by Overton, Max
"That I was loyal."
"Exactly. So who was I to believe? When it comes down to it, blood wins out. You had to go."
"It's nice to be appreciated. So what has changed now?"
"I know he lied."
"So come back Jebu, all is forgiven?"
"No. I am offering you your job back. If you do not want it, Ashraz will take you out and slit your throat. If you do, you'll lead my armies against the new Kemetu king."
Jebu opened his eyes and looked directly at the king. "Why would you do this? You would never trust me again."
"I think you want revenge on Paramessu for your hand. You'll never come armed into my presence, so you're no longer a threat to me. You'll be watched but I won't interfere with your command." Aziru watched the bound man carefully, seeing a mix of emotions flit across his face--anger, resignation, hope. "What's it to be?"
"I'll take it. Get these ropes off me."
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Chapter Seventeen
A generation before, the northern border between Kemet and Kenaan had lain at the shallow dry stream valley known as the Stream of Kemet, though now it lay half a day's march to the north. A fort guarded the point where the main road north intersected the valley of the Stream--one of a string of forts that connected the inhabited farmlands with the stony deserts of the Peninsula of Sin. It was a land where whirlwinds lifted dust and sand into a blinding haze, where the sun sucked the moisture from any living creature and the rippling air warped the appearance of the landscape, forming cities from spires of rock, pools of water on the baking sand, and figures of man and beast that disappeared as you approached them.
Scarab knew better than to try crossing the Desert of Sin alone. She had found a camel caravan travelling east and north from Zarw and obtained passage with it. Normally, a woman travelling alone would not be tolerated but Jeheshua knew the leader of the caravan and made the arrangements. Two days out from Zarw, the caravan leader had tried to force himself on the apparently defenceless woman but a dislocated finger made him reconsider. Now he just scowled and waited for the opportunity to rid himself of his troublesome guest.
That moment came when the caravan halted at the sixth fort along the coast road. They received permission to draw water from the well and fill the stone troughs so that the animals could drink. The soldiers from the fort spoke of the presence of the commander of the Northern Army, Paramessu, in a field camp a day's march to the east. The caravan was not heading in that direction but the leader lost no time in having the news taken to Scarab. She thanked the man for his trouble and departed.
She rested in the shade by the fort for the rest of that day, talking to both soldiers and the women that followed the army, finding out as much as she could about the route. She filled her water skin from the well and bought a handful of dry dates and a stale barley loaf as provisions, and as the sun dropped toward the sea, put her back to it and set off for the training camp.
The land was flat and for more than an hour she made good time, her shadow lengthening in front of her. The sky darkened as the sun dropped out of sight behind her and the stars came out, sprinkled liberally across the body of Nut. Despite the absence of the moon, the stars gave sufficient light for Scarab to pick her way slowly along the track. Many feet had used the path before her and had worn it smooth. The night turned chilly but her exertions and her hooded woollen robe kept her warm. When the moon rose, she stopped and drank some water, munching on a few dates. She thought of what she was going to say to Paramessu, her former lover and father of her son.
Will he know me? I have not seen him for years--since the birth of Set. Will he want to know me? He is married now and his father hates me. However, he cannot deny me my child...can he ? She ran over arguments in her mind, weighing and discarding them, adjusting a few until she tired of it. It depends on how he greets me. That will tell me what to say .
As the night chill bit deeper, she started walking again, though no faster now that it was lighter, as the silvery glow from the moon threw deeper shadows across her path. When the sun rose, brilliant above the eastern hills, Scarab looked for a place to pass the day. Her water skin was still three quarter full, she had a few dates and the barley loaf left. Her feet were sore though and she needed sleep more than anything else. A thorn bush grew in a crack between two boulders and after probing the leaves and dust within the crevice for snakes and scorpions, she crawled into the shade and fell asleep.
