Death Comes as End - Agatha Christie [59]
‘There are poisons known which do not act at once, with violence. They are insidious. A little taken every day accumulates in the system. Only after long months of weakness, does death come…There is a knowledge of such things among women–they use them sometimes to remove a husband and to make it seem as though his death were natural.’
Imhotep grew pale.
‘Do you suggest that that–that–is what is the matter with Yahmose?’
‘I am suggesting that it is a possibility. Though his food is now tasted by a slave before he gets it, such a precaution means nothing, since the amount in any one dish on any one day would cause no ill effect.’
‘Folly,’ cried Ipy, loudly. ‘Absolute folly! I do not believe there are such poisons. I have never heard of them.’
Hori raised his eyes. ‘You are very young, Ipy. There are still things you do not know.’
Imhotep exclaimed, ‘But what can we do? We have appealed to Ashayet. We have sent offerings to the Temple–not that I have ever had much belief in temples. It is women who are credulous about such things. What more can be done?’
Hori said thoughtfully:
‘Let Yahmose’s food be prepared by one trustworthy slave, and let that slave be watched all the time.’
‘But that means–that here in this house–’
‘Rubbish,’ shouted Ipy. ‘Absolute rubbish.’
Hori raised his eyebrows.
‘Let it be tried,’ he said. ‘We shall soon see if it is rubbish.’
Ipy went angrily out of the room. Hori stared thoughtfully after him with a perplexed frown on his face.
VI
Ipy went out of the house in such a rage that he almost knocked over Henet.
‘Get out of my way, Henet. You are always creeping about and getting in the way.’
‘How rough you are, Ipy, you have bruised my arm.’
‘A good thing. I am tired of you and your snivelling ways. The sooner you are out of this house for good the better–and I shall see that you go.’
Henet’s eyes flashed maliciously.
‘So you would turn me out, would you? After all the care and love I have bestowed on you all. Devoted, I’ve been, to the whole family. Your father knows it well enough.’
‘He’s heard about it enough, I’m sure! And so have we! In my opinion you’re just an evil-tongued old mischief maker. You helped Nofret with her schemes–that I know well enough. Then she died and you came fawning round us again. But you’ll see–in the end my father will listen to me and not to your lying tales.’
‘You’re very angry, Ipy, what has made you angry?’
‘Never mind.’
‘You’re not afraid of something are you, Ipy? There are odd things going on here.’
‘You can’t frighten me, you old cat.’
He flung himself past her and out of the house.
Henet turned slowly inwards. A groan from Yahmose attracted her attention. He had raised himself from the couch and was trying to walk. But his legs seemed to fail him almost at once, and but for Henet’s rapid assistance he would have fallen to the ground.
‘There, Yahmose, there. Lie back again.’
‘How strong you are, Henet. One would not think it to look at you.’ He settled back again with his head on the wooden headrest. ‘Thank you. But what is the matter with me? Why this feeling as though my muscles were turned into water?’
‘The matter is that this house is bewitched. The work of a she-devil who came to us from the North. No good ever came out of the North.’
Yahmose murmured with sudden despondency:
‘I am dying. Yes, I am dying…’
‘Others will die before you,’ said Henet, grimly.
‘What? What do you mean?’ He raised himself on an elbow and stared at her.
‘I know what I am saying.’ Henet nodded her head several times. ‘It is not you who will die next. Wait and see.’
VII
‘Why do you avoid me, Renisenb?’
Kameni planted himself directly in Renisenb’s way. She flushed and found it difficult to give a suitable answer. It was true that she had deliberately turned aside when she saw Kameni coming.
‘Why, Renisenb, tell me why?’
But she had no answer ready, could only shake her head dumbly.
Then she glanced up at him as he stood facing her. She had had a faint dread that Kameni’s face, too, might seem different. It was with a curious