by Diana Wilder
Khonsu looked at Nebamun. “You are right,” he said.
“I believe I am in this case,” Nebamun said. “It is time to move on and let your heart turn towards others again. And Commander-' He waited until Khonsu looked at him. “There are things I cannot discuss, but please believe me when I say that I am telling you what I have learned in my own life. I nearly lost my wife's love before I learned the lesson.”
“Your Grace has helped me more than I can say,” Khonsu said. He looked ahead of them and then pointed. “We're almost back at Akhet-Aten,” he said with a sense of loss. He faltered into silence, aware that for all Lord Nebamun's amiability, he was a greater lord than Khonsu had ever dealt with, even including Count Tothotep. What interest could Khonsu's problems have for such a man?
He raised his head. “Your Grace -”
Lord Nebamun looked at him.
Khonsu took a deep breath. “I want to thank you. For listening to me. I-I haven't been able to speak of this to many. I don't like to trouble people with my-problems... Least of all one like you with so many concerns that mine must seem so trivial...”
Nebamun smiled and set his hand on Khonsu's shoulder. “How could you think so?” he asked. “The happiness of Egypt is made up of the happiness of many souls. If I know and like another, his pain and joy touch me as well. I have smiled to see how your daughter's letters have eased your mind, and if my words have somehow spoken to this other grief of yours, then I am glad for it.”
“They have helped,” Khonsu said.
Nebamun tightened his grip on Khonsu's shoulder and then released it. “Good,” he said. “I am honored by your confidence. I promise you, it isn't misplaced.”
“No, Your Grace,” Khonsu said with a smile.
Nebamun shook the reins. “Now,” he said with a return to briskness. “Shall we see what can be done about these ghosts and robbers?”
** ** **
Nebamun and Khonsu encountered guards from Seti's contingent when they reached the northern approaches to Akhet-Aten. The squadron stopped them in a brisk, efficient manner and checked them over, then passed them into the city and sent a messenger racing off to alert General Seti, who arrived at a gallop shortly after.
“All well, General?” Nebamun asked when the initial greetings were finished.
Seti's handsome face warmed in a welcoming smile. “Well enough, Your Grace,” he said. “And will be all the better now that you and the Commander are back. Which reminds me-' He took a message from his belt. “Lest I repeat an earlier error, let me give this to Commander Khonsu at once.”
“Another letter from your daughter?” Nebamun asked.
Khonsu looked up from opening the papyrus packet. “Yes,” he said. “Written the night before last.”
“It's good news, from what the messenger told me,” Seti said. “But I won't spoil it for you. Another courier came after he left. An engaging fellow named Rahu, who said that he's swinging back after taking a message to Mir, and he said he'd linger if you had some word you wished to send back to your daughter.”
“Excellent,” said Nebamun.
Seti's eyes went to Khonsu's chariot. “Where did that come from?” he demanded. “I'll be bound it isn't from this force! I wouldn't allow a four-spoked wheel among my people. They're dangerous!”
“It's sturdy enough, General,” Khonsu said, looking up from Sherit's letter with a smile. “A ghost drove it.”
Seti looked from Khonsu to Lord Nebamun.
“We met the “ghost',” said the Second Prophet. “He was driving this. He abandoned it after I shot him and killed one of his horses. It was interesting to see that ghosts bleed.”
Seti looked more closely at the chariot. “That's a piece of tomb goods,” he said.
“Yes,” said Nebamun. “We're dealing with robbers on one score, at least. And possibly more. What did Paser's patrol and inventory turn up?”
Seti reluctantly looked away from the chariot. “He plans to speak with you on that subject this evening, Your Grace,” he said.
** ** **
“Nothing at all?” Nebamun repeated. He, his officers, and his contingent of priests had dined beneath the twilight sky. Now the Second Prophet was seated at his ease in what had once been the courtyard surrounding a reflecting pool. The night was dark, with rags of clouds drifting across the sky, parting from time to time to show patches of stars. “You surprise me, Paser. From what I have seen, I would have thought that this city is full of treasure to be salvaged.'
