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CHAPTER SIX

Isis screamed, and dropped to her knees by Hat-Neb’s head. He was covered in mud and quite unconscious. She and Mut tried to lift him, but he was much too heavy.

Nebo appeared through the reeds. ‘You let me,’ he said. ‘I do it.’

The two girls moved to one side to let him take their place. Even for the strong guard, Hat-Neb was a lot to manage. The Nubian grunted as he shifted his master into a sitting position in the mud.

‘Is he still breathing?’ asked Mut anxiously.

Nebo said nothing. His face was grim as the other boat crew appeared. ‘You help me,’ the Nubian growled, looking at Kerem. ‘We put him in the boat.’

Kerem and the other man stepped forward, and each grasped one of Hat-Neb’s thighs. With Nebo lifting his shoulders, they managed to carry him back to the boat and flop him into it. Hat-Neb stirred. His eyes flickered. He groaned, and his muscles twitched. Then, all at once, he came to life and vomited violently over the side of the boat. Isis clutched Mut’s arm. This was all so frightening and horrible. No one seemed to know what to do; even Nebo seemed unsure.

Blindly, Hat-Neb wiped a hand over his face. He opened his eyes and stared around, his eyes glassy.

‘Drink some water,’ said Nebo, reaching for a flagon in the bottom of the boat. He lifted it to Hat-Neb’s mouth, making him take several large gulps. More dribbled down his chin and on to his linen tunic.

‘Enough,’ gasped Hat-Neb, spluttering.

Killer appeared with the second duck in his mouth, which he dropped silently near the boat. Then he leaped inside and miaowed, his tail twitching. Hat-Neb moved his hand vaguely, and placed it on the cat’s head.

‘Killer,’ he mumbled. ‘Good cat.’ He coughed, then struggled to push himself upright. He looked around, his eyes growing clearer now, and registered the circle of faces staring at him anxiously. ‘Well,’ he said. ‘What’s happened here then?’

‘We go back to the boat,’ said Nebo. ‘You are sick.’

‘Nonsense,’ said Hat-Neb weakly. ‘I am Hat-Neb. The gods protect me. I am fine.’

The Nubian nodded his head at Kerem, asking him to push the little boat back into deeper water. Together, the three men eased it out of the shallows.

‘You get in,’ the Nubian told Isis. ‘Come, I help you.’

Still feeling a little afraid, Isis took his arm and clambered back into the boat.

‘Don’t look so upset, little Isis,’ said Hat-Neb. ‘Just the effects of fine wine.’

But Isis saw that he was gripping the sides of the boat, and a pale, greenish sheen seemed to shine through the deep gold of his skin.

.

Hopi couldn’t bear to stay on the deck any longer. The eyes of the crew followed him everywhere. But he didn’t want to go into the cabin, either, where Tutmose must be sitting enjoying himself with Sheri and Kia. Perhaps they were right. Perhaps it was just a case of waiting until they reached their destination. But the atmosphere on the deck was getting steadily worse, and Hopi longed to escape.

He reached the hatch that led from the deck into the cramped hold and peered into it. Awkwardly, he clambered down the steep, narrow steps, allowing his eyes to adjust to the darkness. At first, he thought there was nothing there – nothing but foul-smelling water swilling around the bottom. But then he began to see more in the gloom: on wooden boards above the water sat sacks of grain, flagons of beer and wine, and caskets of other foodstuffs. Of course – this was where Hat-Neb kept his supplies. There were finer goods, too – bowls, caskets and statues of wood and stone, some of them representing Hat-Neb himself. Hopi listened to the Nile waters lapping the hull of the boat, and gave a sigh of relief. It was much more peaceful than on deck.

A scuttling, squeaking sound caught his attention. There were rats down here! He felt a thrill of excitement. His viper could catch one – it would be wonderful to watch it hunt. He reached for his papyrus basket, then hesitated. Was it really wise to let the viper loose? He weighed it up in his mind. Hat-Neb and the others wouldn’t be back for hours – they had taken their lunch with them. The crew had nothing to do, and no reason to visit the hold. There would be plenty of time to catch the snake before the others returned.

His mind made up, he pulled the papyrus basket from his bag. He wedged it between two sacks, took off the lid and watched as the viper slowly emerged, on full alert, to explore its new environment. At once the snake headed into the darkness between the bags of grain. Hopi felt a pang of anxiety. He couldn’t see it now. Perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea after all . . .

‘Hopi!’ A voice made him jump. It was Tutmose.

Hopi squinted up at the hatch. ‘I’m here.’

The doctor’s face peered down at him. ‘What are you doing in there? Come on up.’

Hopi looked around the hold. The snake had completely disappeared. ‘Yes, coming,’ he called, trying to catch a glimpse of the viper.

‘Well, come on then,’ insisted Tutmose.

There was no choice. He’d just have to find the snake later. Reluctantly, Hopi climbed back up the ladder and out into the bright daylight.

The doctor seemed surprisingly cheerful. ‘So,’ he said, ‘you were going to teach me something. You haven’t forgotten, I hope?’ He held out a small ceramic jar from the cabin, along with a piece of linen.

