Sun of the SunList of players so far -Lij, the Pharaoh Knefer-Lijedefer- Elijah Sen-Adom, the harpist - Dominic Neferura-Ulive, Lij's wife and sister - Liv Menkh, Chief Advisor - Viggo Pen-Nekeb, A eunuch; body slave to Lij - Sean Astin Seti-Hop, a physician - Ian Mckellan Nefer-Aru, Lij's mother - Cate Blanchett Merit-Aton, Liv's mother - Miranda Otto Setep-Aton another royal physician - Chris Lee Orem, a eunuch, Liv's lover - Orli Captains of the Guard, Zeser-Amon - Sean Bean and His brother, Ankh-Aton - David Wenham Imhotep, the Royal architect - Billy Menep-Atifer-Ankh-Ra - Lij's Granny - An old woman with heart. Several friends, aquaintances and folks who merit mentioning, but no names, please! Part 14 - Signs and Portents When they rose from their rest, Lij called for Pen-Nekeb to bring towels, and when he didn't come immediately to his call, he cast a puzzled frown at Dom, and went to find cloths and water himself. After they had cleansed themselves, Dom threw the soiled linens into the nearest corner, whilst Lij stuck his head out through the door, to ask a guard to find Nekeb. The guard took one look at the king, and threw himself on his face to the floor. "Mighty One, spare me!" the man gasped, fear evident in his voice. "Do not order me slain!" He just lay there, trembling. Lij was amazed. This man had been guarding him since he was a child. Why should he show such fear now? Dom came to the door, and stood by Lij. "What, man? Can't you speak?" Lij offered the man his hand, and the man grasped it, and stood. Then realising what Lij had done - offered his hand to a servant - the man broke down. "I am not worthy of your regard, Great One - I bring terrible news." Lij stared at the man. Gods - what now? "The Apis bull, Great One...dead!" The man went down on his knees again. Dom looked at Lij in puzzlement. "What is this bull? And why...?" Lij put his hand out to stop Dom's speech. "When?" Lij asked the terrified guard. "An hour ago, Great One. Please, I beg of you..." The man was nearly breathless with fright. Lij waved his hand at him. "Go," he said, quietly. The man backed off, and returned to his place, shaking. Lij leaned against Dom's side, and Dom was astonished to find Lij was trembling as much as the guard had been. "Lij - what is all this? Can you tell me?" Lij walked back into his apartments, and Dom closed the door behind them.He sat down on a bench, and Dom sat beside him, holding his hand. "Lij?" Dom hesitated, not knowing what to say. Lij took a deep breath. "The Apis bull is a sacred god of Egypt. Has been so for aeons. Its incarnation, a living bull, is held to be a god by all Egypt. They live between seventeen and thirty years, usually. For the bull to die out of season is a portent of doom. The bull is five years old, Dom. It should not have died. It could not be him that the jackal headed one spoke of - he is too young. Disaster will follow this death. People will say it is because I should have died..." Lij put his head down to rest on Dom's shoulder. He raised it as the great doors that joined his apartments with the queen's swung open, and Liv appeared in the doorway. "Forgive me interrupting, my dear, but........you know, don't you?" she said, bending to his embrace. She kissed Dom, too, much to his surprise. "Pen-Nekeb is hiding in my rooms with Orem. They are afraid, brother. Some disaster will strike at Egypt, as if we have had nothing *but* disaster since you were taken ill." Dom brought the queen some pomegranate juice, which she accepted with a smile. "Menep said you must go and let the people see you, Great One. Let them see you are well, and that Egypt is safe." Lij looked at his wife. "And where, my sister, is Mamma? Why is she not here, telling me all this for herself? Pointing her little fat finger at me, and calling me a clown?" Lij's smile faltered as he saw Liv's brow cloud over. "She is not well, brother. She is in bed. She collapsed after she left you..." Liv got to say no more. Lij got up and left the room, running, Dom chasing behind him. They reached Menep's rooms, and the guards there fell on their faces when they saw who approached them. The doors were pushed open by Dom and Lij, and the king went in, hurriedly. "Where is she?" he said, anxiously, looking round. "I am in here, you noisy child! Cannot an old woman have a moment's peace? Gods alive!" a voice issued from an inner room. Lij darted forward, scattering slaves and visitors alike. Lij's mother looked at him warily as he rushed into the room, but said nothing. "Come, my dears", she said to her two companions, "Let our mother rest, now. She is tired." She kissed Lij, and left the room. Her message was not lost on Lij. He bent forward and kissed the lined face, grasping her hot hand in his"Mamma?" he said, quietly. "Mamma?" The old woman looked up at the beloved face of her grandson, kneeling by