jetty, which jutted out well into the river so that a heavy boat could moor. But there was no sign of the boat now. Hopi set off downstream along the shore, thinking. Abana’s house must be further towards the temples of Ipet-Isut – and, of course, away from the river towards the desert. The most direct route from the tax collector’s grain store to the river would surely end close to here.
The riverbank undulated, and Hopi had to wade through a marshy area where reeds and lotus flowers grew in the shallow water. It was difficult to see ahead through the reeds and Hopi made slow progress, parting them carefully as he went. When he emerged on the other side, he immediately knew he had found what he was looking for. There, up ahead, was a flat cargo boat, pulled in to the side of the river.
The boat seemed to be deserted. Its sails were furled on the two big masts, and there was no one on deck. Hopi stepped back among the reeds again, then followed the marshy area inland up a disused irrigation channel. On the bank, a clump of date palms grew, offering shelter both from the sun and prying eyes. But Hopi could see just enough. Standing in the shade were five donkeys tethered together. And piled in a heap next to them were panniers, perfect for carrying sacks of grain.
Hopi wondered what to do. This could be any cargo boat, any group of donkeys, but that was very unlikely. This was a secret, sheltered mooring and it was in the right place. Eventually, he made his decision, and clambered out of the irrigation channel to take a closer look.
‘Hey!’
Hopi was expecting the shout, and stopped. A man had been lying under the palm trees, and now he got up. He brushed himself down and walked over. To Hopi’s relief, it wasn’t the trader himself, but a rough-looking peasant with rotting teeth.
‘What are you doing here?’ demanded the man.
‘I thought it would be a good place for lotus,’ said Hopi. ‘It’s all been picked further down the river, because of the festival.’
The man grinned. ‘That’s girls’ work.’
Hopi pointed to the scars on his leg. ‘Girls’ work is all I can do,’ he said in a humble voice. Keeping his eyes lowered, he nodded towards the donkeys. ‘I expect they’ll be going to the festival, too, won’t they, sir?’
‘What, my donkeys? Nah.’ The man shook his head. ‘I’ve been given a big job for them here. Pays better than I’ve been paid all year.’
‘Really? Your employer must be rich.’
‘Must be, I suppose. No one in their right mind pays extra to have grain shifted on the day of the festival. Suits me, though.’ The man laughed, exposing his blackened teeth.
‘I wish you luck,’ said Hopi, turning back towards the river.
‘And you, you little lotus-picker!’
Hopi smiled to himself as he tramped back down the irrigation channel. This was Abana’s trading point – he was sure.
.
The three sisters looked very imposing, sitting in a row in the practice room. Isis had never noticed before how strong they could seem; they were all tall and beautiful, with expressive features. Their faces usually showed warmth and laughter, but now they were serious, even stern, and there was no doubt that they meant business.
Isis had been the one to tell Paneb and Sinuhe that Nefert wanted to speak to them. Both men came into the room – Sinuhe wary, Paneb defensive.
Nefert didn’t waste any time. ‘Paneb, enough is enough,’ she said. ‘Our cousin’s arrival has caused us all grief. And now it may bring us even greater misfortune if we don’t face up to what’s happening to us.’
Paneb looked around at the women’s faces. ‘And what is that? What’s going on?’
‘My sisters and I wanted nothing to do with the tax collector Abana. We went to his house because you insisted on it, and all because of your cousin,’ Nefert carried on.
Paneb couldn’t deny it. ‘Yes, that is true.’
‘And now it turns out that Abana is every bit as dishonest and
The riverbank undulated, and Hopi had to wade through a marshy area where reeds and lotus flowers grew in the shallow water. It was difficult to see ahead through the reeds and Hopi made slow progress, parting them carefully as he went. When he emerged on the other side, he immediately knew he had found what he was looking for. There, up ahead, was a flat cargo boat, pulled in to the side of the river.
The boat seemed to be deserted. Its sails were furled on the two big masts, and there was no one on deck. Hopi stepped back among the reeds again, then followed the marshy area inland up a disused irrigation channel. On the bank, a clump of date palms grew, offering shelter both from the sun and prying eyes. But Hopi could see just enough. Standing in the shade were five donkeys tethered together. And piled in a heap next to them were panniers, perfect for carrying sacks of grain.
Hopi wondered what to do. This could be any cargo boat, any group of donkeys, but that was very unlikely. This was a secret, sheltered mooring and it was in the right place. Eventually, he made his decision, and clambered out of the irrigation channel to take a closer look.
‘Hey!’
Hopi was expecting the shout, and stopped. A man had been lying under the palm trees, and now he got up. He brushed himself down and walked over. To Hopi’s relief, it wasn’t the trader himself, but a rough-looking peasant with rotting teeth.
‘What are you doing here?’ demanded the man.
‘I thought it would be a good place for lotus,’ said Hopi. ‘It’s all been picked further down the river, because of the festival.’
The man grinned. ‘That’s girls’ work.’
Hopi pointed to the scars on his leg. ‘Girls’ work is all I can do,’ he said in a humble voice. Keeping his eyes lowered, he nodded towards the donkeys. ‘I expect they’ll be going to the festival, too, won’t they, sir?’
‘What, my donkeys? Nah.’ The man shook his head. ‘I’ve been given a big job for them here. Pays better than I’ve been paid all year.’
‘Really? Your employer must be rich.’
‘Must be, I suppose. No one in their right mind pays extra to have grain shifted on the day of the festival. Suits me, though.’ The man laughed, exposing his blackened teeth.
‘I wish you luck,’ said Hopi, turning back towards the river.
‘And you, you little lotus-picker!’
Hopi smiled to himself as he tramped back down the irrigation channel. This was Abana’s trading point – he was sure.
.
The three sisters looked very imposing, sitting in a row in the practice room. Isis had never noticed before how strong they could seem; they were all tall and beautiful, with expressive features. Their faces usually showed warmth and laughter, but now they were serious, even stern, and there was no doubt that they meant business.
Isis had been the one to tell Paneb and Sinuhe that Nefert wanted to speak to them. Both men came into the room – Sinuhe wary, Paneb defensive.
Nefert didn’t waste any time. ‘Paneb, enough is enough,’ she said. ‘Our cousin’s arrival has caused us all grief. And now it may bring us even greater misfortune if we don’t face up to what’s happening to us.’
Paneb looked around at the women’s faces. ‘And what is that? What’s going on?’
‘My sisters and I wanted nothing to do with the tax collector Abana. We went to his house because you insisted on it, and all because of your cousin,’ Nefert carried on.
Paneb couldn’t deny it. ‘Yes, that is true.’
‘And now it turns out that Abana is every bit as dishonest and
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