Chapter Three
Mom was on patrol in the garden when I got back to the palace. I decided to tell her the news of my discovery in the Valley of the Kings and headed to the garden. Since the encounter with my father a little more than a year before, Mom had become very jumpy when on patrol. Today was no exception. Even though I called out to her at some distance, she still leaped about five feet in the air. “Aten!” she hissed, “You know I can’t stand it when you sneak up like that!”
“I wouldn’t quite call this sneaking.” I laughed, standing on the other side of the garden.
“You know what I mean.” she retorted, “It’s just like, um, you sound so much like someone else.”
“You mean my father, don’t you?” I said, as I approached, “That’s part of why I’m here.” I recounted my trip out to the Valley of the Kings and of my encounter with Grandpaw, the story of my father and of the reward for loyalty tale.
“I’m glad to hear that my Dad is well, it has been so long since I left there.” she said, “I am also saddened to find out that it was my Dad who sent your father to look in on me. I am so sorry you never got the chance to know him, for that matter so am I, but at least now I know his name. Thank you.” she paused, sorted her thoughts then continued. “As for the loyalty bit, I have heard of that as well, here in the palace and it is true.”
“It is a good thing my boy is young then.” I replied, “I will be gone long before him.”
“Yes, that is true.” Mom replied, “Very fortunate, so you better make sure he lives for a long time.”
I set about to do just that. I became the future king’s shadow, protecting the boy from any harm that came his way, from scorpions to snakes. We slept in the same chamber and I even thwarted an attempt on the boy’s life as an assassin entered the chamber in the dead of the night, only to face my claws of fury. The would-be assassin exited the chamber using the window, about a fifty-foot drop, because he could no longer see. The stop at the end was much more merciful than I was. It was my mission and I was bound and determined that this boy lived a long time.
Things and events happened quickly after a year of being dubbed the protector. The old king died and passed on the kingdom to the boy. The queen left the kingdom and all but vanished. The young king moved his palace back to Thebes and restored the original deities to be worshiped, including Amun, the king of the gods. Under Akhenaten’s rule there had only been one Supreme Being, Aten, who I was named after, but the people were upset with this and so the new king gave the old gods back to the people. He even changed his name to show the people his belief in the old gods. This is how I became now known as Amun.
The new king set about returning the names of the old gods to the temples and statues, which Akhenaten had removed when he gained the throne from his father. Peace and prosperity flourished under the king, it was hard to believe this boy of nine was King of Egypt! We spent many days out on hunts, or racing the chariot up and down the streets of Thebes. I became his supreme protector and he even had an amulet made for me, which I wore around my neck. Talk about impressing mom and the sisters! Plus it allowed me free access to everywhere I wanted to go, and not to mention, the other palace cats were drooling all over it!
The young king grew as I did and I protected him from everything and everyone, except for Queen Ankhesenamun, his wife and the daughter of Akhenaten. He and his young wife had tried to have children, but were unsuccessful in their attempts. I would lie at the king’s feet in bed and would hear him call out in grief during the night. The king had resigned himself to the fact that he would have no heirs, but with the help of his advisors laid out the foundation of future dynasties and government within Egypt. He made sure the armies were strong and the people were prospering. He even devised his tomb to thwart grave robbers as it was dug with a few extra changes in design.
He provided air holes to the tomb and false rooms. There was also a spring that was diverted to the tomb that would provide fresh water. The tomb was honeycombed with small passages from chamber to chamber. The purpose of these new designs had the tomb builders baffled, but they carried out the instructions. The king must have had premonitions about some unforeseen death and set about with instructions for after his time came.
I was stalking a snake in the throne room when I heard, “Amun! Let’s go!” At this I scrambled down the hall and down the steps to see my friend in his long chariot with a few palace guards.
“Must be a special trip!” I thought as I leapt into the back of the chariot at the foot of the king. The ride was familiar as they made their way along the Nile and up to the Valley of the Kings. “Perhaps I will see Grandpaw again.” I thought as we stopped short of the temple, “It has been years!”
As the guards kept watch on the surrounding area, the king jumped off the chariot. They also kept close watch as we walked toward the tombs. I was a bit curious as to why they were here doing my job, but then I saw a band of thieves exiting a recent tomb with the wealth of its’ former occupant in their arms. The guards and I gave chase as the looters dropped their goods. I leapt on the back of one as he clambered over some rock and proceeded to shred his shirt and points beneath! The guards were able to inflict some painful reminders to the thieves as well, to stay out of the Valley of the Kings. I scanned the rocks for a glimpse of Grandpaw, and saw him clamped on the backside of one of the looters. He was being dragged down the path out of the valley. I chuckled at this sight and hoped I would have the chance to ask him how long it took for him to get the taste out of his mouth! The king entered the tombs and called out for the guards and I to follow, which we did. I could see well in the darkness and squinted when a guard struck fire to a torch. We followed a path through a few chambers and then descended from one chamber into another. The path was like a maze and was hard to keep track of where we had been. We finally stopped at what appeared to be a dead end. The king pushed against part of the wall and it swung inward.
I heard a sound from the back of the chamber we had entered and then saw a fountain with water flowing through it. This chamber led to other chambers as well. I noticed a fountain in each chamber that flowed with water and even paused at one for a drink. “Not bad, all the comforts of home!” I thought.
The king looked impressed as well and turning towards me said, “What do you think of our new home?” Only then did I see the small holes carved in the walls, too small for a human to crawl through, but the right size for a cat!
Bolting from the tombs and into the safety of the hills beyond was the first thing that came to mind, and then the king’s voice returned to my ears. “I wish for you to be my protector in death as you have protected me in life. I have made these things,” the king said, as he pointed to the fountains, “to provide you and your family with life giving water.” I understood what the king was requesting of me. The king continued explaining his request at the amazement of the guards who were even more astounded when it appeared that the large cat was actually understanding the king’s words. “The water will attract mice and rats galore, so food will not be a problem either, and I have provided the air with which we breathe. I wish you a long life Amun, I do not wish you to join me in the afterlife as is customary. I want you here to protect me from the grave robbers, to be my curse!”