CHAPTER XIV
KI COMES TO MEMPHIS
Now of all the terrors of which this turning of the water into blood wasthe beginning in Egypt, I, Ana, the scribe, will not write, for if I didso, never in my life-days should I, who am old, find time to finish thestory of them. Over a period of many, many moons they came, one by one,till the land grew mad with want and woe. Always the tale was the same.The Hebrew prophets would visit Pharaoh at Tanis and demand thathe should led their people go, threatening him with vengeance if herefused. Yet he did refuse, for some madness had hold of him, or perhapsthe god of the Israelites laid an enchantment on him, why I know not.
Thus but a little while after the terror of blood came a plague of frogsthat filled Egypt from north to south, and when these were taken awaymade the air to stink. This miracle Ki and his company worked also,sending the frogs into Goshen, where they plagued the Israelites. Buthowever it came about, at Seti's palace at Memphis and on the land thathe owned around it there were no frogs, or at least but few of them,although at night from the fields about the sound of their croaking wentup like the sound of beaten drums.
Next came a plague of lice, and these Ki and his companions would havealso called down upon the Hebrews, but they failed, and afterwardsstruggled no more against the magic of the Israelites. Then followed aplague of flies, so that the air was black with them and no food couldbe kept sweet. Only in Seti's palace there were no flies, and in thegarden but a few. After this a terrible pest began among the cattle,whereof thousands died. But of Seti's great herd not one was even sick,nor, as we learned, was there a hoof the less in the land of Goshen.
This plague struck Egypt but a little while after Merapi had given birthto a son, a very beautiful child with his mother's eyes, that was namedSeti after his father. Now the marvel of the escape of the Prince andhis household and all that was his from these curses spread abroad andmade much talk, so that many sent to inquire of it.
Among the first came old Bakenkhonsu with a message from Pharaoh, anda private one to myself from the Princess Userti, whose pride would notsuffer her to ask aught of Seti. We could tell him nothing except whatI have written, which at first he did not believe. Having satisfiedhimself, however, that the thing was true, he said that he had fallensick and could not travel back to Tanis. Therefore he asked leave of thePrince to rest a while in his house, he who had been the friend of hisfather, his grandfather, and his great-grandfather. Seti laughed, asindeed did the cunning old man himself, and there with us Bakenkhonsuremained till the end, to our great joy, for he was the most pleasantof all companions and the most learned. As for his message, one of hisservants took back the answer to Pharaoh and to Userti, with the news ofhis master's grievous sickness.
Some eight days or so later, as I stood one morning basking in the sunat that gate of the palace gardens which overlooks the temple of Ptah,idly watching the procession of priests passing through its courts andchanting as they went (for because of the many sicknesses at this timeI left the palace but rarely), I saw a tall figure approaching me drapedagainst the morning cold. The man drew near, and addressing me over thehead of the guard, asked if he could see the lady Merapi. I answered No,as she was engaged in nursing her son.
"And in other things, I think," he said with meaning, in a voice thatseemed familiar to me. "Well, can I see the Prince Seti?"
I answered No, he was also engaged.
"In nursing his own soul, studying the eyes of the lady Merapi, thesmile of his infant, the wisdom of the scribe Ana, and the attributesof the hundred and one gods that are known to him, including that ofIsrael, I suppose," said the familiar voice, adding, "Then can I seethis scribe Ana, who I understand, being lucky, holds himself learned."
Now, angered at the scoffing of this stranger (though all the time Ifelt that he was none), I answered that the scribe Ana was striving tomend his luck by the pursuit of the goddess of learning in his study.
"Let him pursue," mocked the stranger, "since she is the only woman thathe is ever likely to catch. Yet it is true that once one caught him. Ifyou are of his acquaintance ask him of his talk with her in the avenueof the Sphinxes outside the great temple at Thebes and of what it costhim in gold and tears."
Hearing this I put my hand to my forehead and rubbed my eyes, thinkingthat I must have fallen into a dream there in the sunshine. When Ilifted it again all was the same as before. There stood the sentry,indifferent to that which had no interest for him; the cock that hadmoulted its tail still scratched in the dirt; the crested hoopoe stillsat spreading its wings on the head of one of the two great statues ofRameses which watched the gate; a water-seller in the distance stillcried his wares, but the stranger was gone. Then I knew that I had beendreaming and turned to go also, to find myself face to face with him.
