The port worker Setu communicates to his lady, the warden of Avaris and scribe of the city prefect and grand vizier, Nefiri Minu: In life, prosperity, and health.

This missive is to inform my lady that the shipment of wheat has been loaded onto the boats and dispatched from Avaris to the Egyptian side of Peramessu.

A further matter: I wish to inform my lady of my brother’s desire to seek an audience with my lady. My brother, Khafset, became aware through the means of gossip of the ailment befalling the young lord, brother to my lady. My brother’s heart ached and he told me, “Write a letter to our lady, informing her that I have a cure. For I, Khafset of Avaris, cannot bear the thought of our lady’s back being bent with worry over the young lord’s health.” Then he said, “Write this letter hastily, brother, for Thoth has blessed you with a gift for words.”

Look, I am well aware that my brother and I are untouchables of Avaris, mere dust beneath our lady’s sandals. But, as Osiris may witness the words flowing from my heart, which shall be weighed against the feather of truth, if my brother speaks, it is as certain as the rising of the sun. Look, ask Commander Ahmose about me. He once said, “Setu is another untouchable just like the other animals of Avaris, but he has never told a lie.” My heart sang for his kind words.

The warden of Avaris and scribe of the city prefect and grand vizier, Nefiri Minu, communicates to her servant, the port worker Setu.

What is the meaning of this? What do you mean the words of my brother’s health are being uttered by your filthy tongues through means of gossip?

Look, I was going to strap you and your brother to a she-ass and have her drag you through the streets of Avaris as a warning to your people to keep the name of my brother, your lord, out of their mouths. But I asked Commander Ahmose about you, and he said, “My lady is as wise as her master, the city prefect and grand vizier, taught her to be. She was wise to recognize Setu, the port worker, as a rare untouchable who does his work to completion and never speaks lies.”

Now look, I didn’t share your letter with the commander of the Medjay, and I won’t exercise our lord’s punishment on you or your brother, for you seem to be the type of untouchable I wish to boost as an example for the untouchables of Avaris.

Look, keep to your duties, earn your grain in silence, and inform your brother to get my brother, his lord, out of his tiny head. That is, if you know what is best for your family.

Do you really think I, Lady Nefiri Minu, warden of Avaris, scribe of the fan-bearer to the king’s right, the city prefect, the royal scribe, and grand vizier Paser, cannot find a cure for my brother? Mind your place, port worker Setu, if you value your brother’s life.

It is the warden of Avaris who addresses her lord, fan-bearer on the king’s right, the royal scribe, the city prefect, and grand vizier Paser. It is the apprentice who addresses her wise master: In life, prosperity, and health. I call upon Ra, King of the Gods, Ptah South-of-his-Wall, Thoth, lord of sacred writings, and all the gods and goddesses of the Ennead who are in Karnak to give you favor and to keep you healthy and prosperous.

This is a missive to inform my lord that the wheat shipment has left the town of Avaris and arrived on the Egyptian side of Peramessu. I have delivered them to the royal scribe and overseer of the treasury of Pharaoh, life, prosperity, health, as my lord has commanded.

A further communication to my lord to the effect that Avaris, the town of the untouchables, is in excellent order, and the watch posts in its vicinity are safe and sound. The wages for the Medjay have been delivered, and the taxes have been collected from the high priest of Set, Sethos. I didn’t meet the prophet of Set myself as my lord has ordered, so I sent Ahmose, Commander of the Medjay in Avaris, to meet Sethos on my behalf. I hope my lord is pleased with his servant’s work.

A further matter: I saw that Healer Iset has arrived in Peramessu yesterday from Memphis in the company of the high priest of Ptah. I heeded my lord’s words and didn’t approach the healer and the prophet. But I wish to ask my lord if he has spoken to the healer about my brother’s illness.

It is the fan-bearer on the king’s right, the royal scribe, the city prefect, and grand vizier Paser who addresses Nefiri Minu, the scribe of the grand vizier and warden of Avaris. It is a master who addresses his apprentice.

Your lord is pleased with your work, and my heart sings when I see you grow and succeed. I declared your work to our lord, Prince Khaemwaset, who was standing beside me, and said, “Look, my lord. Look how capable my apprentice is.”

A further matter concerning your brother, Hote. I have spoken to Healer Iset. I explained his condition to her and said, “Give me a cure for the boy, for his sister and he are like the daughter and son of my body.” I said, “I will spare no expense, even if it costs my entire estate.” The healer said, “There is no cure for honey urine, my lord.” My heart aches for your brother, my apprentice, but I fear those words are final, for Iset is the wisest healer in the Two Lands, and her words are final. I will give offerings to the gods for your brother and begin preparations for his journey to the West.

The warden of Avaris and scribe to the city's prefect and grand vizier, Nefiri Minu, communicates to her servant, the port worker Setu:

Inform your brother that he may contact me by the means of writing. Leave the letter with the scribe Nehesy, and tell him it concerns a request for ropes for the boats.

