I thought - I don't know what I thought."
Chapter 2 THIRD MONTH OF INUNDATION, 4TH DAY
Satipy was talking to Yahmose. Her voice had a high strident note that seldom varied its tone.
"You must assert yourself.
That is what I say! You will never be valued unless you assert yourself.
Your father says this must be done and that must be done and why have you not done this?
And you listen meekly and reply Yes, yes, and excuse yourself for the things that he says should have been done - and which, the Gods know, have often been quite impossible!
Your father treats you as a child - as a young, irresponsible boy!
You might be the age of Ipy."
Yahmose said quietly: "My father does not treat me in the least as he treats Ipy."
"No, indeed." Satipy fell upon the new subject with renewed venom.
"He is foolish about that spoiled brat!
Day by day Ipy gets more impossible.
He swaggers round and does no work that he can help and pretends that anything that is asked of him is too hard for him!
It is a disgrace.
And all because he knows that your father will always indulge him and take his part.
You and Sobek should take a strong line about it."
Yahmose shrugged his shoulders. "What is the good?"
"You drive me mad, Yahmose - that is so like you!
You have no spirit. You're as meek as a woman!
Everything that your father says you agree with at once!"
"I have a great affection for my father."
"Yes, and he trades on that!
You go on meekly accepting blame and excusing yourself for things that are no fault of yours!
You should speak up and answer him back as Sobek does.
Sobek is afraid of nobody!"
"Yes, but remember, Satipy, that it is I who am trusted by my father, not Sobek.
My father reposes no confidence in Sobek.
Everything is always left to my judgment, not his."
"And that is why you should be definitely associated as a partner in the estate!
You represent your father when he is away, you act as ka-priest in his absence; everything is left in your hands - and yet you have no recognized authority.
There should be a proper settlement.
You are now a man of nearly middle age. It is not right that you should be treated still as a child."
Yahmose said doubtfully: "My father likes to keep things in his own hands."
"Exactly.
It pleases him that everyone in the household should be dependent upon him - and upon his whim of the moment.
It is bad, that, and it will get worse.
This time when he comes home you must tackle him boldly - you must say that you demand a settlement in writing, that you insist on having a regularized position."
"He would not listen."
"Then you must make him listen.
Oh, that I were a man!
If I were in your place I would know what to do!
Sometimes I feel that I am married to a woman."
Yahmose flushed.
"I will see what I can do - I might, yes, I might perhaps speak to my father - ask him -"
"Not ask - you must demand!
After all, you have the whip hand of him.
There is no one but you whom he can leave in charge here.
Sobek is too wild; your father does not trust him, and Ipy is too young."
"There is always Hori."