wilbursmith_warlock-第50章

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ibility　to　procure　this　corpse。　In　the　present　climate　in　the　land　this　had　not　been　difficult。　The　plague　was　still　flourishing　in　the　poorer　outlying　areas　of　the　nome。　In　addition；　there　were　the　nightly　gleanings　from　the　streets　and　alleys　of　the　city；　the　victims　of　brawling；　outright　murder；　or　footpads。
　　
　　Hilto　had　considered　all　these　sources。　However；　in　the　end　he　had　found；　in　circumstances　so　perfect　to　the　quest　that　they　could　not　have　been　coincidental；　the　ideal　substitute　for　the　young　Pharaoh。　The　city　bailiffs　had　arrested　this　lad　in　the　very　act　of　slitting　the　purse　of　one　of　the　most　influential　millet　merchants　in　Thebes；　and　the　magistrates　had　not　hesitated　to　sentence　him　to　death　by　strangulation。　The　condemned　lad　was　so　like　in　body　and　general　plexion　to　Nefer　as　to　be　able　to　pass　as　his　brother。　In　addition　he　was　well　set…up　and　healthy；　not　like　the　starvelings　and　plague　victims。　Hilto　had　spoken　to　the　mander　of　the　city　guards　who　had　been　charged　with　carrying　out　the　execution；　and　during　this　friendly　exchange　three　heavy　gold　rings　had　found　their　way　into　that　worthy's　purse。　It　was　agreed　that　the　strangulation　be　delayed　until　Hilto　gave　him　the　word；　and　that　it　would　be　carried　out　with　as　little　apparent　damage　to　the　victim　as　the　executioner's　skill　could　enpass。　The　prisoner　had　been　given　justice　that　very　morning　and　his　body　was　not　yet　cold。
　　
　　The　canopic　jars　were　arranged　in　the　small　shrine　at　the　end　of　the　hall。　Taita　ordered　Meren　to　fetch　them　and　open　the　stoppers　ready　for　filling。　While　he　was　doing　this；　Taita　rolled　the　corpse　over　and　made　a　sweeping　incision　down　his　left　side。　There　was　little　time　for　surgical　finesse。　He　thrust　his　hand　into　the　opening　and　drew　forth　the　viscera　then；　using　both　hands；　he　worked　the　scalpel　deep　into　the　interior　of　the　corpse。　First　he　cut　through　the　diaphragm　to　gain　access　to　the　chest　cavity；　then　reached　deeper；　past　the　lungs；　liver　and　spleen；　until　he　could　sever　the　windpipe　above　its　juncture　with　the　lungs。　Finally　he　rolled　the　corpse　over；　ordered　Meren　to　hold　the　buttocks　apart　and　with　sure　strokes　freed　the　sphincter　muscles　of　the　anus。　Now　all　the　contents　of　the　interior　of　the　chest　and　abdomen　were　unanchored。
　　
　　He　brought　them　out　on　to　the　diorite　slab　in　a　single　mass。　Meren　blanched；　swayed　on　his　feet　and　clapped　his　hand　over　his　mouth。
　　
　　'Not　on　the　floor；　in　the　sink；'　Taita　ordered　brusquely。　Meren　had　fought　against　Apepi's　regiments　in　the　north。　He　had　killed　a　man　and　been　unaffected　by　the　carnage　of　the　battlefield；　but　now　he　fled　to　the　stone　basin　in　the　corner　and　puked　noisily　into　it。
　　
　　Bloodied　to　the　elbows；　Taita　began　to　separate　the　liver；　lungs；　stomach　and　entrails　into　piles。　As　soon　as　this　was　done　he　took　the　entrails　and　stomach　to　the　sink；　wherein　already　reposed　Meren's　contribution。　He　flushed　out　the　contents　of　the　dismembered　stomach　and　entrails　and　packed　them　into　their　jars。　He　filled　every　jar　with　the　pickling　natron　salts；　and　sealed　the　stoppers。　Then　he　washed　his　hands　and　arms　in　the　bronze　basins　filled　with　water　expressly　for　that　purpose。　He　glanced　enquiringly　at　Bay；　and　the　Nubian　nodded　his　bald；　scarified　head；　reassuring　Taita　as　to　Nefer's　condition。　Working　with　controlled　haste　Taita　stitched　the　abdominal　incision　closed。　Then　he　bandaged　the　head　until　its　features　were　hidden。　When　that　was　done；　he　and　Hilto　carried　the　corpse　to　the　large　natron　bath　and　lowered　it　into　the　harsh　alkali　mixture；　until　only　the　bandaged　head　was　not　immersed。　It　would　remain　in　the　bath；　with　the　head　covered；　for　the　next　sixty　days。　At　the　end　of　that　time　the　priests　would　remove　the　bandage；　and　discover　the　substitution。　By　that　time；　however；　Taita　and　Nefer　would　be　far　away。
