by Overton, Max
Seti looked around. "We do not have more than a few scraps of papyrus, sir."
"I meant on the ground, in the sand."
"I do not know, sir." Seti stood and looked down at the trodden sand of the floor. He frowned, made as if to bend down and then hesitated.
"Where are we, Seti?"
"Sir?"
"Mark us on the map."
"But I do not know where we are on...on this." He pointed at the scuffed sand.
"Say we are here." Djedhor tossed a pebble at the youth's feet. "That is our camp. Now, where is the Fort of the Gulls?"
"Er...here?"
"And the coast?"
Seti shook his head and Djedhor realised that while the youth might be able to read an existing map, he seemed unable to construct one. The general got down on his hands and knees, tracing a curving line for the coast, and adding a rock for the Fort of the Gulls to go with the pebble for the camp.
"Here are the other forts..." More pebbles. "...the mountains to the east..." A jagged line. "...the Stream of Kemet..." A wavy line. "...and here is where Jebu's army is according to my last report." Djedhor poured a handful of gravel onto the sand near the Fort of the Gulls. "Does this make any sense?"
Seti stared at the pattern on the ground and nodded slowly.
"Which direction is north?"
Seti thought for a moment and pointed.
"Good. And how many forts are there between us and the coast?"
Seti's mouth moved as he counted. "Four, sir, counting the Fort of the Gulls."
"Excellent. You understand my map well enough. Now, study it well and ask yourself how we are going to defeat Jebu's army." Djedhor sat back and watched the youth as he moved around the dirt map, looking at the features from various angles. After several minutes, he asked, "Anything?"
"Nothing as to 'how', sir, but maybe 'where'."
"Tell me."
"It means losing men and maybe incurring the wrath of Horemheb. It would be a gamble and we might not win."
"Let me judge that. Tell me your idea."
"Jebu has beaten our legions at the Gulls. I think he will try for the next fort in the chain, the Foxes. If he could take that, he would have carved a hole in Kemet's defences. His confidence would be high, particularly if it was an easy victory, and he may try the third fort, the Owl. Let us say he has another easy victory. He now believes the forts are only a mirage, not a threat, and he will sweep on to the next one, the Mice. That is where we take him."
"By Amun's mighty phallus, lad, you do not think small, do you? You realise that Kemet's defences would be in tatters and the whole Hittite and Amorite armies could pour through into the Black Lands?"
"Yes, sir, so we would have to shatter his army."
"How do you plan to accomplish that?"
Seti smiled. "I rather hoped you might know, sir."
"I might have some ideas on that, but you suggested this policy of letting Jebu capture our forts one by one..."
"Until the Fort of Mice."
"Yes, until then. So why that fort? Why then? You must have something in mind or you would not have suggested it."
"It was something my father told me--and I suppose you would have been there too. When the Amorites tried that tactic of hiding fast runners inside their armed squares."
"I remember that. It caused us quite a few casualties too. You are not thinking of using that trick, are you? It won't work against Jebu. He's too canny to be caught by his own trick."
"No sir...well, not exactly, sir."
"Spit it out," Djedhor said.
"The remains of the Khent-Abt legion is determined to prove themselves and I believe will fight fiercely. My idea is to pack them inside the Fort of Mice, so that when Jebu attacks, they do not bother to defend the fort, but burst out and attack Jebu's army."
"They'd be slaughtered. The Khent-Abt is only some six hundred strong and there are three thousand Amorites. If you want them to die, there are more productive ways of doing it."
"We would not leave them alone, sir. As the Khent-Abt attacks, the Heru and Re does so also. The numbers would be even, or slightly in our favour."
Djedhor shook his head and got up to get himself some food. He selected a ripe fig from the tray and bit into it. "I commend you for trying to think of a solution, Seti, but that won't do at all. We outnumbered them when we attacked at the Fort of the Gulls, and look where that got us. No, we have to take them by surprise or bring in more men."
"Could we do that sir? Bring in more men?"
