Orphan of the Sun (10 page)

‘The day after,' she replied. ‘I suppose you leave before dawn.'

Teti nodded. ‘The morning dew has powers of its own,' she said, with a smile. ‘But only those who rise early can harness it. What's your name?'

‘Meryt-Re.' Meryt returned her smile, feeling glad. She placed a delicate lotus blossom on the top of Teti's basket, remembering Dedi's words only a few days before.
You sound like Teti
, she had said. Standing here with the
rekhet
in front of her, the words seemed somehow less frightening.

‘Thank you, Meryt-Re,' said Teti. ‘I'll look forward to it.'

Nauna's voice greeted Meryt when she was still four houses' distance from home.

‘About time too! Where do you think you've been?'

Senmut's mother was standing in the street with a broom, keeping an eye on local goings-on. Meryt quickened her step, breaking into a jog. It wasn't worth explaining things to Nauna. She gave the older woman a respectful nod and slipped past her into the house.

The middle room was empty save for the remnants of the feast, which were strewn across the floor, and the air stank of stale wine and beer. In the back room, Baki still lay on the bed, his eyes bright with pain.

‘The wine is finished,' Tia was telling him. ‘I'm sorry, Baki. The men drank it all.' She spotted Meryt in the doorway, and gave a wan smile. ‘I will send Meryt to Harmose for another ointment.'

Meryt stepped forward. ‘Do you want me to go now?' she asked. ‘I could go before clearing up.'

Nauna appeared behind her. ‘Any excuse to avoid work!' she grumbled.

‘Nauna, Baki is in pain,' said Tia sharply.

The older woman sniffed. ‘Senmut was much braver,' she muttered. ‘I didn't have to waste grain on ointments and wine. He took the pain like a man.'

‘I am a man,' came Baki's voice from the bed. ‘Little you know about it, Nauna.'

‘Enough, Baki,' said Tia firmly. ‘Don't speak to your grandmother like that. Meryt will go to the doctor.'

‘Shall I take grain from the cellar?' asked Meryt.

Tia nodded. ‘Or a leftover loaf or two, if there are any.'

Meryt went into the courtyard and replaced the kindling sticks. Henut and Mose were milking the goat, Henut holding a bowl while Mose squeezed the udders expertly. Meryt had a quick look around. There were four loaves left, and she put two into her linen bag as Henut smiled up at her.

‘Dada has a headache,' the little girl told her. ‘We're mustn't make any noise.'

Meryt thought of the previous night's revelries, and guessed that Senmut had staggered on to the roof once the sun had risen to get more sleep. ‘Never mind. You can help me in the middle room when I get back. I won't be long.'

She headed out to the street once more, this time walking north to the doctor's house. Her job was soon done. Harmose accepted the loaves and told her to apply a mixture of honey and goose fat to Baki's wound.

‘Wrap it up with lint,' he told her. ‘He'll be fine in a few days.'

‘Is that all?' asked Meryt.

‘Yes, yes,' said Harmose brusquely. ‘Why, what else do you expect for two loaves?'

Meryt hesitated. ‘I thought there might be a charm. A spell,' she suggested.

Harmose wiped his forehead impatiently. ‘There's no evil to cast out of a wound like that. It was made by the priests,' he said. ‘What good do you think a spell would do? Apply the honey and fat as I've told you.'

Meryt stood at the doctor's door uncertainly. She
did not want to return home empty-handed. ‘We have no goose fat,' she said.

‘Oh, by Sobek and Mut! Wait here.'

Meryt did as he said, her dislike of the man mounting with each passing moment. At last he reappeared with a small jar half-full of fat.

‘Bring the jar back when the fat is finished,' he snapped. ‘I'm a doctor, not the king's fool.'

It was a disagreeable morning. Baki wailed as Tia did the doctor's bidding, and Nauna grumbled constantly as though it were she who had the headache. When Senmut at last came down from the roof, he growled at the children and demanded food that had been finished off the night before. As the heat of the day drove everyone into the shade to rest, Meryt escaped, and ran to Dedi's house.

‘Meryt!' her friend greeted her in a low voice. ‘Come in. Father is asleep with my brothers on the roof, but we can sit in the courtyard.'

The two girls padded through the house, past the womenfolk, who were dozing in the middle room, and out into the yard at the back. Half of it was shaded with reed roofing, and the girls squatted down to chat.

