wilbursmith_warlock-第73节

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ng　heat；　with　the　lurid　sun　almost　obscured　by　the　strange　yellow　overcast。
　　
　　Taita　held　the　golden　Periapt　of　Lostris　in　his　right　hand；　and　chanted　softly　to　himself；　warding　off　the　evil　that　was　thickening　everywhere　around　them。　In　the　following　chariot　Bay　was　singing　also；　a　monotonous　repetitive　refrain。
　　
　　They　came　to　a　section　of　the　road　where　the　wind　had　wiped　away　the　tracks　of　other　caravans　and　travellers。　There　were　no　signs　to　follow　except　for　the　small　cairns　of　stones　that　had　been　placed　at　intervals。　Eventually　even　these　petered　out；　and　they　went　on　into　the　trackless　sands。　They　relied　now　on　Taita's　experience；　his　knowledge　of　the　desert；　and　his　deep　instincts。
　　
　　At　last　they　came　out　into　flat　ground　between　two　ranges　of　high　dunes。　The　sand　here　was　smooth　and　level；　but　Taita　stopped　at　the　edge　of　it　and　considered　it　carefully。　He　climbed　down　from　the　footplate　and　beckoned　to　Bay。　The　black　man　came　to　his　side　and　together　they　examined　the　innocuous　surface。
　　
　　'I　like　it　not　at　all；'　Taita　said。　'We　must　look　for　a　detour　around　this　plain。　There　is　something　here。'
　　
　　Bay　walked　a　short　way　out　on　to　the　firm　level　sand　and　sniffed　the　hot　air。　He　spat　twice　and　studied　the　pattern　of　his　own　spittle。　Then　he　came　back　to　Taita。　'I　can　find　nothing　troublesome　here。　If　we　look　for　a　way　round　it　may　cost　us　hours；　even　days。　The　pursuit　is　not　far　behind。　We　must　decide　which　is　the　greatest　risk。'
　　
　　'There　is　something；'　Taita　repeated。　'Like　you；　I　also　feel　an　impulse　to　cross　here。　That　feeling　is　too　strong　and　illogical。　The　idea　has　been　placed　in　our　minds　by　the　Mede。'
　　
　　'Mighty　Magus；'　Bay　shook　his　head；　'In　this　case　I　do　not　agree　with　you。　We　must　take　the　risk　and　cross　this　valley。　Otherwise　Trok　will　catch　up　with　us　before　nightfall。'
　　
　　Taita　took　him　by　the　shoulders　and　stared　into　his　black　eyes。　He　saw　that　they　were　slightly　unfocused；　as　though　he　had　been　smoking　the　bhang　weed。　'The　Mede　has　penetrated　your　armour；'　he　said；　and　placed　the　Periapt　on　Bay's　forehead。　Bay　blinked　and　opened　his　eyes　wide。　Taita　could　see　him　struggling　to　throw　off　the　influence。　He　exerted　his　own　will　to　help　him。
　　
　　At　last　Bay　shivered　and　his　gaze　cleared。　'You　are　right；'　he　whispered。　'Ishtar　had　overlooked　me。　There　is　great　danger　in　this　place。'
　　
　　They　looked　down　the　length　of　the　narrow　valley。　It　was　a　river　of　yellow　sand　with　no　beginning　and　no　end　in　sight。　The　far　bank　was　close；　no　more　than　three　hundred　cubits　across　at　the　narrowest　places；　but　it　might　have　been　two　hundred　leagues；　and　Trok's　regiments　were　close　behind　them。
　　
　　'South　or　north？'　Bay　asked。　'I　cannot　see　the　way　round。'
　　
　　Taita　closed　his　eyes　and　exerted　all　his　powers。　Suddenly　there　was　a　sound　in　the　terrible　silence。　A　faint　high　cry。　They　all　looked　up　and　saw　the　tiny　shape　of　a　royal　falcon　turning　high　in　the　furious　yellow　sky。　It　circled　twice　then　sped　south　along　the　valley；　and　disappeared　into　the　haze。
