Qa'a (The First Dynasty Book 3)

by Lester Picker

  In a moment, Khenemet responded. “I do understand, Hamu. Even though I am childless, don’t forget that I have counseled countless couples over the years. I have seen this very thing happen before. Many women in Kem are independent, this I know, although I may not agree with it in many cases. But this I will say to you. She can be independent only to a point with Qa’a, for the stakes are high here. We play a detailed Senet game of life, Hamu, a game where we must control as many of the pieces as possible for us to have any assurance that ma’at will continue and we won’t be subject to the chaos that surrounds us, waiting to emerge from the Underworld.

  “Qa’a is young and inexperienced. At the present moment he probably cannot think past the head of his penis. We must have someone who can influence Shemai, who can convince her of the necessity of following our direction although she may not understand the entire situation. From everything we have seen, you hold great sway over Shemai. We simply want your promise to use it to persuade her to pursue our mutual goals.”

  “Yes, she does depend greatly on me, for our love goes deep. I have always looked out for her. She is independent, but she does not have a heart for practical matters. She does not understand policies, or administration, or the complexities of business dealings. She is content to pursue her music and dance.”

  “So, what are you saying?” Buikkhu asked.

  “I am saying that I understand what it is you request and it should be easier than you may assume, from looking at Shemai from a distance. She is far less complicated than she appears. She has always looked to me to form her opinions on matters outside her understanding.”

  “So, do we have a deal?” Khenemet asked.

  Again there was silence, and I laughed to myself, for I could only imagine how Hamu viewed Khenemet at that moment. “Deal? How can we make a deal when all I have heard is your side? A deal is between two parties, Chief Priest, each getting something of value to them. Are you asking for a deal, Khenemet, or a gift?”

  Khenemet was upstaged by his own flaws. To his credit he regained his balance quickly. “No, no, we want a deal, for a gift is a one time thing and this deal will need constant exchanges between us, and for a long time I suspect. Unless we both benefit, it is hardly a deal, right?”

  “Good, then let’s begin with the new trade routes that are opening up in Pwenet,” Hamu started.

  That night Qa’a and Shemai arrived back to the tents later than they had on previous nights. One of Qa’a’s guards, a man from my birth village who spied regularly for me, reported that the two had kissed passionately. Although the guards maintained a respectful distance and looked away, my informant allowed that he had sneaked looks to determine the bull form of his King. From his descriptions of the couple’s touching, Qa’a’s bull form was strong, indeed.

  The next morning, after reporting to Buikkhu what I had learned about the King and Shemai, I went to work on the tasks I had been assigned for the celebration that night. A twentieth birthday celebration is no small thing, for it signifies the end of the second ten-year in a man’s life, the passing from youth to adulthood and for the King this carried great import for the Two Lands. The merchants and artisans, the Royal family and the wealthy, priests and priestesses, all looked to the King for signs of the maturity and wisdom that would lead them into a future where ma’at would be strong and Kem would prosper from that stability.

  My role centered around the needs of the Royal family, since they all knew me well. I made my rounds of the tents of Queen Tameri and Princess Kebi, who was four years younger than Qa’a and suitable for marriage. Although her plain looks were a hindrance to her fortunes for a husband, her current training as an initiate of Isis and her quick wit made her the center of attention at Royal events for the past two years. After I explained to her what was to happen that night, I made a mental note to discuss with Qa’a what his thoughts were as far as suitors for his sister.

  The celebration that night exceeded even my expectations. Khenemet was nothing short of exceptionally competent when it came to matters of organization. His secret, of course, was to put in charge of various functions those priests he had trained and knew would perform according to his high standards. When I saw the celebration actually take place, I felt proud to be counted amongst his trusted servants.

  At least a thousand of Kem’s most influential people showed up for the service as Ra’s golden disk set in the sky. Due to the size of the crowd, the first event took place outside the Temple of Horus. Khenemet presided over a blessing and gave a short speech about the significance of the King’s twentieth birthday. The crowds cheered wildly when Qa’a stood to receive a special palette made in his honor.

  After the temple ceremony, the guests dispersed to one of three large tents that had been set up on the edges of Nekhen. One stood behind the temple itself. Another was erected on land at the far outskirts of Nekhen, land owned by the Horus priesthood, where grains were grown to make the beer for which we were so understandably famous. The third tent was near Mother Nile, on land owned by Hamu which he used to store supplies for use in his trading business.

  Khenemet’s intent was for Qa’a to be carried by chair to each of the venues to mingle with the wealthy merchants and members of the Royal family. I later heard that Qa’a was only able to spend short periods of time at the other two venues, so absorbed was he by the goings-on at the Temple of Horus.

  “She was… I cannot find the words for it, Merkha. Her beauty, her body, the way she moved, they thrill me beyond measure. And her singing made me want to possess her as a lover.” In the wee hours of the night, I had asked Qa’a why I heard reports of his neglecting the other two sites. We sat in his tent, just the two of us, reminiscing about the celebrations. Qa’a had invited me because he could not get to sleep, so excited was he over the day’s events.

