wilbursmith_warlock-第74章

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　are　the　scars　where　I　cut　my　arms　to　bleed　for　you。'
　　
　　'I　am　alive；　Merykara。　Believe　me；　this　is　no　shade　you　are　looking　at。'
　　
　　'I　know；　Nefer。　All　the　world　knows　now　how　you　took　Mintaka　away　from　Avaris　into　the　desert；　and　I　knew　in　my　heart　that　you　would　e　for　me　also；　one　day。'　She　smiled　through　happy　tears。　'I　knew　you　would　e。'
　　
　　'Yes；'　Nefer　said；　'we　will　take　you　away　with　us。　But　first　there　is　something　you　must　do　to　help　us。'
　　
　　'Anything　for　you　and　Taita；'　she　agreed　readily。
　　
　　Speaking　swiftly　and　urgently；　Taita　told　her　what　she　had　to　do　and　then　he　made　her　repeat　it。　She　did　so　faultlessly。　'You　are　a　clever　girl；　my　little　one。'　Taita　said。　'That　is　exactly　what　we　want　you　to　do。'　He　handed　her　a　small　packet。　'Here　is　the　powder。　Remember；　just　enough　to　cover　your　fingernail　in　each　jar。'
　　
　　'First　you　call　me　clever；　and　then　you　treat　me　as　though　I　were　stupid；'　she　snapped。
　　
　　'Forgive　me；　Your　Majesty。'　Taita　made　a　gesture　of　penitence。
　　
　　'Don't　call　me　that　either。　I　hate　being　married　to　that　slimy　serpent；　and　now　I　know　what　he　is　going　to　do　to　me；　I　hate　it　even　more。'
　　
　　'You　are　not　easy　to　please；　Merykara。　Now；　go　back　to　the　camp　before　the　guards　e　looking　for　you。'
　　
　　She　stooped　quickly　and　kissed　Nefer　on　the　lips。　'Until　tomorrow　then；　my　beloved　brother。'
　　
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　　The　following　noon　the　mighty　army　of　Egypt　camped　below　the　high　plateau　where　the　sandy　desert　and　the　dry　lands　ended。　They　had　almost　pleted　the　crossing　and　tomorrow　they　would　go　up　through　the　pass　into　the　cooler　lands　where　the　oases　were　only　a　day's　journey　apart；　where　forests　and　fields　and　vineyards　grew　and　mountain　streams　flowed　all　year　round。
　　
　　When　the　escort　of　the　royal　wives　began　to　set　up　camp　for　the　day；　they　found　that　the　young　Queen　Merykara　was　fractious　and　overbearing；　not　at　all　her　usual　sweet　and　gracious　self。　She　wanted　her　own　tent　set　further　apart　from　that　of　her　sister；　Queen　Heseret；　and　when　this　was　done　she　insisted　that　they　move　the　carts　that　carried　the　army　war　chests　down　into　a　narrow　wadi　two　hundred　paces　from　the　main　encampment。　In　vain　the　mander　of　the　guard　pointed　out　that　the　bed　of　the　wadi　was　soft　and　sandy　and　the　wheels　of　the　heavy　vehicles　would　sink　in　deeply。
　　
　　'I　don't　care　if　they　disappear　into　the　sand　pletely；'　she　told　him。　'I　am　sick　of　looking　at　those　ugly　carts　and　listening　to　the　mooing　of　the　bullocks。　Get　them　out　of　my　sight。'
　　
　　The　mander　thought　of　appealing　to　Pharaoh　Naja　Kiafan　to　ratify　this　unreasonable　order　from　his　youngest　wife。　Then　he　contemplated　the　fact　that　the　column　was　spread　out　over　almost　four　leagues　of　desert。　It　would　take　an　hour　of　hard　riding　to　reach　Pharaoh　at　it's　head；　and　the　return　ride　would　be　just　as　arduous。　The　day　was　even　hotter　than　those　that　had　preceded　it　and；　besides；　he　had　a　tryst　with　one　of　Merykara's　slave　girls；　an　enchanting　little　black　Nubian　who　knew　more　tricks　than　a　performing　monkey。　He　moved　the　carts　into　the　wadi　bottom　and；　as　a　sop　to　his　conscience；　doubled　the　guard　upon　them。
　　
　　Having　got　her　own　way；　Merykara　became　once　again　the　endearing　girl　they　all　loved　so　well。
　　
　　'I　am　so　sorry　I　was　hard　on　you；　Moram。　It　must　be　this　awful　heat　that　affects　us　all；'　she　told　the　mander　of　the　guard　sweetly　in　front　of　his　men。　'I　am　going　to　have　Misha　bring　you　five　jars　of　the　finest　beer　from　my　private　stores　to　make　it　up　to　you。　But　be　certain　that　you　share　it　equally　with　all　your　men　for　I　have　given　them　extra　work　and　trouble　too。'
　　
