wilbursmith_warlock-第57部分

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was　to　attend　an　extraordinary　session　of　the　state　council。　So　urgent　was　the　matter　that　she　was　allowed　only　an　hour　to　prepare　herself。　His　message　warned　her　that　should　she　choose　to　ignore　his　summons　he　would　send　his　bodyguards　to　drag　her　to　the　conclave。　She　had　no　option；　and　her　girls　dressed　her。
　　
　　This　was　the　first　occasion　on　which　Mintaka　had　appeared　in　public　since　her　wedding。　With　her　makeup　carefully　applied　she　was　as　lovely　as　ever　as　she　took　her　seat　on　the　queen's　throne；　below　of　that　of　Pharaoh；　in　the　lavishly　redecorated　assembly　hall　of　the　palace。　She　tried　to　make　her　expression　remote；　and　to　keep　aloof　from　the　proceedings；　but　her　reserve　slipped　as　she　recognized　the　royal　herald　who　came　in　and　prostrated　himself　before　the　twin　thrones。　She　leaned　forward　attentively。
　　
　　Trok　acknowledged　the　herald　then　called　upon　him　to　rise　and　state　his　news　to　the　council。　When　he　rose　to　his　feet　Mintaka　saw　that　he　was　in　the　grip　of　deep　emotion。　He　had　to　clear　his　throat　several　times　before　he　could　utter　a　word；　and　then　at　last　he　spoke；　in　a　voice　so　shaken　that　at　first　Mintaka　did　not　understand　what　he　was　saying。　She　heard　the　words　but　could　not　bring　herself　to　accept　them。
　　
　　'Your　Sacred　Majesty　Pharaoh　Trok　Uruk；　Queen　Mintaka　Apepi　Uruk；　distinguished　members　of　the　state　council；　citizens　of　Avaris；　brothers　and　fellow　countrymen　of　this　reunited　Egypt；　I　bring　tragic　tidings　from　the　south。　I　would　rather　die　outnumbered　a　hundred　to　one　in　battle　than　have　to　tell　you　this。'　He　paused　and　coughed　again。　Then　his　voice　rose　stronger　and　clearer。
　　
　　'I　have　made　the　voyage　by　fast　galley　downriver　from　Thebes。　Travelling　day　and　night；　stopping　only　to　change　rowers；　I　have　taken　twelve　days　to　reach　Avaris。'
　　
　　He　paused　again　and　spread　his　arms　in　a　gesture　of　despair。　'Last　month；　on　the　eve　of　the　festival　of　Hapi；　the　young　Pharaoh　Nefer　Seti　whom　we　all　loved；　and　in　whom　we　placed　so　much　trust　and　hope；　died　of　the　grievous　wounds　that　he　received　at　Dabba　while　hunting　a　cattle…raiding　lion。'　There　was　concerted　sigh　of　despair。　One　of　the　councillors　covered　his　eyes　and　began　to　weep　silently。
　　
　　The　herald　spoke　into　the　silence：　'The　Regent　of　the　Upper　Kingdom；　Lord　Naja；　who　is　of　the　royal　family　of　Tamose　by　marriage；　and　who　is　next　in　the　line　of　succession；　has　been　raised　to　the　throne　in　the　place　of　the　departed　Pharaoh。　He　purifies　the　land　in　his　name　of　Kiafan；　he　endures　unto　eternity　in　his　name　of　Naja；　the　fear　of　him　through　all　the　world　is　great　in　his　name　of　Pharaoh　Naja　Kiafan。'
　　
　　The　cries　of　mourning　for　the　dead　Pharaoh；　and　the　clamour　of　acclamation　for　his　successor　filled　the　hall。
　　
　　In　the　uproar；　Mintaka　stared　at　the　herald。　Under　the　makeup　she　had　turned　chalky　pale　and　her　eyes　needed　no　kohl　to　make　them　huge　and　tragic。　The　world　seemed　to　turn　dark　around　her；　and　she　swayed　on　her　stool。　Although　she　had　heard　Nefer's　death　being　planned　and　plotted；　she　had　convinced　herself　that　it　would　not　happen。　She　had　made　herself　believe　that；　even　without　her　warnings；　Nefer；　with　Taita　to　help　him；　would　somehow　avoid　the　malignant　web　spun　by　Naja　and　Trok。
