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"Is not the whole north a seething pot of lawlessness; and by the demons of Amenti, is not the Israelite the fire under the caldron? Nay, but I shall have especial joy in damping him!" The man laughed and dropped into the chair Atsu had offered him. "Then thou art Horemheb, the new taskmaster over Pa-Ramesu?" "So! has my news outridden me?" the man exclaimed in very evident amazement.
Atsu will send thee and me, whether we fall among the tens of a truth or not. So we get out of the city ere Merenra returns. He called the ruse a cruel one and not wholly safe, but he would sooner see thee dead than despoiled by this guest of Merenra's or any other. I doubt not his heart breaketh for thy sake, Rachel, and he would rend himself to spare thee."
What of Kenkenes? No thought came to her now, but the most unhappy. The obligations which she would have gladly laid on him had fallen to Atsu. She dared not confess to him her love, and she could not give him gratitude. He had entered her life like a bewildering radiance, but it was Atsu who had saved her and emancipated her and would save her again.
The two men embraced; the warrior imperturbably, the attendant tearfully. "What dost thou away from Goshen?" Joshua asked, disengaging himself. "The faithful of Israel have been summoned thither from the remotenesses of Mizraim." But Caleb did not hear, having caught sight of the Egyptian. The recognition startled him as it had all the others, but he did not hold his peace. "Atsu!" he exclaimed.
But Kenkenes did not know the warrior, and Atsu had no desire to turn his unhappy face to the new-comer. The young man grew more and more troubled, his indecision more marked. Suddenly he dropped the reins, and without guiding the horse, urged the animal forward. Kenkenes was relying on chance for direction. Confused and unready the horse awaited the intelligent touch on the bridle.
So they thought to punish me, never dreaming that they joined me to Rachel, and hid me away in a nook with a handful to whom I may be merciful and none will spy upon me! They thwarted their end." "Happy Masaarah!" Rachel said earnestly. Atsu laughed again and disappeared in the dark. Rachel drew her hand furtively across the place on her brow that the taskmaster's lips had touched.
Having chosen, he went confidently, and as he was not halted and was young and swift, he increased his pace to a long run. Meanwhile far to the north the little litter was borne toward Tanis. And Atsu, the warrior, did not move his eyes from the distant point where it had disappeared over the horizon.
Slowly, and now silently, the hereditary slaves of the Pharaoh moved out of Pa-Ramesu. And of all the departing numbers and of all that remained behind, none was more stricken in heart than Atsu, the stern taskmaster over Israel. Moses. Holy Memphis, city of Apis, habitat of Ptah! Not idly was she called Menefer, the Good Place.
There was balm in the barb for all the wound it made. This is what he read: "To Atsu, Commander over the Builders of Pa-Ramesu, These: To mine ears hath come report of mutiny and idleness through thy weak government of my bond-people. Also that thou hast enforced my commands but feebly, and so defeated my purposes, which were my sire's, after whose illustrious example I reign.
"I have said there was to be no use of the knouts," he said sharply, turning upon the drivers. "Forward with them!" The first driver muttered. "What sayest thou?" Atsu demanded. The man's mouth opened and closed, and his eyes drew up, evilly, but he made no answer. "Forward with them," Atsu repeated, without removing his gaze from the driver.