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"And she'd have none of it? She hated you all right, Renisenb."
Esa paused and then asked sharply:
"Would it be because of Kameni?"
The color rose in Renisenb's face. "Kameni? I do not know what you mean."
Esa said thoughtfully:
"She and Kameni both came from the north, but it was you Kameni watched cross the courtyard."
Renisenb said abruptly:
"I must go and see to Teti."
Esa's shrill, amused cackle followed her. Her cheeks hot, Renisenb sped across the courtyard towards the lake.
Kameni called to her from the porch:
"I have made a new song, Renisenb. Stay and hear it."
She shook her head and hurried on. Her heart was beating angrily. Kameni and Nofret. Nofret and Kameni. Why let old Esa, with her malicious love of mischief, put these ideas into her head? And why should she care?
Anyway, what did it matter? She cared nothing for Kameni - nothing at all. An impertinent young man with a laughing voice and shoulders that reminded her of Khay.
Khay... Khay...
She repeated his name insistently - but for once no image came before her eyes. Khay was in another world. He was in the Field of Offerings...
On the porch Kameni was singing softly:
"I will say to Ptah: Give me my sister tonight..."
III
"Renisenb!"
Hori had repeated her name twice before she heard him and turned from her contemplation of the Nile.
"You were lost in thought, Renisenb. What were you thinking about?"
Renisenb said with defiance:
"I was thinking of Khay."
Hori looked at her for a minute or two - then he smiled.
"I see," he said.
Renisenb had an uncomfortable feeling that he did see!
She said with a sudden rush:
"What happens when you are dead? Does anyone really know? All these texts - all these things that are written on coffins - some of them are so obscure they seem to mean nothing at all. We know that Osiris was killed and that his body was joined together again, and that he wears the white crown, and because of him we need not die - but sometimes, Hori, none of it seems real - and it is all so confused..."
Hori nodded gently.
"But what really happens after you are dead - that is what I want to know?"
"I cannot tell you, Renisenb. You should ask a priest these questions."
"He would just give me the usual answers. I want to know."
Hori said gently:
"We shall none of us know until we are dead ourselves..."
Renisenb shivered.
"Don't - don't say that!"
"Something has upset you, Renisenb?"
"It was Esa." She paused and then said, "Tell me, Hori, did - did Kameni and Nofret know each other well before - before they came here?"
Hori stood quite still for a moment, then as he walked by Renisenb's side, back towards the house, he said: "I see. So that is how it is..."
"What do you mean - 'that is how it is'? I only asked you a question."
"To which I do not know the answer. Nofret and Kameni knew each other in the north - how well, I do not know."
He added gently: "Does it matter?"
"No, of course not," said Renisenb. "It is of no importance at all."
"Nofret is dead."
"Dead and embalmed and sealed up in her tomb! And that is that!"
Hori continued calmly:
"And Kameni - does not seem to grieve..."
"No," said Renisenb, struck by this aspect of the question. "That is true." She turned to him impulsively. "Oh, Hori, how - how comforting a person you are!"
He smiled.
"I mended little Renisenb's lion for her. Now - she has other toys."
