Ramses, Volume IV Read online

  The trial was everyone’s favorite subject. Some of the locals believed that Moses would be sentenced to death; others thought he’d get off with a few years in prison. A few extremists favored an outright rebellion, but the majority was fatalistic. How could they stand a chance against Pharaoh’s army and police force? Besides, Moses would only be getting what he deserved. He had killed a man, after all. An eye for an eye would be fair, people thought, no matter how much they liked and respected Moses. He’d championed the rights of the brickmakers and won them better working conditions. Many hoped to see him become a master builder once more and continue to look out for their interests.

  Aaron shared in the reigning pessimism. He knew that Moses’ fate was in the hands of Yahweh, but Egyptian justice had never been soft on crime. If Abner had agreed to testify, the charges would have been dismissed by now. But the brickmaker had refused, retracting his original story. Furthermore, he planned to remain in seclusion until the trial was over. Since Aaron had no leverage to use on Abner, he could hardly ask the man’s tribal elder to force his appearance in court.

  About this time Aaron noticed a beggar crouched in a nook in the shady street. The man nibbled pieces of bread passersby threw down to him, a hood concealing his face. When he first spotted the beggar, Aaron tried to ignore him. The second day, he gave him some food. On the third day, he sat down beside him.

  “Have you no family?” Aaron inquired.

  “Not anymore.”

  “Never married?”

  “My wife is dead and my children are gone.”

  “How did you end up this way?”

  “I was a grain merchant, I had a nice house, a good life . . . until I was unfaithful to my wife.”

  “God punished you for your sin, then.”

  “He did, but a man was the real cause of my downfall. He found out about the affair, blackmailed me, drove me to ruin, and destroyed my marriage. My wife died of a broken heart.”

  “What kind of monster would act that way?”

  “A monster who’s still at large, spreading his poison. I’m not the only one who’s been hurt by him.”

  “What’s his name?”

  “I’m ashamed to tell you.”

  “Why?”

  “Because he’s a Hebrew, like you and me.”

  “My name is Aaron and I have some standing in the community. It’s wrong of you not to speak out, for a black sheep like the man you describe can contaminate the whole flock.”

  “What does it matter now? I’m alone and desperate.”

  “I sympathize, but you still need to think of your brethren.”

  “His name is Abner,” the beggar rasped.

  Now Aaron had a legitimate complaint to use against Abner. That very evening, he called a meeting of the council of elders and other tribal leaders where he recounted the onetime grain merchant’s sad story.

  “I remember hearing,” one of the elders admitted, “that Abner demanded a cut from the brickmakers, but no one would speak against him. We couldn’t act on hearsay. It’s easy to understand why Abner would resist being called as a witness. He’s a prominent man, and his reputation could suffer serious damage.”

  “But Moses is in prison and only Abner can save him!”

  The elders were in a bind. After a conference, one of the tribal chiefs stood to deliver a summary.

  “Let’s be frank. Moses has committed murder and focused unwelcome attention on our community. It’s not unjust that he should be punished. Furthermore, he only returned from exile to stir up trouble with his wild ideas. Our best course would be to not intervene further.”

  “Coward!” Aaron lashed out. “You’re all cowards! You’ll cover for a wretch like Abner because he’s one of your own, but you’ll let Moses hang. Moses, who fought for the good of all Hebrews! The wrath of Yahweh on all your miserable heads!”

  The dean of the elders, a retired brickmaker, now spoke forcefully. “I agree with Aaron. We’ve behaved contemptibly.”

  “We’re only protecting Abner,” one of the tribal leaders protested. “We have no right exposing him to possible charges when there’s no solid evidence against him.”

  Aaron banged his walking stick furiously. “Let me guess,” he said, dripping sarcasm. “Has he been giving you a percentage?”

  “How dare you!”

  “Let’s bring Abner face to face with the beggarman.”

  “Fair enough,” the elder declared.