"Man," I said, indignantly, "how in the name of Ptah and all his priestsdid you pass a sentry and through that gate without my seeing you?"
"Do not trouble yourself with a new problem when already you have somany to perplex you, friend Ana. Say, have you yet solved that of howa rod like this turned itself into a snake in your hand?" and he threwback his hood, revealing the shaved head and the glowing eyes of theKherheb Ki.
"No, I have not," I answered, "and I thank you," for here he profferedme the staff, "but I will not try the trick again. Next time the beastmight bite. Well, Ki, as you can pass in here without my leave, why doyou ask it? In short, what do you want with me, now that those Hebrewprophets have put you on your back?"
"Hush, Ana. Never grow angry, it wastes strength, of which we have solittle to spare, for you know, being so wise, or perhaps you do notknow, that at birth the gods give us a certain store of it, and whenthat is used we die and have to go elsewhere to fetch more. At this rateyour life will be short, Ana, for you squander it in emotions."
"What do you want?" I repeated, being too angry to dispute with him.
"I want to find an answer to the question you asked so roughly: Why theHebrew prophets have, as you say, put me on my back?"
"Not being a magician, as you pretend you are, I can give you none, Ki."
"Never for one moment did I suppose that you could," he replied blandly,stretching out his hands, and leaving the staff which had fallen fromthem standing in front of him. (It was not till afterwards that Iremembered that this accursed bit of wood stood there of itself withoutvisible support, for it rested on the paving-stone of the gateway.)"But, as it chances, you have in this house the master, or rather themistress of all magicians, as every Egyptian knows to-day, the ladyMerapi, and I would see her."
"Why do you say she is a mistress of magicians?" I asked indignantly.
"Why does one bird know another of its own kind? Why does the water hereremain pure, when all other water turns to blood? Why do not the frogscroak in Seti's halls, and why do the flies avoid his meat? Why, also,did the statue of Amon melt before her glance, while all my magic fellback from her breast like arrows from a shirt of mail? Those are thequestions that Egypt asks, and I would have an answer to them from thebeloved of Seti, or of the god Set, she who is named Moon of Israel."
"Then why not go seek it for yourself, Ki? To you, doubtless, it wouldbe a small matter to take the form of a snake or a rat, or a bird, andcreep or run or fly into the presence of Merapi."
"Mayhap it would not be difficult, Ana. Or, better still, I might visither in her sleep, as I visited you on a certain night at Thebes, whenyou told me of a talk you had held with a woman in the avenue of theSphinxes, and of what it cost you in gold and tears. But, as it chances,I wish to appear as a man and a friend, and to stay a while. Bakenkhonsutells me that he finds life here at Memphis very pleasant, free toofrom the sicknesses which just now seem to be so common in Egypt; so whyshould not I do the same, Ana?"
I looked at his round, ripe face, on which was fixed a smile unchangingas that worn by the masks on mummy coffins, from which I think he musthave copied it, and at the cold, deep eyes above, and shivered alittle. To tell truth I feared th
is man, whom I felt to be in touch withpresences and things that are not of our world, and thought it wisest towithstand him no more.
"That is a question which you had best put to my master Seti who ownsthis house. Come, I will lead you to him," I said.
So we went to the great portico of the palace, passing in and outthrough the painted pillars, towards my own apartments, whence Ipurposed to send a message to the Prince. As it chanced this wasneedless, since presently we saw him seated in a little bay out of reachof the sun. By his side was Merapi, and on a woven rug between them laytheir sleeping infant, at whom both of them gazed adoringly.
"Strange that this mother's heart should hide more might than can beboasted by all the gods of Egypt. Strange that those mother's eyes canrive the ancient glory of Amon into dust!" Ki said to me in so low avoice that it almost seemed as though I heard his thought and not hiswords, which perhaps indeed I did.
Now we stood in front of these three, and the sun being behind us, forit was still early, the shadow of the cloaked Ki fell upon a babe andlay there. A hateful fancy came to me. It looked like the evil formof an embalmer bending over one new dead. The babe felt it, opened itslarge eyes and wailed. Merapi saw it, and snatched up her child. Setitoo rose from his seat, exclaiming, "Who comes?"
Thereon, to my amazement, Ki prostrated himself and uttered thesalutation which may only be given to the King of Egypt: "Life! Blood!Strength! Pharaoh! Pharaoh! Pharaoh!"
