wilbursmith_warlock-第60部分

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　　Taita　hid　his　impatience　while　he　waited　for　the　mourners　to　file　past　the　couch；　and　one　by　one　to　leave　the　chamber。　When　only　Naja　and　Heseret；　Noom　and　the　viziers　of　the　nomes　of　the　Upper　Kingdom　remained；　Taita　stepped　forward　again。　'Lord　Naja；　I　beg　your　indulgence。　You　are　aware　that　I　have　been　Pharaoh　Nefer　Seti's　tutor　and　servant　since　his　birth。　I　owe　him　respect　and　duty；　even　now　in　death。　I　beg　you　to　grant　me　a　boon。　Will　you　allow　me　to　be　the　one　to　convey　his　corpse　to　the　Hall　of　Sorrow；　and　there　to　make　the　incision　to　remove　his　heart　and　viscera？　I　would　take　that　as　the　greatest　honour　you　could　bestow　on　me。'
　　
　　Lord　Naja　thought　for　a　while；　then　nodded。　'You　have　earned　that　honour。　I　charge　you　with　the　duty　of　conveying　Pharaoh's　sacred　body　to　the　funeral　temple；　and　of　beginning　the　process　of　embalming　by　making　the　incision。'
　　
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　　The　old　warrior；　Hilto；　came　swiftly　to　Taita's　summons。　He　had　been　waiting　in　the　guardroom　at　the　palace　gates。　With　him　he　brought　the　Nubian　shaman；　Bay；　and　four　of　his　most　trusted　men。　One　of　these　was　Meren；　the　friend　and　panion　of　Nefer's　childhood。　He　was　now　a　handsome　ensign　of　the　guards；　tall　of　stature　and　clear　of　eye。　Taita　had　asked　for　him　particularly　to　take　part　in　these　duties。
　　
　　Between　them　they　carried　the　long　woven　basket　that　the　embalmers　used　to　transport　their　cadavers　to　the　funerary　temple。　The　empty　basket　appeared　heavier　than　one　might　have　expected。
　　
　　Taita　let　them　into　the　death　chamber　and　whispered　to　Hilto；　'Swiftly　now！　Every　second　is　precious。'
　　
　　He　had　already　wrapped　Nefer　in　a　long　white　winding　sheet；　with　a　loose　fold　of　linen　covering　his　face。　The　pall…bearers　laid　the　basket　beside　the　couch　and　lifted　Nefer　reverently　into　it。　Taita　packed　bolsters　around　the　body　to　cushion　it　during　the　move；　then　closed　the　lid；　and　nodded。　To　the　temple；'　he　said。　'All　is　in　readiness。'
　　
　　Taita　trusted　his　bag　to　Meren；　and　they　moved　quickly　through　the　passages　and　courtyards　of　the　palace。　The　sounds　of　mourning　and　lamentation　followed　them。　The　guards　lowered　the　points　of　their　weapons　and　knelt　as　the　dead　Pharaoh　passed。　The　women　covered　their　faces；　and　wailed。　All　the　lamps　had　been　extinguished；　and　the　fires　in　the　kitchens　had　been　drawn　so　that　no　smoke　rose　from　the　chimneys。
　　
　　In　the　entrance　courtyard　a　squadron　of　Hilto's　chariots　was　drawn　up　with　the　horses　in　the　traces。　The　bearers　laid　the　long　basket　on　the　footplate　of　the　leading　chariot　and　secured　it　with　leather　straps。　Meren　placed　Taita's　leather　instrument　bag　in　the　cockpit；　and　Taita　mounted　and　took　the　reins。　The　ram's　horns　of　the　regiment　sounded　a　dirge；　and　the　column　moved　out　through　the　gates　at　a　walk。
　　
　　The　news　of　Pharaoh's　death　had　spread　through　the　city　like　the　plague。　The　citizens　crowded　around　the　gates；　wailing　and　ululating　as　the　column　passed。　Crowds　lined　the　route　along　the　river。　Women；　howling　their　grief；　ran　forward　and　threw　the　sacred　lotus　blossoms　on　to　the　basket。