　　
　　'South；'　Taita　said。　'We　will　follow　the　falcon。'
　　
　　They　had　been　so　intent　on　these　deliberations；　that　neither　of　them　had　noticed　that　Hilto　had　eased　his　own　chariot　up　closer　to　where　they　stood。　He　and　Meren　were　leaning　over　the　dashboard　and　listening　to　this　exchange。　Hilto　was　frowning　with　impatience。　Suddenly　he　exclaimed；　'Enough　of　this！　The　way　is　clear　ahead。　We　cannot　afford　any　delay。　Will　you　dare　to　follow　if　Hilto　leads　the　way？'
　　
　　He　whipped　up　his　team；　and　the　startled　horses　jumped　forward。　Meren　was　taken　so　pletely　by　surprise　that　he　was　almost　thrown　backwards　over　the　footplate　but　he　grabbed　a　handhold　and　managed　to　stay　on　the　racing　vehicle。
　　
　　Taita　shouted　at　Hilto；　'e　back！　You　are　bewitched。　You　do　not　know　what　you　are　doing。'
　　
　　Bay　jumped　up　to　catch　the　harness　of　the　off…side　horse；　but　he　was　too　late：　the　chariot　sped　past　him　and　out　on　to　the　flat　ground。　It　gathered　speed　and　Hilto's　laughter　floated　back　to　them。　'The　way　is　open。　'Tis　smooth　and　fast。'
　　
　　Nefer　snatched　up　the　reins　of　the　stationary　vehicle；　and　shouted；　'I　will　stop　him　or　turn　him。'
　　
　　'No！'　Taita　turned　back　to　him；　desperately　raising　his　hand　in　a　mand　to　stop；　'Don't　go　out　there。　There　is　danger。　Stop；　Nefer！'
　　
　　But　Nefer　ignored　his　cries。　With　Mintaka　beside　him　he　lashed　up　the　team　and　the　wheels　sang　over　the　smooth　hard　sand。　He　was　catching　up　with　Hilto　rapidly。
　　
　　'Oh；　sweet　Horus！'　Taita　groaned。　'Watch　the　wheels。'
　　
　　A　fine　feather　of　silver　sand　began　to　rise　from　behind　the　spinning　wheels　of　Hilto's　chariot。　Then；　as　they　watched　in　horror；　the　feather　became　a　thick　plume　of　yellow　slush；　then　slabs　of　loose　mud。　The　horses　slowed　as　they　sank　to　their　hocks　in　the　soft　footing　and　lumps　of　mud　were　thrown　up　so　high　from　their　driving　hoofs　that　they　flew　over　Hilto's　head。　He　made　no　attempt　to　stop　or　turn　back　but　drove　them　on　deeper　into　the　quagmire。
　　
　　'The　sinking　sands！'　Taita　cried　bitterly。　'This　is　the　work　of　the　Mede。　He　has　hidden　the　true　road　from　us　and　led　us　into　this　trap。'
　　
　　Abruptly　Hike's　team　broke　through　the　crust　into　the　treacherous　swamp　beneath。　As　its　wheels　dropped　in　over　the　rims；　the　chariot　came　to　such　a　sudden　halt　that　both　Hilto　and　Meren　were　catapulted　over　the　dashboard。　They　rolled　across　the　innocent…seeming　surface；　but　when　they　came　to　a　stop　and　tried　to　stand　up　their　bodies　were　coated　with　sticky　yellow　mud；　and　immediately　they　sank　in　to　their　knees。
　　
　　The　horses　were　pleted　mired。　Only　their　heads　and　front　quarters　were　free；　but　as　they　whinnied　and　plunged　they　sank　deeper　and　deeper　still。
　　
　　Nefer　was　bemused　and　reacted　too　slowly　to　the　disaster　taking　place　before　his　eyes。　By　the　time　he　attempted　to　turn　back　it　was　too　late。　Within　ten　cubits　his　wheels　were　in　over　the　hubs　and　both　horses　were　bogged　down　to　the　shoulders。　He　jumped　down　to　help　them；　to　try　to　unharness　them　and　lead　them　back；　but　immediately　he　was　trapped　in　the　slimy　mud；　sinking　in　to　the　knees　and　then　to　the　waist。　'Don't　try　to　stand；'　Mintaka　warned　him　frantically。　'It　will　swallow　you　under。　Throw　yourself　flat　and　swim。'
