‘So we move.’

‘We?’

‘All of us. Like the Rus. The whole population.’

That made jaws drop, including Kassu’s.

‘I’m the city’s Hazannu,’ said Tiwatapara. ‘And I can tell you now that the population won’t stand for it. To wander around the countryside like booty people? No, sir – not Hatti!’

But now Palla discreetly stepped forward. ‘If I may . . .’

‘Go on, priest,’ Himuili said, before anybody could shut him up.

‘There may be a way to persuade them.’ He glanced at Angulli, his superior. ‘Of course, there is the historical precedent; the Hatti capital has moved before, a thousand years ago. And under the wise guidance of the Father of the Churches, I have been considering theological precursors also. Remember that Jesus Himself was once booty; He was transported across Anatolia to Old Hattusa, after the Judean uprising.’

‘Ah,’ Hastayar said. ‘And it did Him no harm in the end, did it? Now He can lead us all on a new journey, into the sunlight. The people may not follow me, but they will certainly follow Jesus.’ She nodded at Himuili. ‘You’ve found a smart young man in that one, General.’

Arnuwanda demanded, ‘And, if we move – where, in the name of Teshub?’

Hastayar regarded her nephew slyly ‘Where would you suggest, Prince?’

‘We have a whole empire, much of which is south of New Hattusa. I suppose anywhere to the south would be preferable.’

‘And if we went beyond the empire?’

Arnuwanda goggled, clearly out of his depth. ‘Beyond?’

‘Egypt,’ Angulli said. ‘What about Egypt? We could go to the grain, rather than have the grain come to us. We could live in the sun on the banks of their great river, whose waters, as you know, never fail, even in the worst drought.’

Himuili nodded. ‘Egypt is the key, I agree with you there. But even if we succeeded in taking it from the Muslims we would be vulnerable to attack from the rest of their domains, which are pretty extensive as you know, sir. And there would be the Carthaginians to deal with, who want the grain for themselves. We would step off the boat and immediately be under attack on two fronts, east and west, which is a poor deal militarily. Sir.’

‘Then where, man? Don’t drag it out. Where?’

Himuili deferred to Hastayar.

And she said: ‘Carthage. We go to Carthage. All of us, every Hatti who can walk or ride or swim. We fight a monumental war, and we drive those pagan camel-traders out of their own city, and we establish a new kingdom in the name of Jesus Sharruma. And then we take Egypt at our leisure.’

Arnuwanda said, ‘And the empire?’

‘The whole of the empire,’ Hastayar said coldly, ‘will serve as a buffer between the new capital and whatever savagery comes out of the freezing north, while we make our escape.’

There was a stunned silence.

‘It’s insane,’ blurted Tiwatapara.