Zineb winced at the vulgarities. Kiya grinned as if she wished that she’d thought of them herself. “Look, maybe we can help. But we’ll have no contact with the secret-police, is that understood? They’re so full of holes that if they were a boat they’d have sunk while still tied up at the dock. We do things my way and on my terms; and at a cost. One thousand silver deben for me for the next month, five hundred each for Kiya, Lorentis, Kahun and Pamose, two fifty each for Umtau and Zirman. If it goes for more than a month, the same for each part of a month after that.”
Zineb had carefully examined his fingernails during this diatribe, and feigning boredom then looked up and nodded agreement. After all, to the Royal Exchequer this was a minor expense and it wasn’t his money.
CHAPTER 11 – SOUTH TO ASWAN
Year 53. Month Hwt-Hr. 3rd Akhet.
Mid-October 1223 BC
Nikolas and Kiya slouched lazily against the rail of the ship Light of Osiris, standing in the shade cast by the lazily flapping sail. The Nubians Umtau and Zirman sat amongst the other passengers near the prow of the boat, catching what little breeze there was to cool the heat of the day. Little contact between the Nubians and Nikolas and Kiya had taken place as they were ostensibly travelling separately.
They were passing a swampy lagoon on the east side of the river and were close enough to see the myriads of waterbirds on the water and in the reeds. Grebes, coots, geese and ducks swam at the river’s edge or foraged in the reeds for seeds, leaves, grass, worms and small insects; white and pink pelicans paddled further out; cormorants and darters could be seen diving into the water in search of fish or standing on mud-banks drying their wings; white storks and black storks, egrets and herons paced in the shallows or at the reed edges closely watching for fish or frogs; herons flew overhead in their distinctive style with their long necks pulled in and uttering their harsh cries. Huge flights of birds wheeled overhead with raucous honking and trumpeting. Hippopotami could be seen lazing in the shallows, cooling off during the heat of the day.
Crocodiles lay like logs on the mudflats near the water’s edge or swam almost submerged in the muddy water; several followed the boat hopefully.
With the falling water levels as the height of the Inundation passed the farmers were busy ploughing and sowing the newly-emerged black mud, working quickly before the scorching sun baked the land hard again. The rough wooden ploughs were usually dragged by one or two oxen driven by a farmer with a long pointed stick to goad them as necessary, but the poorer peasants hooked themselves to the plough trace and dragged the unwieldy implement by use of their own muscles.
Pamose and Kahun had departed several days before on an army barge with the relieving company of soldiers. Lorentis, together with Idu and Hanuka, the remaining soldiers who had shared the hardships of Kharga, were on another boat that had sailed the same day and which would be one of the many in sight plying the river southwards. They were approaching Elephantine Island in the river, with Aswan sprawling on the east bank of the river nearby.
Nikolas and Kiya were travelling simply as itinerant healers. They had no servants or companions and little baggage other than Nikolas’ chest of medicines. They had slept with the other passengers on the deck of the small boat for the six days that they had been travelling south from Thebes to Aswan. The boat had stopped briefly at most of the villages and towns along the river, with longer stays at Esna and the city of Edfu for unloading and loading of cargo. On this journey Nikolas’ purse was light, carrying just a few deben of silver and more of copper. He had acted in character during the journey and more than covered the small cost of their transportation by treating the crew and passengers for their various ailments and venturing ashore at each village and town to seek paying customers.
For much of the journey the vista on each side of the river had been dull and monotonous. South of Thebes, after just a few miles of rich cultivated land by the river and low irrigated terraces above, the land became dry and barren with desert and rocky outcrops coming almost to the water’s edge. The South was important for its minerals and access to trade routes and its proximity to the first cataract just to the south, but had to rely on food imports from the more fertile North.
As they got close to Elephantine Island they could see the many small boats passing from the shore ferrying people between both sides of the river. Small fishing boats made of papyrus bundles bobbed on the water as their occupants fished with either net or hook and line. The ship bore left at the fork in the river and tied up at the stone wharf of Aswan’s dock.
