Book 11, Merit Summary

Sinuhe's ten years in Akhetaton are a brief, lovely dream. Suffering outside the city is hidden from Akhnaton. Eie and Horemheb rule in Thebes, leaving Akhnaton to ponder religion. Aziru's brutality turns Egypt's vassal princes into allies, but Akhnaton insists it is better for Syria to confederate and trade freely than to fight. Horemheb knows that Sinai and the Lower Kingdom will be invaded, but Pharaoh scoffs at the idea. Sinuhe sees that he (Sinuhe) has been a bad counselor but is too comfortable to make waves. When Pharaoh's second daughter, Meketaton, falls ill, Sinuhe neglects rich patients to care for her.

Pharaoh allows Sinuhe to visit Thebes, and along the Nile living skeletons and failing schools convince Sinuhe that everything Akhnaton touches is blighted. Finding his poor house cramped, he realizes how he has been spoiled and is ashamed. Merit...