The first lean, brown boatman who touched his knee and offered his bari
for hire, Kenkenes patronized. The slave had eased his load into the
boat and Kenkenes was on the point of embarking when a four-oared bari,
which had passed them like the wind a moment before, put about several
rods above them and returned to the group on shore.
A bent and withered servitor was standing in the bow of the boat,
wildly gesticulating, as if he feared Kenkenes would insist on pulling
away despite his efforts. The young man recognized the servant of
Snofru, old Ranas.
The large bari was beached and the servitor alighted with agility and,
beckoning to Kenkenes, took him aside.
"There has been an error--a grave error, concerning the message," the
old man began in excitement; "but thou art in no wise at fault. Yet
mayhap thou canst aid us in unraveling the tangle. See!"
He displayed the linen-wrapped roll, the covering split where Snofru
had opened it, but the wavering hieratic characters of the address in
Loi's hand, still intact.
When the young sculptor had gazed, the old servant nervously undid the
roll, and showed within a letter to the commander over Pa-Ramesu,
written in the strong epistolary symbols of the royal scribe.
Pages:
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127