“Of course you can,” Hagar said, puzzled. “What’s wrong with that?”
Sarai shook her head. If the woman saw no harm in running about in such a state, she could not explain it to her. She compromised by putting on several of the linen robes, which together provided enough thickness for at least some modesty.
The jewelry Hagar brought forth was so exquisite it took Sarai’s breath away. One piece in particular won her admiration—it was a bead collar that came down to her breast and sparkled with gold and precious stones, with the head of a hawk for a clasp. After fastening matching earrings to her ears, Hagar held up a mirror of highly polished metal and said, “There, are you not beautiful?”
Sarai looked at herself and frowned. She did not like all the face paint. She had allowed Hagar to put it on but now had an impulse to wash it all off. She knew, however, that she had to be careful while she was in this place and simply replied, “Your work pleases me. Thank you very much, Hagar.”
Hagar raised her eyebrows. “Most people don’t bother to thank slaves, mistress.”
“I always want to be kind.”
Hagar stared at the woman in front of her. She was puzzled by her, partly by her age, for she was much older than the women who were usually brought to the pharaoh. But there was a gentleness about her that fascinated the slave girl. “We will do this every day.”
“Do what?”
“Have your bath and fix your face and dress you in beautiful clothes.”
“But that would be a waste of water! Water is very precious.”
Hagar laughed at Sarai’s concern. “Oh, you needn’t worry about that. There is plenty of water in the Nile, mistress!”
****
The lack of activity in the house of women was burdensome to Sarai. For three days she had risen and gone through the ritual bath and allowed Hagar to dress her and adorn her with paint and ornaments. Accustomed as she was to hard work, it was a shocking experience to have absolutely nothing to do all day long.
Hagar kept her new mistress entertained with music and games. She was adept at playing a small handheld harp and had a good singing voice. She knew many of the songs of her people, and Sarai enjoyed listening to her sing them. The slave woman also provided a game called senet, which consisted of a board inlaid with ebony, ivory, and gold on which they moved about polished wooden game pieces. Sarai learned the rules quickly, and the two women spent hours playing it.
Much of the time Sarai simply looked out of her window, dreaming of Abram and her people, but she sometimes toured the house, accompanied by Hagar. She did not know how to feel about the wives of Pharaoh, but there was no doubt about their feelings. None of them approached her or spoke, and the looks some of them gave her were venomous.
“Why do they hate me, Hagar?”
“They hate any woman who comes to be the wife of Pharaoh, or even a concubine. They’re jealous.”
“They needn’t be jealous of me.” Sarai shook her head with despair.
“Pharaoh is all they think about.”
Hagar might have said more, but suddenly Ahut appeared. He seemed distracted and wrung his hands as he said, “Quickly prepare yourself. Pharaoh is ready to welcome you.”
“I am prepared.”
Ahut stared at her in confusion. “No woman is ever prepared.”
“Well, I am,” Sarai said sharply.
“Then come with me,” Ahut said. He led her out of the house of women, across a courtyard, and into the palace, a huge building that loomed up several stories. Sarai was overwhelmed by the immensity of the long archway through which they entered. Its walls were covered in paintings of brilliant colors—of gods and pharaohs of old celebrating their triumphs. There were rows of sphinxes, lionlike figures with the faces of men, and everywhere servants were scurrying, moving, whispering. It was like a huge beehive.
“The pharaoh will see you in his private quarters.”
Sarai was not at all sure how she felt about this, but she had little choice. She mounted two flights of stairs to the third story, where the floor was intricately decorated with tile mosaics. She looked down to see men with long spears pictured in a reed boat hunting a hippopotamus. Other mosaics showed scenes of hunters throwing spears to bring down birds. There were many other pictures, but she had no time to look at them, for Ahut led her through a pair of enormous doors. There, at the far end of the room, sat a man, and Sarai felt a pang of disappointment. The regalia of the pharaoh were overwhelming. Riches—gold, silver, and precious stone—were everywhere, and the man who sat before her wore a double crown. As she approached, her disappointment increased. She had expected a magnificent figure, but no mere man could live up to the reputation of Pharaoh.