　　
　　Trok　was　watching　her　with　a　sly；　gloating　smile；　and　she　knew　he　was　revelling　in　her　pain。　She　did　not　care　any　longer。　Nefer　was　gone　and　with　him　her　will　and　her　reason　to　resist　and　to　go　on　living　herself。　She　stood　up　from　the　throne　and；　like　a　sleep…walker　left　the　hall。　She　expected　her　husband　to　order　her　back；　but　he　did　not。　In　the　general　consternation　and　lamentation　few　of　the　other　guests　noticed　her　leave。　Those　who　did　were　aware　of　her　terrible　sorrow。　They　recalled　that　she　had　once　been　betrothed　to　the　dead　Pharaoh；　and　they　forgave　her　this　breach　of　decorum　and　protocol。
　　
　　Mintaka　stayed　in　her　own　chamber　for　three　days　and　nights　without　eating。　She　drank　only　a　little　wine　mixed　with　water。　She　ordered　everyone　to　leave　her；　even　her　girls。　She　would　see　nobody；　not　even　the　physicians　Trok　sent　to　her。
　　
　　On　the　fourth　day　she　asked　for　the　chief　priestess　of　the　temple　of　Hathor。　They　were　alone　together　for　the　entire　morning；　and　when　the　old　woman　left　the　palace　she　had　covered　her　shaven　head　with　her　white　shawl　as　a　sign　of　mourning。
　　
　　The　next　morning　the　priestess　returned　with　two　of　her　acolytes；　who　carried　a　large　basket　of　woven　palm　fronds。　They　placed　the　basket　in　front　of　Mintaka；　then　covered　their　heads　and　withdrew。
　　
　　The　priestess　knelt　beside　Mintaka　and　asked　her　quietly；　'Are　you　certain　that　you　wish　to　take　the　way　of　the　goddess；　my　daughter？'
　　
　　'There　is　nothing　further　for　me　to　live　for；'　Mintaka　said　simply。
　　
　　The　priestess　had　tried　for　hours　the　previous　day　to　dissuade　her；　but　now　she　made　one　last　attempt。　'You　are　young　still　。。。'
　　
　　Mintaka　held　up　one　slim　hand。　'Mother；　I　may　not　have　lived　many　years；　but　in　that　short　time　I　have　experienced　more　pain　than　most　encounter　in　all　their　long　lives。'
　　
　　The　priestess　bowed　her　head　and　said；　'Let　us　pray　to　the　goddess。'　Mintaka　closed　her　eyes　as　she　went　on；　'Blessed　lady；　mighty　cow　of　the　sky；　mistress　of　music　and　love；　all…seeing；　all…powerful；　hear　the　prayers　of　your　daughters　who　love　you。'
　　
　　Something　in　the　basket　in　front　of　them　moved　and　there　was　a　faint　susurration　like　the　river　breeze　in　the　papyrus　beds。　Mintaka　felt　the　coldness　in　her　stomach；　and　knew　that　it　was　the　first　chill　of　death。　She　listened　to　the　prayer；　but　her　thoughts　were　with　Nefer。　She　recalled　vividly　so　much　that　they　had　shared　together；　and　in　her　mind　a　picture　of　him　appeared　as　though　he　still　lived。　She　saw　again　his　smile　and　the　way　he　held　his　head　so　perfectly　balanced　on　his　strong；　straight　neck。　She　wondered　what　point　he　had　reached　on　his　dread　journey　through　the　netherworld；　and　she　prayed　for　his　safety。　She　prayed　for　him　to　reach　the　green　hills　of　paradise；　and　that　she　should　soon　be　reunited　with　him　there。　I　shall　follow　you　soon；　my　heart；　she　promised　him。
