wilbursmith_warlock-第8部分

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ew　Regent　of　Egypt。'　At　last　Menset　looked　directly　at　Naja；　but　such　a　dark；　scornful　expression　blighted　his　usually　jovial　features　that　before　the　full　of　this　moon　he　would　be　found　dead　in　his　bed。　For　the　time　being　Naja　merely　nodded。
　　
　　'I　accept　the　duty　and　heavy　responsibility　you　have　placed　upon　me。'　He　sheathed　his　sword　and　mounted　the　dais　to　the　throne。　'As　my　first　official　pronouncement　in　my　capacity　of　Regent　in　Council　I　wish　to　describe　to　you　the　gallant　death　of　the　divine　Pharaoh　Tamose。'　He　paused　significantly；　then　for　the　next　hour　he　related　in　detail　his　version　of　the　fatal　campaign　and　the　attack　on　the　heights　of　El　Wadun。　Thus　died　one　of　Egypt's　most　gallant　kings。　His　last　words　to　me　as　I　carried　him　down　the　hill　were；　〃Care　for　my　only　remaining　son。　Guard　my　son　Nefer　until　he　is　man　enough　to　wear　the　double　crown。　Take　my　two　small　daughters　under　your　wings；　and　see　that　no　harm　befalls　them。〃'
　　
　　Lord　Naja　made　little　attempt　to　hide　his　terrible　grief　and　it　took　him　some　moments　to　bring　his　emotions　under　control。　Then　he　went　on　firmly；　'I　will　not　fail　the　god　who　was　my　friend　and　my　pharaoh。　Already　I　have　sent　my　chariots　into　the　wilderness　to　search　for　Prince　Nefer　and　bring　him　back　to　Thebes。　As　soon　as　he　arrives　we　will　set　him　on　the　throne；　and　place　the　scourge　and　the　sceptre　in　his　hands。'
　　
　　There　was　the　first　murmur　of　approval　among　the　councillors；　and　Naja　continued；　'Now　send　for　the　princesses。　Have　them　brought　to　the　chamber　immediately。'
　　
　　When　they　came　hesitantly　through　the　main　doors；　Heseret　the　elder　was　leading　her　little　sister；　Merykara；　by　the　hand。　Merykara　had　been　playing　pitch　and　toss　with　her　friends。　She　was　flushed　from　her　exertions　and　her　slim　body　was　dewed　with　sweat。　She　was　still　several　years　from　womanhood　so　her　legs　were　long　and　coltish　and　her　bare　chest　was　as　flat　as　a　boy's。　She　wore　her　long　black　hair　in　a　side…lock　that　hung　over　her　left　shoulder；　and　her　linen　breech　clout　was　so　diminutive　that　it　left　the　lower　half　of　her　little　round　buttocks　exposed。　She　smiled　shyly　around　this　formidable　gathering　of　famous　men；　and　clung　harder　to　her　elder　sister's　hand。
　　
　　Heseret　had　seen　her　first　red　moon　and　was　dressed　in　the　linen　skirts　and　wig　of　a　marriageable　woman。　Even　the　old　men　looked　at　her　avidly　for　she　had　inherited　in　full　measure　her　grandmother　Queen　Lostris'　celebrated　beauty。　Her　skin　was　milky。　Her　limbs　were　smooth　and　shapely；　and　her　naked　breasts　were　like　celestial　moons。　Her　expression　was　serene　but　the　corners　of　her　mouth　lifted　in　a　secret；　mischievous　smile；　and　there　were　intriguing　lights　in　her　huge　dark　green　eyes。
　　