“Ah, the lady Sarai. We are pleased to welcome you to our palace.”
Pharaoh Mentuhotep II was a short man, rather chubby, with a boyish-looking face. Sarai knew he was in his early thirties, but he looked no more than twenty. His fingers were fat, and his rings glittered as he lifted his hand in a greeting. He did seem to be a cheerful-looking individual, and Sarai felt a gleam of hope. Perhaps he will not find me to be interesting. I pray your protection, O Eternal One.
“I bow before the mighty pharaoh,” Sarai said and did bow low before him.
“So this is the sister of my good friend Abram the prophet. Come, lady, and walk with me. I will show you my palace.”
“You have met my brother?”
“Not yet, but I assume that I will. My servant tells me that he is a priest and a prophet. Such are always welcome in my kingdom. I want to be on good terms with all of the gods.”
The pharaoh’s voice was high-pitched, almost feminine, but despite his innocent appearance, there was a light in his eyes that warned Sarai that, childlike as he might appear, there was a carnivore on the inside.
For the next hour Pharaoh showed her about the palace and then finally sat her down at a table. “You will sit with me while we eat,” he said. “I know that my cook will find something to please you.”
“I am not hard to please, mighty Pharaoh. My people eat very simply.”
“Then this will be a treat for you.”
The meal was ornate, but Sarai had little appetite for food. She answered the pharaoh’s questions, which at first were general, but when the meal was over, he got up and moved over to the couch where she had taken her meal and sat down beside her. “Now,” he said smoothly, “this is better.” He put his hand out and touched her arm. “What a beautiful complexion.” he whispered. Then reaching up, he touched her face. “So clear and so fair. Not like the dusky women of Egypt.”
Sarai felt a sense of revulsion as his hand touched her cheek. She knew that this was the first step of intimacy and quickly said, “I understand you are interested in the Eternal One.”
“Ah yes.” Pharaoh’s attention was diverted, and he stared into Sarai’s eyes. “I am a god myself, but I like to know about other gods.”
For the next half hour Pharaoh interrogated Sarai about her god. He wanted to know everything about the Eternal One, and finally he said, “This is strange indeed. We will speak more of it later.” Suddenly he leaned forward and put his arm around her. His fat hand caressed her back, moving slowly up and down, and without thinking, Sarai stood up and said, “I am a little tired. If you would permit me, Lord, I would go back to my quarters.”
Pharaoh stood up too, his face darkened. “No woman has ever resisted me.”
Sarai did not know what to say to that, and her face showed her confusion.
Suddenly Pharaoh laughed. “No woman can resist a god. You will not be able to either.” He laughed again and shook his head. “What woman would refuse a god? Go then. We will speak later.”
Sarai nearly burst with relief as she turned and left the room. Ahut was waiting for her, and his face was alive. “Did you enjoy your audience with the god?”
Sarai wanted to shout out, No, I did not! Instead she replied calmly, “He’s a very interesting man.”
>
“Indeed he is. Did he speak of your god?”
“Yes, he wanted to know all about Him.”
“He spends all of his time learning about the different gods.” Ahut’s mind was working feverishly. After all, this woman could possibly be a wife of Pharaoh one day—she might even rise to become the number one wife. She was different, and that was what Pharaoh valued. Ahut leaned close and whispered, “I can tell that he likes you. It’s entirely possible you will become the wife of Pharaoh one day. Then we two will be very close.”
Sarai murmured some reply but was glad when she got back to her room. As she entered, Hagar rushed to her and said, “What did you think of the pharaoh?”
Sarai shook her head. “I’m afraid of him, Hagar. I want nothing to do with him.”
Hagar stared at her with consternation. “But he is the pharaoh!”
“I will not be his wife, nor his concubine.”
