The Women and the Boatman

by Mark Gajewski

  Second, Nykara. He looked unconcerned. Had Grandfather already told him he was going to be his successor? Nykara was familiar with some aspects of Grandfather’s fleet, at least when it came to building and rowing boats. But he knew nothing of scheduling, or of what the craftsmen did, or how to care for the boatmen’s and craftsmen’s families, or anything at all about ruling. Nykara was admittedly hard–working. But he wasn’t of Grandfather’s blood. He was a commoner. That alone disqualified him from ruling, in my eyes. I’d always feared he’d finesse his way into Grandfather’s affections and displace me and Rawer. Grandfather was exceedingly fond of him. I’d grown jealous of the attention Grandfather paid him. Was what I feared about to happen? Was Grandfather going to pick Nykara over Rawer, relegate me to nothing? “You’re not going to yield to the interloper, are you?” I snapped, indicating Nykara.

  Nykara’s eyes met mine, unflinching. His face remained expressionless. He did know. It was him. At least he wasn’t outright gloating.

  “Rawer’s your grandson!” I exclaimed, outraged. “I’m your granddaughter. One of us deserves to be your successor, not that boy!”

  “That’s right!” Rawer stormed.

  He was finally paying attention.

  “Huya will succeed me,” Grandfather announced calmly.

  The words slowly sunk in. Father! What a relief! That made sense – Rawer was simply too young and inexperienced to rule right now. Father was an elite and had been joined to Grandfather’s youngest daughter, so there was a tenuous familial tie between them. Plus, Father controlled transportation on land. He was wealthy and powerful in his own right. Gleefully, I realized Father’s selection had just strengthened my claim to someday be ruler. Rawer was Father’s nephew, but he wasn’t directly descended from him. I was. Naturally, for now, Rawer would be named Father’s heir, just as he’d been Uncle Shery’s, because he was a male. But I’d had Father wrapped around my little finger my entire life. I was certain that, given enough time, I could convince him to push Rawer aside and name me his heir instead. Father was involved in every aspect of his herd; Rawer’s lackadaisical attitude towards the fleet would eventually come to disturb Father greatly and strengthen my argument to take his place. I wasn’t giving up on inheriting the fleet from Grandfather, either. If I did I’d entirely cut Rawer’s feet out from under him. I’d practically be able to dictate to Father that he name me heir, and force the elites to recognize me as ruler when he died. In the short term, I realized, I was going to be far more visible in Nekhen than I’d been in the past and play a much bigger role in our settlement, a role that would support my future ambitions. Beginning now, I was a ruler’s daughter. And since my mother was dead I’d fill the role that should have been hers, celebrating at Father’s side during Nekhen’s festivals. The interloper would be cut out entirely. Everything was going to work out fine. Father seemed as relieved as me. He’d apparently feared Nykara too. His relationship with Grandfather was not as strong as Uncle Shery’s had been. I glanced at Rawer. He clearly believed Grandfather hadn’t significantly altered his future. He couldn’t be more wrong.

  “The obvious drawback of choosing you, Huya,” Grandfather continued, “is you don’t have a son to succeed you.”

  That was alarming. Grandfather was discounting me.

  “There’s me!” Rawer insisted stridently. “I’m your grandson and Uncle Huya’s nephew.”

  “Yes. You represent the continuation of our dual family lines, Rawer,” Grandfather acknowledged. “Yet, if Huya should die while you’re still too young to rule, the elites would position one of their own to lead and our family would be relegated to second–rate status.”

  “That’s not fair!”

  “Fair? Our family rules now only because the other elite families elevated my father from their midst when a ruler died without a son almost six decades ago. In return for their support we’ve made sure each family’s wealth has continued to grow, along with the authority to oversee a portion of Nekhen’s commoners. Our family is as dependent on the other elites as they are on us, Rawer. We elites long ago agreed power was accumulated and transferred through lineage. As long as lines of descent in a family remain clear, so does power. When they become muddied, as now, the elites may decide to reconsider who rules over them.”

  They wouldn’t be muddied if I was named heir.

