Gary Gygax - Dangerous Journeys 2 - Samarkand Solution (16 page)

"What made him so?" asked the policeman.

"He was sly but not clever, overly ambitious, and seemed likely to try to usurp rulership once a new state had been forged by the prince," Barogesh surmised. "Chemres would have combined offices as was done in ancient times, and done so with a vengeance, I think, for he was intoler-ant and evil,"

After some careful questioning by Inhetep, the I wo agents revealed that they had furnished several million in coin to back the governor's plot, i nd that the money was either somewhere in Ham-f-amsu's palace or already spent. Some two million more had been promised to him by each, but the money was somewhere in transit. "Don't worry," quipped the ur-kheri-heb. "It will eventually arrive, and at that time you might go Iree." Inhetep paused and again ticked off the counts. "We have but one remaining matter, I think. Please relate what knowledge you have of the plot to truncate the kingdom. Spare not the slightest detail—names, dates, and all the rest. Your lives hang in the balance now, my lords, as does that of the dead soul when it faces judgement in Osiris' Hall of Judgement in the Duat. A feather's weight of untruth, a tiny omission, might tip it so that the scale's pointer becomes the dagger of death."

Men such as Barogesh and Jossur accept readily the hazards of their occupation. Neither of them had any particular dread of losing their life, but then again both knew that there was no need to die. The matter at hand didn't concern their nations, not any longer. Each opted to live to carry on their work, so they related what had occurred. The stories they told were similar in many respects.

The governor's right-hand man, Aufseru, evidently operated a network of private agents and spies for Ram-f-amsu. Barogesh and jossur had been ferreted out by them, and then Aufseru had personally contacted each. After some cautious negotiating, the aide had come out with the story of Prince Ram-f-amsu's ambitious scheme. In essence, the governor claimed to dislike the Greco-/Egvptian tie which had existed for so long a time. He proposed to Hasur and Shamish alike an alliance with them rather than the Grecians, but of course that assumed a change in the ruler-ship of /Egypt.

Azirian mercenaries and Yarban raiders would assure the latter, and Babylonian aid was hinted at. Ram-f-amsu claimed that with the cooperation of the high priest of Set he could wrest all of the Lower Kingdom away, and become Pharaoh himself. In time the Middle and Upper Kingdoms must then succumb as well, while the Nubian Oversight would gladly accept him as soon as it dared, but in the meantime his faction there would at least hinder any efforts to utilize its military forces and resources to assail the newly proclaimed state in the Nylle delta. Attacked from above and below, there could be little hope for the rightful ruler of /Egypt, and Ram-f-amsu would eventually rule the whole land.

The Cypriot involvement was supposed to be in return for trade. The island was leagued closely with Libbos and would thus remove that threat. Bal-Eloi Josur admitted that he eventually learned of the promise of the Shamish city of Tyre to Cyprus' ruler, King Nikos. "We planned to squelch the attempt with naval power," he told Tuhorus and the magister. "Despite that, it seemed possible, of course, and that would have shifted commerce to us as well. When confronted with the duplicity, Prince Ram-f-amsu agreed to withhold military support for that portion of the plan. Nikos would have been in a most uncomfortable position. . . ."

Scythian mercenary troop movements were to he allowed to pass through northern Babylonia and on into the Yarban territory of the tribes of the Nabati and Al-Heshaz. That was ideal for Shamish. At worst, it was thought the desirable port of /Elana might come under the rule of their nation even if the rebellion of Ram-f-amsu eventually failed. No pharaoh would mind seeing Yarban power diminished, even if that loss went to the nominally allied Shamish state. Phillistia too might be granted to Shamish for their assistance should the governor's plan succeed, albeit Yarban territory would interpose between, and the population of the area would have to be fought and subdued. No actual military assistance was to have been given to the rebel prince, though, for the Scythian mercenary's movements in support for the rebellion were too dangerous, and all forces were to be sent eastwards to assure that the wild cavalry hordes from that place didn't ravage Shamish lands. "We could agree to some cooperation with Hasur," Bal-Eloi concluded, "for we understood one another well enough. But with Scythus, Hasur, Cyprus, and Yarbay all in a kettle which Babylon was stirring, we quite frankly considered the whole thing a very unpromising endeavor."

