Chapter 20. The History of the Fever
Remi found herself back inside the wall of ether. This time, she wasn’t just with Demir, but also with his twin brother, Samir. They were back in the past, at the court of Pharaoh Akhenaten. The two children stood on either side of the writer-turned-woman, each holding her hand tightly.
— Where are we now? Samir asked. Is this the place and time where we were born?
Demir looked at his brother inquisitively, then at Remi. He took a deep breath of the hot, suffocating air.
— Can you smell that too?
— It smells of sweet lotus, sacred incense (kyphi), and vinegar! Mehyt’s voice rang out immediately, as if he had been waiting for them. The black cat, who had been silent until then, walked out to meet them.
— Now there are three of you, he said. Follow me! I don't know why you ask for my help every single time, only to vanish right after...
— We won't stay long this time either! Remi interrupted. We have a fever, and I think...
— You think you're the only ones with a fever? Don't you see how everyone around you is suffering? The servants, the royal family, the doctors... everyone has caught it. Only the High Priest is safe, and now he claims the Sun God is angry and punishing us.
The three followed Mehyt, unable to believe that an ancient sickness had caught up with them in the twenty-first century, making modern medicines completely useless.
The tall windows were covered with heavy, wet linen sheets to block out the desert heat. Lit oil lamps cast flickering shadows on the walls, which were painted with patterns of the sun disc.
— Let's go into Queen Meritmut’s bedroom! Inside, you'll see her sister, Meritbastet, and the Queen Mother too.
— Let's hurry then, today's visit will be very short, Remi whispered, pulling the twins behind her into the royal rooms.
Inside, two Nubian maids waved large ostrich-feather fans to move the heavy air. The rhythmic swoosh of the fans almost drowned out Queen Meritmut's weak voice. She lay next to her twins—who were about one year old now—on a royal bed that looked like a sailing ship in the immensity of the room. Her burning hand was held by Queen Tiye, whose hand was covered in rings. She seemed untouched by the illness so far.
– Mother! Meritmut used every bit of her strength to speak. I know the High Priest is your brother, but you can't trust him. Believe me, Mother, he wants to hurt your son and my children.
— Don't exhaust yourself, my dear! Save your strength! I will watch over you. My brother is not a bad man. He has always given good advice to my magnificent son. Don't waste your energy!
— Our mother! Samir whispered, watching the heartbreaking scene. She sensed the danger, but it looks like Grandmother didn't believe her.
— Grandmother Tiye looks so much like Grandmother Shehrazad! Only her red hair makes her different, Demir added. Look, do you see over there? That must be a time mirror! the boy said, pointing to a huge, round bronze bowl sitting on the polished white limestone floor.
Next to the bowl, the white cat they had seen before, Meritbastet, seemed to be guarding the mirror with her life.
— Let's talk to her! Remi said. Come on, we don't have time!
The white cat had noticed them the moment they walked into the royal room, but she had waited patiently.
— Can you see us? Samir asked her. We aren't ghosts, we're those children...
— I know, Mehyt told me. You are from the future.
— Meritmut is right, the High Priest is dangerous, Demir added. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he started this sickness.
— The doctor from our time says it can only be cured with cool cloths and water. Drink plenty of water! Remi managed to say just before the loud ringing of the tortoise-shaped alarm clock pulled them back to the present.
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