The Crocodile Caper

by A. B. Greenfield

  “There was no trick,” Pharaoh said gravely, holding Dedi and Kiya close. “And they are not the ones who should be ashamed. They were in danger, here in your house.”

  “In danger? Nonsense!” Lady Satiah flounced up from her curtsy, her wig askew. “I don’t know what they’ve been telling you, but it isn’t true. I told you in my message that you shouldn’t worry, and I was right. They were fine. See? Here they are.”

  “Only because they were resourceful,” Pharaoh said.

  “And because of Ra and his friends,” Kiya reminded him.

  “Yes,” Pharaoh agreed. To Lady Satiah, he said, “I had a warning that something was wrong here, so I came to find my children.”

  “A warning?” Lady Satiah tensed. “What do you mean?”

  “Yesterday morning, my guards caught a dangerous criminal in Thebes,” Pharaoh told her. “I remained there to be certain they caught his accomplices, too.”

  “So that’s why Pharaoh stayed in Thebes!” Khepri whispered.

  “And why he sent the children away,” Miu murmured.

  Pharaoh went on, “The leader confessed that his network included men in your household, Lady Satiah. I set out immediately. We were halfway here when your messenger reached me. But I would have gone faster still, had I known you had a murderer on the loose.”

  “A murderer?” Lady Satiah sounded faint. “It was Yaba, wasn’t it? She’s a spy. An assassin. That’s why I locked her up—”

  “You did what?” Pharaoh thundered. “Release her at once!”

  “But she—”

  “Lady Yaba had nothing to do with this.” Pharaoh’s voice was as hard and sharp as his spear. “It was your Keeper and your watchmen who kidnapped my son. And Hormin tried to kill both Kiya and Dedi.”

  “The watchmen and the Keeper were part of a smuggling ring,” Dedi explained. “They were selling baby animals from your zoo.”

  “What?” Under her painted face, Lady Satiah suddenly looked sick. “Is this true?”

  “Yes,” Dedi told her. “I went into the storeroom to get a basket for the crocodile, but then Hormin, Qen, and the Keeper came in, and I had to hide. They talked about selling some ibis hatchlings and maybe the baby crocodile and a lion cub, too. I tried to sneak away, but they saw me, and Hormin hit me. Later, he tried to kill me.”

  “I’m sorry!” the Keeper wailed as Pharaoh’s guards closed in on him. “I didn’t mean for anyone to get hurt. I wanted the babies to go to good homes, with owners who love them. And Hormin said I could make enough to buy my own elephant, too. But nobody was supposed to get killed.” He started sobbing again. “I’m really, truly sorry.”

  “Sorry?” Lady Satiah glared at him through her kohl-rimmed eyes. “You’ll be more than sorry when I’m through with you, Keeper. And Hormin and Qen will be, too. You’ve completely spoiled my surprise.”

  Pharaoh stared at her in disbelief. “Is that your only concern? That some surprise has been spoiled?”

  Lady Satiah didn’t seem to notice anything was wrong. “The surprise was for you.”

  Pharaoh shook his head. “I have had enough surprises today.”

  “But this is a wonderful one,” Lady Satiah pleaded. “No other wife has ever given you so royal a gift. You must accept it!”

  Pharaoh looked at her, mystified.

  Lady Satiah waved grandly at the gate. “Here it is before you, O Ruler of Rulers! Your very own zoo!”

  “That’s the surprise?” I muttered to Khepri and Miu.

  “It is to Pharaoh,” Miu said.

  “But maybe not quite the way she meant it to be,” Khepri added.

  “They’re all yours,” Lady Satiah told Pharaoh. “The lions, the ibises, the monkeys, even the hippo. I’ve collected an entire zoo, all for you.”

  Pharaoh looked at Lady Satiah blankly. “But I don’t want a zoo.”

  “Of course you want a zoo,” Lady Satiah said frantically. “Everyone does.”

  “Not me,” Pharaoh said. “I travel too much.” He smiled down at me. “Besides, I have a cat.”

  “Anyway,” Kiya told Lady Satiah, “your zoo is gone.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.” Lady Satiah stalked to the gate. “My zoo is—”

  She caught sight of the empty cages.