　　Misha；　the　statuesque　Nubian　maid　with　an　imperious　carriage　and　a　legendary　pair　of　buttocks；　brought　the　beer　jars　to　Moram's　tent；　and　the　men　lined　up　to　receive　their　share；　calling　down　the　gods'　blessings　on　Queen　Merykara　and　toasting　her　health　as　they　swigged　down　the　first　draught　of　the　frothing　liquor。
　　
　　Despite　his　promise　to　Merykara；　the　beer　was　of　such　surpassing　excellence　that　Moram　drank　more　than　his　share。　As　soon　as　they　were　alone　in　his　tent　he　pounced　on　Misha　who；　squealing　and　resisting　playfully；　finally　allowed　him　to　lift　her　clothing　and　unveil　her　prodigious　buttocks。　They　sprang　out　from　under　her　short　linen　skirts；　shining　black　as　new　mined　anthracite；　great　quivering　rounds；　dark　full　moons　that　overflowed　his　clutching　hands。
　　
　　In　a　transport　of　lust　he　mounted　her；　but　after　less　than　a　dozen　mighty　thrusts；　he　keeled　over　slowly；　fast　asleep　before　he　reached　the　floor。　Misha　stared　at　him　in　astonishment。　Nothing　like　this　had　ever　happened　to　her　in　all　her　short　but　busy　lifetime。　Moram　let　out　a　snore　that　reverberated　like　distant　thunder；　and　she　sprang　to　her　feet；　pulled　on　her　skirt；　delivered　one　furious　kick　to　his　sleeping　form　and　stormed　out　of　the　tent　back　to　her　mistress。　The　guard　at　the　entrance　to　the　royal　tent　was　also　sleeping　like　a　dead　man。
　　
　　'All　men　are　pigs；'　Misha　said；　in　her　savage　native　tongue；　and　kicked　him　with　all　the　strength　of　her　long　and　shapely　right　leg。
　　
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　　Nefer　led　a　small　party　of　his　men　down　the　dry　riverbed。　They　kept　close　under　the　bank；　and　the　soft　sand　muffled　their　footsteps。
　　
　　The　four　treasure　carts　were　drawn　up　side　by　side；　and　their　wheels　were　chained　together　so　that　they　could　not　be　driven　off　in　haste　by　bandits　or　robbers。
　　
　　Eight　armed　men　were　posted　around　them　as　sentries；　and　every　one　was　laid　out　on　the　soft　sand　like　a　corpse　awaiting　the　embalmers。　Taita　went　to　each　in　turn；　felt　for　the　pulse　in　the　throat　then　drew　back　a　lid　to　examine　the　eye　of　the　unconscious　man。　Finally　he　nodded　to　Nefer；　and　went　to　the　rear　door　of　the　first　cart。
　　
　　He　took　a　long　bronze　probe　from　his　pouch　and　worked　intently　on　the　massive　bronze　lock。　It　fell　open　and　the　hasp　snapped　back。　Taita　swung　open　the　heavy　metal　door　to　reveal　the　four　small　cases　that　were　tied　down　to　ringbolts　in　the　wagon　bed。　The　lids　of　the　treasure　chests　were　sealed　with　a　clay　tablet　that　carried　the　cartouche　of　Pharaoh　Naja　Kiafan。
　　
　　Taita　used　his　dagger　blade　to　lift　the　seals；　and　dropped　them　into　his　pouch　so　that　they　would　not　be　evidence　of　tampering　when　next　the　cart　doors　were　opened。　He　used　the　point　of　the　dagger　to　unscrew　the　fastenings　that　held　down　the　lid；　then　lifted　it。　The　chest　was　filled　with　small　leather　pouches。　Taita　weighed　one　in　his　hand；　and　smiled。　He　opened　the　mouth　of　the　pouch　to　see　the　unmistakable　glint　of　the　precious　metal　within。
　　
　　While　he　had　been　busy；　Nefer　and　Meren　had　dug　a　shallow　hole　in　the　soft　sand　under　the　wagon　truck。　Taita　passed　down　the　leather　pouch　to　Nefer；　who　laid　it　in　the　bottom　of　the　hole。　In　all　Taita　selected　fifty　of　the　heaviest　leather　bags　from　the　first　chest。　Then　he　screwed　back　the　lid。　Using　a　lump　of　fresh　damp　clay　that　he　had　brought　with　him　he　resealed　the　lid。　With　the　engraved　ruby　ring　that　Naja　had　given　him　as　a　gift　when　he　had　left　Thebes；　he　imprinted　the　clay　seal　with　the　royal　cartouche。　Then　he　went　on　to　the　next　chest　in　the　row　of　four。
　　
　　'We　are　not　taking　enough；'　Meren　grumbled。　'We　are　leaving　more　than　half　of　it　for　Naja　and　Trok。'
　　
