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ibility to procure this corpse。 In the present climate in the land this had not been difficult。 The plague was still flourishing in the poorer outlying areas of the nome。 In addition； there were the nightly gleanings from the streets and alleys of the city； the victims of brawling； outright murder； or footpads。
Hilto had considered all these sources。 However； in the end he had found； in circumstances so perfect to the quest that they could not have been coincidental； the ideal substitute for the young Pharaoh。 The city bailiffs had arrested this lad in the very act of slitting the purse of one of the most influential millet merchants in Thebes； and the magistrates had not hesitated to sentence him to death by strangulation。 The condemned lad was so like in body and general plexion to Nefer as to be able to pass as his brother。 In addition he was well set…up and healthy； not like the starvelings and plague victims。 Hilto had spoken to the mander of the city guards who had been charged with carrying out the execution； and during this friendly exchange three heavy gold rings had found their way into that worthy's purse。 It was agreed that the strangulation be delayed until Hilto gave him the word； and that it would be carried out with as little apparent damage to the victim as the executioner's skill could enpass。 The prisoner had been given justice that very morning and his body was not yet cold。
The canopic jars were arranged in the small shrine at the end of the hall。 Taita ordered Meren to fetch them and open the stoppers ready for filling。 While he was doing this； Taita rolled the corpse over and made a sweeping incision down his left side。 There was little time for surgical finesse。 He thrust his hand into the opening and drew forth the viscera then； using both hands； he worked the scalpel deep into the interior of the corpse。 First he cut through the diaphragm to gain access to the chest cavity； then reached deeper； past the lungs； liver and spleen； until he could sever the windpipe above its juncture with the lungs。 Finally he rolled the corpse over； ordered Meren to hold the buttocks apart and with sure strokes freed the sphincter muscles of the anus。 Now all the contents of the interior of the chest and abdomen were unanchored。
He brought them out on to the diorite slab in a single mass。 Meren blanched； swayed on his feet and clapped his hand over his mouth。
'Not on the floor； in the sink；' Taita ordered brusquely。 Meren had fought against Apepi's regiments in the north。 He had killed a man and been unaffected by the carnage of the battlefield； but now he fled to the stone basin in the corner and puked noisily into it。
Bloodied to the elbows； Taita began to separate the liver； lungs； stomach and entrails into piles。 As soon as this was done he took the entrails and stomach to the sink； wherein already reposed Meren's contribution。 He flushed out the contents of the dismembered stomach and entrails and packed them into their jars。 He filled every jar with the pickling natron salts； and sealed the stoppers。 Then he washed his hands and arms in the bronze basins filled with water expressly for that purpose。 He glanced enquiringly at Bay； and the Nubian nodded his bald； scarified head； reassuring Taita as to Nefer's condition。 Working with controlled haste Taita stitched the abdominal incision closed。 Then he bandaged the head until its features were hidden。 When that was done； he and Hilto carried the corpse to the large natron bath and lowered it into the harsh alkali mixture； until only the bandaged head was not immersed。 It would remain in the bath； with the head covered； for the next sixty days。 At the end of that time the priests would remove the bandage； and discover the substitution。 By that time； however； Taita and Nefer would be far away。
It took only a little longer to sluice down the slab with leather buckets of water； and to pack Taita's instruments； before they were ready to leave。 Taita knelt beside the basket in which Nefer lay； and laid a hand on his naked chest to feel the warmth of his skin and to check his breathing。 It was slow and even。 He drew down one eyelid and watched the pupil react to the light。 Satisfied； he stood up and gestured for Hilto and Bay to cover the hidden partment。 When this was done and they began to replace the basket lid； Taita stopped them。 'Leave it open；' he ordered。 'Let the priests see that it is empty。'
The bearers lifted the basket by its handles and Taita led them to the doors。 As they approached Hilto threw them open； and the assembly of priests craned forward。 They gave the empty basket only a cursory glance as it was carried out； then rushed into the Hall of Sorrow with almost indecent haste to take over the duties that had been usurped from them。 Ignored by the crowds that had gathered outside the temple； Taita's men loaded the basket on to the leading chariot and drove in column back to the city。
When they entered the main gates they found the narrow streets almost deserted。 The populace had either flocked to the funerary temple to pray for the young pharaoh； or they had hurried to the palace to await the announcement of his successor； although there was little doubt in anyone's mind as to who would be the next pharaoh of the upper kingdom。
Hilto drove the chariot to the guards' barracks near the east gate； and the basket was carried through the back entrance of his private quarters。 Here； everything was in readiness to receive Nefer。 They lifted him out of the bottom partment and Taita； with Bay assisting him； went to work to revive Nefer fully。 Within hours he was well enough to eat a little millet bread and drink a bowl of warm mare's milk and honey。
At last Taita judged it safe to leave him for a while in Bay's charge； and drove through the narrow empty streets。 Ahead of him he heard the sudden din of wild cheering。 When he reached the environs of the palace he found himself enveloped in a dense crowd of citizens celebrating the ascension of the new pharaoh。 'Eternal life to His Sacred Majesty Pharaoh Naja Kiafan！' they howled； with loyal fervour； and passed the wine jugs from hand to hand。
So thick were the crowds that Taita was forced to leave the chariot with Meren to go the rest of the way on foot。 At the palace gate the guards recognized him； and used the butts of their spears to clear the way for him to pass。 Once he was in the grounds he hurried to the great hall； and there he found another press of obsequious humanity。 All the military officers； courtiers and state dignitaries were waiting to swear loyalty and fealty to the new pharaoh； but Taita's reputation and his unnerving gaze ensured that the crowd made way for him to pass to the front ranks。
Pharaoh Naja Kiafan and his queen were in the private cabinet beyond the doors at the end of hall； but Taita had to wait only a short while before he was granted access to the royal presence。
To his astonishment he found that Naja was already wearing the double crown； and holding the flail and the crook crossed over his chest。 Beside him Queen Heseret seemed to have blossomed