“But why not, when you have no husband?”
Sarai almost burst out with the truth, but she did not know Hagar well enough for that, and no word must get to Pharaoh. “If I could only see my brother.”
“Are you two very close?”
Sarai smiled wearily and nodded her head. “Very close, Hagar—very close indeed!”
****
“Master, the Egyptians have brought more beasts.”
Abram turned quickly. He had just exited from his tent when he heard Eliezer’s voice. He waited until the younger man came and stood before him and saw the troubled expression in his steward’s eyes. “So many! Sheep, goats, and cattle, and the officer who brought them said we were to take our cattle to greener pastures where there is better water.”
Abram straightened up, his face tense. He had nearly lost his mind over the past six weeks. He had not heard a word from Sarai, and although he had gone regularly to the gate of the palace, all he had received there was a cold warning from Menhades, the chief priest, or Ahut, the harem keeper, that Sarai was still a guest. Every time both men gave a thinly veiled warning that Abram would be better off to simply leave his sister in Pharaoh’s hands.
“What does it all mean, master?” Eliezer said. “All these presents! We have more cattle than we’ve ever had. But what about my mistress?”
“I can’t tell you anything, Eliezer. Sarai’s fate is in the hands of Pharaoh.”
“What kind of a man is he?”
“I’ve never met him, but he’s a man who has always had everything he could ever think of.”
“But she’s your wife!”
Abram had shared with Eliezer the deceit he had used, and now he said grimly, “I wish I had never made up that lie! Lies are never good. They might have killed me to get her, but I don’t think so. I made a mistake, Eliezer.”
Eliezer stood irresolutely for a moment, his mind working quickly. He loved Sarai like the mother he had never known. Now he lowered his voice, although no one was there to overhear him. “Master, let’s steal her!”
“Steal her! What do you mean?”
“I mean, let’s break into the palace, take her, and get away from here.”
“Why, that’s impossible, Eliezer!”
“No, I think we can do it. We’d have to strike quickly and get away as fast as possible.”
Abram put his hand on the young man’s shoulder, looking directly into his eyes. “There’s a good heart speaking, my son, but it’s impossible.” He shook his head and said dolefully, “Only the Eternal One can save her now—and us as well.”
****
Sarai sat tensely on a golden chair with purple cushions. Pharaoh had been speaking for some time, as he had many times over the past month and a half. She tried to keep his mind on what he was saying, but her own mind searched frantically for more to tell him about the Eternal One. She had come to realize how little she actually knew about the God she served. And now as she sat there watching his expression, she saw that a slyness had begun to creep into his features. She had learned much about men over her life and could see the lust in his eyes like a sullen flame, but at the same time his eyes seemed mysteriously empty, like windows peering out at nothing.
From far off came the sounds of a priest’s incantations, and as a counterpoint to that, a cock crowed, like the clarion call of a trumpet. Pharaoh came over and stood looking down at her. “I’d hoped that my hospitality would make you forget your brother.”
Sarai allowed nothing but surprise to show on her face. “You would care little for a woman who could forget her own brother, but I am grateful, mighty Pharaoh, for you have been a gracious host. You have taken good care of your guest.”
Pharaoh’s eyes narrowed and he whispered, “Perhaps we should think of ourselves more as kin rather than host and guest.”
Instantly Sarai rejoined, “Am I to think of Pharaoh as my brother?”
Pharaoh’s voice was tinged with irritation. “You’re more than a guest, and I would have you to be much more.”
“Your kindness is legendary,” Sarai said graciously, ignoring the pharaoh’s implication.
“Are you pleased with your servant?”
“Hagar? Yes, she’s very efficient.”
“Then I give her to you.”
Sarai knew that Pharaoh was not really giving her anything, but there was no way to refuse. “Your generosity is well-known, my lord.”
Pharaoh shook his head. “I have been patient with you, Sarai, but I think the time has come to make my intentions plain, although you have probably already read my desires.”
