The Land of the Pharaohs Page #4

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And we will start your education now.

See that she is securely locked up...

...and her father notified

that payment is demanded.

I do not allow brawling in my court.

Take them both away. Lash the

slave to teach him manners.

one moment, my lord.

Would you punish a slave for merely obeying?

I told him to act.

See that they are both lashed.

And give her her cloak, that she

may hide her starved appearance.

You took it from me.

It is mine no longer.

Now the next.

The ambassador of Al-Hasa.

Bring the girl Nellifer to my room.

In the presence of Pharaoh, you kneel.

All right, you can go.

Education is sometimes painful, isn't it?

Drink this.

Do I stay, or do you want the tribute?

Both.

Don't ever do that again.

I'll offer you wine just once more.

And I will only take it when you have chosen.

It's the only way, my lord.

In the succeeding weeks, she

became the favorite of the Pharaoh.

They were married and she

became his second wife.

Sit here, my lady.

I have provided sport for your amusement.

What form of sport, my lord?

A test of strength between myself

and another living god of Egypt.

You shall see.

I have heard many stories, my lord,

of the treasure you have gathered.

They probably lie, because no man

could have as much as they say.

They do not lie.

But they only guess,

because none have seen it.

And I may not see it?

Yes. Yes, you shall judge

whether the stories are true.

You shall see for yourself.

Well?

You were right, my lord.

Those that speak of the treasure do not lie.

But their stories do not do it justice.

You wish to know how they were

won or where they came from?

No. only to see it and to feel it.

Just like a woman.

- Would you change me, sire?

- No, no, never.

Feels almost soft, like

something to be caressed.

only gold feels that way.

Words from my own mouth. We are much alike.

If you like it, take it. Take what you want.

I will thank you when I have chosen.

It's all so beautiful.

What lies beyond that door?

That is my own domain. I alone go there.

I have taken my son, my priest, no others.

And I may not enter?

Yes, yes, you may.

Captain, bring a torch,

that she may see the better.

I want you to see what I've chosen.

It's unbelievable.

It's even more beautiful than that outside.

For this, I fought hard and long.

I shed my blood and the blood

of those who followed me.

What I have chosen here represent...

Take off those jewels.

- What?

- Take them off.

- But I would have this, sire.

- No.

But my lord told me to choose.

Not of this. of that outside.

You may choose what you like of that.

But all this must stay as it is.

Until the time when it's removed

to the pyramid, to my tomb.

All? Surely not all for one man.

All. The contents of this room

are the symbols of my life to come.

They are not for this life.

Not to adorn my body or

yours or any living thing.

Take off those jewels.

Yes, my lord.

Well, what is it?

Sire, certain of your guests are departing.

- The high priest suggests that you return...

- All right, I am coming.

May I stay a little, sir. that I

may see better all that is yours?

Yes, come when you've finished.

- See that all is secure.

- Yes, sire.

What is your name, captain?

Treneh, my lady.

And your duties, captain?

I'm charged by Pharaoh with the

security of his treasures, my lady.

Guarding all the Pharaoh's treasures

is a great responsibility, captain.

Yes, my lady.

What if I were to take this?

You heard the Pharaoh's orders.

Then you must take it from me.

Remember your duty, captain.

I wish it were mine to give.

Unfortunately, it is not.

Now also the quarries are becoming exhausted.

Great holes have been cut in the earth.

It is well that the work

is nearly completed...

... as each day the gathering of

the stone becomes more difficult.

Now too, the finer stone for the

outer covering of the pyramid...

... is being brought from remote

quarries on the upper Nile.

Good evening, my lady.

Good evening, captain.

You may go, Mabuna.

You sent for me, my lady.

That is right, captain.

May I ask why?

Need there be a reason?

No, I presume not.

Would you have some wine, captain?

No, thank you.

You seem nervous and afraid.

Why?

Perhaps because you are Queen of Egypt.

Even a queen may be lonely.

Perhaps that's why I asked you to come.

That would make a difference.

Then you are no longer afraid?

No.

- Well, Senta?

- I'd like to talk to you, sir.

I was just stopping anyhow.

- You've finished your work?

- Until tomorrow.

The planning for the

inner part of the pyramid?

Not yet. I wish it were.

There is a lot to be done yet.

- Is that what you wanted to talk about?

- No, sir.

Found this old scarab today.

Perhaps you can tell me

what the inscription means.

I'm sorry. I'm afraid I can't.

That's strange.

You yourself gave it to me years

ago and told me its history.

I must have forgotten all about it.

You do not work nights anymore. Why?

Don't hide things from me,

sir. You just can't see.

I've been noticing it for months.

- Is it all that apparent?

- only to one who knows you.

I'm an old man now, Senta.

Faculties begin to go.

It's all right in the daytime.

But at night, by torchlight,

I can't see things close to.

The light in the pyramid comes from torches.

How will you work? Read your own

figures, do what you have to do?

- I shall find a way.

- You start your actual work soon.

How is that to be done?

I go to the palace tonight to

receive my instructions from Pharaoh.

Whatever those may be, you will need help.

You are offering to give it to me? No, Senta.

No one need know what you tell me.

Don't you realize what would

happen if anyone suspected you knew?

- I do.

- Well?

You need help. Your work depends on

it. our people's freedom depends on you.

The boy's right, vashtar.

Are you asking me to choose

between my son and our people?

What happens to our people and your son if

you fail to fulfill your part of the bargain?

I don't know.

It's settled, then.

I'll only accept your help if

I can think of no other way.

A man thinks best on a full stomach.

Greetings, Pharaoh.

Architect, I understand that you're ready

to start work on the inner labyrinth...

...the secret part of my tomb.

That is true, my lord.

I've given considerable thought as

to the method of doing this work...

...so that the secret will remain ours.

Yes, my lord.

These men are your assistants.

They are priests, and they

may be trusted completely.

They have been well

schooled to work in stone.

You will obey the orders of the architect

as though they were mine. Understood?

Their tongues have been cut out...

...so that even in their sleep

they will not betray the secret.

- They will die when we die.

- So many?

And they are volunteers, so

spare me any humane speeches.

You trust no vows, not even

those of your own faith?

No. I have not gone as far as

this, done what I have done...

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