wilbursmith_warlock-第33部分

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　twice　as　handsome。　He　is　only　trying　to　make　me　look　a　fool　by　staring　at　me　in　that　boorish　way。　I　will　not　look　at　him　again。　I　will　ignore　him　pletely；　she　decided；　and　her　resolve　lasted　until　Lord　Naja　stopped　speaking；　and　her　father　rose　to　answer　him。
　　
　　She　shot　Nefer　another　quick　look　from　under　her　thick　dark　lashes。　He　was　gazing　at　her　father；　but　the　moment　her　glance　touched　his　face　his　eyes　swivelled　to　her。　She　tried　to　make　her　expression　severe　and　forbidding；　but　as　soon　as　he　smiled　her　lips　twitched　in　sympathy。　He　really　is　as　handsome　as　some　of　my　brothers；　she　conceded；　then　took　another　quick　peek。　Or　perhaps　as　any　of　them。　She　looked　back　at　her　lap　and　thought　about　it。　Then　she　took　another　peep　just　to　make　certain。　Perhaps　even　more　handsome　than　any　of　them；　even　Ruga。　Immediately　she　felt　that　she　had　betrayed　her　eldest　brother　and　qualified　her　opinion：　But　in　a　different　kind　of　way；　of　course。
　　
　　She　glanced　sideways　at　Ruga：　with　his　beribboned　beard　and　dark　brow；　he　was　all　warrior。　Ruga　is　a　fine…looking　man；　she　thought　loyally。
　　
　　In　the　ranks　opposite；　Taita　did　not　seem　to　be　watching　her　but　he　missed　not　a　single　nuance　of　the　surreptitious　exchanges　between　Nefer　and　Mintaka。　He　saw　more　than　that。　Lord　Trok；　Naja's　cousin；　was　standing　close　behind　Apepi's　throne；　almost　within　arm's　reach　of　Mintaka。　His　arms　were　folded　over　his　chest；　and　he　wore　embossed　wristlets　of　solid　gold。　Over　one　shoulder　was　slung　a　heavy　recurved　bow；　over　the　other　an　arrow　quiver　covered　with　gold　leaf。　Around　his　neck　were　the　gold　chains　of　valour　and　praise。　The　Hyksos　had　adopted　Egyptian　military　honours　and　decorations　as　well　as　their　beliefs　and　customs。　Trok　was　watching　the　Hyksosian　princess　with　an　unfathomable　expression。
　　
　　There　was　another　brief　exchange　of　glances　between　Mintaka　and　Nefer；　which　Trok　followed　with　his　dark；　brooding　gaze。　Taita　could　sense　his　anger　and　jealousy。　It　was　as　though　the　hot　and　oppressive　cloud　of　the　khamsin；　the　terrible　Saharan　sandstorm；　was　building　up　on　the　desert　horizon。　I　had　not　foreseen　this。　Is　Trok's　interest　in　Mintaka　romantic　or　political？　he　wondered。　Does　he　lust　for　her；　or　see　her　merely　as　a　staircase　to　power？　In　either　case　it　is　dangerous；　and　something　else　we　must　take　into　account。
　　
　　The　speeches　of　greeting　were　ing　to　an　end　and　nothing　of　significance　had　been　said：　negotiation　of　the　truce　would　begin　in　secret　session　the　next　day。　Both　sides　were　rising　from　their　thrones　and　exchanging　bows　and　salutations；　and　the　gongs　began　to　beat　and　the　ram's　horns　to　sound　again　as　they　withdrew。
　　
