Agatha Christie - Death Comes as the End

There was a moment's dead silence and then Henet screamed. It was a high, thin scream - a scream, it would seem, of sheer terror. She cried out incoherently:

"I didn't - save me - master. Don't let her... I've said nothing - nothing."

Imhotep's pent-up rage burst out.

"This is unpardonable," he roared. "I will not have this poor woman terrified and accused. What have you against her? By your own words, nothing at all."

Yahmose joined in without his usual timidity:

"My father is right. If you have a definite accusation to bring against Henet, bring it."

"I do not accuse her," said Esa slowly.

She leaned on her stick. Her figure seemed to have shrunk. She spoke slowly and heavily.

Yahmose turned with authority to Henet.

"Esa is not accusing you of causing the evils that have happened, but if I understand her rightly, she thinks that you have certain knowledge which you are withholding. Therefore, Henet, if there is anything you know, about Hori or another, now is the time to speak. Here, before us all. Speak. What knowledge have you?"

Henet shook her head.

"None."

"Be very sure of what you are saying, Henet. Knowledge is dangerous."

"I know nothing. I swear it. I swear it by the Nine Gods of the Ennead, by the Goddess Maat, by Re himself."

Henet was trembling. Her voice had none of its usual whining affected quality. It sounded awed and sincere.

Esa gave a deep sigh. Her figure bent forward. She murmured:

"Help me back to my room."

Hori and Renisenb came quickly to her.

Esa said:

"Not you, Renisenb. I will have Hori."

She leaned on him as he helped her from the room towards her own quarters. Glancing up at him she saw his face was stern and unhappy.

She murmured:

"Well, Hori?"

"You have been unwise, Esa; very unwise."

"I had to know."

"Yes - but you have taken a terrible risk."

"I see. So you too think the same?"

"I have thought so for some time, but there is no proof - no shadow of proof. And even now, Esa, you have no proof. It is all in your mind."

"It is enough that I know."

"It may be too much."

"What do you mean? Oh, yes, of course."

"Guard yourself, Esa. From now on you are in danger."

"We must try to act quickly."

"That, yes. But what can we do? There must be proof."

"I know."

They could say no more. Esa's little maid came running to her mistress. Hori relinquished her to the girl's care and turned away. His face was grave and perplexed.

The little maid chartered and fussed around Esa, but Esa hardly noticed her. She felt old and ill and cold... Once again she saw that intent circle of faces watching her as she spoke.

Only a look - a momentary flash of fear and understanding. Could she have been wrong? Was she so sure of what she had seen? After all, her eyes were dim...

Yes, she was sure. It was less an expression than the sudden tension of a whole body - a hardening - a rigidity. To one person, and one person only, her rambling words had made sense - that deadly, unerring sense which is truth...

SECOND MONTH OF SUMMER, 15TH DAY

"Now that the matter is laid before you, Renisenb, what have you to say?"

Renisenb looked doubtfully from her father to Yahmose.

Her head felt dull and bemused.

"I do not know."

The words fell from her lips tonelessly.

"Under ordinary conditions," went on Imhotep, "there would be plenty of time for discussion. I have other kinsmen, and we could select and reject until we settled upon the most suitable as a husband for you. But as it is, life is uncertain - yes, life is uncertain."

His voice faltered. He went on:

"That is how the matter stands, Renisenb. Death is facing all three of us today. Yahmose, yourself, myself. At which of us will the peril strike next? Therefore it behoves me to put my affairs in order. If anything should happen to Yahmose, you, my only daughter, will need a man to stand by your side and share your inheritance and perform such duties of my estate as cannot be administered by a woman. For who knows at what moment I may be taken from you? The trusteeship and guardianship of Sobek's children, I have arranged in my will, shall be administered by Hori if Yahmose is no longer alive - also the guardianship of Yahmose's children - since that is his wish - eh, Yahmose?"

Yahmose nodded.

"Hori has always been very close to me. He is as one of my own family."

"Quite, quite," said Imhotep. "But the fact remains he is not of the family. Now Kameni is. Therefore, all things considered, he is the best husband available at the moment for Renisenb. So what do you say, Renisenb?"

"I do not know," Renisenb repeated again.

She felt a terrible lassitude.

"He is handsome and pleasing, you will agree?"

"Oh, yes."

"But you do not want to marry him?" Yahmose asked gently.

Renisenb threw her brother a grateful glance. He was so resolved that she should not be hurried or badgered into doing what she did not want to do.

"I really do not know what I want to do." She hurried on: "It is stupid, I know, but I am stupid today. It is - it is the strain under which we are living."

"With Kameni at your side you will feel protected," said Imhotep.

Yahmose asked his father:

"Have you considered Hori as a possible husband for Renisenb?"

"Well, yes, it is a possibility..."

"His wife died when he was still a young man. Renisenb knows him well and likes him."

Renisenb sat in a dream while the two men talked. This was her marriage they were discussing, and Yahmose was trying to help her to choose what she herself wanted, but she felt as lifeless as Teti's wooden doll.

Presently she said abruptly, interrupting their speech without even hearing what they were saying:

"I will marry Kameni since you think it is a good thing." Imhotep gave an exclamation of satisfaction and hurried out of the hall. Yahmose came over to his sister. He laid a hand on her shoulder.

"Do you want this marriage, Renisenb? Will you be happy?"

"Why should I not be happy? Kameni is handsome and gay and kind."

"I know." Yahmose still looked dissatisfied and doubtful. "But your happiness is important, Renisenb. You must not let my father rush you into something you do not want. You know how he is."

"Oh, yes, yes, when he gets an idea into his head we all have to give way to it."

"Not necessarily." Yahmose spoke with firmness. "I will not give way here unless you wish it."

"Oh, Yahmose, you never stand out against our father."

"But I will in this case. He cannot force me to agree with him and I shall not do so."

Renisenb looked up at him. How resolute and determined his usually undecided face was looking!

"You are good to me, Yahmose," she said gratefully. "But indeed I am not yielding to compulsion. The old life here, the life I was so pleased to come back to, has passed away. Kameni and I will make a new life together and live as a good brother and sister should."

"If you are sure -"

"I am sure," said Renisenb, and smiling at him affectionately, she went out of the hall onto the porch.

From there she crossed the courtyard. By the edge of the lake Kameni was playing with Teti. Renisenb drew near very quietly and watched them while they were still unaware of her approach. Kameni, merry as ever, seemed to be enjoying the game as much as the child did. Renisenb's heart warmed to him. She thought: "He will make a good father to Teti."

Then Kameni turned his head and saw her and stood upright with a laugh.

"We have made Teti's doll a ka-priest," he said. "And he is making the offerings and attending to the ceremonies at the Tomb."

"His name is Meriptah," said Teti. She was very serious. "He has two children and a scribe like Hori."