From the number of guilty faces, I gathered Abar’s charge had hit home.
“Well, you need to stop,” Artakama snapped. “What chance do the rest of us have if all the boys think they can be with you? Some of us would like to start families of our own.”
“Aren’t you afraid Abar will take Nykara away from you, Amenia?” Herneith asked me sweetly.
She was obviously trying to stir things up. It dawned on me none of these girls were actually Abar’s friends, just of the same rank and so able to associate with her, all – except Inetkawes – extremely jealous of her. They had no idea I was close to Abar. Herneith likely assumed I’d take the rest of the girls’ part against her.
I dodged the question, even though, deep down, I’d feared that very thing ever since Great–grandmother’s funeral. “I’m afraid of my uncle, Herneith. He won’t let Nykara join with me until he becomes an elite, and that could be years from now,” I answered truthfully. “Uncle has ambitions.”
“Same as all our fathers,” Semat acknowledged.
“Amenia could just as easily end up joined to one of your brothers, or an elite man,” Abar interjected. “That talisman around her neck makes her the most important woman in Nekhen – after me.”
“You’re deluded!” Wenher suddenly exploded. “I know more about who both of you are going to be joined to than you do!”
Not true in either Abar’s or my case, thanks to Nykara.
“What does that mean?” Neith asked, glancing at Abar and then me.
“Dedi’s going to give his fleet permanently to Nykara, just like he threatened. Then Abar’s going to be joined to my brother Wehemka and Nykara’s going to be joined to me.”
“You and Nykara!” Artakama exclaimed. “Why would you be so lucky?”
“How do you know?” Semat asked sharply.
“Promises have already been made,” Wenher said smugly.
I couldn’t believe Wenher had just revealed key parts of Pipi’s plan to ally himself with Aboo to a bunch of gossipy girls. The elites, once they found out what she’d said, would be able to figure out the rest with little trouble. Everyone in Nekhen was going to know what was going on between Pipi and Aboo before nightfall. Wenher’s slip would surely impact Aboo’s negotiations with the rest of the elites, and Abar’s manipulations, and Nykara, and me. I’d hate to be Wenher when Pipi found out what she’d done.
“As for you!” Wenher addressed me, angry. “Nykara’s only going about with you because you’ve cast a spell on him!”
“You use magic?” Artakama asked, looking at me fearfully.
Wenher pointed at my talisman. “How else could she trap Nykara?”
A slap at my appearance. “The talisman doesn’t work that way,” I said defensively.
“Compare Amenia and me, girls,” Wenher scoffed. “Who’d you choose to be with if you were a man? That plain thing, or me? She’s cast a spell on Nykara, alright.” She stood, looked down at me. “Nykara’s mine, Amenia! My father will make sure of it! Stay away from him!” Then she spun on her heel and sped away.
“Wenher’s being awfully dramatic today,” Abar observed dismissively. Her eyes swept the group. “She’s the one who’s deluded. Can any of you girls imagine Pipi joining his daughter to a commoner like Nykara, as status–conscious as he is?” She laughed. Abar was obviously trying to keep everyone from placing any credence in what Wenher had said and repeating it around Nekhen.
I played along with her, touched the talisman with my fingertips. “If I could use this to cast a spell, why would I waste it on Nykara?” I asked innocently. “I’d cast it on Aboo. Then I’d be a ruler’s woman, and someday a ruler’s mother.” I smiled. “You’d all have to bow down to me.”
“You’d be Abar’s stepmother,” Neith clucked. “Would you like that, Abar, having Amenia for a mother?”
Herneith shook her head. “You’re right, Abar. Wenher’s crazy. None of us are going to have a say in who we’re joined to anyway. Our fathers will decide.”
We all went back to work and that afternoon I made more than a dozen mats. I remained seated beside Inetkawes the whole time. She was mostly silent, for one of her spells had come over her soon after our meal. Gradually, all the elite girls but Herneith and Inetkawes drifted away, leaving the four of us alone.
