When MeritNit had finished her tale, Hetepka, her father, looked out over his garden trying to quiet his mind. He took a generous mouthful of wine, keeping it in his mouth before downing all in one swallow, as if to rinse away the images that had come to him. He let his hand stay around the beaker, not noticing how hard he cramped around it. One thought was uppermost in his mind: Was MeritNit aware of the danger she had put herself in by revealing this?.

Next many feelings fought with each other in his mind. He feared for his child´s safety and knowing the former Nomarch had been less than scrupulous, he now saw his long suspicions coming true: the tentacles of KhaPtah were wriggling even within the temple grounds. Horus knew how many of the priesthood were unable to withstand the scheming of that man and his allies. Hetepka was appalled and horrified not only on behalf of his family but also that someone could disgrace Netjer HetHert in this way. Could he even trust the high priest any longer?

But why? Why his daughter? Because she is innocent like a Sycamore sprout, because she´s got no guile, Isfet has never touched her. Not even now, though the schemings of evil minds have forced her movements. he thought.

"Father" came her voice, trembling a little. "What are you going to do?"

Hetepka regarded his daughter´s dark, worried eyes and reproached himself for not seeing the signs before. The girl had changed and become almost morose. How could they have missed it, he and his wife?

"You and your sisters, you go to bed now. I will talk with your mother about this and decide how best to handle it."

The three girls rose obediently and went inside the house. As soon as they were out of sight, MeritNit´s sisters showered her with questions and exclamations of pity. Listening to the young voices fading away, man and wife looked at each other. A cool night breeze made the lights flicker across their faces. The servants standing by made signs as to clear off the table and Menwi, MeritNit´s mother, nodded consent. She pulled her shawl closer around her shoulders and shuddered a little as she told the servants that they could withdraw for the night. Then she faced her husband:

”I am sorry that I haven´t taken this up with you before, Hetepka, for I have seen that there was something wrong with MeritNit. Now perhaps it is too late.”

Hetepka shook his head impatiently.

”There´s no use in blaming oneself. She could have come to us earlier.”

His wife sighed. “True but I should have done something, taken her aside and talked to her before today!”

Hetepka laid a soothing hand on her arm.

"I have long since suspected that something was going on in the temple ...but I haven´t been able to understand what or who - only suspicions. Now this is something that needs looking into. I wonder.... ” His voice trailed off.

”What..?”

Hetepka rose and began pacing on and off alongside the edge of the roof terrace. It was a calm, clear night and his silhouette stood out against the moonlit background. The river glimmered far below, not many sounds reached them up where they were. Menwi sat silent, regarding him. Then he stopped in his tracks and chuckled.

”I think I will pay Iirwy a vist tomorrow. He will of course say that I am imagining things, that my daughter is lying and that I can´t prove anything”

”Do you really think that is wise? He may have nothing at all to do with this and get terribly annoyed with you. Maybe he will even take you off your post for spreading evil rumours, and then what will you do? What will we do, return to Waset?”

”If he has nothing to do with this story of letting young, innocent temple dancers carry baskets loaded with offerings - which I suspect it is, and which rightly belong to the Goddess - then he will thank me, his deputy second high priest, for the information and start an investigation. If he is involved in something illegal? That will be interesting; I shall see his face when he stands there and tells me lies straight to my face on the holy grounds. Yes indeed!”

Hetepka smiled wryly at his wife, satisfied with his decision. She on the other hand was now even more worried than before. Menwi rose, embraced her husband fondly, saying:

”I only hope you know what you are doing, my dear. It is a daring thing, you are risking our whole existence for if Iirwy is another man instead of the pious servant of the Goddess we have thought him to be, then I don´t know what may happen”.