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The Sard walked slowly down the single row of soldiers.
He stopped in front of a fair-haired boy who seemed
slightly nervous.
Where do you come from?
A village in the Delta, sir.
Your favorite weapon?
The sword.
Have a drink, soldier. You look thirsty.
Serramanna handed the fair-haired boy a flask of anise-
flavored wine. He took two quick swallows.
I ll post you in the hallway to the royal office. Your job
is keeping everyone out of there during the last watch of the
night.
Yes, sir.
Serramanna had the men present arms, checked their
uniforms, exchanged a few words with other soldiers, then
sent them on their way.
The architects who designed the palace had set windows
high in the walls so that cool air could circulate through the
corridors on hot summer nights.
Everything was quiet. Outside, the frogs sang their
courting songs.
Serramanna crept down the tiled hallway leading to
Ramses office. As he had suspected, the boy from the Delta
was not at his post.
Instead, he was fiddling with the latch on the office door.
Ramses: The eternal temple 91
The Sard reached out one broad hand and lifted him by the
scruff of the neck.
A Greek, eh? Only a Greek could drink anise wine
without flinching. Which faction do you belong to, my lad?
One of Menelaus s leftovers, or part of some new plot?
Answer me!
The fair-haired boy twitched briefly, but made no sound.
Feeling the Greek go limp, the bodyguard put him down.
He flopped on the floor like a rag doll. Without meaning
to, Serramanna had broken the boy s neck.
sixteen
ritten reports were not Serramanna s province. He
Wsimply stated the facts to Ahmeni, who put them
down on papyrus and alerted Ramses. No one knew any-
thing about the young Greek, who had been recruited on
the strength of his sword handling. His brutal death made
it impossible to trace the real instigator, but the king, more
grateful than ever for Serramanna s vigilance, refrained from
reprimanding his bodyguard.
This time, the object of the break-in was not the
92 Christian Jacq
Pharaoh but his office, meaning affairs of state. Someone
wanted confidential documents and information about the
new king s future policies.
Menelaus s attack had been motivated by revenge; this
incident was far murkier. Who had hired the young Greek
to slink through the shadows and compromise Ramses at
the beginning of his reign? Of course, there was Shaanar,
who had been strangely quiet since the coronation. Could
he be working behind the scenes, much more effectively
than in the past?
Romay bowed to the king. Majesty, your visitor has
arrived.
Show him to the garden pavilion.
Ramses wore only a simple white kilt and a single piece
of jewelry, the gold bracelet on his right wrist. He collected
his thoughts for a few moments, aware that the fate of
Egypt would hinge on the interview he was about to con-
duct.
The elegant wooden pavilion stood in the shade of a
willow tree. A low table was spread with silvery green grapes
and fresh figs. Cups of light, refreshing beer would be ideal
in the summer heat.
The high priest of Amon sat in an armchair with plump
cushions and a matching footstool, resplendent in his wig,
linen robe, bib necklace of pearls and lapis lazuli, silver ban-
gles.
As soon as he saw his sovereign, the high priest rose and
bowed to him.
I trust you re quite comfortable, Ramses said.
Your Majesty, I thank you for considering an old man s
health.
You re not feeling well?
At my age . . . well, you wouldn t understand.
Ramses: The eternal temple 93
I was beginning to think we d never meet.
Heavens, no, Your Majesty. For one thing, I was con-
fined to my bed for a time. For another, I hoped to bring
the viziers of the north and the south along with me, and
the Viceroy of Nubia.
What a delegation! Did they reject your proposal?
At first, no; later they did.
What made them change their minds?
They re high-ranking officials . . . they do not wish to
displease Your Majesty. Still, their presence would have
given my words added weight.
If your cause is just, you have nothing to fear.
Do you think it is?
Let me decide that, with Ma at to guide me.
I m worried, Majesty.
What can I do to ease your mind?
You asked for an accounting of Karnak s riches.
And I got it.
What do you conclude?
That you re a remarkable administrator.
Should I take that as criticism?
Certainly not. Our ancestors taught, did they not, that
spiritual and material welfare go hand in hand? Pharaoh
endows Karnak, and you make it prosper.
I still sense criticism in your tone, Your Majesty.
Confusion, nothing more. Why don t we discuss your
concerns instead?
It s rumored that Karnak s wealth and glory offend Your
Majesty, and you wish to redistribute some of its privi-
leges.
Where have you heard this?
Here and there.
And you believe these rumors?
94 Christian Jacq
When rumors are persistent, they may contain the germ
of truth.
If so, what do you think of the idea?
That Your Majesty would be well advised to preserve
the status quo. That the wisest course would be following in
your esteemed father s footsteps.
Unfortunately, his reign was cut short before he had
time to enact a great many necessary reforms.
Karnak needs no reforms.
That s your opinion.
Then my worries were justified.
Perhaps mine are, too.
Yours? Your Majesty, I . . .
Is the high priest of Amon still Pharaoh s faithful ser-
vant?
The prelate averted his eyes. To regain his composure, he
ate a fig and drank some beer. The king was as direct in his
questioning as he was unpretentious in dress, and the cler-
gyman had been unprepared for either. However, the young
pharaoh was careful not to push him, allowing him time to
gather his wits.
How can you doubt my loyalty, Majesty? he said at
length.
Because of Ahmeni s investigation.
That sniveling little scribe, that sneak, that rat, that
Ahmeni is my friend, and his only ambition is serving
Egypt. I take any insult to him as a personal affront.
Forgive me, Majesty, stammered the priest. But his
methods . . .
Did he use undue force?
No, but he wouldn t let go. Worse than a jackal
devouring its kill!
He s conscientious and thorough.
Ramses: The eternal temple 95
But surely he found nothing wrong?
Ramses looked the high priest square in the face.
Surely?
Again, the prelate looked away.
Egypt and everything in it belongs to the pharaoh, does
it not? asked Ramses.
According to the legacy of the gods, intoned the priest.
But the pharaoh may grant land to men who have
proved themselves worthy.
According to custom.
Is the high priest of Amon authorized to act in
Pharaoh s stead?
The high priest acts as his delegate at Karnak.
With certain limitations, if I may refresh your
memory.
I don t see
You ve deeded land to secular individuals, putting them
in your debt. Military officers, for instance, whose loyalty to
me might then be compromised. Perhaps you need an army
to defend your private domain?
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