Nikolas had their few bags ready at hand and they quickly hopped ashore. They had previously arranged with Umtau and Zirman to meet the next morning at the western side of the market.
After finding a cheap but clean hostel called the ‘Black Raven’ near the marketplace and depositing their meagre belongings, they headed out to check out the local market. There Nikolas met with the market supervisor and paid rental for a week in advance for a small covered booth in a relatively quiet part of the market frequented by professionals; the rental was lower than the busy areas and Nikolas really didn’t want to waste his time dealing with many customers.
T T T T
Next morning Nikolas and Kiya set up their few tools of trade at the stall. Kiya had drawn both a large written description of Nikolas’ prowess and also a large healer’s pictogram to hang before the stall, the hieroglyph being comprised of an arrow, pot and seated man.
The stall was about three paces by four and had back and side walls of woven reed with a hessian shade-covering overhead. Half the stall was divided off into an examination cubicle with hessian sides for privacy, containing an examination bench and three stools, while the other half had a small trestle table and two folding chairs.
Kiya looked after the shop while Nikolas met with Umtau and Zirman, exchanging details of where they were staying and where messages could be left. Umtau and Zirman slouched off intending to look for work as guards in noble households. Umtau was to contact Kahun and Pamose to pass on both his and Nikolas’ whereabouts to them.
Nikolas’ stall was part of a group which included tooth-pullers, soothsayers, fortune-tellers, healers, quacks selling literal ‘snake oil’ cure-alls and several apothecaries. Nikolas visited the apothecaries to see what local herbal supplies were available, check out local remedies and solicit business. Despite the quiet location Nikolas soon had a number of customers approaching his stall. Some asked for remedies for themselves and several for ‘friends’ or family members. Nikolas declined to provide any remedies without an examination. He had a busy morning lancing boils, applying drops to irritated and diseased eyes, supplying creams for rashes, medicines for upset stomachs, prescribing and supplying tonics and medicines and catering to many other minor illnesses. One more serious illness he referred to the healers at the local temple; he recognized that there was little that he could do for that patient and it was best to avoid involvement where no cure could be obtained – besides, perhaps the magic used by the priests would be able to help the patient, as he was certainly beyond the powers of mere mortal medicines.
When they were closed for lunch that first morning, partaking of food and drink obtained from a nearby food-stall, Kiya abruptly said, “You’re doing this all wrong. Healing isn’t just about handing out medicinal herbs, or lancing boils or applying healing unguents and bandages. You need to use magic to drive out the demons of illness and invoke the healing powers of the gods. That will make your healing much more effective, and will make the patients happier as they’ll see that they are getting what they’re paying for.”
Nikolas scowled. “I’m a ‘rationalist’. I know what properties my medicines have and how to undertake simple procedures such as setting bones. I don’t believe or need all that religious mumbo-jumbo. I don’t need to pray to the Greek god Asclepius to make my medicine work, nor to the Egyptian goddess Isis. Medicine works without the direct intervention of the gods. It’s not magic.”
Kiya shook her
head in disagreement. “We all know that illness is caused by demons entering the body; perhaps something like broken bones or severe cuts aren’t caused by the demons, but even with those injuries the demons can prevent healing. You’re only doing half the job and would be much more effective if you did use magic and did pray; what’s more, the patients expect it if they’re to get their value for what they pay you.”
Nikolas replied, “As you said, a broken bone or a cut is clearly caused by outside factors. Most infections and many illnesses can be avoided by relatively simple measures, such as properly cleaning a wound or only drinking fresh or boiled water; don’t swim in water that has water-snails; keep scorpions out of the house; don’t eat meat that has gone rotten; eat a mixed diet including fruit and vegetables. Proper hygiene and nutrition avoid many illnesses occurring. When they do occur then usually there are herbs that can help either cure the illness or alleviate the symptoms.”