"Yet you sent money," noted the wizard-priest.

"Of course! A little gold and silver means nothing in matters of diplomacy and statesmanship."

The magister exchanged a look with Chief Inspector Tuhorus which said that neither of them belonged to this sort of arena. Although they might have to deal with considerations of a similar nature from time to time, neither man could ever feel comfortable with such associates. "And you, Barogesh? What did Hasur think of Prince Ram-f-amsu's scheme?"

"As Lord Jossur noted, Magister Inhetep. We thought it a mess which was doomed to disaster. Besides, Babylon and her lackeys are notoriously unsuitable allies." He paused a moment to sip his tea, ignoring the look of hatred shot at him by his Shamite counterpart. "A contingent plan to assist the rightful pharaoh was ready some time ago, and had a proper channel been opened at any time, my nation would certainly have moved in support of the lawful king of /Egypt."

"Both sides of the street .. . most diplomatic," the ur-kheri-heb murmured.

"Shamish was ready to seal off the way so as to prevent further Scythian incursions, I hasten to point out," chimed in the lean-visaged jossur. "That proves the true nature of our friendship with /Egypt."

"So it does," Inhetep commented. "But we have yet to detail all of those involved in the conspiracy."

Both men agreed to send comprehensive rosters of all persons they were aware of who were part of the plot. However, each stated flatly that all such individuals were of low rank and little importance. "You, Magister Inhetep, came into the chambers where the chief associates of Prince Ram-f-amsu were gathered, and there you saw me present as an observer only," the Phonecian said self-righteously.

"And I too was there—as much to observe Ha-sur's actions as to participate as a legate, so to speak," asserted Bal-Eloi at the conclusion of the interrogation.

"So the governor and the high-priest were at (lie head of it all, and all alone?" querried the priest-wizard.

"There was Lord Aufseru," the Phonecian reminded.

With a smile of superiority, Jossur said, "And his counterpart, Uab Absobek-khaibet. Surely, Barogesh, you didn't overlook him."

Before the two spies could get into that any further, Inhetep intervened.

"Enough! Chief Inspector Tuhorus, that is the name of the man you are to have apprehended and brought in immediately. Be careful, for even though his title indicates a merely moderate level of achievement, I suspect his powers are far above the normal for a uab—otherwise Chemres would never have made him his lieutenant."

"I'll send a pair of the men most able to counter priestcrajft, Magister. Why haven't you ... ?"

"It's all right to speak out, my good colleague. I didn't name him because nowhere did I find a trace of this Absobek-khaibet's involvement—as your bureau likewise failed to do. It's no matter now, although I think he might be more deeply involved, and more powerful too, than we could naturally assume. We'll learn all soon enough.

"As for you two," the tall ur-kheri-heb said with distaste clear in his voice and manner, "that last bit has probably served to earn you the immunity you seek. However, it is for others to decide, as matters of state are most certainly going to come into play. In the meantime, I'm sure that the deputy prefect can find suitable accommodations for your lordships here—protective custody, shall we term it?"

Despite vociferous protests from the two men, Chief Inspector Tuhorus was quite agreeable to the wizard-priest's suggestion. He had them taken to quarters which were secure but nearer inn quality than prison standards. "Will they actually get out of this with their heads?" the policeman inquired after they were gone.

"The ministers of Pharaoh will exact much from Hasur and Shamish, but in the end those

two scorpions will be turned out and be free to work their mischief-—elsewhere, thankfully. Unless I'm totally mistaken, though, it will be some distant posting to Great Slovia, Berberia, or even Tartary," he added with a meaningful chuckle.

"1 have heard much about the hospitality of Kitay and the charm of Tindouf s nomad folk," Tuhorus agreed with relish.

"Whatever becomes of them, my friend, the worst is well-deserved. Now, we must hasten to conclude the business with the remainder of the i onspirators. We still have unsolved murders to reckon with and the matter of the uab priest."

"Who next?"

"Let us gather the banker, Nerhat-ab, and the four merchants. They're a sorry lot and have Utile to add, but we must speak with them nonetheless, for questioning might reveal yet more to us

Tuhorus went to the door and spoke softly with his staff outside. "They'll be here directly, Magister, as will more tea for you and me."

