wilbursmith_warlock-第107节
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and； 'Nile！'
Smoothly they swept down on the targets for the second attempt and he passed the reins to Meren。 He gave him no admonition； for he knew that Meren was still smarting from the their first blundered attempt。
While he wrapped the thong around his wrist Nefer watched Krus' ears for any sign that he would break stride again； but he held them pricked forward and ran true。 He held the line perfectly as they came level with the first target； and the javelin smacked into the red inner。 It seemed that almost immediately the second target came up and he threw smoothly with just that final application of power in the stroke and the point sank deeply into the inner ring。 Beside him Meren was silent； steering the team with his very breath and soul。
The third javelin twinkled like a beam of sunlight as it flew across the range and Shabako waved the red flag for another hit。
The last javelin was in Nefer's hand； the thong clinched firmly around his wrist； and he crooned to the horses； making his tone firm but reassuring。 'One more。 Just one more for me！'
Krus seemed to gather himself and tuck in his chin and he held the line sweetly and as Nefer threw he knew it was going to strike in the very centre of the red。 He shouted to them while it was still in flight。
'Ha！ Ha！ e away。' And they surged forward； breaking from the glide into full gallop so strongly that Nefer had to brace his legs and clutch at the grab rope to prevent himself being thrown over backwards。
Shabako waved the red flag over his head and his voice carried clearly； 'Bak…her； Majesty！ You are through and clear！'
But Nefer knew they could never make up the ground they had lost； and the chasers were already ing up swift and hard behind them。
* * *
The line of flags led them in a wide circle to the north along the edge of a deep chasm with sheer sides； and on up a series of natural terraces where the bare earth was a soft peachy colour that belied its harsh and barren nature。
The step of the third and final terrace was lined with over fifty of the more hardy spectators who had climbed up from Gallala。 As Nefer's chariot raced up towards them they cheered them onwards； and opened their ranks to let them through。 The summit of the terrace was flat and level。 In the centre of this open space the wrestlers waited。
Each stood in his own circle of white painted stones。 Nefer steered down towards them； with the crowds running after them cheering and laughing with excitement。 Just short of the stone rings； Nefer brought the horses to a halt； and two grooms who were standing ready ran forward to take their heads。
'See they drink only one bucket each；' Nefer ordered； as he jumped down。 This was the first point at which they were permitted to water the horses； but Nefer did not want their bellies blown up with liquid。
Swiftly Nefer and Meren stripped off their leather armour and the short chitons beneath until they stood stark naked in the sunlight。 The crowd hummed with admiration when their hard young bodies； trained to athletic perfection； were revealed； and some of the women of low status and dubious morality ululated and cavorted lewdly with excitement。
Now every second that passed brought the pursuing chariots closer。 Nefer did not even glance at the dancing women but he and Meren strode forward； each towards the ring where his allotted opponent waited。 Nefer paused outside the ring of white stones and looked at Polios of Ur who stood in the centre。
He was not exceptionally big or tall； no larger or heavier then Nefer； for the judges had matched them carefully and fairly。 However； there was no fat or superfluous flesh on Polios。 It was obvious that he had been limbering up； for he shone with sweat and oil and his muscles were engorged and flushed with blood。 Everything about him was hard。 His shoulders were in perfect proportion to his waist； his belly flat； his limbs long and supple。 He stood with his arms folded over his chest and watched Nefer with a hard flat stare。
Nefer took one long breath and heard again Taita's words in his ear； as clearly as if he had spoken again in his ear； 'The left knee。 That is his only weakness。'
He dropped his eyes to the limb but Polios' left knee seemed as sturdy as the right。 Hard and impregnable as the main stem of an olive tree。