"Not quickly. We would have to ask Horemheb for permission to bring up the Sep from Zarw, or the Sobek down at Ineb Hedj. Effectively, what we have is what we have."
Seti looked glum. He poured himself a cup of wine and stared at the map sketched on the ground. "We have twelve forts in all?"
"Eleven, now that the Gulls is in enemy hands."
"How many men in each?"
"Two or three hundred."
"Say we stripped them of all but a token force--fifty men to guard the gates and carry spears on the walls. That could give us two thousand men, more than a legion in no time."
"It would give us a legion on papyrus but there is more to a legion than the right number of men. They would be relatively untrained, unused to working together."
"Spread them out between the other legions then. Make the Heru and Re above-strength, add more to the Khent-Abt."
"We could do all this but every single fort would be dangerously weak."
"They would only be in danger from an organised enemy, and we know who that is and where he is," Seti said. "Our problem is that we are too spread out to be effective on attack. The forts are for defence only, and against Jebu, we don't need them. Drain the forts of men and we can crush the Amorites with a single throw of the dice."
Djedhor suddenly found himself sweating. "You gamble with the fate of Kemet, young Seti. What would your father say? Or Horemheb?"
"In truth, General, I do not know, but against Jebu we face a creeping death unless we can reclaim the Fort of the Gulls. Even with that fort retaken, his army is still a formidable force on our borders. Perhaps it is worth a risk to end the threat once and for all. Of course, sir, it is your decision. My task is to explore possibilities."
"And I appreciate your advice. However, I cannot make a decision of such gravity without consulting my colleagues." Djedhor strode to the tent entrance and ordered the guard there to send for the legion commanders. Ament and Mose arrived within a few minutes and Djeserkare moments after them. They each saluted and stood in silence, waiting for their General to speak.
"You know the problem that faces us," Djedhor said. "We have the defence of the northern borders to encompass and not enough men. Jebu and his Amorite army threaten us daily. We need something extraordinary." He gestured to Seti. "Seti, son of Paramessu, has an audacious plan. I will let him explain it to you. Hear him out before you comment."
Seti gulped but advanced to the edge of the dirt map, adjusting a few pebbles before speaking. He described the situation, pointing to each fort in turn, outlined their resources and those of the enemy. Finally, he went through his plan, falling back to the Fort of Mice and springing the trap. He fell silent and looked from one commander to another, waiting for these experienced men to ridicule the efforts of an inexperienced youth.
"Good for you, young fellow," Mose murmured.
"Are you considering this plan, sir?" Ament asked of the General.
"Perhaps. What are your thoughts?"
"It is a gamble..."
"Life is a gamble," Djedhor snapped. "You have heard the plan. Are the odds in our favour? Can you add anything that would help us? Mose, you first."
"It is an audacious plan, sir, and one that might have sprung from the mind of a Horemheb or Paramessu. I say we should attempt it."
"Ament?"
"You are the General, sir. It is for you to say."
"Dogmeat!" Djedhor roared. "I know it is my decision. I want you
r fornicating opinion. It is not too late to take your legion off you if you cannot even advise me."
"Th...then I s...say 'no', sir. It is too risky."
"Djeserkare? Your men will be the copper bar on the Amorite anvil. What do you say?"
"I welcome any opportunity to show my men are not cowards. Put us in the most dangerous place and we will acquit ourselves well. I say 'yes'."
"And I say 'yes' too," Djedhor decided. "We strip the forts, but quietly. We do not want Jebu to guess we are deliberately weakening them. Start with the Foxes, Owls and Mice, Mose. I will leave you to arrange that. Form the fort soldiers into Troops of Five Hundred and put a reliable officer in charge of each. Withdraw the men back to about Fort 8, well out of the way. Ament, you will double and redouble the patrols. I do not want a single Amorite scout getting back to Jebu with tales of what we are doing. Djeserkare, encourage your men. They will play a pivotal role in our attack. Seti, details please, and quickly. I don't know how long it will take for Jebu to try for the Foxes, but I don't want to be caught asleep." Djedhor looked round the circle of his officers and grinned. "Well, get on with it then."
