wilbursmith_warlock-第26章

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pstream。　Thebes　was　less　than　a　hundred　miles　beyond　that。
　　
　　Apepi　had　ordered　the　sentries　to　go　down　and　leave　them　alone　in　this　lofty　place；　so　that　they　would　not　be　spied　upon　or　overheard。　He　stood　staring　out　over　the　great　grey　river　towards　the　south。　He　was　in　full　war　costume；　hard　leather　greaves　and　breastplate；　sword…belt　studded　with　gold　rosettes；　and　his　beard　was　plaited　with　crimson　ribbons　to　match　his　ceremonial　apron。　Incongruously　he　wore　the　golden　uraeus；　the　vulture　and　cobra　crown；　over　his　dense　silver…shot　curls。　It　infuriated　Taita　that　this　invader　and　despoiler　considered　himself　Pharaoh　of　all　Egypt；　and　wore　the　sacred　regalia；　but　his　expression　was　serene。　Instead　he　tuned　his　mind　to　catch　Apepi's　thoughts。　They　were　a　tangled　web；　so　deep　and　devious　that　even　Taita　could　not　discern　them　clearly；　but　he　could　sense　the　force　within　that　made　Apepi　such　a　dreadful　adversary。
　　
　　'At　least　something　they　say　of　you　is　true；　Magus。'　Apepi　broke　the　long　silence。　'You　are　a　physician　of　great　skill。'　Taita　remained　silent。
　　
　　'Can　you　work　a　charm　to　heal　the　plague　in　my　army　as　you　have　in　my　son？'　Apepi　asked。　'I　would　pay　you　a　lakh　of　gold。　As　much　gold　as　ten　strong　horses　can　carry。'
　　
　　Taita　smiled　bleakly。　'My　lord；　if　I　could　work　such　a　charm　I　could　as　well　conjure　a　hundred　lakhs　out　of　the　thin　air　without　the　effort　of　curing　your　ruffians。'
　　
　　Apepi　turned　his　head　and　returned　his　smile；　but　it　lacked　any　humour　or　goodwill。　'How　old　are　you；　Warlock？　Trok　says　you　are　over　two　hundred　years　old。　Is　that　true？'
　　
　　Taita　gave　no　indication　of　having　heard　him；　and　Apepi　went　on；　'What　is　your　price；　Warlock？　If　not　gold　then　what　can　I　offer　you？'　The　question　was　rhetorical　and　he　did　not　wait　for　an　answer；　but　stamped　away　to　the　northern　parapet　of　the　tower；　and　stood　with　his　fists　on　his　hips。　He　looked　down　over　the　encampments　of　his　army；　and　the　cremation　fields　beyond。　The　fires　were　still　burning　and　the　smoke　drifted　low　across　the　green　waters　of　the　river　and　out　into　the　desert　beyond。
　　
　　'You　have　won　a　victory；　my　lord；'　Taita　said　softly；　'but　you　do　well　to　contemplate　the　pyres　of　your　dead。　Pharaoh　will　have　reinforced　and　regrouped　his　forces　before　the　plague　burns　itself　out　and　your　men　are　ready　to　fight　again。'
　　
　　Apepi　shook　himself　with　annoyance；　like　a　lion　shaking　off　flies。　'Your　persistence　irks　me；　Warlock。'
　　
　　'Nay；　lord；　it　is　not　me　but　the　truth　and　the　logic　that　irk　you。'
　　
　　'Nefer　Seti　is　a　child。　I　have　defeated　him　once；　I　will　do　it　again。'
　　
　　'What　is　more　crucial　to　you；　there　is　no　plague　in　his　army。　Your　spies　will　have　told　you　that　Pharaoh　has　five　more　legions　at　Aswan；　and　another　two　at　Asyut。　They　are　already　on　the　river　ing　north　with　the　current。　They　will　be　here　before　the　new　moon。'
　　
　　Apepi　growled　softly；　but　made　no　response。　Taita　went　on　relentlessly；　'Sixty　years　of　war　have　bled　both　kingdoms　white。　Would　you　pass　on　the　legacy　of　Salitis；　your　own　father；　sixty　years　of　bloodshed？　Is　that　what　your　sons　will　inherit　from　you？'
　　
　　Apepi　rounded　on　him；　scowling；　'Do　not　press　me　too　hard；　old　man。　Do　not　insult　my　father；　the　divine　god　Salitis。'　After　an　interval　long　enough　to　express　his　disapproval；　Apepi　spoke　again。　'How　long　will　it　take　you　to　arrange　a　parley　with　this　so…called　Regent　of　the　Upper　Kingdom；　this　Naja？'
　　
　　'If　you　give　me　safe　conduct　through　your　lines；　and　a　fast　galley　to　carry　me；　I　can　be　in　Thebes　in　three　days。　The　return　with　the　current　will　be　even　swifter。'
　　
