AEGYPTUS AND QUEEN TIYE

18th Dynasty Egypt.

--Including Queen Tiye's love poem.


By Ivan D. Alexander




As adapted from a translation of the original hieratic
manuscripts by Dr. Edouard Bialek, Egyptologist.*


Author's Note:
The story of "Aegyptus" is based on hieratic manuscripts from the 18th Dynasty allegedly found in the archives of the British Museum, London, by Dr. Edouard Bialek, Czech Egyptologist.* Based on Dr. Bialek's translations, the story unfolds for us with good continuity, though two of the papyrus scrolls are missing. The author endeavored to remain true to these translations, with minor changes, by adding dialogue where it was felt appropriate, in quotes. These scrolls should be treated entirely as works of fiction. The original scrolls were reputedly found in ancient archives of a monastery in what is now the Czech Republic.
(signed) Ivan Alexander

* By request, the real name had been changed to an alias.


AEGYPTUS, a love story:

Papyrus One, I Aegyptus
Papyrus Two, Slave
Papyrus Three, Queen Tiye
Papyrus Four, Pharaoh
Papyrus Five, War
Papyrus Six, Aiye
Papyrus Seven, Pyramid
Papyrus Eight, Boy King
Papyrus Nine, Iskra
Papyrus Ten, Royal Tomb
Papyrus Eleven, 'O
Papyrii Twelve, Thirteen, (untitled-lost)
Papyrus Fourteen, Son of the Sun
Tiye's Letter (a love poem)

Papyrus 1, I Aegyptus

Mayat, write my preamble.
I am Aegyptus. My rank is that of Chief Architect for the living God, may He live forever, Pharaoh, Son of the Sun Aten, King of the upper and lower Nile, the great Prophet King Amen'Hoetep (IV)*, Akh?aan?Aten, son of Amen'Hoetep the elder (III, 18th Dynasty, also Amenhopis, commonly Amen'het), most beloved of Amen, whom we reverently adore and honor in his eternal rest. He builder of great temples, and of the Greatest of the Pyramids, King of all Egypt and all the lands of Byblos and Can?aan, and beyond the last cataracts, Kush and Nubia, great grandson of Thut'moses (III) and his chief wife, the great and powerful Hats'hepsut. Oh Great King, Pharaoh Amen'Hoetep, devoted husband to your beautiful Queen Tiye, great King and Queen, may you live forever in the beauty of the gods. To you I, Aegyptus, your humble servant, dedicate these scrolls.

May Maat and Ptah, gods of truth and scripture, make me say only what is just as I dictate these scrolls to my faithful young scribe, Mayat, for my eyes are now dim, and I can see this script only in the bright light of day. The tale I am about to tell is of the unspeakable sacrilege and destruction by the most High Priest, Aiye,(Ay), a great man fallen from grace, may the tomb robbers and desert jackals
*(Author's notes)

scatter his remains. As we write this, the two Egypts are now ruled by our beloved Sun King (Akh'aan'Aten) and his very beautiful wife Nefar'titi, may they live in happiness together forever in this
world and in the afterlife. I will keep secret what may injure the living, but I will tell all to right the wrongs committed upon the dead. Though I am forced to keep the highest secret of the Temple, of our heavenly Visitors, I shall have to tell their part played in this story. Oh Great Queen Tiye, may you enjoy life in the beauty of the Gods forever, bathed in their love, and laid to rest by your great King. It was all long ago, but I am obliged to tell all, to right the wrongs done, for those who can read or listen. In these scrolls I leave testimony of works done, and works undone. May Isis be my witness and Ptah my judge. Amen.

* * * * * *

In the 8th year of the rule of the son of Amen'Ra, the great Pharaoh Amen'Hoetep, third month of rise of the Nile, when the moon was beginning anew, I was called into the temple of Amen to receive my final benediction. I had been studying the art of temple building for these past eight years, already in the year of maturity. This was to be the ultimate blessing, for to be accepted into the fraternity of temple builders was to secure for myself, as for my father, my life's work. I had already mastered geometry, the mystery of numbers, the art of cutting stone, which I learned while still young, and the science of reading the heavens for propitious omens. My father, Hapu the builder, had early set me on a course that would bring me to this ultimate test. Let me begin by telling of the time I had first embarked on this venture. I was still but a boy of twelve then, but already in me were the signs of a builder. It was as if only yesterday... be patient, allow me to remember...

..."Aggy! What are you doing all by yourself so early in the dawn?" It was one of my village friends, Naume, daughter to our temple's high priest, Yuh. She had that early morning happiness about her, her eyes dancing in her self assured face. I felt myself flush, not having expected to find anyone down by the canal at this time.
"Nothing," I answered a bit flustered. "I'm only attaching this large stone with these ropes."
She looked at me with amusement, saying nothing for a time.
"Don't you have to make breakfast for your family?" I asked her at long last. I was hoping she would go away. I wanted to finish my secret project without witnesses, and deliver the large stone to the temple builders without anyone being the wiser for it. But she did not go away. Her smooth alabaster face and fine nose just kept looking at me. She had thrown back her shawl so her shoulder was showing, and I could not miss eyeing her fine legs beneath her tunic. She was my age but already wiser in the ways boys and girls talk. I was still awkward in such things.
"Look, Naume. I have work to do. This is sacred work, and the presence of a woman may anger the gods, and the work spoiled." I looked up a her to see if she caught my meaning. She was standing above me on a small rise. I was down by the water's edge, fastening large ropes onto the stakes the bargemen use to tie up their boats. In fact I had been busy with my project since before dawn and had hoped to have accomplished my task by now, but there were complications.
"If you're trying to move that big stone onto the barge below, you had better be careful. Once a stone moves, there is no stopping it." I gave her an angry look. But anger was not easy with Naume. She just smiled at me. "Well, when you're finished, come by my house. I'll have breakfast left over for you." With those words, she skipped merely away and was gone over the ridge. I was glad to be alone again.
We lived in the village of Medu then, which was only a short walk from the great city of Thea'bes. Ours was the largest house. My father was an important temple builder, and we had lived at this village nearly all my life, since the temple construction began. The stone cutters cottages were further upstream, closer to the quarries. Our house was by the canal to the lake of the second great temple of Amen, the one still being built (at Luxor). There were other temples already built, but the King wanted one that was still greater, so he hired my father to add a new hall colonnade.
I went back to my work and really put my back into it. I had seen the quarrymen move large stones before, so I knew how to tie them so gravity could pull them down without losing control. The post higher up served as my relief pulley, the one that slowed the stone down, whereas the posts below were harnessed to pull the stone forward, into the barge. Darn that Naume, she knew exactly what I was up to. But I quickly forgot her and went down to the canal with two earthen jars to collect water. When filled, I laboriously carried them back up, careful not to slip, to where lay the large stone tied up. I poured out the Nile water, whispering incantations to myself as I did so, and covered a part of the path needed. I repeated this a number of times until the soil was wet with mud. Stones slide easier on wet surfaces. I pulled up the large barge to the bank and laid down sleds to connect its topside to the bank, careful to dig their ends into the soft soil. The other ends were propped against a rail on the vessel. Then, looking up at the sky for divine help, I took control of the ropes, using my body as a counterweight.
After a few tugs on the ropes, nothing happened. I stopped to catch my breath and then tried again, this time pulling with my whole weight. The sun now felt hot on my back as I pulled with all my strength. It moved only a little and stopped. After walking all around it again, to make sure all the ropes were securely in place, I again tugged, but this time with the cadence I had heard the quarrymen use: "Pull up, pull up, haul it out, haul it out.." This seemed to do the trick, and the massive squared off block, nearly as tall as myself, began to move down the short causeway in earnest. I quickly turned the other way and planted my feet into the ground, pulling with all my weight against it. Everything worked as planned, until I stepped on a wet spot and lost my footing. Then the whole world seemed upside down. The stone slid down with a hiss, pulling me up the hill, but I would not let go. Then it rattled over the heavy sledge poles, and settled itself with a loud groan onto the barge. I was afraid to look, half expecting to see it list over the side. But the railing held, and she sat quietly on her designated spot. I let go the hot ropes and ran down to look at her. She was beautiful, all clean and sharp cornered, gleaming in the strong morning light. Hunger suddenly clawed at me, and I ran up the hill to Naume's house.

...I had forgotten... Oh yes, I was telling of my final benediction...
Incense filled the temple. I had been to many temples while growing up, praying many times to the gods who guard our lands, to Isis especially, and to Ra and Amen, to Ptah, god of the arts. This one was the highest temple, dedicated to the God Amen, the one built by my father. The priests had already gathered about the throne of the high priest, though he still was absent. The bright colors on the columns supporting the roof seemed to jump out at me. Written on each column was a story of great deeds of the living and the dead, of the mortal and the immortal. The gold leaf over the writings reflected the soft light from the temple's sacred oil lamps. Deeper in the temple was the hidden shrine, a place of darkness and mystery allowed only to the higher priests. I looked in that direction with dread. A low murmur floated to me from there, where priests and priestesses chanted their special incantations for this solemn occasion. The thin ringing of a temple bell told us the high priest was approaching. We straightened, eyes cast down, and stood still to show our respect for his Highness. The high priest's deacon announced his entrance:
"Praise be to his Highness, our Father Aiye, the mighty god of the wise, the most beloved of Amen, through whom flows heaven and Earth, the unity of river and sky, the two lands of Egypt. May you, Aiye, protector of ancient wisdom, oh beloved eternal living god, enter in the pleasure of the most revered, Amen." To which all in attendance responded: "Amen."
The high priest, still a young man but already of great fame and power, strode into the hall and, attended by a retinue of young men and women, novice priests and priestesses, ascended the throne. His Highness Aiye stopped in front of the throne and bowed reverently to the statue of Amen standing directly behind it, and then very ceremoniously, with his attendants helping him with arranging his robes, took his seat before the great god. The deacon priest continued:
"Blessings on the Living God, on the Pharaoh, may he live forever in the heavens for the pleasure of the gods for eternity. Blessings on the great land of Egypt, favored of all the lands, who grants us our mighty river of life, the blessed Nile. Blessings on the bounty of our great harvest, on the fruits of the river, on the people... blessings on our daily bread..." and so on. As the blessings were being read, I managed a stealthy look at the high priest, which is forbidden. We all had our heads bowed, but I raised my eyes slightly to steal a look, and that for only the briefest moment. In a few glimpses, I could see that Aiye was tall, even sitting, and imposing of figure. His eyes looked straight out over the congregation, unflinchingly sharp and powerful. Within him was the presence of God, and any who would have looked at him directly for too long would have felt overpowered with awe and fear, feeling themselves suddenly very small and insignificant. We kept our eyes down to protect ourselves from the god's powerful gaze. But in those stolen moments, I could tell the high priest's face was handsome, his nose fine, of high forehead, his lips thin and slightly arrogant, as if he knew who he was with regal certainty. The priests and priestesses in attendance likewise had their eyes cast down. The deacon finished his blessings and a silence returned to the great hall.
Then Aiye spoke: "Bring to me the anointed ones." Two of the priests by his side immediately came down to where we were standing, and ushered us before the god, as we had rehearsed. When each of us arrived at our designated spot, we kneeled, still keeping our heads down. When all thirty attendants were assembled thus, Aiye rose. His great presence now loomed over us and I could feel his power. I knew I was in the presence of a god. I could hear the breathing of the others beside me grow shallow and short. We were about to be initiated into the fraternities of our chosen work, dedicating our lives to serve our King and masters. My own breath grew short as I waited for the benediction to follow. My hands suddenly felt weak. A priestess brought to Aiye the painted alabaster bowl decorated with symbols. She held it for him as he stepped down to the kneeling initiates.
"In the name of the most Great God, I bless you with this sacred oil. Amen." Holding the golden ankh raised in his left hand, he reached into the bowl with his right and then placed his forefinger on the forehead of the first initiate, a woman. She repeated weakly "Amen", and then Aiye moved to the next supplicant. He did this until he reached me. My eyes focussed on his sandalled feet of gold, so well formed that they mirrored divinity. It was as if the ground on which he stood on was bathed in light. I moved my head up, eyes cast down, to receive the sacred oil. His finger touched my forehead just above the eyes and I felt a warm liquid pressed against my skin. It was as if from inside my head exploded a light, a power I cannot describe, which suddenly gave me vision and clarity as I had never felt before. I looked up involuntarily and saw into the face of the great high priest. He looked down at me a moment, unexpecting this, and then he smiled. "In the name of the most Great God..." He did not finish. I realized then that we were of almost the same age, he older, born into a world far higher than mine, but we were kith in some strange way. I then spoke a soft "Amen", and Aiye spoke the same "Amen", and then turned his eyes away from me to bless the next anointed one. In my heart, I felt fulfilled somehow. I had kneeled in the presence of a great god and received from his hand a benediction that now accepted me into a great fraternity of temple builders, like my father, Hapu. And yet, in that moment, I knew that somehow our destinies, mine and that of Aiye's, were sealed.

My work took me soon after up towards Edfu and Yebu (now Aswan) where the royal rock quarries are. There I spent more than two years in the company of rock cutters and quarrymen where I learned to direct them in their work. We moved two very large red granite blocks down the Nile to Thea'bes. The statue bodies were already carved into them by some of our finest stone cutters. At The City, facial images of the King, and the Queen Mother, would be shaped into Them by our best sculptors. The Nile was still low, but the blocks had to be shipped by the time of the annual Jubilee, and my men worked hard to make it so. Soon, I had a commission of my own. My father came up from his work at Thea'bes to personally deliver me the news.
"Aggy, you have earned your right to be your own man now. The King has auditioned me and authorized me to deliver this sealed message. I think you will be pleased with what it says."
"You know what Amen'het wrote in it?" I asked, amazed.
"I was in his Highness' presence when he had his scribe pen it." He looked at me with a smile. "Go on, open it."
With great care I untied the knot that held it together and broke the seal in a way that left it still largely intact. I hated to see the image likeness of Amen'Ra broken. Slowly I unrolled it, letting the words scribed there reveal themselves to me. The words formed themselves in my mouth:
"To Aegyptus, I Pharaoh, King of Upper and Lower Egypt, and of all the dominions abroad of our fair land, grant onto him the title of Royal Architect, minor, to be guided by my Person and the representatives of My court, as is the Pleasure of our God. As his first act in duty for Our Royal Pleasure, Aegyptus is hereby commissioned to build the sacred shrine to the most beloved god, Mon'thu (sometimes also Horus), protector of Thea'bes, and Lord of the desert. He will retain My best craftsmen for his works. I decree this on the eve of Our Royal Feast." It was then pressed with His personal seal. It was hard to understand. I was still but above an apprentice, only master of a quarry. My father said nothing, only looked on at me, a twinkle in his eye.
"I think you have been noticed, Aggy," he said, still smiling.
"But the King doesn't know me."
"Word is carried down the river, by secretaries, scribes, spies. Word always gets to Thea'bes. And I had nothing to do with it. I swear." He spoke this last shaking his head. Hapu was a man who valued his integrity. To peddle influence was not my father's way. He was renown for this and loved because of it. This is why the King would often seek his counsel and invite him into the Palace. He even dined privately with the Royal Couple, His Majesty Pharaoh and Her Royal Mother, which is very rare.
"What do I do next?"
"I've been instructed to invite you to appear at the Royal Jubilee. You will be given further instructions there."
"But that's in how many days?"
"The Nile will begin its flood soon, maybe ten, twelve days. So said the priests. I guess you better make ready and finalize your affairs here." Father gave me a serious look, though his eyes of joy were still upon him. "It will be full moon in ten days, so the time is auspicious."
"There's still so much to finish here."
"They will send a new Master of the Works for your men. Do not worry."
So it was decreed, that I was to be a Royal Architect for the new shrine at the Great Temple, to be dedicated to Mon'thu. I watched my father put on his night shawl. Though the days were hot, the nights were still cool. He had the sturdy build of a worker, yet the fine mind and soul of a man of grace. His clothes were the same, simple but rich, of a fine linen cloth. We embraced again and he turned to leave. On the table lay the Royal Decree. I picked it up and felt both joy and pain. What gods had spoken into whose heart to make this be mine? On the seventh day, I sailed for The City.

When I arrived in three days, the celebration was already in full force. We pulled into the royal docks, where manservants took my travel gear. I stepped off and strode towards the great pylons festooned with royal flags. The sweet sounds of musicians, lutes and harps and windpipes were playing, and chanters were singing time honored songs. Throngs of royal subjects were in attendance, standing or sitting on divans beneath the large white linen sails that served as windbreaks and shade. Food was passed around by an army of servants who bowed before each guest in presenting their richly heaped platters. The court had a magnificent view of the Nile as it bent along its shores bordered with palms and trees. From the ramparts stood well dressed guards whose weapons caught the rays of the sun cast down on us like so many beacons. I was glad to have arrived.
"Aegyptus!"
I turned to see my old friend Mosu. We had been students together at the Academy, where we puzzled over numbers, figuring the geometry of temple building. He stood beaming at me, as I returned his smile.
"In the name of God, how long has it been? Two years?"
"More it seems. So much has happened!" was his happy reply.
Mosu was an outlander, his great grandparents having come here from the far lands beyond the sea. He stood taller than me by a head, his eyes blue and merry, and his skin a golden bronze not common in our people. He was Egyptian in every way, but his golden curls made him especially dear to all who knew him. I loved him like a brother, as he loved me. We were long friends. Mosu made a slight gesture with his hand and two servants came running to him with trays of food and wine.
"Please take some food. The Court's chefs are especially good this year."
I took one of the cakes offered, filled with meat. The other servant poured me a goblet of wine. Mosu took the same.
"Are you building?" I asked. We ate slowly, enjoying each other's company more than the food.
"No. It was never meant to be, by Amen. I now work at the Court's treasury, so spend some time here, and some traveling the river to take count. And you?"
"I've been sent here by His Majesty."
"The King? May the gods preserve Him forever. He sent for you?"
"Yes. I am to be commissioned by Him to build a wing of the Temple."
"Ah! Aggy, you are a lucky man." Mosu looked deep into my eyes. "Then there is much that you must learn around the Court. All is not as simple as it seems."
"My father comes here often, but he said nothing of unusual worth to me."
"It is not common knowledge. But the Queen Mother, bless Her, is not happy that Amen'het, her beloved son, is still without a queen. It is not good for the Family line, if you know what I mean. Adoption had been mentioned."
"He has been busy, too busy with His projects I understand, to care much for family concerns."
"Exactly so. He has been a beehive of activity with His buildings. Some think He is possessed, err... meant in a good way, of course. In fact, His works are held in great esteem. And your father is a man well known around the City."
"I've been away in the rock quarries, so feel out of touch with events here. But it is good to be here. I must announce my arrival, since I am to seek an audience with His Majesty to accept my commission."
"Well, when you meet Him, He'll surprise you. His Majesty is very charming, if a little naive, for Pharaoh, but well loved. His High Priest, however..." Mosu lowered his voice, "is someone you should watch closely. He is not as well liked at Court."
"I will get my commission and leave the Court gossip to others. Really, I am an engineer, and my passion is to build, to see things done. But you, my dear friend, seem especially at home here."
We both gave each other a great smile in recognition of the truth spoken, and hugged touchingly.
"I missed you Aggy. It's so good to see you again. You've always had a quiet way about you that saw through everything quickly."
We enjoyed ourselves walking about the pavilion, seeing the other guests and courtiers taking pleasure in the gathering. Mosu introduced me to some of his new friends here. When the minstrels stopped their song, all voices stilled in anticipation of what was to happen. His Majesty Amen'hotep, and Her Royal Highness, were about to enter.
"Who is the High Priest?" I asked.
Mosu looked at me puzzled. "Why, it is Aiye. It was just announced."
"Oh? I met him once. He seems like a fine man, a god." Somehow, the news did not surprise me. I had seen on Aiye the mark of greatness on him, even in the brief moment my eyes saw him. Now he had become in a short time the High Palace Priest, voice of God, Amen.
"He is. A man of many depths. And his family very powerful." Mosu turned his attention to the main event.
The great embroidered tapestries that hid the way into the Royal chambers were drawn back, followed by a retinue of Palace priests clad in leopard skins who processed into the pavilion carrying incense burners of jasmine and myrrh. They filed to the two sides of the great thrones were the Royal Couple would sit. Behind them, walking with deliberate slowness, followed Pharaoh and His Mother, Mut'Heptset, Queen of all the lands. They appeared as the sun at dawn, radiant in all their splendor, and all who stood dropped to their knee in reverence for the living gods. Mosu and I did the same, with eyes downcast in observance of Their deity. All the servants present had disappeared as if on a signal, since they were not of a rank allowed in the presence of such high persons. All who remained were equals, subjects of their Living Masters, the great Gods of Egypt.
In silence, the Royal Couple ascended Their thrones, turned to face the congregation below Them, and then seated Themselves. Two priests came before Them and bowed deeply, then reached the miter-feathered crowns of the two Egypts held by other priests and approached the thrones. With great reverence, they placed the crowns on the holy heads of the Royal Couple. All waited in silence. Then another procession entered, this with the High Priest at its head, Aiye. A gong sounded and all stood. Aiye was dressed in gold embroidered white linens, similar to that of the Pharaohs. His tall figure walked to the throne and bowed deeply, then turned and faced us. We all bowed in return. The ceremony ended, and the minstrels once again took up their harmonious instruments and began to play a soft loving tune to welcome our Majesties. The silence now broken, we all resumed our more natural pose. When the music stopped, Aiye spoke.
"Blessings to the Living Gods, may they live in eternity in Their presence. To the good people gathered here today, loyal subjects, royal families, friends of the Court, welcome. We start today the first day of the Nile's journey to On (Memphis). The gods will be placed on their sacred barks, and in that journey will travel all of Heaven with us. We unite the lands of Upper and Lower Egypt in this Royal benediction to bring forth the fruits of all our labors as it pleases the gods. May this year favor us with their heavenly host to bring forth great bounty upon our great lands. May Horus protect us, and Hathor bless us with her beauty. Amen."
"Amen," we answered as was required.
Aiye then turned and bowed again to the Royal Couple and withdrew to the side. Now our Pharaoh Amen'Hoetep spoke.
"The people of Egypt, blessed is your land. Thea'bes is the seat of all the glory our predecessors had delivered us. Our ancestors build our kingdom for eternity, and for eternity we build the temples dedicated to them. Our pyramids stand as they have for eons, and they will stand for eons more. Our shrines in adoration of the Living Gods are built with our hands, but blessed with our hearts. As we take our Divine Gods down the River of Life, remember that it is with their help that our land prospers for all. We have smitten our enemies, and rewarded our friends. We must never forget that Amen, the bringer of all life, is our Father. So today, I will dedicate a new wing of colonnades at our most Holy Temple of Amen at Thea'bes. And in this dedication, I wish to present to you a young man who has shown promise with integrity in all he does. He is to be my right hand man in this new construction, son of my Chief Builder..."
As I heard these words, my heart jumped. Mosu took my hand and squeezed it. It was a much greater honor than I had anticipated to be publicly announced in this manner. I was not prepared. My father had said nothing to me.
"...Hapu, his son Aegyptus. To him We entrust the works of constructing this new wing dedicated to Holy Mon'thu, keeper of the fruits of the desert. May the gods favor our good Aegyptus with good works. And may they last forever. Amen."
Mosu looked at me and smiled. And I suddenly realized that all eyes were on me, as if they knew who I was in advance. I looked up at Pharaoh and Her Royal Highness, and they both smiled at me. From the corner of my eye I caught the eyes of Aiye on me, looking intently into mine. I returned the gaze but quickly turned away, for his eyes are too powerful for mine, and returned them to the King and Queen, who were softer to look at. A spontaneous clapping manifest itself and I stood erect and proud before everyone present. When the clapping subsided, it was my turn to speak.
"I can only thank my father, my family, my teachers, my gods, and my King and Queen. I am unworthy of your high praise, but hope to earn that worth with my works. I very happily accept your commission. May the gods bless me in my work. Amen."
The guests laughed and then clapped again. It was a welcome relief for me after having spoken to hear so much noise. Suddenly I felt very young. I was then asked by one of the priests to approach the Royal Couple. Mosu let go my hand and I stepped before the throne and kneeled. Amen'Hoetep placed his hand upon my head, as did Her Majesty. His Highness then looked at me with a twinkle in his eye.
"Your father asked me to say nothing in advance. I hope you were surprised."
"I was, your Highness. Thank you." The Queen Mother, still pretty at her age, gave me a wizened smile and nodded at me. I did not see Aiye present then.
Other proclamations were read and the Jubilee continued late into the night, as the statues of the gods, Horus and Hathor, were readied for their journey down the Nile by the strong light of the moon to the temples at On. There a similar bark was being readied for a procession up the Nile to Thea'bes. This exchange of gods was an annual event and the cause of much celebration, since the gods had to be satisfied and allowed to visit each other. The tradition goes back to antiquity, too far back for anyone to remember. When I returned to where I stood next to Mosu, I spotted my father standing in the shadows. He smiled at me.

The next day I made an offering at the Temple. It was a shrine to Mut, wife to Amen, Mother to us all. Her sanctuary was hidden deep within the great halls at Karnak, a lone priest presiding over her deity in an alcove chamber. Our family animal is the goose, so I brought with me a gander for sacrifice, which the priest took to the altar and quietly and quickly slit its throat. The blood flowed down the stone table into a shallow groove that split into two, the blood filling the bowls placed such as to receive the offering. The priest then chanted a simple prayer and slit open the gizzard and intestines. He turned to me.
"What do your request, my son?"
"I am entrusted with a great responsibility. May the gods favor my works and bless me with their good fortune. May they see to it that I never fail in my love for them."
The priest then looked at the contents spilled from inside the gander scattered over the large stone table. He contemplated a moment, closed his eyes, and then lifted his hands bent at the elbows, receiving a divine blessing from the gods. His voice was slow and steady, as if reading from some distant text visible only to his eyes.
"You are blessed, my son. The Goddess accepts your gift. The gods will visit you in the night, when the moon shines through the clouds, and touch you with their love. You will have great success, if you remain humble, in all your works. You will find love, like the powerful pull of the moon, in your sixth month of birth, from which you cannot escape. It will be returned in kind, but a great fortress stands between you. The eye of Horus will cast its shadow on you, like rays of the sun that touch only one side, the other is dark. She will suffer the same, but united you will fill the world with a light brilliant as the sun. Do not despair."
The priest then lowered his arms and returned into the world. He moved slowly over to one of the bowls filled with blood and sprinkled herbs into it. This he then threw into the flames of the sacred fire before the deity. It hissed and gave off a strong odor of burned flesh mixed with the smell of burning herbs. When the fire returned to its normal flame, he again looked at me.
"Your name?"
"Aegyptus."
"Blessings on you, Aegyptus. Stand before our divine Mother." I did as he asked. "Great divine Mother Mut, bless this young man with your power and love to give him strength in the ordeals he will face. He will turn to you in his times of need, do not turn away, for he will need you most then. Remember his name, Aegyptus."
I looked up at the deity who stared off into some distant void beyond my horizons, and trembled at the priest's mysterious words. What was this shadow he spoke of? But the priest had already turned away, taking with him the other cup of blood. My time with him was done, and I exited into the broad courtyard surrounded by the high papyri crowned colonnade of the main temple. After the cool darkness of the shrine, the sun felt warm again on my face. Other supplicants and priests walked the grounds, either leisurely or in a hurry. Vendors crowded the great pylon entrance, hawking their wares, amulets and charms, incense and scarabaei. I thought of my sixth month of birth, only three months away, and wondered what it all meant.

I was again summoned to the Palace for an audience with Amen'het. The Queen Mother, was not present, only the King and his entourage of courtiers and advisors. A vizier, named Ran'mose, showed me into the Royal chamber.
"Ah, Aegyptus, you are here."
Pharaoh did not seem so regal without his royal crown, wearing only a decorous wig. Otherwise, Amen'het was dressed simply as any man. He seemed smaller, more approachable. I suddenly felt comfortable in his Highnesses' presence. He was almost my father's age.
"I come as summoned, you Highness."
"Rightly so, my dear boy. Rightly so. I have so much to tell you." Amen'het then reached over to a table covered with scrolls and drawings. It was his work table. He picked out a drawing from amongst the pile. He continued.
"This is how I envision the new temple of Mon'thu. As you can see from the dimensions," He opened up the papyrus scroll, "it is a small temple, enclosed thus." His hand moved over the paper. "I drew it myself." Amen'het looked up at me and smiled. He seemed genuinely pleased with his work. "I want it on the edge of the great temple here, and it's sanctuary will have a special alcove for the deity's statue, over there." He pointed on the well defined drawing. Many hours of painstaking work had gone into this manuscript. There were notes in the margins which I scanned quickly. It had to do with the number of laborer and artisans the project called for, nearly a thousand it seemed.
"How do I procure the workers needed? Should I hire the ones I know from the quarry? There are very fine stone cutters there I would like to promote to this project."
"Yes, yes. You may bring some of your men for the detail work. I will appoint others to oversee them." Pharaoh then put a finger in his mouth, thinking. He then held it up as if to make a decree. "Ah. There are new slaves from the Hyksos (foreigners) whom you can use for work overseers. They are fine men, well educated and heeled, so I think you can trust them. But for the heavy work, I want you to use the war slaves from Kush. They are very strong men, black men, and can work long days without fatigue. I will give you five hundred from our stables. But they are rebellious, and think constantly of escape, so you must be weary. The Hyksos are not fond of them, so they will work them well. But give them small whips. The large whips are only for punishment."
"I understand, your Highness. And for supplies?"
"The Royal storehouse is at your disposal. I know you are your father's son, so I am sure you will not abuse the privilege. Take tool makers to the site so they can constantly upgraded the ones used up. Also, I want stone from the red granite quarries, the ones at Yebu up river, for the finer stone finish. Statues too."
"Of you and the Queen Mother?"
"Of me and..." Amen'het did not finish his words, lost in thought. "We will see." He turned to me in his joyful way. This was what Pharaoh loved more than anything, to build. With the two Egypts at peace, He could dedicate nearly all his time to indulge his passion. "We are expanding the canal to the temple, so it should be easy for you to transport the stone there. New pathways are being laid to allow four men abreast at the ropes. The barges will be pulled up to the small sacred lake at the site, and then offloaded onto the causeway to the temple. You will see how well laid out it all is."
"Then I will go and study the site presently. I can see in my mind's eye what needs doing."
"I know you can. This is well known of you, that your vision is quick, as is your understanding. That is why I chose you."
Amen'het again gave me his smile. A man talking to a man, even if He was a god.
"Does your Highness have an inventory of stone blocks to begin work?"
"Why of course, quite so. You may have noticed the large store of piled blocks on your trip down river. They are largely yours."
I did pass long rows of square off stones, still being worked, on my sail to the City. Villages grew around these storehouses of stone, with the smoke from their cooking fires curling about them. I remember seeing on the banks naked children running at play, thinking that they were the future workers of that same stone. The store piles were only a short distance up river from the temple.
"So, my dear Aegyptus, take this drawing with you. Study it well. I will have the soft brick makers stand at the ready for your builders. They are mixing the clay and straw as we speak. You know how to do the rest."
"This is my first temple, your Highness, but I can depend on my father for consultation."
"Hapu is one of the finest builders of the land. The newly finished colonnade at Karnak is the envy of all the kingdoms. They will stand forever. And I am sure your temple will too. May the gods guide you in your visions. Amen."
"Amen. I will report to Your Grace on my progress every ten days. May I use cuneiform tablets?"
"That is the usual way, though they are so crude, alas. But I will come by and visit whenever I can get away from matters of state. Ah, they can be so tedious, but the priests demand it of me, and Aiye is a hard master."
"May I beg your pardon, your Highness, but must you answer to Him?"
"We all answer to Him. He is the voice of the gods, so why should it be otherwise? Of course, he also answers to me."
"You are Pharaoh of all the lands."
"Yes, We are. The gods so decreed it, Me and Her Holy Mother."
I could tell from the silence that followed that I was being dismissed. I bowed to my Pharaoh and retreated facing him until I reached the entrance, then turned and exited. After resting and eating a light meal, I called on my servant to accompany me to the new temple site across the river.

So ends the first papyrus scroll of the words of Aegyptus, spoken in the name of Amen-Ra. (signed) Mayat


Papyrus 2, Slave

Wet your palette (of ink cakes), my good Mayat, I would like to give dictation. I examined your earlier hieratics, and they look very good.

Each time I crossed the Nile, I was reminded how beautiful our blessed Egypt is, with the sun shining from behind the Temple, reflecting its golden light on the river. The canopy of blue sky framed our land with a crisp brightness that tied together as one the desert and river and sky. My schedule had me rise at dawn and work until mid day, when I took rest and some food. Then we worked until nightfall, when our gang stopped for dinner and free time into the evening hours. The venerable Temple of Karnak had stood since great antiquity, and in our time was only being added to. On entering, I always felt the power of all the Kings from long ago who worshipped here. It was an honor and privilege ordained by the gods to work on such hallowed ground, so I was blessed to do so. In the past few weeks, we had cleared the land of the workers' earthen huts that had stood there and leveled it, marking out the perimeter for the new temple. Then we began digging for footholds. The men hired worked well, and there was a general feeling of enthusiasm shared by all for our great royal project. They seemed happy with their rations of bread and beer, and each one tended to their own gardens at home for vegetables and fruit. They fished or hunted by the river to supply their families with meat, when they had the time. As royal workers, they were also exempt from taxes. Usually, I gave them a free day every eight days, though ten days was the norm. They also had free time during festivals. But my excitement was soon given to frustration as I realized that my supplies and workers requested from Yebu had not arrived as promised.
"Bring me the overseer." I gave an order to a scribe, Apu, who doubled as my messenger. "You will find him by the barges at the docks."
"Yes, my Lord. I will bring him presently."
The young man jumped to his feet and ran down the path to the river. I had sent tablets twelve days ago to Yebu to bring down the skilled rock cutters for dressing the initial stones of the foundation, and expected them today, but they were not yet here. The slaves from Kush were already penned behind the temple, and I despaired to make them wait for too long, as the Hyksos in charge were grumbling that the new master of works was ineffective. I could not let this continue.
"Your overseer, my Lord." Apu returned to his work counting the knotted strings brought over by the bargemen.
"The Nile is high. Why are my stonemasons not here? " I asked of the overseer who arrived breathless. His name is Lazar, a Hebrew who came to me with the other Hyksos. He was a very capable man, personally selected by Amen'het, wise in the ways of construction.
"I had just this morning received word from up river that they are now at the stone stores loading barges, my Lord."
He gave me a submissive look, yet his eyes were keen with intelligence.
"Do you have word of when the barges will arrive here?"
"They should be here in three, four days, my Lord."
I looked at him again and could not keep my impatience. There was something about the confidence in the man that made me feel calm. As overseer, his work was most important for this project, so we had to establish our personal frontiers quickly.
"You may drop the 'my Lord', if you wish. At work, we are like equals."
"Yes, as you wish..." I could see he was about to say "my Lord" out of habit, but stopped himself. "May I make a suggestion?"
Lazar had a quizzical look in his eyes with a twist of humor on his lips.
"Yes. What is it?" I asked.
"I can have the men punished who were responsible for the delay. I have names."
"Pharaoh said that we use only the small whips, and the large for punishment," I replied.
He again returned that look that smiled from inside.
"The crime was not that great, Sire."
"Tell the men that if their work does not please the gods, and Pharaoh, and me, then by Amen their beer rations will be cut, and women allowed to the camp only on every other free day."
This had the effect I thought, and Lazar turned serious.
"You word is our command. We will have the stones here in two days."
The post holes were dug to test for footings, but there was unfortunate news. As the stone blocks were being offloaded by the Kushite slaves, we had to stop transport to the site because of our new discovery. Also, the god Mon'thu had spoken through a priest that He did not like the position we had selected for His temple. Pharaoh came immediately to the temple grounds.
"Tell me of what I hear, Aegyptus. Why is the god not pleased?"
Pharaoh had just returned from hunting down the river towards Kom. He was still dressed in his battle gear, and presently removed his helmet.
"You Highness. We encountered water seeping into the rock below the selected site. Only a part is affected."
"Can we backfill and reinforce it with extra footings?"
Just then, Lazar came into the work area. He prostrated himself before the King, who motioned for him to rise.
"Lazar, you know of these things. Can we backfill?"
"I defer to Aegyptus, your Highness. But it seems, in my opinion, that we cannot." He stood in silence for me to speak.
"Lazar and I had consulted. It seems that we need to angle the temple away from the water, if it would please your Majesty."
"Ah. We do it for the god. What are the priests suggesting? Have they spoken?"
"Yes, they have. They support our plan, if it pleases Amen," I answered.
Pharaoh thought about it for a moment. Then he paced over to the door to look out over the slaves sitting on the ground, waiting for our instructions. He turned back.
"I think we should remove the neck rings from the Kushites. They will work better without them, but increase the guards, and threaten them with the gold mines if they don't behave." He then paced the earthen floor, thinking, and then spoke. "I also think that moving it to the right, away from the water, will not displease Amen, or the friends of Horus. We will be pleased to build on solid footings. It must stand for eternity. Let it be so. We will come back next week (ten days) to see our progress." He looked around at us. "Well done."
Having spoken, Amen'het seemed pleased with himself and left without ceremony, but stopped to look at the post holes again, and shook His head, then looked up at the sky as if beseeching the gods. Then His entourage surrounded Him and they returned to their royal bark at the river.

