wilbursmith_warlock-第30部分
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Sentries stopped them outside a barred bronze door in the deepest recesses of the building； but as soon as they recognized Trok's hulking figure they stood aside and allowed them to pass through。 This area was Apepi's private quarters。 The walls were hung with magnificent carpets and the furniture was of precious wood； ivory and mother…of…pearl； much of it plundered from the palaces and temples of Egypt。
Trok ushered Taita into a small but luxuriously furnished antechamber； and left him there。 Female slaves brought him a jug of sherbet and a platter of ripe dates and pomegranates。 Taita sipped the drink but ate only a little of the fruit。 He was always abstemious。
It was a long wait。 A sunbeam through the single high window moved sedately along the opposite wall measuring the passage of time。 Lying on one of the carpets； he used his saddlebags as a pillow； dozing； never sinking into deep sleep； and ing instantly awake at every noise。 At intervals he heard the distant sound of women weeping； and the keening wail of mourning somewhere behind the massive walls。
At last there came the tramp of heavy footsteps down the passage outside； and the curtains over the doorway were thrown open。 A burly figure stood in the doorway。 He wore only a crimson linen kilt belted below his great belly with a gold chain。 His chest was covered with grizzled wiry curls； coarse as the pelt of a bear。 There were heavy sandals on his feet and greaves of hard polished leather covered his shins。 But he carried no sword or other weapon。 His arms and legs seemed massive as the pillars of a temple； and were covered with battle scars； some white and silky； long…ago healed； others； more recent； were purple and angry…looking。 His beard and dense bush of hair were grizzled also； but lacking the usual ribbons or plaits。 They had not been oiled or bed and were in careless disarray。 His dark eyes were wild and distracted； and his thick lips under the great beaked nose were twisted as if with pain。
'You are Taita； the physician；' he said。 His voice was powerful； but without accent for he had been born in Avaris and had adopted much of the Egyptian culture and way of life。
Taita knew him well： to him Apepi was the invader； the bloody barbarian； mortal enemy of his country and his Pharaoh。 It took the exercise of all his self…control to keep his expression neutral and his voice calm as he replied； 'I am Taita。'
'I have heard of your skills；' said Apepi。 'I have need of them now。 e with me。'
Taita slung the saddlebags over his shoulder and followed him out into the cloister。 Lord Trok was waiting there with an escort of armed men。 They fell in around Taita as he followed the Hyksosian king deeper into the palace。 Ahead the sound of weeping became louder； until Apepi threw aside the heavy curtains that covered another doorway； and took Taita's arm to push him through。
Dominating the crowded chamber was a large contingent of priests from the temple of Isis in Avaris。 Taita's lip curled as he recognized them by their headdress of egret feathers。 They were chanting and shaking sistrums over the brazier in one corner in which cauterizing tongs glowed red hot。 Taita's professional feud with these quacks went back two generations。
Apart from the healers； twenty others were gathered around the sickbed in the centre of the floor； courtiers and army officers； scribes and other officials； all looking solemn and funereal。 Most of the women were kneeling on the floor； wailing and keening。 Only one was making any attempt to nurse the young boy who lay on the couch。 She seemed not much older than her patient； probably thirteen or fourteen years of age； and she was sponging him down with heated； perfumed water from a copper bowl。
With a single glance Taita saw that she was a striking…looking girl； with a determined； intelligent face。 Her concern for her patient was evident； her expression loving and her hands quick and petent。
Taita switched his attention to the boy。 His naked body was also well formed； but wasted by disease。 His skin was blotched with the characteristic stigmata of the plague； and dewed with perspiration。 On his chest were the raw and inflamed wounds where he had been bled and cauterized by the priests of Isis。 Taita saw that he was in the final stages of the disease。 His thick dark hair was sodden with sweat； it hung over his eyes； which were sunk into plum…coloured cavities； open and bright with fever but unseeing。
