Death Comes as End - Agatha Christie [40]
‘I think so, Hori–a little You are different from the others down there–I have known that for some time. And sometimes when I am with you here, I can feel what you feel–but dimly–not very clearly. But I do know what you mean. When I am here the things down there,’ she pointed, ‘do not seem to matter any longer. The quarrels and the hatreds and the incessant bustle and fuss. Here one escapes from all that.’
She paused, her brow puckering, and went on, stammering a little.
‘Sometimes I–I am glad to have escaped. And yet–I do not know–there is something–down there–that calls me back.’
Hori dropped her hand and stepped back a pace.
He said gently:
‘Yes–I see–Kameni singing in the courtyard.’
‘What do you mean, Hori? I was not thinking of Kameni.’
‘You may not have been thinking of him. But all the same, Renisenb, I think it is his songs that you are hearing without knowing it.’
Renisenb stared at him, her brow puckered.
‘What extraordinary things you say, Hori. One could not possibly hear him singing up here. It is much too far away.’
Hori sighed gently and shook his head. The amusement in his eyes puzzled her. She felt a little angry and bewildered because she could not understand.
CHAPTER TWELVE
FIRST MONTH OF SUMMER 23RD DAY
‘Can I speak with you a minute, Esa?’
Esa peered sharply towards Henet who stood in the doorway of the room, an ingratiating smile upon her face.
‘What is it?’ the old woman asked sharply.
‘It’s nothing really–at least I don’t suppose so–but I thought I’d just like to ask–’
Esa cut her short. ‘Come in, then, come in. And you–’ she tapped the little black slave girl, who was threading beads, on the shoulder with her stick–‘go to the kitchen. Get me some olives–and make me a drink of pomegranate juice.’
The little girl ran off and Esa beckoned Henet impatiently.
‘It’s just this, Esa.’
Esa peered down at the article Henet was holding out to her. It was a small jewel box with a sliding lid, the top fastened with two buttons.
‘What about it?’
‘It’s hers. And I found it now–in her room.’
‘Who are you talking about? Satipy?’
‘No, no, Esa. The other.’
‘Nofret, you mean? What of it?’
‘All her jewels and her toilet vases and her perfume jars–everything–was buried with her.’
Esa twirled the string from the buttons and opened the box. In it was a string of small carnelian beads and half of a green glazed amulet which had been broken in two.
‘Pooh,’ said Esa. ‘Nothing much here. It must have been overlooked.’
‘The embalmers’ men took everything away.’
‘Embalmers’ men aren’t any more reliable than anyone else. They forgot this.’
‘I tell you, Esa–this wasn’t in the room when last I looked in.’
Esa looked up sharply at Henet.
‘What are you trying to make out? That Nofret has come back from the Underworld and is here in the house? You’re not really a fool, Henet, though you sometimes like to pretend you’re one. What pleasure do you get from spreading these silly magical tales?’
Henet was shaking her head portentously.
‘We all know what happened to Satipy–and why!’
‘Maybe we do,’ said Esa. ‘And maybe some of us knew it before! Eh, Henet? I’ve always had an idea you knew more about how Nofret came to her death than the rest of us.’
‘Oh, Esa, surely you wouldn’t think for a moment–’
Esa cut her short.
‘What wouldn’t I think? I’m not afraid of thinking, Henet. I’ve seen Satipy creeping about the house for the last two months