borders between Egypt and Nubia were closed, putting an end to our livelihood.”
“And what do you want?”
“With me is a convoy laden with the good things of the country from which it comes. I wish to make it my vehicle to make the acquaintance of Egypt's masters and win their patronage.”
The governor played with his beard and looked sharply and doubtfully at him. He said, “Are you saying that you underwent the hardships of the voyage just to ‘make the acquaintance of the masters and win their patronage'?”
“Noble governor, we live in a land of wild beasts and treasures, where life is extremely harsh, and hunger and drought have sunk their talons into men's necks. We are skilled at working gold, but exhaust ourselves to obtain a bowl of grain. If your lordships accept my gifts and give me permission to trade between the south and the north, your markets will fill with precious stones and animals and I will have transformed the misery of my people into blessing.”
The governor laughed loudly and said, “I see your head is full of dreams! Oughtn't you to start by pleading and begging? But no, you want your efforts to be crowned with royal commands to your benefit! So be it. The stupid are many. Tell me, though, fellow, what ‘treasures’ does your convoy bring?”
Isfmis bowed his head respectfully and said with the seductiveness of the clever merchant, “Would my lord not prefer to visit my ships to see their treasures himself and choose some precious stone that pleases him?”
Greed and covetousness stirred in the governor's soul. The idea struck him as excellent and he told Isfmis, as he got up to go with him, “I will grant you that honor.”
Isfmis preceded him to the warship and thence to the convoy and displayed for the onlookers the bangles, jewelry, and marvelous animals. The governor looked over these treasures with an eye gleaming with rapacious greed and Isfmis presented him with an ivory scepter with a knob of pure gold decorated with emeralds and rubies, which the governor accepted without a word of thanks. Uninvited, he took costly bracelets, rings, and earrings and started to say to himself, “Why shouldn't I let this merchant enter Egypt? This isn't trade. These are captivating gifts that Pharaoh will certainly welcome. If he then grant their owner his wish, he will have got what he came for, and if he refuses, it is nothing to do with me. I have a wonderful opportunity that I must seize. Khanzar, governor of the South, loves all such precious things. Why don't I send him the merchant? He will remember me for my action in presenting him with such treasure and creating an opportunity for him to increase his dealings with his lord. If one day he should want to appoint a governor for one of the larger provinces, he will certainly think of me.”
Turning to Isfmis, he said, “I shall give you an opportunity to try your luck. Go straight to Thebes. Here is a letter to the governor of the South. Take it to him so that you can display your treasures and ask for his intercession on behalf of your request.”
Isfmis was overjoyed and bowed to the governor in thanks and relief.
3
The first thing that Isfmis did the moment the governor had departed from the ship was to tell the old man who accompanied him, “From this moment on there is no Ahmose here and no Hur. Instead there are Isfmis the trader and his agent Latu.”
The old man smiled and said, “You speak wisely, Isfmis the Trader!”
The convoy spread its sails, its oars moved, and it set off downstream with the current toward the borders of Egypt, which it crossed without incident. Isfmis and Latu were standing at the front of the ship enduring the same longing, their eyes almost overflowing with tears. Isfmis said, “A good start!”
Latu replied, “Indeed, so let us pray to the Lord Amun in thanks and ask Him to guide our steps and crown our efforts with an outright victory!”
They knelt down on the deck of the ship and prayed together, then stood as they were before. Isfmis said, “If we succeed in restoring the ties with Nubia to what they were in the past, we shall have won half the battle. We shall give them gold and take men!”
“Don't worry — they are incapable of resisting the lure of gold. Haven't the borders that have been closed for ten years been opened to us? The Herdsman is very arrogant, conceited, and extremely brave, but he is lazy and prefers to employ others, thinking himself above trade, and he cannot tolerate life in
Nubia. Thus, his only path to its gold is through someone like Isfinis the Trader — who volunteers to bring it to him.”
They — went on together, casting looks toward the unknown that awaited them beyond the distant horizon that disappeared into the valley of the Nile, turning their gaze on the brilliant green that clothed the villages and hamlets, the birds circling above and the oxen and cattle grazing contentedly below. Here and there, peasants were working, naked, not raising their heads from the land, and the sight of them stirred in the youth's breast both love and anger, while his heart burned with affection and frustration. He said, “See how the soldiers of Amenhotep work as slaves for the stupid, conceited whites with their dirty beards!”
The convoy continued its progress, passing Ombos, Salsalis, Magana, Nekheb, and Tirt, till Thebes was only an hour away and Isfinis asked, “Where should the ship anchor?”
Latu replied, smiling, “To the south of Thebes, where the quarters of the poor and the fishermen are. All of them are purebred Egyptians.”
The youth was reassured by his words and, glancing ahead, saw at a distance a ship proceeding toward them. He stared as it slowly approached till he was able to make out its features. He beheld a huge, beautifully made vessel of outstanding elegance, with, in the middle, a high, handsome deck cabin, its sides glittering with exquisite artwork. It seemed to him that he had seen something like it before. Latu nudged his arm and murmured, “Look.”
The young man looked and said quickly, “My God, it's a royal ship!” Then he went on, “It is traveling without guards, so maybe its passenger is a palace official, or a prince seeking solitude.”
The ship drew close and almost caught up with the convoy, the unaccustomed sight of which had piqued the curiosity of those on board. A woman emerged from the deck cabin followed by a bevy of slave girls, whom she preceded unhurriedly like a ray of radiant light dazzling the eyes — blond, the breeze playing with the hem of her white robe, her fine golden tresses dancing. They felt sure she must be a princess from the palace of Thebes, seeking the solace of the breeze.
They saw her point her finger at one of the ships behind them, her mouth open in amazement, — while — wonder like-wise sketched itself on the comely faces of the slave girls. Isfmis looked backward and saw one of the pygmies that he had brought — walking on the deck of the ship and realized — why the beautiful princess was amazed. He looked at Latu, saying smilingly that one of the gifts had found the appreciation it deserved, but Latu was gazing at the woman, his eyes hard and face dark. The woman called a sailor, who made his way to the side of the ship and shouted, directing his call to Latu in accents that brooked no refusal, “Halt, Nubian, and drop anchor!”
Isfmis acceded to the order and issued a command to the convoy to halt. The royal vessel then drew near to the ship carrying the pygmy and the sailor asked Isfmis, “What is this convoy?”
“A trade convoy, sir.”
He gestured with his hand at the pygmy, who was fleeing to the bowels of the ship, and said, “Is the creature dangerous?”
“Not at all, sir!”
“Her Pharao nie Highness wishes to look at the creature close up.”
Latu whispered, “That is the title of Pharaoh's daughter.”
Isfmis for his part lowered his head in respect and said, “It is my pleasure to obey!”
He quickly left the ship in a boat with which he crossed to the other ship, where he climbed onto the deck to receive the princess, who, with her entourage, was approaching in a boat from her ship. They mounted the deck, preceded by the princess, and the youth bowed before her with a show of reverence, resisting his feeling of humiliation, and pretending to be embarrassed and confused. He stammered, “You do our convoy great honor, Your Highness!”
Then he lifted his head and observed her from close up with a quick glance. He beheld a face that embodied
