wilbursmith_warlock-第80章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


other。
　　
　　'Dig　it　open！〃　Nefer　ordered　the　sweating　men　around　him。　'But　gently　now。　Do　no　damage。'
　　
　　They　worked　with　great　care；　using　their　bare　hands　to　sweep　away　the　sand。　Gradually　they　exposed　the　plete　head　of　a　black　horse　that　wore　on　its　forehead　the　cartouche　of　Trok；　embossed　on　a　gold　disc；　just　as　Taita　had　foreseen。
　　
　　Then　they　went　on　to　uncover　the　rest　of　the　carcass。　The　animal　had　been　wonderfully　preserved　by　the　hot　dry　sand。　The　embalmers　in　Thebes　would　have　difficulty　in　matching　what　the　desert　had　achieved。　Beside　it　lay　its　harness　mate；　another　stallion。　Nefer　recalled　how　he　had　last　seen　these　magnificent　animals　as　they　drew　Trok's　chariot　forward　under　the　louring　dustclouds　of　the　khamsin。
　　
　　By　this　time　night　had　fallen　and　the　workmen　lit　the　oil　lamps　and　placed　them　on　the　lip　of　the　excavation。　They　went　on　with　the　work　through　the　night。　The　dead　horses　were　unbuckled　from　the　traces　and　lifted　out。　Their　desiccated　carcasses　were　so　light　that　four　men　could　carry　them　with　ease。
　　
　　Then　they　recovered　the　harness。　It　was　in　a　perfect　state　of　preservation；　and　Nefer　set　his　grooms　to　work　immediately；　oiling　the　leather　and　polishing　the　gold　and　bronze　parts。
　　
　　Now　they　worked　back　to　the　chariot　itself　and　a　gasp　went　up　from　the　diggers　as　the　dashboard　was　cleared　of　the　engulfing　sand：　it　was　covered　with　gold　leaf；　and　gleamed　in　the　lamplight；　shooting　out　darts　of　light　that　pricked　their　eyes。　The　javelins　and　lances　were　still　in　their　bins　on　either　side　of　the　cockpit；　ready　to　the　hand　of　the　charioteer。　Each　weapon　was　a　work　of　art　in　itself；　the　lance　handles　laminated　for　strength　and　the　metal　heads　sharp　as　the　scalpels　of　a　surgeon。　The　arrows　had　been　made　by　Grippa　of　Avaris；　the　shafts　straight　and　true；　the　fletchings　dyed　crimson；　yellow　and　green；　the　royal　cartouche　carved　into　the　shaft。
　　
　　Trok's　great　war　bow　was　still　in　its　rack；　and　only　the　bowstring　needed　to　be　replaced。　Nefer　flexed　the　shaft　in　his　hands　and　wondered　if　he　had　the　strength　to　wield　it　in　battle。
　　
　　When　the　entire　chariot　had　been　uncovered　they　passed　ropes　under　the　chassis　and　lifted　it　out　of　the　excavation。　The　gold　leaf　had　been　beaten　so　thin　that　it　added　no　more　than　two　taels　to　the　total　weight　of　the　vehicle；　and　to　pensate　for　this　the　chassis　had　been　carved　from　dark　hard　woods；　hewn　in　the　sinister　rain…forests　far　to　the　south　of　Egypt's　borders。　These　timbers　were　more　resilient　than　the　finest　bronze；　but　light　and　tough。　They　could　be　fined　down　to　save　weight　without　sacrificing　strength。
　　
　　Now　it　was　morning；　and　the　sun　was　climbing　above　the　horizon。　Nefer　and　Taita　circled　the　chariot　as　it　gleamed　in　the　light。　It　was　so　sleek　and　graceful　that　it　seemed　already　in　motion。　Its　single　shaft　seemed　to　pine　like　a　lover　for　the　touch　of　two　proud　horses。　Nefer　stroked　the　gold　work。　It　was　smooth　as　a　lovely　woman's　skin　and　warm　beneath　his　hand。
　　
　　'It　seems　to　be　a　living　creature；'　he　breathed。　'Surely　there　was　never　a　more　magnificent　weapon　of　war　ever　conceived。'
　　
　　'Fifty　years　ago　I　built　a　chariot　for　Lord　Tanus。'　Taita　sniffed　and　shook　his　head。　'You　should　have　seen　that　one。　But　it　rests　with　him　in　his　tomb　in　far…off　Ethiopia。'
　　
　　Nefer　hid　a　smile…the　old　man　would　never　admit　second　best。　Then　I　shall　have　to　be　content　with　this　inferior　work　cart；'　he　said　seriously。　'I　need　only　the　blue　sword　that　Naja　stole　from　my　father　to　plete　my　armoury。'
　　
