
Alina made a quick decision, “Go! Go! I have no idea how I will do it but I will keep her occupied for ten minutes. Don’t be long! I am trusting you, Richard. Don’t let me down.”
Richard took Anna by the arm and hurried her out of the courtyard and down a different path toward what must have been a far corner of the garden. There, under the drooping branches of a hibiscus tree, he settled down beside Anna on a marble bench.
Anna was still in a whirl at this sudden and unexpected development and she waited to see what on earth Richard would have to say to her after such a long time with no contact.
She looked into his eyes and found little there that she remembered or recognized. He was a stranger to her in so many ways.
“Forgive me for behaving so badly last night at the dinner. I was shocked to see you and overwhelmed with feelings I had not expected.”
Anna recognized a similar reaction to her own, and simply nodded her head.
“I think you look amazing!” he continued, “and the hairstyle suits you so well, Anna.
I should have contacted you years ago but, the truth is, I was ashamed of the way we parted.”
He hurried on as if time was of the essence. “I imagine you have figured out that my present marriage is not one of equals. Being in the position of the partner who must defer in all things, particularly here in Egypt, has taught me how unfair I was to you back then.”
“Look, Richard! That’s all water under the bridge. You don’t need to explain yourself to me.
We both made mistakes and I have a good life now and even a new brother in my family.”
“How did that happen? No, don’t try to tell me. I just want.......... I need to say that I am
sorry we never had any children. In spite of our difficulties I feel that would have kept us together in the end. I was too insecure and jealous of your friendship with Alina. I was afraid to compete with a child as well. Instead I ruined everything we had.”
He finished the statement with a catch in his voice that showed Anna the depth of his feelings.
Shock upon shock! She had never thought to hear any of these words from Richard’s mouth.
Her instinct told her this confession was not only about his guilty feelings. Compassion from a deep well inside her spilled over. She had once loved this man with all her heart and pledged herself to him without reservation. Surely she could summon a vestige of that love to help heal the broken man before her now.
“Richard, what is it you are not telling me? This is not all about your first marriage, or your second for that matter. What is it you are not telling me?”
His head came up and Anna saw, for the first time, an unhealthy pallor beneath the network of deep wrinkles around his eyes and mouth.
“You always could see right through me, Anna.” He sighed, and took a painful breath.
“I have cancer. It has already destroyed my body and my relationship with my wife.
This holiday in the sun is an attempt to strengthen me up enough to get me through another round of chemo in the winter.”
“Oh, Richard!” She reached for him and enfolded him in an embrace that was her attempt to transfer to him some of the life-giving heart and strength she had been fortunate to receive from others in her life.
The seconds stretched on and Anna felt a sob shake Richard’s chest.
He broke their contact abruptly and spoke more firmly. “I’ll be fine, but thank you, Anna, for listening to me.”
At once he was all business and more like the old Richard she had known.
“Now, we need to hurry back to the house but I must warn you about Nefer. She is very curious about you. I think I have spoken of your virtues a little too often. She is not someone to underestimate and she has immense power here in her homeland.”
Anna tried to absorb this new information as she trotted behind Richard and back to the central courtyard. Alina was gone and Richard waved to tell Anna to stay put while he went to find her location inside the house.
“I’ll contact you when we get back to Canada!” he promised, as he struggled up the inner stairs.
What next, thought Anna? The gentle splashing of water from the fountain did not seem to have the same soothing effect as it had when she had first entered this area. Could it only have been a few minutes ago? She felt as if she had been on a time travel trip with entire dimensions of space and time condensed into a few packed minutes. This whole day had been surreal and now she must rescue Alina before anything more could happen unexpectedly.
* * *
A few minutes before, Alina had been summoned to the upper chambers of the labyrinth of rooms in the house. She was somewhat surprised to find their hostess in western clothes instead of the elaborate outfit of the night before. The designer jeans and matching jacket with stylish high heels did nothing, however, to minimize the impact of coming face to face with the stunning woman again. Alina straightened her shoulders and prepared to do battle if necessary.
Nefer was apologizing for not being able to greet her guests.
“There are ten thousand Canadians in Egypt, you know, and I am a magnet for them whenever we come here. I think they mark the date on their calendars and save up their complaints for me. It is especially difficult this year. Many are wondering if they should leave Egypt for good because of the unrest in Cairo.”
“I think it is a wonderful country and we have appreciated immensely the opportunities you have provided for us while we have been here. Of course, we are only tourists and that is not the same as living and working in a country.” Alina was determined to spin out the conversation so as to distract Nefer from the fact that Anna had disappeared, supposedly to inspect the garden plants.
“Speaking of working here, I want to show you some of the fine materials that are manufactured in the Luxor area. When your companion, Anna, returns from the garden, she, too, will enjoy seeing these excellent samples.