My father came to visit from time to time, more to just spend time with me. Mother had been ill, and he looked worried.
"She is past child bearing, but I do love her company."
"Mother will recover," I said. She will yet see you appointed Chief Architect for the Royal Court."
My father smiled at this thought.
"Were it to be so. So much work, and sometimes one wonders if all this work is enough to gain just a small tomb at the Royal Valley of Beauty."
"Strange, Father, that such things are of such importance while we live. What does it matter when we are dead? And yet, they are important, if we live forever. I make a promise to you. That if you do get a royal burial, then no matter where Mother is, she will be with you."
"Unless I die first. Then she can follow."
Hapu and I watched the moon rise over the hills of the Valley, slowly spreading its white light on the temples and palaces below. Activity had already ceased as it was late, and we had ferried over from the Temple complex some hours ago. We both preferred resting for the night on this side of the Nile, though at times we were too busy to return and had to spend the night there. Father was building the pylon addition at the new great temple to Amen (Luxor). His work went well and Pharaoh had praised him publicly at the Opet festival of the gods.
On one such late night, I stopped over the slave pens to check on the status of the war slaves. It was a hot night. I was accompanied by a slave quarter master, a hairy thick set man with small eyes and a cruel mouth. I found him an unattractive Hyksos, with strong arms used to wielding the whip, which he carried lightly in his hand. He wore a leather helmet that covered his ears, not unlike those worn by soldiers, and hair came pouring out of his chest where a thick vest was crossed with two leather straps. His stocky legs carried his bulk well as he opened the cell doors to the small rooms where the Kushites were kept, three men chained together for each cell. As we came in, they looked up tired, their well muscled dark skin still glistening in the warm night by the light of our oil lantern. I spoke to one group of three.
"Do you speak Egyptian?"
"Yes Lord," answered the full lips of one of them. He seemed younger then the other two.
"Where did you learn?"
"I had schooling," was his simple answer.
"Do you have enough to eat?"
"We do, Lord. But an occasional piece of meat would be good for us."
"I will see what can be done. And the work? Is it hard work?"
"It is, Lord." He then said something in his own language, which I gathered was a translation of what was being said. They then quickly exchanged words. "They say the work is hard, Lord, and that meat would be very good."
The Hyksos looked at them with indifference. He spoke their language, somewhat.
"Are they complaining, my Lord?" he asked.
"No more than would any man in their condition." I then spoke to the black man with whom I had exchanged words.
"Which war did you fight in?"
"Last year, at Amada," was his guarded answer. He then added, "I was the son of a chief, who was killed in battle. I wish I had joined him."
"You were brave, no doubt. But the fortunes of war are in the hands of the gods, and you lost." This brought no response from him. He looked down glumly. "I will see to it that we put an extra man on each stone. Also, in a few days, more oxen will be brought to pull the sledges from the river. This will move stone faster, since we can put an extra stone per sledge. Do you understand this? Tell it to the others." He did, and they looked up, with almost a trace of smiles on their faces. "Be sure to tell others tomorrow and pass the word."
"You are gracious, Lord."
When we closed the door behind us, the Hyksos asked me.
"What do you hope to gain with your leniency, my Lord?"
"I need to get back on schedule, since we lost time. They will work harder now, by Amen."
"May it please the gods that you are right, my Lord, or the whip will make them faster." He tapped his whip in his hand as he said this. I nodded, but did not reply, and was glad to come out into the fresh air of the night again.

Three months had passed, and the temple foundation was laid. All work progressed well, after the initial obstacles were met. Pharaoh was pleased, and stopped by less often, though He came immediately if any of my tablets expressed difficulties. He was always eager to offer His help in resolving problems, as was His way. When the limestone proved too wet to lay down for a foundation wall, though it was easier to cut as such, He called on another quarry to supply us with better stone. It came cut and properly dried within days. The workers seemed to keep up their spirits, and I never had to exercise my threats to them. As time passed, they became more familiar with me and began calling me Father, though this appellation is usually reserved for the priests. But the spirit of the temple takes on its own life as it takes shape. And Mon'thu's temple was beginning to show the elegant lines Amen'het had designed into them. I was busy one evening bent over the scribe's records of the work done when I heard a voice behind me.
"Aggy. I have news for you. It is sad news."
I turned and to my surprise, saw a fine familiar face I had not seen in many years. My surprise changed to joy instantly as I recognized who it was. She had grown, and blossomed as a woman.
"Naume! Sorry if I seem vacant, but I had been working very hard of late, and it is past my sleep time."
"I know you have. I've had you watched since I learned of your work here. Has the new foundation proven stable? The new stones harder?"
"You know of this too? Yes, it has, by the gods. But how do you know about the construction?"
""I study all about architecture when I can. It has become an interest of mine almost as long as it has for you. So I keep up with what happens here."
"Ah. But it is so good to see you. Have you been assigned to a temple yet?"
"Did you know of my preparations for the temple?"
"I keep up with news also, so I knew you were down river at On for a year, studying."
I looked at her face by the firelight, and it had that soft familiarity I had long known and loved, but also a weariness I had not seen before. Naume had grown into a beautiful woman, shapely and elegant, and yet comfortable to be with. Her fine nose and lips spoke in silence with her eyes. I was happy to see her.
"Yes. I will tend the shrine to Hathor, here at Karnak."
"Wonderful news! And a well chosen place for you." She returned my smile. "But you said you have sad news?"
"Nerit died."
"Mother? The priest said she had gotten better..."
Naume took my hand and pressed me close to her. My tired weariness grew heavier on me. I felt myself sob quietly in her bosom, as she patted me on the head and stroked my back. She let me cry quietly for a time. When I looked up at her, her sad face looked blurred to me.
"...Has father been told?"
She nodded quietly.
"He has made preparations at the tombs. Your family's high position will ensure she has a fine burial in one of the larger tombs."
I knew there was always a ready inventory of pre-cut tombs ready for prominent families, though they were separate from where royalty was buried.
"May she live happily with the gods forever."
"We will join her with our love in time," she added.

I became a regular visitor to Hathor's temple after Naume became priestess there. Work was going well, and the colonnade for Mon'thu's shrine was going up on schedule. The brick makers were adept at mixing the Nile mud mixed with straw and then sun dried. These held up well the weight our workers placed on them. The ramps were just steep enough, when wetted with water, to haul the stone progressively higher, so each new tier could be placed easily onto the one below with the help of a simple shaluf at the top. When the work is done, the soft bricks will be chipped away, to return into the soil, and the columns will stand tall and straight, capped by their covering stones forever. But this is still to come. The columns were not even half way up at this time.
My mother was buried with full ceremony attended by both villagers and courtiers. Her bark and coffin atop the catafalque were drawn by prominent nobles up the canal to the area of the tombs. All wore headbands of respect and women were hired to perform the morning rites. Priests read prayers over her coffin, as did my father and I. Naume also attended. When the final cap stone was placed over her burial chamber, the women wailed with full force, and tears showed on many eyes. Hapu then dismissed the ceremony and stayed behind at her tomb. She had been well wrapped with all the necessary sacred rites for her safe passage into the Western World, where she will be received by Isis and Osiris. Father wanted to spend his last moments with Mother before she began her journey, until he too will take that same road into the afterlife. It is a fact of life that we must all pass that way, so it is best to do it right.
Whenever Naume saw me bring offerings to the Temple, she would always be the one to attend to me. That first night we had spent together had left a permanent mark on us, and we sought each other's company whenever possible.
"I want to see you tonight, if you stay behind at the temple," she whispered under her breath as she performed her rites for me before the Goddess. I had begun spending much less time across the river, aching for the night to arrive. Hathor looked down at us both, though her eyes were fixed on a distant world closed to us. "I will ask the Goddess for her help."
"I fear that we will be discovered, which could be bad for both of us. We are not yet promised to be married."
"I know," she whispered, "but her Holy Mother of the temple does not discourage me. Are your men safe from the knowledge?"
"I suspect some know, but they dare not talk of it to me. But they may talk of it to each other."
We spent many weeks like this, courting each other in secret, and enjoying each other's company through the night. Then she did not come. I waited night after night, and still she did not come. So I went to the temple. When I finally was allowed to see Naume, she seemed frightened. We stole away from the others into the dark inner sanctum of the chapel and talked in whispers. Even here walls have ears. A small statue of Hathor, goddess of love, sitting on her throne inside her heavenly ark, and the stars on the ceiling illumined by a small oil lamp were our only witnesses.
"Oh, Aggy. I cannot see you anymore. I am forbidden."
"Why? By whom?"
I could see by the oil lamp at the goddess' feet that Naume had been crying. She still had tears in her eyes. I kissed them gently.
"First by her Holy Mother. Then I was called in to see the High Priest."
"Aiye?" I asked in shocked disbelief.
"It is worse, my love. He had me perform a sacred rite..." She stopped and caught her breath. I could feel she was tortured inside. "...He took me to the temple of Amen. I could not resist His Holy Father... and he commanded me to have sex with him, in the name of God."
Naume then sighed deeply and sobbed silently, her body convulsed with her inner grief. I held her close to me.
"Then you may be with child..." I whispered.
"No! I do not want his child. Oh, Aggy. Take me now, so it could be our child and not his." She grasped me with all her strength and held me. After a long silence, when shock slowly dissipated into a resigned calm of acceptance, I spoke to her.
"Yes. Let them not have their way. That cursed Priest has abused his power, but the gods will help us."
Naume covered me with kisses, and I her. We knew we were safe in the inner sanctum, since those who were allowed here were away at a festival at the palace. All my men of worth were in attendance there, so none would come looking for me. We were safe to steal this precious moment together.
"I love you, my Naume."
"I love you, Aegyptus."

While we were in each other's arms oblivious to the world outside the sanctum, a great feast was being celebrated by all in attendance at the palace grounds across the river. The Nile was coming off its flood, and the nights had begun turning cool. When I stepped outside, I shivered more from the grief inside then the night air. Though I was not dressed for the night, I wandered aimlessly into the village by the Temple, more to find human company than for any other reason. The aura and touch and smell of Naume stayed with me, but now I found no solace in it. The common people were not invited to the celebration, so they held their own at the village. Fires were lit and much merriment was heard over the wine and beer. I stumbled into a tavern and joined the revelers inside. They stopped a moment, seeing a noble amongst them and not sure what to do, but quickly forgot me and then resumed their village songs. Food was brought to me out of courtesy, but I was in no mood to eat and swallowed the wine instead. After some hours passed, and the festivities were in full force, women came into the tavern to solicit their favors amongst the men there. I was approached numerous times but did not have the heart to go with them, and pushed them away drunkenly. When I woke the next morning, I was in someone's house, in their best bed, with dark faced children looking down at me. The villagers had taken pity on me and took me in as one of their own. When I tried to rise, the children ran away. I must have looked terrible, because this was how I felt inside.
The men returned to work more quiet than usual the next day, and I could tell from their activity that they felt no better than me. The brick layers had already built the scaffolding necessary to raise the column stones to the next level. Sledges loaded with stone were dragged up the slippery slopes by thick ropes pulled by Kushite men. They appeared stronger now, and seemed to throw their weight into the work. Today they were less listless than the other men. The meat helped, though they too were allowed a small ration of beer during festivals.
"Lazar, how is our progress?"
"Very well, Sir. We have risen another tier from last week all around. There is much soft clay in the fields, so the straw bricks are coming quickly now. I've sent for the stone carvers to begin work on the top capitals."
"Good. Have the priest come for the next blessing."
It was the custom to consecrate a temple at each stage of its construction, and now we needed a blessing. A young priest came the same day and sprinkled water on all the works of the site, chanting prayers as he did so. I did not dare go to Naume that night, since I knew now we were watched. This made the nights long, and the days more crowded with work than before. When I fell exhausted in my bed late into the night, I found sleep hard to come by, thinking of what our fate would be now. But soon there was word from the Palace. I was summoned to appear before Pharaoh.

Amen'Hoetep spoke to me directly when he received me into his chambers.
"Aegyptus, I am your King, Pharaoh, son of God, keeper of order in the universe. So you understand that I must know of all things that happen here."
I did not answer, as I felt it would be discourteous and let Him continue. He was dressed in the royal attire of state, and was very formal with me. He continued.
"I know you had been seeing one of our young priestesses. You violated her virginity, now restored by our High Priest, and this was a serious offense. But We are willing to overlook that. I like you, Aegyptus, and you are a faithful servant in all things you do. We are pleased. So I have decided to deal with you in the following manner. But first, I will call Naume in audience with us."
He called to a vizier who exited the chamber and returned presently with Naume. She looked straight ahead, afraid to look at me, and bowed deeply before Pharaoh. When He bid her to rise, Amen'Hoetep continued.
"Please be seated my children." When we took our places next to each other on pillows provided for us, Pharaoh resumed. "I have a very difficult matter of state to resolve. My High Priest, Father Aiye, and I have consulted. You may know that Her Queen Mother is ill, possibly seriously ill. We fear for her life, and the tomb carvers have been summoned to complete their work at the Valley. You may understand what this means?"
Naume and I looked straight ahead, not daring to look at each other, but Pharaoh seemed less preoccupied with us than with some internal matter.
"You children may play an important part in Our future plans." He looked at us both with sympathy in his eyes. "I am not so young. The women who are my wives, and concubines, have failed to produce Me an Heir. I believe, from what the priests tell me, that you Naume are with child. So there is only one course open to me that the priests can see, blessed be the gods. When Her Queen Mother dies, I must have a Queen to sit by Me at the throne. Do you understand where this is leading?"
Neither Naume nor I spoke, though we finally did steal a look at each other. There was relief and fear in both our eyes. Pharaoh spoke again.
"The High Priest recommends the following. We will change all the records from the beginning of My reign. You, Naume, will have been my wife throughout that time. And you, Aegyptus, her lover. This is not so uncommon a practice, and it dates back to the beginning of time. So I will not interfere with you if you see each other, but only on one condition. That it is absolutely secret."
He stopped to let us understand what was being said to us. Neither looked at the other and stared straight ahead, as if eyes fixed on some distant point on the horizon, where the gods look.
"If you are caught, Aegyptus, and mind you, I love you like a son, there will be terrible punishment for you. You will be publicly tortured for the enjoyment of the common people, humiliated and exiled. I am totally serious in this. We cannot have my position compromised in any way. That was decreed by all the High Priests. Now you may speak."
Amen'het stopped to wipe his brow. I could tell that this was as difficult for Him to say as it was for us to hear.
"You are most lenient, my Grace, for we have wronged You. We did not know Naume was with child." I looked at my love, and she raised her eyebrows and shook her head to signify she did not know either. "But the word of God is our command, and we will obey."
Naume then cleared her throat and spoke.
"My child, if there is to be a child, will be your child, my King. The condition you place on us is difficult but most just. I pledge my life and my duty to you."
"I love you my children." Pharaoh looked with true compassion at us.
"And we love You, my Lord," we both answered in unison.
"Then it is understood and agreed. Amen. I will instruct Aiye to change all the records from this day back. And you, Naume, will become my wife. I will now leave you in private to discuss things, as I am sure you will need to."
Pharaoh motioned to his vizier and attendants to clear the chambers, and all exited on command. Ameh'Hoetep was last to leave and He gave us one last look. When they left, neither Naume nor I spoke for a long time, only our breathing spoke between us.
"What do you think it means?" Naume asked at long last.
"I don't know. It sounds like we are in the middle of affairs of state."
"I am to be Queen!"
"And me only your lover, and secret at that!"
"Does anyone else know? Your father, my father. Thuya, my mother?"
"None spoke of it. I think they made this decision recently."
"Oh, Aggy. What will our lives be like? Everywhere there are ears, even here as we speak."
"I know. We must be careful. But does this mean that Aiye is consolidating his power?"
"He is a powerful man."
Her words made me wince, knowing that he ritually deflowered her as an act of cleansing her, a not uncommon practice for new priestesses. What was it like to have sex with a High Priest, I thought for a brief moment, but pushed it aside quickly. I was grateful for the moment Amen'het gave us together, even if it was to be brief. The vizier reentered the chamber and we were signaled it was time to leave.

Public announcements were made by heralds throughout the land. Amen'Hoetep, King of the two Egypts, Lord of the Universe, son of God Amen, was to take an obscure wife to be Queen, as his Chief Wife. She was to be called after her mother's mother, Tiye, Queen of all the lands, daughter of Mut, sister to Khon'su, and Mother to all the people. The coronation was called for in two weeks, at the rising of the first lunar crescent. I returned to my work at the Temple.
"When this work is finished, Lazar," I sighed, "I think I will take a commission at the gold fields of Nubia, beyond the second cataract."
"You will not, my Lord. You will become consort to the Court. We have already heard."
I looked at my trusted Hebrew who was so wise in the ways of our world, and felt an inner confusion as I had never felt before. I wanted to go and find my father.

So ends the second papyrus of Aegyptus, Chief Architect for the Living God. (signed) Mayat


Papyrus 3, Queen Tiye

My heart is heavy, Mayat, but let us try to remember the good things. Please take dictation.

The great boulevard between the two Temples of Amen were lined with throngs of people. Word had gone out and the heralds gathered celebrants from all the land. In the two weeks (twenty days) that preceded, preparations went full force, gathering speed as the great day approached. Food and drink was readied. The royal stores were opened for all supplies needed for the great feast. Animal trainers were pressed into service, as were dancer and acrobats. Priests polished their temples, washers were seen beating white linen by the river, and sweepers sprayed water and made spotless the great temple road. Musicians were placed on the boulevard at a hundred paces to play their part as the procession passed by. The smell of incense mixed with cooking fires filled the air. The world was ready for the great merging of Isis and Osiris, Horus and Hathor. The great coronation day of Pharaoh and His Queen had arrived.
In the time preceding, I had not seen Naume again, and spent more time with my father. Hapu was my support for my grief with his love and understanding. His grief was shared by me over the passing of his beloved wife, my mother. Nerit had always been a strong pillar for us to lean on, but now we only had each other. My sisters were married and lived with their families. They shared little with what troubled us. Father and I share not our grief with the world beyond each other.
"By now Mother must be in the western land of the gods, I imagine."
"No doubt, Father, her soul is lavished over in the afterworld. She was a good woman, pious in all the things she did in her everyday life."
"We were blessed to be in her circle. She was fine, wasn't she?"
I nodded in silence as we sat by the fire after our evening meal. Father passed me a morsel of opium I put in my lip and held it there to dissolve. He did the same, to help us with digestion. Our servants had been dismissed for the night and we were alone.
"How is it the gods take the good and leave the bad ones behind?"
"They want them for their company. We mortals are left with the sheaf," I answered. We both watched the flames dance, casting their light about the dark room. The cool night outside was dark with the new moon. Dogs barked in the distance and we could hear a child cry. By the river the roar of hippos rose up in waves from time to time, lost again in the light breeze that came up from the north. On the terrace outside overlooking the Nile in the distance, a bird landed, and then flew away again.
"A spirit to see us," my father said quietly. "It is always sad at new moon. That is why new beginnings start there. They can only get better."
"Tomorrow is the coronation." I answered. "We will walk in the procession, behind the King, though my heart is not in it."
"Don't be so glum, Aggy. You are a favored of the court now. Don't you think Naume will not influence events? You will see her again, when it is time."
This idea cheered me a little, thinking Father was right. My beloved, as Queen Tiye, will have the power to direct events at the Court. This raised my spirits somewhat, but the heaviness of the night was still upon me.
"We'd better make ready for the morrow. We will meet again early at the new Temple where the procession begins."
"I wish she would come to me in a dream," was my father's sleepy answer..
With that, Father left me and returned to his chamber at the other end of the terrace. I made ready for bed and prayed to my gods to lift the heavy weight from my heart.

The next day rose warm and bright with sunshine. Before noon, a large gathering of priests and courtiers assembled at the new Temple to Amen. A phalanx of priests stood at the entrance to the temple ready to launch the procession down the boulevard. Flags were flown from the great poles outside the pylons, others carried by the celebrants. The people outside had already gathered from the day before and were waiting in anticipation. By noon, the majordomo gave his signal, and the priests stepped out past the great pylon into the world outside. A great cheer rose from beyond the walls, and the first musicians breathed life into their instruments. The great coronation procession had begun.
I was not to join in until the Royal litters arrived, and my father was to walk behind the Queen's litter, while I behind the King, just before the Queen's. She could see me, but I could not see her. The Royal Couple did not arrive until later in the afternoon, followed by the litter of Her Queen Mother. Her litter was covered with curtains so we could not see inside, and all knew She was not well. Amen'Hoetep's litter was the grandest of all and it took forty men to carry it. He stood in it smiling at the crowds below, waving when His eye caught that of a friend or important guest. The Queen's was also great, though smaller, and her light sheer curtains were partly drawn back, so I could see her sitting upright on her throne. Naume looked beautiful, her dark curled hair drawn back, her face radiant but serious as she looked out over the crowd beyond. On her shoulders was a fine cape rimmed with gold and white furs, and on her neck was a bright gold winged disc framed by a profusion of bright colored beads. Already she looked as regal as a queen. When the High Priest's litter arrived, carried by thirty-eight men, the final stage of the procession was to begin.
The royal procession had already begun and proceeded at a steady pace for hours. Following the priests were parades of prominent generals and their captives, of which there were many. Men in chains followed phalanxes of brightly clad soldiers, these themselves also from many lands. Some carried the flags of their regiments. The greatest awe was caused by Asiatics we had never seen before, three men with very thin slanted eyes. They were not chained and only walked impassively behind their keeper. They were said to have been acquired in trade and announced by the royal herald as men from Khitai, a land so far away that none had ever seen it, not even our well traveled traders. At a distance behind them were the royal giraffes led on very long leashes held by their trainers. The sight of these created a great stir amongst the people, as they had not seen giraffes before, nor the tame camels that followed, except wild ones in the desert. The giraffes came from the land of Punt. Then came a long procession of dwarfs from all the known lands, some were very dark Negroes from far beyond the fifth cataract, so it was said. Behind them were the elephants, which made the dwarfs quicken their short step, and behind them a pair of tame lions, which prompted the elephants. As each group passed the musicians, they would raise up their instruments and play as loud as they could to announce this new segment of the parade. All these would end about two hours away at the other end of the boulevard, at the great Temple of Karnak, where the coronation was to be held. Then it was our turn.
The Royal Bark was first in our file, it being raised on great wheels and pulled by a hundred men. Atop were the stone statues of Amen, Horus, and Hathor. The wheels were sheathed in thick leather so there was no grinding sound as they passed. Behind Them was the litter of Pharaoh, followed by His vizier and other important courtiers. Then came the litter of the Queen Mother, followed by her attendants. At the last moment, the parade master requested that I join other courtiers behind the litter of the Queen, which was being moved into position by the litter carriers now. I joined in with the courtiers there and her Majesty's future attendants. Behind me was the litter of Aiye, a very great litter gilded in gold. He sat tall and erect in His throne, looking seriously at the world below Him. Behind Him was an army of scribes and lesser courtiers. Father was ahead of me, just behind the King's. I did not expect to see Lazar, as he was not invited. He would be most likely with the audience beyond the gates. Nor did I see my friend Mosu, though he may already be at Karnak. At a signal, when all was ready, the great portals of the pylons were swung open on their heavy bronze hinges, and the Royal Bark rolled out onto the boulevard. A great roar sounded from ahead as the people's cheering drowned out the sweet sounds of the musicians. As each portion of our segment filed past the great entrance, priests sprinkled holy water on us, and we stepped out into the world beyond.

Our procession moved slowly through the City, to the cheers of jubilation and loud music at each block of houses we passed, so that to our ears it never ceased. As I processed with the moving column of the King, I thought of something Hapu had once said to me.
"The Royal processions are most important. They not only amuse the populace, but let them feel that they can be close to their King, and a part of the Living God. Something so simple as a parade can hold together an empire."
Now, looking at all the faces of the people lining the boulevard, I could see the meaning of his words. They were eager to glimpse at their Pharaoh and all the possessions that were His. In a way, it was all theirs too. The great lands of the two Egypts were made flesh and real before them as our procession passed by. Suddenly, I felt proud to be part of it all. I too was part of the grand plan given to us by the gods to rule the most beautiful and plentiful land in creation. The soon to be new Queen sat regally aloft above the crowds before me, and I was happy to be so close to her, though She could not see me. But behind me I was painfully aware of the eyes of the High Priest burrowed into the back of my neck. This I tried to consciously dismiss, but could not. His eyes were too powerful for me.
When our procession arrived at the Old Temple, preparations were already underway for the great coronation ceremony. The royal litters were lowered and Pharaoh dismounted. All kneeled, as they did for when the to be Queen descended, and for Aiye. The Queen Mother had Her curtains drawn back and waved weakly to the people assembled, while they kneeled again, but then was taken away. She would not join today's Royal Feast. When the vizier dismissed us, we were given recess until the time to assemble was announced. Pharaoh and the others of the Royal Family retreated to their private chapels until sunset.
"Aggy!"
It was the familiar voice of my dear friend, Mosu. I was happy to see his golden head again.
"Mosu! So you are here too. What a beautiful procession we had. The last time I attended coronation, I was but a child."
"Me too. When Amen'Hoetep, our Father, was crowned. I was only six then, same as you. But tell, me. What is happening to you? I hear stories around the Court that somehow you got tangled up in this whole affair with the new Queen. Is it true?"
"I have heard stories also, and they are truly exaggerated. You may know that I knew Naume from childhood, so this creates speculations of all kinds. I assure you, my respect for the King and His new Queen is sacred."
Mosu gave me a sly sidewards glance. Then he smiled.
"I never believe half of what I hear around here, and will encourage others to do the same. If there is a secret to be kept by me, then you can count on it. I will not ask further."
"I would be the first to tell you, my friend. The weariness you see on my face is that I have been exceptionally busy with the new temple to Mon'thu."
"Is it working well?"
"Actually, it being my first, I must admit that it is going better than I expected. The scaffolding is now half way, and the brick makers are about to add another tier. So it is going well."
"Your name is already legend around here, with the way you treat your workers. Even other slaves talk about it. They don't know you but call you Father Aegyptus, out of respect. How do you do it?"
"I treat them like human beings. They then do the rest for me. It works. I've only had to use the punishment whip once."
As we talked into the afternoon, we could sense that the most important part of the celebration was being readied by servants and courtiers. Large new flags were hoisted on the poles beyond the pylons. Tables from the royal stores heaped with wonderful foods of all kinds were carried out of the hypostyle halls into the great court of the Temple. Three great thrones were brought in by the men who are retained for such duties. They stood tall and beautiful in the fading light. When the sun was low into the horizon, a herald announced that all be gathered in the great court, and we all took our places in front of the thrones. Mosu stayed by my side and we were positioned near the very front with high courtiers, as we had been bidden. Away from the throne was reserved for lesser nobles and guests from foreign lands. At the very back were the wives and concubines of Pharaoh. Priest and priestesses of lesser order were there also. Hapu was with us in the front rows. He looked at us and smiled. Mosu acknowledged him in return, and then our attention was directed to the entrance of the High Priest. He called out in a clear voice.
"All kneel before His radiant Majesty the King, Amen'Hoetep, Pharaoh of all the lands of Egypt. Amen."
We all kneeled as we were bidden. The priests in attendance took their places, and the maids of honor stood behind the Queen's throne. Musicians stood at the ready to one side, and dancing maidens clad in only thin girdles of modesty, covered with near transparent capes, kneeled on the other. They were otherwise nude, beautiful women with full breasts and shapely legs, and with lovely faces framed by thick black curly hair. Just then Pharaoh entered followed by His vizier and other high priests, and stood before His throne, facing us. Then Aiye spoke again.
""Blessings to the Living God, may He live in eternity in the presence of all the gods. Blessings To His Holy Majesty, King of the North and the South, Father of our sacred land, who liveth in Truth, keeper of order in the Universe, and most beloved son of Ra, Amen. We are gathered here today, loyal subjects, royal families, friends of the Court, all welcome to a most joyous occasion between the King and his wife, Tiye. As many of you already know, they were married at the time of Amen'Hoetep's ascension to the Throne of His Father, Thut'Moses. He has selected from all his wives and concubines the most beautiful and most suited to reign by His side. Today, on this joyous occasion, the Chief Wife will become Queen of all our land. Amen."
To which we all answered "Amen."
A thin bell rang, and the maidens behind the Queen's throne filed out into a chapel where the new Queen waited. After a moment, another bell rang, and priests came forward carrying incense and chanting prayers. They assembled before the King and waited. The bell rang again, and the maidens of honor came out of the chapel casting flower petals before them, as the new Queen stepped majestically behind them. She was all covered with flowers as well, her hair black and thick, covered by a diadem heavy with precious stones. Naume looked more beautiful than I had ever seen her before, and I felt true joy in my heart for her. She already looked like the Queen. Attendants helped her take her seat on the throne, and she looked down on us with regal composure. Aiye continued standing, with us kneeling before the Royal Couple.
"Before divine Horus and Hathor, Maat and Ptah, Sekh'met and Thoth, We call upon you and all the Heavenly Host..." Aiye then recited a whole litany of gods, "...and Khon'su, to make most complete and Holy the joyful union gathered here before Us. Amen." After we made our response, Aiye said "You may rise," which we did. He continued. "Re'Herakhty, fly down from your Heavenly Mansions and cover with your Love our Royal Couple, Amen'Hoetep, Pharaoh, and his lovely wife, Queen, Tiye."
Pharaoh looked stately and joyous at the same time, staring ahead over the congregation. But when this was said, He looked over to His Queen and took her hand for a moment. She too looked over at Him and I detected a slight trace of a smile on her lips. Both dressed in their royal robes looked as splendid as the sun, which was setting behind the mountains of the Valley of Beauty on the horizon. The High Priest then motioned to his attendants to bring the two crowns of Kind and Queen. They stood motionless before them, holding the red and white crowns of the two Egypts before their eyes. Aiye spoke again.
"We call upon Isis and Osiris, the Harmony of this Divine King and Queen, to preserve for all of Eternity the natural order of our fair Egypt and the Universe, as they have for all Time. As the Sun sets into the West, so the Sun will rise with the Love for the beloved Royal Majesties before us, to produce an Heir as is the pleasure of the gods. They are the flood of the Nile, the bounty of its rich harvests. They are protectors of our land, blessed be its people, and they are Father and Mother to us all. Amen. Attendants, you may place the crowns."
The attendants behind the Throne came forth and removed the diadems from the heads of the King and Queen. Then the two attendants holding the crowns took two steps forward and gently placed the Royal Crowns of Egypt on their Heads. A loud applause rose from everyone present, and the attendants stepped back from the throne. Then Amen'Hoetep stood and looked over at His new Queen, and offered Her His hand. She took it and rose also, They now both standing before us in all their Regal Glory as Man and Wife, King and Queen. A great cheeir rose. Now, the celebration could begin.
Musicians instantly broke into a spirited song, accompanied by lutes and harps and reed flutes. The dancers rose from their positions, droped their thin capes, and fluttered over to the King and Queen and danced in sensual rhythms, with such grace as I had never seen before. They were skillful and beautiful, their dancing filled us all with desire. Servants came out from the chapels where they had been waiting to bring great platters of refreshments, and all present knew that the Festivities had begun in earnest. Fires were lit all around the great court to give us light, and a thin trace of a moon began its appearance low in the purple sky. Egypt had a new Queen.
When the coronation was finished, and the feast begun, Aiye walked over to His throne and seated himself with the help of His priest attendants. He sat there before us, impassive, looking down at the celebration. He looked older now. I wondered what went through His head at that moment, seeing the King and Queen smiling at all who smiled at Them from below, acknowledging friends and strangers alike. Here, in His Person, sat the one man who could rule all Egypt, and yet it was not ordained for Him to do so. The gods had favored Pharaoh and Tiye, and now they were the center of everyone's attention. Next time They went out into the world, They would share Their throne side by side, and all the people would see their King and Queen as One.
Mosu came over and said to me "Come on! Dance with me!" The celebration lasted well into the night, as it did on the outside. The populace cheered and drank and ate until they could no more, all supplied by Pharaoh. By morning, the fires had died, and quiet once again returned to the City. My men had a free day, as was customary after such a great Royal Feast. And now that my Naume was Queen, I had to wait for orders from Her, if I was to appear at Court, same as if the King called me. To think of this made me happy and afraid. As time passed, I thought of it less and less, and again became committed to my work. By the time of the first harvest of Spring, my men were sliding the cap stones onto the tops of the columns, ahead of schedule. The sheaf of the columns beneath the capitals were still undecorated, as this would be done later, when the brick scaffolding was removed. I got lost in my work, and was happy to be doing what I liked best. The men worked well. My personal life would have to wait. I, like my father, was a builder.

