“This is quite interesting and, even, somewhat unusual,” Nebhotep said.
Akua was being almost honest. The enrichment part was true, at least that is what Meehi told him, but there was no involvement with the king of Egypt.
“We welcome you two. How have you enjoyed your visit?” Uni-tek asked.
“It has been great. Pamu and I attended the festivities in the street last night. And earlier today, Merit was kind enough to share with us knowledge of the Circle of Stone. The accomplishments of the ancients are impressive.”
“Good. Your journey to the southern lands has borne fruit already.” Nebhotep said.
“Pamu, the fresh fish is a welcome addition. I hope it was not too much trouble for you,” Iawy said.
“No, it was not. I enjoy fishing whenever I have the time.”
Now that Pamu had said something, he decided to pay a compliment while sounding important.
“These Blue Faience dishes are beautiful. And the Lotus Flower designs add another touch of class.”
Pamu’s compliment was well received. Now everyone was at ease. Akua was again impressed with Pamu. He knew Pamu had a gift with his demeanor.
“After supper we have a dance to watch. This dance is called a rondo and tonight the gifts or Amun-Re and Ramesses II will be honored,” Merit announced.
“It is a dance with music unlike anything you have seen. The temple musicians have worked on it for two months,” Iawy said to everyone.
*
When the dancers entered the temple, Akua and Pamu’s anticipation grew.
“Akua, if this rondo is anything like what we saw last night, we are in for a treat,” Pamu said in a low voice to Akua.
“I hope it is good. Are you glad you came here with me?”
“Oh yes. Thank you. This is an experience I will always hold close to my heart.”
The dining tables were moved out and the dancers came in. Alongside the dancers were a harpist, a lute player and a singer. The singer had a scroll with her. Pamu leaned over to Akua.
“I think this will be more serious than what we saw last night.”
“I agree with you. Maybe it will be entertaining and informative also.”
The musicians started to play. The dancers were all female. Two of them brought ivory clappers and began to clap to the beat of the music while the other two dancers moved to the music. The singer started to sing from the scroll. The lyrics were far from what Akua and Pamu expected.
Enjoy holidays at every
opportunity. Live like the
crocodile and face every day
with gladness and humility.
Put incense and fine oil
together beside you.
Put music before you and
give fine drink to your heart
every day.
Akua leaned over to Pamu.
“This is special indeed. For me, the power in the singer’s words resonates with me deeply. I understand now. This is a celebration of life.”
The final lyrics sung by the singer:
When your time comes,
give yourself to Anubis.
Learn his ways,
learn Osiris’ ways.
Speak the sacred names,
of those that lie
before and after you.
Let your freed heart,
Ba and Ka soar like,
the Ibis.
Although everyone clapped to the music, the claps became quicker and anapestic when the music finished. The performance was very pleasing to all.
The high priest did not feel well and the celebration broke up. Akua and Pamu wanted to stay and have some more wine, but in the end they headed to the House of Life to sleep. On the way, Akua spoke.
“I wonder why the high priest was feeling bad. I hope they did not serve us bad wine.”
“Akua, I don’t think that’s it. A good night of sleep will help us all. Tomorrow will be a great day. You’ll see.”
*
Yuya awakened Akua and Pamu abruptly the next morning. Oddly, he was accompanied by two armed temple guards.
“Those are the strangers. The ones that supplied the fish,” Yuya said to the guards as he pointed to Akua and Pamu.
“What are your names?” one of the guards commanded.
“Akua-Mat from Heliopolis, and Pamu.”
“Nebhotep, the high priest, is dead,” Yuya said sternly. “Uni has examined the vomit and found meat from a poisonous catfish.”
Akua instantly felt sick to his stomach. He knew what the others were thinking. They were going to accuse Akua and Pamu of poisoning Nebhotep. Akua felt the same awful feeling as he did when he was stabbed by the pirate. Akua decided to speak on Pamu’s behalf.
