The Hippopotamus Pool - Elizabeth Peters [33]
He stopped, having lost track of where the sentence had got to, and began again. ‘Despite those interruptions, we discovered a shrine containing a stela that mentions Queen Tetisheri.’
‘A remarkable discovery,’ said Ramses. Turning to Nefret, he explained, ‘Abydos was the holiest city in Egypt, the burial place of the god Osiris. Memorials to the dead were often erected at Abydos even when the persons so honoured were buried elsewhere. Such was the case with Tetisheri. The inscription on the stela we found describes how her grandson, King Ahmose, raised a memorial shrine to her at Abydos. According to my translation of the text of the stela –’
‘I have here,’ said Emerson loudly, ‘a translation of the text made by your uncle Walter. You will admit his authority, I hope? Thank you. He will appreciate your condescension. Now as you all know, the stela made something of a stir in archaeological circles. A good many people knew of it, and some may have anticipated my decision –’
‘To return to Abydos this season?’ I inquired. I trust my voice and expression did not show the disappointment I felt. Much work remains to be done at Abydos, but it is not one of my favourite sites. There are not even any pyramids worth mentioning.
‘No, my dear,’ said Emerson, the tone of his voice suggesting that he had some other epithet in mind. ‘The inscription makes it clear that Tetisheri’s original tomb was at Thebes. And by a strange coincidence, the Drah Abu’l Naga mentioned by our multi-nomened visitor is the exact area in which a tomb of that period would most likely be located.’
‘Very true,’ said Ramses eagerly. ‘We have the testimony of the Abbott Papyrus and the discovery of the coffins by Mariette in –’
Half an hour later we were all gathered round the table examining papers, maps and photographs, and engaging in animated discussion.
All of us except Emerson. Hands clasped behind him, he was looking out the window and humming softly under his breath.
Or was he humming?
‘Emerson,’ I said tentatively.
He turned, his features wreathed in a benevolent smile. ‘Yes, my dear? You wanted me for something?’
The last sentence definitely had a bite to it. I hastened to remark, ‘I only wanted to say, my dear Emerson, that, familiar though I am with the brilliance of your intellect, this surpasses anything else you have ever done. We will search for the tomb of Tetisheri at Thebes! I must admit I am not entirely clear in my own mind as to precisely where in that largish stretch of cliff on the West Bank you mean to begin, but I feel certain you have it all worked out, and will enlighten us at the proper time.’
‘Hmph,’ said Emerson. ‘I might already have enlightened you, Peabody, if you and Ramses had not kept on interrupting me. However, it will make better sense to you when you see the actual terrain. We will postpone the remainder of the explanation until then. I am deeply honoured that you approve my decision.’
‘Quite,’ said Ramses. ‘However, Father, if I may raise a minor objection –’
‘Ramses, you are always making objections,’ Nefret exclaimed. She slipped her arm through Emerson’s and smiled up at him. ‘I am sure the Professor knows exactly what he is doing. A queen’s tomb! It is thrilling.’
‘Hmph,’ said Emerson, in a much more affable tone than the one he had previously employed. ‘Thank you, my dear.’
‘You are absolutely correct, Nefret,’ I added. ‘The Professor always knows what he is doing. In my opinion historians have never given enough attention to the ladies, and what a remarkable woman this Tetisheri must have been – the first of that line of great queens who wielded so much power during the Eighteenth Dynasty.’
‘I believe,’ said Ramses, ‘that in your opinion, Father – which is, I hasten to add, mine as well – she was the mother of that king Sekenenre whose horribly mutilated mummy was found in the royal cache. His wounds suggest that he died in battle.’
‘You were