Tei-Ka looked at the amulet. “I remember your mother wearing a similar one at times.”
“It was her favorite,” Neti replied, inclining her head.
“It is missing?” the woman asked, placing a hand on Neti’s upper arm.
“I’m not certain,” Neti replied.
The old woman nodded, before replying, “Come, I think I shall have to go see about Asim. The old fool will only get himself hurt trying to outrun a prefect.”
“Shabaka will not harm him,” Neti reassured her, “but why did he run? We mean him no harm.”
The elderly woman shook her head. “You know men when they get older. They imagine things. And I think for those who work with the dead, it is worse.”
“Why?” Neti asked, never having remembered her father doing anything remotely strange.
“Asim has been very agitated since your parents’ deaths. He trusts no one and does not want me leaving the house. I’m not even allowed to talk to strangers.”
“It is understandable. Everyone is wary. Shabaka mentioned to me that they will probably be closing the gates of the city.”
“I find it hard to believe that that greedy mayor would contest such a thing,” Tei-Ka snorted, before asking, “Why did you want to see Asim? You do not think he killed your parents?”
“No, I wanted to ask Asim about my mother's amulet, if it was not still on her body. Also, that if it was, I would like her to be buried with it.”
“He has just finished packing their bodies and was quite upset about it. He said it is wrong to have a body without a heart.”
Just then, Shabaka came up the stairs, panting hard. “I lost him. He managed to get away in the parts of town I don’t know well. I did not realize embalmers were so fit.” He spoke between gasps.
“It is hard work moving bodies around. The work is very physical,” Neti returned.
“Madam, where would your husband go?” Shabaka asked having regained his breath.
“I’m not sure. He has many friends.”
“I see,” Shabaka replied. Turning his attention to Neti, he said, “Come Neti, we should be going.”
Tei-Ka turned towards Neti, before speaking. “Neti you are welcome to visit whenever you like. You do not need an invitation. You are like our own daughter.”
“Thank you, Tei-Ka,” Neti replied sincerely. “I will remember.”
“Anywhere I could escort you to?” Shabaka asked as they stepped from Asim’s home.
“I must go to see Ma-Nefer. You could walk with me to his place of business,” Neti replied, smiling at him.
“I will gladly walk you there.”
They arrived at Ma-Nefer’s trading post a short while later, and Neti raised her hand to Thoth in greeting as they passed him. Some of the other slaves were moving wares, and simply lowered their gaze when she stepped past them.
Ma-Nefer was sitting on a stool, overseeing his staff with his whip in hand.
Shabaka reached toward Neti, grasping her arm to halt her just outside the striking range of the whip. His familiarity caused her to turn and look at him, but she noticed his wordless indication of the whip, and inclined her head in understanding.
“I do not want to see you hurt, and he is cruel enough to call it an accident,” he murmured quietly.
“What do you want?” Ma-Nefer demanded, looking at the couple before him.
“I came to discuss some business,” Neti spoke up firmly.
Ma-Nefer looked over the two of them, before stating, “He is not welcome here. I will not have Nubian slaves sitting in on business, not that a woman can discuss business,” he snorted in disbelief. Then looking around, he boomed, “Well get out of here. You know the rules!” Everyone scampered from the room. “You too,” he said pointing a finger at Shabaka.
“Neti?” Shabaka questioned in concern.
“I’ll be fine, Shabaka. You can go,” she replied calmly.
“Well, you heard the woman. Get going,” Ma-Nefer sneered.
Shabaka looked at Ma-Nefer, before returning his gaze to Neti. “You know where to find me if you need me.”
Neti nodded her head in reply. And with that Shabaka left.
“So what is this business you wish to discuss?” Ma-Nefer demanded scornfully.
“I would like to buy myself out of our marriage,” Neti spoke up firmly.
Ma-Nefer just looked at her in disbelief, before sarcastically replying, “Oh you do? And how do you propose to do that?”
