The Trader´s Pact

by Nathaniel Burns

  The woman tilted her head as if weighing up Neti’s words before nodding, “I like you, you are strong and you speak your mind, even if others will disapprove. There are not enough women like you. I however fear that Uli may have misrepresented me. I do not practice magic only herbalism. My herbaria is small compared to that of the pharaoh.”

  “It is not access to herbs that I seek. It is knowledge of the practice that I seek.”

  The woman for a moment looked from Neti to Uli and asked, “I take it she can be trusted?”

  “Yes,” Uli answered, “She has so far always kept her word.”

  “So far,” the woman said turning her attention back to Neti. “As you can see, we are careful with whom we trust, but I will help you as best I can. It is very rare that I find one who does not rebuke women reduced to pleasuring men for a living. So let’s hear it. ”

  Neti took a deep breath and then said, “I was called to a body of a young girl yesterday.” Neti immediately noted the woman’s discomfort, however continued, “I believe that she was given a concoction of herbs. I know this because I recognize the smell of the most potent one in her vomit.”

  “I didn’t treat her.” The woman stated, outright, while hesitantly looking from Neti the Uli and back again.

  “You know her?” asked Neti.

  The woman shifted uncomfortably under Neti’s gaze before answering, “She sells herbs, so yes. But some of us were also aware of her… situation. But she was still too young. Chances were she would naturally lose the babe, and we told her,” the woman shook her head as she said, “I must not talk of this.”

  “That is not why I came to see you,” Neti said keeping her voice calm. “I need information, I need to know what is put into those teas.”

  “Who said it was a tea?” The woman countered.

  “I have traveled a great deal, and all of the contact I have had with healers or those who use herbs have confirmed that the most common way of administering herds is to place the herbs in boiling water.”

  The woman again hesitantly looked from Neti to Uli, she however addressed the latter, “If it wasn’t for you and Dalva, trust me I would throw her out.” The woman then turned to Neti and said, “I am however a woman of my word. But before we go any further, I have often found it best to consider what kind of a life the girl would have had, had she done nothing. And most importantly what would have driven her to the point of risking her own life, because all of us would have warned her.”

  “I don’t understand.” Neti countered.

  “If I remember correctly the girl was thirteen floods old. We live in a man-controlled world, for even you would know that. What do you think happens to one so young when it is discovered that she is with child?” The woman remained silent for several long moments, only because the answer was known to all of them, yet none dared to speak it. The woman however continued, “If she were older, they would stone her, call her evil, a woman who entices men into committing the worst kind of sin. Even if she had no part in it, no man would want her or the child. She would have been reduced to being a prostitute by merit of the child alone, regardless of the fact that a man forced himself on her. She would be viewed with distain and they will accuse her, claim she somehow lured the man…. That is why women come to women like me. That is why women are willing to take such dangerous herbs. They would rather die than live with the level of distain focused on them by society and their families.” The woman looked visibly flushed as she finished, breathing hard almost labored.

  Neti looked at Uli and said, “Perhaps she should sit down.”

  “Sitting does not help when one’s heart is heavy with anger.” The woman countered, “It will pass.”

  “Should we get you some water?” Neti offered.

  “No. I will rest after you have gone.”

  Neti was thoughtful for some time before she spoke. “But if she could prove that she was forced, would that not change things?”

  “How would she do that? Most women feel dirty afterwards, ask any prostitute. She would not talk about it. Most people would simply assume that she was the daughter of a prostitute to be with child so young. Even if she could prove it, and even if her father could extract some payment from the man for the dishonor cast on the family. The girl would be forced to marry the man for the sake of her honor and the child.”

  “But then does that not act to curb young men?” asked Neti.

  The woman scoffed before she replied. “There have been instances where men have forced women because they knew there would be no other way to gain her, that her father would not consent under any other circumstances.”

  “And if this girl had not taken the herbs?” asked Neti.

  Uli flatly stated. “Her father would be aware of it and even if she was not with child, she would have been sold to a brothel owner.”

  “Which was probably why she decided that it was the only course of action available to her, even if it killed her.” The woman said, her voice stronger again, “We will not treat such a person unless they know the risks, because even fully-grown women can die after taking the herbs. Young girls are also more difficult. Especially since they are a lot more fertile and resilient than older woman. The dose would have had to have ensured that the treatment worked, or the babe will come out damaged.”

  “Which the men will then claim to be an imp, one of Apep’s serpents.” said Uli.

  Neti looked at Uli in concern before asking, “You have seen this?”

  Both Uli and the woman nodded.

  Neti turned to the older woman and asked, “What do you use in those teas?”

  The woman shrugged her shoulders. “We each have our own combinations. Most of the herbs are only there to make the henbane, mandrake, yellow wort or milkweed taste better. Or to help with the pains that follow.”

  “And those are the herbs most commonly used?” Neti asked.