　　Over　the　weeks　and　months　that　followed　Taita　pinpointed　the　other　buried　vehicles　and　their　accoutrements。　Teams　of　workmen　dug　them　out　and　sent　them　to　the　chariot…makers　who　had　set　up　a　workshop　in　the　lee　of　the　rock　pinnacle；　roofed　over　with　palm　thatch。　Here；　fifty　of　them　and　nearly　a　hundred　armourers　laboured　through　the　daylight　hours；　never　letting　up　even　in　the　furious　heat　of　noon。　The　armourers　polished　and　sharpened　swords；　javelins　and　lances。　They　rebound　the　shafts　and　reset　the　heads。　Over　slow　fires　they　straightened　the　arrows　that　had　warped。　The　chariot…makers　stripped　each　vehicle　as　it　came　out　from　under　the　sand；　checked　each　ponent；　painted　and　lacquered　the　chassis　and　the　panels；　and　balanced　and　lubricated　the　wheels　to　run　true　and　sweetly。　Then　they　reassembled　them　and　sent　them　on　to　Gallala；　loaded　with　the　restored　weapons；　to　equip　the　army　that　Hilto；　Shabako　and　Socco　were　training。
　　
　　Many　of　the　vehicles　were　so　deeply　buried　under　the　burning　yellow　dunes　that　they　were　lost　for　ever；　or　until　the　next　great　storm　uncovered　them；　but　in　the　end　they　salvaged　a　hundred　and　five。　Enough　to　equip　five　squadrons。
　　
　　When　Nefer　drove　through　the　gates　of　Gallala　in　the　royal　chariot；　Meren　was　on　the　footplate　by　his　side。
　　
　　Mintaka　and　Merykara　stood　together　on　the　roof　pediment　of　the　temple　of　Hathor；　and　strewed　oleander　petals　upon　them　as　they　passed　below。
　　
　　'He　is　so　handsome。'　Merykara's　voice　was　husky　with　awe。　'So　tall　and　handsome。'
　　
　　'So　tall　and　handsome　and　strong；'　Mintaka　agreed。　'He　will　be　the　greatest　pharaoh　in　the　history　of　this　very　Egypt。〃
　　
　　'I　did　not　mean　Nefer；'　said　Merykara。
　　
　　*　　*　　*
　　
　　By　this　time　a　thriving　smuggling　route　existed　between　the　city　and　Egypt；　and　other　caravans　came　in　regularly　from　the　port　of　Safaga　on　the　eastern　sea。　Since　the　capture　of　the　treasure　of　Trok　and　Naja；　Gallala　had　bee　a　city　rich　with　gold。　Like　hyenas　the　merchants　sniffed　the　aroma　of　the　yellow　metal　from　afar　and　brought　in　their　wares　from　the　ends　of　the　world。　Nowadays　there　was　no　luxury　or　necessity　that　could　not　be　obtained　in　the　city's　souks；　so　Mintaka　was　able　to　procure　a　wagonload　of　the　finest　red　wine　from　the　vineyards　of　the　temple　of　Osiris　at　Busiris　for　the　wele　banquet　she　had　arranged　for　the　evening　that　the　charioteers　returned。
　　
　　At　her　orders；　the　butchers　spitted　and　roasted　ten　whole　oxen；　and　chickens　and　geese　by　the　hundred。　Fast　relays　of　the　new　chariots　brought　up　fresh　fish；　and　baskets　of　lobsters　in　seaweed　from　the　coast。　Most　of　the　long…whiskered　crustaceans　were　still　alive　when　they　were　dropped　squeaking　into　the　boiling　pots。　Hunters　scoured　the　surrounding　desert　and　came　in　with　gazelle；　oryx；　and　the　flesh　and　eggs　of　the　ostrich。
　　
　　The　banquet　was　a　joyous　celebration　of　their　achievements　and　small　victories　over　the　false　pharaohs。　The　wine　had　flowed　to　great　effect　when　Nefer　rose　to　wele　the　guests　and　announce　the　recovery　of　the　five　squadrons　of　chariots　from　under　the　sands。　'With　the　horses　that　we　freed　from　the　tyranny　of　Trok　。。。〃　there　were　hoots　and　guffaws　at　this　'。。。　and　the　weapons　and　chariots　we　now　have；　we　are　well　able　to　defend　ourselves　against　Trok　and　Naja。　As　you　are　aware；　every　day　that　passes　sees　fresh　recruits　to　the　blue　banner。　Soon　it　will　not　be　merely　a　case　of　defending　ourselves；　but　of　taking　back　what　was　stolen　from　us　and　avenging　the　terrible　deeds　that　those　two　monsters　have　perpetrated。　They　have　the　blood　of　true　and　noble　kings　upon　their　hands。　They　are　the　murderers　of　King　Apepi；　who　was　the　father　of　the　noble　lady　at　my　side；　and　they　slew　my　own　father；　Pharaoh　Tamose。'　The　guests　were　silent　and　puzzled　now；　looking　at　each　other　for　guidance。　Then　Hilto　rose　to　his　feet。　Nefer　had　primed　him；　and　placed　the　question　on　his　lips。　'Divine　Majesty；　forgive　my　ignorance　for　I　am　just　a　simple　man；　but　I　do　not　understand。　All　the　world　knows　that　King　Apepi　died　in　an　accident　when　his　barge　caught　fire　while　anchored　at　Balasfura。　Now　you　lay　the　guilt　for　his　death　on　the　pretenders。　How　can　that　be？'
