“Hyenas,” he replied. “Here, sit in the middle of the rock. We’ll sit back to back and watch for danger.”
Movement below continued intermittently in the darkness but the hyenas were unable to climb onto the rock. Snuffling and snarling noises could be heard close by, and the rank odour of the hyenas could be smelled whenever they moved near. Occasionally small scrabbling noises indicated the movement of rodents nearby and at one point there was a sudden rustle of feathers and a beat of wings as an owl took one of the rodents in the darkness. Neither Nikolas nor Kiya were able to snatch more than a few moments of sleep. They sat upright, back to back facing the edges of the rock that they couldn’t see in the darkness. Kiya grasped the knife in her hand and Nikolas has his staff ready in case of need. Towards dawn they heard the roar of lions nearby
“Now that is all we need,” ommented Nikolas.
As the light became strong enough to distinguish rock from shadow seven hyenas could be seen sitting in a ring around the rock.
Nikolas wished briefly and futilely for a bow. Still, at least with the coming of light they could see their adversaries. “Next decision! Do we walk for probably an hour to the next worksite with these little doggies for companions, or do we stay where we’re safe?”
Kiya lifted the nearly empty water skin and replied, “I guess this makes the decision for us!”
Nikolas threw rocks at the hyenas to make them retreat and then climbed down off the rock outcrop before assisting Kiya down. Kiya walked ahead with Nikolas close behind, turning to face backwards towards the hyenas who slunk behind them. Often he paused to shout and wave his arms or throw stones to make the cowardly creatures retreat. However, they always returned moments later.
They moved slowly north and before long they heard the sound of movement on the track ahead of them. Soon they saw a small group of men, headed by Siptah the headman of the village they had left the morning before, heading down towards them.
Moments later Nikolas and Kiya both warmly embraced first Siptah and then the others. “The villagers were worried when you hadn’t returned as expected last night.” Siptah explained. “The desert is a dangerous place to be alone and we decided to follow. We went to the other village and the headman gave us directions to the different workplaces and one of the workers told us he had seen you being led off on this path to the south, so we followed.”
“Thank the gods that you did, and their blessings on you for your efforts. We were led down this path on the pretext of visiting the small temple there and then our guide vanished with our donkeys and most of our water. We spent the night sheltering on a rock from the wild animals. I’d guess that the questions I asked Khonsu were too close to the mark and he decided to rid himself of inquisitive strangers,” said Nikolas.
“If you don’t mind me saying so, you don’t act as a normal travelling healer seeking custom, nor even as one of those who have nothing better to do than travel from place to place looking at various wonders. They would have gone to Abu Simbel, not be wandering around the granite mines of Aswan,” commented Siptah cannily. He handed Kiya a full water-skin so that first she and then Nikolas could drink their fill.
Nikolas decided that these were people who had proved they could be trusted. “You’re right,” he replied as they began to walk north. “Pharaoh Ramesses himself has requested that myself and some friends investigate the situation here in the South, quietly and unofficially. There are stirrings and talk of insurrection here in the Upper Kingdom, but our trip out into the wilderness was mainly a traveller’s curiosity as to how those magnificent statues and temples came to be made. Without the work of craftsmen such as your villagers there can be no such magnificent works. We didn’t expect to find evidence of theft and corruption nor to attract any attention, least of all an attempted murder!”
The party walked slowly and carefully through the morning, avoiding the village and workplaces along the way, as their intention was to allow Khonsu to believe that the unwary travellers had perished in the wilderness. They paused for the noon meal at Siptah’s village. There, while sitting under an awning by the cooking fire outside Siptah’s hut, Nikolas explained his visit to the second village and his discussion with Khonsu.
