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The prince felt all the justice of this reproach, but for that very cause did anger spring up in him. He clinched his fist, his eyes gleamed. "In the name of thy mother, be silent," whispered Pentuer, standing behind him.
In every affair he saw points hidden from others, and was able to explain them in a way understood by all listeners. More than one nomarch, or high official of the pharaoh, on learning that Pentuer was to celebrate a religious solemnity in the temple of Hator, envied the humblest priest, since he would hear a man inspired by divinities.
To finish their trouble, on the outline of the sands stood a group of cliffs; among these the Libyans vanished. "Lord," said Pentuer, "that may be an ambush." "Let it be death, and let it take me!" replied the heir, in a changed voice. The priest gazed at him with wonder; he had not supposed such resolve in Ramses. The cliffs were not distant, but the road was laborious beyond description.
Is there a man in Egypt who would dare refuse obedience to those orders? Wouldst thou, for instance, dare oppose them?" Pentuer hung his head. If in spite of the death of Ramses XII the supreme privy council of priests had maintained itself, Ramses XIII must either yield or fight a life-and-death battle.
The sun poured from above dreadful heat on them, the fine but sharp dust pushed itself into their mouths, into their nostrils, into their eyes above all; under their horses' feet the burning sand gave way at every step. In the air reigned a deathlike silence. "But it will not continue like this," said Ramses. "It will be worse and worse," answered Pentuer.
He greeted them with great humility, and when they conducted him to the temple he made an offering to the divinity and went straightway to examine the place of the coming festival. Thenceforth no one saw Pentuer, but in the temple and the adjoining courts there was an uncommon activity. Men brought costly furniture, grain, garments.
"Today I have called you to help me to summon that assembly of the orders, and this is my command to you: "Thou, worthy Sem, wilt select for me thirteen priests and thirteen nomarchs. Thou, pious Pentuer, will bring to me from various provinces thirteen land-tillers and thirteen artisans.
"I say to thee, Pentuer, that Thou thinkest too much over dangerous subjects. It is impossible to walk safely along precipices of the eastern mountains, for Thou mayst fall at any moment; or to wander through the western desert, where hungry lions are prowling, and where the raging simoom springs up unexpectedly." Meanwhile the valiant Eunana moved on in the vehicle, which only added to his pain.
It seemed as though all the sand of the desert, now alive, had sprung up and was flying to some place with the speed of a stone whirled from the sling of a warrior. The heat was like that in a bath: on the hands and feet the skin burst, the tongue dried, breath produced a pricking in the breast. The fine grains of sand burnt like fire sparks. Pentuer forced the bottle to the prince's lips.
I have only disinterred that which later generations had in some degree forgotten." "But the reckoning?" asked the mathematician. "The reckonings are continued unbrokenly in all the provinces and temples," replied Pentuer. "The general amounts are found in the palace of his holiness." "But the figures?" exclaimed the mathematician.
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