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None refused them what they asked because all were afraid of them. They even came to the palace and begged her ornaments from Merapi, although she was a countrywoman of their own who had showed them much kindness. Yes, and seeing that her son wore a little gold circlet on his hair, one of them begged that also, nor did she say her nay.
"Tell me, Ana, all that has befallen you," he said in his pleasant, eager voice. "Many things, Prince; one of them very strange and terrible," I answered. "Strange and terrible things have happened here also," broke in Merapi, "and, alas! this is but the beginning of woes."
In the case of Seti and Merapi this was their son, now a beautiful little lad who could run and prattle, one too of a strange health and vigour for a child of the inbred race of the Ramessids.
By command of the Prince I drove with him to the palace of Pharaoh, whither her Highness the Princess refused to be his companion, and for the first time we talked together of that which had passed in the temple. "Have you seen the lady Merapi?" he asked of me. I answered No, as I was told that she was sick within her house and lay abed suffering from weariness, or I knew not what.
He said no more, for at this moment the slaves hurled him headlong into the heart of the great fire, which blackened for a little and burned bright again. Then it was that Merapi struggled to her feet and cried in a ringing voice those very words which the Prince and I had seemed to hear her speak far away by the Sea of Reeds "Oh! help me my lord Seti! Help me, my lord Seti!"
Did I tell you that six days gone a fine new statue of the god was consecrated there and on the following morning was found lying on its side, or rather with its head resting on the breast of Mut?" "If so, Merapi is blameless, because she has gone away from this city." "Of course she has gone away, for has not Seti gone also? But I think she left something behind her.
"It has come to our ears, O Pharaoh, that the woman Merapi, daughter of Nathan, who has refuged in your city, she who is named Moon of Israel, has shown herself to be a prophetess of power, one to whom our God has given strength, in that, standing alone amidst the priests and magicians of Amon of the Egyptians, she took no harm from their sorceries and was able with the sword of prayer to smite the idol of Amon to the dust.
When Merapi saw how she and the child were arrayed she screamed aloud and tore off her jewelled trappings, crying: "Woe! Woe! Woe! Great woe upon the people of Egypt!" But in their joy at the new found light few hearkened to her who they were sure had brought back the sun. Again Laban appeared for a moment. "Witch! Traitress!" he cried.
"In nursing his own soul, studying the eyes of the lady Merapi, the smile of his infant, the wisdom of the scribe Ana, and the attributes of the hundred and one gods that are known to him, including that of Israel, I suppose," said the familiar voice, adding, "Then can I see this scribe Ana, who I understand, being lucky, holds himself learned."
But tell me, or ask Merapi, Moon of Israel, to tell me from what god? Oh! I say to you that a terrible power is afoot in this land and that the Prince Seti did well to refuse the throne of Egypt and to fly to Memphis. Repeat it to him, Ana." Then he too was gone. Now I returned in safety to Memphis and told all these tidings to the Prince, who listened to them eagerly.
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