We paused to absorb his words.
‘Barbarians at the garden gate indeed.’
I recognized the cold sarcastic voice at once. Mahu joined us.
Nakht acknowledged him with the barest nod. ‘Where’s your dog, Mahu? At home, waiting up for you?’
‘He doesn’t like parties. He’s happier in his own company.’
They were like mutually adversarial species: the elegant leopard of the noble intelligentsia and the lion of the lower ranks sharing the same habitat only by virtue of an agreement that could be terminated at any moment.
Parennefer, anxious to avoid confrontation, took the opportunity to announce his departure, effectively abandoning me to the charms of a man he must have known was not favourably disposed towards me. I would remember that.
‘I expect we will meet again,’ he said. ‘It’s a small world.’
‘But I wouldn’t want to have to paint it,’ I said.
That was something my ex-partner Pentu used to say. I don’t know why it came into my mind at that moment. Nakht laughed, but Parennefer just looked puzzled, shrugged, and then sailed off into the sea of conversation.
‘It is encouraging to know we have a smart man on our side in these strange times,’ Nakht said, turning to me. ‘I hope we will meet again. Call on me for anything you need. Your assistant knows where to find me.’ And then he too left us.
I was sorry to see him go. I felt I could trust him. And he could be a good friend on the inside.
Mahu stared balefully after Nakht’s figure, then turned to me. ‘You have a little fan.’
I shrugged. ‘He seems a good man.’
‘He is a noble. It is easy for them to be good. There is no effort in it. They inherit it, along with the power and the fortune.’
Neither of us spoke for a moment.
‘You didn’t come to see me with your news,’ he said.
Of course I had not. This was deliberate. Nevertheless, I had flouted protocol and annoyed him. Again.
‘I assumed Khety or Tjenry would report to you.’
‘Who’s the dead girl?’
‘I don’t know yet.’
I said nothing more, hoping he would go. But he just stared out at the people as if they were a herd of animals and he the hunter depressed by his lack of appetite.
‘What do you make of all this?’ he said, jutting his head at them.
‘They’re all trying to get by. We all have to swim in the same water.’
He gave me a brief, cynical look. ‘Most of them don’t know they’re born. They think the worst that can happen is a slave stealing a handful of jewellery. While the rest of us are spending our lives keeping the deserts off their streets.’
‘That’s the job. Always more desert.’
‘I want to know whose side you are on, Rahotep. I want to know what you think.’
‘I’m not on anyone’s side.’
‘Then let me tell you something. That is the most dangerous position in this city. Sooner or later you will have to make a choice. At the moment, it seems to me you don’t even know what the sides are.’
‘That’s what I’m here to find out.’
He laughed darkly. ‘You’d better find out fast how things work, and who pulls what strings. Even your own. Good luck untangling them. And by the way, I’ve gathered a few friends together for a hunt on the river. Tomorrow afternoon. Do you hunt, Rahotep?’
I had to confess I did.
‘Then I insist you join us. It will give me a chance to assess your progress.’
He patted me patronizingly on the back, and moved off with his predator’s lope through the crowd.
I turned to look at Khety, who all this time had stood behind me ignored by everyone, and was surprised to see a flash of anger in his eyes.
‘Take no notice, Khety. He’s an old-fashioned bully. Don’t let him get to you. Above all, don’t be afraid of him.’
‘Aren’t you afraid of him? Just a bit?’
‘I’m trespassing on his territory. He’s a big old lion and he doesn’t like that.’ I changed the subject. ‘Won’t Akhenaten appear tonight?’
‘I don’t think so. I’ve heard he rarely appears at events after dark. And the invitations were issued in Ramose’s name. But even so I’d have thought he needs to show himself to confirm there’s not a problem.’
‘Yet if he appears without the Queen that will only confirm the suspicions.’
I suddenly realized why the hall was so animated and noisy. It was as if the rules of the day-the worship for and respect of the new religion-were relaxing. And I felt like this too. Another girl was passing, and I intercepted her and took more drinks. I suddenly very much needed another drink. I drank it gratefully.
Khety gave me a look.
‘What?’
‘Nothing.’
Just then the orchestra concluded its excruciating labours and the dancers melted away. Trumpet blasts stopped the barrage of conversation, officials moved into formation, and all heads turned towards the raised platform at the centre of the hall. A herald announced him, and Ramose walked up onto the platform. The hall immediately fell silent. He stared about him for several moments before speaking.
‘We stand together, tonight, in the new City of the Two Lands. A new city for a new world. Here we celebrate the Works and the Wonders of Aten. And over the coming days we shall welcome the arrival of kings, chieftains, heads of state, loyal vassals, officials and leaders. They are travelling here from across the Empire to pay rightful homage to the Great Estate of Akhenaten, through whom all things exist and in whom all recognize Truth. To those honoured guests who are already among us, I offer you welcome. To those of you granted the good fortune to reside here, in service of the Great Estate, I say: join me in that welcome. And to the world, which hears these words, I say, for Akhenaten and the royal family: worship the Aten, here in Akhetaten, the City of Light.’
There was a strange and uncomfortable silence at the end of the speech, as if more needed to be said, or indeed as if something else needed to happen, such as the appearance of Akhenaten and the family in the Window of Appearances. But there was nothing. I noticed people exchanging uneasy little glances with each other, communicating in the most careful way their responses to this dogma and to the discomforting tone, the odd flatness, of Ramose’s delivery. Everyone knew someone was missing. Ramose descended from the platform to receive the offered congratulations of his officials. Slowly the level of noise restored itself, but this time with a different tone, one that spoke of speculation.
I had had enough for one evening. I needed to return to the office, to think, to sleep. I looked up at Nefertiti’s statues again. Where are you? Why have you gone just now? Have you been taken, and if so by whom? Or have you vanished-and if so, why? Who are you?