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第38节

wilbursmith_warlock-第38节

小说: wilbursmith_warlock 字数: 每页4000字

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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。

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