There was no way of avoiding a report to the Master of Horse. As the time for his interview with the old man approached, he went over the ground he had covered. What could he say, and what could he leave out? It seemed to him that he had three aims to serve: what was best for Queen Ankhsenpaamun; what was best for his own survival; and finally, what was best for the country.
The Black Land was in a deep crisis. Critically weakened by Akhenaten’s neglect of its northern empire, now lost, the country was threatened by warring Syrian tribes and by the Hittites, now pressing forward from the north, from the lands beyond the Great Green. The army was concentrated in the Delta, since to the south the peoples of Napata and Meroe had remained loyal, taking no advantage of the collapse of power at the centre.
There was no concerted move against the empire yet, as the foreigners were content to bicker over and enjoy the territory they had so recently won, but sooner or later the Black Land would have to strike back, or be lost forever. If they lost control of the River…
An unpleasant conclusion had lodged in Huy’s heart and grew there. Ay did not have the power or the personality to save the country. Horemheb did. Huy knew that the ultimate battle between the two men would not concern him, and he did not want to be involved in tipping the balance of power. But be was faced with the choice of backing one of two tyrants, and if the country were to be saved and survive, and he accepted that its survival overrode any other consideration, a choice had to be made. He wished the gods had not cast him in this role.
But there might be a way of using what he knew to buy the queen’s safety. After that, let Horemheb and Ay slog it out. He braced himself for the rough water ahead.
Ineny arrived to fetch him early. He was agitated, detached, and at first even less disposed to conversation than Huy.
‘What is it?’
‘Ay’s losing patience,’ replied Ineny, shortly.
‘With me?’
‘With the whole situation. Horemheb has practically taken over the entire investigation of the king’s death, on the grounds that Ay has more important things to do.’
‘What are they?’
‘The funeral arrangements, of course. But who is going to preside at them?’
Huy wondered who was looking after the protection of the northern frontier; but he guessed that Horemheb would have most of the generals under his wing. Ineny had arrived in a large, covered litter almost too broad for the streets. The carriers had to step over three or four beggars who crouched in their usual spots by the side of buildings, and from outside the two men could hear curses as the litter lurched over.
‘What do you think the end of this will be?’ Huy asked Ineny.
‘There are so many rumours inside the palace compound that you could weave a fishing net with them.’
‘What about the official inquiry? Have they issued a statement yet?’
No. But the news has broken of Horaha’s death.’
How has that been reported?’
Natural causes.’
Huy was silent. No one could disprove that. Whatever poison had been used had left none of the telltale marks – blue lips, a rictus after death – and even if Senseneb could prove that her father had been killed, Huy doubted that she would be wise to try- The time for avenging her father would come, and it would be in a way that did not put her fruitlessly in danger he would see to that.
His thoughts turned to Kenamun. A picture of the long, bony face with its thin beard appeared in his heart’s eye. Kenamun the sadist, whose murder of the little Babylonian prostitute some years ago he had been powerless to prove. Kenamun whose career under Horemheb’s protection had never faltered, and never would while the general needed to dip his hands in blood.
‘I know nothing of it,’ said Huy. ‘But the reason for the king’s death must be given soon.’
‘You know what it will be,’ said Ineny.
The litter tilted again, and from the greater sunlight that shone through the linen curtains, Huy knew that they were out of the harbour quarter and had started to cross the open space which separated the city from the palace compound.
‘Why do you live in that area?’ asked Ineny, whom the conversation appeared to soothe, it stinks of fish, and all the people who aren’t sailors are cut-throats.’
‘You get used to it,’ said Huy.
‘That doesn’t answer my question. You’ve got quite a reputation.’
‘And I’ll keep it by staying quiet. If I don’t, I’ll lose my living and my head.’
‘You can’t help getting known about,’ said Ineny. ‘Once you pass a certain stage, you can’t help getting noticed. Even in a big place like this.’
Huy looked across at him. ‘Are you telling me something, Ineny?’
‘I just want to be on the winning side when all this is over.’
‘That may be a long time yet.’
The massive wall of yellow stone towered above them as they climbed out of the litter by a side-gate of Ay’s house. The gate was a cavernous rectangular portal set so deep in the wall that the carvings of its lintel were lost in shadow. But as they .approached, a small door set in the greater swung open soundlessly.
The court they stood in was brown and bare. The sandy floor had been swept, but not a plant grew to relieve the severity of the high walls which surrounded them. The only decoration was a massive statue of Ay. As always, he was shown young, an expression of impenetrable blandness on his face, to which the sculptor had given some of the features of Tutankhamun, in a further attempt to bolster Ay’s claim to the throne. They crossed the gash of sunshine that slanted down in a precise rectangle defined by the building, and entered a doorway on the other side of the yard, at the entrance to which stood two Nubian guards in the white kilts and dark blue headdresses of Ay’s livery.
Ay received them in the same room as before, but his manner was agitated and he did not sit at the low table by the balcony.
‘You have been slower than I anticipated,’ he said to Huy. it is not always possible to produce quick results, especially when they are of such importance.’ indeed. But you lag behind the official inquiry. No doubt you and Kenamun have been treading on each other’s toes?’
‘On the contrary, I have not seen him.’
Ay seemed to be weighing something in his heart. ‘No, of course you would not. His inquiry did have a start on yours.’
‘I have seen no evidence of his inquiry.’
‘What have you found out for me?’
Huy had decided what to say, but framing the words took a moment.
Come on,’ said Ay, impatiently, ‘I needn’t tell you what rewards will be yours if you prove yourself useful to me.’
‘What is your plan?’ asked Huy.
Ay looked at him angrily. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Before I tell you what I know, I must see how you will use it.’
‘What business is it of yours how I use it? I am interested in finding out the truth. The king was like a son to me.’
‘And you mistrust Horemheb’s inquiry?’
‘We have been over this before. I told you, if you accepted the job, you had to accept my terms with it.’
‘What I have found out may be too important for that.’
Ay narrowed his eyes. ‘Then it wasn’t an accident?’
‘No.’
Ay looked away. ‘Can you prove it?’
‘Yes. But I must have time. There are still pieces missing.’
‘If you can’t find them we can manufacture them. What have you got so far?’
‘I will not tell you.’
Ay looked at him. ‘Be careful, Huy. You are playing a very dangerous game. What are you after? Do you intend to sell to the highest bidder? If that is so, let me tell you that you will not even leave here to make your sale.’
‘I cannot tell you my plan; but you will not kill me either. You need what I can give you because it will bring Horemheb under your power.’