　　
　　It　took　only　a　little　longer　to　sluice　down　the　slab　with　leather　buckets　of　water；　and　to　pack　Taita's　instruments；　before　they　were　ready　to　leave。　Taita　knelt　beside　the　basket　in　which　Nefer　lay；　and　laid　a　hand　on　his　naked　chest　to　feel　the　warmth　of　his　skin　and　to　check　his　breathing。　It　was　slow　and　even。　He　drew　down　one　eyelid　and　watched　the　pupil　react　to　the　light。　Satisfied；　he　stood　up　and　gestured　for　Hilto　and　Bay　to　cover　the　hidden　partment。　When　this　was　done　and　they　began　to　replace　the　basket　lid；　Taita　stopped　them。　'Leave　it　open；'　he　ordered。　'Let　the　priests　see　that　it　is　empty。'
　　
　　The　bearers　lifted　the　basket　by　its　handles　and　Taita　led　them　to　the　doors。　As　they　approached　Hilto　threw　them　open；　and　the　assembly　of　priests　craned　forward。　They　gave　the　empty　basket　only　a　cursory　glance　as　it　was　carried　out；　then　rushed　into　the　Hall　of　Sorrow　with　almost　indecent　haste　to　take　over　the　duties　that　had　been　usurped　from　them。　Ignored　by　the　crowds　that　had　gathered　outside　the　temple；　Taita's　men　loaded　the　basket　on　to　the　leading　chariot　and　drove　in　column　back　to　the　city。
　　
　　When　they　entered　the　main　gates　they　found　the　narrow　streets　almost　deserted。　The　populace　had　either　flocked　to　the　funerary　temple　to　pray　for　the　young　pharaoh；　or　they　had　hurried　to　the　palace　to　await　the　announcement　of　his　successor；　although　there　was　little　doubt　in　anyone's　mind　as　to　who　would　be　the　next　pharaoh　of　the　upper　kingdom。
　　
　　Hilto　drove　the　chariot　to　the　guards'　barracks　near　the　east　gate；　and　the　basket　was　carried　through　the　back　entrance　of　his　private　quarters。　Here；　everything　was　in　readiness　to　receive　Nefer。　They　lifted　him　out　of　the　bottom　partment　and　Taita；　with　Bay　assisting　him；　went　to　work　to　revive　Nefer　fully。　Within　hours　he　was　well　enough　to　eat　a　little　millet　bread　and　drink　a　bowl　of　warm　mare's　milk　and　honey。
　　
　　At　last　Taita　judged　it　safe　to　leave　him　for　a　while　in　Bay's　charge；　and　drove　through　the　narrow　empty　streets。　Ahead　of　him　he　heard　the　sudden　din　of　wild　cheering。　When　he　reached　the　environs　of　the　palace　he　found　himself　enveloped　in　a　dense　crowd　of　citizens　celebrating　the　ascension　of　the　new　pharaoh。　'Eternal　life　to　His　Sacred　Majesty　Pharaoh　Naja　Kiafan！'　they　howled；　with　loyal　fervour；　and　passed　the　wine　jugs　from　hand　to　hand。
　　
　　So　thick　were　the　crowds　that　Taita　was　forced　to　leave　the　chariot　with　Meren　to　go　the　rest　of　the　way　on　foot。　At　the　palace　gate　the　guards　recognized　him；　and　used　the　butts　of　their　spears　to　clear　the　way　for　him　to　pass。　Once　he　was　in　the　grounds　he　hurried　to　the　great　hall；　and　there　he　found　another　press　of　obsequious　humanity。　All　the　military　officers；　courtiers　and　state　dignitaries　were　waiting　to　swear　loyalty　and　fealty　to　the　new　pharaoh；　but　Taita's　reputation　and　his　unnerving　gaze　ensured　that　the　crowd　made　way　for　him　to　pass　to　the　front　ranks。