It is Khafset who greets Nefiri Minu.

How are you? Are you well? See, I am well. And how is little Hote? Is he well? See, my brother is well.

Look, I know your brother is alive today, but tomorrow is uncertain. Now, I told my brother, “I have a cure, Setu,” and I held a bottle and said, “See, this is a cure only we in Avaris know.”

Look, go outside your house. You will find a clay bottle next to your door. Soak three finger-sized pieces of bread in the medicine and give it to your brother. Do this two times a day. On the third day, little Hote will be so full of energy that the other children will be jealous of him and say, “How is it that Hote is suddenly so strong and powerful? Surely, Isis must have breathed new life into his chest.”

Now, listen, Hote must take this medicine every day for as long as he is in the land of the living. Contact me through the means of writing in three days once Hote gets better. Give the letter to Nehesy, for he is a keeper of secrets. Address the letter to Setu and make it in response to his request for more ropes.

It is the warden of Avaris and scribe to the grand vizier, Nefiri Minu, who addresses her servant, Khafset the lowlife of Avaris.

What is the meaning of this? How do you address your lords and ladies? How is it that you write to me as if we were equals? We are not. And how dare you approach the place where my brother and I, your lord and lady, sleep at night? Heed my warning, Hyksos, know your place.

Look, I was going to strap you and your brother to a she-ass and have her drag you through the streets of Avaris, as I have told your brother. A punishment for your lowly letter and the manner in which you spoke the name of me, your lady, and of my brother, your lord.

Now, I have decided otherwise. Clearly, from your appalling way of writing, you are not familiar with the art, unlike your brother. Next time, let him write on your behalf, for Thoth has not blessed you with a way with words, and I do not wish to hear from you again.

A further matter: The cure worked.

The warden of Avaris and scribe of the city prefect and grand vizier, Nefiri Minu, communicates to her servant, the port worker Setu.

The cure your brother provided for my brother, your lord, has proven effective. This has spared you and your brother from my wrath due to your brother's letter. Henceforth, I have decreed that your brother is forbidden from contacting me through any means. From this day forward, you shall serve as the link between us, for your proficiency in the art of writing is acceptable for an untouchable of Avaris.

A further matter concerning the cure, I demand that another bottle be handed to me without delay, as the supply your brother sent will suffice for only three more days. Leave the bottle with Nehesy as a form of tax. Should you need to communicate with me, do so through the means of writing and entrust your message to Nehesy. Ensure the letter is disguised as a complaint regarding one of your fellow untouchables. I shall reply concerning the same topic.

It is Khafset who greets Nefiri Minu, the lady with the thousand titles.

See, I can write in a way that pleases you.

Further matter concerning little Hote’s cure. I wish to meet you in the fields of wheat in Avaris since my people and I aren’t allowed to leave our little island. Only then will you receive enough medicine for a month. Look, I am the only one who knows how to make the cure, and if you send your Medjay after me or my brother, they will find me dead, and I will wait for your brother in the West. Don’t be like this. Don’t punish little Hote on account of your pride. See, I do care about the little lord, as I am sure you do too. I will wait for you on the day of the spring festival, which is the day I will become fourteen years of age. Bring a gift of value so I can celebrate. If you don’t come, you can forget about your brother’s medicine.

A further matter: Setu will not act as your link. Do not contact my brother again. Setu is a good man, and I do not wish for him to be part of our dealings.

A further matter: Don’t leave your letters with Nehesy. Leave them near the palm tree that you can see when you open the door of your house, the one that leans toward the canal.

The warden of Avaris and scribe to the city prefect and grand vizier, Nefiri Minu, communicates to Ahmose, Commander of the Medjay in Avaris:

Move your men away from the area surrounding the wheat fields. It is better to focus our efforts on places where untouchable hands are idle.

It is Khafset who greets Nefiri, the lady with the thousand titles and servant of the grand vizier.

How are you? Are you all right? See, I am all right. And how is little Hote? Is he all right? See, my brother is all right.

Our meeting in the field of wheat was pleasant. I look forward to meeting you every month to hand over the cure and for you to give me the ten pieces of gold.

A further matter: I confess that I had only seen you from afar before our meeting. But after I met you and returned home, I told my brother, “See, Setu, our lady of law and tradition is pretty. Too bad she wears a mask of stone.”

See you next month.

It is the warden of Avaris and scribe to the grand vizier, Nefiri Minu, who addresses her servant, Khafset the untouchable thief.

What is the meaning of this, lowlife? How do you dare to address your lady? How is it that you write to me such scandalous words? How dare you call me pretty?

I swear by the gods and goddesses of the Ennead who reside in Karnak, once my brother has no need for your cure, I will feed you and your brother to the lions myself.