CHAPTER 7
I do apologize but as I was rereading this I noticed some minor mistakes and so I did my best to fix them and reload it.
Nearly three hours had passed since Piea had taken the strange slave out of the throne room, just after the midday meal Senunet decided to check on the slave, if he did die then who knew what would happen. He quietly entered the small room that held nothing but a low table where Piea was mixing some herbs into medicine. On a reed mat next to the wall the slave lay, resting with a linen sheet over him but he was still shivering. "How is he Piea?" he asked.
"He is very ill, my lord," the physician said rising to bow to pharaoh, "another week in that prison and he would have died from sickness in his lungs."
"Is he well enough to speak," Joseph heard Pharaoh's voice; he struggled to sit up but was held down by the aged healer. If he were at his full strength the old weathered hand would not have posed as much of a challenge as a feather but in his weakened state the gnarled hand might as well have been a lion's paw.
That brought to his mind Gurit and he wondered about the small lion cub, had Potiphar kept her, had he cared for the lioness or would it be a reminder of the slave that he had betrayed. He prayed though, prayed that Potiphar had kept and cared for her if for no other reason to up hold Ma' at. Potiphar had known that Joseph was innocent, he had known that Potiphar had known, hopefully Potiphar would care for the cub in hopes of balancing out Ma' at. He was brought back to the present by Piea's words, "so long as he remains resting, he may speak."
Not knowing where else to start, pharaoh spoke, "Potiphar called you Kontar."
"Slave name."
"What was your name before?" he asked.
"Joseph," he coughed, "it was my mother's plea for another child."
"Was she granted one?"
"After many years, though it cost her, her life." Joseph answered closing his eyes against the bittersweet memories of past, "however that was not the reason you have summoned me." He coughed.
"Pharaoh, he must rest, now."
"When will he be able to speak at court?"
Before Piea was able to answer Joseph spoke, "I beg my lord's forgiveness, his unworthy servant will be better on the marrow by midday, my lord."
"Are you sure," pharaoh doubted considering how weak he looked.
"I wouldn't put it pass him, my lord," Potiphar's voice said as he entered the room, "this man has an uncanny ability to suppress illness when needed."
Potiphar volunteered to look after Joseph throughout the night, he watched as joseph's past again tormented his sleep, preventing him from finding rest. It wasn't long before he woke in his usual cold sweat. "Trouble sleeping," Potiphar asked knowingly. Even as a slave he didn't sleep well in the house and always preferred to sleep in the open air outside. Sitting up Potiphar heard joseph's chains rattle as he moved. Taking the key from the table he moved over to unlock Joseph's shackles, "the garden is not far, Kontar." Potiphar said as had lead Joseph to one of the smaller gardens that were in pharaoh's palace, knowing that Joseph would never complain he had took a seat on the first bench that he came to next to one of the few trees. Looking at the moon he softly spoke, "the moon was full that night as well," he had told his former slave and son, "I have thought about that night many times over the years."
"As have I, in prison, Malik," Joseph told him as he lay against a nearby tree.
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As the sun rose past the time for the morning meal, a young servant boy knelt in front of Potiphar and relayed the massage that he had, "Lord Potiphar, Pharaoh has called for you."
Potiphar looked over to Joseph who looked so relaxed in rest, misreading the silent message that had passed between master and slave the servant spoke again, "I will stay and ensure that the slave does not escape.'
"He will not leave until I give him leave to do so," Potiphar said, "right Joseph."
"As ever, Malik," Joseph said, "I just need to rest." How long had it been since he had been able to rest without his movements being hindered by chains, he wondered, far too long that was for sure.
As the sun passed its zenith, Joseph was awakened by someone's foot nudging him awake, "will I never be able to rest," he asked himself in his native tongue as he stood.
"The pharaoh has called for you," the messenger said as he led Joseph to the throne room
Senunet stood in the small reception room finishing up his duties, as the sun reached its zenith he excused himself for the midday meal with Potiphar before summoning the slave
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Joseph walked thru the pillars to the throne room. Joseph knelt in front of pharaoh next to him was his cupbearer well that explained how he was here, but he still wondered why. On the other side of pharaoh was master Potiphar, he wore his best linens and gold collar. Joseph could feel his master's eyes gazing at him.
"I hear you have the gift of second-sight," the pharaoh said steadily.
"Only when Elohim wills it, my lord," Joseph said softly being sure to keep is head bowed. Yet his voice still held the confidence that Potiphar knew came from his God.
"And does your god will an answer for me?" pharaoh asked.
"I imagine we shall soon see," Joseph said rather solemnly with the authority of his God, even Potiphar smirked at that. He always did respect Joseph's ability to put his confidence in his God, and not caring about himself.
"Your life depends upon what we shall see," pharaoh said as he turned and started to retell his dreams for the umpteenth time.
Joseph closed his eyes and waited before he spoke, his voice was calm and steady; unlike any slave that pharaoh had ever seen or heard of for that matter. He spoke with the authority of his god as if he were merely a vessel and his God spoke thru him, as he told the king the meaning of his dreams.
Potiphar stood by Joseph as he told pharaoh the interpretation of his double-dream "God is telling you what he is planning to do. The seven good cattle and the seven good ears of corn represent 7 years of plenty, the 7 starving cattle and 7 withered ears of grain means 7 years of famine will follow.
"You must take action now while there is still time, my lord," Joseph said, "you must find a wise and honest man and set him above the land of Egypt, have him collect a-fifth of the harvest and then during the famine give it back to the people."
"It would never work. Besides I know my people they would cheat all of them," pharaoh said as he leaned back in his throne.
"It is possible, my lord, if a wise and honest man were given this job and the authority to do it," Joseph said as pharaoh gave him leave to go. This slave spoke unlike any slave I have ever known, who was he and how did he speak with such…such confidence, pharaoh wondered, as he gave Joseph leave to go.
