Imhotep Read online

  Tama was his friend and although she said it didn’t matter if she believed he was innocent, it mattered to him. Not just because he cared for her, but also because she was a woman of importance; she had friends. There must be a network of people who would believe her and help him. And Tim is out there somewhere, he thought.

  She watched as he calmed himself, bringing himself back to this room, this now, this reality and away from his anger and thoughts of violence.

  “Hetephernebti wants to meet with you, Brian. She was with Tim and she has news about Diane.”

  She reached for his hand and, taking it, led him down the hallway to Hetephernebti’s chambers.

  Hetephernebti sat at the head of a table full of food.

  She was sipping wine when they entered, pausing by the doorway until she nodded and waved them forward. “Sit here,” she said to Brian, touching the wooden back of the chair on her left.

  Brian hesitated by the chair, his eyes moving from the table to the open doorway.

  “Now, we will have a pleasant meal,” Hetephernebti said, “and exchange news as civilized people do. I would have invited Djefi to join us, but he made it clear that he had already eaten and needed to attend to other matters. Which,” she turned to Brian, “I understand is convenient since he wants to kill you.”

  She wiped her mouth with a linen cloth and smiled.

  “Brian, please be seated. I have posted a guard by the door. No one will be allowed to enter, except Kanakht, of course. One does not bar the vizier. But, we will have plenty of notice if he approaches. There is a doorway just behind you. If Kanakht approaches, you can wait in the room beyond that doorway. It is my private chamber.

  “Now, enjoy the meal. The goose is delicious, the bread is still warm from the ovens and the wine is tart. Sit, sit!”

  Seeing Tama nod, Brian sat and began to eat. His mouth was full of wine when Hetephernebti spoke again.

  “So tell me about this man Kanakht says you killed.”

  Brian choked and covered his mouth with his hand as he coughed.

  “Hetephernebti is as direct as Re’s golden rays, Brian,” Tama said, watching Brian as he recovered his poise. “The light of Re uncovers truth. You can trust her. Tell her your story.”

  She let him talk without interruption.

  “Do you know Tim?” she asked after he had brought her up to date.

  “Not really. I talked to him at To-She and then I expected to meet him at Khmunu, but he wasn’t there. I hoped to meet him here.”

  “Why do you seek him?”

  “Because he said he can help us get back home. Diane and me.”

  “You can not get home without him?”

  Brian shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m not sure how we got here,” he said with a sad smile.

  Hetephernebti rested the palms of her hands on the table and stared off in the distance. Then she turned to Brian. “I believe you, Brian. I think that you, and Diane and Imhotep, which is what we call Tim now, were sent here by the gods. It is not an accident that you are here at the very time so much is happening.”

  She motioned to the food and the wine. “Eat and enjoy. I will tell you my story now, or rather the story of The Two Lands.”

  “The Two Lands are as old as time, but they were not always united. King Narmer was the first to rule over the Two Lands, or so we are told. That was in a time beyond reckoning. My earliest memory is of my father, King Kha-sekhemwy. I did not know his father, King Sekhemib, only the stories about him.

  “When my brother became king, he took Netjerikhet as his Horus name. His name means ‘Divine of Body.’ He announced that he had been welcomed by Re and Horus and all the hundred gods as one of them.”

  She paused for a moment, her eyes moving from Brian to her hands, which were resting on her lap.

  “The Two Lands,” she continued, her voice even and calm, “is a rich, large land. There is room for Apis, Hathor, beautiful Isis, Tefnut, the eye of Re, Osiris, Sobek, Thoth, Ma’at and Seth. So, there is room for another god - my brother.”

  She looked up at Brian. “How many gods are in your land?” she asked.

  “One,” he said.

  “One?”

  “Yes, there are different ways to worship him, different religions, but just one god.”

  “What is his name?”

  Brian had never heard another name for God, except in movies where Muslims called him “Allah.” He thought there was another special name that Jews used, but he couldn’t remember it. “Mostly we just call him God,” he answered.

