| |||||
|
III
‘You wanted to see me, grandmother?’
Ipy stood smiling and arrogant, his head held a little on one side, a
flower held between his white teeth. He looked very pleased with himself
and with life generally.
‘If you can spare a moment of your valuable time,’ said Esa, screwing
her eyes up to see better and looking him up and down.
The acerbity of her tone made no impression on Ipy.
‘It is true that I am very busy today. I have to oversee everything since
my father has gone to the Temple.’
‘Young jackals bark loud,’ said Esa.
But Ipy was quite imperturbable.
‘Come, grandmother, you must have more to say to me than that.’
‘Certainly I have more to say. And to begin with, this is a house of
mourning. Your brother Sobek’s body is already in the hands of the em-
balmers. Yet your face is as cheerful as though this was a festival day.’
Ipy grinned.
‘You are no hypocrite, Esa. Would you have me be one? You know very
well that there was no love lost between me and Sobek. He did everything
he could to thwart and annoy me. He treated me as a child. He gave me all
the most humiliating and childish tasks in the fields. Frequently he jeered
and laughed at me. And when my father would have associated me with
him in partnership, together with my elder brothers, it was Sobek who
persuaded him not to do so.’
‘What makes you think it was Sobek who persuaded him?’ asked Esa
sharply.
‘Kameni told me so.’
‘Kameni?’ Esa raised her eyebrows, pushed her wig on one side and
scratched her head. ‘Kameni indeed. Now I find that interesting.’
‘Kameni said he had it from Henet–and we all agree that Henet always
knows everything.’
‘Nevertheless,’ said Esa drily, ‘this is an occasion when Henet was wrong
in her facts. Doubtless both Sobek and Yahmose were of opinion that you
were too young for the business–but it was I–yes, I who dissuaded your
father from including you.’
‘You, grandmother? The boy stared at her in frank surprise. Then a dark
scowl altered the expression of his face, the flower fell from his lips. ‘Why
should you do that? What business was it of yours?’
‘My family’s business is my business.’
‘And my father listened to you?’
‘Not at the moment,’ said Esa drily. ‘But I will teach you a lesson, my
handsome child. Women work roundabout–and they learn (if they are not
born with the knowledge) to play on the weaknesses of men. You may re-
member I sent Henet with the gaming board to the porch in the cool of the
evening.’
‘I remember. My father and I played together. What of it?’
‘This. You played three games. And each time, being a much cleverer
player, you beat your father.’
‘Yes.’
‘That is all,’ said Esa, closing her eyes. ‘Your father, like all inferior play-
ers, did not like being beaten– especially by a chit of a boy. So he re-
membered my words–and he decided that you were certainly too young to
be given a share in the partnership.’
Ipy stared at her for a moment. Then he laughed–not a very pleasant
laugh.
‘You are clever, Esa,’ he said. ‘Yes, you may be old, but you are clever.
Decidedly you and I have the brains of the family. You have pegged out in
the first match on our gaming board. But you will see, I shall win the
second. So look to yourself, grandmother.’
‘I intend to,’ said Esa. ‘And in return for your words, let me advise you to
look to yourself. One of your brothers is dead, the other has been near to
death. You also are your father’s son–and you may go the same way.’
Ipy laughed scornfully.
‘There is little fear of that.’
‘Why not? You also threatened and insulted Nofret.’
‘Nofret!’ Ipy’s scorn was unmistakable.
‘What is in your mind?’ demanded Esa sharply.
‘I have my ideas, grandmother. And I can assure you that Nofret and her
spirit tricks will not worry me. Let her do her worst.’
There was a shrill wail behind him and Henet ran in crying out:
‘Foolish boy–imprudent child. Defying the dead! And after we’ve all had
a taste of her quality! And not so much as an amulet on you for protec-
tion!’
‘Protection? I will protect myself. Get out of my way, Henet, I’ve got
work to do. Those lazy peasants shall know what it is to have a real master
over them.’
Pushing Henet aside, Ipy strode out of the room.
Esa cut short Henet’s wails and lamentations.
‘Listen to me, Henet, and stop exclaiming about Ipy. He may know what
he is doing or he may not. His manner is very odd. But answer me this, did
you tell Kameni that it was Sobek who had persuaded Imhotep not to in-
clude Ipy in the deed of association?’
Henet’s voice dropped to its usual whining key.
‘I’m sure I’m far too busy in the house to waste my time running about
telling people things–and telling Kameni of all people. I’m sure I’d never
speak a word to him if he didn’t come and speak to me. He’s got a pleasant
manner, as you must admit yourself, Esa–and I’m not the only one who
thinks so–oh dear no! And if a young widow wants to make a new con-
tract, well, she usually fancies a handsome young man–though what Im-
hotep would say I’m sure I don’t know. Kameni is only a junior scribe
when all is said and done.’
‘Never mind what Kameni is or isn’t! Did you tell him that it was Sobek
who opposed Ipy being made a partner in the association?’
‘Well, really, Esa, I can’t remember what I may or may not have said. I
didn’t actually go and tell anyone anything, that much is sure. But a word
passed here and there, and you know yourself that Sobek was saying–and
Yahmose too for that matter, though, of course, not so loud nor so often–
that Ipy was a mere boy and that it would never do–and for all I know Ka-
meni may have heard him say it himself and not got it from me at all. I
never gossip–but after all, a tongue is given one to speak with and I’m not
a deaf mute.’
‘That you most certainly are not,’ said Esa. ‘A tongue, Henet, may some-
times be a weapon. A tongue may cause a death–may cause more than one
death. I hope your tongue, Henet, has not caused a death.’
‘Why, Esa, the things you say! And what’s in your mind? I’m sure I never
say a word to anybody that I wouldn’t be willing to let the whole world
overhear. I’m so devoted to the whole family–I’d die for any one of them.
Oh, they underestimate old Henet’s devotion. I promised their dear
mother–’
‘Ha,’ said Esa, cutting her short, ‘here comes my plump reed bird,
cooked with leeks and celery. It smells delicious–cooked to a turn. Since
you’re so devoted, Henet, you can take a little mouthful from one side–just
in case it’s poisoned.’
‘Esa!’ Henet gave a squeal. ‘Poisoned! How can you say such things! And
cooked in our very own kitchen.’
‘Well,’ said Esa, ‘someone’s got to taste it–just in case. And it had better
be you, Henet, since you’re so willing to die for any member of the family.
I don’t suppose it would be too painful a death. Come on, Henet. Look how
plump and juicy and tasty it is. No, thanks, I don’t want to lose my little
slave girl. She’s young and merry. You’ve passed your best days, Henet,
and it wouldn’t matter so much what happened to you. Now then–open
your mouth…Delicious, isn’t it? I declare–you’re looking quite green in the
face. Didn’t you like my little joke? I don’t believe you did. Ha ha, he he.’
Esa rolled about with merriment, then composing herself suddenly, she
set greedily to work to eat her favourite dish.
|
|||||
上一篇：死亡终局33 下一篇：没有了 |
- 发表评论
-
- 最新评论 进入详细评论页>>
