The Philistine Warrior (20 page)

My Cousin reached out to touch her servant’s hand: “Astarte has been kind to us both,” she said; but in her heart (she told me much later), in her heart she thanked the Holy Queen of Heaven, the Goddess Inanna of the
Secret Ways
….

And for weeks after that, as she recovered, Delai welcomed visitations from Priest Ibbi, now an honored guest—no, as a member of the family, with his own little apartment in the mansion. He taught Delai the secret rites of Inanna; she was permitted to tell her husband—and Rachel—of the inner
Temple
, but of little else, except that she was learning a new and secret way of worshiping Ishtar. The rites themselves she couldn’t reveal to anyone, although I believe she told the Prince more than Ibbi had allowed. Again, much later, I myself came to learn something of those rites—but not from Delai, of course.

Meanwhile, during the long and humid nights of her convalescence, while wet nurses suckled the baby—because her own milk was not sufficient—Princess Delai lay in bed, pondering the Great Goddess Inanna. A strange Queen of Heaven She was: Goddess of the Evening Star, Daughter of the Moon God, Descendant

of the mighty King of the Gods, Enlil—as the Sumerians called Him…Inanna was the Goddess of War and Blood…and yet also the Goddess of Love, Wife of Dumuzi-Tammuz, Protector of the Ways of Women, Patroness of the Fields, Goddess of Erech. Peace filled Delai’s soul whenever she recited the names and honors of her Goddess.

When she was well enough, a ceremony was staged for the naming of her son. He was to be called after his father: Ekosh; but in the Egyptian spelling, Akashou.

“This name,” Prince Ekosh told the assembled notables gathered around Delai’s bed, “commemorates the Trojan warrior Anchises, father or Aeneas, who fought at the side of the Great King Nomion. It is my name, too, but in Karia and
Philistia
it’s pronounced ‘Ekosh.’ Our son, however, was born in
Egypt
, and so the Egyptian version is most appropriate.” The Egyptians attending the ceremony smiled broadly at this compliment, and everybody crowded around to see the child.

Akashou soon developed dark hair and grew fat and healthy. But the Prince promised his wife that her next child would be born in
Philistia
by the sea, because Ibbi believed that the great heat of
Egypt
was bad for Delai during pregnancy.

Rachel and Menena were married the day after the naming ceremony. The Canaanite girl, formerly at such loose ends in
Egypt
, now enjoyed complete happiness. She ceased to be Delai’s personal servent, of course, but remained her companion of sorts, and they saw each other almost every day, since Menena’s apartments were also in the mansion.

Menena and Delai continued to be good friends. As she began to recover her strength, she longed once more for activity and the hardy sports which we Philistines love. And so, Menena promised to teach her chariot driving, even horseback riding, when she would be well enough. Sometimes the two couples—despite their difference in rank—would join each other for dinner, or for backgammon. Ekosh frequently found himself too busy for much social life, but Delai, as before her confinement, was free to spend many hours with Rahel and Menena. The Chamberlain wanted to hear about
Philistia
, and also

any gossip Delai might have picked up at this or that party, or from the Prince and his official visitors.

By the time I arrived in
Thebes
—weeks later—my Cousin had long been out of her bed and able to exercise for brief periods of time. The Egyptian doctors marveled at the swift and almost complete recovery she’d made. I had sent word ahead, shortly before reaching
Thebes
, saying that I was coming, but not revealing my purpose—for diplomatic reasons, as well as out of courtesy to the Prince.

Thus it was that Delai made her preparations to greet me with joy; we embraced, and tears of happiness came to her eyes. “Dear, sweet Cousin!” she exclaimed, holding both of my hands in hers; and soon she was like before: laughing, beaming…and yet I could tell that she’d changed to some extent. The open blouse she wore showed a more mature figure than I remembered; she was no longer the starry-eyed, girlish Delai of a year or so before. Her eyes had circles under them, and she was still rather drawn in appearance; but her spirits were high, and I knew that she’d soon put on weight and color again…although I wondered whether the Egyptian climate might not be wearing her down.

She showed me her baby with great excitement—a fat little thing, whom I admired, of course. I thought, perhaps now was the time to reveal the bad news I’d brought—about Nasuy; plus the good news: that she and the Prince would immediately return home. At least I assumed that would be good news—to her, anyway, if not to the Prince, who obviously felt at home in
Egypt
. Yet courtesy forbade me to tell her before telling him.

If she had intuited from my sudden arrival, or from the look on my face, that I must have some important news, she showed no inclination to badger me for it. Perhaps she felt a certain dread of the unknown. That lousy campaign against the Danites…well, she certainly knew all about it, and our subsequent troubles. Maybe she imagined that I had come to explain it all to the Prince and seek his advice. But she didn’t have any reason to expect the Melek’s death, or her husband’s sudden elevation. I had come so swiftly to
Thebes

that no rumors of Nasuy’s illness, let alone of his demise, had reached there before me.

