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was wrong about me, and he s making a mistake about your
chief steward as well.
I ll question Romay myself, announced Ramses. Do
you still want to take his part, Ahmeni?
The scribe shook his head to say no.
Any more revelations, Serramanna?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Concerning whom?
Your friend Moses. There s no room for doubt about
him. Since I m still in charge of your security, I might as
well be the one to tell you.
The grim expression on Ramses face would have been
enough to silence most men. Steeling himself with another
gulp of wine, Serramanna forged ahead.
To me, Moses is a turncoat and an instigator. His goal
was to lead his people and found an independent Hebrew
state in the Delta. He may still have some friendship for
you, but in the end, if he s still alive, he ll be your most ruth-
less enemy.
Ahmeni was prepared for an outburst from Ramses, but
the king remained strangely calm.
Is this guesswork or the result of an investigation?
As thorough an investigation as I could manage.
Furthermore, I learned that Moses had several contacts
with a foreigner posing as an architect. This man came to
encourage him, even offer his aid. Your Hebrew friend was
at the heart of a plot against Egypt.
Have you identified this mysterious architect?
Ahmeni didn t leave me time.
Let s put that behind us, Serramanna. You were treated
unfairly, but now we need to join forces.
144 Christian Jacq
Ahmeni and Serramanna eyed each other reluctantly.
After a long pause, they shook hands, and Ahmeni thought
he might never write again.
I can t think of a worse scenario, the king resumed.
Moses is a stubborn man; if your information is correct,
Serramanna, he ll never give up. But today who knows
what ideal he worships? Does he even know himself ?
Before we accuse him of high treason, we need to find
him.
This so-called architect seems highly suspect, said
Ahsha, intrigued. I d like to know who s behind him.
We need to shed light on a number of questionable
areas before reaching any conclusions, recommended
Ahmeni.
Ramses laid a hand on the Sard s broad shoulder. Your
frankness is a rare quality, Serramanna. Don t ever lose it.
In the week that followed Ramses triumphant return,
Shaanar, as secretary of state, had nothing but good news
to report to his brother. The Hittites had lodged no offi-
cial protest and seemed to be taking the situation lying
down. The Egyptian army s show of force made them
decide to keep observing the pact of nonaggression
imposed by Seti.
Before Ahsha left on his tour of the protectorates, he
was the guest of honor at one of Shaanar s famous ban-
quets. Seated to the right of his host, the young diplomat
was enjoying the entertainment three dancing girls,
naked except for colored wisps of cloth around their
waists that did nothing to hide the jet-black triangle below.
Ramses: The battle of kadesh 145
They moved gracefully to the changing rhythms their
pretty accompanists played on a harp, three flutes, and an
oboe.
Which one would you like for the night, Ahsha?
Shaanar inquired unctuously.
This may shock you, Shaanar, but I ve spent an exhaus-
ting week with a sex-starved widow. All I want tonight is
twelve hours sleep before I head out for Canaan and
Amurru.
Thanks to the music and my talkative guests, you and I
can say anything we want.
I no longer work for the State Department, but I don t
suppose you re disappointed with my new mission.
It couldn t have turned out better if we d planned it
ourselves.
Oh yes, Shaanar. Ramses could have been killed, maim-
ed, or dishonored.
I ve always known he was a born warrior, but I had no
idea that he was such a strategist. When you think about it,
this was only a relative victory. Besides taking back the
provinces, what has he accomplished? The Hittites failure
to respond has me puzzled.
They re taking stock of the situation. Once the shock
has passed, they ll strike back.
How do you plan to proceed, Ahsha?
By giving me carte blanche in the protectorates, Ramses
has played into our hands. While I m supposedly reorga-
nizing our defensive system, I ll really be dismantling it bit
by bit.
What if you re exposed?
