been done in a befitting manner. Nofret had been buried with all the prescribed rites and with no sparing of expense (somewhat undue expense, in Imhotep's opinion).
Imhotep exchanged courtesies with the priests who, their sacred office now finished, re-assumed their men-of-the-world manner. Everyone descended to the house, where suitable refreshments were waiting. Imhotep discussed with the principal Divine Father the recent political changes. Thebes was rapidly becoming a very powerful city. It was possible that Egypt might once more be united under one ruler before very long. The Golden Age of the Pyramid builders might return.
Montu spoke with reverence and approval of the King Neb-hepet-Re. A first-class soldier and a man of piety also. The corrupt and cowardly north could hardly stand against him. A unified Egypt - that was what was needed. And it would mean, undoubtedly, great things for Thebes...
The men walked together, discussing the future.
Renisenb looked back at the cliff and the sealed tomb chamber.
“So that is the end,” she murmured. A feeling of relief swept over her. She had feared she hardly knew what! Some last-minute outburst or accusation? But everything had gone with commendable smoothness. Nofret was duly buried with all the rites of religion.
It was the end.
Henet said below her breath: “I hope so; I'm sure I hope so, Renisenb.”
Renisenb turned on her.
“What do you mean, Henet?”
"Henet avoided her eyes.
“I just said I hoped it was the end. Sometimes what you think is an end is only a beginning. And that wouldn't do at all.”
Renisenb said angrily:
“What are you talking about, Henet? What are you hinting at?”
“I'm sure I never hint, Renisenb. I wouldn't do such a thing. Nofret's buried and everyone is satisfied. So everything is as it should be.”
Renisenb demanded: “Did my father ask you what you thought about Nofret's death?”
“Yes, indeed, Renisenb. Most particular, he was, that I should tell him exactly what I thought about it all.”
“And what did you tell him?”
“Well, of course I said it was an accident. What else could it have been? You don't think for a minute, I said, that anyone in your family would harm the girl, do you? They wouldn't dare, I said. They have far too much respect for you. Grumble they might, but nothing more, I said. You can take it from me, I said, that there's been nothing of that kind!”
Henet nodded her head and chuckled.
“And my father believed you?”
Again Henet nodded with a good deal of satisfaction.
“Ah, your father knows how devoted I am to his interests. He'll always take old Henet's word for anything. He appreciates me if none of the rest of you do. Ah, well, my devotion to all of you is its own reward. I don't expect thanks.”
“You were devoted to Nofret too,” said Renisenb.
“I'm sure I don't know what gave you that idea, Renisenb. I had to obey orders like everyone else.”
“She thought you were devoted to her.”
Henet chuckled again.
“Nofret wasn't quite as clever as she thought herself. A proud girl - and a girl who thought she owned the earth. Well, she's got the judges in the Underworld to satisfy now - and a pretty face won't help her there. At any rate we're quit of her. At least,” she added under her breath and touching one of the amulets she wore, “I hope so.”
Death Comes as the End
II
“Renisenb, I want to talk to you about Satipy.”
“Yes, Yahmose?”
Renisenb looked up sympathetically into her brother's gentle, worried face.
Yahmose said slowly and heavily: “There is something very wrong the matter with Satipy. I cannot understand it.”
Renisenb shook her head sadly. She was at a loss to find anything comforting to say.
“I have noticed this change in her for some time,” went on Yahmose. “She stares and trembles at any unaccustomed noise. She does not eat well. She creeps about as though - as though she were afraid of her own shadow. You must have
Imhotep exchanged courtesies with the priests who, their sacred office now finished, re-assumed their men-of-the-world manner. Everyone descended to the house, where suitable refreshments were waiting. Imhotep discussed with the principal Divine Father the recent political changes. Thebes was rapidly becoming a very powerful city. It was possible that Egypt might once more be united under one ruler before very long. The Golden Age of the Pyramid builders might return.
Montu spoke with reverence and approval of the King Neb-hepet-Re. A first-class soldier and a man of piety also. The corrupt and cowardly north could hardly stand against him. A unified Egypt - that was what was needed. And it would mean, undoubtedly, great things for Thebes...
The men walked together, discussing the future.
Renisenb looked back at the cliff and the sealed tomb chamber.
“So that is the end,” she murmured. A feeling of relief swept over her. She had feared she hardly knew what! Some last-minute outburst or accusation? But everything had gone with commendable smoothness. Nofret was duly buried with all the rites of religion.
It was the end.
Henet said below her breath: “I hope so; I'm sure I hope so, Renisenb.”
Renisenb turned on her.
“What do you mean, Henet?”
"Henet avoided her eyes.
“I just said I hoped it was the end. Sometimes what you think is an end is only a beginning. And that wouldn't do at all.”
Renisenb said angrily:
“What are you talking about, Henet? What are you hinting at?”
“I'm sure I never hint, Renisenb. I wouldn't do such a thing. Nofret's buried and everyone is satisfied. So everything is as it should be.”
Renisenb demanded: “Did my father ask you what you thought about Nofret's death?”
“Yes, indeed, Renisenb. Most particular, he was, that I should tell him exactly what I thought about it all.”
“And what did you tell him?”
“Well, of course I said it was an accident. What else could it have been? You don't think for a minute, I said, that anyone in your family would harm the girl, do you? They wouldn't dare, I said. They have far too much respect for you. Grumble they might, but nothing more, I said. You can take it from me, I said, that there's been nothing of that kind!”
Henet nodded her head and chuckled.
“And my father believed you?”
Again Henet nodded with a good deal of satisfaction.
“Ah, your father knows how devoted I am to his interests. He'll always take old Henet's word for anything. He appreciates me if none of the rest of you do. Ah, well, my devotion to all of you is its own reward. I don't expect thanks.”
“You were devoted to Nofret too,” said Renisenb.
“I'm sure I don't know what gave you that idea, Renisenb. I had to obey orders like everyone else.”
“She thought you were devoted to her.”
Henet chuckled again.
“Nofret wasn't quite as clever as she thought herself. A proud girl - and a girl who thought she owned the earth. Well, she's got the judges in the Underworld to satisfy now - and a pretty face won't help her there. At any rate we're quit of her. At least,” she added under her breath and touching one of the amulets she wore, “I hope so.”
Death Comes as the End
II
“Renisenb, I want to talk to you about Satipy.”
“Yes, Yahmose?”
Renisenb looked up sympathetically into her brother's gentle, worried face.
Yahmose said slowly and heavily: “There is something very wrong the matter with Satipy. I cannot understand it.”
Renisenb shook her head sadly. She was at a loss to find anything comforting to say.
“I have noticed this change in her for some time,” went on Yahmose. “She stares and trembles at any unaccustomed noise. She does not eat well. She creeps about as though - as though she were afraid of her own shadow. You must have
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