The Egyptian by Mika Waltari

Posted by admin_akashic on Mar 4th, 2022 in Stories

I reflected that I still had much to learn in Babylon since my studies relating to the livers of sheep were not yet completed, and I still could not pour oil into water as proficiently as the priests. Moreover, Burnaburiash was much in my debt both for my professional skill and for my friendship, and I knew that by remaining his friend I should receive lavish presents at my departure. Yet the more I pondered over this, the more persistently was I haunted by Minea’s face, how ever impudent had her behaviour towards me been, and I thought also of Kaptah, who had to die that evening when the King had ordered him to be the False King without my consent although he was my servant.

This way I hardened my heart against the King, who by offending me thus convinced me of my right to offend against him though my heart told me that the mere thought was a breach of all the laws of friendship. But I was a foreigner and alone, and good manners did not bind me. That afternoon, therefore, I went down to the river bank and hired a ten-oared boat, and I said to the oarsmen, “Today is the Day of the False King, and I know that you are drunk with joy and beer and will not willingly go rowing. But I will give you double the customary reward, for my wealthy uncle has died, and I must take his body to lay it amongst his forefathers and do it swiftly before his children or my brother begin to dispute the inheritance and leave me penniless. Therefore, I will pay you lavishly, if you row with speed despite the length of the journey. For my forefathers are gathered at our old home on the border of Mitanni.”

The oarsmen grumbled, but I bought them two jars of beer and told them they might drink till sundown as long as they held themselves in readiness to start as soon as it was dark. At this, they made violent protest and said, “In no circumstances will we set forth after dark, for the night is full of many devils both large and small, also evil spirits that utter ghastly cries and will perhaps capsize our boat or slay us.” But I told them, “I go to make offering in the temple that no harm may come to us in the course of our journey, and the jingling of all the silver I will give you when we arrive will block your ears from hearing the screams of devils.”

I went to the Tower and sacrificed a sheep in the forecourt, and not many people were about in the temple, for most of the citizens had assembled around the palace to celebrate the feast of the False King. I contemplated the liver of the sheep, but my thoughts were in such turmoil that it told me little. I noticed merely that it was darker than usual and had an evil smell so that I was filled with misgivings. I collected the blood of the sheep in a leather bag, which I carried under my arm to the palace. When I stepped into the women’s house, a swallow flew past my head, which warmed my heart and made my body valiant, for it was a bird from my homeland, and I took it as a good omen.

231

In the women’s house, I said to the eunuchs, “Leave me alone with this mad woman that I may drive the devil out of her.” They obeyed and took me to a small room where I explained to Minea what she was to do, and I gave her the knife and the bag full of blood. She promised to follow my directions, and I left her, shutting the door after me and telling the eunuchs that no one must disturb her, as I had given her a medicine to drive the devil out of her, and once out, the devil might take possession of the first one who opened the door without my permission. They needed no further admonition.

The sun was setting and the light red like blood in the palace rooms, and Kaptah was eating and drinking again while Burnaburiash waited upon him, laughing and tittering like a girl. All over the floor were drink-sodden men, both noble and lowly, slumbering in pools of wine. I said to Burnaburiash, “I wish to convince myself that Kaptah will have a painless death, for he is my servant, and I owe it to him to be so assured, like a master is responsible for his servant.” Burnaburiash said, “Hurry, then, for the old man is already mixing the poison with the wine and your servant must die at sunset as good custom demands.”

I found the old man, the King’s physician, and when I told him that the King had sent me, he believed me and sang and babbled to himself and said, “Mix the poison yourself, for my hands are shaky with wine drinking, and my eyes are so blurred that I can see nothing, so heartily have I laughed today at your servant’s frolics.” I threw away his mixture and poured poppy juice into the wine, though not enough to cause death.

232