I ve already persuaded Ramses to keep the princes of
Canaan and Amurru where they are. They re both crooked
characters who ll sell themselves to the highest bidder. It
146 Christian Jacq
will be easy for me to nudge them into the Hittite camp,
eliminating the buffer Ramses is always talking about.
Be careful, Ahsha. You re playing for very high stakes.
We ll never win if we aren t prepared to take risks. The
hardest part will be anticipating the Hittites strategy.
Fortunately, that s my specialty.
An immense empire stretching from Nubia to Anatolia,
an empire that he would rule Shaanar could scarcely con-
ceive of it, but his dream was little by little becoming reality.
Ramses choice of friends was his downfall. There was
Moses, a murderer and instigator; Ahsha, a traitor; and
Setau, a limited eccentric. That left Ahmeni, loyal and
straight as an arrow but without ambition.
We ll have to drag Ramses into a war he can t win, con-
tinued Ahsha. He ll be the shame of Egypt, and you ll
appear as the savior. That s our mandate, and we mustn t
forget you.
Has Ramses given you any other instructions?
Yes, he wants me to find Moses for him. You know how
greatly he values friendship. Even if the Sard thinks the
Hebrew is guilty of high treason, Pharaoh won t believe it
until he hears it straight from Moses own mouth.
Has anyone found a trace of him?
No definite sightings. Either he s died of thirst in the
desert, or else he s hiding out with one of the tribes roaming
the Sinai and Negev deserts. There are hundreds of them.
But if he turns up in Canaan or Amurru, I ll catch him in
the end.
If he turns up as the head of a rebel faction, he could
be of use to us.
One thing bothers me, revealed Ahsha. According to
Serramanna, Moses was in contact with a mysterious
stranger.
Ramses: The battle of kadesh 147
Here, in Pi-Ramses?
Yes, here.
Does anyone know who this man was?
Only that he looked like a foreigner and was passing
himself off as an architect.
Shaanar tried to hide his alarm. Ofir had been spotted!
The sorcerer remained an unknown quantity, of course, a [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl karpacz24.htw.pl
was wrong about me, and he s making a mistake about your
chief steward as well.
I ll question Romay myself, announced Ramses. Do
you still want to take his part, Ahmeni?
The scribe shook his head to say no.
Any more revelations, Serramanna?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Concerning whom?
Your friend Moses. There s no room for doubt about
him. Since I m still in charge of your security, I might as
well be the one to tell you.
The grim expression on Ramses face would have been
enough to silence most men. Steeling himself with another
gulp of wine, Serramanna forged ahead.
To me, Moses is a turncoat and an instigator. His goal
was to lead his people and found an independent Hebrew
state in the Delta. He may still have some friendship for
you, but in the end, if he s still alive, he ll be your most ruth-
less enemy.
Ahmeni was prepared for an outburst from Ramses, but
the king remained strangely calm.
Is this guesswork or the result of an investigation?
As thorough an investigation as I could manage.
Furthermore, I learned that Moses had several contacts
with a foreigner posing as an architect. This man came to
encourage him, even offer his aid. Your Hebrew friend was
at the heart of a plot against Egypt.
Have you identified this mysterious architect?
Ahmeni didn t leave me time.
Let s put that behind us, Serramanna. You were treated
unfairly, but now we need to join forces.
144 Christian Jacq
Ahmeni and Serramanna eyed each other reluctantly.
After a long pause, they shook hands, and Ahmeni thought
he might never write again.
I can t think of a worse scenario, the king resumed.
Moses is a stubborn man; if your information is correct,
Serramanna, he ll never give up. But today who knows
what ideal he worships? Does he even know himself ?
Before we accuse him of high treason, we need to find
him.
This so-called architect seems highly suspect, said
Ahsha, intrigued. I d like to know who s behind him.
We need to shed light on a number of questionable
areas before reaching any conclusions, recommended
Ahmeni.
Ramses laid a hand on the Sard s broad shoulder. Your
frankness is a rare quality, Serramanna. Don t ever lose it.