  She looked at him in disbelief.

  “No, wait,” Brian said. “He has a son. At least some people think so. His name is Jesus.”

  “So you have two gods.”

  That made him pause. “No, just one. I’m pretty sure.”

  Hetephernebti arched her eyebrows. “You have a god and he has a son, but the son is not a god?”

  “Yeah, that doesn’t sound right,” Brian admitted. “Wait, I remember something from church. We used to say ‘God, the father, God, the son, and God, the Holy Spirit.’ ”

  “So, three gods,” Hetephernebti said.

  Brian was puzzled. He had said the words when he was young and his mother had taken him to church, but he had never made an effort to understand them. “No, I’m sorry. They’re all one god. I don’t understand it either. But I’m sure that’s the way it is.”

  Hetephernebti nodded. “I’m sorry, Brian, I wandered from my story.

  “Because my brother has declared himself a god, it has made some people think that the house of the gods can be re-arranged. Djefi believes that if my brother can declare himself a god, then it might be possible for Djefi to declare Sobek as the chief of all gods. A few others, the followers of Amun and those of Aten to name just two, are beginning to have the same thoughts. However, Djefi is a special case.

  “Kanakht…” she turned to Tama, “Has he met Kanakht?”

  Tama shook her head.

  “Kanakht was at To-She for the festival. You did not meet him then?” Hetephernebti asked.

  “No,” Brian said. “Djefi kept me secluded. I only met Tim because he found me.”

  “Yes,” Hetephernebti said. “I had forgotten. That seems so long ago already. Well, Kanakht was vizier to my father and he remains vizier now for my brother. He is disturbed by the changes King Djoser has made. And he is growing old. He believes that he has served the Two Lands well and now it is time for the Two Lands to serve him. So he plots to take the throne.”

  She turned a rested a hand on Tama’s arm. “I have not told you this, little sister. Things have happened while you were on your journey. I have no evidence, but I am sure of what I say.

  “Kanakht has incited Djefi with ideas that if King Djoser is overthrown then Sobek, if he plays a part in this, will be regarded as the chief god of the Two Lands.”

  Tama interrupted. “And King Djoser knows of all this?”

  Hetephernebti nodded.

  “He knows of it, but he does not know how widespread Kanakht’s plot is, who else is involved. And so he waits and watches.”

  She paused and reached for her wine cup.

  “What about Diane?” Brian asked.

  Hetephernebti set down her cup and leaned forward on her elbows. “She is here in Waset, traveling with Djefi and Yunet. I have not seen her, only heard that she is here.”

  “Is she in danger?”

  Hetephernebti met his eyes. “I do not know, Brian. I think Yunet protects her. And I believe that Djefi wants to keep her secure so he can use her to bargain with my brother if something goes wrong with the plot. He also may think that she has powers.

  “Do not shake your head, Brian. Imhotep has healed Meryt of the wasting disease. I saw it myself. He has saved Prince Teti’s arm. You have carried a man from a certain death in the desert and saved a little girl from the crocodile’s jaws. Yes, I know the stories. I was at To-She when you returned from the desert. I heard what the peop
le said. So if you and Imhotep have powers, why shouldn’t Diane?

  “I know that you say you are not gods. You might believe that. But I do not. I have seen the miracles that Imhotep has worked. You have twice saved people and once escaped death yourself.”

  “Where is Diane?” Brian asked, shutting out her arguments that he was more than a man.

  Hetephernebti glanced at Tama and then answered Brian. “She travels with Djefi, but he has several boats. He stopped here to get food to continue his trip to Kom Ombo. One of the boats left shortly after he arrived. I do not know if Diane was on that one. I only know that she has not come into Waset.”

  Brian looked at the window and saw that it had grown dark outside.

  “Tama,” he said, “help me find Diane.”

  Djefi didn’t feel as well as he hoped he would after emptying himself at the palace.

