Trouble. Protector of the Dead

Trouble

If I was surprised, so was the Vizier. As he sat down near my pedestal, he said, “That child is far too young for the job, Scribe. What is he, ten? ”

“Almost twelve, my lord, ” the Scribe said. “And the best painter I have ever seen. He began working in the tombs last year, and last month I hired him myself, to paint my dear pet Menwi. ”

Setting down his staff and writing board, he seated himself and offered the Vizier sweetmeats and wine. The wine didn’t interest me, but it smelled like there was spiced goose on that tray, and that was enough to drive me wild. Would anyone think to offer me some?

Not the Vizier. Popping a morsel into his mouth, he stared hard at the artist boy, who was unpacking materials from a box on the ground. “He looks like that troublemaker. The one in the crowd. ”

“They are father and son, ” the Scribe admitted, “but the boy has never caused any difficulties. ” He let his voice drop, but that was no problem for me. Cats hear everything. “The father spent too much on medicine when his wife was ill, so they struggle. But that is to our advantage, my lord. To make extra money, the boy will undertake almost any commission in his spare time. You could hire him to do work for your own tomb, my lord, and at very cheap rates—”

“You interest me, Scribe. Let us see what the boy can do. ” Still staring at Kenamon, the Vizier selected another morsel from the plate.

When the Scribe scoffed a piece, too, I mewed softly, but they ignored me.

“At first, I expect the boy will make only sketches, ” the Scribe said. “The painting will come later. But it will be marvelous, I promise you. ”

Huya had been chatting quietly with another carpenter. Now he came up to the Scribe and bowed. The smirk was back again, and he had the air of someone bursting with a secret. “If I might have a quick word, my lord Scribe? And with you, too, my lord Vizier—”

I missed what he had to say because another well-built man, his fingers coated in clay, came up and bowed to me. He was older than Huya, and I was pleased to see no trace whatsoever of a smirk on his face. His deep-set eyes were serious, but I saw kindness there.

He laid a leathery scrap of dried pork in front of me. “O Great Pharaoh’s Cat, Lord of the Powerful Paw, I am the sculptor Bek. I am honored to have been given the task of carving your statue. Please accept my offering. ”

To be honest, dried pork doesn’t meet my usual snack standards. But the Vizier had just snarfed up the last of the spiced goose, so I gave Bek points for trying.

“You’re going to eat that? ” Khepri said in surprise as I bit into it.

“Just to be polite, ” I said.

The pork wasn’t as awful as I feared. Maybe the desert air had improved it. Or maybe I was just hungry.

When I licked my lips, Bek smiled at me. “Now, Great Pharaoh’s Cat, I must begin my work. If you could just sit up? ” He put out his hands to arrange me, but I got there before him, tucking my hindquarters and raising my head high.

Bek beamed at me. “Yes, that’s perfect. ”

Retreating to a table that had been set up for him, he began shaping a lump of clay that was almost exactly the size of my head. I looked from him to Pentu and back again. Both of them were completely focused on me. How wonderful!

“Hold that pose, ” Bek breathed, and I went still.

“Bek’s work will be a wonder, ” the Scribe said to the Vizier. “He’s the finest sculptor in Set Ma’at, as his father was before him, and his father’s father, all the way down his line. For centuries, every Pharaoh has chosen the family to work on his tomb. ”

I kept my face as serene as possible, hoping Bek could see how I resembled my illustrious ancestor, the cat goddess Bastet.

“Hey, look at what Kenamon’s doing! ” Khepri propped himself on my ear for a better view. “It looks just like you, Ra. ”

Oh, the agony! I wanted to see the sketch-in-progress, but to get a decent portrait and sculpture I had to stay motionless.

I let out a tiny mewl of frustration. Almost as if he understood, the boy Kenamon tilted his tablet so I could see.

“Look, ” Khepri whispered joyfully. “He’s put me in there, too. ”

It was indeed a portrait of both of us—and what a portrait it was. Not only had the boy conveyed my innate majesty, but he’d made Khepri look like he really was a mark of divine favor. Quite a feat, if you ask me.

As Kenamon went back to work, a barrel-chested man strode past Huya the carpenter, who scowled at him. Twirling his fingers, which were covered with rings, the stranger swept a fancy bow in front of the Vizier. “Neferhotep the goldsmith, my lord. I’m here to copy the collar of

Pharaoh’s Cat. ”

“Copy it? ” The Vizier frowned. “Why? ”

Neferhotep twiddled his fingers again. “So that his statue can be properly decorated, my lord. May I remove the collar now? ”

I stifled a wail. That strand of gold and beads was a gift from Pharaoh himself. I’d had it since I was a kitten.

