‘Everyone knows,’ he said casually.
I introduced Khety as my Medjay associate and assistant. Parennefer nodded briefly, and Khety bowed his head.
‘Let us find a quieter spot to talk,’ he suggested with a little gesture.
‘How about as far away from the musicians as possible?’
‘You do not like music?’
‘I like music very much.’
Parennefer admired my little joke with the superficial enthusiasm of a host at a party. We settled on leather benches. More drinks and little dishes were brought instantly and set down with flowers on a serving table. I reminded myself to drink slowly.
‘So, what impression has our city made upon you so far?’ he asked.
This called for diplomacy. If he was Overseer of the Works then he was responsible for the design of the buildings and the plan of the city. I did my best.
‘It’s quite a place. The architecture seems to me to respond beautifully to the possibilities of the light, and the space.’
He was carefully delighted. He clapped his many-ringed hands. ‘God of the sun, a Medjay officer who appreciates buildings. You flatter me. It is the first time ever, I believe, that an architect has had the honour to design on such a scale, with a blank papyrus and a full treasury to draw upon. We have had to work quickly, of course. Akhenaten has a vision, and we toil to realize it.’
‘Time is running short, I suppose, to have everything ready for the Festival?’
Suddenly his feathers looked ruffled. ‘Not at all. Everything will be perfect.’ And then he smiled deliberately, as if smiling would make it so.
I did not say: it seems to me you need another year to finish building the vision.
‘I was at the Queen’s Palace this morning. It seems she also has a vision. The construction seemed very unusual. I’ve never seen a house like it. Did you work on the design?’
‘Yes! Oh, it was a marvellous commission, although the truth is she knows exactly what she wants, so it’s a case of working out how to make possible the ideas she has. She’s very radical, you know. She wanted it all to flow, and the roofs to float. She said to me, “Parennefer, we shall defy the laws of nature.” Those were her words…very characteristic.’
The woman, it seemed, was perfect indeed.
‘I have heard many fine speeches in praise of her qualities.’
‘Everything you have heard is true. She is as beautiful as a poem. No, a song, for it has more expression and moves me more easily to tears. Her intelligence flows in every direction like bright water. She is not political in the way we tend to mean it these days. She understands power, but she is not in love with it. Although it is certainly in love with her. She rides her own chariot, you know. She’s a very contemporary kind of person.’
My expression must have betrayed my reservations, for a cloud passed over his face. ‘This is not sentimental praise. She really is remarkable.’
He watched my face. I tried to keep it still. We both waited. But it was my turn to speak.
‘You understand why I am here?’
Parennefer tilted his head slightly. ‘I think unfortunately everyone knows why you are here. There are few secrets within the city. Nefertiti has not appeared in public for several days. Occasions of worship, receptions for foreign dignitaries, the preparations and gatherings for the Festival-she has appeared at none of these. Her absence tonight is a cause for concern. These’-he gestured towards the crowd in the hall-‘are clever people. They pick up on everything. They notice even the slightest variations in ritual and etiquette; they can read the signs. They have little else to talk about, for this is a world unto itself. It is easy to believe that nothing and nowhere else exists. There is an enchantment to it, as if we live inside a beautiful mirror, gazing in at ourselves. But sometimes reality intrudes, doesn’t it?’
‘Does it?’ I asked. ‘It seems to have been kept at a helpful distance so far.’
‘We cannot afford instability at this time, just as we are about to confirm the new order of things. The Festival must be perfect.’ He opened his hands with a shrug, a kind of ‘innocent’ gesture that also managed somehow to be ironic.
‘Can you introduce me to a couple of people? I need to meet the men around the Queen. Ramose in particular.’
He nodded.
We followed Parennefer into the roar of the crowd. He approached a tall, elegant, impeccably dressed man who was holding forth at the centre of a circle of male acolytes and female admirers. As we stood awaiting his attention, their curious, cool gazes passed over me, and they fell silent. Jewellery and ornaments glittered in the light of the lamps. These people were wearing enough treasure to finance a small kingdom; the cost of each outfit would have fed a working family for a year.
