wilbursmith_warlock-第105章

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projectile　stream　on　to　the　stony　track。　Overwhelmed　with　a　sudden；　terrible　nausea；　Taita　almost　collapsed　but　regained　his　balance；　and　staggered　back；　wiping　the　bitter　taste　of　bile　from　his　mouth。
　　
　　'Careless！'　he　rebuked　himself　angrily。　'So　close　to　the　quarry　I　should　have　taken　greater　care。　The　Mede　has　detected　me。'
　　
　　He　drank　a　little　water　from　the　skin；　then　went　forward　cautiously。　He　pointed　his　staff　ahead　and　swung　it　slowly　from　side　to　side。　Suddenly　it　grew　heavy　in　his　hand。　He　followed　that　direction　and　saw　ahead　of　him；　glinting　in　the　moonlight；　the　circle　of　pale　pebbles　laid　out　on　the　side　of　the　track。
　　
　　'A　gift　from　the　Mede；'　he　said　aloud。
　　
　　Nausea　seized　him　once　more；　but　he　choked　it　back；　struck　the　earth　with　the　staff　and　spoke　one　of　the　words　of　power。
　　
　　'Ncube！'　His　nausea　receded；　and　he　could　approach　the　circle　closer。
　　
　　It　is　not　enough　that　I　should　break　his　spell；　he　thought　grimly。　I　must　turn　it　back　upon　the　Mede。
　　
　　He　used　the　tip　of　his　staff　to　move　one　of　the　pebbles　out　of　the　circle；　disrupting　its　power。　Now　he　could　squat　beside　the　pattern　without　experiencing　any　harm。　Without　touching　any　of　the　pebbles　he　leaned　close　and　sniffed　at　them。　The　smell　of　the　Mede　was　strong　upon　them　and　he　smiled　with　cold　satisfaction。
　　
　　'He　touched　them　with　his　bare　hands；'　Taita　whispered。　Ishtar　had　left　traces　of　his　sweat　on　them。　Taita　could　use　that　faint　effluent。　Careful　not　to　make　the　same　mistake；　he　moved　the　pebbles　with　the　tip　of　his　staff；　forming　them　into　a　different　pattern；　an　arrowhead　pointing　in　the　direction　that　Ishtar　had　taken。　He　took　a　mouthful　of　water　from　the　skin　and　spat　it　on　the　pebbles；　which　shone　wetly　in　the　moonlight。　Then　he　pointed　his　staff　like　a　javelin　along　the　same　line　as　the　arrowhead　of　pebbles。
　　
　　'Kydash！'　he　shouted；　and　felt　pressure　build　up　in　his　eardrums　as　though　he　had　plunged　deeply　below　the　surface　of　the　ocean。　Before　it　became　unbearable；　it　began　slowly　to　abate；　and　he　felt　a　sense　of　well…being　and　pleasure。　It　was　done。　He　had　turned　it　back　upon　the　Mede。
　　
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　　A　league　ahead　Ishtar　the　Mede　was　hurrying　along　the　track。　He　was　by　now　fully　aware　of　the　pursuit。　He　was　confident　that　the　barrier　he　had　placed　across　the　track　would　stop　most　men；　but　he　knew　it　would　not　long　deter　the　one　he　feared　most。
　　
　　Suddenly　he　staggered　in　mid…stride　and　clutched　his　ears　with　both　hands。　The　pain　was　blinding；　as　though　a　red　hot　dagger　had　been　thrust　deep　into　each　of　his　eardrums。　He　groaned　and　dropped　to　his　knees。　'It　is　the　Warlock。'　He　sobbed。　The　pain　was　so　intense　that　he　could　not　think　clearly。　'He　has　turned　it　back　on　me。'
　　
　　With　shaking　hands　he　reached　into　the　pouch　on　his　belt　and　brought　out　his　most　potent　talisman；　the　dry　embalmed　hand　of　one　of　Pharaoh　Tamose's　infants　who　had　died　soon　after　birth　during　the　plague　of　the　Yellow　Flowers。　Ishtar　had　robbed　the　little　prince's　tomb　to　obtain　it。　The　hand　was　dark　and　clawed　like　a　monkey's　paw。
　　
　　He　held　it　to　his　pounding　head；　and　felt　the　pain　start　to　abate。　He　came　unsteadily　to　his　feet；　and　broke　into　a　shuffling　dance；　chanting　and　wailing。　The　pain　in　his　ears　cleared。　He　gave　one　final　leap　in　the　air　and　stood　facing　back　along　the　way　he　had　e。　He　could　feel　the　presence　of　the　Warlock　close；　like　the　threat　of　thunder　on　a　close　summer's　day。
　　
　　He　thought　of　laying　another　snare；　but　knew　that　Taita　would　send　it　back　to　him。　I　must　turn　aside　and　conceal　my　path；　he　decided。　He　ran　on　along　the　road　seeking　the　place　where　he　could　turn。　He　found　where　the　track　crossed　an　intrusion　of　grey　schist；　so　hard　that　even　the　passing　of　Trok's　legions　had　left　no　mark　upon　it。
