[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] excitement. What was the meaning of the Pharaoh s unan- nounced return? Contradictory rumors spread like wildfire. Some were certain the king planned to cut the temple staff and reduce Thebes to the rank of a sleepy provincial capital. Others claimed Ramses had fallen sick and was returning to die with his face toward the Peak of the West. The young Ramses: The eternal temple 159 Pharaoh s star had risen much too fast. Now the gods were taking their revenge. Raia, the Hittite agent, fretted and fumed. He no longer seemed to have the inside track. Thanks to his network of trade contacts, including shopkeepers in the major popula- tion centers as well as traveling merchants, he had been able to track Ramses progress along the Nile without ever leaving Thebes. Yet he had no explanation for the king s pre- cipitous return. Ramses had stopped at Abydos according to schedule, but then instead of continuing north he had backtracked, stopping briefly in Dendera. Ramses was hard to figure. He acted on the spur of the moment, without confiding in advisers whose loose lips would have provided grist for the Syrian s mill. Raia foresaw a whole new set of challenges. Ramses would make a for- midable adversary, and Shaanar would be hard pressed to outmaneuver him. If open conflict ensued, the king might prove much more dangerous than Raia had calculated. It would never do now to wait and see. His first step must be a quick and decisive move to eliminate any weak links in his chain of informants. In a blue crown and long, pleated linen robe, scepter in hand, Ramses was truly majestic. A hush fell when he entered the hall where the conclave was in progress.  Have you come up with a name for me? he asked.  Majesty, declared the high priest of Heliopolis,  our deliberations continue.  As of this moment, they re finished. Allow me to pre- sent the new high priest of Amon at Karnak. 160 Christian Jacq An old man shuffled into the hall, leaning on his cane.  Nebu! exclaimed the high priest of Sais.  I thought you were too ill to travel!  I am, but Ramses performed a miracle.  At your age, protested the Second Prophet of Amon,  you should be thinking about retirement. The administra- tion of Karnak and Luxor is a daunting responsibility!  I quite agree, but the Pharaoh s will must be done.  My decree is already written in stone, revealed Ramses.  Tablets will soon go up proclaiming Nebu s appointment. Do any of you consider him unfit to fill this position? There were no objections. Ramses gave Nebu a golden ring and a staff of electrum, an alloy of gold and silver, as symbols of his office.  I hereby name you high priest of Amon. The treasury and granaries of this great domain are now beneath your seal. As guardian of Amon s temples and estates, be scrupu- lous, honest, and vigilant. Work not for your own advance- ment but to increase the divine ka. Amon can fathom the human soul, read each person s mind and heart. If Amon is well satisfied, he will keep you at the head of his clergy, granting you long life and a happy old age. Do you swear to respect the law of Ma at and fulfill your duties?  I swear on the Pharaoh s life, declared Nebu, bowing to Ramses. The Second and Third Prophets of Amon were furious and humiliated. Not only had Ramses saddled them with a prelate who would be at his beck and call, he had also named a complete unknown, Bakhen, as Fourth Prophet. Ramses: The eternal temple 161 This young zealot would back up the doddering high priest and become the real master of Karnak. The temple s inde- pendence would be compromised for years to come. The two dignitaries no longer saw any way to maintain control over the richest domain in Egypt. Squeezed between Nebu and Bakhen, they would sooner or later be forced to resign, prematurely ending their careers. In their confusion, they groped for an ally. Shaanar immediately came to mind, but now that the king s older brother was a cabinet member, he might be singing a different tune. Since he had nothing to lose, however, the Second Prophet arranged to meet Shaanar as the representative of all Karnak s clergy members unhappy with Ramses deci- sion. They met in an open summer house by a fish pond. A servant offered the Prophet a cup of carob juice and dis- creetly withdrew. Shaanar rolled up the papyrus he was studying.  You look familiar.  My name is Doki. I m the Second Prophet of Amon. The little man appealed to Shaanar. With his shaved head, narrow forehead, bulging eyes, long nose, and pointed chin, he resembled a crocodile.  What can I do for you?  You ll probably think me too forward, but I m not used to polite society.  Get on with it, then.  An old man named Nebu has just been named high priest and First Prophet of Amon.  A position you hoped would be yours, unless I m mis- taken.  Our late prelate made no secret of the fact that I was his chosen successor, but the king passed me over.  It s dangerous to question his decisions. 162 Christian Jacq  Nebu will never be able to manage Karnak.  Bakhen, my brother s friend, will be the one really in charge.  Forgive me for being blunt, Your Highness, but do you find this arrangement satisfactory?  I accept it as the Pharaoh s will. Doki was disappointed. As he feared, Shaanar was in Ramses camp now. He composed his crocodile face and rose to leave.  I won t take any more of your time.  Just a moment. If I understand you correctly, you refuse to accept the situation.  The king is trying to undermine Amon s clergy.  Do you have the means to oppose him?  I m not alone.  Whom do you represent?  The majority of the administration, as well as the priests.  And are you prepared to act?  Sir, I beg your pardon! Outright sedition is not for the clergy.  Make up your mind, Doki. You don t seem to know what you want.  I need help.  First prove to me that you re serious.  But how?  That s for you to determine.  I m only a priest, a   You re a man of action or you re a nobody. If all you re going to do is bemoan your fate, I m not interested.  What if I managed to discredit the Pharaoh s yes-men?  Do it first, then come and see me. You understand, though, that this conversation never took place. Ramses: The eternal temple 163 Doki s spirits lifted. He left Shaanar s residence with a headful of impossible schemes. Sooner or later, he d hit on one that would work. Shaanar was skeptical. This Second Prophet had possi- bilities, but he seemed a bit indecisive. Once Doki realized what a serious step he d taken, he d probably back off. But no potential ally could be discounted, and this way he would find out what the little priest was made of. Ramses, Moses, and Bakhen inspected the construction under way at Karnak, a project Seti had envisioned but left his son to complete: a vast hall of columns. Delivery of the huge stone blocks was on schedule. The various work gangs were coordinating their efforts to raise the towering pillars, [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl blacksoulman.xlx.pl