offering the women of Abu easy access to the public well.
Bak guessed what the Medjay was thinking.' 'The whole time I was hanging from that vine, I expected my assailant to appear and finish what he'd started. If I'd given any thought to this area, I'd've known better. Standing at the lane, where he could see anyone coming and going, he could risk using the sling a time. or two, but he dared not approach the water gauge, where he'd draw attention to himself as well as to me.'
'Whoever he is,' Psuro said, impressed-in spite of himself, 'he has the nerve of a god and the luck to go with it.' Striding through the entry portal, Bak nodded to the neat and alert guard who manned the gatehouse. He was happy to see that the previous day's effort had made enough of an impression to last at least overnight. He walked on toward the governor's house, reluctant to go inside. The morning was pleasant, the intense heat of the inundation season dissipating as the season of planting began. He longed to go hunting in the desert or fowling in the marshes or sailing on the open river. Anything other than facing another day of this seemingly futile search. Seven days had passed since Hatnofer's death. He had to admit he had learned a great deal since then, yet he had no more idea now who the slayer was than he had had at the beginning. With only three days remaining, he needed divine intervention.
Smiling at the thought, at so unlikely an occurrence, he paused before the family shrine to look inside. No fresh flowers here, he noted, only an incense bowl long ago burned out, setting at the base of a red-painted statue similar to the one at Nebmose's villa. If no one bothered here, who was tending the shrine there?
Three men nearing their middle years came out of the governor's house, traders from the look of their sun- darkened skin, practical clothing, and mix of jewelry from Kemet and the lands to the south.
One, taller than his companions, raised a hand in greeting. 'If you've come with a petition, sir, your luck's run out. Governor Djehuty's ailing today, unable to conduct an audience.'
Not ailing, Bak thought, but malingering. Too fearful to show himself. 'Did anyone say what the trouble was?' 'He can't leave his bed, we were told. Other than that, nothing. I pray he feels better tomorrow. We've a contract dispute with a man from Swenet and need a decision before we set sail for the Belly of Stones.'
'May the gods smile on you,' Bak said, moving on. Twenty or so-men straggled out of the house, each displaying hope, patience, dismay, anger, or disappointment according to his temperament. By the time Bak entered the audience hall, the last of the petitioners had gone, as had the scribes who assisted the governor and his aide. Troop Captain Antef and Lieutenant Amonhotep stood at the foot of the empty dais. Their raised voices resonated through the high-ceilinged room. Bak stopped near the door, not wanting to intrude.
Antef glared at Amonhotep. 'If he's not available to make decisions, what am I to do? Make them myself and face his wrath later?'
'You're assuming your decisions will differ from his,' the aide said.
'They always do.'
Amonhotep stood stiff and silent, his face troubled, strained. At last he gave the more senior officer a tight smile. 'Ahight, I'll speak for him.' He closed his eyes, drew in a breath, commanded, 'Pull your troops out of the quarry. Give them a few days' rest. I'll. send a courier to Waset saying the next Osiris figure will arrive late. I'll give as the reason our shortage of professional stonecutters, and I'll ask for additional experienced men.'
Bak guessed this was the first time the aide had made so important a decision without Djehuty's nod of agreement. In this case, a decision Djehuty would not condone.
Antef clapped the young officer on the shoulder. 'Your talents are wasted, Lieutenant, on this thankless task you have.'
Khawet came through the door near the dais. Smiling, she walked toward the two men. Bak, preferring not to be thought an eavesdropper, strode in among the columns, heading their way.
She spotted him. Her eyes widened and she gasped. 'Lieutenant Bak!'
The two officers swung around, stared.
'By the lord Khnum!' Antef exclaimed. 'What happened to you?'
Bak considered passing off his injuries as the result of an accident, but decided the time had come to be candid. 'I was standing at the top of the water gauge when I was struck in the back by a hard-flung stone. Fortunately, the lord Amon smiled on me, and I managed not to fall down the stairway.'