her bed. She patted his trembling hand with her gnarled fingers, and smiled at him, softly. "My chick, you are wild! Where is your dignity, Great One, to come bounding in here like any camel herder's son?" Lij stared at his grandmother's face. She was the same as ever she was - yet - a subtle difference was apparent on her face. Resignation. She raised her hand, and touched his cheek. "You still have much to learn, my love. I wish that it was I that would have the teaching of you." He stared wildly into her eyes. "Do not say it will not be so, Menep. We shall have many more days together. You shall still chide your boy when you catch him in wrong-doing...you..." His voice broke, and he laid his head on her hand. "Please, Mamma!..." She sighed, and spoke softly. "Come, Lij, this is no way for the Lord of the Two Lands to conduct himself. One day I shall join your father, and your grandfather in the Other World. You must not weep, for I will be happy to go. This life...this old body, has truly become...tiresome." "No," he whispered into her hand. "No!" Dom knelt beside him, and put his arm around his shoulder. "Great One," he murmured into his lover's neck. "I am here." Lij raised his head, and smiled shakily at Dom. "I know", he said on a breath. Menep sighed again. "My love, in days to come when they bow at your feet to tell you I am gone to my loved ones, they will be looking at you for signs of weakness. Kings do not weep, except in their own rooms, in the arms of their beloved - in secret. Do you understand me, boy?" she remarked, with a little of the old fire still in her voice. "Yes, Menep", very quietly. "You will come to me. You will look at me. You will do what has to be done in public - and then, only then can you go to your Dom and weep. Do you understand, Lij? Dom? This is important. Important for you, and for Egypt." Lij nodded, and Dom glanced with renewed respect at the old lady, who, even in sickness, still had a lesson to impart to her best beloved. "Yes, Mamma, I understand. But I will...miss you. Is it not permitted that I miss you?" Lij gazed at the tired eyes in front of him. Menep shifted slightly on her bed, and pursed her lips. "Of course you may miss me, you young fool!" she breathed. "For the gods know, I will miss you, even in..." She halted, lost for a few seconds in thought. "Lij, my sweet boy, do one thing for me. Visit my tomb, and see that all is in readiness. It is several years since I saw the thing, and, though I trust our good Imhotep, it is just as well to be certain..." Knefer-Lijedefer smoothed a stray hair from his grandmother's brow. He bent, and kissed her. She sighed and fell asleep. He sat there beside her for a while, then went to see the bull. A new one had been chosen. He was young and strong. Lij hoped fervently that this augured well, both for himself, Menep and for his beloved Egypt. He retired to bed. *** In the first quiet of morning, Dom gazed out of the palace window at the red sun rising over the Nile. Lij stood beside him, staring out at the morning sky. Pen-Nekeb came in with hot water and towels, and Lij allowed himself to be stripped and washed by his former slave's caring hands. Dom, who had been awake for some time and had completed his toilet, sat in a chair, observed these ablutions, and thought to himself that the beauty that stood, damp and freshened before him was more lovely than the glorious dawn outside their window. He smiled, softly. Lij was being dressed by Pen-Nekeb in a plain white pleated kilt, fastened by an ornate gold braided belt. No other ornaments, no crown, no jewels except the scarab ring of the king. "We are going, my Dom, to show ourselves to the people. The Apis bull has died. My beloved Menep, who is sleeping sweetly, Nekeb informs me, is sick. She is right, as always. They must see that I am here, at least, with my finger on the pulse of government. Nekeb, fetch us some food, if you please, and bring it to my chariot." He smiled at Dom's puzzled face. "After we have exhibited ourselves to all and sundry, we shall ride into the desert, and inspect my Menep's tomb. She has asked me to do so, and I would waste no time. Ask Imhotep to meet us there after the midday meal, Nekeb, my friend. I have orders for him concerning it." "Yes, Lord", Pen-Nekeb smiled at the king and bustled off to do his bidding. Dom laid his hand on Lij's arm. "Is it so far, Lij...that it will take all that time to get there? It is not yet past dawning." He looked at Lij in concern. He was still not very strong after his illness. Lij smiled, softly. "No, it isn't. I thought we could have an hour or two to ourselves. There are many cool caves in the vicinity of the hidden tombs where we can...talk." Dom glanced around the room, and finding no one there gawking, pulled his lover in for a kiss. "That does sound inviting. Come!" The morning was waiting. |