After a pause Siptah expanded his previous comments on the villagers’ problems. “Khonsu is the supervisor of the seven mine sites to the south of Aswan. These are all quarries, such as you have seen here and also yesterday. When you asked about the abuse of the villagers you must have made him suspicious of your intentions and he decided to do away with you in a terrible ‘accident’. These desert hills are dangerous places for those unaccustomed to their ways or those who forget simple caution. Fortunately, he must have thought you both so unable to cope alone in the desert that he thought it wasn’t necessary to have you killed and left for the wild animals to remove the evidence. There was little chance of you walking out of the desert unaided and I suppose there was some risk of your bodies being found with wounds still able to be seen, even if the hyenas and lions had got to your bodies.
“That man is responsible for our problems here. He controls the distribution of the rations we should receive and the quotas we have to fill. At least our quotas remain largely unchanged, even if we are robbed of our food, clothing and other supplies. Only Pharaoh needs blocks of granite for his temples and monuments – you don’t see them being sold in the marketplace! In the recent months I’ve spoken with the headmen of some of the villages to the east and north-east and heard from them what is happening in those villages.
The mines supervisor at Kanayis, a small town to the north-east, is much worse. He controls the gold, tin and lead mines between there and the coast. Those mines can only be worked in the cooler months, when they send out expeditions from Kanayis and the smaller villages to work the mines. There they work underground following the ore seams, and the underground work should only be done by the slaves Pharaoh sends us war captives, criminals and the like. The conditions are truly terrible. Many die each year. The supervisor there, Hesyre, has increased the work quotas and now also requires the villages to provide men to work underground. Now they also work in the heat of the hot-season. They are dying in their droves in cave-ins, from the coughing sickness and sheer overwork.
“I said that here we make obelisks for Pharaoh, and it’s not like they can be stolen and sold in the marketplace. The gold, tin, lead and gems can be stolen. My best guess is that only half the gems reach the Royal Treasury.”
“Do you think that they’ve been instructed to increase production?” asked Kiya.
“Not by Pharaoh,” replied Siptah. “Pharaoh is fair and if more output was required he would send more men and more supplies, not less.”
“But what is happening to the increased production?” asked Nikolas.
“I don’t know,” replied Siptah. “Hesyre can’t be keeping it himself, or he’d be the richest man in Egypt. What he’s doing with it, or who’s getting it, I can’t say.”
“Wasn’t Ra-em hotep responsible for mine production in the South?” Kiya asked Nikolas, who gave a slow thoughtful nod in reply as they rose to return to Aswan.
T T T T
Umtau had spent the week working at the garrison supply depot, which was responsible to dispatch supplies to the southern fortresses. As a senior soldier he was exempt from fatigues and the duties of loading and unloading the supply barges.
While not able to read and write, Umtau was able to decipher the more common inscriptions and the figures for numbers. Over the previous week he had become familiar with the scripts for the common foodstuffs used to feed the troops. Six days ago he’d been instructed to load rations for the small garrison at the fortress of Aniba near the southern border. The men had loaded the equivalent of some 15,000 rations of dried beans, emmer flour and similar goods. Other barges had been sent to the other garrisons.
Today he’d been told to have his men load another barge with further rations for the same town, another twenty to
ns of supplies.
Umtau reflected that he may be a simple and uneducated man, but even he could deduce that a small army of 2,000 lay to the south and was being supplied by Pharaoh’s army commissary.
He arranged to have leave in the town the following night. It was time to visit Nikolas.
T T T T
Nikolas rose early and made his way to Iubet’s brothel. As this was an uncommon hour for visitors it took some time to gain entrance, even through the servants’ door, as this was a household that kept different hours to most of the houses in the city.
Muyet was still not working because of her injuries and came into the small sitting room where Nikolas was waiting. He opened his medical case and placed it on a small side table next to his stool as Muyet knelt before him to allow him to examine her face. A week after her beating the swelling was subsiding but the purple and yellow bruises were probably at their most prominent. After careful examination and application of soothing unguents Nikolas instructed that Muyet must continue to eat only bread soaked in milk, thin porridge and soft fruit. With the fracture to her cheekbone it would be weeks before she would be able to chew more substantial food.
He then had Muyet remove her dress to examine the bruising on her body and bound new bandages on her chest.
