Daughter of the God-King(75)

But Bing intervened, “I’m afraid I must insist Miss Blackhouse lie down in her cabin—I believe she feels a bit faint.”

As Bing was well aware Hattie was not a fainter, she inferred there was an ulterior purpose and thus did her best to appear wilted. “A good idea, Bing.” Smiling weakly at Robbie, she demurred, “I will meet up with you in a bit, Robbie.”

However, Monsieur Chauvelin moved to impede her progress, stepping forward to make a polite bow. “Ah—we meet again, Mademoiselle Blackhouse. Monsieur Hafez, I confess I had the honor of meeting this young woman in Paris; a true pleasure.”

Thus reminded, the minister dutifully introduced the gentlemen to the ladies while the Frenchman held her hand overlong, and she sensed that his intent was to make her uncomfortable. But Hattie was not one to be intimidated, and only nodded politely as she resisted an urge to snatch her hand away. A bully, she thought with some disdain; and undoubtedly here hoping to find the strongbox and thus the weapons and the treasure. For two pins I would give it all to the poor beleaguered Egyptians, who surely deserve it more. Hard on this thought she felt Bing’s hand on her elbow, urging her toward their cabin. Willingly, she allowed herself to be steered, wondering how soon she could retrieve the disk and study it. The sooner they could solve the puzzle, secure the trove, and be away from all this unholy scrutiny, the better.

“Monsieur Berry asked that I escort you directly to your cabin,” Bing noted in an apologetic undertone.

So; I am to be sequestered well away from whatever intrigue is going forward, Hattie thought. Aloud she said crossly, “I have half a mind to climb out the window again.”

“I cannot swim,” Bing replied with much regret.





Chapter 31





That afternoon, Hattie, Bing, and Berry accompanied Hafez to the government offices, Robbie having decided to enlist a translator and return to the site for another search, as there were rumors of a hidden map. No point in asking whether they should take Robbie into their confidence; it seemed clear that Berry would play his cards very close to the vest.

On the other hand, there was no need for the rest of them to accompany the minister when he went over to register the Priapus, but Berry had deftly arranged for it and Hattie surmised that this meant that Berry was monitoring Hafez—who according to Berry, was operating under some sort of duress—and keeping her close at the same time. It did seem that Berry’s manner was more preoccupied, and Hattie wondered what he had learned while eavesdropping on the contingent from the French embassy.

Hafez also announced that he would make another attempt to discover which of the workers from the worker’s village had helped with the Blackhouse excavation in their final days—or at least the days that they were last seen alive.

“I believe you have already performed this task,” Hattie commented to Berry as they were jolted along in the transport cart to the government compound. “And with precious little to show for it.”

But he shrugged and expressed his support for such a plan, “It does no harm to make another attempt, now that some time has passed. The minister has more authority than I, and we cannot overestimate the impact your presence may have.”

“The bereft daughter,” she noted with some irony.

“Burial rituals are important to these people; it may overcome whatever fears they have of speaking out.”

Hattie shifted her gaze to Hafez, who was listening to Bing with only half an ear as the cart made its slow progress. The French visitors indeed had wrought a change in the minister, who appeared distracted and was perspiring more than his usual. Thinking on it, she commented in a low voice to Berry, “All in all, perhaps it would be for the best if the secret chamber remains undiscovered; if no one can find it, no one can put it to its evil use.”

But Berry could not agree. “Such a trove will be very useful to whoever finds it—the weapons and the treasure will be an enormous advantage in the coming conflict.”

Hattie remained skeptical that the conflict would actually take place—although perhaps she was being naïve—and shook her head slightly. “It seems almost unimaginable that anyone would support Napoleon again—not after all that has happened.” Mainly, she didn’t want to think about Berry fighting in another war; there seemed little doubt he would wind up in the thick of things.

“It would be a grave mistake to underestimate him; there are many who only await a chance to support him again, and he is a very dangerous man.” Berry turned to check on their progress and Hattie understood that the subject was closed. I should not tease him about it, she thought—he may regret that he told me about Napoleon’s plans in the first place and so I mustn’t vex him.