wilbursmith_warlock-第62部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


diction。
　　
　　*　　*　　*
　　
　　They　left　Thebes　in　the　early　hours　of　the　next　morning　while　most　of　the　city　still　slept　and　even　the　guards　at　the　east　gate　were　yawning　and　heavy…eyed。
　　
　　Nefer　was　laid　in　the　back　of　the　wagon　drawn　by　a　team　of　four　horses。　These　draught　animals　had　been　chosen　carefully　by　Hilto。　They　were　strong　and　healthy；　but　not　exceptional　in　any　way　that　might　excite　envy　or　ment。　The　wagon　was　loaded　with　essential　supplies　and　the　equipment　they　might　need　once　they　had　left　the　river　valley。　Hilto　was　dressed　as　a　wealthy　farmer；　Meren　as　his　son　and　Bay　as　their　slave。
　　
　　Nefer　was　laid　on　a　straw　mattress　in　the　bed　of　the　wagon；　under　a　screen　of　tanned　leather。　He　was　now　fully　conscious　and　able　to　understand　all　that　Taita　had　to　tell　him。　Despite　the　royal　safe…conduct　the　sergeant　of　the　guard　was　officious。　He　did　not　recognize　Taita　under　his　hood；　so　he　climbed　into　the　back　of　the　wagon　to　inspect　the　contents。　When　he　pulled　back　the　screen　and　Nefer　peered　out　at　him　with　his　gaunt；　pale　features　spotted　with　the　unmistakable　scarlet　stigmata　of　the　plague　that　Taita　had　applied；　the　sergeant　of　the　guard　swore　with　horror　and　leaped　down　from　the　wagon　signing　so　vehemently　against　evil　that　he　dropped　his　lamp；　which　shattered　at　his　feet。
　　
　　'Get　you　gone！'　he　shouted　frantically　at　Hilto　on　the　reins。　'Take　that　filthy　poxy　wretch　out　of　the　city。'
　　
　　Twice　more　during　the　days　that　it　took　them　to　cross　the　littoral　plain　of　the　river　and　to　reach　the　hills　that　marked　the　frontiers　of　the　cultivated　lands　and　the　desert　they　were　stopped　by　military　patrols。　Each　time　the　royal　scroll　and　the　plague　victim　were　enough　to　send　them　on　their　way　again　with　only　the　briefest　delay。
　　
　　It　was　clear　from　the　attitude　of　the　patrols　that　in　Thebes　the　substitution　of　corpses　had　not　been　discovered；　and　that　no　alarm　had　been　raised。　All　the　same　Taita　was　relieved　when　they　climbed　the　hills　into　the　desert　and　followed　the　old　trade　route　eastwards　towards　the　Red　Sea。
　　
　　Now　Nefer　was　able　to　climb　down　from　his　bed　in　the　wagon；　and　for　short　periods　limp　along　beside　it。　At　first　it　was　clear　that；　despite　his　denials；　the　leg　was　painful；　but　soon　he　was　walking　more　easily　and　for　longer　periods。
　　
　　They　rested　for　three　days　at　the　ancient　ruined　city　of　Gallala。　They　refilled　the　waterskins　at　the　meagre　and　bitter　well　and　let　the　horses　recover　from　the　rigours　of　the　hard；　stony　road。　Bay　and　Taita　tended　their　hocks　and　hoofs。　When　they　were　fit　to　resume　the　journey；　they　turned　aside　from　the　known　way：　travelling　in　the　cool　of　the　night；　they　took　the　path　known　only　to　Taita　that　led　to　Gebel　Nagara。　Bay　and　Hilto　swept　their　back…trail　and　covered　all　signs　of　their　passage。
　　