She awoke with the heat of the day upon her. The sun had moved and the shade beneath the thorn bush had shifted. Crawling further round, she lay as much in the shade as she could and waited. She drank some of her water, ate the bread and finished the last of her dates. The sun moved very slowly and she fixed her attention on the shadow cast by a small rock out in the sun. It crept imperceptibly round and despite her growing thirst, she delayed taking another drink from her water skin.
Wait until it reaches that pebble ...it did, and she drank thirstily. Now that slight ridge ...This time she could not wait, as her mouth was too dry. She shook the bottle and felt its reduced weight. It's not going to last . Desperate, she thrust the water skin deep into the rock crevice where it took an effort to fetch it again. She closed her eyes and thought about her son Set and what she would do with him. Paramessu will not keep me from him, I know it .
By the time the sun set, the water skin was almost empty despite her efforts at restraint. She stood and walked back to the path, orienting herself before starting out to the east again. Her thirst was easier to bear now that the heat of the day was failing, but she had still drained the last warm drop before it got dark. How can I last the night without water ? She felt the golden scarab in her robe and pulled it out, holding the heavy carving unseen in her hand. I could ask Tefnut for water. It worked before...twice before . She stood still, thinking about what it meant to have the gods respond to her command. If only I could have them bring me wine and meat. Then I could feast .
A gentle breeze sighed across the sands and off to her left a rock clattered as if a foot had dislodged it. The noise interrupted her thoughts, reminding her of her reality. What am I thinking? The Nine are gods, not servants . She sank to her knees and prayed silently to each of the Nine, begging forgiveness for her presumption. I will not ask for water , she decided. Not until I can go no further . Rising to her feet, she set off again, filled with determination.
An hour later, on reaching the crest of a slight rise she saw, some distance off, a star fallen from the heavenly body of Nut, gleaming golden red on the ground. A few minutes later she saw another, and soon a glowing array of tiny points lit the desert. Abruptly, she laughed softly to herself. "They are campfires. How could I not have recognised them?" On the heels of the realisation, she heard voices.
Scarab stood very still and listened, knowing that if she could hear the murmurs of guards she must be right on top of them. She stared into the darkness but no matter which way she looked, it seemed as if the voices came from somewhere else. The guards' nerves would be strained on a dark night like this, she knew, and if they were surprised, they might cut down an intruder before finding out their identity. She sank to the ground, hugging the shadow of a boulder. I think this might classify as need .
"Beloved Nut, Lady of the Sky, help me," she whispered. "I need to know where the guards are."
Silence greeted her, and even the guards had ceased their talk. The night was still and Scarab stared around her looking for a sign from the goddess. It came, moments later, as a thin flare of light from the sky as if a star had fallen from its place on Nut's body. Scarab studied the darkness in the direction the streak had taken and...Yes, there, in the lea of that rock . Blackness moved slightly on blackness as a man shifted his position minutely. Unless she had already been looking in that direction, she would have missed it. Thank you, Nut .
She decided to wait for the dawn. An approach to edgy guards at night could be dangerous so she made herself
as comfortable as possible, head down on drawn up knees and her cloak covering her. Her robe was close to sand coloured and with the gods' favour; they would not be see her before she was ready. She dozed.
The sound of voices woke her as the light of pre-dawn washed over the landscape. She looked up cautiously to see five men with spears standing by the rock where she had seen the movement during the night. After a few moments, it became clear that the two sentries were being relieved. She stood up and called out. Immediately, the five men went into defensive postures.
"Who are you? Identify yourself."
Scarab emerged from behind the boulder, her hands empty and in plain sight. "My name is Khepri-Nefer," she called out. "I am a friend of General Paramessu."
"Be off with you," answered one man. "We have enough camp followers without adding more desert women."
"I am not a camp follower. I told you--I am a friend of General Paramessu. He will want to know I am here."
The five guards came over and surrounded her, staring at her red-brown hair and fair features.
"Call yourself Nefer, eh? Well, you're beautiful enough, I'll give you that."
"'Cept that eye. Why d'ye keep it closed?"
"Who's looking at her eye?" One guard reached out a hand to paw her. "If the general doesn't want ya, I'll give yer a good time."