Fortunately, Prince Ekosh soon arrived. He greeted me with enthusiasm, but immediately demanded to know my mission. So I described the Melek’s death and the Prince’s own election. “They want to give you extraordinary powers to unite all of
Philistia
in the struggle against the hill tribesmen and the Danites,” I said. “Ekron’s capitulation weighs heavily upon us.”

The Prince listened with little change of expression as I continued to describe the situation back home. Delai was saddened to hear of the Melek’s demise—he’d been very kind to her during that one meeting—but she seemed quite pleased at the prospect of returning to
Philistia
; I could tell that she was still a bit homesick. Lunch was served, and none of us could speak about important matters with servants hovering around.

At last we three were alone again. Delai spoke up: “Darling,” she grabbed her husband’s arm, “we can go back home!” Ekosh nodded, but his eyes stared beyond her, out of the window. I recalled then just how much an Egyptian he really was. Son of Piram, he was also the offspring of an Egyptian noblewoman, and he’d spent most of his adult life in
Egypt
. Everyone knew of the loyalty and affection he’d given the pharaohs and governors under whom he’d served—pharaohs and governors, some would say, who hadn’t deserved such devotion, even when they were grateful for it. The same thought must have occurred to Delai: “I’m sorry, my Lord,” she stammered, looking down at the floor. “…this is your home….”

“But not yours, I know,” he replied, “though you’ve tried hard to hide your longing for Askelon. In any case, it’s beyond ours to reject, this call. I must return to
Gath
, Delai—or there might be a disputed succession…
Philistia
might become more divided than it is now, and our dynasty might lose the office of Melek. Worse, the hill people—and worst, the Danites—would take advantage, more than now, take advantage of our confusion. The Assyrian Emperor might try to extend his influence into our country.” He paused. “But Nasuy had a grandson…perhaps…I could rule only until the situation gets

cleared up…and then turn the throne over to Maoch, or make him regent, until Nasuy’s grandson comes of age…?”

He hadn’t really asked for my opinion, or Delai’s—but wondering all this to himself; yet I dared to speak up: “My Lord, the Philistine people will want you to stay.”

Delai added: “I hope you—we—can come back to
Egypt
; but I think they’ll try to make you remain in
Gath
.”

“We’ll need you for a long time, sir, better yet, forever,” I concluded.

“Perhaps,” he considered. “But it’s also true that Pharaoh needs me—almost as much…or even more, in the long run…. Well, in any case, for the immediate future, we must go to
Gath
, at once.” Delai moved close to him, and he took her in his arms. “I shall see Menena now and have him make ready for the journey. I hope he’ll come with us,” the Prince remarked.

“I do, too, my Lord,” she murmured. “Not only because he’ll be able to help you, but also because I hate to think of leaving Rachel here in
Egypt
.”

Ekosh smiled a bit, then turned to me: “Colonel Phicol, how would you like to be my aide-de-camp, at least until I get settled in office? I know you’d prefer front-line duty, but….”

I almost fell over backwards, and a fleeting picture of Zaggi’s frown caused me to reply with special zest: “Yes, SIR!” I answered. “I’ll be proud to serve you!”

That settled it—so quickly, without any concern for public or dynastic opinion in
Gath
, or Askelon, as to my sudden promotion; it was a sign that Ekosh intended to take charge, without any back talk from anyone. He abruptly left us to find Menena.

Delai went over to the window and looked out at her beautiful garden. “It’ll be sad to leave
Egypt
, Phicol,” she sighed. “I’ve wanted to go home, it’s true…and yet I
have
been happy here, despite the heat, despite my illness…. It’s so beautiful here in the evenings…I want to see my homeland, too—but now the Prince will be so busy, and there’ll be so much fighting and trouble at home…I’m scared a little by it all, Phicol….”

I took her hand and she smiled at me in her tender way. Then her chin came up; we went into the mansion to do our part in preparing for our departure.

Within less than a week, most of the preparations were finished, and we were about ready to leave. Menena had agreed to follow the Prince; Ibbi’s status, however, remained in doubt. The priest said that he would like to accompany us to
Philistia
, so as to continue the initiation of Delai into his secret cult—and also to visit

an important temple in Timnath, in
Philistia
; then he might move on to visit his Babylonian homeland. But there was still much to do in

Egypt
for his religion, he explained to us, and he might rather stay in
Thebes
for a while, and join us in
Gath
at a later date.

I was discussing Ibbi’s plans with Delai early one afternoon, when Menena and Rachel joined us. Rachel appeared about ready to burst with happiness. I assumed at first that she was anticipating our return home; but we soon learned that she had another reason for joy: she was, she announced proudly, already pregnant! I congratulated Menena, pumping his hand until I thought he would blush, while Delai positively squealed as she hugged her former servant.

“If it’s a boy,” Rachel suggested, “we’ll name him Menena. But if we have a girl, we’d like to call her Delilah—with your permission!”