CHAPTER VIII
THE MAGIC IMAGE
That night Pharaoh and Tua rested in privacy with those members of theCourt whom they had brought with them, but on the morrow began a roundof festivals such as history scarcely told of in Egypt. Indeed, thefeast with which it opened was more splendid than any Tua had seen atThebes even at the time of her crowning, or on that day of blood andhappiness when Amathel and his Nubian guards were slain and she andRames declared their love. At this feast Pharaoh and the young Queen satin chairs of gold, while the Prince Abi was placed on her right hand,and not on that of Pharaoh as he should have been as host and subject.
"I am too much honoured," said Tua, looking at him sideways. "Why do younot sit by Pharaoh, my uncle?"
"Who am I that I should take the seat of honour when my sovereigns cometo visit me?" answered Abi, bowing his great head. "Let it be reservedfor the high-priest of Osiris, that Holy One whom, after Ptah, weworship here above all other deities, for he is clothed with the majestyof the god of death."
"Of death," said Tua. "Is that why you put him by my father?"
"Indeed not," replied Abi, spreading out his hands, "though if a choicemust be made, I would rather that he sat near one who is old and mustsoon be called the 'ever-living,' than at the side of the loveliestqueen that Egypt has ever seen, to whom it is said that Amen himself hassworn a long life," and again he bowed.
"You mean that you think Pharaoh will soon die. Nay, deny it not,Prince Abi, I can read your thoughts, and they are ill-omened," said Tuasharply and, turning her head away, began to watch those about her.
Soon she noticed that behind Abi amongst his other officers stood atall, grizzled man clad in the robes and cap of an astrologer, whoappeared to be studying everything, and especially Pharaoh and herself,for whenever she looked round it was to find his quick, black eyes fixedupon her.
"Who is that man?" she whispered presently to Asti, who waited on her.
"The famous astrologer, Kaku, Queen. I have seen him before when hevisited Thebes with the Prince before your birth. I will tell you of himafterwards. Watch him well."
So Tua watched and discovered several things, among them that Kakuobserved everything that she and Pharaoh did, what they ate, to whomthey spoke, and any words which fell from their lips, such as those thatshe had uttered about the god Osiris. All of these he noted down fromtime to time on his waxen tablets, doubtless that he might make use ofthem afterwards in his interpretation of the omens of the future.
Now, among the ladies of the Court who fanned Pharaoh and waited on himwas that dancing girl of Abi's who many years before had betrayed him atThebes, Merytra, Lady of the Footstool, now a woman of middle age, butstill beautiful, of whom, although Tua disliked her, Pharaoh was fondbecause she was clever and witty of speech and amused him. For thisreason, in spite of her history, he had advanced her to wealth andhonour, and kept her about his person as a companion of his lighterhours. Something in this woman's manner attracted Tua's attention, forcontinually she looked at the astrologer, Kaku, who suddenly awoke toher presence and smiled as though he recognised an old friend. Then,when it was the turn of another to take her place behind Pharaoh,Merytra drew alongside of Kaku, and under shelter of her broad fan,spoke to him quickly, as though she were making some arrangement withhim, and he nodded in assent, after which they separated again.
The feast wore on its weary course till, at length, the doors opened andslaves appeared bearing the mummy of a dead man, which they set upon itsfeet in the centre of the hall, whereon a toast-master cried:
"Drink and be merry, all ye great ones of the earth, who know not howsoon ye shall come to this last lowly state."
Now this bringing in of the mummy was a very ancient rite, but one thathad fallen into general disuse, so that as it chanced Tua, who had neverseen it practised before, looked on it with curiosity not unmingled withdisgust.
"Why is a dead king dragged from his sepulchre back into the world oflife, my Uncle?" she asked, pointing to the royal emblems with which thecorpse was clothed.
"It is no king, your Majesty," answered Abi, "but only the bones of somehumble person, or perhaps a block of wood that wears the _uraeus_ andcarries the sceptre in honour of Pharaoh, our chief guest."
Now Tua frowned, and Pharaoh, who had overheard the talk, said, smilingsadly:
"A somewhat poor compliment, my brother, to one who, like myself, isold and sickly and not far from his eternal habitation. Yet why should Igrumble at it who need no such reminder of that which awaits me and allof us?" and he leaned back in his chair and sighed, while Tua looked athim anxiously.
