Page 43 of The Death
“But if I’m unhappy, my work may suffer,” she said quickly. “You wouldn’t want that. I’m not asking that much.”
“True. As long as you don’t make waves with Zakira that I have to correct.”
“Let’s face it, I’m not going to be able to call the shots here. You proved that when you took my boy,” Eve said. “All I can control is my skill in my profession. I’ll try to make my dealings with that priest as incident-free as possible until we can come to an agreement.”
“You’re going to get the opportunity very soon.” He nodded at a bald man who was coming toward them from thedirection of the village. “It seems Zakira is honoring you with his presence.” Wearing sandals and dressed in camouflage pants and shirt with brilliant ribbons decorating his chest, along with a bejeweled dagger in the holster at his waist, the priest looked like a character from a B movie to Eve. Almost as if he’d read her mind, Caldwell murmured, “Don’t make any mistakes. Zakira may look a bit bizarre, but he attended Oxford University, and he can be sharp as a tack when it suits him. It might be better to leave the negotiating to me. He doesn’t have very much respect for women.”
“Yet he chose me to do this death mask.”
“I chose you. Don’t forget that fact.” He stepped forward and bowed before Zakira. “How kind of you to honor us, Zakira. This is the woman I told you about. A little pressure and she agreed to come here to serve you. She only begs to be permitted to care for the child until the mask is done.”
Zakira took Eve’s chin between his thumb and forefinger and lifted it to look at her face. “She does not look like one who serves.”
Caldwell said quickly, “She’s been spoiled a little by the fame I told you about. But she will cause no problem if you do as I instructed regarding her training. I’ve already prepared everything for the first lesson. Will she do?”
“I’ll examine her work. We will see.” He shrugged. “But you still haven’t given me the other woman you promised. When do I get the one with the violet eyes?”
“Soon. Don’t be impatient. This woman can give you what you immediately need. You agreed she was an expert when I showed you a few of her sculptures. Her work will impress everyone.”
Zakira shrugged. “But what I do with the other woman will show the entire world that I’m master of all I survey. She will be a token of the power I wield. You promised me I would have both.”
“Violet eyes…” Eve murmured. “You’re talking about Celine Kelly? May I say that I’m happy you may have to make do with my humble services. From what I know about her, she seems too clever for Caldwell to use in his games.” She gave a mocking bow. “But then I can’t guarantee that he gave you the correct information about me, either. I don’t even know if I’ll be able to create this mask if the tomb wasn’t kept at the proper temperature and ventilated.” She heard Caldwell mutter a curse but didn’t look at him. There was clearly a conflict between the two men that she might be able to use if she could handle it correctly. “Caldwell said you were both educated and intelligent, but I wasn’t certain he’d let you know that those preparations were necessary. I don’t want my son to suffer because Caldwell was careless about giving you what you need.”
Zakira was gazing at her with narrowed eyes. “You might be adequate after all. For your information, Caldwell didn’t have to tell me about those advance preparations. I told him everything and ordered him to get me both the equipment and the people I’d need to create the mask. I’ve been planning to do this since I was a boy at my father’s knee and he first taught me about our destiny. He knew we were meant to lead, to gain power by giving the masses a compelling connection to the ancients. I’ve already begun that journey, but you will help me complete it. You will have everything you need, including the services of a worker in goldand choice of gems to complete the mask. Does that sound satisfactory?”
“I’d have to examine the jewels to be used in the mask,” she said. “Did you choose them, or did you rely on Caldwell?”
“I chose them,” Zakira said impatiently. “I wouldn’t leave such an important choice to anyone else. Caldwell serves me. I do not serve him. Tell her, Caldwell.”
“Of course I do,” Caldwell said. “I obey his every command.”
“Sarcasm, Caldwell?” the priest asked. “I let you share many of my most exquisite treasures. You have only to ask. I do not appreciate sarcasm.”
“You misread me,” Caldwell said without expression. “It was not sarcasm. And I appreciate your generosity. Would you like me to take her to the temple and show her the jewels that you’ve chosen for the mask?”
“No, I will take her,” Zakira said. “There are other things in the temple I wish to point out to her. You go and get the boy and bring him to her hut so that she will see that I’ve not seen fit to damage him… yet.”
A brilliant smile lit Caldwell’s face. “What a splendid idea. Just what I’d expect of you. As it happens, I’ve already set up the arrangements for that lesson I mentioned in the museum. We do think alike on the important things. Enjoy seeing all those lovely treasures Zakira will show you, Eve.” He turned to leave. “I’ll see you after the grand tour.”
The museum where Zakira took Eve was not large, but the glass cases it contained were almost overflowing with precious jewels and finely wrought golden objects and ornaments. It was also guarded by three uniformed guards, who stood to attention the minute the priest entered the room.
Zakira gestured toward the treasures as he led her down the first aisle. “Are they not wonderful? I gathered the finest craftsmen I could find to work on my museum. This is only a small sample of the treasures I found when I discovered the tomb where those foul traitors had hidden the queen when they stole her from the palace after her death. I’ve secreted most of those safely away. But I had to have a suitable display to show my importance to my subjects, so I had them create a special museum just for me and fill it with offerings.”
“Offerings?” Eve tried not to let him see how distasteful she was finding this. “That’s a strange word to use. I’m sure the treasures you took from that queen’s tomb were offerings, but you said that you ordered your people to create and give these treasures to you.”
“They were offerings.” His eyes were narrowed on her face. “Because I am both chief and priest here, and it was their duty to obey me. I deserved their worship and obedience. Just as I deserve your total obedience.” He added deliberately, “I’m beginning to see why Caldwell decided you needed to be shown respect. You’re not pleasing me, Eve Duncan.” His smile was not pleasant. “But before I let you go to your son, I know we will come to an understanding.” He gestured for her to follow him down another aisle. “First, though, I have a few other things to show you.” He stopped before a wall wherethere was a photo of Eve. “As you can see, I chose to honor you here in my museum.”
“I prefer you appreciate my work, not anything to do with me personally.”
“But I don’t care what you prefer.” His face was suddenly twisted with anger. “Ichoseit. And what I choose comes to be.” He grabbed her arm and shoved her down another aisle so that she was facing the opposite wall. Another gold-framed photo was on that wall. “Here is another choice I made, but Caldwell hasn’t been able to give her to me yet. Is she not beautiful? She’s the one I chose for you to use as a model for the mask.”
Celine Kelly! Eve stiffened but tried not to show any expression. “I guess she’s attractive enough. But why her, of everyone in the world? How did you know she even existed?”
“The miracle of modern technology. My advisors used online search engines to find close modern matches for Nefertiti. This young woman’s face kept popping up. Caldwell did a good job finding her.”
“Hmm. Naturally, I’ll do whatever you wish.”
“Of course you will,” Zakira said. “Because you know what will happen to you if you don’t.” His gaze was raking her face. “You recognize her, don’t you? She actually attended one of your seminars. Fate may have played a hand, but Caldwell was there. He photographed you both.”
