Egypt by Nick Drake Page A

promised me something much more important. He will promote me. If we are successful, I will take over Nebamun’s post. I would be Chief of the Medjay.’
    Her eyes were taking everything in, every half-truth, every nuance, every uncertain justification and assertion in my voice.
    â€˜Nakht is a very powerful man, but such a promise must carry with it a heavy price,’ she said.
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜So tell me,’ she urged. ‘I can’t stand it when you don’t tell me everything.’
    â€˜I must accompany him on a long journey. And I cannot tell you where I am going, or when I will be back.’
    Her eyes were blazing. I thought she was going to slap me.
    â€˜You promised me you would never leave us again. You promised!’
    And then she threw the bag of gold down, walked out of the room, and disappeared into the yard.
    I picked up the bag of gold and placed it carefully on the couch. My world had collapsed in a day. I went into the kitchen, where the girls and Amenmose were waiting, agog.
    â€˜What’s wrong?’ asked Sekhmet.
    â€˜Stop asking questions,’ I snapped, and sat down at the end of the table. Sekhmet was shocked into silence. Amenmose’s lower lip was quivering, a prelude to a drama of tears and recriminations. I whisked him into my lap and kissed his face.
    â€˜Come here. Don’t cry. I need you all to help me.’
    My son considered his options, and then nodded, deciding curiosity was better than crying.
    The others gathered closer.
    â€˜Your Uncle Nakht and I have to go away on a long journey, and while I’m away I need you to take great care of your mother.’
    The two younger girls instantly set up a howl of grief, begging me not to leave them. Only Sekhmet reacted differently.
    â€˜Where are you going, Father?’ she asked.
    â€˜I can’t tell you exactly. But we’re going all the way to the northern sea, and then even further north.’
    Her eyes widened.
    â€˜If you are going with Uncle Nakht, then you must be going on very important official business,’ she said. ‘Is it to do with the wars?’
    â€˜I can’t tell you. But it’s very important and secret. So you must not tell anyone. Do you promise?’ She nodded, her eyes shining, excited to be a conspirator in the great adventure. I put my arm around her, held her close, and kissed her brow.
    â€˜Clever girl. I need you to look after your sisters, and your brother, and your mother.’
    She nodded. ‘I’m an adult now, Father. You can rely on me.’
    â€˜I know I can.’ I stroked her hair. I adored her self-belief.
    â€˜No wonder Mother didn’t take this well,’ she said. ‘You did promise never to go away again.’ And she glanced at me sideways.
    â€˜I did promise. And I wouldn’t break that promise unless it was extremely important for me to do so. There is more at stake than I can explain. But I want the world to be safe for you. And that’s why I’m going.’
    â€˜I know, Father,’ she replied. ‘I’m just frightened something bad will happen to you. I would want to die, too, if it did.’
    To disguise my sudden distress at her words, I turned quickly back to the other girls, who had easily abandoned their grief as they followed my conversation with Sekhmet.
    â€˜Now, the other news is good news. Nakht has invited you all to live in his mansion during the whole time of my journey. How does that sound?’
    While the four of them jumped up and down in enthusiastic joy, and ran around the kitchen in their delight at this prospect of luxurious accommodation, I went outside, and found Tanefert sitting under the fig tree in the dark. I plucked a ripe fruit from the tree, and offered it to her; she ignored me. We sat in silence for a little. I rolled the useless treat in my hand.
    â€˜I’m sorry,’ was all I could find to say.
    She scoffed: ‘ Sorry is