Then Abi ordered the mummy to be removed, declaring, with manyapologies, that it had been brought there only because such was theancient custom of Memphis, which, unlike Thebes, did not change itsfashions. He added that this same body or figure, for he knew not whichit was, having never troubled to inquire, had been looked upon by atleast thirty Pharaohs, all as dead as it to-day, since it was thesame that was used at the royal feasts before, long ago, the seat ofgovernment was moved to Thebes.
"If so," broke in Tua, who was angry, "it is time that it should beburied, if flesh and bone, or burned if wood. But Pharaoh is wearied.Have we your leave to depart, my Uncle?"
Without answering, Abi rose, as she thought to dismiss the company. Butit was not so, for he raised a great, golden cup of wine and said:
"Before we part, my guests, let Memphis drink a welcome to the mightyLord of the Two Lands who, for the first time in his long and gloriousreign, honours it with his presence here to-day. As he said to me butnow, my royal brother is weak and aged with sickness, nor can we hopethat once his visit is ended, he will return again to the White-walledCity. But as it chances the gods have given him a boon which they deniedfor long, the lovely daughter who shares his throne, and who, as webelieve and pray, will reign after him when it pleases him to ascendinto the kingdom of Osiris. Yet, my friends, it is evil that the safeand lawful government of Egypt should hang on one frail life. Thereforethis is the toast to which I drink--that the Queen Neter-Tua, MorningStar of Amen, Hathor Strong in Beauty, who has rejected so many suitors,may before she departs from among us, find one to her liking, somehusband of royal blood, skilled in the art of rule, whose strength andknowledge may serve to support her woman's weakness and inexperience inthat sad hour when she finds herself alone."
Now the audience, who well understood the inner meaning and objects ofthis speech, rose and cheered furiously, as they had been schooled todo, emptying their cups to Pharaoh and to Tua and shouting:
"We know the man. Take him, glorious Queen, take him, Daughter of Amen,and reign for ever."
"What do they mean?" muttered Pharaoh, "I do not understand. Thank them,my daughter, my voice is weak, and let us begone."
So Tua rose when at length there was silence and, looking round herwith flashing eyes, said in her clear voice that reached the furthestrecesses of the hall:
"The Pharaoh, my father, and I, the Queen of the Upper and the LowerLands, return thanks to you, our people of this city, for your loyalgreetings. But as for the words that the Prince Abi has spoken, weunderstand them not. My prayer is that the Pharaoh may still reign inglory for many years, but if he departs and I remain, learn, O people,that you have naught to fear from the weakness and inexperience of yourQueen. Learn also that she seeks no husband, nor when she seeks will sheever find one within the walls of Memphis. Rest you well, O people andyou, my Uncle Abi, as now with your good leave we will do also."
Then, turning, she took her father by the hand and went without morewords, leaving Abi staring at his guests while his guests stared back athim.
When Tua had reached the pylon tower, where she lodged, and her ladieshad unrobed her and gone, she called Asti to her from the adjoiningchamber and said:
"You are wise, my nurse, tell me, what did Abi mean?"
"If your Majesty cannot guess, then you are duller than I thought,"answered Asti in her quick, dry fashion, addi
ng; "however, I will try totranslate. The Prince Abi, your noble uncle, means that he has trappedyou here, and that you shall not leave these walls save as his wife."
Now fury took hold of Tua.
"How dare he speak such words?" she gasped, springing to her feet. "I,the wife of that old river-hog, my father's brother who might be mygrandfather, that hideous, ancient lump of wickedness who boasts that hehas a hundred sons and daughters; I, the Queen of Egypt, whose birth wasdecreed by Amen, I--how dare you?" and she ceased, choking in her wrath.
"The question is--how he dares, Queen. Still, that is his plot whichhe will carry through if he is able. I suspected it from the first,and that is why I always opposed this visit to Memphis, but you willremember that you bade me be silent, saying that you had determined tosee the most ancient city in Egypt."
"You should not have been silent. You should have said what was in yourmind, even if I ordered you from my presence. Neither Abi nor any of hissons proposed for my hand when the others did, therefore _I_ suspectednothing----"
"After the fashion of women who have already given their hearts, Queen,and forget that they have other things to give--a kingdom, for instance.The snake does not roar like the lion, yet it is more to be feared."
"Once I am out of this place it is the snake that shall have causeto fear, Asti, for I will break its back and throw it writhing to thekites. Nurse, we must leave Memphis."