  “I have been meaning to talk with you about Shemai anyway, Qa’a, for with your father now in the Afterlife, I feel that responsibility has fallen on me.”

  “And rightfully so, Merkha. You have been a patient teacher, not just about the scrolls or nature or religion, but also about things in life that truly matter. There are times when I thought you were a better father than my blood father, may our people whisper his name. He was always so busy.”

  I felt proud to know that Qa’a viewed me in this light, but I also noted that I needed to fulfill that role more regularly, despite my other duties. Qa’a was indeed a man, but his vision was focused only on what he could see. His ability to comprehend the wider issues was still not fully formed.

  “I have heard rumors that while in the army you experienced the pleasures of a woman,” I began.

  “Yes, a few women, in fact.” Qa’a lay in his bed, propped up on his elbow. He turned on his back, staring at the gods’ lights through the opening in the tent’s apex. “It’s true that a woman’s body is made by the gods to please a man. Their power is seductive. Yet, my feelings for Shemai are different. Her whole ba excites me.”

  “You two have not done…”

  “Of course not, Merkha! We both know our boundaries and will not cross them or bring shame upon our families. Yet, we do share certain intimacies. They give me hope for our future together.”

  “And so you are committed to a Royal marriage to Shemai?”

  “I believe so, unless something unexpected arises.”

  “In my opinion, Qa’a, you have chosen wisely, for her father’s family and business interests will strengthen the Royal Court. I am sure that Khenemet will do what is necessary to create strong bonds.” I thought it best not to apprise Qa’a of the conversation I had overheard.

  “Have you and Shemai discussed matters of governing or of relations with our neighboring peoples?”

  Qa’a turned again on his side and looked at me strangely. “She has absolutely no interest in such matters, Merkha. And why would she? She is a woman. She says she would like to produce children for me, especially a strong son. Is that not enough?”

&
nbsp; “Qa’a, as a Horus priest I have seen every conceivable kind of marriage, both good ones and awful ones. What works for a couple is up to them. They work it out over the years until it sits comfortably between them. For some it is mostly a sexual relationship, for others family, and for some merely a business relationship with no sexual intimacy at all.

  “I only ask because some of your forebears depended heavily on their wives for insights, advice, even sharing aspects of their rule. Let us not forget that one of your forebears was Meryt-Neith who ruled the Two Lands quite capably on her own after her husband died.”

  “Yes, I understand, but her rule was the exception, for Horus took the rightful King, Wadjet, unexpectedly. You yourself told me this. But in any case, I have enough advisors surrounding me, so I cannot see Shemai, or any other woman, providing valuable advice.”

  I was struck by how Qa’a did not recognize how much his father’s behavior had influenced him during his formative years. No matter what I had taught him from our great history, the act of observing his father rule was burned into his ba like a sword-maker’s symbol. I decided not to argue the point.

  “Anyway, I had already thought to ask if you would like to accompany us on a sail upon Mother Nile’s waters this evening? It will be a good opportunity for you and Shemai to get to know one another better and for you to discover parts of her true ba.”

  “Qa’a, I appreciate the thought. Although I have other work to do tonight, I would much rather spend time in the company of you two.” And so it was that we embarked on our sail that evening, after Qa’a had slept most of the day. Ra was still a hands-width above the mountains, on what was to be an uneventful sail. How the gods love to play tricks on us!

  Shemai, I must say, was delightful to be with. I found her to be completely unpretentious. Qa’a was accurate in explaining that she had no interest in matters of state. In fact, I found her lack of knowledge in things as rudimentary as the geography of our neighboring states, to be most shocking, considering that her father could have afforded her the finest tutors in Upper Kem. Instead, the only matters that appeared to excite her were art, dance and music. Apparently she was a favorite customer of Upper Kem’s finest artisans and had amassed a notable collection of their bowls, weavings and paintings. She also knew every leading song writer, poet and musician in Upper Kem. She claimed that Lower Kem must be a miserable place, since she had not heard of any artists of note from there. She did excel at listening and extolling the virtues of whomever she conversed with.

  Just before Ra’s light sank behind the mountains, Qa’a told the captain to sail closer to the shore opposite Nekhen, where he would not be bothered by onlookers. He leaned to me and said that he wanted to swim for a while, since the parties had occupied him for the past several days and he felt the need to exercise his muscles. In a few minutes, our boat came to anchor near to shore, with the two boats carrying the King’s Guard on either side of us.

  Amidst much cheering and encouragement from the soldiers, Qa’a stripped off his tunic and dived into the water. As Shemai and I watched his graceful form, he swam vigorously from boat to boat, at times taking in a deep breath and diving beneath Mother Nile’s cool water.

