Morning Star Read online

  Now in the morning Pharaoh summoned his Court and commanded that thePrince Abi should be brought before him. So the Prince came and Pharaohaddressed him kindly.

  "Son of my father," he said, "I have considered your request that Ishould take you to rule with me on the throne of Egypt, and name you andyour sons to be Pharaohs after me, and it is refused. Know that it hasbeen revealed to me and to the royal wife, Ahura, by the greatest of thegods, that a daughter shall be born to us in due season, who shall becalled Morning Star of Amen, and that she and her seed shall be Pharaohsafter me. Therefore rejoice with us and return to your government,Prince Abi, and be happy in our love, and in the goods and greatnessthat the gods have given you."

  Now Abi shook with anger, for he thought that all this tale was a trickand a snare. But knowing that his peril was great there in the hand ofPharaoh, he answered only that when this Morning Star arose, hisstar should do it reverence, though as the words passed his lips heremembered the prophecy of his astrologer Kaku, that the Morning Star ofAmen should blot out that star of his.

  "You think that I speak falsely, Prince Abi, yes, that I stain my lipswith lies," said Pharaoh with indignation. "Well, I forgive you thisalso. Go hence and await the issue and know by this sign that truth isin my heart. When the Princess Neter-Tua is born, upon her breast shallbe seen the symbol of the Sign of Life. Depart now, lest I grow angry.The gifts I have promised shall follow you to Memphis."

  So Abi returned to the white-walled city of Memphis and sat theresullenly, putting it about that a plot was on foot to deprive him ofhis heritage. But Kaku shook his head, saying in secret that the Star,Neter-Tua, would arise, for so it was decreed by Amen, father of thegods.