Hattie’s eyes watered and she squeezed themshut, trying hard not to cry. “I’m sorry, Tom. I just haven’t feltup to doing any work since my accident. But I’ll try to get back tothem today and finish them for you.” She sighed. “I know youcould’ve hired another artist to complete them, and I appreciateyour patience.”
“I don’t want another artist. I wantyou,” Tominsisted. “I have an idea for something that might help you getback in the swing of the project.”
“Not another necklace. Please,” she said,massaging her temples. She couldn’t endure another reminder of allshe’d lost.
“Oh no, it’s nothing like that,” heprotested. “I have someone I’d like you to meet.”
“Who?”
“His name is Sam Steward. He’s an architect,and has been living and working in Egypt for many years. He’s veryfamiliar with Hatshepsut’s temple and her other monuments. I thinkhe can help you get a handle on her. What do you say? Shall I sendhim over?”
Hattie shrugged. “I don’t care. You can ifyou like.”
Tom was silent for a moment. “I wish you’dget your old enthusiasm back,” he said at last. “Something’schanged about you ever since your accident. You’re like a ghost ofyourself. Frankly, I miss the old Hattie.”
“I do, too,” she murmured. Then she shookherself. It wasn’t fair to let Tom down. It wasn’t his fault herlife was meaningless now. “I’ll try. Send him over. What was hisname again…Sam?”
“Yes. I’ll send him right over. He should bethere within the hour. Thanks, Hattie!”
“You’re welcome, Tom. ’Bye.” She hung up anddropped back onto the sofa. This architect could come if hewished—it made no difference. She would finish the drawings as afavor to Tom. And then she’d never write, read, or speak the nameof Hatshepsut again.
* * *
An hour later, her doorbell sounded. “Yes?”she called through the door without opening it.
“I am here to see Hattie Williams. My name isSam Steward,” came a warm male voice. He had a subtle, exoticaccent, and though the language was English, she thought sherecognized the voice. Her heart thudded to a stop. Could it be? Didshe dare risk heartbreak again to find out?
Slowly, reluctantly, she opened the door withtrembling hands. Her jaw dropped and she lifted her hand to herthroat, staggering back a pace.
His long, dark hair didn’t obscure hishandsome face, and the jeans, t-shirt and denim jacket he wore onlyaccentuated his well-muscled form. “Hattie?” he whispered, reachingout to her and smiling a familiar smile.
“No—no, it can’t be,” she whimpered, backinginto the living room. “Senemut is dead! I can’t endure this painagain. Please, go and leave me alone with my grief.” She bumpedinto the couch and sat down abruptly.
He hurried to her and, dropping down on oneknee, seized her hand. “It is I, little warrior. I am Senemut!”
Little warrior. Her breath caught in her throat. “Youcan’t be…how can this be…I don’t believe you!” She shook off hishand and stood, trying to work her way around him. She didn’t knowwhat kind of trick he was playing, but she had to get away from himor she’d lose her mind. “What kind of an evil game are you playing?You get out or…or I’ll call the police!”
“Hattie.” He shook his head sorrowfully as herose and stood in front of her. “I understand your confusion. I,too, was confused when you told me you had traveled to Egypt fromthe future. But you must accept my story, as I accepted yours.” Hestood and reached into his inner jacket pocket. “Here is the proofyou gave me of your journey through time. Now I return it to you asmy proof.”
Trembling, her heart pounding furiously,Hattie removed the tissue paper folded carefully around a thin,fragile piece of papyrus, and saw an image of her own face staringup at her. It was the drawing she’d made for Senemut, to show himwhat she truly looked like.
She raised her eyes to his as warm tearsflooded down her cheeks. “Senemut, it is you!” she cried.
He smiled and nodded, then winked at her.“Aye, it is,” he murmured, sweeping her into his arms. “I have beenwaiting an eternity for you, my love. What took you so long?”
AUTHOR’S NOTE
The principal Egyptian charactersin Lady ofthe Two Lands—Hatshepsut, Senemut, Tuthmosis, Hapuseneb, Snefru, Neshi,Senimen—are historical figures. Secondary Egyptian characters andthose of the twenty-first century are fictional, with namesauthentic to the period. Historical details of everyday life inancient Egypt have been researched meticulously for accuracy. Thetime-travel aspect of the story is fictional (as far as I know),and I have taken artistic license in some details; for example, thelength of time it took to build Hatshepsut’s temple. Spelling ofancient Egyptian words and names is problematic since the vowelswere often left to be filled in by the reader, so I chose spellingsthat seemed easiest for the English-speaking reader topronounce.
Hatshepsut’s and Senemut’s bodies have neverbeen found, and many of Hatshepsut’s monuments and inscriptionswere erased or destroyed by her successor, Tuthmosis III, so thereis little to tell us how her reign ended or what became of Senemut,who predeceased Hatshepsut by a number of years. We do know thather reign was extraordinarily peaceful and prosperous, and sheruled Egypt for about twenty years.
For those who are interested, I consulted anumber of sources:
Egypt: Land of thePharaohs, Time-LifeBooks, 1992.
Gardiner, Alan H. The Coronation of King Haremhab. TheJournal of Egyptian Archaeology, Vol. 39, 1953.
Gore, Rick. Pharaohs of the Sun. NationalGeographic, Vol. 199.No. 4, April 2001.
Shaw, Ian, ed., The Oxford History of AncientEgypt, Oxford UniversityPress, 2000.
Tyldesley, Joyce. Hatchepsut: The FemalePharaoh, Viking,1996.
Tyldesley, Joyce. Daughters of Isis: Women of AncientEgypt, Penguin Books,1994.
Weeks, Kent R. Valley of the Kings. NationalGeographic, Vol, 194,No. 3, Sept. 1998.
What Life Was Like on the Banksof the Nile: Egypt 3050-30 B.C., Time-Life Books, 1997.
ABOUT ELIZABETH DELISI
Elizabeth Delisi wanted to be a writer sinceshe was in first grade, and probably would have
