Death Comes as the End by Agatha Christie
‘That is clever of you, Renisenb. That is what I feel. The house and the cultivation and the farming lands–all that is below one, insignificant. One looks beyond all that–to the River–and beyond again–to the whole of Egypt. For very soon now Egypt will be one again–strong and great as she was in the past.’
Renisenb murmured vaguely:
‘Oh–does it matter?’
Hori smiled.
‘Not to little Renisenb. Only her own lion matters to Renisenb.’
‘You are laughing at me, Hori. So it does matter to you?’
Hori murmured: ‘Why should it? Yes, why should it? I am only a ka-priest’s man of business. Why should I care if Egypt is great or small?’
‘Look.’ Renisenb drew his attention to the cliff above them. ‘Yahmose and Satipy have been up to the Tomb. They are coming down now.’
‘Yes,’ said Hori. ‘There were some things to be cleared away, some rolls of linen that the embalmers did not use. Yahmose said he would get Satipy to come up and advise him what to do about them.’
The two of them stood there looking at the two descending the path above.
It came to Renisenb suddenly that they were just approaching the spot from which Nofret must have fallen.
Satipy was ahead. Yahmose a little way behind her.
Suddenly Satipy turned her head to speak to Yahmose. Perhaps, Renisenb thought, she was saying to him that this must be the place where the accident occurred.
And then, suddenly, Satipy stiffened in her tracks. She stood as though frozen, staring back along the path. Her arms went up as though at some dreadful sight or as though to ward off a blow. She cried out something, stumbled, swayed, and then, as Yahmose sprang towards her, she screamed, a scream of terror, and plunged forward off the edge, headlong to the rocks below…
Renisenb, her hand to her throat, watched the fall unbelievingly.
Satipy lay, a crumpled mass, just where the body of Nofret had lain.
Rousing herself, Renisenb ran forward to her. Yahmose was calling and running down the path.
Renisenb reached the body of her sister-in-law and bent over it. Satipy’s eyes were open, the eyelids fluttering. Her lips were moving, trying to speak. Renisenb bent closer over her. She was appalled by the glazed terror in Satipy’s eyes.
Then the dying woman’s voice came. It was just a hoarse croak.
‘Nofret…’
Satipy’s head fell back. Her jaw dropped.
Hori had turned to meet Yahmose. The two men came up together.
Renisenb turned to her brother.
‘What did she call out, up there, before she fell?’
Yahmose’s breath was coming in short jerks–he could hardly speak…
‘She looked past me–over my shoulder–as though she saw someone coming along the path–but there was no one–there was no one there.’
Hori assented:
‘There was no one…’
Yahmose’s voice dropped to a low, terrified whisper:
‘And then she called out–’
‘What did she say?’ Renisenb demanded, impatiently.
‘She said–she said…’ His voice trembled…‘Nofret…’
CHAPTER ELEVEN
FIRST MONTH OF SUMMER 12TH DAY
‘So that is what you meant?’
Renisenb flung the words at Hori more as an affirmation than as a question.
She added softly under her breath with growing comprehension and horror:
‘It was Satipy who killed Nofret…’
Sitting with her chin supported by her hands in the entrance to Hori’s little rock chamber next to the Tomb, Renisenb stared down at the valley below.
She thought dreamily how true the words were she had uttered yesterday–(was it really only such a short time ago?–) From up here the house below and the busy hurrying figures had no more significance nor meaning than an ants’ nest.
Only the sun, majestic in power, shining overhead–only the slim streak of pale silver that was the Nile in this morning light–only these were eternal and enduring. Khay had died, and Nofret and Satipy–and some day she and Hori would die. But Ra would still rule the heavens and travel by night in his barque through the Underworld to the dawning of the next day. And the River would still flow, flow from beyond Elephantine and down past Thebes and past the village and to lower Egypt where Nofret had lived and been gay and light of heart, and on to the great waters and so away from Egypt altogether.