　　
　　With　his　left　forefinger　he　traced　out　lightly　the　sacred　symbol　of　Marduk　on　the　rock；　spat　on　it　and　uttered　the　three　hidden　names　of　the　god　that　would　summon　him。
　　
　　'Hide　me　from　my　enemies；　mighty　Marduk。　Bring　me　safely　back　to　your　temple　in　Babylon；　and　I　will　make　for　you　the　sacrifice　you　love　so　well；'　he　promised。　Best　of　all　Marduk　loved　little　girls　sent　into　his　furnace。
　　
　　Ishtar　stood　on　one　leg　and　hopped　backwards　five　and　fifty　paces；　the　esoteric　number　of　Marduk　known　only　to　the　adepts。　Then　he　turned　sharply　off　the　road　and　set　out　at　right　angles　to　it；　heading　into　the　northern　wilderness。　He　went　swiftly；　trying　to　open　the　distance　between　him　and　the　man　who　pursued　him。
　　
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　　Taita　reached　the　point　where　the　ridge　of　grey　schist　crossed　the　road；　and　stopped　abruptly。　The　aura　that　had　been　so　strong　only　moments　before　had　disappeared　like　mist　in　the　warmth　of　the　rising　sun。　There　was　neither　taste　nor　smell　nor　a　glimpse　of　the　Mede　remaining。　He　went　on　down　the　road　a　short　way；　but　found　that　the　trail　was　dead　and　cold。　Quickly　he　retraced　his　steps　until　he　reached　the　point　where　he　had　lost　it。　Ishtar　would　not　have　wasted　his　time　with　a　simple　spell　of　concealment。　He　knows　that　the　Ashes　or　the　Water　and　Blood　would　hardly　give　me　pause；　he　thought。
　　
　　He　looked　up　at　the　sky；　and　from　the　starry　firmament　picked　out　the　single　red　star　low　on　the　horizon；　the　star　of　the　goddess　Lostris。　He　held　up　her　Periapt　and　began　to　chant　the　Praise　to　the　Goddess。　He　had　barely　pleted　the　first　stanza　when　he　felt　an　angry；　alien　presence。　Another　god　had　been　invoked　on　this　spot；　and　knowing　Ishtar　he　could　guess　well　enough　who　that　was。　He　started　on　the　second　stanza　of　praise　and　on　the　bare　rock　ahead　of　him　appeared　a　glow；　like　that　of　the　copper　walls　of　the　furnace　in　the　temple　of　Marduk　when　the　sacrificial　fires　were　burning。
　　
　　Marduk　is　affronted；　and　shows　his　anger；　he　thought；　with　satisfaction。　He　went　to　stand　over　the　faintly　glowing　spot　and　intoned。　'You　are　far　from　your　own　land　and　your　temple；　Marduk　of　the　furnace。　Few　worship　you　in　this　very　Egypt。　Your　powers　are　dissipated。　I　invoke　the　name　of　the　goddess　Lostris；　and　you　cannot　stand　against　it。'
　　
　　He　lifted　the　skirt　of　his　chiton。　'I　quench　your　fires；　Marduk；'　he　said；　and　squatting　like　a　woman；　he　urinated　on　the　rock。　It　sizzled　and　steamed　like　a　bar　of　metal　from　the　forge　of　the　coppersmith　drenched　in　the　trough。　'In　the　name　of　the　goddess　Lostris；　Marduk　the　Devourer；　stand　aside　and　let　me　pass。'
　　
　　The　rock　cooled　quickly；　and　as　the　steam　dispersed　he　could　make　out　once　more　the　shadowy　traces　of　the　Mede　beyond　as　they　turned　off　the　track　towards　the　north。　The　veil　that　Ishtar　had　laid　was　pierced　and　torn。　Taita　stepped　through　it　and　set　off　again　after　him。
　　
　　The　horizon　paled　and　the　light　increased　to　a　golden　radiance　in　the　east。　Taita　knew　that　he　was　gaining　steadily；　and　he　strained　his　eyes　ahead　in　the　gathering　light　for　the　first　glimpse　of　his　quarry。　Instead　he　came　to　an　abrupt　halt。　At　his　feet　gaped　a　terrible　abyss；　whose　sheer　sides　dropped　into　darkness　far　below。　No　man　could　scale　those　depths；　and　there　was　no　way　around　this　obstacle。
　　
　　Taita　looked　across　at　the　far　side。　It　was　at　the　very　least　a　thousand　paces　across；　and　the　precipice　was　even　more　daunting　when　seen　from　this　angle。　There　were　vultures　soaring　over　the　bottomless　gulf。　One　of　the　grotesque　birds　circled　in　to　alight　on　its　shaggy　nest　of　sticks　and　twigs　built　on　a　ledge　high　in　the　opposite　cliff　face。