  The woman nodded, “Yes mostly, the yellow wort heats and cleans the blood, the mandrake is well mandrake, it speeds the heart and prevents death, that would be caused by taking milkweed on its own.”

  Neti shook her head and said, “all of those except yellow wort are poisonous, especially if too much is taken.”

  “Which is why it is important for us to get the amounts right.” The woman said.

  “This is going to be a great deal more complex than I thought,” Neti mused, mostly to herself.

  “How so?”

  Neti shook her head before turning to the woman. “Once drank as a tea, I cannot tell even when looking inside the stomach what herbs were used. I can only guess by the smell and given what you have just told me, even then I can be wrong.” Neti pondered for several long moments before asking, “How many know of the actual recipe used?”

  “I couldn’t say,” the woman said, shaking her head, “…after the herbs have been dried every mixture is unique to the person. We have to take into consideration the health of the person, how long she may be with child, before we can even begin to mix the herbs.”

  “What do you mean by her health, a woman should be healthy if she is to carry a babe.”

  “To many woman, being with child makes them very ill, certain foods may even make her feel worse. Those women we know we cannot give henbane because they will vomit after drinking it. So we give them other herds that would ease their discomfort. Those are also the women we would include more milkweed in the mixture, which is far more stronger than henbane.”

  Neti remained silent, thoughtful for several long moments before asking, “Other than the herbalists, what are the chances of someone else learning such information?”

  The woman nonchalantly replied, “Most women who have borne children know that milkweed will cause one to lose a babe, some mothers even pass such information on to their daughters. But, they are also told that it is dangerous and that it can kill them should ythey take too much. That is also why most women are more than willing to barter for a small parcel of herbs, rather than risk self
-inflicted death and possibly even the wrath of the Gods.”

  Neti nodded before asking, “This I going to sound strange, but I need to know. If someone decided to take milkweed without someone’s assistance, how would they do it?”

  The woman’s eyebrows rose, resulting in a strange expression on her lined face before she answered, “In most instances we dry and use only parts of the herb. It is not as dangerous then. But if you did not know that, or you did not have the time to properly dry the plant and roots, one would, I suspect, simply place the plant in boiling water and then make a tea of it.” The woman then tilted her head before demanding, “You are not thinking of doing anything foolish?”

  Neti shook her head, “I am just trying to establish what could have happened, since you mentioned that none of the others would have been willing to assist her.”

  Neti instantly recognized the woman’s aversion to what she had said, which was what angered her most. However, Neti remained resolute as she asked, “Doing it in this manner would then make someone ill enough to vomit?”

  “Milkweed burns when a woman is ill, which is why we definitely don’t give it to women who are ill. It causes their mouths and throats to develop sores.”

  “So if I were to look inside this girl’s mouth I would be able to confirm this?”

  “Why would you look in her mouth?” the woman asked, stunned.

  “As an embalmer, I look in many places others don’t.” Neti said.

  “But you are no longer practicing,” the woman challenged. “Dalva was your last body.”

  Defensively Neti countered “I am not always able to.”

  “The woman looked at Neti for several long moments before replying, “She could have sores in her mouth, but there will be blood.”

  “There was no blood at the scene,” Neti said.

  “Then she took a large enough amount to kill her before anything could come out. She was possibly hoping for it all to come out at once, it possibly still will.”

  Neti looked at Uli for a moment before declaring, “That makes sense, and exactly what I needed to know.” Neti looked towards the woman and said, “Thank you, very much.”

  The woman looked confused, even taken aback as she said, “But I would have thought you would want something else.”

  Neti shook her head, “For now I only need a way to confirm what her actual cause of her death is. We will later eliminate the possibility of murder, which would be difficult enough, given the fact that milkweed grows all along the river.” Neti turned to Uli and said, “I will see you back at home later this afternoon.” She then turned to the woman and said, “I will send Uli tomorrow with some of Yani’s flatbread as payment.”

  “But I have not provided you with anything.” The woman said gesturing to the room.

  “You have provided me with what I needed, information, and just as any other in Egypt you must eat. I will not cheat anyone in such a manner.”

  “Thank you.” The woman said gratefully.

  Uli left the establishment with Neti, visibly confused. They had passed the first series of houses before she asked, “Why do that? Why offer her something for nothing?”

  Neti looked towards Uli for a moment before she said, “To me it is not nothing. She has the experience I do not. Her experience would take me more floods to gather than a morning’s questions. I will not take advantage of someone as much as I would not want them to take advantage of me.”

  “But it would then start some level of expectation, they would expect everyone to make some payment, and many women simply cannot.”

  “There is a great difference in me seeking information and someone who really needs assistance. There was no need, no urgency in my visit, she will understand that.”

  “You confuse me.” Uli stated. “But I now understand why others speak so highly of you, and fear falling in disfavor with you.”

  “Why would they do that?” Neti asked, for a moment confused as to whom Uli was actually speaking.