　　
　　Pharaoh　Naja　Kiafan　and　his　queen　were　in　the　private　cabinet　beyond　the　doors　at　the　end　of　hall；　but　Taita　had　to　wait　only　a　short　while　before　he　was　granted　access　to　the　royal　presence。
　　
　　To　his　astonishment　he　found　that　Naja　was　already　wearing　the　double　crown；　and　holding　the　flail　and　the　crook　crossed　over　his　chest。　Beside　him　Queen　Heseret　seemed　to　have　blossomed　like　the　desert　rose　under　the　caress　of　rain。　She　was　as　lovely　as　Taita　had　ever　known　her；　pale　and　serene　under　her　makeup；　her　eyes　made　enormous　by　skilfully　applied　kohl。
　　
　　When　Taita　entered　Naja　dismissed　those　around　him　and　soon　the　three　were　alone。　This；　in　itself；　was　a　sign　of　high　favour。　Then　Naja　laid　aside　the　flail　and　the　crook　and　came　to　embrace　Taita。　'Magus；　I　should　never　have　doubted　you；'　he　said；　his　voice　even　more　sonorous　and　manding　than　before。　'You　have　earned　my　gratitude。'　He　took　from　his　right　hand　a　magnificent　ring　of　gold　and　ruby；　and　placed　it　on　Taita's　right　index　finger。　This　is　but　a　small　token　of　my　favour。'　Taita　wondered　that　he　had　placed　such　a　powerful　talisman　in　his　hands：　only　a　lock　of　Naja's　hair　or　the　clippings　of　his　nails　would　have　been　more　potent。
　　
　　Heseret　came　forward　and　kissed　him。　'Dearest　Taita；　you　have　always　been　faithful　to　my　family。　You　shall　have　gold；　land　and　influence　beyond　anything　you　have　ever　coveted。'
　　
　　After　all　these　years　she　knew　so　little　of　him。　'Your　generosity　is　exceeded　only　by　your　beauty；'　he　said；　and　she　simpered。　Then　he　turned　back　to　Naja。　'I　have　done　what　the　gods　required　of　me；　Your　Grace。　But　it　has　cost　me　dear。　It　is　not　a　light　or　easy　matter　to　go　against　my　sense　of　duty　and　the　dictates　of　my　own　heart。　You　know　that　I　loved　Nefer。　Now　I　owe　you　that　same　duty　and　love。　But　for　a　space　I　must　mourn　Nefer；　and　make　my　peace　with　his　shade。'
　　
　　'It　would　be　strange　indeed　if　you　did　not　feel　for　the　dead　Pharaoh；'　Naja　agreed。　'What　do　you　wish　of　me；　Magus？　You　have　only　to　speak　the　words。'
　　
　　'Your　Grace；　I　ask　your　dispensation　to　go　out　into　the　desert　to　be　alone　for　a　time。'
　　
　　'How　long？'　Naja　asked；　and　Taita　could　see　he　was　alarmed　by　the　thought　of　losing　the　key　to　eternal　life；　which　he　truly　believed　Taita　held　in　his　hands。
　　
　　'Not　too　long；　Majesty；'　Taita　assured　him。
　　
　　Naja　thought　about　it　for　a　while。　He　was　never　a　man　for　hasty　decisions。　At　last　he　sighed　and　went　to　the　low　table　upon　which　stood　stylus　and　papyrus。　Swiftly　he　wrote　out　a　safe　pass　and　sealed　it　with　his　royal　cartouche。　It　was　clear　that　the　seal　had　been　carved　long　ago　in　anticipation　of　his　succession。　While　Naja　waited　for　the　ink　to　dry　he　said；　'You　may　absent　yourself　until　the　next　inundation　of　the　Nile　begins；　but　then　you　must　return　to　me。　This　safe…conduct　will　allow　you　to　travel　at　large　and　to　avail　yourself　of　whatever　food　and　equipment　you　may　need　from　my　royal　storehouses　anywhere　in　my　domains。'
　　
　　Taita　prostrated　himself　in　gratitude；　but　Naja　lifted　him　to　his　feet　in　another　extraordinary　act　of　condescension。　'Go；　Magus！　But　return　to　us　on　the　appointed　day　to　receive　the　rewards　you　so　richly　deserve。'
　　
　　Clutching　the　roll　of　papyrus　Taita　backed　towards　the　door；　making　the　signs　of　blessing　and　benediction。
　　
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　　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　sti