CHAPTER XVII
THE DREAM OF MERAPI
A while went by; it may have been fourteen days, during which we heardthat the Israelites had started on their journey. They were a mightymultitude who bore with them the coffin and the mummy of their prophet,a man of their blood, Vizier, it is reported, to that Pharaoh whowelcomed them to Egypt hundreds of years before. Some said they wentthis way and some that, but Bakenkhonsu, who knew everything, declaredthat they were heading for the Lake of Crocodiles, which others name Seaof Reeds, whereby they would cross into the desert beyond, and thence toSyria. I asked him how, seeing that at its narrowest part, this lakewas six thousand paces in width, and that the depth of its mud wasunfathomable. He replied that he did not know, but that I might do wellto inquire of the lady Merapi.
"So you have changed your mind, and also think her a witch," I said, towhich he answered:
"One must breathe the wind that blows, and Egypt is so full ofwitchcraft that it is difficult to say. Also it was she and no otherwho destroyed the ancient statue of Amon. Oh! yes, witch or no witch,it might be well to ask her how her people purpose to cross the Sea ofReeds, especially if Pharaoh's chariots chance to be behind them."
So I did ask her, but she answered that she knew nothing of the matter,and wished to know nothing, seeing that she had separated from herpeople, and remained in Egypt.
Then Ki came, I know not whence, and having made his peace with Seti asto the dressing of Merapi in the robes of Isis which, he vowed, was doneby the priests against his wish, told us that Pharaoh and a great hosthad started to pursue the Israelites. The Prince asked him why he hadnot gone with the host, to which he replied that he was no soldier, alsothat Pharaoh hid his face from him. In return he asked the Prince why_he_ had not gone.
Seti answered, because had been deprived of his command with his otherofficers and had no wish to take share in this business as a privatecitizen.
"You are wise, as always, Prince," said Ki.
It was on the following night, very late, while the Prince, Ki,Bakenkhonsu and I, Ana, sat talking, that suddenly the lady Merapi brokein upon us as she had risen from her bed, wild-eyed, and with her hairflowing down her robes.
"I have dreamed a dream!" she cried. "I dreamed that I saw all thethousands of my people following after a flame that burned from earthto heaven. They came to the edge of a great water and behind them rushedPharaoh and all the hosts of the Egyptians. Then my people ran on to theface of the water, and it bore them as though it were sound land.Now the soldiers of the Pharaoh were following, but the gods of Egyptappeared, Amon, Osiris, Horus, Isis, Hathor, and the rest, and wouldhave turned them back. Still they refused to listen, and dragging thegods with them, rushed out upon the water. Then darkness fell, and inthe darkness sounds of wailing and of a mighty laughter. It passed,the moon rose, shining upon emptiness. I awoke, trembling in my limbs.Interpret me this dream if you can, O Ki, Master of Magic."
"Where is the need, Lady," he answered, awaking as though from sleep,"when the dreamer is also the seer? Shall the pupil venture toinstruct the teacher, or the novice to make plain the mysteries to thehigh-priestess of the temple? Nay, Lady, I and all the magicians ofEgypt are beneath your feet."
"Why will you ever mock me?" she said, and as she spoke, she shivered.
Then Bakenkhonsu opened his lips, saying:
"The wisdom of Ki has been buried in a cloud of late, and gives no lightto us, his disciples. Yet the meaning of this dream is plain, thoughwhether it be also true I do not know. It is that all the host of Egypt,and with it the gods of Egypt, are threatened with destruction becauseof the Israelites, unless one to whom they will hearken can be found toturn them from some purpose that I do not understand. But to whom willthe mad hearken, oh! to whom will they hearken?" and lifting his greathead, he looked straight at the Prince.
"Not to me, I fear, who now am no one in Egypt," said Seti.
"Why not to you, O Prince, who to-morrow may be everyone in Egypt?"asked Bakenkhonsu. "Always you have pleaded the cause of the Hebrews,and said that naught but evil would befall Egypt because of them, ashas happened. To whom, then, will the people and the army listen morereadily?"
"Moreover, O Prince," broke in Ki, "a lady of your household has dreameda very evil dream, of which, if naught be said, it might be held that itwas no dream, but a spell of power aimed against the majesty of Egypt;such a spell as that which cast great Amon from his throne, such a spellas that which has set a magic fence around this house and field."
"Again I tell you that I weave no spells, O Ki, who with my own childhave paid the price of them."
"Yet spells were woven, Lady, and has been known from of old, strengthis perfected in sacrifice alone," Ki answered darkly.
"Have done with your talk of spells, Magician," exclaimed the Prince,"or if you must speak of them, speak of your own, which are many. It wasJabez who protected us here against the plagues, and the statue of Amonwas shattered by some god."
