Soldier of Sidon

Admitted at last, Agathocles, Thotmaktef, and I found Charthi lounging in the shade, watching his children play among fountains, flowers, and vines. Agathocles explained that we were strangers sailing south, at which a look passed between them.

"You are welcome in my house," Charthi told us, "and welcome to as much water as will load a dozen donkeys. I've the finest well anywhere, exactly as my friend Agathocles told you. But I could never forgive myself if I did not show you hospitality. You've already sailed far and walked far, and the day is warm. Wouldn't you like to taste my dates and figs, with something better than water in your cups?"

We thanked him, and he led us to a large table in another part of his garden. "You journey to Wawat, my friend tells me," he said when all had been served. "If your errand is confidential, I will take no offense. If it is not, however, I may be able to assist you. Is it something we may speak of?"

"It is not confidential," Thotmaktef told him, "though we do the satrap's bidding. He sends my master, with a ship and nine soldiers, to report upon the south."

"I have met that worthy prince," Charthi said, "and he must know our city well. He has been here several times."

"We must go much farther south," Thotmaktef explained. "Farther than your city and farther even than Wawat."

"Ah! To Yam?"

"And beyond it," Thotmaktef said.

"You are indeed venturesome men, and I well understand why my friend Agathocles brought you to me." There were no smiles now, and for a moment I thought Charthi might weep. "My eldest son, my own dear Kames, has vanished into that land. What do you know of the gold mines?"

Thotmaktef's eyes flew wide at that. Perhaps mine did as well. "Nothing," he said. "Or very little. I know the pharaohs of old had such mines. They are said to be worked out."

"So they are," Charthi whispered. "That is indeed what men say. But are they? Who has seen them?"

"Not I," said Agathocles.

"Nor I. The Hellenes, the men of our friend's country, have advanced the art of mining far beyond anything our forefathers knew. Agathocles, you have silver?"

"Not I, but my city. Athens possesses rich silver mines. There is no land in all the world that does not know and honor the silver owl."

Charthi addressed me. "You are a Hellene yourself, are you not, Latro?"

I shrugged; but when Agathocles addressed me in the Hellene tongue, I answered, finding that I know it better than that of Kemet.

"In my judgment he is not," Agathocles told Charthi. "He is surely no Rope Maker, for he has not the broad alpha of the Silent Country. He speaks more or less like a man of my own city, but I do not believe he was born there."

"Neither do we," Thotmaktef said. "He is a mercenary in the Sidonian service, as I told you. The king of Sidon serves the Great King, thus no Hellene would serve Sidon."

Agathocles smiled and leaned back in his seat. "Don't be too sure of that, Holy Thotmaktef. The Great King will conquer Hellas just as he conquered Kemet. If a mighty empire could not stand against him, do you imagine our quarreling cities can?"

"No," Thotmaktef told him, "but you Hellenes do."

Agathocles shook his head. "Not all of us are such fools. Why not surrender peaceably, I say, as so many places have? Will any of you brand me a traitor for saying what I just did? For trying to save the lives of thousands of my fellow citizens?"

"I will not," Thotmaktef told him.

"Nor will I," said Charthi, "but I want to ask you a plain question, to which I require a plain answer if you wish to be welcomed-as you have often been-to my house. If the mines were to be found again, and proved rich still, would you do your utmost to have the satrap apprised of it?"

"I would, of course," Agathocles replied. "But you're asking the wrong person. Put your question to these three."

"I need not." Charthi removed his headcloth and tossed it to the servant who darted forward to receive it and hand him afresh one. "I bare my head before you and before the Just God. I am revealing everything."

Thotmaktef murmured, "We are honored," and Agathocles and I nodded.

"I have a map. Do all of you know what that is?"

Thotmaktef did and Agathocles did not. I did not know the word and kept silent.

"It is a picture of the ground as a soaring vulture might behold it," Charthi explained, and went to get it.

When he had gone, I said I was surprised that he did not send his servant for it.

"It is hidden, you may be sure." Agathocles spoke to me in the Hellene tongue. Since he has found that I understand it, he does that often. Thotmaktef listened and looked very puzzled, but I believe he understands more than Agathocles thinks.

When Charthi returned, he sent his servants away and unrolled the map. "Here you see the line of the river," he said, "wandering south. This little square marks the city of Nekhen, and this one the southern city of Abu, where Kemet ends."

Agathocles asked the location of Wast, and Charthi explained that it was above the topmost border of the map. "The mines are here," he said, and drew a circle on the map with his forefinger.

"I forget," I said. "It is a fault I have, like a stammer. I regret it but can't correct it. Even so, I would guess that there are kingdoms smaller than the circle you've shown us."

"Much smaller," Agathocles said. "How long would it take me to drive over that, with a chariot and a pair of good horses?"

"Three days or four, I would judge," Charthi said. "That long to drive across, provided you could find water for your horses. Much longer, of course, to explore the whole area exhaustively. A year or more, perhaps."

"It's red land?" Thotmaktef asked.

Charthi shrugged. "I don't know-I've never been there. Some or all of it may be. Some is probably more or less level grazing land. Medjay I've spoken to have said there was a good deal of grass."

"Did they know where the mines were?"

Charthi shrugged again. "They told me they didn't. If you want my honest opinion, the king of the Nehasyu and his ministers know where some of them are and are trying to work them. I doubt they know where all of them are."

Thotmaktef said, "Latro and I thank you for your hospitality and your information. If you'll allow us to fill our jars with your excellent water, we need trouble you no longer."

Charthi sighed. "But you won't look for the mines. I don't blame you."

"We will not. We don't have a year to spare, Noble Charthi, or anything like that long. If we come across your noble son, we will aid him in every way commensurate with our mission. But I ca

"No blame accrues to you," Charthi said. "May I ask one favor in return for my water? It is a small favor, and one that will be easy for you."

"In that case we will be delighted to oblige you," Thotmaktef said.

"Then rejoin me here when your jars are full."

This of course we did. Now Agathocles is on board with the second map, the one they say shows the exact locations of more than a dozen mines. He and Thotmaktef are talking with Qanju. He will go with us, as Charthi wished, I am sure.

I mixed wine and water for Myt-ser'eu as Qanju told me. It was excellent water and excellent wine, and she drank a great deal of it and became merry, singing and dancing to her own song. Now she sleeps. I move her so that she is always shaded. THE MONKEY CAME while I was mixing wine and water for Myt-ser'eu. Just now he was on my shoulder, chattering while he watched me write. When I rolled up my scroll, he whispered, "So, you did not see Master?" I chased him then, and would have stoned him if I could. He is no i