Soldier of Sidon (15 page)

THE CANAL AROUND
the cataract is long and tedious. So says Kha, the man the governor is sending to the Nubian king. Qanju does not think it so long in truth, only that we will be long there.

Kha came aboard today, soon after the scribe and the scribe's wife. Alala is taller than Kha, slender, young, and silent. Her skin is a ripe olive's. My wife says we have not seen her before. Alala brings with her a baboon, very large but quiet and well behaved. Thotmaktef the scribe is young and two hands below his wife in stature. His shaven head shows that he is a priest. (His wife says of Thoth, but I do not know this god.) Now he smiles much and speaks much, too; but this may be because he has a new wife. I like him and her, but wonder whether I could trust either. Those we like best are not always to be relied upon.

Kha is a man of middle years, thick at the waist. Like Qanju, he has dignity. Although a man of Kemet, he is a sagan. Muslak says this, and explains that these are men whose counsel and probity have earned the governor's ear.

When he came, Qanju was speaking to Thotmaktef and Alala. He invited Kha to join him, but did not send Thotmaktef and Alala away. These four wished to confer unheard, but though this ship is larger than most, it is crowded. I saw that Neht-nefret and Myt-ser'eu were standing nearby, and had little trouble drawing near enough to listen too. Muslak did the same.

Qanju introduced himself and explained that he is our leader and a sagan of the satrap's. Kha bowed and named himself. Qanju introduced his scribe Thotmaktef, and Thotmaktef's wife, and all four sat. Kha asked whether Alala could be trusted in confidential matters. Thotmaktef said she could be trusted absolutely. Kha asked Alala the same question.

"Your first duty is to the governor," Alala said. (She spoke more softly than the men, and Kha cupped his hand behind his head to hear her.) "A wife's first duty is to her husband. Nothing you tell me will be safe from mine."

"What of your friends?" Kha inquired. "Those with whom you are accustomed to share secrets."

"I have no such friends."

"Your sisters then."

"My sisters share no secrets with me," Alala said, "and I share none with them."

Qanju murmured, "Nor are they on our ship."

Kha asked, "Do we sail today?"

"We sail now," Qanju said, "unless there is reason to delay."

Muslak pretended not to hear this, but I saw the look he gave Azibaal.

"My bag is on board," Kha said.

Alala murmured, "So is mine."

They spoke of places for sleeping and eating, but I will not give all that.

"I am to ask King Siaspiqa to show you the gold mines," Kha said. "He may refuse, though I think he will not. Rest assured that any mines he shows you will be exhausted."

"I understand," Qanju said.

"May I ask why you wish to see them?"

"I have with me a Hellene who is familiar with the methods used in the silver mines belonging to his city. We hope that these mines will reveal to him the methods employed in Kemet of old."

"You must not speak so in the presence of King Siaspiqa. These mines are in his land. They are his now."

Qanju nodded. "Your counsel is wise. Neither will I speak of mining methods to King Siaspiqa."

Alala murmured, "Is the Hellene here? Should he not join us?"

"I would have sent for him if he were on this ship," Qanju told her. "He is to meet us above the cataract."

Kha smiled; his smile is very small. "This Hellene is wise to refrain from so lengthy and tedious a journey."

"If you would prefer ... ?"

Kha shook his head. "I am equally unsuited to walking and the donkey."

Alala whispered to Thotmaktef. "He might be carried in a litter or driven in a chariot. He wishes to know everyone on the vessel before we reach Napata."

Kha had caught her whisper, even as I. He smiled again, and nodded. "You have chosen well, Thotmaktef."

Thotmaktef made him a seated bow. "I have, I know."

"I have reason to hope, however, that we will find King Siaspiqa south of his capital. If the gods so will it, we may enter his presence north of the second cataract."

There was more talk which I will not give here. Qanju called me over and introduced me to Kha; after that he told Kha, "Holy Sahuset is a learned man of Kemet. Perhaps you know him?"

Kha shook his head.

"The satrap sent him to assist me. He speaks the language." Qanju returned to me. "Could you find him for us, Lucius?"

