Shabaka stepped away from the young boy, whose eyes were filled with rage as he continued, "Was that why you wanted to know about my family, so that you could decide how much they can beat me? I should have known not to trust you." The boy stiffly reached down to pick up his water skin and stumbled off toward the others, leaving Shabaka stunned.
The lankier man ordered everyone to prepare to move, and Shabaka was shown the dreaded crate. He looked at it, tilting his head, before bending to have a closer look. He tried to recall every chant he had ever heard Neti utter while working with the dead. Something he thought would be difficult at first, but seemed remarkably easy when he imagined her saying the words. She made them seem almost melodic as she chanted them. However, looking at the crate, he did not know if any one of them would offer him any protection from a curse, for Neti had never discussed that part of her work or recited before him any of the chants uttered for such circumstances.
He thought back to the time they spent at the Valley of Kings and tried to remember the chant she had uttered as she had entered Ramesses' intended tomb. He mumbled something similar before bracing himself to pick up the crate.
If anyone heard him, no one said anything, for the command was given for them to move.
As they progressed, Shabaka became aware of the absolute silence that befell the group, almost as if anyone was too afraid to speak, although he continued to softly recite every chant as best he could remember. That triggered memories of the moments he had watched Neti work with the dead. Thoughts of her made the words easier to recite, for he could almost hear her as she uttered the chants. He hoped they would be enough to keep him alive.
* * *
Just as the sky started to darken they approached what appeared to be the well and a resting area. For the entirety of the late afternoon, the boy had remained with the others. However, as they approached the area, the man with the scar grabbed the young boy and dragged him to where Shabaka was walking. "You give any trouble, speak to anyone, and I will whip him so badly that you will have to carry both him and that crate tomorrow."
Gishup's eyes grew wide and Shabaka only lowered his head in agreement.
"There now, that was not so difficult," the man said, spitefully, before dragging Gishup with him back to the others.
Shabaka lowered the crate he was carrying from his head. Like the other men, he found it easier to carry that way, and also that it provided a small amount of shade for his neck and shoulders, which seemed to be on fire from the day's travel. Whatever was in the crate was heavy and he suspected was worth a lot, as it would be the only reason why such men would chance moving it across the desert.
Chapter Seven
Neti irritably paced the pier as the sun lowered on the horizon; the temperature was already steadily dissipating. It would not be long before the seasonal cold set in, yet the shiver up her spine was not from the cooling conditions.
Moses had left the previous evening to collect Ma-Nefer's sister and was due back on the ferry. Ramesses had sent her with several guards to receive them. However, unlike the guards who patiently waited on the shore side of the pier, Neti agitatedly paced, periodically looking out over the water. Her irritability had only increased with each passing day, for she knew the longer it took them to discover which way Shabaka had been taken, the unlikelier were their chances of finding him.
Along with Moses' departure, the pharaoh had sent out men to the various oases and known watering wells in the area to gather whatever information they could, although none had reported back yet, which had only served to further feed her fears. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, trying to still her mind of the multiple outcomes that seemed to run repeatedly through it.
Opening her eyes, she focused on the shimmer of light off the water, watching the ripples in the river. It had always, in the past, helped her to focus her thoughts and concerns, although the sense of urgency that filled her was not to be diffused by such tactics. Instead, she focused on the activities along the pier.
A small fishing skip had landed, boasting a good catch that was being transferred to baskets, while the fishermen bartered their fish with the gathered folk. Had she not been as concerned, she too would have considered bartering for the evening meal, however, she knew that with Moses' return, he and Yani would prefer to be left alone, leaving her with Desa. Besides, with the way her stomach twisted in knots, she found it difficult to eat, thus shook her head at the thought of fish for dinner.
She shifted her gaze farther along the pier, to where workers were loading the other ferry, which would only depart once the one from the west bank had arrived. However, considering the setting sun, she knew that its departure would not be delayed inevitably. It was not uncommon for jeer to capsize ferries, even though the crossing of the river in the late afternoon was safer than during the day. The setting sun and fading light made it more likely for the steersman to misjudge the pier, making it more likely to overshoot. Thus, Neti knew that if the other bark did not arrive within the prescribed time, the awaiting one would set off to assess what had happened. However, just the thought that something might have happened caused bile to rise in Neti's throat. It was hard enough with Shabaka missing. She was uncertain whether she could process the loss of Moses, or how she would console Yani in such case.
A piercing whistle cut through the air, effectively drawing her from her thoughts, while the pier suddenly leaped to life. She looked out over the water and noticed the heavily burdened bark creeping toward her. Even from a distance, one could hear the oarsmen grunting as they hauled at the oars. The bark was loaded to capacity, thus she understood the delay, for even with the weakened current, it would have taken a considerable effort from the oarsmen to return such a heavily laden bark to Thebes. She looked over the numerous occupants, most of them were returning from the west bank after the festival, and tried to identify Moses. She finally found him standing near the captain. It was difficult to determine if any of the women on the bark was Ma-Nefer's sister, as none were within Moses' immediate reach.