　　Taita　took　one　last　look　at　the　Hyksosian　ranks。　Apepi　and　his　sons　disappeared　through　a　gateway　guarded　by　tall　granite　pillars；　topped　with　the　twin　cow　heads　of　the　goddess。　With　a　final　backward　look　Mintaka　followed　her　father　and　brothers。　Lord　Trok　followed　her　closely；　and　also　shot　a　last　glance　at　Pharaoh　Nefer　Seti　over　his　shoulder。　Then　he；　too；　strode　out　between　the　pillars。　As　he　did　so　the　arrows　in　his　quiver　rattled　softly；　and　their　coloured　fletchings　caught　Taita's　eye。　Unlike　the　workaday　leather　war　quiver　with　its　stopper　to　prevent　the　arrows　spilling　out；　this　ceremonial　one　was　covered　in　gold　leaf；　and　the　barrel　end　was　open　so　that　the　fletched　tips　of　the　arrows　protruded　above　his　shoulder。　The　feathers　were　red　and　green；　and　something　evil　stirred　in　Taita's　memory。　Trok　marched　away　through　the　gateway；　leaving　Taita　gazing　after　him。
　　
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　　Taita　returned　to　the　stone　cell　in　the　temple　annex　that　had　been　allocated　to　him　for　the　duration　of　the　peace　conference。　He　drank　a　little　sherbet；　for　it　had　been　hot　in　the　courtyard；　then　went　to　the　window　in　the　thick　stone　wall。　A　flock　of　bright…coloured　weavers　and　tits　hopped　and　twittered　on　the　sill；　and　on　the　flagged　terrace　below。　While　he　fed　them　with　crushed　dhurra　millet；　and　they　sat　on　his　shoulders　or　pecked　from　his　cupped　hands；　Taita　thought　about　the　events　of　the　morning　and　began　to　piece　together　all　the　disparate　perceptions　he　had　garnered　during　the　opening　ceremony。
　　
　　His　amusement　and　pleasure　at　what　had　transpired　between　Mintaka　and　Nefer　were　forgotten　as　he　went　on　to　think　of　Trok。　He　considered　the　man's　relationship　to　the　Hyksosian　princess；　and　the　plications　that　might　ensue　when　he　tried　to　force　through　his　plans　for　the　young　couple。
　　
　　His　train　of　thought　was　interrupted　as　he　noticed　a　stealthy　shadow　creeping　along　the　edge　of　the　terrace　outside　the　window。　It　was　one　of　the　temple　cats；　gaunt；　scarred　and　flayed　in　patches　with　mange。　It　was　stalking　the　birds　that　hopped　on　the　flags　outside　the　window；　picking　up　the　spilled　grains　of　dhurra　millet。
　　
　　Taita's　pale　eyes　slitted　as　he　concentrated　on　the　cat。　The　old　torn　stopped　and　peered　around　suspiciously。　Suddenly　its　back　arched　and　every　hair　on　its　body　stood　erect　as　it　stared　at　an　empty　spot　on　the　stone　flags　in　front　of　it。　It　uttered　a　spitting　shriek；　spun　round　and　raced　away　down　the　terrace　until　it　came　to　a　palm　tree。　It　flew　up　the　tall　trunk　until　it　reached　the　crowning　top　fronds　where　it　clung　pathetically。　Taita　threw　another　handful　of　grain　to　the　birds　and　picked　up　his　thoughts。
　　
　　Even　during　their　long　ride　together；　Trok　had　kept　his　war　quiver　firmly　stoppered　and　it　had　not　occurred　to　Taita　to　pare　one　of　the　arrows　it　contained　to　those　he　had　found　at　the　site　of　Pharaoh's　murder。　How　many　other　Hyksosian　officers　had　red　and　green　fletchings　he　could　only　guess；　but　it　was　probably　a　great　number；　though　each　would　have　his　unique　signet。　There　was　only　one　way　to　connect　Trok　to　the　death　of　Pharaoh　Tamose；　and　through　him　to　implicate　his　cousin　Naja。　That　was　to　study　one　of　his　arrows。　How　to　do　this　without　arousing　his　suspicions；　he　wondered。
　　
　　Once　again　he　was　distracted　from　his　thoughts。　There　were　voices　in　the　passage　outside　the　door　of　his　cell。　One　was　young　and　clear；　and　he　recognized　it　at　once。　The　others　were　gruff；　pleading　and　protesting。