Ptahemhat shifted in his place.
“Nevertheless, Your Grace,” said Paser, glancing at the Ptahemhat. “There was nothing aside from the few trinkets we found.”
“I see,” Nebamun said. He sat back in his carved chair and looked around at the others. “The patrols have gone as planned, I understand. We'll be wise to post guards at the quarry and at all approaches to this city, especially those from the north.”
“It will be done, Your Grace,” Khonsu said.
“The patrols had better be alert,” Nebamun said. “I have reason to believe that our “ghost' looted a tomb.”
“That ghost wasn't the only one to do some looting, Your Grace,” Ptahemhat said. His voice was hard and cold. “There's another standing right in front of you!”
“What do you mean, Ptahu?”
“Your Grace should ask Paser,” Ptahemhat said.
Paser swung toward him. “You impertinent whelp!” he choked. “What do you mean?”
The younger man stepped forward. “You say you conducted a search of some of the houses.”
“That's right,” Paser replied, slanting an eye toward Lord Nebamun.
“And you say you found nothing?”
“There was nothing to find,” Paser said again.
Ptahemhat's smile turned suddenly savage as he took a bowl from one of his men and held it over his head for everyone to see. “Then you can tell me what this is!” he said.
Seti, standing closest to Ptahemhat, took it from him and turned it over in his hands.
Paser's expression was an odd mixture of rage and chagrin. “Where did you get that?” he demanded.
“It was found among your personal effects, thief!” Ptahemhat hissed. “By someone who had a right to look! You talk of our incompetence, you slander my loyalty with your innuendoes about intruders, you sneer at your betters and try to undercut their commands, and all the while you're nothing but a thief! Hoarding treasure-”
“Treasure!” Paser scoffed. “Look at it: it's worthless! It's dark and filthy!”
Seti lifted his eyebrows and then frowned at the bowl. “This is some sort of metal,” he said as he rubbed a fingertip against it. “It's worth something at least for that.' The black overlay of tarnish thinned beneath the motion of his hand to reveal white metal.
Seti stared and then looked up. “This isn't quite worthless, Captain Paser,” he said, holding up the bowl. “It appears to be pure silver.”
Nebamun, who had been sitting back at his ease, his eyes moving ominously from Paser to Ptahemhat, started, leaned forward and stared as the rest of the group jostled and murmured.
Seti turned the silver bowl over in his hands, weighing it, and frowned down at the incised decorations before passing it to Khonsu. “You may want to look this over, Commander,” he said. “This is Hittite work, by the decoration. It's solid. I'd estimate it at eight deben of silver, wouldn't you? Enough to feed a poor family for half a year.”
“I agree,” Khonsu said, looking down at the bowl. He nodded to one of the priests beside him. “Give this to His Grace,” he said. The slight smile faded from his lips as he turned back to Paser. “You don't deny that it was among your belongings,” he said. “Your only excuse for taking this is to claim that it's “worthless', which anyone with eyes can see it's not! Was there more like it where you found it?”
“I resent your-”
“Did you take it, Paser?” Perineb asked.
“I thought it was worthless
!” Paser protested.
“But did you take it from where you found it?” Perineb persisted.
“It was worthless-' Paser began again. He met Perineb's level stare and lowered his eyes. “I– Yes, I took it. No one knew whose it was!”
“Worthless enough to hide away from everyone's gaze!” Ptahemhat said contemptuously.
Paser lifted his head with the abrupt motion of a striking snake. “And that's a fine thing!” he hissed. “You pawing through my belongings!”
Nehesi had been watching the scene with his eyebrows raised. “Let it go!” he rumbled. “I know what happened: the temple servants were charged with taking an inventory of supplies for quarrying. It was at my orders. They went through everyone's belongings, my own included, and I think that must have been when they found that!”
“You meddling-' Paser began.
Nehesi pushed himself to his full, impressively muscled height and folded his arms.
Paser took a step back.
“Now answer the Commander's question,” Nehesi said.
Paser's face contracted. “No,” he said after a pause. “There was just this one thing.”
