Asenath (11 page)

Joseph spoke up, "Lady Asenath and I were merely having a conversation, mistress. But is there anything I can get you?"

For a moment, Zalikha looked caught off-guard. Then she let out a small laugh. "Forgive me, Asenath. I just wasn't expecting you. Wouldn't you like to return to the dining hall? It is more comfortable there and the servants can get you something to eat and drink."

Her voice could have eased a crying child. But I was not so easily fooled. Still, I remained polite.

"No thank you, Lady Zalikha," I said. "As Joseph said, we were having a conversation. Thus I prefer to stay here. But thank you."

"But Lord Potiphar might be in need of Joseph's assistance. Surely you would not keep him from his duties."

Already, I could hear her tone sharpening.

"Everything has already been tidied up, mistress," Joseph said. "And there are still some of us, myself included, to wait on the remaining guests."

"All right. Very good. That will be all. I bid you good night, Joseph."

She quickly picked up the sheets and draped them back around her. Then she left.

I felt I had been lifted off the ground. Joseph had saved me. He had defeated all that was evil. He was like the god Horus, who had vanquished his evil uncle Seth and took his rightful place as the king of the gods.

He was victorious. Glorious.

Joseph the Golden.

Now, his eyes of hazel and olive stars were upon me. For a moment, I thought he was going to take me into his strong arms.

"So, where were we?" he asked.

I blinked, feeling foolish. "Ah, you were telling me that your family raised sheep."

"Yes. As I was saying, we moved a lot because we had to follow where the animals grazed."

A servant appeared. "Pardon me, Joseph."

I caught her throw a smile at him. The flirt.

"My lady," she said, turning to me. "Your father wishes me to inform you that you will be departing now."

I sighed inwardly. "Thank you."

Joseph smiled apologetically. "Do forgive the constant interruptions, my lady. But if it is not beneath you, perhaps we could correspond when you return to Heliopolis. I could then tell you more about Canaan."

My spirits lifted. "I would like that very much. Thank you, Joseph. I look forward to it."

"As do I."

His haunting smile was the last I saw of him. It accompanied me the entire journey home.

CHAPTER EIGHT

I returned to Heliopolis feeling reborn. I had entered a new chapter in my life, where I travelled upon a smooth golden road.

The world had become beautiful. Every nook and cranny held a miracle—a drop of dew, a patch of moss, a little bird pulling a worm out of the ground.

I was beside myself with joy when the first letter from Joseph arrived. I held it to my chest. I thought about how Joseph touched this same scroll. I imagined him writing it with his masculine fingers, reading it over with his mesmeric eyes and sealing it with tender loving care.

Over the course of our correspondence, I learned about Joseph's hometown and culture. He told me they worshipped one God who had no temples, images and cult centres. He told me about his ancestors—Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca.

He told me he came from an enormous family, of eleven brothers and one sister. They had the same father but different mothers. The youngest of the brood, Benjamin, was his only full brother.

Joseph spoke a lot about his relationship with his father. Apparently, they were very close. He said his mother was the favourite wife of their father, thus he was the favourite son. He also mentioned a special gift from his father—a coat of many colours.

However, Joseph still did not mention why he came to Egypt. I wondered if this was a sore topic for him. There seemed to be a lot of gaps in his stories. His life in Canaan seemed to have been a happy one. So why did he leave?

Perhaps one day, he would tell me. Or I would find out.

Joseph and I corresponded for nearly a year. Soon, I realised that the day of his freedom was close. Time had gone by remarkably fast.

One day, Joseph informed me that his master would be inviting my family to his Opet celebrations once more. I shivered with delight.

"Alas," Father said when the official invitation was issued. "We will not be able to make it this year. Mother and I have much to do at the temple."

My heart began to sink.

"But Asenath, you may go if you wish," Father said. "I hope you will not mind going alone though."

I gasped. "Really? Do you mean that?"

"Certainly. You are, after all, nearly a young lady."

