that what you do does not turn against us!”
But Isfmis paid no attention to his companion. He waited until he heard the judge ask the woman, “Will you pay the sum required?”
Then he rose, and said in a beautiful, sweet-toned voice, “Yes, Lord Judge!”
All heads turned toward him to examine the bold and generous man — who had come forward to save the woman at the last moment and the — woman looked at him in astonishment, as did the youth who had defended her with his tears and plea. The commander's agent flashed a fiery and threatening glance at him but the youth paid no attention and went up to the judges’ dais with his tall, slender figure and captivating, comely face and handed the required fine over to the court.
The judge pondered in confusion, asking himself, “Where did this peasant get the gold, and where did he get such courage?” But there was nothing for it and he turned to the woman and said, “Woman, you are free. Let the fate from which you so narrowly escaped be a lesson to you!”
7
They left the court together, Latu, Isfmis, the Lady Ebana, and the unknown youth. As they were leaving, the woman looked at Isfmis and said in a voice he could barely hear, “Sir, your chivalry has saved me from the shades of the dungeon. I must therefore consider myself your slave by virtue of the favor you have done me and you have placed me under an obligation I can never repay.”
The youth seized Isfmis's hand and kissed it, his eyes brimming with tears, and said in a trembling voice, “The Lord pardon my earlier poor opinion of you and grant you the best of reward for what you have done for us by saving my mother from the depths of prison and the pain of flogging!”
Isfmis was overcome by emotion and said gently, “You owe me nothing. You suffered the most horrible injustice, my lady, and injustice, though it may affect only one, pains all the just. All I did was to get angry and give vent to my anger — so there is no debt and nothing to repay.”
This speech did not convince the Lady Ebana, who continued to be overcome with emotion, stammering in her confusion, and saying, “What a noble deed! How far beyond description and how far above praise!”
Her son was not less affected. Seeing Isfmis looking at him,
he said apologetically, “When we met I thought you were creatures of the Herdsmen because of how rich you seemed to be. Now it turns out that you are two generous Egyptians from I know not — where. I swear I shall not leave you until you have been kind enough to visit our small hut, so that we can drink a cup of beer together to celebrate our being honored with your acquaintance. What do you say?”
The invitation delighted Isfmis, who wanted to mix with his fellow countrymen, and who was attracted to the youth by his verve and good looks. He said, “We accept your invitation with the greatest of pleasure.”
The youth was overjoyed, as was his mother, but she said, “You must excuse us, for you will not find our hut appropriate to your high status.”
Latu said deftly, “With hosts such as yourselves we shall want for nothing, and besides, we are traders, used to the discomforts of life and the hardships of the road.”
They continued in their path, united in feelings of affection, as though they had been friends for years. As they walked, Isfmis said to Ebana's son, “What should we call you, my friend? My name is Isfmis, and my companion is called Latu.”
The youth bowed his head respectfully and said, “Call me Ahmose.”
Isfmis felt as though someone had called to him and he looked curiously at the youth.
After half an hour, they reached the hut. It was plain, like a fisherman's hut, and consisted of an outer courtyard and two small interconnecting rooms. However, despite the plainness of its furnishings and its poverty, it was clean and well arranged. Ahmose and his two guests sat in the courtyard, opening the door wide so that the breeze from the Nile and the sight of the river might be unimpeded. Ebana went off straightaway to prepare the drinks and they remained silent for a while, exchanging glances. Then Ahmose said hesitantly, “It is strange to see Egyptians looking so distinguished. How is it that the Herdsmen have left you to get rich when you are not their creatures?”
Isfmis replied, “We are Egyptians of Nubia, and we entered Thebes today.”
The youth clapped his hands in astonishment and delight and said, “Nubia! Many people fled there during the Herdsmen's invasion of our country. Are you some of those — who took flight?”
Latu was by nature extremely cautious, so he said quickly, before Isfmis could answer, “No. We migrated there earlier for trade.”
“And how did you manage to enter Egypt, when the Herdsmen have closed the borders?”
The two men realized that Ahmose, despite his tender years, was well informed. Isfmis felt a sense of fondness and ease toward him, so he told him the story of their entry into Egypt. While he was speaking, Ebana returned carrying the cups of beer and grilled fish. She put the drink and the food before them and sat listening to Isfmis's story until he ended by saying, “Gold stupefies these people and captivates their minds. We will go to the governor of the South and show him our best treasures and we hope that he will agree, or obtain an agreement for trade between Egypt and Nubia, so that we can go back to our old work and our trade.” She offered them the cups of beer and the fish and said, “If you achieve your goal, you will have to bear the full load of the work yourselves, for the Herdsmen refuse to work in trade and the Egyptians are incapable, in their present conditions of poverty and misery, of taking part.”
The traders had their own thoughts on this, but preferred to remain silent. They set to eating the fish and drinking the beer, commending the lady highly and praising her simple table, so that she blushed and launched into profuse thanks to Isfmis for his kind deed. She became quite carried away and said, “You extended me your noble hand at the moment when I most needed it, but how many a wretched Egyptian there is who is crushed by the millstones of oppression, morning and evening, and finds no one to help him!”
Ahmose became excited too, and as soon as his mother had said these words, his face flushed with anger and he said earnestly, “The Egyptians are slaves to whom crumbs are thrown and who are beaten with whips! The king, the ministers, the commanders, the judges, the officials, and the property owners are all Herdsmen. Today, all authority is — with the — whites — with their filthy beards and the Egyptians are slaves on the land that yesterday was theirs.”
Isfinis — was looking at Ahmose during his outburst — with eyes that shone — with admiration and sympathy, — while Latu kept his eyes down to hide his emotion. Isfinis asked, “Are there many who are angry at these injustices?”
“Indeed! But we all suppress our ire and put up with the ill treatment, as is the — way — with anyone — who is — weak and has no alternative. I ask myself, ‘Is there no end to this night?’ It is ten years since the Lord in His anger at us allowed the crown to fall from the head of our sovereign Seqenenra.”
The men's hearts beat hard and Isfinis turned pale. Latu looked at the youth in astonishment and then asked him, “How is it that you know this history despite your young years?”
“My memory retains a few unshakable pictures — clear and unfading — of the first days of suffering. However, I owe my knowledge of the sad story of Thebes to my mother, who never ceased repeating it to me.”
Latu gave Ebana a curious look that disturbed the woman. Seeking to reassure her he said, “You are an outstanding woman and your son is a noble young man.”
To himself Latu said, “The lady is still cautious in spite of everything.” It had been his intention to ask about some matters that concerned him but, setting these aside for the moment, the old man deftly changed the course of the conversation, directing it to trivial matters and making everyone feel at ease once more, in an atmosphere of mutual affection. When the two traders got up to leave the house, Ahmose said to Isfinis, “When will you go, sir, to the governor of the South?”
Isfinis replied, surprisedby the question, “Perhaps tomorrow.”
“I have a request.”
“What is it?”
“That I may go with you to his estate.”