‘How are you? Did Baki endure his ritual well?' asked Dedi.

‘Well enough,' replied Meryt, with a grimace. ‘But I doubt being a man will improve him much.'

‘Oh, you never know,' said Dedi. ‘A few months of
hard work in the tombs will do him good – although he'll be one of Sennedjem's men. He won't be working under Father's strict regime, will he?'

Meryt looked at her friend, trying to gauge her expression. It was the first time she had ever heard Dedi refer to Nebnufer's firm hand in the tombs. Userkaf's accusation must have had an impact, despite the council's findings. ‘I doubt there is really so much difference between the two foremen,' she said in a reassuring tone.

Dedi laughed. ‘I was only joking,' she said. ‘I agree. There has been much discussion of it over the last few days, and Sennedjem came to eat with us last night. He and Father are still firm friends.'

Meryt felt relieved. The two foremen were clearly sticking together, and her friend seemed to think the matter was closed. She decided not to mention her misgivings about Userkaf. It could do no good, for she did not know what the troublesome draughtsman's aims might be. ‘So did Neben-Maat come to dinner too?' she asked.

Dedi flushed. ‘Yes,' she said, with a coy smile. ‘Sennedjem is happy for the marriage to go ahead. I shall be Neben's wife before the harvest.'

‘That's wonderful! What will you be …'

Meryt's question was drowned as someone banged on the front door, and the two girls looked at each other in surprise.

Dedi frowned. ‘I wonder who that can be? Most people are asleep.'

The banging continued. ‘Nebnufer!' called a voice. ‘Wake up. There is news!'

The face of Ahmose, one of Dedi's brothers, appeared at the top of the steps. ‘Who is it, Dedi?'

‘No idea,' she replied. ‘Should I go and see?'

There was more hammering on the door. ‘Yes, hurry up!' Ahmose told her. ‘I'll wake Father.'

Meryt waited while Dedi went to open the door. Within seconds, a workman from Nebnufer's gang was rushing through the house and up the courtyard steps. Dedi trailed after him, looking bewildered. She beckoned to Meryt and they followed the man up on to the roof.

‘It's Userkaf again!' cried the man. ‘Nebnufer, you must do something!'

Nebnufer was sitting with his legs covered in a linen sheet, and his sons on either side. ‘Calm yourself,' he said. ‘I cannot do anything until I understand what you are saying.'

‘Userkaf is not satisfied with the findings of the council. He is going to consult the oracle. This is what I have heard.'

‘Where did you hear it?'

The man looked uncertain. He hesitated, and Meryt realised he was afraid. ‘I … I just heard it on the street,' he said. ‘I came to tell you right away.'

Nebnufer rose to his feet. ‘Thank you, Ipuy,' he said. He placed a fatherly hand on the man's shoulder. ‘We shall see. Things rumoured on the street do not always come to pass.'

‘But …' Ipuy began, shuffling his feet.

Meryt saw conflict on his face and wondered what he was hiding. Nebnufer must have seen the same thing, for he smiled gently. ‘Are you sure this is only a rumour?' he asked.

‘Yes … yes,' the workman assured him. ‘I overheard it. That's all.'

‘Well, it will not be long before we find out,' said Nebnufer. ‘The oracle speaks this evening. I shall continue to rest until then. Go peacefully, Ipuy, and may the gods be with you.'

‘Aren't you going to do anything?' Ipuy demanded.

Nebnufer looked at him sternly. ‘The gods are just, Ipuy,' he said. ‘Amenhotep is my guide just as he is yours. Let the oracle speak. I shall not prevent it.'

The workman left. Nebnufer and his sons were silent, and Dedi led Meryt back down the steps away from them. Dedi's beautiful face was still, the happy smiles gone. The two girls were sitting down in the courtyard as Dedi's mother, Wab, appeared in the doorway.

‘What happened, Dedi?' Wab asked. ‘What did Ipuy want?'

‘It was about Userkaf,' Dedi told her.

Wab hurried up the steps to the roof, and Dedi sighed. ‘I thought it was all over,' she said, her voice trembling slightly. ‘I don't understand why Userkaf is causing so much trouble. What if …'

She trailed off, but Meryt could guess her friend's mind.
What if we are forced to call off the marriage?
She
reached and touched Dedi's arm.

‘Don't worry,' she said. ‘Your father is right. The oracle is just. Everything will be fine and Userkaf will be shamed.'

