Lynda Robinson - Murder in the Place of Anubis

Kysen rolled his eyes. "A stupid thing to do since he needed Woser to help him hide the valuables when they removed them. They were going to put them in Woser's family tomb, weren't they?"

Meren nodded as he tore a piece of bread from a loaf and bit into it. Swallowing, he continued. "The day he died, Hormin and Beltis fought as she said. He made the mistake of giving her that broad collar and thinking she'd be satisfied with it. But she wasn't, and they quarreled. As was her custom, she fled to the tomb-makers' village. When he came for her, she threatened to leave him. To keep her, he allowed her to see the old tomb and its treasure. She stayed, of course. But Woser was growing more and more terrified. So terrified that he became ill.

"Anyway, to keep Beltis satisfied, Hormin decided to give her a few more of the dead prince's baubles. Then he told Woser to meet him secretly that night at the Place of Anubis and bring the unguent, which Beltis had admired, and some gold rings that were on the prince's fingers."

"We found no gold rings at the Place of Anubis."

"Because Woser couldn't bring himself to touch the body again. Each time he went to the tomb, he suffered torments, fearing that the dead man would cast him into the underworld at any moment. He was certain that the Devourer would eat his soul. So he took only the unguent. Beltis got the truth from him when she returned to the village after Hormin's death. When Woser arrived at the embalming shed, Hormin was furious that he hadn't brought the rings. With his usual lack of judg ment, he told Woser he was a coward and an ass."

"Hardly cause to stick a knife in a man."

"But Hormin went further," Meren said as he stared into his wine. "He knew that Woser feared the protective spells and curses on the dead prince's amulets and the coffin and the tomb walls."

Meren set down his goblet, pulled a folded piece of papyrus from his belt, and handed it to Kysen. "To pro tect himself and distract the wrath of the gods and the dead man, he left that in the coffin. It's a letter to the prince. In it he names Woser as its desecrator."

Kysen opened the letter and read. When he finished, he dropped it and whistled. "By all the gods, what an infernal bastard Hormin was."

"Aye. There's nothing more dangerous than a fright ened and cornered animal. I don't understand why Hormin didn't realize what a risk he took. That night at the Place of Anubis, the fool told Woser about the letter-there in the place of the dead. Poor Woser went mad with fear and finally killed his tormentor."

Kysen shook his head in disbelief. "And all along, Beltis has been trying to preserve the secret of the prince's tomb. That's why she killed Bakwerner when he blundered into Hormin's house that day saying he knew things."

"She slipped out of the house while Bakwerner was fighting with the family and my men were distracted. She followed him to the office of records and tithes and killed him. Probably all Bakwerner really saw was the brothers watching Hormin depart for the Place of Anubis. His real aim must have been to get rid of the talented Djaper."

Kysen glanced at Meren's goblet. "And it would be easy for her to poison Djaper's wine for the same rea son, and then saunter over to the tomb-makers' village."

"Where she seduced Woser into returning to the prince's tomb," Meren said. "Do you know how she finally persuaded him? She promised him that they would burn the letter Hormin left and replace it with another blaming Hormin and calling down the wrath of the gods on the scribe's soul, which was already on its journey to the netherworld."

Kysen sank down in his pillows and groaned. "Fools. All of them, they were fools."

"I suppose they thought they could deceive the gods."

"Is that possible?" Kysen asked.

"I don't know, Ky, but I doubt it." Meren rose and glanced out at the garden. There was little time left before nightfall. "I must see the king this evening. He requested specifically to be informed about this murder. He's feeling trapped and restrained again. And there is this matter of the qeres unguent. He'll have to know about it, even if it proved a coincidence."

Meren paused, thinking. "Ky, there is evil news from the court concerning the queen. There is danger to the king. I can't explain it, but I've this foreboding, this vague fear that has no real foundation that I can perceive. Tomorrow we must speak of it."

Kysen nodded as he closed his eyes. "I thought you looked worried. I thank the gods I wasn't born royal."

"I do too." Meren smiled at his son. "Sleep well, Ky."

Hours later, Meren was admitted into the king's bedchamber through a concealed entrance guarded by tall Nubians. Tutankhamun was alone except for one body servant helping him undress, who lifted a heavy wig from the king's head. Tutankhamun sighed and ruffled the curls that refused to be suppressed by weighty headdresses and crowns. Meren went to his knees before the boy.

Tutankhamun frowned at him. "Where have you been? I sent for you this afternoon."

"Thy majesty is right to chastise me, but I have been pursuing thy enemies."

"Oh, leave off the ceremony. You're not hiding from me behind it."

"Yes, majesty." Meren straightened and sat on his heels. "I was pursuing the murderer of the Place of Anubis."

Tutankhamun cast a gold belt at his servant and whirled on Meren. "You caught him! Tell me everything."

While the king undressed, Meren told the story of Hormin, Woser, and Beltis. When he finished, the king sighed.

"I wish I could have been there for the fight."

"Gods preserve me from such an occurrence. Thy majesty mustn't expose his sacred life for such pettiness."

"My majesty is sick of ambassadors and banquets and especially of harems and wives."

The king vanished into his bathing chamber, and Meren heard the sloshing of water. Meren glanced about the room for the second time. He always inspected a room as he entered it. One never knew what dangers lay in even the most protected rooms in the kingdom. Bright tiles shone at him from the walls, white and deep Nile blue. Transparent hangings fluttered from the bed canopy. He glimpsed a vigilant royal guard at each corner. They stood in the shadows, spears at the ready, patient, silent.

Lynda 5. Robinson

So few guards. The king must have dismissed the others. And only one servant. Was there greater safety in having many servants or one? Meren and the vizier debated this point periodically. Outside, between the white lengths of two columns, he could see a reflection pool, and beside it a long black shadow reclining in the silver light of the moon's rays. The king's leopard-Sa, the guardian.

Meren shook his head. Why was he so on edge? More so than usual after a fight or a resolved mystery. The king emerged from die bathing chamber, a cloth wrapped around his hips, his servants trailing him with pots of oil and unguent. Without glancing at Meren or the servant, Tutankhamun headed for the reflection pool. He dropped onto an ebony and gold couch, sighing as he propped himself on the cushions. Meren caught up with him and sank to the ground beside him.

"Now may we speak," the king said.

Meren glanced at the servant and recognized him. A Libyan captive, he'd been taken in battle before reaching puberty. He was deaf. The vizier had trained him to serve the king and given him the name Teti.

"I will go to the Controller of the Mysteries tomorrow and spin the tale of Hormin and his concubine," Meren said.

"Tomorrow I must fight with the High Priest of Amun about taxes. He wants all of mine as well as his. The old jackal."

Meren hesitated, then said, "You have spoken to the queen?"

Tutankhamun turned on his back and stared up at the leaves of a palm tree while his servant rubbed his legs with oil.