Shadows of the Nile

by Jo Franklin

  Despite the gravity of the situation Tadinanefer laughed too.

  “But,” Eboni continued, “because you were white she must have thought you were something special.”

  “Maybe. So what’s going to happen to us – to me?”

  “Chione will try to protect you and make out you are valuable to her, but I think you’ve already been noticed. That’s why you’re talking to me. Because I’m black I too am special. I think, but I don’t know, that they may have plans for us together. Don’t be frightened. We’ll survive. I’ve never been with a man, and I don’t suppose you have?”

  “No. I don’t want to do this. I was brought up as a daughter of a rich and influential family. Ah, but then it all went wrong; they turned against me, and if they catch me they’ll kill me. I suppose I haven’t a choice either.”

  “I’m sorry. However there is one hope,” Eboni said, brightly.

  “Yes?”

  “We’re still both pure in body. I’ve never been asked to go with a man. That means they’ve other plans for me, and I think now you’ve come along they’ll plan for both of us.”

  “In what way?”

  “They’ll use us together maybe, black and white. Have you seen the many steps up to the great building at the top?”

  “No.”

  “You will. Sometimes a favoured female will be taken up those steps away from here. They’re introduced to very wealthy men, and I mean seriously wealthy. If we’re lucky we could go that way rather than serve the men of the town.”

  The memory of the procession came back to Tadinanefer. “I saw a very wealthy man on a horse in the street. Could he be one of them?” In a way she hoped he wouldn’t be using a brothel.

  “It’s possible. Who knows?”

  “So what happens now?”

  “We wait. You must work hard with Chione. Learn the artistry she teaches. A lot of noble men like their females to have more than just a body. Learn the ways of mixing potions and using herbs, learn drawing and writing. Your body is perfect, so now improve your mind.”

  “And you. What do you do?”

  “I can sing. I can charm the birds out of the sky when I play the lyre. I can paint – only trees and flowers, but it’s something. It’s important we learn, and that’ll help us survive. If we can go up those steps and meet influential clientele maybe someone will buy us out of here for a better purpose.”

  “Yes,” murmured Tadinanefer.

  They talked more, before a guard came to collect her. Tadinanefer was very impressed by all the good advice Eboni had given her. For someone who could only have been about her age, and maybe even a bit younger, she was much more worldly-wise, and could be very important to her if she was ever to be thrown into the world of debauchery.

  *

  “I was going for my walk.” It was the next afternoon and Tadinanefer was heading for the women’s exercise area when a guard barred her way.

  “Not today.”

  “Why?” She murmured the question in a quiet and respectful way. She was beginning to realise the dreadful truth of everything, and knew she had to pretend to be subservient if nothing else.

  “They’re mending the wall. The stones are falling out. We don’t want anyone hurt, do we? I suggest you go back to Chione and see what she’s got for you.”

  So someone had found out about what was happening. Someone had been quietly watching the wall and probably noting who’d done what. She must look as guilty as the rest. She’d been outside. Suddenly she felt frightened. Chione wouldn’t be able to protect her against the fury of the hierarchy. She’d be questioned.

  *

  She was right. Chione wasn’t alone when she got back. She stood waiting for her, with two guards on either side, both with daggers. She too looked frightened. Seated at her bench was a heavily-veiled woman in white. She was not dressed in the thin fabric Tadinanefer was wearing. Her dress was of the best and purest silk, and gold glittered on her arms, and her veil was encrusted with tiny gold jewels.

  “So,” she drawled slowly. “This is the white girl. This is the first time I’ve seen you close up. I’ve watched you bathe, of course, and I know you are almost without blemish. The one flaw you have is that you’re spirited. But we can remedy that. A few floggings will soon alter your ways.”

  Tadinanefer shivered inwardly. She’d occasionally seen Ptah take his whip to a defenceless servant and not stop until blood oozed from the wounds.