Night approached. Salitis’ herdsmen began driving the cattle and sheep and goats from the herd he kept in the bottomlands into the river to water them. The animals’ reflections shimmered in the water and their cries and those of the herdsmen and the barking of dogs echoed down the valley. The shadows of the palms lengthened. Rays of sunshine slanted low, coloring the river and empty fields and plateau beyond with a warm golden glow. Women appeared up and down the river, singly and in groups, nearly every one carrying a large empty earthenware jar. Most discarded their skirts and waded into the river to bathe, laughing, shouting, splashing others, swimming a little. Finished bathing and socializing, the women donned their skirts and filled their jars with water and then carried them, balanced on a shoulder, towards their homes in the lower settlement or nearby farms.
“I should be going,” Herneith finally said, rolling up the last of the mats she’d woven. “I’ll make sure Inetkawes gets home safely,” she told Abar.
“I appreciate it.”
We both bid Inetkawes and Herneith goodbye.
Abar quickly moved beside me as the girls strolled in the direction of the lower settlement. “We haven’t talked since Ipu’s death. How are you doing, Amenia?” she asked sympathetically.
“Not well,” I admitted. “Great–grandmother was such a large part of my life. I loved her more than anyone. I’ve taken her pallet for myself, my one luxury. Every morning when I wake up I feel her presence. I miss her terribly.”
“And the talisman? How are you adjusting to your responsibilities?”
“I’m having a hard time with that too,” I replied. “My cousins are so jealous I was selected they won’t talk to me. Uncle Hemaka and Uncle Sanakht argue constantly – Uncle Sanakht wants me joined to Nekauba as quickly as possible so he can manipulate me for his own ends. Nekauba’s constantly taunting me, telling me I’m not going to be able to avoid him forever. Believe me, I’ve made sure not to let him catch me alone.”
“I’m so sorry, Amenia. If the times were more settled you wouldn’t be going through this.”
“I miss Great–grandmother most when I’m called to help the sick,” I continued. I’d had no one I could unburden myself to and the words were spilling out. “There’s a big difference between helping Great–grandmother and being the one totally responsible for whether someone lives or dies. Sometimes I’m so scared… but I can’t let anyone see.”
“You know all the herbs and potions and spells, don’t you?” Abar asked encouragingly.
“I have for most of my life.”
“And you have the talisman now, and the falcon god’s favor?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, Amenia,” Abar said. “I was in the birth bower all three times when Ibetina was in labor. You did almost everything yourself. I don’t recall Ipu giving you much direction at all the last two times. I think she was already stepping back, knowing you were ready to take over for her.”
“Maybe you’re right,” I said. I hadn’t really considered that before. I had in fact been taking on more of the work from Great–grandmother the past few years.
“Has Rawer or any of the elites approached you since you started wearing the talisman?” Abar asked.
I nodded in disgust. “If you can believe it, Rawer actually followed me home from Great–grandmother’s funeral feast.”
“Why, that unfeeling…”
“He stumbled on Nekauba harassing me and chased him off. I’m sure Rawer thinks I owe him something now.”
“He must have figured out you hold his future in your hands.”
“He has. He fished around pretty hard, trying to get me to tell him who I’m g
oing to confirm.” I glanced in all directions to make sure we weren’t being observed, lowered my voice. “He told me if I confirm him Nykara will get to keep the fleet permanently. He implied if I don’t he’ll take it away.”
Abar snorted. “Typical. What did you say?”
“I told him I believed the line of descent from Aboo is clear and I looked forward to Nykara running the fleet after he and I were joined. I didn’t lie – the line is clear. Just not in the way Rawer believes.”
“You’re more sly and cunning than you used to be,” Abar said, smiling.
“Thanks to you, Abar. If you hadn’t taught me what you have these past two years I wouldn’t have looked for the meaning behind Rawer’s words. I’m starting to realize how dangerous lack of knowledge truly is.”
“Any of the elites bothering you?”
“Boys who’ve never glanced at me even once go out of their way to speak to me now when I’m out and about. Guess they think I’ll be so grateful for their attention I’ll forget how they’ve ignored me my whole life.”
“Probably the same elites angling to be joined to me, hedging their bets,” Abar said. “Men have no shame, do they. Especially when they’re seeking power.”