‘Oh!’ Hopi was startled. Panic rose in his chest. He had hoped that Tutmose had forgotten the idea – and now the snake was no longer in his basket. ‘N-no . . . it’s just that . . .’

‘Come, we will go to the far shelter.’ Tutmose smiled. ‘No one will disturb us there.’

Hopi tried to smile back, but couldn’t. He gazed down the deck and saw that the crew were watching them, their eyes flitting from Hopi to the doctor and back again. He took a deep breath.

‘I . . . I can’t,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry, Tutmose. I don’t think the viper can be milked after all – it’s not like a cobra. I think it’s better left alone.’

‘What’s changed your mind?’ Tutmose seemed annoyed.

Hopi didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t think of an excuse.

Tutmose looked at him closely. ‘You’ve released it, haven’t you?’ he demanded.

‘No, no – well, not exactly,’ stuttered Hopi.

‘Show me your basket.’

It was no use. He would have to tell Tutmose what he had done. ‘It’s down there. In the hold,’ Hopi whispered.

‘What? Loose?’ Tutmose almost shouted.

‘Sshhh. It’s perfectly safe. I’ve let it out so that it can catch a rat, if it wants to. I’ll catch it again before anyone needs to go down there.’

The doctor’s face filled with anger. ‘How could you be so stupid?’ he hissed.

Hopi scrambled towards the hatch. ‘I’ll catch it again right away,’ he said hurriedly. ‘I was going to anyway. I’m sorry, Tutmose.’

But at that moment there were shouts further along the deck. The crew were on their feet, calling and pointing. Hopi and Tutmose looked out across the Nile to see what the fuss was about. There, just a few paddles’ length away, was the hunting expedition that had set off only a few hours before.

.

Isis started calling. ‘Hopi! Sheri! Kia!’ she cried, waving her arms as the little fishing boats reached the shore.

The fishing boats’ owners appeared, looking very surprised to see their property back so soon. Hat-Neb stepped out, swaying, and cursing under his breath. Nebo steadied him, and he tottered up the bank.

‘I must complain to my wine merchant,’ he muttered. With great determination, he struggled across the little harbour to clamber up the ladder of his own boat, then stood leaning on the rail to catch his breath.

Isis followed him up. The first person she saw was Hopi, who was staring at them as though they had come back from the Next World, not just the west bank marshes.

Hat-Neb gulped a few deep breaths, then turned to Kerem. ‘Tell your men to bring up all the flagons of wine from the hold,’ he ordered. ‘I want to inspect them. Then set sail for Djeba.’ Still staggering, he walked along the deck and disappeared into the cabin.

Isis saw the alarm on Hopi’s face as the crew gathered around Kerem. The captain began to give orders and her brother suddenly interrupted.

‘Kerem, let me fetch the flagons,’ he said. ‘It will help your men. I have nothing else to do.’

Fetch the flagons? Isis stared at her brother. Whatever was he thinking of, taking on the work of the crew? He’d never manage it, not with his injured leg.

‘You can’t!’ she exclaimed. ‘They’re heavy, Hopi. It’s not your job.’

‘Shut up, Isis.’ Hopi looked furious. ‘Just keep out of it. I’ve told you before.’

‘But you can’t!’ Isis felt tears of indignation surfacing. It had been such an awful morning, and now this! Hopi was being really stupid. ‘They are heavy. Why can’t the crew do it?’

Hopi stared at her. A flicker of despair crossed his face, and all of a sudden she realised that this had nothing to do with the flagons of wine. He wanted to go into the hold for some other reason. An important reason. But now it was too late.

‘Isis asks a very good question.’ It was Nebo who spoke. He must have been watching ever since they’d come back on board. ‘Why you want to do this, Hopi?’

Hopi’s shoulders sagged. ‘I just wanted to help,’ he said weakly. Then, with a spark of anger, he glared at Nebo. ‘Some of the crew are injured, if you hadn’t noticed.’

Nebo nodded. ‘Ah, the crew, the crew,’ he said, in a mocking tone. He stepped towards the hatch, and gestured down at it with an open hand. ‘Come then, Hopi. Now you care for the crew so much, we go into the hold. You and me, we go together. This is very good idea, yes?’

And Isis knew, with a sinking heart, that she had somehow dumped her brother right in it.

.

Hopi descended the steps slowly, thinking fast. There would be no hope of catching the viper now. He would have to make a show of moving the flagons, and hope for the best. Nebo was much too tall for the little hold and stayed at the bottom of the ladder as Hopi put down his bag. There was no sign of the snake. Hopi reached for the first of the wine flagons and picked it up. Isis was right. It was very heavy. There was no way he could carry it up the narrow steps on his own.

But he would have to try. With a grunt, he picked up the flagon and staggered over the wobbly boards towards Nebo. He deposited it at the fan-bearer’s feet, then went and picked up another.

‘Stop this. You are being very stupid.’ Nebo’s deep voice was angry.

Hopi ignored him. He dropped the second flagon next to the first, and reached for a third. He shifted it, easing his hands underneath it, then stopped and stared. The viper was there, hiding behind the flagon. It moved slowly, sluggishly, and Hopi immediately saw why. Just behind its head, the viper’s body had swollen into a big lump. It had caught and swallowed a rat.

