when we were young

Sequel to the Golden Goblet

Ibni’s Treachery

Plink ping plink ping! Ranofer’s hammer sang out like a clear bell as it shaped a hunk of gold into an exquisite bracelet. Ranofer stopped hammering, and picked up the bracelet, studying it critically. “What do you think, Master?” he asked tentatively. Zau looked at it decisively, and replied approvingly, “It is very good, very good indeed”, he nodded his wise old head.

“Really?” was Ranofer’s incredulous whisper.

“Yes, even my most advanced students cannot shape such a fine-looking bracelet.” Zau replied. Ranofer bowed, gratefully. He was very happy that he was Zau’s apprentice, happier than he had ever been since his father had died. The sun was setting, and Ranofer bowed to Zau. “Peace be with you, Master.” He said.

“Peace be with you, Ranofer.” Zau said. Ranofer bowed once again and strode out of the shop, his brilliant bracelet wrapped up in a shenti the Queen had given him. He walked to the banks of the Nile, and watched Ra sink in the sky. Despite the fact that he might be robbed, he took out the bracelet, and held it up to setting sun.

It was quite beautiful, and made of pure gold. It was in the shape of lilies, twining all around the arm, and lovelier the moon. The centers of the lilies were plated with priceless silver, and the whole bracelet shone like the star on a cloudless night. Ranofer sighed. Aii! He thought. Amon has blessed me so. First, I caught the tomb robbers, Gebu and Wenamon. Then the Queen granted my wishes. Now, I am becoming a master goldsmith. Aii!! I know! He started. I shall give this lovely armband to Zau, as my appreciation. Nay! That will not do, Zau can make anything like this anytime. I shall give it to the Queen, the Daughter of the Sun! She will wear it, and it will glow on her slender arm like the moon on a cloudy night.

Wrapped up in his thoughts, Ranofer started to walk toward his little cottage, still holding up the beautiful bracelet. It was as quiet as a grave as he made his way through the thicket to his cottage. There was a slight sound as his beloved donkey, Thutra, came to greet him. “Ah, it has been a lovely day, my friend,” He said as he stroked the donkey’s nose. “And look! I have some honey cake that Zau gave me! We will have a real feast tonight!” Quickly, Ranofer doled out some bread, onions, cheese, grapes, honey cake, and water to himself and Thutra. He had named the donkey Thutra to remind him of his beloved father. They ate quietly, sitting outside the hut, watching the moon shine behind the clouds. When they finished eating, Ranofer led Thutra into his pen, and he settled down on his frayed sleeping mat with his handsome bracelet at his side. Life cannot get better than this, he thought. And with that, he drifted off into a restful, dreamless sleep.

When he awoke the next day, refreshed and energized, he made it up in his mind to present his masterpiece to the Queen. He picked up the bracelet, which looked a little dull. What happened? He had just polished it last night. Perplexed, he picked up one of his best shentis and buffed the bangle vigorously. It didn’t help. But the most peculiar thing was that it wasn’t cool to the touch and smooth to the fingers, the way gold and silver is. It felt rough, spoiled, and PAINTED!!! Ranofer quickly scraped his fingernail against a petal of a lily flower. Aii! It scraped off! This was paint! This was a fake mimic of his own piece of art! Someone had stolen his beautiful armband and had replaced it with a crude replica! Ah! What a fool he was! He had thought nobody was watching when he had taken the bracelet out of his shenti on the way home and had admired it! And now, his hopes of pleasing the Queen were gone! Ranofer screamed with anguish and fury and threw the painted bracelet in the thicket.

As he was walking down the street, looking for Kai the baker’s boy, and brooding about who could of taken his precious armband, he saw a very familiar figure hastening to Mutra’s wine shop. That stooping figure, with cheese white hands, it was Ibni!! He had a bundle underneath his arm! That wretched beast! He must have stolen his armband and is now going to celebrate with a goblet of barley beer! Ranofer started to chase after that atrocious figure, but stopped. Aii! If I go in now, he thought. People will catch me! A wine shop, full of brawny men, is not a place for a young boy. I must wait, and plan. I will wait for Ibni to come out, and follow him to his home. Then I shall alert the Queen’s guards that there is a thief on the loose. Then I will lead them to Ibni and they will teach him a lesson! Then I will get back my beloved bracelet, polish it, and present it to the Daughter of the Sun! Rejuvenated by this ideal plan, he bought some bread, and settled down behind a tree next to Mutra’s wine shop and waited.

Finally, near sunset, Ibni came out, still clutching his bundle with his repulsive hands. When he was well down the street, Ranofer crept along about ten paces behind him, like a lone dog. Every so often, Ibni would look surreptitiously behind him. Ranofer knew that look. It was the look Gebu sometimes had. I look of greed, hate, and utter malevolence. Ugh, how he hated Ibni. He loathed thinking about Ibni stroking his lovely armband, spoiling its loveliness. Finally, they came to a shabby little hut.

Ranofer quickly sprawled on the ground behind a palm, and watched as Ibni carefully placed his precious package just inside the door. Then, he strode off toward a well nearby. When Ibni was out of sight, Ranofer picked up the package and hastily untied it. Inside, was his lily-shaped bracelet. His heart beat uncontrollably, and with trembling fingers, he replaced his bracelet with the fake one. He tucked his precious bracelet inside his shenti and tied the bundle back together again. “Having a fine time, aren’t you? Little thief!” A chilling voice in his ear whispered. Despite of his careful planning, he had forgotten to go fetch the palace guards! Ibni wrenched him around and cuffed him soundly around the ears. His head spun, and he found himself spread-eagled on the dirt road, being beaten by Ibni! Again and again, he punched Ranofer. Aii! I must not let this brute get away with this! And with a mighty effort, he pushed Ibni off him and began to run.

Ibni chased after him, yelling his name. Ranofer ran, as he had never run before, with Ibni gaining with every beat of his feet. But Ranofer wasn’t running because of fear, he was running toward the palace. On and on they ran, until the beautiful gates of the palace came into view. He ran across the courtyard, yelling, “Thief! Thief! There’s a thief following me!” And sure enough, the guards quickly pinned Ibni down. “This man was pursuing one of the Queen’s Favored! Let him be dragged off to be testified!”

They dragged the struggling Ibni off, and Ranofer sat down to catch his breath. Finally, he got up, and looked at the stars, they were shining very brightly, as if they were smiling down on him, winking approvingly at his good deeds. He had taken back what was his and had revealed a thief that had roamed Thebes for too long. He reached into his shenti and pulled out his immaculate armband. He would give it to the Queen tomorrow. Now, though, he must go home, and tell Thutra about his heroic day. He set off, into the night.

something i wrote in 6th grade.