| |||||
|
II
The letter came like a spearthrust to a fish.
Dumbfounded, silent, Yahmose, Sobek and Ipy stared at Hori as he read
out the words from the papyrus scroll.
‘Did I not tell Yahmose that I would hold him to blame if
any harm came to my concubine? As you all live, I am
against you and you are against me! I will no longer live
with you in one house since you have not respected my con-
cubine Nofret! You are no longer my son of my flesh.
Neither are Sobek and Ipy my sons of my flesh. Each one of
you has done harm to my concubine. That is attested by
Kameni and Henet. I will turn you out of my house–each of
you! I have supported you–now I will no longer support
you.’
Hori paused and went on:
‘The ka servant Imhotep addresses Hori. To you who have
been faithful, how are you in your life, safety and health?
Salute my mother Esa for me and my daughter Renisenb
and greet Henet. Look after my affairs carefully until I
reach you and see that there be prepared for me a deed
whereby my concubine Nofret shall share with me in all
my property as my wife. Neither Yahmose, nor Sobek shall
be associated with me, nor will I support them, and hereby
I denounce them that they have done harm to my concu-
bine! Keep all safe till I come. How evil is it when a man’s
household do evil deeds to his concubine. As for Ipy, let
him take warning, and if he does a single hurt to my con-
cubine, he too shall depart from my house.’
There was a paralysed silence, then Sobek rose up in a violent rage.
‘How has this come about? What has my father heard? Who has been
bearing false tales to him? Shall we endure this? My father cannot disin-
herit us so and give all his goods to his concubine!’
Hori said mildly:
‘It will cause unfavourable comment–and it will not be accepted as a
right action–but legally it is in his power. He can make a deed of settle-
ment in any way he wishes.’
‘She has bewitched him–that black, jeering serpent has put a spell upon
him!’
Yahmose murmured as though dumbfounded:
‘It is unbelievable–it cannot be true.’
‘My father is mad–mad!’ cried Ipy. ‘He turns even against me at this wo-
man’s bidding!’
Hori said gravely:
‘Imhotep will return shortly–that he says. By then his anger may have
abated; he may not really mean to do as he says.’
There was a short, unpleasant laugh. It was Satipy who had laughed.
She stood looking at them from the doorway into the women’s quarters.
‘So that is what we are to do, is it, most excellent Hori? Wait and see!’
Yahmose said slowly:
‘What else can we do?’
‘What else?’ Satipy’s voice rose. She screamed out:
‘What have you got in your veins, all of you? Milk? Yahmose, I know, is
not a man! But you, Sobek–have you no remedy for these ills? A knife in
the heart and the girl could do us no more harm.’
‘Satipy,’ cried Yahmose. ‘My father would never forgive us!’
‘So you say. But I tell you a dead concubine is not the same as a live con-
cubine! Once she was dead, his heart would return to his sons and their
children. And besides, how should he know how she died? We could say a
scorpion stung her! We are together in this, are we not?’
Yahmose said slowly:
‘My father would know. Henet would tell him.’
Satipy gave a hysterical laugh.
‘Most prudent Yahmose! Most gentle, cautious Yahmose! It is you who
should look after the children and do woman’s work in the back of the
house. Sakhmet help me! Married to a man who is not a man. And you,
Sobek, for all your bluster, what courage have you, what determination? I
swear by Ra, I am a better man than either of you.’
She swung round and went out.
Kait, who had been standing behind her, came a step forward.
She said, her voice deep and shaken:
‘It is true what Satipy says! She is a better man than any of you. Yah-
mose, Sobek, Ipy–will you all sit here doing nothing? What of our children,
Sobek? Cast out to starve! Very well, if you will do nothing, I will. You are
none of you men!’
As she in turn went out, Sobek sprang to his feet.
‘By the Nine Gods of the Ennead, Kait is right! There is a man’s work to
be done–and we sit here talking and shaking our heads.’
He strode towards the door. Hori called after him:
‘Sobek, Sobek, where are you going? What are you going to do?’
Sobek, handsome and fierce, shouted from the doorway:
‘I shall do something–that is clear. And what I do I shall enjoy doing!’
|
|||||
上一篇：死亡终局17 下一篇：没有了 |
- 发表评论
-
- 最新评论 进入详细评论页>>