  “Gone!” she wailed.

  CHAPTER 27

  The Royal Babysitter

  The next morning, as we gathered in the great hall, Hoop showed up again. It took a while to catch him up on everything.

  “So that was Lady Satiah’s big plan?” Hoop shrieked with laughter. “She talked the General into helping her fund a zoo so they could give it to Pharaoh? And they thought he’d be so thrilled that he’d give them whatever they wanted? Oop-oop. Of all the half-baked ideas!”

  “To be fair, you have to remember that she doesn’t see much of Pharaoh,” Miu said. “She didn’t know he doesn’t like zoos. Lots of rich people do.”

  “Fools!” Hoop dismissed them. “Why keep animals in cages? Everyone knows it’s better when you can fly around and catch your own bugs.”

  Khepri slid down to my belly.

  “Not you, you little dung-eater!” Hoop chortled. “Oop-oop. Anyway, I’ve already had my breakfast.”

  “So have I,” I said as Khepri peeked out from my belly fur. “Don’t poke too hard there, Khepri. I’m on the full side.”

  Since we’d closed the case, I’d pretty much been eating nonstop. Pharaoh had insisted that every delicacy be offered to me. I had to hand it to the cooks. Stewed oxtail, braised antelope, cinnamon-glazed duck—everything was excellent. But best of all was the expression on Lady Satiah’s face as I sampled my treats from her very own plates.

  She was still giving me the evil eye even now. That is, when she wasn’t trying to give Ahmose his instructions.

  “Remember your manners,” she said, smoothing his hair. “Write to me every day. And don’t let your tunic sashes drag on the floor.”

  “Don’t worry, my lady,” Turo said. “I’ll look after him.”

  “Ahmose is going away?” Hoop flicked his crown feathers in amazement. “Where to?”

  “He’s going with us,” I told him.

  “So her plan worked!” Hoop shrieked. “Pharaoh adores her boy. She got what she wanted!”

  “Not quite,” Khepri said from the safety of my belly. “Lady Satiah is in disgrace. Pharaoh is removing Ahmose from her influence for a while and having him educated with Dedi. Turo’s coming, too, and he’s getting a promotion. Pharaoh says he’s earned it since he did his best to protect Kiya.”

  “Lady Satiah will stay here with the General,” Miu added. “Pharaoh says they’ll both be supervised, and they’ll have their travel curtailed for a while.”

  “She’ll need to replace her Steward and Painter,” Hoop said. “I saw them grab a boat and head down the Nile last night, as fast as the river could carry them. Oop-oop!”

  “Yes,” Miu said, “but they left Dedi’s jewelry behind. I guess they got scared when Pharaoh arrived and Dedi turned up alive. Stealing from Pharaoh’s family is treason.”

  “And Qen?” Hoop dipped his head feathers. “I heard he survived the crocodiles, no thanks to Hormin.”

  “Qen’s bandaged up now,” Khepri said, “and he’ll go on trial with the rest of the smuggling gang. I guess he’s discovered there are worse things than being a watchman.”

  “What about Yaba?” Hoop wanted to know.

  “She and Pharaoh have gotten to know each other a little better,” I said. “When Pharaoh realized how homesick she was, he offered to send her back, but she says her father would only marry her to someone else. She asked instead for a home of her own, far away from Lady Satiah, and he’s granting her that.”

  “She’ll take the gazelle with her, too,” Miu said. “The one she sings to. It has a
short leg and can’t survive in the wild.”

  “Yaba said she’d take Taweret, too,” Khepri put in. “And Taweret’s baby, when it’s born. And the Keeper is going with them.”

  “The Keeper?” Hoop fluttered his wings in surprise. “But he stole all those baby animals.”

  “Yes, he did,” Miu said. “But he really did believe he was giving them a good home, and he stopped Hormin from hurting Dedi and Kiya. So Pharaoh has decided to let him off lightly. He has to give his profits back, and he owes a big fine, but he can go with Yaba. She says that one day she might even let him have an elephant—but only if it’s one that can’t live in the wild.”

