[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
There are three major cult centers in Egypt. Heliopolis
is the holy city of Ra, the god of light. Memphis worships
Ptah, the patron of arts and sciences. Thebes is the home of
Amon, the hidden god. My father strove to maintain them
in harmony. Your policies, however, have thrown them out
of balance, giving Thebes a disproportionate importance.
Majesty! Would you see Amon slighted?
Never. Amon s worldly representative is the one I ques-
tion. As of today, I suspend you from your administrative
responsibilities so that you may concentrate on religious
devotions.
The prelate struggled to his feet.
96 Christian Jacq
You know very well I can t do that.
Why not?
Because my duties are secular as well as religious, exactly
like yours.
Karnak belongs to Pharaoh.
That much is clear, but the temple can t run itself.
I ll appoint an administrator.
And bypass the ones I have in place? Majesty, I beg you
to reconsider. Turning the priesthood of Amon against you
would be most unwise.
Is that a threat?
Just advice from an experienced leader to a young
monarch.
Do you think I ll follow it?
Support from the right quarters is critical to any king s
survival. Of course, as your faithful servant I plan to follow
your orders, whatever they may be.
Though visibly weary, the high priest seemed on surer
footing.
Don t fight a losing battle, Your Majesty. You re new at
this; you think you can change things overnight, but it can t
be done. The gods are slow to forgive. Remember what hap-
pened when Akhenaton turned his back on Thebes.
Your net is tightly woven, Ramses told him, but a
falcon s beak can tear holes in it.
Such a waste of energy! You belong in Memphis, not
here. Egypt needs your strength to push back the enemies
from our borders. Let me take care of Thebes, and I ll be
behind you.
I ll think it over.
The high priest smiled. I knew you d listen to reason. If
you have the intelligence to match your spirit, you ll be a
great pharaoh, Ramses.
seventeen
ach and every Theban notable had only one thing in
Emind: pleading his cause face-to-face with the new king.
Ramses was an unknown quantity, aligned with no partic-
ular faction; who knew what unpleasant surprises he might
have in store for even the best-connected courtiers? But to
meet with the Pharaoh, one had to get past Ahmeni, who
refused to let anyone waste his own time, much less
Ramses . Then there was the little matter of Serramanna s
insistence on frisking each visitor!
Ramses canceled the rest of the morning s appoint-
ments, including the dikes inspector Ahmeni had recom-
mended. Well, let Ahmeni take care of him. The king
needed to consult with the Great Royal Wife.
After a refreshing dip, they sat on the edge of the pool,
their naked bodies basking in the sun that filtered through
the sycamores. The palace gardens were more beautiful than
ever since Nedjem had been named to the Department of
Agriculture.
I finally met with the high priest of Amon this
morning, Ramses confessed.
98 Christian Jacq
Any headway?
None at all. He s forcing me to choose between caving
in to him or declaring open warfare.
What does he want you to do?
Leave Karnak as the most powerful temple in Egypt.
He ll rule the south and let me keep the north.
Out of the question.
Ramses looked at Nefertari in amazement. I was cer-
tain you d preach moderation!
If moderation leads to the country s ruin, it s no longer
a virtue. The high priest wants to protect his own interests
with no concern for the general welfare. He even presumes
to dictate to the pharaoh. If you give in, everything Seti left
you will be destroyed.
Nefertari spoke calmly, in her soft, soothing voice, yet
her views were clear and firm.
Meeting him head-on will be dangerous, Ramses told
her.
You have to take a stand, or you ll be seen as a weak
ruler. The high priest of Amon will lead the opposition; we
can be sure of that.
I m ready to take him on, but . . .
You re afraid it s for selfish reasons. That you have to
prove your strength from the beginning.
Are you a mind reader?
I m your wife.
Tell me what you think, Nefertari. Is it only my vanity
leading me?
A pharaoh is larger than life. You are all that is generous,
eager, and strong. You re acting on those qualities acting
as a ruler.
But am I choosing the right battle?
The high priest wants to divide and conquer. There is
Ramses: The eternal temple 99
no evil greater than civil war. As Pharaoh, it s your duty to
face him down.
Ramses laid his head on Nefertari s breast. She gently
stroked his hair as all around them swallows flew, rustling
the silken air.
The sound of a scuffle at the gates to the garden broke
the spell. A woman was arguing with the guards, her voice
growing louder.
Ramses threw on his kilt and headed for the gates.
What s going on here?
The guards stepped aside and there stood Iset the Fair,
blooming and vivacious as ever.
Majesty! she exclaimed. A word with you is all I ask!
Have I ever denied you?
No, but your security detail has, and of course your sec-
retary, and
Come this way, Iset.
A small boy stepped out from behind her. Here s our
son, Ramses.
Kha! Ramses picked him up and lifted him over his
head. The frightened child burst into tears.
He s very shy, said Iset.
The king sat the boy astride his shoulders. Soon Kha
forgot his fear and began to laugh.
Four years old . . . he s getting to be a big boy! What
does his tutor say?
That he s too serious. Kha doesn t play much; he d
rather be reading. He already knows a lot of hieroglyphs; he
can even write a few.
100 Christian Jacq
He ll catch up with me before long! Come sit by the
pool. I m going to teach Kha to swim.
Is she . . . is Nefertari with you?
Of course.
Why have I had so much trouble getting in to see you?
You shouldn t treat me like a stranger. You d be dead if it
weren t for me.
What do you mean?
I sent that letter to warn you about the coup.
What are you talking about?
Iset hung her head. All right, I admit there was a time
when I resented being left in Thebes. I was so alone. But I
never stopped loving you, and I refused to join forces with
the members of your own family working against you.
I never got your letter.
Iset turned white. Then you thought I was against you,
too?
Was I wrong?
Yes, you were wrong! By the name of Pharaoh, I swear
I never betrayed you!
Why should I believe you?
Iset took Ramses arm. How could I lie to you?
Now they approached Nefertari, and her beauty took
Iset s breath away. It was not so much her outward perfec-
tion as her integral radiance that disarmed and conquered
everyone around her. Nefertari was truly a Great Royal
Wife. No one could touch her.
Iset was untroubled by jealousy. Nefertari shone like the
summer sky; her nobility inspired only respect.
Iset! I m so happy to see you.
As lesser wife, Iset bowed to her.
Please don t. Come, Iset, have a swim. It s so hot today.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]