wilbursmith_warlock-第58节

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　　The　priestess　heard　nothing；　but　she　knew　and　understood　that　there　had　been　some　mystical　intervention　in　their　proceedings。　She　was　unsurprised　when　the　cobra　sank　back　slowly　into　the　depths　of　the　basket。　She　replaced　the　lid；　and　stood　up。
　　
　　'Forgive　me；　Mother；'　Mintaka　said　softly；　'I　will　not　take　the　way　of　the　goddess。　There　is　still　much　for　me　to　do　in　this　world。'
　　
　　The　priestess　picked　up　the　basket；　and　said　to　the　girl；　'May　the　goddess　bless　you　and　grant　you　eternal　life　hereafter。'　She　backed　away　to　the　door　of　the　chamber；　and　left　Mintaka　sitting　in　the　gloom。　She　seemed　to　be　listening　still　to　a　voice　that　the　old　woman　could　not　hear。
　　
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　　Taita　brought　Nefer　back　to　Thebes　from　Dabba　in　the　deep　sleep　of　the　Red　Shepenn。　As　soon　as　the　galley　carrying　them　moored　at　the　stone　jetty　below　the　palace；　Taita　had　him　carried　ashore　on　a　litter；　curtained　from　the　gaze　of　the　mon　people。　It　would　have　been　unwise　for　Pharaoh's　critical　condition　to　bee　widely　known　in　the　city。　There　had　been　previous　occasions　when　the　death　of　a　king　had　plunged　the　city　and　the　entire　state　into　wild　despair；　and　caused　devastating　speculation　in　the　millet　exchange；　riots；　looting　and　a　breakdown　of　all　the　mores　and　conventions　of　society。
　　
　　Once　Nefer　was　safely　ensconced　in　his　royal　quarters　at　the　palace；　Taita　was　able　to　work　on　him　in　safety　and　seclusion。　His　first　concern　was　to　examine　again　the　terrible　lacerations　down　the　front　of　the　boy's　legs　and　lower　abdomen　and　assess　if　there　had　been　any　morbid　changes。
　　
　　His　greatest　fear　was　that　the　entrails　had　been　punctured　and　that　their　contents　had　leaked　into　the　stomach　cavity。　If　this　had　happened　then　his　skills　would　be　to　little　avail。　He　unwrapped　the　bandages；　probed　the　openings　gently；　sniffed　the　effluent　for　the　stink　of　faeces；　and　was　greatly　relieved　to　find　no　taint　of　that　contamination。　He　syringed　the　deepest　wounds　with　a　mixture　of　vinegar　and　Oriental　spices。　Then　he　stitched　them　closed　with　cat…gut　and　bandaged　them　with　all　his　skill；　touching　them　with　the　golden　Periapt　of　Lostris；　mending　her　grandson　to　the　goddess　with　each　wrap　of　the　linen　strip。
　　
　　Over　the　days　that　followed　Taita　gradually　reduced　the　dosage　of　the　Red　Shepenn　and　was　rewarded　when　Nefer　recovered　consciousness；　and　smiled　at　him。　'Taita；　I　knew　you　were　with　me。'　Then　he　looked　around　him；　still　drowsy　with　the　drug。　'Where　is　Mintaka？'
　　
　　When　Taita　explained　her　absence；　Nefer's　disappointment　was　almost　palpable；　and　he　was　too　weak　to　conceal　it。　Taita　tried　to　console　him　by　telling　him　that　the　parting　was　only　temporary；　and　that　he　would　soon　be　well　enough　to　make　the　voyage　northwards　to　visit　Avaris。　'We　will　find　a　fine　excuse　for　Naja　to　allow　you　to　make　the　journey；'　Taita　assured　him。
　　
