CHAPTER XV
TUA AND THE KING OF TAT
In the morning, after Tua and Asti had put on the clean robes that layto their hands, and eaten, suddenly they looked up and perceived thatKepher, the ancient beggar of the desert, was in the room with them,though neither of them had heard or seen him enter.
"You come silently, Friend," said Asti, looking at him with a curiouseye. "A Double could not move with less noise, and--where is yourshadow?" she added, staring first at the sun without, and then at thefloor upon which he stood.
"I forgot it," he answered in his deep voice. "One so poor as I amcannot always afford a shadow. But look, there it is now. And for therest, what do you know of Doubles which those who are uninstructedcannot discern? Now I have heard of a Lady in Egypt who by some chancebore your name, and who has the power, not only to see the Double, butto draw it forth from the body of the living, and furnish it with everysemblance of mortal life. Also I have heard that she who reigns in Egyptto-day has such a Ka or Double that can take her place, and none knowthe difference, save that this Ka, which Amen gave her at her birth,works the vengeance of the gods without pity or remorse. Tell me, FriendAsti, when you were a slave-woman in Egypt did you ever hear talk ofsuch things as these?"
Now he looked at Asti, and Asti looked at him, till at length he movedhis old hands in a certain fashion, whereon she bowed her head and wassilent.
But Tua, who was terrified at this talk, for she knew not what wouldbefall them if the truth were guessed, broke in, saying:
"Welcome, Father, however it may please you to come, and with or withouta shadow. Surely we have much to thank you for who have found us thisfine house and servants and food--by the way, will you not eat again?"
"Nay," he answered, smiling, "as you may have guessed yesterday, I touchmeat seldom; as a rule, once only in three days, and then take my fill.Life is so short that I cannot waste time in eating."
"Oh!" said Tua, "if you feel thus whose youth began more than a hundredyears ago, how must it seem to the rest of us? But, Father Kepher, whatare we to do in this town Tat?"
"I have told you, Maiden. Asti here will deal in pearls and other goods,and you will sing, but always behind the curtain, since here in Tat youmust suffer no man to see your beauty, and least of all him who rulesit. Now give me two more pearls, for I go out to buy for you otherthings that are needful, and after that perhaps you will see me nomore for a long while. Yet if trouble should fall upon you, go to thewindow-place wherever you may be, and strike upon that harp of yours,and call thrice upon the name of Kepher. Doubtless there will be somelistening who will hear you and bring me the news in the Desert, where Idwell who do not love towns, and then I may be able to help you."
"I thank you, my Father, and I will remember. But pardon me if I ask howcan one so----" and she paused.
"So old, so ragged and so miserable give help to man or woman--that iswhat you would say, Daughter Neferte, is it not? Well, judge not fromthe outward seeming; good wine is often found in jars of common clay,and the fire hid in a rough flint can destroy a city."
"And therefore a wanderer who can swallow his own shadow can aid anotherwanderer in distress," remarked Tua drily. "My Father, I understand,who although I am still young, have seen many things and ere now beendragged out of deep water by strange hands."
"Such as those of Phoenician pirates," suggested Kepher. "Well, good-bye.I go to purchase what you need with the price of these pearls, and thenthe Desert calls me for a while. Remember what I told you, and donot seek to leave this town of Tat until the rain has fallen on themountains, and there is water in the wells. Good-bye, Friend Asti, also;when I come again we will talk more of Doubles, until which time maythe great god of Egypt--he is called Amen, is he not?--have you and yourLady in his keeping."
Then he turned and went.
"What is that man?" asked Tua when they had heard the door of the houseclose behind him.
"Man?" answered Asti. "I have told you that he is no man. Do men unfoldtheir shadows like a garment? He is a god or a ghost, wearing a beggar'sshape."
"Man or ghost, I like him well for he has befriended us in our need,Nurse."
"That we shall know when he has done with us," answered Asti.
An hour later, whilst they were still talking of Kepher and all themarvels that had befallen them, porters began to arrive, bearing bundleswhich, when opened, were found to contain silks and broideries in goldand silver thread, and leather richly worked, such as the Arabs make,and alabaster pots of ointments, and brass work from Syria, and copperjars from Cyprus, with many other goods, all very costly, and in numbermore than enough for a wealthy trader's store.
These goods the porters set out on the mats and shelves of the largefront room of the house that opened to the street, which room seemed tohave been built to receive them. Then they departed, asking no fees,and there appeared a man riding a fine white horse, who dismounted, and,bowing low towards the screen of pierced wood-work behind which Tua andAsti were hidden, laid a writing upon a little table, and rode away.When he had gone Asti opened the door in the screen and took the writingwhich she found she could read well enough, for it was in the Egyptiancharacter and language.
It proved to be the title-deed of the house and garden conveyed to themjointly, and also of the rich goods which the porters had brought. Atthe foot of this document was written--
"Received by Kepher the Wanderer in payment of the above house and landand goods, three pearls and one full meal of meat and dates."
Then followed the seal of Kepher in wax, a finely cut scarabaeus holdingthe symbol of the sun between its two front feet.
"A proud seal for a tattered wanderer, though it is but his name writ inwax," said Tua.
But Asti only answered:
"If small pearls have such value in this city, what price will the largeones bring? Well, let us to our business, for we have time upon ourhands, and cannot live upon pearls and costly stuffs."