3-in-1: Zet and the Egyptian Mystery Cases

by Scott Peters

  Hui's expression changed to relief. He laughed. "Yes. And you don't have to look so shocked about it!"

  Zet grinned. "Okay. I guess the master trickster is allowed to be a pro at something else, too."

  "What did I tell you?" Kemet said, appearing out of nowhere. "Good, isn't he?"

  The crippled jeweler had come on them so swiftly and silently that Delilah nearly dropped the pendant she'd been studying.

  Delilah put her hand to her chest. The jovial man smiled at her.

  "My apologies," Kemet said. "I didn't mean to startle you." He gestured at Hui's work with one claw-like hand. "Impressive, isn't it?"

  "Amazing," Delilah said.

  "Really good," Zet agreed.

  "So, what's all this about a master trickster?" Kemet asked.

  Zet's best friend colored and his shoulders tightened.

  Kemet had been listening in?

  "Not for real," Zet said, on guard.

  "I see. Then why did they call you a trickster, Hui?"

  Delilah said, "Boys will be boys." She waved the topic away. "Kemet, I must say you're a wonderful teacher. I never realized he'd be doing work like this already. And I admit I've been worried about the workshop being so off-limits, but now I see it's having a good effect on my son. Hui seems very grown up."

  "Mother, thanks. I'm sitting right here," Hui said.

  Kemet barked out a laugh. "So you are, my young friend. I can teach until I'm blue in the face, but takes a good student to actually learn." The wrinkles around his eyes deepened. "Still, a trickster? Now that's news. I enjoyed playing a joke or two when I was young." He grinned. "These visitor days are good for us as well as the families. We find out all sorts of things about our boys."

  The statement hung for a moment.

  Kemet bowed. "I must move on to the next group. Lunch will be served shortly. Enjoy."

  "It's nice he's so proud of you. I'm proud of you, too." Delilah hugged her son. "I'm so glad we came today."

  "Me, too," Hui said. Still in her arms, he shot Zet a meaningful glance.

  But as to what he meant by it, Zet had no idea.

  What was going on here? They needed to talk, but how?

  Still, it didn't make sense. Why would Hui be in danger? This was a proper business, a workshop! And he was Kemet's star pupil.

  Chapter Eleven

  Questions With No Answers

  On their way to lunch, they detoured by the sleeping quarters.

  Zet hoped they could talk as they walked, but his hopes were cut short. Snaggletooth followed a few paces behind.

  "My domain," Hui said, showing him the small cell he shared with another boy.

  A sleeping pallet lay against either wall.

  "That one's mine," Hui said.

  Next to Hui's pallet, a table was heaped with possessions. In the middle, overseeing Hui's collection of things, stood a statue of Bes—Hui's family god. Grinning troublemaker himself. The funny little dwarf god fit Hui's zany family perfectly. Sure, he protected their household, like all family gods did, but Bes also loved to stir up trouble. Generally of the entertaining kind. It was no wonder Hui loved joking around.

  At Bes's feet lay a half burned cone of incense. Beside that lay a big old hippo's tooth.

  "You still have that?" Zet said.

  "Yeah! Of course."

  "Remember when you found it?" Zet said.

  "After nearly losing my foot to an angry old croc? Yes." Hui laughed.

  "I think that's the last time Kat went swimming in the Nile," Zet said, grinning. "But I still don't believe there was a croc after you."

  "It was under the water, all right. Why do you think I leapt out, screaming?"

  "Uh—to scare the living ka out of Kat?"

  "Would I do that?" Hui said, all innocent.

  "Definitely."

  Hui cut in on Zet's thoughts. "Before you leave, don't let me forget I have gifts for you." He hauled a sack out from a trunk. "And don't say you don't want them! But you can look at them later. When you get home." He held the sack close to his chest. "Now let's go eat!"

  "I want to open them here, with you," Delilah said.

  A sheen of sweat appeared on Hui's forehead. "No, really. Let's go, mother."

  "Whatever you like," she said.

