"Out to the fields with Yahmose.
There is much work there to be done and recorded. The reaping is nearly finished."
"And Kameni?"
"Kameni comes with us."
Renisenb cried out: "I am afraid here.
Yes, even in daylight with the servants all round and Re sailing across the heavens, I am afraid."
He came quickly back.
"Do not be afraid, Renisenb.
I swear to you that you need not be afraid.
Not today."
"But after today?"
"Today is enough to live through - and I swear to you you are not in danger today."
Renisenb looked at him and frowned.
"But we are in danger?
Yahmose, my father, myself?
It is not I who am threatened first... is that what you think?"
"Try not to think about it, Renisenb.
I am doing all I can, though it may appear to you that I am doing nothing."
"I see -" Renisenb looked at him thoughtfully.
"Yes, I see.
It is to be Yahmose first.
The enemy has tried twice with poison and failed.
There is to be a third attempt.
That is why you will be close beside him - to protect him.
And after that it will be the turn of my father and myself.
Who is there who hates our family so much that -"
"Hush.
You would do well not to talk of these things.
Trust me, Renisenb.
Try to banish fear from your mind."
Renisenb threw her head back. She faced him proudly.
"I do trust you, Hori.
You will not let me die... I love life very much and I do not want to leave it."
"You shall not leave it, Renisenb."
"Nor you either, Hori."
"Nor I either."
They smiled at each other and then Hori went away to find Yahmose.
II
Renisenb sat back on her haunches watching Kait.
Kait was helping the children to model toys out of clay, using the water of the lake.
Her fingers were busy kneading and shaping, and her voice encouraged the two small serious boys at their task.
Kait's face was the same as usual, affectionate, plain, expressionless. The surrounding atmosphere of violent death and constant fear seemed to affect her not at all...
Hori had bidden Renisenb not to think, but with the best will in the world Renisenb could not obey.
If Hori knew the enemy, if Esa had known the enemy, then there was no reason why she should not know the enemy too.
She might be safer not knowing, but no human creature could be content to have it that way.
She wanted to know.
And it must be very easy - very easy indeed.
Her father, clearly, could not desire to kill his own children.
So that left - who did it leave?
It left, starkly and uncompromisingly, two people - Kait and Henet.