wilbursmith_warlock-第23部分

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　　Lord　Taita；　I　refuse　to　discuss　your　access　to　Pharaoh　or　my　impending　marriage　to　the　royal　princesses。　In　both　these　matters　'my　mind　is　set。'　To　emphasize　that　he　had　closed　the　subject；　Naja　returned　his　full　attention　to　the　scroll　spread　on　the　writing　table　in　front　of　him。　Enough　time　passed　for　a　flock　of　wild　geese　to　rise　from　the　swampland　on　the　east　bank；　cross　the　wide　grey　Nile　waters　on　heavy　wingbeats　and　pass　over　the　palace　gardens　where　they　sat。　At　last　Taita　brought　his　eyes　down　from　the　sky；　and　rose　to　leave。　As　he　bowed　to　the　Regent　and　began　to　back　away；　Naja　looked　up　at　him。　'I　have　not　given　you　leave　to　go。'
　　
　　'My　lord；　I　thought　you　had　no　further　need　of　me。'
　　
　　'On　the　contrary；　I　have　the　most　urgent　need。'　He　glared　at　Taita　and　gestured　for　him　to　sit　again。　'You　are　testing　my　good　temper　and　favour。　I　know　that　you　were　wont　to　work　the　Mazes　for　Pharaoh　Tamose　whenever　he　called　upon　you　to　do　so。　Why　do　you　procrastinate　with　me？　As　the　Regent　of　this　land；　I　will　brook　no　further　delay。　I　ask　this　not　for　my　own　profit；　but　for　the　very　survival　of　our　nation　in　this　war　with　the　north。　I　need　the　guidance　of　the　pantheon　of　the　gods。　You　are　the　only　one　who　can　provide　that　for　me。'
　　
　　Naja　stood　up　so　suddenly　that　the　table　in　front　of　him　overturned；　spilling　scrolls　of　papyrus；　brushes　and　ink　on　to　the　terracotta　tiles。　He　paid　it　no　attention；　but　his　voice　rose　to　a　shout：　'I　mand　you；　with　all　the　authority　of　the　hawk　seal　。。。〃　he　touched　the　amulet　on　his　right　arm　'。。。　I　mand　you　to　work　the　Mazes　of　Ammon　Ra　on　my　behalf。'
　　
　　Taita　bowed　his　head　in　theatrical　resignation。　For　weeks　past　he　had　been　prepared　for　this　ultimatum；　and　had　delayed　only　to　extend　to　the　limit　that　period　of　grace　during　which　Nefer　would　be　relatively　safe　from　the　ambitions　of　the　Regent。　He　was　still　convinced　that　Lord　Naja　would　make　no　fatal　move　towards　Nefer　until　he　had　been　given　the　sanction　of　the　Mazes。
　　
　　'The　full　of　the　moon　is　the　most　propitious　period　for　the　Mazes；〃　Taita　told　him。　'I　have　already　made　the　preparations。'
　　
　　Naja　sank　back　on　his　stool。　'You　will　you　do　it　here；　in　my　quarters；'　he　said。
　　
　　'Nay；　Lord　Regent；　that　would　not　be　ideal。'　Taita　knew　that　if　he　were　to　gain　ascendancy　over　Naja；　he　must　keep　him　off…balance。　'The　closer　we　can　be　to　the　influence　of　the　gods；　the　more　accurate　will　be　the　predictions。　I　have　arranged　with　the　priests　at　the　temple　of　Osiris　at　Busiris。　That　is　where　I　will　work　the　Mazes　at　midnight　in　the　full　of　the　moon。　I　will　conduct　the　mystery　in　the　inner　sanctum　of　the　temple。　The　backbone　of　the　god；　the　djed…pillar；　dismembered　by　his　brother；　Seth；　is　held　there。　This　holy　relic　will　magnify　the　force　of　our　deliberations。'　Taita's　voice　was　heavy　with　arcane　meaning。　'Only　you　and　I　will　be　present　in　the　sanctuary。　No　other　mortal　must　overhear　what　the　gods　have　to　tell　you。　One　of　Asmor's　regiments　will　guard　the　approaches　to　the　sanctuary。'
