He lays the curb of
silence on my lips and enforces the indifference in my mien. If I
revolt the penalty is humiliation and disaster for Masanath and for me.
I love her, but I dare not let her dream it. The fan-bearer hath
greater things in store for her than a scribe can promise. I am thy
brother in hatred of him."
The next dawn, even before sunrise, Hotep found Kenkenes once again in
the temple before the shrine of Athor. But this time the scribe knelt
silently beside his friend.
When they emerged into the sunless solemnity of the grove he turned to
Kenkenes.
"With the licensed forwardness of an old friend, I would ask what thou
hast to crave of the lovers' goddess, O thou loveless?"
"Favor and pardon," Kenkenes answered.
"So? But already have I reached the limit. Not even a friend may ask
an accounting of a man's misdeeds."
Kenkenes smiled. "Ask me," he said, "and spare me the effort of
voluntary confession."
"Then, what hast thou done?"
"Come and look upon mine offense. Thine eyes will serve thee better
than my tongue."
The pair were in costume hardly fitted for the dust of the roadway, but
Memphis was not astir. They went across the city toward the river and
at the landings found an early-rising boatman, who let them his bari.
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