I smiled gratefully. "I would love that. I really enjoyed it last year. I was hoping to go again this year. Thank you."

I did not mention Joseph though. I felt it was not right. Yet.

Father said, "There are, however, some events we would like you to attend on our behalf."

"With pleasure."

Later, he handed me an itinerary. I was more than delighted to see that there would be a couple of affairs at Lord Potiphar's house.

Soon, I was back in Thebes. The night before Lord Potiphar's banquet, I could hardly sleep.

I had previously been informed that prior to the banquet, the guests would be joining the public festivities. So the following day, I disembarked at the gates of Potiphar's villa and took to the streets in search of Joseph. I knew he would be busy with the feast later on, so I hoped to have as much time with him as possible.

"Lady Asenath."

I knew I would be thrilled at seeing him again, but I did not expect a dangerous rush to course through my veins. The sunlight illuminated his athletic profile from behind, creating the effect of a godlike glow.

Joseph approached me and bowed. "Life, health and prosperity to you, my lady. It is good to see you again."

My smile nearly split my face in half. "It is good to see you, too. I trust you've been well?"

"I have indeed. Would you like to go for a―"

An elderly woman appeared at his side. She tapped his arm.

He turned to her. "Taboubu, what is it?"

He spoke very slowly. I wondered at this.

The old woman handed him a small papyrus sheet.

He scanned it. "My lady, you will have to excuse me a moment. My mistress is alone in the house and very sick. I shall return as soon as I can."

I never forgot what I had seen in the kitchen the previous year. Dread welled up inside me. But alas, it was not in my power to intrude.

I tried to silence the whispers of warning inside my head. "All right."

Joseph turned to two small girls behind him. One of them was Baktre, the child I had seen the day I first met him.

"Children," he said. "This is the Lady Asenath. She is a very special guest here today. Would you be so kind as to take care of her while I am gone?"

"Yes, Joseph," the girls said. "We will, we will."

Joseph and I exchanged fond glances.

"Thank you." He bowed to me. "My lady. I will try not to be too long."

Baktre tugged on my arm. "Come, my lady. We'll show you around."

The children were so sweet and well-meaning. As worried as I was, I did not want to dampen their spirits.

I glanced back toward Joseph. He had already disappeared. I could only hope that somehow, he would be able to evade his snake of a mistress and return soon.

I pasted on a smile. "What are your names?" I asked the girls. "I already know you, Baktre."

"This is Ubastet, my best friend," Baktre said.

"What about Taboubu?" I asked. "Does she work with you as well?"

"Yes," Ubastet said. "Joseph rescued her from the slave market. Nobody wanted her because she is deaf and mute. But Joseph discovered she makes the best honey cakes."

"Joseph rescued us too," Baktre said

I smiled. He was indeed priceless.

The girls and I wandered around a bit. We watched a street performance that featured a monkey performing clever tricks. We looked at some of the food stalls. I bought sweets for the girls, amidst their polite protests. Every once in a while, we ran into people my family knew. I exchanged a few words with them and promised to pass on their regards to my parents.

Some time passed. Still, Joseph had not returned.

The warning whispers grew louder.

Baktre clapped a hand over her mouth. "My goodness!"

"What is it?" Ubastet asked.

"I forgot to give Joseph the change from the marketplace yesterday."

"Yesterday? You'd better give it
now
or he'll think you're stealing."

"I will. But you know I would never steal from Joseph." Baktre shot her friend an angry look.

Ubastet said, "But what about Lady Asenath?"

"I'm coming with you." The words were out of my mouth before I realised what I had said.

"But you might still want to explore around a bit more," Baktre said.

"No. It's all right. Let me come with you."

At the gate, Baktre said to the guard, "Lady Asenath is with us."

"Of course, of course," he said breezily and waved us in.

The girls led me to the female servants' quarters. Ubastet and I waited at the door while Baktre retrieved the money.

She returned clutching a pouch. "We will have to go to Lady Zalikha's quarters now, since that is where Joseph said he would be."

The girls looked worried.

