wilbursmith_warlock-第3节

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　　'Never！'　Taita　had　cried　in　the　dream。　'In　your　life　I　never　failed　you。　I　will　not　fail　you　now　in　death。'
　　
　　'I　know　you　will　not。'　Lostris　smiled　a　sweet；　haunting　smile；　and　her　image　faded　into　the　desert　night。　He　woke；　with　his　face　wet　with　tears；　and　gathered　up　his　few　possessions。　He　paused　at　the　cave　entrance　only　to　check　his　direction　by　the　stars。　Instinctively；　he　looked　for　the　bright　particular　star　of　the　goddess。　On　the　seventieth　day　after　the　Queen's　death；　on　the　night　that　the　long　ritual　of　her　embalmment　had　been　pleted；　that　star　had　appeared　suddenly　in　the　heavens；　a　great　red　star　that　glowed　where　none　had　been　before。　Taita　picked　it　out　and　made　obeisance　to　it。　Then　he　strode　away　into　the　western　desert；　back　towards　the　Nile　and　the　city　of　Thebes；　beautiful　Thebes　of　a　hundred　gates。
　　
　　That　had　been　over　fourteen　years　ago；　and　now　he　hungered　for　the　silent　places；　for　only　here　could　his　powers　grow　back　to　their　full　strength；　so　that　he　could　carry　through　the　charge　that　Lostris　had　laid　upon　him。　Only　here　could　he　pass　some　of　that　strength　on　to　the　Prince。　For　he　knew　that　the　dark　powers　of　which　she　had　warned　him　were　gathering　around　them。
　　
　　'e！'　he　said　to　the　boy。　'Let　us　go　down　and　take　your　godbird。'
　　
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　　On　the　third　night　after　leaving　Gallala；　when　the　constellation　of　the　Wild　Asses　made　its　zenith　in　the　northern　night　sky；　Pharaoh　halted　the　squadron　to　water　the　horses　and　to　eat　a　hasty　meal　of　sun…dried　meat；　dates　and　cold　dhurra　millet　cakes。　Then　he　ordered　the　mount…up。　There　was　no　sounding　of　the　ram's　horn　trumpet　now　for　they　were　into　the　territory　where　often　the　patrolling　Hyksosian　chariots　ranged。
　　
　　The　column　started　forward　again　at　the　trot。　As　they　went　on　the　landscape　changed　dramatically。　They　were　out　of　the　bad　lands　at　last；　back　into　the　foothills　above　the　river　valley。　Below　them　they　could　make　out　the　strip　of　dense　vegetation；　distant　and　dark　in　the　moonlight；　that　marked　the　course　of　great　Mother　Nile。　They　had　pleted　the　wide　circuit　around　Abnub　and　were　in　the　rear　of　the　main　Hyksosian　army　on　the　river。　Although　they　were　a　tiny　force　to　go　in　against　such　an　enemy　as　Apepi；　they　were　the　best　charioteers　in　the　armies　of　Tamose；　which　made　them　the　finest　in　the　world。　Moreover；　they　held　the　element　of　surprise。
　　
　　When　Pharaoh　had　first　proposed　this　strategy　and　told　them　he　would　lead　the　expedition　in　person；　his　war　council　had　opposed　him　with　all　the　vehemence　they　could　muster　against　the　word　of　a　god。　Even　old　Kratas；　once　the　most　reckless　and　savage　warrior　in　all　the　armies　of　Egypt；　had　torn　at　his　thick　white　beard　and　bellowed；　'By　Seth's　ragged　and　festering　foreskin；　I　did　not　change　your　shit…smeared　swaddling　sheet　so　that　I　could　send　you　straight　into　the　loving　arms　of　Apepi。'　He　was　perhaps　the　one　man　who　might　dare　to　speak　to　a　god…king　in　this　fashion。　'Send　another　to　do　such　menial　work。　Lead　the　breakthrough　column　yourself　if　it　amuses　you；　but　do　not　disappear　into　the　desert　to　be　devoured　by　ghouls　and　djinn。　You　are　Egypt。　If　Apepi　takes　you　he　takes　us　all。'
