They were reluctant, but Jennifer had been mentioning the educational benefits. A lot. She and Grandma Jo were pretty sure her parents were about to cave in.
“Do you want to get together at my house after school so we can work on our Egyptian house project?” asked Kelly. Hannah rolled her eyes.
“Okay,” said Ashley. “I’ll ask my mom if we can use some of her dollhouse modeling clay. She showed me how to make tiles with it a couple of weeks ago.”
“You into that?” asked Hannah. “It sounds boring.”
Ashley shrugged. “It’s fun. We made pots and bowls with it, too. I’ll show you.”
“Oh, all right,” said Hannah.
“Okay,” said Jennifer. “We could do it today, but not tomorrow. I have a ball game.”
“Can I come?” asked Hannah. “Your coach is cute.”
“Sure. I’ll even introduce you,” said Jennifer, with a wiggle of her eyebrows. Hannah giggled.
Mrs. Goodwin called out to the class. Daoud and the young woman were taking them to the other room now. Jennifer, Ashley, Kelly and Hannah tagged along at the end of the file. At the door, Jennifer paused and looked over her shoulder at the mummy and its tomb painting. She let the others get ahead of her, then slipped back.
Somebody had moved things around a bit since her last visit. There was a bench in front of the painting now. Jennifer sat on it and held her amulet.
“Hi, Dje-Nefer,” she said softly to the girl in the painting. “I wonder how your life went after I left. I hope you had a good one.”
“Jennifer?”
Startled, Jennifer jerked her attention away from the tomb fragment. Daoud was standing beside the bench. “May I sit?”
“Sure,” said Jennifer. “I thought you were giving a tour to my class.”
“My assistant, Rasha, is doing that. She is very knowledgeable about the later time periods,” said Daoud. “So I can talk with you.”
He and Jennifer looked at the tomb painting. It really was a very good likeness.
Jennifer cleared her throat. “Daoud? You knew what was going to happen when I opened the amulet, didn’t you?”
Daoud was silent for a moment. Then he sighed. “Yes. I knew.”
Jennifer waited. Daoud glanced at her and gave her a tired smile. The lines in his aged face seemed deeper than before.
“As you say in English, it is a long story,” said Daoud. “It began, as you know, several thousand years ago.”
“About thirty-five hundred,” said Jennifer. “During Hatshepsut’s time.”
“Quite so. I remember it well,” said Daoud.
Jennifer nodded. “Because you were there.”
“Yes.” For a moment, he seemed to waver, and the image of a bare-chested man wearing a white kilt and a tall split head-dress floated in front of him. Jennifer looked from him to the statue in the corner of the room. The image winked out, revealing Daoud’s old, friendly face once again.
“Amon-Ra,” said Jennifer, in a satisfied tone. “It was you that I saw, when Grandma Jo and I traveled back to this time, wasn’t it?”
“I am Amon-Ra,” Daoud confirmed. “Much diminished, of course.”
“So does that mean you’re a god?”
“That is not precisely the right term. Although, to the people of Ancient Egypt, my people must have seemed that way,” he said. “There never were very many of us, and we tried to keep hidden, as much as possible. Some of us were…odd-looking.”
“Neferhotep and Hatshepsut said they thought they had seen you,” said Jennifer.
“I’m sure they did. Even we had to eat some time,” said Daoud. He winked. “And why shouldn’t we consume the good food given to us as sacrifices?”
Jennifer laughed.
“We were probably seen many times. We live a long time, unless we are killed. Long enough to be considered immortal. I myself am more than five thousand years old.”
“Wow,” said Jennifer. “You must have been through a lot. Wars, and other stuff.”
“Sadly, many of those,” he sighed. “You humans are…energetic.”
“Humans? Are you…aliens?” asked Jennifer.
Daoud laughed. “Oh, no. We belong to this planet, too. We are merely older beings. Do you not have stories of creatures other than man, with supernatural powers, even in your culture?”
“Well, sure,” said Jennifer. “Elves, fairies—things like that.”
“Just so,” said Daoud. “They probably stem from the same source. We have certain talents that you do not. Do you know of telepathy, telekinesis, that sort of thing?”
