[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
chairs!
The Mother groaned her way to the floor with the help of the little girl, who had
knelt silently at the side of The Mother all that time. The child removed the chair to a far
corner before prostrating herself next to The Mother. The others quickly did the same,
getting into position just as the chanting was heard coming down the corridor.
Hati knew her face was still pale, and her eyes red, but she contrived to look regal,
even if she felt like a fool. She stuffed the moist linen square under her to hide it from
view.
Senmut flung open the door and Hati watched as he stepped aside to let in the
mortuary priests. The priests ignored the tableau and chanted their way to the bed,
hoisting an ornamental litter between them to carry Mo back to the temple for the long
embalming procedures.
But Senmut took in the obeisance made by some of the most powerful people in the
kingdom, and his eyes flew open wide. Without a word, he knelt behind Bala and put
his head to the floor.
However much it broke her heart, Hati knew he had done the proper thing, and her
days of playing mehen would now be rare. She turned her eyes back to the priests. Mo s
56
The God s Wife
body had been arranged carefully on the litter, and the linen sheet that had covered him
on the bed had been tucked carefully into place over him. No matter that she had seen
his ka fly away, Hati had trouble convincing herself that it was not still her beloved Mo
on the litter. It took all that she had not to sob, and she begged Isis for the strength to
see her son raised to adulthood.
The chanting never ceased as Mo s body was hoisted on the shoulders of the priests
and carried out the open double doors. Over the chanting, Hati heard the faint wails
coming from the royal apartments and family wing. One of the last priests had lit
incense and the sweet smell of rare frankincense filled the air, following them out the
doors, swung in a golden censer. With gratitude, Hati watched, as the guards closed the
doors.
They are gone, she told her trusted secret council. You can get up now.
Thank all the gods! groaned The Mother. I ll not be visiting you often, Divine
One. My back won t take it. The little girl helped The Mother rise and brought her
back her chair.
Then, Holy Mother, may I suggest you arrive in a litter chair? Even our Regent has
the right to give a permanent dispensation to the infirm, Keoset suggested with a
wicked smile.
I just might do that, you old rogue, The Mother replied with a smile.
Hati took in Senmut s open-mouthed surprise. Welcome to my secret council, Lord
Senmut, she pronounced. Here, those of the council may speak freely without the
usual protocols so that the business of the empire may be handled most efficiently.
So I see, Divine One, Senmut answered in a slow, careful voice. Forgive me if I
take time to adjust.
Do not take too long, boy, The Mother put in. If I am not mistaken, you just got
elected to run off and tell the Master Builder he s got less than seventy days to finish the
Pharaoh s tomb. You d better go catch the Master Builder and wake him up. Everything
just changed.
Senmut used an explicative not normally heard in the councils of Pharaoh and ran
for the door without permission.
Keoset sniggered. Holy Mother, you just said a mouthful.
* * * * *
Pythia knelt in her chains at the very center of the cavernous main hall in the
Temple of Amun. The murmur of the crowd was unceasing, like the winds of a
sandstorm, and grew louder as she was recognized. Everyone in Thebes who could
manage to gain access was here to see her trial. Vile epithets were shouted, so vicious
that even her ears burned, and the taste of fear was bitter in her throat.
57
Lena Austin
All she could do was pray to Just and Lawful Horus that he would see justice done,
but the gods seemed so very far away in the face of the thousands looking at her with
hatred, believing she had poisoned Tutmose II. Her hopes rested with her sisterhood,
and the one person who had reason to hate Pythia the most, Queen-Regent Hatshepsut.
Thirty days ago, Hati had called Pythia before her as soon as Pythia had recovered
from the effects of the drug that had killed the Pharaoh. To Pythia s horror, the servants
who escorted her to the bathing room to wash and prepare herself revealed to her that [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl szamanka888.keep.pl
chairs!
The Mother groaned her way to the floor with the help of the little girl, who had
knelt silently at the side of The Mother all that time. The child removed the chair to a far
corner before prostrating herself next to The Mother. The others quickly did the same,
getting into position just as the chanting was heard coming down the corridor.
Hati knew her face was still pale, and her eyes red, but she contrived to look regal,
even if she felt like a fool. She stuffed the moist linen square under her to hide it from
view.
Senmut flung open the door and Hati watched as he stepped aside to let in the
mortuary priests. The priests ignored the tableau and chanted their way to the bed,
hoisting an ornamental litter between them to carry Mo back to the temple for the long
embalming procedures.
But Senmut took in the obeisance made by some of the most powerful people in the
kingdom, and his eyes flew open wide. Without a word, he knelt behind Bala and put
his head to the floor.
However much it broke her heart, Hati knew he had done the proper thing, and her
days of playing mehen would now be rare. She turned her eyes back to the priests. Mo s
56
The God s Wife
body had been arranged carefully on the litter, and the linen sheet that had covered him
on the bed had been tucked carefully into place over him. No matter that she had seen
his ka fly away, Hati had trouble convincing herself that it was not still her beloved Mo
on the litter. It took all that she had not to sob, and she begged Isis for the strength to
see her son raised to adulthood.
The chanting never ceased as Mo s body was hoisted on the shoulders of the priests
and carried out the open double doors. Over the chanting, Hati heard the faint wails
coming from the royal apartments and family wing. One of the last priests had lit
incense and the sweet smell of rare frankincense filled the air, following them out the
doors, swung in a golden censer. With gratitude, Hati watched, as the guards closed the
doors.
They are gone, she told her trusted secret council. You can get up now.
Thank all the gods! groaned The Mother. I ll not be visiting you often, Divine
One. My back won t take it. The little girl helped The Mother rise and brought her
back her chair.
Then, Holy Mother, may I suggest you arrive in a litter chair? Even our Regent has
the right to give a permanent dispensation to the infirm, Keoset suggested with a
wicked smile.
I just might do that, you old rogue, The Mother replied with a smile.
Hati took in Senmut s open-mouthed surprise. Welcome to my secret council, Lord
Senmut, she pronounced. Here, those of the council may speak freely without the
usual protocols so that the business of the empire may be handled most efficiently.
So I see, Divine One, Senmut answered in a slow, careful voice. Forgive me if I
take time to adjust.
Do not take too long, boy, The Mother put in. If I am not mistaken, you just got
elected to run off and tell the Master Builder he s got less than seventy days to finish the
Pharaoh s tomb. You d better go catch the Master Builder and wake him up. Everything
just changed.
Senmut used an explicative not normally heard in the councils of Pharaoh and ran
for the door without permission.
Keoset sniggered. Holy Mother, you just said a mouthful.
* * * * *
Pythia knelt in her chains at the very center of the cavernous main hall in the
Temple of Amun. The murmur of the crowd was unceasing, like the winds of a
sandstorm, and grew louder as she was recognized. Everyone in Thebes who could
manage to gain access was here to see her trial. Vile epithets were shouted, so vicious
that even her ears burned, and the taste of fear was bitter in her throat.
57
Lena Austin
All she could do was pray to Just and Lawful Horus that he would see justice done,
but the gods seemed so very far away in the face of the thousands looking at her with
hatred, believing she had poisoned Tutmose II. Her hopes rested with her sisterhood,
and the one person who had reason to hate Pythia the most, Queen-Regent Hatshepsut.
Thirty days ago, Hati had called Pythia before her as soon as Pythia had recovered
from the effects of the drug that had killed the Pharaoh. To Pythia s horror, the servants
who escorted her to the bathing room to wash and prepare herself revealed to her that [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]