Part 6 (1/2)

Kenkenes gazed at his father with the inquiry on his face that he did not voice. The sculptor had risen from his bench and was searching a chest of rolled plans near him. He caught his son's look and closed his mouth on an all but spoken expression. Kenkenes continued to gaze at him in some astonishment, and the elder man muttered to himself:

”I like him not, though if Osiris should ask me why, I could not tell.

But he hath a too-ready smile, and by that I know he will twirl Meneptah like a string about his finger.”

The eyes of the young man widened. ”The new adviser?” he asked.

”Even so,” was the emphatic reply.

Before Kenkenes could ask for further enlightenment a female slave bowed in the doorway.

”The Lady Senci sends thee greeting and would speak with thee. She is at the outer portal in her curricle,” she said, addressing Mentu.

The great man sprang to his feet, glanced hurriedly at his ink-stained fingers, at his robe, and then fled across the court into the door he had entered to change his dress the day before.

Kenkenes smiled, for Mentu had been a widower these ten Nile floods.

The slave still lingered.

”Also is there a messenger for thee, master,” she said, bowing again.

”So? Let him enter.”

The man whom the slave ushered in a few minutes later was old, spare and bent, but he was alert and restless. His eyes were brilliant and over them arched eyebrows that were almost white. He made a jerky obeisance.

”Greeting, son of Mentu. Dost thou remember me?”

The young man looked at his visitor for a moment.

”I remember,” he said at last. ”Thou art Ranas, courier to Snofru, priest of On. Greeting and welcome to Memphis. Enter and be seated.”

”Many thanks, but mine errand is urgent. I have been a guest of my son, who abideth just without Memphis, and this morning a messenger came to my son's door. He had been sent by Snofru to Tape, but had fallen ill on the river between On and Memphis. As it happened, the house of my son was the nearest, and thither he came, in fever and beyond traveling another rod. As the message he bore concerned the priesthood, I went to Asar-Mut and I am come from him to thee. He bids thee prepare for a journey before presenting thyself to him, at the temple.”

Kenkenes frowned in some perplexity.

”His command is puzzling. Am I to become a messenger for the G.o.ds?”

”The first messenger was a n.o.bleman,” the old courier explained in a conciliatory tone, ”and the holy father spoke of thy fidelity and despatch.”

”Mine uncle is gracious. Salute him for me and tell him I obey.”

The old man bowed once more and withdrew.

When Kenkenes crossed the court a little time later he met his father.

”The Lady Senci brings me news that makes me envious,” Mentu began at once, ”and shames me because of thee!”

Kenkenes lifted an expressive brow at this unexpected onslaught. ”Nay, now, what have I done?”

”Nothing!” Mentu a.s.serted emphatically; ”and for that reason am I wroth. The Lady Senci's nephew, Hotep, is the new chief of the royal scribes.”