Read Online House of Illusions by Pauline Gedge - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Pauline Gedge
Ads: Link
impersonal in his commands and impartial in matters of judgement.
I approached him confidently, saluting as I came up to the desk, and stood to attention as best I could with the box under my arm. He smiled at me. I presumed that he was due to dine at the palace, for he was dressed sumptuously in red linen, his black, grey-flecked hair held back by a scarlet ribbon fringed with tiny golden arrows. Gold dust glittered in the oil on his broad chest and above his thickly kohled eyes and more gold gleamed around his wrists. He was as magnificently arrayed as a woman, yet the impression he gave was one of purely masculine power. I did not know if I liked him. One did not think of one’s superiors in such terms. But I occasionally hoped that I saw my own future in his great wealth and position.
“Well, Kamen,” he said warmly, indicating that I might stand easy. “I understand that you want to speak to me regarding something personal. I hope it is not a request for a different posting. I know I must lose you eventually but I shall be sorry to do so. You are a promising young officer and my household guard functions well under you.”
“Thank you, General,” I answered. “I am content to be in your employ, although I do hope for a more active posting before I marry in a year’s time. After that I daresay there will be less opportunities for soldiering away from Pi-Ramses.” He looked amused.
“Your future wife will wish it so,” he replied, “but marriage will only curtail your ambitions if you let it. Unfortunately for you there are few rough and dangerous posts to be filled these days, but I suppose you may continue to dream of sudden invasions.” His face did not mirror the condescension of his words. He continued to smile at me kindly. “Now what is the trouble?”
I leaned forward and placed the box on the desk, inwardly bracing myself for my confession. “I have done a foolish thing, General,” I began. “Have you heard of the madwoman at Aswat?”
“Aswat?” he frowned. “That mud puddle in the south? Wepwawet has a rather fine temple on its outskirts as I recall, but the village has nothing else to recommend it. Yes, I have heard of some woman who pesters those who are forced to dock there on the way to a more salubrious destination. What of her? And what is this?” He had pulled the box towards him, but then he paused, going very still as his gaze fell on the many convoluted knots holding it closed. “Where did you get this?” he demanded brusquely. His fingers, weighted with rings, began to move almost clumsily over the hemp, then he snatched his hand away and sat straight. His words were like an accusation and I was taken aback.
“Forgive me, General Paiis, if I have done something wrong,” I said, “but I needed your advice. The woman gave it to me, or rather, I agreed to take it. You see, she importunes all travellers to deliver this box to Pharaoh. She tells a tale of attempted murder and exile and says that she wrote it all down. She’s insane of course, no one listens to her, but I felt sorry for her and now I don’t know what to do with whatever is in there.” I pointed at the box. “It would have been dishonest to toss it into the Nile, and even more dishonest to cut the knots and examine the contents. I do not have the authority to approach Pharaoh even if I wanted to, and I do not want to!” Now a wintry smile twisted the General’s lips. He seemed to be recovering from whatever had ailed him, but he still looked somehow diminished, and I noticed for the first time the tiny red tracks of weariness in his eyes.
“I am not surprised,” he said wryly. “Only the mad would aid the mad in that way. But sometimes honesty and insanity have a great deal in common, have they not, my idealistic young soldier?” Once more his hand hovered over the box but then withdrew as though he were afraid it would contaminate him in some way. “What is this woman like?” he asked. “I have
I approached him confidently, saluting as I came up to the desk, and stood to attention as best I could with the box under my arm. He smiled at me. I presumed that he was due to dine at the palace, for he was dressed sumptuously in red linen, his black, grey-flecked hair held back by a scarlet ribbon fringed with tiny golden arrows. Gold dust glittered in the oil on his broad chest and above his thickly kohled eyes and more gold gleamed around his wrists. He was as magnificently arrayed as a woman, yet the impression he gave was one of purely masculine power. I did not know if I liked him. One did not think of one’s superiors in such terms. But I occasionally hoped that I saw my own future in his great wealth and position.
“Well, Kamen,” he said warmly, indicating that I might stand easy. “I understand that you want to speak to me regarding something personal. I hope it is not a request for a different posting. I know I must lose you eventually but I shall be sorry to do so. You are a promising young officer and my household guard functions well under you.”
“Thank you, General,” I answered. “I am content to be in your employ, although I do hope for a more active posting before I marry in a year’s time. After that I daresay there will be less opportunities for soldiering away from Pi-Ramses.” He looked amused.
“Your future wife will wish it so,” he replied, “but marriage will only curtail your ambitions if you let it. Unfortunately for you there are few rough and dangerous posts to be filled these days, but I suppose you may continue to dream of sudden invasions.” His face did not mirror the condescension of his words. He continued to smile at me kindly. “Now what is the trouble?”
I leaned forward and placed the box on the desk, inwardly bracing myself for my confession. “I have done a foolish thing, General,” I began. “Have you heard of the madwoman at Aswat?”
“Aswat?” he frowned. “That mud puddle in the south? Wepwawet has a rather fine temple on its outskirts as I recall, but the village has nothing else to recommend it. Yes, I have heard of some woman who pesters those who are forced to dock there on the way to a more salubrious destination. What of her? And what is this?” He had pulled the box towards him, but then he paused, going very still as his gaze fell on the many convoluted knots holding it closed. “Where did you get this?” he demanded brusquely. His fingers, weighted with rings, began to move almost clumsily over the hemp, then he snatched his hand away and sat straight. His words were like an accusation and I was taken aback.
“Forgive me, General Paiis, if I have done something wrong,” I said, “but I needed your advice. The woman gave it to me, or rather, I agreed to take it. You see, she importunes all travellers to deliver this box to Pharaoh. She tells a tale of attempted murder and exile and says that she wrote it all down. She’s insane of course, no one listens to her, but I felt sorry for her and now I don’t know what to do with whatever is in there.” I pointed at the box. “It would have been dishonest to toss it into the Nile, and even more dishonest to cut the knots and examine the contents. I do not have the authority to approach Pharaoh even if I wanted to, and I do not want to!” Now a wintry smile twisted the General’s lips. He seemed to be recovering from whatever had ailed him, but he still looked somehow diminished, and I noticed for the first time the tiny red tracks of weariness in his eyes.
“I am not surprised,” he said wryly. “Only the mad would aid the mad in that way. But sometimes honesty and insanity have a great deal in common, have they not, my idealistic young soldier?” Once more his hand hovered over the box but then withdrew as though he were afraid it would contaminate him in some way. “What is this woman like?” he asked. “I have
Similar Books
