Khufu sat upon the elaborate chair at the end of the small reception room. On a stool beside him sat Haji and alongside the doors stood two armed soldiers, each holding a spear and dressed in the ornamental dress of the king’s personal bodyguard, jet black kilts and shoulder coverings with a black and white striped headdress in the same shape as the king’s own Nemes headdress.
Khufu and Haji talked quietly before the doors opened and Omari entered, along with the four visitors.
‘Majesty, the delegation from Keftiu,’ he announced.
‘Thank you, Omari,’ said Khufu. ‘You may leave us and ask the guards to relocate on the other side of the doors, my safety is not at risk.’
‘Majesty, is that wise?’ asked Omari.
Khufu didn’t even acknowledge the impertinent question but continued to talk to Haji.
‘Your will be done,’ said Omari eventually and left the room, closing the double doors behind him.
When they were alone, Haji stood and addressed the visitors.
‘Mariners of Keftiu,’ he said, ‘welcome to the lands of Khemet, a place graced by the feet of gods. Welcome to the house of Khufu, himself a living god amongst the unworthy. Give thanks to him for receiving you and praise his name for evermore. I am Haji, favoured priest of the holy one, and will be his mouthpiece in our discussions.’
All four men bowed in deference to the king before turning their attention to Haji.
‘Greetings, Haji,’ said one, ‘I am known as Attos, captain of the king’s fleet, blessed is he who fought the Minotaur. I am here on his behalf to finalise terms for the task asked of us by the majesty that is Khufu.’
‘And these men?’ asked Haji.
‘Their names are unimportant, but each is a master mariner and commands a flotilla of four. Between us, we have at your disposal a fleet of sixteen ships standing ready for your command.’
Haji glanced at Khufu, who nodded in acceptance.
‘This brings us satisfaction,’ said Haji, ‘but we would know details. Explain how this will come to be.’
‘Of course,’ said Attos. ‘Upon the given day, your passengers will be boarded on our ships while the sky is dark. The embarkation point has already been agreed. Once on board, we will sail with all speed to our homeland of Kefitiu to pick up the supply ships, then, when the winds are in our favour, we will set forth upon the journey.’
‘How long will the voyage take?’ asked Haji.
‘We will see three full moons en route and if the gods are with us, we will land at a place where Ra blesses the earth with endless sunshine.’
‘And how long will the land journey take?’
‘I know not, but suspect a similar time frame to the sea journey.’
‘You are confident that all this is possible?’
‘We are. I have sailed there many times myself, as have these men. Usually our holds are full of salt and cloth goods for trade and on our return our ships are weighed down with copper. There is no difference carrying people, except that we will need more supplies. That is why we are taking extra ships.’
‘Your race is a strange one, Attos,’ said Haji, ‘you sail into the unknown in the hope of finding land yet return rich from copper. It is a thing to be admired.’
‘It is not us who venture into the unknown, Haji, for our charts are well documented, but our ancestors who once sailed in desperation. Many died without finding land but those who succeeded found bounty untold and our people now reap the benefits.’
‘Indeed,’ said Haji, ‘for your copper is seen across our country. It makes swords for our soldiers and pots for the women.’
‘It is of a quality unsurpassed,’ said Attos, ‘and kings from all nations send delegates to purchase the ingots.’
Khufu whispered to Haji, who relayed the question to Attos. ‘My king asks would you consider selling your maps to the palaces of Khemet.’
‘Alas, great king, I cannot. The source of copper is a secret known to only a few men and the charts are protected on pain of death. If I were to sell them to you, I would be surely killed.’
‘We can pay a great price,’ said Haji.
‘Let me say this,’ said Attos. ‘Khemet is known as a great producer of grain. Would you sell the harvested seeds for even a pyramid full of gold? I suggest not, for seed will ensure the generations that follow will be born and fed. Gold is nothing more than a cold rock and won’t fill a starving child. So it is with our maps. If we sold them, then the seas would be full of ships seeking the copper and our children would go hungry.’
‘Understood,’ said Haji, ‘but there is something that we must have before we leave or we are unable to continue with this arrangement.’
‘What is it you seek?’ asked Attos.
Haji explained the request and after much discussion between the Cretan men, Attos turned to face the priest once more.
‘Haji, this is a great boon you ask and our hearts are nervous about such a thing. Do you swear on all that you hold holy that it will never be seen by any living man?’
‘It is for the eyes of the gods only,’ said Haji, ‘and will be incarcerated in the king’s tomb on the day of his passing to the two fields.’
‘Tombs get robbed,’ said Attos, ‘what guarantee do you have that it will be safe?’
‘I can assure you, this tomb will withstand the test of those who seek to desecrate the last resting place. Look around you, Attos. Is not this palace glorious in its magnificence?’
‘Your city stands along the best I have seen,’ said Attos.
‘And is not the pyramid the greatest thing ever seen by man?’
‘It is indeed impressive,’ said Attos, ‘and a suitable resting place for the flesh of a god.’
‘It was conceived by Khufu himself,’ said Haji, ‘and a generation of loyal subjects have sacrificed their lives in the construction. For ten times ten thousand years the complex will be protected by the greatest of armies, but even if a robber gets past them, there will be no access to the tomb. Your artefact will be safe and seen by the eyes of the gods only.’
Attos turned to his men, who nodded in acceptance.
‘We will fulfil that which you seek,’ said Attos eventually.
‘Good,’ said Haji. ‘Back to business. If the details are finalised, what cost do you place on your services?’
‘We are not a greedy people, Haji, but everything has a price. We seek enough gold and silver to fill the hold of one ship. Once done it will be sent back to my king who will pledge it to our own gods.’
‘Is this the same gold that not a heartbeat ago you claimed was nought but cold stone?’
‘It is,’ said Attos, ‘and whilst it cannot be fed to hungry mouths, the gods demand it in our temples. Khemet is a great land and has its own mines; we in Keftiu rely on trade to meet our holy needs. The price is set and we await your decision.’
‘And the extra artefact?’
‘Once the shipment of gold reaches my king, I will return and place it in your hands myself.’
Haji looked at Khufu, who nodded in agreement.
‘Then the deal is done,’ said Haji. ‘Have your ship ready to receive the price asked. It will be brought to the dock when next the sun sets.’
Attos bowed slightly in acknowledgement and turned to face Khufu.
‘Majesty,’ he said, ‘we hear you suffer from an illness and our king offers the use of his personal physician to make the passing easier. Just say the word and I will have him brought to attend you.’
‘Attos,’ interrupted Haji, ‘you will speak through me only. My king offers gratitude but we have physicians second to none. Our business here is concluded and I beg you return to your ship to await the cargo.’
‘Apologies,’ said Attos. ‘My offer was intended as a gift, not an insult.’
‘Understood,’ said Haji. ‘We will now retire. The guards will show you the way out and I will see you at the loading of the ships.’
As the men bowed low, Khufu and Haji stood before leaving the room via a side door.
‘So it is done,’ said Khufu eventually. ‘All we can do now is wait. The rest is in your hands and the will of the gods.’