“It was raucous,” Abar interjected. “The elites criticized Rawer for over an hour. They didn’t hold back.” She smiled. “Neither did I.”
“After the elites and you left, Abar, Dedi summoned Rawer,” I continued. “He denounced Rawer scathingly and at great length for his assorted failures. He announced under no circumstance would Rawer ever have anything to do with his enterprise – fleet, craftsmen, trade, his workers. Then Dedi told me I was now his heir.”
I saw resignation on Amenia’s face. Her greatest fear, realized.
“I suppose Rawer threatened to go to Father to get him to overrule Grandfather,” Abar said.
“Surprisingly, he didn’t. The opposite, in fact. Rawer said the last month had humbled him. He said he’d thought he could manage Dedi’s enterprise, but he hadn’t grasped the complexities. The years he’d wasted in frivolity, he said, had finally come home to roost. He was grateful you, Abar, stepped in when you did to keep deliveries on track. He was grateful Heth had looked after Dedi’s workers. He congratulated me. He asked if I’d let him work in the boatyard as a common laborer, to in effect let him start over. He said when he becomes ruler he won’t stand in the way of you and me, Abar, using the fleet and herd to pursue Dedi’s quest.”
“Did you believe him?” Abar asked.
“Not a word,” I replied. “Rawer must have expected Dedi would name me heir after the mess he made of things. He’s not stupid – he knows elites are angling to push him aside. He obviously realizes without the fleet under his control he has no leverage against an elite alliance. All he has going for him now, Amenia, is you.”
“Because I’ll name the next ruler, not the elites,” Amenia said.
“Rawer’s still officially Aboo’s heir, and you, Abar, are still officially pledged to him. He’s counting on the double–blood connection being enough to win your support, Amenia. As you said, you nullify elite alliances. So, keeping me happy – and by extension you – is the only way for Rawer to become ruler now. Once he is, though, he’ll revert.”
“In the meantime, Amenia, he’ll no doubt shower you with gifts and flattery to stay on your good side,” Abar said. “Without you he’s done – he’s not even a player in the game.”
Amenia’s eyes rose to mine. “So, now that you’re heir… is Dedi going to join you to Abar?”
“He didn’t mention it,” I said.
“He probably assumed he didn’t need to, since he publicly promised her to you,” Amenia replied, hurt in her voice. “Something everyone seems to know about.”
“Let’s set that aside for a moment. There’s more to tell,” I said.
Amenia pressed her lips firmly together. Her eyes were glistening.
“Within hours news of the change had spread widely. After sunset Pipi called on me at the boatyard. He was upbeat, exuberant, practically bursting with plans.”
“You promised him the first time you came back from Maadi you’d join his alliance if Grandfather ever named you his heir,” Abar noted.
“I never thought it would actually happen. I promised Pipi because it was the only way to get out of being joined to Wenher that very night.” I glanced at Amenia. No reaction. “But since I’m now Dedi’s heir, I couldn’t go back on my word. Pipi and I talked for over an hour. He left with my support assured and his negotiating position with Aboo considerably stronger than any other elite’s can possibly be. He’s convinced he and Aboo will be able to work out the exact deal he first described to me beside the outcrop along the wadi path.”
“Wehemka to be named Father’s heir, me to become Wehemka’s woman, you joined to Wenher,” Abar said bitterly.
“All to be triggered by Dedi’s death, when his enterprise officially passes to me,” I confirmed. “The combination of Pipi’s beer and Aboo’s herd and Dedi’s fleet and my smithy will be the most powerful entity in the valley. Pipi plans to approach Aboo and present his new proposal within a few weeks.”
Amenia couldn’t hide her distress. Now, instead of losing me to Abar, she was going to lose me to Wenher.
Abar looked unhappy too. I knew she abhorred the prospect of being joined to her cousin Wehemka, almost as much as she abhorred the prospect of being joined to Rawer. “So that’s it? Pipi wins? We lose?” she asked despairingly.
“Aboo won’t get a better offer from any other elite,” I said.