Aahmes, who knew him, said he had gone ashore. I took him with me to search, and we took with us his four soldiers of Kemet. I soon found Sahuset.

When we returned to the ship, Myt-ser'eu and Neht-nefret were talking with Alala. Qanju sent me away, so I joined them.

"My father is a priest of the temple of Thoth," Alala said. "He has often told me I should marry a priest, but none here are suitable. My new husband is a priest of the temple of Thoth in Mennufer. He is young and kind, and suits me very well."

"He is a friend of ours," Myt-ser'eu told her. "Like my own husband, he has the ear of Qanju, and is thus a person of importance. Have you met my husband?"

Alala said she had not, so Myt-ser'eu made me known to her. "Latro is foreign," she explained, "but he speaks our tongue almost as well as you do."

Alala's smile made me like her at once. "You think me foreign, too. I was born here, though my parents came from the south."

I asked whether she was Nubian--of Yam was what I said in the tongue of Kemet.

"We do not speak as you do. There are two peoples. My own, the Medjay, are the Lion People. The old men speak of King Siaspiqa. He is king of the Nehasyu, the Crocodile People."

Neht-nefret said, "In Kemet, Medjay are what we call those who guard royal tombs and bring anyone who breaks the law to the judges."

"They are we," Alala told her. "You pay our warriors
to guard your burial places and drive off those who would come to steal and kill."

"Do you speak the tongue of King Siaspiqa?" I asked her.

"Better than I speak this one," she said, and demonstrated, speaking a tongue unknown to me.

"What have you done with your pet?"

"I have no pet." For a moment she looked puzzled. "My mother has a cat. Do you know her?"

I said no more, but before laying aside my brush I should write a thing I have neglected. When I saw Sahuset in the market, I told Aahmes and shouldered my way through the crowd. When we were alone, Aahmes asked how I had recognized Sahuset so quickly when the market was thronged. I explained that Myt-ser'eu had pointed him out to me that morning before he left our ship, and I had seen his pet.

"He has no pet," Aahmes said. This despite the fact that the monkey had ridden Sahuset's shoulder when we brought him to Qanju. I have asked Myt-ser'eu whether I see animals others do not see. She said she could not say what I saw. She looked frightened as she said this.

Uraeus says my memory is among the gods, and will say no more.

WE ARE IN
the canal. It is long and winding and has some current, though the water does not rush as it rushes through the cataract. Ten yoke pull our ship along, treading a path beside the water-path. It seems very slow to me, but Myt-ser'eu says we often sailed no faster on the river. I could walk much faster. Myt-ser'eu says I forget, and Uraeus confirms it. Tomorrow I will leave this ship,
walk ahead, and see what is to be seen. I have told them to remind me of this.

THIS MORNING MYT-SER'EU
told me I had wanted to walk ahead of our vessel before the sun grew hot. She made me promise to take Uraeus with me. Qanju overheard us. He said I might go, but that I must take two soldiers. Thus we set out: Aahmes, Baginu of Parsa, Uraeus, and I.

Here the earth is lifted, thus the cataract. Baginu says that as it rises, the land of Kemet is left behind. He is a horseman, and wished often that we were mounted. It would have been better, he said, if the satrap had sent us on horseback. Perhaps it would, but everything we bring would have had to be loaded on horses or donkeys. There are few horses here, I think, and donkeys would have slowed us greatly. Ships need tar, sailcloth, and sometimes fresh timbers; but ships need not be fed and watered each night and rarely sicken and die.

I STOPPED WRITING
to talk with a woman. She spoke of a husband, and Myt-ser'eu says this is Qanju's scribe.

She told me much. "The people of Kemet think themselves very wise," she said, "but they know little of the south. Their forefathers knew more, but they have forgotten." She spoke of spotted deer taller than trees, and showed me one worked in gold to fasten a cloak. They cannot be as tall as she says.

"They speak of the Land of Yam, but there is no Land of Yam, only a memory. They speak of Kush as if Kush were all the southern lands. There is a river-kingdom of that name with very fine horses. Its people are cruel." She pointed south and east.

I said that they could not be cruel to their horses, or they could not have such fine ones. She agreed.