“Hmm,” said Khonsu. He looked around at his officers and then over at Nebamun.
The Second Prophet was seated in as upright and ordered a position as though he were a statue carved from the fine-grained limestone that Nehesi had shown Khonsu the morning before. He was holding the silver bowl with both hands and gazing at it as though it contained a message that only he could read. As Khonsu watched, his eyes lifted from their contemplation of the bowl to rest on Paser's face and narrow, but his expression and posture remained otherwise unchanged as he handed the bowl to Perineb.
Interesting, thought Khonsu. “I await Your Grace's orders,” he said.
Nebamun's expression was an odd mixture of disgust and grief as he wiped his fingers on the hem of his robe and then looked at Khonsu. “The man is under your command,” he said. “You have heard the accusation and his response.”
“Theft of Pharaoh's property is a serious crime, Your Grace,” Khonsu said. “I recommend that he be reduced in the ranks and placed under guard. His case will be heard by Pharaoh's magistrates when we return to Khemnu.”
“So be it,” said Nebamun. “And what of the bowl?”
Khonsu took the bowl from Perineb and turned to Paser. “You stole this,” he said. “And now you're paying the penalty for your theft. But-' he turned to Nebamun. “Your Grace, there's a way for him to mitigate his wrongdoing if it came from an honest misunderstanding, as he says.”
Nebamun's expression was unreadable, but he inclined his head. “Continue, Commander,” he said.
Khonsu turned to Paser. “Do you remember where you found the bowl?”
“We went into so many houses,” Paser said. “I-I'm not sure. I think it was in the northern quarter.' His expression brightened. “I could try to find it again.”
“That's fair enough,” Khonsu said. He looked over at Nebamun. “Your Grace,” he said, “I ask that you extend your courtesy to assigning someone trustworthy to accompany Captain Paser to this treasure-house tomorrow. I'll want a full accounting of this hoard. And, if possible, some clue as to whose house it came from, so that I can return the piece to his family.”
“I'll go, Your Grace,” said Perineb. “I can write a fair hand.”
Nebamun's odd rigidity had passed. His smile was completely vanished, but his expression grew slightly warmer. “Thank you, Perineb,” he said. “But I'll accompany Paser myself. And I think it had best be done at once.”
“Your Grace!” Paser gasped.
“It can wait until morning, Your Grace,” Khonsu said, after exchanging startled glances with Perineb. “It's been a long day.”
“At once,” Nebamun repeated.
“I thank Your Grace,” said Khonsu as Nebamun rose, shook out his robe, and moved to the door.
“We shall begin right away, Commander,” said the Second Prophet. “Be good enough to detail two of your best men to accompany me. I want unbiased witnesses.' And then, more sternly, “Paser...”
“But Your Grace,” Paser began again, aghast.
Nebamun looked at him. “Yes?” he said.
“I found it-' Paser's voice faltered into silence at Nebamun's expression.
Seti had been listening with a contemptuous scowl. “You found its hiding place,” he said. “But you weren't the one to hide it. This may have been a family's entire wealth. What if they're in need of it as we speak?”
“But we don't know whose it is!” Paser objected.
Nebamun's expression grew cold. “That may be,” he said, “But we do know whose it is not. And we can find out the rest, if we set our minds to it. Now I want to see the house where you found it.”
Khonsu looked at the Second Prophet and found his chill, slightly speculative expression tinged with an inexplicable hint of irony. But Nebamun made no further comment as he followed Paser out the door.
XXV
“Paser found no trace of it at all, Your Grace?” Khonsu asked later that evening when the Second Prophet had returned. He and Seti were alone with Lord Nebamun; the rest of the group had been sent to bed by Perineb, who had then gone to perform the evening ceremonies before the shrine that had been set up for the expedition.
“None,” said Nebamun. He was pale and heavy-eyed with fatigue, with lines gouged beside his mouth from a long night spent going throughout the city with Paser in tow. “Nothing in any of the places we visited to indicate that anyone had ever even tried to bury treasure there.' His mouth moved into a travesty of a smile. “I must admit, I didn't expect to find anything, either.”