“Pamu and I certainly meant no harm. It was an oversight. We had no idea a poisonous catfish had found its way into the catch. I am very sorry Nebhotep was an innocent victim in this freak accident. I know he is in the loving arms of the gods.”
Akua knew that words were not enough. Pamu just fell back into the reed bed and covered his face with his hands.
“I wish I could bring Nebhotep back. I meant no harm to him. I am truly sorry. Please forgive me,” Pamu said to Yuya and the guards.
“Regardless, I am to bring both of you to the temple. Raziya, Uni-tek and Teti-en will judge your fate,” Yuya told them.
Pamu looked at Akua. He was visibly shaken and close to tears.
“Akua, am I going to die? Please stop this. Help me.”
“You and I have to be strong. The gods won’t let us die. Not for an accident,” Akua answered.
Akua wasn’t concerned so much for himself, but he had promised to keep Pamu safe. Suddenly, his life had just gotten worse.
Akua and Pamu went willingly with Yuya. As they entered the temple, they were led to a small room. Akua saw once again, the splendid writings and paintings that adorned the temple columns as he walked by. He felt sicker and sicker as he walked by them. He just could not believe everything was so good yesterday and so awful today. There in the room the two priests and the priestess stood. Each of them wore a look of betrayal and anger.
“Are you two assassins? Because if you are, you are worse than the most sinister publican. Why have you brought such death? We pay our tributes to the gods and to the king,” Raziya said.
“No, we are not assassins. We are who we say we are.”
Akua knew that if he told them Pamu was not really his apprentice, he would only hurt himself and Pamu.
“Pamu had no idea of the catfish. It was just an accident. We are both truly sorry and heartbroken that Nebhotep has died,” Akua added.
“I don’t believe you. As you two should know, Ma’at is specific about dealing with those who hurt the priesthood,” Raziya said strongly.
“But in this case, it’s unjust to refer to Ma’at because we never intended to hurt the priesthood,” Akua said, trying to defend himself and Pamu.
“Merit, is a Seer and a Wise-One to Amun-Re and we will defer judgment to her. Her answer will come directly from Amun-Re and will be infallible,” Raziya announced to all in the room.
Merit was found out back and brought to the small room. She was shocked to hear Nebhotep was dead.
“Was there actually a poisonous catfish in your catch?” she asked Pamu.
“Yes. It appears there was. But I did not catch it intentionally. It was purely accidental.”
“And how are we to know if you speak the truth?” Merit asked.
Akua interrupted.
“Just look at us. What motivation would we have?”
“Only you two and the gods will know that. I am going to channel Amun-Re. He will decide your fate. I have had questions about you two since you arrived. I never would have guessed that you two would bring death to our temple. Never.” Her voice rose noticeably with her final word.
Merit sat on the wooden stool in front of the shrine. She looked the statue of Amun-Re straight in the eyes. Merit spoke softly
…
Lord Amun, king of the gods.
We are humbled in your
presence. Please accept our
inquisition and reveal to us
your omniscience.
Has Akua and Pamu come to
assassinate your servant,
Nebhotep, and bring evil to
our temple?
For thirty minutes, the room remained dead silent. No one left while Merit waited for the answer. Merit’s only movements were occasional blinks of the eye.
They are assassins, Merit heard in her head. But after she heard it, she wondered if it was really Amun or just some random thought she had conjured.
Merit knew the punishment would be death. She did not want to send Akua to his death for fear that the blood of a priest would be on her hands, so she decided to save him.
“Our great Amun-Re has answered. Pamu is the assassin. Akua is not,” she told Raziya.
Raziya looked at Pamu. The anger was visible in her eyes.
“Pamu, you disgrace me. Have you really affected anything by murdering Nebhotep? And you Akua, you shall never realize your own truths as long as you surround yourself with the unholy. Pamu has to die.”
Raziya paused.
“I now see the archetype Amun has sent us. The catfish is a bottom feeder and Pamu is no different. We will all have to work now to show the gods that we are ashamed of the evil that has infested our priesthood.”
