CHAPTER 12When Senmut, Anhai and Neferure returned from Suan and Sehel Island they found a shadow on Hatshepsut’s face that had not been there before.
Senmut was called before the assembled officials of her administration to give his report on the cutting out of the two giant obelisks she had ordered, the second, and larger, pair she planned to erect to her god in his temple at Ipet-Esut. Senmut reported that the fleet of little boats was ready to start the towing and the rollers were already in place for rolling the granite monoliths down the quayside and on to the huge barges that would bear them north to Amun’s city. By the time the rising waters of the Nile had gathered enough force for the operation, the obelisks would be in place, securely lashed down on the barges, and the ceremoni