　　
　　Naja　was　an　Osiris　man；　and　his　expression　was　solemn。　Taita　had　known　that　he　would　be　impressed　by　the　time　and　place　he　had　chosen。
　　
　　'As　you　say；　so　let　it　be；'　Naja　agreed。
　　
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　　The　journey　to　Busiris　in　the　royal　barge　took　two　days；　with　Asmor's　regiment　following　in　four　naval　galleys。　They　landed　on　the　yellow　beach　under　the　walls　of　the　temple；　and　the　priests　were　waiting　to　wele　the　Regent　with　psalms　and　offerings　of　gum　arabic　and　myrrh。　The　Regent's　delight　in　sweet…smelling　substances　was　already　known　throughout　the　land。
　　
　　They　were　shown　to　the　quarters　that　had　been　prepared　for　them。　While　Naja　bathed；　perfumed　and　refreshed　himself　with　fruit　and　sherbet；　Taita　visited　the　sanctuary　in　pany　with　the　high　priest　and　made　sacrifice　to　the　great　god　Osiris。　Afterwards；　at　Taita's　subtle　suggestion；　the　high　priest　withdrew　and　left　him　alone　to　make　his　preparations　for　the　evening。　Lord　Naja　had　never　been　present　at　the　working　of　the　Mazes…there　were　few　living　persons　who　had。　Taita　would　put　on　an　impressive　show　for　him；　but　he　had　no　intention　of　subjecting　himself　to　the　exhausting　and　harrowing　ordeal　of　the　authentic　ritual。
　　
　　After　sunset　the　high　priest　entertained　the　Regent　at　a　banquet。　In　his　honour　he　served　the　famous　wine　from　the　vineyards　that　surrounded　the　temple。　It　had　been　at　Busiris　that　the　great　god　Osiris　had　first　introduced　the　grape　to　Egypt。　When　the　luscious　vintage　had　mellowed　the　Regent　and　the　rest　of　the　pany；　the　priests　presented　a　series　of　theatrical　acts　representing　the　life…history　of　the　great　god。　In　each　of　these　Osiris　was　depicted　with　different　skin　colorations；　white　as　the　wrappings　of　a　mummy；　black　for　the　realm　of　the　dead；　red　for　the　god　of　retribution。　Always　he　held　the　crook　and　the　flail；　the　insignia　of　the　ruler；　and　his　feet　were　held　together　like　those　of　a　corpse。　In　the　final　act　his　face　was　painted　green　to　symbolize　his　vegetable　aspect。　As　with　the　dhurra　millet；　which　signified　life　and　sustenance；　Osiris　was　buried　in　the　earth；　which　signified　death。　In　the　darkness　of　the　netherworld　he　germinated　like　the　millet　seed；　then　emerged　into　the　glorious　cycle　of　life　eternal。
　　
　　While　the　tableaux　were　enacted；　the　high　priest　recited　the　god's　names　of　power：　'Eye　of　the　Night'；　'The　Eternally　Good　Being'；　'Son　of　Geb'　and　'Wennefer；　Perfect　in　Majesty。'
　　
　　Then；　surrounded　by　the　smoke　of　the　incense　pots；　to　the　beat　of　gong　and　drum；　the　priests　chanted　the　epic　poem　of　the　struggle　between　good　and　evil。　The　legend　related　how　Seth；　envious　of　his　virtuous　brother；　locked　Osiris　in　a　chest　and　threw　him　into　the　Nile　to　drown。　When　his　dead　body　washed　up　on　the　riverbank；　Seth　hacked　it　to　pieces　and　hid　the　various　parts。　Here　at　Busiris　he　hid　the　djed…pillar；　the　backbone。　Isis；　their　sister；　searched　for　and　found　all　the　parts　of　the　corpse　and　reassembled　them。　Then　she　copulated　with　Osiris。　While　they　were　locked　in　union　her　wings　fanned　the　breath　of　life　back　into　him。
