by Scott Peters
To his surprise, Sepi said, "I’m almost ready."
Almost ready? Sepi was going somewhere?
The priest stood. "Good. Then I’ll leave you boys to say your goodbyes."
"You’re packing? Why? What’s going on?"
Sepi broke into a grin. "Don’t look so worried. I’m fine. More than fine. I have my own good news."
"Tell me!"
Sepi sat on the bed. Ramses sank down beside him.
"Something happened yesterday at the Place of Truth," Sepi said. "I was standing there with my parents. In my hand was the scroll that should’ve been yours. And the reality struck me. I couldn’t do it anymore, I couldn’t take their expectations. All my life, I’ve never been myself, never thought about what I wanted. It was always about their dreams. Not until that night by the shed when you asked me what I wanted to do."
Bastet slid through the door and padded over to where the boys sat. Ramses reached down and picked her up.
"I might not have the hands of an artist," Sepi said, "Or the strength of a farmer. Or the shrewdness of a city official that would make my parents proud. But I have an important task to fulfill. It called me for years. I sent word to my old tutor, that’s why the priest came. He arrived an hour ago and has agreed to take me on as his scribe. I’m to maintain the temple’s written secrets, the very books of the gods."
Ramses stared at his friend. Then, grinning, he shook his head. "And you said I’d be leaving you behind—I think it’s you who’s going to forget us all!"
At this Sepi laughed. "No. And don’t you forget that the temple is close to the Place of Truth. You’d better plan on visiting."
"Believe me, I will."
They talked a little more, and Ramses realized just how reluctant he was to leave. Would they really get to see one another again? If they did, it wouldn’t be like this. Their lives would change, grow busy and demanding. They’d never have the easy knowledge that the other was right there.
All too soon, the priest returned for Sepi, and the Chief Scribe called to take Ramses to the village.
Outside, Hebony was tearful but smiling. She hugged him at least three times. Sobek’s voice was gruff as he said his goodbyes. Ramses own throat felt tight, and before they could see that his eyes were damp, he bent to scratch Bastet behind the ears.
"I’m going to miss you," he told her. "But I’ll be back, I promise."
Chapter Sixty-Five
In the Place of Truth, Ramses sat with the Chief Scribe and Neferet on soft cushions around the dinner table. Neferet and Ramses were laughing about how they'd met.
"It's not often you make somebody's acquaintance by falling in a hole," Neferet said.
"Maybe people should do it more!" Ramses replied.
Neferet’s father turned his eyes to the sky and shook his head, but Ramses knew the Chief Scribe was laughing too. And soon all three of them were telling stories like old friends. Even Neferet’s father had some funny tales. So funny, in fact, the three of them were choking with laughter.
Above the tiny village, stars twinkled in the night sky.
Ramses glanced out the window. He couldn’t help missing Hebony, Sobek, and Sepi. Still, he knew they were happy, and he’d visit them often.
There was only one thing that would have made this wonderful night complete; But that thing was impossible. He wished his parents could know what had happened, so that they could rest easy in the afterlife. Maybe somehow, they did know. Someday he would tell them, when he found them on the path of eternity and flung himself into their waiting arms.
Neferet was looking at him across the table, a slice of bread halfway to her mouth. "Is everything all right?"
Ramses grinned. "I just can hardly believe I'm here."
"Make that two of us," Nakht said.
It really was hard to believe. He, a simple farm boy, was the new apprentice in the Place of Truth. The future stretched out like a fantastic painting, just waiting to be drawn. In three days, he’d meet Pharaoh and take part in a royal celebration. After that, Ramses would start work inside a secret, magnificent tomb. He'd be learning from masters to create images that would last forever, and adding some of his own.
Someday, if all went well, he'd be considered a master himself.
When the house grew quiet and the others had gone to sleep, Ramses knelt before the wooden chest he'd brought from home. Tui had let him keep one of the pair of drawings that had been his final test. Lifting the lid, Ramses removed the scroll and crept to the window.
By the light of the moon, he unrolled the precious sheet of papyrus.
On the page, Horus stood at the helm of a powerful chariot. Four war-horses with plumed headdresses charged under his command, their nostrils flaring and manes flying. Ramses thought he heard the sound of turning wheels, and the hammer of pounding of hooves. A breeze blew up from the page. Prickles ran along his arms. Suddenly, Horus turned.
The god's eyes were dark and penetrating as they met Ramses' gaze.
Horus smiled.
It was a terrifying sight. But this time, Ramses smiled back.
Historical Note
This story is a work of fiction. However, many of the locations described in this book are set in historical fact, around the time 1323 B.C. The Place of Truth was a real village. Its remains still exist today, and can be visited and explored.
The Place of Truth (Deir El Medina)
Archeologists unearthed a great deal of information about Egypt's people from this village, because the tomb makers who lived there kept such detailed records of their daily lives. They recorded the art supplies they ordered, as well as their food and clothing, and many other things. They also recorded how such items were divided up.
Tomb robbers were a very real threat during this time. Guards were placed around the Valley of the Kings, but without modern technology, it was hard to keep an eye on such a large area. Many tombs were the victims of robbery.
