Orphan of the Sun by Gill Harvey Read Free Book Online Page A

around her neck and wept. It was easy to find tears for another villager’s loss, for everyone had experienced similar pain at some stage. Meryt wept for her parents, the neighbour’s stillborn whose death she had foreseen, and her own predicament as much as for Tanefru’s tragedy.
    Darkness came and the wailing slackened off. It would rise again, formally, once the child was wrapped and taken to the family tomb for burial; then, if they could afford it, Tanefru’s family might even employ professional mourners to give aresounding farewell. But for now, the sorrowing friends and neighbours went to their respective families to see to their needs, and to eat.
    Meryt and Dedi went back to Dedi’s home and sat in the front room. Dedi went and fetched a lamp from the courtyard, and the two girls sat in silence.
    â€˜You were right,’ said Dedi, after a while. ‘The gods required the newborn’s life.’
    Meryt nodded, uncertain what to say.
    â€˜You see these things,’ said Dedi, in a low voice, staring at her friend. ‘Are you not afraid of such a gift? Does it not come from Sekhmet?’
    Meryt shook her head vehemently. The idea that people might come to see her as different because of a few casual words filled her with fear. ‘Believe me, Dedi, I am just like anyone else. When I need help I turn to our goddess Ahmes Nefertari, or to Hathor. I wish no one any harm.’
    Dedi smiled gently. ‘I believe you,’ she said. ‘I know you well enough. But others may not always be so ready to understand. You must be careful what you say.’
    The wick sputtered in the oil, and Meryt watched in silence as Dedi tweaked it with a pair of copper tongs. Dedi sighed.
    â€˜The truth is I sometimes wish you could see more. There is trouble up at the tombs. My brother Ahmose took a consignment of lamp wicks over there today, and says that Father is having problems with the men. They are becoming restless and rebellious.’
    â€˜Why?’ asked Meryt. ‘I have heard nothing of the sort from my uncle.’
    â€˜There’s no reason why you should. Sennedjem’s gang has no problems, as far as I know,’ said Dedi. ‘Only Father’s men are unhappy.’
    Meryt was surprised. If the workmen were unhappy, it was usually to do with their conditions or pay – factors that affected both gangs. She could see no reason why Nebnufer should be having more problems than Sennedjem. They were both reasonable foremen and treated their men fairly. Nebnufer was perhaps a little sterner than his counterpart – her uncle Senmut, who worked under Sennedjem, sometimes said that he respected the greater discipline of Nebnufer’s gang.
    â€˜Strange,’ said Meryt. ‘Perhaps there’s a dispute between some of the men. That can make it difficult to work together.’ She thought of Tia and Nauna, always squabbling in the courtyard.
    Dedi shook her head. ‘It’s not that. Ahmose says that Father is having difficulty keeping control. He has somehow lost the men’s respect.’
    Meryt was shocked. ‘But it is not for them to question him!’ she exclaimed. ‘He was appointed by the vizier. The gods are with him.’
    â€˜Perhaps,’ said Dedi. ‘But sometimes the will of the men is stronger.’
    She stood, and fetched another lamp from an alcove. Meryt watched her graceful movements as she lit the wick, unsure what to say. As in affairs ofmarriage and love, Dedi knew much more than she did about the hierarchies of the workmen and the business of building the tombs. Her own uncle was a man who went to work dutifully and did as he was told; he spoke little of the life he led away from home, so most of what Meryt knew she had learnt from the street, or her friends.
    â€˜Will you eat with us, Meryt?’ Dedi asked, placing the lamp on the floor.
    Meryt shook her head, and stood. ‘Thank you. I’ll head