wilbursmith_warlock-第38节

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t　existed。　It　was　so　rubbery　and　large　that　she　could　not　previously　have　overlooked　it。　She　pushed　her　hips　out　to　test　its　nature；　but　every　time　she　did　that　it　grew　harder　and　larger。　This　was　something　beyond　her　experience；　and　in　a　spirit　of　discovery　she　repeated　the　movement。
　　
　　She　hardly　noticed　that　he　had　stopped　his　violent　efforts　to　dislodge　her；　and　that　his　left　arm　was　wrapped　around　her　upper　body。　His　right　hand　was　cupped　around　her　posterior　and　when　next　she　pushed　out　her　hips　to　examine　the　lump；　he　imitated　her　movement　thrusting　out　to　meet　her　and　his　cupped　hand　drew　her　closer　still。　The　lump　prodded　against　her　as　though　it　were　some　small　animal　with　a　life　of　its　own。
　　
　　She　had　never　anticipated　the　sensation　that　overcame　her。　Suddenly　that　mysterious　creature　took　on　an　importance　far　beyond　anything　she　had　dreamed　of　up　to　that　time。　Her　entire　being　was　filled　with　a　dreamy；　pleasurable　warmth。　Without　conscious　intent　she　reached　down　with　one　hand　to　catch　hold　of　it；　to　capture　it　as　though　it　were　a　kitten　or　a　puppy。
　　
　　Then；　with　a　shock　like　a　blow　to　her　stomach；　she　remembered　the　wild　tales　her　slave　girls　had　told　her　about　that　thing；　and　what　men　did　with　it。　On　more　than　one　occasion　they　had　described　it　to　her　in　startling　detail。　Up　to　that　time　she　had　discounted　these　descriptions　as　pure　invention；　for　they　bore　no　resemblance　to　the　small　dangling　appendages　that　her　younger　brothers　carried　in　that　area　of　their　anatomy。
　　
　　She　particularly　remembered　what　Saak；　the　Numidian　slave　girl；　had　told　her：　'You　won't　waste　any　more　prayers　on　Hathor　once　you　have　seen　the　one…eyed　god　when　he　is　angry。'
　　
　　Mintaka　threw　herself　backwards　out　of　Nefer's　embrace　and　sat　in　the　mud　staring　at　him　in　consternation。　Nefer　struggled　into　a　sitting　position　and　returned　her　stare　with　a　bemused　air。　Both　were　panting　as　though　they　had　run　a　gruelling　race。
　　
　　The　guffaws　and　shrieks　of　laughter　from　the　high　bank　slowly　petered　out　as　the　spectators　became　aware　that　something　untoward　had　taken　place；　and　the　silence　became　unfortable。　Taita　covered　it　up　smoothly：　'Your　Majesty；　if　you　extend　your　swim　much　longer　you　will　offer　a　fine　breakfast　to　any　passing　crocodile。'
　　
　　Nefer　jumped　up　and　sloshed　across　to　where　Mintaka　sat。　He　lifted　her　to　her　feet　as　gently　as　if　she　were　made　of　the　most　delicate　Hurrian　glass。
　　
　　Dripping　slime　and　Nile　water；　with　her　hair　dangling　in　a　muddy　tangle　over　her　face　and　shoulders；　her　maids　led　the　princess　away　to　find　a　clean　pool　well　screened　by　reeds。　When　she　reappeared　some　time　later　she　was　washed　clean　of　the　last　traces　of　slime　and　ooze。　The　maids　had　brought　with　them　a　change　of　apparel；　so　Mintaka　was　resplendent　in　a　clean　dry　apron　embroidered　with　silk　and　seed　pearls　and　there　were　golden　bracelets　on　her　arms　and　a　necklace　of　turquoise　and　coloured　glass　at　her　throat。　Her　hair；　though　damp；　was　bed　and　plaited　neatly。