“Except for Nykara,” I replied.
“Except for Nykara,” Abar echoed.
“By the way, he told me Dedi’s going with him to Tjeni next week. It’ll be the first time they’ll both be away from Nekhen at the same time since Nykara became overseer. Did you know?”
“They’re going to restock the trading post there and at Nubt,” Abar replied. “Dagi and Pabasa and their assistants have been doing a booming business. Grandfather and Nykara are going to travel in the wood boat. Nykara’s been using it to make daily deliveries to nearby hamlets, but the upcoming trip will be a long–distance shakedown cruise to work out any kinks before he tries to take it to Maadi.”
“I’ve been making decorated pottery almost full–time the past two weeks for them to trade,” I said. “It’s what the Nubtians want most from us.”
“Heth and I are going to look after the boatyard and craftsmen while they’re gone,” Abar said. “No one else in Nekhen is capable.”
“Will the men obey you?” I asked.
“They’d better. I’m our ruler’s daughter and Dedi’s granddaughter. Fear of what they might do should count for something. Though I wouldn’t put it past Rawer and Senebi to try to undercut me. They don’t have any friends in the boatyard, but I could see those two offering bribes to some of the boatmen to disrupt my orders.”
“Nykara says Dedi’s determined to go to Maadi after this trip and won’t be talked out of it. Nykara will have to go too, because he’s the only steersman who knows the river all the way there, and in case anything goes wrong with the boat. Will you and Heth take over Dedi’s operation then too? They’ll be gone at least three times as long as when they’re at Tjeni.”
“I have a better idea,” Abar said.
“What’s that?”
“I’m going to talk Grandfather into letting Rawer run his entire enterprise while he’s visiting Maadi. Grandfather promised Rawer when he made Nykara his overseer he’d give him the fleet if he ever proved himself. Rawer’s constantly telling everyone who’ll listen he’s better than Nykara. This’ll give him a chance to prove it.”
I was utterly shocked. Abar’s proposal could destroy my future with Nykara. Losing the fleet to Rawer would be a crushing setback for him and me both. Uncle would never give me to Nykara if he didn’t become an elite. “But Rawer will kick Nykara out of the boatyard if he takes back the boats,” I argued. “Or have you forgotten his promise?”
“He won’t as long as Grandfather’s alive. By the time Grandfather’s dead Nykara will have the smithy to fall back on. That’s how he’ll become an elite. But Nykara’s not going to lose the fleet, Amenia. Rawer’s going to fail. I truly believe it or I wouldn’t have suggested it. Everything associated with water transportation will fall apart with Rawer in charge. There’ll be total chaos in the valley. Surely you agree.”
“Based on everything you and Nykara have told me about him, that’s likely,” I said cautiously.
“When Rawer fails Grandfather will follow through on his original threat and declare Nykara his heir. Then Rawer will lose the fleet forever. Without it, he’ll never succeed Father. Putting Rawer in charge will eliminate Rawer as a serious rival to me.”
“But if Dedi names Nykara his heir, he and your father will join you to Nykara to keep the transportation network combined. Isn’t that true?” My worst fear.
“Grandfather made that threat, yes,” Abar admitted. “But Father has publicly committed me to Rawer whether he regains the fleet or not. At the same time, he’s secretly negotiating with many of the elites to join me to one of their sons. Rest assured, Father will hold off arranging my joining to anyone until after Grandfather’s dead. Father isn’t courageous enough to stand up to Grandfather. And Father won’t join me to Nykara under any circumstances. Father likes Nykara, but Nykara will always be a commoner in his eyes. Nykara doesn’t figure in his plans.”
I wasn’t convinced. Rawer’s failure might indeed result in Abar being joined to Nykara despite what she’d said. Didn’t she grasp how that would affect me? I recalled the way she’d looked at Nykara during Great–grandmother’s funeral feast. Her love for him had been obvious. I had to find out where I really stood. Was Abar my friend, or was she using me? Time to confront her. “If your father died tomorrow and I named you ruler and you could join with any man in Nekhen, would you pick Nykara?” I pressed. “Have you been planning all along to use me to become ruler and then take Nykara away from me?”
