TES-AMEN

“What were we thinking? Why did we let them go? How could we have been so stupid to give in to them?”

I have not seen my master the Pharoah fly into such an absolute rage as he just did. And considering he’s had to put up with Moses and all those supernatural shenanigans that came with him, that’s really saying something.

A few days have passed since my master the Pharaoh ordered that the Hebrews be made to leave our land. The fifteenth day of Xanthicus, to be exact. It’s the twenty-fourth day of Xanthicus, and yeah, the threat of that Hebrew god may be long gone. But everything’s gone stale.

My master the Pharaoh just received reports of how work on the store cities, Pthom and Raamses, is at an absolute standstill, and honestly, it’s shocking. Absolutely shocking. And now… it’s looking like the decision to let the Hebrews go was a terrible, terrible decision.

Which is why he’s in such a rage.

“Aaaargh! How foolish of me to tell them to leave! This is what they had planned all along!” he continues to roar as he paces up and down. “It’s those dark arts Moses has been using! That’s it. He used those magic arts of his to sway me into letting him and his people go. That’s the only logical explanation for this. Those stupid, lazy Hebrews tricked me with their magic arts!”

Hmmmm. That got me, to be honest. I mean, we’ve been through quite a lot at the hands of those two, yet in his own wisdom, my master the Pharoah didn’t let them go. So there had to be an otherworldly intervention to make him suddenly change his mind.

It makes sense. Yeah, it really does.

“My master, may you live forever!” one of my fellow advisors, Atum, calls as he rises to his feet. “If it pleases you, may I suggest that we go back after them? Surely, it is not too late to recapture them.”

Good idea!

“My master, may you live forever! I concur with Atum. And at this rate, they have most certainly carried out their so-called worship of their god, if that’s even the truth. So they have no excuse,” another one, Yazid, adds.

Our master the Pharaoh nods at the words of the two. “Yes, yes. We must bring them back. They thought they were smart, didn’t they? Foolish people! We’ve found them out. It’s time to deal with them! Oh, I swear they will wish they never tried that nonsense on us! When we bring them back, I’m ordering the slave drivers to make sure they produce twice the number of bricks they ought to produce a day! Clearly, the decision to make them search for their own straw didn’t knock enough sense into their heads! They’re really gonna regret this!”

With that, he calls for his servants and messengers.

“Call me all the captains of our army! They must assemble here right now! Tell the riders of our chariots to get them ready! Tonight, we go after the Hebrew people! And we will not return without them! We are capturing every single one of them! Move! Now!”

Oh boy, oh boy! Those Hebrews won’t know what hit them!

TABIA

“My lord, please! Don’t do this! Please!”

I just can’t understand what’s going on with my master the Pharaoh. Why is he doing this? Why??

We just saw the back of those Hebrews, and it’s been such a relief. I mean, there’s this hollow feeling all around, but it’s mainly due to all the destruction that lay waste while the Hebrew people were here.

Why in the world is he looking to recapture them and bring them back? For what reason? 

My husband just barged into the house in a hurry. I ask what the matter is, and he tells me the Pharaoh has ordered the army to go after the Hebrews and bring them back to Egypt. So he needs to grab some stuff and join them.

I just can’t believe this. I just can’t. Why is the Pharoah doing this?

“Woman, will you get out of my way! We need to move, quickly! The sooner we set off, the quicker we can catch them!”

I look into my husband’s eyes with disbelief. “My lord, why are you doing this? Look at what keeping them did to us! Why do you want them back? Why?”

He looks back at me with scorn. “Don’t question what you don’t understand, woman! Our master the Pharoah knows the true reason why it all happened, and he has to deal with it. Now step out of my way and let me go!”

I shake my head. “What does that even mean? All I know is that the Hebrew God inflicted all these plagues upon us because of their request and-“

“Please, please, please, stop this,” Tes-Amen scoffs. “There are deeper things you know nothing about. And we’ve found them out. And we’re bringing them back and dealing with those things. That’s the simple reality. Besides, have you seen how badly work has stalled? Those fools have left all the work for us! The absolute cheek of it!”

I shake my head again, my tear glands starting their job. “My lord, please. Don’t do this. This is not a good idea…”

“Excuse me, but what do you know about taking decisions for an entire nation, woman? Do you know what goes into making decisions for thousands of people? Do you know how difficult it is to make a decision that affects many households? Have you ever been put in that position before? The economy of this land depends on the completion of our infrastructure. Have you ever had to make a decision to save it?”

I’m just speechless. I stare at my husband, a blank, confused expression on my face.

“I didn’t think so. Out of my way, woman! I don’t answer to you; I answer to my master the Pharoah, and he needs me to help save our land by bringing those lazy, good-for-nothing Hebrews back to where they should be: building our nation for us!”

He shoves me aside roughly and storms out the door.

Lying on the floor, I begin to cry.

Honestly, how can this be happening? Was it not the same Pharaoh who told the Hebrews to leave? Wasn’t it him?

So why this sudden 180 turn?

I just can’t understand. Keeping these Hebrews was the reason for all the catastrophes that befell this land. What do we gain by forcefully bringing them back?

I just don’t get it.

I’m in tears because there’s the sickest of feelings in my stomach as he heads out. I’m as terrified as can be.

For too long, the Pharaoh fought against this Hebrew God and lost, and his losses cost us all dearly. And with this decision, I can’t help but feel that…

This is going to be the biggest mistake he’s ever made.

Are Tabia’s instincts on point with this one? Or Tes-Amen and his people have a solid reason to go after them?