Her people have horses also and herd cattle, following the grass. I do not know what she meant by this, but I did not ask. It is because of their horses and dogs that the satrap pays them to watch the marches of Kemet, and because they are fine trackers.

These things I did not know while we walked up the path the oxen follow. We saw small deer, very pretty and graceful, with spike horns. Baginu wished to shoot one, but I told him to wait until evening, when we would rest and eat. Uraeus drew me aside, saying that Myt-ser'eu might lie with another while we were gone. I asked why he thought this, and he said he thought it because she had made me bring him. I saw the wisdom of this and halted as soon as the sun grew warm. This ship overtook us about midafternoon. Qanju questioned me concerning the village we had seen on the other side of the canal.

A HELLENE HAS
come to our ship. Myt-ser'eu says he has been with us before. She does not like him and complains that he stares at her. So do the sailors and my soldiers, but Myt-ser'eu remains in our tent now so that this Hellene cannot look at her.

We are camped by a town of mud brick beside the river. Its people are as dark as Alala. I asked whether they had a temple of the Red God, for I have been reading what the man whose hand held fire said. They do not. Alala's hands are black only on the backs; so with these people. I wrote that the hands that held fire were black everywhere.

The Hellene speaks long with Sahuset. I would like to know what of, but they sit before Sahuset's tent and fall silent when anyone draws near.

I CANNOT WRITE
well. I have drunk too much for it. I must set down what I saw anyway. Myt-ser'eu and I went back to our tent very late. Without my arm, she would have fallen. A baboon squatted in front of Sahuset's. It was eating a monkey, eating fast, cracking and swallowing
the bones like a dog. I tried to keep Myt-ser'eu from seeing it. I write beside our fire.

EVERYTHING WAS READY
today, but we did not put out, conferring instead in the shade of a sail the sailors spread on poles. Qanju did not want Myt-ser'eu with us, but I have told her something of what was said, and Neht-nefret seems to have told her everything. Neht-nefret was there because Thotmaktef was in the village and Alala would not join us without another woman present. Myt-ser'eu was in our tent. The captain called Neht-nefret over. Alala smiled and they sat side by side.

Agathocles said, "Here is an opportunity for all of us to become rich and highly honored. Some of you know something of it already. Sahuset knows everything and is in full agreement with me."

Sahuset nodded.

"Sahuset was sent by the satrap to represent the people of his nation--most of you know that as well. The Noble Qanju knows as much as Sahuset. He was sent to represent the satrap himself, as you also know. He wishes to have counsel from the rest of you before making his decision, for he is a man of sound judgment."

The captain said, "We'll have nothing to say until we know what you're talking about."

Agathocles nodded. "I am one of you if you will have me, but the satrap did not send me. I was sent by my friend Charthi, a man of the noblest blood of Kemet. His son Kames came here looking for the mines of the pharaohs and never returned. Charthi has promised to reward me if I find him. I'm not hiding it. Without the promise of a rich reward I would not have come."

Neht-nefret said, "Are you offering to share with us? How much?"

Agathocles shook his head. "I am not. I mean to earn it and keep it, but I see the prospect of a richer reward. Most would go to the Noble Qanju, no doubt. That will still leave a great deal for the rest of us. I will claim my share, and not begrudge others who claim theirs. Long ago, the pharaohs had gold mines in the desert west of the Great River. Everyone knows where they were, and many who have traveled to this land have seen them. They had other mines in the east, mines farther from the river. Who has seen those?"

Kha said, "I've heard of them--rumors, at least. They're said to be exhausted as well."

"Said by whom?"

Kha shrugged. "That was what I was told."

Sahuset said, "King Siaspiqa shows exhausted mines--mines near the river--to those who ask about mines. No one in Wawat speaks of those to the east. It is dangerous to do so."

"I do not fear King Siaspiqa," Alala whispered, "but my husband. I will not speak of these things without his permission."

More was said, but nothing of importance until Thotmaktef returned and the matter was explained to him. "Her husband," he said, "stands in awe of the Noble Qanju."

Qanju nodded and smiled, saying, "Ask your wife to tell us," and Thotmaktef did.