　　They　arrived　at　the　cave　in　the　middle　of　a　night　lit　by　bright　stars。　There　was　not　enough　water　in　the　tiny　seep　to　supply　so　many　men　and　horses；　so　once　the　wagon　was　unloaded　Hilto　and　Bay　started　back；　leaving　only　Meren　to　serve　Taita　and　Nefer。　Hilto　had　resigned　from　his　regiment　on　the　pretext　of　ill…health；　so　he　was　free；　with　Bay；　to　return　with　every　full　moon　to　bring　supplies；　medicine　and　news　from　Thebes。
　　
　　The　first　month　at　Gebel　Nagara　passed　swiftly。　In　the　clean；　dry　desert　air　Nefer's　wounds　closed　without　further　reverses；　and　soon　he　was　limping　out　into　the　desert　to　hunt　with　Meren。　They　startled　the　desert　hares　and　bowled　them　over　with　their　throwing　sticks；　or　Taita　sat　on　the　crags　of　the　hills　above　the　spring　and　worked　his　charm　of　concealment　to　entice　the　herds　of　gazelle　within　arrow　shot。
　　
　　At　the　end　of　that　month　Hilto　returned　from　Thebes　with　Bay。　They　brought　the　news　that　Taita's　subterfuge　had　not　yet　been　discovered　and　Pharaoh　Naja　Kiafan；　along　with　all　the　populace；　still　believed　that　Nefer's　corpse　was　pickling　in　the　natron　bath　in　the　Hall　of　Sorrow。
　　
　　They　also　brought　news　of　insurrections　in　the　Lower　Kingdom；　and　the　terrible　reprisals　by　Pharaoh　Trok　at　Manashi。　Unrest　had　also　flared　in　the　Upper　Kingdom　where　Naja；　like　Trok；　had　increased　taxation　and　ordered　an　enlistment　of　men　into　the　army。　'The　people　are　angry　that　there　should　be　such　an　enlargement　of　the　armed　forces　when　there　is　peace　throughout　the　land；'　Hilto　reported。　'I　think　that　the　armed　insurrection　will　soon　spread　to　the　Upper　Kingdom；　where　Naja　will　deal　with　it　as　kindly　as　Trok　has　in　the　north。　Those　who　cheered　the　ascension　of　these　two　pharaohs　will　soon　have　reason　to　regret　it。'
　　
　　'What　other　news　have　you　from　the　Lower　Kingdom？'　Nefer　asked　eagerly。　Hilto　launched　into　a　long　recitation　of　trade　news　and　millet　prices；　of　the　visit　of　the　Assyrian　special　envoy　to　the　court　of　Pharaoh　Trok。　Nefer　listened　impatiently；　and　when　Hilto　had　finished　he　asked；　'What　news　is　there　of　Princess　Mintaka？'
　　
　　Hilto　looked　puzzled。　'None　that　I　know　of。　I　should　think　she　is　in　Avaris；　but　I　cannot　be　certain。'
　　
　　On　the　ining　leg　of　his　journey　Hilto　had　crossed　the　spoor　of　a　large　herd　of　oryx；　and　asked　Taita's　permission　to　follow　them　up　and　hunt　them。　Dried　venison　would　eke　out　their　supplies；　so　Taita　agreed　readily。　But　he　decreed　that　Nefer　was　not　yet　strong　enough　to　join　the　hunting　party。　Strangely；　this　did　not　seem　to　make　Nefer　unhappy：　instead；　he　suggested　that　Taita　go　out　with　the　hunting　party　to　use　his　powers　to　find　the　game；　and　to　conceal　the　hunters　when　they　closed　in。
　　
　　As　soon　as　he　was　alone　in　the　cave；　Nefer　unpacked　the　small　cedarwood　chest　of　fresh　papyrus　scrolls　and　writing　material　that　Hilto　had　brought　him；　and　began　to　pose　a　letter　to　Mintaka。　He　knew　with　all　certainty　that　by　now　the　reports　of　his　death　would　have　been　received　in　Avaris。　He　remembered　his　own　terrible　suffering　when　he　had　heard　the　false　reports　of　Mintaka's　death　with　her　family　at　Balasfura；　and　he　wanted　to　spare　her　the　same　kind　of　agony。　He　wanted　also　to　explain　that　it　was　Naja　and　Trok　who　had　annulled　their　betrothal；　but　that　as　far　as　he；　Nefer；　was　concerned　he　still　loved　her　beyond　his　own　hope　of　eternal　life；　and　would　never　rest　until　she　was　his　wife。