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Chapter Fifteen
King Kheperkheperure Irimaat Ay emerged from the Ineb Hedj House of the Dead a scant twenty days before his scheduled burial in the Great Valley far to the south. Gone were all traces of the old and shrunken man that he had been in life, replaced by a serene and calm figure wrapped in spices and bandages, encased in fine wood sheathed in gold and inlaid with lapis, mafaket, sehmet, topaz, glass and ivory. Painted eyes looked out expressionlessly at the world as if nothing that happened there was of the slightest importance. And perhaps it was not, for the spirit of Ay was either enjoying the company of the gods or had been devoured by the god Amenti. None knew for sure, so it was better to honour the old king and see him properly buried with all the rites observed.
The priests of the many gods were on hand to bring the dead king from the Place of Preparation to the great golden barge that would transport him upriver to his eternal resting place. The king-in-waiting was there too, Lord Horemheb, and the mayor and dignitaries of the city. The days of mourning had passed and the citizens rejoiced for the old king was going home. The procession took several hours to negotiate the narrow streets as people thronged the route, paying respect to the statues of the gods carried by sweating priests, and exclaiming at the splendour of the golden coffin on its ornate bier. Khu and Abrim looked on in dismay from the crowd on a street corner near the docks.
"I thought we still had two days," Abrim said. "Our plan relies on sneaking Scarab out before this happened."
"Horemheb is there in the procession, but I do not see Scarab. I hope she is still back at the palace. Maybe we can get her out now."
"In daylight? We'll never get her past the guards."
Khu led the way through the crowded streets to the palace. They had to make themselves known to the guards, but they were too distracted to pay much attention. The halls and corridors were filled with chattering servants and a variety of overseers trying to restore some semblance of order. Khu worked his way slowly toward the women's wing, Abrim following behind. At the entrance to the wing, guards stopped them and refused to let them in.
"Send word to Lady Khepra that Lord Khu is here with a message from Lord Horemheb," Khu said in a haughty voice. A guard was dispatched to Scarab's suite with the message, returning a few minutes later with permission for the messengers to enter her apartments. A guard accompanied them and waited outside the door when they went inside.
Scarab was sitting at a table having her wig fitting and adorned with gold beads. She wore a sheer linen dress and her face was made up in court style. The servant attending her mistress looked up as the men entered and murmured something. Scarab turned with a smile.
"Khu, it is lovely to see you...and you Abrim...but why are you running errands for Horemheb?"
"Send your maidservant away and I will tell you."
Scarab nodded at the girl. "Thank you, Suala." She waited until the servant had left. "Well?"
"Horemheb did not send me, but I decided I could get in to see you that way."
"It is good to see you both. Will you have some wine? I can send for some."
"No thank you. We have something more urgent to discuss. Did you know that the body of Ay has left the House of the Dead and is heading down to the docks?"
"Yes, I had heard. What of it?"
"As soon as the body heads south, Horemheb will follow and you will likely be going with him. There is only twenty days left until the burial and then...your marriage. We must act now if we are to prevent that."
"I do not think we can prevent it," Scarab said. She looked away from her two friends and stared out of the balconied window. "The golden scarab is lost to me now and I must take this as a sign from the gods. Perhaps they desire my marriage. It would certainly give legitimacy to Horemheb's reign and restore Ma'at to the country."
"I cannot believe I am hearing this. You are giving up?"
"It does not seem like something the Eye of Geb would do," Abrim added.
"How am I to accomplish anything without my powers? Maybe that is the reason I lost them--so I could found a dynasty of kings."
Khu shook his head, his face registering disgust and disbelief. "You managed without the gifts of the gods for nearly thirty years, but since you had them you have become reliant on them. I think it far more likely that the gods took their gifts from you so you could become self-reliant again. You are no-one's servant, Scarab, nor a wife to somebody you do not love."
"Shake the dust of the city from your sandals, Eye of Geb," Abrim said. "Come back to the desert and be who you were born to be--with or without your gifts there is always room for you with the Shechites."