"That is not easy, Queen, since some ceremony is planned for each of thenext eight days. If Pharaoh were to go away without attending them, hewould anger all the people of the North which he has not visited sincehe was crowned."
"Then let them be angered; Pharaoh can do as he wills."
"Yes, Queen, at least, that is the saying. But do you think that Pharaohwishes to bring about a civil war and risk his crown and yours? Listen:Abi is very strong, and under his command he has a greater army thanPharaoh can muster in these times of peace, for in addition to histrained troops, all the thousands of the Bedouin tribes of the desertlook on him as lord, and at his word will fall on the wealth of Egyptlike famished vultures on a fatted ox. Moreover, here you have but aguard of five hundred men, whereas Abi's regiments, summoned to do youhonour, and his ships of war block the river and the southern road. Howthen will you leave Memphis without his good leave; how will you evensend messengers to summon aid which could not reach you under fiftydays?"
Now when she saw the greatness of the danger, Tua grew quite calm andanswered:
"You have done wrong, Asti; if you foresaw all these things of which Inever thought, you should have warned Pharaoh and his Council."
"Queen, I did warn them, and Mermes warned them also, but they would notlisten, saying that they were but the idle dreams of one who strives topeep into the future and sees false pictures there. More, Pharaoh sentfor me himself, and whilst thanking me and Mermes my husband, told methat he had inquired into the matter and found no cause to distrust Abior those under his command. Moreover, he forbade me to speak to yourMajesty about it, lest, being but young and a woman, you might befrightened and your pleasure spoilt."
"Who was his counsellor?" asked Tua.
"A strange one, I think, Queen. You know his waiting-woman, Merytra, sheof whom he is so fond, and who stood behind him with a fan this night."
"Aye, I know her," replied Tua, with emphasis. "She was ever whisperingwith that tall astrologer at the feast. But does Pharaoh take counselwith waiting-ladies of his private household?"
"With this waiting-lady, it seems, Queen. Perhaps you have not heard allher story, in the year before your birth Merytra came up the Nile withAbi. She was then quite young and very pretty; one of Abi's women. Itseems that the Prince struck her for some fault, and being clever shedetermined to be revenged upon him. Soon she got her chance, for sheheard Abi disclose to the astrologer Kaku, that same man whom you sawto-night talking with her, a plan that he had made to murder Pharaoh anddeclare himself king, from which Kaku dissuaded him. Having this secretand being bold, she fled at once from the ship of Abi, and that nighttold Pharaoh everything. But he forgave Abi, and sent him home againwith honour who should have slain him for his treason. Only Merytraremained in the Court, and from that time forward Pharaoh, who trustedher and was caught by her wit and beauty, made it a habit to send forher when he wished to have news of Memphis where she was born, becauseshe seemed always to know even the most secret things that were passingin that city. Moreover, often her information proved true."
"That is not to be wondered at, Nurse, seeing that doubtless it camefrom this Kaku, Abi's astrologer and magician."
"No, Queen, it is not to be wondered at, especially as she paid backsecret for secret. Well, I believe that after I had warned Pharaoh ofwhat I knew, never mind how, he sent for Merytra, who laughed the taleto scorn, and told him that Abi his brother had long ago abandoned allambitions, being well content with his great place and power which oneof his sons would inherit after him. She told him also that the troopswere but assembled to do the greater honour to your Majesties who had nomore loyal or loving subject than the Prince Abi, whom for her part shehated with good cause, as she loved Pharaoh and his House--with goodcause. If there were any danger, she asked would she dare to put herselfwithin the reach of Abi, the man that she had once betrayed because herheart was pure and true, and she was faithful to her king. So Pharaohbelieved her, and I obeyed the orders of Pharaoh, knowing that if Idid not do so he would grow angry and perhaps separate me from you, mybeloved Queen and fosterling, which, now that Rames has gone, would, Ithink, have meant my death. Yet I fear that I have erred."
"Yes, I fear also that you have erred, Asti, but everything is forgivento those who err through love," answered Tua kindly and kissing her."Oh, my father, Pharaoh! What god fashioned you so weak that an evilspirit in a woman's shape can play the rudder to your policy! Leave menow, Asti, for I must sleep and call on Amen to aid his daughter. Thesnare is strong and cunning, but, perchance, in my dreams he will showme how it may be broke."