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Updated: September 1, 2025
Now I saw Bakenkhonsu begin to swell with inward laughter like a frog about to croak, but Seti answered in a weary voice: "By all the birds of Egypt with the sacred crocodiles thrown in, I do not know, since that mind of yours, Ki, is not an open writing which can be read by the passer-by.
I answered, for I had told my change of plan to none, not even to Bakenkhonsu, having indeed only determined upon it since Jabez left me. "I know nothing, Ana, save that a faithful servant who has learned all you have learned to-day will hurry to make report of it to his master, especially if there is some other to whom he would also wish to make report, as Bakenkhonsu thinks."
Or perchance her god himself will use her to fulfil his purpose, as already he may have used her." "And afterwards, Bakenkhonsu?" "Afterwards who knows? I am not a magician, at least not one of any account, ask it of Ki. But I am very, very old and I have watched the world, and I tell you that these things will happen, unless " and he paused. "Unless what?" He dropped his voice.
Once only she glanced at the towering statue of the god that frowned above, then with a little shiver, fixed her eyes upon the pattern of the floor. "What does she look like?" whispered Bakenkhonsu to me. "A corpse made ready for the embalmers," I answered. He shook his great head. "Then a bride made ready for her husband." Again he shook his head.
At the least, a great wind began to blow about the temple, stirring our robes and causing the lamps to flicker. Only the robes of Merapi did not stir. Yet she saw what I could not see, for suddenly her eyes grew frightened. "The god is awake," whispered Bakenkhonsu. "Now good-bye to your fair Israelite. See, the Prince trembles, Ki smiles, and the face of Userti glows with triumph."
Ki started as though some new thought had come to him, and at this moment she turned and went away. "Would that she were high-priestess of Isis that she might work for us and not against us," he said. Bakenkhonsu shook his head. "Let that be," he answered. "Be sure that never will an Israelitish woman offer sacrifice to what she would call the abomination of the Egyptians."
"And did he know, Bakenkhonsu?" By way of answer the old Councillor crumbled some bread fine upon the table, then with his finger traced among the crumbs the rough likeness of a jackal-headed god and of two feathers, after which with a swift movement he swept the crumbs onto the floor. "Seti!"
Why should I not live, Prince, to nurse your grandson if the gods should grant you one who as yet have neither wife nor child?" "Because you will get tired of life, Bakenkhonsu, as I am already, and the gods will not be able to spare you much longer." "The gods can endure yet a while without me, Prince, when so many are flocking to their table.
We looked at it, and saw that it was dead. "Strange that the creature should have died thus," said Bakenkhonsu, when, behold! another fell to the ground near by. The black kitten which belonged to Little Seti saw it fall and darted from beside his bed where it was sleeping.
Seti laughed, as indeed did the cunning old man himself, and there with us Bakenkhonsu remained till the end, to our great joy, for he was the most pleasant of all companions and the most learned. As for his message, one of his servants took back the answer to Pharaoh and to Userti, with the news of his master's grievous sickness.
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