“What if you stopped flirting with all the elites and settled on one?” Amenia asked, her voice tinged with desperation. “Would the rest rally around him to keep Pipi at bay?”
“I’m afraid I’ve sown too much dissension already,” Abar replied. “Too many elite sons believe I care for them. No elite father will yield to another if there’s any possibility his son might be joined to me. And I haven’t flirted with Wehemka at all because I didn’t want to strengthen Pipi’s hand. I now see that was a mistake. Because I’ve ignored him, none of the elites even knows Pipi’s competing against them. No, every elite will continue to negotiate with Father separately, each thinking they’re trying to outbid individual elites. Their offers will fall far short of Pipi’s.”
We sat deep in thought, watching the flame gutter in the bowl. Despair hung thick inside Aboo’s tomb. The oppressive and spooky surroundings weighed on all of us.
Amenia finally stirred. “I’m our only weapon,” she said grimly. “I’m going to confirm Nekhen’s next ruler. I’m the only one who can upset whatever alliance Aboo makes.”
“Especially if you pick Abar,” I noted. “That will cut out the elites entirely.”
“You’re aware that’s her ambition?” Amenia asked me sharply.
“Yes. And that Ipu considered her Aboo’s only direct heir. And that you agree.”
“How long have you known?” Amenia queried. “Until tonight, every time we’ve talked about the succession you’ve told me Abar wants to join with a malleable elite she can rule through. Have you been lying to me?”
“I didn’t tell Nykara I wanted to rule in my own right until the foundation ceremony for Father’s complex, right before he and Grandfather left for Maadi,” Abar said. “He believed exactly what he told you, Amenia – I wanted to be a ruler’s woman and oversee Nekhen through whichever man I was unfortunate enough to be joined to. I didn’t tell him the truth because you’re my friend and I didn’t want my ambition to come between the two of you. I didn’t want this particularly awkward situation we find ourselves in right now to arise – me needing both you and Nykara, you and Nykara in love with each other.”
I sensed it was time for me to throw my support to Abar, to make clear where I stood. Maybe that would make Amenia’s choice easier, relieve some of the pressure she was feeling. Or, perhaps, it would do the opposite. It might destroy our relationship. I’d never be able to live with myself if that happened. But the stakes for Abar and Nekhen were growing higher with each passing day, especially in light of my new commitment to Pipi. “Abar would be the best choice to rule Nekhen,” I averred.
A darkness seemed to pass across Amenia’s eyes. “If I pick someone besides Abar to succeed Aboo, will you leave me for her, Nykara? Especially since Dedi’s made it possible for the two of you to be joined to keep his beloved transportation network whole? Especially since I know Abar loves you?” There was hurt in her voice.
“From the moment we met at your uncles’ I’ve wanted to be with you, Amenia, not Abar or anyone else,” I said. “I had no idea then you’d ever be anything more than a potter or I’d be more than a boatman. For me, that was enough. I never thought you’d become involved in naming rulers and Nekhen’s fate and the rest. I never thought I would either. I love you for your passion, for your compassion and creativity.” I took her hand in mine and raised it and kissed her fingers. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Amenia’s eyes searched mine for a long time. “I believe you,” she finally said. She relaxed.
“The problem with picking Abar, of course, is the elites won’t pledge fealty to her,�
� I said.
Amenia touched the object dangling around her neck with her fingers. “You heard me tell the story of the talisman the day Great–grandmother died, Nykara. The falcon god cast this down from heaven in a fireball and led my ancestress, Aya, to it. Years later, Aya became the patriarch of her band and led her people for several generations.”
“I remember Ipu telling me men can willingly follow a woman,” Abar said, looking at me meaningfully. “Nothing’s impossible.”
“Yet we shouldn’t underestimate how difficult it will be to rally support for you,” I countered.
“Have you dreamed about Father’s successor yet, Amenia?” Abar asked. “Announcing the god has spoken to you would stop Pipi and the rest of the elites in their tracks – unless they’re prepared to challenge the god’s will. I’m not asking who you might have dreamed of, just if you have. If I’m out of line, tell me. I’m not trying to pressure you.”