Scarab smiled wryly. "Easier said than done. You know I am watched like a hawk." She broke into a light chuckle. "Quite apt when you remember Heru the hawk is Horemheb's personal god."
"Not today. He and all his ministers and officers are dancing attendance on Ay's body. Now is the best time to slip through his clutches--unless you are resigned to being his slave."
"I am no-one's slave, Khu. Do not forget I was crowned king after my brother's death."
"I certainly have not forgotten, but I worry that you have. The Scarab I see before me displays more of the slave than the king." Khu shrugged. "Perhaps I was mistaken to think you greater than this."
Scarab shot to her feet and slammed the palm of her hand down on the table. "By the gods, Lord Khu, you forget yourself."
"But it seems that you have at last remembered yourself," Khu snapped back.
The two glared at each other for a minute, while Abrim edged away, appalled at the anger crackling between his friends.
"I am sorry if I have offended you, Lady Khepra," Khu said stiffly. "If you will allow it, I will withdraw and leave you to your...your new life."
"Yes, go." Scarab looked away, tears streaming from her living eye. She heard the door open and she turned quickly. "Do not go, Khu. Please. I am sorry."
"Scarab," Khu whispered. "I do not want to go."
"Then stay for me." Scarab ran lightly across the room and threw herself into Khu's arms. "Don't leave me, I need you."
"I'm staying. Nothing could drag me from your side." Khu's lips brushed Scarab's cheek.
For a moment, Scarab turned her lips toward Khu's, but then she drew back, her eyes downcast. "Forgive me," she murmured.
"Always."
Abrim cleared his throat softly. He knew that Scarab and Khu had a long history together and under other circumstances an attraction between a young man and a beautiful if scarred woman would be natural, but Scarab was royalty as well as the 'Eye', and Khu was just a farmer turned physician. Their open display of affection embarrassed him. "Khu, we must act fast, before Horemheb returns."
"Act?" Scarab asked. "Act how? What are you planning?"
"We h
ave found a fisherman willing to transport us to Iunu. From there we can reach safety."
"Iunu? I remember going to Iunu once before with you, Khu. And by boat."
"I cannot swear it is the same boat, but it is the same lad, now grown to be a man. Amenhotep."
Scarab wiped her eye and laughed. "I remember him." She grew serious again. "But how are we to make this voyage? Horemheb may not be in the palace, but he will have left instructions with the guards. The eyes of every woman leaving the palace are to be examined. I cannot sneak out again."
"Then you must go openly, as Lady Khepra."
"How? They will never let me past."
"Unless you have a command from Lord Horemheb to attend the ceremony of loading the coffin on board the royal barge. The guards know I brought a message for you from him, but they don't know what it says. Why could it not be this command?"
"That might work, but what if someone asks to see it?"
"Who would demand that of Lady Khepra?"
"An officer might...I could write one myself though. I know the forms and Horemheb would not have his official seals with him. Wait." Scarab ran to a chest and pulled out some scraps of papyrus and a box of inks and reeds. She mixed a little water into one of the jars of pigment and stirred it with a reed brush. "Let us see...something simple and peremptory, as befits a general who would be king...'Bring the Lady Khepra to me at the Royal Docks. Horemheb." Scarab scanned the short message critically. "Short and to the point. What do you think?"
Abrim nodded. Khu asked, "What if the officer takes it upon himself to escort you?"
Scarab thought for a moment. "How about if I add that there is to be no fuss and the messenger is to bring me?" Khu nodded and Scarab carefully added some more symbols. "There, that will have to do. Should I put my robes on or stay dressed in this dress?"
"The dress. You are Lady Khepra now, not the desert wild woman Scarab. Bundle up the robes and Abrim can carry them."
The three of them set off for the palace entrance, hurrying through the corridors and rooms. Servants backed against the walls and bowed their heads to Lady Khepra, enabling them to reach the guard post quickly. Scarab stood aloofly to one side and signed Khu to talk to the guards.