“Chancellor Neshi.” Hattie inclined her head,then pointed to a stool at the foot of the dais. “Please be seated.You have had a long journey, and we wish to hear every detail!”
Neshi seated himself. “Thank you, Majesty.The journey was indeed long, but without peril—beyond the usualdangers of seasickness, spoiled food, confinement and boredom. Wefell to our knees and praised Amun when we arrived safely andmoored at Punt, Land of the God.”
“Amun be praised,” Hattie murmured inreturn.
“After mooring, we unloaded our trade goodsonto small boats and made for the shore. There we found a smallvillage and it was the most wondrous thing I have seen!” Neshismiled broadly and gestured. “It was located in a crowd of immensetrees that seemed to reach up to touch the sky. There were ebony,palm, and the sacred incense trees, and others I could notdistinguish. I have never seen so many trees all in one place!”
Hattie wasn’t surprised. There were few treesin the desert country of Egypt, where rain was scarce and water wasin short supply.
“The dwellings of the villagers were shapedlike beehives and set high on poles,” Neshi continued. “They climbladders to enter their homes each night. Defense is quite easy. Allthey do is pull up the ladders, and their homes are nearimpregnable. Playing in the trees surrounding the village weremonkeys of every shape and size, while through the trees roamedanimals of the most bizarre variety. We have brought some home forYour Majesty.”
A ripple of wonder drifted through the crowd,and Hattie held up her hand for silence. “Please continue. Did youmeet with the inhabitants of the village?”
“Aye, Majesty. I entered the village carryingmy staff of office, accompanied by eight of our soldiers and theircaptain. We made an impressive display, I believe, since thevillagers fled at the sight of us.” He grinned. “But before long wewere able to convince them of our peaceful intentions, and we weregreeted by the King of Punt, one Parihu by name.”
“Was he friendly? Did he wish to trade withEgypt?” Hattie asked.
“He was most anxious to do so,” Neshi assuredher.
His prompt cooperation was no doubt due tothe numerous axes, spears and soldiers accompanying Neshi, Hattiethought, but said nothing.
“He had fine features, but masked them with along beard.” Neshi shuddered. All Egyptian men prided themselves onbeing clean-shaven. “He wore numerous gold rings on his left leg,from ankle to thigh, and a dagger in his belt. We were also greetedby Queen Ati. Highness, I know not if I can do justice to adescription of the queen. She was of normal height, but of enormousgirth.” He spread his hands wide to indicate a grotesquely obeseperson. “Her costume was of the finest sheer fabric, which revealedand emphasized her unusual size. A small donkey carried hereverywhere, as she was much too heavy to walk.” Neshi shrugged.“She was judged to be most beautiful in the eyes of hersubjects.”
Laughter wafted through the room, and evenHattie found it difficult to keep a smile from her lips. In Egypt,slender and trim forms were considered the height of beauty andwere practical as well in a country of such great heat. No doubtthe Egyptian soldiers had never seen a person of Queen Ati’sstatuesque proportions before.
“We presented to His Majesty King Parihubeads, bracelets, axes, daggers, fine Egyptian linen, bronze andcopper mirrors, bread, fruit, and casks of wine and beer,” Neshicontinued. “He, in turn, sent out a group of his best guides tolead our soldiers into the interior of Punt, to collect ebony andincense trees for Amun’s temple.
“These and many other wonders we have broughtback with us, for the glory of Amun and Your Majesty Maatkare.”Neshi inclined his head to Hattie and she nodded. “Before we setsail home for Egypt, laden with the goods of Punt, we erected onthe shore a fine granite statue of Your Majesty and your sacredfather Amun, which will be worshiped by all the land. We journeyednorth by sea in our treasure-laden ships to the port of Quseir,dismantled and carried the ships and cargo across the desert to theNile at Coptos, then returned by sail to Thebes.”
Hattie stood. “Chancellor Neshi, you havecompleted a most remarkable and difficult task, and surely won thefavor of Amun as well as my praise and thanks. Never has any rulerbeen presented with such a bounty.” She stripped a gold braceletfrom each arm and held them out to him. “Please take these, as thefirst token of my gratitude. Be assured, there will be more.”
Neshi went down on one knee to accept thebracelets. “Many thanks for your gift and your favor, Divine One. Ilive to serve you!” He rose and bowed. “Will Your Majesty accompanyme now to the wharfs, so you may see for yourself all we havebrought?”
“Of course!” Hattie turned to Senemut andeyed him appraisingly. He was still a bit pale, but he grinned ather, obviously savoring her triumph. “Come,” she said, and held outher hand to him. “We will accompany Chancellor Neshi to thewharf.”
She grasped Senemut’s arm and they passed outof the throne room together in Neshi’s wake.
* * *
Hattie, Senemut, and Neshi stood together onthe wharf under a hastily erected canopy that provided some smallrelief from the stifling heat. Hattie had tried to convince Senemutto sit, but he refused to do so unless she sat as well, and Hattiewas too excited to sit. The ships, riding low in the water fromtheir enormous cargo of wealth from Punt, were being unloaded andthe goods paraded along the street in the direction of the templeof Amun, where Hapuseneb waited to receive them and dedicate thefinest of the items for the use of Amun. Crowds of onlookersjostled each other for position along the street and wharf to seethe bounty that Amun’s representatives had claimed in his name andthe name of Hatshepsut and Egypt.
Hattie remembered the excitement she’d feltas a child, waiting for the Fourth of July parade to begin. Shefelt the same thrill now, anxious to see what Neshi and his shipshad brought back from Punt.
First to be unloaded were the sacredincense trees. Sailors struggled to carry
