sustenance.'
'Nebamun, all I want to know is whether a sharp blow could kill Anhai.'
'That is what I'm trying to explain, lord. The heart is the center of the soul, the crux of all channels in the body. A sudden blow could disrupt the flow of blood, air, everything.' Nebamun held up a finger. 'And such a blow could murder the ka in its house.'
'Then Sennefer could have killed his wife with one strike.'
'Aye, lord. I think it possible.'
Meren nodded and walked away to stand at the ship's railing. He heard Kysen thank Nebamun and dismiss him. When his son joined him, he was leaning on the railing watching a royal trading vessel sail by, its decks laden with incense trees, several baboons climbing on its mast.
'Bener was looking for you this morning,' Kysen said. 'She accused Isis of flirting with poor Simut.'
'Was she justified?'
'I'm afraid Simut isn't wise in the ways of young women. He's caught between the two and wishes to be relieved of his duties as their bodyguard. He said he's suffering greatly.'
'I'll ask Aunt Cherit to supervise them. They won't be able to fool her.'
'I can already hear Bener's howls of dismay,' Kysen said with a smile. Then the smile faded. 'Now what do we do?'
'This tale of the grindstone, I've been thinking about it. Even if Nebamun agrees it's possible, I can't justify believing Bentanta without something more to confirm what she says.'
'You could, but you won't.'
'Please, Ky, not now. I've been thinking about that night at the feast, and what various people have said about how Sennefer behaved.'
'Even Wah noticed him,' Kysen said with a grimace of distaste. 'After hinting that your brother and Bentanta were guilty, that is. He said he saw Sennefer after Hepu finished speaking.'
'Which doesn't help verify Bentanta's tale.'
Sighing, Kysen propped his forearms on the railing and gazed out at the deep blue water. 'I know, especially since Wah offered a convincing detail. He said he was able to spot Sennefer because he had a fresh unguent cone on, and it was lopsided.'
'Then I don't see how-' Meren turned to look at his son. 'An unmelted scent cone?'
'Yes.'
'But not much earlier, the one he had on was already melting.'
They looked at each other.
'Between the time Bentanta and Anhai quarreled and when Hepu finished his interminable Instruction, he used two scent cones.' Meren turned back to gaze across the river at the desert.
'Why would he do that?' Kysen asked on a note of suspicion.
'He may have lost the first one.'
Kysen said, 'In a struggle.'
'Perhaps. I must think about this, Ky.' Meren closed his eyes. 'But it's as I said. If Sennefer killed Anhai, then who killed Sennefer, and why?' Meren opened his eyes reluctantly to face his son. 'And since we've been so astute in confirming what Bentanta has told us, we've just increased the likelihood that my brother is a murderer. Ra is the only one I've been able to link to Sennefer's death except Bentanta.'
'Even if she's told us the truth about Anhai's death, she still might have had a reason to kill Sennefer. One we don't know about. And anyway, from what you've told me, I wouldn't put it past Hepu to kill Sennefer rather than allow anyone to find out his son was a murderer.'
Meren straightened and eyed his son. 'By the gods, Ky, you've grown as suspicious as I am.'
'I'm only using the reason Nebamun says is one of the properties of the heart. Hepu is bloated with pride in his virtue. His heart is unbalanced near to madness with it. I can imagine he would fear for his sacred reputation enough to get rid of a son who was both impotent and a murderer. You have said he is violent.'
'But if he thought Sennefer killed Anhai,' Meren said, 'Ra could have murdered him out of revenge. You forget that I had Sennefer confined immediately after finding
Anhai's body. Ra would know that such an action meant I suspected him.'
'I only meant that Ra isn't the only one who had a reason to kill Sennefer.'
Meren smiled bitterly. 'And there's still Bentanta. She feared the discovery of her adultery. Who knows what her husband's family would have done had they found out? She was right. An adulterous woman can lose everything, including her life.'
'What are you going to do?' Kysen asked.
Turning to gaze downriver in the direction of Memphis, Meren breathed in deeply and exhaled. 'I'm going to set a trap, Ky, a trap for my own brother. Come with me. We'll stop by my chambers and then go to the garden.'
It wasn't long before they were ensconced on couches in the shade of a stand of palms. Two slaves waved tall fans over them while a servant appeared with a tray full of fruit dishes. This was set on a low table between Meren and Kysen. Meren picked up a copper bowl that had been set beside his couch and put it on the tray. As he did so, Ra came toward them accompanied by Reia.
'You sent for this lowly prisoner, O master of all?' Ra said with a sneer.
Meren waved Reia aside. 'Curb your tongue. I sent for you in order to beg your forgiveness.'
'You never begged for anything in your life,' Ra snapped.
'I was wrong to begin that fight, Ra. I ask your forgiveness.'
'Are you ill?' Ra asked. 'Or is this some kind of trick?'
'No. I've just discovered that Sennefer killed Anhai.'
'Ha! I knew he did it.' Ra planted his fists on his hips and gloated. 'For once the mighty Eyes of Pharaoh has made a fool of himself.'
'I knew you'd be happy.'
Ra laughed, went to the table, and poured himself a cup of wine. 'I feel like celebrating.'
Meren grinned at him. 'I am truly sorry, brother.' He picked up the bronze dish. It was filled with shiny black berries the size of grapes. 'Here. Have some fresh berries.'
Ra was gulping down his wine. He tilted the cup and finished the last of the brew, wiped his lips on the back of his hand, and glanced at the berries.
'I have no appetite.'
'You will if you taste these.'
'They're good? Give them here.'
Ra snatched the dish from Meren's hand, grabbed a handful, and stuffed them in his mouth. Meren and Kysen jumped up at the same time.
'No!' Meren cried. He pounded him on the back as Kysen slapped the dish from Ra's hand. Ra gasped and spewed out berries and curses. Meren thrust a water flagon to his lips. 'Did you swallow any of them? Good. Rinse your mouth and spit.'
Ra complied and then turned on Meren. 'What in the name of Amun are you doing?' He looked at the scattered berries and swore. 'Those are poison. You tried to poison me!'
'You know what they are, then,' Meren said.
'From the way you're acting, they must be poison. That's twice you've tried to kill me.'
Meren rolled his eyes. 'Do you know what kind of berries they are?'
'Poison berries.'
'Ra, you're going to drive me mad,' Meren said through clenched teeth.
'They're the same kind we found in Sheftu's house,' Kysen said as he picked up berries and put them back in the bronze dish.
Understanding dawned on Ra's face. 'You've been spying on me, Meren.'
'I found the same poison used on Sennefer there.'
Meren said. 'And I wanted to know if you knew what it was.'
'I do now.'
'I thought that if you ate them, I would prove your innocence.'