Satipy and Nofret…
Renisenb pursued her thoughts aloud since Hori had not answered her.
‘You see, I was so sure that Sobek–’
She broke off.
Hori said thoughtfully: ‘The preconceived idea.’
‘And yet it was stupid of me,’ Renisenb went on. ‘Henet told me, or more or less told me, that Satipy had gone walking this way and she said that Nofret had come up here. I ought to have seen how obvious it was that Satipy had followed Nofret–that they had met on the path–and that Satipy had thrown her down. She had said, only a short while before, that she was a better man than any of my brothers.’
Renisenb broke off and shivered.
‘And when I met her–’ she resumed, ‘I should have known then. She was quite different–she was frightened. She tried to persuade me to turn back with her. She didn’t want me to find Nofret’s body. I must have been blind not to realize the truth. But I was so full of fear about Sobek…’
‘I know. It was seeing him kill that snake.’
Renisenb agreed eagerly.
‘Yes, that was it. And then I had a dream…Poor Sobek–how I have misjudged him. As you say, threatening is not doing. Sobek has always been full of boastful talk. It was Satipy who was always bold and ruthless and not afraid of action. And then ever since–the way she has gone about like a ghost–it has puzzled us all–why did we not think of the true explanation?’
She added, with a quick upward glance:
‘But you did?’
‘For some time,’ said Hori, ‘I have felt convinced that the clue to the truth of Nofret’s death was in Satipy’s extraordinary change of character. It was so remarkable that there had to be something to account for it.’
‘And yet you said nothing?’
‘How could I, Renisenb? What could I ever prove?’
‘No, of course not.’
‘Proofs must be solid brick walls of fact.’
‘Yet once you said,’ Renisenb argued, ‘that people didn’t really change. But now you admit that Satipy did change.’
Hori smiled at her.
‘You should argue in the Nomarch’s courts. No, Renisenb, what I said was true enough–people are always themselves. Satipy, like Sobek, was all bold words and talk. She, indeed, might go on from talk to action–but I think she is one of those who cannot know a thing or what it is like until it has happened. In her life up to that particular day, she had never had anything to fear. When fear came, it took her unawares. She learned then that courage is the resolution to face the unforeseen–and she had not got that courage.’
Renisenb murmured in a low voice:
‘When fear came…Yes, that is what has been with us ever since Nofret died. Satipy has carried it in her face for us all to see. It was there, staring from her eyes when she died…when she said “Nofret…” It was as though she saw–’
Renisenb stopped herself. She turned her face to Hori, her eyes wide with a question. ‘Hori, what did she see? There on the path. We saw nothing! There was nothing.’
‘Not for us–no.’
‘But for her? It was Nofret she saw–Nofret come to take her revenge. But Nofret is dead and her tomb is sealed. What then did she see?’
‘The picture that her own mind showed her.’
‘You are sure? Because if not–’
‘Yes, Renisenb, if not?’
‘Hori–’ Renisenb stretched out her hand. ‘Is it ended now? Now that Satipy is dead? Is it truly ended?’
‘Yes, yes, Renisenb–surely. And you at least need not be afraid.’
‘Renisenb murmured under her breath:
‘But Esa says that Nofret hated me…’
‘Nofret hated you?’
‘Esa says so.’
‘Nofret was good at hating,’ said Hori. ‘Sometimes I think she hated every person in this house. But you at least did nothing against her.’
‘No–no, that is true.’
‘And therefore, Renisenb, there is nothing in your mind to rise up against you in judgement.’
‘You mean, Hori, that if I were to walk down this path alone–at sunset–at that same time when Nofret died–and if I were to turn my head–I should see nothing? I should be safe?’
‘You will be safe, Renisenb, because if you walk down the path, I will walk with you and no harm shall come to you.’
But Renisenb frowned and shook her head.
‘No, Hori. I will walk alone.’
‘But why, little Renisenb? Will you not be afraid?’
