Shadows of the Nile (15 page)

“The colour doesn't come off,” he said triumphantly. He threw her a covering from the divan. “Put this round you and tell me why you're here.”

She thankfully wrapped it around her. She told him how her parents had come from a far-off land; how her father had been killed; her mother had died in childbirth, and how her owner wanted to kill her and take her with him to the afterlife. She said how she escaped death, and mistakenly ended up here.

He listened attentively, resting back on the divan and drinking wine.

“Oh, please sir, I beg you, I shouldn't be here. The Gods have been very cruel to me. I'm no prostitute and I don't want to go that way. My body is my own, surely. I'll do anything else for you, feed you, sing to you, draw pictures for you.”

“Tadinanefer, Tadinanefer, stop!” He gave a riotous laugh. “It's not my way either to go with a prostitute. In fact I'm not keen on women! I much prefer men. I don't really like the female body, with its baby-producing pouches. I totally dislike women's breasts, and the way they're used to feed infants. Women do not excite me.”

She stared at him. “Then what… what are you doing here?”

“I wanted to see a white woman and her body. But don't expect me to touch you. You're quite beautiful for what you are, but it's not for me. For goodness sake keep all that covered up. Bring me some food.”

Obediently she did so.

He grinned up at her. “One thing I do need, before the night is over, is a lock of your hair.”

“Why?”

“Don't ask questions. Do as you're told. Your previous owner should have disciplined you more. Ah, but maybe I'd never have met you if he had. Food, Tadinanefer, more food.”

And that was all she did the whole night. He kept her running backwards and forwards, bringing small morsels, until she was quite worn out. Towards the morning he cut off a lock of her hair, and as he was dressing secreted it in his undergarments. On his way out he kissed her forehead.

“I've given a false name by the way, so don't bother to find it out. I don't want anyone to know I was here with you. It wouldn't bode well with my male friends. Mind you, they know me, and guess I wouldn't bother with you.”

Tadinanefer felt really tired after he'd gone. She didn't have the inclination or the energy to put the things back on she'd worn the night before. She wrapped herself tightly in the silk drapes from the bed and waited to be collected. She felt totally bemused. When Heddy came in later, she'd sunk into an exhausted sleep.

Eboni was waiting for her in their room, but they weren't allowed to talk. Almost immediately Tadinanefer was taken away by the slaves who'd massaged her the evening before to the same large room, where she was washed and once more massaged with strange smelling lotions to protect her from disease and pregnancy. They left her there. She was so tired that when Heddy produced a sleeping draught she was too worn out to protest. She slept all day.

*

“Wake up, girl.” Heddy pulled Tadinanefer into a sitting position. “You're to eat quickly. You were to have the night off but we've another customer for you. He booked in late. Eboni's here. We have someone for her as well. That'll keep you girls busy.”

A slave brought food and Heddy bustled out to collect clothes and jewellery.

Tadinanefer looked at Eboni. She was dressed just as Tadinanefer had been the night before and looked very frightened.

“It was all right for you,” Eboni whispered. “Maybe it'll be okay for me?”

“He was very gentle. I'm sure yours will be the same.”

Eboni gave her a faint smile. “They say he's a bit rough.”

“Who says?”

“Nephthys.”

“She doesn't know. She wouldn't have slept with any clients we'll be given. She's trying to scare you. Don't let her upset you; you're worth more than a hundred of her put together.”

She watched as Eboni was taken away. She felt a great sadness. She should have done something to save her friend. One day, she vowed, she would wreak her vengeance on Nephthys, for all the things she'd done to them and the other women. One day…

She ate and drank quickly. Not surprisingly she felt very hungry and consumed far more than she ever thought she'd be able to. She knew she had to keep up her strength. She was determined to survive.

Heddy returned.

“I see you have a good appetite; not too much food, though, we don't want you to get fat, just enough to keep you active. So… I'm in charge of you tonight. Nephthys has gone to meet someone. She has an urgent tryst with, of course, a very noble and handsome man. Nothing like you'll ever get. Stand up, and I'll get you ready. The man you are to service has made some very interesting demands on how you're to look. He wanted you all in black but I told him we didn't have a black veil at the moment, so then he insisted on white. We're to dress you in white, heavy silk, from your head down to your feet – a bit how Nephthys looks at times. Maybe he fancies her, but she's way out of his league, so he'll have to make do with you.”