Nefer touched the golden charm at his throat； and stepped into the ring of stones。 The crowd howled and yelped and shouted。 Polios placed his hands on his knees and hunched his shoulders； and watched him with the flat implacable stare of a serpent。 Nefer knew that he must make the first advance； for Polios was in no hurry。 His task was to delay Nefer here until the pursuing chariots could catch up with him。 Nefer circled him once； and Polios turned slowly to keep facing him。
'Yes；' Nefer told himself； 'there it is。 He drags his left toe。' But it was so tiny a flaw that he would never have picked it out without Taita's advice。
'An old injury；' Taita had told him。 'Here！' and he had pressed his thumb into Nefer's knee to mark the exact site of it。 But then Taita had gone on； 'Even so； do not rate him lightly。 He is a man…killer。 This is his favourite throw； and it is well nigh irresistible。' Taita had demonstrated it。
Nefer circled back the other way and Polios turned with him。 He saw it now； a faint unnatural hollow below the bulge of the kneecap。 He could not afford another moment and he closed。
Each of them fell into the classical prelude； grabbing at each other with both hands； seeking the throwing grip； changing the holds； shifting weight； pushing and then giving； feeling the other man's balance。 Then suddenly Polios leaped forward； ing in low； under Nefer's guard； and though Nefer had been expecting it he could not prevent one long arm whipping around his waist。 Suddenly he was lifted high so only the tips of his toes touched the earth； and Polios spun with him in his arms； turning him backwards so that he could not keep his balance。 Then suddenly Polios dropped on his right knee； and brought Nefer down with him。 His other leg was braced solid； left thigh parallel to the ground like a carpenter's bench； Nefer came down across it and it caught him in the small of his back； at the level of his kidneys。 It should have snapped his spine； but Nefer had practised the counter a hundred times with Meren。 He arched his back to take the strain and at the same time slammed both his heels in the ground to break the force of it。 Even so he felt his spine creak as his vertebrae were strained to the very limit。
Polios came down on him with the full weight of his upper torso； but Nefer reached under his back and clamped his right hand on Polios' knee。 Taita had made him spend hours hardening his right thumb； squeezing a ball of leather until he could leave a deep indentation in the surface。 Even then Taita had not been satisfied。 He had made Nefer continue these exercises until he could crack a cowrie shell between thumb and forefinger。 Then time and again Taita demonstrated the exact point under the kneecap where the injury lay； and the direction of pressure he must apply to sunder it。 Nefer found it now； and drove his thumb into the hollow between the head of the tibia and the unattached kneecap。
Every muscle in Nefer's right arm stood out with the effort and his eyes seemed to bulge from their sockets。 Then suddenly he felt something give under the point of his thumb； and he made one final effort。 His thumb went in deeper； the weakened cartilage and sinew crackling and popping as they tore； the kneecap lifted in Nefer's grip； ripped from its seat。
Polios screamed； a sound of such extreme agony that it hushed the roar of the spectators that crowded the edge of the ring。 Polios released his own hold and tried to push Nefer away from him； but Nefer rolled easily with the throw； never releasing his grip on the mangled kneecap； tearing it further open。 Suddenly； rendered helpless as an infant； Polios sobbed and choked on the pain of it。
Nefer came up on top of him and forced his face into the earth。 He twisted his left leg up behind him； and Polios could not resist。 Nefer bent the shattered knee back until the heel touched Polios' buttocks； and put all his weight upon it。 The terrible cry that Polios gave out sounded not human。
'Yield！' Nefer manded； but Polios was dumb and paralysed with agony。 The umpire ran forward to touch Nefer's shoulder and signal his victory。
Nefer sprang to his feet and left Polios writhing and blubbering in the dirt。 The spectators parted silently in front of him； stunned by the swiftness and pleteness of his victory。
Nefer heard someone in the crowd say； 'He will never walk on that leg again；' but he never looked back as he ran to the other ring and pushed out of his way the men that surrounded it。
Meren and Sigassa； the Crocodile； were locked chest to chest。 They rolled across the ring； first one on top then the other。 Nefer saw at a glance that Meren was injured。 Sigas