‘Yes,’ said Renisenb, ‘I think I shall be afraid. But all the same that is what has to be done. They are all trembling and shaking in the house and running to the Temples to buy amulets and crying out that it is not well to walk on this path at the hour of sundown. But it was not magic that made Satipy sway and fall–it was fear–fear because of an evil thing that she had done. For it is evil to take away life from someone who is young and strong and who enjoys living. But I have not done any evil thing, and so even if Nofret did hate me, her hate cannot harm me. That is what I believe. And anyway if one is to live always in fear it would be better to die–so I will overcome fear.’
‘These are brave words, Renisenb.’
‘They are perhaps rather braver than I feel, Hori.’ She smiled up at him. She rose to her feet. ‘But it has been good to say them.’
Hori rose and stood beside her. ‘I shall remember these words of yours, Renisenb. Yes, and the way you threw back your head when you said them. They show the courage and the truth that I have always felt was in your heart.’
He took her hand in his.
‘Look, Renisenb. Look out from here across the valley to the River and beyond. That is Egypt, our land. Broken by war and strife for many long years, divided into petty kingdoms, but now–very soon–to come together and form once more a united land–Upper and Lower Egypt once again welded into one–I hope and believe to recover her former greatness! In those days, Egypt will need men and women of heart and courage–women such as you, Renisenb. It is not men like Imhotep, forever preoccupied with his own narrow gains and losses, nor men like Sobek, idle and boastful, nor boys like Ipy who thinks only of what he can gain for himself, no, nor even conscientious, honest sons like Yahmose whom Egypt will need in that hour. Sitting here, literally amongst the dead, reckoning up gains and losses, casting accounts, I have come to see gains that cannot be reckoned in terms of wealth, and losses that are more damaging than loss of a crop…I look at the River and I see the life blood of Egypt that has existed before we lived and that will exist after we die…Life and death, Renisenb, are not of such great account. I am only Hori, Imhotep’s man of business, but when I look out over Egypt I know a peace–yes, and an exultation that I would not exchange to be Governor of the Province. Do you understand at all what I mean, Renisenb?’
‘I think so, Hori–a little You are different from the others down there–I have known that for some time. And sometimes when I am with you here, I can feel what you feel–but dimly–not very clearly. But I do know what you mean. When I am here the things down there,’ she pointed, ‘do not seem to matter any longer. The quarrels and the hatreds and the incessant bustle and fuss. Here one escapes from all that.’
She paused, her brow puckering, and went on, stammering a little.
‘Sometimes I–I am glad to have escaped. And yet–I do not know–there is something–down there–that calls me back.’
Hori dropped her hand and stepped back a pace.
He said gently:
‘Yes–I see–Kameni singing in the courtyard.’
‘What do you mean, Hori? I was not thinking of Kameni.’
‘You may not have been thinking of him. But all the same, Renisenb, I think it is his songs that you are hearing without knowing it.’
Renisenb stared at him, her brow puckered.
‘What extraordinary things you say, Hori. One could not possibly hear him singing up here. It is much too far away.’
Hori sighed gently and shook his head. The amusement in his eyes puzzled her. She felt a little angry and bewildered because she could not understand.
CHAPTER TWELVE
FIRST MONTH OF SUMMER 23RD DAY
‘Can I speak with you a minute, Esa?’
Esa peered sharply towards Henet who stood in the doorway of the room, an ingratiating smile upon her face.
‘What is it?’ the old woman asked sharply.
‘It’s nothing really–at least I don’t suppose so–but I thought I’d just like to ask–’
Esa cut her short. ‘Come in, then, come in. And you–’ she tapped the little black slave girl, who was threading beads, on the shoulder with her stick–‘go to the kitchen. Get me some olives–and make me a drink of pomegranate juice.’
The little girl ran off and Esa beckoned Henet impatiently.
‘It’s just this, Esa.’
Esa peered down at the article Henet was holding out to her. It was a small jewel box with a sliding lid, the top fastened with two buttons.