　　
　　Of　all　the　council　only　Naja　had　supported　him；　but　Naja　was　always　loyal　and　true。　Now　they　had　won　through　the　desert；　and　were　into　the　enemy　rear。　In　tomorrow's　dawn　they　would　make　the　one　desperate　charge　that　would　split　Apepi's　army；　and　allow　five　more　of　Pharaoh's　squadrons；　a　thousand　chariots；　to　e　boiling　through　to　join　him。　Already　he　had　the　melliferous　taste　of　victory　on　his　tongue。　Before　the　next　full　moon　he　would　dine　in　the　halls　of　Apepi's　palace　in　Avaris。
　　
　　It　was　almost　two　centuries　since　the　Upper　and　Lower　Kingdoms　of　Egypt　had　been　split　apart。　Since　then　either　an　Egyptian　usurper　or　a　foreigner　invader　had　ruled　in　the　northern　kingdom。　It　was　Tamose's　destiny　to　drive　out　the　Hyksos　and　unite　the　two　lands　once　more。　Only　then　could　he　wear　the　double　crown　with　justification　and　the　approval　of　all　the　ancient　gods。
　　
　　The　night　air　blew　in　his　face；　cool　enough　to　numb　his　cheeks；　and　his　lance…bearer　crouched　low　behind　the　dashboard　to　shield　himself。　The　only　sound　was　the　crunch　of　the　chariot　wheels　over　the　coarse　gravel；　the　lances　rattling　softly　in　their　scabbards；　and　the　occasional　low　warning　cry　of　'Beware！　Hole！'　passed　on　down　the　column。
　　
　　Suddenly　the　wide　wadi　of　Gebel　Wadun　opened　ahead　of　him　and　Pharaoh　Tamose　reined　down　the　team。　The　wadi　was　the　smooth　roadway　that　would　lead　them　down　on　to　the　flat　alluvial　plain　of　the　river。　Pharaoh　tossed　the　reins　to　his　lance…bearer　and　vaulted　down　to　earth。　He　stretched　his　stiff；　aching　limbs　and；　without　turning；　heard　the　sound　of　Naja's　chariot　e　up　behind　him。　A　low　mand　and　the　wheels　crunched　into　silence；　then　Naja's　light；　firm　footsteps　came　to　his　side。　'From　here　the　danger　of　discovery　will　be　stronger；'　Naja　said；　'Look　down　there。'　He　pointed　with　a　long；　muscular　arm　over　Pharaoh's　shoulder。　Where　the　wadi　debouched　on　to　the　plain　below　them　a　single　light　showed；　the　soft　yellow　glow　of　an　oil　lamp。　That　is　the　village　of　El　Wadun。　That　is　where　our　spies　will　be　waiting　to　lead　us　through　the　Hyksosian　pickets。　I　will　go　ahead　to　the　rendezvous　to　make　safe　the　way。　Do　you　wait　here；　Majesty；　and　I　will　return　directly。'
　　
　　'I　will　go　with　you。'
　　
　　'I　beg　you。　There　may　be　treachery；　Mem。'　He　used　the　King's　childhood　name。　'You　are　Egypt。　You　are　too　precious　to　risk。'
　　
　　Pharaoh　turned　to　look　into　the　beloved　face；　lean　and　handsome。　Naja's　teeth　gleamed　white　in　the　starlight　as　he　smiled；　and　Pharaoh　touched　his　shoulder　lightly　but　with　trust　and　affection。　'Go　swiftly；　and　return　as　swiftly；'　he　acceded。
　　
