Muslak shrugged. "Ship's stores, and a few things to make us comfortable where there aren't any inns. Are there inns in Nubia, Noble Qanju?"

"A few, but we will go beyond Nubia."

"I know," Muslak said. "Into Nysa, wherever that is."

"As far as the river runs," Qanju whispered.

We were dismissed, all but Thotmaktef. Qanju's voice halted us before we reached the door. "Be wary of Sahuset. He may mean you no harm, but you will be polite to him without friendship, if you are wise."

Now a woman who serves this Sahuset has come for us, and Myt-ser'eu and I will go with her when the moon is down.

First I will write that when Thotmaktef came to us in the courtyard there was a baboon at his side. It was very large, and looked as grave as any man. I do not think the others saw this baboon, but I did. Thotmaktef himself did not see it, or so it seemed to me. I looked away, and after that I no longer saw it.

6

I REMEMBERED

MY WIFE, MY home, my parents-everything I once knew came rushing back-my service to the Great King and the death of my friends. I know this because Muslak and Myt-ser'eu have told me. Now they say that I must write, as I do. This is what I remember now.

We were at this inn. A woman came, a strange and silent woman whose eyes do not move as other women's do. She spoke to Muslak, saying that we were to go with her at the setting of the moon. Neht-nefret was afraid, and Muslak would not go. She spoke to me, the last time I heard her speak, saying that if I wished to remember I must come with her. Myt-ser'eu and I said we would both go, but sleep a little first, for the moon was not yet high.