Six days had gone by, and Queen Neter-Tua starved in the pylon tower.Till now the water had held out for there was a good supply of itin jars, but at last it was done, while, as for food, they had eatennothing except a store of honey which Asti took at night from the beesthat hived among the topmost pylon stones. That day the honey was donealso, and if had not been, without water to wash it down they could haveswallowed no more of the sickly stuff. Indeed, although in after yearsin memory of its help, Neter-Tua chose the bee as her royal symbol,never again could she bring herself to eat of the fruit of its labours.
"Come, Nurse," said Tua, "let us go to the roof, and watch the settingof Ra, perhaps for the last time, since I think that we follow himthrough the Western Gates."
So they went, supporting each other up the steps, for they grew weak.From this lofty place they saw that save on the Nile side of it whichwas patrolled by the warships of Abi, all the temple was surrounded by adouble ring of soldiers, while beyond the soldiers, on the square wherethe great fight had been, were gathered thousands of the people whoknew that the starving Queen was wont to appear thus upon the pylon atsunset.
At the sight of her, clad in the mail which she still wore, a murmurrose from them like the murmur of the sea, followed by a deep silencesince they dared not declare the pity which moved them all. In the midstof this silence, whilst the sun sank behind the Pyramids of the ancientkings, Neter-Tua lifted up her glorious voice and sang the evening hymnto Amen-Ra. As the last notes died away in the still air, again themurmur rose while the darkness gathered about the pylon, hiding her fromthe gaze of men.
Hand in hand as they had come, the two deserted women descended thestair to their sleeping-place.
"They dare not help us, Asti," said Tua, "let us lie down and die."
"Nay, Queen," answered Asti, "let us turn to one that giveth help tothe helpless. Do you remember the words spoken by the shining spirit ofAhura the Divine?"
"I remember them, Asti."
"Queen, I have waited long, since the spell she whispered to me may beused once only, but now I am sure that the moment is at hand when thatwhich dwells within you must be called forth to save you."
"Then call it forth, Asti," answered Tua wearily, "if you have thepower. If not, oh! let us die. But say, whom would you summon? The gloryof Amen or the ghost of Pharaoh, or Ahura, my mother, or one of theguardian gods?"
"None of these," answered Asti, "for I have been bidden otherwise. Lieyou down and sleep, my fosterling, for I have much to do in the hours ofdarkness. When you awake you shall learn all."
"Aye," said Tua, "when I awake, if ever I do awake. Is it in your mindto kill me in my sleep, Asti? Is that your command? Well, if so, I shallnot blame you, for then I will break this long fast of mine with Pharaohand the divine mother, Ahura, who bore me, and together in the pleasantFields of Peace we will wait for Rames, my lover and your son. Being aqueen, they will give my burial in my father's tomb, and that is all Icrave of them, and of this weary world. Sing me to rest, Nurse, as youwere wont to do when I was little, and, if it be your will, tarry notlong behind me."
So she laid herself down upon the bed, and, taking her hand that hadgrown so thin, the tall and noble Asti bent over her in the darkness,and began to sing a gentle chant or lullaby.
Tua's eyes closed, her breath came slow and deep. Then Asti the magicianceased her song and, gathering up her secret strength, put out herprayers, prayer after prayer, till at length all her soul was pure, andshe dared to utter the awful spell that Ahura had whispered in her ear.At the muttered, holy words wild voices cried through the night, thesolid pylon rocked, and in the city the crystal globe into which Kakuand Merytra gazed was suddenly shattered between them, and, white withterror at he knew not what, Abi sprang from his couch.
Then Asti also sank into sleep or swoon, and all was silent in thatchamber, silent as the grave.
Morning Star Page 26