wilbursmith_warlock-第133部分

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f　the　column。　They　did　not　show　themselves　or　take　their　farewells　of　Nefer　and　Taita。
　　
　　'Personally；　I　would　have　preferred　to　stir　up　a　beehive　with　a　short　stick；'　Taita　murmured。　'It　may　have　made　for　a　more　restful　climate　to　have　shown　a　little　more　tact。'
　　
　　'They　must　learn　that　I　am　pharaoh；　and　that　my　word　is　law　even　to　them。　Besides；　at　the　moment　I　have　other　concerns　than　female　tantrums；'　Nefer　said；　'They　will　get　over　it。'　But　he　stayed　on　the　wall　and　watched　until　the　swaying　litter　and　the　caravan　disappeared　in　the　hazy　distance。
　　
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　　Taita　and　Nefer　rode　out　and　inspected　the　stone　walls　that　Shabako　had　hastily　thrown　up　along　the　eastern　approaches　to　the　oasis　of　Ismailiya。
　　
　　'Shabako's　efforts　will　not　rank　among　the　great　architectural　achievements　of　the　age；'　Taita　gave　his　opinion；　'but　that　is　all　to　the　good。　From　the　direction　in　which　Naja　will　e；　they　appear　to　be　natural　features　and　will　excite　no　suspicion　until　he　enters　the　funnel　and　finds　his　front　progressively　narrowed。'
　　
　　'Your　plan　has　the　towering　virtue　of　allowing　us　to　choose　our　own　battleground。'　Nefer　nodded。　'With　the　help　of　Horus；　we　will　turn　it　into　a　slaughter…ground。'　Then　he　laid　his　hand　upon　Taita's　skinny　arm。　'Once　again　I　find　myself　deeply　in　your　debt；　Old　Father。　This　is　all　your　work。'
　　
　　'No。'　Taita　shook　his　head。　'It　was　a　gentle　nudge　I　gave　to　you。　The　rest　of　it　is　yours。　You　have　inherited　the　military　instincts　of　your　father；　Pharaoh　Tamose。　You　will　achieve　the　greatness　that　might　have　been　his；　had　he　not　died　so　cruelly　at　the　hands　of　the　enemy　who　faces　us　now。'
　　
　　'It　is　time　for　me　to　avenge　that　death；'　Nefer　said。　'Let　us　ensure　that　we　do　not　let　the　cobra　slither　away　again。'
　　
　　Over　the　days　that　followed　Nefer　exercised　his　forces；　and　rehearsed　in　detail　the　plans　and　tactics　of　his　defence。　The　battalions　of　archers　and　slingers　marched　out　each　morning　and　took　up　their　positions　behind　the　rough；　ungainly　walls。　They　placed　small　cairns　of　stones　in　front　of　the　walls　to　mark　the　range；　so　that　they　would　be　able　to　judge　precisely　the　moment　to　spring　the　trap。　They　concealed　bundles　of　spare　arrows　close　at　hand　so　that　they　would　not　run　short　of　missiles　during　the　battle。　The　slingers　moulded　their　clay　balls　and　baked　them　in　the　fire　until　they　were　rock　hard。　Then　they　laid　up　mounds　of　these　deadly　missiles　behind　the　walls；　close　at　hand。
　　
　　During　the　exercises；　Nefer　and　his　manders　played　the　role　of　Naja's　troops　and　rode　in　from　the　desert；　viewing　their　dispositions　with　a　critical　eye；　making　certain　that　they　were　pletely　concealed　by　the　breastworks。
　　
