Free The King's Man by Pauline Gedge Page A

projects. Would you like beer?”
    Huy nodded. While Nakht-sobek poured for the three of them, Huy greeted Kha. “Do you have family here in Mennofer?” he inquired.
    Kha shook his head. “My wife and two daughters remain on my estate outside Weset. That’s where I was raised, and where I was educated in the temple of Khons at Ipet-isut.”
    Nakht-sobek was waving them onto two chairs that had obviously been temporarily provided, making the quarters seem uncomfortably cramped. He himself settled behind the desk. Kha regained his seat with a sigh of obvious relief and reached for his beer. Huy sat close to the end of the desk. Beside him the scribe had finished burnishing his roll of papyrus and was whispering and sprinkling a little water on the floor by his knee.
    “That was not the customary prayer to Thoth,” Huy said to the man. “What were you doing?”
    The scribe glanced up, startled. “Before I beseech Thoth for his aid in transcribing what passes, I cast forth a smattering of water in memory of the mighty Imhotep, god and magician and the greatest scribe of us all,” he answered. “It is a common custom here in Mennofer, Great Seer.”
    Imhotep . The name echoed in Huy’s mind with an unwelcome familiarity. “Why here in Mennofer?” he asked.
    The scribe had opened his mouth to answer when Nakht-sobek loudly cleared his throat. “Your pardon, Seer Amunhotep, but we must proceed to the business in hand,” he said firmly.
    Huy experienced a moment of confusion as he picked up his beer. Then he remembered the King’s decree that he must be addressed as Amunhotep. He returned his attention to the Treasurer. “Very well,” he agreed, aware of Nakht-sobek’s continued wariness. “I might as well be honest with you, Nakht-sobek. His Majesty expects me to try and sway your judgment in the matter of his demand that the Treasury provide gold for his building projects. However, he has not shared his plans with me. You have his list of needs.”
    “So have I.” Kha opened the drawstring pouch anchored to his belt and withdrew a scroll. “His projects are ambitious and will add to the glory of Egypt.”
    Unerringly, Nakht-sobek lifted another from the wealth of papyrus on his desk. “I agree. However, they will be expensive,” he said tartly. “The Treasury is healthy. The King’s father, the Osiris-one Thothmes the Fourth of that illustrious name, did not live long enough to do much beautifying. But our present Incarnation is still young. If he intends to embark upon a lifetime of building, he will have to find ways of replenishing the Treasury. As for this year, we are nearing the end of the month of Mekhir. The crops everywhere are in full growth. My assessors report the prospect of a good harvest and there is no major disease among the domestic animals. The taxes will be high.” He glanced coolly at Huy. “Therefore I wish to reserve my decision on His Majesty’s request until the next Inundation.”
    You want to keep an upper hand , Huy thought, meeting the man’s gaze. You resent the fact that I stand between you and the Horus Throne. How many other administrators are similarly offended? Will my time be wasted in running about and smoothing down ruffled feathers?
    “I want to see the list.” He held out a hand across the desk. “I can advise neither the King nor you if I am in ignorance.” Nakht-sobek’s hesitation bordered on rudeness before he passed the scroll over. Huy unrolled it. “His Majesty is well informed,” he said presently with an inward glow of pride. Many of Amunhotep’s lessons in architecture and masonry had been taught by Huy himself in his own pleasant office at Hut-herib, while his royal charge squirmed on his stool and appeared to listen with only half an ear. “He wants to hire workmen and overseers to open a new quarry at Berseh for calcite, and repair and reopen those at Tura, just south of Iunu, for white limestone. He needs the stone for additions to Amun’s