　　
　　Nefer　hurried　to　meet　her　and　led　her　to　her　a　giant　kigelia　tree　under　whose　spreading　branches　a　breakfast　feast　was　laid　out　in　the　shade。　At　first　the　young　couple　were　restrained　and　shy；　still　overawed　by　the　momentous　awakening　that　they　had　shared；　but　soon　their　natural　high　spirits　reasserted　themselves；　and　they　joined　in　the　banter　and　the　chatter；　although　their　eyes　kept　meeting　and　almost　every　word　they　uttered　was　aimed　at　the　other。
　　
　　Mintaka　loved　to　riddle　and　she　challenged　him　to　an　exchange。　She　made　it　more　difficult　for　Nefer　by　couching　her　clues　in　the　Hyksosian　language。
　　
　　'I　have　one　eye　and　a　sharp　nose。　I　run　my　victim　through　and　through；　but　I　draw　no　blood。　What　am　I？'
　　
　　That's　easy！'　Nefer　laughed　triumphantly。　'You　are　a　sewing　needle。'　And　Mintaka　threw　up　her　hands　in　surrender。
　　
　　'Forfeit！'　cried　the　slave　girls。　'Pharaoh　is　right。　Forfeit！'
　　
　　'A　song！'　Nefer　demanded。　'But　not　the　monkey。　We　have　had　enough　of　him　for　one　day。'
　　
　　'I　shall　give　you　〃The　Song　of　the　Nile〃；'　she　agreed；　and　when　she　finished　Nefer　demanded　another。　'Only　if　you　help　me；　Majesty。'
　　
　　His　voice　was　a　robust　tenor　but　whenever　he　slipped　off…key　she　covered　his　mistake　and　made　him　sound　much　better　than　he　was。
　　
　　Of　course　Nefer　had　brought　his　bao　board　and　stones。　Taita　had　taught　him　to　love　it；　and　he　had　bee　expert。　When　he　tired　of　the　singing　he　inveigled　Mintaka　into　a　game。
　　
　　'You　will　have　to　be　patient　with　me。　I　am　a　novice；'　she　warned　him；　as　he　set　out　the　board。　Bao　was　an　Egyptian　game；　and　this　time　he　expected　confidently　to　outmatch　her。
　　
　　'Don't　feel　bad　about　it；'　Nefer　encouraged　her。　'I　will　coach　you。〃
　　
　　Taita　smiled　because　he　and　Mintaka　had　wiled　away　a　few　hours　at　bao　in　the　palace　of　Bubasti　when　they　were　nursing　her　little　brother。　Within　eighteen　moves　her　red　stones　dominated　the　west　castle　and　were　menacing　his　centre。
　　
　　'Have　I　done　the　right　thing？'　she　asked　sweetly。
　　
　　Nefer　was　saved　by　a　hail　from　the　riverbank　and　looked　up　to　see　a　galley　flying　the　Regent's　pennant　ing　swiftly　down　the　channel。　'What　a　pity。　Just　when　the　game　was　getting　interesting。'　He　began　to　pack　up　the　board　with　alacrity。
　　
　　'Can't　we　hide　from　them？'　Mintaka　asked；　but　Nefer　shook　his　head。　They　have　seen　us　already。'　He　had　been　expecting　this　visitation　all　morning。　Sooner　or　later　the　Regent　must　hear　about　this　illicit　outing　and　send　Asmor　to　bring　in　his　errant　charge。
　　
　　The　galley　nosed　into　the　bank　below　where　they　sat　and　Asmor　sprang　ashore。　He　strode　up　to　the　picnic　party。　'The　Regent　is　much　displeased　by　your　absence。　He　bids　you　return　at　once　to　the　temple；　where　matters　of　state　await　your　attention。'
　　
　　'And　I；　Lord　Asmor；　am　much　displeased　by　your　ill　manners。'　Nefer　tried　to　retrieve　some　of　his　hurt　dignity。　'I　am　not　a　groom　or　a　house　servant　to　be　addressed　in　that　manner；　and　neither　have　you　shown　respect　for　the　Princess　Mintaka。'　But　there　was　no　escaping　that　he　was　being　treated　like　a　child。
