"
So after a while he called, saying:
"O Queen, cease to starve yourself in this miserable abode, and come
down to dwell in plenty with your faithful subject."
He called it once, and twice, and thrice, but there was no answer. Now
Abi grew afraid.
"She must have perished," he said, "and Egypt will demand her blood at
my hands. Kaku, go up and see what has happened. You are a magician, and
have nothing to fear."
But the astrologer thought otherwise, and hesitated, till Abi in a rage
lifted his cedar wand to strike him on the back. Then he went, step by
step, slowly, pausing at each step to address prayers and praises to her
Majesty of Egypt. At length he came to the door of the Queen's chamber,
and kneeling down, peeped into it, to see that it was quite empty. Next
he crawled across the landing to the chamber opposite, that which
had been Asti's, and found it empty also. Then, made bold by fear, he
ascended to the pylon roof. But here, too, there was no one to be seen.
So he returned, and told Abi, who shouted:
"By Ptah, great Lord of Memphis! either she has escaped to raise Egypt
on me, or she has sought death in the Nile to raise the gods upon me,
which is worse.
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