by David Adkins
I was gripped with fear and my head was pounding. I jumped from my bed, inadvertently dragging the bed covers behind me which also deposited the snake on the floor. The cobra now barred the way to the door from my room and safety. The noise of my frantic activity echoed around my bed chamber and the cobra lifted its head and showed me its striped hood and white underbelly. Its body seemed to glow in the light from my oil lamp. I looked into the ferocious eyes of the snake and knew that the vile creature had only one objective and that was to kill me.
I retreated as far as I could until my back stopped against the wall of the room. I had no further to back away. The cobra slithered towards me and I was mesmerised by the thousands of undulating scales on the creature’s back. I had no weapon with which to defend myself and I knew that I was its trapped and doomed prey. It lifted its head once again and I was certain it was about to strike. I still had the oil lamp in my hand and I threw it at the snake. My chamber descended into darkness for a few seconds and then my door burst open. Murat, one of my male servants rushed in wielding a sword. The snake turned towards the light and the new intruder but Murat was quick and with a powerful slash the head of the snake departed from its body. Nebetah was only a few paces behind Murat and she threw herself into my arms weeping with relief.
“Did its venom enter you?” she asked.
I was shaking but I managed a reply. “No, sister, I have survived.”
She hugged me again. “I had come to visit you for a late game of senet before bedtime. I was shown into your outer chamber and then I heard a noise from your room. I was frightened for I knew something was wrong and I sent Murat in and he took his sword with him in case it was needed, and it is just as well he did.” She mumbled the words out quickly and she looked down at the dead but once deadly creature and shivered.
I was getting over my shock and managed to force a smile. “I was having an early night and did not realise that I was about to dance with death and my partner would be the king of snakes.”
Murat dragged the dead snake from my room. “How did it get in here?” Nebetah asked.
“That is a good question, sister.”
“It must have got into the palace somehow from the gardens and slithered its way into your room,” she suggested.
“Nebetah, we both know that is impossible.”
“Then how?” she asked.
“It could have been put there.”
She was aghast. “Why would anyone do that?”
“To murder me,” I proposed.
“Do not be silly, no one could have a reason for harming you.”
I gave her a knowing look but took it no further as she seemed horrified by what had happened and what I was suggesting. “Well, I am fine so for the moment no harm has been done.”
“We should tell your wife what has happened,” she recommended.
“Would she care?”
“Of course she would, Smenkhkare. Let us go and see her together and get out of this room until the mess is cleared.”
I agreed, for it would be good to see Taduheppa and perhaps receive a little sympathy from my wife. We made our way grimly down the corridor to my wife’s apartment in silence. The enormity of what had happened rendering us both speechless.
Once again Rana, Taduheppa’s Mitanni servant, told us that her mistress was not there. This time I did not even bother to ask where she was.
As we walked away Nebetah turned to me. “I am feeling great fatigue and not myself, brother, after what has happened this evening. I must return to my chamber.” I could not help noticing that she appeared a little embarrassed. I watched as she hurried down the corridor back to her apartment then I returned to my own chambers in time to see Murat dragging an empty basket from underneath my bed. “It must have been in the basket,” he offered.
I nodded. “Thank you Murat.”
I could not sleep for I kept seeing the cobra opening its hood and preparing to strike.
****
The next morning I decided to stick to my plan and visit my sister, Iset. Zeta let me into her apartment but this time I did not have to wait long for Iset to appear. She came almost immediately and reclined provocatively on the couch on which I also was seated. “Have you come to tell me that when you are pharaoh I will be your chief wife,” she teased as she prodded my leg with her foot.
“No I have not. I will never become pharaoh.” Perhaps I did not say the words with the conviction I intended for she smiled.
“I had a hunch you would soon be back,” she said.
“Why did you think that?” I asked.
“I suspect I am the only one who even listens to your questions let alone answers some of them.”
“As you are so forthcoming I will ask you more questions and I expect answers.”
“My little brother has become so dominant. When did that transformation take place?” She was still mocking me.
“The day my brother was murdered,” I answered.
“Are you still insisting it was murder?” she sighed.
“Let us for one minute suppose he was murdered. Who would you believe had done it?”
She thought for a minute. “As we are being simply hypothetical I would say Akhenamun.”
“Do you think he is capable of having his own brother killed?”
Again she thought carefully before answering. “Our brother has a violent and ambitious streak. It is difficult to know what he is capable of. You really seem to believe he had Thutmose killed.”
“Thutmose was murdered and Akhenamun had by far the most to gain.”
“This is becoming a dangerous conversation, little brother.”
“I know that only too well, sister,” I retorted.
“If that is what you believe then what do you intend to do about it?” she asked.
“First I will try to stay alive.”
“That seems to be a bit dramatic,” she mused.
“It may be that the only way I will stay alive is to avenge Thutmose.”