  “Ah, good. You lower your eyes. Now tell me, my dear Tadinanefer, what happened when you climbed the wall to the outside.” Tadinanefer began to mumble. “Speak up, girl. I can’t hear you.”

  “I’m sorry. I thought it would be easy to get outside to look at the countryside. I didn’t realise it was breaking the rules. I… I met a man outside who seemed to think I’d gone to see him, or someone like him, which wasn’t so. Nothing happened. I managed to get away from him and back into safety as soon as possible.”

  “She’s a bit of an innocent,” Chione intervened. “I haven’t told her anything of what her duties might be here.”

  “Quiet!” the woman stormed. “Talk when you’re spoken to or I’ll cut off your tongue.”

  Chione paled and her body shook.

  “So, my sweet Tadinanefer, you expect me to believe your story?”

  “It’s the truth.”

  “Really? So what shall we do with you? Shall we turn you over to Ptah, who will immediately have you sacrificed? That would be such a waste. Shall we turn you over to the guards to see whether you’re still as pure as you make yourself out to be? That could be very interesting to watch. Or shall we just this once believe you? What do you think I should do, Tadinanefer?”

  “Believe me, please. I can make a lot of money for you. I’m different. I’m foreign. Many of your wealthy men would be interested in me. If the first man I went with for you said I wasn’t pure, then punish me. Please believe me.” To add to the drama of the situation, she sank to her knees and lowered her head. She must survive.

  The woman stood up. She took one of the daggers from the guards and held Tadinanefer’s dress at the neck. She slit the dress with great precision down to the waist, and then ripped it apart. She then held the dagger under her chin. “You’ll do as you’re told in future. Do you understand?”

  Tadinanefer nodded dumbly. She kept her eyes on the ground until the woman and the guards had left the room.

  *

  Chione pulled her to her feet. Tadinanefer began to tremble, realising how she might just have talked herself out of a terrible punishment.

  “I’m glad you told the truth,” Chione said. “She knew nothing had happened. She’s had you followed ever since Ptah turned up here a couple of days ago, wanting you.”

  “Ptah?”

  “He found out you were here. She asked such a lot of money for you that even he couldn’t afford to pay it. Oh, Tadinanefer. Again, thank the Gods you were truthful. We’re safe. But promise me you won’t ever cross her.”

  “I’ll try not to cross her.” Tadinanefer paused. “You sent me to Eboni to find out the truth, didn’t you? This place isn’t a temple, is it?”

  “No, I’m sorry. I so much wanted it to be when they took me in to look after everyone with my potions. It’s a lie, I tell myself, so I don’t have to accept things as they are. Oh, we won’t be together much longer. They’ll take you away from me and there’s so much more I wanted to teach you. Here, let me hug you. You must always remember me and the love I have for you.” She held Tadinanefer tightly in her arms.

  Tadinanefer nestled up to her. ‘This is the second woman,’ she thought wryly, ‘I’ve loved and had to say goodbye to in just a few brief weeks.’ She didn’t suppose she’d ever see very much of her again when the guards came for her. Life was very cruel.

  *

  They came for her that evening. She wasn’t allowed to say anything to Chione, so she was glad they’d said their farewells earlier. They hurried her through the building an
d into a large room, where they pushed her in and left her, locking the door as they went. She didn’t sleep well, afraid of what might happen to her. She could hear the movement of the guards outside and in the next rooms, and guessed she’d been put in the men’s quarters. There was no means of escape. The ceiling was very high with a small opening at the top but there was no way of reaching it, even standing on the bench, and where would she go anyway? Ptah was, no doubt, waiting for her outside somewhere, his sacrificial dagger slung low on his hip. She hoped he hadn’t paid someone on the inside to release her to him. She was beginning to realise just how corrupt the world was and just what gold could buy.

  The early morning light had just begun to creep through the gap in the ceiling when she heard the sound of keys jangling in the door. She was immediately alert. If it was Ptah she’d fight for her life. She wouldn’t meekly kneel for him to kill her. She waited. But it was merely a woman servant bringing her food and water. She didn’t say anything but simply laid them down on the bench.