“Um, telepathy is mind-reading, isn’t it?”
“Speaking mind to mind, rather. Telekinesis is moving objects only with the mind,” said Daoud. “Some of us have other talents, like taking over an animal or human body.”
“You mean possession! Like the demon took over Ka-Aper,” said Jennifer.
“Yes. Poor man.”
“And…I took over Dje-Nefer. Then…am I like you?” asked Jennifer.
Daoud shook his head. “You are human. It was I who caused you to switch bodies with her.”
“You? I thought the amulet and the dust did it,” said Jennifer. She looked at her amulet. The dust was long gone.
Daoud clasped his hands together. “Partially. The dust was made of certain elements that are not easily obtained today. The mixture is one that our people used as a focusing agent, to assist our powers. When humans got their hands on the recipe, they used it for other purposes.”
“Like getting rid of demons?”
“Yes. They found out it had an effect on some of us. Even though the mixture was greatly weakened by age, it was still effective for me. It took a lot of effort on my part, and I am weakened with age, too. I had to rest for several days after I sent your ka through time.”
“Is that one of your powers?” asked Jennifer. “Time travel, I mean?”
“Not precisely,” said Daoud. “I can cause a human’s personality to move to another’s. It was made easier by the fact that you and Dje-Nefer were so similar.”
“Why did you make us switch bodies?”
“It was the only way. I couldn’t send you physically.”
“Why did you send me back?”
“I knew what you had to do. What you had done, actually. In the past.”
“You mean Hatshepsut? The conspiracy?”
“Exactly. I didn’t know what had happened at the time, of course. I only realized what you had done after you had done it,” said Daoud. “I didn’t even know you were there, until the entity that had possessed the unfortunate Ka-Aper had released him.”
“The demon,” said Jennifer.
Daoud sighed. “No more a demon than I am a god. Just someone who had the power to take over a human consciousness. When he left Ka-Aper’s body, I realized what had happened.”
“How did you know? You weren’t there,” said Jennifer.
“I was there.” He lowered his voice and intoned, “It is good to know that we are still remembered.” His outline wavered again, as a faint image of Tetisheri’s father faded in and out.
“Hekhanakhte!” said Jennifer. “You were him!”
“For a short time,” said Daoud. “Like that other entity, I also have the ability to put my consciousness in a human body, for a short time. Or I did, once.”
Jennifer tilted her head to one side. “Hatshepsut said you were her true father…”
“I admit I was much taken with her mother, Ahmose,” said Daoud. “She was beautiful. I would like to think that Hatshepsut was my daughter in spirit. I admired her. But, no. I did not possess Thutmose the First. I do not feel it is ethical to meddle with another person. The few times that I did, I did not enjoy it.”
“You controlled me,” said Jennifer. “You made me go to Dje-Nefer’s body.”
Daoud ducked his head. “I know. It was necessary. You were there, so you must have gone. I had to make sure that you did.”
“Ho
w did you find out?”
“When I possessed Hekhanakhte, I heard your explanation of who you were, and it was then that I realized that I, or someone like me, must have caused you to travel through time. I didn’t know why, then.”
“But you did later.”
“I did know that the demon was becoming more powerful, and I had only just found out his plans to kill Hatshepsut. I didn’t know what to do. Then you showed up. Later, I decided that I myself had sent you. I waited a very long time to give you a certain amulet. I did not know that it would be centuries. Then, a few weeks ago, a girl who looked just like Dje-Nefer came to the museum.”
“Me,” said Jennifer.
“You,” Daoud agreed.
“Why me?” asked Jennifer. “Why not some other girl? There must have been others who looked like her.”
“There were a few other girls who looked something like Dje-Nefer. It could have been one of them. Only you would have known that Hatshepsut’s mummy had been found.”
“Because I was born in the right time,” said Jennifer.
“Yes, precisely. Also, I recognized your grandmother when she came to Egypt. She looked much like Mutemwija even when she was younger,” said Daoud. “I was tempted to give the amulet to her then. But she was not the one who was supposed to have it. Afterwards, I thought that perhaps if I found her again, I might find you. So I acquired an official education and made sure that this collection of artifacts came to your city. Your grandmother had told me where she lived. I hoped she had not moved.”