Akua looked at Pamu with his eyes in tears. Akua felt as if he had issued Pamu’s death. He could not understand what kind of god could hand down a lie. Without hesitating, Akua shouted across the room to Pamu,
“I love you. I’m a better man for your friendship.”
Raziya called for two temple guards. They took Pamu away to the hill above town.
“What will you do to Pamu?” Akua asked.
“He will be put to death. He will be impaled tomorrow,” Raziya said.
Akua knew about impaling. This was the most torturous, heinous punishment Egypt used on its worst criminals.
“That is a slow, agonizing death. Please show mercy and do what you think you must with dignity,” Akua said.
“No. There can be no dignity with malevolence and evil. As the heavy stones slowly push Pamu down onto the spear’s blade, his pain will be an offering to Amun and Osiris. The gods and the Impaler himself have sanctioned this punishment and it will be a holy sacrifice,” Raziya said with authority.
Akua just looked at Raziya. His heart was breaking.
“Can I be with my friend tonight?”
“You need to ask yourself, ‘Is he a true friend?’ I guess it’s okay for you to go up to the hill to be with him. I am doing this for you, not him. There will also be three guards in the rock-cut chamber to protect us,” Raziya said.
Now that Pamu had been taken away, Akua let his anger come out. He spoke in an angry voice.
“Don’t tell me what I need to do, Raziya. You don’t have a clue. Not about who he is or what he means to me. I think you should think hard about this. ‘Things are not always as they seem’. This is no different from Heliopolis. The priesthood has become what it has become. Its greed for power and control breeds evil. And you, Raziya, will reap what you sow. Ma’at has promised this. What you are doing is wrong. And to condemn a man to death over what some lady thinks she knows is vile and heinous.”
“Akua, what kind of priest are you? Your blasphemy is very disturbing. Go and see Pamu and then leave these lands. And always watch your back for the priesthood never forgets. You have to be punished also. Though you still walk these lands, your evil will always precede you. You are an enemy to our nation and by the power of the gods, everybody will know.”
Akua’s only concern at that point was Pamu. He knew this night would the hardest and most difficult of his life. Although he felt horrible, he was not about to leave Pamu’s side.
Before Akua walked away, he looked at Merit. She gave him a stone cold stare.
Chapter 4
“I would like to be with Pamu. I want to be with him until the end. It is my right,” Akua said to the guard at the entrance to the chamber.
“Okay,” the guard said reluctantly.
Akua walked back to Pamu.
“Are you comfortable, my friend? I can’t believe what has happened. I’m eternally sorry.”
“Akua, please don’t be so sad. There are events that we are powerless to control. I’ve known those who say everything happens for a reason. I’m just a simple fisherman. I have no choice but to accept this,” Pamu was white with fear as he spoke.
Akua tried to lift his and Pamu’s spirits.
“Remember how Tiaa always fixed us good food when we were on the boat? And then the discussions we would have at night. It was so wonderful when we stayed in Thebes. I remember how I felt so good.”
Akua looked into Pamu’s eyes. Pamu’s eyes were beautiful and innocent. Akua felt so bad and he did not know what to say. Pamu spoke.
“Akua, it was a great trip. I made some great friends. My life has been full since I met you. Even when I go to the afterlife, and I so hope I get to go, I will think fondly of you and our experiences.”
Listening to Pamu was the hardest thing Akua ever did. Hearing Pamu say ‘My life has been...’ was almost unbearable for Akua. Akua’s eyes were misty, but he tried to hold back his tears.
“Pamu, you will certainly enjoy the afterlife. I will find you in the night sky and talk to you often. You will also enjoy the pleasures of the afterlife, the blessed Reed Fields.”
Akua looked Pamu straight into the eyes.