　　
　　'Lord　Asmor　has　given　specific　orders…'
　　
　　'Am　I　not　Pharaoh？　Are　you　not　bound　to　obey　me？　I　wish　to　visit　the　Magus；　and　you　dare　not　prevent　me。　Stand　aside；　both　of　you。'　Nefer's　voice　was　strong　and　manding。　The　uncertain　timbre　of　puberty　was　gone；　and　he　spoke　with　the　tones　of　a　man。
　　
　　The　young　falcon　is　spreading　his　wings　and　showing　his　talons；　Taita　thought；　and　turned　from　the　window；　dusting　the　millet　powder　from　his　hands；　to　greet　his　king。
　　
　　Nefer　jerked　aside　the　curtain　that　covered　the　doorway；　and　stepped　through。　Two　armed　bodyguards　followed　him　helplessly；　crowding　into　the　doorway　behind　him。　Nefer　ignored　them　and　faced　Taita　with　his　hands　on　his　hips。
　　
　　Taita；　I　am　much　displeased　with　you。'　Nefer　said。
　　
　　'I　am　distraught。'　Taita　made　a　deep　obeisance。　'In　what　way　have　I　given　you　offence？'
　　
　　'You　have　been　avoiding　me。　Whenever　I　send　for　you　they　tell　me　that　you　are　gone　on　a　secret　mission　to　the　Hyksos；　or　that　you　have　returned　to　the　desert；　or　some　other　such　moonlit　tale。'　Nefer　scowled　to　mask　his　delight　at　being　with　the　old　man　again。　'Then　suddenly　you　pop　up　from　nowhere；　as　though　you　had　never　left；　but　still　you　ignore　me。　You　did　not　even　look　in　my　direction　during　the　ceremony。　Where　have　you　been？'
　　
　　'Majesty；　there　are　long　ears　about。'　Taita　glanced　at　the　hovering　guards。
　　
　　Immediately　Nefer　turned　upon　them　wrathfully。　'I　have　ordered　you　more　than　once　to　be　gone。　If　you　do　not　go　this　instant　I　will　have　you　both　strangled。'
　　
　　They　withdrew　unhappily；　but　not　too　far。　Taita　could　still　hear　their　murmurs　and　the　clink　of　their　weapons　as　they　waited　in　the　passage　beyond　the　curtain。　He　jerked　his　head　at　the　window　and　whispered；　'I　have　a　skiff　at　the　jetty。　Would　Your　Majesty　like　to　go　fishing？'　Without　waiting　for　his　reply；　Taita　hitched　up　the　skirts　of　his　chiton　and　hopped　on　to　the　window…sill。　He　glanced　over　his　shoulder。　Nefer　had　forgotten　his　anger　and　was　grinning　delightedly　as　he　ran　across　the　cell　to　join　him。　Taita　jumped　down　on　to　the　terrace　outside　and　Nefer　followed　him　nimbly。　Like　truants　from　the　classroom；　they　sneaked　across　the　terrace　and　down　through　the　date　palms　to　the　river。
　　
　　There　were　guards　at　the　jetty；　but　they　had　received　no　orders　to　restrain　their　young　Pharaoh。　They　saluted　and　stood　aside　respectfully　as　the　pair　scrambled　into　the　small　fishing　skiff。　Each　took　up　a　paddle　and　shoved　off。　Taita　steered　into　one　of　the　narrow　passages　in　the　banks　of　waving　papyrus；　and　within　minutes　they　were　alone　on　the　swamp　waters；　hidden　from　the　banks　in　the　maze　of　secret　waterways。　'Where　have　you　been；　Taita？'　Nefer　dropped　the　regal　air。　'I　have　missed　you　so。'
　　
　　'I　will　tell　you　everything；'　Taita　assured　you；　'but　first　you　should　tell　me　all　that　has　happened　to　you。'
　　
　　They　found　a　quiet　mooring　in　a　tiny　papyrus…enclosed　lagoon；　and　Nefer　related　everything　that　had　happened　to　him　since　they　had　last　been　able　to　talk　in　p