"What is this that you have done?" asked Abi. "Do you not remember thewords which dead Pharaoh spoke in the awful vision that came to me thatnight at Memphis, when he bade me take the Royal Loveliness which Idesired to be my wife? Do you not remember that he bade me also reignin her right until I met 'one Rames, Son of Mermes' and with him aBeggar-man who is charged with another message for me?"
"I remember," answered Kaku in a hollow voice.
"What, then, is this message, Man, that will come from Rames or theBeggar? Is it not the message of my death and yours, of us whose tombswere finished but yesterday?"
"It may be so, Lord."
"Then why did you interpret the dream of the Queen in the sense that Imust hurry southwards to meet this very Rames--and my doom?"
"Because I could not help it," groaned Kaku. "That spirit who is calleda Queen compelled me. Abi, there is no escape for us; we are in the netof Fate--unless, unless you dare----" and he looked meaningly at thesword that hung by Pharaoh's side.
"Nay, Kaku," he answered, "I dare not. Let us live while we may, knowingwhat awaits us beyond the gate."
"Aye," moaned Kaku, "beyond the Gate of the South, where we shall findRames the Avenger, and that Beggar who is charged with a message forus."