　　For　a　while　Nefer's　recovery　was　encouraging。　The　following　day　he　was　sitting　up；　and　ate　a　hearty　meal　of　dhurra　bread　and　chick…pea　soup。　The　next　day　he　took　a　few　steps　on　the　crutches　Taita　had　carved　for　him；　and　asked　for　meat　with　his　meal。　In　order　not　to　heat　his　blood；　Taita　forbade　red　meat；　but　allowed　him　fish　and　poultry。
　　
　　The　next　day　Merykara　came　to　visit　her　brother；　and　spent　most　of　the　day　with　him。　Her　merry　laughter　and　her　childlike　prattle　cheered　him。　Nefer　asked　after　Heseret；　and　wanted　to　know　why　she　had　not　e　also。　Merykara　answered　evasively　and　invited　him　to　play　another　game　of　bao。　This　time　he　deliberately　opened　his　centre　castle　to　let　her　win。
　　
　　The　next　day　the　terrible　news　of　the　tragedy　at　Balasfura　reached　Thebes。　The　first　reports　were　that　Apepi　and　his　entire　family；　including　Mintaka；　had　perished　in　the　flames。　Nefer　was　stricken　down　again；　this　time　by　grief。　Taita　had　to　mix　him　another　potion　of　the　Red　Shepenn；　but　within　hours　the　wounds　in　his　leg　had　turned。　Over　the　next　few　days　his　condition　worsened；　and　soon　he　was　at　the　very　frontiers　of　death。　Taita　sat　with　him　and　watched　him　tossing　and　raving　in　delirium　while　the　livid　scarlet　lines　of　morbidity　ran　like　rivers　of　fire　up　his　limbs　and　his　belly。
　　
　　Then　news　came　from　the　Lower　Kingdom　that　Mintaka　had　survived　the　tragedy　that　had　engulfed　the　rest　of　her　family。　When　Taita　whispered　these　wonderful　tidings　in　his　ear　Nefer　seemed　to　understand　and　respond。　The　next　day　he　was　weak　but　lucid；　and　he　tried　to　convince　Taita　that　he　was　strong　enough　to　make　the　long　journey　to　be　with　Mintaka　in　her　bereavement。　Gently　Taita　dissuaded　him；　but　promised　that　as　soon　as　Nefer　was　strong　enough　he　would　use　all　his　influence　to　convince　Lord　Naja　to　allow　him　to　go。　With　this　goal　to　strive　towards；　Nefer　rallied　strongly　once　again。　Taita　could　see　him　subduing　the　fevers　and　evil　humours　in　his　blood　by　sheer　strength　of　will。
　　
　　Lord　Naja　returned　from　the　north；　and　within　hours　Heseret　came　to　visit　Nefer　for　the　first　time　since　his　mauling　by　the　lion。　She　brought　him　gifts　of　sweetmeats；　a　pot　of　wild　honey　in　the　b；　and　a　magnificent　bao　board　made　of　coloured　agate；　with　stones　of　carved　ivory　and　black　coral。　She　was　sweet；　infinitely　gentle　and　concerned　with　his　suffering；　excusing　herself　for　having　neglected　him。
　　
　　'My　dear　husband；　the　Regent　of　the　Upper　Kingdom；　the　illustrious　Lord　Naja；　has　been　away　all　these　weeks；'　she　explained；　'and　I　have　pined　so　much　for　his　return　that　I　was　not　fit　pany　for　anyone　as　ill　as　you　have　been。　I　was　afraid　that　my　unhappiness　might　affect　you　badly；　my　poor　darling　Nefer。'　She　stayed　an　hour；　sang　to　him；　and　related　some　of　the　doings　of　the　court；　much　of　it　scandalous。　At　last　she　excused　herself：　'My　husband；　the　Regent　of　the　Upper　Kingdom；　does　not　like　me　to　leave　his　side　for　long。　We　are　so　much　in　love；　Nefer。　He　is　a　wonderful　man；　so　kind　and　dedicated　to　you　and　Egypt。　You　must　learn　to　trust　him　pletely；　as　I　do。'　She　rose　to　her　feet　and　then；　as　though　as　an　afterthought；　she　remarked　lightly；　'You　must　have　been　relieved　to　hear　that　Pharaoh　Trok　Uruk　and　my　dear　husband；　the　Regent　of　Upper　Egypt；　have　agreed　for　reasons　of　state　to　cancel　your　betrothal　to　that　little　Hyksosian　barbarian；　Mintaka。　I　was　so　sorry　for　you　when　I　heard　that　such　a　disgraceful　marriage　was　thrust　upon　you。　My　husband；　the　Regent　of　Upper　Egypt；　was　against　it　from　the　very　beginning；　as　I　was。'
