Next came men carrying long planks of ebonyand cedar wood, boomerangs the Puntites used to hunt, enormousivory elephant tusks, gold both in nugget form and in jewelry,containers filled with precious ointments, and blocks of resin. Theresin and ointments, Senemut explained at Hattie’s look ofpuzzlement, were used in the mummification process.
Then a group of sailors maneuvered a herd ofsmall, short-horned cattle down the gangplank and into the street.For a moment, chaos reigned as the cattle bellowed and charged thisway and that, confused by the milling crowds of people, the noiseand unfamiliar sights and scents. At last the sweating, cursingsailors got them under control and drove them down the street inthe direction of the temple.
Next out of the ship was a huge gray ape, thesacred animal of Thoth, the Egyptian god of wisdom. The ape wore agolden collar and leather leash and followed his single sailorguide meekly enough, though he bared his teeth at those onlookerswho ventured too close, causing ripples of panic in the crowd.
“Oh, Senemut,” Hattie said. “It is like acircus parade! What a wonderful sight.”
“What is a circus, Majesty?” Senemut asked,frowning.
“It is held in a tent…there are many strangeanimals and performers…food is sold and parents bring theirchildren to see…” She waved her arms helplessly. “I cannot describeit better. It is like a festival, I suppose.”
Senemut nodded, then directed her attentionback to the ships, his eyes wide. “Look! What is that animal theybring out now?”
Hattie clapped her hands. “It is a giraffe!Oh, Senemut, there are two of them! Are they not the loveliestcreatures you have ever seen?”
“Lovely would not be my description,” heretorted, one eyebrow raised. “They are most ungainly creatures.How does the food they eat manage to travel down that long neck andreach the stomach before they perish of hunger? And how do theyreach the water when they are thirsty?”
“They must spread their legs and bow in amost clumsy manner to drink,” she explained. “I have seen them dothis in a zoo—”
“Zoo?” Neshi interrupted. “What is a zoo,Majesty?”
“A place where exotic animals are kept incages so people may see them…” She stopped short at the blank lookson Neshi’s and Senemut’s faces. “Ai, never mind.” She waved her hand to dismiss the idea andturned back to the ships. “Look, Senemut, it is arhinoceros!”
He shook his head. “Another fanciful creatureI would not have believed in had you described it to me. I supposeyou have seen one of these also, in your zoo?”
Hattie nodded. “As I recall, visitors to thezoo had to stay well back from the wall around the rhinoceros’senclosure. It seems they tend to…ah…” She blushed. “They urinate tomark their territory, and they liked to do so in the direction ofthe wall.”
Neshi grinned. “Then mayhap that explains thehaste the people are making to remove themselves from the vicinityof the creature.” He gestured toward the street leading to thetemple, and indeed, Hattie saw a wave of movement away from thestreet as the rhinoceros was led through the crowd.
Next came bales of panther and leopard skins,followed quickly by a snarling black panther led by several verynervous-looking sailors, each holding a leather leash fastened to agold collar around the animal’s neck. The panther’s sleek dark furshone in the hot , and his sharp fangs gleamed. The crowd fell backin earnest at his approach and he was dragged, growling andprotesting, toward the temple.
A troop of chattering, shrieking monkeysemerged from the hold of one of the ships and they, too, weresafely herded in the direction of the temple at the end of longleashes. A wave of childish laughter followed in their wake.
“I confess I am glad to see the last of thosecreatures,” Neshi said. “They are like an undisciplined bunch ofchildren given free rein to run about and behave as they choose. Ilook forward to my first good sleep tonight, without the sounds oftheir mayhem to wake me!” He sighed in exaggerated relief, andSenemut laughed.
Last to emerge was a straggly, weary group ofseven male Puntites. “Oh, Neshi,” Hattie cried. “Who are they?”
“They are the emissaries of the King of Punt,sent to greet you in his name, Majesty,” Neshi replied.
“Why did you not let them disembark first? Itmust be blisteringly hot on those ships.”
“Majesty, the goods dedicated to the serviceof Amun take precedence over the comfort of foreigners,” hereplied, looking surprised.
Hattie shook her head but declined to engagein any further useless discussion. She clapped her hands, and aservant appeared almost at once. “See to it that my guests—” Shegestured at the ambassadors. “—are escorted to my palace at once.Give them food and drink, and they will surely wish a bath. Thenthey are to rest undisturbed until tomorrow, when I will meet withthem.” The servant bowed and hastened away to do her bidding.
She turned again to Neshi. “You have done awonderful job, Neshi, and I will see that you are suitably rewardedwith land and with honors. I am very pleased!”
Neshi bowed. “I will serve Your Majestyfaithfully as long as I live.”
* * *
“I fear the gods are protecting her, as youhave said,” Snefru muttered. “Mayhap we err in trying to rid Egyptof her. I have no wish to be struck down by the gods.”
“Ast!” Hapuseneb said irritably as they watched theendless, weary procession of Punt goods flow into the courtyard ofthe temple of Amun. “She has been lucky, I grant you, but nothingmore. I do not believe that Amun wishes a woman on the throne, orhe would have placed one there before now.” And I certainly cannot allow a womanto remain on the throne, especially such a strong-mindedone.
“I am not so certain—” Snefru began.
“Well, I amcertain,” Hapuseneb cut in, glaring at him. “Am I not the HighPriest of Amun? Who are you to question me?”
Snefru’s face contorted into a belligerentfrown, then smoothed out almost at once and settled into his usualexpression of indifference.