WHEEL IN A WHEEL

That the whole nefarious matter was now revealed must have somehow come to their attention before the five /Egyptians were brought to the police official's office. When they arrived, < ach of them was blurting information and imploring to be heard and receive pardon. "Quiet! All of you traitors remain silent," said the magis-ter sternly. "Neither Chief Inspector Tuhorus nor I am Pharaoh to grant pardon. We are merely policemen, and you are here to confess. Give correct information, complete statements, down to the last detail, and perhaps things won't go so hard for your families."

There was little hope for any of them. They had conspired to set up a new kingdom and make the would-be usurper, Ram f-amsu, a pharaoh. In such circumstances, it was usual for all members of a household to be executed or enslaved, all property they owned seized and added to the royal treasury. Short of plotting against Pharaoh's life, there was no more serious crime possible than what the five wealthy /Egyptians had attempted. They seated themselves, ashen-faced and fearful. Inhetep pointed. "You, Nerhat-ab, shall begin first."

Napata, Elephantine, Thebes, Memphis, and Tanis were the principal financial centers of the land. The banker related that with monies he had gained from Ram-f-amsu and others of the ring, he had built On's reputation sufficiently to attract a flow of money north. "My association now controls as much wealth as all the bankers in Napata and the tri-city of Thebes-Luxor-Karnac," Nerhat-ab almost boasted as he told his tale. Memphis and Tanis, of course, would have fallen into the realm immediately under the sway of the traitor prince and governor, so he hadn't tried overly hard to win business from those cities.

"You have operations both here and in Innu, do you not?" asked the magister.

"Yes, and also in Rosetta," the banker told him. Money from Hasur, Shamish, and Cyprus was channeled through his institutions, the coins turned into whatever minting was desired— ^Egyptian or otherwise. Then letters of credit had been made as needed. "I'll have a complete accounting for you, sirs," Nerhat-ab concluded. "I need but issue instructions, and it will be done."

"You'll do so soon enough, by letter and messenger," Tuhorus told the man. "Now, why did you join this rebellious conspiracy, and who killed Ram-f-amsu?"

"He offered inducements from the start, and only when I was in up to my neck did the prince reveal the true nature of his scheme. At first, I was convinced he meant only to make the sepat so fat and wealthy that he would be made viceroy of the Lower Kingdom and chief minister of 'Egypt. Then, after irregularities, illegal transactions, and usury were all against me, Ram-f-amsu told me the whole truth and required my continued participation. Even at that I ... spoke with others and prepared an admission, something to reveal the whole plot. We all assisted in the preparation," the banker said, so as to include the four merchants in his sweeping gesture, "as these gentlemen will testify. Each of us has a copy of that report."

"To whom did you speak about this?" Inhetep demanded.

"It was an old acquaintance of mine, a member of the Innu Prefecture, Pabar Ankh-ra, the prelect." The expression on Nerhat-ab's face showed that he was certain that this would be corroborated by that official.

"You gave him details?" asked Chief Inspector Tuhorus in disbelief.

"No, no. I spoke only in generalities and pretended that someone I knew was involved in an illegal scheme of serious sort. Ankh-ra then advised a written confession for the man. I would have sent mine to Pharaoh, but I feared for my life. . .."

"As well you should!" Tuhorus snapped. "Now, who killed the prince?"

"I have not the slightest idea," the banker said helplessly.

Emptah-hiash, Hatsotef, Thunun-maat, and Nenef-Kheru were then cross-examined by the magister and Inspector Tuhorus. None of the four merchants had any more inkling of what and whom had done for the governor than had banker Nerhat-ab. They had dealt with the banker before joining the conspiracy, being selected for their avarice, ambition, and lack of scruples. From selling shoddy goods and giving short weight, the four ran the gamut from black mar-keteering, smuggling, sale of illegal commodities, and elimination of competition to use of burglary, robbery, arson, and sabotage. "We are no different from others in our calling," said Thunun-maat defensively, when the police official made a biting comment about their dishonesty. "It just so happened that the four of us were more able, became successful, and were thus in a position to exercise such tactics with greater verve than those who sought to replace us. They likewise tried similar methods but were not as capable."