　　'e　forward；　my　pretty　darlings；'　Naja　called　to　them；　and　only　then　they　recognized　the　man　who　was　the　close　and　beloved　friend　of　their　father。　They　smiled　and　came　towards　him　trustingly。　He　rose　from　the　throne；　went　down　to　meet　them　and　placed　his　hands　on　their　shoulders。　His　voice　and　his　expression　were　tragic。　'You　must　be　brave　now；　and　remember　that　you　are　princesses　of　the　royal　house；　because　I　have　bitter　news　for　you。　Pharaoh　your　father　is　dead。〃　For　a　minute　they　did　not　seem　to　understand；　then　Heseret　let　out　the　high　keening　wail　of　mourning；　followed　immediately　by　Merykara。
　　
　　Gently　Naja　put　his　arms　around　them；　and　led　them　to　sit　at　the　foot　of　the　throne；　where　they　sank　to　their　knees　and　clung　to　each　other；　weeping　inconsolably。
　　
　　The　distress　of　the　royal　princesses　is　plain　for　all　the　world　to　see；'　Naja　told　the　assembly。　'The　trust　and　the　duty　that　Pharaoh　placed　upon　me　is　equally　plain。　As　I　have　taken　Prince　Nefer　Memnon　into　my　care；　so　now　I　take　the　two　princesses；　Heseret　and　Merykara；　under　my　protection。'
　　
　　'Now　he　has　all　the　royal　brood　in　his　hands。　But　no　matter　where　he　is　in　the　wilderness；　and　how　hale　and　strong　the　Prince　Nefer　may　seem；'　Talla　whispered　to　his　neighbour；　'methinks　he　is　already　sickening　unto　death。　The　new　Regent　of　Egypt　has　made　abundantly　clear　his　style　of　government。'
　　
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　　Nefer　sat　in　the　shadow　of　the　cliff　that　towered　above　Gebel　Nagara。　He　had　not　moved　since　the　sun　had　first　shown　its　upper　rim　above　the　mountains　across　the　valley。　At　first　the　effort　of　remaining　still　had　burned　along　his　nerve　endings　and　made　his　skin　itch　as　though　poisonous　insects　were　crawling　upon　it。　But　he　knew　that　Taita　was　watching　him　so　he　had　forced　his　wayward　body　slowly　to　his　will　and　risen　above　its　petty　dictates。　Now　at　last　he　sat　in　a　state　of　exalted　awareness；　his　every　sense　tuned　to　the　wilderness　about　him。
　　
　　He　could　smell　the　water　that　rose　from　its　secret　spring　in　the　cleft　in　the　cliff。　It　came　up　a　slow　drop　at　a　time　and　dripped　into　the　basin　in　the　rock　that　was　not　much　larger　than　the　cup　of　his　two　hands；　then　overflowed　and　dribbled　down　into　the　next　basin；　green…lined　with　slippery　algae。　From　there　it　ran　down　to　disappear　for　ever　into　the　ruddy　sands　of　the　valley　bottom。　Yet　much　life　was　supported　by　this　trickle　of　water：　butterfly　and　beetle；　serpent　and　lizard；　the　graceful　little　gazelle　that　danced　like　whiffs　of　saffron　dust　on　the　heat…quivering　plains；　the　speckled　pigeons　with　their　ruffs　of　wine…coloured　feathers　that　nested　on　high　ledges　all　drank　here。　It　was　because　of　these　precious　pools　that　Taita　had　brought　him　to　this　place　to　wait　for　his　godbird。
　　
　　They　had　begun　to　make　the　net　on　the　day　of　their　arrival　at　Gebel　Nagara。　Taita　had　bought　the　silk　from　a　merchant　in　Thebes。　The　hank　of　thread　had　cost　the　price　of　a　fine　stallion；　for　it　had　been　brought　from　a　land　far　to　the　east　of　the　Indus　river　on　a　journey　that　had　taken　years　to　plete。　Taita　had　shown　Nefer　how　to　weave　the　net　out　of　the　fine　threads。　The　mesh　was　stronger　than　thick　strands　of　linen　or　thongs　of　leather　but　almost　invisible　to　the　eye。
　　
　　When　the　net　was　ready　Taita　had　insisted　that　the　boy　catch　the　decoys　himself。　'It　is　your　godbird。　You　must　take　it　yourself；'　he　had　explained。　'That　way　your　claim　will　be　more　secure　in　the　sight　of　the　great　god　Horus。'