Pharaoh came by to inspect His temple from time to time, but this time, when the roof stones were in, He came with His Queen. Tiye wore a head diadem with the double ureaus of the two Egypts. Amen'het had the simple wig of Pharaoh, also with a thin diadem. They came in good spirits, accompanied by Their courtiers. Lazar announced them.
"His Highness the King, and His Chief Wife, Her Majesty, Tiye."
All bowed when they entered our work area. I rose to greet them and likewise bowed, but my work clothes were soiled and I felt that I presented a poor image to their Majesties. But Amen'het came directly to me and clasped me on the shoulder like to a familiar.
"Aegyptus, you have Our compliments. My inspectors had just returned and could not have been more praiseworthy of the progress at Our Temple. The roof is in place. You are well Loved."
"I am unworthy of Your high praise, Your Grace, but I humbly accept it in the spirit it is given. Thank you."
Tiye stepped up to me, which made me instantly respond to Her presence like to a musk fragrance. My body became weak in Her presence.
"I like what you are doing, Aggy. Pharaoh and I have been following with great care on your works. He has allowed me to learn as much as I can about temple building, so now I am in charge of affairs, in His absence."
I gave Her a look that tried not to betray to others that I understood full well what She meant, but only for her to know. Her eyes spoke back that she understood, and my heart felt glad inside.
"Blessed be the gods, but you are Queen in the footsteps of your great Grandmother, the Queen Hats'hepsut, who also was greatly famed for Her knowledge of building. It was a passion of Hers."
"As it has become mine."
Amen'het gave us a knowing look, but said nothing.
"By your leave, My Lord, may I show the Queen the works done thus far?"
"You may, Aegyptus, but protect Her well from all danger."
"Yes, my Lord."
It is a great paradox of life that what we cannot have, we want most of all. And at the moment, I desired Naume more than anything in the world. Careful not to touch Her Highness, I showed Her the way to climb up the steps to the top of the soft brick scaffolding to view the work from above. She had strong leather sandals on and, as it was dry, had no difficulty climbing. I, in my muddied work shoes, climbed behind Her, watching Her every step. She moved with grace accentuated even more by the coarseness of the work area around us. It was like watching the sun rise in the freshness of an early dawn.
"Careful around the tools left by the workers," I said as we reached capitals of the top tier. The stone masons had stopped to watch their Queen and fell prostrate to the ground when She arrived. Naume motioned them to rise. They stood like geese huddled together, not saying a word.
"You men may take recess while the Queen inspects your work." With those words, they bowed and hurried down for their well deserved rest.
"Aggy, you are master here, and the stones respond to your command as if they were made of clay."
"It takes a lot more cutting hard stone," I responded, amused.
She smiled and looked around, admiring the work with understanding. She examined the cap stones and ran Her hand over their seams, which fit without margin. Her face glowed from the climb, and this made Naume prettier than before. I dared to speak, now that we were alone.
"How is life with Pharaoh? You are turly with child?"
Naume did not respond right away, but continued to appraise the work that still needed doing. She did not show, though her health looked vibrant.
"You will have your carvers tell our story in this stone?" she asked at last. Her eyes turned to me, serious but amused. It was in her power to make me weak. The fact she did not answer me meant nothing to me.
"I will speak through the stones in any language would please your Highness," I responded, teasing.
"Then tell our story, but make it so that only we can understand." Her eyes danced as they looked at me.
"Your wish is my command. I will write it myself." Naume came very close to me, but dared not touch me, for fear of what could happen to me. I respected her caution and also was careful not to touch her body, though we did touch by accident upon descending, since I had to take her hand when her footing was uncertain. She squeezed my hand, and then quickly let go.
When we got back down, we then entered the temple under the new stone roof. Already, there was a small shrine built at its center, where the statue of the god Mon'thu would stand. Since the workers had been dismissed from this area, we were alone. I could feel her breathing in the dark interior, made especially dark by the black clay brick that surrounded the work. The area of the temple here was cool and moist, since the brick retained water, and much water was used above to slide the stone. There was a savory dampness about the place, and we both felt its suggestion. Naume's lips parted as she looked up at the small openings in the roof cap stones which let in air and light. I could see the soft muscles of her neck. She looked at me, and then around us, and when it was certain there was no one present to see, Naume, my Queen, reached over to me and kissed me hard on the lips. Then She turned abruptly as if nothing had happened.
"I had wanted to come to see this temple for a long time," She said at long last, a bit breathless, as we turned to walk back into the light.
"And I've been waiting for a long time for you to do so," I answered weakly. My lips still burned from her kiss, and my heart was pumping with inner joy. So is the power of being loved, even if it is impossible.
When we came back, Pharaoh was glad to see us again.
"Well? Did I not tell you of how good his work is? This is the man who will built our tombs for us, now that I will have an Heir." Amen'het seemed very pleased with having said so. "If We are not talking prematurely, not having asked the Queen, that is." Naume did not respond.
"If it would please your Majesties," I answered. "Your words are my command. I would be honored to do so, as long as I could have my trusted Lazar as my assistant."
Pharaoh looked at Lazar.
"He is the El Lazar, is he not? A king in his own right," was Amen'het's quick response. "I would be pleased to make an announcement at Opet. You will have finished here by then, and I could appoint others for the finishing works and inscriptions."
At this, the Queen gave me a quick look.
"I will have the text prepared myself, my Lord," I quickly answered, "as befits the God, Appearing in Truth."
"Very well. Well said. This is a Temple of Truth."
Naume relaxed visibly upon hearing this. She then gave me a quick look and took Her Lord by the arm, as they turned to exit the temple area. When their entourage had gone, Lazar spoke first.
"Did you hear that, Sire? I am the El Lazar! And we will be builders of the Royal Tombs!"
"I wouldn't think of doing it without you, my Hebrew friend. I am glad Pharaoh honored you."
"And you, my Master."
"Your friend."

I could not sleep that night, and tossed in my bed thinking of Naume. Her taste, her feel, her hand, her lips, all spoke to me continuously. So I rose up and gave up on sleep. Instead, I gathered my ink palette and papyrus, and began composing the story I wanted told on the columns of Mon'thu. With the god's permission, I began drawing the hieroglyphs that told of unattainable love, since the evil Seth would not let the lovers have one another. Mon'thu would come to the rescue and, with the help of Horus, banish the evil. But it was not to be, and the force of evil again good rose up against them, and became more powerful than before. The lovers did not back down to this, and renewed their love for each other with still greater force. I stopped my text there, uncertain where else to go with it. The lovers needed a strong ally. Finally sleep, or the god, conquered me, for I remembered nothing until I woke the next day.
The heaviest of the work done, we progressed quickly to remove the brick structures around the stone temple and erected wood scaffolding instead. This was easy work and the men seemed happy to be at this stage of construction. Priests to Mon'thu came at each stage of completion and blessed the work done. Stone carvers were called in and began the work on carving story scenes dedicated to the god on the columns and walls of the temple. I also authorized the Hyksos to lighten the work loads for the war slaves, for the Kushite had proven to be good men, and I wanted to reward them in the only way allowed to me. The only one who had tried to escape was the intelligent young war chief I had spoken to so many months ago. He was punished severely, but not broken of body. Though I regretted to see the scars on his back, I was glad to know he was recovered and alive. I promised myself that when the work was done, I would find a way to free him from servitude, and find a place for him in the way of joining my other workers. His name was Tahar, and I would find a way.
Once again, I became a favored visitor to the Royal Palace. My heart had become lighter. I could see the Queen on these frequent visits, but we were never left alone for more than a moment. There was never time to talk, or even to steal a kiss or touch. We were always under the tension that held us close but never could touch in the way a man and woman touched. My love for Her grew, as I know did Hers. But we did not suffer, since we could at least have each other's company, even if not in private. I cherished our stolen moments together.
When I came back from a visit to the Palace, Lazar was waiting for me. He had a small boy with him.
"Aegyptus, I would like you to meet my son."
The boy stepped up to me and bowed and kissed my hand. I placed my hand on his head.
"What is your name."
"Bek," was his simple response. The he added, "I am honored to meet you, my lord."
"You are a fine boy." In fact he was, with dark eyes and his father's intelligent expression. "How old are you, Bek?"
"I am eight, my Lord."
"A very grown up eight, I may add." Bek smiled and returned to his father's side. "Lazar, you and your wife must be very proud."
"He is a joy to us, it is true. I brought him here to see what we do. He says he will be a temple builder someday, like me."
"May the gods make it so." Lazar held his son in his arms. "Do you think you may someday change your religion? It would be easier for him if you did."
Lazar gave me a hurt look, for which I was instantly sorry. It was the wrong thing to ask him, I realized.
"There is only one God, my lord, and He is the God of Abraham."
"Yes, I know how you Hebrews believe, Lazar. But we have only one God also, Whom we call Amen."
"But, with respect, my Lord, you do worship many gods."
"That is so. But only One is God, the others only His messengers. You see, if we did not have all the gods, then One God would overpower all the others, and our freedom to believe in Him would be dominated by the priests."
"I do not understand. Why would the priests dominate?"
"It is a difficult thing to explain, but I will try." I thought about it a moment. "Because if there were not priests to balance out the power between them with numerous gods, then the priests of Amen would have total control."
"To believe in what you believe?"
"That is so. What a man believes is his own conscience, and none should dominate this, if man is to be free."
"Slaves are not free," was Lazar's quick reply. His mind always saw clearly. "Does that mean that they are free to believe as they will?"
"You believe as you will, though you are not free under the law."
Lazar gave me one of his looks that bordered on a smile.
"But I believe in one God. And in Him, I am free."
"Then may your faith and God's Love sustain you in an unjust world."
As Bek went back out to play, Lazar and I returned to our work. When some time passed, he looked up at me, thinking. Then he spoke to me.
"Your High Priest, Aiye, is the priest of Amen. Doesn't He dictate to all what you do?"
His remark caught me by surprise. I had to stop and think to answer him.
"What we do, yes. But not what we believe."
Nevertheless, his remark troubled me for a long time. Aiye was the one responsible for how things became for me and Naume, and our King. Did He then control how we believed, if our acceptance of his conditions made us do what we accepted to do? I could not form an answer, but the idea bothered me somehow. When our love is frustrated through the actions of one man, a man of God, then were we being manipulated by man, or God? Were we subjects, or victims? Was our acceptance of Him then sacred or profane? My mind's eye turned to a vision of the High Priest, and at that moment I hated him. I spoke to no one of my new troubling doubts.

So ends the third scroll of the dictates of Aegyptus, Royal Architect for His most high Majesty, King Amen'Hoetep, and His Queen, Tiye.
(signed) Mayat


Papyrus 4, Pharaoh

My heart is not so heavy now, Mayat. I will continue to tell my story. Make ready your palette to take dictation.

The next few months were joyfully dedicated to seeing Naume grow heavy with child. As Queen Tiye, she was very well attended to by all of the subjects at the Royal Court. Messages of congratulations were sent to Pharaoh by Kings from kingdoms in far away lands, with presents and suggestions for a name for the new child. The priests at council already decreed that it will be a male child, and this made Ameh'Hoetep extremely pleased. I visited at Court as frequently as I wished, was always welcome, and was happy to go and see my beautiful Naume surrounded by so many caring and devoted maids. Visiting Pharaoh was like attending a continuous celebration. He was in high spirits.
"What do you think, my good Aegyptus? Should We build him a temple now, so that it would be ready by the time he could walk?"
"Well, your Highness, we're still completing the temple at Karnak. I will be sending stonecutters for the quarries at Yebu to begin work on the main statue."
"Aren't you going yourself?"
"Yes, I will, your Grace, after Your child, the King, is born. I want to be here for the most important event of our land."
"Quite right. Quite rightly so. What do you think We should name him? I've been thinking of calling him after my great grandfather, Thut'moses, but it doesn't roll off the tongue well. Maybe..."
"Why not after Your own Self, your Majesty?"
"Amen'Hoetep again? Well, why not? It has served Me well. Tiye had the same idea. I think We like that. Ah, it is good to have you around, my friend. How is your father? I have not seen him much of late. You seem to be here more often than him."
"He is fine, your Grace. I saw him only yesterday, and he sends you his love." Pharaoh was always pleased to hear from Father. "I will be seeing him again tomorrow. Should I deliver word to him?"
"Only that the Queen Mother is more ill than before. We hope She can see the new King before She is called by the gods." Pharaoh turned sad at the thought. "I may need him to ready a tomb in the Valley."
"It grieves me to hear this, my Lord. But I will tell him to call on you."
"Yes. I will need to see him soon, I'm afraid. Ah! Here comes my beautiful Tiye now."
Queen Tiye was surrounded by a dozen maidens who walked before Her and after Her, solicitous of Her every need. It had been eight months since the coronation, and midwives had been sent for, as there were signs.
"Aegyptus! It is always good to have your company with us," Tiye said upon entering.
"Isn't She radiant?" added Amen'het. "The midwives think She may be early, but no matter. We will have a healthy child, by Amen, I am sure."
"Good morning my Husband. Your baby boy will be as radiant as the sun."
"See? She had a vision too! I had a dream that Our son was looking down at us with the gods, and they called Him the Radiance of the Sun. Is that not so, my love?"
"I have asked for the same dream, my dear. May the gods deliver it to me in my sleep," Naume responded.
"He will be heir to the greatest kingdom in the whole world," I added. "His name will be legend for eternity."
Pharaoh and I retired to discuss matters of importance regarding the selection of the stone for the new statue of Mon'thu. Later, when we were done, and Amen'Hoetep was called away on other matters of state, I sought out Naume's company. It was a warm summer day, and Naume was out on the Palace terrace sitting under an arbor overlooking the Nile below. The sun was on her face, and she leaned back to catch its early morning rays. When she saw me approaching, she dismissed her maids. The sentries stood at a distance, on the ramparts, looking out over the land.
"How is the baby? Is he kicking?"
"You want to hear him? Here, put your ear down on my belly."
I sat next to Naume and gently placed my head on her stomach. I could hear the rumblings and felt a jolt against my ear."
"He kicked me!" We both laughed.
"He is animated, ready to run with other children." Naume gave me a loving look. "I think he will be very intelligent, and beautiful."
"Yes, my Queen. Coming from your body, there is no doubt."
She sat up straight to make herself more comfortable. The maids returned with her morning tea, which was offered to me also. We sat at the terrace watching the small boats in the distance, the sun shining on their white sails.
"I am sorry to hear of the sad news on the Queen Mother," I said to break the silence. "I hope She can see our child before She dies."
"It would please Amen'het very much to do so. I've asked the best doctors to come and tend to her. But She is ill, and it is hard for her. I've already ordered the preparations for her burial, though He does not know of this."
"Life is born, and life dies. This is the heavenly cycle we must all go through." I looked at Naume's calm and radiant face. "I am happy you are with child."
"It is more than just our happiness, Aggy. It is a matter of state." A weariness came over her face. "But I am happy too."

The inscriptions Naume and I had talked about were begun on the top tier of the roof stones of the Temple. Isis and Osiris were depicted in hieroglyphs as frustrated by Seth, Osiris locked in mortal combat with Him. When Osiris fell in battle, She came to rescue Him, to retrieve Him from the underworld into which He had fallen. I left the next space purposefully blank to add to it at a later time, when the struggle was finally resolved. Amen'Hoetep found my explanation acceptable, after I told Him I would finish it when His son reached manhood, since I would then depict the new King as redeemer. He thought it was very clever of me to leave it so.
My duties occupied me such in the next two weeks that I had little time to visit the Palace. Father had been summoned by the King to begin excavating the new Royal Tomb in the Valley of Beauty, as it was felt that Mut'Heptsut, the Queen Mother, was not going to recover. She had stopped eating and could no longer care for Herself. It became a daily vigil to see if She still breathed in each new dawn. But She held. Word came that the Queen was to deliver the new King.
Father and I rushed to the Palace to be in attendance when the baby was introduced into the world. Courtiers from far and wide had assembled there, all eager in anticipation of seeing the new Pharaoh when he would be brought out. They had been staying near the City for some weeks in anticipation of this. Emissaries from foreign kingdoms were also waiting, with their gifts held on barges, which were tied at the sacred lake that led to the river Nile. We all looked up from the great court below to see if there was news from either the right wing, where the Queen was to be with Her child, or the left wing, where the Queen Mother was near death. The hours passed slowly as we all waited in silence. Palace servants circulated with trays of food and drink. Then a cry was heard, and immediately a red and white flag was flown from the right wing, to which we all responded with a hearty roar of approval and clapping. The new Royal Heir was born! Within a short time, Pharaoh came to the balcony of the Queen's chamber and held aloft his Son for all to see. Again the air filled with loud cheering as all beheld the new Boy King held by his Father. Tears filled the eyes of many, as they did mine. All cried "Long live the King!" By what strange fate the gods decreed that I should be only a spectator from below, but mine was not to ask of favor, but only to be grateful to see Him born.
My father and I were invited with a handful of guests to be the first to see the newborn. But we had to wait while the Child was first shown to the Queen Mother. When She had seen Him, Pharaoh came dressed in full Royal colors to show off His new Son. His face was the sun itself.
"You are the first to see your newborn King."
We all dropped on one knee and responded "Amen."
Then we rose and all crowded around Father and His Child. Indeed, He was a beautiful child, healthy and with good color. Nor did he appear premature in any way as some had feared. The new Pharaoh was a healthy baby boy for all to see. And His father was a most happy man.
"May it be ordained by the gods that your new King will rule with wisdom and glory and justice, that He will be remembered for all time. We will hold a Feast, and I will have scarabs prepared for this Special Day."
These words were spoken by the High Priest who just then came into the chamber with His retinue. All responded "Amen," and made space for Him to approach His Royal Majesties.
Aiye stood tall and proud as he took from the arms of Pharaoh the baby. He looked down on Him lovingly, and played with the baby's tiny hand with one finger. They made a beautiful image in contrast, a very tall man dressed regally with a very small child swaddled in white linens embroidered with gold. I too wanted to hold him then, but my turn did not come until others, more important than myself, were allowed first. Then it was my turn, and I gently took him in my arms and looked down into His lovely face. I looked at the way the hand was shaped and wondered if my father had already noticed the same. I looked at Father, and he smiled at me in a knowing way. I smiled back. Then I smiled into His face, and He yawned at me. His little mouth made a sound that sounded like suckling, and I looked up at Pharaoh.
"I think He needs His mother, my Lord. He may be ready for suckling."
"Yes. Ah, yes. It is time for His first feeding." For a moment Pharaoh seemed at a loss, surrounded by so many congratulatory courtiers, and then looked up at me. "Would you take Him back to His mother? Tell Her I'll be in presently."
"Yes, your Highness. I am most grateful for the privilege."
Amen'Hoetep then turned and answered questions from the courtiers. Aiye followed me into Her Majesty's chamber.
Queen Tiye looked tired, but then looked up and smiled at us, looking both puzzled and amused. When we approached her, Aiye put his hands in mine and we both gave her back her baby. The midwives on seeing us approach immediately dropped to one knee. Naume dismissed them.
"So many hands have taken part in His birth," She said. I detected an irony in her voice. "Thank you, Aiye. Thank you, Aegyptus, for bringing me my baby. I was getting worried, knowing He was being passed around."
"He may be in need of suckling, my Queen," Aiye added with sincerity.
Queen Tiye then pulled back her gown and exposed a full breast, to which She placed the little mouth of the baby King. He immediately found what was wanted and began suckling quietly. Naume smiled at us.
"He is in command already."
We both smiled at the silliness of her remark. I looked at Aiye, and He looked at me, and our smiles would not fade. Suddenly, He seemed no longer the High Priest, Aiye, but merely a man, like myself, and I was glad to be in his company.
Shortly, wailing was heard from down the corridors of the great Palace, and we all knew instantly what it meant. Pharaoh came into the Queen's chamber with His vizier. On his face was written deepest grief.
"Mut'het did not live to see another day. May She live with the gods forever. The Queen Mother is dead." We all bowed our heads. It was all He said.

There was trouble in the South, up by the first cataract. I had earlier sent my Kushite slaves to the quarry to help the stone cutters make ready the rough cuts of red granite for the new statues for the Temple. Their presence had attracted members of their own clans who would try to free them, or so it was believed. I was of mixed heart on the matter, having grown fond of Tahar, my chief slave, and secretly would not have minded if they did escape. But this would have been treason, so I had to join the others in supervising defense of the works. Pharaoh readied an army to put down the rebellion..
There had been skirmishes in the past of little note up at the third and second cataracts, but these were dismissed as local events without consequence. Many of the Kushites in the revolts were caught and killed, or if of higher rank, were taken into slavery. But this revolt, it was felt, was of graver matter, since it came so close to the temples and quarries of the Kingdom, and threatened the possessions of the state. The war councils were called and generals came from all the lands of the two Egypts. From down North came generals experienced in the Hyksos wars, and they were most capable in handling the chariot and horse cavalry regiments. From the South came generals and officers who knew the enemy and the terrain of Kush. They all gathered in war councils, to which I had been invited as a witness so to remain informed of events that may affect my quarries. A general from the South, Werel, spoke to us.
"Your Highness, members of the council, priests and courtiers in attendance, I want to bring to your attention that the host force of our enemy in the South is assembled in the great plain beyond the first cataract, near the keep city of Amada, which is now under siege, it's water supplies cut off, and surrounded by an estimated four thousand troops. Amada will not stand more than a month under present conditions, and I move that we position our forces to the north of the city, and place reinforcements to the east and south. These could then advance, with the chariots leading the charge, down the dry wadi and push the enemy into the Nile. Our troops from Amada, if they are able, will then advance on the retreating Kushite dogs, and finish them, or take prisoners, as they see fit."
Another general spoke up at this moment, since there was a pause.
"May Your Lord suggest the size of the host needed for this campaign?"
An immediate answer followed.
"Ten thousand is enough. But scouts and spies estimate that there will be an additional thirty thousand troops raised from the hostile Nubian villages to join in sympathy with Kush. Therefore, I move that we raise a host of fifty thousand, if it would please Pharaoh."
This last part of the speech, invoking Pharaoh, was spoken with a softer voice. I did not participate in these debates of the war council, since I was not a soldier, and made a point of avoiding many of them. But Mosu, as did many others, was most eager to attend all the sessions. The hot blood of war was in their veins, and they were ready to sign up as officers for the new regiments being raised. I could see him sitting tall in the galleries of the chamber. Then Pharaoh answered the war council.
"Soldiers of the Realm, My men, the matter at hand is most grave. The sanctity of our Kingdom is being threatened by the barbarian jackals of the South. Their unwashed, uncultured kings would aspire to greatness at the expense of Our people. They would plunder the bounty the gods have shown to Our lands. This cannot be allowed. They will have no booty. We had been entrusted in Our Egypt by our forefathers to carry out the will of the gods, for which they favor us. Your destiny, and that of all the people, is tied to history to ensure the protection of our country, our loved ones, our wives, our children, our possessions, our fields, and the sacred temples dedicated to our gods. I, your Pharaoh, therefore commit to you, that the treasury stands ready to finance whatever campaign is necessary to put down this heinous revolt. I will order my scribes to spare no expense in raising the armor and troops needed to carry out the success of this war to its completion. My vizier, and you of the war council, will work together to raise all the necessary supplies in the next two (decan) weeks. Troops will be raised from the able bodied men of the surrounding cities and villages, under the command of our skilled officer corps, and trained in the arts of weapons and war. Standards will be drawn and delivered to the fort at Yebu (Aswan), under the command of our able generals, where they will march into position. I want them at Amada in three weeks time. We commit to you the full force of the horse and cavalry of our Kingdom in the South to destroying this barbaric threat. May Amen and Horus be our protectors as We march into the victory that is Ours."
A loud roar of approval rose hoarsely from all the throats around us and, with the blessing of Pharaoh, the campaign of the South was begun. Immediately, now that Pharaoh had spoken, scribes and couriers were sent throughout the land to raise the army.
In the days that followed, the response was like a fever that would not pass. All young men were eager to join in the forces of their Pharaoh and fight for His Majesty in this most just cause. I was assigned to the campaign as well, as were all able administrators and scribes. Lazar was left with overseeing the Temple works while I joined the others at Yebu as Master of Supplies. Father had been working on a commission to erect two great statues of Pharaoh and His Queen Tiye at the entrance to the Valley of Beauty. The Queen Mother had been buried there quickly, as other pressing demands fell upon the tomb workers. She had been well wrapped with great care for Her journey into the Western World, but her tomb was hastily finished Now Hapu was called upon to administer the new recruits for the campaign in the South. Mosu became a cavalry officer in command of his own chariot, and a squad of men who would support him as he rode into battle. The news put fear in my heart, but then fear is what drives men to war.

As old men and young women brought in the grain harvest from the fields, our troops assembled to march south to the staging grounds beyond the first cataract. From there, it was a four day forced march to the battle areas of Amada. I was to bring up the rear with supply barges and wagons, so my detachment would not leave Thea'bes for a few days more. Already, men were seen proudly parading the streets of the City with their shiny new helmets and body armor, given to them upon completion of war training. Their weapons would be given to them at the fort at Yebu on their way to the staging areas.
Preparations at the Palace were likewise torrid and engaged. Messengers were seen running, courtiers petitioning the war council to serve at better posts in the ranks, generals waited their turn for audience with Pharaoh, and wives and concubines who were summoned for the protection of the Palace vied for attention. Even war drums were heard late into the night. I busied with my duties assigned and put the Temple's works on hold until my return. The land took on the appearance of swarming bees with columns of soldiers marching at parade as their instructors barked orders at them.
While I was inspecting the barges that would carry supplies of firewood and wheat flour to the South, a messenger delivered me a tablet. It was from my Queen. On it was written a message for my eyes only.
"Meet me at the temple of Sekh'met, tonight when the moon sets. I will be at the holy shrine praying."
I lay awake until the late hours, until the moon was low on the horizon, and then quickly walked alone to the temple. It was not far from my residence, near the river. The streets were deserted at this late time, and only posted guards challenged me. I gave them my name and they responded as expected to let me pass. When I got to the temple, I could see the faint lights coming from the interior. An old priestess greeted me at the gate and took me in. Sekh'met, the lioness goddess, was fond of having Her temple crowded with cats. All believed they carried the messages of the supplicants to the gods. They scurried beneath my feet as we walked to the offering shrine. The Queen's attendants were posted at an adjacent chapel. Upon entering, I could see the form of Naume, bare headed, kneeling before the tall statue of the lioness god. The old priestess then turned and left us. We were alone, except for the cats.
I walked up to her quietly and kneeled next to her, as was expected upon entering the shrine. She did not look at me, but continued her prayer, eyes closed. I did the same. Naume, when finished with her prayer, looked up at the Goddess and raised the palms of her hands to Her. The temple lantern cast a faint glow on her cheeks. When she had finished, she lowered them and put one hand into mine.
"Are you in charge of the supply detachments?" she asked me quietly.
"Yes. I will be in the rear of the engagements."
"Good. They were going to put you on the front, in charge of the trench excavators." She took in her breath as she said this. "I intercepted the order and had it reversed, to put you at the rear."
"I am grateful, my love. I would not want to be in the front."
"You would have been killed there, I know. It had been foreseen. That is why I watched all the messages that came into the war council."
"Who sent it?"
"Aiye."
She tightened her hold of my hand, and I did the same of hers. It was good to feel her flesh again, to feel the blood coursing through our veins together, to be touched by her warmth.
"You are beautiful to me, my love," I said softly to her. "How is our son?"
"He is beautiful, my love, like His father."
"Like His Mother," I replied. "I miss you."
We knelt like this before the Goddess who grants us our dreams for a long time. When we heard the cats at the entrance hissing, and then footsteps approaching, we quickly let go of each other's hand. It felt like eons had passed since I held my love in my arms, and now leagues separated our hands from each other. When the Queen's attendants entered, we rose and made our bows and exited back into the starry darkness. As I walked back slowly to my bed alone, I prayed that Sekh'met heard our prayers, and that somehow we could be together again.

Thus ends the fourth papyrus as dictated by my lord Aegyptus.
(signed) Mayat


Papyrus 5, War

There are things, Mayat, that are difficult for us mortals to bear. But they must be told. Please write as I speak.

War drums were still heard in the distance, along with clarion calls to regroup formation. Already the jackals had descended on the killing fields to inspect the dead and dying. Faint calls for help were heard from wounded men lying in the distance where earlier had been a terrible battle. We had won back Nubia, but at what a price, we still did not know.
I had watched the battle from our positions in the rear, where from far away the noise of battle easily reached our ears. The plain of engagement stretched dry and desolate in a great bowl below us. The keep of Amada was on the river's edge beyond the valley. Smoke poured out of buildings still standing inside the fortress. News reached us that our men who had been captured were left by the retreating army, impaled on long poles, some with their heads cut off besides them. This spurred our troops to fight even more valiantly, knowing that this was their fate awaiting if they failed. At the sound of horns calling for formation, phalanx after phalanx of soldiers advanced on the enemy, who formed a long line of battle between our troops and the city they had taken. The drums stopped. The Kushite called their taunts in the distance, brandishing their weapons and banners. Our troops now advanced on them only to the sound of their marching leather sandals and signal clarions. They held their shields high, spears pointed ahead of them. Then, as waves of arrows whistled through the air, they split into formations that spread before the gathered host, and advanced on them in groups of thirty six men. When they reached a designated point, the signal was heard to stop. Now, only the cries from the enemy were heard, followed by a long silence. Our men stood still. And then, as if by an invisible signal, the two adversary armies charged at each other. The cavalry held in reserve now wheeled their chariots from around both flanks of our advancing columns. A broad hoarse roar rose from the valley as the men and weapons met, followed by the clash of bronze against bronze. The drums resumed. Horses neighed, men shouted, and then screamed as they fell.
My rear guard watched as each phalanx of men engaged the enemy, first by approaching them and then, as they had trained, by retreating at the center and letting them into the midst of each formation. Thus they surrounded them. The Kushite fought like wild beasts, with fierceness and skill, whereas our soldiers fought with stratagem. When each enemy party was isolated from the rest and surrounded in the fighting, the men closed in on them and finished them off. Their atrocities assured there would be no prisoners. When done, by the signal of their lieutenants, they regrouped and repeated the formation again. This took place for more than three hours, before the roar from the valley died down to only the plaintive sounds of the wounded. The signal was given for my men to go down and inspect the damage, and bring back both the living and the dead. I gave the orders.
"Bring forth the Kushite slaves and march them down first to retrieve the dead." They were walked down in gangs of four chained to each other, urged on by their whip wielding overseers. "Men! Bring up the rear with the litters. Priests, prepare more hospital tents. It looks like we will need many of them."
I looked after my men descending from the slopes where we were garrisoned. The light breeze from below smelled of burning wood and flesh. Already the smell of dead flesh and death was in the air. When our parties had all been dispatched, I followed them down. When we got to the battlefield, the ground was red with blood.
In the distance clarions called up the men who were still standing and ordered them into formation to advance on the city keep. Horses and chariots were rounded up and collected in single file. This was already in progress when we arrived. Wheel tracks curved and twisted in the sandy soil where men and horses had trod. Blood told us where the battles were fought. Scattered around were bodies of what had once been men, some missing arms or heads, some with long spikes pierced through their breasts, others lying dead from fatal wounds to the soft parts of their bodies. We saw men lying in pools of their own blood, their guts spread out before them. It was a grim revolting sight, and the stench made us want to retch. Men, weapons, and shields from both sides lay scattered as if cast about by some malevolent demon. But there were still living men, badly damaged but alive. These are the ones we tended to first, those who were ours. The others were left to their own fate, to die or be carried away in the night. We bandaged the wounded with linens if we could, and gently placed them on the litters, and then carried them back to the hospital tents up on the bluffs behind us. The Kushites, for whom this war was fought, looked about the battlefield in silence, broken only by the sound of their dragging chains. After we inspected which of the men lying were dead, we ordered them to carry the bodies, one to a man, back up to the bluff. Priests were given the solemn task of wrapping the bodies to prepare them for transport back to our land, where they would be buried. There is nothing more odious to our people than to be left dead in a foreign land.
We progressed slowly, but finally made our way past the dead or wounded horses to where the cavalry fought. Oh, by Amen, what a terrible sight. Our finest men, the sons of our best families, lay about like dead wood on the desert floor. In hindsight, we should have come to them first, but they had already been tended to by the survivors of their own squads. Those who could walk did so of their own strength, and those who could not were carried away. When we found horses still standing, tethered to their chariots, we led them away, using them as transport for the wounded. Only the dead lay still, and we began the grim task of inspecting who they were. I knew some of them by name.
"Aguilla, son of Habu. Senejem, son of Neben. Kha'bek, son of Khe'ruef. You have all crossed on the ferry to the gods."
I wandered through the broken chariots and fallen banners to see how many were of these young men who were not so different from me. There were scores, and many I recognized and felt grief for their families who were known to me. I would deliver them the tragic news when the time came. One was still alive and he could talk.
"Father," he spoke to one of our priests. "Tell my family that if I die, that I love my father and mother more than my life. I fought bravely, but the gods saw it in my destiny to have me wounded. I am faint, and may not live through the day."
"Silence, my son," the priest responded. "You will survive, by the will of Amen. We will tend to you."
"Oh, thank you Father."
The young man died shortly after, and I ordered a slave to take his body back along with the other three slaves chained to him, whose arms were already full. As I looked about, it was already late in the day, I saw a tall warrior slumped over a rock. His helmet was engulfed in a mass of red encrusted blood. I came over to where he lay and gently moved back the helmet from his head. I instantly recognized him for his long limbs. My heart sank.
"Oh, Mosu. Why you?" I whispered, and then sat down next to my fallen comrade, holding his blood stained golden head in my hand. "Oh, my dear friend. Why did Isis take you from me?" I sat a long time holding him, weeping softly to myself, rocking his crushed body, when I heard dragging chains behind me. I looked up with tear stained eyes only to see the gang that held Tahar standing over me. "Why did you have to kill him?" I asked to no one.
"I am very sorry, my Lord," was all Tahar said. He then began to bend down to take up the body, when I stopped him.
"No. I want this different." I turned to the overseer and barked an order at him. "Take off his chains! Now, I command you!"
The overseer looked shocked at my request, but he reached into his blouse and pulled out the key, with which he undid the ring around Tahar's neck. Tahar stood straight and felt the raw flesh on his neck. He then looked south towards the horizon where his kingdom lay. He moved his head as if he were smelling the wind that came from there. Then he turned to me.
"I can run faster than the wind and gain my freedom," he said calmly. "I know these hills, and the water in them, and can hide for a long time."
"I know," I said. "But I can hunt you down like an animal, or I can set your free."
Tahar did not speak for a moment, as the others watched him. I could see on their faces they wished I would hunt him down. Then he spoke.
"I will do as you command, my Lord."
I breathed in my grief and gave him my order.
"Take up the body of my friend and carry him gently."
As Tahar reached down to Mosu, I could see the scars on his back. He lifted him gently as if he were his child, and carried his lifeless body without pause all the way back to the tents where the priests awaited us. As he did so, and the sun sank into the west, Tahar sang a slow and melancholy chant in his language in which I did not understand. But in my heart, I knew what they meant.

I returned in the warm months upon the rising Nile. The barges and wagons had returned months earlier with their grim cargo, and victory parades had long passed. I stayed behind to supervise construction needed for the fortifications of Amada. When the preliminary work was done, I then turned the task over to my subordinates. It came time to go home. Aboard our barge, I watched the river banks turn from harsh desert to take on the softer features of land worked by the hand of man, by the grace of the gods, as the wild lands gave way to cultivation. Crocodiles slid silently into the water, their small eyes secretly hoping by Seth to seize an opportunity as we passed them by. Hippopotami rolled noisily in the shallows, as white storks and egrets graced the river banks like silent sentinels, or take to the sky in a great white cloud. Soon children were seen running along the riverbanks with us, racing the current. It was good to be home again in my beautiful homeland. Within days we had arrived. Lazar was first to greet me as we docked.
"My Lord! I had gotten word from your messenger that you would arrive today, Lord. Welcome home."
"It is good to see you again my old friend. It feels as if I had been away for years. What news you have for me?"
I could tell from his eyes that he felt I looked older, sadder. This I felt in my heart. Only months had passed, but the weight of the campaign had its hard affect on me. I was tired.
"We had completed the inscriptions inside the temple and are now doing the walls outside. The reliefs had also been mostly finished, showing the King and Queen adoring the God. We are now instructed to bring down the granite for their statues to grace the entrance. I awaited until your return before they were shipped."
"Has it been cut and readied?"
"Yes. They will be pulling them down to the barges in a few days. The carpenters are preparing the great sledges. I expect the stones here within two weeks."
"That is good. We'll have the stone sculptors ready to work them. Has Amen'het given you designs?"
"He drew them Himself. They were brought here by Her Majesty Tiye."
The sound of her name brought me back from my memories of sadness, and it was sweet to know that She had been here. We exchanged other news regarding our families, events at the Court, gossip about the City. Lazar expressed his sorrow when I told him of the loss of my friend. Then he brightened when telling me of the Boy King.
"You should see him, Sire. He just now had taken his first steps. His baby babble sounds almost like words. The King and Queen delight in His company, and nothing is denied Him. They are all spoiling Him!"
"So He is loved by everyone. That is good. Do you have any sealed message tablets for me?"
Lazar went over to a niche high up the wall which hid a shrine. From behind its small doors, he took down a box full of small clay tablets covered with linen secured by the Royal Seal. There was eighteen of them, one a week for the months I was away.
"These arrived with instructions that I guard them with my life. The sender was always the Queen's personal messenger. I dared not send them onto you in the field, as I knew there were spies and enemies about. He gave me a sly look. "I knew they were for your eyes."
"Lazar, you are more sly than a desert fox. I mean that in a good way, and I appreciate your prudence. But I forgot to ask what had been on my mind for many weeks. Has the Kushite, Tahar, been set free on my instructions?"
"The petitions had reached Pharaoh, who only Himself can free a war slave. But he is still in chains."
"I promised him, by Amen, that he would be free. Has Amen'het given word why?"
"No, my lord."
"All right, my friend. Carry on your good work. I'll ask for an audience with the Royal Couple immediately. Tomorrow I'll inspect the works here." I packed the sealed tablets into my leather travel sack and prepared to cross the river home. "Have you heard from my father?"
"He is well, and awaits you at his home." Then he looked with genuine joy in his eyes. "Welcome home, Sir."