“There is an amount of wooden furniture in my home, along with the door and my mother’s jewels. If you would accept these as a payment toward my father’s debts, I will make further payment once I have my papers,” Neti replied, standing her ground.
Ma-Nefer simply shook his head, snorting at her. “And you think that would be enough!” he callously replied. “You women are so stupid.” Getting up from his seat and moving over to her, he decreed, “And you are the most foolish of them all, claiming to be educated by that old fool. But let me tell you this. When we get married, everything that belongs to you becomes mine. So you are trying to buy yourself out of a marriage with my property.”
“It is not yours yet, and I have not consented to a marriage,” Neti replied firmly.
Ma-Nefer lifted his hand and struck Neti, her head snapping back before she stumbled and fell to the ground.
“The first thing you will learn is that you are never to speak back to me. You are nothing more than a slave. And I own you,” he professed, glaring down at her.
Neti lifted her palm to her face, pressing against the throbbing skin of her cheek, her eyes narrowing, as she shook her head.
“I will enjoy whipping you into shape like I did with that useless brother of yours,” the man cruelly professed.
“I do not have a brother,” Neti heatedly returned.
Just then, Ma-Nefer lifted his whip and swung it, striking her over one of her arms and back. Neti cried out in agony as the whip cracked across her flesh. “Oh yes you have. That sorry excuse of a slave boy out there,” Ma-Nefer said, pointing in the direction of the vegetable garden. “Oh, your parents never told you. Well now, there is an interesting turn of events.” Ma-Nefer sneered, “You are nothing more than a common slave. Bought as a child from the same trader I bought your brother from.”
Neti shook her head in response, before exclaiming, “No! You’re lying.”
“What!” Ma-Nefer exclaimed, lifting the whip once again. Neti braced for the next strike, clenching her jaw as it struck, only moaning slightly. “I do not lie when it comes to slaves. You shall learn the hard way then,” Ma-Nefer decreed, before stomping around the room. His gaze for a moment landing on some pottery jars, a wicked smile crossed his face, “You are worth more to me as a wife, and slave, than your father’s – sorry – previous owner’s debts,” he bitingly stated, before turning toward her. “Once the estate is settled, I will claim what is mine, and that includes you. Now get out of here. You have wasted enough of my time already.”
Neti fought against the tears, never in her life having been treated or spoken to in such a manner. She regained her feet and made for the doorway, not even halting when Ma-Nefer called after her, laughing, “I’m going to enjoy breaking you!”
She kept her gaze lowered as she passed Thoth, not even greeting him. Then she turned up the road. Ma-Nefer’s voice once again boomed behind her, “What are you looking at, you useless piece of flesh? Get back to work!”
Thoth looked at Ma-Nefer, his hands tightening their grip on the implement he was holding. The Nubian slave with him continued his work in the vegetable garden, his dark skin glistening from the sweat. “Come Thoth, do your work. He will only whip you.”
“He hit her,” Thoth angrily replied. “He’s not allowed to do that.”
“Allowed or not, it’s not worth getting your back cut up,” the man quietly replied.
Thoth relented and continued his work.
Neti ran straight to Suten Anu, knowing he
would be the one most likely to confirm or reject Ma-Nefer’s claim.
She hastily entered his office and came to a standstill as he exclaimed, “Neti! By the gods, child! What has happened to you?” He rose from his seat, hurrying to her side.
“Ma-Nefer,” Neti replied, gasping slightly, before looking at the man in bewilderment.
“He has struck you?” the elderly scribe returned in disbelief, studying her face.
Neti nodded her head in reply, and then waved her hands, before speaking, “That is not important now.”
“How so?” Suten Anu asked, looking at her, confused.
“He claims that I’m a slave, that I was bought as a child.” She started pacing the room, before turning to look at him, and asking, “Am I? You knew my parents. Was I just a slave?”
“My dear girl, calm down,” Suten Anu soothed. “You cannot be rash.”