　　
　　Still；　he　tried　to　put　a　good　face　on　it　and　invited　Mintaka　to　sail　back　with　him　in　the　skiff　while　her　maids　followed　in　the　second　vessel。　Taita　kept　tactfully　to　the　bows　as　this　was　their　first　opportunity　to　hold　a　private　conversation。　Not　quite　certain　what　to　expect　of　her　Nefer　was　startled　when；　rather　than　bothering　with　polite　niceties；　she　launched　immediately　into　a　discussion　of　the　chances　of　success　or　failure　of　the　peace　conference　between　their　opposing　sides。　She　soon　impressed　him　with　her　political　acumen　and　her　strong　views。　'If　only　we　women　were　allowed　to　run　this　world；　there　would　never　have　been　a　stupid　war　in　the　first　place；'　she　summed　up；　but　he　could　not　let　that　go　unchallenged。　They　argued　animatedly　all　the　way　back　to　the　temple。　The　journey　was　far　too　short　for　Nefer's　liking；　and　as　they　came　into　the　landing　he　took　her　hand。　'I　should　like　to　see　you　again。'
　　
　　'I　should　like　that　well　enough；'　she　replied；　without　withdrawing　her　hand。
　　
　　'Soon；'　he　insisted。
　　
　　'Soon　enough。'　She　smiled　and　gently　took　back　her　hand。　He　felt　strangely　bereft　as　he　watched　her　walk　away　towards　the　temple。
　　
　　*　　*　　*
　　
　　'My　lord；　you　were　present　at　the　divination　of　the　Mazes　of　Ammon　Ra。　You　know　of　the　dire　charge　placed　upon　me　by　X。　V　JL　the　gods。　You　know　that　I　can　never　flout　their　express　wishes　and　that　therefore　I　am　mitted　to　your　interest。　I　had　good　reason　to　assist　the　boy　in　what　was　only；　after　all；　a　harmless　escapade。'
　　
　　Naja　was　not　so　easily　placated。　He　was　still　furious　that　Nefer　had　given　Asmor　the　slip　and　managed　to　spend　the　morning　out　in　the　swamps　with　the　Hyksosian　princess。
　　
　　'How　can　I　believe　that　when　you　aided　Nefer？　Nay！　You　instigated　this　piece　of　folly。'
　　
　　'My　lord　Regent；　you　must　realize　how　crucial　to　our　enterprise　it　is　that　I　retain　the　young　Pharaoh's　plete　trust。　If　I　appear　to　flout　your　orders　and　authority；　then　this　will　make　the　boy　believe　that　I　am　still　his　man。　It　will　make　the　difficult　task　laid　upon　me　by　the　Mazes　easier　to　acplish。'
　　
　　Diplomatically　Taita　turned　aside　each　of　the　Regent's　accusations；　until　he　was　no　longer　ranting　but　merely　grumbling　bitterly。　'It　must　not　happen　again；　Magus。　Of　course　I　trust　your　loyalty。　You　would　be　a　fool　indeed　to　fly　against　the　express　strictures　of　the　gods。　However；　in　future　whenever　Nefer　leaves　his　quarters　he　must　be　acpanied　by　Asmor　and　a　full　escort　of　his　men。　I　cannot　take　the　chance　that　he　will　disappear。'
　　
　　'My　lord；　how　goes　the　negotiation　with　the　Shepherd　Chieftain？　Is　there　aught　that　I　can　do　to　help　you　ensure　a　successful　oute　in　this　matter？'　Adroitly　Taita　set　the　hounds　on　a　different　scent；　and　Naja　followed　them。
　　
　　'Apepi　is　indisposed。　This　morning　he　had　a　coughing　fit　so　intense　he　brought　up　blood　and　had　to　leave　the　conference　chamber。　Even　though　he　cannot　attend　himself；　he　will　not　let　any　other　speak　on　his　behalf；　not　even　Lord　Trok　who　usually　has　his　confidence。