“If that’s what you need to do, then do it, ” the Vizier ordered.

“Immediately. We don’t have all day. ”

Neferhotep’s restless fingers twitched in my fur, and the collar fell away.

Without it, I didn’t quite feel like myself. Not that anyone seemed to notice. Certainly not Miu, who appeared beneath my pedestal.

“Well, now that Ra is settled in, maybe you and I will go explore, ” she said to Khepri.

“Sure. ” Khepri hopped down to her. “Next stop, the Valley of the Kings! ”

“Wait, ” I said through my half-frozen mouth. “You were going to entertain me, remember? ”

“We’ll tell you all about our adventures when we get back, ” Khepri said cheerfully.

A moment later, they were gone, and I was miffed. How could my friends leave me alone like this?

But as I sat there feeling sorry for myself, I wasn’t as alone as I thought.

“Wowee. Is that perfume I smell? ” An enormous, tiger-striped tomcat swaggered into sight. Brushing past Bek, who smiled down at him, he sauntered up to my pedestal. “Well, if it isn’t Lord Fancypaws himself, right here in Set Ma’at. ”

Lord Fancypaws? Was he talking about me?

I couldn’t do much to put him in his place, not when I needed to hold my pose, but I let my fur rise, to show him who was boss. “The correct title is Pharaoh’s Cat, Lord of the Powerful Paw. ”

“You don’t say? ” The cat’s voice was rough around the edges, but he had presence, and his green eyes were laughing at me. “We desert cats don’t pay too much attention to titles. ”

“And who are you? ” I asked.

“I’m Sabu. I’m the leader around here, Fancypaws. ”

“The name is Pharaoh’s Cat, ” I corrected him, between gritted teeth.

Before I could say more, Miu ran up to me, Khepri clinging to her neck fur. “Ra, I was just talking to some local cats, and I heard the most wonderful news. ” Seeing Sabu, she stopped. “Oh my goodness, it’s true.

Sabu, what are you doing here? ”

“Miu? ” Sabu sounded pleased as could be. “It’s been too long. ”

I stared in dismay as they touched whiskers in greeting. “Miu, you know this cat? ”

“Of course, Ra. ” She gave Sabu a fond look. “He’s my cousin. ”

“Seventh cousin, twice removed, on our mothers’ side, ” Sabu confirmed. (Cats care about details like that. )

“But we haven’t seen each other since I was a tiny kitten, ” Miu added, touching her whiskers to Sabu’s again. “The last I knew, Sabu, you were going out into the world to seek adventure. ”

“And you were headed off to the palace, ” Sabu said. “I’ve always wondered how that worked out. ”

“I’ve been happy there, ” Miu told him. “As you can see, I found friends. And you’ve made your home here? ”

“I live with Bek, the best craftsman in the village. ” Sabu tilted his head toward the sculptor.

I couldn’t help challenging him. “Kenamon’s pretty good, too, from what I’ve seen. ”

“Kenamon? ” Sabu dismissed this. “He’s good, but he’s just a kid. He likes to monkey around. Bek is a master of his craft. ” He looked back at the sculptor with affection. “I know what I’m talking about. I’ve been with him for years now. ”

“I’d love to hear more, ” Miu said. “If you’ve got time, maybe you could show us the area? Khepri and I thought we might visit the Valley of the Kings, but we weren’t sure which path to take. ”

Before Sabu could reply, there was a commotion outside the gate. It sounded like a crowd was gathering.

“What’s going on? ” the Vizier demanded. “It had better not be another party, Scribe. ”

“No, my lord. ” The Scribe turned to the carpenter, who was still by his side. “Huya, put a stop to this. Tell them the Vizier is displeased. ”

Huya was in midstride when the crowd came through the gate. At their head was a young guard in a dusty loincloth, carrying a sharp spear.

“My lords! ” The guard stumbled toward the Scribe and the Vizier. “A tomb has been robbed! ”

Protector of the Dead

“Tomb robbers! ” I jumped off my pedestal, tail bristling. “Let me at them! ”

If there’s anything lower than a tomb robber, I don’t know what it is. Ordinary thieves are bad enough, but tomb robbers mess up your afterlife. I’m talking eternal damage. It’s beyond despicable.

Tail still on high alert, I pointed myself toward the gate. “I’ll track them down, wherever they are. They’ll learn not to cross Ra the Mighty—”

“Hush, Ra! ” Miu cut me off. “Listen to the guard. ”

“It’s true, my lords! ” The guard’s spear shook. “I tell you, the god Anubis was seen in the Valley last night. He attacked our men, and then he entered a tomb. ”

The Scribe and the Vizier both turned pale, and so did Kenamon. Huya stopped smirking, and Neferhotep’s hands shook. The sculptor Bek even went so far as to snatch up Sabu in his arms, as if to protect him.