　　'I　will　send　Trok　with　you　to　see　you　safely　through。　Tell　Naja　I　will　meet　him　at　the　temple　of　Hathor　on　the　west　bank　at　Perra　beyond　Abnub。　Do　you　know　it？'
　　
　　'I　know　it　well；　my　lord；'　Taita　said。
　　
　　'We　can　talk　there；'　Apepi　said。　'But　tell　him　not　to　expect　too　many　concessions　from　me。　I　am　the　victor；　and　he　the　vanquished。　You　can　go　now。'
　　
　　Taita　stood　his　ground。
　　
　　'You　may　go；　Warlock。'　Apepi　dismissed　him　a　second　time。
　　
　　'Pharaoh　Nefer　Seti　is　almost　of　an　age　with　your　daughter；　Mintaka；'　Taita　said　stubbornly。　'You　might　wish　to　bring　her　with　you　to　Perra。'
　　
　　'To　what　purpose？'　Apepi　stared　at　him　suspiciously。
　　
　　'An　alliance　between　your　dynasty　and　that　of　the　Tamosian　pharaohs　might　seal　a　lasting　peace　in　the　two　kingdoms。'
　　
　　Apepi　stroked　the　ribbons　in　his　beard　to　hide　his　smile；　'By　Seueth；　you　intrigue　as　cunningly　as　you　mix　a　potion；　Warlock。　Now；　get　you　gone　before　you　irk　me　past　forbearance。'
　　
　　*　　*　　*
　　
　　The　temple　of　Hathor　had　been　excavated　out　of　the　rocky　hillside　above　the　river　in　the　reign　of　Pharaoh　Sehertawy　hundreds　of　years　previously；　but　had　been　added　to　by　every　pharaoh　since　then。　The　priestesses　were　a　rich；　influential　sisterhood　who　had　contrived　somehow　to　survive　during　the　long　civil　wars　between　the　kingdoms　and　even　to　prosper　in　difficult　times。
　　
　　Dressed　in　their　yellow　robes　they　were　gathered　in　the　courtyard　of　the　temple；　between　the　two　massive　statues　of　the　goddess。　One　of　these　depicted　Hathor　as　the　piebald　cow　with　golden　horns；　and　the　other　was　her　human　manifestation；　the　tall；　beautiful　lady　wearing　the　crown　of　horns　and　the　golden　sun　disc　on　her　head。
　　
　　The　priestesses　chanted　and　rattled　the　sistrum　as　the　suite　of　Pharaoh　Nefer　Seti　filed　into　the　courtyard　from　the　eastern　wing；　while　King　Apepi's　courtiers　entered　through　the　western　colonnade。　The　order　of　arrival　at　the　conference　had　been　a　matter　of　such　heated　debate　that　the　negotiations　had　almost　broken　down　before　they　had　begun。　The　first　arrival　would　have　the　prestige　of　the　incumbent　in　the　position　of　power；　while　the　second　arrival　would　appear　as　the　supplicant　begging　for　peace。　Neither　side　had　been　willing　to　forgo　the　advantage。
　　
　　It　was　Taita　who　had　suggested　the　expedient　of　a　simultaneous　arrival。　He　had　also　tactfully　settled　the　equally　vexing　question　of　the　regalia　to　be　worn　by　the　two　protagonists。　Both　would　eschew　the　double　crown。　Apepi　would　wear　the　red　deshret　crown　of　Lower　Egypt；　while　Nefer　Seti　would　confine　himself　to　the　white　hedjet　crown　of　Upper　Egypt。
　　
　　The　entourages　of　both　rulers　packed　the　spacious　courtyard；　their　ranks　facing　each　other　unsmiling　and　grim。　Only　a　few　paces　separated　them　physically；　but　the　bitterness　and　hatred　of　sixty　years'　strife　formed　a　mighty　barrier　between　them。
　　
　　The　hostile　silence　was　shattered　by　a　rolling　fanfare　of　rams'　horns；　and　the　thunder　of　bronze　gongs。　This　was　the　signal　for　the　royal　parties　to　emerge　from　the　opposite　wings　of　the　temple。
　　
　　Lord　Naja　and　Pharaoh　Nefer　Seti　paced　out　solemnly　and　took　their　places　on　the　high…backed　thrones；　while　the　two　princesses；　Heseret　and　Merykara；　followed　them　meekly　and　took　their　seats　at　the　foot　of　Naja's　throne；　for　they　were　his　betrothed。　Both　girls　were　so　heavily　made…up　that　their　faces　were　as　expressionless　as　that　of　the　statue　of　Hathor　in　whose　shadow　they　sat。
　　
　　At　the　same　time　the　Hyksosian　royal　family　emerged　from　the　opposing　wing　of　the　temple。　Apepi　led　them；　an　impressive；　warlike　figure　in　full　battle　armour。　He　glared　across　the　courtyard　at　the　boy　pharaoh。　Eight　of　his　sons　followed　him；　only　Khyan；　the　youngest；　had　not　recovered　sufficiently　from　the　plague　to　make　the　journey　upriver。　Like　their　father　they　were　armed　and　armoured；　and　strutted　and　posed　with　the　same　bravado。
