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CHAPTER EIGHT
SECOND MONTH OF WINTER 10 TH DAY
Day followed day, and Renisenb sometimes felt that she was living in a
dream.
She had made no more timid overtures to Nofret. She was, now, afraid
of Nofret. There was something about Nofret she did not understand.
After the scene in the courtyard that day, Nofret had changed. There
was a complacency about her, an exultation, that Renisenb could not
fathom. Sometimes she thought that her own vision of Nofret as pro-
foundly unhappy must have been ridiculously wrong. Nofret seemed
pleased with life and herself and her surroundings.
And yet, actually, her surroundings had very definitely changed for the
worse. In the days following Imhotep’s departure, Nofret had quite delib-
erately, Renisenb thought, set out to sow dissension between the various
members of Imhotep’s family.
Now that family had closed its ranks solidly against the invader. There
were no more dissensions between Satipy and Kait–no railing of Satipy
against the unfortunate Yahmose. Sobek seemed quieter and boasted less.
Ipy was less impudent and offhand with his elder brothers. There seemed
a new harmony between the family yet this harmony did not bring peace
of mind to Renisenb–for with it went a curious, persistent undercurrent of
illwill to Nofret.
The two women, Satipy and Kait, no longer quarrelled with her–they
avoided her. They never spoke to her, and wherever she came they imme-
diately gathered the children together and went elsewhere. At the same
time, queer, annoying little accidents began to happen. A linen dress of
Nofret’s was spoilt with an overhot iron–some dye stuff was spilt over an-
other. Sometimes sharp thorns found their way into her clothing–a scor-
pion was discovered by her bed. The food that was served to her was over-
seasoned–or lacking in any seasoning. There was a dead mouse one day in
her portion of bread.
It was a quiet, relentless, petty persecution–nothing overt, nothing to lay
hold of–it was essentially a woman’s campaign.
Then, one day, old Esa sent for Satipy, Kait and Renisenb. Henet was
already there, shaking her head and rubbing her hands in the back-
ground.
‘Ha!’ said Esa, peering at them with her usual ironical expression. ‘So
here are my clever granddaughters. What do you think you are doing, all
of you? What is this I hear about Nofret’s dress being ruined–and her food
uneatable?’
Satipy and Kait both smiled. They were not nice smiles.
Satipy said, ‘Has Nofret complained?’
‘No,’ said Esa. She pushed the wig she always wore even in the house a
little awry with one hand. ‘No, Nofret has not complained. That is what
worries me.’
‘It does not worry me,’ said Satipy, tossing her handsome head.
‘Because you are a fool,’ snapped Esa. ‘Nofret has twice the brains of any
of you three.’
‘That remains to be seen,’ said Satipy. She looked good-humoured and
pleased with herself.
‘What do you think you are all doing?’ inquired Esa.
Satipy’s face hardened.
‘You are an old woman, Esa. I do not speak with any lack of respect–but
things no longer matter to you in the way they matter to us who have hus-
bands and young children. We have decided to take the matter into our
own hands–we have ways of dealing with a woman whom we do not like
and will not accept.’
‘Fine words,’ said Esa. ‘Fine words.’ She cackled. ‘But a good discourse
can be found with slave girls over the millstone.’
‘A true and wise saying,’ sighed Henet from the background.
Esa turned on her.
‘Come, Henet, what does Nofret say to all this that is going on? You
should know–you are always waiting on her.’
‘As Imhotep told me to do. It is repugnant to me, of course–but I must do
what the master ordered. You do not think I hope–’
Esa cut into the whining voice:
‘We know all about you, Henet. Always devoted–and seldom thanked as
you should be. What does Nofret say to all this? That is what I asked you.’
Henet shook her head.
‘She says nothing. She just–smiles.’
‘Exactly,’ Esa picked up a jujube from a dish at her elbow, examined it
and put it in her mouth. Then she said with sudden, malevolent acerbity:
‘You are fools, all of you. The power is with Nofret, not with you. All you
are doing is to play into her hands. I dare swear it even pleases her what
you are doing.’
Satipy said sharply: ‘Nonsense. Nofret is alone amongst many. What
power has she?’
Esa said grimly:
‘The power of a young, beautiful woman married to an ageing man. I
know what I am talking about.’ With a quick turn of her head she said:
‘Henet knows what I am talking about!’
Henet started. She sighed and began to twist her hands.
‘The master thinks a great deal of her–naturally–yes, quite naturally.’
‘Go to the kitchen,’ said Esa. ‘Bring me some dates and some Syrian
wine–yes, and honey too.’
When Henet had gone, the old woman said:
‘There is mischief brewing–I can smell it. Satipy, you are the leader in all
this. Be careful that while you are thinking yourself clever, you do not
play into Nofret’s hands.’
She leaned back and closed her eyes.
‘I have warned you–now go.’
‘We in Nofret’s power, indeed!’ said Satipy with a toss of her head as
they went out to the lake. ‘Esa is so old she gets the most extraordinary
ideas into her head. It is we who have got Nofret in our power! We will do
nothing against her that can be reported–but I think, yes, I think, that she
will soon be sorry she ever came here.’
‘You are cruel–cruel–’ cried Renisenb.
Satipy looked amused.
‘Do not pretend you love Nofret, Renisenb!’
‘I do not. But you sound so–so vindictive.’
‘I think of my children–and Yahmose! I am not a meek woman or one
who brooks insult–and I have ambition. I would wring that woman’s neck
with the greatest of pleasure. Unfortunately it is not so simple as that. Im-
hotep’s anger must not be roused. But I think–in the end–something may
be managed.’
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