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第14节

wilbursmith_warlock-第14节

小说: wilbursmith_warlock 字数: 每页4000字

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saw the dead fledglings huddled in the cup of the nest beyond the carcass of the tiercel; the thick; glittering coils of a gigantic black cobra twisted around them。 The snake's head was raised; its hood; marked with a bold pattern of black and white; was spread。
  
  The slippery black tongue flickered out between the thin; grinning lips。 Its eyes were fathomless black; each with a star of reflected light in the centre as they held Nefer in a mesmeric stare。
  
  Nefer tried to scream a warning to Taita; but no sound came from his throat。 He could not tear away his gaze from the cobra's dreadful stare。 It's head swayed gently; but the massive coils that filled the falcon's nest to overflowing pulsed and clenched。 Every polished scale was burnished like a jewel as they rasped against the twigs of the nest。 Each coil was as thick as Nefer's arm; and slowly they revolved upon themselves。
  
  The head swayed back; the mouth gaped; and Nefer could see the pale lining of the throat。 The almost transparent fangs came erect in the folds of soft membrane: there was a tiny bead of colourless venom on the tip of each bony needle。
  
  Then the wicked head flashed forward; as the cobra struck at Nefer's face。
  
  Nefer screamed and hurled himself sideways; lost his balance and tumbled backwards from the cleft。
  
  Even though Taita was braced to take any sudden weight on the rope; he was almost jerked from his stance on top of the cliff as Nefer's weight hit the line。 A coil of the horsehair rope slid through his fingers; scorching the flesh; but he held hard。 He could hear the boy screaming incoherently below him; and feel him swinging at the end of the rope。
  
  Nefer pendulumed out from the cleft then swung straight back towards the falcon's nest。 The cobra had recovered swiftly from its abortive strike; and was once more poised and erect。 It fixed its gaze on the boy and swivelled its head to face him。 At the same time a harsh hiss erupted from its throat。
  
  Nefer screamed again and kicked out wildly at the snake as he flew straight towards it。 Taita heard the terror in that scream and lay back on the rope; hauling until he felt his old muscles crack under the strain。
  
  The cobra struck instinctively at Nefer's eyes as he came within range; but at that instant Taita's heave on the rope end jerked Nefer off…line。 The snake's gaping jaws passed a finger's width from his ear and then; like the lash of a chariot whip; the heavy body flogged across his shoulder。 Nefer screamed again; knowing he was fatally bitten。
  
  As he swung out once more over the open drop he glanced down at the spot on his shoulder into which the serpent had sunk its fangs; and saw the pale yellow venom splashed across the thick leather fold of the saddlebag。 With a wild lift of relief he tore the bag free and as he started to swing back towards where the cobra still stood menacingly; he held the bag like a shield in front of him。
  
  The instant he was within range the cobra struck again; but Nefer caught the blow on the thick leather folds of the bag。 The beast's fangs snagged in the leather and held fast。 As Nefer swung back the snake was dragged with him。 It was hauled cleanly out of the nest; a writhing; seething ball of coils and polished scales。 It thrashed against Nefer's legs; the heavy tail lashing him; hissing fearsomely; clouds of venom spraying from its gaping jaws and dribbling down the leather bag。 So great was its weight that Nefer's whole body was shaken violently。
  
  Almost without thought; Nefer hurled the leather bag away from him; the cobra's fangs still hooked into the leather。 The bag and the snake dropped away together; the sinuous body still curling; coiling and whipping furiously。 The penetrating hisses grew fainter as it plunged away down the cliff。 It seemed to fall for ever until at last it struck the rocks far below。 The impact did not kill or stun it; and it whipped about as it rolled down the scree slope; bouncing over the rocks like a huge black ball until Nefer lost sight of it among the grey boulders。
  
  Through the mists of terror that clouded his mind; Taita's voice reached him。 It was hoarse with effort and concern。 'Speak to me。 Can you hear me?'
  
