City of the Dead

meeting with Nehesy, about finding the dead tracker with his fistful of silver; about the uninjured horses, and about what Horaha had thought about the king’s injuries. Finally he told him about Horaha’s death, and Nehesy’s arrest and torture. He did not mention where Nehesy was now. The man deserved his peace.
    ‘Even the threat of an inquiry in any of those areas would stop Horemheb in his tracks,’ said Ay, when Huy had finished. He looked at him. ‘You have done well. But I need proof.’
    ‘Horaha’s reservations can be demonstrated.’
    ‘How?’
    ‘The king’s body is being preserved. No one can disguise the wound on the skull now. If you can lay hands on the chariot, you have a case. But I think all you need do is mention that to Horemheb. You are too powerful for him to destroy; and he cannot kill everyone.’
    ‘I wonder,’ said Ay.
    ‘I mean, he has not that much power. But then there is me.’
    In the act of rising, Ay looked at him again and sat down.
    ‘You?’
    ‘I collected these facts and have a record of them. I am still alive.’
    ‘Yes?’
    Huy hesitated fractionally before continuing. ‘Forgive me, but I cannot trust you absolutely. Now you have what you need, I run the risk of becoming dispensable - I, and all that I seek as a reward.’
    ‘Your conditions?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘They make an easy reward to grant. And I give you my word as pharaoh-elect.’ Ay seemed to grow physically as he spoke the words. The new thought occurring to his heart threw years off the lined face. ‘You are lucky that I am pleased with you. I am not offended by what you say. But do not try me too hard.’
    ‘I know that you are a wise man. Therefore I know too that you are aware of the threat that the queen’s life, and the one within her, pose to the future of your line.’ Huy paused. ‘I must tell you that if I find myself crossed in any way, I will go to Horemheb and warn him. If anything happens to me, the record I have made of these events will go to him. It is safe, in a place you will never locate, and I have made arrangements with friends in the harbour quarter who are such little eels that they will always wriggle through your fingers if you attempt to catch them. But they have strong jaws.’ Privately, Huy wished that he had indeed made such a record.
    Ay turned in on himself, the fingers of each hand touching one another at the tips. His face was turned downwards, and it was impossible to see the expression on his face.
    ‘Do you have a plan for the queen’s departure?’
    'Of sorts.’
    ‘But have you considered Horemheb? You might have to trust me, for all your skill; but if Horemheb thinks that she is alive - wherever she is in the Black Land - he will not rest until he has hunted her down and killed her. And her child.
    He has the means to do it, too, Huy. Even if I beat him now, I cannot strip him of his power without risking a division of the army. And we cannot have that.’
    ‘I have thought of what to do.’ In reality, Huy had only the sketchiest of plans, and a weak and dangerous one.
    Ay smiled. ‘I have often said that you were a clever man, Huy.’ He paused delicately. ‘I suppose it is a waste of time to offer you land when I become pharaoh? In return for your service, of course.’
    ‘Yes.’
    Ay pursed his lips. ‘Then you shall have your wish. Ineny will escort you to the gate.’ He stood up. Ineny packed up his palette and prepared to stow the rolled parchment under his arm.
    ‘Leave that with me, Ineny,’ said the old Master of Horse.

    She was not at their meeting place. Huy squatted down on the flat rock which jutted out forming a ledge over the surface of the River and watched the sluggish, patient water pass. Idling the time away with his thoughts at first, for he was early and felt no alarm, he let his heart drift with the current as it proceeded on its eternal journey north, knowing that this water was the Black Land; that it would flow here long after the pyramids had crumbled to dust and even the memory of them been lost. What was happening now, what seemed of such monumental importance to him and to his own little life, would not affect the future one iota. He thought as far ahead as his imagination would run. Perhaps there were more countries, even beyond those bordering the Great Green to the north and the forests far to the south. Was there life in those countries? Would they, too, one day be discovered, visited, colonised?
    Such