  Abner’s hiding place was a two-story house in the heart of the brickmakers’ quarter. He could afford it. As long as the trial was in session, he stuffed himself with cakes and slept the days away.

  When the counsel of elders and tribal leaders had ordered him to answer the beggar’s charges, he’d laughed out loud. First of all, it would be a broken man’s word against his. Then he would counterattack, accuse the Hebrew community of letting the man live in misery, which was against Egyptian law. If by some extraordinary chance things turned against him, Abner could have his hirelings conveniently dispose of the worm.

  The meeting took place on the ground floor of his house, in the main room with comfortable pillows on low seats. Present were the dean of the elders, a tribal leader chosen by his peers, and Aaron, who walked in supporting the beggar, so stooped he could barely walk.

  “Is this the miserable wretch who’s been spreading lies about me?” Abner began in a mocking tone. “He doesn’t even look like he can talk. The best thing would be to give him a decent meal and send him to finish his days on some farm in the Delta.”

  Aaron helped the beggar to a seat.

  “We can waive these proceedings,” the dean of the elders announced, “if you agree to testify on Moses’ behalf and confirm the facts as they appear in your sworn deposition.”

  “Moses is a dangerous outsider, while I’ve given many of our brethren their start in life. Why should I risk my neck for an agitator?”

  “Out of concern for the truth,” Aaron said firmly.

  “The truth can vary so much . . . and would the truth be enough to set Moses free? He did kill a man, after all. We have nothing to gain by getting mixed up in this mess.”

  “Moses saved your life. You should save his.”

  “It all happened so long ago, my memory is unclear. Isn’t it better to look toward the future? Just having my deposition will work in Moses’ favor. Since there’s a reasonable doubt, he won’t get the death penalty.”

  “Only life in prison,” Aaron said acidly.

  “Moses should have controlled himself and not killed Sary.”

  Exasperated, Aaron again slammed down his walking stick. “This man is a scoundrel. He’s cheated his fellow Hebrews and he’ll keep on cheating.”

  “Don’t lose your head,” Abner said soothingly. “I’m a generous man. I’ve agreed to provide for your needs. I believe in showing respect for my elders.”

  If the two other members of the delegation hadn’t been there, Aaron would gladly have bashed in Abner’s skull.

  “Let’s leave it at that, my friends,” said Abner, “and seal our agreement with the meal I’m prepared to offer you.”

  “Are you forgetting the beggar, Abner?”

  “Oh, him! What does he have to say for himself?”

  Aaron gently addressed the broken man. “Speak up. Don’t be afraid.”

  The beggar still sat hunched over. Abner chortled.

  “So much for your confrontation! Let’s be done with him. My servants will take him to the kitchen for a bite to eat.”

  Aaron was mortified. “Please talk,” he asked the beggar.

  Slowly, the man straightened up, rising to a stupendous height. He pulled back the hood to reveal his face.

  Dumbstruck, Abner mouthed the name of this unexpected and fearsome guest.

  “Serramanna . . .”

  “You’re under arrest,” said the Sard, flashing his pirate’s leer.

  As Abner’s hearing got under way, Serramanna was torn. Part of him
, the part that wanted to keep the treacherous Moses safe in jail, regretted ever having caught Abner. Another part was proud of a job well done. It was proof of Ramses’ exceptional powers that an old pirate willingly did his bidding, even while mistrusting the man he was helping set free. The Pharaoh’s confidence in Moses was misplaced, but who could criticize a great king for being such a loyal friend?

  The whole city of Pi-Ramses was waiting for the judge to hand down his verdict, once the jury finished deliberating. The trial had only served to increase Moses’ standing within the Hebrew community. The common folk as well as the vast majority of the brickmakers were now on his side. He was the champion of the downtrodden.

  Serramanna’s final hope was that Moses would be sent into exile, eliminating the threat to the harmony that the royal couple maintained with such care.

  When Ahmeni emerged from the courtroom, the Sard went to meet him. The scribe’s pale face was glowing.