　　
　　A　formidable　coterie　of　bloodthirsty　ruffians；　Taita　thought；　as　he　surveyed　them　from　where　he　stood　close　to　Nefer's　throne。
　　
　　Apepi　had　brought　only　one　of　his　many　daughters　with　him。　Like　a　desert　rose　in　a　thicket　of　spiny　cactus；　the　contrast　to　her　brothers　made　Mintaka's　beauty　shine　out。　She　picked　out　Taita's　tall　lank　figure　and　silver　hair　in　the　crowd　opposite　and　her　face　lit　in　a　smile　so　radiant　that　it　seemed　for　a　moment　that　the　sun　had　burst　through　the　awnings　stretched　over　the　courtyard。　None　of　the　Egyptians　had　ever　laid　eyes　on　her　before；　and　there　was　a　subdued　。rustle　and　murmur　through　their　ranks。　They　had　been　unprepared　for　her。　The　myth　was　that　all　Hyksosian　women　were　as　heavily　built　as　their　menfolk　and　twice　as　ugly。
　　
　　Pharaoh　Nefer　Seti　leaned　forward　slightly　and　despite　the　solemnity　of　the　occasion　tugged　at　his　earlobe　under　the　bottle…shaped　white　crown。　It　was　a　habit　Taita　had　tried　to　break；　and　Nefer　only　did　it　when　he　was　intensely　interested　in　something；　or　when　he　was　distracted。　Taita　had　not　seen　Nefer　for　over　two　months…Naja　had　kept　them　separated　since　his　return　from　Apepi's　headquarters　at　Bubasti　…yet　he　was　so　familiar　with　the　boy；　so　attuned　to　his　mind；　that　he　could　still　read　his　thoughts　with　ease。　He　sensed　that　Nefer　was　in　a　ferment　of　elation　and　excitement；　as　intense　as　if　he　had　just　spotted　a　gazelle　moving　within　arrow　range；　or　was　about　to　mount　an　unbroken　colt；　or　had　launched　a　hawk　at　a　heron　and　was　watching　it　begin　its　stoop。
　　
　　Taita　had　never　known　him　react　like　this　to　the　presence　of　a　member　of　the　opposite　sex。　Nefer　had　always　looked　upon　all　females；　including　his　sisters；　with　a　regal　disdain。　However；　it　was　less　than　a　year　since　he　had　been　launched　on　to　the　troubled　waters　of　puberty；　and　most　of　that　time　he　had　been　sequestered　with　Taita　in　the　wilderness　of　Gebel　Nagara　where　there　had　been　nothing　to　rivet　his　attention　in　the　way　that　Mintaka　was　now　doing。
　　
　　Taita　felt　smug　at　what　he　had　achieved　with　so　little　effort。　It　would　have　plicated　all　his　plans　and　enhanced　the　danger　in　which　they　found　themselves　if　Nefer　had　taken　a　violent　dislike　to　the　Hyksosian　girl。　If　the　two　married；　Nefer　would　be　the　son…in…law　of　Apepi　and　e　under　his　protection。　Even　Naja　must　pause　before　giving　offence　to　someone　so　powerful　and　dangerous。　Mintaka　might　unwittingly　save　Nefer　from　the　Regent's　machinations　and　ambitions。　That　at　least　was　Taita's　intention　in　fostering　the　union。
　　
　　During　the　short　time　they　had　nursed　and　cared　for　her　brother　Taita　and　Mintaka　had　formed　a　firm　friendship。　Now　Taita　nodded　almost　imperceptibly　and　returned　her　smile。　Then　Mintaka's　gaze　moved　past　him。　She　looked　with　interest　at　the　noble　Egyptian　women　opposite　her。　She　had　heard　much　about　them；　but　these　were　the　first　she　had　seen。　Swiftly　she　singled　out　Heseret。　With　sure　feminine　instinct　she　recognized　someone　as　attractive　as　herself；　and　a　possible　future　rival。　Heseret　reacted　to　her　in　exactly　the　same　way；　and　they　exchanged　a　brief　but　haughty　and　mutually　hostile　glance。　Then　Mintaka　raised　her　eyes　to　the　impressive　figure　of　Lord　Naja　and　stared　at　him　with　fascination。
　　
　　He　was　such　a　splendid　sight；　so　different　from　her　own　father　and　brothers。　He　shone　with　gold　and　precious　stones；　and　his　linen　was　dazzling　in　its　purity。　She　could　smell　his　perfume　across　the　distance　that　separated　them；　like　a　field　of　wild　flowers。　His　face　was　a　mask　of　makeup；　his　skin　almost　luminous　and　his　eyes　outlined　and　enhanced　with　kohl。　Yet　s