Tadinanefer stood very still as Heddy put one layer upon another of the finest material. A long veil was tied around her head so it hung down her back, leaving her hair free.

“He doesn't want any jewellery and I'm not sure if he wants the veil over your face, but that's up to him. You're ready and he's here now. Just remember, I may not be Nephthys but I have her authority at this time. I warn you, Tadinanefer, once again to do exactly what he wants or you'll regret it. Do you understand?”

Tadinanefer nodded. “Yes, Heddy,” she said quietly.

“Good.”

Once again the guards accompanied her, and with a sinking heart she once more found herself in the same room.

*

She stared in horror at the man standing waiting for her. He couldn't have been more different from the one the night before. She'd seen the likes of him when Ptah had defaulted on a payment. The debtor had come to visit and sat at dinner with Ptah. She'd watched through the door and seen how scared Ptah was. He'd behaved in a way she'd never seen before. He'd grovelled. She heard him say he'd repay more than he owed and then that he'd make a gift of his most attractive daughter. He'd been totally subservient. Later, when she was alone with Masika, her mother had described the man as a killing machine. And now the same sort of man was here in the room with her.

She stared at him, forgetting to lower her eyes. He was of medium height and in his prime; his body was that of someone who had fought and won. The muscles rippled on his chest. His legs were stocky and powerful and his arms had bulging biceps. He wasn't handsome – he had a long scar down one side of his face and a cruel curl to his lip. She realised there was no hope of appealing to his finer instincts.

“So,” he said quietly. “You're the white woman. Tadinanefer. I've never seen a white woman before. White men, yes. I've killed a few.”

‘My real father?' she wondered, in horror.

He came close to her, picking up her hair. “You're not as meek as you should be. You seem not to have learnt your place. Are all you foreigners like that?”

He wound the veil several times around her lower face. Then almost instantly he released his hold of it.

“Oh, please sir,” she began, pulling the veil away from her mouth and trying to stop her voice from trembling. “I shouldn't be here. I didn't come of my own free will. I was being chased by someone who was trying to kill me and I thought this place was a temple and somewhere I could seek sanctuary. I beg you, sir, not to hurt or seduce me.”

He snorted, and moved away from her. “You are such an innocent, Tadinanefer,” he muttered. “You've been cosseted and are not worldly-wise. It's a wonder you've lasted this long. I'm surprised no one has broken you in. I'd have thought your so-called father Ptah would have done that to you a long time ago. Maybe he was afraid of you.”

Ptah afraid of her! She'd never thought of that one. Why would he be afraid? Why did this man know all about her? Who had told him? Nephthys? Maybe she'd told tales about her to make her even more exciting and so get more money? There was something about him. She suddenly felt a glimmer of hope. She thought he was about to attack her when he'd touched her hair and grabbed her veil but he hadn't done anything else. He didn't look the type to bother with preliminaries. By now he should have deflowered her, as Masika would have put it, lifting her shifts and having done with it. But he just stood looking at her, sizing her up. What was he up to?

“Have you ever killed anyone?” he asked suddenly.

“No!” She was completely thrown.

“What are you like with the sight of a lot of blood?”

“I'm not sure.” Was he going to torture her?

“How would you react in a fight seeing men hacked to death?”

Was this some sort of game, she began to wonder. Maybe he only used women, with no idea how to talk to them. So why was he talking to her?

“I don't think I'd like it.”

“What if it were to save yourself, would it matter then?”

“I don't know; I'm not sure what I'd do, but if my life was threatened, I'd want to live and probably fight for it as best I could.”

He grinned. “I think you have a bit of courage under that white skin,” he said. “But you wouldn't last any time at all with someone who really wanted to kill you.”

“Are you going to kill me?” she asked quietly. Had he come from Ptah?

“What do you think?”

“I don't know.”