I understood them completely. "I'll go with you there too."

Their faces relaxed.

The courtyards, as well as the main house, were completely deserted. Every single person, down to the lowliest slave, was out in the streets. I sensed evil vibes lurking about in the air.

I followed the girls down a wide corridor, which I surmised led to Potiphar and Zalikha's private chambers. We were about to round a corner when I heard some sounds.

I grabbed the girls' arms and pulled them back.

There seemed to be a lot of shuffling—cloth swishing, feet dragging across the floor.

"Mistress, please! I cannot do this."

"
Joseeeeeeph.
"

"Lady Asenath, what's happening?" Baktre asked. "What is Lady Zalikha doing?"

I did not want the children to see this. I searched my frenzied mind for something to say. "You two, go get help. I'll stay here."

I had to be there if Joseph needed me to save him.

"Will you be fine though?" Ubastet asked.

"Yes. Now hurry. Baktre, be careful with your money now."

The girls dashed off without making a sound. I tucked myself behind one of the columns.

"Joseph, come back," Zalikha purred. "I told you, no one will ever know."

"But my God will."

She sighed. "Joseph, Joseph,
Joseph
. How many times have we been through this before? I don't know anything about your God, but I am sure He would not want you to be alone. Come now. You were already so relaxed."

"I cannot do this great wickedness?"

"Joseph," Zalikha interrupted, "I know you are lonely. I am lonely too. I don't really have anyone to talk to. Potiphar is often away. Whenever he's around, he makes me feel like I don't exist. You are the only one who has been kind to me."

"Potiphar loves you."

"No, he does not. He cares only for his work and impressing Pharaoh. But you, Joseph, you are so selfless, so kind. Comfort me, please."

"I cannot, mistress." Those were his words, but his tone no longer sounded as convincing as it had earlier.

"Please, Joseph."

Their voices died down to incomprehensible whispers.

I sank to the floor. I did not want to imagine what was happening in there. I believed Joseph to be a good person, but Zalikha could be a fine actress when she wanted to be.

A strange sound cut through the eerie silence.

A cloth had ripped.

What on
earth
had happened?

There were footsteps. Someone was running.

I held my breath as the footsteps passed by me and faded away.

Someone screamed.

It was Zalikha.

I heard several people rushing through the corridor.

"Mistress, what happened? We heard there was trouble."

"It's Joseph," she cried. "
He tried to rape me.
"

The words filled me with bloodlust.

I no longer feared Lady Zalikha. But I hated her with every ounce of my being. If murder was legalised, I would rip her apart without a second thought. She was truly an evil,
evil
creature. She had no heart. Or if ever she had a heart, it was black.

But now, I had to look for Joseph. I had to save him somehow. I peeped out from my hiding place. The last of the servants disappeared into Zalikha's room.

I fled and found myself back in the loggia. I did not know where to begin looking. But I had to help Joseph escape.

"Asenath, what are you doing here?"

I turned to see Lord Potiphar.

He hurried over to me. "What happened? Are you all right?"

Normally, I would have apologised for intruding into his private territory. But now was not the time for etiquette.

"Lord Potiphar." I looked at him straight in the eye. "There is something I must tell you."

"What is it?"

"We found him, my lord." Two burly guards appeared with Joseph. They dragged him over and shoved him to the ground.

One of the guards kicked him in the stomach. The other one grabbed his hair and forced him to kneel. The first guard raised a fist to strike.

"That's enough," Potiphar said.

I was dismayed. Joseph looked flushed. His skin was glossy, covered in sweat. A ragged piece of cloth was wrapped around his waist, like a sorry excuse for a kilt.

Sharp footsteps clicked behind us. I turned to see the cursed woman. The fiend! She wore no makeup and her squinted eyes made her look like the snake she truly was.

She pointed at Joseph. "See him? See how pathetically he covers himself? This is what he left behind after he failed to have his way with me."

She held up Joseph's torn kilt. She rolled it into a ball and hurled it at him. It slapped his face before falling to the ground.