Scarab's hand flashed out and bent the man's little finger back so he howled in pain. He stumbled back before lowering his spear, anger written all over his face.
"Enough, Re-Min, you asked for that," another guard said.
He had no insignia on his kilt but Scarab recognised a tone of authority in his voice. She addressed herself to him. "Please escort me to your General. He will be pleased to see me."
The man considered for a few moments. "Very well. Re-Min, you and Neshi stay here. You others are relieved of duty. Khepri-Nefer," he inclined his head politely, "Please come with me."
"May I know your name?"
"I am Wadjmose. I am a Leader of Five."
Wadjmose led the way with the two guards trotting along beside Scarab. She found out after a few minutes that the guard post was an outlying one as it was nearly a thousand paces before they came to the camp itself. Rough earthworks had been thrown up, more to delineate the borders of the camp than to act as any defensive structure. They weaved their way between boulders and stepped over shallow ditches without slackening their pace. As they moved into the camp they came across rows of tents with men gathered around camp-fires, eating or attending to their weapons. Silence fell as they passed, the stares of the men following her. Many called out, most in polite curiosity but others offering ribald remarks or making lewd suggestions. Scarab ignored them, her thoughts solely on the man she had come to see. They drew near to the centre of the camp, an open area with a perimeter of banners and guards outside a much larger tent.
"Please wait here, Khepri-Nefer. I will announce your presence," Wadjmose said.
"He may not recognise that name. Tell him Scarab is here--the mother of Set."
Wadjmose looked at her curiously but only nodded. He walked over to the guards and, after a few moments, during which the officer in charge stared in her direction, he was admitted to the tent.
He emerged a few minutes later and walked quickly over to Scarab. "I'm sorry. The general will not see you. Please follow me. I am directed to escort you from the camp."
"No, I don't believe it. You told him I was Scarab?"
"Yes."
"And mother to his son, Set?"
Wadjmose looked down at his feet in sudden embarrassment. "Not that last bit. I know the Lady Tia who is mother to the general's heir. It is...it is wicked to lie about such things."
"Tell the General. Wadjmose, you must tell him that I am Scarab the mother of Set." She saw a stubborn look come over the soldier's face and she changed her approach. "It is a code phrase, Wadjmose. Saying it exactly as I say it will tell the general something important. Tell him I am Scarab the mother of Set. Please. It is very important."
Wadjmose wavered but neither of the men with him backed up his stand, so he capitulated. "Very well, though it is against my better judgement." He walked back to Paramessu's tent and had a longer talk with the officer in charge. He opened the tent flap and went in, almost running out a few moments later.
"That's it," Wadjmose snapped at Scarab. "I nearly got my head bitten off. You are leaving the camp right now."
"But I've got to see him. Did you tell him? Exactly as I said."
"Yes I did, and let me tell you I don't appreciate having my general yelling at me."
"Please, let me go to him. I know he will..."
"By all the gods and demons of the desert, woman, no. Are you not listening? He does not wish to talk to you." Wadjmose took Scarab by the arm and pulled her away. He told his men to escort her back to the point they had found her.
"Then what, sir?" one asked.
"I couldn't care less. Just make sure she does not come back into the camp." He marched away without a backward glance.
The two men led Scarab away. She looked for an opportunity to escape but they were vigilant and were surrounded by camped soldiers. The only bonus was she was able to persuade them to escort her to a different part of the perimeter.
"I don't think Re-Min likes me," she said.
The soldiers grinned. "That was funny," one of them said. "And he deserved it."
"It looks like you can look after yourself, lady," said the other one, "And I don't know which way you came in, but I'd head north twenty or so stadia. There is a well there. Here," he handed Scarab his water skin. "Sorry we haven't got any food."
The soldiers stood and watched as Scarab walked away. She turned once or twice, but they were still standing on the perimeter so she waved and continued on her way. She found a shallow streambed and scrambled down into it where she found some shade.