'This is Khyan； my youngest son；' Apepi said； as he went to the bedside； and looked down at the child helplessly。 The plague will take him； unless you can save him； Magus。'
Khyan groaned and rolled on to his side with his knees drawn up in agony to his lacerated chest。 With an explosive spluttering sound a mixture of liquid faeces and bright blood spurted from between his shrunken buttocks on to the soiled bed linen。 The girl who was nursing him at once cleaned his backside with the cloth； then wiped up the mess on the sheets without any sign of distaste。 In the corner the healers renewed their chants； and the high priest took up a pair of hot tongs from the charcoal brazier and came towards the bed。
Taita stepped forward； barring the man's way with his long staff。 'Get out！' he said softly。 'You and your butchers have done enough damage here。'
'I must burn the fever out of his body；' the man protested。 'Out！' Taita repeated grimly； then to the others who crowded the chamber； 'Out； all of you。'
'I know you well； Taita。 You are a blasphemer； and a familiar of demons and evil spirits。' The priest stood his ground； and brandished the glowing bronze instrument menacingly。 'I do not fear your magic。 You have no authority here。 The prince is in my charge。'
Taita stepped back and dropped his staff at the feet of the priest； who shrieked and sprang back as the rod of tambootie wood began to writhe； hiss and snake towards him over the tiles。 Suddenly it reared up head…high； its forked tongue darting between thin grinning lips and its beady black eyes glittering。
Instantly there was a yelling stampede for the door。 Courtiers and priests； soldiers and servants panicked； clawing and elbowing their way through the press to be the first out。 In his haste to escape； the high priest knocked over the brazier； then screamed as he danced barefoot on the scattered coals。
Within seconds the chamber was deserted except for Apepi； who had not moved； and the girl at the sickbed。 Taita stooped and picked up the writhing serpent by the tail。 Instantly it was straight； rigid and wooden in his grasp。 He pointed the restored staff at the girl at the bedside。 'Who are you？' he demanded。
'I am Mintaka。 This is my brother。' She laid her hand protectively on the boy's sweat…damp curls； and lifted her chin with a defiant air。 'Do your worst； Magus； but I will not leave him。' Her lips trembled and her dark eyes were huge with terror。 She was clearly overawed by his reputation and by the serpent staff that Taita was pointing at her。 'I am not afraid of you；' she told him； then moved around the bed until it was between them。
'Good；' said Taita briskly； 'Then you will be of more use to me。 When did the boy last drink？'
It took a moment for her to gather herself。 'Not since this morning。'
'Can't those quacks see that he is dying of thirst as much as of the disease？ He has sweated and voided most of the water from his body；' Taita grunted； and picked up the copper jug from beside the bed to sniff the contents。
'This is foul with priest poison and plague humours。' He hurled it against the wall。 'Go to the kitchens and find another jug。 Make sure it is clean。 Fill it from the well； not with river water。 Hurry； girl。' She fled and Taita opened his bag。
Mintaka returned almost immediately with a brimming jug of clean water。 Taita prepared a potion of herbs； and heated it on the brazier。
'Help me give it to him；' he ordered the girl when it had brewed。 He showed her how to position her brother's head and to stroke his throat as he dribbled the water into his mouth。 Soon Khyan was swallowing freely。
'What can I do to help you？' the king asked。
'My lord； there is nothing for you here。 You are better at destroying than at healing。' Taita dismissed him without looking up from his patient。 There was a long silence； then the tramp of Apepi's bronze…studded sandals as he left the chamber。
Mintaka soon lost her terror of the Magus； and as a helper she was quick and willing。 She seemed able to anticipate Taita's wishes。 She forced her brother to drink while Taita brewed up another cup of medicine from his bag on the brazier。 Between them they were able to get this down his throat without losing a drop。 She helped him smear a soothing ointment on the burns that covered his chest。 Then between them they wrapped Khyan in linen sheets and soaked them with well water to cool his burning body。
When she came to sit beside him to rest for a moment Taita took her hand and turned it palm up。 He e
