by David Adkins
We approached the two men and rather nervously I spoke. “A short while ago two men entered your establishment and no-one has entered since. Do you know who those men are?”
“Who they might be is not my concern,” the larger of the two men replied.
“He is only concerned with what they pay him,” the other man interjected smiling.
“We will pay you well,” encouraged Murat.
I continued. “Then tell us how regularly they come here,” I encouraged.
“People who ask questions make me nervous. I never ask questions of my customers and never answer questions about them. That way I ensure my safety, for some powerful people sample my merchandise.”
Murat intervened smiling. “We fully understand that and it was just that we thought we recognised those two as high-ranking officials. We will forget our curiosity and get on with what we came here for. My young friend needs to be educated in the ways of the world and we wondered if you had a girl that would take him in hand. We will pay well for such an education.”
“Lana here will be the right one for such a delicate job.” He grinned and Lana stood up smiling.
I was not sure where this was going but I decided to play along. I assumed that Murat had decided that if the man was reluctant to talk then the girl might be more willing. Lana took my hand and kissed me on the cheek and turned to Murat. “Leave him with me, sir.”
Murat handed the larger man some silver coins and then said gently in my ear. “Be ready to pay her for the information you want for I am certain she will be more willing to talk – and remember the pox.”
“My brother does not seem to remember the pox,” I whispered back.
“Are you coming?” Lana was beckoning me up a staircase to the upper floor of this large establishment.
I followed her up the stairs and down a corridor to an empty room covering up my face completely. “I am right behind you, Lana.”
“No-one will see you or recognise you here,” she assured me. “We are most discreet.” She urged me into a room and closed the door behind us.
I hurried in and sat down on a rickety chair. I was relieved as she closed the door behind us for I had half been expecting to bump into Akhenamun or Metos in the corridor. “Thank you,” I said as she looked at me with curiosity.
“How old are you?” she inquired.
“I am 15,” I replied.
“Are you sure, you look small for 15. Is that your older brother downstairs and is he seeking to educate you in the ways of the world?” As she spoke she let the flimsy garment she was wearing drop to the floor and she stood before me naked.
“I have come here to ask you some questions, nothing else,” I gasped as I looked at her naked body.
“Do you like what you see, strange young man?”
“I do, but I did not come here for that. How old are you?” I asked, trying to fight my desire and trying to remember to heed the warning from Murat.
“I am 17. Not much older than you in years but in experience I suspect there is a much wider gap.”
“I am sure, but now those questions.”
She sighed and advanced towards me. “You could have a great time for just two more silver pieces.” She stood over me smiling and touched my cheek with her hand and then playfully slapped my face. “Did you like that, strange young man?”
“Please put your clothes back on.” I felt in a panic because I wanted to reach out to her naked body so badly.
She laughed. “That is an unusual request.”
“Do as I say and answer my questions and you will still have your two silver pieces – and answer the questions well and it will be three,” I bribed her.
She shrugged and put on her flimsy robe and then much to my anguish she sat on my lap. “You do like me,” she commented and grinned. Then she put her hand inside my robe.
“Please just answer my questions.” I was almost begging but I was not sure for what.
“Well ask them then,” she suggested and withdrew her hand and wiped it on her robe.
“Please sit on the couch, Lana,” I pleaded.
She got off my lap and did as I asked. “Toss me the coins,” she demanded.
“You have not answered the questions yet and you do not know what I am going to ask.”
“I heard your questions at reception. I know what you are going to ask so toss me the three silver coins if we are to go any further.”
I did as she bid. She looked at the coins greedily. “This is a good night’s work.”
“You have not earned them yet,” I reminded her.
“That old robe does not fool me. You are from wealthy Thebes like the men you want to ask me questions about and the men you were afraid might see you in the corridor.”
“You are observant. They are indeed from wealthy Thebes.”
“I may sell my body but I am not stupid,” she retorted.
“Tell me if they are regulars and everything you know of them.”
“They are regulars and they pay huge sums of money, but most of the regular girls will not see them. I saw one of them and I have regretted it ever since.” She showed me a bruise on her arm. “This is a memento from the occasion. The others have healed. I got out quick before it got worse and we fobbed him off with another girl. Now we do not supply regulars for them but bring in girls specially, girls that are expendable.”
I was shocked. “Which one did that to your arm?”
“The handsome one, but I hear the other one is even more violent.”
“What did you mean by ‘expendable’?” I asked.
“Once or twice the girls have been beaten so badly by the ugly one that we have had to dispose of them afterwards.”
“You mean they were dead,” I gasped.
“No, not dead. but we have to send them to a place where they can recover.”
“You have a dangerous job,” I observed.
She shrugged. “Most men are fine but there are always some violent ones. That will always be a problem in my line of work.”
I was not sure I wanted to continue this line of questioning. “Are these two men regulars?”
“Yes, they come every week on this same day.”
“Do they always come to this establishment?” I asked.
