"Not yet, perchance," he said calmly, "or never. But we shall not put trust in auguries. The oppression of the people is already begun at Pa-Ramesu and the brick-fields. Ye shall not return to those dire hardships. Ye can not return to Masaarah. In Memphis I offer my father's house, but Rachel refuses it. In Nehapehu there is safety among the peasantry on the murket's lands. My father lost an all-powerful signet in the tomb of the Incomparable Pharaoh at Tape, and did not search for it because he believed that Rameses had taken it away from him. The king will honor it and grant whatever petition I make to him. If ye are unafraid to abide in this tomb for the few remaining hours of this night I shall take you to Nehapehu at dawn. There ye can abide till I go to Tape and return. What sayest thou?"
The old woman looked at him quietly for a moment.
"Is this place safe?" she asked.
"The forty-two demons of Amenti could not drive an Egyptian into this tomb."
"How comes it that thou art not afraid?"
"I have no belief in spirits."
"Nor have we. Why need we go hence? We shall abide here till thou shalt return."
"In this place!" Kenkenes exclaimed, recoiling. "Nay! I shall be gone sixteen days at least."
"We shall not fear to live in a tomb, we who have defied untombed death daily. We shall remain here."
"This hole—this cave of death!"