as much for their work because of the conditions and the hurry, and their bosses are taking a cut.
They've drafted in thousands of immigrant workers but I'm sure the budget isn't all being spent on food an d wages. The wealth's disappear ing, the Treasury can't keep up with the overspending, the cutbacks are hurting the rest of the country . . . I think it's a disaster already happening.'
The sun had now disappeared over the river, over the Red Land.
'So what has all this to do with her vanishing?'
Khety went quiet.
'Don't be enigmatic, it's annoying.'
'Sometimes it's dangerous to speak.'
I waited.
'Two reasons. One, timing. The Festival is pointless without her. Two, she's far more loved and admired than him. I sometimes think the only reason everyone goes along with the new religion is because they believe in her far more than they believe in the worship of the Aten. Even people who have nothing but negative things to say about everything that's happening have to admit that she's an astonishing person. There's never been anyone like her. But that in itself is a problem. Some people see her as a threat.'
I took a sip of wine. 'Who?'
'People who have something to lose by her power, and something to gain by her death.'
'Disappearance. Why did you say death?'
He looked disconcerted. 'Sorry, disappearance. Everyone thinks she's been murdered.'
'Rule one: assume nothing. Just look at what is and isn't there. Deduce accordingly. Who would profit from such a situation, from the uncertainty?'
'There's not just one candidate, there are many. In the new military, in the old Priesthoods of Karnak and Heliopolis, in the Harem, within the new bureaucracy, even' - he moved closer - 'in the royal family itself. Apparently the inner circles of the court are rife with people saying even the Queen Mother has resented her beauty and her influence - things she herself lost a long time ago.'
We paused and looked at the suddenly darkening sky. He had spoken well, and everything he said had confirmed my worst fear: that indeed I was now caught up at the centre of a mystery as delicately complex as a spider's web that could destroy not only my life, but the life of the country. I suddenly felt a dark nest of serpents stir inside my stomach, and a voice in my head told me it was impossible, that I would never find her, that I could perish here and never see Tanefert and the children again. I tried to breathe myself calmly back to the task in hand. Concentrate. Concentrate. Use what you know. Do the job. Think. Think it through.
'Remember, Khety, there is no body. A murderer wishes only to hurt, punish and kill. A death is a death. It is an accomplished fact. This situation is different. A disappearance is far more complex. Its achievement is instability. Whoever has done this has introduced tremendous uncertainty and turbulence into a settled equation. And there is nothing worse for those in authority. They find themselves fighting illusions. And illusions are very powerful.'
Khety looked impressed. 'So how do we proceed?'
'There is a pattern to all this; we just have to learn to read its signs, to connect the clues. Her disappearance is our starting point. It is what we know we know. We do not know why, or how. We do not know where she is, or whether she lives. We must find out. And how do you think we should do that?'
'Umm . . .'
'For heaven's sake, have they given me a monkey as an assistant?' He flushed with embarrassment, but his eyes glittered with anger. Good. A reaction.
'If you have lost something, what is the first question you ask your-
self?'
'Where was the last place I had it?'
'So ... '
'So we must discover the last place, the last time, the last person. And trace her backwards and forwards from there. So you want me to — '
'Exactly.'
'A name will be on your desk first thing in the morning.'
After a while I smiled. 'Khety, you are becoming a wiser man with every passing drop of this fine wine.'
His anger
They've drafted in thousands of immigrant workers but I'm sure the budget isn't all being spent on food an d wages. The wealth's disappear ing, the Treasury can't keep up with the overspending, the cutbacks are hurting the rest of the country . . . I think it's a disaster already happening.'
The sun had now disappeared over the river, over the Red Land.
'So what has all this to do with her vanishing?'
Khety went quiet.
'Don't be enigmatic, it's annoying.'
'Sometimes it's dangerous to speak.'
I waited.
'Two reasons. One, timing. The Festival is pointless without her. Two, she's far more loved and admired than him. I sometimes think the only reason everyone goes along with the new religion is because they believe in her far more than they believe in the worship of the Aten. Even people who have nothing but negative things to say about everything that's happening have to admit that she's an astonishing person. There's never been anyone like her. But that in itself is a problem. Some people see her as a threat.'
I took a sip of wine. 'Who?'
'People who have something to lose by her power, and something to gain by her death.'
'Disappearance. Why did you say death?'
He looked disconcerted. 'Sorry, disappearance. Everyone thinks she's been murdered.'
'Rule one: assume nothing. Just look at what is and isn't there. Deduce accordingly. Who would profit from such a situation, from the uncertainty?'
'There's not just one candidate, there are many. In the new military, in the old Priesthoods of Karnak and Heliopolis, in the Harem, within the new bureaucracy, even' - he moved closer - 'in the royal family itself. Apparently the inner circles of the court are rife with people saying even the Queen Mother has resented her beauty and her influence - things she herself lost a long time ago.'
We paused and looked at the suddenly darkening sky. He had spoken well, and everything he said had confirmed my worst fear: that indeed I was now caught up at the centre of a mystery as delicately complex as a spider's web that could destroy not only my life, but the life of the country. I suddenly felt a dark nest of serpents stir inside my stomach, and a voice in my head told me it was impossible, that I would never find her, that I could perish here and never see Tanefert and the children again. I tried to breathe myself calmly back to the task in hand. Concentrate. Concentrate. Use what you know. Do the job. Think. Think it through.
'Remember, Khety, there is no body. A murderer wishes only to hurt, punish and kill. A death is a death. It is an accomplished fact. This situation is different. A disappearance is far more complex. Its achievement is instability. Whoever has done this has introduced tremendous uncertainty and turbulence into a settled equation. And there is nothing worse for those in authority. They find themselves fighting illusions. And illusions are very powerful.'
Khety looked impressed. 'So how do we proceed?'
'There is a pattern to all this; we just have to learn to read its signs, to connect the clues. Her disappearance is our starting point. It is what we know we know. We do not know why, or how. We do not know where she is, or whether she lives. We must find out. And how do you think we should do that?'
'Umm . . .'
'For heaven's sake, have they given me a monkey as an assistant?' He flushed with embarrassment, but his eyes glittered with anger. Good. A reaction.
'If you have lost something, what is the first question you ask your-
self?'
'Where was the last place I had it?'
'So ... '
'So we must discover the last place, the last time, the last person. And trace her backwards and forwards from there. So you want me to — '
'Exactly.'
'A name will be on your desk first thing in the morning.'
After a while I smiled. 'Khety, you are becoming a wiser man with every passing drop of this fine wine.'
His anger
Similar Books