  *

  She was left on her own all day, once again lonely and deserted by everyone. It wasn’t until evening that the woman returned with more food and this time some wine, and also something else. She brought papyrus, pots of paint and brushes, and put them on the bench alongside the victuals. She withdrew quietly.

  Tadinanefer stared at the paints and the brushes. They’d given her something to do! Had this come from Chione? Eboni? The veiled woman? She didn’t care. She started to carefully mix the paints, and then to draw, guided by not only how Chione had taught her but by what she’d learned from watching the painters in Ptah’s tomb. She remembered how the blue sky was drawn on the ceiling with the stars. She remembered the snake coiled and ready to protect her. She worked for as long as she could using the fading daylight from the hole in the ceiling. Then when there was no papyrus left she found a patch on the wall and drew a fish with dots and scales, and a duck with feathers, and the snake. She used the remainder of the paint on other little drawings. Finally, exhausted, she sank onto the bed and slept.

  The woman came in just as she woke. She took the papyrus and the paints but didn’t leave any more.

  Alone once more, Tadinanefer began to fill her mind with stories from her life. There were the days in her childhood when she had been happy, and Ptah had played with her. She pictured him chasing her and picking her up and throwing her into the air, and then giving her rides as she sat on his shoulders. He’d single her out from the other children and she’d be the favoured one to sit on his knee. Sometimes they’d have a game of rough and tumble together and everyone would laugh. She had good memories.

  But as she got older Ptah changed completely.

  She returned to the present. The isolation was getting to her. What was the reason for it? Was the veiled woman playing games with her mind? She had to cope with it.

  *

  It was dusk. Suddenly the door opened a little. But no one came in. It was as if freedom beckoned her, but she knew that was a very slim chance. Someone, a guard, must be waiting outside. Curious, Tadinanefer went to the door and peered out. A muscular male slave, clad only in a brief skirt, motioned her to follow him. More than just a bit apprehensive, she obeyed. They went into a part of the building she’d never seen before. They came to a heavy wooden door and the slave unlocked and opened it. He held it for her to go through. And then he closed it on her and she heard him locking it again.

  She’d come to the area Eboni had told her about. There was a huge rectangle, with buildings off, but in the middle were the many steps, which led to the pillared buildings at the top. Two more muscular slaves stood at the bottom, and one signalled her to approach them.

  Trembling a little, Tadinanefer did as she was told. She stood in front of them, wondering what they were going to do to her. They merely stood aside and motioned her to go up. As she started to ascend, they followed her, a few paces behind.

  She began to wonder if she would ever escape from whatever lay before her, and as she took each step she realised just how much her independence and freedom were gradually being eroded. The deeper she became ensnared in the veiled woman’s clutches the worse it became. But she mustn’t give up. Hopefully she’d meet Eboni. At least she’d be with a friend.

  The steps seemed endless, as she slowly took each one at her own pace. The slaves didn’t hurry her. They merely barred her way from turning back. Not that she had any intention of trying to escape, as she knew it was futile.

  At long last she reached the top. There was an open door. Hesitantly she went through it and found herself in the most magnificently furnished room she’d ever seen. Silk was draped across the chairs, and gold ornaments glittered in the torch light.

  “Tadinanefer. How nice.”

  A woman stood waiting for her. “I’ve been looking forward to this moment.” Her voice was heavy with sarcasm.

  Tadinanefer stared at her. She knew it was the veiled woman but she no longer hid anything of herself. Her dark hair was loose to her shoulders, and decorated with precious jewels. Her necklace was strings of thin gold, and her long white dress was see-through and hid nothing. She was some years older than Tadinanefer. Her beautiful face bore an expression of extreme cruelty which frightened her.

  “Take your dress off. I want to have a good look at you.”