  “Then my first act will be to proclaim Rawer my successor, Aby,” Father said. “To ensure the elites honor my decision I’ll figure out ways to make them more beholden to me than they have been to you. I’ll differentiate myself from the elites, just as the elites have differentiated themselves from the commoners. That’s how I’ll protect my new power.”

  “You’re still a young man, Huya,” Ipu pointed out. “There’s plenty of time for some woman to bear you a son and completely eliminate uncertainty about your successor.”

  I suddenly felt ill. A new woman in Father’s life? A half–brother in mine? That would completely alter the future I’d recast for myself only moments before.

  Grandfather nodded. “That’s true, Ipu. It would clarify the succession. I agree with you. So, Huya, you must be joined again, and soon. To an elite woman, to gain the support of her family. Iaret would not have expected you to mourn her for the rest of your life. It’s been nearly a decade and a half already.”

  “As you wish,” Father said. He’d loved my mother, but I could tell he wasn’t about to jeopardize the new position Grandfather had just handed him by refusing to join with a new woman. What man would ever turn down power?

  But the prospect of a stepmother and all its implications was earth shattering to me. I’ve never had to share Father with anyone. I run his household as I see fit. Our servants answer to my commands. To be subservient to some stranger with ideas of her own I’ll have to conform to? Unacceptable. Even worse, if she gives Father a son I’ll never be a ruler’s woman or rule Nekhen in my own right. I’ll never inherit Father’s enterprise – my half–brother will. That’s not fair! I’ve worked hard for years to master everything associated with our donkey herd. I’m the only one capable of using it to pursue Grandfather’s dream for Nekhen. What do I have to look forward to now? Being nothing more than Rawer’s woman, and he a mere elite? I won’t settle for that. So, beginning today, each morning I’m going to chant every fertility spell I know and pray to every god worshiped in the valley to ensure his new woman gives Father only girls. I will not have a rival.

  Ipu gazed at Tai, then Grandfather. “If Tai gives you a son after you yield rule, Aby, that will complicate the succession. Which I expect is a possibility. Tai is still a young woman, and strong.”

  Grandfather smiled at Tai. She smiled back. He nodded. “In that case, Ipu, I waive any right of succession our son might have.”

  “So be it,” Ipu said, clutching her talisman in her disfigured hand.

  “As priestess of the falcon god, will you confirm Huya when I step aside?” Grandfather asked.

  “Assuming the elites agree,” Ipu replied.

  Based on Grandfather’s stories, every one of Nekhen’s rulers in the past five hundred years had been confirmed by one of Tiaa’s descendants, each the earthly representative of the falcon god. That tradition made Ipu extremely powerful. No one could dispute who she chose to confirm, not even the elites, for they’d be disputing our god. Who knew what chaos that might unleash on all of us?

  “I’ll make sure they do,” Grandfather assured her. “No one will oppose my final request as their ruler. I fully expect the elites will pledge fealty to you, Huya, and honor their pledges afterwards.”

  “What will you do after this transition takes place, Aby?” Ipu asked.

  “Resume trading as quickly as possible,” Grandfather replied. “I doubt I have many years left to live. So I’m going to immediately begin constructing a larger and sturdier boat capable of traveling longer distances and carrying more cargo than any vessel currently in my fleet.” He addressed my cousin, and my nemesis. “Fro
m today, Rawer and Nykara, I’m going to expect much more of both of you. You need to prepare yourselves to operate my fleet when I’m dead so you can carry on our family’s quest. You have to prepare to one day be traders too.”

  “You can count on me, Aby,” Nykara replied enthusiastically.

  That Grandfather still considered Nykara part of our family was sobering. As was his stated intention that Nykara continue to have a role in the fleet’s affairs once he was dead. And the implication he might succeed Grandfather as chief trader. Did Grandfather really consider Nykara capable of that? Or did he simply have no better candidate yet?

  Rawer said nothing. My guess was he didn’t want to lie in front of everyone. I was certain he’d never put in the work necessary to learn what Grandfather wanted him to. If he didn’t, that virtually assured Grandfather would turn his fleet over to Nykara. That was frightening. It’d never be mine.