　　
　　'There　is　one　among　us　who　was　a　witness　to　the　true　events　of　that　tragic　night。'　Nefer　reached　down　and　drew　Mintaka　to　her　feet。　The　pany　cheered　her；　for　they　had　all　e　to　love　her　for　her　beauty　and　her　gracious　spirit。　When　Nefer　held　up　his　hand　they　fell　silent　and　listened　to　her　with　all　their　attention　as　she　related　the　story　of　the　murder　of　her　father　and　brothers。　She　used　simple　words　and　spoke　to　them　as　friends　and　rades；　yet　she　was　able　to　share　with　them　her　own　horror　and　grief。　When　she　had　finished　they　were　growling　like　a　cage　of　hungry　lions　at　feeding　time。
　　
　　Now　Shabako　rose　and　asked　his　prepared　question：　'But；　divine　Pharaoh；　you　spoke　also　of　the　death　of　your　own　father；　King　Tamose　of　blessed　memory。　How　was　he　murdered…and　by　whom？'
　　
　　'For　the　answer　to　this　question　I　must　call　upon　the　Magus；　Lord　Taita；　from　whom　no　secret；　however　devious　and　grisly；　can　be　hidden。'
　　
　　Taita　faced　them　and　spoke　in　a　whisper　that　riveted　their　attention。　His　every　word　carried　to　the　ears　of　even　those　on　the　outskirts　of　the　gathering；　and　the　softness　of　those　words　contrasted　so　effectively　with　the　gruesome　circumstances　they　described　that　men　shuddered　and　women　wept。
　　
　　At　the　end　Taita　held　up　the　broken　arrow　with　its　crimson；　green　and　yellow　feathers。　This　is　the　instrument　of　Pharaoh　Tamose's　death。　The　arrow　that　bears　the　signet　of　Trok；　but　which　was　loosed　by　Naja；　the　man　whom　Pharaoh　loved　and　trusted　as　a　brother。'
　　
　　They　howled　their　outrage　and　their　craving　for　justice　to　the　starlit　skies　above　Gallala。　Taita　hurled　the　arrow　on　to　the　nearest　fire　over　which　one　of　the　oxen　was　roasting。　It　would　not　have　borne　closer　inspection；　for　it　was　not　the　arrow　that　had　killed　Pharaoh　but　one　of　those　he　had　taken　from　the　buried　chariot。　He　sat　down　and　closed　his　eyes；　as　if　posing　himself　to　sleep。
　　
　　Nefer　let　the　guests　give　full　vent　to　their　feelings　and　when　they　began　to　quieten　a　little　he　signalled　for　more　wine　flagons　to　be　carried　out。
　　
　　There　was　one　last　proclamation　he　had　to　make；　and　he　waited　until　the　mood　had　mellowed　further　before　he　stood　up　again。　All　fell　silent　and　watched　him　in　anticipation　heightened　by　the　good　wine　from　Busiris。　The　night　had　already　held　so　many　marvels　and　they　wondered　what　was　yet　to　e。
　　
　　'Before　a　king　leads　his　armies　against　the　enemies　of　this　sacred　land　of　our　forefathers；　he　should　be　a　king　indeed；　a　true　and　veritable　king。　I　purpose　to　lead　you　against　the　usurpers；　but　I　am　not　yet　ordained　as　Pharaoh。　I　can　achieve　this　confirmation　if　I　wait　until　the　year　of　my　majority；　but　that　is　still　far　off；　and　I　do　not　choose　to　wait　that　long。　Nor　will　my　enemies　allow　me　that　grace。'　He　paused　and　they　watched　him；　fascinated…so　young　yet　so　tall　and　straight；　as　his　father　had　been　before　him。　Now　he　raised　his　right　hand　in　the　gesture　of　oath…taking。
　　
　　'In　the　sight　of　my　people　and　my　gods；　I　will　run　the　Red　Road　to　prove　to　you　that　I　am　your　king。'
　　
　　Some　sighed　and　shook　their　heads；　others　started　to　their　feet　and　cried　out；　'No！　Pharaoh；　we　will　not　see　you　killed；'　while　others　called；　'Bak…her！　If　he　fails　then　he　fails　as　a　brave　man。'
　　
　　That　night　Mintaka　wept　as　she　asked　him；　'Why　did　you　not　tell　me　first？'
　　
　　'Because　you　would　have　tried　to　stop　me。'
　　
　　'But　why　must　you　do　it？'
　　
　　'Because　my　gods　and　m