“I do not mean to be rude to you, little brother, but look at you and look at Akhenamun. He will soon be pharaoh and then his power will be total.”
“It was you who told me I had a powerful friend, Iset.”
“Are you beginning to flex your muscles, Smenkhkare?”
“I will flex my muscles further and ask you the names of Akhenamun’s three prospective chief wives.”
“Have you not figured them out for yourself?”
“Just tell me and cease the games,” I suggested.
She pouted. “If I give you the three names will you promise to question me no further on this subject?”
“I promise,” I agreed.
“Nebetah, Nefertiti and Taduheppa,” she answered.
I felt surprised but not as surprised as I should have done. Perhaps my brain had worked it out but my heart had refused to believe it. “I see.” These were the only words I could manage.
“This conversation cannot be repeated. If it were, then an enemy might get the idea that we are partners. They might think that we were plotting together to use the army to snatch power and that I was going to be your chief wife.”
“It will not be repeated,” I assured her. “One more thing, Iset before I go; is it true that Akhenamun and Metos leave the palace regularly at night to journey into Thebes?”
She smiled. “It is true and I dread to think what they do in the city.”
****
I returned to my apartment deep in thought. I opened the door and walked casually in. The cobra should have taught me never to be casual. Standing with his back to me looking out from the open window across the gardens was my brother Akhenamun. “Who let you in?” I gasped.
“One of your servants,” he replied without turning round.
“They should not have done. I have had enough unwelcome visitors of late.”
“I should not be unwelcome. I am your brother and as pharaoh no doors are closed to me.”
“You ar
e not pharaoh yet,” I reminded him.
“Father has very little time left,” he mused.
“What do you want, brother?” I asked.
“I thought it was time we had a little chat.” He turned round to face me with a fierce expression on his face.
“Then go ahead,” I suggested, blanching slightly at his show of aggression.
“It has come to my attention that you have been spreading hurtful and vindictive lies about me. This has got to stop.”
“Who would have told you such a thing?” I asked.
“That does not matter.”
“It does,” I corrected him. “Only if I know the identity of the culprit can I help you do something about it. My name is being blackened as well as yours.” I amazed myself at how I was standing up to him and how convincing I sounded.
“I have told you it does not matter.”
“I believe it does. If I knew who was bringing false accusations against me then I might begin to understand why.”
“You have been saying I murdered Thutmose.”
“Answer my question Akhenamun or I cannot comment.”
He strode across the room towards me and raised his gloved hand but the blow never materialised. “This is not the end of the matter, Smenkhkare,” he warned and started to leave.
He had not struck and I was growing braver. “Who will be your chief wife when you become pharaoh?”
He turned again towards me. “That is none of your business.”
“I hope you are right,” I countered.
“I did not murder Thutmose.” He slammed the door behind him.
He had been furious but he had just about controlled his temper. I felt that I was getting stronger and more resilient by the day. The loss by murder of a protector, Thutmose, and my escape from the venom of the snake had shaken me but also strengthened my resolve. But did I believe Akhenamun? I thought about it and I did not.
****
That afternoon I called Murat into my chamber. “Murat, you have been a loyal servant to me for several years. I want to thank you for saving my life. You put your own life at risk when you bore down on the cobra. It could have struck before you did and one of us would not be alive now.”
“I did my duty,” he replied.
“How do you think the cobra got into my apartment and inner chamber?”
“Someone put it there in that wicker basket,” he replied with a degree of certainty.
“My conclusion too,” I agreed. “Who could have done this?”
“Only someone who could move about the palace freely and not raise any suspicion,” he responded. “Someone who would then have slipped into your rooms unnoticed, carrying their deadly delivery.”
“Like Akhenamun did this morning,” I said.
“Akhenamun was noticed but he could hardly be challenged. He is the pharaoh’s heir and may very soon be pharaoh himself.”
“I take your point.” I rubbed my chin. “Who do you think might have slipped the snake into my room?”
“I cannot say. I have asked around among the servants but nobody saw anything suspicious, or at least they are not saying if they did.”
“Akhenamun has most to gain by my death. I believe he probably had Thutmose murdered and he knows I suspect him. I am the only possible alternative pharaoh and I pose a threat because Coreb the general is my friend and supporter. Then there is my wife.” I said no more.
Murat did not look surprised by my words. “Then your life is in continual danger for whoever planted the cobra in your room will probably try again.”
“Exactly. I trust you Murat. Will you help me?”
“Of course, your majesty,” he replied.
“Metos does the dirty work for Akhenamun. I am aware that together they make regular trips into Thebes at nightfall, or so it is rumoured. If that is so I intend to follow them and see where they go. The city is a dangerous place to go alone at night. I want you to accompany me.”
“I could go instead of you,” he offered. “There is no need to place your person at risk.”