  “I’ll support your ambitions in the valley fully, Aby, now and always,” Father promised.

  “Give me a week to inform the elites. Then I’ll step aside and Ipu will confirm you,” Grandfather told him. “On that day I’ll resume using my birth name, Dedi.”

  “What name will you take as Nekhen’s ruler, Huya?” Ipu asked.

  Father thought for a moment. “Aboo. Elephant. The mightiest and most unstoppable of all beasts. Attributes I now claim for myself.”

  ***

  I pulled Rawer aside after everyone dispersed, led him to a secluded spot along the riverbank where we could talk without being overheard. “Do you understand what just happened?” I queried.

  “I’m your father’s heir now instead of Grandfather’s,” he replied.

  My frustration boiled over. Rawer had either been inattentive earlier, or he was just plain stupid. “Before today you were Grandfather’s heir and I was going to be your woman. The two of us would have controlled the transportation network. For now, I’m a ruler’s daughter and you’re still in line to be Nekhen’s next ruler. But what do you think is going to happen if Father’s new woman gives him a son?”

  “Why don’t you tell me?” he said.

  Rawer was stupid. “My half–brother will be Father’s heir. He’ll control Father’s herd. I’ll be joined to you. But you’ll be a mere elite in control of the fleet. Unless you continue to play around and Grandfather gives the fleet to Nykara.”

  “He wouldn’t!” Rawer was instantly incensed.

  “Don’t be so sure. Grandfather loves his fleet and you don’t. If he gives it to Nykara, you’ll be nothing more than the member of an elite family.” And I’ll be nothing more than the woman of a member of an elite family. Powerless. Unimportant. Joined to a man I can’t stand. Miserable.

  “This mythical woman may not give your father a son,” Rawer observed.

  “True. While unlikely, it would be the best outcome for us both. If Father’s woman gives him daughters you’ll continue to be his heir and I’ll eventually control the herd.” And I’ll rule Nekhen through you someday. But, if I can convince Father to name me his heir and Grandfather to give me the fleet before we’re joined I’ll be positioned to rule Nekhen in my own right. If that happens I’ll certainly select some other man to join with – there are elite sons not quite as bad as you.

  “But there may indeed be a brat for us to contend with someday,” Rawer said. “So we should march to your father today and demand to be joined immediately. We’re in a race now, Abar – you have to give me a son before your father’s woman gives him one. That way, if ours is older when Huya dies, he’ll be named ruler – he’ll be a grandson and in the line of succession. If he’s young enough I’ll rule as his regent.”

  So Rawer did grasp what was happening. He’d been toying with me before. He didn’t care about the fleet, but he cared about being ruler. He’d already figured out a way to turn the situation we faced to his advantage. Although his idea had a fatal flaw. “That’s the very reason Grandfather and Father will delay our joining until after Father has a son – to prevent a succession fight.”

  “Prevent? That would guarantee it.”

  “Guarantee?”

  “Let’s assume some woman gives your father a son. What’s the earliest he can succeed Huya with backing from the elites? Sixteen years from now? Huya will be nearly fifty then. How many fifty year olds do you know? Odds are Huya will be dead long before his son is of age. Assuming that’s true, you’ll have control of the herd, for your brother will be too young to operate it. I’ll have the fleet. We’ll be joined. We’ll be able to force the elites to name me ruler.”

  That actually made some sense.

  “Or assume the woman never gives your father a son,” Rawer continued. “Before too long Huya will have to join the two of us simply to guarantee his line will continue. That’ll make our son his heir. But he’ll be too young when Huya dies, so I’ll succeed him instead. Everything will be as it should.”

  Rawer does have everything figured out, and all to his advantage. Unless Grandfather gives me the fleet. That possibility hasn’t even crossed Rawer’s mind. Combined with the herd I’ll be able to force the elites to name my son ruler, no matter how old he is, and rule as his regent if necessary. And, if Grandfather gives me the fleet before I’m joined to Rawer, I’ll be able to force Father to name me his heir. I won’t have to join with Rawer at all – I’ll be able to pick my own man. Which is also true if I have a half–brother, and the fleet is under my control. I won’t have to join with Rawer. I won’t be able to rule, but at least I’ll be able to use the fleet to pursue Grandfather’s quest – assuming my half–brother gives me permission once he succeeds Father.

