| As Binay, lying flat on the gallery floor, peered down | | | | carried a long shepherd's staff, a crook at the top. |
| through the open weave of the curtains onto the | | | | Crown Prince Tutankhamen entered the room, |
| Throne Room below, he carefully shifted his position, | | | | accompanied by officials and guards - striding to a |
| holding his breath lest the slightest billowing of the | | | | secondary small throne, but remaining standing. Then |
| drapes catch the eye of a guard. Had they noticed | | | | came Pharaoh, his Vizier at his side, then a phalanx of |
| anything? Apparently not. He quietly exhaled as he | | | | guards, spears at the ready. Behind the guards were |
| leaned his head against the railing. If discovered, it | | | | Egyptian priests of the God Ptah, robed in white. As |
| would certainly mean banishment despite being a | | | | Pharaoh sat down on his throne, Prince Tutankhamen |
| Prince of the Royal House, possibly even torture and | | | | also sat - everyone else remained standing. |
| death. | | | | Binay saw the Vizier point, heard his voice, but could |
| It had been a long afternoon. Manthro, his old teacher | | | | not make out words. Then he saw Moses's face |
| and mentor, had secretly told him where to hide to | | | | darken, heard his voice, angry, though his speech |
| watch the second meeting of Moses - accompanied | | | | was halting, then Moses gave his staff to Aaron, |
| by the priest, Aaron of "Bnai Israel", the children of | | | | who threw it onto the floor. A gasp of alarm arose |
| Israel or Hebrews - with Pharaoh. The palace had | | | | as the staff seemed to become a snake, writhing |
| been abuzz with rumors of a Hebrew slave revolt, | | | | and slithering across the floor. The guards quickly |
| led by Moses, since his return to Egypt after a great | | | | stepped in front of the thrones, spears poised. |
| many years - some said, having been forced to flee | | | | At a sign from Pharaoh, three Egyptian priests came |
| in fear for his life. Palace whispers were that Moses | | | | forward, throwing down their staffs, which also |
| had been a Royal Prince and army commander to | | | | became writhing snakes. Another gasp from |
| Pharaoh Sobekhotep some forty years before; | | | | everyone, including Binay, as Moses's snake, one by |
| Manthro, having been Royal Chronicler to Pharaoh at | | | | one, devoured the priests' snakes. |
| the time, told Binay that it was Moses' popularity as a | | | | Pharaoh stood up, clearly enraged, imperiously |
| victorious military leader that had enraged the jealous | | | | pointing to Moses and Aaron. The guards lowered |
| monarch, causing Moses to flee Egypt in fear. Moses | | | | their spears and charged the two Hebrews, forcing |
| had now returned, white-bearded but still vigorous, | | | | them outside - but before they left, Moses reached |
| taking over as leader of the Hebrew slave peoples, | | | | down and picked up his snake - which again seemed |
| together with their chief priest, Aaron, said to be | | | | to be only a shepherd's staff. |
| Moses's blood brother and older. It was also claimed | | | | Pharaoh stomped out of the chamber, followed by |
| that Moses had mysterious powers from his strange | | | | everyone. Binay watched, unmoving, until the room |
| god, Jehovah. | | | | became empty. Still he remained motionless, until all |
| Manthro, after being Royal Chronicler to two | | | | but one wall torch had burned out. He then, unseen, |
| pharaohs, had been replaced by Pharaoh Dudimose, | | | | climbed down and swiftly went to Manthro's room |
| becoming teacher and mentor to young princes like | | | | where he knew he was being anxiously awaited. |
| Binay, even the Crown Prince Tutankhamen. Still | | | | Manthro drew Binay into the rear of the room so |
| interested in palace politics and government affairs, | | | | their whispers would not be overheard. Quickly Binay |
| Manthro had told Binay of the first meeting of Moses | | | | told what he had seen. Manthro was familiar with the |
| and Pharaoh, that Moses had demanded the Hebrews | | | | Egyptian priests magical trick with rigidized snakes, |
| be set free to worship their own god - with Pharaoh | | | | but pressed for details about Moses staff becoming |
| reacting with rage, ordering Moses to leave, and that | | | | a snake - which then devoured the others before |
| the daily tasks of the Hebrews would now be | | | | everyone's eyes - then again becoming what seemed |
| increased. From now on, Pharaoh had thundered, the | | | | to be a wooden staff. |
| straw for the daily quota of bricks would have to be | | | | Manthro sat silently, thinking. Binay respectfully, was |
| gathered by the slaves themselves. The outcry from | | | | also quiet. Then Manthro told Binay what he should |
| the Hebrews was heard everywhere, leading to this, | | | | do the next morning. |
| the second meeting. | | | | "The god of the Hebrews must be very powerful, so |
| For more than twenty years together, as teacher | | | | this is not the end. You must be at the slave |
| and pupil, neither having family members in the | | | | quarters tomorrow at dawn where you can see and |
| palace, Prince Binay and Manthro had grown close, like | | | | follow Moses." Then, in hushed tones he told Binay |
| father and son - yesterday, Manthro had said he | | | | what he had promised: about the time when |
| would soon tell Binay about his own personal | | | | Egyptians, fearful of a slave revolt, killed off Hebrew |
| background, how he came to be an Egyptian Prince, | | | | male babies; about a daughter of Pharaoh rescuing |
| although of lower caste, without royal rank. | | | | Moses from the Nile, adopting him and raising him as |
| As the afternoon shadows lengthened over the | | | | a Royal Prince and an acclaimed military commander - |
| courtyard, Binay looked for the slave girl he often | | | | then having to flee for his life to the land of Midian. |
| dreamed of, Lansel, who gracefully carried urns of | | | | Then, said Manthro, "You, Binay, like Moses, were a |
| water for her mistress's bath about this time of day. | | | | Hebrew male infant, destined to die, but like many |
| They had never been alone together, never even | | | | others, were floated in a basket on the Nile by |
| spoken, but over the years now, each had become | | | | hopeful mothers - that someone would save you. |
| aware of the other, excitement sparkling each | | | | While you were fortunate and were saved, your |
| other's countenances as their eyes would meet. | | | | rescuer was an unmarried aunt of Pharaoh - so you |
| Binay became quickly alert as guards and palace | | | | became a prince, but not a Royal Prince like Moses." |
| officials began arriving. Although too far away to | | | | Binay sat quietly, absorbing the knowledge that he |
| comprehend normal conversation, Binay could clearly | | | | was a Hebrew by birth, and lucky to be alive and |
| see the area in front of the royal throne: Moses and | | | | raised in the royal palace - that he had not been killed |
| Aaron were led in by guards, but kept at a distance | | | | or made a slave. One thought however, crept into his |
| from the raised and empty thrones. Moses, though | | | | mind, the slave girl Lansel - this meant what? Could |
| white-bearded, was tall and strong-looking, Priest | | | | they now, perhaps, have a life together? On that |
| Aaron was somewhat shorter and of slighter build, | | | | exciting thought, he finally slept. |
| but both stood a bit taller than the Egyptians. Moses | | | | |