　　Then；　while　they　waited；　Nefer　rehearsed　his　tactics　before　the　walls；　charging；　wheeling　and　retreating；　covering　the　ground　so　that　his　men　came　to　know　every　fold；　plain　and　gully；　even　the　location　of　the　aardvark　holes　and　other　small　obstacles　across　the　field。　He　chose　carefully　the　secure　points　behind　the　walls　where　he　could　water　the　horses　during　the　battle；　and　where　his　reserves　would　be　held　until　they　were　needed。　'I　doubt　that　there　was　ever　a　mander　able　to　learn　the　board　on　which　the　game　will　be　played　as　intimately　as　I；'　Nefer　told　Taita；　and　ordered　his　squadrons　out　again　to　go　through　the　same　evolutions。
　　
　　In　the　evening　he　rode　back　into　the　fort　at　the　head　of　his　squadron。　The　dust　had　mingled　with　his　sweat　and　caked　his　face　and　body。　He　was　weary　to　the　bone；　but　content　in　the　knowledge　that　he　had　done　all　in　his　power　to　ready　his　legions　for　what　lay　ahead。
　　
　　When　he　pulled　up　Krus　and　Dov；　threw　the　rein　to　the　grooms　and　jumped　down　on　to　the　hard…baked　parade…ground；　his　sense　of　well…being　evaporated。　Zugga；　the　head　eunuch　of　the　royal　zenana；　was　waiting　for　him；　wringing　his　fat　hands；　his　eyes　red　with　weeping　and　his　reedy　voice　whining　with　fear。　'Great　Pharaoh；　forgive　me。　I　did　my　best　but　she　is　wily　as　a　vixen。　She　has　outwitted　me。'
　　
　　'Who　is　this　vixen？'　Nefer　demanded；　although　he　knew　who　it　must　be。
　　
　　'The　Princess　Mintaka。'
　　
　　'What　has　happened　to　her？'　Nefer　voice　was　harsh　with　alarm。
　　
　　'She　has　run　away；　and　taken　the　Princess　Merykara　with　her；'　blubbered　Zugga；　in　sure　expectation　of　the　strangling　garotte。
　　
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　　Mintaka　and　Merykara　spent　much　of　the　journey　back　to　Avaris　huddled　together　in　the　screened　litter；　whispering　as　they　planned　their　escape。　They　soon　discarded　the　notion　of　seizing　one　of　the　chariots　from　their　escort　and　riding　away　in　it。　In　the　unlikely　event　that　they　were　able　to　trick　or　overpower　one　of　the　charioteers；　they　knew　that　within　an　hour　they　would　have　the　entire　army　of　Egypt　on　their　heels；　led　by　a　wrathful　pharaoh。　Gradually　a　better　plan　emerged　from　their　deliberations。
　　
　　Mintaka's　first　endeavour　was　to　make　herself　agreeable　to　Zugga；　their　guardian　and　gaoler；　and　to　impress　him　with　her　submissive　resignation　to　his　authority。　By　the　time　they　reached　the　palace　in　Avaris　four　days　later；　she　had　him　pletely　gulled；　believing　only　the　best　of　her　gentle；　innocent　nature。　There；　in　the　most　pretty　and　convincing　manner；　she　appealed　to　Zugga　to　allow　her　and　Merykara　to　visit　the　temple　of　Hathor　to　pray　for　the　safety　of　Nefer　and　his　victory　in　the　looming　battle。　With　some　misgivings；　Zugga　acquiesced　and　the　two　women　were　able　to　spend　almost　an　hour　alone　with　the　high　priestess　in　the　sanctuary　of　the　temple。　Zugga　waited　anxiously　at　the　door；　for　no　man；　not　even　a　eunuch；　was　allowed　to　enter　the　sanctum。
　　
　　Great　was　Zugga's　relief；　and　all　his　suspicions　set　at　rest；　when　Mintaka　and　Merykara　at　last　re…emerged；　both　as　beautiful；　demure　and　innocent　as　any　of　the　temple　virgins。　A　few　days　later　when　they　asked　to　be　allowed　to　pray　again　in　the　temple；　and　to　make　sacrifice　to　the　goddess；　Zugga　was　amenable　to　the　request　and　waddled　beside　their　litter　chatting　blithely　through　the　curtain；　and　relating　to　the　princesses　the　most　juicy　items　of　scandal　in　the　life　of　the　palace。