  But, if Grandfather gives Rawer the fleet, and my half–brother inherits the herd, I’ll never rule Nekhen. The only thing left to make my life worthwhile will be pursuing Grandfather’s quest. To do that, to have a say over the fleet, I’ll have to be joined to Rawer. If I want to be able to manipulate him then I’m going to have to handle him very carefully in the meantime, so I don’t alienate him and give him reason to resist me in the future. As distasteful as I find it, I’m going to have to convince my cousin I actually like him from now on.

  “Beginning today, we have to present a united front,” I informed Rawer. “Assuming we’ll someday have to challenge the legitimacy of my half–brother as ruler, we need to make sure the elites see the two of us, together, as capable. Above all, we can’t do anything to alienate them.”

  “What does that mean?” Rawer asked innocently.

  “You know exactly what that means! No more playing around with elite daughters!” I snapped. “The elites won’t take us seriously as a couple otherwise.”

  “You too?” he asked.

  “Me?”

  “How many times have you paraded around with Nykara?”

  “We never ‘paraded.’ And you know I was only using him to get back at you – with good reason. Anyway, I haven’t been alone with him or any other boy for the past two and a half years. So this is on you, Rawer.”

  He pondered for a moment. “I agree,” he finally said. “You have my promise.”

  “Thank you.”

  He moved close. “Assuming you warm up to me from now on.” He seized me, kissed me possessively.

  I tried to pull away. He gripped me tighter.

  “I’ve got a right to be compensated for what I’m giving up, don’t you think?” He pressed his mouth to mine again.

  Someday you’ll pay for this, I vowed, squirming free. Just then I caught sight of Nykara out of the corner of my eye, lurking in the trees a few feet away. He’d been spying on us! He was despicable, a sneak, an opportunist. I wondered how much of my conversation with Rawer he’d overheard. I wondered how he was going to try to turn it to his advantage.

  ***

  Amenia

  ***

  “Your new decorated pottery is spectacular, Amenia!” Great–grandmother exclaimed.

  I’d lined up thirty jars and pots and bowls of various sizes in
rows to the left of my personal kiln, all cream–colored, decorated with images in red. My kiln was at the far end of a deep narrow gully stabbing into the high rough rock face of the plateau marking Nekhen’s western edge. Atop that plateau, fifty feet or more above my head, was desert stretching rough and barren all the way to the horizon. The plateau’s face was scarred its entire north–south length with similar indentations and chimneys of broken stone and gullies, their depths currently shadowed in the early morning light. My gully, used by my ancestors for countless generations, was partly overhung on the right side by a thick rock shelf. Several large boulders lined its left. My pottery rested on a level area in front of the natural chimney at its end. Wood and sheep dung were piled directly opposite. A sickle–shaped boat was etched into the rock face beneath the overhang, high up, four people on its deck, a star shining above its prow.

  Great–grandmother picked up a jar decorated with the image of a gazelle. “When I was a girl, on this very spot, my grandmother taught me to make black–topped pottery, and the red–polished decorated with white images,” she said. “But I’ve never seen any this color.”

  Great–grandmother was the oldest person I knew, nearing sixty. Few people in Nekhen lived even into their forties, and most of them were men, since so many women died in childbirth. The only person similar in age in Nekhen was our former ruler, Dedi. Great–grandmother and he had grown up together; they were the last of their generation left in the settlement. She’d had a terrible accident when she was sixteen, two years older than I was now. She’d shattered both forearms and they hadn’t properly healed, leaving her hands pointing at odd angles. As a result, her entire life she’d struggled to perform the most basic tasks. I’d practically been Great–grandmother’s shadow since the day I was old enough to toddle after her, helping her every morning to get dressed and color her eyes with malachite and arrange her hair, and assist with anything else that needed doing the rest of the day. Mostly, that meant accompanying her whenever she was summoned to tend to the sick or dying or to help women in childbirth, for Great–grandmother was a healer.