“Yes, because we fulfil their requirements and they pay exceedingly well for our services,” she replied.
She had told me what I needed to know. “Thank you, Lana, you have earned your reward.”
She smiled. “You are just a boy. Be careful with these men. They are cruel and dangerous.”
“I am a boy who is fast becoming a man.”
“I could help,” she suggested.
“Perhaps another time, Lana,” I laughed.
“Do not say that you have asked me questions and that I have answered them,” she requested. “Just say you had a fantastic time and do not say you gave me more money.”
I nodded and I went to the door and opened it. I looked up and down the corridor but there was no sign of anyone. I walked down the stairs back to the reception area with Lana behind me.
There was now just the large man and one of the girls. “Your friend is waiting for you outside. I trust you had a good time,” he said.
“I had a fantastic time.” I turned and blew Lana a kiss and she responded in kind.
“We will see you again soon then. Lana is here most evenings.”
“Indeed you will.” I walked out into the fresh air where Murat was waiting for me.
“Did she answer your questions?” he asked.
“She told me what I needed to know,”
“And that was all?” he inquired.
I laughed. “And that was all, Murat.”
I was soon shaken out of my euphoria at a mission successfully accomplished as we made our way through a Theban alley. A robber sprang from the shadows and attempted to snatch my purse. I managed to sway out of the way as he clumsily thrust his blade towards me, missing by a distance,
and his other groping hand did not find the purse that he was seeking. I stumbled backwards and Murat drew his sword and chased the drunken thief away. It was a reminder that from now on I must remain alert at all times.
“Are you all right, your majesty?” He was most concerned.
“I am fine. It was just a clumsy attempt at robbery.” In truth though I had been shaken and it confirmed that East Thebes could be a dangerous place at night and I did not know when I might have to return.
We found a boatman to take us back across to the west bank. We did not speak much because I could not help thinking of my brother still in that whorehouse and the violent reputation that he and Metos had built up. All my suspicions about Metos had been proved justified. He was a vile man and I relished the prospect of him being Coreb’s prisoner. We made our way back to Malkata through the more gentle suburbs of West Thebes. I was very grateful to Murat and it was reassuring to know that there was someone I could trust implicitly.
As we reached the palace gates I turned to my servant. “Thank you for the help you have given me this evening.”
“It is almost morning,” he smiled.
“Then it is time we both went to bed and rested,” I suggested and made my way back to my apartment.
Chapter 7
It was almost dawn when I eventually climbed in to my bed. I was going to bed when most of the world was getting up and I could even hear the start of the dawn chorus. Though tired I still found it difficult to sleep as my brain continued to analyse recent events. My world had changed considerably of late, of that there was no doubt. Gone were the days when as a boy I felt secure and protected. I might not have been much loved but at least in those days, that now seemed so far off, I had felt safe. The cobra and the hapless thief had emphasised my life had taken an ugly turn particularly in the case of the snake, for then my life had been in extreme jeopardy. It was a sobering thought especially as there seemed every prospect that there were still great dangers to face.
I was still determined to avenge Thutmose and that seemed to mean making enemies of Akhenamun and his extremely dangerous assistant, Metos. After the whorehouse I was left in little doubt how vicious and violent these two men could be. I was now taking the warning of Metos very seriously and I knew that I needed to speak to Coreb as soon as possible. I was sure Akhenamun was behind the murder of Thutmose but I would have to prove it and I needed Coreb for that. When that was done I would have to ask myself if I would agree to Coreb making me pharaoh. With this heady thought I fell asleep.
I was awoken by my sister, Nebetah, entering my inner chamber with Murat close behind her. I vaguely wondered if Murat ever slept.
“Greetings brother.” Her smiling face was a tonic to my beleaguered mind. “Why are you still in bed? It is almost midday. Are you well?”
I glanced towards Murat. “I could not sleep.”
“I looked for you in the gardens because you are always there in the mornings but there was no sign of you.”
“Let us walk in the gardens now,” I suggested.
“What a good idea,” she beamed.
The gardens were beautiful, full of exotic, colourful flowers kept alive by the water that the gardeners channelled in from the River Nile. We walked among these flower beds, making our way slowly towards our father’s grand lake. “I am worried about you, Smenkhkare,” she said. “You have not been yourself recently.”
“The business with the snake shook me badly, and I have been fretting about recent changes in the palace hierarchy,” I explained.
“The snake was unfortunate but there is no need to worry about who is pharaoh. It will pass to Akhenamun without incident.”
I sighed. “Thutmose is dead and father is close to death and I do not entirely trust Akhenamun.”
“That is nonsense. It is terrible about Thutmose and father but Akhenamun has the interests of our family at heart. There will be no problems when he becomes pharaoh.”
“I wish I had your optimism, Nebetah. Now tell me what Nefertiti and Taduheppa have been arguing about.”
She suddenly looked embarrassed. “I must return to the palace.”