“Is it possible that Paser didn't take you to all the places he went to?” Seti asked.
Nebamun shook his head. “We inspected every house mentioned in his report,” he sighed. “We found nothing at all. No indication that anything had ever been buried in any of those places-”
“But-forgive me for interrupting, Your Grace,” Seti said. “Could he have omitted one of the places in his report?”
“He could have,” Nebamun admitted with another sigh. “Though for that to be possible, I'd have to doubt the honesty of my entire escort, for his report was witnessed and attested by several of my officers.' He looked over at Khonsu. “Should I have their effects searched for form's sake?” he asked.
“It was already done, Your Grace,” Khonsu said gently.
Nebamun raised a hand. “Do it again,” he said. “Say it is at my command if you think there'll be any problems. No. I will make the announcement, myself. Start with my belongings. That should forestall any complaints.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” Khonsu said.
Seti was listening with a frown. “With Your Grace's permission,” he said, “While it's important to get to the bottom of Paser's theft, we should be looking for the tomb of our ghost.”
Nebamun lifted his eyebrows.
“Neb-Aten,” Seti said. “That chariot is obviously tomb goods. It belonged to a man of wealth and rank. You and Commander Khonsu both saw the “ghost', which bled and breathed and spoke like a mortal man. If we can find the tomb and see that it was looted, we may be a step closer to finding out who was responsible.'
“We already know that the chariot was stolen,” Nebamun said. “Proving that the tomb is looted will accomplish nothing.”
“I can't agree, Your Grace,” Seti persisted. “It'll help us put an end to the looting, at the least. Why, Your Grace has just ordered that we track down the owners of that bowl so that we can return it to them. We owe at least that much to Neb-Aten's kin.”
“The man is dead,” Nebamun said flatly. “And his family is extinct. Can't we let him sleep in peace?”
Seti lowered his head in the face of Nebamun's vehemence, but though his voice was quiet, his tone was insistent. “From what I have heard Your Grace say, you knew the man,” he said. “My father was a friend of Prince Nakht, and he knew and liked Neb-Aten as
well. The dishonor was undeserved and, most now agree, forgotten. Neb-Aten was from the royal house on both sides, and he does have living kin. Princess Merit'taui, his mother, was Pharaoh Tutankhamun's aunt. She married again and bore one child, Neb-Aten's half-sister. Don't we owe that lady something? She has a claim to some of the treasure in that tomb and a duty to the tomb's occupant who was, after all, her brother.”
Lord Nebamun pushed himself abruptly to his feet and paced to the doorway. “Has she ever acknowledged the relationship?” he asked over his shoulder. “Or has she turned a blind eye to the kinship in the hope that others will do so as well?”
“Her actions, or lack of them, don't change the facts of the matter,” said Khonsu. “General Seti is right, Your Grace. We can't do the one thing and leave the other undone.”
Nebamun looked out the doorway in silence for a long time before he turned back. “Have it as you wish,” he said. “Captain Karoya will supervise the search of the city. The two of you will take whatever escort you think suitable and look for Neb-Aten's tomb. And you'll let me know what you find.”
“Very good, Your Grace,” Seti said with another bow.
Nebamun went slowly back to his chair and sat down again. He closed his eyes after a moment.
“Your Grace?”
“What is it, Commander?” Nebamun asked wearily.
“Paser. What is Your Grace's will with him?” asked Khonsu. “Shall I have him returned to Khemnu or Memphis?”
Lord Nebamun opened his eyes and frowned up at the ceiling. “No,” he said after a long moment's frowning concentration. “That could lead to things I don't want to think about right now. Losing his rank and his livelihood is punishment enough, and he'll stand trial at Khemnu when we finally leave this place. By then his family might- I don't know. If only I had some way to protect -' He fell silent.
“I'm sorry, Your Grace,” Khonsu said, caught by the nudge of an idea.
“It isn't your fault,” Nebamun returned after a strained pause. “Greed and envy are as old as time.”
“But there may be a way to salvage it, if Your Grace will allow me,” Khonsu said.