When I arrived home, before going over to see my father, I opened the first tablet that fell from my open pack. I quickly tore open the seal and read it.
"Each day I pray the gods that you will be safe. In my mind's eye, I see you standing on a desolate field, saddened by the harsh land around you. How I wish you could be here by the green Nile instead. I send you my strength to persevered against all adversity in that hostile land. You are in Our thoughts always. The King and I are well, and Our son is growing everyday. He sends you his little smiles. (signed) Tiye."
I left the others to be read later, late into the night, then summoned a servant to send message to the Palace that I am returned and seek an audience. The messenger ran off as fast as his young legs could carry him, after he expressed how happy he was to see me. Then I set out to see Hapu.
"My Lord, your son is here," was the simple introduction his manservant announced.
I walked in and found my father lounging back in the company of concubines. He looked up and laughed at something they had been whispering into his ear. I smiled at him.
"Having a good time?"
"Ah! My dear son, Aggy. How delightful to have you back. So much has happened since you were away. So long away, it seems. Come, take wine and sit by me." He waved the women away. "Tell me, tell me everything. Are you finished with Amada?"
In truth, I did not recognize my father. He seemed younger somehow, fresh of face and jovial. I sat down wearily next to him and took the goblet offered to me by a servant.
"Yes, Father. I hope to never go back there again. Now I know how the traders feel who are away from our fair land to too many months at a time. It is a hard world out there, not like our blessed land of the gods. But you look wonderful! Life is good?"
Father took a long draft from his goblet and put it down with a bang.
"My son, it couldn't be better. I completed the hypostyle hall beneath the new pylons at Amen, and now am engaged in the colossi of the King and Queen at the entrance to the Valley of Beauty." He gave me a happy look. "And I've been recommended to the post of Chief Architect for His Majesty Pharaoh."
He looked even more pleased with himself, though his eyes danced a little in his head.
"That is splendid, Hapu, my dear Father! How come this good fortune?"
"I am a now an intimate of the High Priest. He has written long commendations for me to Amen'het, and I am even better received at Court, by everyone. They have promised me a tomb at the Valley. I am a man who has arrived."
The mention of the High Priest put me instinctively on guard, but I did not betray my inner feelings, and showed gladness instead.
"To a better man it could not go. You have worked well and hard all your life, and the recognition is most well deserved, Father. I am happy for you."
Food was brought, and we drank happily into the night, past the time I had planned to spend there. But it did not matter. I was happy to be in the company of my own flesh and blood, and glad that the gods saw fit to smile fortune on his life. My father had been a good man, and this was his just reward. Only the fact that it came from Aiye worried me, though I did not say so.
"Father, I must go, since I expect a message from the Palace. I had petitioned to free one of my war slaves, and it has not been done, so I must pursue it further."
"War slaves? After all you've been through, you want to free him? Why?"
"It's a long story. But this one is different from the others, and to him I have promised."
"It won't be easy. You know Pharaoh frowns on such leniency, especially after the recent war. But do as it is in your heart to do. That is what I had always taught you."
"It was a good lesson, Father, and I am grateful for all the things you had given me. Again, congratulations on your recommendation. I hope it will soon be approved, by Amen."
When I returned home, which was some distance away as my father had moved to more splendid quarters, I found a messenger waiting for me. He had fallen asleep, but woke quickly when I entered.
"My Lord. It would please His Highness the King if you would join Him for morning tea, an hour after sunrise, if it is your pleasure to do so. He expressed His happiness that you are returned safely from that unhappy land. Should I return with your reply?"
"Yes. Tell His Majesty that I am most honored by His request and will join Him tomorrow morning at the appointed time. Thank you."
The page ran off into the night, and I tore into my pack to read all the other tablets written to me. Each had a similar formality to it, expressing hopes that I will be protected by the gods, but beneath those lines was pressed into the soft clay letters that spoke of love and longing. I could feel it as I held each tablet in my hand. By the light of the oil lamps, I read them all, more than once. The full moon outside cast its cold white light on the warm night, a moon of endings and new beginnings. I fell into a deep sleep from which I did not wake until the dawn.
When I rose and washed, my manservant brought me a freshly cleaned and pressed tunic rimmed with gold. I dressed and set off in my new chariot for the Palace. It too was a gift from Aiye to my father, though it had been delivered to me.

When I arrived, I was ushered into His Majesty's private chambers. Pharaoh Amen'Hoetep was sitting out in the cool of the morning reading papyri of state when He looked up to greet me.
"Aegyptus! You are returned to us. How wonderful that you came back in safety and the love of the gods. Please, sit by me. These affairs of state can wait."
Servants brought us cakes and tea, and I sat near Pharaoh as asked.
"My Lord. It is good to be back home again. There is no land fairer than that presided by your Highness. We are truly blessed to be Egyptians."
"How true, how true. It takes time abroad to understand such things. I remember when my grandfather spoke of His campaigns in Asia, and how unhappy He was to be away from our home. He spoke of the Nile falling from the sky almost everyday, with thick clouds, that oppressed him. Here, the gods smile upon us daily with their sunshine. Who would want it different? Is this not the best place for man or beast to be?"
"Indeed it is," I returned his cheerful smile. "But there are men who would prefer their own homeland, no matter how bleak. I have heard that there are lands our traders had seen in the very far north, where the sun almost never shines, and in the cold months, white feathers fall from the sky that are very cold and wet to the touch. And yet, I am told, even there men call their land the most beautiful. I am sure they are wrong, but to them, it is right."
"They must have different gods from ours, since Amen would never let such cold unhappiness fall from our sky. I myself would not allow it."
We talked in pleasant tones until I thought I should bring up the matter that was most important to me. But just then, the Queen and His Prince, Amen'Hoetep the younger, came into the chambers.
"Good morning, my love." It was the bright cheerful voice of Naume, Queen Tiye. "We have company, I see. Welcome home, Aegyptus." Naume gave me a warm look that spoke directly into my heart. I bowed in return, and looked back into her eyes. "Look at Our little boy. See, He can walk!"
Indeed, the little Boy King toddled along His mother, holding onto Her linen skirt. His little bare feet stepped cautiously one in front of the other as He struggled to maintain His balance, and then He looked up at us and smiled with happiness over His new accomplishment.
"His young Majesty is a strikingly beautiful child!" I spoke involuntarily. "He is absolutely wonderful!"
All smiled at my heartfelt remark. Indeed, His mother's beauty was evident in his rosy cheeks, though I thought He had my smile. His face and nose were long, like mine. I looked at his hands, and they had the bent characteristic of my family trait. It warmed me inside to see those hands. Naume saw me doing so and her eyes spoke to me in silence.
"This morning He spoke His first word, my husband. Let's see if He'll say it again." She kneeled down to Her son and spoke "Nana." Amen'het's little mouth repeated the word "Nana." Naume looked up beaming. "It means He wants milk." We all smiled at this new word. Pharaoh looked most pleased with Himself at His son's accomplishment.
When we had all breakfasted, Naume sent His little Highness back to his wet nurse, and joined us in conversation.
"What is it like in Kush? Are they really naked savages? Do they fight with no cover other than a shield, and do they really eat human flesh?"
"Some stories are exaggerated, my Queen. But they do fight naked, sometimes. And it is a hard land to scratch a living. Many of the tribesmen, with which I had encounter after we gained the peace, are desert nomads who live off their livestock. For food they have only milk, or meat from their goats or asses. Their water wells are hidden in the desert, and sometimes go dry, much to their distress. But they make a delicious curd from that milk, kept in soft earthen jars, which keeps it cool."
"Like our water urns?" asked Naume.
"Yes. They also sweeten it with honey, and it has a most pleasant taste. The people there are not as ignorant as we think, and they can survive in a very harsh land, where water is very scarce. Mostly, they are hospitable, when not at war. Otherwise, they are ruthless."
Both Pharaoh and the Queen shrank at the stories they had heard from others about the nomads' ruthlessness. They knew that if they fell out of favor even with one of their own, the poor wretch would be left with no water or cover to die of the desert's desiccating hot sun. And if a woman was found wanton, she would be stoned to death by her own family. We had seen bleached human bones as proof. I continued with my stories, then turned to the subject that was most on my mind.
"But the Nubian people are not all like that. I've had occasion to stay in their homes, even sleep there."
I could tell Naume's mind wanted to know if it was with a woman. I let it pass and continued.
"If it would please Your Majesty, I would like to ask of a most great favor to help me honor a promise made."
"What is it, my son?" replied Pharaoh.
"When my friend Mosu fell in battle, I had his body taken back to the priests."
"Yes, We know of this. His family was most grief stricken, but thanked the gods that it was you, his dearest friend, who took him up in your arms."
"I did, your Highness. But the body was carried by one of my most trusted Kushite slaves, a man named Tahar. And when he lifted my dear friend in his arms, I swore then that I would release him from his chains."
"Set the man free? Is that what you mean?" Pharaoh did not seem at all please with this idea. Queen Tiye said nothing. She felt it best to let me speak in my own way. "It is not done, my son. It would set a very bad precedent if We freed him, wouldn't it?"
"I would not differ with the words of Pharaoh, my Lord. The word of Pharaoh is law. Only that a promise is a promise, and I wish to be a man of my word."
"And so you should be, as befits your station in life. But some things cannot change. A war slave is a war slave. He had been gained by the right of arms, and belongs to the victor. Only the owner can release him, and then only with My permission,"
"But, by your leave, Sire, who owns Tahar?"
"I had this checked when I first received your unusual petition to free him. So I know much about this man, now. He is the son of an important king beyond the fifth cataract, and his father is dead. His family also petitioned me to have him returned, as he would be ruler there. But this I dare not do, unless his rightful owner release him."
"And who, pray my Lord, is that?"
"Why, he belongs to the High Priest, of course, as do most war slaves. Does that make it clearer for you?"
"Yes, your Grace. It does, sadly. But, with all respect, I am a man of my word, even to a slave. So I must do what I must. I must then petition His Holiness the High Priest, if it would please Pharaoh."
"If He goes along with it, it is acceptable to me, you understand. I value you and your father very much. He is a much happier man, I see. I would be happy to help you with the slave's release, as I know the Queen would approve the same." Naume nodded. " But it is not entirely in my hands, and it is against Our custom. But, We wish you well." Amen'Hoetep then turned His attention to the papyri before Him.
"Thank you most sincerely, my King. You are most high Pharaoh."
I did not mention my father's recommendation to the post of Chief Architect, as I thought it inappropriate at the time. Since I felt I had been dismissed and our discussion ended, I knelt to Pharaoh, and rose to leave. Naume escorted me back to the Palace grounds where we had a moment alone.
"My husband is under a great deal of stress, and under some strange power of Aiye, which I cannot understand. But He defers some matters to Him, and this I must respect, as is the custom. I just wish I knew what it is He has on Him."
"Maybe He has our secret, and threatens to reveal it."
"No. I don't think He knows about our child. Aiye thinks it is His. But there is some mystery that is between them only, and I cannot fathom what it is."
Naume took my hand and held it warmly in hers. My heart gladdened, but it remained heavy with responsibility. She reached over to me and signaled for me to kneel on one knee before her, which I did. I kissed her hand, and she kissed me on the forehead. If anyone saw, it would have appeared to be no more than an act of subservience.
"God has brought you back to me. By Amen, I will see what I can do to help you keep your word. I will petition Aiye to see you." She then whispered "Goodbye for now, my beautiful love. You are alive."

I got word in two days that I was to appear in audience with His Holiness, Aiye. His attendant priest and priestesses welcomed me into His palace with wet towels to wash my face and hands, and escorted me into the audience hall. It was a great chamber decorated with tapestries from many lands, and with stone statues of many gods. There were also wooden statues of deceased Pharaohs, like a museum of our great land's past. The smell of myrrh incense greeted me upon entering, and Aiye was seated casually on a stool by the window taking sunlight and air. One of the young priestesses was massaging His feet.
"Aegyptus, we meet again." Aiye remained seated and motioned me to sit on a stool near him. His cool long gaze followed me like a cat following its prey. Another young priestess came over and undid my sandals, put a moist cloth to my feet, and began relieving their soreness with her soft hands. It was most pleasant. "Please take refreshments. We have tea with cardamom, a most exotic flavor from a land far away. I have asked to have the plants brought here so we can grow it. See if you like it."
I tasted of the hot thick tea flavored with milk and honey, and found the taste instantly pleasing.
"Your Holiness, You are most kind. It is delicious, thank you. I am most honored to sit besides you in the comforts of your beautiful home."
"Amen. This was once a Royal Palace, so it is a good home. But tell me, Aegyptus, what is it that We can do for you? I understand you have some troublesome matter with a slave, is that so?"
"It is a minor matter, Lord, but it weighs most heavily on me. In battle, my dearest friend fell. When I had his body taken up by a favored slave, I swore upon the death of my friend that I set the slave free. If it would please your Holiness, I am willing to buy him from you so that I could honor my word."
Aiye looked at me in bemused silence, as if he were restraining laughter.
"Is this man important to us? Does he have rank in his homeland? Most of our slaves do, you know."
"He is now a king, after the death of his father."
"Then he can be useful to us, no?"
"He has shown promise of high intelligence, and a willingness to obey."
"Excellent traits." Aiye's handsome face looked out into the gardens below and closed his eyes, as if drinking the floral essence from below, the sun warm on his face. "I had been thinking since I got word of your request." He paused for a long time. I tried not to lose my thoughts while the lovely priestess' soft hands rubbed my feet. Aiye suddenly turned to me and looked into my eyes. "May I call you Aggy?"
"Why, yes, my Lord."
"Good, Aggy. I feel comfortable with you. It pleases me that you are here. I want to be frank with you, because you are a good man. There are very few things in life that the gods do not grant me. It is in my stars that it should be so, and I accept it. Wouldn't you?" Again He looked at me directly.
"Why, yes. It is right to accept what the gods offer, my Lord."
"Exactly so. Excellent. But the gods will not offer me what I want most." On this He closed His eyes as if deep in sleep, dreaming some far away dream. Then He opened them again and looked off into the distance. "I want what you have."
"I beg your pardon, Your Highness, but I don't understand. I am a humble servant of His Majesty the King, a builder of temples, no more."
"No. That's not what I mean," Aiye almost hissed. "I mean you have Her heart, and I don't."
I froze and could not respond. The tea began tasting bitter in my mouth and poison crossed my mind. But it was only my own fear. Then my thoughts cleared as if a wave had passed over me.
"You words are mysterious to me, my Lord. I do not follow your meaning."
He looked at me again with His steady gaze. He was a handsome man, but now a wickedness showed itself on his brow.
"Tiye is yours. It is not secret that She loves you more than Herself. All at Court know it, even Pharaoh." He stopped to let it sink in, and to see if I showed response, which I did my best not to. "You may think it is a secret between you, but I have ways to know. And..." He paused again, leaving me dangling on His words. "...By Amen, I am not upset by it."
"It grieves me to think that others believe the Queen is not faithful to Her husband the Pharaoh, my Lord."
"Oh. Let's not be simple. We are talking of matters of State, and I am speaking to you as to an equal. Why do you think I want to do this, hmm?"
"Because I am at your mercy, my Lord."
"And I am at yours. You may not see it, but you are more powerful than me, and I recognize power easily." Aiye then reached for the priestess who rubbed his feet and gently stroked her on the head. "I have asked the gods to tell me what to do. And they have answered me."
"I will do what pleases Your Holiness, if it also pleases the gods."
"Of course you do. Do you want to know what they said to me?" He again paused, but I made no answer. "They said to let you have Her. Oh no, not openly, but same in secret as before. But to have Her. Do you follow me?" I nodded that I understood. He smiled to himself. "We cannot embarrass Pharaoh in any way, you understand. But I am willing to bargain with you. I need you, Aggy. I need you."
With a wave of the hand, Aiye dismissed the young maidens who were with us. When they were safely away, He continued his monologue.
"You have shown promise as a great builder. It is the opinion of those who know that you are greater than your father. Do you know that I tried to have you destroyed? But the gods would not allow it. So I must obey them."
"You are being most frank with me, my Lord."
"I need to be. Do you understand? I am ordered to be. I cannot disobey those Who are higher than Me. And Their instructions are sacred." He shook himself as if out of some dream, and I suspected He had taken opium. "You are instructed to build for me the greatest tomb ever seen by man. No, not for me. For Pharaoh."
My heavy heart gladdened to hear this. Tell a builder to build, and there is not surer way to his heart.
"Do you mean a tomb, my Lord?"
"More than that. It has been a thousand years since our forefathers built the greatest tombs ever known. And We want you to build one that is even greater than what they accomplished."
"That is a very tall order, Your Holiness. How can the gods expect this of us?"
"They will help us, of this I am sure. When I asked them how can so much stone be put together into a pyramid as they request, in one lifetime, their answer was most puzzling to me. But maybe you would understand. Do you know what They said?"
"What was their answer?" I asked, genuinely surprised.
"Weave it. They simply said, weave it. Does that make sense to you?"
"Not immediately, my Lord. But I think I know what they have in mind."
"Then you are the man. You are chosen. So that's the bargain. You have the Queen, and She is most willing to have you. Her husband, Pharaoh, who knows the child is not His, turns a blind eye. He has already accepted this. In return, you build Him a monument that will be the envy all creation. No other king anywhere will have a tomb as grand as this. And it will please the gods."
I could not speak for a long time, but looked at Aiye, then out at the garden and the smooth graceful lines of the Nile beyond, then at the statuary in the great hall, and the tapestries from all those far away kingdoms. How could a man who has everything want to bargain with me? It was a mystery to me. But it made sense, somehow. He had power, and I had love. And in between the contest of the two, mine was more powerful.
"I accept on one condition," I finally said.
"Name it."
"Tahar becomes my assistant, to work side by side with my Hebrew, Lazar. And when it is done, they are both free."
"Done."
"Do we ask Pharaoh first?"
"He's already agreed."
Aiye smiled at me with a genuine smile. I then asked a simple question when it came to mind.
"But what do you get out of this?"
"I please the gods."

That a war could so change a life was a genuine mystery understandable only to the gods. In my absence, the strange mechanics of Court life had placed me on the path of destiny, one I could never have foreseen. When I next saw Tiye, she was most happy and threw her arms around me. She cried with excitement. "You win, Aggy! You win. No. We win!" I returned all Her kisses, and she mine. We felt like we could breathe again. Pharaoh was most enthusiastic for this new project, and ordered me to quickly finish the Temple to Mon'thu and begin preparations for the new tomb of the gods. Father thought it a sign from heaven, and in truth, so did I.

So ends the fifth scroll of Aegyptus as spoken by his mouth. (signed) Mayat


Papyrus 6, Aiye

Your were not yet born, Mayat, but it was the greatest time in all of history. Everything went right. Let me tell more.

It is said that the wilderness knows the language of the wind and rain, and that priests understand the language of the Nile and the gods, as they course through the heavens in their chariots. We humans are only given to sometimes understanding the language of the soul. But the more I thought of my audience with Aiye, the more I realized I understood nothing.

Naume and I wasted no time in making up for the years lost to us. Whenever possible, we stole away where none would find us, and none came looking. We loved each other with abandon, and it felt so good to feel her flesh against mine again. We both knew that somehow we had taken the bait to some trap, but we wanted to live, and if the moment was all we had, we had to take it for ourselves. Those were happy months, and each day spent together was relished to the fullest. We held nothing back.
A council was established at Court to begin preparations for the new Royal pyramid to be built. Three members were appointed by Pharaoh as the triumvirate that would coordinated the works. These were myself, Queen Tiye, and Aiye. Amen'Hoetep would hold the deciding veto in all decisions. Added to these as members of the council were design staff, construction supervisors, quarry masters, tool maker masters, supply supervisors, and personnel superintendents. To this membership were also added two slaves, those who would be my assistants in the works, and who answered only to me. They were Lazar, the Hebrew, and Tahar, the Kushite. I had told them of my bargain with Aiye, and both became very enthusiastic, with reserve, for the new project. Lazar had been named the El Lazar by Pharaoh, and made sure all knew this. Tahar wanted to learn temple and pyramid building so he could one day carry the knowledge back to his homeland. I trusted them in all they did. Within a month of the council's formation, we arrived at the site where the Great Pyramid would be built.
Waiting for us with saddled horses at the barge landing before the great Sphinx was an escort of soldiers and body guards. They greeted us formally by prostrating themselves before the Queen and High Priest, and when all was made ready, we mounted for our survey into the desert. Aiye rode tall in the lead with his body guards, while Tiye and I followed behind, in turn followed by Lazar and Tahar. The rest of the escort followed behind them. I looked over to see how Naume handled the reins, and they were easy in her hands as she smiled from enjoyment. Tahar had been trained in horse handling and had no difficulty, unlike poor Lazar who found the experience trying. But he held on. When our party reached the site foretold by the gods, Aiye dismounted.
"This is it. We will build here, with the gods' permission."
We looked around and could see in the distance the other great pyramids built by our ancestors in antiquity. To the north, the great monumental tombs to Khefre and Kheops stood beside their smaller sister to Menkaur. Only their tops were showing, as we were in a depression not far removed from where the Nile made a bend in this direction.
"We will need to dig canals, my Lord," responded Lazar. "There is much sand to be moved."
"The council has decreed, with Pharaoh's approval, that thirty thousand men be assigned to this task immediately," responded Aiye. "And additional twenty thousand will be recruited for the preliminary foundation works, and fifty thousand more when we begin moving the stones."
"How does the foundation look?" I asked. ""We need solid bedrock to support the structure, or it will be aborted and truncated if it cannot hold its weight."
"Like the pyramid by Snefru, that had to be lightened and never completed," said Tiye.
"Yes. The pyramid bent at the middle," I added.
"I have seen it also," spoke Tahar. "Ours will be tall and straight, the best."
"If we follow the dictates of the gods, then our ambitions will be realized." Aiye surveyed the large desert. "Aegyptus, I think the first thing we should do is bring in the workers, and give them a few days to set up camp. They can build their villages later."
"I will order the tools and materials to be brought here," I replied. "Lazar, you will be in charge of shipments. Get only the best tool makers. I want hard iron tipped chisels. Make sure all is inventoried from Pharaoh's stores. Tahar, you will take charge of the men. We will hold a campaign to drum up enthusiasm for the new pioneers who will be blessed with working on this great project, for Pharaoh. Those who will distinguish themselves will be given a tomb at the place of the nobles."
"Will there be slaves, Lord?" Tahar wanted to know.
"They will be brought later, when we move stones," I replied.
"We have a new shipment from our campaigns in the North," added Aiye, "tall and strong men who have fire in them. We will work them well here."
We continued to survey the desolate landscape, but in our minds eye, already here stood a great pyramid and the city that would grow around it. The Nile flowed at its placid pace in the distance behind us, bordered by a ribbon of green. Naume seemed deep in thought.
"Which way should we angle it?" she asked at last. "How would the gods want it?"
"Your Majesty, that will be your choosing when we finalize the design works. While the foundations are being dug, we can decided if one orientation is better than another. But if it is your Majesty's will to design it otherwise, in the mathematics of triangles that are pleasing to you and the gods, then it will be so."
Naume smiled at my formality with her. Aiye looked away, lost in thought. Lazar had that bright eagerness that was always with him. And Tahar calculated the distance from the site to the river. We would need long canals.
"Why not flood the plain, my Lords?" was Tahar calculation's final decision. "Why not dam up the river further up, and then course it down to here, with a dam at the valley below. Once it is dammed, water will pour in and surround the site. Then moving stone and equipment to this plateau by barge will be an easy task."
"Aegyptus, I can see why you like this young man. He has a mind." Aiye gave him an approving look. Before long, the enthusiasm spread to the rest of us, as we could see the possibility.
"There are a good many stone quarries across the river, near Troyu. It's good stone for facing, and we'll use the canal to bring it here," I added.
"Of course! This is so much less work than digging channels and canals, especially in all this sand. We could throw up a dam that will regulate the flood waters, and divert only the portion needed, with the rest continuing down to the sea. It is brilliant!" Lazar could not contain his excitement when he saw it too. "That would work! By God, I know it would work. The farmers do it."
"Then we will report back to council," Tiye added, "and change our plans for the site. I think, my fine men, that we just saved six months or more off the project, and a major cost to Pharaoh. He will be pleased. Well done, Tahar."
Tahar bowed deeply to Her Majesty. But there was a clear smile curled around his lips. By now the soldiers who escorted us were getting restless in the hot sun. They failed to share in our enthusiasm and could not understand while we were happy. To them, it was only a desert, and a new pyramid but the folly of pampered nobles at Thea'bes. We would come back for another survey the next day. Aiye mounted and we were off for the palaces by the Nile where we would stay. The Queen and I had one for ourselves.
Dispatches to Pharaoh were sent ahead of us, and when we returned, He was in very good spirits.
"I received your reports," said Amen'het when we gathered with Him at council. "They are most encouraging to Me. Through my Royal Architect, Aegyptus, I have prepared the first crews to begin work on the dam. Lazar and Tahar will be in the advance party. The real work, my dear friends, will be in the design work. The Queen and I have already spent long hours into the night with rough sketches." He looked over at me. "But the real work, the really important work, will be by our architect. Only he, and the gods, know how to move so much stone into place."
Aiye was not present at this council, but He and I already consulted on procedure. I could not share this with the council, on His orders, but in my mind, the plan began to take birth.

When we had returned from the pyramid sites down near Men'hes, Aiye called me in to see Him. He was most agitated, and had difficulty with His usual composure. We had gotten to know each other more of late, so upon seeing me, He visibly relaxed in my presence. He clasped me by the shoulder.
"I had been in contact with the gods, again. And they have given me additional instructions."
"Do they really come to visit you?"
"The gods are in their heaven, but they have a way of speaking to me. Often, after a session with them, if I don't write it down, I forget what was said. It is like when you wake from a dream..."
Aiye drifted off for a moment, then He regained composure.
"I had been drugged, and when I woke, it was the same." I tried to find common ground with Him, but He did not listen.
"No. This time, they left something for me to look at. Their instructions were to show it to you, but not let you take it from my eyes. They want it back."
This became most exciting to me, to see a relic of the gods, one that is secret. Aiye took me into another chamber, one that was deeper inside His palace, into which a large opening had been cut in the stone slabs of the roof above for light.
"This is the chamber where I receive them. They have given me strict instructions that what I am about to show you cannot leave this room. This is Their room."
"I understand," I answered, not really knowing what He was talking about.
The High Priest donned a special metallic crown, more like a helmet, that He said He wore when communicating with the gods. He strode over to a large alabaster table on which lay a luminescent parchment the likes of which I had never seen before. He picked it up gently and handed it to me.
I took it in my hands. Surely, this could have been made only by the gods. It was light to the touch, almost weightless, and soft like a very fine cloth, but nearly transparent, and tough as hide. I was sure I could not tear it if I tried with all my might. Aiye read my thoughts and delighted in my fascination with it. He took it from my hands a moment. Then He tore at it with all His strength, and it held. He smiled at my marvel of this. I took it back and lay it down on the table to examine what was written and drawn on it. Wearing His strange crown, Aiye sat down on His throne in this room while I read in silence. He closed His eyes in contemplation.
I read the lines drawn, the measurements, and the notations in the margins. It was the work of genius. The ink on it was indelible, so it would not smudge to the touch. Rather, it seemed to be imbedded in the parchment. I folded a corner, and it sprung back when released. It was almost as if it were alive. I continued to study the scripture. The text spoke of a vast array of levers and ropes to pull the stones into place, from all sides simultaneously. The ramps were short, steep but stepped at intervals, with ropes running across the growing mastabas. The whole works reminded me of a loom. Weaving, they had said. Now I understood. The sides of the pyramid was likewise stepped, with a stone skeletal structure I had never envisioned. At the end of the text were instructions on how to fill in the stepped sides with stone hauled from below at each tier. Then, to my surprise, there were instructions on how to cut hard stone into hexagonal shapes that stonemasons fit exactly into each other like the cells of a honeycomb. These would encase the whole monument. It was all brilliant, and my mind's eye understood fully what the gods wanted delivered by us. Without this, it could have taken me years to design the work, but with this insight, I could see it all clearly. I was staggered and felt faint in the room, the same I felt when I was first anointed by Aiye into the fraternity of builders. How could He have such knowledge before Him, I thought. The material of the drawing was a trick of the gods, but the knowledge human. This was brilliant work, accomplished only through generations of study and calculations. Even the angles of the sides were perfect for the design. I tried to remember the chambers and shafts called for inside the structure, but I could not comprehend them.
"This is the work of the gods, in truth," I finally said after studying the document. "Where did this come from? From the old pyramids?"
Aiye shook his head to the negative. He merely closed His eyes again as if listening and said nothing.
"They have a message for you," was all He said at last.
"What do the gods wish me to do?" I asked.
"Leave it here, and return to it as you need. But they have this to say to you. They say..." He paused as if listening. "...This is not new to you. You had seen it before. Whenever you are lost and cannot go further, close your eyes, stop your mind and listen. And try to remember. You were there, when the pyramids were built long ago. You will see it all clearly in your mind's eye."
Aiye opened His eyes, and He looked tired, as if just released from a great strain. I finally found words to speak.
"I know what they say. This has always been something I could do."
"Aggy. You are a chosen One. It is to you I should bow, my friend, not you to Me. You are favored by the gods."
"If I had seen this before," I answered involuntarily as if a voice spoke from deep inside myself, "then You had been there too. We are linked in this, somehow."
"I know. Our destinies crossed before."

When I saw Naume again, I was jubilant, and yet calm inside.
"I saw it, Naume. I saw the whole thing, the way the gods see it. I know how to build it!"
She looked at me in her nakedness, stroking me on my back as I lay next to her. She then took my head and kissed it.
"I know you could do it. I knew it from the very start. You have destiny in you."
I caressed her beautiful breasts, held them in my hand, and tenderly kissed them. She kissed me on my neck, and then our mouths locked and would not let each other go.

When I met with Pharaoh again, I had measurements and calculations, and the drawings were complete. He received me in his private chamber, with only His vizier by His side. We all looked over the drawings, and Amen'Hoetep gave a long whistle.
"This is quite something, Aggy." It seemed that everyone at Court had taken up Naume's nickname for me. "And you think it can be done within ten years, with a hundred thousand men?"
"Yes, my Lord. I think it is doable, with Tahar's suggestion to dam up the Nile and flood the plain below."
"The men are just now preparing the channel to redirect a part of the Nile. It was a brilliant idea, and I believe it saved us a year's work, not to mention what it does for the Treasury. Sad for the tax collectors, though, as they were already spending their take in this. But it will be less, as needed." Amen'het chuckled to himself. "This will call for a celebration, Aggy. And the first part of that celebration will be that I formally announce your father's promotion to Chief Architect." He looked at me as He said this. "You know that it is an inherited post... and someday, it will be handed down to you."
"I am honored by your words, Sire. But I hope to earn my worth."
"Splendidly said. Your father said the same to me when I first hinted at it. You are your father's son, as he is Hapu the elder's, named after the sacred River of Life. In a way, we are both related through Hapu's line, I suppose. But then," He mused, "we're all related somehow here at Court."
"So he will be Hapu the second, the son of Hapu?"
"Not quite. I will confer on him his great grandfather's name, the one give to me. So he will be Amen'hoetep, son of Hapu. Do you like it?"
I gave Him a great smile, as what He was saying was a great honor.
"I am pleased, Your Majesty, that it pleases You to do so."
So Pharaoh, my distant cousin, was bringing our family back into the Amen'hoetep line. It was an honor I could not have imagined, but then the gods work in mysterious ways.
I said nothing of this to Father, and let it remain a surprise for him. I knew that upon learning this, he would immediately order the workers to prepare his tomb. His life would have reached completion, though I hoped he were wrong and stayed with us for many years more. And I would have Mother's tomb moved to the Valley to be by Father, when the time came.
I shuttled back and forth from the City to the work sites, and directed the ground clearing for the footings. Stones were being cut at a dozen quarries, readied at strategic piles for delivery in the coming months. The workmen eagerly signed on for the work, as the campaign to gain support from the populace was being coordinated by Aiye. His skill in rallying people for this project with parades and feasts was a thing of beauty to behold. Throughout the land the call came for men to hire on as builders of the world's greatest pyramid, and many came, all eager to participate in the great enterprise, though not all were accepted. They had to have the approval of their local priests, be citizens in good standing, honest and of no known defects. The dams were going up as planned, and slowly the desert was being pushed back over the solid mass of rock that would be leveled into a foundation. The gods smiled at us with good fortune. When I returned to Men'hes, the slaves promised by Aiye arrived. I went out to inspect them. Tahar preceded me.
"These are war slaves from land to the North, my Lord," Tahar announced to me when I arrived.
"Let's take a look at them. Are they fit?"
"They appear to be a savage bunch, Sire. But I think we can make them work. I have learned your ways."
He smiled at me as he said this. I smiled back, and we went to the great holding pens where the new slaves were kept. There were a thousand men, chained in their cells, or walking about, three to a gang. We approached one gang sitting in the shade under a tree.
"Stand up, men."
They raised themselves heavily, burdened with the heavy metal rings chained around their necks.
"Where are you from? Are you strong?"
They all three glared at us. One with sandy hair and gray eyes, a strong tall man, spoke first.
"We are from Skyth, Lord. And we are strong. But it is not our way to work for masters."
"So you are defiant, even now, before you have been shown the whip?"
"I fear not the whip. Where we come from, it is we who use whips, and we know how to handle them."
Tahar held his peace, not wanting to get into a fight over nothing. I held my reserve also.
"I think you have the strength of women."
The gray eyed one took a step and lunged at me, but was instantly restrained by the other two. His cold eyes glared at me. Then he spat. Tahar's muscles flexed, but then relaxed. I knew they had already been told that if one strays, all three get punished, so the other two were careful.
"What is your name," I asked him firmly.
"Olef."
"Then we will see, Olef, what kind of work you can do, if you are a man. And if you are not, then I will let the others make sport with you. They will need you if, on your account, the women are kept from camp."
This brought snickers of laughter from other men around us, as it did from Tahar. Olef flushed red His anger had turned into shame, but then reasserted itself again.
"I am no man's boy," was his sharp reply. "I curse your pyramids."
"But you will build one."
Tahar and I turned our backs on them and left.
"What war did we get them from?" I asked, not very happy with the lot.
"They were mercenaries in Canaan, my lord."
"They're Hyksos and are ignorant of our ways. They will learn, in time."
In the succeeding days, we made preparations for the crews to start brick making, the soft river mud bricks toughened with straw. These would be used as ballast, as well as platforms and causeways for construction. Carpenters were set to building heavy sledges, and large tough baskets that would hold a stone's weight of bricks in them. Then the rope makers were assigned to their long rope walks and began spinning tough flax fiber into cords, which again were spun into heavy cable. Though there was not evidence of any structure going up, the site was already filled with activity. The ground was cleared, and now we needed to see the water.
In Thea'bes, designers and scribes were active on the drawings that would be sent down to the masters of works. These had details of each stage of construction, though at this point, only the first mastaba was prepared on papyri. The rest would be addressed later. When I saw the Queen again, She had figures for me.
"These are my calculation, my love. I've consulted with the priests, and they agreed all that the pyramid should be oriented by the bright Dog Star (Sirius), because it rises on the horizon in anticipation of the Nile flood. Both the East and the West are represented by the birth of the sun and the departure of the soul. So the other two sides to the North and South will face the land of dreams, and land of knowledge."
Naume looked pleased with her understanding of these things. She then added another thought.
"When the Dog Star is at its height, I want its light to shine onto the sarcophagus, to light the way for the soul as it rises into heaven. Anubis will then receive Him, and the journey complete, to be repeated with each new year. Aiye thought it a good idea too, when I asked Him. So in conclusion, my dear, which I hope you support, is that we orient the faces of the pyramid to the four points of the world, astronomically aligned with the rising and setting sun at its equinox. Then we sink a shaft into the structure to catch the high point of the Dog Star, so Anubis can lead out the ka of Pharaoh."
"That is excellent, my beauty. Done. I will work it into the work plans."
"Some of the priests think this was the intent for Kheop's monument, but the alignments were off. We will correct their errors. This is a new world we're in, Aggy," she smiled. "We will build in the footsteps of our forefathers, but make it better."
"Pharaoh will be pleased, by Amen. His Royal Tomb will stand for eternity."
"And His soul lit by the gods."
"And you, my love, do you want to share Pharaoh's tomb?"
"No, my man. I want it sealed, and be buried with you."