　　
　　'Your　beloved　daughter；　Mintaka；　the　wife　of　the　divine　Pharaoh　Trok　Uruk；　begs　from　you　the　favour　you　have　promised　to　those　who　have　suffered　too　much　in　this　world。　Allow　her　to　meet　your　dark　messenger；　and　through　him　to　find　peace　in　your　bosom；　mighty　Hathor。'
　　
　　The　priestess　ended　her　prayer　and　waited。　The　next　step　must　be　taken　by　Mintaka　alone。　Mintaka　opened　her　eyes；　and　studied　the　basket　as　though　seeing　it　for　the　first　time。　Slowly　she　reached　out　with　both　hands　and　lifted　the　lid。　The　interior　of　the　basket　was　dark；　but　there　was　movement　within；　a　heavy；　languid　coiling　and　uncoiling；　a　glinting　of　black　upon　black　like　oil　spilled　on　water　in　a　deep　well。
　　
　　Mintaka　leaned　forward　to　peer　within；　and　slowly　a　scaled　head　rose　to　meet　her。　As　it　emerged　into　the　light　the　hood　distended　until　it　was　wide　as　a　woman's　fan；　patterned　in　black　and　ivory。　The　eyes　were　as　shiny　as　glass　beads。　The　thin　lips　were　curved　in　a　sardonic　grin；　and　the　feathery　black　tongue　flickered　out　between　them；　tasting　the　air；　and　the　scent　of　the　girl　who　sat　in　front　of　it。
　　
　　They　stared　at　each　other；　the　girl　and　the　cobra；　for　a　hundred　slow　beats　of　her　heart。　Once　the　serpent　swayed　back　as　though　to　strike；　then　came　gently　upright　once　more　like　some　fatal　flower　on　a　long　stem。
　　
　　'Why　will　it　not　do　its　work？'　Mintaka　asked；　with　her　lips　close　enough　to　those　of　the　cobra　to　exchange　a　kiss。　She　reached　out　her　hand　and　the　serpent　turned　his　head　to　watch　her　fingers　e　towards　him。　Mintaka　showed　no　fear。　Gently　she　stroked　the　back　of　the　cobra's　widely　distended　hood。　Instead　of　attacking　the　cobra　turned　half　away　from　her；　almost　like　a　cat　offering　its　head　to　be　caressed。
　　
　　'Make　it　do　what　has　to　be　done；'　Mintaka　begged　the　priestess；　but　the　old　woman　shook　her　head　in　puzzlement。
　　
　　'This　I　have　never　seen　before；'　she　whispered。　'You　must　strike　the　messenger　with　your　hand。　That　will　surely　make　him　deliver　the　gift　of　the　goddess。'
　　
　　Mintaka　drew　back　her　hand；　with　open　palm　and　fingers　spread。　She　aimed　at　the　ophidian　head　of　the　serpent　and　was　on　the　point　of　striking；　when　she　started　with　surprise　and　lowered　her　hand。　Puzzled；　she　glanced　around　the　darkened　chamber；　into　the　shadowed　corners；　then　looked　directly　at　the　priestess。
　　
　　'Did　you　speak　again？'　she　asked。
　　
　　'I　said　nothing。'
　　
　　Mintaka　raised　her　hand　again；　but　this　time　the　voice　was　closer　and　clearer。　She　recognized　it　with　a　rush　of　superstitious　fear；　and　felt　the　hairs　rise　upon　the　back　of　her　neck。
　　
　　'Taita？'　she　whispered；　looking　around。　She　expected　him　to　be　standing　at　her　shoulder；　but　the　chamber　was　still　empty　except　for　the　two　of　them　kneeling　in　front　of　the　basket。　'Yes！'　Mintaka　said；　as　though　replying　to　a　question　or　an　instruction。　She　listened　to　the　silence　and　twice　nodded；　then　softly；　'Oh；　yes！'
　　
　　The　priestess　heard　nothing；　but　she　knew　and　understood　that　there　had　been　some　mystical　intervention　in　t