“You are progressing well, Muyet. Your bruising and stiffness are probably at their worst now. That takes about a week after injury. Over the next week you’ll begin to feel improvement.”
Muyet had borne the gentle prodding and testing of the examination stoically, with no more than an occasional indrawn breath of pain. With the subsiding of the swelling from the beating, Nikolas could tell from the long lustrous hair, high cheekbones, clear young complexion and voluptuous figure, now fully revealed, Muyet would normally be a woman of striking appearance.
Being careful not to move her mouth because of the injury to her face she commented with a dry wit, “This is the first time I can recall that I have been naked to a man’s gaze and he’s had his way with me when I wasn’t on my back!”
Nikolas’ lips twitched with a smile as he gestured to Muyet to draw her dress back over her shoulders. “This is called ‘professional detachment’, my dear girl - as is perhaps yours! You indeed have bountiful gifts, which I can clearly see! But I’m a domesticated man and my woman would remove my testicles with a blunt knife if I were to stray!”
Although Nikolas’ words were said in jest, they caused him to pause and consider his relationship with Kiya. The words ‘my woman’ had sprung to his lips without conscious thought, but Nikolas mused that when he had the opportunity he needed to take the time to consider his relationship in detail. Things were getting rather too complicated for a simple bachelor.
Nikolas asked Muyet whether any of the other girls in the establishment may need to visit him; they were still abed and would be so for several hours. Muyet replied that she wasn’t aware of any need, but would suggest to them that if they wished they could either visit Nikolas at his stall or leave word with the doorman for when he next called.
As Nikolas was packing his medicines away Iubet entered the room, tying the belt of a light wrap she had slipped on. Her dishevelled hair and smudged makeup indicated that she had risen at what was an early hour in her house to meet him.
Nikolas had been standing in a half-stooped position as he gathered his medicine chest together. As he saw Iubet he raised himself fully, before bowing a deep greeting to her. Iubet’s chubby face creased with a happy smile as she received this unexpected and unwarranted courtesy, before herself making a mocking curtsey to her male guest.
“Welcome, Nikolas,” said Iubet, chuckling happily. “Thank you for again visiting Muyet.” Muyet stood to leave but Iubet raised her hand palm downwards and motioned for her to be seated. “And how are you, Nikolas?” she enquired.
Nikolas decided to be open with the Madame. “Well, all things considered. I’ve had an interesting couple of days. Two days ago I visited the mines to the south, and was left to die in the desert wastes with my woman” (that word again). “With the help of some friends I returned yesterday evening.”
Iubet raised her eyebrows in surprise and paused before replying, “I would guess that your questions must have been too close to the mark for the peace of mind of some. I have some information that the girls have given to me since your last visit that may be of assistance.” Iubet paused again to gather her thoughts before continuing.
“General Padiamun has visited us here for many months. He comes, if not every evening then at least two out of three. He’s never been more than three days between visits. That was until four weeks ago, when we didn’t see him for three weeks. Then he returned a week ago and that night beat Muyet.”
“So he’d been away for three weeks,” mused Nikolas.
“There is more,” continued Iubet. “Padiamun’s adjutant, Meketre, is also a regular visitor. He was also absent when Padiamun was away. When he returned here four days ago he told a funny story about watching mating elephants in Nubia,” Iubet concluded with a knowing look.
As Nikolas wended his way back to the market at midday he had several things to occupy his thoughts.
Late that evening Idu caught up with him at the ‘Black Raven’ and advised that Lorentis and Khui wished to meet with him as soon as possible. A meeting was arranged for the next morning at Iubet’s brothel.
T T T T
Nikolas had arranged the meeting place partly because it was the most secure location he knew, and partly for the fun of shocking Lorentis. A little ahead of the scheduled meeting time Nikolas took Kiya in through the ornate front door and luxurious public rooms. Nikolas had been warmly greeted by the doorman, almost as if he were a regular customer. Kiya had received a questioning look as few if any male visitors to the establishment brought their own women.