"There are places where the warriors of the Nehasyu will not let us graze," Alala said softly. "They are in the rocks. There is little grass there, thus we do not go to war over it. The same warriors buy our cattle." She shrugged.

"Are these the mines?" Kha asked.

She shrugged again. "I do not know what they are, only that there is a temple in one such place. We have other temples, but we cannot offer our bulls at that one. Because
we could not, my father was angry and urged our warriors to fight."

"And ... ?" Qanju smiled encouragingly.

"He was sent north, to Kemet, lest there be war."

"This is worth knowing," Agathocles declared.

Qanju nodded. "Do you know where these places are, Alala?"

She touched the arm of her husband, who encouraged her to speak.

"I do not know," she whispered. Her voice is scarcely louder than a breath. "I was born in Abu, but the older men among the warriors of my people will surely know. So will our priests."

Agathocles said, "While you went slowly up the canal, I went swiftly to Miam and spoke with men with whom I trade. They sent me to other men." He held out his right hand and rubbed its palm with the fingers of the other. "I persuaded them to tell me what they knew, and I found it interesting indeed. I have shared it with the Noble Qanju and Holy Sahuset. At the Noble Qanju's urging, I'm prepared to share it with you as well. I ask no oaths but believe you'll soon see that what I say should go no further." He paused, and waited for someone else to speak.

At length Sahuset said, "It would not go this far, if my advice had been taken."

Qanju shook his head. "I will not justify your presence. You may do it yourself, if you like. To whom do you object?"

"All of them!"

"Then I will answer all your objections," Qanju said. "We have ample time for it. Do you believe Agathocles will keep his information from the Noble Charthi?"

Agathocles said, "I will not. I am here on his behalf."

"Nor would I keep it from the satrap," Qanju told him, "for the same reason. I have his trust and will not abuse
it. Suppose that I were to act in a way Muslak found irrational and inexplicable. Would he conceal my acts, if the satrap questioned him?"

Muslak shook his head.

"He would not," Qanju continued, "knowing that the satrap would learn of them from others and punish him, as would be only just. Lucius leads our fighting men. He would obey my orders without explanation. I know that. But he can obey with intelligence only when he understands my reasons for giving them."

Qanju paused, smiling upon us. "You object to everyone save me, Sahuset, and thus to the sagan Kha. He represents the governor of Abu, and has come with us to help us, for the governor obeys the satrap. What reception might we have on our return to Abu if we acted now without informing him? What report might the governor send the satrap?"

Sahuset did not reply.

"Holy Thotmaktef is like a son to me. We share all confidences. Should I die or fall ill, he will act as a good son should, leading in my stead. Am I to keep this from him when I have kept nothing else from him? His wife is of the Medjay and may be of the greatest service to us--but only if she understands what it is we do and why we do it. She wished Neht-nefret present, since the customs of her people require that a married woman alone among men may not speak unless her husband is present. I know Neht-nefret is clever, and our captain declares her a woman of discretion. Whom would you have me send away, Sahuset?"

"I know the tongue," Sahuset said.

Qanju nodded. "So you do, but let us reach the point. Agathocles?"

"My contacts say that gold is coming from a mine in the east. Not much, they say, but some. They also say that a tall young man of Kemet is a slave there, and is being
forced to work at the mine. They did not know his name. No one I spoke with has ever spoken to him."

I said, "The man who sent you to find his son must have given you a way to know him when you saw him."

"He didn't have to. I had seen him several times before he left home."

"You'd know him?"

Agathocles nodded. "Unless he's changed a great deal, I would. Besides, I could question him about his father's house, the names of servants and so forth. I know several of them because they've been sent to buy wine from me. He grew up in that house and must know them all." He spread his hands. "It's as plain as day, isn't it? His father sent him to look for the mines and find out if there was still gold to be had. He came as far as Miam and learned where they were. After that, he probably hired someone to guide him there. He was caught."

Neht-nefret said, "They'd kill him, wouldn't they? I would have."

Qanju shook his head. "You are a clever young woman, but you have much to learn. He is the son of an influential foreigner. Such a son is a sword in the hand of whoever holds him."

