Hori waved his hand. “You have always had myloyalty and my silence, Lord. You may depend on it. Please,continue.”
Senemut nodded, relieved. He knew he couldtrust Hori. “She seems more decisive than I have known her to be.Hatshepsut was ever gracious but reserved, conversing more freelywith her servants than with her advisors. Now she speaks her mindto all in a most commanding fashion. She sounds more like pharaohthan her husband, the Great God, ever did. Is this a commonafter-effect of illness, think you?”
Hori frowned. “I have never heard of patientsacting thus when they are healed. Mayhap you should consult yourphysician?”
“Nay, I dare not.” Senemut shuddered. If hediscussed this with his physician, who knew how far the tale wouldspread? He was willing to risk it with Hori, but with no oneelse.
“Then all I can advise you to do is wait andwatch her. It may be that her illness has produced thismetamorphosis. Mayhap when she is fully healed, she will return toher former self.” He studied Senemut intently. “But if she remainsthis way, can you still serve her?”
“Aye. She is my queen and I must obey.” Hegrinned, remembering her spirited defense of the little princess.“I believe I prefer her with her new boldness and audacity.” Herose and put a hand on Hori’s shoulder. “Thank you for yourcounsel, old friend. As always, it is sound. I will wait and watch,and see what changes time brings.”
CHAPTER 5
Disturbing images broke Hattie’s sleep. Shefound herself sitting on a gilded throne inside a glass case at themuseum, alongside a brightly painted wooden mummy case and a hostof smaller items. There was no way for her to get out. Suddenly,Tom appeared, leading a group of tourists on a tour of the museum.He paused at the display case and began to speak about Hatshepsutand her reign, pointing to the items in the case. Hattie leaped upand pounded on the glass, calling his name, but he didn’t seem tohear her. He finished his lecture and moved on, turning out thelights as he left the room. It was so dark, and she was soalone…
Hattie awoke with a gasp. Sun streamed inthrough the high-set windows. It seemed late—she must have sleptfor a full day. Suddenly ravenous, she looked around for the trayof bread and dates. Sure enough, it lay next to her bed, untouchedexcept for the chunk of bread that Senemut had removed. She leanedover, seized a date and popped it into her mouth. The sweet burstof flavor made her throat ache and her eyes water. If she had anydoubts before, she knew now it wasn’t a dream—she actually wasmarooned in ancient Egypt. No dream ever delivered such reality oftaste, touch, sight and sound.
Somehow, the necklace had brought her here.Were the hieroglyphics a time-travel incantation, and when shefinished copying them, the spell was activated? That didn’t seemlikely, since she was ignorant of the meaning of the symbols andcould very well have set some down incorrectly. Was there asubstance, like poison, on the necklace? No, that made no senseeither, since Tom and no doubt others had handled it with no illeffect. Was it the type or placement or color of the preciousstones?
Hattie had plenty of questions, andabsolutely no answers. She also had a splitting headache.Of all the thingsI’ve left behind, I miss aspirin most, she thought wryly. Then her stomach growled.That need, at least, she could satisfy.
She reached for the bread on the tray andtore off a piece. It felt coarse and gritty in her hands. She tooka small bite and chewed experimentally. It was like eating sand.Disappointed, she dropped the rest of the bread onto the tray andsighed. Obviously, a croissant would be out of the question in anera where flour was still ground by hand on a large, flat rock.
The wine, however, was quite good. Shefinished the wine and dates, then dusted off her hands. Now what?She couldn’t go cavorting around the palace totally nude, couldshe? Hatshepsut was a queen, so she must have had clothes, forheaven’s sake. Where would they be?
“Are you there, Hatshepsut?” she murmured.“How about telling me where to find your closet?” Then she shookher head. Even though she accepted now that she was stranded inancient Egypt, she wasn’t convinced she’d actually met andconversed with Hatshepsut on her way here. More likely, that was ahallucination as a result of the blow to her head.
Hattie stood up, wrapping the linen sheetcarefully around her like a sarong. She felt a little weak, but herheadache was fading. She crossed the room to the row of wovenbaskets and knelt beside them. What did they contain? Not snakes,she hoped. There was nothing she hated more than snakes.
Cautiously, she removed the lid from thefirst basket. It contained small alabaster pots and jars, apolished bronze mirror, small paintbrushes, and carved wooden andivory sticks. She presumed they were all makeup or toiletryitems.
Hattie gasped when she opened the secondbasket. It was filled to the brim with the sparkle of gold andgemstones. She was tempted to search for the pectoral necklaceshe’d been faithfully reproducing when she passed out in the museumstorage room—it might be a key to her return to her own time. Shereached into the basket, paused, and then regretfully replaced thelid. Her immediate priority was clothing. She would have to searchfor the necklace later.
She hit the jackpot with the third basket.Piles of snowy, pleated linen lay starched and folded within.Hattie pulled the uppermost article from the pile and held it up toher with one hand. The linen was so sheer, she could see the faintoutline of her hand through it—an amazing feat, considering it musthave been hand-woven. But it did seem to be rather scandalouslylow-cut, along the lines of Nesi’s gown.
At that moment, the curtain flew aside andSenemut entered without ceremony. Hattie stood and dropped the gownguiltily. “I was looking for something to wear,” she stammered,clutching the sheet more tightly around her.
“Ah, you are recovered! I am pleased to seeit,” he said. “Would you like me to send for some food, or yourservants to bathe and dress you?”
Servants? Would they be