  There was more than heavy food weighing on him. If Tama was here in Waset, then Brian was probably here as well. They had disappeared from Khmunu at the same time, so it was likely they had left together.

  They must have walked, Djefi concluded.

  He had dawdled on his way up river, stopping to rest on land every night, spending time in villages, watching to see if any boats passed him. But there had been no sign of Brian on the river. Eventually he had given up the watch. It was Nimaasted’s job, he had concluded. Kanakht had entrusted the priest to dispose of Brian. It is his failure, not mine.

  But now Tama was here in Waset. It didn’t mean that Brian was here, but it showed that someone could have traveled here from Khmunu without being seen on the river.

  He directed the carriers to take him to Kanakht’s home. Even though it was late, he wanted to talk with the vizier again, to hear his soothing words. And he will have wine to help settle my stomach, Djefi thought, settling back on his cushions and groaning at his discomfort.

  Kanakht didn’t know how long he had been sitting, staring across the room toward a window. The light outside had disappeared and servants had come in and lit torches in his chamber.

  He had started to think about King Djoser and Tim - he refused to think of him as Imhotep - trying to find a way to turn the king’s sudden attraction to the outlander into an advantage. Then his mind had drifted to Tim and the little he knew of the other two intruders.

  They had arrived in Kemet near the tomb he was having built in Saqqara. His eternal house. He would be there soon. He would pass this life, the embalmers would lovingly prepare his body and then he would be carried to his tomb. And then after a peaceful rest, he would awaken, young and alive. His heart would be weighed and found to be filled with truth. He would rise on the back of a falcon, rising higher and higher to the eternally green fields of Khert-Neter.

  He would be able to eat what he wanted and drink when he liked. His wife and children, all gone before him, would be there, waiting for him, honoring him.

  He sighed and smiled a sad smile.

  There was a better life waiting for him, he thought. Not so very long ago he would have scorned someone who was eager to pass on to Khert-Neter. What had happened? When did this change taken place? When did I become a tired old man?

  Through his unfocused eyes he saw movement at the doorway.

  He nodded his head, giving the servant permission to approach.

  “First Prophet Djefi wishes to see you, Lord Kanakht.”

  Kanakht stifled a sigh and nodded.

  “Take him to the table and tell someone to prepare some food. I’m sure he will be hungry.”

  The servant bowed and withdrew.

  Kanakht stood, his hip stiff from sitting so long. He steadied himself a moment and then squared his shoulders and turned to go meet Djefi. He disliked the fat priest, but he needed his hunger and ambition.

  As he walked toward the doorway, Kanakht realized that his step had lightened.

  He looked forward to saying the words, finding the hunger and fear in Djefi’s soul and using it to guide the priest to do his bidding. He thought of Makare and how easily he had swayed him.

  Once I am king, he thought, these longings for Khert-Neter will pass. I will have Khert-Neter here in the Two Lands.

  It was dark by the riverfront. A few torches were lit near loaded barges as watchmen guarded the cargo, but the damp night air seemed to smother the light just a few feet from the yellow flames.

  Tama led the way, slipping through the shadows toward the water. Brian walked behind her, watching her protectively and scanning the area in front of them as they approached the river.

  Hetephernebti had offered to send men with them, but Tama had argued that the Priestess of Re could not help someone who was sought by the vizier. She said that no one knew Brian was in Waset and so there was little danger unless Djefi had guards posted at his boats. They could easily spot them and avoid them, she said.

  As they neared Djefi’s boats, it was clear that no watch was being kept. There were no torches and the sound of scattered snoring came from the boats’ decks.

  Tama took Brian’s hand. “We will walk along the river as lovers sometimes do. It is late, but not so late for those who seek to be alone.”

  They emerged from the shadows and walked along the riverbank, leaning into each other. There was no movement from Djefi’s boats.

  “Djefi won’t be staying on the boat,” Brian said. “On the trip from To-She to Khmunu he went ashore every night.”