"I ask your pardon, Prince," said Ki bowing, "it was _not_ this lady buther uncle who fenced your house against the plagues which ravaged Egypt,and it was _not_ this lady but some god working in her which overthrewAmon of Tanis. The Prince has said it. Yet this lady has dreamed acertain dream which Bakenkhonsu has interpreted although I cannot, and Ithink that Pharaoh and his captains should be told of the dream, that onit they may form their own judgment."
"Then why do you not tell them, Ki?"
"It has pleased Pharaoh, O Prince, to dismiss me from his service asone who failed and to give my office of Kherheb to another. If I appearbefore the face of Pharaoh I shall be killed."
Now I, Ana, listening, wished that Ki would appear before the face ofPharaoh, although I did not believe that he could be killed by him or byanybody else, since against death he had charms. For I was afraid of Ki,and felt in myself that again he was plotting evil to Merapi whom I knewto be innocent.
The Prince walked up and down the chamber as was his fashion when lostin thought. Presently he stopped opposite to me and said:
"Friend Ana, be pleased to command that my chariots be made ready witha general's escort of a hundred men and spare horses to each chariot.We ride at dawn, you and I, to seek out the army of Pharaoh and prayaudience of Pharaoh."
"My lord," said Merapi in a kind of cry, "I pray you go not, leaving mealone."
"Why should I leave you, Lady? Come with me if you will." She shook herhead, saying:
"I dare not. Prince, there has been some charm upon me of late thatdraws me back to my own people. Twice in the night I have awakened andfound myself in the gardens with my face set towards the north, andheard a voice in my ears, even that of my father who is dead, saying:
"'Moon of Israel, thy people wander in the wilderness and need thylight.'
"It is certain therefore that if I came near to them I should be draggeddown as wood is dragged of an eddy, nor would Egypt see me any more."
"Then I pray you bide where you are, Merapi," said the Prince, laughinga little, "since it is certain that where you go I must follow, who haveno desire to wander in the wilderness with your Hebrew folk. Well, itseems that as you do not wish to leave Memphis and will not come withme, I must stay with you."
Ki fixed his piercing eyes upon the pair of them.
"Let the Prince forgive me," he said, "but I swear it by the gods thatnever did I think to live to hear the Prince Seti Meneptah set a woman'swhims before his honour."
"Your words are rough," said Seti, drawing himself up, "and had theybeen spoken in other days, mayhap, Ki----"
"Oh! my lord," said Ki prostrating himself till his forehead touched theground, "bethink you then how great must be the need which makes me dareto speak them. When first I came hither from the court of Tanis, thespirit that is within me speaking through my lips gave certain titlesto your Highness, for which your Highness was pleased to reprove me.Yet the spirit in me cannot lie and I know well, and bid all here makerecord of my words, that to-night I stand in
the presence of him who eretwo moons have passed will be crowned Pharaoh."
"Truly you were ever a bearer of ill-tidings, Ki, but if so, what ofit?"
"This your Highness: Were it not that the spirits of Truth and Rightcompel me for their own reasons, should I, who have blood that can beshed or bones that can be broken, dare to hurl hard words at him whowill be Pharaoh? Should I dare to cross the will of the sweet dove whonestles on his heart, the wise, white dove that murmurs the mysteriesof heaven, whence she came, and is stronger than the vulture of Isis andswifter than the hawk of Ra; the dove that, were she angry, could rendme into more fragments than did Set Osiris?"
Now I saw Bakenkhonsu begin to swell with inward laughter like a frogabout to croak, but Seti answered in a weary voice:
"By all the birds of Egypt with the sacred crocodiles thrown in, I donot know, since that mind of yours, Ki, is not an open writing which canbe read by the passer-by. Still, if you would tell me what is the reasonwith which the goddesses of Truth and Justice have inspired you----"
"The reason is, O Prince, that the fate of all Egypt's army may behidden in your hand. The time is short and I will be plain. Deny it asshe will this lady here, who seems to be but a thing of love and beauty,is the greatest sorceress in Egypt, as I whom she has mastered knowwell. She matched herself against the high god of Egypt and smote him tothe dust, and has paid back upon him, his prophets, and his worshippersthe ills that he would have worked to her, as in the like case any ofour fellowship would do. Now she has dreamed a dream, or her spirit hastold her that the army of Egypt is in danger of destruction, and I knowthat this dream is true. Hasten then, O Prince, to save the hosts ofEgypt, which you will surely need when you come to sit upon its throne."
"I am no sorceress," cried Merapi, "and yet--alas! that I must sayit--this smiling-featured, cold-eyed wizard's words are true. _The swordof death hangs over the hosts of Egypt!_"
"Command that the chariots be made ready," said Seti again.
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