There was a movement at his shoulder, and he realised that the fan-bearer had stooped down to creep up behind him. Nebo had seen the snake. His breathing was fast and shallow, and Hopi realised that he was afraid.

‘You bring big problem on this boat,’ said the fan-bearer.

Hopi felt a surge of anger. He shook his head. ‘No,’ he said. ‘You don’t understand. It was this snake that saved us.’

But Nebo wasn’t listening. ‘A snake is danger,’ he insisted. ‘A snake brings sickness.’

‘This snake hasn’t harmed anyone!’ cried Hopi. ‘I’ve kept it safe the whole time – it’s been in my papyrus basket. I only just let it loo—’

‘Now I see why you keep this basket and stick.’ Nebo’s voice was low with menace. ‘You tell me big lies. I do not like lies. You catch it.’ The guard’s fingers dug into Hopi’s shoulder. ‘You catch it and you bring to show Hat-Neb.’ He stepped back to the ladder, and waited.

Hopi knew when he was defeated. He picked up his stick and bag, and approached the snake. Sensing his presence, it shifted its coils and rasped at him. Ffffff. But, weighed down with its meal, it had no desire to move quickly. With a flick of his stick, Hopi captured it, lowered it into the basket and replaced the lid.

The Nubian nodded grimly, and turned towards the steps. ‘Follow me,’ he instructed Hopi, and began to climb towards the daylight.

.

Isis watched anxiously as Nebo reappeared out of the hold with Hopi behind him. Nebo gave Hopi a push towards the cabin. Isis followed them in. Hat-Neb was lying down, his eyes closed, while Sheri wiped his forehead with a damp piece of linen.

‘Master,’ said Nebo, ‘this boy, he is nothing but trouble.’

Sheri and Kia looked up in alarm. ‘Hopi!’ exclaimed Sheri. ‘What have you done?’

‘N-nothing,’ said Hopi. ‘I caught a viper, that’s all.’

‘Show it,’ ordered Nebo.

Hopi lifted his linen bag from his shoulder. Isis saw him throw a warning glance at Mut, knowing she was terrified of snakes, then reached for his basket. Mut dropped Killer and ran out of the cabin, while Hat-Neb’s eyes bulged with curiosity. Isis craned her neck to see the viper, which lay lazily in Hopi’s hands.

‘It’s just eaten a rat, sir,’ he said, as though that could explain everything.

Sheri and Kia looked horrified. ‘Oh, Hopi.’ Kia’s voice was reproachful. ‘What were you thinking of?’

‘You don’t even know what happened,’ retorted Hopi. ‘This viper broke up the fight between the boat crews. It has done only good, and no harm.’

Hat-Neb grunted. ‘A likely story.’

‘It’s true.’

Hopi’s eyes were bright with defiance, and in spite of everything, Isis felt a rush of loyalty towards her brother. She swallowed hard. ‘I know it’s true,’ she piped up. ‘Kerem told me. He said a snake god had saved them.’

‘Saved them?’ Kia sounded incredulous.

‘The barge crew were afraid of it. That’s why they stopped fighting,’ said Hopi.

Silence fell. Hat-Neb seemed to be thinking.

It was Kia who spoke. ‘But even if this is true, Hopi, why did you bring it on board?’

‘I didn’t think it was a good idea,’ said Hopi. ‘But Tutmose told me I should.’

‘Did he indeed?’ Hat-Neb stroked his chin. ‘Where is he? Bring him here.’

Kia went out on to the deck to find the doctor. In the meantime, the cabin fell silent once more. Isis felt her palms sweating. Hat-Neb and Nebo were both looking very serious.

Tutmose walked in. ‘What is it, sir?’ he asked.

Hat-Neb waved his hand in Hopi’s direction. ‘I believe you are responsible for this.’

The doctor appeared startled to see the viper. ‘A snake! Whatever do you mean?’

Hopi looked dismayed. ‘You told me to bring it on board!’ he exclaimed.

Tutmose gave a cracked laugh. ‘Absurd,’ he said. ‘I’ve never seen this creature before in my life.’ He made a show of looking closely at the snake from different angles, then turned back to Hat-Neb. ‘But I can tell you what it is. This is a horned viper. You will be pleased to hear that it is not as dangerous as a cobra, but it is a menace, all the same. Most irresponsible to bring such a thing on to the boat.’

Hat-Neb leaned back on his cushions and turned to the other adults in the room. ‘I have no choice,’ he said, his voice regretful. ‘Tutmose is right: this is a danger, a danger to us all. The boy must be punished.’ He sighed, as though it were a great inconvenience.

Isis felt herself go cold. She knew that Hopi had told the truth. Everyone waited, tense.

Hat-Neb reflected for a moment. Then he gave a shrug. ‘Shut him in the hold,’ he instructed. ‘See if he enjoys having nothing but a snake for company.’

Hopi’s face was still as he lowered the viper back into its basket. He didn’t look at anyone as he followed Nebo out of the cabin. All Isis could think of, as she watched the hatch being closed over him, was how it would feel to be alone, shut in the hold in the darkness.