Kiya countered, “And what causes malaria? How does swimming in water containing water-snails cause illness? What causes the boils to occur? Why does a healthy wound turn septic? Why do bones that have been set then not mend properly? Why do large lumps grow in the body which eat away at a person’s health? Because of the demons entering the body! You treat only the symptoms, not the cause!”
Nikolas frowned with frustration. He was a ‘medical rationalist’ who had studied for ten years and knew what he was doing, and here was an ignorant and only recently semi-illiterate young girl telling him he was wrong. The annoying part was that neither he nor anybody he knew could answer Kiya’s questions and show her she was wrong. Her arguments were as valid as his, and on reflection he had to think that his patients would probably agree. Egyptians believed implicitly in magic in every part of their life and most of all in the area of medicine.
The Egyptian medical texts he had examined, some of which he’d translated and copied at least in part, did refer to practical and effective treatment of physical symptoms; but many sections also provided magical spells to be used in conjunction with the medicines, and which he hadn’t copied and wasn’t using. He did also have to admit that he was aware of the frequent efficacy of placebos in alleviating symptoms, particularly for minor illnesses.
He could admit to himself that using spells and incantations certainly wouldn’t cause any harm and would increase his popularity with the credulous. But having now just come to that conclusion based on Kiya’s comments he wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of agreeing with her, otherwise she’d never cease to plague him with the Egyptian’s obsession with their gods. With a deep frown he loftily made a reluctant concession, without attempting to address her questions which he couldn’t answer. “I would, on reflection, agree that the patients would probably be more comfortable with some chanting and waving of the hands. I refuse to have anything to do with that mumbo-jumbo, but if you want to do it, you can.”
Kiya accepted the grudging concession happily with a small smile of victory but forbearing to make any ‘I told you so’ comments that she was certain wouldn’t add anything positive to the conversation. “There’s an amulet-seller with a stall nearby whose wares I’ve looked at. He has a quite nice little charm of carved beken-stone in the shape of the goddess Isis. I can buy what stock he has and order more, and I can also weave some amulets from dyed river-reeds. Then I can get them blessed by a priestess of Isis. If I do it by the gross they should be quite cheap, and you can charge extra for the small amulets and charms. Now, you’ll have to teach me the magic spells.”
Nikolas blinked in surprise. “I don’t know them. Can’t you just mumble something and wave your hands around?”
Kiya sighed in frustration. “No, I can’t. I’m not talking about being a fake or a charlatan. I’m talking about doing the job properly. That requires the proper magic spell to be said. You swnw are supposed to know these!”
“Alright! We’ll close the shop. You go see your amulet-seller and then I’ll take you to the temple of Sekhmet, where they’ll have the local medical library. I’ll get a librarian to copy for you the relevant common magical incantations for the diseases we’re likely to encounter in regular practice. When we get back to Memphis I’ll commission a full copy of one of the more complete medical papyrus that I know. I wanted a copy anyway as nearly all of it deals with the physical treatment of the symptoms,” said Nikolas with asperity, knowing when to accept defeat, but not doing so graciously.
That afternoon Nikolas also hired a local lad about twelve years of age who was hanging around and looking for work, intending to use him as a messenger and to look after the stall when he and Kiya wanted to be away. The boy, named Aapep, was poorly nourished, dirty and dressed in rags – but was polite and apparently intelligent and attentive. Kiya arranged for him to be cleaned and deloused and provided him three sets of new clothes. He would be paid by receiving his food, clothing and a copper deben a week, the latter of which he would pass on to his widowed mother.
With each patient examined Nikolas probed their background and place in the local community. As an obvious foreigner he could ask about local politics and events with relative impunity as curiosity was expected. He was soon able to discern that while the more common folk seemed pleased with their lot, the middle classes appeared dissatisfied.