　　
　　After　she　had　gone　Nefer　sank　back　weakly　on　the　pillow　and　closed　his　eyes。　When　Taita　came　to　him　a　little　later　he　was　puzzled　by　the　way　in　which　he　had　relapsed。　He　removed　the　bandages　and　found　that　the　infection　in　his　injuries　had　flared　up　again；　and　that　the　malodorous　pus　streaming　from　the　deepest　wound　was　thick　and　yellow。　He　stayed　with　him　through　that　night；　exerting　all　his　skill　and　his　powers　to　ward　off　the　shadows　of　evil　that　surrounded　the　young　Pharaoh。
　　
　　At　dawn　Nefer　was　in　a　a。　Taita　was　truly　alarmed　by　his　condition。　It　could　not　be　explained　entirely　by　the　boy's　grief。　Suddenly　he　was　startled　and　angered　by　a　motion　at　the　door。　He　was　about　to　call　for　silence　when　he　heard　Lord　Naja's　manding　voice　ordering　the　guards　to　stand　aside。　The　RRegent　strode　into　the　chamber　and；　without　greeting　Taita；　stooped　over　Nefer's　still　form　and　peered　into　his　pale；　drawn　face。　After　a　long　moment　he　straightened　up　and　signed　to　Taita　to　follow　him　on　to　the　terrace。
　　
　　When　Taita　came　out　behind　him　he　was　gazing　across　the　river。　On　the　far　bank　a　squadron　of　chariots　was　practising　their　evolutions；　changing　formations　at　full　gallop。　Strangely；　there　had　been　much　warlike　preparation　since　the　treaty　of　Hathor。　'You　wished　to　speak　to　me；　my　lord？'　Taita　asked。
　　
　　Naja　turned　to　him。　His　expression　was　grim。　'You　have　disappointed　me；　old　man；'　he　said；　and　Taita　bowed　his　head　but　made　no　reply。　'I　had　hoped　that　my　way　forward；　my　destiny　as　predicted　by　the　gods；　would　be　cleared　by　now　of　impediment。'　He　stared　hard　at　Taita。　'Yet　it　seems　that；　far　from　allowing　this　e　to　pass；　you　have　done　all　in　your　power　to　prevent　it。'
　　
　　This　has　been　pretence。　I　have　made　a　show　of　caring　for　my　patient；　while　in　reality　I　have　been　fostering　your　interests。　As　you　can　see　for　yourself；　Pharaoh　hangs　over　the　great　abyss。'　Taita　made　a　gesture　towards　the　sick　chamber　where　Nefer　lay。　'Surely　you　can　sense　the　shades　drawing　in　more　closely　around　him。　My　lord；　we　have　almost　obtained　our　object。　Within　days　the　way　ahead　will　be　cleared　for　you。'　Naja　was　not　convinced。　'I　am　reaching　the　limit　of　my　patience；'　he　warned；　and　strode　from　the　terrace。　He　passed　through　the　chamber　without　another　glance　at　the　still　form　upon　the　bed。
　　
　　During　that　day　Nefer's　condition　fluctuated　between　deep　a　and　bouts　of　restless　sweating　and　delirious　ravings。　When　it　became　clear　that　the　leg　was　giving　him　intense　agony；　Taita　removed　the　linen　bandages　and　found　the　whole　of　his　thigh　grotesquely　swollen。　The　stitches　holding　the　wound　closed　were　strained　and　cutting　deeply　into　the　hot；　purple　flesh。　Taita　knew　that　he　dared　not　move　the　boy　while　his　life　hung　on　such　a　slender　thread。　The　pla