　　Naja　touched　his　own　heart；　and　ran　back　to　his　chariot。　He　saluted　again　as　he　wheeled　past　where　the　King　stood；　and　Tamose　smiled　as　he　returned　the　salute　then　watched　him　go　down　the　side　of　the　wadi。　When　he　reached　the　flat　hard　sand　of　the　dry　riverbed；　Naja　whipped　up　the　horses；　and　they　sped　down　towards　the　village　of　El　Wadun。　The　chariot　left　black…shaded　wheel…tracks　behind　it　on　the　silvery　sands；　before　it　disappeared　beyond　the　first　bend　of　the　wadi。　When　it　had　gone　Pharaoh　walked　back　down　the　waiting　column；　speaking　quietly　to　the　troopers；　calling　many　by　name；　laughing　softly　with　them；　encouraging　and　cheering　them。　Small　wonder　they　loved　him；　and　followed　him　so　gladly　wherever　he　led　them。
　　
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　　Lord　Naja　drove　warily；　hugging　the　south　bank　of　the　dry　riverbed。　Every　now　and　then　he　glanced　upwards　at　the　crest　of　the　hills；　until　at　last　he　recognized　the　tower　of　wind…blasted　rock　that　leaned　slightly　askew　against　the　skyline；　and　grunted　with　satisfaction。　A　little　further　on　he　reached　the　point　where　a　faint　footpath　left　the　wadi　bottom　and　wound　up　the　steep　slope　to　the　foot　of　the　ancient　watchtower。
　　
　　With　a　curt　word　to　his　lance…bearer　he　jumped　down　from　the　footplate；　and　adjusted　the　cavalry　bow　over　his　shoulder。　Then　he　unslung　the　clay　fire…pot　from　the　rail　of　the　chariot；　and　started　up　the　pathway。　It　was　so　well　disguised　that　if　he　had　not　memorized　ever　turn　and　twist　he　would　have　lost　his　way　a　dozen　times　before　he　reached　the　top。
　　
　　At　last　he　stepped　out　on　to　the　upper　rampart　of　the　tower。　It　had　been　built　many　centuries　ago　and　was　in　ruinous　condition。　He　did　not　approach　the　edge　for　there　was　a　precipitous　drop　into　the　valley　below。　Instead　he　found　the　bundle　of　dry　faggots　hidden　in　the　niche　of　the　wall　where　he　had　left　it　and　dragged　it　into　the　open。　Quickly　he　built　up　a　tiny　pyramid　of　the　kindling；　then　blew　on　the　charcoal　nuggets　in　the　fire…pot；　and　when　they　glowed　he　crumbled　a　handful　of　dried　grass　on　to　them。　They　burst　into　flame　and　he　lit　the　small　signal　beacon。　He　made　no　attempt　to　hide　himself　but　stood　out　where　a　watcher　below　would　see　him　illuminated　on　the　height　of　the　tower。　The　flames　died　away　as　the　kindling　was　consumed。　Naja　sat　down　to　wait　in　the　darkness。
　　
　　A　short　while　later　he　heard　a　pebble　rattle　on　the　stony　path　below　the　walls　and　he　whistled　sharply。　His　signal　was　returned；　and　he　stood　up。　He　loosened　the　bronze　blade　of　his　sickle　sword　in　its　scabbard　and　nocked　an　arrow　in　the　bow；　standing　ready　for　an　instant　draw。　Moments　later　a　harsh　voice　called　to　him　in　the　Hyksosian　language。　He　replied　fluently　and　naturally　in　the　same　tongue；　and　the　footsteps　of　at　least　two　men　sounded　on　the　stone　ramp。
　　
　　Not　even　Pharaoh　knew　that　Naja's　mother　had　been　Hyksosian。　In　the　decades　of　their　occupation　the　invaders　had　adopted　many　of　the　Egyptian　ways。　With　a　dearth　of　their　own　women　to　choose　from；　many　of　the　Hyksos　had　taken　Egyptian　wives；　and　over　the　generations　the　blood…lines　had　bee　blurred。
　　
　　A　tall　man　stepped　out　on　to　the　rampart。　He　wore　a　skull…hugging　basinet　of　bronze；　and　multicoloured　ribbons　were　tied　in　his　full　beard。　The　Hyksos　dearly　loved　bright　colours。
　　
　　He　opened　his　arms。　The　blessing　of　Seueth　on　you；　cousin；'　he　growled；　as　Naja　stepped　into　his　embr