The Egyptian by Mika Waltari

Posted by admin_akashic on Mar 4th, 2022 in Stories

at sea. Know also that King Aziru has much ado to control his own allies, and many Syrian cities are at war with one another after expelling the Egyptians. Those Syrian men who have lost their homes and possessions, their wives and children, have joined voluntary forces, which are in control of the desert from Gaza to Tanis and wage war with Aziru’s troops. I have armed them with Egyptian weapons, and many valiant men from Egypt have joined them. I mean former soldiers, robbers as well as runaways from the mines who now risk their lives in the desert to form a wall to protect Egypt. It is understandable, though, that they fight with everyone and make their living from the land they wage war in and destroy all life therein, but better this way for they are more trouble and harm to Syria than to Egypt, and so I continue arming them and sending them wheat. But most important of all, the Hittites have at last invaded Mitanni with their full strength and wiped out the people of Mitanni — and the Mitannian kingdom is gone like a shadow and is no more. However, now their spears and chariots are bound to Mitanni, and Babylon grows uneasy and is equipping troops to defend its boundary stones, and the Hittites have no time right now to give adequate support to Aziru. Probably Aziru, if he is wise, will go in fear of the Hittites, considering their conquest of Mitanni, as there is no shield between the Hittites and Syria any more. The peace Pharaoh offers would be the best gift to Aziru, for it would allow him time to consolidate his own power and look about him. But give me half a year, or even less, and I will buy an honourable peace for Egypt, and with singing arrows and thundering chariots I will force Aziru to fear the gods of Egypt.”

But I objected and said, “You cannot make war, Horemheb, for Pharaoh has forbidden it and allows you no gold for war.”

But Horemheb said, “I throw my water on his gold. Truly, I have borrowed right and left and myself into beggary to equip an army for Tanis. Though they are poor troops and their chariots clumsy and their horses limp, but together with the voluntary troops they just might be the spearhead that hits the heart of Syria all the way to Jerusalem and even to Megiddo when I lead them. Don’t you understand, Sinuhe, that I have borrowed gold from all wealthy men of Egypt who have become richer than ever and swelled like frogs while people live in misery and

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sigh under heavy taxes. I have borrowed gold from them and informed each of the amount that I need from them, and they have anxiously lent me gold since I have promised an annual interest of one fifth — but I’d be eager to see their faces if they ever dare to ask for their interest and gold from me for I have done all this to save Syria for Egypt, and at the end of the day, the rich will benefit from it since it is the rich who most benefit from war and loot — and what is most amazing, is that they would benefit even if I lost. So I have no pity for their gold.”

Horemheb laughed heartily and slapped his legs with his golden whip and put his hand on my shoulder and called me his friend. But soon he became serious and grim again and said, “By my falcon, Sinuhe, you could not mean to ruin everything and journey to Syria as a peacemaker?” But I explained to him that Pharaoh had already given me his commands and furnished me with all necessary clay tablets for the conclusion of peace. Yet it was useful to know that Aziru himself desired it, assuming that everything Horemheb said was true, for in that case he would be willing to sell the peace cheaply.

At this, Horemheb flew into a rage and kicked over his seat and shouted, “Now in truth if you buy peace from Aziru to Egypt’s shame, I will have you flayed alive and fed to the crocodiles when you return, friend though you may be, this I swear. Speak to Aziru of Aten and be simple and tell him that Pharaoh, in his infinite goodness, wants to pardon him. Although Aziru will never believe you, for he is a crafty man, he will nevertheless puzzle himself into a fit before he lets you go, and he will wear you out by bargaining, like only a Syrian can bargain, and he will threaten your life and stuff you to the teeth with lies. But on no account are you to yield Gaza to him — and tell him also that Pharaoh cannot answer for the voluntary troops and their plundering. The voluntary troops will under no circumstances lay down their arms and they’ll only defecate on Pharaoh’s clay tablets. I will see to that. You need not tell Aziru this, of course. Tell him that the voluntary troops are gentle and patient men whom sorrow has blinded but who will assuredly exchange their spears for shepherds crooks as soon as peace has been secured. But do not yield Gaza, or I will flay you alive with my own hands. So much anguish have I suffered, so much gold have I thrown away, so many of my best spies have I sacrificed before I managed to open the gates of Gaza to Egypt.”

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