  “Moses has been acquitted.”

  TWENTY-ONE

  The court was assembled in the audience chamber of the royal palace in Pi-Ramses. A monumental staircase adorned with figures of slain enemies led up to it. No one knew why Pharaoh had called this special session of his cabinet and top government officials, but everyone was expecting an important announcement.

  Passing through the monumental door where Ramses’ coronation names stood out in their cartouches, blue letters on a white background, Ahmeni was obviously discontented. The king hadn’t breathed a word of this to him. A glance at a grim-looking Ahsha suggested that the diplomat had no inkling either.

  The room was so crowded that it was impossible to admire the decor of faience painted to represent lush gardens and teeming fishponds. People were pressed between the columns, and against the wall a fantasy world was painted in shades of pale green and deep red, light blue, sunny yellow, and off-white. But, in these tense moments, who could notice the scenes of waterfowl sporting in papyrus marshes? They were all too nervous to enjoy their surroundings.

  Nevertheless, Setau’s gaze did linger on the portrait of a young woman meditating in front of a hollyhock hedge. She looked exactly like the queen. A frieze of lotus blossoms, poppies, daisies, and cornflowers enclosed her peaceable kingdom.

  Cabinet officers, department heads, royal scribes, ritualists, keepers of secrets, priests and priestesses, noblewomen and other important personages fell silent when Ramses and Nefertari took their seats on the throne. The monarch radiated strength from every pore. His personal presence was without equal. Wearing the twin crown that symbolized his rule over upper and lower Egypt, in a white robe and golden kilt, Ramses held the scepter called “magic” in his right hand. It was a shepherd’s crook that helped gather his flock on the invisible plane and maintain cohesion in the visible world.

  If Ramses was power, Nefertari was grace. Every member of the audience perceived the deep love that bound them and gave them an aura of eternity.

  The chief celebrant recited a hymn to Amon, singing of the hidden god’s presence within every form of life. Then Ramses spoke.

  “I wish to communicate a certain number of decisions in order to dispel rumors, and to outline the policies I plan to implement in the immediate future. These choices stem from long discussions with the Great Royal Wife.”

  Several royal scribes prepared to take down the monarch’s pronouncements, which would instantly have the force of law.

  “I will reinforce the northeastern border of Egypt, build new fortresses, consolidate the old walls, double the size of the garrisons and increase their pay. The King’s Wall must become unbreachable, protecting the Delta from any potential invasion. Gangs of stonemasons and brickmakers will leave starting tomorrow to undertake the necessary work.”

  An elderly noble requested the floor.

  “Your Majesty, will the King’s Wall be enough to stop the Hittite horde?”

  “Not in and of itself. It’s merely the final element in our defense system. Thanks to our army’s recent campaign, which halted the Hittite counteroffensive, we’ve retaken all our protectorates. Now Canaan, Amurru, and southern Syria stand between us and the Hittite invaders.”

  “But haven’t the rulers of those provinces betrayed us in the past?”

  “They often have, I agree. That’s why I’m putting Ahsha in charge of administrative and military affairs in the buffer zone. He’ll be entrusted with maintaining our supremacy, overseeing the local leaders, establishing a reliable information network, and training a special force that will check any Hittite attack.”

  Ahsha remained unruffled, though all eyes were on him—some admiring, others envious. The secretary of state was becoming more important than ever in Ramses’ government.

  “I’ve also decided to embark on a long journey with the queen,” continued Ramses. “During my absence, Ahmeni will be my administrative delegate, consulting daily with the Queen Mother. The courier service will keep us in touch; no decrees will be enacted without my approval.”

  The court was stunned. Ahmeni’s role behind the scenes was no secret, but why would the king and queen be going away at such a crucial juncture?

  The chief of protocol broke the silence, posing the question on everyone’s mind.

  “Your Majesty . . . may we know the purpose of your journey?”

  “To reinforce Egypt’s spiritual foundation. The queen and I will go first to Thebes, where we’ll see how my Eternal Temple is coming along. Then we’ll proceed to the Deep South.”

