Dream Boat

Apart, the girls were less than adorable. Together?

'Together, who knows…'

Marcus repeated her last sentence aloud.

'Orbilio, what are you drivelling on about now?'

He buffed a fingernail with unnecessary care. 'I rather think I was asking you to marry me.'

Her heart stopped beating. Limbs turned to wood. The world had stopped revolving. Then — 'Do I look the type who marries men who hoard bodies in their plasterwork?'

'Well, actually you do.'

With a crash, her heart muscle cranked back into action. Silly bitch. What made you imagine for one second he was serious? Look at the brightness of his eyes, the high spots of colour in an otherwise chalky face. It was a joke, Claudia. Supersnoop was cracking a joke. Making light of things. Good grief, you didn't seriously think he'd 'Talking of bodies,' she said. Anything to change the subject. 'There's something weird going on in this hippie-happy valley.'

'Weird, apart from grown men and women handing over all their worldly goods so they can dress up as Egyptians, work the land and worship that yellow thing up in the sky?'

'That's not weird, that's cranky.'

'And on which subject — yours truly ducked, because he didn't know who was after him — but that doesn't explain milady's behaviour, chasing armed guards round the outhouses.'

'What breathtaking arrogance you have, Marcus Cornelius, to imagine I was chasing you.' The party in the compound was still in full swing, you could hear the drums and trumpets, even from this secluded spot. 'I was merely following the jackal and the cat, because they were dragging a limp Sorrel between them.'

'I take it back,' Marcus said. 'That's not cranky behaviour. That's weird!'

Men. Never listen to a word you say. Patiently, she explained about Bast, Anubis and the boy called Sorrel, who'd been drugged because he'd had the temerity to try and leave. Then she told him about the three so-called accidents — the goring, the mistaken assassin and so on — and finished up with the rumours about the missing girls, including Berenice, who had killed her baby boy with hemlock.

'Claudia, you have to leave this place,' he rasped, and there was no trace of amusement in his eyes. 'Right this second. It's too bloody dangerous to hang about.'

'I will,' she promised. 'I'll leave just as soon as I find Flavia and rescue Flea.'

Orbilio rolled his eyes to heaven. 'For gods' sake, woman, just this once will you please, please, please do as you are told and leave it to the boys to sort things out? Between us, Junius and I are perfectly capable of finding Flavia and — what do you mean, rescue Flea?'

'All right, so I forgot to mention she's under lock and key for stealing. It's no big deal. I'll get her out, and then we'll leave. Oh, Doodlebug is doing fine, by the way. He's in the stables.'

'Doodle-' Despondency cut short his words. 'Claudia Seferius,' he said wearily, 'you must surely be the only person in the whole damned universe who would think to bring her entire household to this valley.'

Claudia debated whether to tell him about the six men stationed in the hills, and decided ignorance would be better for his health.

'I realise you slipped past the legionaries disguised as a rather large courtesan, but how did you manage to inveigle your way into becoming a member of staff?'

'Long story,' he said, and his face changed colour. Must be the light, but she could have sworn it took on a greenish tinge. As though he was about to be sick. 'I uh — I'll tell you all about it, sometime.'

It didn't work, his trying to make a joke of whatever turned his stomach. 'Does it include the reason you were hiding?'

'What? Oh. No. It's just that the guards aren't allowed past the second perimeter fence unless there's a damn good reason, and once they're inside the commune, they're under strict instructions to report immediately to Geb.'

'Geb?'

'He's responsible for the security arrangements.' Orbilio's knuckles knocked against the storeroom wall. 'It's the logical step, since all the building keys are in his care — outhouses, storehouses, sheds — everything, in fact, except those within the temple compound.'

The facilities had to be locked, because equality ruled this society. No favouritism, no extras, everyone had the same as everybody else.

Unless, of course, one lived in Mentu's wing.

Idly, she wondered where Geb and Penno and the other supervisors slept. She had a suspicion it was not in the dormitory blocks, and wished she'd been able to complete her inspection of the off-limits wing.

'Leave finding the girls to the professionals,' Marcus said firmly. 'I know it sounds a lot to ask, but keep your head down just this once. Please! With the festival going on, you won't be missed and I'll be back here in no time. So then.' He briskly rubbed his hands. 'Is it a deal? You'll stay put till I return?'

For all his calm efficiency, there was a hint of pleading in his voice which tugged at something in her stomach.

'Vestal Virgin's honour,' Claudia assured him. 'I won't budge, I promise.'

Except it didn't really count, because she had her fingers crossed.

Chapter Twenty-eight

Few cult members were affected by the sweltering heat of the afternoon. Today was the first day of Ibis, a holiday, a day of celebration. Singing, dancing, poetry and games occupied their thoughts today, and when their bodies needed sustenance, there were limitless supplies of palm wine and fig cakes, honey bread and beer. The best beer, too. Black beer. Thick and potent, it went straight to their heads and made them happy. The musicians played on.

Amongst the frenzied jubilations, it was easy for the man who believed himself to be the incarnation of the Dark Destroyer to slip away unseen. This time of year, high summer, the grass was lush, the vegetation thick. From his eerie on the hill Seth could see and not be seen. As he would for all eternity, once he had worked his special magic.

'Tonight,' he reminded the girl from the laundry, 'we celebrate the Festival of Lamps.'

Would it be too risky to make his move during the actual ceremony? The danger stirred his loins, but he, being Seth, Controller of Man's Destiny, must repress his own desires. He must take no chances. Seven now, and only three to go. Too close, now, to his goal to gamble. He was the Measurer of Time, he must gauge his programme with care.

Studiously, he bandaged his favoured consort, Berenice, wrapping every finger individually, making sure the linen strips were taut and overlapped. The little laundress made no sound.

'It's not going to be easy,' he said, heaving Berenice on to the table, 'luring away that delightful creature who arrived with Zer from Rome.'

He paused for breath. He'd forgotten how plump his consort was. He wiped his brow, then proceeded to bandage up her thigh.

'That girl is smarter than the others, but she's worth persevering with.'

Seth liked a bit of spunk.

'All the same, the strategy requires careful planning, and it doesn't help that that Flavia-Magas bitch has gone to ground.'

One fucking burn — an accident, at that — and she's scuttled into hiding like a rabbit.

TT1 find her, of course.'

Seth can go anywhere he pleases.

'Oh, I'll find the timid cow.' No one can escape the Dark One when he is in pursuit. 'My magic, little laundry girl, is written in the heavens and the writing is the stars.'

He planted a parting peck on Berenice's cheek before applying the final bandage and then, with sturdy ropes, tied the mummy upright to its seat of woven rushes. By the time he'd finished, Seth was lathered like a racehorse.