‘What about it?’
‘It’s hers. And I found it now–in her room.’
‘Who are you talking about? Satipy?’
‘No, no, Esa. The other.’
‘Nofret, you mean? What of it?’
‘All her jewels and her toilet vases and her perfume jars–everything–was buried with her.’
Esa twirled the string from the buttons and opened the box. In it was a string of small carnelian beads and half of a green glazed amulet which had been broken in two.
‘Pooh,’ said Esa. ‘Nothing much here. It must have been overlooked.’
‘The embalmers’ men took everything away.’
‘Embalmers’ men aren’t any more reliable than anyone else. They forgot this.’
‘I tell you, Esa–this wasn’t in the room when last I looked in.’
Esa looked up sharply at Henet.
‘What are you trying to make out? That Nofret has come back from the Underworld and is here in the house? You’re not really a fool, Henet, though you sometimes like to pretend you’re one. What pleasure do you get from spreading these silly magical tales?’
Henet was shaking her head portentously.
‘We all know what happened to Satipy–and why!’
‘Maybe we do,’ said Esa. ‘And maybe some of us knew it before! Eh, Henet? I’ve always had an idea you knew more about how Nofret came to her death than the rest of us.’
‘Oh, Esa, surely you wouldn’t think for a moment–’
Esa cut her short.
‘What wouldn’t I think? I’m not afraid of thinking, Henet. I’ve seen Satipy creeping about the house for the last two months looking frightened to death–and it’s occurred to me since yesterday that someone might have been holding the knowledge over her head–threatening maybe to tell Yahmose–or Imhotep himself–’
Henet burst into a shrill clamour of protestations and exclamations. Esa closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair.
‘I don’t suppose for a moment you’d ever admit you did such a thing. I’m not expecting you to.’
‘Why should I? That’s what I ask you–why should I?’
‘I’ve not the least idea,’ said Esa. ‘You do a lot of things, Henet, for which I’ve never been able to find a satisfactory reason.’
‘I suppose you think I was trying to make her bribe me to silence. I swear by the Nine Gods of the Ennead
‘Do not trouble the Gods. You’re honest enough, Henet–as honesty goes. And it may be that you knew nothing about how Nofret came to her death. But you know most things that go on in this house. And if I were going to do any swearing myself, I’d swear that you put this box in Nofret’s room yourself–though why I can’t imagine. But there’s some reason behind it…You can deceive Imhotep with your tricks, but you can’t deceive me. And don’t whine! I’m an old woman and I cannot stand people whining. Go and whine to Imhotep. He seems to like it, though Ra alone knows why!’
‘I will take the box to Imhotep and tell him–’
‘I’ll hand the box to him myself. Be off with you, Henet, and stop spreading these silly superstitious tales. The house is a more peaceful place without Satipy. Nofret dead has done more for us than Nofret living. But now that the debt is paid, let everyone return to their everyday tasks.’
II
‘What is all this?’ Imhotep demanded as he came fussily into Esa’s room a few minutes later. ‘Henet is deeply distressed. She came to me with the tears running down her face. Why nobody in the house can show that devoted woman the most ordinary kindness–’
Esa, unmoved, gave a cackle of laughter.
Imhotep went on:
‘You have accused her, I understand, of stealing a box–a jewel box.’
‘Is that what she told you? I did nothing of the sort. Here is the box. It seems it was found in Nofret’s room.’
Imhotep took it from her.
‘Ah yes, it is one I gave her.’ He opened it. ‘H’m, nothing much inside. Very careless of the embalmers not to have included it with the rest of her personal belongings. Considering the prices Ipi and Montu charge, one could at least expect no carelessness. Well, this all seems to me a great fuss about nothing–’
‘Quite so.’
‘I will give the box to Kait–no, to Renisenb. She always behaved with courtesy towards Nofret.’
He sighed.
‘How impossible it seems for a man to get any peace. These women–endless tears or else quarrels and bickerings.’