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His eyes gleamed for he needed wealth to pay soldiers. "And all this you are ready to hand over to me, Shabaka?" Now I bethought me of my mother's words, and answered, "Yes, Prince, at a price." "What price, Shabaka?" "The price of the hand of the Royal Lady, Amada, freed from her vows.
"Shabaka the Egyptian, we made a wager with you, of which you will remember the terms. It seems that you have won the wager, since you slew two lions, whereas we, the King, slew but one, that which leapt upon us in the chariot." Here Bes groaned at my side and I looked up. "Fear nothing," he went on, "it shall be paid."
"If this be true," said Peroa when he had heard all, "the Great King will have no new army to spare for Egypt." "It is so, Pharaoh," I answered. "Yet I think he will conquer in this great war and that within two years you must be prepared to meet him face to face." "Two years are long, Shabaka, and in them, by your help, much may be done."
Therefore I will honour you, for this afternoon your chariot shall drive with my chariot, and we will hunt side by side. Moreover, I will lay you a wager as to which of us will kill the most lions, for know, Shabaka, that I also am skilled in the use of the bow, more skilled than any among the millions of my subjects."
Lastly, tell the man this, that if he does not come and afterwards falls into my hands or into those of the lord Shabaka, he who talks of whips shall be scourged with them till his life creeps out from between his bare bones." Thus spoke Bes, rolling his great eyes and looking so terrible that the herald and the officer fell back a step or two.
But, Shabaka, if Fortune should chance to go with us and I should became the first Pharaoh of a new dynasty in Egypt, he who was married to the Royal Princess of the true blood might become a danger to my throne and family." "I shall not be that man, Prince, who am content with my own station, and to be your servant." "And my son's, Shabaka? You know that I have but one lawful son."
Or if it pleased him he could go back towards Memphis, or stay where he was, since we did not wish to strike the first blow. I added this, "I who speak on behalf of the Prince Peroa, am the lord Shabaka, that same man whom but last night the Satrap and a certain captain of his named a liar.
"My lord Shabaka, you tire of this land of honey and sweetness and soft airs and flowers and gold and crystal and black people who grin and chatter and are not pleasant to be near, is it not so?" "Yes, Queen," I answered. "Do not call me queen, my lord Shabaka, for I weary of that name, as we both do of the rest.
Pass on to what will happen in Egypt, before the spirit leaves you." "There will be war in Egypt," she answered. "I see fightings; Shabaka and others lead the Egyptians. The Easterns are driven away or slain. Peroa rules as Pharaoh, I see him on his throne. Shabaka is driven away in his turn, I see him travelling south with the dwarf and with myself, looking very sad. Time passes.
"Rise, my guests," he cried. "Rise, my people. Above all do you rise, Shabaka, my beloved cousin, to whom Egypt and I owe so much." So we rose and I took my seat in a place of honour having my mother at my side, and looked about me for Amada, but in vain. There was the carven chair upon which she should have been among those of the princesses, but it was empty.
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