Egypt

ordered, and we both approached her. I bowed my head. Even if there were spies listening through secret apertures in the walls, they could not hear us now.

‘Rahotep, I have asked the noble Nakht to bring you here because I need you once more. I would not have done so unless it was absolutely necessary. I have not asked you here for myself. It is as Queen of Egypt I must once more command your loyalty,’ she said, quietly, confidentially.

I nodded as loyally as I could.

‘Since Ay and I have ruled the empire together, I have learned a great deal about power, and what men will do to possess it. Of course, he will not live long now. For the sake of the empire, and for the continuation of the civilized values I hold dear, and for the continuation of my dynasty, I will rule alone as Queen after his death. The noble Nakht and I have laid plans for a stable succession. I am a woman, but I have supporters. Many high-ranking men-and women-have made their loyalty known to me. But I must also recognize the honest advice others have given me: there are those whose political and financial interests would be better served by the ascension of another ruler. I am sure you know of whom I speak. General Horemheb has made his ambitions very clear for a long time. I know there are many in the ministries, and in the priesthood, who will go to his side, if they believe he can offer them, and the Two Lands, something better than I can-or more likely if they feel sufficiently afraid. I must recognize the truth of the situation. The nobles and priests wish to protect their powers and possessions. Horemheb has the army under his command, and it is a great force. Without the support of the great battalions of the Egyptian army, it will be simply impossible for me to rule Egypt.’

She paused to look at me.

‘I know perfectly well the great flaw in my situation. I am a woman without heirs. There must be a succession. I must produce heirs. I must continue my family line. I must continue my dynasty. But I will choose the father of my child. Of course, with Ay there was never any possibility of that. The general might consider the political advantages of offering me the solution of marriage. But I will never accept him as a husband. I know his merciless ambition and heartless cruelty too well. I remember his treatment of my aunt after he married her. Even if I could find it in myself to have him join me on the throne, I know I would not live long … some accident, or a clever, invisible poison, would surely kill me…’

She shivered at the thought.

‘Were I a king, I would simply take a noble wife. But I am a woman, and I am alone. I have already lost one husband, and suffered another old enough to be my own grandfather. And who is left for me to marry? How can I save my great dynasty? I think, and think, and all I hear are the voices of my parents, and my grandfather, telling me “You are the last, you must save our dynasty from oblivion”, for Horemheb would surely annihilate all signs of our rule. Our royal names would be hacked from the stones, and the great monuments of our reigns would be obliterated. Our glories would be annihilated, and our royal names would never be spoken again. The Gods would not know us. It would be as if we had never even existed. But-I must think not only of my family, but also of what we represent: we are Egypt. We have created its greatness. We have brought pride, stability, affluence and peace to this empire. And what will Horemheb do with this inheritance, with this legacy of glory? We all know he will dash it to the ground, for the sake of his own glory. His rule would be cruel and tyrannical…’

She stopped speaking, and stood up from the throne, as if overwhelmed by the vision of such a catastrophe. She began once more to pace the great shadows of the Audience Hall, and Nakht and I followed her respectfully. Nakht took up the story.

‘But there is great opposition to Horemheb. He has no royal blood. The Gods have not yet chosen him. The oracles have not yet spoken in his favour. Many in the priesthood would never willingly accept him as King. Many are loyal,’ he added. He bowed his head, I thought rather ostentatiously.

She turned quickly, speaking urgently again.

‘Why do you flatter me with gentle words, noble Nakht? You know, as well as I do, that his power is great, and if he decides to enter Thebes to conquer it and take power from me, many will simply acclaim it as the will of the Gods,’ she replied. ‘Some oracle or other will be deemed to have foretold his rule and given it divine sanction. I mean no sacrilege when I say oracles are easily bought…’

There was no answer to this self-evident truth. And there seemed nowhere else to go in this strange conversation. But then she turned to me again. This living god, the Queen of Egypt, was so close I could smell the delicate scented oil she wore on her gleaming shoulders, and on her elegant throat. And with the old spirit in her voice, she suddenly brightened, and whispered into my ear: ‘But I have a plan. I have ordered Nakht to explain everything to you, and to outline the duties I require of you. I trust him absolutely, and his word carries my authority.’

Nakht knelt, and I followed suit.

‘I need you once more, Rahotep. I know you will not fail me,’ she said.

Our audience seemed over, but she stayed where she was, hesitating.

‘It was good to see you again. Nakht could have communicated my orders to you, but I confess I wanted to see you in person. I have missed you.’

‘And I you, Your Majesty,’ I replied.

She smiled, for the first time.

‘How is your family? Your three girls? They must be beautiful young women now. And your baby son? I suppose he is no longer a baby.’

‘They are all well, thanks be to the Gods,’ I replied. ‘My oldest is studying medicine. She dreams of becoming a doctor.’

‘Oh, that is marvellous! Egypt has been dominated by men for too long. I of all people should know this. Women have been underestimated. We need strong, educated women to help us build a better world. If all goes well with us, she will have a bright future under my reign. I will see to it personally.’

‘May it be so,’ I said quietly.

‘I hope to witness her success. Tell her she can count on my personal support.’

‘I will,’ I replied.

She gazed at me. Such small talk seemed to give her an intense pleasure, as if for once she could share in the things of ordinary life.

‘Be kind to yourself, Rahotep,’ she said, and then, to my surprise, she pressed a small bag of gold into my palm, and quickly turned away before I could stammer out my thanks.

7

As Nakht and I sailed back from the palace to the Thebes docks, the afternoon light had changed; the sun was setting behind us, to the west, beyond the stony hills, in a panorama of gold and red and blue. We sat in the cabin, alone. I felt like a dog waiting on its master to be fed; I watched him finish with his documents, perfect the way his linen gown sat upon him, and take a refreshing sip of his drink. Finally, he was ready to speak, and by this time I was almost ready to strangle him, I was so tense with anticipation.

‘Before I begin, I must ask you to keep silent until I have finished. We are old friends. But, believe me, I will not allow friendship to come between us in regard to what I am about to tell you. This is very serious. It is a matter of high state. Is that understood?’

‘Of course it is,’ I said.

He waited, then finally whispered: ‘The Queen has written and sent a formal, secret letter to the King of the Hittites. In this letter, she has requested him to send her one of his sons, to be her husband, and to rule on the throne of Egypt beside her.’

I thought he was joking.

‘You’re not serious.’

‘I am not inclined to make jokes about the fate of the Two Lands,’ he replied.

I stood up, deeply shocked, trying to absorb the ramifications of this revelation.

‘But that is impossible. No one in Egypt will accept a foreigner of any kind on the throne of the Two Lands- least of all a son of our arch-enemy…’