The Amulet of Amon-Ra by Leslie Carmichael Page A

attentive, but every now and then, Jennifer thought she had seen the start of a faint and somehow superior smile on his face.
    â€œYou have lovely children,” he said to Meryt-Re, scratching his chest under the wide pectoral necklace of alternating blue and gold beads. Several black scarabs hung within the beads, scattered all around the pectoral.
    â€œThank you,” Meryt-Re murmured. She hadn’t spoken much all evening, but she had watched everyone closely throughout and made sure their dishes remained filled.
    None of the other family members had spoken much, either. But Tetisheri had chattered on, making up for all of them. Now she was watching Mentmose and Neferhotep play a game called ‘Senet’, which involved a carved wooden board, several polished stones and rules that Jennifer still hadn’t figured out. Every time it was Mentmose’s turn, Tetisheri made a suggestion. He rolled his eyes, but Jennifer noticed he usually did what Tetisheri said.
    â€œYou are fortunate to have a son,” said Ka-Aper, sipping wine from a clay cup. He grimaced, then set the cup down. “Neferhotep says he bids fair to become a competent craftsman.”
    Meryt-Re lifted her chin. “He takes after his father.”
    â€œThat’s fortunate.” Ka-Aper smiled. “And no doubt your daughter takes after you and will make a fine wife and hostess some day.”
    â€œIf the gods will it,” said Meryt-Re, with a slight flare to her nostrils.
    â€œNeferhotep told me that Tetisheri will soon be your daughter-in-law,” said Ka-Aper. Jennifer thought she caught an edge of laughter in his voice.
    Ramose cleared his throat. “So…Neferhotep said you wanted to see more of my work.”
    â€œYes,” said Ka-Aper, turning to him. “I was quite impressed with the pieces he showed me earlier. I was especially interested in the scarab that your daughter is wearing.”
    Jennifer wrapped her hand around it, hiding it from view.
    â€œI carved it for her, especially,” said Ramose. “I also included Amon-Ra’s aspects as the god of wind and chaos, in prayers incised on the back.”
    â€œA princely item. It would be an appropriate gift for someone associated with Amon-Ra,” said Ka-Aper.
    â€œI could make another, similar to it,” said Ramose. “As you can see, Dje-Nefer is already quite fond of this one.”
    â€œHm, yes,” said Ka-Aper, apparently losing interest in it. “Your work for Parahotep was very nice, too. Several of the other priests commented on the quality.”
    â€œPtah guides my husband’s hands,” said Meryt-Re.
    Ka-Aper inclined his head towards her. “So he must, since Ramose produces such fine work.”
    â€œOh, sir?” said Neferhotep, laying a stone in place on the board. “I’m sorry, I forgot to tell you. Parahotep asked me after our meeting today if we could make sure his tomb is well-hidden.”
    Ka-Aper shook his head, smiling sadly. “They all do, Neferhotep. These are degenerate times. Tombs are robbed of their contents almost as soon as their inhabitants are laid to rest. Pharaoh Hatshepsut, blessings be upon her head, has tried many ways to stop these horrible desecrations, but they go on, nonetheless.”
    â€œThe thieves are too sly, too experienced, for her soldiers,” said Neferhotep. “They have been at it a long time. Whole families of thieves are often involved.”
    â€œHow terrible!” said Meryt-Re.
    Neferhotep nodded. “They take the offerings, the jewelry and amulets, the ushabti statues, and even the pottery. Sometimes they even take the canopic jars.”
    â€œEven the jars?” asked Meryt-Re. “But how are the people to function in the afterlife, with no internal organs? And then to have to work in the gods’ fields with no little ushabti to take the burden from them.”
    â€œDo they sell the pieces?” asked