Eye of the Moon Read Online Free PDF Page B

didn’t you? You
knew
about the poison.”
    My father thrust off his terra-cotta mask. In the gloom his face was pale. He lifted his finger to hislips, then swung open the door to the antechamber and glanced around quickly to make sure no one had remained hidden.
    He turned swiftly. “Kara . . . listen carefully! They’ve gone back to the temple but only for the ritual of collecting oils. You must do
exactly
what I tell you. There’s no time for argument now. You must escape.”
    â€œHow, if they’ve bolted the door?”
    My father put his hands on my shoulders and gripped me firmly. “I said
listen
! If you don’t want to be a slave, listen to me. There’s a secret doorway from this wabet chamber into a passage. It’ll lead you out of here. It’s your only chance. But you must take the boy with you.”
    â€œYou mean the prince? Tuthmosis?” I glanced at his body.
    My father nodded. “He’s not truly poisoned. As soon as I suspected the murder plot, I prepared another potion for him to drink—one that merely put him into a deep sleep. I planned to fool the high priests. But I was forced to speak out. I
had
to prevent Wosret from puncturing Tuthmosis’s heart. The needle would truly have killed him.”
    â€œBut—”
    â€œListen!” he whispered urgently. “Outside in the secret passage is the body of a boy who died last night. I arranged this secretly with the help of a few other priests who discovered Wosret’s plot and support my view. The boy’s body will replace Tuthmosis. The priests will think it’s Tuthmosis lying there. Instead, Tuthmosis will escape with you. Later there’ll be a chance for him to challenge Wosret and reclaim the throne. But not now.”
    â€œBut when the priests return, they’ll notice it isn’t him.”
    â€œNot immediately in this dim light. His eyes will be closed. And he’ll be wearing the leopard cloak. But you must be quick. Now that you’re involved, the plan is even more urgent.”
    â€œI’m sorry. . . .”
    My father waved his hand to silence me. “You
must
hurry, Kara! You
must
escape. To be a slave to Wosret doesn’t bear thinking about.”
    The walls of the wabet chamber seemed to be closing in on me. I was dizzy trying to keep up with what he was explaining. “You keep saying
me.
What about
you
? I can’t leave without you.”
    â€œI’ll follow. But first, I must arrange the body on the slab. Everything must seem normal when they return. They’ll think we’re next door in the antechamber. Having the other body in place will give you more time to get away.”
    â€œLet me help you. Then we’ll go together!”
    â€œNo!” he hissed. “It’s too dangerous. I’ll follow as quickly as I can. Don’t worry about me.” He gripped my shoulders and pulled me tight against his chest and then released me just as quickly. “Here . . . take this.” He removed something from the girdle bag at his waist. “My Senet gaming board. Be mindful of its messages. Now quick! Help me move Tuthmosis. I need his leopard cloak and his broad collar as well.”
    I wanted to hold on to my father, but he pushed me away and began pulling Tuthmosis upright. “Quickly! Get hold of him now.” He ripped the cloak from the prince’s shoulders and unclipped the broad collar with its filigree of jewels and gold. “Put your arm about his waist. Get your shoulder beneath his armpit.”
    The weight made me stagger. I leaned up against the wall to steady myself. There was no time to give my father another glance. He went ahead of me andslid away a stone, opening up a shadowy space lit by a small terra-cotta lamp.
    I saw a dark shape lying at the bottom of some stairs. I turned my eyes away so as not to see the face of the peasant boy and concentrated on dragging Tuthmosis down the