Anubis has that effect on people. He’s the jackal-headed guide of the afterlife, the protector of the dead, the weigher of souls. Of all the gods in Egypt, he’s the spookiest.

But I’d never heard of him robbing a tomb before.

“Isn’t Anubis supposed to guard the tombs? ” I whispered to Miu and Khepri.

“He certainly is, ” Miu agreed. “If you ask me, the whole story sounds fishy. Why would Anubis rob a tomb? It’s humans who do that. I wonder what really happened. ”

“It’s a Great Mystery! ” Khepri said gleefully. “Even you can’t deny it this time, Ra. ”

It was true. I couldn’t. Though part of me wished I could. There was always the chance that Anubis was involved, and he’s one god you don’t want to mess with.

“Er…maybe we should let the Vizier handle this, ” I said.

“The Vizier? ” Khepri slid down Miu’s fur and landed at my feet. “Ra, it’s a royal tomb robbery. And you’re Pharaoh’s Cat. You have a responsibility here. ”

My tail was no longer bristling, but I had to admit he was right. A royal tomb robbery was exactly the kind of case Pharaoh’s Cat ought to take. “All right, all right, ” I conceded. “We’ll investigate. For a bit, anyway. ”

“Hooray! ” Khepri raced up to my head. “Quick! The guard’s taking the Vizier and the Scribe to the scene of the crime. Huya’s going, too. Let’s go with them. ”

In the end, we hitched a ride on the Vizier’s litter. Not that the Vizier approved.

“Stay out of my way, you beasts, ” he grunted.

Ignoring him, I dug my claws into a prize cushion and watched the sculptor Bek stroke Sabu and hand-feed him small morsels. Sabu took them like a ruler accepting tribute.

Probably just more bits of dried-up pork, I told myself. Nothing that could excite the discerning palate of Pharaoh’s Cat. But my stomach growled anyway. How come Sabu’s getting snacks and I’m not?

I turned as the Scribe approached, hoping he would refill my snack bowls. Instead he pushed Kenamon toward us. “Take the boy with you, Vizier. He can draw pictures of the damage to the tomb. I’ll need them for my records and reports. ”

The Vizier looked down his nose at Kenamon. “Can’t he walk with you, Scribe? ”

“The guard and I can keep up with you, and so can Huya, ” the Scribe said. “But the boy will slow us down. ”

“Very well. ” The Vizier gestured for Kenamon to board. “Sit with the cats, boy. ”

Kenamon seemed pleased to join us. For his benefit, I struck a magnificent pose and held it. The boy reached for his paint box, and I saw admiration in his eyes.

It was almost as good as a snack.

We were halfway down the Valley of the Kings when I realized that something terrible had happened. “My collar! ” I meowed in distress. “We left it in Set Ma’at. ”

“Don’t worry, ” Khepri said. “It’s not like it’s missing. Neferhotep is looking after it. ”

That didn’t make me feel any better. My necklace wasn’t supposed to be in the goldsmith’s twitchy hands. It was supposed to be on my neck.

“It’s probably safer in Set Ma’at, anyway, ” Miu pointed out. “If you lost it in these cliffs, you’d never find it again. ”

“You’re missing the point, ” I protested. “That collar is part of me. It was a gift from Pharaoh. ”

Miu looked askance at me. “You know, Ra, cats don’t need jewelry. ”

“This one does, ” I said miserably. Oh, slender gold chain! Oh, little gold beads that go clink! “If you had any yourself, you’d understand. ”

“Well, I don’t, ” Miu said. “And somehow I survive. ”

“Same here, ” Khepri chirped. “Cheer up, Ra. ”

I wasn’t consoled, and when we reached the site of the attack, I felt even worse. It was so hot my fur almost blistered.

“Ouch! ” I picked up my paws as fast as I put them down. “Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! ”

From his perch between my ears, Khepri urged me on. “Follow Miu.

She’s doing just fine. ”

“Miu’s a kitchen cat, ” I told him. “She’s used to heat. ” “You’ll get used to it, too, ” Khepri assured me.

Easy for him to say. He wasn’t the one scorching his paws on the ovenhot cliffs.

One more painful step, and then I was saved: Kenamon scooped me up. “Forgive the liberty, Ra the Mighty, but you look like you need help. ”

It was a liberty, and in ordinary circumstances I couldn’t have permitted it. But as it was, I forgave him right away. What a thoughtful boy!

Lolling in Kenamon’s arms, I asked Khepri, “Who’s that between the Vizier and the Scribe? He looks just like Huya. ”

Well, not exactly alike, since this man was half a head taller and his mouth wasn’t twisted in a smirk. Still, the resemblance was strong.