“Couldn’t you just have used your, um, powers, to locate her? Or to come here?”
Daoud shook his head. “I am very old. I still have some of my powers, but they are weak.”
“So you gave me the amulet and waited.”
“I didn’t know exactly when you would go, but I hoped it would be soon.”
“Why?”
“So I could apologize to you,” said Daoud. “I hoped I would still be in this country when you traveled through time. I felt that neither you nor I had any choice in the matter, and that distressed me. Unlike that other entity, I honor free will.”
“Why did he possess poor old Ka-Aper?” asked Jennifer.
“I don’t know. Perhaps he wanted to be the power behind the throne,” said Daoud. “I think he did not like the way the country was being run and thought he could remove Hatshepsut from her throne. There are always some who prefer that those around them conform in predictable ways. They don’t like independent thought,” said Daoud. “Hatshepsut upset the normal order of things. Also, the ‘demon’ stayed away from his own body for too long. It had died. I think that drove him mad.”
“Who was he?”
“I don’t know. His essence disappeared.”
A sudden burst of clapping came from the other room, then voices rose. It sounded like Mrs. Goodwin was coming back with the rest of the class. Jennifer gave the tomb painting one last look and rose. So did Daoud.
Jennifer stroked the scarab amulet. “Was this buried with Dje-Nefer?”
“Yes.”
“So how did you get it?”
“I…retrieved it at about the same time that Hatshepsut’s existence was rediscovered.”
“You robbed her tomb?” Jennifer grinned at Daoud.
“Please. Trained Egyptologists do not rob tombs,” he said, his eyes crinkling.
“You weren’t trained back then.”
“Back then, most ‘Egyptologists’ weren’t more than tomb robbers themselves.”
Jennifer laughed. “I should probably give this back to you,” she said, about to lift the amulet over her head. Daoud held up a hand.
“No,” he said. “It is most definitely yours. After all, Ramose gave it to you.”
“All right.” She hadn’t really wanted to part with it. “Thank you,” she said, smiling. “For everything.”
“Thank you,” said Daoud. “You did more than you know.”
Jennifer glanced at the tomb painting. “I think I might learn more about hieroglyphs, so I can read this fascinating story.”
“Good idea,” said Daoud. “Now that you have had some experience, do you think you will be an Egyptologist when you become an adult?”
Jennifer watched as Hannah and the others walked into the room. Hannah waved to Jennifer, then tugged Ashley and Kelly along to see the cosmetics containers. Jennifer patted her braided hair.
“I don’t know,” she said, grinning, “but I do know I’ll be myself.”
Dje-Nefer picked up her bottle of kohl. Using her new bronze mirror, she carefully painted dark lines around her eyes.
“Are you ready?” asked Meryt-Re. Her voice echoed off the newly-plastered walls of Dje-Nefer’s room. They were bare yet; Dje-Nefer would have to do something about that.
They had all moved into the villa shortly after the great Nile flood had receded. It was just one of many changes since her magical experience. It was hard to believe it had happened more than a year ago.
“I’m ready,” she said. She linked arms with her mother as they walked down the hall toward the atrium.
True to her word, Pharaoh Hatshepsut had given Ramose a royal commission, and even appointed him as the royal amulet-maker. Thutmose III, pleased with his work, had kept him in the position even after Hatshepsut’s death.
“Is Uncle Neferhotep joining us?” asked Dje-Nefer.
“Perhaps later. He had work to do at the palace.”
Neferhotep’s duties had increased with his promotion. Kai was long gone and Neferhotep had taken over Ka-Aper’s duties when the old fellow had retired to a country home. After all, he had been possessed by a demon.
So had Dje-Nefer, in a way. She stroked the little scarab amulet. Ramose had carved more hieroglyphs into the stone.
“I wonder if Jennifer made it back to her own time,” said Dje-Nefer.
“I suppose we will never really know,” said Meryt-Re. “I hope so. She deserved to, after what she did for all of us.”
