Pharaoh by Jackie French Read Free Book Online Page A

Where there’s no market for fine goods such as these?’
    He put the chest down again regretfully. ‘Father, we are not being fair to these kind people. We must not take up their time any longer. Let them take their wonderful goods and find a buyer who can pay what they are worth. Further along the River, perhaps…’
    No one said anything. They all knew as well as Narmer that no other town along the River had gold to pay for goods like these. Min or Yebu might offer flint knives, barley or stone carvings. But none of those was worth carrying back across the Endless Desert.
    The Trader grinned. He held up one finger and gestured at the goods.
    ‘A half cup, then,’ said Narmer. ‘And food and water to see you through the desert to the coast.’
    The Trader laughed. His whole face changed. I’m seeing it for the first time, thought Narmer. Up till now we’ve just seen the mask he wanted us to see.
    The Trader nodded at Narmer, then said something to Nitho.
    ‘My master agrees. He says,’ said Nitho—and this time Narmer found it impossible to read the emotion behind the words—‘that it is a pity you are going to be a king. Youwould make an excellent trader. Your father is to be envied, for having such a son.’
    The King burst out laughing too, partly at the joke and partly, Narmer supposed, in relief at getting the treasures for much less than he’d expected to pay for them.
    ‘My son is more precious to me than any of these fine wares,’ he said. He ruffled Narmer’s hair. ‘One day he will be the greatest king our town has ever seen. Won’t you, my son?’
    ‘Thank you, Father,’ said Narmer, looking over at Nitho. But she was gazing at the lotus pool, as though waiting for a fish to break the surface.
    One more night, he thought. Early tomorrow they’ll be leaving, their donkeys packed, their water bags filled. Perhaps he could call at the guesthouse later today and say goodbye.
    He glanced at her again. She was looking at the tiles on the colonnades now, as though admiring their pattern of egrets and fish.
    What was the point? What would he say? And after tomorrow he would never see her again.

CHAPTER 8
    Narmer got to sleep at last.
    What did he care about one scarred girl? Especially one who had hidden from him and tricked him. He wouldn’t think of Nitho. He’d think of Berenib, Berenib the beautiful. Just two new moons to go…
    His last thought, as he finally got to sleep, was that he hoped Berenib knew what to do on their wedding night…
    ‘Narmer! Wake up!’
    Narmer sat straight up in alarm. ‘What is it? Have the People of the Sand attacked?’ But the Oracle had said they wouldn’t attack till after harvest, he thought—and then he remembered: the Oracle was only Nitho…
    ‘Hippopotamus!’
    Narmer blinked and woke up properly. Hawk was standing by the bed, his frog eyes wide in the moonlight.
    Narmer swung his legs off the bed. ‘Where?’
    ‘Up by the top dyke. The flood must have stranded it there. It’ll stamp the walls to mud by morning.’
    ‘Have you called out the guards?’
    ‘They’re coming. They’ll catch us up.’
    There was something strange about Hawk’s voice tonight. It’s excitement, thought Narmer, pulling on his kilt. I’ve never heard Hawk sound excited before.
    ‘You’re coming too?’ Narmer asked. Hawk rarely hunted, preferring life in the palace.
    Hawk grinned. And that too was strange. ‘If I’m with you then you won’t be breaking your promise to Father. You won’t be hunting alone. We’d better hurry,’ he added, ‘before it does any more damage.’
    Narmer grabbed his spears as he went out the door.
    The moon sailed across the night sky like a round loaf, sending a wash of silver across the River. The wind from the desert had cooled as it crossed the flood. The River smelt even more strongly now that the waters had receded, of rotting leaves, dung and unwary animals caught in the waters far upstream, as well as silt. Narmer slapped