Abar looked as if she’d expected my question. “If I end up joined to Nykara it’ll be because I couldn’t prevent it, not because I wanted it,” she said softly. “Frankly, when Grandfather first threatened to join me to Nykara I thought my world had ended. I despised Nykara back then. Joined to him I’d never become ruler, never be able to pursue Grandfather’s quest. But I didn’t know Nykara, his capabilities, his qualities. I do now. My opinion of him has radically changed.”
“Do you love Nykara, Abar?” Would she confirm what I already knew? Did she have the courage to admit it?
She didn’t even hesitate. “Yes, Amenia, I do.”
I was surprised by her brutal honesty. Was that because she knew if she wanted Nykara all she’d have to do was snap her fingers? “So why are we doing this, pretending to be friends, pretending you believe I should be with Nykara?” I asked plaintively.
“I’m not pretending anything, Amenia,” Abar insisted. “I never intended to fall in love with Nykara. From when I was first promised to Rawer I surrendered to that future. After I learned the extent of Rawer’s unfaithfulness – well, I promised myself I’d never fall in love with any man, never let one hurt me like that again. I assumed all men behaved like Rawer. But then I got to know Nykara. He wasn’t like the rest. Still, I never considered him anything more than a partner in my quest to realize Grandfather’s dream. Then, while Nykara was on his first trip to Maadi, I realized I’d fallen in love with him. I hadn’t planned it. I couldn’t resist it. Love for him overwhelmed me. The night he returned I went to him on his boat. We were alone. I confessed my love. I even kissed him.”
I gasped. Nykara knew Abar loved him. Had he been deceiving me about his intentions for us all along? Had he been using me the way Abar had?
“But he drew back, Amenia,” Abar said earnestly. “Nykara showed me the amulet he’d brought back for you. What I heard in his voice when he talked about you I’d never heard when he spoke to me. He barely knew you, but he was already alive with your possibility. So I gave him up. I told him to find happiness with you.”
“You didn’t try to change his mind?”
“Of course I did. But he saw clearly that night what I couldn’t, blinded as I was by love. I could have him, but someday, when another woman ascended the dais at our ruler’s
side, I’d resent him for it.”
“Unless you ascended as ruler, with him at your side,” I rejoined.
“That wasn’t a conversation I could have with Nykara, because he doesn’t know my true ambition. Besides, Amenia, if I take Nykara away you’ll never confirm me as ruler. How could you possibly overlook such a betrayal of our friendship? I had to make a choice that night, and I did. Rule – or, rather, the potential to rule – over Nykara.”
Her confession brought no comfort. “I appreciate your honesty, Abar. But if Dedi orders you to join with Nykara you’ll have to.”
Abar’s eyes met mine. “That’s undeniably true. I’m property, just like you, to be used for men to gain advantage for themselves. We both know men never take a woman’s wishes into consideration when it comes to joinings. But Grandfather loves Nykara, Amenia,” she said earnestly. “He knows Nykara loves you, not me. Grandfather won’t force the issue. You’re not some common little girl – you represent the falcon god. You’re important. You’re worthy of Nykara. Grandfather won’t deny Nykara what he wants, not after already giving him what he himself loves most, his fleet. No, the only obstacle standing between you and Nykara is your uncle – not Grandfather and especially not me.”
“What a mess!” I exclaimed. “Both of us in love with the same man.”
“Yes. But Nykara’s only in love with you. Never forget that, Amenia.”
But was Nykara’s love for me enough? Dedi had promised Abar to Nykara. Pipi had promised Wenher to Nykara. Uncle would never give me to Nykara – he’d always want Nykara to be just a little wealthier, have a little more status. He’d keep me dangling just out of reach until he found a way to use me to negotiate a better deal for himself. I didn’t doubt that for an instant. Yes, Nykara and I loved each other. But I couldn’t help feeling we were living on borrowed time. Dream or no, I couldn’t shake the feeling we’d never be together.
3447 BC
The Women and the Boatman Page 38