Paneb and Heria? What were they doing up there? Suddenly, Hopi realised that things weren’t right. Why had the boys been left alone with Mut? Where was the rest of the family? And most importantly, where was Isis?

  He rushed back to Heria’s house. Ramose and Kha ran up to him and hugged his legs as Mut came to the door to greet him.

  ‘You saved us!’ laughed Ramose.

  ‘Yes. Thank you,’ said Mut. She looked at him shyly, and smiled.

  Hopi couldn’t remember Mut ever thanking him for anything. ‘That’s all right,’ he said. ‘I like scorpions. But where is everyone? Where’s Isis?’

  Mut’s smile vanished. She turned her back, bowing her head. ‘I don’t know,’ she muttered.

  Hopi’s heart plummeted. So something was wrong. ‘What do you mean, you don’t know?’ he asked. ‘I left her here with Heria. They were going to wait for me to get back.’

  ‘We had a fight,’ mumbled Mut. ‘She ran away. Heria tried to follow, but Isis is quick . . . she soon lost her. Some people saw her run off over the rooftops, so everyone thinks she’s gone up on to the mountain, like last time. Mother and Father and the others are looking for her. That’s why I’m here with the boys.’

  So that was it. Hopi went cold. ‘I’ll find her,’ he said mechanically, turning towards the door. ‘I have to find her.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Hopi,’ said Mut. ‘It was my fault.’

  .

  Isis was frightened. The foremen had taken Tiya away to be guarded in Nakht’s house. It wouldn’t be long before they arrested Seti, too. She looked around, wondering who else lived in the little house. To her surprise, she found an elderly woman dozing in the front room. She opened her eyes as Isis entered, but only stared ahead, mumbling.

  ‘Hello,’ whispered Isis, taking her hand. ‘Are you Tiya’s mother?’

  A smile creased the old woman’s face. ‘Mother of her mother,’ she managed to say. ‘Where is Tiya? It’s time for my bread.’

  Isis was horrified. How could she tell this old woman that her granddaughter had been arrested? And who else was there to look after her? There didn’t seem to be anyone other than Seti. With a sudden flood of conviction, Isis felt sure that Tiya was innocent. She and Hopi had seen a different tunnel, a tunnel that was still in use. They had to tell someone about it – before it was too late.

  ‘Tiya isn’t here. But she will come back,’ she promised the old woman. ‘I’ll fetch you some bread.’

  Isis ran into the courtyard. She found a little pile of flat loaves stacked by the side of the oven, and picked a couple of them up. The old woman accepted them with a smile, and mumbled thanks.

  Now there was no time to waste. Isis bounded up the courtyard steps and back on to the roof. She glanced down at the street below. It was alive with gossip – many had seen Tiya being taken away, and the rest had soon heard about it. ‘Shocking,’ she heard. ‘Dreadful.’ ‘Our neighbour, too.’ She pulled back from the edge. She couldn’t go down there.

  But she had to find Hopi. She had to talk it through with him, and decide who to tell. But where would he be now? Would he still be in the house of Rahotep, or would he have left? He’d had plenty of time to say goodbye.

  There wasn’t much choice. Isis was not going back to Heria’s house. Rahotep’s house was worth a try. She looked around, trying to remember which way she’d come. Then she set off, leaping lightly over the low walls that ran around each rooftop.

  .

  Out on the street, Hopi stared up at the mountain beyond the cemetery. Why ever were they looking for Isis up there? She had no reason to head out of the village. Hopi knew that she would be doing only one thing: she’d be looking for him.

  ‘Rahotep’s house,’ he muttered to himself. ‘She’ll show up there eventually.’

  He limped back up the street to the last house in the row, and knocked. But before anyone could answer, he heard a voice.

  ‘Psst! Hopi!’

  He looked round. Rahotep’s next-door neighbour stood in her doorway holding a broom, keeping an eye on developments.

  ‘Hopi! Up here!’

  He looked up. There was Isis, peeping down from the roof. He felt a wave of relief. ‘Isis!’ he exclaimed. ‘The whole family’s looking for you up on the mountain!’

  ‘I don’t care!’ cried Isis. ‘They can look for me all they like! Listen, Hopi. Tiya has been arrested. I saw everything. I need to talk to you.’

  Hopi gazed up at his sister. How typical of Isis, to say she didn’t care. But as her news sunk in, he realised that Rahotep’s door still hadn’t opened. Perhaps Tiya’s arrest had something to do with it.