“That’s the Captain of the Guard, ” Khepri told me. “Shhh. He’s talking about the attack. ”

In his rumpled uniform, the Captain looked as if he’d been up all night. “That’s where we found the guards, left for dead, ” he said, pointing up the cliff.

“When did they go missing? ” the Scribe asked. He had propped his staff between two rocks, and he was jotting down notes on his writing board.

The Captain rubbed his nose, looking embarrassed. “It’s…er…hard to say. Things were a bit irregular last night, what with the holiday and the feast. ”

“I don’t believe it. ” The Vizier looked outraged. “Is there anyone in this place who believes in doing his job? ”

“Oh, we went out on patrol, my lord, ” the Captain said hastily. “We’re short-staffed right now, but we know our duty. It’s just that we thought those two guards were taking shelter from the sandstorm that hit in the small hours of the night. When they were still absent this morning, we sent out a search party. They were in bad shape when we found them. ” “And what’s all this about Anubis? ” the Vizier asked.

“Both men say they saw the god right before they were struck, my lord.

And one saw treasure in the god’s hands. ”

The Vizier’s eyes narrowed. “I want to question them. ”

“They’re not here, my lord, ” the Captain said patiently. “They’re recovering from their injuries at the guard post—”

“Send for them, ” the Vizier barked. “Now. ”

After the Captain reluctantly gave the order, the Scribe asked, “Which tomb was robbed? ”

“I can’t say for certain, ” the Captain admitted. “The sandstorm has covered up any footprints, and the entrance seals are intact on every tomb we’ve checked so far. There’s no damage anywhere. But we found this. ” He pulled a gold ring from his pouch and passed it to the Scribe. “I think I’ve read the writing on it properly, but I’m no expert. ”

The Scribe examined it. “This is from the tomb of Setnakht. ”

Setnakht? That was one of my Pharaoh’s distinguished forefathers, owner of Pamiu, my ancestor. Both Setnakht and Pamiu had been legends in their day, and the sarcophagus that held Pamiu’s mummy was supposed to be legendary, too. Fashioned from gold and wood, it was said to resemble a living cat, with golden fur and eyes of glowing amber.

“Setnakht, eh? ” The Captain nodded. “I thought that’s what it said. We checked his tomb, and it’s still sealed tight, but someone must have found another way in. We’ll need to open the seals and see what else has been stolen—with your permission, my lords. ”

Instead of answering, the Scribe passed the ring to the Vizier.

The Vizier clenched the ring in his fist. “Captain, how can you ask us to disturb Setnakht’s sacred place of rest? For all we know, this ring never entered the tomb. Perhaps it was misplaced when Setnakht was buried, more than a century ago. ”

“It was found out in the open, near one of the attacked men, ” the Captain said. “It’s unlikely it’s been sitting there for a century, my lord. This area is patrolled regularly, and work crews pass through here. And gold catches the light. ”

The Vizier scowled. The Scribe crossed out something on his writing board.

“No one wishes to violate the sacred seals of a tomb, ” the Captain went on. “But if a robbery is suspected, we must act. If you cannot give permission, I must go to Pharaoh himself. ”

The Vizier reddened, though I couldn’t tell if it was with embarrassment or anger. “Very well, ” he snapped. “Open the tomb. ”

If the Vizier was red-faced to begin with, he turned positively purple when they finally unsealed the tomb. Our eyes had barely adjusted to the dim torchlight in the inner chamber when he began wailing.

“Thieves! Traitors! Heretics! They’ve disturbed Setnakht’s eternal rest!

They’ve robbed him of his treasures! ”

From my perch in Kenamon’s arms, I stared in shock at the tomb.

It was a wreck.

The thieves had stripped the statues of their gold. They’d hacked at the gilded furniture, probably to get jewels. Worst of all, they’d pried open the enormous stone sarcophagus that held Setnakht’s mummy, and they’d yanked off his priceless amulets and collar.

“They even took his heart scarab, ” Khepri said softly, looking at the mummy’s bare chest.

Placed on a mummy’s heart, the scarab-shaped stone was supposed to ease his way into the afterlife. Setnakht’s heart scarab would have been large, and probably made of jasper or amethyst. Very valuable, in short.

“Sacrilege! ” the Vizier screamed, and I had to agree.

But then, when I jumped down to the floor, I saw something even worse. “Khepri! ” I cried “Miu! ” Miu rushed to my side.

Khepri clutched at my fur. “What is it, Ra? ”

I pointed with a trembling paw. “Look! ” I had to shield my own eyes from the sight. “My great ancestor Pamiu—that’s his mummy dumped on the floor. The robbers stole his golden sarcophagus! ”

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