"I know, Renisenb.
But all the same, I think she was killed."
"And she was the wisest of us all - the cleverest!
She was so sure that no harm could befall her.
Hori, it must be magic!
Evil magic, the spell of an evil spirit."
"You believe that because it is the easiest thing to believe.
People are like that.
But Esa herself would not have believed it.
If she knew - before she died, and did not die in her sleep - she knew it was a living person's work."
"And she knew whose?"
"Yes.
She had shown her suspicion too openly.
She became a danger to the enemy.
The fact that she died proves that her suspicion was correct."
"And she told you - who it was?"
"No," said Hori. "She did not tell me.
She never mentioned a name.
Nevertheless, her thought and my thought were, I am convinced, the same."
"Then you must tell me, Hori, so that I may be on my guard."
"No, Renisenb, I care too much for your safety to do that."
"Am I so safe?"
Hori's face darkened. He said:
"No, Renisenb, you are not safe.
No one is safe.
But you are much safer than if you were assured of the truth - for then you would become a definite menace, to be removed at once whatever the risk."
"What about you, Hori?
You know."
He corrected her. "I think I know.
But I have said nothing and shown nothing.
Esa was unwise.
She spoke out. She showed the direction in which her thoughts were tending.
She should not have done that - I told her so afterwards."
"But you - Hori... If anything happens to you..."
She stopped. She was aware of Hori's eyes looking into hers.
Grave, intent, seeing straight into her mind and heart...
He took her hands in his and held them lightly. "Do not fear for me, little Renisenb...
All will be well."
Yes, she thought, all will indeed be well if Hori says so.
Strange, that feeling of content, of peace, of clear singing happiness - as lovely and as remote as the far distance seen from the Tomb - a distance in which there was no clamor of human demands and restrictions.
Suddenly, almost harshly, she heard herself saying:
"I am to marry Kameni."
Hori let her hands go - quietly and quite naturally.
"I know, Renisenb."
"They - my father - they think it is the best thing."
"I know."
He moved away.
The courtyard walls seemed to come nearer, the voices within the house and from the cornbins outside sounded louder and noisier.
Renisenb had only one thought in her mind: "Hori is going..."
She called to him timidly: "Hori, where are you going?"