Why would Paramessu not see me? Surely, he cannot be against me too. I must get back there to see him . Scarab turned her mind to the problem of walking through an armed camp, evading the guards, and getting in to see their general without being caught. How she was to accomplish it would have to wait for nightfall, so she settled down to while away another day. She had a flask of water again thanks to the kindness of the guard, but no food. Ah well, it is not as if I have not gone hungry before .
Dusk fell eventually, and Scarab moved to where she could overlook the camp. Fires sprang up as each group of five or ten soldiers cooked their rations communally and ate them. She waited and after a time the fires died down and the camp grew quieter. Sentries patrolled the perimeter, thicker on the ground than the guards in the outlying posts, and far more vigilant. It was not unknown for the General to make a surprise inspection and woe betide any soldier caught sleeping on duty, or being less than attentive. Men were executed for the former or thrashed until their ribs showed for the lesser offence.
Scarab moved closer to the perimeter and studied the shadowy movements of the sentries. Who set these guards ? she wondered. She repeated a line from the Sekha, the Contemplation of the Neter of Heru in her head as she watched...'Heru is the prince of light, he fills the horizon. He vanquishes the adversary, he enfolds all in his protection. ' The sentries were in sight of each other; all points of their perimeter covered for seventeen recitations of the Neter, and left a small segment unsighted for almost a single recitation. It is enough .
As the seventeenth repetition came to an end, she slipped out of hiding and raced across the intervening sand...'prince of light' ...dropped to her belly and slid over the raised earthwork...'fills the horizon' ...ducked between two large boulders...'vanquishes the adversary' ...and, bent double, scrambled for a patch of shadow...'all in his protection' ...reaching it just as the guard appeared.
The man stopped dead in his tracks, listening. He advanced slowly toward the shadow, spear raised. Every couple of paces he stopped and cocked his head to listen, striving to hear what he thought he might have heard moment
s before. A dog barked in the camp and an angry voice answered it. The guard shrugged and returned to his post, pacing out his section of the perimeter, and Scarab let out a ragged breath.
Presently she moved on, furtively until she was well beyond the perimeter, and then more openly. She had decided that stealth would not get her through the mass of tents so before she reached them she stripped off her robes and bound her thin linen skirt higher, in the fashion of a prostitute. She bundled her robes and set off through the camp, weaving between the tents and walking brazenly past men around the campfires. Several called out to her, making lewd remarks or offering her a piece of copper for a quick dalliance, but she tossed her head, swung her hips provocatively, and walked on.
The inner perimeter, around the tents of General Paramessu and the legion commanders was not so simple to pass. Torches burned here, casting pools of flickering light. The sentries stood closer together and kept their eyes open, alert for anything out of the ordinary. Scarab donned her robes again and lifted the hood, obscuring her features. Once more, she hunkered down in the shadows, observing and counting.
This time she could see no gap in the defences, no way she could slip through unseen. Instead, she studied the ground inside the perimeter, deciding on the best way to approach Paramessu's tent once she was inside. It will have to be round the back--I have my knife . She turned her attention to the guards again. I need a distraction...but what? And how ? Scarab looked all about her but could see nothing that would be of help. Glancing up, she saw that curdled cloud obscured half the sky, blotting out the stars. She thought about this for a few minutes and remembered her golden scarab. Mighty Shu, grant me your favour. I need a wind, strong and from the east, for a few moments .
Nothing happened. Shu ? A hot breeze, like the panting breath of a great lion gusted in her face. She looked to the east and the hot breath came again, strengthening and flapping the tents. The banners around the inner tents cracked and snapped, the supple staves bowing in the sudden wind. Sparks lifted from a campfire and with a roar, caught at some oil-soaked fabric. Men shouted an alarm and raced to put out the fire. The sentries moved in that direction also, filled with excitement and curiosity, the officers yelling commands and laying about them with their whips to get them back to their posts. The wind died as suddenly as it arose and the night fell silent once more. The guards stared out into the darkness of the camp, while in the shadows at the foot of the great tent of Paramessu, Scarab quietly offered up a hymn of thanks to the god Shu.