wilbursmith_warlock-第98章

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if　he　did　not　rid　himself　of　this　challenge　to　his　throne；　if　he　did　not　crush　the　boy　pharaoh　before　he　attained　his　full　strength；　then　soon　the　rebellions　and　insurrections　would　spread　through　his　entire　realm。　Once　that　happened　he　knew　that　the　dynasty　he　was　founding　would　end　in　destruction　and　extinction。　As　much　as　he　longed　to　rid　himself　of　the　challenge　and　the　threat　of　Nefer　Seti；　he　longed　much　more　to　recapture　the　only　woman　who　had　ever　humiliated　and　defied　him。　His　hatred　for　her　surpassed　any　other　of　his　emotions。
　　
　　Ishtar　had　prevented　him　marching。　With　predictions　of　dire　consequences；　with　warnings　of　disaster　and　death；　Ishtar　had　persuaded　him　to　divert　his　forces　into　this　joint　expedition　with　Naja　to　the　fabled　city　of　Babylon。　Although；　thus　far；　the　expedition　had　turned　out　to　be　a　triumph；　although　the　booty　and　the　slaughter　had　been　beyond　counting；　still　Trok　felt　himself　unfulfilled。
　　
　　He　spoke　as　much　to　himself　as　to　the　golden　god　when　he　growled；　'I　must　have　Nefer　Seti。　The　double　crown　will　sit　uneasily　on　my　head　until　I　kill　him　and　throw　his　body　on　the　flames　so　that　he　will　never　know　resurrection。　Already　I　have　expunged　his　name　and　the　name　of　his　sire　from　every　edifice　and　monument　in　Egypt；　but　I　must　destroy　him　and　his　memory　for　ever。'
　　
　　In　his　anger　and　hatred　he　sprang　to　his　feet；　and　shouted　at　Ishtar　and　his　god；　'You　have　cheated　me　of　my　destiny　once　before　with　your　ill　omens　and　baleful　warnings。　Now　I　address　you　as　your　peer；　your　equal；　and　not　as　a　worshipper。　I　demand　that　you　deliver　the　person　and　the　soul　of　Nefer　Seti　to　me；　in　justice　and　retribution。　I　will　not　accept　another　refusal　from　you　and　your　minion　here。'　In　his　fury　and　frustration　Trok　aimed　a　kick　at　Ishtar。　The　Mede　saw　it　ing　and　rolled　aside。　Trok's　bronze…cleated　sandal　caught　the　divining　bowl　and　the　blood　of　the　babes　splattered　across　the　flags　and　down　the　front　of　the　altar。
　　
　　Even　Trok　was　appalled　by　what　he　had　done。　He　stood　frozen　before　the　image　waiting　for　the　reaction　of　the　god。
　　
　　'Sacrilege！'　Ishtar　wailed。　Trok　Uruk；　now　your　enterprise　is　surely　doomed。'　Then　he　prostrated　himself　in　the　puddle　of　blood；　so　terror…stricken　that　he　could　not　raise　his　eyes　to　the　image。
　　
　　A　dreadful　hush　had　fallen　over　the　sanctum。　The　faint　rumble　of　the　flames　of　the　sacrificial　furnace　under　the　stone　floor　on　which　they　stood　seemed　to　enhance　it。
　　
　　Then　there　was　a　sound；　soft　but　unmistakable。　It　was　the　sound　of　breathing；　like　that　of　a　sleeping　child　to　begin　with　but　then　growing　harsher　and　stronger。　Now　it　was　the　breathing　of　a　wild　beast；　then　of　some　monster　that　echoed　through　the　temple。　At　last　it　became　the　furious　sound　of　an　outraged　god；　roaring　like　all　the　storms　of　the　heavens；　thundering　like　the　galeswept　waves　of　the　ocean。　So　terrible　was　it　that　even　Ishtar　the　Mede　whimpered　like　a　child。
　　
　　'The　god　will　never　allow　you　to　succeed　now。　You　dare　not　march　against　Taita　and　his　protégé；　not　until　the　Warlock　is　dead；'　Ishtar　whispered。
　　