  ‘Go down into the courtyard,’ he called up to her. ‘Tell Rahotep to let me in.’

  Isis nodded and disappeared.

  A few minutes later, Rahotep’s servant opened the door a tiny crack. When he saw Hopi, he opened it a fraction wider. Hopi squeezed inside. Then the servant banged the door shut, and barred it. Hopi walked through to the courtyard and found Seti sitting in the shade with his back against the courtyard wall, his eyes still bandaged.

  Isis was explaining herself to Rahotep, but now she rushed up to Hopi and gave him a hug. ‘I’m so glad I’ve found you!’

  ‘I’m glad I’ve found you,’ said Hopi. ‘We’ve got to go, Isis. I saw Paneb and Heria right up on the mountain. We must let everyone know that you’re safe.’

  Isis shook her head stubbornly. ‘Not after what Mut said,’ she objected. ‘Anyway, we have to do something, Hopi. We can’t leave until we’ve told someone what we know.’ She looked at him meaningfully.

  ‘But –’ Hopi still wasn’t sure.

  ‘We have to,’ insisted Isis. ‘I don’t believe Tiya is guilty. Or Seti. Do you?’

  Hopi shook his head. ‘Well, no, but . . .’ He was fretting. They were in enough trouble, and he didn’t like to think of Nefert’s wrath when she found out that Isis had been in the village all along.

  ‘Hopi!’ Isis lowered her voice. ‘Look at Seti. We have to help him. And we don’t have much time.’

  Hopi glanced at the figure sitting against the wall. He was a pitiful sight, the visible parts of his face still ugly and swollen. Isis was right. The family would just have to wait.

  ‘In that case, I think this is the man we must tell.’ And he turned towards the priest of Serqet.

  Rahotep looked from one to the other. ‘And what do you have to tell me?’ he asked quietly.

  Hopi took a deep breath. He might as well plunge straight in. ‘There is a secret tunnel through the mountainside. It leads to a royal tomb. It is small but well built, with no crumbling rocks, so it is not the one that Seti described. But inside the tomb, there are two holes. It is possible that there is a second tunnel – a tunnel that collapsed.’

  Rahotep looked startled. ‘And how do you know this?’

  Isis and Hopi answered together. ‘We’ve seen it,’ they said.

  ‘Of course, Seti could have helped to build either tunnel,’ Hopi carried on. ‘But I don’t think he did, because I overheard one of the robbers on the mountain path early yesterday morning.’

  Rahotep narrowed his eyes. ‘A robber? How do you know?’

  ‘He was with a young boy – too young to be an apprentice. The boy was terrified of the wrath of the goddess. And the man said something that didn’t make sense at the time. I remember it perfectly.’ Hopi thought for a second, to make sure he got the wording right. ‘“The first one was badly made and in the wrong place.” That’s what he said.’

  The priest of Serqet folded his arms. ‘And you think he was referring to the tunnel found by Seti. And the second, one assumes, is the one found by you.’

  ‘That’s right,’ said Hopi.

  ‘Remarkable,’ murmured the priest. ‘And who is this man? Did you recognise him?’

  ‘Not at first,’ said Hopi. ‘I only realised who he was this morning. We went into his house and I saw the young boy as well.’ He hesitated. ‘He is a powerful man, that is the problem.’

  ‘Powerful or not, we must know who he is.’

  Hopi nodded. ‘He is one of your foremen. Baki.’

  .

  Silence fell. Isis felt heavy with fear. If one of the most powerful villagers was behind the robbery, how could they ever bring him to justice?

  ‘We are doomed.’ Seti buried his bandaged head in his hands. ‘There is no hope. He will make sure that Tiya and I are found guilty. We are condemned, we will be sentenced to death.’

  ‘Hush, Seti.’ The priest of Serqet marched to and fro, his brow furrowed in thought. Then, suddenly, he stopped. ‘We must not forget the power of the goddess!’ he exclaimed. Snapping his fingers for his servant, Rahotep reached for a flagon of water. ‘Fetch me clean linen cloths,’ he said, ‘and a shallow bowl.’

  ‘Yes, sir.’ The servant hurried to do as he said.

  Rahotep poured water into the bowl, then crouched down in front of Seti. Carefully, he unwrapped the linen bandages. Then he dipped a soft cloth into the water, and wiped away the ointment that covered Seti’s eyes. The flesh around them was still red and puffy, and he dabbed gently so as not to cause pain. Hopi and Isis drew closer, watching him work.