The time came for the dedication of the Temple of Mon'thu. All the work had been completed for the basic temple, though more would be added in time. The great wall enclosure had been built, and it stood clean and tall against the sky. A Feast had been called by Pharaoh, and a multitude came from all the lands of the two Egypts, as were foreign guests. As we entered the great hall, a solemn chant of young priests rang sweetly through the columns. I looked up to where the Queen's and my story was carved, and was glad to see that the light from the entrance illumined it for all to see. Only one panel was left blank, where the final story would be told. All eyes were turned up with awe at the bright stone ceiling, as I had directed the stars painted there to be in blue on a golden sky. It was unusual, and reverse of custom, but it gave the temple a bright and airy feeling. I was pleased with its results, as I felt others were. Three years had gone by, and in its stones were written all the pain and glory of our time. The High Priest rose, and all kneeled before him. The chanting ended, and Aiye called in a clear voice over us.
"In the name of Amen, Isis and Osiris, and their son Horus, we call upon You, god Mon'thu, to join us in the opening of Your new home."
The statue of Mon'thu was covered with a bright red drape edged with gold. When this was said, the King and Queen arrived and seated on Their thrones. We all rose and stood before Them. Father was standing next to me and beamed with approval as he admired the finished work.
"You did well, Aggy," he whispered to me. "I am proud you are my son."
Pharaoh rose, and took His Queen by the hand, and They walked over to where the statue stood inside the sanctuary, visible from the great hall. The King placed Tiye's hand on the cloth, and read a long litany to which we responded "Amen" at intervals, calling upon all the gods to bless this new house built to them. When He had finished, Queen Tiye pulled on the drape, and it fell from the statue revealing the god. All exclaimed awe at its beautiful workmanship, and murmurs of approval passed through the hall. The Queen stepped back and young priestesses came carrying flower petals which they scattered gently before the great god. Then Aiye began a chant that was answered at intervals by the priests. When done, He spoke to all in attendance.
"Blessed Mon'thu, You are in residence here before us. Give us a sign, to bless us with your holy presence. And especially, bless our land with a blessing on our new young King." Having said this, the Boy Prince, carried by a royally dressed wet nurse, was brought into the presence of the god. Little Amen'het looked up with wonder at the great statue, and then struggled to be set free. He was put down, where He stood before us on his own legs, with only an exclamation of a high pitched "Ahh!" His Mother and the King, as did Aiye and I, all smiled at His childish glee. Then all waited standing in silence.
Elder priests who stood near the statue began covering it with incense. From behind the statue rose a low rumble that grew until it filled our ears so that it rang inside our heads. The Boy King grabbed at His nurse, and she lifted Him up in her arms, and moved away from the threatening god. A light flashed and the strong smell of the incense, sweeter than any we had ever known, filled the air. An involuntary gasp escaped from everyone's lips.
"The God is with us," intoned Aiye. All fell to our knees, with private prayers whispered by all. When it ended, Amen'hoetep broke free from his nurse and ran over to His Mother. Aiye now stood behind Her. Tiye picked Him up and put Him on her lap. Pharaoh smiled at this and addressed us all to rise.
"Now that you had been blessed by Mon'thu, and we are in the presence of all the gods, the Feast may begin. But!.." He held that note a moment for effect. "...Before the attendants arrive with food and refreshments, I have a few words to say." Amen'Hoetep looked about the temple and caught mine and Father's eye. "Ah, there."
He stood up and walked down from His throne to where we stood. He took both Father and me by the hand and walked back up to the podium that held the King and Queen, and Aiye, and had us stand beside them. He remained standing as He spoke.
"Standing here before you are two of the greatest architect builders in all the land. I wish to confer a special thank you to you, Aegyptus, son of Hapu, for the beautiful work of this temple in which we stand. The God's blessings are especially on him, as he is now entrusted with the building of the greatest pyramid of the realm." When this was said, as all knew of this new project of the King, a spontaneous applause rose from all in the hall. I looked at Aiye and the Queen, and they both smiled at me. "But I have another announcement," the King continued. "Beside me here is my old and dear friend Hapu. As you all know, he had been my faithful builder for as long as I have been Pharaoh. He has built tombs at the Valley of Beauty, the great pylons and hypostyle of the great Temple of Amen, on which grounds we now stand. He brings temples from the earth at my command. Now he has begun work on the colossal statues of Me and my Queen at the entrance of the Valley. We are most pleased with all the work this fine man has done for His Majesties. Therefore, in commemoration for his fine work, and in appreciation for his devotion to Our Royal Family, I name my trusted builder Hapu, to become my Chief Royal Architect, and name him after my own great grandfather, Amen'hoetep. Henceforth, my dear friend, you will be know as Amen'hoetep, son of Hapu."
Pharaoh turned to Father and smiled a genuine smile at him. All present murmured, and then broke into a loud applause for Amen'hoetep son of Hapu, Chief Royal Architect. Father stood awed and speechless. A tear formed in his eye, as did in mine. As Pharaoh put His arms around Father, I detected a tear in His royal eye as well. Queen Tiye bounced Her little boy on her knee and smiled at us. Aiye stood tall and regal, deep in His own thoughts. The applause lasted a long time, until it ended with the child Amen'het still clapping his little hands. This brought laughter from all.
"The Feast can begin!"

Naume and I walked hand in hand in the orchards of my new palace. Lazar had been dismissed earlier, where he had come to confer with us on matters to do with the works. We looked up at the night sky, and held each other close.
"The gods are in their chariots, crossing the sky. Isn't it beautiful?" Naume looked up at the sky as she said this, then looked up at me.
"Their light is not as bright as yours, my love. You are the sun in my heart." I brought her face close to mine. We both stood there smelling the late Spring blossoms. "The Nile will rise soon. The dams must be in place. There is still so much work to do."


So ends the sixth papyrus scroll by Aegyptus, Chief Architect of the Living God, Amen'Hoetep the Younger.
(signed and sealed with the royal cartouche) Mayat


Papyrus 7, Pyramid

Mu (water) is life, Mayat. But when the thirst is gone, the need returns, in time. The Nile had begun its annual flood. There was high enthusiasm for Pharaoh's great work. Let us resume where we left off.

The first blocks from across the river were barged in as planned in a carefully orchestrated sequence. Tahar's men offloaded them onto the banks by the causeway where carpenters fastened the wooded sleds under them. Once on the sleds, often eight upright stones at a time, they were pulled up the long stone ramp by men and oxen over a slurry of Nile mud until they arrived at the building site. Then Lazar's men took over with their levers and wedges. These stones were first pulled into place and then cemented there with a mortar solution that dried in a short time. The stones that needed additional working were then smeared with natron to render the limestone softer at the surface, and carved by the stonemasons as needed. Once the first level was finished, the next level proceeded in the same manner. The stones were brought upright to those already in place, and then carefully tipped, with the help of ropes and levers, to lean at the mid-fulcrum against the lying stone. Thus tipped with ease over the stone on which it rested, they were dragged over the mortar slurry to where needed. The pace was quick and easy, and the whole worksite rang of the sounds of hammering and pulling stone to the cadence of the callers who with chants and whistles kept it all in rhythm. Working in gangs of forty men, four gangs per stone, it took only six decan weeks for the first block tier to be laid, the largest. The first tier of the mastaba was soon making way for the second tier. More stones were barged in from the quarries.
Earlier, the first stone was laid at the center of the base of the great pyramid to be. This was done at the time of Hapu, the inundation of the Nile valley. As the sluice gates were broken to allow the river's annual flood to flow into the valley below the plateau's work site, priests had prepared a squared pink granite stone from the quarries up at the first cataract. Magic formulae were carved into this first block to ensure the pyramid for eternity, and Pharaoh's safe passage into the Western World. This stone was only three cubits squared, made of a flawless block, and it was carved in hieroglyphs covered with electrum by craftsmen of the High Temple in Thea'bes. Their work was attended by priests reciting prayers and incantations to the burning of sacred sunta (myrrh?) during its work. It was called the Heart Stone, the Stone of Mu, as on it were the messages from the gods to men to preserve the order of the universe and everlasting life. On each face was written as follows: "Hail to you, Osiris, Lord of Life, your food is before you, may you give me my mouth with which I may speak, and my heart to guide me in the destruction of the night to bring us the Light. Amen." Then, on each face were added other formulae, for different gods, Isis, Horus, Maat, each different for each direction of the world, the sky, the earth. The one facing down, for Seth, was also inscribed with the names of the tribes who are enemies of Egypt, whereas the one facing to the gods, to Ptah, also had the five sacred laws given to men: "Thou shalt not kill a man who is not your enemy. Thou shalt not steal or give false witness. Thou shalt not sow discord in your family or kingdom. Thou shalt not take another man's wife. Thou shalt obey the commandments of Pharaoh and the gods, and offer them tribute. Amen." These laws were given to our land so long ago that none remember when. But they had been carefully preserved by the priests in a special bark that was carried from its sanctuary at Amen only once every thirty years. The laying of the Heart Stone was an exception. Pharaoh had again come down from Thea'bes to inspect the work done on His Great Project.
"We are pleased, Aegyptus, most pleased. I am so pleased that I will add to your title my official seal of Mu'Maat'Ra. This will now seal all your correspondence, with My authority."
Amen'het handed me a thick golden seal, which he then placed on my middle finger of the left hand.
"I am most honored, my Lord," I bowed deeply, and kissed His hand. He raised me up and playfully slapped me on the shoulder.
"You are most deserving. But, let us go and see the works. I am most anxious to see my great tomb for all eternity!"
It was like taking a child out to play, Pharaoh was so happy. But I could sense that something heavy weighed on Pharaoh's mind. As our entourage bore us on His great litter to the pyramid mastaba, we talked of things at Court.
"How is our young King doing? The Queen?" I asked.
Out in public view, Amen'Hoetep took on a different air, more reserved and formal as we passed by the throngs who instantly fell to their knee as we passed. He occasionally waved to important officials of the court who remained standing, but his eyes were fixed on the work ahead of us as we talked.
"Tiye is beautiful as ever. My son is growing like a Nile reed," He answered, "and is beginning to talk to us of surprising things, which amuses us no end. The other day, He asked if two negatives make a positive. Can you imagine such a question from so young a mind?" Pharaoh laughed to himself on thinking it. "When His Godfather Aiye, was told of it, He nodded serenely, only saying that He is His father's son. What do you make of it, Aggy?"
"I would agree with His Highness, My Lord, that He is his father's son."
Pharaoh liked my reply and waited for the palanquin to be lowered. We were to walk up the long causeway, as was His wish. A smaller litter was readied and followed behind with His retinue, in the event He tired. He dismissed His fan bearer, who joined the others in waiting. We were met at the ramp by Lazar, Master of the Craftsmen.
"Your Highness," Lazar bowed deeply to Pharaoh, "we are most blessed with Your presence. We have received Your new drawings, made by the Queen, and will begin carving the stones with the messages requested."
"When you begin working on the interior ramps, the Queen feels it is most important for those words to be inscribed so that My Soul could make the annual passage with Anubis."
"You wish is our command, Your Majesty."
Lazar then joined the rest of the retaining party, with Amen'het and I at the lead as we began the long walk up the causeway. As we walked slowly, Pharaoh took note of the brick layers who continually brought fresh sun dried mud and straw brick up the walkway. There was traffic on both sides, so we kept to the middle.
"You must have a great demand for these brick workers," Amen'het thought out loud. He stood out like a brilliant sun in a drab world of Nile mud and coarse clad workers. All eyes who passed Him were cast down in fear or respect. Amen'het took little notice of them.
"Yes, My Lord. The first casing stones that will flank the Monument are being readied into place at the foundation, so we'll need more brick," I answered. I could see He needed additional explanation. "Once a step of the mastaba is reached, before we begin the next level, we cover the flanking sides with the hard casing stones. Because they are polished on the outer surface, we then cover them with brick to preserve them against damage as we build higher."
This brought a smile of recognition and Pharaoh then turned His attention to the work site below as we ascended.
"It's as far as the eye could see in both directions," He mused to Himself, "men and stone blocks and animals and huts and children and women. All a vast bee's nest of activity." He turned to look at me. "How do you keep it all in order, Aggy?"
"I have help, my Lord. Lazar, whom you once sent to me to help at Mon'thu's temple, has become indispensable to me. He's a good man, as are my other assistants. And so with Tahar, in charge of the workmen. But trouble happens..."
"It's a fact of life. Trouble happens," Amen'het answered. He looked down at the ground made of rough brick as we walked. "My son. Be careful in all the things you do. No matter how hard we try, there are always those evils that will try to hurt us. For Me, there are wars, rebellions, famines, disease in Our Kingdom. We do the best We can to keep the gods happy and retain order in our fair land. We are the blessed ones, Aggy, and the rest of the world is cursed, but by Our blessing, they are saved."
Pharaoh and I walked in silence for awhile, while the others behind us talked in whispers. A steady hum rose from ahead of us as we approached the work area. The causeway had been cleared after the most recent batch of limestone was hauled up. All was ready for us at the mastaba. Pharaoh continued with His monologue, almost to Himself.
"I try to be a good father, a husband, a King. It's not easy, so many responsibilities. So it pleases Me to be able to get away and come see my final resting place..." he looked up at the top of the ramp and in His eyes there stood a great shiny monument. In fact, for now there was only blue sky. "But be careful, Aggy. There has been talk at Court of you and the Queen. You know I love you both like a father, and I have many wives, but I especially love Tiye and our Child. My person is not offended. But my public figure must be preserved at all cost." My blood ran cold upon hearing this. "So be careful and circumspect."
"Yes, Father." I answered this with all my heart and soul.
As we approached the top of the causeway, without pause for rest, Amen'het was in good health and physical shape, we stopped to examine the desert around us from this high vantage point. Pharaoh pointed to the Nile.
"Look there, I can see the quarries! And look over here," He pointed out over the desert towards the ancient pyramids. Pharaoh suddenly became as happy as a child with a new toy. "Look! Mine will be as high as Khu'fu's!" He turned around towards all the directions, joyful. "Why, I almost can't wait to die! So I could be buried here, and be with the gods. What a wonderful place!"
"It is as yet unfinished, my Lord," I reminded Pharaoh delicately. "Your Kingdom and family will need Your holy guidance for many years to come, until we are finished." Pharaoh's joy would not leave Him, and He smiled broadly at the thought of His burial. "May I suggest that we meet with the work gangs, Your Majesty?"
At the top of the ramp waited for us Tahar, Master of the Work Gangs. He immediately dropped to both his knees, with his head touching the ground. Amen'het bade him to rise and spoke to him through me, a reminder that Tahar is a Kushite.
"I would like to see Tahar's men at work."
I answered for him. Lazar dismissed the group who followed us up and went off to oversee the King's viewing stand.
"We have a special event planned for you, My Lord, of which Tahar is in charge. The men had drawn lots for volunteers for a dangerous race. They will show You which of the gangs is the fastest and the best. There will be four teams, one of each side of the pyramid, to race their stones to the top..."
This brought a big smile to Pharaoh's face. I explained to how the men were chosen, that their team leaders were elected amongst themselves, and that they had been trained by our best craftsmen to move cut blocks into place. What I had not explained was that this was the first time Amen'het would witness a new technique for raising stone to this new height. Refreshments of cool water and teas were brought by the servants, as the sun was hot, and we all took our places at the viewing stand. It stood covered with a sun shade on a raised platform with a clear view of the surface of the large mastaba. The fan bearer again hovered close to Pharaoh to offer him a cool breeze. When we had taken our places, a signal was given to make ready for the race. Amen'Hoetep sat regal in His throne chair surrounded by His courtiers and Lazar, Tahar, and myself.
"Tell me what is happening, Aggy. I want to understand everything," Amen'het whispered to me as I stood by His side. We both looked out over the vast field of men and tools and stone below us. Carpenters busily honed cypress logs into sleds, rope makers carried long strands in gangs, water carriers, both women and children, carried large jars on their heads in long single files winding through all the works. Animal handlers had the bulls and donkeys positioned for their hauling work. And there was the stone, long lines of it, held in phalanx by how they were pulled from their quarry, rough cut for the interior, smooth and sharp edged for the pyramid flanks. It was a vast orchestration of men and beasts and material around the base of the great mastaba, all overseen by my trusted Lazar and Tahar and their scribes, as dictated by me. I gave Pharaoh a brief overview of what we were seeing, and then Lazar turned to me with a nod, on which I turned to Pharaoh.
"We may begin, my Lord. If Your Highness would stand so all the men could see You, and when You sit again, the race will begin."
Amen'het stood eagerly, looked around in the direction of all the four sides where all were assembled, raised His hand in acknowledgement, and then sat down again. With a roar, the whole scene sprang into life. His fan bearer returned to offer Him cool shade.
"The four teams, to each opposite side, are supplied by their support teams with what they need to bring the stone to the top of the mastaba," I offered to help Him understand the activity below. "The two teams on the east and west sides are Nubian and Hebrew. The north and south sides have teams of Kushite and Hyksos." Pharaoh took a keen interest in all that was happening, glancing from one side of the great first tier of the pyramid to the other.
"So this is the beginning of the second tier? The stones they are readying below are the first layer of the second tier, yes?" Amen'het asked excitedly.
"Quite so, Your Highness. You will see the forty men teams pull each stone into position from below..." Pharaoh interrupted me.
"And then up those ramps, to be pulled by the other team awaiting them above. Is that so?"
"You are in full understanding, my Lord." He beamed in approval, while Tahar and Lazar directed the activity from above with couriers and signals.
"But can they pull those stones up those ramps with only forty men?" He asked incredulous. "And what are those men doing on the adjacent flanks carrying baskets of small stone into those large bins?"
As Pharaoh asked this, there was a steady procession of men and baskets, even women and children, carrying small stones up the four sides of the pyramid by climbing the soft brick scaffolding adjacent the sledge ramps. The great stones were now being pulled, amid much noise, into the base of the pyramid on all four sides, nearly simultaneously.
"Those stones are going up to the top of the down ramps. They are the counterweights for the large stone being pulled up on the other ramps. Do you see those large posts on the four corners of the mastaba?..."
"Of course, they are the pulley posts, aren't they?" Amen'het cried in excitement. "This should work excellently!"
"My Lord has seen it in His mind's eye," I replied. Just then Tahar came over to me and whispered in my ear.
"They are ready, my Lord. Come to the front so they can see you better."
I walked three paces towards the front, slightly ahead of Pharaoh, and raised both hands, then lowered them. Another roar rose from bellow. I turned to Amen'het.
"Now watch, my Lord. This is the best part."
The large stones that lay on their sledges at the base of the mastaba, were fastened by long ropes to the top over the pulley posts and again to the large wooden bins at the top that were already filled with small stone. These bins were readied to be dropped down the mud slickened ramps on which they sat. When my arms dropped, on all four sides the stones were pulled up in a flash up the steep slick sides of the mastaba, while the wooden bins dropped on their down ramps. This took little effort, and it was done in a few heart beats, to the loud roar of approval from the men below and above. Amen'het could not hold back either.
"Hoorah! Wonderful! Wonderful!" He cried.
The forty men teams at the top of the ramps then quickly unfastened the stones from their sledges and quickly pulled them into their positions premarked by the scribes on the large surface of the mastaba. Masons then coated them with lime slurry and fit them together. Four stones now stood together at the kernel of a new level of the great pyramid. Once done, the men sprang into action to repeat this again.
"They will now bring another stone, my Lord," I replied. "So you can see how easy this process is to continue. It is like weaving stone into place, and when done efficiently is extremely fast."
"Lazar! My dear Hebrew," Pharaoh called in His enthusiasm, "did you devise this ingenious plan? We could have the structure built within a year!" Lazar came running over.
"Your Highness, My Lord. I am only one servant in Your vast army of workers, of the Living God. It was Aegyptus, my Lord, whose inspiration helped us design this for Your pleasure. My God."
"Which team is winning?" He asked eagerly. The fan bearer had to fan Him more vigorously, as He was showing redness.
"The Green Team, My Lord. The scribes who take note of their progress say the Hebrew team is the best, so far, and had the stone in place a heart beat before the others. Then followed by the Kushite and Hyksos. But they are all good!"
"I can see. Are they readying the next stone?" Pharaoh was standing now to get a better view of the activity below.
"The baskets are being filled again and carried back up the mastaba. The large wooden bins are being pulled back up by the men at the top, and those below are dragging their sledges back to the ramps. It will all repeat shortly."
Lazar was very pleased with the success of the demonstration. As the stones were being readied below for the next lift up, Pharaoh now turned His attention to me.
"Do you always have the stones brought up in fours?" He was thinking out loud.
"Yes, My Lord. It is more efficient this way, four at a time. So this is how it was designed to work. But when need arises to have the larger stones for the interior chambers, then we will all concentrate on one or two stones at a time. It will be as the need arises, My Lord. But efficiency and speed is our goal, without sacrifice of good workmanship. We can also modify it to bring up eight stones at a time, and even twelve, which we will do when additional men are assigned."
"I am most pleased, Aggy. You will have more men. I wish the Queen could be here to see this. I will send Her to you, so you can show Her." Pharaoh had a twinkle in His eye and smiled broadly.
"You are my most kind Father, My Lord." It made me happy inside to think that I will be seeing Naume again, since we had not seen each other for many months. "Will Tiye also bring Your son?" I asked. Pharaoh nodded and then returned to the scene of activity.
He was eager to see this all again. The whole scene was repeated as before for Pharaoh, with the same success, and He wanted to see it one more time. When the stones made it to the top, once again we could hear the waves of cheers and whistles coming from the men below. The Red Team won this time, the Hyksos, though Blue and Gold, Nubian and Kushite, were close behind. The Green Team came last. So we readied for a third demonstration, though we had not planned on it in advance. When all was ready, I gave the signal again, and all four teams crouched as told, and then launched into action. But instantly, there was a problem at the Blue Team. As the stone was being hoisted up the ramp, the rope jammed and sent the two boys who were riding on the descending baskets down the side of the mastaba. A cry rose from below, which told us the boys were hurt. Three stones were atop the pyramid platform, and one suspended on the north east side. All motion stopped, and the top teams who were to pull the stones into place ran down to join the others around the jammed stone.
"What are they doing?" Pharaoh asked in alarm. "Why did the race stop?"
We could see men scurrying down to where the ropes were snarled, trying to loose them but to no avail. A small detachment then broke away from the others and were seen descending with ropes down to where the stone lay suspended. They then threw ropes around the sledge planks that held the stone and when secured, signaled the crew at the top to pull. Members of all four crews pulled with all their strength to bring up the large stone, about eighty men pulled, until the stone was up on the platform. Then all reorganized into their respective teams and once again pulled the stones into the center where marked. When done, a loud roar amid whistles sounded from both below and atop the mastaba. Pharaoh stood and cheered with them.
"Who won?" He asked.
"The scribes signaled that it was the Blue Team, My Lord. The Nubians, the ones who had the trouble."
"Have brought to me the leaders of the Teams, Aggy. I want to see them."
"Yes, Your Highness. They will come presently." I signaled down to the couriers below who signaled to the scribes who passed the message to the Team leaders. All four men ran up to the platform to meet Pharaoh.
By now it was late in the afternoon, and the four strong men stood glistening in their sweat in the reddening sunlight. When Pharaoh stepped down from His stand to meet them, all dropped to one knee. Tahar kneeled with them. They were his men.
"You may rise," Amen'het said to them. "Who are you, men?"
They in unison looked at Tahar for permission to speak, who nodded at them, and they called out their names to Pharaoh.
"Isra, Green Team, My Lord."
"Sahar, Gold Team."
"Mutu, Blue Team."
"Olef, Red Team."
"And whose team rushed to untangle the ropes?" Pharaoh asked of the men.
"It was Olef's team, Your Highness," Tahar answered for them. "It was the Red Team that came to the Blue's rescue." Pharaoh looked at Olef and nodded to himself, thinking. Mutu looked small and humble before Him. Olef stood tall and proud, his sandy hair a head taller than the others. Sahar and Isra stood impassively.
"You are noble fellows, great builders of my Great Tomb," Amen'het finally said. "We will keep an eye on you, especially you, Olef. Do well, and you will be rewarded." Then turning to all the men standing, including Tahar, Lazar and me, He added. "You have done good work, My men. You will all be rewarded for the building of My Great Pyramid. May the gods be with you in all you do. Amen."
"Amen," we all replied out of habit. I looked into Olef's eyes, and I could see that look of both curious awe and defiance I had seen before. There was something noble in those eyes, but also submissive, unlike before. When Pharaoh dismissed the men, we returned to the Royal Barge for rest and refreshments. On the morrow, Amen'Hoetep the King would return on the waters of the Nile to His Queen and Boy King at the Palace of the City.

So ends the seventh papyrus scroll of Aegyptus, Chief Architect of our Great Pharaoh of the Sun. (signed) Mayat


Papyrus 8, Boy King

The high oracle of Bes told me I created this, Mayat. By Amen, and all the gods, I did not understand the old priestess, until the time I dictate this to you.

When all had departed and I again was alone, I took a walk through the workers' village at the foot of the great pyramid. It was dinner time, and all the cooking fires were lit, followed by their pleasant aroma of wood smoke and cooking spice and frying onions. The moon shone overhead lighting up both the narrow alley ways and the great mastaba with its bluish light, broken only by the yellow glow from the entrances of workers' huts. People, children, sat in their courtyards in the warm night, busy with chores or play. The honing of metal over flat stone was heard in places, making ready for the next day's work. A dog would bark, or donkey bray as I passed by, and the master of the house run out, only to be startled on seeing me. "Oh, good evening, Father," they would say out of respect. I walked through the village, past the houses of the scribes above it, and out into the great store areas where the draft animals and stone and fresh lumber were kept. There, the low noise of the village fell away, and the smell of wet clay mixed with animal dung and cypress wood took over my senses. A scarab beetle rolled her dung trophy at my feet. I could hear the distant cry of a desert jackal, and snorts from a local tribe of baboons sleeping on the stones. They woke upon my coming, but stayed. They would retreat into the desert in the morning when the workers came. I climbed in the moonlight atop a small rise over the stone stores below. The blocks lay in neat rows as far as the eye could see, the sliding paths brought closer to them as each new row became engaged. The workers were skilled and experienced now, and they knew what to do. Things moved fast. I reached the top to my studio and stood in silence surveying all that still needed doing before us, when it all occurred to me in a sudden clarity. "I did this." All of a sudden, the great works, the workers, the village, the pyramid, Pharaoh's destiny, His pathway to the gods, the masters of my works, the men who baked bread, by the gods, I did all this. They were my creation. I thought of my father, Hapu, who was now called by title Amen'hoetep son of Hapu, and was engaged as royal ambassador in the distant lands of the Hyksos, teaching them our building techniques. Did he ever have this sudden vision? I wondered. I though of all my laborers, their many faces, so many from foreign lands, some war slaves, fugitives, condemned men, all who would be granted pardon if they did their work as demanded. The Hebrews, the Hyksos, Kushite, and their families, they were the new faces of our Egypt. The night was late, and I had to rise early to meet the royal barge from On. This brought a great pleasure to my heart, because I knew on her was Queen Tiye, my Naume, and her little boy, the Boy King, our little Amen'het the younger. My pace quickened and was light on the way home.

Three seasons of the annual flood of Hapu had passed, and the Boy King was older now. Again the Queen came to visit, with little Amen'het with her, now more than a child but still a boy. I awaited them at the river landing by the Palace. I had fear and anticipation in my heart. We had not seen each other since Opet, and many decan weeks had passed. Then we had conspired to make a new text inside the pyramid passageways, not those dictated by Aiye. From her couriered message, though she did not say, I knew she had the same yearning to see me. Their barge arrived, and They were here. Attendants surrounded Tiye upon disembarkation. I could see Her golden palanquin raised into the sunlight and carefully balanced on the shoulders of the men. At Her side sat the Boy King, looking casually at His surroundings, pointing to the pyramid in the distance and saying something to His mother, though out of hearing range. He was growing fast and was bigger than I remembered Him. Had a whole year gone by since He last sat on my lap? The air felt warm and pleasant whenever I looked at Him and the Queen. Surely They were blessed by the gods. When all had assembled and disembarked, the Queen looked over in my direction. My heart gave a jump. She was beautiful as ever. At Her command, She was brought towards me.
"My dear Aegyptus! How wonderful it is for Us to see you again." Tiye was being formal with me in the presence of all the others.
Then she gave me that special look only Naume knows how to give me. I looked back and then bowed ceremonially.
"You bring with You the sunshine of the gods, my Lady." Naume smiled broadly and took little Amen'het's hand. Their palanquin was lowered and they both stood up.
"May I present to Aegyptus, Master Builder and Architect for Pharaoh, His Royal Highness, the Prince Amen'Hoetep the younger."
Young Amen'Hoetep bowed deeply to me, still holding His mother's hand. I wanted to reach over and take Him in my arms, but protocol forbids it, here in front of everyone. He simply said in reply to me, "I come in the name of Amen, and in the name of My Father, Pharaoh, King of the two Egypts. He is the Living God." He had a sense of purpose about Him, which told me His mind was preoccupied with the business at hand. I marveled at His grown up ways. He had grown much in the past year.
"May I show My Lord and the Queen Mother the great monument built for Pharaoh?" I asked Him.
"Most certainly, good Aegyptus. This the purpose of Our visit," He replied matter of factually.
We all walked hand in hand together, past the line of women carrying bread and beer to the workers, we ascended the great causeway that takes us from the river to the site of the works. Amen'het enjoyed holding my hand, after His mother said it was allowed. His little hand felt warm and soft in mine as He walked between Tiye and me. His questions kept coming at us without interruption.
"How big is it going to be? Will it end in a point? Have the priests been here to bless it? Is my Father happy with your work? Do children work here? Are they happy? Why are the stones smoother on one side than the other?" This last required a greater explanation. I answered Him in a way He could understand.
"The workers first bring the stones for the building of the pyramid, which they pile together into its core. Then when this is done, for each level finished, they bring the smooth casing stones for the exterior. Those are the smooth sided silvery stones you see over there, which is being done first. Then they will finish on the other side too. When it is covered up to the next level, they will cover the smooth surface with mud brick layers so that it will remain protected until we are finished."
Little Amen'het thought about it a moment, and then exclaimed gleefully. "And then when you are finished, the whole pyramid will be covered in mud brick!" He thought about that a moment, and then added glumly, "But that will be ugly."
Naume and I both laughed at His remark, but answered His Highness gently. "It will all be removed when it is done, my child."
"Oh! Then it will be like a great big surprise!" He exclaimed.
I added, "Yes. And then the whole world will see your Father's pyramid. And they will be glad."
"And so will be all the gods," added Naume.
We toured the works thus, alternately attendants carrying us on palanquin, or us walking. The scribes and workers stopped in admiration of their Boy King and all dropped to a knee when He approached. The Queen graciously acknowledged them with Her smile, and little Amen'het started complaining that He was tired. We retired for the afternoon in the cool of the palace. Attendants brought us refreshment and a nurse came for the Boy King. Naume and I now had our time alone.
"I missed you terribly, Aggy," she cried as she threw herself into my arms when we were finally, truly alone. I covered her face with kisses.
"You are more precious to me than the air I breathe, my beautiful," I whispered to her.
"Isn't our child beautiful, my love?"
"He is the Son of Hathor, my queen. He will make a beautiful and wise pharaoh," I answered her.
We held each other in our dimmed palace bedchamber, sealed so none could see or hear us. We were truly alone and by the soft glow of oil lamps, we enjoyed each other's yearnings in total privacy. We needed to do this in the same way the sun needs to rise every morning, or the Nile needs to rise at Hapu. We parted for the call to the evening meal, but arranged to spend the night together again. Our fate was sealed for us by the gods, and we had no power to make it otherwise.
The next day, and the next day, as each day, we enjoyed each other's company in play and work. In the late afternoon, while the sun was still visible on the horizon, little Amen'het and His mother would come over to my bathing pond by the edge of the Nile. Its sweet water was banked with jasmine shrubs and thus sheltered us from view. We all enjoyed this time together to cool off after the heat of day. Our young King would undress quickly and happily run naked into the water, whereas Naume and I would undress more languidly, she keeping her fine linen tunic for modesty, and I my thin cloth wrap over my loins. Though we were alone, the attendants were ordered to remain within hearing distance. We lay thus on soft pillows by the fragrant pool while Amen'het hunted for frogs. I enjoyed watching Naume's lovely soft curves through her wet tunic. As the sun readied to set behind the great monument towering over us, I called to my young King.
"Amen'het, look! Look at the sun. See how it sets?" He abandoned his frogs a moment, and ran to join Naume and me. "See, how the light hides behind those great stones. It makes them look even bigger, doesn't it?"
Naume watched me, enjoying the evening breeze in silence. Then she too looked up.
"Oh, look. The sun caught those thin clouds over the pyramid with its light. Do you see it, Amen'?" She asked. Little Amen'het looked up and smiled at the light.
Just then, an unusual sight came over the low pyramid. As the sun's reddening light swung over from behind the stones to the structure and sank behind it, a sudden bright pillar of light formed itself over the pyramid, rising directly into the sky.
"Aah!" Cried Amen'het in glee. "Its red and yellow, and goes all the way up to the gods! To Ra!" He seemed particularly happy about this. Naume and I stared at the sight in awe, as we had never seen anything like it before. Then the light faded and returned to a normal sunset over the desert, the kind we see every evening. Attendants were called to bring us food for the evening meal. I lit the oil lamps around the pool, and Amen'het resumed his hunt for the little frogs.
"Did you catch anything?" I asked him after we finished washing our hands. Amen'het's were still dirty. He came skipping over to us.
"No. But I can hear them. I know they're there!" He replied.
"Aren't they beautiful to listen to?" I asked.

When Amen'het joined us, Naume washed his little hands. I noticed his long thin fingers, even at this age, and how the middle one was bent. I dried His hands for Him.
"What are they saying?" He asked.
"They're just singing, dear," Naume answered Him.
"Each frog says to the other, I'm over here, look at me!" I added in jest. Amen'het laughed.
"Look at me! I'm the most beautiful one around!" He giggled at the idea of all the frogs calling to each other.
"Come with me! I'll make you very happy!" added Naume in equal mirth. "Look at me! Look at me!" we all joined in together. Our serving attendants held their hands over the faces to hide their laughter.

