“No, not really,” Neti replied, and continued once she saw Shabaka’s confusion, “I have seen him when I pass through the Northern Gate on my way to Karnak, but I don’t know him.”
“Is his heart still there?” Shabaka asked looking at the body.
“Yes, his lungs are flat, and most of his heart is still there.”
“Most of his heart?”
“I think the fish and crocodiles may have eaten part of it,” Neti wearily answered.
“So we can rule out the heart killer,” Shabaka started in frustration, adding, “and I have no idea how to start looking for this one either.”
“I would look along the river bank, see if there are any other pieces lying about,” Neti shrugged, adding, “maybe you could find where he was thrown into the river.”
Shabaka looked at her, tilting his head slightly before replying, “I’ll get some of the guards to do it, and to collect anything suspicious they find.” Then he motioned for her to precede him from the body, asking, “Would you be able to come by the Guardhouse tomorrow and have a look at whatever we find?”
“Certainly,” Neti replied as she reached for her basket of washing, lifting it and resting it against her hip, before adding, “but I will have to go to the market first.”
Shabaka simply nodded, before replying, “I will not detain you any longer, for I am certain you desire to finish your chores.”
He watched her move from him, his attention drawn to the men coming in his direction. Once they were all there, he turned to them, commanding, “I want you to divide into two groups. The first is to search between here and Karnak. The second is to search between here and the ferry docks. I want you to pick up anything that does not belong to the river and return it to the guardhouse.”
The guards nodded in agreement, then set off in opposite directions while Shabaka and two others remained there, checking between the reeds.
In the darkened corner of a beer house, Ma-Nefer sat waiting for Kadurt and his men to arrive. He glared at the servant girl who brought him some beer, when she asked him if he would need anything else, and returned his gaze to the doorway as she took her leave of him.
A short while later Kadurt and two of his men stepped into the beer house, looking about for a moment before spotting Ma-Nefer and making his way towards the man.
“You’re late!” Ma-Nefer grumpily stated.
“Oh, and what has you so grumpy so early in the morning?” Kadurt laughed at the portly man, “Not enough meat with your breakfast this morning?”
Ma-Nefer just glared at Kadurt in response, who quickly became serious.
“I just received news that Neti-Kerty is allowed by the Kenbet to buy herself out of her betrothal,” Ma-Nefer bitterly replied, looking pointedly at Kadurt.
“That was not unexpected,” Kadurt relied, shrugging his shoulders.
“No,” Ma-Nefer said dangerously low, placing his beer on the floor next to his seat, adding “It was not.” He then moved swiftly, grabbing the man by the neck, his grip unrelenting as he shouted in the man’s face, “What was to be expected, was that you would deplete her assets so that she had no means of purchasing herself out of the agreement!”
Kadurt’s men made a move to help him, but halted when Ma-Nefer tightened his grip on Kadurt’s neck. They stepped back slightly, as Ma-Nefer continued, “It was a very simple task, need I not remind you—lucrative for you as well.”
“Only because you did not want any of the furnishings,” Kadurt managed to choke out, before Ma-Nefer thrust him back, letting go of his neck. Kadurt took a few deep breaths before gaining his feet.
“You had better make sure she cannot buy out of her betrothal, or you may find it difficult doing business in this town,” Ma-Nefer threatened in a low voice before reaching for his beer.
“She has already made a sizable payment towards the claimed debt,” Kadurt replied, still rubbing his neck.
“Yes the door, I heard.” Ma-Nefer said without expression.
“It’s worth at least twenty Debben. I cannot demand the rest so soon. The old scribe will once again interfere,” Kadurt explained.
Ma-Nefer took a sip of his beer, looking the man over, before firmly stating, “I don’t care what you need to do. Just make certain that she cannot buy her way out of marrying me.”
“Why do you want her so much?” Kadurt asked in confusion, adding, “It’s not like she is much of a woman.” Kadurt’s men grinned at each other at that.
