CHAPTER NINE Seti began to run around the courtyard, calling out the names of everything he saw. ‘It’s a water flagon! A bread oven! A string of onions! Look, look – it’s a beautiful statue!’ he cried, and reached out to touch the scorpion on top of the statue of Serqet. Rahotep smiled, but then lapsed back into his thoughts. A strange realisation dawned on Hopi. For the first time in his life, he had actually helped someone to recover from the attack of a dangerous snake. Rahotep had said so, hadn’t he? I have done all I can. But you did more. ‘It’s a miracle!’ shouted Seti. He turned to Hopi and flung an arm around him. ‘Hopi! The goddess has forgiven me, after all!’ Rahotep came out of his reverie. ‘You have received the blessing of the goddess Serqet,’ he said quietly. ‘And Hopi has been her instrument of healing. But come. We must take the next step, and gather witnesses. There is no time to lose.’ The priest of Serqet took Seti by the arm and guided him out of the courtyard towards the street.
