Her mood immediately brightened as Senemutstrode into the room. “I am sorry. I see I have awakened you,Hattie. It can wait until morning.” He turned to leave.
She pushed herself upright on the bed. “Nay,come in. I was just thinking of the ceremony today, and wonderingif it will be enough to safeguard Tuthmosis. Not that he isgrateful for my protection,” she added, grinning wryly. “He is morewithdrawn than ever, if that is possible. I do not blame him…hefeels I have usurped his rightful position.”
“Aye, the young prince is grim.” Senemutfrowned. “I fear his boredom and somber mood will only become worseas he watches you wield pharaoh’s power, day after day. I think itwould be best…but nay, I will not say it again. It has been a longday, and you need to rest. We can discuss it tomorrow.”
Hattie sighed. “Nay, I know what you wereabout to say, and I confess you are right. It is time to sendTuthmosis to train with the army. I can no longer endure hisglumness. Mayhap serving time with the army will give him somethingenjoyable and useful to do with his time. It will teach himobedience and respect for authority, if nothing else.”
Senemut’s face brightened. “Aye, I am sure itwill! And it will be invaluable for his future role as pharaoh. Isuggest you send all his servants and retainers along with him aswell. In addition to keeping the young prince safe, it will ensurethat everyone around Your Majesty is loyal to you, and you alone.You will sleep much more soundly, I vow.”
Hattie laughed, picturing the furor if ateenaged boy in her own time arrived at a military academy withmaids and butlers in tow. But the seriousness of the situationsobered her instantly. “Your advice is sound, as always,” she said.“Please notify General Snefru of my decision tomorrow.” She pattedthe bed next to her. “Come, sit with me, Senemut.”
He hesitated, then took a seat next to her.Though he did not touch her, he was close enough that she couldfeel the warmth radiating from him. She shivered. “I…I havesomething to tell you, Senemut. Something I should have told youfar earlier, I fear.” She reached for his hand.
“What is it? I know you wished to tell mesomething this morning, before the ceremonies. Speak now. It willcalm you.”
Hattie opened her mouth, but nothing cameout. What if he didn’t believe her story? What if hedidbelieve it, and feared herbecause he thought she possessed magical powers that enabled her totravel through time? Did they burn witches here? Or, worst ofall—what if he was furious at her for her dishonesty, her lack intrust of him? What if he turned his back on her? She would bealone, marooned in a friendless, alien place and time.
She shuddered. Better to get it over withquickly, she thought,fixing her glance on Senemut’s strong, brown hand over hers. “I amnot…I am not Hatshepsut. My name is Hattie Williams, and I was bornmore than three thousand years into your future. Somehow, I wasthrust backward in time, and into the body of the real Hatshepsut.I know not how it happened. Nor do I know how to return to my owntime. I am trapped here.”
She paused and risked a look at him. His eyeswide, his mouth open, he stared at her as if she had suddenlysprouted an extra head.
Then his features relaxed.“Hai!You are a minx, playing a jokeon me. I must confess, it is a good one, but you cannot fool me.You have possessed magical powers since childhood, but this isinconceivable, even for you.”
Hattie shook her head and squeezed his hand.“I am not joking, Senemut. I swear I am not! Ask me anything and Iwill answer. I must prove to you that I am telling the truth. Icannot bear the burden alone any longer.”
Senemut narrowed his eyes. “I will playalong, though I know not why you wish to prolong the farce. Let mesee—what do you look like, in this future time? Surely, you do notlook precisely like Hatshepsut?”
Hattie snorted. “Nay, I do not! She is muchmore beautiful than I. Wait…” She snatched up a pen and piece ofpapyrus, and quickly sketched herself as she looked in her owntime, complete with short, layered hairstyle and wispy bangs. Shepaused, then added a button-down collar around her neck. “This iswhat I look like.”
Senemut studied the drawing for a moment insilence. “This is the image of a lovely woman, Hattie, who looksmuch like Hatshepsut.” He traced the curve of Hattie’s cheek on thepicture. “The cheeks are a bit rounder, the eyes larger, but thereis a marked similarity.” He frowned. “The clothing is odd, however,and the wig quite unusual!”
She chuckled. “That is not a wig. It is myown hair, and in my time, it is considered to be quite afashionable style.”
“Aye, well, it is strange, I grant you. Butignoring the superficial changes of clothing and hair, it isHatshepsut.” He held up the drawing. “This is not sufficient proof.Tell me—when were you born, and where?”
“I was born on January twelfth, in Chicago,Illinois, in the year 1968. I know that month and year meansnothing to you, but it is three thousand years in the future.”
“January? Chicago? I know nothing of thesewords. What is the location of this Chicago where you say you wereborn?”
“It is in the United States of America.”Seeing his puzzled look, she hastily added, “A large country, farto the north and west of Egypt. It has not been discoveredyet.”
Senemut smiled. “You come from a land not yetdiscovered, in a year that has not yet arrived. You have quite animagination, little one! And what do you do in this mythicalland?”
“I am an artist,” Hattie explained. “I was atwork on a series of drawings for a book…er, a papyrus aboutHatshepsut. The real Hatshepsut,” she amended hastily. “I was doinga detailed sketch of a necklace that was supposed to have belongedto her when something happened. Just as I finished copying the lasthieroglyph, a wave of dizziness passed over me, and I fell. I musthave lost consciousness. When I awoke, I was here.” She spread herhands