I gripped her wrist. “No, sister, please do not dash away this time. I have spoken to Nefertiti and my wife and neither will tell me what is going on. It is disturbing me considerably and I need to know. It is obvious you know so please tell me.”
She sighed. “Very well, Smenkhkare, though I think it should not come from me. They are arguing about who will become Akhenamun’s chief wife when he becomes pharaoh. I think he made the mistake of making a promise to both of them.”
“Taduheppa is my wife.” I spoke the words with little feeling and little surprise.
“That is why I did not wish to speak of it with you.”
“How could he marry Taduheppa when she is married to me?”
“They both consider you just a boy. It would be easy to annul your marriage on the grounds that it was never consummated.”
“The marriage was supposed to bring peace between Egypt and the Mitanni,” I said.
“The Mitanni would hardly object if their princess was to marry the pharaoh rather than a younger brother. It would bring greater prestige to them and make the alliance even stronger.”
“I see,” I said coldly.
“Are you angry?” she asked.
“No, and I am not even surprised. Is this settled?”
“I do not think so because Ay and Nefertiti are not happy about it. I think that when Thutmose was killed Akhenamun had made a promise to Nefertiti.”
“I see,” I said again.
“Accept the situation, Smenkhkare, whatever the outcome. If you need to you can always find another wife when you are older – a proper wife.”
I nodded. “I suppose I can.”
“Say nothing,” she urged.
I nodded again but did not make any promises.
“Are you sure you are all right, brother?”
Once again I nodded. “Thank you, Nebetah, for telling me. I see Murat at the far side of the gardens. I need a word with him, so will you excuse me sister?”
“Of course,” she replied in a concerned fashion.
I walked away from my sister towards Murat. I was really fed up with being the little brother who could be manipulated at will. I joined Murat at the lakeside. “Are you keeping an eye on me?” I asked.
“I am concerned about your safety, your highness. The snake was put in your room to kill you and I trust no-one.”
“Not even Nebetah?” I asked. “I noticed how quickly you followed her into my chamber this morning.”
“I trust no-one,” he repeated. “It is the only wise way forward.”
“I want you to go to the army camp on the other side of the river and tell general Coreb that I wish to see him tomorrow. Do not mention the cobra.”
“I would prefer to make sure you are safe. Can you not send someone else?”
“Like you, I trust no-one else and so you must go. Do not worry Murat I will be careful and I will stay safe. You will be back by nightfall.”
He nodded. “I will make sure he knows the meeting is urgent.”
“Good, now I need to go and see my wife for we have things to discuss.”
****
This time Taduheppa was in her chambers but then this was daytime and not the middle of the night. I was ushered in by Turet, the Mitanni serving girl. I noticed immediately that Taduheppa was on edge and I also noticed a bruising on the side of her face that she had done her best to cover up. We sat down on couches opposite to one another. “We need to talk.” I said.
“Do we?” she replied.
“Did you hear about the cobra?” I did not know if Nebetah had told her.
“What cobra?” she replied looking disinterested. “Is this important because I have much on my mind at the moment and wish to be left in peace?”
“What do you have on your mind?” I asked.
“I do not wish to discuss it,” she
repulsed my question.
“A cobra appeared in my room and I was lucky to survive.”
She looked shocked. “That is terrible. It must surely have got in by accident.”
“I know that certain people look on me as being stupid. but I am not that stupid. It was no accident and I nearly died.”
I saw a look of anxiety cross her face. Her normal composure was being tested. “I am pleased you survived though I cannot imagine anyone would wish to hurt you.”
“Are you?” I asked.
“Surely you do not think I had anything to do with it?” A flash of anger crossed her face.
“I do not know what to think? Do you wish to have our marriage annulled?”
She looked momentarily shocked. “I do not know. I told you when you first came in that I have much on my mind and I need to think.”
“I will give you a day to think about what I have said. I will return tomorrow evening. Make sure you are in your chamber and please be more forthcoming.” I always seemed to be making concessions to her.
“I will be here,” she confirmed.
“Taduheppa, that bruise on your face, that you have tried to hide, how did you get it?”
“I was silly. I walked into the gates at the entrance to the gardens.”
“Really” I said. “I will see you tomorrow evening.”
I walked down the corridor and waited. I did not have to wait long. The door to her chamber opened and Taduheppa left. I stepped out of sight and then followed her at a distance making sure that I did not get close for I did not want her to see me. I watched her turn a corner and walk surreptitiously down another corridor before entering an apartment off that corridor. It did not surprise me that it was the apartment of Akhenamun. I walked back to my apartment to await the arrival of Murat.
****
Murat arrived back at the palace just after dusk with the information that Coreb would leave the army camp at first light and be at Malkata in the morning. It was now just a question of trying to sleep and being patient until the morning.
Coreb was even earlier than I expected and Murat showed him into my inner chamber. I indicated to Murat that he could leave. Coreb bowed and greeted me informally. “Good morning, Smenkhkare. I came as early as possible for I sensed from Murat’s words that my presence was required urgently.”