When they reached the great room that served as a greeting area, Mutemwija was already there. Dje-Nefer hugged the old woman. After her adventure, Dje-Nefer had sought her out in the market. Their reunion had been so noisy and joyous that the other merchants still remarked upon it. She tried to visit every day, though she had to admit, lately she’d been going for a different reason.
“Did Ti not come with you tonight?” asked Meryt-Re.
“No. A wealthy customer wanted to make a large order. I left him to do the haggling,” said Mutemwija. She smiled at Dje-Nefer. “He wanted to come, though. I think it was not just to accompany me.”
Dje-Nefer blushed.
Mentmose skidded into the room, earning a frown from Meryt-Re.
“Is she here yet?” he asked.
“Teti and her parents should be arriving soon,” Meryt-Re assured him.
Dje-Nefer hid a smile. Mentmose had been told he didn’t have to marry Tetisheri, but it seemed he had learned to appreciate his chatty wife-to-be during Dje-Nefer’s absence.
Drus, one of the new servants, came trotting up. “Excuse me, ma’am. There is a traveler at the gates. A Nubian.”
“It must be Bibi,” said Dje-Nefer. “Uncle Nefer told me he’d be coming by. I’ll go meet him.”
“All right,” said Meryt-Re. “But don’t be long.”
Dje-Nefer walked out into the wide courtyard. Halfway across, she stopped to caress the trunk of the myrrh tree which she had transplanted from the palace. Just last week, she had harvested the golden grains, then mixed them with herbs that Neferhotep had given her. The mixture was sealed in a clay pot, waiting for her to transfer it to the amulet. Neferhotep thought the appropriate time for the ritual would be at the next rising of Sepdet, the dog star, which would be soon.
A man was waiting for her at the villa’s entrance, accompanied by a scrawny donkey.
“Good evening, Dje-Nefer,” said Bibi, pulling off his floppy straw hat to wipe his brow.
“Hello,
Bibi. I thought you would have been long gone to Nubia by now,” said Dje-Nefer.
“Your uncle asked for my help making the fake mummy,” said Bibi. “We used wood and straw, then wrapped it in linen.”
“You did a good job,” said Dje-Nefer. “I thought the finished product was very flattering.”
“Neferhotep has already hidden the real Pharaoh. Only he knows where.”
“I’m sure she’s pleased. The funeral procession was magnificent,” said Dje-Nefer.
Exactly seventy days after Hatshepsut’s death, a long line of mourners and a winding trail of servants carrying furniture, food, jewelry and pots of myrrh had followed the Pharaoh’s sarcophagus to her temple near the Valley of the Kings. The chief priest had performed the Opening of the Mouth ceremony, Neferhotep assisting.
“Thutmose looked every inch a King, riding at the head of the procession,” said Dje-Nefer. “Though he did not seem upset that she had died.”
“He had been waiting a long time to be Pharaoh,” said Bibi.
“I think he will be a very popular Pharaoh.”
“Yes, even if some are already suggesting that he killed Hatshepsut.” Bibi shook his head. “He had nothing to do with it. Her doctors tried, but nothing worked on that incurable disease.”
“I heard His Majesty has said he plans to ‘return to our traditional ways.’ Mother says that means he has been thinking of how to erase Hatshepsut from our memories.”
“Perhaps. I went to her temple a few days ago,” said Bibi. “It is still intact, but no one guards it. I watered the myrrh trees. They were dying.” He sighed. “Our world is changing.”
“Uncle Neferhotep said to tell you that he will be visiting Nubia soon,” said Dje-Nefer. “He wants me to come with him when he goes, to study the art in the tombs. It is a little different from what I am used to seeing..”
“Neferhotep would be wise to stay in Nubia,” said Bibi.
“Because of Thutmose?” Dje-Nefer asked.
“Many of Her Majesty’s friends and advisors have already scattered to other cities.”
“Neferhotep is dedicated to Amon-Ra. I doubt he will leave. Mutemwija is thinking of moving there, though.”
The sun was lowering, turning blood-red in the dusty air. A gentle cool breeze was rising from the Nile, now restored to its former glory. The white sails of several reed boats glided past in both directions, water droplets glittering off the poles of the sailors.
The Amulet of Amon-Ra Page 16