Nikolas was enjoying the ‘hands on’ assistance that he was able to provide to clients, although at a reduced cost as not many were able to pay the fees that his services warranted. Payment was in any event a problem; his standard fee was a seniu of copper – 1/12th of a deben. The unguents, drops, herbs and medicines provided were charged extra. As usual in a barter economy, most customers paid ‘in kind’ with foodstuffs, clothing and household goods. By the end of each day their stall looked like a general store, with bundles of vegetables, sacks of flour, articles of clothing, sandals and pottery jars stacked on one side, and loaves of bread and cheese in baskets under the table. About the only items Nikolas refused to accept were perishables such as meat or fish. Most of the food items he used to pay the rent at the ‘Black Raven’ or for meals and drink at the nearby tavern.
Late each afternoon Nikolas had Kiya and Aapep take some of the more tradable unneeded items to bargain with other stall-holders for items that would be useful, or (rarely)for hard metal. Some were used to pay the apothecaries for their herbs, purchase refined oils and unguent-bases such as moringa oil and goose-fat, and to pay the amulet-seller for his wares. While medicines such as garlic oil, onion juice, carob pod, aloe and chamomile were cheap to purchase from the apothecaries, antiseptics such as thyme oil, juniper-berry extract and willow-bark were very expensive.
Nikolas also enjoyed teaching both Kiya and Aapep how to prepare medications. Both proved adept and Nikolas thought that he would try to get Aapep employment with another local healer when it was time to leave. Nikolas did have to admit, although only to himself, that not only did Kiya quickly pick up how to correctly diagnose and treat the more simple conditions such as inflamed eyes or cuts, and appropriately dispense medicines such as contraceptives and headache-powders, but that her dealing with patients was different to his. He wouldn’t admit that her bedside manner was better, but he recognized she was certainly less formal and ‘stand-offish’ in her manner and that her incantation of the magical spells and prayers was all the more impressive for her clear belief in the efficacy of what she was doing. They’d formed a very effective partnership, but he wasn’t going to acknowledge that to her, or at least not yet.
About midday on the third day a short well-dressed man approached Nikolas’ stall as he was applying a healing cream based on aloe vera, onion juice and cinnamon to the arm of a young child.
Nikolas acknowledged him with a nod and gestured to a chair placed within the stall, indicating he would be with him momentarily. After quickly but neatly applying a bandage and instructing the mother to return with the child the following morning for the dressing to be changed, Nikolas turned to the newcomer.
“Go
od morning, sir,” said Nikolas politely.
“My mistress has heard of you from one of the customers you treated several days ago and would have you visit her abode,” said the factotum.
Nikolas spread his hands and gave a small bow. “I would be delighted, sir, to do so in a little over an hour. I have a patient returning for further treatment in about half an hour and I will then have several hours when I can close before I need to return.”
“My mistress would have you attend as soon as possible,” said the messenger earnestly.
“That is as may be,” said Nikolas. “I have a prior appointment that I must keep, as all of my patients are important to me. I will be at your mistress’ call as soon as possible. May I suggest that you take some refreshment at a nearby stall as you wait. I’ve found that one there to be of excellent quality,” said Nikolas as he pointed to a nearby stall.
“I will abide here, if I may,” said the messenger. Nikolas nodded acquiescence.
He filled another customer’s wish for anti-diarrhoea medication by prescribing and providing a decoction of yarrow and hawthorn berries and recommended the eating of coriander and peppermint leaves. When he’d finished his appointment to rebind a broken arm he’d set two days before, he approached the factotum and said, “I’m at your disposal for the next several hours, sir. Kiya, please put up the sign asking clients to await our return this evening.”
After a short walk they paused at an ostentatiously decorated doorway, and were admitted into a well-lit vestibule. Nikolas sniffed the perfume-laden air and looked around in surprise before a knowing smile creased his lips. He turned to Kiya and said “Well, as a working woman, this should be an experience for you.” Kiya raised her eyebrows, but before Nikolas could answer her unspoken query an inner door opened. A fat woman dressed in bright colours and with flashy jewellery waddled into view.
Murder in the Palace: A Nikolas of Kydonia Mystery Page 24