Out of the Black Land - By Kerry Greenwood Page 0,154

However, anyone who does not wish to continue in my service can leave now, with no penalty. You,’ I pointed to the sulky maiden Wab, ‘can go back and be beaten in the kitchen.

‘You,’ I pointed to Ipuy the old soldier, who had caused most of the trouble, ‘may be pensioned off to go to your acres which Pharaoh awarded you so long ago, as you keep reminding us all.

‘You and you,’ I indicated the servants who were brothers, ‘may go back to your father and take your sister with you. The same applies, one for all. I see no reason why I should not dismiss all of you and begin afresh with some people who wish to serve a very powerful general and to live in his well-conducted household.

‘I do not have time to adjudicate small quarrels between people who should know better. And if, as you may think, the state of the kingdom means that you may skimp and laze and complain endlessly, I am here to tell you that you are wrong. I want a household that can rule itself, and I mean to have it. The next things I have to say will relate to the internal workings of the General’s household, so anyone who wishes to leave will please leave now.’

I waited. No one moved. I stared from face to face, and each one nodded, even the old man Ipuy. Kasa burst into tears.

‘Do you all wish to stay?’ I asked, and ran my gaze along the faces again. Each person said, ‘I wish to stay.’

‘Very well. Here are the orders, and they come from the general, as well as me. But the general is not my source of power, my household. The source of power in this house is me. I am the Mistress of the House and I will be obeyed, and any repetition of behaviour such as I have endured this last decan will earn you instant dismissal. Do you all understand? You no longer have the luxury of serving me a slopped-over bowl of cold soup in place of dinner. You will not tear my cloths or burn holes in them because you are distracted when carrying a full lamp by a flirtatious comment from another servant. And you will not behave like children if I give you an order.

‘If we all do our part we will be comfortable and eventually we may even be friends. But for the moment we will strive for comfort. This is the way this household will conduct itself, beginning tomorrow. The cook Takhar will rise and make breakfast for all of us when the sun rises; no later and no earlier. Her cooking stove is to be kept supplied by Kasa; always supplied, with no excuses and no loud quarrels as he is slapped and sent for more fuel. If Takhar needs more fuel, she will ask for it the night before, not make a riot at daybreak.

‘Then my own maids will help me rise and care for me as I require, which is not much. My butler Bukentef will draw the household allowance of wine and other things as required. He must keep a list of what is expended so he can draw more ahead of time, not rush around borrowing from our neighbours at the last moment. Think ahead.

‘We are still going to eat tomorrow, so draw enough for tomorrow as well. Today’s wine will not quench tomorrow’s thirst, to paraphrase Amenhotep-Osiris the wise.

‘There is not much to do. You are not being worked to the bone. I must be able to leave you and not come back, as I came today, to find Kasa snuffling in a corner, Bukentef drunk, Ipuy snarling insults and Takhar beside herself because she has nothing to cook and nothing to cook with. Four of my guards had gone to a dice game out of earshot. I find Ii mating with a soldier who should be on guard and the other two women quarrelling about who burned a hole in a fine linen cloth. Is that the behaviour expected of grown people?’

They hung their heads. Their knees must have been getting sore, as well. I kept them there a little longer.

‘The next quarrel which comes to my ears, I will dismiss both of the contestants. Instantly. Now, consider for yourselves if you want to defy me. I mean what I say and I am a woman of my word.’

My household inspected me for signs of weakness or