  When he had finished, Rahotep cupped Seti’s face in his hands, and stared at him intently. ‘Seti,’ he said, ‘open your eyes.’

  It seemed almost impossible, but Isis saw a flicker, and the tiniest slits appeared.

  ‘What do you see?’ demanded Rahotep.

  ‘It . . . it’s all blurred.’

  Rahotep reached down for the cloth, rinsed it out and wiped Seti’s eyes again.

  ‘Now,’ he said. ‘Try again.’

  This time, the slits were slightly wider. ‘I . . .’ Seti stopped. He lifted one of his hands, and waved it slowly in front of his face. He peered at it, bringing it closer, then taking it further away. He frowned, as though he couldn’t quite believe what had happened. His mouth quivered, then broke into a broad smile. ‘I can see.’ He gave a peal of laughter, and leaped to his feet. ‘I can see!’

  .

  CHAPTER NINE

  Seti began to run around the courtyard, calling out the names of everything he saw. ‘It’s a water flagon! A bread oven! A string of onions! Look, look – it’s a beautiful statue!’ he cried, and reached out to touch the scorpion on top of the statue of Serqet. Rahotep smiled, but then lapsed back into his thoughts.

  A strange realisation dawned on Hopi. For the first time in his life, he had actually helped someone to recover from the attack of a dangerous snake. Rahotep had said so, hadn’t he? I have done all I can. But you did more.

  ‘It’s a miracle!’ shouted Seti. He turned to Hopi and flung an arm around him. ‘Hopi! The goddess has forgiven me, after all!’

  Rahotep came out of his reverie. ‘You have received the blessing of the goddess Serqet,’ he said quietly. ‘And Hopi has been her instrument of healing. But come. We must take the next step, and gather witnesses. There is no time to lose.’

  The priest of Serqet took Seti by the arm and guided him out of the courtyard towards the street. He seemed calm, decisive, as though he knew exactly what to do. Hopi felt stirrings of hope. Perhaps Rahotep would know how to get the better of Baki, after all.

  As soon as they were outside, Rahotep began to call out, ‘Neighbours! Friends! Come out of your houses! Come forth, all those who saw the work of Meretseger this morning!’

  He didn’t need to wait long. The day’s events had kept the villagers out on the street gossiping all day. The narrow street began to fill up. In seconds, a crowd had gathered, pushing and jostling towards the priest. Rahotep held up a hand for silence, and drew Seti to his side, placing his other hand on the young painter’s shoulder.

  ‘Who can say that this man was blinded?’ he asked.

  A chorus of voices answered.

  ‘I saw it! I saw him in the cemetery!’ called one woman.

  ‘I saw him being carried to your house!’ shouted another.

  ‘And I helped to carry him down the mountain,’ added a boy.

  ‘Will you swear to it?’ asked Rahotep.

  ‘Of course!’ cried the crowd.

  Rahotep raised his hand again. ‘Neighbours, you are our witnesses,’ he said, in a solemn voice. ‘This morning, you all saw that Seti was blind. But the goddess has not condemned him. Now he can see!’ He turned to face Seti and raised his arms high to the heavens. ‘Seti, what am I doing?’

  Seti rubbed his eyes. ‘You’re putting your arms above your head.’

  A murmur rippled through the crowd.

  ‘He can see. He can see. A miracle! He is blessed! The goddess has lifted her curse!’

  ‘Meretseger! Let us praise Meretseger! Let us take thanks to her shrine!’

  But then Hopi became aware of a commotion at the back of the crowd. The villagers went quiet, and began to part to make way for three men. Hopi’s heart sank. It was Baki, Nakht and Khonsu. They had come looking for Seti.

  .

  Silence fell as the three men stood before Rahotep.

  ‘Brother, you know why we have come,’ said Nakht. His voice was sorrowful, as though he were carrying out his duty with great regret.

  ‘I do,’ said Rahotep. ‘I was indeed expecting you. But things are not as they seem, my brothers.’

  Baki clucked his tongue impatiently. ‘We do not have time to listen to your theories, Rahotep,’ he said. ‘We are here to arrest Seti, as you know very well.’

  The priest of Serqet did not respond. Instead, he turned to Seti and raised his hand. ‘Tell me,’ he said in a soft voice. ‘How many fingers am I holding up?’