His proud, angular face stood in odd juxtaposition to the soft and subtle art of his clothes. So here was the man closest to Akhenaten. Here was the man who controlled everything in his royal names: foreign affairs, agriculture, justice, tax collection, building projects, the Priesthood, the army…Ramose was at the centre of all aspects of the management and policy of the Great Estate. Therefore he too must be deeply implicated in the Great Changes. He acknowledged me with the slightest inclination of his vain head, then casually named the people standing in the circle: his senior ministers, chief lawyers and accountants and their careful, artificial career wives with their tight wigs and caged smiles. Then he took me to one side and began a little inquisition.
‘So, you are the seeker of mysteries?’
‘I have that honour.’
‘The Queen must be found and returned. Alive.’
‘I have just arrived. It is early in my investigation.’
‘Maybe so, but I imagine you know you don’t have much time. We hear there is already a body?’
‘It is not her.’
‘So I hear. That is excellent news. Nevertheless, you are presented with an enigma. And she still has not been found. I mean, still you have not found her.’
He looked at me coldly. What could I say?
‘You are reporting to our admirable chief of police?’
‘I am reporting to Akhenaten himself.’
‘Well, I am sure he is keeping a close eye on your progress, if that is not too positive a word.’
I could not resist. ‘Of course, if the royal security had been good enough she would never have been taken. The Queen’s Palace is hardly protected at night. Two guards and a couple of maids?’
He was angry now. ‘The royal security is second to none. You have no right to question it. Just do your job and return her in time for the Festival.’ And with that he turned away and rejoined his group of cronies.
Parennefer gathered up my elbow and steered me away. ‘How did that go?’
‘A charming man.’
‘He’s extremely important, and what’s more, he is of the right view of things.’
‘In what way?’
‘He is deeply concerned for the stability of the new order, both domestically and in our foreign territories. He has much at stake in his public commitment to the Great Changes.’
‘Then he must not be able to sleep at night.’
Parennefer was interrupted by an elegant man with an intelligent, open face who tapped him lightly on the shoulder.
‘Ah, the noble Nakht. Meet our seeker of mysteries, Rahotep.’
We nodded respectfully to each other.
‘Nakht has a wonderful garden here. It contains nineteen varieties of trees and shrubs.’
‘Well, I have made a start,’ the man said modestly. ‘Green leaves, shade, a little pool of water, some vines, a few caged birds-and then I feel the world is not after all such a disaster. For a few moments, at least.’
I liked his tone as much as his face.
‘I agree with you about the state of the world,’ I said. ‘But most people would say we are living in the best of times.’
‘Then they’re simply not thinking for themselves. In my opinion the great garden of this country is under threat from forces that are not being taken seriously, especially at the highest levels. There are powers within the court who are very focused on the making of this city and therefore the making of their own personal fortunes, and not at all concerned with the array of problems that face us in our time: a disaffected and confused population, an antagonized and disinherited ex-Priesthood, and then the little matter of the serious foreign troubles we are building up for ourselves along our borders to the north, and in our satellites and allied kingdoms. We have serious responsibilities there, and we neglect them at our peril. I’ve seen desperate letters from loyal vassals and garrison commanders describing assassinations of local leaders and vicious raids, and the crumbling of our authority. These leaders send us calls for urgent aid, support and renewed forces, but are they answered? No. We leave them to rot. Not only are innocent people suffering, not only is trade threatened, but the dominance of the King in these regions is being questioned and even tested. Our policy is one of non-intervention. But it is my belief that these little wars and skirmishes will not go away of their own accord. And a Festival is fine, if you want to hold a party, but it won’t mean much in a year’s time when the royal granaries are empty, the workers are unpaid and hungry, and the barbarians are knocking on the garden gate.’