Inside it was late enough that the ladies had begun to stir. Several greeted Nikolas happily by name as they walked past either naked or wearing brief robes on their way to the bathing rooms.
Kiya’s face darkened. Clearly, Nikolas was well known to the ladies in this house.
As they still had some time to spare, Nikolas called in to see Muyet. The bruises were fading from deep purple to a sickly yellow colour. Nikolas had Kiya examine and anoint the bruises and carefully feel the fractures of the ribs and cheekbone. Muyet was healing well and it appeared there was little chance of more than a little dissymmetry to her pretty face from the fracture.
“All is not easy here in the perfumed world,” commented Nikolas to Kiya.
Muyet thanked Nikolas gravely and said, “You must return when I am well, so I can show my appreciation in the best way.”
Kiya scowled again. Nikolas smiled slyly. Kiya didn’t know that all the women were teasing her and showing the appearance of an acquaintanceship with Nikolas they didn’t in fact possess. After all, whores also have a sense of humour and of the ridiculous.
As they were finishing Nikolas was told by the doorman that their guests had arrived. Nikolas and Kiya were shown into one of the richly and ostentatiously decorated rooms usually reserved at night for the wealthier guests. By the wide-eyed startled look worn by Lorentis, probably she and Khui had also encountered some of the girls walking around naked. Certainly this would be the first time that Lorentis had visited a brothel. Khui was smiling slightly, trying his best to look undisturbed and urbane; despite his sense of humour he was somewhat disconcerted to be doing business, rather than pleasure, in such surroundings.
Nikolas strode into the room briskly, Kiya following behind. After ushering Kiya to a chair, Nikolas himself sat on a stool and said, “Thank you for coming. To explain the venue, I had to come here this morning to treat a patient and this is the most secure place I have to meet.”
Lorentis and Khui sat side by side, Lorentis having taken possession of Khui’s right hand which she clasped in her own small left hand. A glimpse at Lorentis’ hand and her slightly vacuous expression told him of her relations
hip with Khui, which her very being was shouting to the whole world. Nikolas cast a worried look at Kiya and raised an eyebrow, which was ignored. He was even more worried when he saw Kiya’s soft look and benign smile at the lovers on the settee. ‘May the gods save me from romantic women,’ thought Nikolas, turning his attention to Khui. Nikolas asked Lorentis to give him a quick, although no doubt biased, rundown on the Egyptian. After she finished Nikolas paused and concluded to himself that she may well have struck the ‘mother-load’ in more than one way.
Nikolas said to Khui, “As Lorentis has told you, Pharaoh has personally asked us to investigate for him. We investigate both the death of his son Ra-em hotep and also what appears to be related security and financial issues here in the South. We’ve suffered a savage attack in Thebes, and two days ago Kiya and myself were left as food for the wild animals in the desert.” Lorentis looked shocked as Nikolas and Kiya hadn’t had the opportunity to bring her up to date. Nikolas continued, “The information we have is that there’s an army to the south, probably around the Second Cataract, waiting to march north. That information comes from Umtau. The loyalty of the local garrison is at best questionable. The local general has been south to visit Nubia. Quarries and mines have been plundered to provide wealth that is not flowing into the coffers of the Pharaoh. What information can you add to what we know?” he asked.
Khui paused and then replied, “As I’ve told Lorentis, Hapimen is a weak and incompetent ruler and needs to be replaced by Pharaoh. I doubt that he has the brains to be disloyal, although no doubt some of his subordinates may be. Indeed, from what I know of them I can give you the names of a dozen local lords and at least as many army officers who I know are discontented and who I wouldn’t trust. As to General Padiamun, he likes to be called ‘a lion amongst men’. Perhaps a hyena would be a better description. I don’t know the details but I understand he has been sent here to the South as punishment for some indiscretion at Court several years ago. He was from the Delta or somewhere in the Far-North originally.
Murder in the Palace: A Nikolas of Kydonia Mystery Page 28