Murder in the Place of Anubis by Lynda S. Robinson Page B

the gods ordain to become beer brewers, goldsmiths, architects. Do you know what the gods made you, Taweret? A sufferer. That's why you married me. So you could suffer. Was it worth it, that exquisite pain and the virtue of bearing it?" Kysen smiled at his wife's glare. "Obviously not, or you wouldn't have divorced me."
    "I am
henemmet
—"
     "I know. Your mother's father's mother's mother was  the spawn of a harem woman and Pharaoh. A thin strain of divinity, it seems to me. Though once I was willing to kneel before you for it. But then my knees got sore, and I decided I had enough gods and goddesses to worship, and that one living god was enough for me."
    Taweret jumped off the couch, sending cushions flying. She picked one up and threw it at Kysen on her way out.
     "I was right to divorce you! You're lower than a  dog's belly. All my friends say so. All of them, do you hear?" Taweret's voice rose as she got farther away, and then cut off when she neared the approach to the street. The fan bearers scurried after her.
     Kysen heard a door slam, and Remi appeared, chariot  dragging along behind him by a length of twine.
    "She's gone," he said with a smile. "Now may I have a sweetmeat?"
    Pleased with himself for having got rid of Taweret so easily, Kysen picked up a pillow and went to the couch.
     "You may have two sweetmeats. Tell Nurse I gave  permission." As Remi pattered away, Kysen went on. "And remember what happened the last time you lied and told her I said you could have five."
    Fluffing the pillows in his hands, Kysen lay on his back and stuffed the cushion beneath his head. He stared up through the palm leaves at the sky. Soon the servants would bring food. They always knew when he was ready to dine; he'd yet to figure out how.
     The physician attached to his father's staff would  have Hormin's body by now. Great care would be taken to ascertain if magic had been used to cause the man's death. Kysen didn't expect to find such signs of tampering. He'd been assisting his father since he was a youth, and what Meren had told him from the beginning was true. Those who employed magic almost always helped the supernatural along by use of ordinary weapons, poisons, or other violence. He was contemplating what the physician would have to say about Hormin's body when someone began chanting over him. Something hit his ear, and Kysen yelped. He scrambled to his feet to face his son's nurse.
     "I adjure thee," Mutemwia said, "by the holy names,  render up the murderer who has carried away this Hormin—Khalkhak, Khalkoum, Khiam, Khar, Khroum, Zbar, Beri, Zbarkom—and by the terrible names— Balltek, Apep, Seba."
     Kysen rubbed his ear and cursed the girl. She reached  out with a small wooden hammer and tapped him on the other ear. Yowling, Kysen scuttled backward.
    "Render up the murderer who has carried off this Hormin. As long as I strike the ear with this hammer, let the eye of the murderer be smitten and inflamed until it betrays him."
     Nurse lifted the hammer again, but Kysen snatched it from her hand.
    "By the phallus of Ra! Are you mad?" Kysen threw the little hammer into the pond and rounded on the girl. His ears stung, and now his head hurt as well. "Hathor gave you much beauty and no wits."
     Nurse Mutemwia crossed her arms over her chest and scowled at Kysen. "It is a spell to protect you and find the evil one, lord. Do you wear your Eye of Horus amulet?"
    "Beaten by my son's nurse. Curse you, Mutemwia, I don't care if your family has served Meren's for generations, you shouldn't hit my ears." Kysen rubbed the injured organs. "Did you break the skin?"
     Mutemwia shook her head. A clap of her hands summoned servants bearing food. "This servant humbly begs pardon. She only has thy welfare before her eyes."
     Kysen cast a suspicious glance at the girl. When  Mutemwia was humble, he grew wary.
     "Nebamun is the physician and priest in this household. There's no need for you to do his work for