Death Comes as End - Agatha Christie [53]
‘So you think we have a poisoner in our midst?’ asked Hori.
‘I do,’ said Esa. ‘And you?’
‘I think so too,’ said Hori.
Renisenb glanced from one to the other of them in dismay.
Hori went on:
‘But the motive seems to me far from clear.’
‘I agree,’ said Esa. ‘That is why I am uneasy. I do not know who is threatened next.’
Renisenb broke in: ‘But–one of us?’ Her tone was still incredulous.
Esa said sternly: ‘Yes, Renisenb–one of us. Henet or Kait or Ipy, or Kameni, or Imhotep himself–yes, or Esa or Hori or even–’ she smiled–‘Renisenb.’
‘You are right, Esa,’ said Hori. ‘We must include ourselves.’
‘But why?’ Renisenb’s voice held wondering horror. ‘Why?’
‘If we knew that, we’d know very nearly all we wanted to know,’ said Esa. ‘We can only go by who was attacked. Sobek, remember, joined Yahmose unexpectedly after Yahmose had commenced to drink. Therefore it is certain that whoever did it wanted to kill Yahmose, less certain that that person wished also to kill Sobek.’
‘But who could wish to kill Yahmose?’ Renisenb spoke with sceptical intonation. ‘Yahmose, surely, of us all would have no enemies. He is always quiet and kindly.’
‘Therefore, clearly, the motive was not one of personal hate,’ said Hori. ‘As Renisenb says, Yahmose is not the kind of man who makes enemies.’
‘No,’ said Esa. ‘The motive is more obscure than that. We have here either enmity against the family as a whole, or else there lies behind all these things that covetousness against which the Maxims of Ptahotep warn us. It is, he says, a bundle of every kind of evil and a bag of everything that is blameworthy!’
‘I see the direction in which your mind is tending, Esa,’ said Hori. ‘But to arrive at any conclusion we shall have to make a forecast of the future.’
Esa nodded her head vigorously and her large wig slipped over one ear. Grotesque though this made her appearance, no one was inclined to laugh.
‘Make such a forecast, Hori,’ she said.
Hori was silent for a moment or two, his eyes thoughtful. The two women waited. Then, at last, he spoke.
‘If Yahmose had died as intended, then the principal beneficiaries would have been Imhotep’s remaining sons, Sobek and Ipy–some part of the estate would doubtless have been set aside for Yahmose’s children, but the administration of it would have been in their hands–in Sobek’s hands in particular. Sobek would undoubtedly have been the greatest gainer. He would presumably have functioned as ka-priest during Imhotep’s absences and would succeed to that office after Imhotep’s death. But though Sobek benefited, yet Sobek cannot be the guilty person since he himself drank of the poisoned wine so heartily that he died. Therefore, as far as I can see, the deaths of these two can benefit only one person (at the moment, that is) and that person is Ipy.’
‘Agreed,’ said Esa. ‘But I note, Hori, that you are far-seeing–and I appreciate your qualifying phrase. But let us consider Ipy. He is young and impatient, he has in many ways a bad disposition, he is at the age when the fulfilment of what he desires seems to him the most important thing in life. He felt anger and resentment against his elder brothers and considered that he had been unjustly excluded from participation in the family partnership. It seems, too, that unwise things were said to him by Kameni–’
‘Kameni?’
It was Renisenb who interrupted. Immediately she had done so she flushed and bit her lip. Hori turned his head to look at her. The long, gentle, penetrating look he gave her hurt her in some indefinable way. Esa craned her neck forward and peered at the girl.
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘By Kameni. Whether or not inspired by Henet is another matter. The fact