“I know with all my heart that you are a great and loving man. You will inherit all the glories of the afterlife. You have nothing to worry about. Of course I will miss you. And your family will miss you. But we too will soon pass from this crazy world and enter the afterlife. Then we will all be together. My love for you is eternal, it cannot fade and it will never be broken.”
Akua could see more and more hope in Pamu as he spoke. And though it was bittersweet, he felt some relief.
“Akua, it’s going to be splendid. And so what if I have to leave this world on account of some misunderstanding? It’s not me that knows not what I do. I know where I’m going, and that makes me peaceful. I’m not afraid to die. And I’ll wait for you, Akua-Mat.”
Hearing Pamu talk like that was even harder for Akua. He was so glad Pamu understood, but he felt he had failed him. He could understand no reason why Pamu had to die when he was so young.
Akua had flashbacks to his time with Pamu. He remembered the time he fell out of the boat at the cataract. He remembered their first night at Abu Simbel and how Pamu loved the dance they saw.
Pamu said softly and in a loving tone.
“Akua, I’m ready to go home. I don’t want to be in this world any longer.”
Akua was not able to talk when he heard that. Akua had never thought of the afterlife as home, but he immediately made the connection. All that he could think to do was extend his arms to Pamu. They embraced for over a minute. Pamu said some more to Akua as they broke apart.
“Akua, I will miss you. I will miss my family. Please explain to my family that I have left them for now, but I will see them again. And most of all carry on with your head held high and remember me. Your life has a grand purpose and I’ll be watching from the Other Side to see what you do.”
Akua stayed and slept next to his good friend for one last time. He cried himself to sleep. He awoke at dawn the next morning. Pamu was not there.
*
Akua hoped by now Pamu’s spirit had moved on. His last memory of Pamu was the words Pamu spoke. He prepared to leave Abu Simbel that day. His mission was to take the lifeless body to Pamu’s family. Akua felt horrible. His pain and sorrow was immense.
This is an experience I will always hold close to my heart, Akua remembered Pamu words.
Akua walked down the hill to the temple. He was about to retrieve the body of the best friend
he ever had. It was very sobering. He began to feel sorry for himself.
My life is filled with so much hardship. My problems with the priesthood and now this. What do I do now? When word from this temple finally infiltrates the rest of the priesthood, where will I go? Will Nefertet still love me?
Akua continued to the temple to find out where Pamu’s body was. As Akua approached the temple, he saw Merit.
“I am going to take Pamu’s body back to his family in Elephantine. I have to do this. I will do this.”
“Akua, that is forbidden. You are not welcome here,” Merit responded.
Akua started to get mad.
“Why?” he asked.
“It is the policy of the priesthood that a criminal rest with other criminals. And, like you, Pamu was a criminal.”
“So what do I tell his parents?”
“Akua, I don’t know. That is not my problem. Just get out.”
Akua just looked at Merit for a couple of seconds.
“I am leaving today. This place and the people here have disappointed me. You have to live with yourself. And mark my words when I say, ‘the gods will finally make this right.’”
Merit did not reply, she just pointed north.
“Your troubles are just beginning,” she said cruelly.
*
At the boat dock, Akua asked around for someone traveling as far as Elephantine. To his surprise, he saw someone he knew. It was Ahmes, a ferryman from Heliopolis.
“Hello Ahmes, do you remember me?” Akua said.
“Yes. How are you, Akua? It is good to see you.”
Akua did not want to answer Ahmes. But he was glad to see him.
“I need to go to Elephantine. Will you take me?”
“Sure. We can leave very soon. I am happy to see that you are still a productive member of our priesthood,” Ahmes remarked.
“I have served the priesthood as best I can. But Ahmes I will not lie, I do not want to be a priest anymore. I am never coming down here again, certainly not to this town.”
Ahmes was shocked to hear Akua’s words. He was curious about Akua’s change in heart, but did not want to upset Akua more by prying.
“Okay Akua. I respect you and your words. I have the supplies we will need. These docks are old and worn. I don’t particularly like this city anyway.”
The Reed Fields Page 4