　　
　　Long　before　midnight　the　Regent　of　Egypt　had　consumed　a　flagon　of　the　rich　and　heady　wine；　and　was　in　a　nervous；　susceptible　condition；　his　religious　superstitions　titillated　by　the　priests。　As　the　silver　beam　of　the　full　moon　entered　through　the　precisely　aligned　aperture　in　the　roof　of　the　temple　and　moved　softly　across　the　flags　of　the　nave　towards　the　closed　door　of　the　sanctuary；　the　high　priest　gave　a　signal　and　all　the　other　priests　rose　and　moved　out　in　procession　leaving　Lord　Naja　and　Taita　alone。
　　
　　When　the　chanting　of　the　departing　priests　had　dwindled　with　distance　into　a　heavy　silence；　Taita　took　the　Regent　by　the　hand　and　led　him　down　the　moonlit　nave　to　the　doors　of　the　sanctuary。　As　they　approached　the　great　bronze…covered　doors　swung　open　of　their　own　accord。　Lord　Naja　started　and　his　hand　trembled　in　Taita's。　He　might　have　drawn　back；　but　the　Magus　led　him　forward。
　　
　　The　sanctuary　was　lit　by　four　braziers；　one　in　each　corner　of　the　small　chamber。　There　was　a　low　stool　in　the　centre　of　the　tiled　floor。　Taita　led　Naja　to　it　and　gestured　for　him　to　be　seated。　As　he　did　so；　the　doors　swung　closed　behind　them；　and　Naja　looked　round　at　them　fearfully。　He　would　have　started　up　again；　but　Taita　placed　a　hand　on　his　shoulder　to　restrain　him。　'No　matter　what　you　see　and　what　you　hear；　do　not　move。　Do　not　speak。　As　you　value　your　life；　do　nothing。　Say　nothing。'
　　
　　Taita　left　him　sitting　and；　with　stately　tread；　approached　the　statue　of　the　god。　He　raised　his　hands；　and　suddenly　he　was　holding　a　golden　chalice　by　its　stem。　He　lifted　it　on　high　and　called　on　Osiris　to　bless　the　contents；　then　brought　it　back　to　Naja　and　urged　him　to　drink。　The　honey…viscous　liquid　tasted　of　crushed　almonds；　rose　petals　and　mushrooms。　Taita　clapped　his　hands　and　the　chalice　was　gone。
　　
　　He　held　out　his　empty　hands　and　made　a　mystical　pass　back　and　forth　before　Naja's　face；　and　in　the　blink　of　an　eye　the　Mazes　of　Ammon　Ra　filled　his　cupped　hands。　These　ivory　counters　Naja　recognized　from　the　fanciful　accounts　he　had　heard　of　the　ritual。　Taita　invited　him　to　cover　them　with　his　own　hands；　while　he　recited　an　invocation　to　Ammon　Ra　and　the　host　of　the　pantheon。　'Greatness　in　light　and　fire；　furious　in　divine　majesty；　approach　and　hearken　to　our　pleas。'
　　
　　Naja　squirmed　on　his　stool　as　the　Mazes　grew　hot　to　the　touch；　and　it　was　with　relief　that　he　passed　them　back　to　Taita。　He　was　sweating　heavily　as　he　watched　the　old　man　carry　them　across　the　sanctuary　and　place　them　at　the　feet　of　the　gigantic　statue　of　Osiris。　The　Magus　knelt　there；　bowed　over　them。　For　a　while　there　was　no　sound　within　the　chamber　except　the　hiss　of　the　flames；　no　movement　except　the　shadows；　cast　by　the　lambent　light　of　the　braziers；　dancing　on　the　stone　walls。
　　
　　Then；　abruptly；　a　terrible　disembodied　shriek　rang　through　the　sanctuary。　It　sounded　as　though　once　again　the　god's　vitals　were　being　ripped　from　his　body　by　his　evil　brother。　Naja　moaned　softly　and　covered　his　head　with　his　shawl。
　　
　　Again　there　was　silence　until