"Exactly." Agathocles chuckled. "If they kill him, they lose him, and if they bring him to Miam or Meroe, he'll talk about the mines to people who didn't know before. So they keep him at a mine. Let him talk. Everyone he talks to there knows already, and he can do some work."

"They will keep us there as well," Sahuset said, "if we go there as he did. They may arrest us and take us there if they so much as find out we're looking for them. Agathocles told you we were in agreement. That is one of the things we agree on."

"The satrap," Qanju said smoothly, "has sent us that he may learn of the south. We are interested in these mines
because they are in the south and thus bear upon our mission.

"Kha, I will have my scribe draft a letter to the satrap, telling him what we have learned thus far, perhaps with some indication of what I plan to do. I will sign and seal it. My scribe will draft another to the governor at Abu. It will say only that he is to take the letter from the bearer and forward it to the satrap. Will you be the bearer? You may, if you wish."

Kha shook his head. "That was not my errand. I will remain with you, Most Noble Qanju, if you will permit it."

"I will, of course. Captain, will you send a reliable man? He need go no farther than Abu, and can rejoin us when he has delivered my letters to the governor."

Muslak nodded. "There's a small boat in our stores. Can I use that?"

"Of course."

"Then he'll get through the canal a lot faster than we did--the current will be with him. I'll send Azibaal. He's completely reliable."

"Good. Send him to me this evening. Both letters should be ready by then."

Qanju smiled as before. "Now I have a problem to lay before you. I will ask everyone's advice, beginning with the youngest. One must do that, I find, if one's younger counselors are not to repeat their elders' wisdom."

He spoke to Alala. "My dear, you are youngest, or so I judge. Here is my problem. A young man of Kemet, one Kames, is said to be held here as a slave, though he is none. He is a subject of the Great King's, and because he is, it is my duty to free him if I can. You are my counselor. How am I to do it?"

Alala spoke so softly we had to lean toward her to hear. "I don't understand. If the mines yield only a little gold, and people willing to tell this man," she gestured
toward Agathocles, "know of it already, why does King Siaspiqa bind this Kames?"

Agathocles said, "Surely that's clear. They yield more than a little, and Kames learned of it."

Qanju said, "This Hellene may speak truly, my dear. It may also be that the king is jealous of what gold they yield, though it is but small. Or that he has little use for spies, or some other reason. We cannot know, and so I wish to speak with Kames. And to free him, as I said. How am I to accomplish that end, do you think?"

"By the help of my people, the Lion People," Alala said promptly. "They take the Great King's gold to fight for him and to guard the northern land. They will take it again, overwhelm King Siaspiqa's men, and free this Kames for you."

"It is certainly worth considering," Qanju said, "and I will consider it."

He turned to Neht-nefret. "My dear, you are youngest after the wife of my scribe, I believe. May I have your thoughts?"

Neht-nefret shrugged. "If you wish them. I've never been chary of advice. I don't think we know enough now to come up with a good plan. If I were you, I'd find a handsome young woman and have her get close to the man in charge of one of these mines. She'd soon find out a thousand things you need to know, if she were the right woman for the job. She might even be able to free this Kames herself." Neht-nefret paused and licked her lips. "She'd expect to be well rewarded for what she did. I'm sure you understand."

Qanju nodded, still smiling. "She might say that she had escaped from the Medjay, who had stolen her in the north. Exhausted, she would come limping out of the desert."

Neht-nefret nodded. "I like it. It's simple, and it might work."

"I shall consider it. The Holy Thotmaktef is next, I would say."

"They write here as we do," Thotmaktef said, "having learned the art from us. They'll have a scribe at every mine to write reports and keep track of the gold they gain and the supplies they need--for those purposes, and a hundred others. He won't be there all the time, or I would think not. When he's not there, he'll go to the temple of Thoth in whatever city he reaches. I'd like to talk to the priests in all of them, as we go up the river. This Kames is the son of a rich man. He'll have been well taught in the House of Life in Wast. They won't set him to carrying baskets of rock, not unless they're complete fools."