"Who dares utter those words to me?" said Seti. "Ana, what madman do youbring here?"
"May it please the Prince, _he_ brought _me_ here," I replied faintly.
"Fellow, tell me who bade you say such words, than which none were everless welcome."
"Those whom I serve, Prince."
"And whom do you serve?"
"The gods of Egypt."
"Then, man, I think the gods must need your company. Pharaoh does notsit at Memphis, and were he to hear of them----"
"Pharaoh will never hear them, Prince, until he hears all things."
They stared at each other. Then, as I had done by the gate Seti rubbedhis eyes, and said:
"Surely this is Ki. Why, then, did you look otherwise just now?"
"The gods can change the fashion of their messenger a thousand times ina flash, if so they will, O Prince."
Now Seti's anger passed, and turned to laughter.
"Ki, Ki," he said, "you should keep these tricks for Court. But, sinceyou are in the mood, what salutation have you for this lady by my side?"
Ki considered her, till she who ever feared and hated him shrank beforehis gaze.
"Crown of Hathor, I greet you. Beloved of Isis, shine on perfect in thesky, shedding light and wisdom ere you set."
Now this saying puzzled me. Indeed, I did not fully understand it untilBakenkhonsu reminded me that Merapi's name was Moon of Israel, thatHathor, goddess of love, is crowned with the moon in all her statues,that Isis is the queen of mysteries and wisdom, and that Ki who thoughtMerapi perfect in love and beauty, also the greatest of all sorceresses,was likening her to these.
"Yes," I answered, "but what did he mean when he talked about hersetting?"
"Does not the moon always set, and is it not sometimes eclipsed?" heasked shortly.
"So does the sun," I answered.
"True; so does the sun! You are growing wise, very wise indeed, friendAna. Oho--ho!"
To return: When Seti heard these words, he laughed again, and said:
"I must think that saying over, but it is clear that you have a prettyturn for praise. Is it not so, Merapi, Crown of Hathor, and Holder ofthe wisdom of Isis?"
But Merapi, who, I think, understood more than either of us, turnedpale, and shrank further away, but outwards into the sunshine.
"Well, Ki," went on Seti, "finish your greetings. What for the babe?"
Ki considered it also.
"Now that it is no longer in the shadow, I see that this shoot from theroyal root of Pharaoh grows so fast and tall that my eyes cannot reachits crest. He is too high and great for greetings, Prince."
Then Merapi uttered a little cry, and bore the child away.
"She is afraid of magicians and their dark sayings," said Seti, lookingafter her with a troubled smile.
"That she should not be, Prince, seeing that she is the mistress of allour tribe."
"The lady Merapi a magician? Well, after a fashion, yes--where thehearts of men are concerned, do you not think so, Ana? But be moreplain, Ki. It is still early, and I love riddles best at night."
"What other could have shattered the strong and holy house where themajesty of Amon dwells on earth? Not even those prophets of the Hebrewsas I think. What other could fence this garden round against the cursesthat have fallen upon Egypt?" asked Ki earnestly, for now all hismocking manner had departed.
"I do not think she does these things, Ki. I think some Power doesthem through her, and I know that she dared to face Amon in his templebecause she was bidden so to do by the priests of her people."
"Prince," he answered with a short laugh, "a while ago I sent you amessage by Ana, which perhaps other thoughts may have driven from hismemory. It was as to the nature of that Power of which you speak. Inthat message I said that you were wise, but now I perceive that you lackwisdom like the rest of us, for if you had it, you would know thatthe tool which carves is not the guiding hand, and the lightning whichsmites is not the sending strength. So with this fair love of yours, andso with me and all that work marvels. We do not the things we seem todo, who are but the tool and the lightning. What I would know is who orwhat guides her hand and gives her the might to shield or to destroy."
"The question is wide, Ki, or so it seems to me who, as you say, havelittle wisdom, and whoever can answer it holds the key of knowledge.Your magic is but a small thing which seems great because so few canhandle it. What miracle is it that makes the flower to grow, the childto be born, the Nile to rise, and the sun and stars to shine in heaven?What causes man to be half a beast and half a god and to grow downwardto the beast or upward to the god--or both? What is faith and what isunbelief? Who made these things, through them to declare the purposes oflife, of death, and of eternity? You shake your head, you do not know;how then can I know who, as you point out, am but foolish? Go get youranswer from the lady Merapi's self, only mayhap you will find yourquestions countered."