“Rash! My world is collapsing around me, and for once, I would just like to know the truth,” Neti demanded, her hands clasping into fists.
Suten Anu looked at her for a moment before shaking his head and answering, “I don’t know.”
“What do you mean you don’t know?” Neti heatedly demanded.
“I only met your parents when you were already older, when you came to me for schooling,” the scribe replied honestly. “I never knew you as an infant.”
His answer had Neti draw in a deep breath.
“And even if you were, it does not change anything,” the man professed.
“What!” Neti exclaimed, before adding, “It changes everything. I am a slave. I can be bought and sold, bartered like some piece of property.”
“Neti-Kerty!” Suten Anu firmly spoke, drawing her attention. “Did your parents ever treat you as a slave?”
Neti immediately shook her head, her heart pounding. Suten had only rarely needed to reprimand her.
“Then you have your answer,” the scribe said. “A person’s actions speak of their intentions. Your parents were never anything but caring.”
“That is no answer,” Neti maintained, shaking her head.
“Then you should go to speak with Tei-Ka,” Suten quietly stated. “She and your mother were always close.”
Neti nodded her head at that, drawing in another deep breath, before turning from the room.
“Just remember,” Suten Anu spoke up, causing her to turn and look at him. “No matter what you find, your heart knows the truth.” Neti nodded her head and continued to the doorway.
“Neti!” Suten called, causing her to look at him again. He reached up to indicate her wig. She righted it before giving him a small smile and leaving.
She arrived at Asim’s house not long after, and Tei-Ka looked at her in shock, before gesturing towards her cheek. “Neti, child, what has happened?”
“Ma-Nefer,” Neti responded, giving a slight shrug of the shoulders.
“Come in child. Come to the kitchen. I’ll make a herb pack for that,” the woman said waving her into the house, leading the way to the kitchen up the small flight of stairs.
“Tei-Ka,” Neti softly spoke up, “You knew my parents for a long time.”
“Yes,” the woman said, turning her head to glance over her shoulder.“Why do you ask?”
“I heard today that I was bought as a slave,” Neti said with a sigh.
The woman turned to her as they entered the kitchen, demanding, “And just where did you hear such a thing?”
“Ma-Nefer,” Neti murmured.
“That man should know better to keep his nose in his own matters,” the woman professed, making for the storage area.
“It’s true, isn’t it?” Neti asked, watching the woman’s movements.
Tei-Ka remained silent for some time, busying herself with preparing the pack, placing it inside a pot with warm water, before pulling it out and coming over to where Neti stood, handing it to her.
Neti looked at the woman as she took it, stating, “You have not answered.”
“Sit down.” Tei-Ka motioned towards the grass mat.
“It is true, isn’t it?” Neti insisted, lifting the herb pack to her still throbbing cheek.
“Yes,” Tei-Ka hesitantly replied, nodding her head faintly.
“By the gods. I have been a slave all these years!” Neti exclaimed, shaking her head.
“No! Never!” Tei-Ka replied, reaching out to touch Neti’s arm. “Please sit, and I will tell you the whole story.”
Neti nodded and sat down, looking at the woman as she also took a seat.
Tei-Ka looked into the distance for a while, as if trying to remember things, before she began. “You were brought to Thebes along with a big group of slaves,” she looked toward Neti and smiling slightly, continued, “You could not even walk properly at that time, so you would not remember it. You were all part of a group of captives that were taken when the pharaoh’s men conquered a kingdom. I cannot even remember which one it was, possibly the Hittites – it is not important,” the elderly woman dismissed the question. “Your mother, my dear friend, was barren. They had tried for years to have a child but her womb remained empty. It was also not long after my son had been taken from me by the fever. Your father was looking for a slave to help him in the Per-Nefer. He had saved money for many years, wanting to grow his business. So he and your mother went to the slave market held by the pharaoh, who needed the money for his new city. Your parents always did everything together. Things were always well discussed…” The old woman trailed off for a moment, before again starting, “Slave markets are nasty places. But your mother insisted on going with him. And your father was so consumed with love for her that he did not deny her. You were placed in a pen with a bunch of other children, as if you were sheep. Many of you were crying…”
“You were there?” Neti asked.
