City of the Dead

fire and placed it on the table, dipped a soft cloth into it and turned to him again. The liquid gave off a pungent, unpleasant odour.
    ‘Now,’ she said. ‘Be brave.’
    The boiling water seared the flesh at first, and the effect of the potion was a harsh stinging that ran outwards from his wound across his face; but it was followed by a numbness that brought relief.
    ‘All right?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘Good. Now for the difficult part.’ She smiled encouragement at him. No word had been said, but each of them had laid aside the last reservations they had had about each another and now they basked, like lizards in the sun, in the confidence of their hearts. He saw himself in her eyes as she saw herself in his.
    She brought the liquor and placed it by him with a cup. Turning, she called Hapu, who came in, and, smiling at Huy, took up a position behind the chair.
    ‘What about Merinakhte?’ asked Huy.
    Senseneb looked grim. ‘He hasn’t been back. But Hapu has kept the outer gates locked, and today he will be at the House of Healing. He has already taken up my father’s duties.’
    ‘I am sorry for his patients.’
    She looked at him. ‘Don’t be. He is a doctor of great talent. In some way his Ka is torn down the middle.’
    He is a dangerous man.’
    Yes. Now, drink the three cups of liquor. That will be enough to deaden the pain. When I start, I will work quickly. Grip the sides of the chair tightly. Hapu will hold you still. Trust him. It will not take long. Would you like us to blindfold you?’
    ‘No.’ But Huy felt a qualm at the back of his heart.
    She turned to a smaller copper vessel on the fire. Bringing it to the table, she washed her hands and then, taking off its lid, took a thin needle from it, which she threaded from a bobbin of gut. Huy drank the liquor. It burned his throat and stomach, leaving its familiar glow behind. Huy was in the habit of drinking more than he should, and he worried that three cups would not be enough, but by the time he had tipped back the third his head swam. He felt Hapu pin him to the back of the chair, and dutifully grasped its sides with his hands.
    Senseneb came close, and placed the fingers of one hand on his cheek, either side of the wound. In the other she held the needle. It was very near his eye.
    ‘Now,’ she said gently.

    She worked fast, as she had promised, and the darting pain of the needle as it passed through the flesh was over almost before it began. When the job was finished, she stood back, looking at her handiwork.
    ‘Good,’ she said, handing him a bronze mirror. He looked at the wound. It was livid, and the criss-cross of stitches made him look like a child’s drawing of a river pirate, but his face was recognisably his own once more.
    ‘Now you must rest.’
    ‘No.’
    ‘You don’t have a choice.’
    ‘There isn’t time.’
    She cleaned his cheek with water. ‘You must make time. You can pass it by telling me what happened. I might have died of fright when you arrived here.’
    He told her and she listened gravely.
    ‘There is something else,’ said Huy, finishing.
    ‘What?’
    ‘I am arranging for Queen Ankhsenpaamun to leave within days. I want you to go with her.’
    ‘Where?’
    ‘To the south. I would like you to take her to Napata.’
    She frowned. ‘I will not leave here until I have seen my father buried. I have told you. And I will not leave without you.’
    He held her arms. ‘The longer you stay, the greater the danger.’
    ‘Kenamun is dead.’
    ‘Yes. And it cannot be concealed long. When it is discovered, who knows what will happen?’
    She was silent.
    ‘I have spoken to Ay,’ said Huy. ‘He guarantees your father’s burial and the care of his Ka.’
    ‘Do you believe that he will keep his word?’ if he gets the Golden Chair, there will be no reason for him to act dishonourably.’
    She smiled. ‘Your faith is touching.’
    ‘No. He will want to make a good impression on the people. Horaha was a loyal servant of Tutankhamun. Do not forget the dead are with us always. They watch.’
    ‘Do you believe that?’
    Huy looked away, it is not a question of what I believe, but of what is accepted.’
    ‘And what will you be doing, while I am escorting the queen to Napata?’
    ‘Making sure you are not followed.’
    She took his face in her hands so he could not look away. ‘You are not getting rid of me, are you?’
    ‘What does your heart tell you?’
    She looked down, letting go of his