　　
　　Taita　pushed　the　horses　into　a　trot；　then　into　a　canter。　He　was　desperate　to　get　the　basket　into　the　sanctuary　of　the　funerary　temple。　The　temple　of　Nefer's　father　had　not　yet　been　demolished　even　though　Pharaoh　Tamose　had　been　taken　months　ago　to　his　tomb　in　the　bleak　hills　to　the　west。　No　temple　had　yet　been　built　for　Nefer：　he　was　so　young　that　the　expectation　of　his　life　stretched　far　ahead　of　him。　His　death　now　was　untimely　and　left　them　no　alternative　but　to　use　the　building　prepared　for　his　father。
　　
　　The　tall；　rose…coloured　granite　walls　and　portico　of　the　temple　were　set　upon　a　low　prominence　overlooking　the　green　river。　The　priests；　hastily　assembled；　were　waiting　to　greet　the　column。　Their　heads　were　freshly　shaven　and　anointed　with　oil。　The　drums　and　sistrum　beat　a　slow　tempo　as　Taita　drove　up　the　wide　causeway　and　halted　the　chariot　at　the　foot　of　the　staircase　that　mounted　to　the　Hall　of　Sorrow。
　　
　　Hilto　and　his　warriors　lifted　the　basket　and　climbed　the　staircase　with　it　balanced　on　their　shoulders。　The　priests　fell　in　behind　them；　singing　mournfully。　Before　the　open　wooden　doors　of　the　Hall　of　Sorrow　the　pall…bearers　paused；　and　Taita　looked　back　at　the　priests；
　　
　　'By　the　grace　and　authority　of　the　Regent　of　Egypt；　I；　Taita；　have　been　charged　with　lifting　Pharaoh's　viscera。〃　He　fixed　the　high　priest　with　a　mesmeric　gaze。　'All　others　will　wait　without　while　I　perform　this　sacred　charge。'
　　
　　There　was　a　hum　of　consternation　among　the　brotherhood　of　Anubis。　This　was　a　solecism；　against　tradition　and　their　own　authority。　But　Taita　held　the　priest's　eye　sternly；　then　slowly　lifted　his　right　hand　holding　the　Periapt　of　Lostris。　The　priest　knew；　by　fearful　repute；　the　power　of　that　relic。　'As　the　Regent　of　Egypt　has　decreed；'　he　capitulated。　'We　will　pray　without　while　the　Magus　performs　his　duty。'
　　
　　Taita　led　Hilto　and　the　bearers　through　the　doorway　and　they　solemnly　laid　the　basket　on　the　floor　beside　the　black　diorite　slab　in　the　centre　of　the　Hall　of　Sorrow。　Taita　glanced　at　Hilto；　and　the　grizzled　old　mander　marched　to　the　doors　with　great　dignity　and　shut　them　in　the　faces　of　the　assembled　priests。　Then　he　hurried　back　to　Taita's　side。　Between　them　they　opened　the　basket　and　lifted　out　Nefer's　wrapped　body。　They　laid　it　on　the　black　slab。
　　
　　Taita　turned　back　the　fold　of　cloth　that　covered　Nefer's　face。　He　looked　pale　and　lovely　as　an　ivory　carving　of　the　young　god　Horus。　Gently　Taita　turned　his　head　to　one　side；　and　nodded　at　Bay　who　placed　the　leather　instrument　bag　close　to　his　right　hand　and　opened　it。　Taita　selected　the　ivory　forceps；　slipped　the　points　into　Nefer's　ear　and　drew　out　the　woollen　plug。　He　filled　his　own　mouth　with　dark　ruby…coloured　liquid　from　a　glass　jar；　and　through　a　gold　tube　carefully　sluiced　the　dregs　of　the　elixir　of　Anubis　from　Nefer's　eardrums。　When　he　looked　deep　into　the　ear　passages　he　was　relieved　to　see　that　there　was　no　inflammation。　Next　he　introduced　a　soothing　ointment　into　the　ear　orifices　and　replugged　them。　Bay　had　the　antidote　to　the　elixir　ready　in　another　phial。　When　he　opened　the　stopper　it　released　a　sharp　odour　of　camphor　and　sulphur。　Hilto　helped　them　to　lift　Nefer　into　a　sitting　position　and　Taita　administered　the　entire　contents　of　the　phial。