“No, your mother told me. I will never forget the afternoon she walked into our house holding you. She was so happy.”
Neti fought against the tears.
“Anyway, the children were kept in this pen, many of them crying, and to your mother it seemed too much. Her heart longing for a child could not cope with their treatment. Most of them were already clothed, all but you.” The woman halted for a moment, swallowing before continuing. “You clung to a boy and an older girl. Everyone around your mother was talking about the other children, but no-one seemed interested in you. And when the older girl was sold, you started wailing. Your mother said it about broke her heart.”
“Your father, bless him, had watched her, and approached the merchant, asking about you. The man must have seen your father coming, because he made your father pay the same for you as a male slave,” the woman said shaking her head.
“Your mother was so taken by you. She said she had never been happier than in the moment you were placed in her arms. You were dirty, with hair everywhere, but to her you were the most beautiful child ever to walk this earth. It was only when they left, that the little boy called out to you, and they realized he was your brother. Your father did not have enough to buy him as well, so your parents came here, and told us about it. I was still hurting from the loss of my son, but Asim said he would make up the deficit and then they could buy the boy together. However, by the time they got back to the market, your brother had already been sold to Ma-Nefer who wanted twice the purchase price for him. We did not have it, and could not raise it. And not long after that Ma-Nefer left for Northern Egypt, on business.”
“That is why he has that funny accent,” Neti spoke up.
“Yes, Ma-Nefer is originally from Northern Egypt. It was only some seasons later that he returned and settled here.”
“Bringing Thoth with him.”
“Yes. Your mother recognized the boy, and Ma-Nefer then placed his price at three times that of his purchase, and your parents could not afford it. Then when you started to play together, your parents allowed it. Most would not have permitted their daughter to play with a slave, but your mother did not want to take your brother from
you again,” the woman concluded.
“But why did they never tell me?” Neti demanded.
“To them, you were their daughter. There was nothing they wouldn’t do. You were so eager to learn from both of them, and then from Suten Anu. You were stronger than the other girls. You could stand up for yourself. I think your mother was afraid you would be angry with them, that you would leave and seek out your real family.”
“But then why leave me to Ma-Nefer. Why agree?”
“I don’t know that. But I know they would not have done it if there had been any other way,” the woman returned before pointing at the herb pack that Neti held to her cheek. “Come take that away now. The herbs will have cooled,” Tei-Ka said, before taking it from her and looking at the area. “Ah, yes, it looks better already,” she said before settling again, adding, “You always were their little girl. Her face beamed the first time you called her mamma. She hardly let you out of her sight those first few months. Many thought your father was crazy for buying a girl child. Yet you filled so many hearts. Your mother shared you with so many. The joy that filled her heart was there for everyone to see, and that is why your father did what he did.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Hidden within a darkened alcove between two homes, a pair of eyes watched the beer house across the dusty road. The music and singing within had died down somewhat in the last few moments, and he knew it would not be long before the patrons would start leaving, and he would go along with them.
It had taken him a few days to find the mason, the one that was interfering. He needed to remove him, to ensure that things went according to plan. Nothing could stop him from becoming what he coveted most.
He glanced up at the stars and gave a faint smile. The gods would be completing the Journey through the Duat to the underworld. One day he too would undertake that journey with Seth and Horus, as Pharaoh of Egypt. He too would travel the skies with the Sun God Ra, and rule over Egypt, better than Ramesses II ever could. He would be all powerful, a god and a ruler. The one that guided him would show him which hearts he needed to take, hearts that were untarnished by evil deeds. Then he would travel the journey on the Sun Bark, while the others worked in the fields of reeds.
The Mummifier´s Daughter - A Novel in Ancient Egypt Page 5