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her. His voice gentled, and yet grew more pained. But, did you know she arrived
here a frightened, unhappy stranger-child who couldn t speak Egyptian?
No, you never would know. Her speech is perfect now, Hati mused. How long
had Kara been in Thebes? She was only few years older than Hati.
She arrived just after I took the throne, Hati. Nearly ten years ago. She was eight
years old. I was just fifteen. Mo shuddered. And I was supposed to bed a baby. A
22
The God s Wife
frightened, homesick baby. He jerked back to stare at the late-afternoon crowds. The
anguish poured out of him in waves. I did not. I swear to you, I did not. My mother
was still alive then. She arranged it so there was a proper bloodstain on the linens. I left
Kara in peace for another eight years, until she reminded me I needed to produce an
heir, like it or not. She was very frightened, still, but determined to do her duty to me.
Mo shuddered again.
Hati couldn t help herself. She put her hand on his arm and felt his trembling
anguish. Oh, Mo! You could feel her fear? It must ve been horrible for you, to know
she did not really want to, but was doing it out of duty.
He took a shuddering breath and blew it out, long and hard. His voice lowered, and
was shamed. I& I couldn t do it, Hati. Kara remains virgin to this day. We try now and
then, but her terror overwhelms me every time. Even without that, all I can see are the
big brown eyes of a little child who cried in my arms ten years ago. She s a friend, and
nothing more can ever be between us.
Hati got hold of herself. She felt his pain too much. If she did not distance herself,
she wouldn t be able to help him. Moreover, she did want to help him, desperately.
Therefore, she did what she had to, and put up a barrier between them. As calm
returned, she thought furiously. And what of the others, Mo?
Tutmose II laughed shakily. Practical, practical. You ll be good for me, Hati. He
took a long, shuddering breath. I have managed with the use of herbs in my wine to
perform with some of them, at least once. To my shame, I rarely can go back. He began
to pace the length of the balcony, never out of hearing, but his agitation was apparent.
He was a well-formed man. His head and body were perfectly shaved, so no hair
disrupted the smooth flow of his nut-brown skin. I cannot. Even with the deed done,
and their physical pain over, what is the point? They lay there like a sack of grain, and
pray it is over quickly.
Hati had no answer for that. It was only duty for the women in the pharaoh s
palace. How could they go willingly to a man they did not know, and was not their
choice? She built up her shield further. Mo s skin condition was so like leprosy many
feared he was a leper. It wasn t true, of course. Fear of the contagious skin disease made
many wonder if Tutmose II was fit to rule the empire. However, it must take even more
time and trust than he had granted her this day to help him with that. One problem at a
time was the way to handle things.
Her eyes turned to the city, and the answer came to her like a gift from the Gods.
She waved a hand to the bustling throngs below. Do you know how much I envy
them? Mo stopped his pacing and joined her at the rail to see what she indicated.
They are so very lucky, down there. They can choose their spouses, divorce at will and
live their lives with choices.
Mo nodded and sighed. They think they serve me. Little do they know. I serve
them. My choices are so very few. The clay goblet cracked in his hand.
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Lena Austin
Yes, we serve them. It s our duty as those born of the Gods to protect them, care
for them and even die for them. We serve Egypt, she pronounced, like an invocation.
But we do have a choice, Mo. We choose to serve. No one rules our hearts. I choose to
like you, to be with you. I choose to be your friend, and perhaps more, as time goes by.
However, I have one love before you. I must ask you now, can you be second in my
heart behind my greater love for Egypt? Hati prayed with all her heart to Isis. Was it
answer enough to still his restless heart?
Mo stared at her for what seemed many heartbeats. Then his smile outshone the
sun. I can. I must ask the same question of you, my future queen. Can you be second
only to them? Pharaoh gestured with a sweeping hand encompassing all that the eye
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zanotowane.pldoc.pisz.plpdf.pisz.plkwiatpolny.htw.pl
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| Cytat |
Dobre pomysły nie mają przeszłości, mają tylko przyszłość. Robert Mallet
De minimis - o najmniejszych rzeczach.
Dobroć jest ważniejsza niż mądrość, a uznanie tej prawdy to pierwszy krok do mądrości. Theodore Isaac Rubin
Dobro to tylko to, co szlachetne, zło to tylko to, co haniebne.
Dla człowieka nie tylko świat otaczający jest zagadką; jest on nią sam dla siebie. I z obu tajemnic bardziej dręczącą wydaje się ta druga. Antoni Kępiński (1918-1972)
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