After a time she returned. She had covered her white dress with a
mantle of brown linen and over her head she wore a wimple of the same
material. Her hair had been coiled and secured with a bodkin. When
she put her hand under the wimple and drew it across her mouth, only
her fair skin and blue eyes distinguished her from any other Egyptian
lady dressed for a long journey.
She lifted the curtains and entered, and it was long before she came
forth again. Then her eyes were hidden and her head bowed, for she had
bidden farewell to Masanath. She was returning to Goshen.
In the street before the house she entered her litter and with Pepi
walking beside her went to the Nile. And there they were joined by
Anubis. He had been absent for days, so his greeting was extravagant,
his loyalty inalienable. He entered the bari Pepi had loaded with
Rachel's belongings, and would not be coaxed or menaced into
disembarking.
"Nay, let him come," Rachel said at last. "Thou canst set him on the
shore opposite the tomb. He will leave us willingly there."
So they pushed away.
Rachel wrapped her wimple about her face and removed it once only to
gaze at the quarries of Masaarah. They were deserted.
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