Hapuseneb nodded, relieved at passingthrough yet another crisis safely with the impulsive general. “Youare right. Sometimes I think we are nothing but playthings for thegods. They throw us down like the painted sticks in a gameof sennet, and waitto see which of us will emerge victorious. Well, Hatshepsut shallnot triumph over me! If it takes my lifetime, I will see her castdown from her throne and Tuthmosis ruling in her stead, assisted byhis most loyal retainers.” He gestured at the panther being pulledinto the temple. “It will just take us a bit longer now. But neverfear. We will prevail. Of that I have no doubt.”
Eying the bounty of Punt spread out in thecourtyard, Snefru scowled. “May the gods make it so, for thistriumph of hers will only strengthen the love of the common peoplefor her. And once aroused from their usual torpor, the commonersare a force to be reckoned with.”
“I have no intention of striking at heropenly,” Hapuseneb retorted. “We spoke of magic, did we not?”
Snefru nodded. “Aye, we did. Have you hitupon the right spell to serve our needs?”
“I think so. Hatshepsut is cunning, but sheis a woman, and all women are easily lured by the sight of gold andjewels.” Hapuseneb rubbed his hands together. He hadn’t intended todiscuss his plan in detail with Snefru, but Hatshepsut’s unexpectedtriumph in Punt had stung him severely. Praise, even from a fool,would soothe him. “I have had fashioned a most wonderful goldenpectoral necklace with a central figure of Horus, encrusted withjewels. I shall present it to her myself. Hatshepsut will not beable to resist the combined seduction of gold and of Horus, whichbolsters her claim to the throne. And when she touches it…” Hepaused dramatically.
“Aye?” Snefru said, impatience warring withdread in his expression.
Hapuseneb grinned like a toothy shark. “Whenshe touches it, the magic spell I shall cast upon it will takehold, and she will disappear from our lives and from Egyptforever.”
CHAPTER 24
Back in her apartment in Chicago, Hattie wassoaking in a warm bubble bath, a glass of chilled white wine on alow table next to the tub, soft jazz wafting in from the radio inthe living room. A warm, fluffy towel and plush bathrobe awaitedher, then a ticket to the orchestra concert. Her life was as it hadalways been, yet tears streamed down her cheeks and her chest achedfrom sobbing. She had never felt so alone. She was back home atlast, so why did it seem empty and meaningless? Why did her heartache as if it held a wound from which she’d never recover?
She heard a small sound and turned toward theopen bathroom door. Her jaw dropped as the figure of Hatshepsutmaterialized in all her ethereal beauty. “You!” Hattie breathed.“You did this to me, did you not?”
Hatshepsut nodded. “You are almost finishedwith your task. When it is completed, I shall resume my life andyou shall return here to your home. Is that not what you havewished for?”
“Aye. Nay. I mean…” Hattie floundered forwords. “I thought I wanted to return home. But I cannot leaveSenemut! Wherever he is, there is my home. Without him, my life is barren andlonely.”
Hatshepsut smiled tenderly. “Then you havelearned a great lesson, have you not? Home and hearth mean nothingwithout love to warm them.”
“So you will let me stay with him?” Hattieasked eagerly. “You will not send me back to Chicago?”
“Oh, nay. I am afraid you must return here,to your home. Once I resume my life, there is no other place foryou to go. Your spirit must have a body to inhabit, or it will fleeto the afterlife. Surely, that is not what you wish?”
Hattie frowned, and then slowly shook herhead. “Nay, I do not wish to die. But I cannot live withoutSenemut. I love him. How am I to go on without him? Please, youmust help me!”
“Mayhap there is something I can do. I am notcertain.” Hatshepsut paused. “You are sure you wish this?”
Hattie nodded emphatically. “I ampositive.”
“Very well. This I promise—I will do all Ican to see that you and Senemut will be together, though I know notif my powers extend that far. But I warn you…there will beheartbreak first. I cannot prevent it.” Hatshepsut’s imageshimmered and grew transparent.
“Wait!” Hattie cried. “What do you mean,there will be heartbreak first?”
But it was too late. Hatshepsut hadvanished.
* * *
“Hattie!”
Someone was shaking her shoulder. She didn’twant to wake up, but the shaker was most persistent. At last, sheopened her eyes grudgingly and saw Senemut leaning over her, a lookof concern etched across his face. She smiled up at him, and herelaxed. “Why did you wake me? It is nowhere near dawn.”
“You were crying out in your sleep as if thedemons of Set were pursuing you.” He dropped a kiss onto herforehead. “I would not see you suffer so, even in dreams.”
She leaned back into his arms and moaned asshe recalled the fading images of her nightmare. “It was much worsethan Set. I had returned to my own time, but I was alone there. Ihave never felt so bereft! May it please Amun to allow me to staywith you for all my life.” She shuddered.
“Do not fear, little one,” Senemut murmuredin her ear as he stroked her hair. “It will take more than a dreamto tear me from your side. This I promise.”
This I promise. Why did that sound so familiar? A suddensense of dread washed over her. “Senemut, I am afraid…something isto happen to us, and I know not what. But it will be terrible andthere is naught I can do to prevent it.”
“Shh, nothing will happen to us. You arestill frightened because of the images in your sleep. We are safe.”He kissed her again, this time on the lips. “Mayhap I know a way tomake you forget your worry.”
“Aye, Senemut,” she whispered. “Please,
