Good People, it was sworn to me that Amen,
greatest of the gods, set his spirit within me when I was born, and
vowed that he would help me in the hour of my need. Of your grace,
then, give me space to pray to Amen. Look," and she pointed before her,
"yonder sinks the red ball of the sun; soon, soon it will be gone--give
me until it enters the gateways of the West to pray to Amen, and then if
no help comes I will bow me to your bidding, and do homage to this noble
Prince of the Hyksos blood, who snared Pharaoh his brother, and by help
of his magicians and of his spy, Merytra, brought him to his end."

"Yes, my people, give her the space she asks," called Abi, who feared
nothing from Amen, a somewhat remote personage, and was afraid lest some
tumult should happen in the course of which this lovely, new-made wife
of his might be slain or injured.

So they gave her the space of time she asked. Standing up, Tua raised
her arms and eyes towards heaven, and began to pray aloud:

"Hear me, Amen my Father, in the House of thy Rest, as thou hast sworn
to do. O Amen my Father, thou seest my strait. Is it thy will that thy
daughter should degrade herself and thee before this man who slew his
king and brother, to whom thou hast commanded her to give the name of
husband? If it be so, I will obey; but if it be not so, then show thy
word by might or marvel, and cause him and his folk who mock my majesty
and name me bastard, to bow down before me. O Amen, they deny thee in
their hearts who worship other gods, as did the barbarians who begat
them and threw down thy shrines in Egypt, but I know that thou sentest
me forth, and in thee I put my trust, aye, even if thou slay me. Amen my
Father, yonder sinks that glory in which thou dost hide thy spirit. Now,
ere it be gone and night falls upon the world, declare thyself in such
fashion that all men may know that indeed I am thy child; or if this be
thy decree, desert me and Egypt, and leave me to my shame."

She ended her prayer and, sinking back upon the throne, rested her chin
upon her hand, and gazed steadily upon the splendour of the sinking sun.
Nor did she gaze alone, for every man in that vast hall turned himself
about, and stared at its departing glory. There in the red light they
stood, and stared, and since the place was open to the sky, the shadows
of the two towering obelisks without fell on them like the shadows of
swords whereof the points met together at the foot of Tua's th