“I know how badly you want to know, Abar. I don’t fault you for being curious. I’d be in your place too. I appreciate you’ve never asked me before. I can’t imagine how hard it’s been not to. Because of what you’ve taught me – and you too, Nykara – I understand so much more about Nekhen and its future now than I ever thought possible. I understand how important our next ruler is going to be, that my choice can’t be frivolous. To answer your question, the falcon god hasn’t sent me a dream about a ruler so far.”
“That means if Father dies tonight you’ll have to choose,” Abar said.
“To tell you both the truth, that scares me to death,” Amenia said softly. “What if I choose badly? What if everyone in Nekhen suffers because of me? I feel the weight of what I’ve been called to do every minute of every day. It’s exhausting. You have no idea how many times I’ve asked myself ‘why me.’”
Amenia had never shared her internal struggle with me before. I’d never even considered she might be carrying such a heavy burden. How could I have been so blind to what she was going through, and failed to help her? “The falcon god chose you,” I said as reassuringly as possible. “He sent Ipu a dream about you. That’s what she said. That’s ‘why you.’ He must want you to either convey his decision or make it yourself.”
Abar leaned close to Amenia. “Rawer wants to rule Nekhen simply so he can grab and wield ever more power and become wealthy and live in luxury and lord it over everyone and put them in their place. Same with Pipi and Wehemka. Same with all the elites. But if I was ruler I’d look outward – I’d set the stage for Nekhen and Tjeni and Nubt to unite behind one ruler, to become the mightiest power in the southern valley, to spread our lifestyle, our culture, our gods everywhere – especially the falcon god.”
“Making Dedi’s dream live is a lofty aim,” Amenia said thoughtfully. “I’m aware you’re the only one who’s embraced it – aside from Nykara, of course.”
“Following in the footsteps of your own ancestress, Tiaa, who convinced the nearby hamlets to accept Nekhen’s ruler as their own. She created this unified region we now live in,” I said.
“And she chose a man outside the line of succession to lead it,” Abar interjected.
“Tiaa didn’t just randomly confirm a man who wasn’t in the line of succession on the day the old ruler died,” Amenia said. “As I understand it, she identified the right man years in advance and built support for him so when she selected him everyone agreed.”
Abar nodded. “If you decided I was the right person to succeed Father I’d have to do the same thing, Amenia. I’d have to persuade the elites to follow a woman. I’d have to persuade them I could do a better job than anyone else to protect their interests and increase their wealth.”
“I can’t stand the thought of losing you to Wenher, Nykara!” Amenia exclaimed, taking hold of my hand. “But this seems so hopeless.”
Abar nodded. “You truly are all that stands between Pipi and disaster, Amenia. But I realize you can’t name me or anyone else as Nekhen’s future ruler before you have a dream simply to stop him or any other elite. What if you named me and the falcon god sent you a dream about Rawer later? You’d have to confirm Rawer. Because you’d changed your mind, everyone would think you’d either been bribed by Rawer or had made a new choice based on self–interest. Your credibility would be destroyed. Pipi would ignore your pick and go to war against any alliance standing in his way. Chaos. None of the three of us can be part of unleashing that on Nekhen, no matter what sitting idly by might cost us personally.”
“I could pull out of Pipi’s alliance,” I said. “Unfortunately, that would destroy my credibility too. And it would merely weaken Pipi, not destroy him. No, it’s probably better for me to remain his partner for now – as an insider I’ll know what he’s planning and when so we can counteract him better.”
“Maybe we should do what you suggested, Amenia. Maybe I should pick an elite to join with, then convince the rest to enter into an alliance with him. That way, at least, Pipi’s alliance would crumble. I wouldn’t have to be joined to Wehemka, and Nykara wouldn’t have to be joined to Wenher. Then, when Father dies, you could name me ruler instead of my man.”
“A weak option with too many drawbacks,” Amenia said. “I think it’s time we put our faith in the falcon god. He’s protected Nekhen all these years. We should pray to him for guidance, and to protect us.”
“And hope he sends you a dream very soon,” I said.
“Very soon,” Abar echoed fervently.