　　
　　Meren　and　the　others　had　been　watching　this　with　blank　inprehension。　Suddenly　Nefer　coughed　harshly　and；　with　superstitious　dread；　they　sprang　back　from　the　slab　and　made　the　sign　against　evil。　Taita　massaged　Nefer's　bare　back　and　he　coughed　again；　vomiting　a　little　yellow　bile。　While　Taita　kept　working　steadily　at　reviving　him；　Hilto　ordered　his　men　to　their　knees　and　made　them　swear　a　dreadful　oath　of　secrecy　as　to　all　that　they　were　witnessing。　Shaken　and　pale　they　swore　their　lives　into　jeopardy。
　　
　　Taita　placed　his　ear　to　Nefer's　back；　listened　for　a　while　then　nodded。　He　massaged　him　again；　and　listened　once　more。　He　signed　to　Bay；　who　took　a　twist　of　dried　herbs　from　the　bag　and　lit　the　end　at　one　of　the　temple　lamps。　He　held　it　under　Nefer's　nose。　The　boy　sneezed　and　tried　to　turn　his　head　away。　Satisfied　at　last　Taita　rewrapped　him　in　the　linen　sheet；　and　made　another　sign　to　Bay　and　Hilto。
　　
　　The　three　turned　back　to　the　basket。　The　others　gaped　as　Taita　lifted　out　the　false　bottom　and　revealed　another　corpse　laid　in　the　partment　beneath。　This　body　also　was　wrapped　in　a　white　linen　winding…sheet。
　　
　　'e！'　Hilto　ordered。　'Lift　it　out！'
　　
　　Under　Taita's　sharp　eye　and　Hike's　stern　instruction　they　exchanged　the　two　bodies。　They　laid　Nefer　in　the　hidden　partment　in　the　bottom　of　the　basket；　but　did　not　yet　replace　the　false　bottom。　Bay　squatted　beside　the　basket　to　watch　Nefer　and　to　check　his　condition。　The　others　laid　the　strange　corpse　on　the　diorite　slab。
　　
　　Taita　swept　away　the　winding　sheet　and　revealed　the　body　of　a　youth　of　about　the　same　age　and　bodily　shape　of　Nefer。　He　had　the　same　thick　dark　hair。　It　had　been　Hilto's　responsibility　to　procure　this　corpse。　In　the　present　climate　in　the　land　this　had　not　been　difficult。　The　plague　was　still　flourishing　in　the　poorer　outlying　areas　of　the　nome。　In　addition；　there　were　the　nightly　gleanings　from　the　streets　and　alleys　of　the　city；　the　victims　of　brawling；　outright　murder；　or　footpads。
　　
　　Hilto　had　considered　all　these　sources。　However；　in　the　end　he　had　found；　in　circumstances　so　perfect　to　the　quest　that　they　could　not　have　been　coincidental；　the　ideal　substitute　for　the　young　Pharaoh。　The　city　bailiffs　had　arrested　this　lad　in　the　very　act　of　slitting　the　purse　of　one　of　the　most　influential　millet　merchants　in　Thebes；　and　the　magistrates　had　not　hesitated　to　sentence　him　to　death　by　strangulation。　The　condemned　lad　was　so　like　in　body　and　general　plexion　to　Nefer　as　to　be　able　to　pass　as　his　brother。　In　addition　he　was　well　set…up　and　healthy；　not　like　the　starvelings　and　plague　victims。　Hilto　had　spoken　to　the　mander　of　the　city　guards　who　had　been　charged　with　carrying　out　the　execution；　and　during　this　friendly　exchange　three　heavy　gold　rings　had　found　their　way　into