“She has skills, you idiot! Skills I have a good use for,” Ma-Nefer barked, causing them all to cease their actions.
“Ah yes, that assurance of one’s afterlife,” Kadurt replied, adding, “It would take a witch to do that.”
“Amongst other things,” Ma-Nefer flatly replied, before barking, “Now go do the job I commissioned you for!”
“We can still keep anything we take?” Kadurt asked.
“Yes, I have no need for it,” Ma-Neffer angrily declared.
Shabaka stood looking toward the area of the river where he knew Neti would be. He found it difficult to be as close to her and yet not right there with her. His mind kept on drifting to her, and his gaze moved to the well-traveled path, knowing she would take it on her return to the city. He had every intention of walking her home.
His heart started racing, when some time later she started on her way back. He started to make his way over to her, when he noticed a female slave approach her. He had become so used to people being disrespectful toward her that he was almost shocked when the woman addressed her with respect. It was the sudden stiffening of her body as she nodded her head that suddenly concerned him.
“Neti!” he called, and watched her turn to look in his direction, for a moment seeming torn in her decision. “Wait for me, I’ll walk you home,” he called, and was relieved when she nodded her head and waited for him with the woman slave. He glanced over the girl, frowning for a moment when she lowered her gaze
“This is Yani,” Neti started, indicating with her free hand towards the woman, “she is one of Ma-Nefer’s slaves.” Neti hiked her washing basket up, before turning back onto the path.
“What does he want now?” Shabaka gruffly demanded, his hands already clenching into fists at the mention of the man’s name.
“It is not he that needs something,” Neti calmly replied as they started walking back up the path, “Yani has come to ask me for more salve. It seems Ma-Nefer was not too pleased at the news this morning, and has once again beaten Thoth.”
“But that is not your concern,” Shabaka firmly replied,
Neti suddenly stopped, before turning to him and stating emphatically, “Yes it is!” Her actions caused Shabaka to halt in mid stride, and then turn to look at her.
“But Thoth has nothing to do with you,” Shabaka reasoned, before reaching out to take the basket from her, “Let me.”
Neti took a deep breath, and allowed him to take the basket, before speaking, “Thoth has been my friend since we were children, and I recently discovered that he is also my brother.”
Shabaka looked at her in shock, shaking his head in disbelief, before replying, “That cannot be.”
“It is a long and complex story, that I will explain to you some other time,” Neti replied once again starting along the path, adding. “For now, Yani needs some of the salve I make.”
As they neared Neti’s home, Shabaka noticed a group of men waiting there. His step faltered slightly as he turned to look at her.
“Oh, no!” Neti softly spoke up, as she also noticed them.
“You know these men?” Kemas asked, concerned.
“It’s Kadurt and his men. He claims that I owe him money and has probably come to collect payment,” Neti replied, turning her attention to the slave woman next to her, “Yani, could you summon Suten Anu for me. Tell him Kadurt is here.”
The slave looked at her in fear, “You know that Ma-Nefer will beat me if he finds out I ran errands for someone, and he always fi
nds out.”
Neti looked at her for a moment, before nodding her head, replying, “I understand, I’ll send Neb-amun. His father will not mind,” She moved from the road towards a doorway.
A boy appeared in the doorway a few moments later, nodding his head before setting off down the road.
Neti retuned to where Shabaka and Yani were waiting for her, and then continued along the road until they reached Neti’s home.
“Can I help you, Kadurt?” Neti firmly asked.
“I’ve come for my money,” the brawny man stated, adding, “You owe me a considerable amount, and I demand payment now!”
“Your claim has not been cleared with Suten Anu, and therefore you must wait,” Neti calmly replied.
“I have produced the scroll, containing my agreement with your father. I expect the return of my money because he is no longer capable of fulfilling his side of the agreement,” Kadurt remarked, before turning and indicating his men, adding, “My men will start to collect goods.” He instructed his men to enter her home.
“You will not do that,” Shabaka firmly decreed, placing Neti’s basket on the ground.