  “Do you mean Nubia?”

  “I do.”

  “Forgive me, Your Majesty, but is this long trip necessary?”

  “Not only that—it is indispensable.”

  The assembly understood that the Pharaoh would say no more, leaving everyone to speculate on the secret reasons behind this surprising decision.

  Watcher, the king’s yellow-gold dog, licked the Queen Mother’s hand while the lion, Fighter, dozed at her feet.

  “These two faithful companions wanted to pay their respects,” Ramses told her.

  Tuya was arranging flowers for an offering to the goddess Sekhmet. How grand the Queen Mother was in her long, gold-trimmed linen dress, a short cape covering her shoulders, the striped ends of her red sash reaching almost to the floor! How noble she was, with her piercing eyes, her spare and fine-boned face! She was a powerful woman, demanding and intractable.

  “What do you think of my decisions, Mother?”

  “Nefertari had spoken to me about them at length, and I’m afraid I may even have inspired them to some extent. The only effective means of securing our northeast border is to rule our protectorates with a firm hand and ward off a Hittite invasion. That was your father’s policy. It should be yours as well. Nine years’ reign, my son . . . how are you able to bear the weight?”

  “I haven’t had much time to consider it.”

  “That’s just as well. Steady as you go, my son. Do you feel that the crew of your ship is with you?”

  “My close associates are few and steadfast, and that’s how I intend to keep things.”

  “Ahmeni is a remarkable person,” commented Tuya. “His vision may not be broad, but he possesses two very rare qualities: honesty and loyalty.”

  “Do you have as much good to say about Ahsha?”

  “He also has one exceptional virtue: courage, a particular brand of courage based on his powers of penetration. You could find no one more capable to handle matters for you in the problematic north.”

  “I rely on Setau as well. Do you think I should?”

  “He detests social conventions. He’s completely open and aboveboard. Everyone could use a friend like your snake charmer.”

  “My other close friend was Moses . . .”

  “I know how much the two of you have in common.”

  “But you don’t approve of him.”

  “No, Ramses. His Hebrew faith has set the two of you on a collision course. No matter what the circumstances, your country must alway
s come before personal considerations.”

  “Moses hasn’t caused any trouble yet.”

  “If he does become a political agitator, the law of Ma’at must serve as your only guide. It may prove to be a rough ride, even for you, Ramses.”

  Tuya straightened a lily stem. The bouquet looked larger than life.

  “Will you agree to govern the Two Lands in my absence?”

  “Do you leave me any choice? I tell you, I’m beginning to feel my age.”

  Ramses smiled. “You hide it well.”

  “You’re too full of strength to imagine what age can feel like. Now will you tell me the real reason for this long trip?”

  “The love of Egypt and Nefertari. I want to stoke the temples’ hidden fires, make them produce more energy.”

  “Then the Hittites aren’t the only enemies we face?”

  “There’s a Libyan sorcerer, Ofir, who’s using the forces of darkness against us. I may be overestimating his ability to harm us, but I can’t ignore the risk. Nefertari has already suffered too much from his spells.”

  “The gods have favored you, my son. Could there be any greater blessing than such a splendid wife?”

  “No, and I’d be a fool not to show my gratitude. I’ve thought of a way to make her light shine through the ages, to show that the royal couple is Egypt’s intangible support.”

  “Good. Your reign will achieve true greatness. Nefertari is the magic without which no act of yours will last. Though war and suffering may never end, as long as the royal couple rules as one, there will be harmony on this earth. Make your union the cornerstone of your reign, for your love is the greatest gift you can give your people.”

  The floral arrangement was finished. The goddess would be satisfied.

  “Do you ever miss Shaanar, Mother?”

  A wistful look crossed Tuya’s face. “How could a mother forget her son?”

  “He isn’t your son anymore.”

  “You’re the king and I should listen to you. Will you forgive me my weakness?”