"I'll take my chance. Thanks to Merapi's lord! A boon, O Prince, sinceyou will not suffer that other name which comes easiest to the lips ofone to whom the Present and the Future are sometimes much alike."
Seti looked at him keenly, and for the first time with a tinge of fearin his eyes.
"Leave the Future to itself, Ki," he exclaimed. "Whatever may be themind of Egypt, just now I hold the Present enough for me," and heglanced first at the chair in which Merapi had been seated and then atthe cloth upon which his son had lain.
"I take back my words. The Prince is wiser than I thought. Magiciansknow the future because at times it rushes down upon them and they must.It is that which makes them lonely, since what they know they cannotsay. But only fools will seek it."
"Yet now and again they lift a corner of the veil, Ki. Thus I remembercertain sayings of your own as to one who would find a great treasurein the land of Goshen and thereafter suffer some temporal loss, and--Iforget the rest. Man, cease smiling at me with your face and piercing methrough with your sword-like eyes. You can command all things, what boonthen do you seek from me?"
"To lodge here a little while, Prince, in the company of Ana andBakenkhonsu. Hearken, I am no more Kherheb. I have quarrelled withPharaoh, perhaps because a little breath from that great wind of thefuture blows through my soul; perhaps because he does not reward meaccording to my merits--what does it matter which? At least I have cometo be of one mind with you, O Prince, and think that Pharaoh would dowell to let the Hebrews go, and therefore no longer will I attempt tomatch my magic against theirs. But he refuses, so we have parted."
"Why does he refuse,
Ki?"
"Perhaps it is written that he must refuse. Or perhaps because, thinkinghimself the greatest of all kings instead of but a plaything of thegods, pride locks the doors of his heart that in a day to come thetempest of the Future, whereof I have spoken, may wreck the house whichholds it. I do not know why he refuses, but her Highness Userti is muchwith him."
"For one who does not know, you have many reasons and all of themdifferent, O instructed Ki," said Seti.
Then he paused, walking up and down the portico, and I who knew his mindguessed that he was wondering whether he would do well to suffer Ki,whom at times he feared because his objects were secret and neverchanged, to abide in his house, or whether he should send him away. Kialso shivered a little, as though he felt the shadow cold, and descendedfrom the portico into the bright sunshine. Here he held out his hand anda great moth dropped from the roof and lit upon it, whereon it lifted itto his lips, which moved as though he were talking to the insect.
"What shall I do?" muttered Seti, as he passed me.
"I do not altogether like his company, nor, I think, does the ladyMerapi, but he is an ill man to offend, Prince," I answered. "Look, heis talking with his familiar."
Seti returned to his place, and shaking off the moth which seemed lothto leave him, for twice it settled on his head, Ki came back into theshadow.
"Where is the use of your putting questions to me, Ki, when, accordingto your own showing, already you know the answer that I will give? Whatanswer shall I give?" asked the Prince.
"That painted creature which sat upon my hand just now, seemed towhisper to me that you would say, O Prince, 'Stay, Ki, and be myfaithful servant, and use any little lore you have to shield my housefrom ill.'"
Then Seti laughed in his careless fashion, and replied:
"Have your way, since it is a rule that none of the royal blood of Egyptmay refuse hospitality to those who seek it, having been their friends,and I will not quote against your moth what a bat whispered in my earslast night. Nay, none of your salutations revealed to you by insects orby the future," and he gave him his hand to kiss.
When Ki was gone, I said:
"I told you that night-haunting thing was his familiar."
"Then you told me folly, Ana. The knowledge that Ki has he does not getfrom moths or beetles. Yet now that it is too late I wish that I hadasked the lady Merapi what her will was in this matter. You should havethought of that, Ana, instead of suffering your mind to be led astrayby an insect sitting on his hand, which is just what he meant that youshould do. Well, in punishment, day by day it shall be your lot to lookupon a man with a countenance like--like what?"
"Like that which I saw upon the coffin of the good god, your divinefather, Meneptah, as it was prepared for him during his life in theembalmer's shop at Tanis," I answered.
"Yes," said the Prince, "a face smiling eternally at the Nothingnesswhich is Life and Death, but in certain lights, with eyes of fire."