If she
were still in Egypt he would stop Har-hat's search for ever. This
recollection added to his determination and intensified his zeal.
At the beginning of the great fields of sea-grass he came upon a little
hamlet. It was a considerable distance inland, and the chief industry
of the people could have been only the gathering of sedge for hay, or
the curing of herb and root for medicines. Some of the villagers were
in sight but the most of them were out in the direction of the lakes,
laboring in the marsh grass.
In the course of the past year's events Kenkenes had learned to be a
cautious and skilful fugitive. He did not care to be caught and taxed
with the death of the man whose body he bore. The village shrine was
the structure nearest to him. It was built of sun-dried brick, with
three walls, the fourth side open to the sunrise. Kenkenes dismounted
and reconnoitered. The shrine was empty, and none of the villagers was
near.
He lifted the dead man from the horse and bore the body into the
sanctuary. Before the image of Athor was a long table overlaid with a
slab of red sandstone. Here the offerings were left and here Kenkenes
laid Atsu, a true sacrifice to the love deity.
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