As each day passed, Naume and I set down to the details of her visit. She was officially here as emissary of the King, to deliver His intentions and instructions regarding the construction of His Great Tomb. Our work area was my austere but spacious studio atop the stone stores. Through the large doors, when the drapery were drawn open, we could see the work in progress at a distance. Scribes and attendants came and left freely, the Queen's handmaidens answering to Her call, or the needs of our little Amen'het. There was a general feeling of activity inside and outside the studio throughout the day. I had been out overseeing details requested of me by Lazar. When he departed and returned to his work, I turned into the studio. Naume was dismissing her morning servants as I entered. I responded with a smile to her golden radiance when I walked in.
"Aggy, you're back. I was just opening the final stages of the pyramidion drawing. It was given to me by one of Aiye's scribes to show to you. See what you think of this."
She spread out the scroll before me. It had the same markings and notations I had seen once before, on the tough parchment shown to me by Aiye long ago, the one that helped me understand the building methods we were employing here. She pointed to the hieroglyph inscriptions atop the golden cap of the pyramidion which crowned the great structure.
"Aiye says this pyramidion should be visible from a great distance, far away, and it is to shine like the sun." Naume stood over it and marveled at the sight in her mind's eye. I could see it too.
"Could you imagine the sun rising over it? The Sun disc's light would spread down the smooth silvery side of the structure and explode with light once it crested. It would be a great sight to be seen, from far away, to impress all who saw it." We looked at the drawing a moment in silence, imagining such a sight.
"And what is to be written?" I asked her, thinking of the writings atop the pyramid.
"The same as on the heart stone," she replied. "The five commandments but in much larger glyphs." We both pondered this. "But I don't like it..."
"What would you prefer?" I asked her, already guessing the answer.
"Our story." It was her simple reply.
"Our secret story, my dear. Me too." I thought of the story we wrote into Mon'thu's temple at Thea'bes, about Isis and Osiris frustrated by Seth. It was an allegory of Naume and me, and Aiye. She came to rescue him from the underworld, but the rest was left purposefully blank to be completed when the struggle was finally resolved, by Horus, Ra-Horakh'te of the horizon. It would be a fitting story for the crown of the great pyramid of Amen'Hoetep, with His Son as the Redeemer to come. "I think our story is better than Aiye's."
"I'll tell Aiye that we have a different idea. He'll complain that the gods will punish him, but he will go along. I'll remind him what the gods said to him once."
"What was that?" I became more keenly interested.
"That a people are known by their rulers and their art."
"Sounds wise."
"Do you know what else I know?" I gave her a blank look. "My chief scribe, Sheruf, spied on him during the festivities of Sed, when all the servants were away."
"This last Heb'Sed, when the King renewed His vows to the Throne?"
"Yes. He said that Aiye was alone in what he calls his god's room."
"I know the throne room, the one with the large opening in the roof."
"Yes. Sheruf said he hid and listened, as Aiye talked out loud to no one. And then something very strange happened. He then said the light in the room brightened and two figures appeared out of nowhere, as if by magic." Naume gave me an intense look to let me know she was telling the truth as she heard it. "He was very afraid, so could not move from his hiding place. He then told me that the figures moved, he thinks it was a man and a woman, and talked like normal human beings, but that they were not."
"Why not?"
"He said they had clothing like none he had ever seen. It glowed green and gold and red, and was very smooth on their bodies. And he also said their faces were long and thin, with finely carved features and delicate eyes. He said they were beautiful."
"Did Aiye speak to these gods?"
"Yes. They spoke for a long time, though he could not remember of what they spoke, it was so strange. He has been more nervous ever since and his writing is shaky. What should I do?"
"Let him rest and return to his normal senses... I wondered of what they talked?..." I thought out loud.
"Oh, yes. He did mention something, something about a city... Oh, if I could remember... I think he said Aiye asked about a new temple built to the sungod, something he called the Mansion of Aten. Do you have any idea of what he is talking about?"
"No. But it's rumored that there is a new sect coming out of the desert, who worship the sun, their Aten. Personally, I think they had too much of it, and it had gone to their heads."
We both laughed a little, but remained somber over Sheruf's report. I wondered secretly if Aiye was not plotting some sort of disturbance within the ranks of Pharaoh's temple priests, some test of power. I could easily attribute this plot to him, if it were true. But we only had the shaky account of an overworked scribe, so we quickly forgot his strange story and let it pass. We returned to our immediate work, to verify Lazar's scribes's measurements of the work to date. We needed to know that the interior passageway alignments were falling into place as we had calculated. Naume became very absorbed in her work, and I in mine.
After some time spent alone, the ladies in waiting returned quietly to the door and stood there with their heads bowed. The Queen recognized them and bid them in.
"Come in my dears. What have you for me?"
"We have news from The City, my Lady." Naume, now as regal Queen Tiye, gave her command. "Report the news."
"It has been requested that we be present with you at all times while you are away from the Palace, my Lady. We are sorry to have to report this to you..." They looked at me. "...at this time."
"What is the meaning of this!" retorted Tiye. "Who dares to make this request of me?" The maid servants seemed to bow more deeply, eyes downcast.
"The scribe who brought it said it came from the King, my Lady."
Naume and I both gave each other an anguished look. How could this be, we thought. We were being sanctioned by Pharaoh, unless He was being used to speak for someone else.
"Bring to us my son," Naume commanded, and one of the attendants immediately turned to do as she was bid. "And leave us a moment, until Amen'Heotep is here."
The ladies turned and stepped outside, but stayed within hearing distance of the door.
"So now they are spies on us," Naume said bitterly. "Oh, Aggy, what is to become of us?"
"We have to find out who is behind this. I do not believe it is our dear old Amen'het. I suspect..." I did not need to finish. Naume understood.
"We must be careful," she added. "Remember what Pharaoh said... if He were to be embarrassed, and there is talk, it would be bad."

A letter arrived soon after Naume and little Amen'het departed for the Palace at Thea'bes. It was from my father, Royal Chief Architect, Amen'hoetep son of Hapu. His papyrus scroll had traveled many weeks to arrive here, and had many seals attached to show its passage from hand to hand. He was writing from a land called Minea, north of the sea. I carefully and eagerly unrolled it and read his fine hand.
"My dear son Aggy. How long had it been since I last laid eyes on you and seen your bright face. I am surrounded by a small and dark people who do not have the fine taste of our Egyptians. But they are a good seafaring people and are eager to please me, and to learn from our Egyptian ways. I am highly esteemed at the royal court, a favorite of the king, and he has tried to copy my every manner. But their builders are good, and from them I learn also, as they learn from me. I hear your building project is going well. Here there is nothing to compare to our fair land and its beauty. Their weather is rough, with many clouds and frequent squalls like from a sea of furious storms. In the cold months, it is wet as often as it is dry, and the sun becomes a much needed luxury. I fear that I have been here too long already, but the king desires my presence, and Pharaoh agrees. I suspect he likes me too much, since I am overfed and overpampered with women and wine. I fear for my health and my life at times, since there would be nothing more horrible for my soul than to die here and not have my body returned to my most fair land for burial. Promise me, Aggy, that if I die here, you will return my body for proper entombment on the path to the gods. I dread the thought of it being otherwise. I am getting old, Aggy, my dear son, and am sorry to have to lay this heavy burden on you. But promise me that my body would be returned to the Valley, even it only comes in pieces. I would never rest otherwise, without our Isis and Osiris's eternal peacefulness and beauty. Amen. Your loving father, Hapu."
This letter arrived by courier from On, who had it handled from the sea coastal town of Osun, where it had arrived by a galley sea vessel from Minea. I shuddered at the thought of Hapu dying in a foreign land, so I prepared to write him a reply, but not right away. I was tired, and I needed time to stop and think. It was late evening, and by the light of my oil lamp, I returned to my work. Outside my doors, looking up at the tall monument rising into the star filled night, I could feel a presence forming itself there, relieved by the occasional fire lit torches carried by the guards posted on duty... It somehow felt big...
I woke the next morning having fallen asleep at my work table. My mouth felt dry from the wine of the night before, and my joints ached from the uncomfortable position in which I slept. It was bright out, and the distant din of the workers made its way up to my studio. I looked up at the now nearly half built pyramid and noted to myself with inward satisfaction that at least that was going well. Pharaoh would be pleased with me, and I should worry less. By the grace of the gods, this too would pass, I thought. My scribes noted I had woken and came into the studio, having waited outside out of respect. They brought me a warm hibiscus tea.
Letters were brought to me from scribes at our distant points of supply, the wood cutters, the quarries, the granaries, all of which needed a response. I began reading and ordered my chief scribe to prepare my answers. Lazar came in from the field where he had been inspecting the tool makers' activities. We had begun running short of copper tools, and the rope makers had fallen behind in their rope spinning.
"There is no room for error, Lazar. We have to bring the ropemakers back up to speed."
"It is not their fault, Aegyptus. The flax season had been poor the year before, and because of this we are short now. The temple priests blamed it on the plague of frogs."
"Frogs indeed... Get ropes from the swine eating lepers, if you have to. What does your god say?"
"Only that it is God's Will." Lazar gave me that clever half smile which I had learned well. It also means he will say no more about it.
"Do you think we can bring in rope from our outlying lands?"
"I will put out the word, and have messengers sent."
"Pay them what they will. We need those ropes. It is the same with the copper and iron..."
The morning passed when another letter arrived, but with a special seal. I instantly recognized it as the Royal seal of the Palace at Thea'bes. My heart jumped at the thought of what it would contain. But upon opening it, the great letter had only a few words, and they were written in a child's hand. It was from our Boy King. I smiled at his simple words.
"This is to acknowledge your good work, my dear Aegyptus, in the construction of my Father's Great Tomb for His afterlife with the gods. My godfather, Aiye, says that we will be remembered by the beauty and greatness of our art. I am sure that both Isis and Osiris will be pleased with how you will honor them with your work. (signed) The Boy King, Amen'Hoetep, Prince of the two Egypts."
I smiled at his simple message to me, but sensed He was already within the circle drawn by the High Priest. Yet, the letter had the unmistakable perfume of Tiye.

So ends the eighth scroll of Aegyptus, Chief Architect for Pharaoh, Lord of the Mansions of the two Egypts. (signed) Mayat


Papyrus 9, Iskra

It is said that each day is as every other day, until the gods bring us someone new. Then all is different. Do you think this is true, Mayat?

It was in the sixth inundation of Hapu when the Nile reached its zenith that we reached the level of Pharaoh's tomb. The pyramid was now at its midlevel, and its height was equal to its width. The high structure was hard to climb, so it slowed our progress. But the great hall passageways had been laid within the stone structure, and our builders were making ready to bring into the Royal Chamber Pharaoh's great sarcophagus. To commemorate this, Pharaoh ordered a feast of the Pet'Heb, the Sky Feast, as a pleasure for the gods, and to beg them for their help. It would also give the workers a few days rest before they began the arduous task of hauling the great granite lintels into place. Cattle were ceremonially slaughtered in sacrifice, priests sanctified bread and beer on their altars, and extra rations were given to all the men. The people were jubilant, knowing they would soon also get the extra rations of strong beer, fowl and game, beef and fat geese, fruits, vegetables, cooking oils, even flowers. All this was in preparation for the new Tomb. It was to be exacting work, best handled by our most experienced men. The stones had to be laid exactly as specified within the mastaba, or there would be no chance to correct a mistake, and the tomb would not work as the gods demanded. It had to be accurate, for the tomb had to offer Pharaoh's Ka clear passage to the Beauty of the gods. High priests were called in to inspect the works to insure Pharaoh's soul would not stray. Lazar and Tahar and I consulted over this for a long time before we agreed on the one who would lead the new teams. We all knew it would be dangerous work, more than what had been done this far. Many families would lose their men, as many would lose their arms or legs, or lives. While the festivities were at their height, I called in Olef into my work studio.
"You called, Sire?" Olef asked upon entering. He was dressed in clean linens, except for a red wine stain on his linen apron, and was in good spirits.
"Are you enjoying the Jubilee, Olef?"
"Most cordial, my Lord. I had just won an arm wrestling contest, and got to kiss the prettiest girls for doing so," he replied with a laugh. "You want to arm wrestle? ... Sire?"
I laughed in turn. "I'll pass, Olef. Your arms are twice the size of mine." He beamed at me, knowing I spoke the truth. "We'll leave it for another time... when you are more drunk." Olef's high spirits turned into a large grin. "We have known each other a long time, Olef, and I can count on you to do many things for me. You have become a friend."
"I was a savage when you first saw me, Sire. I was a warrior given to the ways of fighting men. But now I am a builder."
"You are still a savage heart," I countered in jest, "though your hair has been tied in the manner of a man of station. You have learned a lot."
He answered with a broad grin. I studied him a moment, he returning my gaze with his steady gray eyes. There was mirth in them, but also the intelligence I have come to depend on.
"You have called me here for a reason, my Lord..."
"Yes. We have been invited to the high Court at the City to meet with Pharaoh. You are to accompany Lazar and me. Tahar will stay to oversee the works for now."
His demeanor changed and he became serious.
"We are mostly using the men to rearrange the guideways to make way for the larger stones." Olef stood serious as he was accustomed to when reporting to me. "Lazar, as I believe you already know, Sire, has commissioned cutters and painters to fashion the false tomb. The Queen's tomb will be hidden behind a tomb dedicated to a more ancient queen, to fool the robbers. There will be writings to inform those who know, but to confuse those who trespass."
"Yes, I know." I replied. "It was Lazar's idea."
We both looked each other in the eye, both wondering if the ruse would work. I had begun to really like Olef. He proved to be a fine man, for a Hyksos. His sand colored hair was cut short, not the mane he carried when we first met, and tied at the back. It all seemed so long ago. From savage to a man. Olef had now become almost Egyptian, in spite of his gray eyes. He reminded me in some vague way of my old friend Mosu, whose family also came from somewhere in the far northern lands. I knew without seeing it that there were more people like him in the land of his birth.
"Are there more people like you from where you come from?"
This elicited a laugh from him.
"Of course, Sire! The mountains of my home are full of people like me, in all the villages. Once a year we have a great feast, like today, and all the people come together for games and trade and gossip. There are even fights to the death, though not often."
"You have a girl there?"
Olef gave me a pained look, so I asked no further.
"I would like your people, I am sure. But they do sound barbaric."
Strange to be talking like this, remembering that my father was traveling somewhere down in the north. He had not written for a long time, except to say that he had petitioned Pharaoh to begin his return home, which I knew had been granted. He was old. What else could he do there on the other side of the sea? I resumed discussing the serious matter at hand.
"Our meeting is to include all the overseers of the Court who had been part of the building. Scribes, suppliers, artists, priests. It will be a great council of men. The Queen will be there, as will the High Priest, and now High Vizier, Aiye."
"Pheee," Olef responded in a low whistle. Whistling is part of how orders are given at the pyramid works. "I am honored to be invited, my gracious Lord."
"We will leave in three days, so make your men and yourself ready." Olef stood as if at attention, already thinking of what will need doing. So I smiled at him. "Now, go back to the festivities. I will join you all shortly." He smiled back and turned on his heels, and was out into the dark like a fleeting shadow of the night. I could hear his footsteps hurrying to the revelry below. We left for Thea'bes as planned. But in my heart was not so much the audiences we will be attending as having a chance of stealing a moment with my Queen.

In a clear loud voice, the High Vizier called out: "All kneel in the presence of the Sun King!"
All did as told. A long litany of praise for His Highness then fell from his lips as we waited kneeling. There was not a murmur from all present. It was a grand congregation of nobles and foreign dignitaries. But half the men were my men, and I looked upon them with admiration as they waited for Pharaoh with their heads down. The silence was broken by the sounds of many footsteps as first the king's attendants, and then as His Highness entered the great hall.
"All rise," called out Aiye.
Amen'Hoetep was dressed in the most decorous regalia of state. On his head was the high double feathered crown of the two Egypts, which He carried with tall bearing. His robe was of the finest woven linen embroidered in gold, and on his neck lay the bright, multistoned collar of divinity. It lay heavy on his chest, but He carried it well. His measured steps passed by us as we rose to greet His Radiance. It had suddenly become fashionable at court to call Him by this name. In the many months of my absence, many things had changed at Court, or so it seemed. Then the Queen entered with Her retinue, followed by young Amen'Hoetep, the Boy King. All had the splendid radiance of high court decorum, which marked the importance of the occasion. It impressed me especially since my work had kept me in the company of sweaty men gray from Nile mud, dressed in cloth that had long ago known the loom. But my men, including Lazar and Tahar and Olef, all looked resplendent in their new tunics for this high occasion. The King spoke.
"My children. You are blessed with Our presence to be standing in the radiance of your new Pharaoh." All looked at each other not knowing of how to interpret these words. "My son, Amen'Hoetep who follows in my footsteps, now rules at my side as co-regent. Despite his young years, He has been prepared by our High Vizier to assume the roll of advisor to the Court. Still in the care of His mother, the Queen, His words will be law as are mine. You are here assembled to witness the building of the greatest tomb known in all the kingdoms. I do not build this for myself, but it is for God, Amen." All responded "Amen" in deference to the name of the god. "As I am now His Son, this tomb is being built for me, for I too am a god..."
"All hail the Sun God!" chimed in Aiye, to which all responded with their personal hails. When silence returned, Amen'Hoetep continued.
"I have assumed the title of Sun God, because it is for me and by me that the heavens revolve in their spheres, with the help of our priests in their temples. But should I die, and join the gods in their beauty, then my son, Amen'Hoetep, will continue to rule the universe, with the love of the gods for our beautiful Egypt."
A murmur of approval rose from all present.
"Hail to the Sun God!" Aiye responded, as did all the others. I looked at Pharaoh with admiration as did all present, for his figure was most impressive. Even Tiye looked at Him with reverence in her eyes. Amen'Hoetep looked older, though, and his face heavier than when I last saw Him, his eyes deeper sunk in dark shallows. But the Boy King was growing taller, His young face full of grace, which made Him look delicate, a long thin nose, full lips, and intelligent eyes. I looked at his hands, long and fine. He was going to be a beautiful Pharaoh, I thought, when He reached maturity. Already He was a handsome boy. Aiye had his usual distant look as if gazing into some distant void. The Boy King was amusing himself with the folds of his linen tunic. Pharaoh spoke when the public praises ended.
"In the name of Isis and Osiris and their son Horus, I open this assembly for discussion." He looked over at the High Vizier. "Aiye, you may open the petitions."
The various petitions were then read, and each petitioner was asked to step up to the foot of the throne, then bow deeply with his head touching the finely polished marble floor. Soon it was my turn. I did the same, and when I rose, Queen Tiye looked directly at me. I returned her gaze but discreetly. There was a distance between us somehow, as if the months that had passed had driven between us a wedge. I have seen how small wedges can split great stones, and this made me somewhat sad.
"You Highness. Your Radiance. I am here with my men to seek your love in guiding us in the work being done. We are now at the level of the greatest difficulty, and we pray to the gods for their deliverance, for the tomb must be perfect, as befits a god."
"You are well loved my son, Aegyptus. Your work comes to Us with the highest praise."
This helped me relieve my tension, so I spoke more openly.
"I have gathered here before You my finest men, those who know their work better than any other. They are skilled craftsmen, stone carvers, painters, carpenters, measurers, scribes, and priests, who all vie for your love, and who desire only to serve you with all their hearts. My petition is that we be granted all that is needed to best prepare for you this most holy vehicle for your Radiance's soul. If we could be so humble in our demands, it be only this, that upon completion of these most important works, the men who are slaves be free, and they who are your subjects be granted, by Your Highness's grace, the right to be buried properly in the most honorable way as prepared in tombs near the Valley of Beauty."
I stopped here, as it seemed right to do so. What I was asking, for you who do not know the workings of the Court, is that the tombs be built for my men with materials from the Royal Treasury. Amen'Hoetep studied me a moment, then a smile came over His lips.
"You ask very little, my dear friend. We are prepared to give you all you will need."
He said no more. Pharaoh's word was His bond. An audible shifting of the bodies standing behind me told of the contentment His Royal response elicited. I too was happy. To be buried with full rights in the tombs of nobles was the highest honor anyone can receive. So, emboldened, I ask further.
"And if it would please, Your Radiance, I wish to ask personally, not for myself, but for my father, Amen'hoetep son of Hapu, the same burial rights."
"Done!" was the surprising answer, not from Pharaoh, but from His young King. This brought a smile to the Queen's lips as She looked at Him, and then at me. Her eyes softened in that moment, and again my heart was glad. Young Amen'het then resumed His play as before.
"You have heard my co-ruler. So it is done. May your father's soul be received by the gods in the same pleasure they will receive mine. Now..." Pharaoh's large head looked around at all standing, "We will break for refreshments, and then upon call, you will reassemble here to discuss the matters at hand. I want to know everything about how My pyramid is coming along. We will then grant audience to each of you workers in attendance. Aiye will assist me. I want full reports to the smallest details."
Full reports were delivered, and the session lasted into the next day, and then the next. By the time we were all done, I felt exhausted. But to their credit, I felt none of this either from Aiye or Pharaoh, as if they were refreshed and enlivened with each new report they heard. Sometimes, it was as if Aiye was building this tomb for himself, His interest was so keen.
We broke on the third day, and many of my party were either sent back to the works, or given free time to visit the great temples of the City. I retired to my assigned quarters at the palace, where my large veranda opened on a great view of the Nile. At night the soft glow of fires and torches graced the other bank. I could hear the frogs on the river's edge, it was so peaceful. But I could not sleep, and deep in my heart I felt a call would come. In the middle of the night, it did. Tiye came alone to my chambers.
"My love! I have missed you so much. I stole away with the help of my ladies. We are safe until dawn, but then I must return before I am missed in my chamber."
"Hush, my beauty. You are the water of my soul, my most precious."
"But the High Vizier..."
"We are alone for the night..." My words were smothered by her lips. They were hot and pressed hard against mine. My Naume had returned, even though it was forbidden.
We talked in hushed whispers so none could hear. Her warm body warded off the chill I had felt inside. She felt close and full of passion, as did I. The Queen, now again my Naume, explained all that had happened during the months that I labored in the black wet slurry of the great works. It felt good to be clean and shaven and held in a woman's arms. I adored our stolen moment together, as did she.
"What is this new name? The Radiant Sun?" I asked her when we lay back in the glow of love.
"It is the High Vizier's influence on our King. He had suggested the new name, and Ameh'het took to it immediately. He said it had to do with what the gods demanded, so none questioned it."
"But does He truly think Himself God?"
"He was first the son of God, but then later changed it to God. I do not understand it really. But He swears that Amen is His Father, and this new cult of the Sun God had suddenly taken the land like a fire of passion. Everyone is talking about it."
"We at the pyramid are ten days away from the City, and now it seems that we are ten years. I had not heard that it was such a passion here."
"Oh, no. The pyramid is also a great part of it. Aiye says that Pharaoh will join the Sun God in the next life, and that He has already been spoken for, by Him. The tomb is to take Him there."
"But what of the priests? It sounds like a madness. Our land had never been like this before."
"But the King loves it, and it gives Him new powers."
"That is what Aiye wants. More power, through the King..."
"I think you are right. It grieves me to see my husband so easily fall into this game. But I have heard the priests grumble. They fear their favors with the Court would diminish, their lands and incomes taken away. The old world of Egypt, of Amen, does not like it, so I am told."
"But let us not waste our precious time on unhappy thoughts. What of our son? How He has grown."
"He is a wondrous child, always saying things that are years beyond His age. I don't know where he gets these things. He is growing fine, respectful, and kind to others. For that I am grateful."
"Does He ask about me?"
"Yes, often. He has taken such a keen interest in the tomb ever since He first saw it. I told Him we will soon go to see it again, and He cannot wait. He thinks you are a great man, for making such a wonderful gift for His father, the Pharaoh... I wish I could tell Him the truth... But that is impossible."
"And you, my beautiful. What do you think of this new Sun King?"
"It makes Him happy, so I am not opposed to it. Strange, how sometimes when I look at my husband, I do not see a Pharaoh. Rather, it is like seeing another child, my child, and I would do anything to please Him. Though, we do not sleep together. He has concubines for that."
"But no other children?"
"There are, but I suspect the concubines have active eunuchs."
We both laughed at the thought.
"Sad, though that His eldest son died so young. But that was long ago, even before the Queen Mother went to the gods."
"I am told it broke His heart, and He despaired of ever having an heir. That is why He was so happy to marry me, when I became with child."
"You are the Queen of Egypt, and our son Her Pharaoh."

I sought out Olef as we prepared for our return trip down the Nile.
"So what do you think of our fair Egypt, Olef? Have you seen all our temples?"
"It is truly a wondrous land, my Lord. I have never seen anything like it in my country. What I could tell them if I ever go home again. They would not believe me and think me possessed by devils. And I could show them, build for them."
"And where is your country, you never told me."
"I traveled so long, Sire, even as a galley slave, that I truly do not know. It is far, this I can say. And it is a beautiful country, all green in the warm times, and white with snow in the cold... But given the chance, I am sure I can find it again. I would just follow my heart."
"Who knows what the gods decree, but maybe someday I will be able to see it too. You had told me of snow, but such a thing I cannot imagine, though Father mentioned it in his letters. But if it is cold, I am sure I would not like it."
Olef laughed at my remark. Now that our work here was done, and Tahar and Lazar had both sailed the day before, we made ready to do the same. As we spoke of the things that needed doing, a friendly voice I suddenly spoke my name, a voice I knew, though it had been almost forgotten.
"Aggy?"
Surprised, we both turned instantly. A bearded man stood in the doorway, his large frame covering the entrance. His eyes were smiling, though his hair was now white, and his bearing a little stooped.
"Father!"
We both rushed to each other, clasping our arms in an all engulfing embrace. We held each other like this without speaking, just feeling each other again, like a part of yourself coming back together again, like Osiris returned into one. Oh, how it felt good to see my dear father again. We stood back and both looked at each other. Olef stood beaming, asserting quickly what happened and now too a part of the radiance between father and son.
"Aggy, you've aged." Hapu gave off a belly laugh.
"Nor have you grown younger," I laughed in return. "It's been years."
"And I hear you have been busy. A great pyramid!"
I shook my head, smiling.
"And you?" But manners were being forgotten. "Please, Father, meet Olef. He is one of our overseers at the building works." They exchanged formal greetings. "We were just now talking of his country, which is very far away."
"There is no country like this one is fair," Father replied. "Though the foreign lands may be beautiful, the gods blessed this one most of all. Where are you from, Olef?"
"I am from Skyth, my Lord."
"I have heard of it, not always in pleasant terms. Though, I have not seen it. They say your slaves are blind. Is that true?"
"No, my Lord, only if they are bad, then they are punished."
"Here, they are whipped, or they lose an arm or foot, but not blind. What is the good of a blind slave, I wonder."
"I have been an Egyptian now for many years, and I most agree, my Lord. Your ways are most just."
"This man has potential, Aggy" Father turned to me. "But wait, I have a surprise for you. A gift I brought from my travels." He turned to his attendants standing at the door. "Bring in my gift."
They returned promptly bringing in tow a scantily but finely dressed reluctant captive, a woman like I had never seen before. Her dark eyes quickly took in the whole room, and her walk was firm like a cat's, as if she were ready to pounce or flee in an instant. She had striking beauty in her face, and her body was well formed, not muscled but strong and trim like a well toned lioness, skin bronzed, hair golden like the sun, firm bosoms. She stopped a moment, and then leapt to throw herself at Olef's feet, embracing him at his thighs, letting out what felt more like a moan. She knelt there, holding onto him, eyes closed, making no other sound. We all stood puzzled, not knowing what to make of her. Olef stood in stunned silence. Then he reached down and stroked her hair gently.
"Rise my child," said Father at long last. "You are safe here." Then turning to me. "She was a captive I took in trade. Is she not a beauty? She understands a few words of our language. I thought she would make a good house slave for you, Aggy." Father had a twinkle in his eyes. "And keep your bed warm, if you know what I mean."
"I don't know if I could tame her," I answered, in truth. "What is her name? She is barely past twenty." Father gestured that I should ask her.
"What is your name?"
She answered in a rich melodious voice most pleasant to the ear.
"Iskra."
Olef reached down to bring her up, but she held firm.
"Why do you think she is so taken with you, Olef? She is strange."
He then spoke softly to her in a foreign tongue, which I guessed was his language, and she answered him, which surprised me. He turned to us.
"I think she said she is afraid of being sold again. Though some words I do not know."
"You speak her tongue? How wonderful!"
"It is not my tongue, Sire, but similar. She must be from a tribe not too distant from mine."
"Tell her to rise and not be afraid. We in Egypt do not eat beautiful women."
Father laughed, as did Olef. He then translated my words, to which she looked up at me, puzzled, and then gave a slight hint of a smile. Olef gestured that she come to me.
"I will not harm you, Iskra. Be not afraid."
Hearing my calling her by name made her relax. She rose and stood facing me, head down. I walked over to her to see her closer. She smelled of jasmine flowers. I stroked her golden hair, and lifted her chin, and she finally looked me in the eye. She had beautiful eyes, not dark like ours, but softer, brown, more golden.
"I think we can find a place for you, Iskra. Though where we are going is not as beautiful here. Do you think she understands me?"
Father let me know he did not know, and Olef said nothing.
"Is she not a fitting present from father to son?" Hapu was very pleased with himself. I smiled back at him.
"I think you've done well to bring her. I don't know what to do with her, Hapu, but maybe she can keep Olef company."
"Oh, no, Aggy. She is yours, to keep and do as you wish." I noticed Olef had a look of hopeful anguish, secretly hoping she could become his. Iskra and he took to each other instantly. But he also knew this could not be. He too was a slave.
"I will keep her, Father, in honor of your gift. But really, what do I do with a woman when I already..." I stopped my thought, angry at myself for almost saying what cannot be said. "...There is so much work for me to do. I will find a place for her in my household."
I dismissed Olef, and assigned my attendants to introduce Iskra to my household staff. Then Father and I took wine together, and sweet dates, and sat late into the night talking. There was much to catch up. When I told him I had secured for him a place in the Valley of the Nobles, he felt he had come home to die. I could not have given him a finer gift in return.
"And Mother too?"
"Yes, Mother too. She will be with you."


Thus ends the ninth scrolls as scribed from the spoken words of our most beloved Aegyptus. (signed) Mayat


Papyrus 10, Royal Tomb

One does not have to reach the greatest height to fall from grace. Even the gods know this, for it is they who decree our fate. Please write my words, my dear Mayat. There is still much to tell.

Aiye came unexpectedly one day. He entered unannounced into my work studio. I had just returned from the staging area where the large granite lintels were being readied. They were great stones and required more than brute force. Only fine minds can move such weight, and the men assembled by Olef were the team for it. I was to return to them as soon as they had them at the foot of the now great structure. I was surprised upon reentering my studio.
"My Lord, I did not expect you."
Aiye stood regal in his travel attire, not in itself regal, but made that way by His presence. He stood at one end of my work table, examining what was laid on it. His finger ran a line in the fine dust that had settled there, and raised it, examining its tip.
"You live a simple life," He answered me. "But not without its rewards..." He continued examining His finger. "I came unannounced because I wanted this to be a talk of frankness, soul to soul, between you and me." He stopped examining his finger and looked at me. "Aren't you happy to see me?"
"Your Highness, it always pleases me to be in Your Holiness's presence."
"Then you will need to hear what I have to tell you."
"Is it about the Queen?"
Aiye looked at me a moment, and then smiled in understanding.
"Greater. It is the gods."
"The gods?" I was not sure what He meant. "Have they spoken to you of me?"
"Your pyramid is coming together beautifully, my dear Aggy. They see your every move, every progress. They know you better than you know yourself, I assure you. And they are pleased."
"To please the gods is the purpose of our life," I answered mechanically, still not understanding why He came to tell me this.
"But they are not pleased with themselves." He stopped again, studying a drawing I had left unrolled. "You will have to destroy all these when you are done, you know?"
"It is customary to do so, my Lord. They will be burned."
"But I digress. What I am saying is that the gods are at war in heaven."
"How can this be? Do gods fight and argue like mortal men?"
"It is more complicated than for us," He answered. "But, yes. They war like we war, if totally differently. They have powers we cannot even imagine." He looked blankly at me. "I will let you in on a secret few may know." He paused to let me understand that this is important. "They show themselves and speak to me, and only a handful of men and women, all of the priesthood. They are not allowed to be known to any other. The priests are sworn to secrecy onto death. Do you understand?"
"I meant no harm in discussing them impiously, my Lord..."
He dismissed what I was saying with a wave of the hand.
"It is much graver than that. They are not allowed, you understand?"
"By Amen?"
"If you will, yes. But there lies their error. They disobeyed Him."
"Ohh... But I still do not understand."
"You can't, for you have no information for such understanding. But I do." Aiye got lost in His thoughts a moment, as if looking far into a world I could never see. Then He turned His attention to me again. "They now think the great pyramid may be a grave error."
"But why? It was they who showed us how it was to be built."
"I know. But there is where lies their arguments... amongst themselves." I shook my head but said nothing. "Some think it is a good thing, others not."
"Then we are pawns in a bigger game?"
"If you will. So I bargained with them, and we came to an understanding."
I could not imagine bargaining with the gods, but Aiye was an unusual man, if I could believe this at all. In some part of me, there was caution, wondering to what all this was leading to. What game was He playing?
"Then what did they say?" I asked cautiously without being obvious.
"I am glad you trust me, Aggy. It makes it easier for me to tell you what is on my mind." Aiye spoke with feeling, His blank face now more animated. I began to believe Him. "By Amen, I am telling you the truth. But there are gods who think your project should stop, and the Royal tomb never built."
My heart sank. So much invested, so much time and effort and materials. How could the gods be so cruel.
"Does Pharaoh know of this?"
"I see you are beginning to understand. No, He does not, nor Tiye. And they cannot be told."
"Then why me?"
"Because you are a chosen one, and they said to."
We both sat down on the heavy benches that served the work table, He on one side, and me on the other. Neither of us spoke for a moment. When the silence was broken, Aiye seemed more animated again.
"They can't do this to us!" He slammed His hand on the hard table. "They have no right!" Then he put His head in His hands. "How can we tell Pharaoh? It spoils everything..."
I reached over and touched His hand. We were alone, so customary protocol was suspended for now.
" No. It is not right." When enough time lapsed, I ventured to ask what was on my mind. "What bargain did you make with them?"
"The logic of the gods is not given to mortal men. We can never understand their thinking." He stopped and looked me straight in the eye. "They said you may never see Tiye ever again."
I slumped on the table, both hands on my cheeks, which I now felt hot. How could they make such a request? Why?
"Why? Not even in matters of state?"
"Oh, yes. You may see Her as any commoner may see Her. At functions, parades, even on official matters. She may still come to inspect the works. But you cannot be with Her." He stopped again as if listening to some inner voice. "You cannot be with Her. But the pyramid will be built."
So that was the game. I was to be His slave, building His precious pyramid, but to be denied what I valued and craved most in my life.
"Not even after it is built?"
"Not even then. For the pyramid, you must give up what I know is most dear to you, Aggy. I am terribly sorry for this. But now She is forbidden to you."
"The gods make no sense to me."
Aiye gave off a short laugh.
"Sometimes I think they make no sense to themselves."
I got up slowly and walked over to the door. Outside was the great structure looming on the horizon. The hardest task lay ahead of us, to build Pharaoh's perfect tomb. And yet, the burden that had just been placed on me left me no way of escape. I could not abandon what I had begun. None could build it like me, not even Lazar. None had the knowledge I possessed.
"And if I died suddenly, what then?"
"Don't be so full of drama, Aggy." Aiye laughed a short laugh. "Life continues for us mortals until we join the next world. But to answer you, if you died, then the great pyramid would remain undone. But you will build it." He also stood up and walked over to me, placing a hand on my shoulder. He was so much taller than me. "You are very burdened, my friend. But the gods test us constantly, and yours is the gravest test I know."
"Please leave me, Aiye. I need time to think. My men are awaiting me below, and I must go to them."
"Then it is understood?"
I looked up at Him, His Royal Holiness, the Viceroy to Pharaoh, High Priest of the two Egypts. Aiye, the man who would be Pharaoh.
"By Amen, by God, I will not let Pharaoh..." I did not finish my words for fear I would change my mind upon saying them. My fate was sealed. Something inside me died that day, and I feared that I shall never have it back. I had just buried me inside my own tomb. Tears came into my eyes.