　　'Greed　would　be　our　undoing；〃　Taita　grunted；　as　he　prised　up　the　lid　of　the　last　case。　'This　way　they　will　not　know　that　any　of　the　bullion　is　missing　until　the　paymaster　opens　the　cases　again　and　counts　it；　which　may　not　be　for　several　more　months。'
　　
　　From　each　case　in　the　four　carts　they　lifted　fifty　leather　bags　and　buried　them　in　the　loose　sand　of　the　wadi　bed。　Though　they　worked　as　swiftly　as　care　would　allow；　the　sun　was　low　in　the　western　sky　when　they　resealed　the　final　chest　and　locked　the　rear　doors　of　the　last　cart。　One　of　the　sleeping　guards　stirred　and　mumbled；　and　tried　to　sit　up。　Taita　went　to　him　and　laid　a　gentle　hand　on　his　brow。　The　man　sighed　and　lay　back。　Taita　pulled　open　his　mouth　and　sprinkled　a　pinch　of　white　powder　under　his　tongue；　and　he　lay　quiet。
　　
　　'We　must　hurry　now。　They　are　beginning　to　revive。'
　　
　　They　spread　sand　over　the　rows　of　bags　in　the　bottom　of　the　hole　beneath　the　last　wagon；　and　then　roughed　and　dotted　the　surface　with　footprints　so　that　the　smooth　sand　would　not　be　conspicuous。
　　
　　'How　much　do　you　estimate　we　took？'　Nefer　asked。
　　
　　'Impossible　to　tell　until　we　weigh　it；'　Taita　said；　'but　I　would　guess　we　have　at　least　three　lakhs。'
　　
　　'Enough　to　recruit　and　equip　an　army；'　Nefer　muttered；　as　he　worked。
　　
　　They　made　one　last　quick　but　thorough　inspection　of　the　carts　and　the　area　around　them；　to　make　sure　that　they　had　overlooked　nothing。　Then　leaving　the　guards　still　in　heavy　drugged　sleep；　they　slipped　away　down　the　wadi。
　　
　　They　climbed　into　the　foothills　below　the　plateau；　back　to　where　they　had　left　Hilto　with　the　chariots。　From　this　vantage…point　they　kept　watch　on　where　they　had　buried　the　plundered　gold。　They　observed　no　evidence　of　any　outcry　or　unusual　activity　in　the　wadi。　Perhaps　the　guards　felt　too　guilty　when　they　woke　to　make　any　report　on　their　dereliction　of　duty。
　　
　　Just　before　dark　they　saw　the　straining　teams　of　bullocks　heave　the　four　carts　out　of　the　sandy　riverbed；　and　trudge　away　behind　the　royal　litters　as　the　host　of　the　false　pharaohs　resumed　the　night　march。
　　
　　For　five　more　days　and　nights　the　great　army　of　Egypt　streamed　past　this　spot。　There　were　successive　squadrons　of　chariots；　regiments　of　slingers；　archers　and　spearmen。　These　were　followed　by　marching　columns　of　slaves　who　would　be　used　for　the　heavy　labour　of　building　fortifications　and　sapping　the　walls　of　besieged　cities。　Then　came　the　craftsmen；　the　chariot　builders　and　carpenters；　the　armourers　and　arrow　makers；　and　after　them　the　camp…followers；　the　wives；　sweethearts　and　whores　with　their　slaves；　servants　and　infants。　They　were　followed　by　the　merchants　with　wagonloads　of　goods　and　luxuries　of　every　possible　description　to　sell　to　the　troops　when　they　were　rich　with　loot　and　plunder。
　　
　　Yet　out　of　all　this　multitude　the　watchers　on　the　hills　saw　nobody　enter　the　dried　wadi　where　the　gold　was　buried；　and　though　each　day　panies　and　regiments　camped　nearby　no　one　approached　the　wadi　to　use　it　as　a　latrine　or　a　camping　site。
　　
　　When　the　last　vehicle　in　that　mighty　host　had　trundled　past　and　climbed　up　through　the　rocky　Khatmia　Pass；　and　the　last　straggler　had　limped　by；　Nefer　and　Taita　were　certain　that　the　short…weight　of　bullion　in　the　treasure　carts　had　not　been　discovered　by　the　army　paymasters；　and　they　were　almost　certain　that　the　cache　in　the　riverbed　had　not　been　stumbled　upon　by　chance。
　　
　　When　at　last　the　eastern　highway　was　deserted　they　came　down　from　the　hills　during　the　night　and　left　the　chariots　on　the　high　bank　of　the　wadi　with　the　horses　still　in　the　traces；　ready　for　instant　flight。　Nefer　and　Meren　went　down　into　the　sandy　bed；　and　in　the　moonlight　the　tracks　left　by　the　treasure　carts　and　the　oxen　were　still　plain　to　see。　After　only　a　few　thrusts　with　the　wooden　spade　Meren　whistled　with　glee　an