  “Oop-oop!” Hoop flew up. “Sounds like Pharaoh’s calling you guys. Toodle-oop-oop!”

  It was time to go. Quicker than I would have thought possible, we were settled on the deck of Pharaoh’s royal barge, getting ready to head home.

  “I need to speak with the captain,” Pharaoh said to the children. “But Ra the Mighty will look after you.”

  “And so will his friends,” Miu added.

  “You bet!” Khepri said. “The Great Detectives are great at looking after things.”

  “Thanks, guys.” I stretched out in the sun. “How about we look for a snack after I have a nap?”

  But then Kiya cornered me.

  Oh, no, I thought. Dress-up time.

  “Ra-baby,” Kiya cooed. “I know how much you love dress-up—”

  Oh, no, I don’t.

  “—but I’ve decided it’s kind of boring,” Kiya went on.

  Well, that was great news. I nuzzled her hand to show how pleased I was.

  “I’ve got a great new game for us instead.” Kiya rose to her feet. “It’s called crocodile!”

  She charged at me, arms snapping together like jaws.

  “You know, I think I’d rather play dress-up!” I yowled to Miu and Khepri.

  But when they laughed and joined in the game, I did, too. Family is family, after all. And I was glad to have mine.

  I was Ra the Mighty, Pharaoh’s Cat, Lord of the Powerful Paw. And if that meant I was also Ra the Royal Babysitter, that was just fine by me.

  Ra’s Glossary of Names

  Ahmose (ah-mose): Son of Pharaoh and Lady Satiah. A nice kid who wants a pet. (A pet crocodile, that is.)

  Dedi (ded-ee): The crown prince, Pharaoh’s number one son and heir. More sensible than his sister, but not to be trusted with a lizard.

  Hormin (hoar-meen): A tall, sniffly watchman. Handy with a net.

  Khepri (kep-ree): Insect investigator. My scarab beetle buddy and fellow Great Detective. Definitely not a snack.

  Kiya (kee-yah): Pharaoh’s daredevil younger daughter. Mischief-maker. Keeper of the costumes.

  Nekhbet (nek-bet): A birdbrain who pals around with crocodiles. Not a cultured vulture.

  Miu (mew): Another Great Detective. Kitchen cat and confronter of crocodiles.

  Qen (ken): A short, red-nosed watchman who’s ready for a break.

  Ramses Dedumose (rahm-sees ded-oo-mose): see Dedi

  Satiah (sah-tee-ah): Ahmose’s mother. A woman with a plan…and a zoo.

  Sobek (so-bek): A crocodile-headed god—and also a scaly king and his heir (Sobek Junior). Watch out for the teeth!

  Taweret (tah-oo-ret): Earth mother and happy hippo. Always up for a mud bath.

  Turo (too-row): Ahmose’s cousin and curly-headed tutor. Stronger than he looks.

  Wegaf (wey-gaff): Lady Satiah’s brother. A general with bad dreams.

  Yaba (yah-bah): One of Pharaoh’s wives. A princess without power, and a sleepwalker with a secret.

  Author’s Note

  Have you ever seen the crocodile god Sobek? I have…

  …well, a statue of him, anyway. He guards an ancient Egyptian temple in one of my favorite museums. His huge head sits on a plinth, and he has a sleek wig and fearsome teeth. He’s impossible to ignore. Every time I see him, I can almost hear him asking, “When are you going to write about crocodiles?”

  Now that I have, I hope he’s pleased.

  As the statue indicates, ancient Egyptians were fascinated with crocodiles. No wonder, because they are astonishing animals. Closely related to their dinosaur-era ancestors, they look a lot like them, too. Their bite is stronger than that of any other creature, and they can stay underwater for hours, lying in wait for their prey. Their blood is special as well, with factors in it that help them heal quickly.

  Ancient Egyptians were aware of two types of crocodile: the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) and the West African crocodile (Crocodylus suchus). Both were associated with Sobek, a complicated deity who represented fertility, power, protection, aggression, and Pharaoh.