Aiye left that same day for Thea'bes and left me to ponder the imponderable, but I could not. Instead, that day I went down to the works to supervise my men. Walking down to the works, my feet were like stone, each step taken laboriously down the crude earthen path, my mind a voidless blank. Even the great stone blocks had more life in them then I felt in my soul. But there was no turning back. The work had to be done.
When I arrived, my men had been waiting, sitting on the ground, but jumped to their feet upon seeing me. Olef hurried over to me.
"The first stone is ready, Sire," was his cheerful greeting. But upon seeing my face, he turned more serious. "The path had been cleared for us to proceed, my Lord."
"Let us begin."
At the call of the chanters, the men hoisted the heavy cable ropes and began to pull to the cadence that was called. The heavy laden great wood sledge gave off a groan and then moved in small jerks before it gained momentum and started its long slide down the mud slicked path. As it moved closer into position, more cables were thrown on it and attached by nimble hands that fastened them to the slots prepared to receive their knots. At the other end, up on the monument were other hands ready to push the eight great wood baskets filled with rubble to make their long descent down the adjacent glistening mud ramps. The great granite lintel never broke its speed as it lifted onto the pyramid flank and hissed its way up the steep runners made wet with the Nile's water of life, ropes straining at the heavy load. Grey glistening bodies moved like dark shadows in the bright sun, hands held fast to the ropes, straining with them, propelling the stone higher until it reached its target at the mouth of the chamber. From here, from a third up the standing structure, ran the long up-inclined tunnel to the sacred tomb. There our burden rested, and the water runners hurried over to the men to wash them down and offer drink. As new hands removed the old ropes, new ones reaching out from inside the tomb were attached to the heavy sledge. I gave signal for Olef to stop. We were all hot and worn, having made it up the steep bank in the heat of day. It would be cooler inside the tunnel. The men fell out on Olef's command and broke for a much needed rest. Those who needed to went off to relieve themselves on the rocks of the great structure.
Olef and I walked around the now silent lintel, examining the knots that held it in place. The smell of wood and mud and stone was all around us. Tired sweaty faces looked blankly at us in silence, as all knew what lay ahead. We did not hurry. This next stage would be more difficult than the last. Looking up the squared tunnel, we could see dim light coming from the far end, the sun's long fingers reaching us down the shaft. The tomb was still open to the sky, until the cap stones covered it from light for eternity. A cool breeze came gently from above, as the pyramid stone was cooler inside the tunnel than outside. It felt like the gateway to the gods breathed with a life of its own.
"Are you men ready?"
"Yes, Sire!" they answered as one.
Inspectors came running down the tunnel to report.
"The men above await your command, my Lord." The inspectors stood at attention, waiting for our signal. I touched the lintel, still warm from being in the sun one last time. It felt big and powerful, like it would defy us if it could. I looked up the tunnel. In the dim light I could see my relief men in position, rope in hand, ready to attach their knots at prescribed stations. Wood blocks were readied to act as brakes at intervals, giving the men a chance to change the ropes in the narrow space. Deep holes had been bored into the tunnel floor to receive these blocks. This same path will be taken by the gold sarcophagus when Pharaoh died, I thought. But then, there would be no coolness inside, only the hot stagnant air of a sealed pyramid. Then it will be sealed forever, open only to the gods. Olef stood silently by my side. I did not know what went through his mind, but I sensed we were ready to begin. He nodded at me that he was. I felt the need to speak to my men.
"You are good men, all of you, chosen for your skill and strength. Remember that we do not do this for ourselves, but for our beloved Pharaoh, the Living God." They stood looking at me. I could feel their love coming from each one of them. "This will be our most difficult task. I pray that the gods see favor on your work, and protect each one of you as you give the best you have. Amen." They answered, "Amen", and I sincerely felt it in my breast.
"Begin!"
Whistles signaled the top, which responded in the same. Men jumped into position and the slackened ropes tightened. Along the tunnel floor a fine slurry of mud trickled down from above. The chanters called off their cadence, and the large stone began its slow laborious move up the slope. Olef called out to the men.
"Block at the ready! First position!"
The chanters stopped and whistles called the top. The ropes stayed taught and the men with the blocks quickly pegged them into the first bores. Another whistle signaled it was compete, and the ropes slackened. Inspectors ran out to examine every detail to see if any damage showed, or any rope needed replacing. They whistled back that all was clear. Another whistle rang out to the top and the ropes tightened again. "Haul away, men!" And the whole process started once more.
We had moved in this way to position nine, but there was still two-thirds the distance to go. I called for a rest, and we all stopped. I consulted with Olef.
"Do you think we should replace ropes? How many had been changed?"
"Seventeen ropes had been changed, Sire. They fray quickly in this narrow space."
"I was afraid of this. Do we have enough, I wonder."
"More are being brought from below by runners as we speak."
"Good. As long as they hold, we will be fine."
"Let us break for bread and beer. Then we will move up another three pegs and clean up for the day. There is still daylight."
A dozen stones would be moved like this, and already it seemed an interminable job. When all had finished and rest was over, we gave the signal to take it again.
"Begin!"
Again the large stone began its upward crawl when calls of alarm were heard from above.
"There is damage, Sire! Damage to number twelve rope and thirteen!" a voice called from above. Olef immediately gave order to stop. When the whistles died down, silence returned to the long tunnel. I called for the relief ropes to be brought down, but was uneasy that the stone sat between pegs, and there was no way to held her fast. I prayed for the ropes to hold.
"Stand back away, men! She may not hold!"
Men below the stone jumped out of the way. Olef ran down to order more pegs brought up, as the ones used were now worn. He was about to place the new ones into the two bores to the back of the resting stone when a loud snap and then a human scream was heard above. In my mind I knew happened what I had feared. The weight of the stone was getting too great for the cables to hold. I knew a man had been injured by the flying cable. We needed new rope immediately.
"Give signal! More rope from above!" I called out. Whistles passed the message to the men inside the tomb. The great granite slipped an inch. Cables were being lowered, men attaching them to the large groaning sledge. The stone had taken on a life of its own, and we had to master it, or it would get away. I looked at Olef in alarm, and he had the same. We knew what this could mean. The whole weight of the stone would throw itself down the tunnel and shoot itself outside out onto the desert floor. There were men there, even the women and children who were carriers. It could not be. By the gods, it could not be. My gray men ran up and down the narrow shaft, their mud streaked bodies careful to not slip on the Nile slurry at their feet. It began to feel dark inside, holding us trapped like a bad dream that would not wake. I began to feel afraid.
"This is not good. What shall we do, Olef?"
"Use the guard stones, Sire."
"But those are meant to keep out the tomb robbers. Without them, Pharaoh's tomb will be at risk." I thought about for an instant. The sledge creaked lower again. "Do it! Now! Now!"
I held fast to the great block, as if my hands could magically hold it against the fall. Olef sprang like a cat down the tunnel to the nearest stone seal and with his bare hands yanked out the large wooden plug lodged inside the side wall. Sand poured out of it, and he jumped out of the way as the large block began its slow descent from the ceiling above. The other men flattened themselves against the tunnel walls, praying this will not be their tomb instead. Olef was about to climb back up when sounds like whips and screams were heard above us. The ropes gave and men where being whipped by the powerful lashes of all the force released from the great weight giving way. The stone had won. It shot past me as it began its swift descent down the shaft. Looking down inside the infernally loud tunnel, I could see Olef crouching on the other side of the great stone seal looking up at us as sand poured onto him. In my mind I could picture Olef's body crushed by the granite as it shot past the seal and plowed into him, carrying him out of the chamber below. A loud crashing sound bounced back at me, amidst dust and the smell of burnt sulfur. The whole building shook from the blow, and my eyes involuntarily closed. I felt the cool stone at my back. I was still alive, though cables had whipped me, and my face hurt where I had been hit. Moans from above told me men had been injured. The dead made no sound. By the dim light I could see through the dust in the air that there was light coming from below as well. I shook off my pain and made my way down carefully to where the great granite block had lodged itself. It stood still. To my surprise, standing besides me, was Olef.
"Olef! You are not dead! By God, you're alive!"
"By Crom, I'm alive." He gave me a feeble grin. "Look, Master. We caught her just below the lip. If she had gone any faster, she would have broken through and carried me off into eternity."
We examined the granite, which was barely scratched, whereas the large seal plug had a big crack in it. There was no time to waste. We both plunged back into the tunnel past the seal and ran up the long shaft to where injured men lay.
"Help these men to the top!" I shouted. All those who could helped their mates. "Give signal to lower ropes and bring in fresh men!" Olef added. All sprang into action. There would be time to assess the damage later. Now, we had to secure the stone from falling through.
While the stone stood still, men removed the existing ropes and doubled the new ones. They worked quickly, for all knew how tenuous was the block below. Olef and I then went to the top platform to visit the wounded. Tahar was already attending to them. Soft voices were heard as we passed them by. "Thank you, Father." It came from the men who were spared. Those who were hurt lay silent. Some were severely wounded, but others not badly so. A few of the men from the tunnel may lose the use of a limb, or have deep scars, if they lived. The sight of their blood, even in the dim light, made me feel ill, for it reminded me of Kush. Tahar looked up at me from tending the wounded, but we did not speak. I remembered Mosu. I would see to it the wounded men's food rations would continue, I thought, even if they could no longer work. Others, however, were not lucky. Three men had eaten their last meal in that shaft, and for them I ordered an honorable burial. To me would be left the grim task of telling their families. The light was fading quickly and we completed the work in the tunnel by oil lamps. Lazar came up to join us.
"I had been at the quarries, Sire, or I would have been here sooner. I heard of the terrible tragedy. I am sorry. It was God's will."
"Thank you, Lazar, but the blame falls on me. Make out a report for Pharaoh."
"I will order doubled ropes, sir."
"Yes, Lazar. That is what we will need. The granites are too heavy for the ones we use now. But she will hold until we return. Tell Tahar to give the men a day off. They deserve it." He nodded that he understood. "And you take time for your family too. They are more precious than you know."
When we had done, I made my way down the earthen path back up to my work studio. The moon had risen over the Nile, casting its cool light on the workers' village below. The weariness of the day weighed heavily on my whole body. I ached, and was sick to my heart inside. When I reached my small cot in the studio, I fell into a deep sleep of the dead. I am sure that was where my soul wanted to go.

We finished the hardest task without further errors. And when done, Pharaoh held a great celebration throughout the land. His Royal Tomb was ready, and now He could die in peace. I did not see Tiye again, but nor did I seek out the company of my new housemate, Iskra. She was there to kindly tend for me, but no more. Father thought I was passing up a fine opportunity, but I did not bother to explain. My soul was in mourning, so it was my way to cope with the unhappiness inside. I became reclusive, except for my work. When I had the rare free time, I would spend these on long wanderings in the desert, as far from the pyramid as I could carry water. The empty solitude became my solace. I wanted for nothing.
Work progressed steadily with few casualties. Over the years the great pyramid took its toll, as men died at every level, but there were fewer than a hundred by the time we reached the pyramidion at the top, thank Amen. The families accepted the loss as in the line of duty, and became provided for from the Royal Treasury. They wanted not for bread. The inscriptions at the top were as Tiye wanted, though I compromised and included the five sacred laws of the gods as well. I left a blank space for the inscriptions that would follow. But at the time, I could not know what they would be. As a final stage, all the mud brick scaffolding that engulfed the pyramid was removed, and in its place stood a great shining monument to the ingenuity and labor in the hands of Egypt's men. Great celebrations would soon follow. My work was done.
I did not look back upon the chain of events that led to my present conditions. I accepted them as they were, the will of the gods. Tablets of congratulations came to me from all Egypt and the known world. I accepted the praise graciously, but inside my success was an empty victory. I did what I had been asked to do, as a builder, no more. To know that the soul of Pharaoh would find its way to the gods was victory enough. I did it for the love I had for Him, as much as I did it for the undying love I felt for His Queen, and my Son. We had been victorious together in some strange way, though it was not for me to understand how. The Royal Tomb was done, and it would last for all eternity.
One night, while I read peacefully to myself in my palace, going over invitations from foreign lands, a furtive voice called to me from the door. It was a woman's voice and I turned half expecting to see Naume. She had spoken my name, but no one showed from the dark beyond. Then a stone wrapped in cloth was thrown through a window that looked out over my fruit arbor. No footsteps were heard, though I went outside to see who it was. The arbor was empty. I went back and picked up the packet. When I undid it, my heart quickened in my bosom. It was a tablet from Tiye. She had written a letter in her own hand.
"My Dearest Aggy, I could wait no more, no matter how severe the punishment would be were I discovered. These past four years have laid heavily on my breast like a cold iron chain. I think of you every moment, breathe with your every breath, my heart as one with yours. I did not want you to believe I had forgotten you. No, I am with you in every drop of blood pulsing through your veins. Our son is saddened by our separation, and He swore He will lift it when He truly becomes King. Pharaoh had been ill of late, and I think the gods will call Him. I pray for my husband's death, not out of meanness, but out of love. I think of you my beautiful, and I will love you through all eternity." It was signed with Her Royal cartouche.
I read it again and again before I stopped and just held it in my hand, if only to touch her where she had touched. The oil lamps cast their flickering shadows on the wall. All was silent in the house.
"Iskra!"
There was no answer. I was alone.


So ends scroll ten of his most revered words as spoken by Aegyptus, Chief Architect for the Living God. (signed) Mayat

Papyrus 11, 'O

Even the gods fear evil. Please write with your hand as my mouth speaks, Mayat.

A great feast of Opet was called, and all gathered at the site of the new Great Pyramid for everyone to see. It was timed for the first rising of Hapu, when the moon was to be full. The royal barges began their steady stream to the now newly consecrated site. The priests of the Court had already made all preparations. Father was first to arrive.
"This is your big day, Aggy!" Hapu came in good spirits, smiling as he entered my receiving vestibule by the garden. Iskra stood by ready to serve him. "And I see Iskra looks more beautiful than ever. Are you happy here, Iskra?"
"Yes, my Lord, most happy. Thank you." She answered Father flawlessly in the high language of the nobles. In the years since she first came to me her sharp mind learned our language easily. Father walked over to the balcony facing away from the river.
"Ah, there she is!" He stood rocking on his heels looking over at the great pyramid. "How did you ever get her sides so clean and shiny, Aggy? Look how the sun glistens off her slopes. And her peak! Like the sun itself! I should learn your art."
"Pharaoh gave me his hardest and best stone, Father. And the polishers gave her all their love as they rubbed the soft stones over them. I sometimes believe they used their own spit to make it so."
Father laughed.
"Your name is legend, Aggy. You are now known throughout all the lands. Have you thought of leaving Egypt, maybe work for a foreign king for a time, like I did?"
He must have seen the pained look on my face, since he dropped the subject quickly. Iskra served him and me more tea, and I watched Father watch after her as she walked away. She was dressed in the light and informal wear of the house. Nothing could hide her pleasant curves. He smiled again.
"You don't think you two could..." He gestured with his hands. "You know... make something."
Iskra turned back to look at us, and then turned away. She flushed.
"It is not that we can't, Father." I returned his smile. "I do find her very attractive. But we just haven't. That's all."
Hapu left it there. I could not tell him that in fact I desired Iskra. She was beautiful, and I could tell from her eyes that she desired me as well. But this was an unspoken understanding between us, and neither ever approached the other, though sometimes I wished I would weaken, or she. But my mind was already on the upcoming celebration. It would be held at night under the great moon, as the priests felt this was most auspicious. As more guests arrived, the small city of new temples and palaces about the pyramid, which some had begun calling Aegyptus, was already getting crowded. In a few days, the festivities would begin amidst much fanfare. Pharaoh would gather his highest nobles about Him. Especially, the Boy King and His Mother would be there.
In the years approaching completion, Aiye had a small temple built as well. It was dedicated to the Sun god Ra, and it broke with tradition in that all the ceilings were open to the sky. His explanation to me, when we talked about the design, was that the light of Ra had to enter the holy shrine. The gods demanded openness, and this was His way of symbolizing their request. From his words to me, I understood they meant something different, that they wanted truth. I said so. But He insisted that was not what they meant, and only He could understand their true meaning. I did not argue with Him then, but knowing what I know now, I should have. Still, I was able to help Him with its design, in spite of my busy schedule.
Much had been turned over to my overseers in those last days of construction. Lazar had accumulated so much knowledge that, with the help of Olef and Tahar, the pyramid could have built itself. But now it was done, the surrounding areas cleared of debris, and only the workers huts were still standing. Many of them, especially the better ones, had become permanent homes on the perimeter of the sacred grounds. Lesser huts will be taken down. The great causeway from the Nile to the Pyramid was encased in stone with statues of gods and prominent men of Egypts great history gracing its flanks like a silent colonnade of sentinels. In truth, the grounds around the temples had become beautiful. They were such a far cry from the open dry desert our small party first saw when we rode horseback onto the site. How many years of labor and suffering had gone into those grounds. Now they were planted with gardens and date palms, all lovingly tended by the temples' vast army of priests and priestesses. There was a magic presence to these grounds, like the love that I could not have had instead transferred itself into the land where the great monument stood. Now the harvests had been taken in, and the barges of celebrants began arriving in earnest. The day of the great Jubilee had arrived.
"Do you think I may take Iskra with me?" I asked Father over breakfast on the eve of the Festival. Father had taken to spending as much time with me he could, as if he feared that separation would somehow force us apart forever. He said he had been forewarned by the temple priestess of Sobek, the Nile god.
"You mean to the celebration?" Iskra was not with us at the time I asked this question. "Of course you can. Aggy, there is none who could or would tell you what not to do. You are seen elevated to the status of a god. The people love you, as do all at Court. Of course you can bring Iskra to the Jubilee."
As he said this, Iskra walked back into my breakfast room. We both looked up at her, wondering if she had heard. Her eyes rewarded us with a beatific smile.
"Can I really come? Do I have clothing for it? Oh, please. I would love to come and join you at the Festival."
"Then you shall," I answered. "You will come as my escort, and for the first time, we will no longer be seen as master and servant. I will bring you as my equal."
Iskra rushed over to me and grasped my calves in the way I had seen her do only once before. Father and I both smiled in recognition. It was a quaint custom from her land.
"You may rise, dear Iskra. There is not need for this now." I gently lifted her up and she stood close to me, which for a moment made my blood rush.
"You will be with us," Father added.

The sun had begun to fall from its zenith and great throngs of well dressed attendees were making their way to the vast pavilion at the foot of the Pyramid. As we arrived, obligatory recitals were being read by a high vizier, calling on the blessings of the gods. My name was mentioned at intervals. This was followed by the grand entrance of Pharaoh and His entourage as He took the throne. The Queen and Boy King also sat regally on their thrones on either side of Amen'Hoetep. She looked older, more tired than before, but still beautiful to my eyes. Young Amen'Hoetep was taller now, almost the height of a man. His eyes looked about the congregation as if seeking to find someone. I noticed his handsome face had the beginnings of a man's face. He still looked delicate and thin, but maturity was already asserting itself. We stood near and his eyes landed on me. He then rose and with long steps came walking over to me. Tiye followed Him with her eyes and saw us as well. Her face brightened upon seeing me, but it faded when she realized the woman standing next to me would not leave my side. Protocol forbade Her from leaving the throne unless accompanies by the King, so She was not free to join us. Amen'het was jubilant.
"Aggy! Oh, dear Aegyptus, how long has it been!"
"Your Highness." We all bowed. "It has been too long for sure. Matters of state have kept You from us for long years." He clasped me on the shoulder and looked beaming into my eyes. I turned to Father and Iskra. "May I present to you my escort, Iskra, for whom this is a first Jubilee. You know Hapu."
Iskra fell to one knee in His Highness' presence as I spoke these words. Young Amen'het acknowledged her.
"Please rise, Iskra. I am not yet fully Pharaoh. You are a woman from the outlands, I see. Welcome."
"Thank you, my Lord. I am most honored to be in Your presence in Your most fair country." They both looked at each other a moment, though I could not guess their thoughts. I knew Iskra would have been married to a king in her land, so for her to be in the presence of royalty was not new. She carried herself well.
"And you, Hapu, father to this great man. It has been a long time also. Did your travels take you abroad again?"
"Thank Amen, no my Lord. I am now in Egypt, where I will die. Foreign travel should be left to younger men." Father looked sideways at me when he said this.
"Ah! We are about to begin. First there will be the recitals, through which I will sit bored as usual. Then there will be the ceremonial burnings of the sacred papers, as demanded by the gods. Aiye will preside. And finally there will be the unveiling of the new statues to Father and Mother. This, I cannot wait to see, as it had been kept secret from all eyes."
Amen'het left us to resume His place on the throne. I had failed to mention that Pharaoh had commissioned a new statue for Himself and the Queen. It was a commission that was not in my hands, but rather was passed to the hands of His new Royal Builders. They were the men who once had been my slaves, and now are free. Lazar and Olef and Tahar would be here, I knew. I looked around to see if I could spot them.
"Aegyptus, my Lord!"
We turned, and there stood behind three smiling faces, one dark, all beaming on seeing us.
"My friends!" I beamed in return. "You all know my father, Hapu." Greetings were exchanged. "And may I introduce Iskra."
Olef already knew her, but Lazar and Tahar were never properly introduced to her.
"My Lord... My Lady." They all bowed in unison. This brought a smile to Iskra's face. She had not been addressed thus for a very long time.
We all exchanged news quickly, as the celebration was about to begin. The burning of the sacred manuscripts and drawings were to be first, after the initial readings from sacred scriptures. Aiye's priests read these for all to hear. My drawings had already been gathered and delivered by servants, as were the papyri of my scribes. It was an ancient custom that such drawings and writings may not survive the construction, not once the work was done, for then they were ceremoniously returned to the gods. Our work was seen as a gift for them, same as knowledge was a gift from them to us. Now these were being piled in a high pyre where they would be lit.
The sun had taken its last rays behind the Pyramid, and in the near dark, the first light of the great moon came alive on the other horizon. All knew this was the signal the priests awaited, and a silence fell upon all. The High Priest, Pharaoh's High Vizier, stood tall on a stone podium above us all, before the now piled scrolls. They reached three times the height of a man, and equally wide around. Tiye's steady hand was written on those scrolls, as was mine and my scribes, and Lazar's and numerous others'. Even Pharaoh's scrolls graced the peak of the great pile. Aiye called out to all the gods of Egypt, and then to Amen, and a torch was handed to Him. He held it aloft, reciting incantations, His eyes upturned to the sky, and then, when the rising moon crested the distant horizon beyond the Nile, He opened His eyes with a fierceness and malevolence I had never seen before. And with that He thrust the flaming torch onto the scrolls.
It was as if a wind of air had suddenly escaped from all throats around us, for the flames shot to the sky so fiercely. In moments, the whole pyre was a flaming inferno, its heat casting shadows behind us. Iskra involuntarily took my arm. Tiye stared into the flames. Pharaoh smiled, as did our Young King. We were returning the gift to the gods. And for this they will be pleased. All the tablets would be crushed as well. But something in me believed that the scroll Aiye had shown me, the one that would not shred, would not burn.
"It is done!" were Aiye's last words when the pyre was reduced to a smoldering red pile. The ceremony had ended.
The celebrants were festive late into the night, until the moon rose high into the sky. When it reached its zenith, the unveiling of the great statues would take place. This was Pharaoh's domain. Again all gathered in the great pavilion for this great occasion, for all were eager to see what had been hidden by large screens from their eyes. The food servants were dismissed, as were the musicians. The young priests and priestesses took up an ancient song in a language none new. Pharaoh walked up to the long curtains that covered the great statues. All could see the outline of the forms beneath, but not in detail. Pharaoh turned and looked at His Son, who stood from His throne and walked ceremoniously to join His Father. Then the Queen looked over at them, but she remained in her regal position, upright and still, as if only She were Pharaoh now over all the land. The priests stopped their chant, and all awaited in anticipation. Iskra stared wide eyed at the great curtains. Their red cloth shone with gold thread in the light of the torch pillars that lit the pavilion. Signal was given. Pharaoh called out in a loud voice.
"Oh great Osiris, send down your strength. Oh, great Isis, bless your people and land with your love. Oh great Horus, protect them with your fierce rays, and smite our enemies with your flying disks. I call on all the gods in heaven who are watching! Behold My work! Behold my Monument! For I am the Living God!"
Amen'Hoetep took the long white rope that hung from the top of the curtain and placed it into His Son's hand. They both pulled as the moon reached its height over the great Pyramid standing mightily before us. An audible exclamation came from all as the curtains fell away and the great red granite stone gods showed themselves for the first time to the eyes of the realm. Whispers then followed, and then silence. All stood without words to gaze upon the great wonder. They had never seen statues of Pharaoh and His Queen so beautiful. Their lips were full and sensual, their curves and arms and legs, their eyes were almost alive. My men did this, I thought. But Pharaoh did not call on them, or me. All stood and marveled in silent awe. But this too was followed with another exclamation of awe, for now all looked up at the pyramidion atop the great monument. Something was happening. We all stood transfixed as if the gods themselves had descended from heaven. Pharaoh looked at Aiye, and He at Him. Aiye's face was gripped with fear. Pharaoh's seemed at a loss. Iskra took hold of my arm, and that of Father's. It was a work of the gods, for behind the statues that spoke of power and glory and love, the Pyramid's face suddenly exploded with light and glowed like a polished sword. And at its top rose into the heavens a long straight pillar of light that cast its mysterious rays on all the faces looking up at it. It was as if Amen had answered, and all present knew His power was upon them. From the hushed silence Pharaoh called out into the night sky.
"Aegyptus! What hath thou wrought?" He looked at me, as did His High Priest. I looked up. But then, may the gods forgive me, I began to laugh.
"It was in the drawing!" I shouted back. "I had seen it, Lord, and I did not know! But now I know what it means! The Pyramid, Your Grace. Your Highness' Royal Sacred Tomb. Your monument to God, to You... It is alive!"
People scattered, afraid. Some fell to their knees and prayers escaped their lips. They did not know if this was the work of gods or demons. Father and Iskra stood there equally awed and looked up, as did all others. The Queen stood up and looked into my eyes from the throne, for this sight could not hold her down anymore. But She did not move. My Son, who had quietly slipped away from His Father, came over to me and put His hand around my waist. I put my hand on His shoulder and pulled Him closer into me. We both looked at His Mother. I could not tell in the light, but I could almost swear Tiye, my Naume, had tears in her eyes. There was a star of light slipping down Her dark cheek. Then, as quickly as it appeared, the light from the pinnacle faded, and was gone. We were in the darkness once more.
When all had departed, and it was nearly dawn, I remained alone by the great statues at the foot of the Pyramid. Father had taken Iskra back to the palace. I sat there in silence. Them, the great statues to the glory of Pharaoh, to Egypt, stood gazing down at me. I watched without interest the wind scatter ashes from the fire that consumed all we had done. I stood up and walked over to what had once been my drawings. They had been reduced to cold ash, dust to dust. The light from the moon was now a great large disk falling back into the land. Suddenly I was cast into the monument's dark shadow. The flames from the torches were going out one by one, where the attendants had left them. With my foot, I kicked at the cold ash as if wanting to scatter it to the four corners of the world. There was anger in my kick. Why me? I thought. Why was I not given what I needed most? Were the gods so cruel that they would scorn the love of a man for a woman, and her for me? The wind through the pillars of the pavilion answered only with their whispers. I stooped down to catch glimpse of what showed in the fading light of the setting moon. My hand reached down to confirm what my eyes thought they saw. It was a drawing. A drawing! I was right! The fire did not consume it after all. Aiye's drawing was once again in my hands! It was a sign.
"Oh, God! Oh God! Why me?" I cried out loud. "Is your fate so set for mortal men that it cannot be undone? Am I not your son? Would You not have given me the world for my sacrifice had I asked for it? By Seth..."
I clutched the ash covered drawing to my bosom, and let my anger beat in my breast. I was so angry I could have smashed with my two hands all the works that were His. Tears fell freely from my cheeks.

I do not know I had not dreamt this. But a part of me believed that it was real, and yet another... I do not know, but in a few words, I will tell what I saw. Months had passed.
Aiye had called me into His temple at the new Pyramid city. He greeted me cordially in His usual manner, and then showed me into His gods' room, where He sat me on His throne and donned on me the helmet crown I had seen once before. Then he left me there, alone.
At first the crown felt heavy on my head, though it was soft inside and of a curious workmanship I had not seen before. But then it lightened, and I felt myself sit up erect. A voice came into my head, when suddenly the altar beneath the clear blue sky, began to glow in a golden light. A form appeared out of thin air. It was a man, handsome and tall, not unlike Aiye, but dressed in a manner never seen in Egypt, as if his clothing was part of himself. He radiated a soft blue light. I was too surprised to feel fear. Actually, I felt very peaceful and calm inside. The man spoke.
"Aegyptus." He said this as if he had known me a long time. I only vaguely remember his exact words, but will repeat them as I think I heard them. "You do not know me, but you had been in my thoughts a long time. We had watched your progress, your growth that made you into the man you are, with deep satisfaction. So it saddens us to see the depth of your sadness. Yet, it was necessary."
He looked at me with deeply compassionate eyes. His skin was the color of mine, darker than Iskra', but lighter than Tahar's. He had dark eyes, and very neatly arranged black hair, as if it had been cut by the sharp blades of a surgeon. There was no sound around him other than the words he spoke. I began to truly believe that I was in the presence of a god.
"What is you name? May I ask?" He looked at me with his steady eyes and smiled.
"You call me by the first vowel of my name. 'O. Any other name would only confuse you."
His clothing gave off a light glow when he said this. I looked over to see if Aiye was at the door, but there was no one there.
" 'O?" That is a strange name to give someone, I thought. Horus or Osiris or Mon'thu? Toth, Sobek came to mind. "Why am I being called here, like this?" I gestured with my hand a sweeping motion as if to encompass the room.
"Because you, Aegyptus, had done great work. And it is for this great work that some, where I come from, would have your works destroyed."
"To be punished? By whom? By the gods?" I felt disoriented a moment.
"Even the gods fear evil, and it is believed that what we done here is bringing forth an evil future we would rather not see. Perhaps you are not yet ready to receive the knowledge you had unbeknownst to yourself unlocked. This may be strange to your ears, but in a mere five hundred years, you would be flying to us, as we do to you."
"Do you mean that we could be gods like you?"
"Some of you. But most of you, no. But let me say to you what I came to say. This is spoken not only from me, but for many of us on the other side. Listen well." 'O then closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, after what seemed like a very long time, there was love in them like none from a mortal man. "Aegyptus, you are loved. No matter what follows, of what you do, or is done to you, remember that you had not been abandoned by those who love you dearly, with all their hearts. You are a son in ways you could never understand. But remember this, that no matter what happens, it is never in punishment of you. For you are a chosen one, and from you will spring the seed of a race that will one day change the world. So go, and bring forth children who will be fruitful and multiply."
'O's hand reached over to me, but at the distance between us, though I stretched out my hand in answer, we did not touch. Then as abruptly as he appeared, he vanished into thin air. I sat on Aiye's throne a time, and then took off my helmet. My eyes hurt. As I did so, Aiye reentered the room.
This is all I can report of this strange moment. Everything else I remember is a strange blur, and if I said more, I would be guessing. But ever since then, I never tired of my thirst to find out the meaning of those words. And who were those mysterious gods? I would ask at all the temples of the land until I knew.

I was called again into the City. Months had passed since that mysterious meeting with 'O. The tablet that announced my invitation was terse, and made no attempt to explain why I was called. It simply said I had to come, on high order. It came with Pharaoh's special cartouche, so I had to obey. Father stayed at the palace, and Iskra was put in charge of the household demands.
Pharaoh met me cordially, but with coldness in his words.
"It is good to see you, my dear Aegyptus. Many months have passed since we last spoke, or has it been years? No matter. You have been attracting attention to yourself, and We are not pleased with this. What have you to say for yourself?
"With all due respect, Your Highness? In what way? I do not know what to say to Your Grace."
"At the temples. The priests to Amen had begun talking of this strange Aegyptus asking them sacrilegious questions about the gods. What does this mean?"
"I had been curious, Sire. No more than curiosity. Sometimes I lay awake at night thinking..."
"I know of what you are thinking. We had seen the tablets you had written. The Queen and I are most distressed over it. A tribunal has been assembled to try you regarding those tablets."
Pharaoh then gave me a cold look.
"Tablets, your Highness? There are no tablets..."
"You thought you could be clever, but your messenger had been put to death, and before he died a terrible death, he revealed all."
"You must be mistaken, Sire..."
"I am Pharaoh! How dare you speak to me this way! Had We not warned you about this? Had We not been kind to you? And now you do this. Aegyptus, there will be no mercy in heaven for what you have done."
"But I am innocent."
"So that's it? You would deny your undeniable guilt, even to Me? I, Pharaoh? I who loved you like a Father? I had said to never embarrass Me. But this is now known throughout the City, and people are laughing."
Pharaoh said those last words more like in a hiss of a snake, and He gave me a cold eye, which froze my blood.
"I am innocent... There must be some mistake. Would the Queen not defend me?"
"She is guilty with you, by association. You will be tried, and She will watch helplessly. It is not for Pharaoh to punish His Queen, but for the gods. By Amen, but I will punish you."
"With all due respect," I stammered, "may I see the accusing tablets, Sire?"
"You will." Then Pharaoh motioned to a courtier who ran out of His receiving chamber and returned in a short time with His High Vizier, the High Priest, Aiye.
Aiye came running in behind the courier carrying a small wrapped packet. He quickly undid the bindings and spilled the bag's clay tablets onto the table before us. Then He stood back. I stepped forward and picked up one of the tablets. It was a likeness of my script, but not mine. I picked up others, not bothering to read what they said, and they were not even good copies of my hand.
"These are forgeries, Aiye! You know they are!" I shouted at Him in front of Pharaoh. Aiye seemed not to mind. He had done his evil errand, and was content to have convinced Pharaoh of these damned tablets' guilty message. Aiye never said a word to me, and spoke only to Amen'Hoetep.
"My Lord. These had been examined by our best temple scribes, and they are undeniably in Aegyptus's hand."
Pharaoh turned to me, an evil look on His face.
"Well? Would you also deny the word of Egypt's High Priest?"
"No, My Lord. I would not. It seems that I am cursed to be doomed. I ask only to spare the Queen from undue grief. Do with me as you please."
"Guilt is admitted!" Aiye answered my words quickly. Then aside to Pharaoh. "I do not think we need to do the trial, my Lord. It would be grievous for the Queen. We have a better idea..."
He then whispered into Amen'Hoetep's ear, much like we did when children at school, so the teacher would not hear. It was amusing, except it was also serious. My fate was being decided in those whispers. Palace guards were called in, and I was led away to prison.
I found out my fate in a few days. I languished in my grief in the small room of my cell. Rats came and ate freely of my untouched food. Then I was brought out into the blinding light of day and, before a large assembly of courtiers and palace priests as witnesses, I was read my charge.
"You are charged, Aegyptus, with high treason in the manner of personal indiscretion, and inappropriate advances to Her Majesty, the Queen, for which She is totally innocent. The guilt falls entirely on you, and for this your just punishment has been decreed. You will be put on the wheel for public scorn in the great pavilion before the great temple of Amen. Your name shall be struck from all records. So has it been decreed by the most just law of the land, by our Father, Pharaoh. May Amen have mercy on your soul."
The messenger then rolled up the scroll and left me standing confused and afraid. They would put me on the wheel, which was reserved for common criminals and thieves. I nearly fainted from the thought, and was again roughly taken back to my dark cell. Weeks passed by, and I wondered why they waited so long. Secretly, I was hoping that Tiye, my Naume, had found a way to stop this madness, and clear up this great injustice. But it was not to be. When my appointed hour came, I was stripped of the clothes of my station and put into dirty rags and chains. Thus I was led away to the great pavilion of my Father's Temple.