Amonhotep muttered an oath. 'Who would do such a thing?'
'The slayer.' Antef's eyes narrowed. 'Are you so close on his heels?'
Khawet's eyes were wide, horrified. 'You didn't see anyone?'
'I assume the slayer struck, yes.' Bak's eyes darted from Antef to Khawet. 'And I saw no one.'
'So you're to be the next to die while Djehuty lives on.' Though seeming to joke, Antef looked none too happy at the prospect.
'Would the man you seek disrupt the pattern you found in the other slayings?' Looking chagrined at himself, Amonhotep answered his own question. 'Of course he would, if threatened.'
Antef gave Bak a cynical smile. 'I'd better lend you a few spearmen as personal guards. Think of the impression you'll make. Lieutenant Bak and his retinue, marching through the streets of Abu and Swenet.' The door near the dais opened, drawing the officer's eyes to Ineni, who stood on the threshold. For the newcomer's benefit, Antef added, 'A dozen or more men marching down the halls of this villa and across the fields of Djehuty's estate in Nubt.'
Ineni's eyes flashed anger, but instead of taking the bait, he backed up and let the door close between them. Bak hurried around the dais and followed him through the door. Ineni was some distance ahead, his hands balled into fists, walking rapidly toward the rear of the house.
Bak caught up with him outside, at the gate leading to the kitchen area. 'Ineni, we must talk.'
The farmer swung around, prepared to lash out in anger, but the bandages subdued him. 'What happened to you?' His tone was grudging, like that of a man obliged to be civil.
Bak told him, then blurted, 'Are your horses safe and well?'
The question was unexpected-to Bak as well as Ineni. Their eyes met in mutual understanding. They exchanged a conspiratorial smile.
'They are.' Ineni glanced toward the house. The windows of the upper story were too high for a man inside to look through, but he grimaced, as if he thought Djehuty was watching. 'Let's leave this place. Nebmose's villa should offer privacy.'
Bak closed the gate behind them and they walked side-by-side across the barren sand in front of the kitchen. 'When I saw you'd returned from Nubt, I thought maybe you and your father had reconciled your differences.'
Ineni's voice grew caustic. 'I went up to his rooms, but he wouldn't let me near him.'
'He's banned everyone: the servants and guards, his staff, all except Amonhotep and Khawet. I saw him yesterday, but would he allow me close today?' Bak shrugged, instantly regretting the sudden movement. 'Who knows?'
'He's never behaved well in a crisis, but this time…' Ineni snorted. 'I ofttimes think we'd all have been better off if you'd never come to Abu, if you'd never pointed out that wretched pattern in the earlier slayings and the obvious goal at the end.'
'The slayer's intent was to frighten him before striking in earnest. If I hadn't noticed the pattern, he'd have found another way to make your father see it.' Not an easy task, Bak thought, considering Djehuty's proficiency in closing his heart to any truth he would rather not see.
They passed through the gateway to Nebmose's villa and sat on a mudbrick bench shaded by the stable. A flock of pigeons had settled on the sunny roof. The throaty cooing of mating birds softened the silence of the empty building.
Bak leaned back against the wall and stretched out his legs. 'I've heard Djehuty plans to disinherit you-or has he already?'
'He'll let no one near him. Remember?' Ineni's smile dripped irony. 'Before they were banned from his rooms, Amethu and Simut repeatedly told him he dared not drive me from the — state in Nubt, for it needs my guiding hand. Amonhotep has denied all knowledge of procedures he knows as well or better than anyone in the province. As for Khawet… Well, she's too busy playing mistress of the villa to concern herself with mundane matters like her husband's loss of his life's work.'
'The daybooks.' Simut pointed to several rows of shelves on which lay dozens of storage jars, most of them plugged and sealed. 'You've been here before and know your way around, so I'll leave you to seek out what you want. I must finish that wretched inventory. My scribes are needed elsewhere.'