  “You hold power, you have the pharaoh’s ear. Many claim that you could even influence his decisions if you wanted to.”

  Neti thought Uli’s words over, before answering, “When I was younger, my father once told me; that a person’s character is truly evident when they have power or riches. And how they use that power determines how the Gods will treat them. There is no chant or spell that will change the opinions of the Gods.”

  “I don’t really understand.” Uli said.

  “It means that the manner with which one uses their power and wealth determines how good a person they truly are.”

  4

  Chapter Four

  Neti made her way back to her per-nefer, growing ever more angered and resentful of matters as she progressed. The injustice of it, the fact that women were subjected to such double standards irked her.

  She turned up the path to her per-nefer, the temperature still steadily rising as the sun crept higher in the sky, She passed several women carrying water urns while calling children to follow. In the past the image had comforted her along with the memories of her mother calling her and the love shed been shown. It did not seem just. How some who really wanted children could not have them while young girls resorted to killing themselves in an attempt to be rid of something that would inevitable cause their disgrace.

  Moments before she reached the entrance to her per-nefer, Shabaka stepped out. At first, he looked in the opposite direction, the path which led to the river, before turning and looking towards her. She knew he would not seek her out unless absolutely necessary, however she had even less of a desire to see or speak with him. His presence there only reminded her of what her own hopes and ambitions had been, not too long ago.

  On noticing her, Shabaka said with obvious relief in his tone, “There you are. I have been looking everywhere for you.”

  Neti came to a halt in front of him and flatly asked, “What for?”

  Shabaka tilted his head. A frown formed on his brow as he said, “The girl’s parents reported her missing this morning. I was not going to show them her body without you being there to clarify things, especially since I have no idea why she died.”

  “So they know then?” Neti demanded, however saw the confusion of Shabaka’s face and added “About her death?”

  Shabaka nodded.

  “Anything else I need to know?” Neti asked.

  “They did mention that she was taken at some stage and returned a few days later, but we have been unable to determine whether it was before the jubilee or during.”

  Neti nodded and said, “It makes sense then.”

  “I am thinking that whoever took them is coming back to eradicate them, possibly because they can identify him. Wait, what do you mean it makes sense?” Shabaka asked.

  “It makes sense why she would do such a thing.” Neti said, making to pass Shabaka, adding with certainty, “He does not need to come back. The damage has already been done.” She made to enter her per-nefer, however Shabaka called after her, “Neti, one more thing.”

  Neti stopped and turned to look at Shabaka who said, “they are inside, Hazam in tending to them.”

  “Good, you can then have the father arrested once we are done.”

  “Arrested for what?” demanded Shabaka.

  “For being willing to sell his daughter into prostitution.”

  “We don’t know that.” Shabaka countered.

  “I have seen and heard enough recently to believe that men who are incapable of finding a suitable husband, no forget thet, any husband for their daughters will sell them into prostitution.”

  “We don’t know that.” Shabaka reiterated, causing Neti to angrily respond. “No, we don’t! All we know is that she’s dead. And that she is dead because she did not feel safe enough to tell her parents what really happened when she was taken.”

  “Where have you been this morning? You seem so angry.” Shabaka asked.

  “It does not matter where I have been, only what I l
earned while I was there.” Neti said and then pushed the heavy fabric in the entranceway aside to enter. However before she could Shabaka grabbed her upper arm. She stopped and glared at him, however he was the first to speak. “I don’t like it when you are like this.”

  “Like what?” Neti demanded.

  “Like this, distant, unyielding, angry. Especially if I have no idea why you could be angry.”

  “I am angry form many reasons, Shabaka, but mostly I am angry at the way men treat women and girls. The way they consider them to be mere objects, possessions.”

  “I don’t objectify you,” Shabaka quickly countered, “Neither does Moses or Ramesses.”

  Neti looked at where Shabaka held her and then glared at him, before stating firmly, “Let me go.”

  Shabaka released her arm, his expression concerned, causing Neti to state, outright, “You may not and they may not, but what of all the other women and girls. They do not have a say in matters.” Neti pointed past the doorway, “That girl’s life was dictated to her. She had no say in who she would marry or what she would do. Her life was no different to Yani’s.”

  “Yani?” Shabaka questioned, confused. “What does Yani have to do with this? She had a choice in the decision to marry Moses. You gave her that decision.”

  Neti frowned and then shook her head, “Actually I didn’t. He just asked me for her.”

  “But you gave her the choice, you did not make her.” Shabaka countered before adding, “What does this have to do with this investigation anyway?”

  “That is because unlike men women are not educated. Everyone is willing to have their sons taught, to educate them with the hope that they achieve some greatness. You do not see boys walking to the river to collect water or being taught to prepare meals or to weave mats. They can play games in the street while girls have to complete chores and keep house. A girl is seen as nothing more than a servant, they hold no higher status in their homes than a servant such as Yani would.”