I do not wish to dwell on how they beat me on that wheel, for it grieve me to even think of it. And then I was left there, hanging, left to the amusement of the common people who would send their children to come and spin the wheel with me still tied to it, so I knew not if the world was up or down, or if it was day or night. Vile persons threw dung at me, and came to spit in my face. Some, especially mean children, even threw stones. I was beyond hurting and did not care for my life anymore. In my mind, I had already resigned myself to dying on that wheel, when a voice called out to the taunting spectators assemble before me.
"How can you do this to this man! You vile serpents of the desert, did this man not build for you the greatest monument the kingdom had ever seen? Were you not singing his name in praise only a short time ago, and now you scorn him, and stone him? You should all be ashamed, for you are not fit to be called Egyptians. You are more vile than the lowest of your enemy. You are the dung you had cast upon him. All of you! Begone!"
I looked up through swollen eyes. I felt it was already morning. I tried to make sense of what I was looking at. It was Tahar. I had thought it was his voice. And behind him stood Olef and Lazar and Iskra. When she realized my eyes were open, she rushed over to me to feed me water from her water skin. I swallowed painfully, as she took a soft cloth and tried bathing my blood soaked face. Now more people were gathering, to see what the commotion was about. They had grown in numbers, and I could hear Olef's voice rise above their curses.
"Begone, we said! You miserable waifs. Have you no ears? Or you will taste the whip!"
"You are not Egyptians!" Someone called out from the crowd. This made them more bold and they began advancing again. Iskra stepped before me to shield me from any more stones that would come my way. "Go back to your own land!" someone else called.
"This is my land!" It was Lazar's voice, though I had difficulty seeing him. "I am as Egyptian as you! You who are the curse of your demon gods. Begone! Or I will cast the evil eye on you."
This brought a murmur from the crowd, who began to take up stones against these who would curse them. They began approaching, when a stone hit hard against the wooden spoke of the wheel, barely missing Iskra. I wanted to wrest myself free, but could not. Iskra began pulling at the heavy cords that held me fast. Then like a loud thunder, I heard the crack of a whip, and then another. I looked up and Olef and Tahar were both swinging their great whips at the crowds. I feared for them, for if they be caught, they would be put to death for interfering with what was said to be just punishment by Pharaoh.
"Don't! My friends. Do not condemn yourselves on my account!" I shouted hoarsely at them. But they would not hear me and the whip cracked again and again. I could see the crowd retreating. Guards who were relieved the night before were no longer there. Lazar quickly ran over to help Iskra.
"We will set you free you, Master." Iskra spoke to me as she worked hard to undo my ties. Her lovely hands tugged at the knots.
"You will be free, Master." It was Lazar's voice that spoke these words. I looked up from below at his earnest face. There was love in those eyes, like I had never seen before.
"Thank you. Thank you, my friends. Set me free, so we can quit this cursed place."
The whips worked, and the crowds ran away, afraid that they would feel their sting. Olef and Tahar ran after them shouting, and then ran back quickly before the mob took heart to return. There were so many against so few, but a brave heart is stronger than a hundred cowards. The vile crowd all stood back at a distance from us, to not attract the whips again. Their powerful arms used those large whips well. In the distance I heard the sound of galloping horses, and feared the guards were returning. Instead, it was Father in a chariot, with another chariot behind him driven by one of his trusted servants. We had all become outlaws, I thought. What had the world come to? But I had no time to think of this now. We all had to escape before the guards could be rounded up and give us chase.
"You are coming with us, my Lord," Lazar said to me while I was being carried away. "You will come with me into the land of my forefathers, of Abraham, where you will be safe."
"Thank you, my Hebrew friend, but..."
"Or come with us, Lord. Kush would be safe for you too."
"No. Come to our lands. I would make you welcome and loved there. You would be with Iskra like king and queen... And see snow!"
I looked up to see Olef's earnest face smiling into mine. I tried to smile, but it hurt so. Tahar gave me an encouraging look. They put my broken body into the chariot. Iskra held me in her arms, and we were off.
"I will clear your name, Aggy." It was father. He was now driving at a speed I did not know was in him. "I will stay behind to clear your name. I know your innocence, by God, and I will see to it." He looked over at me. "And you and Iskra, please, make beautiful children together." He reached down to touch me, but had to regain grasp of the reins. Iskra looked at me without saying a word, though her eyes spoke deep into mine.
Lazar and Tahar and Olef were in the other chariot to our rear. I could not see the servant, and think he jumped off when he had delivered his charge. I feared for him at the hands of the mob. The loud clatter of galloping and wheels and wind on my face roused me and I managed painfully to stand in the lurching chariot. We were already out of the city wall. Early morning travelers on their way into the City scattered out of our way as we charged by. Farmers watched us from their fields by the sparkling Nile. Iskra held onto me with both arms about my waist to keep me from falling. I felt her kisses on my neck and ears. My beautiful Iskra. I reached to touch her, and she took my hand and squeezed it gently in hers.
I never saw my palace home again, nor my Son, nor Naume, not until we returned from our exile. But that was not to be for a long time, and by then everything would have been changed in Egypt. The Sun God would have been replaced by the real Sun God, now new Pharaoh, Amen'Hoetep the Younger, who was to be named Akh'aan'Aten. The power of the priests of Amen shifted to a new god, Aten. But I leap ahead. My first passion was to discover all I could about the Visitors, as the temple priests called them. And this I did through secret letters and tablets from all who would answer me, through priests and laymen alike. I wanted to know who the men from the land of 'O were. What did they want with us? I learned much of them. Maybe they were gods. But by Amen, they were also mortal men.
What follows in these scrolls is what had been kept as the highest secret of the land, known only to a select few, as best as I could piece it together. That secret had a power that I felt none should possess. I felt it is my sacred duty to tell my Egypt of all I knew.


So ends the full and truthful words of my most honored worthy Lord, Aegyptus, builder of the most great Pyramid of the Living God. (signed) Mayat


Papyrus 12, 13 (untitled-lost)


Please Note: These two scrolls are missing. Only small scraps of papyrus were found which gave us some clue of what may have been in them. These scraps were rolled up inside a smaller scroll, which appears to be a love letter, which we guess was written to Aegyptus by Tiye. Below, in quotes, are some of the scraps we could decipher. The letter of Tiye is attached at the end of the book.
--Author

Fragments as we could decipher them:


"...and the sign of the wonders art that thou shalt not go after other gods, which thou did not know, nor serve them... do not hearken onto that prophet who is a dreamer of dreams of the sun, for he is not your true god..."

"...and when the living men went, the wheels went with them, and when the living men were lifted from the world, the wheels were lifted up... the spirit of the living men was in the wheels..."

"...and let them make me a sanctuary that I may live among them, and by Amen I will show them all I know..."

"...thou shalt not kill, nor commit adultery, nor steal, nor bear false witness..."

"...and when the men departed, there was great thunder after them, and they went up into the clouds of the western sky..."

"...Horus of the West pursued Him of the East... the darter rays struck the enemy where the flying disk smote them in the desert... and they ran before them..."

"...look down upon them from the temple of heaven, and bless the people with milk and honey..."

"...and thou shalt make an altar to Me, your God, to burn incense upon... a cubit shall be the length thereof, and a cubit breath thereof... and two cubits shall be its height... and there you will bring me sacrifice..."

"...and when they stood, a loud voice called to us from the firmament above, and we fell upon our faces... over their heads was a throne of sapphire stone, and upon this throne was a man, with a fire about him... all fell and worshiped him, Amen..."


Papyrus 14, Son of the Sun

Take down in your best hand my final words, Mayat. I have looked over your work, and we have done well. I am pleased.

The bread of Egypt once again passed my lips. Never did it taste so good. The people of Byblos were kind, and there I did useful work. We were well taken care of. Iskra found friends wherever she went, as did our children. Hapu spoke the language of the land as well as the native people. And Nerit was only now endearing us with her first words, some Egyptian, some not. But the bread of the Hyksos was flat and tasteless. It was good to be home again.
How many years had passed? I wondered. Was it really more than ten? Now that Egypt had her new Pharaoh, and the letters with royal cartouches beseeched me to return, I thought of doing so more and more. Amen'Hoetep had been laid to rest in His hastily prepared tomb in the Valley of Beauty, as was Father. I did not see them alive again. And the Queen... A heaviness fell on my chest thinking of it. What tragedy befell my beautiful land! But when a letter came from Pharaoh, then I felt it had come time to go home. Oh, how I wished to be here, so many times I prayed at the temples to make it so. And now... now that I had walked on the soil of Mother and Father again, it was as if I had never left. The tablets to us said that I was free to have my old palace home again, so we made preparations to boat up the Nile on the fair north wind. But the City was still two weeks away, and I wanted to stop where had stood the great monument that had become in some strange way my personal tomb.
From exile, I knew what had passed there, and from letters to friends, I was able to piece together that dark day of tragedy. But until I could see it with my own eyes, I would not believe it. Iskra was eager to see the pyramid site too. Within days, we arrived, but no friend was there to greet us. So we found a common tavern to stay in, since the palatial homes were now gone, or fallen into ruin. What had been spared of the city had fallen into disrepair. It was a sad and shabby land. The innkeeper was kind enough to have his boy take us on the backs of his donkeys.
"Most noble Sir. Please bring your family to my courtyard, where my boy will saddle the beasts for you."
"Do you remember what graced the sky yonder?" I asked him.
"Yes, my Lord. But I look not upon the past with kindness as do so many others. I think it was the work of demons, and it was well our land rid of it."
"What happened that night? Were you there?"
"Yes, I was. We were warned, mind you, but I stood my ground." He gave me a knowing but malevolent look. "No robbers were going to come into my inn."
Iskra came over to us with our children. The man gave my wife a covetous look. She paid no interest to him.
"My Dear. Nerit is tired. Why don't you take Hapu, and I will stay behind to mind her. I fear the trip may be hard on her. See," she looked at our little girl sleepily looking up, "she is ready to suckle."
I gave her leave, and kissed her on her forehead.
"We won't be long. It is something I need to see. You understand."
She did, and I helped Hapu climb aboard his small donkey.
"This is like back home!" He cried joyfully. "Can I have a donkey here too?"
"Better, my son. In Egypt, you will have a real horse."
Hapu became even more excited at the prospect, and looked ready to gallop away on his future horse, though the burrow was a small shy animal by contrast.
The innkeeper watched us in amusement, then he helped his son onto the blanket astride his pony, and we were ready to be off.
"Tell this noble Lord what I told you to say to visitors who come to visit the old tomb. He will pay you well for your words." He said this at a distance from us, but I could hear him. He gave his boy a wink. I did not like the sound of this, but decided I would hear whatever tale they had to tell.
"You are not Egyptians, are you, son?" I asked the boy as we started off.
"No, Father." At least he was a well mannered boy.
"What is your name?"
"It is Seth, my Lord."
I did not say so, but I found this to be a most unusual name for a child. Hapu was riding next to me, not certain if he should speak to the boy in Egyptian, or some other tongue. We had traveled much, it seemed.
As we rode into the desert only a short distance, the houses fell away quickly and before us loomed the old temple ruins, now half covered with sand.
"Look, Father! Those columns have no roofs on them. Do you think you can fix them?" Hapu pointed with his little hand.
"I think not, son. These are damaged beyond repair, unless we straighten them first. See how they lean? No roof could stand on them."
We were soon upon the site of where the great pyramid stood. The old ones stood in the background. The blowing sands had covered much of the former grounds we cleared. Our burrows stopped out of habit.
"Where are the stones? There are only a few left?"
"They've been taken away, my Lord, for the new cities and temples. But not all. There are still some further in the desert."
Indeed, I could see large scattered piles of blocks laying at a distance in a wide arc. They may have been too difficult to move from where they fell, I thought, or simply too many.
"What happened here, son? Tell the truth, Seth."
"Oh...Yes, Sire, I only know what I heard. I was not yet born when it happened. But the elders talk of how the clouds gathered in a terrible storm, and the loud voice of God called down to them to leave, and abandon this place, or terrible punishment would rain upon them. Then the day turned into night and a great lightning from the sky fell on the earth all around and the big monument trembled with all its might. People were afraid and began running in panic, but then the rocks went flying into the air and fell on top of them. And they died, many, many. My father says that all those who died were cursed, and that Pharaoh said to forget about them."
"Do you mean that all were to forget this happened? Is it not so?"
"Yeah. Lord. That too. But mostly people stopped talking about it. I know because Father told me about it.... It's how we make a living, Sire."
"Do you know of the Visitors?"
"No." He gave me a genuinely puzzled look.
"It's best you don't. Can we go a little further?"
"Sure."
He kicked his little beast and it vacantly stepped forward again. Hapu stayed close to me, seeing this boy was not overly friendly to him. I looked around trying to remember my bearings as to where we were. I ordered them to stop.
"Here. I think it was laid here."
I took Hapu down, and the boy jumped down also. We all three looked around the bleak sun baked land. There was not much left. I began remembering when we chose this site, our small party of Tahar and Lazar and Tiye, and Aiye. I quickly dismissed the thought. Little Hapu ran ahead of us.
"Look, Father! There is red stone here." Indeed, upon approaching it, we could tell there was a red granite block tip showing in the sand. I brushed away the sand, and immediate recognition came to me. "There is writing. What does it say, Father?"
"It says... That you should be good in all you do, Hapu. And that you should always honor your mother and father."
"Oh? I will always do that."
It was not really what it said. We had stumbled on the only stone remaining in place from the great Pyramid that once stood here. It was the heart stone. The mysterious words of 'O came to mind. Wearily, I motioned for us to leave.
"The gods spared the heart stone," I told Iskra when we returned.
"They had wisdom in what they did, even if it was with such violence." Iskra always had a clear way of seeing things. "Did it sadden you very much to see it?" She looked at me with concern. Our little daughter lay sleeping safe in her arms, oblivious of the troubles of the world she had come into. Hapu came to cuddle next to her.
"Yes. That such great work should have gone so terribly wrong. There is nothing there. Remember how it shone?"
"It was like a beacon of light in the desert," she answered. She took my hand. "But let us not stay here any longer. I want to see the City again."
"My instructions are to stop at the new city of Akh'taten, where we are to be in audience with Pharaoh."
"Pharaoh. He is a man now."

We arrived at the long bowed valley of the new capital city of Egypt. In its vast canyon lay a small city ringed with tall cliffs on three sides and the Nile at its feet. Across the river were mountains that reminded me of the Valley of Beauty. Everything looked new and construction was activity everywhere evident. So this was the city newly commissioned by Amen'Hoetep, the Sun King, now known to all as Akh'aan'Aten. Upon our arrival, courtiers came running to meet us at the docks, carrying gifts of broadcloth and flowers and perfumed oils. We were getting a royal reception, which was pleasing in ways I could not describe. Iskra brightened visibly and the weariness of our long travels suddenly left her. She was beautiful and regal again. Hapu cried with joy upon seeing the flowers, and Nerit laughed when the courtiers gave her a new toy, a small wooden doll with cloth and hair. And then I saw an old familiar face that filled my heart with joy.
"Lazar! My dear old Lazar. How good it is to see a friend again."
"You have been away too long, Sire. We are blessed to have you walking on our ground again. Welcome home to Egypt."
"She is the fairest land, and I had seen many. By Amen, there is no home like Egypt, blessed by all the gods."
Lazar gave me a pained look.
"She is most blessed by Aten, my Lord. The older gods had fallen from grace here. You are in a new land now. The old Egypt is no more, by the will of Pharaoh."
"Oh? I had forgotten. The letters said as much. Habits die hard."
"It is understood, Aegyptus. No one is punished for speaking of the gods, simply they are mentioned less and less."
We all walked together the short distance to the grand palace that graced the river banks. While young courtiers lavished attention on Iskra and the children, Lazar spoke of old times as we walked. I could not help asking him about this new city.
"I see few stone works here, Lazar. Are they not building with stone anymore?"
"Time could not wait for stone, Sire. The King needed to build quickly, so He commissioned architects to build with brick. What you see here is no more than five years old. See how much was built?"
"Indeed. This is a different time we are in. Only the mud huts of workers could go up so fast. You have done well. This is a beautiful city already."
"Akh'taten receives ambassadors from all the lands, and all come to praise her beauty. We have been busy, though Aiye complains we are depleting the Royal Treasury."
"He is here too?" My heart sank at the thought.
"Not the same man you knew, Aggy." Lazar dropped his formality with me and we now talked as old friends. "He is now the High Priest of Aten. His dedications are to openness and light and truth. Ever since the great upheaval..." Lazar let it drop, not wanting to dwell on what brought about this sudden change in our land.
"I want to see everyone. And the Queen?" I inquired, hoping nothing had changed with Her.
"The Queen Mother is now the Palace Widow and lives in seclusion, either here or at the City. Our beautiful Nefertiti is the Queen now. She and the King are a beautiful couple, to whom had recently been born a daughter. All are most happy for them."
"News reaches even the lands of the Hyksos," I answered.
"Then you know of the difficulties our Egyptians are having there..." Lazar was curious of the stories of Egypt losing control of her colonies.
"It is not as bad as you think. The people love the Egypt they knew. But princes are jockeying for position and power, and they are confused as to how best approach the Court. There is some trouble, but not much has changed. We are still the shining light of the known world. All respect us for it."
"They don't pay their taxes," laughed Lazar. "This makes Aiye most upset, but Pharaoh seems unconcerned."
"No one likes paying taxes, no matter what country," I laughed. "Maybe the King should have a punitive campaign and show them what they had forgotten."
"It is not His Way. He would rather stay here, in His paradise He is creating."
"He's been busy. And you?"
"My son and I oversee the building works. There is very much work to do. Bek has grown into a fine man." He looked at me sideways. "We hope you can join us, Aggy. There is so much more to do, new temples to be built."
I nodded in understanding. Indeed, the new city had beauty of all kinds gracing its long avenues. Buildings had soft elegant curves, clean and white in the sun. Artists had painted on them graceful images of life in this new land. The Great Road stretched from one end of the valley to the other, the Palace astride both sides of it. A grand bridge pavilion spanned the two palaces where Pharaoh could greet His people from above. Flowers and fruit trees graced all the buildings. Date palms lined the boulevards. It was small as cities go, but already on its way to becoming great.
"They do not build for Eternity, Lazar, do they?"
"They will. But for now, no. I hope stone will be brought in later, or a great rain may wash away all you see."
"Even stone is not safe," I answered. We had arrived.
A Royal Vizier greeted us as we entered the cool halls of the King. Iskra came to my side. The children were taken by nurses who would tend to their needs.
"All stand to receive the King, His Royal Highness, Pharaoh of the Two Egypts." The Vizier called in a high voice. He had the effeminate features of a eunuch, though I did not think he was so. All stood as told and, with a brilliance none could fail to appreciate, in strode Akh'aan'Aten, the Pharaoh.
He was dressed in His formal receiving gown, long and flowing, embroidered with gold, usually reserved for high dignitaries. Iskra and I knew the significance of this and looked at each in recognition. Amen'Hoetep the Younger had now grown tall and handsome, His fine features filled into manhood. He appeared soft, however, as if He did little of the sporting and hunting that kept a Pharaoh fit. He looked almost effeminate. But His eyes were those I knew. They were intelligent eyes, soft and compassionate as they looked at you. By His side was a beautiful woman I had never seen before. In her dress of gold and white fine linen, she glowed like the sun herself. This must have been the most beautiful woman in all Egypt, I thought. She smiled at me upon entering, then touched Her husband affectionately. Pharaoh's eyes immediately caught mine and He smiled endearingly at me. He came over to us without ceremony.
"Aegyptus! Oh, my dear Aegyptus. How good it is to see your kind face again. It has been too long." Akh'aan'Aten came over and put His arms around me, where he held me, and stroked the back of my head. "You had been missed at Court, my dear. We are happy to see you. And you, my beauty." He looked at Iskra. "You grace the ground on which you walk. Welcome!"
"You are most gracious, Your Highness."
"Call me Aten."
"My Lord..." Iskra bowed deeply, as did all the other courtiers when she did so.
"I have not seen your children. Where are they?"
The nurse brought them in presently.
"By Your Grace. May I present to you our son, Hapu."
Hapu ran up to Pharaoh and smiled at Him.
"I am honored to be in Your presence, Your Honor," he spoke too quickly. Aten smiled.
"It is Your Highness, my son. But for you, Honor is also good."
This brought smiles from all who heard.
"And our daughter, Nerit."
Little Nerit looked up shyly at the great Man who stood before her. Then she looked at the Queen, and smiled at Her before retreating to her mother.
"They are beautiful children, Aggy. We are pleased. " Pharaoh motioned to our son. "Hapu. Come here. I want to look at you. You remind me so much of your grandfather, whom I knew well." Akh'aan'Aten examined him, stroking his head. "Were you not born shortly after he died?" He looked at me on saying this.
"It is true, My Lord. I got word of Hapu's death on the same day Hapu was born."
"It is in the great wheel of Aten, that we die and are born. Do you believe in the transmigration of souls, Aggy?"
"There are those, in the lands I traveled, who believe this is so, My Lord."
"I sometimes wonder... The Sun rises and falls in its daily travels, why not souls. But come, let us talk of things needed. Nefri, take Iskra and show her the grounds. You may bring the children to meet our new daughter. Aegyptus and I have important matters to discuss."
This audience was over, and Lazar joined the others in touring the palace grounds. Nefertiti took over Her roll as royal hostess. Except for the Vizier, the King and I remained alone in the great receiving hall.
"Much has changed, Aggy, since you were here last. It was a sad time, after the great destruction. Father was never the same again. And Mother secluded herself in Her cloister. She sees none. Only Aiye keeps Her company now, and Me. You do not know how you had been missed here, and how sad we were for what had happened to you. Our Egypt has much to atone for. But by the grace of our God, Aten, may redemption be found in our beautiful land. May the light of truth be upon her again."
Pharaoh stopped a moment, thinking. I ventured to speak.
"Has the Queen asked about me? She knows I'm married now."
"Yes. You are frequently in Our thoughts. And She is happy you found happiness in your life."
"It is a happiness to be with my dear Iskra. She is a very fine woman. Abroad, she made my life pleasant. And we love our children."
"So it should be. A woman is like the other wing, without which we cannot fly. As we are to her. Nefertiti surprises me with Her wisdom daily, for which I love Her dearly. We are happy here, though enemies of the old camp would seek to undo Me. But, by Aten, it will not be. Their world is gone now. We allow the worships of the old Amen, for those who wish it, but We do not support it. They must raises their own tithes to keep their temples."
"And Amen'Hoetep?" I did not need to finish my words.
"Father was besides Himself with distress. For what happened, for what happened to you. Your Father spent much time with Him in his last days. Do you know they died within weeks of each other?"
"I knew, but not that They had spent so much time together."
"Indeed. It was good for Father to have Hapu's company. He made me swear at His death bed that I would see it right for you, when you returned." Aten looked away, remembering with grief His Father's passing into the Western World of Beauty. "So this is what I wish to discuss now."
"I am truly sorry for Amen'Hoetep's death. He was a great man."
"Not perfect. But a great man, yes. I loved Him with all my heart, as did Mother." He looked up into my face with kindness in his eyes. "I know of all that took place in those days, though I was too young to understand then. I understand now. Mother loved you with all her heart, as I believe She does now. But times have changed, Aggy, and we are in a new world now. So it is different."
"I understand, My Lord."
"Father asked me to restore you. He always regretted having given the order to erase your name from all the records... You now inherit the title of your father, the one conferred on Him by Amen'het." I looked up, not certain I understood. "You will now be known officially throughout the land as Amen'hoetep son of Hapu, which was the title your father carried. So in all the writings, your name will show side by side with that of your great father. Your greatness shall be restored, so your name can never be lost. Of course, to me and others, you will always be the familiar, Aegyptus. But in the annals of the land, you are now my great builder, Chief Architect, Amen'hoetep son of Hapu."
"I am most honored, My King."
"Of course, you know what that means. I must have you work for Me right away. I need your knowledge, and that of Lazar, and his son Bek, to build the great temples to Aten we still need to build here. Your knowledge of these matters is legend, and there is none in the land who can do what you have done. I beseech you to accept this, my dear friend. I would love this very much, and it would make Father's soul happy, I know."
"And my father's too," I added. "But, in all honesty, I had not yet... It is a great honor, my Great King. I need to speak with my wife..."
"I am sure she would be pleased with it. Think, Aggy, you'd be back to your old high position. Your palace at Thea'bes awaits you again. We had rounded up your old servants, those still living, and they await you as We speak."
"Old Ap too?"
"Yes, him too. I know he drove the get away carriage. He was caught and beaten, but later pardoned. It was all a mistake, Aggy. Someone, and we never found out who, had condemned you unjustly. For that, the gods punished the land, and crops failed for two years following. But Aten has forgiven us. All is right with Egypt again... The Sun is in His Heaven, and you are with us."
I did not give Pharaoh an answer right then. I needed to think, of what I still did not know.
"The Queen? Is it possible for me to see Her?"
"Mother? I will ask. She could not join us in audience today, but then, She never does. I will ask, Aggy. Now, let Us return to the heavy work load that befalls a King. I want to express most sincerely how good it is to have you here again. I hope you will stay, and work for Us."
"By Your leave, Your Grace."
I rose to join the others at the gardens. I could hear their voices in the distance, Hapu's high with excitement above the others. As I turned to leave, Akh'aan'Aten called to me again.
"Aggy. You have beautiful children, and a very fine wife." He looked sincerely into my eyes as He said this. "And Mother told Me who you are."
I felt a sudden tightness grip at my throat, so I could not answer Him. Sadness tightened around my eyes, but no tears fell. I could tell from His eyes the same emotion went through Him. He looked at my hand, and then held up His, as if in a greeting. Neither of us spoke another word. Now we both knew. It was a secret that would bond us until we died.
I stepped outside to join the others, when I looked back at the palace wing where Tiye lived, alone. In the shadows of her veranda, I thought I could see Her. But the shadow moved, and no one stood there. Still, deep in my heart, I knew my Naume had seen me.
We stayed a few days more at Akh'taten, and then made preparations to carry ourselves and all our wonderful gifts back to the City. On the last day, when I rose at daybreak as Iskra slept, I heard temple priests chanting prayers written by Aten to the Sun. In the cool of the morning I walked the short distance along the Nile to the grounds of the Queen's palace. The police guards knew who I was and let me pass. Inside the perimeter walls, tall enough to hide a man from the outside world, was a lovely fruit orchard of pomegranates, and there I sat myself down on a stone stool, just to drink in the air of where breathed my Queen. I sat there a long time, eyes closed, remembering all there was to remember of those wonderful days, when love knew us as one of her own children. I was about to leave when I felt a hand fall lightly on my shoulder. Surprised, I looked up, and my heart jumped in my chest.
"Naume! Oh, my beautiful Naume. You came..."
Tiye stood tall over me, Her face sad but still so beautiful, Her bearing elegant, regal. Her black hair glistened in the sun, though a few gray strands betrayed Her age. Even in Her cloistered solitude, She was a beautiful Queen.
"I had to see you, Aggy. I know you will not stay with us. The temple priestess told me."
It was such a joy to hear Her voice again. Her eyes had the same love in them I had always known. On Her face was only a hint of age. She had remained beautiful all those years, though the unhappiness showed in Her eyes.
"I had to come back, my beautiful. I had missed you so much..."
"But you are happily married now, and such lovely children. I had met them, you know."
"I did not know."
"I told them how to keep a secret," she managed a slight smile.
"We knew how to, didn't we?"
Naume nodded. I reached up and touched her hand. How I had forgotten the feel of that hand, of her body, of her breath upon mine.
"It could never be again, my dear Aggy. My love for you never left, but it can never be."
"I know. The whole world under the sky is changed. We even have new gods now." We both smiled at the remark. "But what we had was beautiful. We were lucky, then, weren't we?"
"Yes. It was a gift from the gods... now Aten."
"May Aten grace this beautiful land."
I rose to face her, and she simply stood there, not giving me hint of what I should do. I took her hand and raised it to my lips. She reached my face with the other hand and gave my cheek a gentle caress. I kneeled, should any others see us, and she moved her hand to my head, where she held it for a long time. As I rose, we both had tears in our eyes.
When she turned to leave, I wanted to follow after her, but I knew I could not. I also knew in my heart I might never see her again.

We arrived at the City a few days later. Lazar accompanied us, as he had business to attend to there. Iskra was happier than I had seen her in a long time. We were coming home.
My father's trusted old servant, Ap, greeted us upon arrival.
"Welcome home, my Lord." He bowed deeply to us.
"It is good to be home, my dear Ap. You have not changed a bit. It is good to see you too."
Hapu ran off to chase after the household cats that had taken residence here, at which they judiciously moved away. Nerit wanted to be carried, so I picked her up and together we toured my long ago residential palace.
"Look, Aggy, they have kept all the fountains. They work."
"Only the furniture is new. Everything else is the same," I answered. "And look at the fruit trees, how they've grown."
"This is a beautiful place, Aggy. I'm happy we have a home again."
"Me too. The King wants me to be in His employ, which would mean we'll spend much time at Akh'taten. Do you mind?"
"I will come wherever you are, my dearest. But I will be happy to stay home also."
I smiled at her, understanding what she was saying. Being away from home has lost its charm for us. We wanted stability and peace.
"There is much work to do. I must visit with all my old acquaintances. There is so much to catch up on."
We enjoyed life in the City. Whenever I had free time, we went as a family to visit all the temples, to show off Father's work, and mine. At my temple to Mon'thu, we watched as the stone carvers were writing in the final panels that Tiye and me had left blank long ago. I now knew the end of the story between Seth and Osiris and Isis. On it was written that the son of the Sun, Akh'aan'Aten, the Son of God, cast out the evil of the old gods and redeemed the love Isis had for Osiris, so that Love could flourish for all manking, for all time. The priests and priestesses were most welcoming, in a humble way, as their glory had diminished. It was evident from decreased maintenance of the temple grounds. But the temples were built for all eternity, and proudly they stood as I remembered.
The months that followed soon turned into years, but my happiness did not grow with time. Hapu had grown into near manhood, and Nerit had become a beautiful girl. Iskra had joined in all the activities of the Court, where she was very lovingly received. We could have lived our days here until we died and were buried in the Valley with the others. Mother's tomb had been moved to Father's, so they were together again. And my work took me to Akh'taten often, where I enjoyed the company of all at Court. The Queen Mother remained in her cloister and was never seen in public. Word was She was of good health, and that She directed building plans from afar. I felt the heaviness of receiving drawings in Her hand, but not able to touch those hands. We built the great temple to Aten, as Pharaoh directed, open to the life giving rays of the Sun. There was much I needed to consult with the High Priest, Aiye, but our meetings were always formal and cordial. Neither ever brought up the past. When it was done, Iskra and I had a heart to heart talk.
"What's your country like?" I asked her. "Do they worship the sun there too?"
"No, my love. The sun is worshipped only because it is rare. And in the warm months, when it shows, all go outdoors to greet it, if they have not work to do."
"And in the cold months?"
"Then we sit by the fire, and tell each other stories."
We both sat there, I trying to imagine her land, she lost in her memories of it.
"Would it sadden you very much if we were to go there?"
Iskra looked up surprised.
"But you love Egypt. Would you leave her, now, that you have done so much here?"
"That's just it, my beauty. I have done too much here, and I tire." Iskra pulled me closer to her, stroking me on my back like a mother putting her child to sleep. Our affection had grown with the years, and her beauty was more inside now, though still beautiful to look at. I loved her more than I knew. And she loved me. "I would go to your land, if it made you happy."
"I would love to see my land before I die, more than anything in the world."
"Then it is done. I will call my scribe." I rose suddenly, feeling energetic again for travel. "Mayat! Come to me. I need you to write me a letter."
Mayat, who was working in an adjacent room, came running into our chamber.
"Yes, Sire?"
"Send off a letter to Pharaoh... And another to the Queen Mother. We are leaving Egypt for lands far to the north of the sea. Get your pallet ready for dictation, my dear Mayat... And Mayat?"
"Yes, Lord?"
"Will you come with us?"
"Your word is my command, my Lord. I will be happy to join you, if it will please you."
"We will leave in a month's time. Please take dictation."

We were ready to leave, and letters came pouring to us from all who knew, begging us to stay. Lazar was the last to see us off. Hapu had been sent to the Academy for study and would not join us, until he was ready. He was proud of his new stallion. We knew we may not see each other again for a long time.
"Surely, my Lord, you will be back again," Ap asked us earnestly. "I will keep your house ready for you at all times."
"Thank you, dear Ap. Think of us on holiday, and that we may return at any time."
This brought a smile to Ap's face. Lazar came in to give us word that all was ready, and that we were to sail on the high Nile.
"Aggy. You are my old friend, and because of you I am the man I am today. How can I ever thank you for this?"
"Watch over Hapu. We said our good-byes the night before. But he will suffer for our separation, so be a friend to him, and help him. Nerit comes with us, where we will school her in the ways of the outside world."
"You are brave, Aggy. I admire your courage. And you, Iskra. I know you are going home, but I am sure you will discover as my ancestors discovered long ago. This is home now."
"I believe you, Lazar. You are the El Lazar for us always. We will stay in touch with you."
This brought a broad smile to Lazar's lips. He genuinely loved being called the El Lazar.
"Father? Can I bring my dog?" Nerit wanted to know.
"It will be hard for him, but if you must."
"Oh, good! You hear that Huru? You can come with us."
Huru wagged his tail and licked her face. He stood nearly all her height, but for him she was as great as a god, and he worshipped her.
"I have one more thing, Sire." Lazar reached into his tunic pocket and retrieved a letter rolled up and sealed with the Royal Cartouche. "It's from someone who felt you should take it with you."
"Aren't you going to open it, Aggy?" Iskra asked, eyebrows raised.
I held it in my hand. I knew it was Naume's, and thought whether I should open it now, or at some other time."
"We will open it together, my love. I believe this is a letter that is meant to be opened when we are far away from here."
"I will hold you when we do." Her wisdom never ceased, I thought. She too knew whom it was from.

We now write these words from far away. We had reached Iskra's beautiful country as we hoped, and it was far greener and more beautiful than I imagined. Mayat stayed with us, and became a trusted companion. He has taken to teaching others how to write Akkadian, a script understood by all the lands. Nerit fell in love with the son of a great king of the land, and soon they would be married. She loved her new country and never wanted to go home again. Iskra was always ready to return, if I asked. But her happiness was rich here in a way I had never seen before. She was with her own people. And I was made welcome, and loved. My work showed them how to build, and they proved quick students. Their great King, Liebed, showers us with His boutiful gifts. I have mastered their language as best I could, but people never tire of asking me about my land, where I came from. I am always glad to tell them of my beautiful Egypt, a land most loved by all the gods, and they marvel at my words.
As I speak these final words, I look out into the night sky. It is cold and dark, but a moon has broken through. The ground is high with white, and the whole world glistens as if it were a giant marbled jewel. By the light of the great fire, Mayat kindly takes down all I say in his carefully neat hand. I remembered Olef's words to me. "You will like snow, Sire." As I thought of this, a light snow began falling again. It looked like the white feathers of a giant bird that had chosen to cover us with its white down feathers. I wondered where he was as I answered him in my thoughts.
"I could like snow... if only it were warmer."

So end the words as spoken to me by my most beloved Master, Aegyptus, Amen'hoetep son of Hapu, the greatest builder of the known world, Chief Architect of Pharaohs, Akh'aan'Aten and Nefertiti. Father, and husband to his beautiful wife Iskra, he is praised by word and script throughout the lands of our beloved Egypt, and beyond. Aegyptus, most favored Architect of the Living God, may his glory live forever in the beauty of the gods. May they live in the beauty of the gods forever. Amen.
(signed and sealed with the Royal Cartouche) Mayat


Tiye's Letter (a love poem)

My beloved, how I yearn to be in your arms again, like we were on so many stolen nights, holding each other tight in the glow of our love. I remember the words of the poem we read to each other.
"When I kiss your parted lips, I am happy,
Even without the sweetest wine of the lotus,
For you are the water of my life...
How sweet to bathe in your presence.
In the water my dress of royal linen clings wet to my skin,
So you may see my beauty, and I yours,
Rising like the moon on the swollen Nile..."
Do you remember our times together? When I would sleep curled in your strong arms, your beautiful warmth around me? I was warmed then in my heart like never before, or since. I miss you, my beautiful Aggy. I miss you more than my words can say. But the gods decreed that our love be apart. And now that you are farther from me than ever before, I feel my love for you has reached it greatest heights. There is no fairer soul in all the land of Egypt to take away my loneliness for you. For that, I would have to venture far, to the far ends of the four corners of the Earth, and even then I am sure I would not find it. I thirst in the desert of my soul, for I may never drink your love again. In this, I make my solemn promise, that should my eyes again be blessed with your beautiful presence, I will come to you. No matter how, no matter how difficult, I will find you. I would endure all evils, walk through fire, endure all pain, just to be with you for a moment. I truly believe in my heart that your wife, being a woman, would understand. By Amen, the lot of women is hard in this life. But if she cannot, then at least may she foregive me, not as a subject to her Queen, but as a woman to a woman. It grieves me so to see how you suffered. In the same gravity, I ask that you help me with your understanding of what I am about to say. The one man who most stood between us, who made our lives so difficult, has asked for my hand in marriage. I am torn, Aggy, and do not know how to reply. Should I accept Him? Should I place conditions on our betrothal? It is a matter of state, and by law, as Queen, I am obliged to marry the High Priest, if it is asked of me. Oh, help me my beautiful Man. There is none like you under the Sun in the Universe. I know not what to do and pray for God to deliver us.

I am always yours in my heart, for none can ever come between us, as our Son is our witness. My beloved, you are the love of my life. Amen. (signed with Her Royal Cartouche) Tiye.

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Authors note: This above letter was found with the papyrus scrolls and is thus included as a postscript to Aegyptus's tale. It had been damaged, but readable. A corner of the letter had been burned.

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