The Last Camel Died at Noon - Elizabeth Peters [154]
“Take them back to their places,” said the high clear voice. “All of them. Await the judgment of the Heneshem. The ceremony is ended. The voice of the Heneshem has spoken.”
The guards obeyed this order as they had not obeyed Nastasen. The rope that had held me fell away. I got to my feet, finding to my chagrin that my knees were a trifle unsteady.
Emerson pushed a pair of spears aside and hurried to me. “What an anticlimax,” he remarked. “Here, Peabody, don’t faint or anything of that sort. We must continue to keep up appearances.”
“I have no intention of doing anything so absurd,” I assured him.
“Then stop mumbling into my collarbone and let go my shirt.”
I wiped my eyes on the remains of that garment before I complied. “Another shirt ruined, Emerson! You are so hard on them.”
“That’s my Peabody,” said Emerson fondly. “Come along, my dear—step smartly. Forthright, on your feet, man.”
I had forgotten Reggie, and I expect the Reader will understand why. He too had been freed, but he was still sitting in the chair, staring like a dead fish. The room was almost empty. A shuffle of sandaled feet from the shadows indicated the departure of the last of the spectators. Nastasen had gone, leaving his sword on the floor where he had flung it in a fit of childish pique.
Walking like a somnambulist, Reggie joined us and we started for the exit, surrounded by a decidedly nervous escort. As we passed the little group of prisoners, the young officer flung himself at Emerson’s feet. “We are your men, Father of Curses. To death.”
“Not to death, but to life,” retorted Emerson, never at a loss for the mot juste. “Stand up like men and fight for the right (ma’at).”
“A pity they don’t understand English,” I remarked, as we proceeded on our way. “It lost a bit in the translation.”
Emerson chuckled. “I resent your criticism, Peabody. I thought it sounded quite well, given my imperfect command of the language.”
“Oh, I meant no criticism, my dear. You understand the language better than I; what was that strange title?”
“I have no idea,” said Emerson placidly. “Whoever he or she may be, the Heneshem is clearly a power to be reckoned with.”
“It was a woman’s voice, Emerson.”
“The Voice was a woman’s; the Hand was a man’s. Titles, Peabody, don’t you think?”
“Good gracious. I hadn’t thought of it, but I expect you are right. Emerson—did you see something—someone—in the alcove?”
“The Hand of the Heneshem emerged from it.”
“And the voice was there too. But what I saw—felt— sensed—was something more.”
“Monstrous,” Reggie mumbled. “Horrible.”
“Ah, so you are with us in spirit as well as in body,” said Emerson, shading his eyes as we came out into an open courtyard. “Cheer up, man, we aren’t dead yet.”
“You were on the brink,” said Reggie. “And your wife and I were a step behind you.”
“Balderdash,” said Emerson. “I keep telling you, they are saving us for a more impressive ceremony. Here, take my arm, Peabody, these fellows are practically running.” He gave the soldier ahead of him a sharp smack on the back. “Slow down, curse you [lit. Anubis take you].”
“They are anxious to get us off their hands, I expect,” I said. “For fear they will fall victim to the magic of the great Father of Curses.”
Emerson grinned. “Yes. Nastasen’s little trick backfired on him this time; our mana is higher than ever.”
“Your mana, my dear,” I said, squeezing his arm.
Strolling now at a more moderate pace, we continued to speculate on the identity and powers of the Heneshem. Emerson insisted it was a man, I insisted it was a woman, but we agreed that his or her authority was probably limited to religious matters. However, in this society the distinction was by no means so clear as in our own. The dispensation of justice (if it could be so called) was primarily a religious function, since the divine pantheon was the final judge. What effect this would have on our own proposed sacrifice we were unable to determine though we argued the matter for some time.
“Well,” said Emerson at last, “we can only wait and see. At least we have