In the week that followed Ramses triumphant return,
Shaanar, as secretary of state, had nothing but good news
to report to his brother. The Hittites had lodged no offi-
cial protest and seemed to be taking the situation lying
down. The Egyptian army s show of force made them
decide to keep observing the pact of nonaggression
imposed by Seti.
Before Ahsha left on his tour of the protectorates, he
was the guest of honor at one of Shaanar s famous ban-
quets. Seated to the right of his host, the young diplomat
was enjoying the entertainment three dancing girls,
naked except for colored wisps of cloth around their
waists that did nothing to hide the jet-black triangle below.
Ramses: The battle of kadesh 145
They moved gracefully to the changing rhythms their
pretty accompanists played on a harp, three flutes, and an
oboe.
Which one would you like for the night, Ahsha?
Shaanar inquired unctuously.
This may shock you, Shaanar, but I ve spent an exhaus-
ting week with a sex-starved widow. All I want tonight is
twelve hours sleep before I head out for Canaan and
Amurru.
Thanks to the music and my talkative guests, you and I
can say anything we want.
I no longer work for the State Department, but I don t
suppose you re disappointed with my new mission.
It couldn t have turned out better if we d planned it
ourselves.
Oh yes, Shaanar. Ramses could have been killed, maim-
ed, or dishonored.
I ve always known he was a born warrior, but I had no
idea that he was such a strategist. When you think about it,
this was only a relative victory. Besides taking back the
provinces, what has he accomplished? The Hittites failure
to respond has me puzzled.
They re taking stock of the situation. Once the shock
has passed, they ll strike back.
How do you plan to proceed, Ahsha?
By giving me carte blanche in the protectorates, Ramses
has played into our hands. While I m supposedly reorga-
nizing our defensive system, I ll really be dismantling it bit
by bit.
What if you re exposed?
I ve already persuaded Ramses to keep the princes of
Canaan and Amurru where they are. They re both crooked
characters who ll sell themselves to the highest bidder. It
146 Christian Jacq
will be easy for me to nudge them into the Hittite camp,
eliminating the buffer Ramses is always talking about.
Be careful, Ahsha. You re playing for very high stakes.
We ll never win if we aren t prepared to take risks. The
hardest part will be anticipating the Hittites strategy.
Fortunately, that s my specialty.
An immense empire stretching from Nubia to Anatolia,
an empire that he would rule Shaanar could scarcely con-
ceive of it, but his dream was little by little becoming reality.
Ramses choice of friends was his downfall. There was
Moses, a murderer and instigator; Ahsha, a traitor; and
Setau, a limited eccentric. That left Ahmeni, loyal and
straight as an arrow but without ambition.
We ll have to drag Ramses into a war he can t win, con-
tinued Ahsha. He ll be the shame of Egypt, and you ll
appear as the savior. That s our mandate, and we mustn t
forget you.
Has Ramses given you any other instructions?
Yes, he wants me to find Moses for him. You know how
greatly he values friendship. Even if the Sard thinks the
Hebrew is guilty of high treason, Pharaoh won t believe it
until he hears it straight from Moses own mouth.
Has anyone found a trace of him?
No definite sightings. Either he s died of thirst in the
desert, or else he s hiding out with one of the tribes roaming
the Sinai and Negev deserts. There are hundreds of them.
But if he turns up in Canaan or Amurru, I ll catch him in
the end.
If he turns up as the head of a rebel faction, he could
be of use to us.
One thing bothers me, revealed Ahsha. According to
Serramanna, Moses was in contact with a mysterious
stranger.
Ramses: The battle of kadesh 147
Here, in Pi-Ramses?
Yes, here.
Does anyone know who this man was?
Only that he looked like a foreigner and was passing
himself off as an architect.
Shaanar tried to hide his alarm. Ofir had been spotted!
The sorcerer remained an unknown quantity, of course, a [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]