　　
　　Taita　shook　his　head　with　admiration。　'Wonderful；　Ishtar！'　he　murmured。　'Even　the　vultures。　That　was　a　masterful　touch。　I　could　not　have　improved　upon　it；　but　such　an　effort　called　for　a　great　expenditure　of　strength。　It　must　have　cost　you　dearly。'
　　
　　Taita　stepped　out　over　the　edge　of　the　cliff；　and　instead　of　plunging　down　into　airy　space；　there　was　firm　ground　under　his　feet。　The　vista　of　cliffs　and　gorges；　even　the　circling　vultures；　wavered　and　broke　up　as　a　mirage　does　when　you　walk　towards　it。
　　
　　The　abyss　was　gone　and　in　its　place　was　a　gentle　plain　of　stony　ground；　with　low　hills　still　blue　with　shadows　at　the　far　end。　In　the　middle　of　this　plain；　not　five　hundred　paces　away；　stood　Ishtar　the　Mede。　He　was　facing　Taita　with　both　arms　held　above　his　head；　trying　desperately　to　preserve　the　illusion　that　he　had　created。　When　he　saw　that　he　had　failed　and　that　Taita　was　striding　towards　him　like　an　avenging　djinn；　he　dropped　his　arms　with　a　hopeless；　resigned　gesture　and　turned　towards　the　limestone　hills　at　the　far　end　of　the　stony　plain。　He　broke　into　a　shambling　run；　his　black　robes　swirling　around　his　legs。
　　
　　Taita　followed　him　with　his　long　indefatigable　strides；　and　when　Ishtar　looked　back　there　was　desperation　on　his　blue…whorled　face。　For　a　moment　he　stared　in　terror　at　the　tall　silver…haired　figure；　then　he　turned　and　ran　faster。　For　a　while　he　pulled　away；　opening　the　gap；　then　his　run　faltered；　and　Taita　gained　upon　him　inexorably。
　　
　　Ishtar　dropped　the　waterskin　from　his　shoulder；　and　ran　with　a　lighter　step；　but　he　was　only　a　few　hundred　paces　ahead　of　Taita　when　he　reached　the　low　hills　that　were　grey　blue　with　limestone　outcrops　in　the　early　light。　He　disappeared　into　one　of　the　gullies。
　　
　　When　Taita　reached　the　mouth　of　the　gully　he　saw　Ishtar's　footprints　strung　along　the　sandy　floor　ahead　of　him；　but　they　disappeared　round　the　corner　where　the　gully　turned　sharply　to　the　right。　Taita　followed　him；　but　as　he　reached　the　corner　of　pale　limestone　pillars；　he　heard　the　thunderous　grunting　and　roaring　of　a　wild　beast。　As　he　stepped　round　he　saw　that　the　gully　narrowed　ahead　of　him；　and　standing　foursquare　in　the　way；　its　tail　lashing　from　side　to　side；　was　a　huge　male　lion。
　　
　　The　lion's　black　mane　was　erect；　a　great　bush　that　shook　like　grass　in　a　high　wind　at　each　roar　that　erupted　from　the　gaping　jaws。　Its　eyes　were　golden　and　the　pupils　were　implacable　black　slits。　The　rank；　bestial　scent　of　the　animal　was　thick　in　the　hot　air；　the　stench　of　the　rotting　carcasses　on　which　it　had　feasted　with　those　long　yellow　fangs。
　　
　　Taita　looked　down　at　the　sandy　earth　on　which　the　massive　paws　were　planted　with　all　the　claws　unsheathed。　He　could　still　see　Ishtar's　footprints　in　the　sand；　but　the　paws　of　the　lion　had　left　no　mark。
　　
　　Taita　never　broke　his　stride。　He　raised　the　Periapt　on　its　chain；　and　walked　straight　at　the　slavering　animal。　Instead　of　rising　in　pitch　the　roaring　became　muted；　the　outline　of　its　head　turned　transparent　so　that　he　could　see　the　rock　walls　of　the　gully　through　it。　Then；　like　river　mist；　the　animal　faded　and　was　gone。
　　
　　Taita　walked　through　the　space　where　it　had　stood　and　rounded　the　corner。　Ahead　of　him　the　gully　became　narrower　still　and　the　sides　were　steeper。　It　ended　abruptly　against　a　wall　of　rock。
　　
　　Ishtar　stood　with　his　back　against　the　rock；　staring　at　Taita　with　mad　eyes。　The　whites　were　yellowed　and　bloodshot；　the　pupils　black　and　dilated。　The　smell　of　his　terror　was　more　rank　than　the　odour　of　the　phantom　lion　had　been。　He　raised　his　right　hand　and　pointed　a　long　bony　finger　at　Taita。　'Back；　Warlock！'　he　screamed。　'I　warn　you！'
　　
　　Taita　walked　towards　h