wilbursmith_warlock-第72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！


their　bined　powers　and　after　a　while　they　felt　it　begin　to　diminish；　and　disperse　like　the　smoke　of　the　dying　fire。
　　
　　When　they　had　pleted　the　ritual；　and　were　smothering　the　fire　with　sand；　Bay　said　softly；　'It　is　still　there。'
　　
　　'Yes；'　Taita　said。　'We　have　weakened　it；　but　it　is　still　dangerous；　especially　to　those　who　have　not　learned　how　to　resist　it。'
　　
　　'The　youngest　will　be　more　susceptible；'　Bay　suggested。　'The　two　boys；　Pharaoh　and　Meren；　and　the　girl。'
　　
　　They　went　back　to　where　the　chariots　waited。　Before　they　mounted　again　Taita　spoke　to　the　others。　He　knew　that　they　would　be　frightened　if　he　mentioned　the　true　reason　for　his　concern；　so　he　said；　'We　are　entering　the　most　inhospitable　and　dangerous　area　of　the　dune…lands。　I　know　you　are　all　tired　and　thirsty；　drained　by　the　rigours　of　the　journey；　but　it　could　be　fatal　for　any　of　you　to　bee　careless。　Watch　the　horses　and　the　ground　ahead。　Do　not　allow　yourselves　to　be　distracted　by　any　strange　sound　or　by　an　unusual　sight；　a　bird　or　an　animal。'　He　paused　and　looked　directly　at　Nefer。　'That　applies　to　you　particularly；　Your　Majesty。　Be　on　your　guard　at　all　times。'
　　
　　Nefer　nodded　and　for　once　did　not　argue。　The　rest　of　them　also　looked　grave；　realizing　that　Taita　had　some　reason　of　his　own　to　give　them　this　warning。
　　
　　As　they　went　forward　again；　following　the　valleys　between　the　high　dunes　the　heat　seemed　to　increase　with　every　turn　of　the　chariot　wheels。　The　loose　sand　walls　that　rose　on　either　hand　took　on　a　motley　of　vivid　colours；　lemon　yellow　and　gold；　plum；　purple　and　heron　blue；　fox…red　and　tawny　lion…brown。　In　places　the　dunes　were　streaked　with　frosty　talc；　or　etched　with　patterns　of　black　sand　like　the　soot　of　an　oil　lamp。
　　
　　Overhead　the　sky　turned　brazen　and　ferocious。　The　quality　of　light　changed：　it　became　yellow　and　ethereal。　Distances　were　rendered　confusing　and　distorted。　Nefer　slitted　his　eyes　against　the　shimmering　glare　of　the　brassy　sky。　It　seemed　close　enough　to　touch　with　the　end　of　his　whip。　At　the　same　time　the　shape　of　Taita's　vehicle　only　fifty　cubits　ahead　seemed　to　recede　to　a　blurred　and　distant　horizon。
　　
　　The　heat　scorched　any　exposed　skin　on　face　or　body。　Nefer　felt　a　formless　dread　take　hold　of　him。　There　was　no　reason　for　it；　but　he　could　not　shake　it　off。
　　
　　When　Mintaka　shuddered　against　him　and　gripped　his　whip　arm　he　knew　that　she　had　sensed　it　too。　Great　evil　hung　in　the　air。　He　wanted　to　call　out　to　Taita；　to　ask　him　for　guidance　and　reassurance；　but　his　throat　was　closed　by　dust　and　heat。　No　sound　issued　from　it。
　　
　　Suddenly　at　his　side　he　felt　Mintaka　stiffen　and　her　fingers　dug　painfully　into　the　biceps　of　his　whip　arm。　He　looked　down　at　her　face　and　saw　that　she　was　terrified。　With　her　free　hand　she　pointed　frantically　to　the　crest　of　the　dune　that　seemed　to　hang　suspended　above　them。
　　