Several of the men on the pier caught the mooring lines and pulled the bark closer, grunting from the effort it took, their muscles straining, but slowly the bark came to rest next to the pier. Even before it was properly secured, the other vessel set off, the steersmen calling to each other, and gesturing with their arms, something only they understood.
Moments after the gangplank was put in place, those having secured their parcels started disembarking. Neti stood to the side, knowing Moses would wait until the majority of those returning had made it off the bark, effectively avoiding the pushing and bickering crowd that was eager to get home.
A fisherman increased the volume of his haggling and several of the returning folk stopped to barter some of his catch. However, Neti kept her sights locked on Moses, who several moments later moved toward the gangway. She felt her forehead mar and tilted her head as he made his way down the gangplank on his own.
"Where is she?" Neti was quick to demand when he came within hearing distance.
"I could not find her," Moses replied, coming to stand in front of her. "The main cook at the temple said she did not return after the festival."
"Which means Ma-Nefer could possibly have warned her to leave," Neti replied, adding, "Ramesses will not be pleased," as she turned to move off.
Moses nodded as he fell into step next to her, "I did however determine that Shabaka did not cross the river."
Neti halted and looked at him, tilted her head, for a moment appearing confused.
"Neither of the ferries has taken any travelers to the west bank since the festival's end. The only travelers are those returning from the festival."
"What of the rope crossing at the Karnak?" Neti was quick to point out.
"The rope was loosened after the return of the pharaoh and the statues of Mut and Amun."
Neti at first nodded, then for a moment mulled over his words before asking, "You did not join in the festival?"
/>
Moses looked at her for a moment, before hesitantly replying, "I . . . We have our own god in whom we believe," Moses replied. "I however serve the pharaoh, and as such follow his instruction and facilitate his beliefs."
"But you have never opposed my practices?" Neti asked, confused.
"You prepare the dead for the afterlife in accordance to your beliefs. You read their bodies and determine how they died. I might not agree with your methods of preparation, as we do not allow for any alteration to the body. Our people are put in the earth as quickly as possible, but given the responsibility you have to the pharaoh and your people, I understand what you do."
Neti tilted her head as she spoke, "Yet you have shown more respect for the dead than many of the embalmers I know."
"It is only proper," Moses affirmed.
Their conversation was cut short when one of the guards came to stand next to Neti and cleared his throat.
Moses turned his head to look at the guard and firmly said, "I could not locate her."
"We are to return to the palace," the guard affirmed, and then turned, causing Moses to look at Neti in concern.
"I suspect they know, or at least deduce, that Shabaka is missing. They have been talking among themselves all day. Ramesses has also been brooding."
"Well that is nothing new, I have often known him to brood over lesser things," Moses said, gesturing with his head toward where the guards stood. "It only stands that they would talk, the pharaoh does not send guards into the desert without reason, and Shabaka has not been seen for several days, yet we are working," Moses said, before again falling into step beside Neti.
* * *
Not long thereafter, they entered the assembly room, where a few dirt-covered guards stood in Ramesses' attendance. Neti's heart raced while noticing their disheveled appearance, hoping that they had learned something useful.
"My lord," Moses addressed Ramesses, bending to his knee. Neti also lowered to her knee and awaited Ramesses' address.
"Moses, Neti, you may rise." Neti felt a frown mar her brow at the address. Neti had never known Ramesses to address either of them in such a manner. However when she looked at his face, his concern was evident.
"I see you have returned without the woman," the distain in Ramesses' voice caused Neti's heart to race anew. Even though she had not been sent, she felt that she had somehow failed him.
"My lord," Moses replied, "I have been informed that she left the temple at some stage during the festival."
"It is irrelevant at the moment," Ramesses replied, returning his attention toward the guards. His behavior alarmed Neti, although she had witnessed similar conduct toward others, she had never been on the receiving end of it. She felt offended, not having evoked any reason for such action.
"Tell them what you have learned," Ramesses instructed one man before him.
The guard looked from Ramesses to Moses and Neti before he hesitantly spoke, "About half a day's travel, by camel, there is a ravaged body." Neti's brow furrowed at the man's words, wondering how it could have anything to do with Shabaka. "We did not stop to search the body, as it had little clothing and was possibly a slave, but continued east toward the traders' well." The guard visibly swallowed before continuing, "Not long after the sand deepens, we found another body. It was also ravaged, looked like jackal or hyenas had been at it." The man hesitantly continued, and Neti nodded her head as she listened. "Again we did not stop to search, for we wanted to make the oasis before nightfall."
Neti understood the man's reluctance to search a dead body, for fear of wraiths—especially in the desert.
"When we arrived at the well, there were not many people. We were told that most had already moved on. But there was one family that had camped there for several days, as one of the women had just birthed."
"And?" Moses impatiently demanded.
"I asked them if they had seen anything out of the ordinary, any strange travelers passing through. The elder was hesitant, but said that a strange group had camped at the far side of the area the night before."
"What was so strange about them?" Ramesses demanded.