“So you're not going to beg me to spare you? You could go down on your knees and kiss my feet.”

She sighed. Maybe this was it and she might as well accept her fate.

“I don't think it would make any difference. If someone has paid you to execute me then you'll do it. I would ask you, in your mother's memory, not to make me suffer.”

“I never knew her.”

He still looked at her. She stood her ground, although her heart was pounding. Her knees began to tremble. She hoped he wouldn't notice. There was nothing she could do. She lowered her eyes, waiting for the blow from a sword he had hidden somewhere. It didn't come.

Instead he grabbed one of her wrists and dragged her forward towards the divan. She scarcely realised what was happening. He pushed her down onto it. Then he tied a belt round her waist. In the belt she could see a dagger.

“I'm going to get you out of here, Tadinanefer,” he said, to her utter astonishment. “Things could get nasty. I don't want you fainting or getting in my way if I have to cut someone down. You're to completely obey me, without question. I value my life as much as you seem to value yours, and I don't want a screaming woman hanging on to me. I can blindfold you if you like, if you think you can't take it.”

“No, please. I'll be fine. I'll do as you say. But why are you doing this?”

“No questions.”

“Can we take my friend Eboni with us?”

“No.”

She could tell by his sharp answer it was useless to argue. I'll find a way somehow to come back and rescue her, she determined.

“Can you use a dagger?”

“Yes.” She wasn't really certain.

Once more he grinned. “You have this small one in your belt. Try to keep it covered with your sleeve. If you have to use it, give a short, sharp thrust anywhere that's vulnerable. Keep near me and do as I say. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“We're going very soon. There's only one guard outside the doors and he's in my pay. The women are keeping the men busy. We'll easily get down the first flight of steps, then we have the second flight. They could be tricky and that's where we have to be careful. When we get to the bottom I have a key to get us through into the outer building. If you have to speak my name for any reason, you can call me Ammon. It's a pity I couldn't get you dressed in black. You'd have been less conspicuous. They might have thought you were a servant from the outside helping a sick girl. Never mind. Your white clothes may be useful another way. Now, lie down and rest.”

She did as she was ordered. She watched him through half-closed eyes as he strapped on a wide belt and stuck a large dagger in it. He took a sword from beneath the divan and stood lifting and brandishing it. As she watched she felt relieved he was on her side.

*

It wasn't long before he got her up and, clutching her wrist in a vice-like grip, he hurried her to the door. She could feel his strength and physical prowess bristling, as he prepared for the impending fight. He was single-minded in what he was about to do and nothing would stand in his way. As he opened the door the guard just ignored them. They walked carefully down the steps. Cautiously he pushed her behind a pillar. Then he swore under his breath.

“There's a woman down there,” he cursed. “She may have just finished with a customer. We mustn't alert the guards. We haven't time to wait. Put your veil over your face and start to go down. I'll be a few paces behind you. Hopefully she'll think you're Nephthys and I'm her lover. Can you do it?”

Tadinanefer nodded and, taking her courage from him, started to descend. At the bottom the woman looked up and, clearly thinking she was Nephthys, fell to her knees, wringing her hands together and begging for approval. Her noise alerted the guards and three hefty men came out of the darkness.

All hell broke loose. From the corner of her eye Tadinanefer saw Ammon take on two of them. But the third came after her.

“You're not Nephthys,” he said. “I've just seen her go out. Let's find out who you are.” He tore the veil from her face, ripping it from her hair and throwing it to the ground.

“You're the white whore!” he hissed. “A troublemaker. I'm going to get rid of you once and for all.”

He stood holding his sword at an angle ready to slice it through her neck. She heard Ammon shout as he raced towards her, having finished off the other two. She knew he'd be too late. She seized her dagger but she couldn't get close enough to use it. The guard was about to deliver the blow and cut off her head. Then he suddenly dropped the sword. His eyes started to bulge. His hands went to his neck; he was tugging at a huge cobra, which seemed to have dropped from the ceiling and was throttling the life out of him. He gurgled and sank to the ground. The snake's head came round from his back, and it bit viciously into his arm, sending its poison deep into his body.