She knew then that he had seen her when she had caught sight of him,
and failing to meet her as he had expected, had guessed she had hidden
from him.
This was the sunset of the night of the revel at Senci's house. It was
this incident that had made Kenkenes late at the festivities, and
cynical when he came.
On her way back to the camp Rachel met Atsu, mounted and attended by a
scribe, the taskmaster's secretary. The two officials were on their
way to Memphis to worship in the great temple and to spend a night
among free-born men. Once every month, no oftener, did Atsu return to
his own rank in the city. Recognizing Rachel, he drew up his horse;
the scribe rode on.
"Hast been in search of the Nile wind, Rachel? The valley holds the
day-heat like an oven," he said.
"Nay, I did not go so far. The darkness came too quickly."
"Endure it a while. I shall move the people into the large valley
where they may have the north breeze and the water-smell after sunset,
now that the summer is near. I am glad I met thee. Deborah tells me
the water for the camp-cooking is turbid, and I doubt not the children
draw it from some point below the wharf where the drawing for the
quarry-supply stirs up the ooze.
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