Egypt's people believed that the gods existed all around them. Ramses' interaction with the gods had supernatural elements, yet for many people the gods were very real and could be seen all around them in the natural world.
Glossary
Amulet: A protective charm usually worn or carried by its owner.
Craftsmen: Archeologists discovered that the tombs in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings were built by highly skilled craftsmen. These craftsmen lived in the village known as the Place of Truth.
Eye of Horus: Horus was a sun god, often represented as a falcon. His right eye was the sun and his left eye was the moon. The Egyptians believed the Eye of Horus held protective powers, and used it used in amulets and funeral drawings. The eye found on American money is derived from the Eye of Horus.
Kilt: Standard male attire, kilts were linen skirts that could be worn straight or pleated.
Kohl: Black eyeliner made from ground malachite and lead, and mixed with oil or fat. Stored in jars, the wearer used a small stick to apply it. A line was traced around the upper and lower lids, and extended toward the ear. Both men and women wore kohl, for it was believed to have both magical and healing powers.
Linen: Fabric made from the flax plant. In ancient Egypt, linen was preferred over wool or cotton as the material is extremely lightweight and breathable.
Maat: Goddess of order, justice, and truth. She wore an ostrich feather, which she used to weigh the heart of the deceased. Those with a heavy heart full of wrongdoings ceased to exist. Those with a light heart enjoyed a happy afterlife.
Memphis: Egypt’s old kingdom capital. Nicknamed the White City. Located near present day Cairo, much of this important city and its history was lost to the Nile floodwaters.
Meretseger: The cobra goddess believed to inhabit the Peak of the West, overlooking the Valley of the Kings. Protector of the pharaohs’ tombs, her wrath was feared by the craftsmen in the Place of Truth. Those who angered her were struck blind, a horrible fate for a craftsman.
Nile Inundation: Egypt’s year con
sisted of three seasons rather than four:
1. Inundation: June-September, when the Nile rose high on its banks. During this time, farmers had a chance to relax.
2. Emergence: October-February, when the water drained and left rich topsoil behind. Farmers trapped the retreating water in pools and tilled the soil.
3. Drought: February-June, farmers harvested their crops and repaired irrigation ditches for the coming Inundation.
Ostraca: A thin, smooth flake of limestone used for making notes, sketches and calculations.
Papyrus: Paper made from the papyrus reed, the bulrush that grows along the Nile banks. Paper makers sliced the pith into long strips and placed it crosswise in a double layer – one strip running down, the other running crosswise. Using a mallet, they pounded the paper and the sap made it stick together into a single sheet. Egypt exported papyrus until the 12th Century AD when rag and wood pulp paper began to replace it.
Pharaoh: King of Egypt
Place of Truth: The craftsmen’s village located by the Valley of the Kings. Now called Deir el-Medina, its Arabic name, the remains can be visited today. The site is of great archeological importance, for its inhabitants left behind large amounts of written material documenting life in the village, and their work on the tombs.
Ptah: God of creation and patron of artists. In Egyptian mythology, he created the Moon, the Sun, and the Earth. Greeks in later times associated Ptah with the god Hephaestos.
Scarab beetle: A dung beetle associated with rebirth and the god Khepher.
Scythe/Sickle: A long, single-edged, curved blade with a bent handle, used for harvesting or reaping.
Shaving: Lower class men made hairstyling easy by shaving their heads. This also kept them cool and kept lice away. Razors were hard to come by. Generally shaving was performed by a traveling barber, who set up his stool on the street or in the shade of a tree.
Thebes: Located 400 miles south of Memphis on the Nile, Thebes was once the religious capital of Egypt. It is the site of modern day Luxor.
Tombs: Ancient Egyptians did not believe death was the end. Instead, they considered it the beginning of the afterlife. Wealthy people and pharaohs spent a good deal of time preparing their tombs. Early in a pharaoh’s reign, he made plans with the craftsmen for his tomb, including its site and its decorations. He then traveled to check up on its progress. It was believed that the dead could take things with them into the next life. Therefore, the tombs were filled with all sorts of things, from food to cosmetics, clothing, jewelry and furniture, much as a person would pack for a long journey.
Wigs: Both women and men of upper class wore wigs. They were made of human hair or sometimes palm fibers and cut in many styles, often curled and perfumed as well. Wax kept the wig’s style in place.
Writing: There were around seven hundred hieroglyphic symbols, as well as cursive equivalents.
Valley of the Kings: The burial site of pharaohs during the New Kingdom—including Tutankhamen. Once known simply as "the Great Place", the valley is located on the west bank of the Nile, across from ancient Thebes.
Also by Scott Peters
More exciting middle grade reads:
Mystery of the Egyptian Scroll
Mystery of the Egyptian Amulet
Mystery of the Egyptian Temple
Scott Peters’ Secret Book of Mummies: 101 Ancient Egypt Mummy Facts & Trivia
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Thank You
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed this book. Goodbye for now! See you again soon.
Your fellow ancient Egypt fan,
~ Scott Peters