　　
　　All　this　had　to　be　couched　in　language　that；　should　the　scroll　fall　into　the　wrong　hands；　would　be　meaningless　to　any　person　other　than　Mintaka。
　　
　　He　saluted　her　in　his　opening　as　'The　First　Star'。　She　would　remember　how；　when　they　had　discussed　the　derivation　of　her　name；　she　had　told　him；　'I　am　called　after　the　third　star　in　the　belt　of　the　celestial　Hunter。'
　　
　　He　had　replied；　'No；　not　the　third。　The　very　first　in　all　the　firmament。'
　　
　　He　drew　the　symbols　of　the　hieratic　with　great　care…he　had　always　excelled　at　penmanship。　He　signed　himself　as　the　'Fool　from　Dabba'；　sure　that　she　would　recognize　the　reference　to　his　solecism　when　they　had　been　alone　in　the　desert。
　　
　　That　evening　when　the　hunters　had　returned　and　they　were　feasting　on　fresh　oryx　steaks；　Nefer　waited　his　opportunity　to　speak　to　Hilto　in　private。　This　came　when　Taita　left　the　circle　around　the　camp　fire　to　stalk　out　into　the　desert　night　for　a　while。　Hilto　had　brought　several　large　jars　of　beer　among　the　load　of　supplies　from　Thebes；　and　Taita　had　enjoyed　a　bowl　or　two；　but　one　of　the　few　signs　he　showed　of　his　age　was　the　rate　at　which　the　brew　passed　through　him。
　　
　　As　soon　as　he　was　out　of　earshot；　Nefer　leaned　closer　to　Hilto　and　whispered；　'I　have　a　special　duty　for　you　to　perform　for　me。'
　　
　　'I　shall　be　greatly　honoured；　Your　Majesty。'
　　
　　Nefer　passed　him　the　tiny　roll　of　papyrus。　'Guard　this　with　your　very　life；'　he　ordered；　and　when　Hilto　had　hidden　it　in　his　shawl　Nefer　gave　him　the　orders　for　its　delivery　to　the　princess　in　Avaris。　He　ended　with　a　further　caution：　'Tell　nobody　of　this。　Not　even　the　Magus。　On　your　sacred　oath！'
　　
　　The　following　evening　Hilto　and　Bay　left　Gebel　Nagara　at　the　setting　of　the　sun；　when　the　air　had　started　to　cool。　They　made　their　loyal　obeisance　to　Nefer；　asked　Taita　for　his　blessing　and　a　charm　of　protection；　then　struck　out　into　the　starlit　wilderness。　The　horses　toiled　up　the　first　slope　of　the　dune　hills　and　into　the　jumble　of　moon　silver　rocks　that　crackled　as　they　cooled　in　the　night。
　　
　　Walking　ahead　of　the　horses；　Bay　suddenly　recoiled；　gave　a　startled　exclamation　in　his　savage　tongue　and　reached　for　the　lion…bone　charm　on　his　necklace。　He　pointed　it　at　the　strange　shape　that　had　emerged　from　the　shadows　of　the　rocks。
　　
　　Hilto　was　even　more　agitated；　'Stand　aside；　evil　shade；'　he　shouted；　cracked　his　whip；　and　made　the　sign　against　evil　then　gabbled　an　incantation　to　turn　aside　all　ghosts　and　hobgoblins。
　　
　　'Peace；　Hilto！'　The　apparition　spoke　at　last。　The　moon　was　so　bright　that　it　threw　a　long　shadow　along　the　shale…hard　earth　and　made　the　head　of　the　creature　glow　like　molten　silver　in　the　crucible。　'It　is　I；　Taita　the　Magus。'
　　
　　'It　cannot　be　you！'　Hilto　shouted。　'I　left　Taita　at　Gebel　Nagara　at　sunset。　I　know　you。　You　are　some　dreadful　shade　from　the　netherworld；　pretending　to　be　the　Magus。'
　　
　　Taita　strode　forward　and