Chapter Six – The Wide Waters

Anzety, brother of Neferaset and the high priest of the temple of Isis, stood between the landing pillars and looked into the distance at the pilgrim boat departing from the eastern bank of the great river, heading for the temple island of Gezirah an-Nabatath, his home for the past ten years.

The old and rickety craft rolled heavily at the limit of his vision. He could see that she was packed with the final group of official visitors to the temple, whose numbers would soon swell the rites of Akhet, the all-important season of inundation. Many of those now making their passage across the powerful side currents of the river would have journeyed for days or even weeks to join in the festivities of this, the most revered of the island’s religious festivals.

The old barque was the last temple ferry to depart…