　　
　　So；　in　the　baking　daylight　out　on　the　valley　floor；　Nefer　and　Taita　had　studied　the　route　up　the　cliff。　When　darkness　fell　Taita　had　sat　beside　the　small　fire　at　the　base　of　the　cliff　and　softly　chanted　his　incantations；　at　intervals　throwing　a　handful　of　herbs　on　to　the　fire。　When　the　crescent　moon　rose　to　illuminate　the　darkness　of　midnight　Nefer　had　started　the　precarious　climb　to　the　ledge　where　the　pigeons　roosted。　He　had　seized　two　of　the　big；　fluttering　birds　while　they　were　still　disorientated　and　confused　by　the　darkness　and　the　spell　that　Taita　had　cast　over　them。　He　brought　them　down　in　the　leather　saddlebag　slung　on　his　back。
　　
　　Under　Taita's　instruction　Nefer　had　plucked　the　feathers　from　one　wing　of　each　bird；　so　that　they　were　no　longer　able　to　fly。　Then　they　had　selected　a　spot　close　to　the　base　of　the　cliff　and　the　spring；　but　exposed　enough　to　make　the　birds　clearly　visible　from　the　sky　above。　They　tethered　the　pigeons　by　the　leg　with　a　thread　of　horsetail　hair　and　a　wooden　peg　driven　into　the　hard　earth。　Then　they　had　spread　the　gossamer　net　above　them；　and　supported　it　on　stalks　of　dried　elephant　grass；　which　would　snap　and　collapse　under　the　stoop　of　the　godbird。
　　
　　'Stretch　the　net　gently；'　Taita　had　shown　him；　'not　too　tight；　nor　again　too　slack。　It　must　catch　in　the　bird's　beak　and　his　talons　and　tangle　him　so　that　he　cannot　struggle　and　damage　himself　before　we　can　free　him。'
　　
　　When　all　was　set　up　to　Taita's　satisfaction；　they　began　the　long　wait。　Soon　the　pigeons　had　bee　accustomed　to　their　captivity；　and　pecked　greedily　at　the　handfuls　of　dhurra　millet　that　Nefer　scattered　for　them。　Then　they　sunned　and　dusted　themselves　contentedly　under　the　silken　net。　One　day　succeeded　the　next　hot；　sun…riven　day；　and　still　they　waited。
　　
　　In　the　cool　of　the　evening　they　brought　in　the　pigeons；　furled　the　net；　and　then　they　hunted　for　food。　Taita　climbed　to　the　top　of　the　cliff　where　he　sat　cross…legged　on　the　edge；　overlooking　the　long　valley。　Nefer　waited　in　ambush　below；　never　in　the　same　place　so　that　the　game　were　always　surprised　when　they　came　to　drink　at　the　spring。　From　his　vantage…point　Taita　wove　his　spell　of　enticement；　which　seldom　failed　to　seduce　the　dainty　gazelle　within　fair　shot　of　where　Nefer　lay　with　his　arrow　nocked　and　bow　held　at　draw。　Every　evening　they　grilled　gazelle　steaks　over　the　fire　at　the　entrance　to　the　cave。
　　
　　The　cave　had　been　Taita's　retreat　during　all　the　years　after　the　death　of　Queen　Lostris　when　he　had　lived　here　as　a　hermit。　It　was　his　place　of　power。　Although　Nefer　was　a　novice；　and　had　no　deep　understanding　of　the　old　man's　mystical　skills；　he　could　not　doubt　them；　for　every　day　they　were　demonstrated　to　him。
　　
　　They　had　been　at　Gebel　Nagara　for　many　days　before　Nefer　began　to　understand　that　they　had　not　e　here　to　find　the　godbird　alone：　this　interlude　was　an　extension　of　the　training　and　instruction　Taita　had　lavished　upon　him　from　as　far　back　as　Nefer's　young　memory　stretched。