Muslak shook his head.

"Tell me of your first meeting."

"We were upriver. We'd sold our cargo and were looking for something else-papyrus at a good price, cotton cloth, or whatever. He had found out that the satrap had sent troops to the Great King, not his own troops from Parsa, but Nubians and your people. He had a hundred men and tried to get the satrap to hire them too. He wouldn't-he'd already sent the Great King what he'd asked for. I told Lewqys he'd have no trouble in Byblos-that's my own city. They'd be snapped up there, and good money. He said he'd go, but he didn't have enough to hire my ship. He'd have to march overland."

"And did you, Latro?"

He was clearly speaking to me. I asked if that was also my name.

"It's the name I was given by your comrades when I saw you with the Great King's army. It took me a moment to recall it, but I'm sure that was it. Did you march overland? It's difficult."

"I don't know."

"You clearly reached this man's country in some fashion. When I treated you, it was said you were one of Sidon's soldiers." Ra'hotep turned to the first healer. "He is somewhat improved, but not greatly. Have you anything to suggest?"

They spoke of herbs and potions for some while. I could not write all of it here if I wished to. Ra'hotep said that he had tried to drive out a xu and thought there was none. The first healer tried, but achieved nothing. He gave me medicine to take each day.

This is important. Set is master of the bad xu. He is the god of the South. There is a temple far to the south where a successful appeal to him might be made. Muslak says he does not know it.

He paid the first healer. Ra'hotep gave me this scroll, some reed pens, and a cake of ink; but he would take nothing, saying he had been of no help. I offered him my sword, saying truly that I had nothing else. He said I was the soldier, not he. He would not take it. I must talk with him further whenever the opportunity arises, and make him a gift when I can.