“Will not do what, Nubian? She owes me money, a significant amount of money I may add. I have just come to collect it,” Kadurt replied, challengingly.
“It is unlawful to collect fees without a scribe present to document it,” Shabaka firmly decreed, adding, “It is the most fundamental requirement set by the pharaoh.”
“Well he is not here, now is he?” Kadurt challenged, snidely adding, “And I don’t have time to wait for an old scribe to arrive.”
“I bid you to cease your actions, or I shall have you arrested for unlawful behaviour,” Shabaka warned the man.
“Taking what is rightfully mine is not unlawful,” Kadurt retorted as his men started packing some of the wooden furniture outside.
“You cannot take that,” Neti cried, rushing over to where the men were carrying out the wooden chest, “That was my mother’s!”
One of Kadurt’s men shoved her out of the way when she also tried to lay claim to her mother’s set of weaving frames, firmly stating, “They are Kadurt’s now.”
“You cannot take them,” Neti pleaded, making to reach for them again.
“I can take anything of worth,” Kadurt professed, “until your debt is settled.”
Kadurt’s men continued to remove furniture from her home, not heeding Shabaka’s command to stop.
A short while later, Suten Anu arrived, with the young boy in tow, firmly demanding, “What’s going on here, Kadurt?”
“I have come to claim my goods,” Kadurt challenged, adding, “You, old scribe, should understand that.”
“You received payment yesterday, with the rest to be paid once your claim’s authenticity has been established,” Suten Anu stated firmly.
“You question my claim?” Kadurt challenged, stepping toward the scribe.
“No person would make a payment of a hundred-and-twenty Debben at once,” Suten Anu counter-challenged, adding, “It is too great an amount for anyone to come up with on such a short notice. You would have made a number of payments and therefore it is only fair to allow her the same courtesy.”
“And wait until all the other people she owes money to come to lay claim on the goods,” Kadurt fiercely replied, adding, “Then I will never see my money. I demand payment now.”
“Stop your men, or you will not receive any payment,” Suten decreed.
“Oh, and what are you going to do to stop us?”
“I am here to make the payment,” Suten Anu calmly replied, before casually adding, “unless you do not want it.” His words caused Neti to turn toward him in surprise.
“And you are going to give me a hundred-and-twenty Debben?” The man asked in disbelief.
“A hundred Debben,” Suten corrected, “The door your man took yesterday is worth at least twenty Debben, if not more.”
“It is old, and used,” Kadurt dismissed Suten Anu’s words, but signalled to his men to cease their actions.
“It is wood, and that alone makes it valuable,” Suten decreed.
“And how do you expect to make his payment?” Kandurt once again challenged.
“Have your men return everything, and we will discuss business. I have the documents here, and it’s fitting that we have the prefect here to witness this transaction.”
Kadurt ordered his men to return the furniture to the house, and Suten Anu told Neti to oversee their correct placement, before drawing Shabaka and Kadurt to the side. He revealed a scroll and started to unroll it, before asking, “You can read, Kadurt?” and handed the man the scroll.
Kadurt gave a nod and took it, reading roughly through its contents, smiling when he got to the figures.
When Neti once again stepped from the house, Suten Anu requested a quill pen and ink, which she turned to collect.
Suten handed the document to Shabaka to read, explaining, “Just so you understand the complexities of the agreement.”
Shabaka read through the contract, slower than the other two men and had just finished when Neti arrived with the ink and quill pen. Sutten-Anu took the quill pen from her and signed his name, handing it to Kadurt and then to Shabaka, each respectively signing their names.
Kadurt called his men closer, before turning toward Suten Anu, demanding, “When will I receive my payment, old man?”
“Right now,” Suten replied, producing a pouch of coins from beneath his kilt.
Neti’s eyes opened wide in disbelief, while Kadurt smiled in glee, professing, “This has been a good day for me.” He took the money from Suten, and signalled for his men to follow, leaving a stunned Neti behind.
