CHAPTER XVIII
THE JUDGMENT OF THE GODS
Three more months had gone by, and the great host of Pharaoh wasencamped beyond the Southern Gate, and the warships of Pharaoh wereanchored thick on either bank of the Nile. There they lay prepared forbattle, for spies had reported to them that the general, Rames, Lord ofKesh, was advancing northward swiftly, though with so small an army thatit could easily be destroyed. Therefore Abi waited there to destroy itwithout further toil, nor did his terrible Queen gainsay him. She alsoseemed content to wait.
One evening as the sun sank it was told to them that the troops of Rameshad appeared, and occupied the mountains on the right bank of the Nile,being encamped around that temple of Amen which had stood there forthousands of years.
"Good," said the Queen. "To-morrow Pharaoh will go up against him andmake an end of this matter. Is it not so, Pharaoh?" and she looked athim with her glittering eyes.
"Yes, yes," answered Abi, "the sooner the better, for I am worn out, andwould return to Thebes. Yet," he added in a weak, uncertain voice, "Imisdoubt me of this war, I know not why. What is it that you stare at inthe heavens so fixedly, O Kaku?"
Now the eyes of the Council were turned on Kaku the Vizier, and theyperceived that he was much disturbed.
"Look," he said, pointing with a trembling finger towards the skies.
They looked, and saw hanging just above the evening glow a very brightand wonderful star, and near to it, another, paler star which presentlyit seemed to cover.
"The Star of Amen," gasped Kaku in a voice that shook, "and your star, OPharaoh. The Star of Amen eats it up, your star goes out, and will neverbe seen again by living man. Oh! Abi, that which I foresaw years andyears ago has come to pass. Your day is done, and your night is at hand,O Abi."
"If so," shouted Abi in his rage and terror, "be sure of this, Dog--thatyou shall share it."
As he spoke a sound of screams drew near, and presently into the midstof them rushed Merytra, the wife of Kaku.
"The vengeance of the gods," she screamed, "the vengeance of the gods!Listen, Abi. But now this very evening as I slept in my pavilion,who can never sleep at night, there appeared to me the spirit of deadPharaoh, of Pharaoh whom we slew by magic, and he said: 'Tell themurderer, Abi, and the wizard-rogue, Kaku, your husband, that I summonboth of them to meet me ere another sun is set, and Woman, come you withthem.' Death is at our door, Abi, death and the terrible vengeance ofthe god!" and Merytra fell down foaming in a fit.
Now Abi went mad in the extremity of his fear.
"They are sorcerers," he shouted, "who would bewitch me. Take them andkeep them safe, and let Kaku be beaten with rods till he comes to hisright mind again. To-morrow, when I have slain Rames, I will hang thismagician at my mast-head."
But the Queen only laughed and repeated after him:
"Yes, yes, my good Lord, to-morrow, when you have killed Rames, thismagician shall hang at your mast-head. Fear not, whatever chances I willsee that it is done."