　　Something　colossal　and　dark　detached　itself　from　the　heights　and　began　to　tumble　down　towards　them。　He　had　never　seen　anything　like　it。　It　had　the　same　weighty　amorphous　shape　as　a　monstrous　waterskin；　but　was　so　large　that　it　covered　the　entire　side　of　the　dune；　large　enough　to　engulf　and　squash　not　only　the　three　chariots　below　it　but　an　entire　regiment。　As　it　rolled　down　the　almost　sheer　slope　it　gathered　speed；　undulating；　wobbling　and　bouncing　silently；　ing　down　on　them　so　swiftly　that　it　blotted　out　the　yellow　desert　sky。　In　the　heat　it　exuded　a　sudden　cold　that　squeezed　their　breath　from　their　lungs　as　if　they　had　plunged　into　an　icy　pool　in　a　high　mountain　stream。
　　
　　The　horses　had　seen　it　also：　they　plunged　wildly　and　swung　off　the　sandy　track　and　bolted　across　the　valley　bottom；　trying　to　outrun　the　terrifying　apparition。　There　was　a　field　of　ragged　black　lava　rocks　directly　ahead　of　them　and　they　were　racing　straight　into　it。　Nefer　realized　the　danger　and　tried　to　turn　their　heads　but　they　were　out　of　control。　As　he　wrestled　with　the　reins　Mintaka　was　screaming　beside　him。
　　
　　Certain　that　they　were　about　to　be　overwhelmed　by　the　dark　monstrosity；　Nefer　glanced　over　his　shoulder。　He　expected　it　to　be　looming　over　them；　for　he　could　feel　the　cold　emanation　on　the　back　of　his　neck；　but　there　was　nothing。　The　side　of　the　dune　was　bare；　smooth　and　silent。　The　yellow　sky　above　was　empty　and　bright。　The　other　two　chariots　were　halted　under　the　slope；　the　horses　calm　and　under　control。　Taita　and　the　others　were　staring　at　them；　astonished。
　　
　　'Whoa！'　Nefer　yelled　at　the　runaway　team；　and　threw　his　full　weight　on　the　reins；　but　the　horses　never　checked。　At　full　gallop　they　flew　into　the　field　of　lava　rock　with　the　chariot　bounding　and　swerving　behind　them。　'Whoa！'　he　screamed　again。　'Stop；　curse　you；　stop！'
　　
　　The　horses　were　mad　with　terror；　far　beyond　restraint。　They　arched　their　necks　to　fight　the　reins；　striding　out　at　full　stretch；　grunting　with　every　stride。
　　
　　'Hold　hard；　Mintaka！'　Nefer　shouted；　and　threw　one　arm　around　her　shoulders　to　protect　her。　'We　are　going　to　strike！'
　　
　　The　black　rocks　were　worn　and　carved　by　windblown　sand　into　strange　shapes。　Some　were　the　size　of　a　man's　head　and　others　as　big　as　the　chariot　under　them。　Nefer　managed　to　steer　the　crazed　horses　clear　of　the　first；　but　they　ran　on　into　a　gap　between　two　of　the　largest　rocks。　It　was　too　narrow　for　them　to　pass　through：　the　off…wheel　struck　with　a　rending　crash；　and　disintegrated。　Shattered　spokes　and　sections　of　the　rim　were　hurled　into　the　air。　The　carriage　dropped　on　to　its　axle；　dragging　down　the　off　horse；　which　was　thrown　into　the　next　rock。　Nefer　heard　its　front　legs　snap　like　kindling；　even　as　he　and　Mintaka　were　hurled　clear　of　it。
　　
　　They　hit　the　soft　sand；　narrowly　avoiding　being　thrown　into　the　rock　that　had　maimed　the　horse。　When　they　came　to　a　standstill；　Nefer　was　still　holding　Mintaka　in　his　arms。　He　had　cushioned　her　fall；　and　now　he　demanded　breathlessly；　'Are　you　all　right？　Are　you　hurt？'
　　
　　'No；'　she　answered　at　once；　'Are　you？'
　　
　　Nefer　came　to　his　knees；　and　stared　in　horror　at　the　wreckage　of　the　chariot　and　the　crippled　horses。