  As Horus is my witness, the gods must plan together for the elaborate plays they create for the amusement or consternation of we mortals. If not for the Presence of General Nebibi, who was in Nekhen for the celebrations and for the training of our troops in Upper Kem, this play might have have a far different, far more tragic ending.

  Whether it was his upbringing as the son of a poor fisherman, or his well-trained eyesight in sizing up our enemies, in the fading light Nebibi was the first to catch sight of a fluid movement on the riverbank. Hidden behind some papyrus, an immense mut crocodile, perhaps six or seven cubits long, slithered through the rushes and smoothly slid beneath the surface. He immediately yelled in his booming voice to Qa’a. “Crocodile! Get out of the water!”

  But Qa’a, his ears filled with water and stroking his arms, later told us that he thought Nebibi was just encouraging him on. So he did exactly what he should not have, he stroked even harder. As we watched in horror, we noticed a long and sinewy shadow pass before us in the shallow water. The crocodile had come out toward the boats, so as to turn and trap poor Qa’a in the shallowest part of the river. All eyes were on the enormous beast, the length of three grown men. In front of our boats it turned directly for shore and our unsuspecting King. Shemai screamed, holding out her hand toward the beast as if to implore it to turn around.

  In the next instant, Nebibi, blessed by Horus, did the unexpected. He grabbed one of the King’s Guard’s spears and with a cry of desperation, leaped into the water as far as his stocky frame would allow. He thrust his spear as he came down, but the beast had already made his move toward Qa’a. Instead of a fatal blow behind the head, Nebibi’s spear caught the beast at the base of its tail.

  As if every demon had been set loose from the Underworld, the wounded crocodile reared up in a mighty spray of water, jaws open wide, turning its head to see what had inflicted such pain. The spear still stuck up straight from its lower body. It turned to see Nebibi flailing in the water, reaching for his knife. But Nebibi’s actions were in vain, for his knife had come loose when he hit the water.

  As he tried to back away from the onrushing mut, the fierce beast opened his mouth. Nebibi reacted by sticking his hand in front of him as if to ward off the charge, but at the last moment the crocodile lowered his jaw and grabbed Nebibi’s arm in a death grip. It rolled in the water, dragging Nebibi head-first with him. The last thing we saw was Nebibi frantically trying to take a breath.

  By now the soldiers had regained their wits and they began to throw their spears at the animal. Several hit their target and the crocodile was now enraged. His blood and Nebibi’s filled the water, and in Ra’s last light we could see other crocodiles slithering toward them to join in the kill.

  Our attention was away from Qa’a, but I had never once taken my eyes from my King. I expected him to swim toward shore and safety. Instead, I watched as he steadily stroked his way toward the commotion, his head out of the water to observe what he would confront.

  “Look, Qa’a heads for the mut!” one of the soldiers screamed. “There! Over there!” he pointed. Immediately one of the captains called out to his men. “Knives at the ready. Into the water!”

  Soldiers grabbed for their knives and jumped, some reluctantly. Three smaller crocodiles had reached the scene, just as the monstrous animal broke the water again, with Nebibi’s arm still in its jaws. But the General had his thumb set deep in the eye socket of the beast, who shook his head from side to side to dislodge it. Blood gushed from Nebibi’s torn arm.

  As Qa’a crept up on the beast, he retrieved one of the spears that had missed the animal. Reaching out with his foot in front of him, he broke the spear in two. As Nebibi grunted in pain, Qa’a snuck up from behind the beast and plunged the sharp end of the spear into the creature’s other eye. It immediately let go of Nebibi and thrashed the water with its tail, Nebibi’s spear still protruding. It rolled around and around in the water trying to dislodge the painful barb from its eye, its blood creating a vile froth. With the soldiers in the water not knowing what to do, the other three crocodiles took off in pursuit of their mut brother. In a few minutes we could see the battle that took place below as the beasts tore him apart. Pieces of flesh ripped from the beast floated to the surface and the water ran crimson.

  Now the soldiers surrounded Qa’a. Two of them grabbed Nebibi, who gasped for breath, and pushed him toward the boats. The captain and his crew of three grabbed Nebibi from the water and heaved with all their might to get his solid bulk onboard. Once on the deck, Nebibi rolled over and threw up. He breathed in with huge gasps, coughing and swearing.

  The Captain and crew next pulled Qa’a onto the deck and one-by-one the soldiers pulled themselves out of the water. They surrounded their General, whose arm hung limply by his side, shredd
ed and bleeding as it was. I rushed to him and grabbed a soldier’s tunic that was lying on the deck and wrapped the wound tightly. The captain yelled for his crew to hoist the sails and take us back to Nekhen.

  As soon as Nebibi caught his breath, he straightened himself on his knees and bellowed for all to hear: “Now that was a battle worthy of its name!” For a moment we all stood quietly, dumbstruck, but when his words finally sank in his soldiers screamed at him with all manner of good-natured insults.