Nefer opened with a flourish, a double door with carved panels designed to let air circulate through. Alina beheld a sumptuous boudoir out of the Arabian nights. Swathes of silky and gossamer linens draped from a huge bed and covered every surface. It was as if any hard object was to be softened with fabric so that no sharp edge or corner could disturb the feminine atmosphere of the room. Alina immediately deduced that Richard Mason had no place in this bedroom. It was unequivocally a retreat for this woman, and this woman alone.
It was not a chore to admire the materials before her. Alina touched and stroked and held the fabrics close to her face so her eyes could capture every shimmer. She inquired about manufacturing processes and was informed that much of the delicate work was produced by small groups of women in the nearby villages. Alina thought of the similarity with the cottage industry in Scotland that Anna had incorporated into their stock of knitted goods. Her creative mind was already adapting the hues and dyes she saw before her, into a series of summer garments suitable for hot climates in Mediterranean lands and other countries below the Equator. Maria’s store came to mind; the perfect place to try out a series of sample clothes for her cruise clientele.
Imagine this! she told herself. Travelling all this way to get a break from work and a work opportunity presents itself right here in front of me. Who could resist?
A soft tap at the door announced a servant girl who ushered Anna into the bedroom.
“Ah! There you are at last!” exclaimed the lady of the house. “Did you find some interesting species to examine outside?”
Anna choked back a comment at this choice of words and covered her confusion with genuine delight at the splendours of the room in which she found herself. She was anxious to relieve Alina who had obviously been doing sterling work in keeping Nefer involved while her husband and Anna had their private talk together.
Nefer, however, was clearly more interested in Anna than in her business. Her questions soon ranged from the subtle to the outright nosy. What size is your house in Canada? Do you have a male friend? How many workers do you have and what are they paid per month? Why did you divorce Richard? What is your age?
Anna tried to deflect the more personal questions and kept bringing the conversation back to the decor of the room. Nefer only drew closer to Anna and pinned her with that implacable black gaze. The glitter in her eyes was frightening at close quarters. Clearly, she was not used to her questions being ignored. Her autocratic manner and perfumed presence was becoming overpowering. Anna could feel a wall behind her. There was nowhere to run to.
Nefer reached out a taloned hand, ostensibly to examine the texture of the blouse Anna was wearing. This was too close for comfort and Anna felt fear course through her.
Just in time to prevent outright panic, Alina’s calm voice reached her ears and broke the spell.
“Anna, my dear, I have been thinking about these fabrics. What beautiful colours the Egyptian women have to choose from. Isn’t it fascinating that there are no dark colours here?”
She turned to Nefer and asked innocently, “Why do most Moslem women wear such vibrant shades in their homes and hide themselves beneath black shrouds when they go outside?
The black garments must be so hot. I don’t know how they bear it. I certainly could not bear it for one minute if I had to wear black in such a climate.”
Anna heard these words through a fog of fear but it was the way Alina emphasized the two words ‘black ‘and ‘bear’ that really got through to her.
Black. Bear. Black bear!
In an instant they were children playing in the forests near Georgian Bay in Northern Ontario.
The tiny bear cubs were discovered and the children promised never to tell the adults about the risk they had taken. Black bear was the cod
e between Alina and Anna from that time forward.
It meant danger; escape now.
Sudden clarity gave Anna the strength to drop to the ground beneath the outstretched arm of the taller woman.
“Oh, here’s that earring I lost!” she exclaimed. Isn’t the wind getting worse, Madame?
I really think we should be getting back to town soon.” Anna had quickly crossed the room and now stood by Alina’s side.
“There’s no need to leave so soon,” came the smooth reply as Nefer ignored the insults of Alina’s last question. “I have many more questions to ask you, Anna. I want to learn about your marriage to Richard.”
“We have imposed on your hospitality quite long enough, Madame. You are a very important person. We can contact my brother Philip and ask him to collect us. I think we should hurry before the clouds grow any darker.”
Alina took Anna’s cue and retrieved her cell phone from her small purse. She had Philip’s work number and prayed he would have finished for the day since the weather was now deteriorating rapidly. Wind was battering the palm trees in the courtyard below them.
Alina pressed the phone list number and Anna moved to the double doors to figure out how the interlocking bars of fretwork would open for them.
Nefer made one more attempt to delay the women by reminding them that refreshments were prepared for them in another room but she gave up when Alina replied to Philip’s voice on the line. Anna had fathomed the door system and she opened the doors as Alina told Philip what they needed, praying all the while that he would know the location of the isolated house they were in. She handed over the phone to Anna at Philip’s request.
“Look, I have no idea what’s really going on with you two but it sounds serious. Am I right?”
“Yes, indeed, Philip! That is correct.”
“I can be there quite quickly. We shut down work early because of the sand and I was heading to your hotel. The bend in the river brings me nearer to you than you might expect.”