“We will go together, but keep a nightly eye on Metos and let me know when they are leaving the palace and then come immediately to me. I will be ready to leave.”
“It is said they go usually just before the hour of midnight when the palace sleeps. Some of the servants have observed them. It is a matter of conjecture among the palace staff as to what they may get up to.” A grin almost passed his lips.
“So it is more than just a rumour,” I observed.
He nodded but did not ask why I wished to follow them or why I wanted to see where they go. “I will attend to it and if you are ready just before the midnight hour then we will go and I will protect you with my life in the dangerous streets of the city, but we must dress accordingly.”
I nodded and smiled. “That is what I was hoping for.”
****
I did not have to wait long for that very evening he returned to me. “They are on the move, your majesty.” I was ready and dressed in long mediocre robes with a hood to disguise my royalty and I saw he was dressed in a similar fashion.
“Excellent, and I am ready. I have placed a dagger within my robes. Are you armed?” I asked.
“I have a sword about my person. Now we must hurry for we do not want not lose them.”
“Indeed,” I replied. We rushed out of the palace into the gardens. In the moonlight I caught sight of them exiting the palace gates. They took the road into the city and we stayed close behind, being careful to stay out of sight.
The city of Thebes was situated a short distance to the south of Malkata and had spilled on to both banks of the River Nile as it expanded in size during the reigns of my father and grandfather. We had no idea whether Akhenamun and Metos were bound for the smaller and newer part of Thebes on this side of the river or for old Thebes on the other side. We continued to follow them at a safe distance right into the heart of the city. This part of Thebes was relatively safe compared to its counterpart on the other side of the river and so I was a little dismayed when they headed towards the river and the place where boats plied back and forth. If we were to cross the river it would make it more difficult to follow them and the whole mission would be far more dangerous.
We made our way past the large villas of the wealthy for this part of the city on the western bank of the river was the city of the nobles, priests and merchants. It was an area of wide streets and exotic gardens and an area of relative safety. We kept to the shadows as we followed Akhenamun and Metos down to the pier. We watched from behind some sycamore trees as they boarded a boat for the trip across to the east bank of the river.
“It will be dangerous on the other side of the Nile,” warned Murat. “I can go alone and you could wait here for me.”
“I need to see the places that my brother intends to visit.”
“There are those among the wealthy who cross the river to partake in clandestine pleasures,” he added.
“Do you think my brother is doing that?” I asked.
“It does look likely, your majesty.”
“Their boat is leaving, we must be quick or we shall lose them,” I warned. We hurried down to the pier and hastily hired a boat and urged the boatman to leave quickly. I was amazed at how many boats were still plying back and forth on the river even at this late hour. The boatman, sensing our wish for speed, moved his boat swiftly across the river. We quickly caught up with my brother’s boat and moved quite close to them. I pulled my hood over my face so I would not be recognised and Murat did the same.
“Do not worry, we wear old robes and it is dark. They will never recognise us,” he reassured me. Akhenamun and Metos were deep in conversation and did not even look in our direction.
Our boat pulled into the pier on the eastern bank as my brother’s boat pulled in almost simultaneously further down the pier. We jumped from the boat and once again withdrew into the shadows. We watched as they jumped from their boat and headed for the ce
ntre of this part of the city. We had to follow more closely in this labyrinth of alleys and narrow streets so as not to lose them, but we were fortunate that even at this time there were still people on the streets and we were not observed. I was amazed by the number of people and wondered what business they could be conducting at this time at night for the great market was closed and the stalls shut down for the night. This part of Thebes was the city of craft workers, metal workers, artisans and slaves and their homes were hovels compared to the luxurious buildings on the other side of the river.
We were now in the crowded and notorious crime and prostitute-driven area that formed the heart of this part of Thebes. A foul smell of burning from the metal works and from the waste deposited in the streets was now filling our nostrils. This was a densely populated and poverty-stricken district with beggars on every corner pleading for bread or coins and others who looked more likely to try and take what they wanted. Fortunately our cheap robes and hoods made us look like ordinary east bank dwellers and therefore not worth robbing.
“I did not realise such a place exists and I wonder what my brother is doing here,” I asked, looking around me cautiously at our grim and dangerous surroundings.
“I think you probably know,” he answered.
We continued to follow Akhenamun and Metos until we came to a slightly more prosperous area known as the Magisa district with larger dwellings though still rife with dilapidated houses. They stopped at one of the largest of these which was a building painted with wide black and white stripes that made it look distinctive. They paused for a moment and then they entered through the dark stained door.
“What is this place?” I asked.
“A slightly more upmarket whorehouse, I think,” replied Murat.
We waited for a short while and then we ambled up to the door and entered. There was a reception area in which sat two men on chairs chatting and on two couches in the corner three scantily dressed women reclined. I assumed the women must be the wares. Fortunately there was no sign of Akhenamun and Metos.