  There wasn’t any choice. If she didn’t do as this woman demanded she’d probably call in the guards. So she meekly slipped the dress over her head.

  “I’ve never seen your colour before. I’ve heard about it.” She came close to Tadinanefer and stared hard at her, prodding her body in various places with long fingernails, and scratching her with them in a way that didn’t hurt but was very intimidating. She picked up a long piece of her hair and twisted it around her wrist, suddenly pulling it so tightly Tadinanefer gasped in pain.

  “You’re very dirty,” the woman hissed in her ear. “When did you last wash properly? And you smell. Oh, but I’ve had you locked up for days. Never mind. I’ll have you scrubbed and cleaned, and then we’ll get you ready for your task. You’ll like that, Tadinanefer, won’t you?”

  Suddenly, as if she’d lost interest, she let go of her hair, and quickly left.

  *

  Immediately two female slaves came through another door, grabbed her arms, and marched her between them, deeper into the complex. They soon reached a room with a large pool, and they dragged her into it. She was washed vigorously and was pushed several times under, which made her come up gasping for air. Then they pulled her out and dried her. She was pushed onto a couch and massaged all over with oils for several minutes, before being wrapped tightly in cloth, with only her head and arms free.

  “Tadinanefer?” A gentle voice was suddenly at her elbow, and she turned to see Eboni, kneeling next to her couch.

  “Oh Eboni, I’m so pleased to see you.” Tears of happiness ran down her face. “When did you get here?”

  “I’ve just arrived too. Just before you. That’s why I’m wrapped in a cloth like you to let the oils seep in.”

  “Were you locked up too?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do we know why?”

  “There’s been trouble, apparently. Don’t worry, Chione is fine. The wall was repaired and the girls couldn’t get out to the men. Some of the men attacked and killed the guards who’d taken their money. There’s been fighting.” Tadinanefer gasped. “They say we were protected by being locked up – can you believe it?”

  “No. They could have brought us up here. We’d have been safe. I think she did it because she gets pleasure from making us suffer.”

  “I think you’re right. I think she’s a bitter and vindictive woman, and if she can have a go at us in any way then she will.”

  “What’s this woman called? She must have a name.”

  “Oh yes, she has a name, but you must never use it to her face. Only her equals are allowed to address her as such. We have to lower our eyes and call her ‘Mistress’.�
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  “So what’s this special name we mustn’t use?”

  Eboni hesitated, reluctant even to say it. Then she whispered quietly.

  “She’s called Nephthys.”

  Chapter 6

  Nephthys… Nephthys… Nephthys.

  The name crashed through Aline’s head like a hammer. She stood quietly on the hilltop, as still as a statue, her shawl wrapped around her. She could feel and smell the intoxicating oils which were seeping into every part of her body. She could feel the softness of something like gauze bandaging tightly binding her. Although her eyes were wide open she wasn’t seeing her surroundings – all she could see was the past, and that was rapidly beginning to disappear. Something inside her was screaming. ‘Too long! Too long! You must return to the present.’

  “No,” she cried out loud. “I haven’t found him yet and he is so near. Leave me. Please leave me.”

  ‘You must come back!’ the voice inside her demanded.

  “No.” This time it was a much more pitiful cry. She wouldn’t leave what was.

  Then she felt the most excruciating pain. Jolted into life, she looked down at her hand. The snake ring was becoming smaller and smaller on her finger, forcing her to obey.

  She suddenly realised where she was and the danger she was in. She had overstayed. She’d return another day, but for now she must get back to what was real and return to the cruise ship and all her friends, or she’d die.

  She could see the path by the ships, but they were a long way away, and everyone had returned. She’d have to run to get there on time. She must hurry. As she rushed off, the ring returned to its normal size and the pain subsided.

  Surely someone would have missed her. They’d been counted out as they left the boat, but supposing they thought the count was wrong. She could be marooned in that part of the countryside, with no passport and very little money, and no one around to help. Oh, but surely Gerald would have missed her.