  Egyptian priests tended to use West African crocodiles in their ceremonies, probably because they are smaller and less ferocious than Nile crocodiles. I decided, however, to put Nile crocodiles in the waters by Lady Satiah’s palace. They can be upwards of fifteen feet long and weigh over four hundred pounds, and they consider humans fair game. In modern times, they were hunted almost to extinction, but they have since made a comeback. So if you visit the Nile, watch out for them!

  The Nile was the great highway of ancient Egypt, but we still have a lot to learn about the vessels that traveled it. The earliest Egyptian boats were made with bundles of reeds. The reeds held a lot of air inside them, so they were good at floating. By Ra’s time, many royal boats were built with wood, including cedar of Lebanon. These vessels could be both large and fancy, with sails, steering oars, and cabins on deck for important passengers.

  Most pharaohs spent plenty of time traveling up and down the Nile. They needed to keep an eye on various parts of their kingdom, and they had to attend important religious festivals in different cities. They tended to move from palace to palace throughout the year.

  Pharaohs also tended to marry more than one wife, and some of these marriages were made for diplomatic reasons. Pharaoh’s Great Wife—the chief wife—usually lived with him, but his other wives were sometimes removed to another palace, along with their children. Some of those wives must have felt homesick and isolated, like Lady Yaba.

  A pharaoh had the power to decide whom he named as his heir, so someone like Lady Satiah could hope that her own son might impress him and eventually ascend to the throne. There were other ways for a wife to gain power, too. Khepri’s story about the royal wife who led a plot against the pharaoh is true, as far as we can tell. The wife’s name was Tiye, the pharaoh’s name was Ramses III—and he really did end up dead.

  A few more true details: Royal servants did indeed have fancy job titles like Painter of Her Mouth. Twenty Squares really was the name of a favorite game in ancient Egypt. And Pharaoh and his court really did regard fish as taboo.

  We also know that ancient Egyptians associated cats with the goddess Bastet, who was said to protect women and children. Cats were probably the most popular pet in ancient Egypt. Some nobles preferred more exotic animals, such as lions, monkeys, baboons, antelope, leopards, and crocodiles. These animals were expensive to obtain and to keep, and their cost and rarity made them status symbols.

  Scholars argue about whether ancient Egyptians kept actual zoos, but there’s some compelling evidence that they did, and that a hippo like Taweret might end up in one. Sadly, there’s also evidence that many of the animals were not treated well.

  I don’t think anyone in Egypt ever tried to put a hoopoe in a zoo, but they are amazing birds. Their head feathers make them look like glamorous punk-rock stars. Their nickname is the butterfly bird, and they like to nest in cliffs and walls. They consider dung beetles delicious, and they do indeed say “Oop-oop!”

  Acknowledgments

  Mighty thanks to all my partners in crime, including Sarah Horne, whose marvelous illustrations bring Ra and his friends to life; Sally Morgridge, Derek Sto
rdahl, Mary Cash, Terry Borzumato-Greenberg, Kevin Jones, Nicole Benevento, Lex Higbee, Emily Mannon, Hannah Finne, Eryn Levine, Amy Toth, and the other wonderful people at Holiday House, who bring Ra and his friends to readers; Barbara Perris, whose stellar copyediting spruces Ra up; Sara Crowe, Larissa Helena, Ashley Valentine, Cameron Chase, and rest of the fabulous Pippins, who are enthusiastic about all things Ra; and Tracy Abell and Kit Sturtevant, two fantastic writers who gave me helpful comments on an early draft of this book.

  I’m also grateful to my parents, who let me have lots of books and kittens when I was small; to Rebecca Sokolovsky and her family, who cheer for Ra and make my New York travels more fun; to the Ashmolean in Oxford, where Sobek guards the Ancient Egypt galleries; and to Crocodiles of the World in Brize Norton, England, where I researched crocodiles up close (and saw how high they can jump!). I also want to thank all the teachers, librarians, booksellers, bloggers, friends, and fans who have shared their love for the Great Detectives. Your posts, emails, photos, letters, tweets, video clips, and drawings are a delight.

  Finally, my loving thanks to my husband and daughter—Ra’s number one fans, readers, and plot consultants, who always make sure that Ra and his scribe get enough snacks and naps!