　　
　　Once　again　the　high　priestess　was　waiting　in　the　forecourt　of　the　temple　to　greet　Mintaka　and　Merykara　and　lead　them　into　the　sanctum。　Without　misgivings　Zugga　settled　down　to　await　the　return　of　the　lovely　royal　pair。　The　high　priestess　sent　out　two　of　her　acolytes　to　serve　him　an　overflowing　platter　of　grilled　chicken　and　fish；　together　with　a　large　jar　of　excellent　wine。　Zugga　ate　it　all　and　polished　off　the　contents　of　the　jug；　then　fell　asleep　in　the　shadow　of　the　cow　effigy　of　the　goddess。　When　he　woke　the　sun　had　set　and　he　was　alone。　He　saw　that　the　litter　bearers　had　gone。　He　heaved　his　vast　bulk　upright　and　experienced　twinges　in　his　belly　that　were　not　caused　by　dyspepsia　but　by　a　pressing　sense　of　alarm。　He　shouted　for　attention　and　beat　on　the　temple　door　with　his　staff。　It　was　a　long　time　before　a　priestess　came　to　him　with　a　message：　'The　two　princesses　have　pleaded　for　sanctuary　within　the　temple。　The　holy　mother　has　granted　their　plea；　and　taken　them　under　her　protection。'
　　
　　Zugga　was　thrown　into　turmoil。　The　sanctuary　of　the　temple　was　inviolate。　He　could　not　demand　the　return　of　his　charges；　not　even　under　the　authority　of　Pharaoh。　The　only　course　open　to　him　was　to　return　to　Ismailiya　and　confess　his　failure；　but　that　was　risky。　The　young　pharaoh　had　not　yet　revealed　his　true　nature；　and　his　rage　might　well　be　fatal。
　　
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　　The　moment　the　temple　doors　closed　behind　them　Mintaka　and　Merykara　dropped　their　pretence　of　resigned　innocence。　'Have　you　made　the　arrangements；　Holy　Mother？'　Mintaka　demanded　eagerly。
　　
　　'Have　no　fear；　daughter。　All　is　in　readiness。'　The　priestess's　brown　eyes　sparkled　with　amusement。　Clearly　she　was　enjoying　this　escapade；　a　break　from　the　tranquil　routine　of　temple　life。　'I　took　the　liberty　of　slipping　a　mild　sleeping　draught　into　the　eunuch's　wine。'　She　giggled。　'I　hope　you　will　not　think　I　have　overstepped　myself；　and　that　you　will　forgive　me。'
　　
　　Mintaka　kissed　her　smooth　pale　cheek。　'I　am　sure　Hathor　will　be　as　proud　of　you　as　I　am。'
　　
　　The　priestess　led　them　to　a　cell　where　all　the　items　that　Mintaka　had　requested　were　laid　out　for　them。　They　dressed　hastily　in　the　rough　peasant　garments；　and　covered　their　heads　with　woollen　shawls。　Then；　carrying　the　leather　pouches　slung　across　their　shoulders；　they　followed　the　high　priestess　through　the　maze　of　corridors。　The　temple　backed　on　to　Nile；　and　they　became　aware　of　the　gentle　swish　of　the　river　current　against　the　outer　walls　growing　louder　ahead　of　them。　At　last　they　stepped　out　through　a　low　doorway　into　the　sunshine；　and　on　to　the　jetty　where　a　large　dhow　was　moored。　'The　captain　has　been　paid　with　the　gold　you　gave　me；　and　he　knows　where　to　go。　All　the　other　items　you　asked　for　are　stowed　in　your　cabin　on　board；'　she　said。
　　
　　'You　know　what　to　tell　Zugga；'　Mintaka　said；　and　the　old　woman　giggled　again。
　　
　　'I　am　sure　that　Hathor　will　forgive　me　such　an　insignificant　falsehood。　It　is　in　such　a　good　cause。'
　　
　　As　the　pair　jumped　down　on　to　the　deck　of