Isfinis was pleased and said to the youth, “Do you know the way there?”
“Very well.”
Ebana tried to object, but her son silenced her with a nervous gesture of his hand and Isfinis smiled and said, “If you have no objection, he can be our guide.”
8
The first half of the following day passed in preparations for the visit to the governor. Isfinis was well aware of the importance of this visit and knew that the future of all his hopes was hostage to its outcome, not to mention the hopes of those whom he had left behind him in Napata, where despair and hope struggled to dominate their mighty souls. He loaded his ship with caskets of finely wrought objects and pearls, cages holding strange animals, the pygmy Zolo, and a large number of slaves. Ahmose appeared at the end of the afternoon, greeted them joyfully, and said, “From this moment on, I'm your slave!”
Isfinis took his arm under his own and the three of them proceeded to the cabin on deck. Then the ship set sail toward the north under a clear sky and with a favorable wind. The people in the cabin fell silent, each absorbed in his own thoughts, his eyes fixed on the shore of Thebes. The ship passed the quarters of the poor and approached the lofty palaces half-hidden among spreading palms and sycamore figs, among whose branches fluttered birds of every kind and color and which served to divide one estate from another. Behind them, the green fields stretched out, crisscrossed by silver streams, valleys, palm trees, and grapevines, grazed by oxen and cows, the patient, naked peasants bent over them at their labors. On the shore, devices had been constructed that scooped water from the Nile, to the tune of exquisite songs. Breezes played with the trees, bringing with them the susurration of foliage, the twittering of small birds, the lowing of cattle, and the fragrance of flowers and sweet- smelling herbs. Isfinis felt as though memory's fingertips were caressing his feverish brow as he recalled spring days when he would go out into the fields carried in his royal litter, slaves and guards marching before him, and the peasants, overjoyed to see the pure young child, would greet him, scattering roses on his fortunate path.
He was wakened by the voice of Ahmose saying, “There's the governor's palace!”
Isfinis sighed and looked where the youth was pointing. Latu looked too and an expression of amazement and distaste filled the old man's eyes.
The ship turned toward the palace, its oars stilled. A small war craft, bursting with soldiers, barred its way and an officer shouted at them roughly and arrogantly, “Get your filthy ship away from here, peasant!”
Isfinis leapt from the cabin, went to the ship's side, and greeted the officer respectfully, saying, “I have a private letter to His Highness, the governor of the South.”
The officer gave him a sharp, brutal stare and said, “Give it to me and wait!”
The youth extracted the letter from the pocket of his cloak and gave it to the officer, who examined it carefully and then gave an order to his men, who turned the craft toward the garden steps. The officer called a guard and handed him the letter. The guard took it and departed in the direction of the palace. He disappeared for a short while then returned in a hurry to the officer and said a few words to him in secret, after which the officer gestured to Isfinis to bring the ship in close. The youth ordered his sailors to row on until the ship anchored at the palace mooring, where the officer said to him, “His Highness awaits you, so unload your goods and take them to him.”
The youth issued his orders to the Nubians and these, Ahmose among them, unloaded the caskets, while others removed the cages of animals and Zolo's litter. In parting, Latu said to the youth, “The Lord grant you success!”
Isfinis caught up with the procession and together they crossed the luxuriant garden in total silence.
9
The trader went to meet the governor. A servant led him to the reception hall, his slaves following with their burdens. The youth found himself in an opulent hall of great elegance, on whose floor, — walls, and ceiling artwork glittered. In the forefront of the hall sat the governor on a soft couch, — wearing a flowing robe, like a block of solid masonry. The features of his large face — were strong and clear, — while the sharpness of his gaze indicated courage, intrepidness, and candor. Isfmis made a gesture to his men, — who put the caskets and cages down in front of them. He took a few steps toward the middle of the hall, then bowed reverently to the governor and said, “God Seth grant you life, mighty governor!”
The governor cast at him one of his strong, piercing looks. The youth's noble appearance and towering height pleased him and his face registered his satisfaction with his appearance as he asked, “Have you really come from the land of Nubia?”
“Indeed, my lord.”
“And what do you hope for from this journey of yours?”
“I desire to present to the masters of Egypt some treasures such as are found in the land of Nubia in the hope that these will give them pleasure and they will ask for more.”
“And what do you want yourself in return?”
“Some of the grain that is surplus to Egypt's needs.”
The governor shook his large head and a mocking look appeared in his eyes as he said frankly, “I see that you are young, but bold and adventurous. Fortunately for you, I like adventurers. Now, show me what treasures you have brought.”
Isfmis called to Ahmose, who approached the governor and placed the casket he was carrying at his feet. The trader opened it, revealing rubies worked into jewelry of many forms. The governor examined these, his eyes alight with avarice, greed, and admiration, and he started turning them over in his hands. Then he asked the youth, “Is such jewelry abundant in Nubia?”
Isfmis answered him without hesitation, having prepared his reply before coming to Egypt.
“It is one of the strangest things, my lord, but these precious stones are to be found in the deepest jungles of Nubia, where wild beasts roam and deadly diseases lurk everywhere.”
He showed the governor a casket of emeralds, then one of coral, then a third of gold, and a fourth of pearls. The man examined them slowly, breathless to the point that by the time he had finished he seemed like one ecstatic — with drink. Next, Isfinis showed him the cages of gazelles, giraffes, and apes, saying, “How beautiful these animals would appear in the gardens of the palace!”
The governor smiled, saying to himself, “What an irresistible devil of a youth!” The governor's astonishment reached its peak when Isfinis raised the curtain of the litter and Zolo's strange person appeared. The governor rose involuntarily and went up to the litter and walked around it, saying questioningly, “Amazing! Is it animal or human?”
Isfinis replied with a smile, “Human, of course, my lord, and one of a numerous people.”
“This is the most amazing thing I have ever seen or heard.”
The man called a slave and told him, “Call the Princess Amenridis and my wife and brother!”
10
The people whom the governor had summoned arrived. Isfinis thought it best to lower his eyes out of respect, but he heard a thrilling voice that shook him to the core saying, “What makes you disturb our gathering, Governor?”
Isfinis stole a glance at the new arrivals and saw at their head the princess who had visited his convoy the day before and picked out the emerald heart. Her appearance, as he had come to expect, dazzled the eyes. The youth no longer had any doubt that Governor Khanzar and his wife were of the royal family. At the same time, he