"Well, he said they were mostly women with several slaves—" the guard started only to be cut short by Ramesses.
"You mean women bound for trading to the east."
The guard hesitantly nodded.
"Well, what is so different about that? It is not uncommon," Moses demanded, shocking Neti at his nonchalant attitude.
"It was not the women who were the cause for concern," the guard started, turning to look at Ramesses. "The elder said that there was a lot of bickering from the slaves. I was also told they kept a distance from a darker-skinned slave who moved slowly, as if he were ill."
"What is so strange about that? The man was probably a leper, dragging along behind them."
"There was no speaking of such a thing, and the man said it was obvious that the man was traveling with them, for the whip wielder addressed him harshly several times."
"That is not uncommon either," Moses replied. "We all know that weak slaves fall behind. Crossing the desert often results in lives lost."
"Did he die that evening?" Neti hesitantly asked.
The guard turned to look at Neti, shaking his head, "Although there were rumors that he is cursed, he did not die and left with them the following morning. But with the two bodies we found, it only seemed to validate the elder's assessment."
"And this is what you thought important enough to report to me?" Ramesses demanded.
"My lord," the guard said again, turning his gaze to Ramesses, "I was not certain what it was you wanted, but thought it important enough to return and inform you. You requested we notify you of any strange occurrences around Thebes."
Ramesses nodded his head and dismissed the guard with a hand gesture. The man bowed low, before turning from them along with those accompanying him and they exited the hall.
Only once the doors had closed did Ramesses turn his attention toward Neti and Moses. "It is not the news I had hoped for," he said, then sighed in dejection, his shoulders drooping.
"My lord?" Neti asked in concern.
Ramesses looked at her, before speaking, "From what he has told us, I suspect that whomever they are, they have Nefertari's golden heart scarab. And as much as I want to hunt them down and reclaim it, I know that the curse will affect my men as much as theirs. Besides I cannot send chariots after them, as the sand in the desert is an obstacle."
"Certainly we could send some men on horseback," Moses reasoned, "while we search for Shabaka."
The pharaoh shook his head. "Horses cannot go as long without water as camels and they also need food and care if they are to retain their strength."
"What of the dark-skinned man with them? Are you just going to leave it at that?" Neti unbelievingly asked, her voice a trifle too firm for addressing the pharaoh.
Ramesses pointedly looked at her, and she quickly lowered her head. His voice, when he addressed her, was not as harsh as she had expected it to be. "As much as I would like to believe that it could possibly be Shabaka, I know him well enough to know that he would not meekly follow them like a slave, he would fight."
Neti nodded her head in agreement, it was one of the reasons why he often ended up in the situations he did.
"Even though I want to recover Nefertari's scarab, finding Shabaka is more important to me now. Besides, we know that they are taking women to the east, and there are only so many trading posts where women and goods are traded. From what we have learned, they will leave a trail of bodies for my men to follow," Ramesses said. He then turned from her to Moses, "What have you learned, other than Ma-Nefer anticipating our actions and moving his sister?"
"They have not crossed the river to the west bank, my lord," Moses replied. "I have spoken to the captains of the ferries, and they have confirmed that no one bearing Shabaka's description has crossed the river on the barks since the festival."
"Could they not cross lower dow
n?" Neti again insisted, still unsatisfied with the answer Moses had earlier given her.
"The islands in the river make it difficult, and I doubt they would go as far as Aswan or Abydos to cross the river to head west," Ramesses replied, shaking his head.
"So you think this man Khabo lied to us?" Moses demanded, "that they could be heading in another direction?"
"I do not think he lied, my lord," Neti spoke up, causing both Ramesses and Moses to look at her. "He said they were most likely to travel that way if Shabaka was to be sold as a slave."
"Which we have still not determined," Ramesses seethed in frustration. "This man is provoking my wrath with his actions."
"We could always consult with Khabo again?" Neti cautiously suggested.
"I am in no mood for his riddles," Ramesses professed. "Although you, Moses, will have to start preparations to leave. Which way you will be going I have no idea, but it is best to be prepared. I will send guards to all of the oases in the region. They can camp there for several days to witness, while the others search Thebes for this man."
"My lord, you propose to search Apisit Ripisit?" Neti asked in concern, "Would that not alarm them?"
"We have established that Shabaka has already been there," Ramesses said, shaking his head. "I do not think this Ma-Nefer is foolish enough to keep Shabaka in Thebes or to remain within the walls of Apisit Ripisit. But he will expect me to search the entire city, not the one place I'm not supposed to know of. Besides, the presence of guards in the area alone would cause enough concern for those involved," Ramesses heaved a heavy sigh, as he turned to Moses, "Let me know what you will need to take with you."
Moses nodded his head, as Neti turned to look at him. "My lord, I think it is best if I only have a few people go with me. We will not need to take as much and will be able to travel much faster. We can also trade with other travelers for whatever we cannot carry."
Ramesses nodded his head, "Let the court scribe know what you need, and it will be arranged."
Secret of the 7th Scarab (The Mummifier's Daughter Series Book 4) Page 7