  Lunch was served in a smaller, adjoining courtyard. Finely made spoons, carved of out ivory, lay at each place. Holding his spoon up, Zet could see the light through it.

  "I hope I don't break this thing by eating with it," Zet said.

  "Which is why I'm going for the bread option," Hui said, tearing off a piece. Using it like a spoon, he scooped up a bite full of thick, rich stew, and shoved his mouth full.

  Zet copied him. "Good bread!"

  Hui's face was bent over his food. "They make it next door," he said, speaking into his dish.

  Zet spent the rest of the meal trying to think up ways to communicate with Hui.

  Hui looked pained, as if he was trying to figure the same thing.

  But it was impossible. There were people and guards all around.

  The meal finished way too fast. And then the visitors were all being politely, but efficiently, ushered toward the door. People were saying good-bye, hugging, telling their boys to write.

  There was a line to get outside. They filled the narrow entryway that led to the outer gate. Zet, Hui and Delilah craned to see what was going on. Ahead, a family stood talking to the servants who'd first greeted them when they arrived.

  "We need to check your bags," one of the servants said.

  The father of the family shrugged and put his belongings on a table for inspection.

  Zet glanced at Hui. His best friend's cheeks had gone pale. His eyes had turned to pinpoints, watching the search. He still carried the bag of gifts, and Zet noticed his hands were trembling.

  Chapter Twelve

  Searched

  Zet's heart had begun to race. What was in that bag that made Hui so nervous?

  The servant at the door motioned to the three of them. "Come forward, we're ready for you," he said. "Please, put your belongings on the table."

  Delilah shot him a look of distaste. Clearly she hadn't forgotten their earlier run in with the man, when he'd tried to stop Zet from entering.

  "This all seems a bit over the top," she said.

  "Sorry. Routine check."

  Annoyed, Delilah asked, "Why, by the gods, would we take anything?"

  "Those are the procedures, madam, unless you want to leave the bag behind."

  "It's fine," Hui said. His face showed nothing as he handed it over. "Just the gifts I made. The materials I used are all recorded in the daily log."

  The servant referred to a sheet of papyrus. He moved his finger down the line of text, read what had been written, and reached into the sack. He pulled out several parcels, all wrapped in linen. Then he started to unwrap them.

  Hui swallowed, and let out a little laugh. "I guess your presents won't be a surprise."

  "That's all right," Delilah said.

  The first contained a tiny kitten pendant carved of jade on a thin gold chain.

  "For Kat, obviously," Hui said.

  Everyone knew she loved animals, especially homeless strays. She was always putting out water and food for them in their street.

  There were little trinkets for his baby brothers and something for his mother. For Zet he'd made a perfectly round ball out of polished ivory. It was large, and a wadjet eye had been carved on the surface. It was the moon, ruler of the stars. Like the spoons at lunch, the ivory looked breakable. But Zet couldn't wait to put it on display back home.

  "Wow!" Zet said. "That's for me?"

  "Thought you'd like it," Hui said.

  The servant rolled it around in his hands, checking to see if it opened.

  "Careful! It's fragile," Hui said sharply.

  "Don't worry, I'm taking care," the servant said. Still, his tattooed hands treated it more carefully. Deciding it didn't open, he rep
laced it in its covering and set it aside. Then he turned the empty satchel upside-down and shook it.

  Hui pulled Zet back a few steps. "Don't worry if you break the ball. It's yours. Really, I won't be offended."

  "I won't break it!"

  "Really. I don't mind."

  "Okay," Zet said with a laugh.

  Still, it was funny because Hui knew he was good at handling fragile things. He did it all day long in his stall, with the earthenware. And maybe he wasn't good at math and writing like his sister Kat, or at creative things like Hui with his metalwork and pranks, but he was good at others. Like being quick and incredibly agile. If something fell, he'd catch it, sometimes even if he were across the room. He could dive like a hawk, and land like a panther.

  Well, so his mother said anyway. And he liked to think it was true.

  "Wish we could've talked," Zet said so quietly that it was little more than his lips moving. "It's like we were under guard all day."