  Seti’s face was slowly looking more normal and now his eyes were quite visible under their swollen lids. ‘I can see three,’ he said.

  Rahotep nodded. ‘Thank you,’ he said. He turned to the three men. ‘You see, Seti has recovered his sight. The goddess has sent a message, but it may not be the one we thought it was. We need to dig deeper, my brothers.’

  Baki scowled. ‘If he can see, so much the better. He will be better equipped to face the accusations against him,’ he snapped. ‘We have spoken to his sister Tiya. She, too, is under arrest. You can’t protect him from his fate, Rahotep.’

  A faint smile appeared on Rahotep’s face. Hopi saw that he was ready for this. The priest turned to the crowd. ‘You are my witnesses,’ said the priest of Serqet. ‘Has a miracle occurred among us today?’

  The villagers looked at each other. Hopi saw that they were afraid of defying the foremen.

  But then one woman nodded. ‘Yes,’ she said, ‘I saw Seti blinded. And now he can see.’

  ‘Yes, yes,’ murmured others around her. ‘We cannot deny it.’

  Now Rahotep drew himself up to his full height, and began to speak. ‘We all know that the gods are displeased with our village,’ he said. ‘But the gods have sent some very unusual tools.’

  The three men looked puzzled. ‘Tools?’ asked Khonsu.

  Rahotep indicated Isis and Hopi. ‘Our visitors,’ he said. ‘They are our tools. Hopi has already played a role in Seti’s healing. Now it is time for he and his sister to play another. They are young. They know little of the life of our village. Would you agree?’

  ‘Well, yes, absolutely,’ said Nakht. ‘But I don’t see –’

  ‘For that reason,’ Rahotep continued, ‘we can be sure that they are innocent and untainted by the evil in our midst.’ He looked Baki in the eye. ‘They have seen things with fresh eyes, and brought remarkable things to my attention.’

  ‘So what do you want them to do?’ growled Baki.

  ‘I ask that they be allowed to enter and search your house, Foreman Baki.’

  .

  Isis felt stunned. And scared. Foreman Baki was glaring directly at her with smouldering wrath in his eyes.

  ‘How dare you!’ the foreman roared. ‘Rahotep, you overstep the line!’

  ‘I am aware of that,’ said Rahotep calmly. ‘That is precisely why I have asked you before witnesses. But, my brother Baki, surely you can have no objection. These two are mere children, due to leave our village today. If there is nothing to find, they will not find it.’

  Baki’s big, square face seemed to explode with rage. He turned to Nakht and Khonsu. ‘Brothers, you stand there and say nothing! This is an outrage! A minor priest challenging our authority – such a thing cannot be allowed!’

  But Nakht and Khonsu exchanged glances. Nakht looked deeply uncomfortable. ‘My brother . . .’ He hesitated, looking around at the sea of eager faces. ‘This is very difficult. These children can do no harm, and Rahotep would demand nothing without good reason. If you refuse, the people will not be satisfied, and tongues will never stop wagging.’

  A murmur of agreement ran through the crowd. ‘Yes! Let the visitors enter!’ shouted a woman from the back.

  Isis saw that every villager was agog with curiosity, and guessed that no one had ever dared to challenge the authority of the foremen before. The excitement was tangible, and infectious.

  Baki began to protest all over again, but now the crowd was taking matters into its own hands. There was a surge along the street as everyone turned towards the foreman’s house.

  A woman reached out and clasped Isis’s hand. ‘Come, come!’ she cried. ‘We will show you the way!’

  Isis grabbed Hopi in turn, and let herself be carried along by the tide of people milling and jostling towards Baki’s house. Then she felt herself being pushed to the front. She and Hopi stood before the house that they had entered that morning, looking up into the face of the guard.

  ‘Open the door!’ cried the crowd. ‘Baki’s servants and womenfolk must come out! The visitors must be allowed in!’

  The guard looked flustered. ‘On whose authority?’ he demanded.

  A chorus of voices answered him: ‘Foreman Nakht! Khonsu the scribe! The priest of Serqet!’

  The guard searched the crowd for confirmation. Isis saw Nakht give a little nod. She stood close to Hopi as the guard brought out Baki’s wife, young daughters and servants. Then she and her brother stepped in. The door closed behind them, and they stood together on the threshold of Baki’s front room, with the sound of the crowd muffled on the street behind them.

 

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