Agatha Christie - Death Comes as the End

The scorn and contempt in Kait's voice rose in a note like some musical instrument. Her strong, ugly face was transfigured.

Renisenb thought with dismay:

"Kait is strong. If she is stupid, it is with a stupidity that is satisfied with itself. She hates and despises men. I should have known. Once before I caught a glimpse of this - this menacing quality. Yes, Kait is strong -"

Unthinkingly, Renisenb's gaze fell to Kait's hands. They were squeezing and kneading clay - strong, muscular hands, and as Renisenb watched them pushing down the clay, she thought of Ipy and of strong hands pushing his head down into the water and holding it there inexorably. Yes, Kait's hands could have done that...

The little girl, Ankh, rolled over onto a thorny spice and set up a wail. Kait rushed to her. She picked her up, holding her to her breast, crooning over her. Her face now was all love and tenderness.

Henet came running out from the porch.

"Is anything wrong? The child yelled so loud. I thought perhaps -"

She paused, disappointed. Her eager, mean, spiteful face, hoping for some catastrophe, fell.

Renisenb looked from one woman to the other.

Hate in one face. Love in the other. Which, she wondered, was the more terrible?

III

"Yahmose, be careful of Kait."

"Of Kait?" Yahmose showed his astonishment. "My dear Renisenb -"

"I tell you, she is dangerous."

"Our quiet Kait? She has always been a meek, submissive woman, not very clever -"

Renisenb interrupted him.

"She is neither meek nor submissive. I am afraid of her Yahmose. I want you to be on your guard."

"Against Kait?" He was still incredulous. "I can hardly see Kait dealing out death all round. She would not have the brains."

"I do not think that it is brains that are concerned. A knowledge of poisons - that is all that has been needed. And you know that such knowledge is often found amongst certain families. They hand it down from mother to daughter. They brew these concoctions themselves from potent herbs. It is the kind of lore that Kait might easily have. She brews medicines for the children when they are ill, you know."

"Yes, that is true." Yahmose spoke thoughtfully.

"Henet too is an evil woman," went on Renisenb.

"Henet - yes. We have never liked her. In fact, but for my father's protection -"

"Our father is deceived in her," said Renisenb.

"That may well be." Yahmose added in a matter-of-fact tone: "She flatters him."

Renisenb looked at him for a moment in surprise. It was the first time she had ever heard Yahmose utter a sentence containing criticism of Imhotep. He had always seemed over-awed by his father.

But now, she realized, Yahmose was gradually taking the lead. Imhotep had aged by years in the last few weeks. He was incapable now of giving orders, of making decisions. Even his physical activity seemed impaired. He spent long hours staring in front of him, his eyes filmed and abstracted. Sometimes he seemed not to understand what was said to him.

"Do you think that she -" Renisenb stopped. She looked round and began, "Is it she, do you think, who has - who is - ?"

Yahmose caught her by the arm.

"Be quiet, Renisenb. These things are better not said - not even whispered."

"Then you too think -"

Yahmose said softly and urgently:

"Say nothing now. We have plans."

SECOND MONTH OF SUMMER, 17TH DAY

The following day was the festival of the new moon. Imhotep was forced to go up to the Tomb to make the offerings. Yahmose begged his father to leave it to him on this occasion, but Imhotep was obdurate. With what seemed now a feeble parody of his old manner, he murmured, "Unless I see to things myself, how can I be sure they are properly done? Have I ever shirked my duties? Have I not provided for all of you, supported you all -"

His voice stopped. "All? All? Ah, I forget - my two brave sons - my handsome Sobek - my clever and beloved Ipy - gone from me. Yahmose and Renisenb - my dear son and daughter - you are still with me - but for how long - how long?"

"Many long years, we hope," said Yahmose.

He spoke rather loudly as to a deaf man.

"Eh? What?" Imhotep seemed to have fallen into a coma.

He said suddenly and surprisingly:

"It depends on Henet, does it not? Yes, it depends on Henet."

Yahmose and Renisenb exchanged glances.

Renisenb said gently and clearly:

"I do not understand you, Father."

Imhotep muttered something they did not catch. Then, raising his voice a little, but with dull and vacant eyes, he said:

"Henet understands me. She always has. She knows how great my responsibilities are - how great. Yes, how great... And always ingratitude... Therefore there must be retribution. That, I think, is a practice well-established. Presumption must be punished. Henet has always been modest, humble and devoted. She shall be rewarded..."

He drew himself up and said pompously:

"You understand, Yahmose. Henet is to have all she wants. Her commands are to be obeyed!"

"But why is this, Father?"

"Because I say so. Because if what Henet wants is done, there will be no more deaths..."

He nodded his head sagely and went away - leaving Yahmose and Renisenb staring at each other in wonder and alarm.

"What does this mean, Yahmose?"

"I do not know, Renisenb. Sometimes I think my father no longer knows what he does or says."

"No - perhaps not. But I think, Yahmose, that Henet knows very well what she is saying and doing. She said to me, only the other day, that it would soon be she who would crack the whip in this house."

They looked at each other. Then Yahmose put his hand on Renisenb's arm.

"Do not anger her. You show your feelings too plainly, Renisenb. You heard what my father said? If what Henet wants is done - there will be no more deaths..."

II

Henet was crouching down on her haunches in one of the storerooms counting out piles of sheets. They were old sheets, and she held the mark on the corner of one close up to her eyes.

"Ashayet," she murmured. "Ashayet's sheets. Marked with the year she came here - she and I together... That's a long time ago. Do you know, I wonder, what your sheets are being used for now, Ashayet?"

She broke off in the midst of a chuckle and gave a start as a sound made her glance over her shoulder.

It was Yahmose.

"What are you doing, Henet?"

"The embalmers need more sheets. Piles and piles of sheets they've used. Four hundred cubits they used yesterday alone. It's terrible the way these funerals use up the sheeting! We'll have to use these old ones. They're good quality and not much worn. Your mother's sheets, Yahmose. Yes, your mother's sheets..."

"Who said you might take those?"

Henet laughed.

"Imhotep's given everything into my charge. I don't have to ask leave. He trusts poor old Henet. He knows she'll see to everything in the right way. I've seen to most things in this house for a long time. I think - now - I'm going to have my reward!"

"It looks like it, Henet." Yahmose's tone was mild. "My father said -" he paused - "everything depends on you."

"Did he now? Well, that's nice hearing - but perhaps you don't think so, Yahmose."

"Well - I'm not quite sure." Yahmose's tone was still mild, but he watched her closely.

"I think you'd better agree with your father, Yahmose. We don't want any more - trouble, do we?"

"I don't quite understand. You mean - we don't want any more deaths?"

"There are going to be more deaths, Yahmose. Oh, yes -"

"Who is going to die next, Henet?"

"Why do you think I should know that?"

"Because I think you know a great deal. You knew the other day, for instance, that Ipy was going to die... You are very clever, aren't you, Henet?"