  "I know."

  "When are they going to let up on you?"

  "Tell Kat I liked the donkey."

  "The donkey?" Zet sensed someone behind him. "Oh, right. Yeah, I will. And she said to say hi to you." He turned to see Kemet. That man could sneak around like a desert breeze. How had he come up on them like that?

  "I came to say good bye," Kemet said. "Thanks for visiting. I'll take good care of my star apprentice here."

  At the table, the servant finished putting everything back in the bag.

  "You're all clear," he said.

  It was only then that Hui seemed to relax. Was something in the bag? There couldn't be. The man had checked it thoroughly. So why had Hui seemed so tense?

  "Have a nice trip home," Kemet said.

  Hui hugged his mother and Zet. The gate was closed between them. Delilah climbed back into the waiting litter.

  The visit was over.

  Chapter Thirteen

  A Plan

  All the way back to Delilah's, Zet puzzled over Hui's reaction to having the bag searched.

  He stopped in with her to find Kat and the boys playing a game of hide and seek. At the mention of gifts, Hui's brothers cheered. They ran around with their little prizes, holding them in triumph. Kat screamed with delight over her kitten pendant.

  Zet, meanwhile, took the empty bag and searched it again himself.

  Nothing.

  "We'd better get going," Zet said to Delilah.

  Delilah's cheeks were rosy "Thanks for everything," she said. "Especially for twisting my arm. And Kat, for taking care of the boys."

  "It was fun!" Kat said.

  "Are you sure you won't stay for dinner?"

  "Mother left food for us," Kat said. "We'd better eat it or she won't be too happy with us!"

  Moments later, they were out the door. Zet almost ran the short distance home.

  "What's the hurry?" Kat called.

  "I'll tell you when we get there."

  Inside, he closed the front door, went to the low dining table, sat on a cushion and pulled out the ivory ball.

  "What is that?" Kat said.

  "I'm not sure. Hui made it for me, but I think it must open or something." He started to examine the surface, bending close. "Bring a lamp, would you?"

  "Hello, I'm not your servant," Kat grumbled.

  Zet rolled his eyes. "Do you want me to tell you what happened over there?"

  "Yes."

  "Then bring the lamp! Oh, forget it, I'll get it myself."

  But Kat was already pulling it from a cubby. She filled it with oil. Meanwhile, Zet told her everything that had happened. About the spying slots, and the guards, and being searched, and how Hui was sweating when they emptied the bag of gifts.

  With the lamp glowing brightly, she sank down beside him.

  "So he's not possessed?"

  "No," Zet said, laughing. He turned the ball over in his hands. "This thing is pretty heavy."

  "Do you think there's something inside?" she asked.

  "I don't know. The servant who searched the stuff tried to open it, but couldn't figure out how to do it." He held it up to the light. "But the shell is kind of sheer, and it looks like there's something in there."

  He gave it a shake, holding it next to his right ear. It didn't rattle. Instead, a soft, shifting noise came from inside. Like something padded moving back and forth. He placed it on the table. Upon closer study, it became clear the ball had been crafted out of four separate pieces. The seams were so perfect, however, they were almost invisible.

  Zet grasped it with both hands. Carefully, he tried twisting it this way and that. He tried pulling outward. He tried pushing on the seams, to see if that would pop it apart.

  "I don't get it," he muttered.

  Lifting the ball again, he studied the wadjet eye etched in the center.

  "Try pushing on that," Kat said.

  He did. Nothing happened.

  "It doesn't open," he said.

  "Maybe the eye is supposed to mean something?" she said, doubtful.

  He scratched his head; he'd shaved it recently, and the stubble still felt strange and prickly. "This is so frustrating! I was there. I talked to Hui. And I still have no idea what's going on! But I know something's going on, Kat."

  She fingered her jade kitten pendant. "Maybe."

  "What are you thinking? What's that look?"