　　
　　'Sweet　Horus！'　he　cried。　'We　are　finished。'　The　chariot　was　smashed　beyond　any　hope　of　repair。　One　horse　was　down　for　ever；　both　front　legs　shattered。　The　other　was　standing；　still　in　its　traces　and　harnessed　to　the　single　shaft　of　the　chariot；　but　one　leg　was　swinging　loosely　from　its　dislocated　shoulder。
　　
　　Unsteadily　he　came　to　his　feet；　and　pulled　Mintaka　up　after　him。　They　clung　to　each　other　as　Taita　drove　his　chariot　to　the　edge　of　the　lava　field；　tossed　the　reins　to　Meren　and　jumped　down　from　the　footplate。　He　came　to　them　with　long　strides。　'What　happened？　What　caused　the　horses　to　bolt？'
　　
　　'Did　you　not　see　it？'　Nefer　asked；　still　shaken　and　bewildered。
　　
　　'What　was　it？'　Taita　insisted。
　　
　　'A　thing。　Dark　and　huge　as　a　mountain。　It　rolled　down　the　dune　on　top　of　us。'　Nefer　groped　for　words　to　describe　what　they　had　seen。
　　
　　'It　was　big　as　the　temple　of　Hathor。'　Mintaka　supported　him。　'It　was　terrifying。　You　must　have　seen　it　also。'
　　
　　'No；'　Taita　replied。　'It　was　an　aberration　of　your　mind　and　vision。　Something　placed　there　by　our　enemies。'
　　
　　'Witchcraft？'　Nefer　was　bemused。　'But　the　horses　saw　it　also。'
　　
　　Taita　turned　away　from　them　and　called　to　Hilto　as　he　drove　up；　'Destroy　those　poor　beasts。'　He　pointed　to　the　maimed　horses。　'Help　him；　Nefer。'　Taita　wanted　to　distract　him　from　the　disaster　and　its　consequences。
　　
　　With　a　heavy　heart　Nefer　held　the　head　of　the　downed　horse。　He　stroked　its　forehead　and　covered　its　eyes　with　his　headcloth　so　that　it　would　not　see　death　ing。
　　
　　Hilto　was　an　old　trooper　and　had　done　this　sad　work　on　many　far…flung　battlefields。　He　placed　the　point　of　the　dagger　behind　the　animal's　ear　and　with　a　single　thrust　drove　it　into　the　brain。　The　horse　stiffened；　shivered　and　then　relaxed。　They　went　to　the　second　animal。　It　dropped　instantly　to　Hilto's　thrust　and　lay　without　moving　again。
　　
　　Taita　and　Bay　stood　together；　watching　this　harrowing　act　of　mercy；　and　Bay　said　softly；　The　Mede　is　stronger　than　I　thought　him　to　be。　He　has　singled　out　the　most　vulnerable　among　us　and　directed　his　powers　at　them。'
　　
　　'He　has　Trok's　other　sorcerers　to　reinforce　his　influence。　From　now　onwards　we　will　have　to　watch　over　Hilto　and　Meren　also；'　Taita　agreed。　'Until　I　can　gather　my　own　force　to　oppose　Ishtar　we　are　in　great　danger。'
　　
　　He　left　Bay's　side。　It　would　trouble　the　others　if　they　saw　the　two　of　them　conferring　secretly　together。　It　was　of　the　utmost　importance　to　keep　up　their　spirits。
　　
　　'Bring　the　waterskins；'　Taita　ordered。　One　had　burst　in　the　crash　and　the　other　two　were　only　half　full；　but　they　strapped　them　on　to　the　remaining　chariots。
　　
　　'From　here　onwards；　Meren　will　ride　with　Hilto　and　Bay。　I　will　take　Their　Majesties　with　me。'
　　
　　With　the　waterskins　and　the　weight　of　the　extra　passengers　the　chariots　were　now　overloaded。　The　horses　were　straining　as　they　went　forward　into　the　glaring　heat；　with　the　lurid　sun　almost　obscured　by　the　strange　yellow　overcast。
　　
　　Taita　held　th