‘But he seems so determined,' said Dedi. ‘What is he trying to achieve?'

Meryt shrugged. She did not know the answer any more than Dedi did. She thought of Nofret and the amulets but, as she had done with Kenna, she kept the information to herself. No good could come of speaking about it. Let the thefts rest on Nofret's head alone.

‘He will achieve nothing,' she said firmly. ‘Just wait and see.'

Dedi smiled briefly. ‘I hope you are right. Will you come to the parade of the oracle with me? Mother and Father will be preoccupied. You make me feel safe, Meryt.'

Meryt was surprised. ‘Will Neben-Maat not go with you?'

‘How can I ask him?' Dedi's eyes filled with tears. ‘I dare not make things difficult for Sennedjem and his family.'

‘But … you are engaged to him. He should support you,' Meryt protested.

Dedi shrugged. ‘Father says it is better to keep our troubles to ourselves,' she said.

‘He is a proud man.'

‘Yes.' Dedi's eyes appealed to Meryt again. ‘So will you come with me?'

‘Well, of course I will, if you're sure.' Meryt rose to her feet. ‘I have to go now, but I'll call for you later.'

Meryt-Re walked back down the main street. The heat of the sun was now less intense, and people were beginning to bustle around once more. Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared from a side alley, and Meryt stopped, her heart thumping hard. It was Kenna. The memory of her hurried exit a few nights before flooded back, and she felt overcome with embarrassment and shame.

‘Meryt!' Kenna called to her.

Meryt averted her gaze, and kept on walking.

‘Don't be like that. Talk to me.' Kenna strode to her side and touched her arm.

Meryt's cheeks were hot. She stopped, but stared at her feet.

‘Whatever I said to upset you, I'm sorry,' said Kenna. ‘I couldn't understand why you left so suddenly. I have never known you to behave like that.' His voice was warm and he seemed genuinely puzzled.

Meryt hesitated. She desperately wanted to restore the friendship to normal, whatever his feelings for Dedi. She looked up. ‘I'm the one who should be sorry,' she said. ‘I was being foolish. I meant to come back, but somehow it was too late.'

‘So there is nothing wrong?' Kenna's eyes searched her face.

‘Nothing,' said Meryt. She changed the subject hastily. ‘I saw your brother this morning, on your father's donkey. He said he was going moonlighting.'

‘Yes. There is work to be done in the Place of Beauty.' Kenna shrugged. His brothers' workload had never really interested him, for he could not share in it. He fell in alongside Meryt as she continued along the street. ‘How is Baki? Do you have to stay at home later on?' he asked.

Meryt thought of the oracle, and hesitated, unsure whether to mention it. ‘Baki's fine,' she said. ‘Why?'

‘There is news,' replied Kenna. ‘Userkaf is going to consult the oracle about Nebnufer.'

Meryt was taken aback. ‘So it's already common knowledge!' she exclaimed.

‘Oh, I wouldn't say that. Someone mentioned it to Father this morning,' said Kenna. ‘He's on Nebnufer's gang, so he was bound to hear about it. Will you come with me to see what happens?'

‘I have agreed to go with Dedi,' replied Meryt, and looked away, not wanting to see Kenna's response. Perhaps his face would light up, just as it had done before.

‘We could all go together,' he suggested.

Meryt said nothing, but something tightened inside her. She did not want to spend the evening witnessing Kenna's admiration for her friend, but what could she do? She had told him that nothing was wrong.

‘Couldn't we?' Kenna persisted. ‘It would be fun.'

Meryt shrugged. ‘All right,' she agreed grudgingly. She shot him a glance. ‘But I doubt Dedi will see it as fun.'

Kenna looked instantly ashamed at his thoughtlessness. ‘No, of course not,' he said. ‘Well, we are her friends. I shall be glad to offer her my support.'

Despite her jealousy, Meryt had to agree. ‘I think she may need it,' she said.

The household was quiet when Meryt returned home. Senmut had gone out, and Baki was asleep. Tia and Nauna were sitting in the courtyard with the children, weaving – or pretending to weave, for it did not take Meryt long to work out that Tia was exhausted.

‘Did you manage to get any sleep?' she asked.

Tia shook her head. ‘Baki was restless. I couldn't leave him.'

Nauna tutted. ‘You have more than one child to care for,' she chided her daughter-in-law. ‘Remember the unborn one and take care you do not lose it.'