  They stopped near the first boat. Tama turned her back to the river and put her arms around Brian, turning him so that he was facing the boat. He hugged her, looking at the boat as he did. There were sleeping forms on the deck, but none with Diane’s shape.

  The second boat was even quieter, with only three sleeping forms on the deck.

  As they approached the third boat, they realized that it was not one of Djefi’s, but a smaller craft that stank of goose droppings.

  “There were three, I’m sure,” Brian said. “Djefi was on one, I was on one and Diane was on another.”

  “Can you tell which one is missing?”

  “No,” he said, “I wasn’t paying attention to the boat. I would know the boatmen, though.”

  He looked at the two boats. The first had an awning over the stern. He remembered that was where Djefi sat to stay out of the sun. The second boat was a little smaller and there was no awning.

  He walked closer to the boat, peering through the darkness, trying to see if he recognized any of the boatmen. It was too dark to make out any of their faces. He felt Tama pull on his arm.

  “It doesn’t matter,” she whispered. “If she and Yunet are not on the deck and if Hetephernebti is right that they didn’t come into town, then they must be on the boat that isn’t here.”

  He nodded agreement and followed her away from the water’s edge.

  They walked back into Waset, keeping to back streets on their way to the palace.

  “Where would she have gone?” he asked.

  “Djefi said he was going to Kom Ombo. He is building a new temple to Sobek there. He would want to keep her near him, so I think she would be headed there.”

  “Why would he have sent her away?”

  Tama thought for a few minutes as they walked on in silence.

  “He probably sent word for them to leave when he saw me here. I didn’t think of that. He might have guessed that we are traveling together.”

  After a few more steps, Brian asked, “Where is Kom Ombo?”

  At first light Brian began walking south toward Kom Ombo.

  Tama had given him the donkey and the long striped robes of a Nubian to wear as a disguise. She told him that she could not go with him because the she had to return to Khmunu for the ceremony that would help persuade the gods to bring moisture to the Two Lands.

  “Djefi will be going to Khmunu also,” she had told Brian. “The way should be clear at Kom Ombo to see Diane.”

  As she stood at the edge of town watching him walk away, leading the small donkey, Tama felt a pr
esence at her side.

  “Why did you tell him everything?” she asked Hetephernebti.

  Hetephernebti caressed Tama’s head. “If Brian is a god, then he already knew what I was saying. If the gods sent him, then either they would tell him or they were acting through me to tell him. And, little sister, if he is only a man, an outlander as you say, then he will leave the Two Lands and his knowledge will not matter.”

  Tama turned to her friend, a worried look on her face. “But Hetephernebti, what if he is just a man who now believes that he is a god? What if he acts against Kanakht and Djefi thinking he cannot be harmed because he is a god? What then?”

  Hetephernebti gazed at Brian, who was now just a small, distant form moving across the sands of Kemet.

  “Then, Tama, that is what the gods want.”

  At Abu

  Dear Addy, Tim wrote and stopped. He stuck the pencil behind his ear and stared at the journal page. The morning light lay across the empty, ivory-colored paper, highlighting the granular texture of the sketchpad.

  Looking up, Tim saw the wooden deck of the boat, narrowing as it approached the stern. The cedar planking was smooth from a combination of age and steady use. Beyond, out of sight from his low perspective, the sluggish water of the river pushed its way north, the opposite direction King Djoser’s boat was traveling.

  From his seated position, Tim could see the west bank, where there seemed to be fewer and fewer trees as they got closer to Abu and the first cataract, the spot where the river narrowed as it crashed through rocks, and where Teti had fallen.

  King Djoser was at the prow of the ship talking with Sekhmire, commander of the house guard. Sekhmire was the only guard on the king’s boat. The others followed in smaller boats, making up the rest of the small armada that carried King Djoser through his land.

  They had passed Kom Ombo yesterday, the town a small gathering of mud huts on the east side of the river. On the opposite bank of the river a new temple was rising from sandstone plateau that overlooked a bend in the river.