“And lets Dedi live many more years,” I added. “Pipi’s alliance can’t come into being until the fleet’s actually in my hands. So, we have an unknown but likely limited amount of time to stop it.”
***
“It struck me, when Aboo was dedicating his tomb complex, that it was time I see to my own,” Dedi told Abar and Amenia and me a few weeks after our return from Maadi. “Frankly, I wouldn’t put it past Rawer to simply throw my body in the river, after what’s happened. That’s why I asked Nykara to oversee the preparations.”
We were standing on the lip of a rectangular pit, nineteen feet long, six feet wide, five feet deep, the four sides lined below ground level with mud–brick. That was my own innovation, so the sides would remain perfectly vertical. No other tomb at Nekhen had ever been constructed that way. The pit was bordered on the east by cultivated fields and on the west by the lower settlement, its long side parallel to the river. A half–wall of mud–brick extended perpendicularly from where we stood, reaching nearly from one side of the tomb to the other, dividing it in two. The opening in that wall would serve as a passage between the two halves, one of which would contain grave goods and the other Dedi’s body.
“Why here, Grandfather?” Abar asked. “Why not up on the terrace with Father and all of Nekhen’s other rulers?”
“I want to lie close to the river and the boatyard, so I can keep an eye on things,” Dedi said.
I unrolled a long length of leather. I’d sketched a plan using a piece of charcoal. “As you can see, there’ll be a superstructure above the tomb, much like the one over Aboo’s. Wood posts, latticed walls plastered over and painted. A wood roof. After your death, Dedi – a very long time from now, we all hope – we’ll be able to come here to pray and honor you and remember.” I set the drawing on the ground.
“I’ll want some of your decorated pots and jars buried with me,” Dedi told Amenia.
“You’ll have my very best, as many as your grave will hold,” Amenia assured him.
“Your pottery is exceptional,” Abar complimented her. “So many of your objects tell stories. Maybe you could make some that tell the story of Grandfather’s life.”
“That would take dozens,” I observed.
“It would,” Amenia agreed. “Especially since individual pots and jars are too small to convey much information. And, spread out across many, Dedi’s story would be very disjointed.” She gazed towards the plateau looming to the west. “Have all of you seen the flat rock faces scattered around the fringes of Nekhen etche
d with ancient drawings?”
“Across the river too,” Dedi interjected. “Vultures by the hundreds there, mostly.”
“Those etchings tell stories,” Amenia continued. “They’re also disjointed, to be sure – it’s clear some of the original etchings on those surfaces have been gradually added to over the course of hundreds of years.” She indicated the hole in the ground. “But the mud–brick walls in your tomb have given me an idea, Dedi. They’re no different than those rock walls. What if we plastered one of them and made it perfectly smooth? We could paint images on it, use the wall like the ancients used the rock faces, tell the story of your life. Because the wall will be buried, no one will come along and change it for the rest of time.”
“A most excellent idea!” Dedi exclaimed. “A painted tomb. There’ll be none like it in all the land.”
Amenia fell to her knees, turned the strip of leather over. “Do you have a piece of charcoal, Nykara?”
I hurriedly procured one and handed it to her.
“What are the major events of your life, Dedi?” Amenia asked, looking up at him.
“I’ve constructed six large boats.”
Amenia quickly sketched six vessels with upswinging bows and sterns over the surface of the leather, all similarly sized, all pointing north, down the river. Five she outlined; one she filled in completely. “The one you traveled in to Maadi, Dedi,” she explained.
“Add pavilions,” I suggested. “One on those, two on the rest. Don’t forget to put palm fronds in the bows to help the boats sail against the celestial wind.”
On the largest boat Amenia sketched a figure sitting atop the pavilion, and another in the stern. “That’s you, Dedi,” she said, pointing to the pavilion. “You’re the steersman, Nykara.”
“I’ll steer you all the way to the stars,” I promised Dedi.
“More events,” Amenia demanded.
“I remember the story of how you captured two lions the week after you became Nekhen’s ruler, Grandfather,” Abar said.
The Women and the Boatman Page 42