  Kat bit her lip. "Well, I was just thinking, maybe something's going on, or maybe it has to do with the demon army that's—"

  "Stop right there," Zet said. "This has nothing to do with some demon army! Hui's in trouble. And this ball isn't telling me anything. I need to talk to him. In private."

  "I don't see how you're going to do that," Kat said.

  Zet wrapped the ball back up and carefully stored it away.

  "I do," Zet said. He went to the ladder that led to the roof, and clambered up the wooden rungs. Outside, the wind moved easily across the rooftops, cooling the evening air. A welcome breeze ruffled his tunic. Laundry rustled on a line, giving off the sharp, floral scent of natron mixed with lavender. From further off, he caught the faint, briny scent of the Nile, which flowed in the distance.

  Turning his back on the Nile, he glanced toward the far away artisan quarter.

  The sun god dipped toward the horizon.

  "It's too early, still," he said, hearing Kat join him on the roof.

  "Too early for what?"

  "To pay Hui a visit."

  "You don't mean—are you saying you're going to sneak in?" Kat gasped.

  "Hui would do it for me."

  Kat nodded. "All right. But we should eat something first. It's a long way, and you've already walked it once."

  "We? You're not coming," Zet said.

  "I am, and don't even think about trying to stop me. I'll just follow you. I can find my way there myself, anyway."

  Zet groaned. Why had he said anything? The last thing he needed was Kat tagging along. An ebony colored cat met his eyes from a windowsill across the way. If he expected the cat to look sympathetic, he was disappointed. The cat flicked its tail and disappeared.

  "You'll just get us in trouble," he said.

  But there was no arguing with her, and he knew it.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Under A Black Sky

  A sliver of moon cast an eerie glow through the window. Zet opened the front door. Overhead, stars twinkled like pinpricks in a thick, black cloak.

  "Time to go," Zet.

  "Wait," Kat said.

  Zet turned. Kat stood knotting her hands.

  "Changed your mind?" he asked.

  "No, it's just—" She swallowed. "Well, you heard what that new vendor, Akar, said. About going out at night. What about the demon army?"

  "Good point." He nodded, sagely. "You should definitely stay here, little sister."

  She frowned at him. "Oh no, you won't get rid of me that easily."

  Zet let out a frustrated noise. "Look, you'll never be able to climb over the wall. And
you'll make too much noise!"

  She glared at him. Still, her voice shook a little. "I'm coming. If you're not afraid, I'm not either."

  "Ugh. Fine. But if you can't keep up, I'm leaving you behind."

  "I'll keep up. I'm as fast as you."

  "We'll see about that," he said, frustrated beyond belief. He knew that if she couldn't keep up, he'd have to wait for her. He couldn't just leave her in the street in the middle of the night, even if that's exactly what he felt like doing right now.

  They headed out the door and padded softly through the dead city.

  It wasn't the first time they'd snuck through Thebes in the middle of the night, but that didn't make it any less eerie. The moon was only half full, so he had to squint just to see. In the narrower lanes, no light came in at all.

  They'd walked in tense silence for at least twenty minutes when something small and soft brushed his ankle. A cat.

  Kat let out a yelp. It must have brushed past her, too.

  He yanked her behind a potted palm. She was shaking all over, and he knew it had nothing to do with fears of humankind.

  "Quiet!" he whispered. "Demons aren't furry. It was just a cat!"

  "Sorry," she said, trembling.

  "Last thing we need is some adult finding us. There will be all sorts of questions about what we're doing and we'll never get there."

  "Okay, I get it!" she whispered back.

  Together, they carried on. Zet had decided to follow the route the litter-bearers had taken. But now, he realized, that was a stupid idea. The first shortcut, Zet found easily. But now he was less certain of his surroundings. It felt like they'd been walking for over an hour. They probably had been.

  "Are we almost there?" Kat whispered.

  He groaned. "I knew I shouldn't have brought you!"

  "I'm just wondering because I'm lost."

  "Well I'm not," he lied. Not completely.

  "Didn't we pass that door before?" Kat said.

  Zet walked faster. "The place is around here somewhere. Just come on. Hurry up!"