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palm trees. People strolled and chatted in the gardens by
cooling ponds. Flagstaffs flew banners above the monu-
mental gates, affirming the presence of the divine.
The god Thoth had asked the monarch to preserve the
peace, no matter what sacrifices it demanded. In the
labyrinth of ambitions, it was his responsibility to find a
way around massacres and misery. By broadening the king s
heart, the god of knowledge had given him a new will.
Ramses, the son of Ra, the divine light, was also the son of
Thoth, who represented the sun at night.
Ahmeni was paler than usual. His eyes were infinitely
sad.
You, at least, will dare to tell me the truth!
Ahsha is dead, Your Majesty.
Ramses was stone-faced.
In what circumstances?
His convoy was attacked on the way into Canaan. A
shepherd discovered the corpses and alerted the local police.
When they arrived on the scene, one of them recognized
Ahsha.
Has his body been positively identified?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Where is it now?
At a fort, along with the remains of the other members
of his delegation.
No survivors?
None.
Any witnesses?
No witnesses.
Let s send Serramanna to the scene of the attack. He
should search for clues and bring back the remains. Ahsha
and his companions will rest in Egyptian soil.
108 Christian Jacq
The giant Sard and a small group of mercenaries had
gone through several horses on the way to the fort and back.
As soon as he returned to Pi-Ramses, Serramanna had left
Ahsha s remains with an embalmer to wash, perfume, and
prepare the body before it was presented to the Pharaoh.
Ramses had taken his friend in his arms and laid him on
a bed in one of the palace bedchambers.
Ahsha s face was serene. Wrapped in a white shroud, he
seemed to be asleep.
Above him stood Ramses, flanked by Ahmeni and Setau.
Who killed him? asked Setau, his eyes red-rimmed.
We re going to find out, promised the king. I m
waiting for Serramanna to report.
Ahsha s House of Eternity is ready, reported Ahmeni.
Men have judged him worthy, and the gods will bring him
back to life.
My son Kha will conduct the funeral rites and say the
ancient prayers for resurrection. Ahsha s work here below
will continue in the next world; his love of country will pro-
tect him from the dangers of the underworld.
I ll kill his murderer with my own hands, announced
Setau. I won t rest until I do.
Serramanna was shown into the room.
What have you found out?
Ahsha took an arrow near the right shoulder blade, but
the wound wasn t fatal. Here s what killed him.
The former pirate handed the dagger to Ramses.
Iron! exclaimed Ahmeni. A sinister gift from the
Emperor of Hatti! The message is clear: he s assassinated
the Egyptian ambassador, a close friend of Pharaoh s!
Ramses: UNDER THE WESTERN ACACIA 109
Serramanna had never seen Ahmeni so furious.
We know who the murderer is, then, concluded Setau.
Let Hattusili try and hide in his citadel! I ll find a way to
get in and toss his corpse back over the ramparts.
Perhaps we shouldn t be too hasty, ventured the Sard.
Don t tell me you think I can t do it!
I m sure you could do as you say, Setau. It s the identity
of the murderer I wonder about.
The iron dagger is a Hittite piece, isn t it?
Of course it is, but I found another clue at the scene as
well.
Serramanna produced a broken plume. It s the Libyans
war regalia.
Libyans fighting with Hittites? It s impossible.
When the forces of evil decide to unite, asserted
Ahmeni, nothing is impossible. It s all quite clear: Hat-
tusili wants a showdown. Like his predecessors, he dreams
only of destroying Egypt, and he d sign on with demons
from hell to do it!
There s another point to consider, commented Serra-
manna. Ahsha s delegation was a small one. There must
have been forty or fifty of the attackers. A band of looters
that laid a trap for them, not a regular army.
That s only your interpretation, objected Ahmeni.
No, it s a fact. When you look at the terrain, the width
of the path, and the prints the riders left, there s no room
for doubt. I m sure there wasn t a single Hittite chariot in
the vicinity.
What does that change? asked Setau. Hattusili
ordered his shock troops to execute Ahsha with a special
gift for Ramses, this iron dagger! Since Pharaoh refuses to
wed his daughter, the Emperor of Hatti counters by having
one of his close friends assassinated. Even though Ahsha
110 Christian Jacq
was a diplomat, a negotiator. Nothing can change a nation s
mind-set; the Hittites will always be inarticulate barbar-
ians.
Your Majesty, Ahmeni said gravely, I abhor violence
and detest war. But leaving this crime unpunished would be
an intolerable affront to justice. As long as Hatti remains
unchecked, Egypt will be in mortal danger. Ahsha gave his
life to make us see it.
Without betraying the least emotion, Ramses listened to
it all.
What else, Serramanna?
Nothing, Your Majesty.
Did Ahsha write anything on the ground, perhaps?
He wouldn t have had time. The blow from the dagger
was forceful and death would have followed quickly.
What about his baggage?
Stolen.
His clothing?
The embalmer removed it all.
Bring me what he was wearing.
But . . . it must be destroyed by now.
Bring it here, and fast.
The king gave Serramanna the fright of his life. Why
would he be so interested in a blood-spattered tunic and
cloak?
The Sard left the palace at a run, leapt on the back of
his horse, and galloped to the embalmers settlement out-
side of town. The senior embalmer had prepared Ahsha s
corpse for the final earthly encounter between Pharaoh
and his friend.
Ramses: UNDER THE WESTERN ACACIA 111
Ahsha s clothing, demanded the Sard.
I don t have it anymore, replied the undertaker.
What did you do with it?
Well . . . the usual. Gave it to the neighborhood wash-
erman.
Where does he live?
Last house on the curve that runs along the canal.
The hulking Sard flew off again, forcing his steed to jump
walls, riding through gardens, hurtling down alleyways as
pedestrians scattered. He reached the curve at full gallop.
At the last house, he pulled on the reins to stop his
sweating horse, jumped off, and pounded on the shutters.
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