“Indeed not, sir!”
“I think you would fit well within my house of women. I had thought of you at first as merely a concubine, but I see now that you are far above that. So the position of wife is what I’m considering.”
Sarai knew that the moment had come, and fear gripped her. She had to make an answer, and she had planned it well. She lifted her eyes and looked at Pharaoh while saying evenly, “Perhaps I have not made it clear. The Eternal One does not look with favor upon his people marrying those who are not Hebrews.”
“No, you have not mentioned this,” Pharaoh replied, frowning, “but I will make offerings to Him. All will be well.”
“I think Pharaoh should consider that great harm may come if he touches one of the Eternal One’s servants.” She knew then that her life hung in the balance, so she added quickly, “My brother is a favorite of the Eternal One. Think carefully what you do, Pharaoh. The Eternal One is all-powerful and is not to be offended. I do not know what terrible thing might come upon you if you displease Him.”
Pharaoh stared at her. He was a man who had known nothing but his own will all of his life. Now he stood up, anger and interest intermingled in his expression. “You are an unusual woman, Sarai, and I must have you. We will speak of this later, but make up your mind that you will be one of the wives of Pharaoh.”
Sarai then rose and bowed. She was led back to her room by Ahut, who tried to pry the essence of her conversation with Pharaoh out of her, but Sarai put him off.
As soon as she entered her room, she pleaded, “Hagar, you must help me.”
Hagar was shocked at the strain on Sarai’s face. “What’s wrong, mistress?”
“You must take a message to Abram.”
“Your brother?”
“Y-yes…my brother. Could you do that?”
“No one pays much attention to a slave girl. But if I can find him, I will give him a message.”
“When I left he was camped just outside of the city, upriver. Anyone could direct you to Abram the Hebrew.”
“What will I say to him?”
“Tell him that he must pray to the Eternal One, that both he and I are in terrible danger. The pharaoh has told me that I must become his wife.”
“And you did not say yes?” Hagar was astonished. “You would have everything.”
“Hagar, I must tell you something…and I put my life in your hands….” Sarai hesitated. “Abram is not my brother.”
Haga
r stared at Sarai, her eyes flying wide open. “But who is he?”
“He is my husband, Hagar. He knew if he had told Pharaoh this, he would have been killed. Now go and tell him to pray to the Eternal One.”
****
Abram stared at the young slave woman who had come into camp, announcing that she had a message for him from his wife. Fear seized him, for if this girl knew that Sarai was his wife, everyone else must know.
He took her into the privacy of his tent and asked, “How do you know that Sarai is my wife?”
“She has confided in me, master, and you need not fear, for I love Lady Sarai. She has been kind to me.”
Relieved, Abram asked, “Is she all right, Hagar?”
“No, Pharaoh is determined to make her his wife. She sent me to tell you that you must pray to the Eternal One. Unless He helps you, all is lost.”
Abram spoke with the girl long enough to form a favorable impression of her. “You are a faithful servant, Hagar. I will find some way of making this right with you.”
“I did it for my mistress Sarai, but I see that you are a good man. I hope your God can save her from the pharaoh. He is a cruel man in many ways.”
“Say nothing to anyone. Tell Sarai that I will pray and she must have faith that the Eternal One will save her.”
The two stepped outside the tent then, and Abram said, “Eliezer, escort this young woman back to the palace.”
Eliezer had watched Hagar come into the camp. He bowed now and said, “Of course, master.” His gaze turned to Hagar. “Lead the way, if you please.”
On the return trip, Hagar found the young man handsome and could tell that he was casting secret glances at her. She was used to the admiration of men and wondered what his position was. “Are you a son or a relative of Abram?” she asked.
“No, I’m merely his steward. My mother was a slave girl. He bought her to save her from slavery.”
“He is a kind man, then.”
“Yes. He’s the kindest man I’ve ever known.” He looked at her and asked, “Do you have a husband?”
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