“But how?” Neti questioned in disbelief.
“Do not worry about it, my child,” Suten-Anu soothingly replied.
“But my father would have told me if there was so much money,” Neti remarked, a bemused look on her face.
“The money is not your father’s. It is mine,” Suten Anu clarified.
His words caused Neti to turn to him is shock, “But I cannot let you. That is your money that you have worked for.”
“My dear child, you will be able to pay me back when you start practicing as an embalmer,” Suten Anu calmly replied, “that is, if his documents are not found to be illegal, or forgeries of some sort. In which case he has just made a foolish mistake in signing for payment for not only will I be able to claim back the money, but he will be sent to the pharaoh for judgement as a forgerer and thief, and we all know that theft is punishable by death. Also I know of others who have suffered by his hand.”
A slight movement off to the side drew their attention, and on seeing Yani still standing there, Neti looked distressed, “Yani, I am so sorry. Come I will give you some of the salve,” she quickly said, making for the house and disappearing through the doorway.
“What is she doing here?” Suten Anu asked Shabaka, indicating the slave woman.
“Ma-Nefer whipped Thoth this morning and they need salves for his wounds,” Shabaka explained.
Suten shook his head in response, before replying, “That man has a cruel heart. Neti is best off far away from him.’
“You think she will get out of this marriage to him?” Shabaka asked as Neti and Yani came out of the house.
“I will do everything in my power to prevent that marriage” Suten decreed, adding, “Neti has too many good qualities for Ma-Nefer’s hand. He will turn her into a broken slave at the first opportune moment… I have seen what he is capable of. It is not a life for anyone.”
Suten-Anu and Yani took their respective leaves of Neti, and she then turned towards Shabaka as he asked, “You will still come by the guardhouse tomorrow to see what the men have found?”
“Yes, after I have been to the market.”
Neti then gathered up her basket, and returned to her home, where she hung up the sheets she had washed earlier. The stench of burnt oil still permeated the air of her room when she
entered it. She looked at the bloody prints left on the floor, her forehead furrowing as she placed her own foot next to one. Her brows shot up when she realized that the footprints were not the same as the killer’s – the killer’s feet were bigger, whereas Asim’s footprints were the same size as hers.
Neti again looked around the room, knowing that if he was not the killer there had been a definite reason for his visit. She finally noticed a scroll that had somehow managed to roll under her bed, and had luckily not caught fire.
She unrolled the scroll, placing it flat on the floor as she started to read it. Some of the hieroglyphs on it were unknown to her. However, she was able to deduce that it was a list of quantities and shipment details for various gemstones into the city.
Neti looked up from the scroll, frowning, wondering how Asim had managed to get hold of such an important document. She re-rolled the scroll and placed it in her clothes chest. She would show it to Shabaka when she went to the guardhouse.
CHAPTER NINE
The sun was just breaching the horizon as Neti-Kerty stepped from her home. The streets were still silent as she made her way to her mother’s vegetable garden just outside the town’s Eastern Gate. She nodded her head in greeting to the guard on duty, and continued along the path until she came to the small portion of land her mother had worked.
A piercing whistle sounded, causing her to look in its direction, noticing a young herder gathering his goats. The animals gathered together and followed the boy as he led them away from the gardens and onto the uncultivated parts of land. A gazelle leapt up from its cover below a shrub, not far from the boy, and scurried away into the distance, the boy looking on as the animal gracefully leapt.
Neti smiled as she turned her attention back to the garden, selecting some of the melons and carobs, placing them in the hessian bag she had brought with her. Once done, she walked over to the irrigation stream, collecting one of the old water pitchers and drawing water for the garden. She carefully watered all the plants and had just returned the pitcher to its place, when some of the other gardeners appeared. Mostly they ignored her presence, and simply stepped past her and onto their own gardens, allowing her to finish up her work, unhindered.
The Mummifier´s Daughter - A Novel in Ancient Egypt Page 11