  'I am here; Tata。' Nefer's voice was weak and shaky。
  
  'I will pull you up。'
  
  Slowly; one heave at a time; Nefer was drawn upwards。 Even in his distress Nefer marvelled at the old man's strength。 When the rock came within reach; he was able to take some of his weight off the rope and it went quicker。 At last he clawed his way round the overhang; and saw; with vast relief; Taita looking down at him from the summit; the ancient features; like those of a sphinx; riven into deep lines by his exertions on the rope。
  
  With one last heave Nefer tumbled over the top and fell into the old man's arms。 He lay there gasping and sobbing; unable to speak coherently。 Taita hugged him。 He too was shaking with emotion and exhaustion。 Slowly they calmed and regained their breath。 Taita held the waterskin to Nefer's lips and he gulped; choked and gulped again。 Then he looked into Taita's face so abjectly that the old man hugged him closer。
  
  'It was horrible。' Nefer's words were barely intelligible。 'It was in the nest。 It had killed the falcons; all of them。 Oh; Tata; it was terrible。'
  
  'What was it; Nefer?' Taita asked gently。
  
  'It killed my godbird; and the tiercel。'
  
  'Gently; lad。 Drink some more。' He offered the waterskin。
  
  Nefer choked again and was seized with a paroxysm of coughing。 The moment he could speak again he wheezed; 'It tried to kill me also。 It was huge; and so black。'
  
  'What was it; boy? Tell me clearly。'
  
  'A cobra; a huge black cobra。 In the nest; waiting for me。 It had bitten the chicks and the falcon to death; and it went for me as soon as it saw me。 I never imagined a cobra could grow so large。'
  
  'Are you stricken?' Taita demanded; with dread; and hauled Nefer to his feet to examine him。
  
  'No; Tata。 I used the bag as a shield。 It never touched me;' Nefer protested; but Taita stripped off his kilt and made him stand naked while he went over his body looking for puncture wounds。 One of his knuckles and both his knees were grazed but otherwise the strong young body was marked only by the pharaonic cartouche on the smooth skin of his inner thigh。 Taita had tattooed the design himself; and it was a miniature masterpiece that would for ever endorse Nefer's claim to the double crown。
  
  'Thanks be to the great god who protected you;' Taita murmured。 'With this cobra apparition; Horus has sent you a portent of terrible events and dangers。' His face was grave; and touched with the marks of grief and mourning。 'That was no natural serpent。'
  
  'Yes; Tata。 I saw it close。 It was enormous; but it was a real snake。'
  
  'Then how did it reach the nest site? Cobras cannot fly; and there is no other way to scale the cliff。'
  
  Nefer stared at him aghast; 'It killed my godbird;' he whispered aloud。 'And it killed the royal tiercel; Pharaoh's other self。' Taita agreed grimly; sorrow still in his eyes。 'There are mysteries here revealed。 I saw their shadows in my vision; but they are confirmed by what has happened to you this day。 This is a thing beyond the natural order。'
  
  'Explain it to me; Tata;' Nefer insisted。
  
  Taita handed him his kilt。 'First we must get down off this mountain; and fly from the great dangers that beset us before I can consider the omens。'
  
  He paused and looked to the sky; as if in deep thought。 Then he lowered his eyes and looked into Nefer's face。 Put on your clothes;' was all he said。
  
  As soon as Nefer was ready; Taita led him back to the far side of the summit and they began the descent。 It went swiftly; for they had opened the route; and the urgency in every move Taita made was infectious。 The horses were where they had left them; but before they mounted Nefer said; The place where the cobra struck the rocks is but a short way from here。' He pointed to the head of the scree slope below the cliff on which the falcons' nest was still visible。 'Let us search for the carcass。 Perhaps if we find its remains you could work some charm to destroy its powers。'
  
  'It would be precious time wasted。 There will be no carcass。' Taita swung up on to the mare's back。 'Mount; Nefer。 The cobra has returned to the shadow places from which it sprang。'
  
  Nefer shivered with superstitious awe; then scrambled up on to the back of his colt。
  
  Neither of them spoke again until they were off the upper slopes and into the broken eastern foothills。 Nefer knew well that when Taita was in this mood it was wasted effort to speak to him; but he urged his horse alongside and pointed out respectfully; 'Tata; this is not the way to Gebel Nagara。'
  
  'We are not going back there。'
  
  'Why not?'
  
  'The Bedouin know that we were at the spring。 They will tell those who search for us;' Taita explained。
  
  Nefer was puzzled。 'Who searches for us?'
  
  Taita turned his h

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