　　
　　She　threw　herself　headlong　from　the　sinking　vehicle；　and　lay　flat　on　the　quaking　mud。　'Like　this；　Nefer。　Do　as　I　do。'
　　
　　He　recovered　his　wits　and　stretched　out　flat　on　the　surface。　In　an　awkward　swimming　motion；　like　a　child　learning　to　doggy…paddle；　he　reached　the　chariot　before　it　disappeared　pletely。　With　his　dagger　he　cut　the　leather　straps　that　held　the　floorboards　in　place　and；　in　desperate　haste；　ripped　them　up　and　threw　them　clear。　They　floated　on　the　surface　of　the　deadly　quicksands；　but　the　heavy…laden　chariot　slid　inexorably　below　the　surface　and　drew　the　horses　down　with　it。　Within　minutes　there　was　only　a　lighter　patch　on　the　dun…coloured　plain　to　mark　their　grave。
　　
　　Hilto's　chariot　had　also　been　drawn　under　and　his　horses　with　it。　He　and　Meren　were　floundering　about；　yelling　with　terror；　managing　only　to　keep　their　mud…daubed　heads　and　shoulders　clear。
　　
　　Nefer　shoved　one　of　the　floorboards　to　Mintaka。　'Use　this！'　he　ordered　her；　and　she　crawled　on　to　it。
　　
　　He　did　the　same　with　another　board；　which　supported　his　weight。　Towing　two　more　boards　with　him　by　their　leather　straps　he　propelled　himself　across　the　swamp　until　he　was　close　enough　to　throw　them　to　Hilto　and　Meren。　They　dragged　themselves　out　of　the　glutinous　clutches　of　the　mud。　All　four　started　to　swim　laboriously　back　towards　where　Taita　and　Bay　watched　in　horror　from　firm　ground。
　　
　　Taita　waved　his　arms　and　shouted　urgently；　'You　are　already　halfway　across。　Don't　return　here。　Go　on。　Cross　to　the　other　side。'
　　
　　Nefer　saw　the　sense　in　this　immediately。　They　turned　for　the　far　bank。　It　was　slow；　hard　work；　for　the　mud　clung　tenaciously　to　their　arms　and　legs　and　to　the　bottom　of　the　boards。　Mintaka's　lighter　weight　soon　told　and　she　drew　ahead　of　the　others。　She　was　first　to　reach　firm　ground　and　to　drag　herself　from　the　clutches　of　the　sinking　sands。　At　last　Nefer；　Hilto　and　Meren　followed　her。　They　were　almost　exhausted。　They　threw　themselves　down　at　the　foot　of　the　eastern　dunes。
　　
　　While　they　crossed；　there　had　been　time　for　Taita　to　consider　their　predicament。　It　seemed　hopeless。　They　were　split　into　two　groups；　with　a　gulf　between　them　two　hundred　cubits　wide。　They　had　lost　all　of　their　horses　and　vehicles；　their　weapons　and　equipment；　but　the　worst　loss　of　all　was　the　precious　waterskins。
　　
　　Now　Bay　touched　his　arm　and　whispered；　'Listen！'
　　
　　It　was　a　susurration　in　the　air；　far　off；　sometimes　fading　away；　then　growing　louder　again；　a　distant　echo　reverberating　from　the　enclosing　dunes。　Though　faint；　it　was　unmistakable：　the　sound　of　a　column　of　chariot　cavalry　on　the　march。
　　
　　The　three　mud…soaked　figures　on　the　far　side　of　the　valley　heard　it　also；　and　came　to　their　feet。　All　of　them　stared　back　into　the　dunes　and　listened　to　Trok　and　his　men　ing　on　apace。
　　
　　Suddenly　Mintaka　ran　bac