Chaptar 10: Egypt's inner conflict

Egypt is now at post-war period. She has to fight against a conflict created by her own people. Ancient Egypt is divided into 36 territories. Each divisions are called a "Nome." Menet divides Ancient Egypt in this way. But now Pharaoh Anmatre is threatened by the rebelion of Nomes.

Aasar brings the news of rebelion. One day he hurries into the throne room and everyone notices that he is worried. His face is sweated. His chest rises and fells as if someone furiously beats his heart with a hammer.

Aasar tells Pharaoh everything about the Nomes. "They are using the people to rebel against Your Majesty. They have appointed a woman to spy on you."

"A woman?" Pharaoh asks. He is  surprized.

"Yes, My Pharaoh! And she is a really clever one. You will never know how she works. She walks like a cat and she is also very clever as a vixen. You must be aware and careful." With this words Aasar alerts his Pharaoh. He is also very anxious because Anmatre is not only his Pharaoh but also his friend.

  Together they were raised by Aasar's mother. After Menet was murdered Aasar's father, Aahil, the previous comander of Egyptian army takes Anmatre and his wife, Nahua raised both Aasar and Anmatre as her own children.

   Aasar remembers that.That is why he worries for his Pharaoh.

Anmatre is angry now. He can not control his rage. Furiously he orders for all the houses to be checked. If anything,that indicates the rebelion, is to be found in any household then the members of that house will be presented in front of Pharaoh. But no house has such things. Then Pharaoh orders that the palace will also be checked and this action will be handled by Pharaoh himself.

Pharaoh searches his chambers first for anything that indicates the spy's identity. And he finds his foods on the table.

"I think the food is poisoned." Pharaoh tells Aasar.

" My lord! If you allow me I shall test them." Replies Aasar.

"You have my permission, Commander Aasar. Bring an animal here and let him taste the food." Pharaoh orders Aasar.

Aasar goes out and brings a dog with him. The dog will already die.It is sick. When Pharaoh takes the food infront of him he jumps over it.

Both men watch it eating the suspicious food. But at a time they both notice that the beast can not eat anymore. It gets tired and becomes pale. Lying on the floor it throws its legs. And every movement of the poor beast becomes weaker. Then it stops moving its legs and with that it dies.

Aasar removes his eyes from the scene and turns to look at Pharaoh. Anmatre is now horrified and he does not move. He was going to die a death similar to his father. No he is not afraid of dying. But he wishes to die in a battlefield, fighting for his Egypt. This stupid, silent death is not for him. He will die happily, watching his land glorified with honor and pride. His Egypt will remember him as a patriot who gives his life away for his country.

Aasar practically drags Anmatre towards his chamber. Pharaoh asks him,"what should I do now?"

Aasar replies ,"Order every chambers in the palace to be checked and present every servants in front of me, I will inquire them."

Pharaoh orders to present every servant infront of Aasar. And Aasar questions each of them. He also appoints an Eunuch to search their body.

Pharaoh continues his search. On the other hand, Aasar investigates every servants.

Pharaoh is now infront of his queen's chamber. He opens the door and tells her, "Asiya, May I come in?"

Asiya is sewing a cloth for herself. Seeing Anmatre at her door, she hurriedly goes to him.

"My Pharaoh! What can I do for you?" She asks him.

"I need to search your chambers. It is urgent."replies Anmatre.

"Please, do so! Should I go outside?" Asiya asks.

"Stay please."Pharaoh replies.

The door is shut. Pharaoh searches every nook and corner of her chambers. But he does not find any suspicious thing.

When he turns to go out, he notices a book in the cabinet.

He asks his queen, "What is that book about?"

"It is nothing, My lord!" Asiya lies. "I have taken it from my home to read. A book on history of Egypt."

"Interesting !" Pharaogh replies." May I know why my queen is so interested in history?" He asks.Surprizing Asiya with his soft tone.

"My lord ! I had interests on Egypt's history when I was of 5 summers."Replies the woman.

Aasar finds the right spy. She is at her 13 summer. She works in the palace in guise of a servant. Now she is caught by Aasar, the commander of Egypt. They both are on their way to Pharaoh's chamber.

Pharaoh opens the book of history. At first it seems like a letter written by his queen's hand. That is enough for him to know about Asiya. His own queen betrays him. Without delving further into the diary he throws ot away. It fells at her feet.

"Why did you lie to me?" Anmatre asks the woman infront of him. "Are you spying on me?"

"No Pharaoh, why should I ?Are you joking?"

"Shut your mouth! Do you think I have the mood of joking with you when I myself am threatened? I have enough evidences of a spy being there in my palace to assasinate me."

Asiya hears this for the first time. She is now frightened. Not for her life, but for the life of her beloved. And then suddenly she realizes that she is the accused one. Now she is afraid for both of their life.

The Pharaoh is now boiling with anger. He hates this woman who betrays him.

He tells her,"I am betrayed like my father. But the difference is that he was betrayed by his second wife, but here I am an idiot to be betrayed by my first wife."

Asiya only stares at him.Horror fills in her eyes.

Anmatre holds her hands and pushes her on the wall. Then he punishes her in a way no man will punish his wife. He rapes her. She weeps and cries. She does not deserve this treatment.

Hearing her cries, all servants of the palaces gather. They call her name. But Asiya can not respond. She only cries. Aasar also goes there. He tries to break the door. But that door is unbreakable.

When Pharaoh is done, he takes Asiya's Papyrus and then starts to read it.