　　Then　a　terrible　voice　spoke；　so　harsh　and　unearthly　that　it　raked　Trok's　nerves　and　made　him　shudder。　'Hear　me！　Trok　Uruk；　you　mortal　man　who　claims　to　be　part　of　the　godhead！'　The　thunder　echoed　and　rolled　around　the　dark　recess　of　the　sanctum。　'You　know　that　you　are　no　god。　Hear　me；　blasphemer！　If　you　march　against　Gallala　in　defiance　of　me　and　my　prophet；　Ishtar　the　Mede；　I　shall　destroy　you　and　your　army　just　as　I　buried　your　other　army　in　the　sands　of　the　desert。　This　time　you　shall　not　escape　my　wrath。'
　　
　　Even　though　he　was　befuddled　by　the　poisonous　smoke　of　the　incense　braziers；　and　fearful　of　the　rage　of　Marduk　that　filled　the　temple；　Trok　was　still　cunning　enough　to　sense　some　false　note　in　Ishtar's　protestations；　something　not　convincing　in　the　force　of　Marduk's　fury。
　　
　　He　gathered　his　courage；　which　had　been　scattered　by　the　supernatural　manifestations　of　the　god；　and　tried　to　identify　exactly　what　had　given　him　pause。　He　realized　that　the　sound　of　the　bestial　breathing；　and　the　thunderous　voice　issued　from　the　belly　of　the　golden　statue。　He　stared　at　it　hard　and　saw　that　the　navel　of　the　god　was　a　dark　slit。　He　took　a　step　towards　the　statue　and　Ishtar　raised　his　head　in　alarm　and　cried；　'Beware；　Pharaoh！　The　god　is　angry。　Do　not　approach　him。'
　　
　　Trok　ignored　him　and　took　another　step　forward；　staring　at　the　god's　belly　button。　He　saw　a　faint　gleam　in　the　depths　of　the　aperture；　a　shadowy　movement。　Often　in　battle　he　had　sensed　the　exact　moment　when　the　fates　had　swung　in　his　favour　and　he　felt　it　now。　He　steeled　himself　and　shouted；　above　the　awful　sound　of　the　god's　breathing；　'I　defy　you；　Marduk　the　Devourer！　Strike　me　down　if　you　are　able。　Heap　your　temple　fires　upon　me；　if　you　can！'
　　
　　Suspicion　became　certainty　as　that　glimmer　showed　again　in　the　slit　in　the　god's　belly；　and　the　breathing　faltered。　Trok　drew　his　sword　and；　with　the　flat　of　the　blade；　knocked　Ishtar　out　of　his　way。　Then　he　ran　forward；　darting　behind　the　golden　image。　Quickly　he　examined　the　back；　tapping　the　metal　with　the　tip　of　his　blade。　It　sounded　hollow　as　a　drum；　and　when　he　looked　more　closely　he　discovered　a　removable　panel　that　fitted　almost　perfectly。
　　
　　'A　trap…door！'　he　growled。　'It　seems　that　there　is　more　in　Marduk's　belly　than　ever　went　in　through　his　mouth。'
　　
　　He　ducked　back　and　peered　into　the　slit　in　the　god's　belly。　A　human　eye　looked　back　at　him。　The　pupil　widened　with　astonishment；　and　Trok　gave　a　mighty　shout：　'e　out　of　there；　you　slime　of　the　great　beast！'　He　placed　his　shoulder　against　the　idol　and　heaved　with　all　his　strength。　The　statue　wobbled　on　its　stone　base；　and　Trok　heaved　again。　Slowly　the　image　went　down　with　a　crash　on　to　the　stone　flags。　Ishtar　screamed　and　leaped　out　of　the　way　as　it　threatened　to　crush　him。
　　
　　The　head　of　the　god　was　bent　at　an　angle　by　the　fall；　and　in　the　silence　after　the　shattering　impact　there　was　a　scrabbling　sound；　like　startled　rats；　from　the　interior　of　the　fallen　idol。　The　trap…door　flew　open　and　a　small　figure　crawled　out。　Trok　seized　it　by　its　thick　head　of　curls。　'Mercy；　great　King　Trok；'　the　girl　pleaded；　in　that　honey…sweet　voice。　'It　was　not　I　who　tried　to　deceive　you。　I　was　doing　the　bidding　of　others。'　She　was　such　a　lovely　child　that；　for　a　moment；　Trok　felt　his　rage　subside。　Then　he　snatched　her　up　by　the　ankles　and　dangled　her　upside…down　in　one　fist。　She　was　weeping　and　writhing　in　his　grip。　？
　　
　　'Who　ordered　you　to　this？'　Trok　demanded。
　　
　　'Ishtar　the　Mede；'　she　wept。
　　
　　Trok　swung　her　twice　in　a　circle　around　his　head；　building　up　speed　and　momentum；　then　dashed　the　child　against　the　temple　column。　Her　screams　were　cut　off　instantly。　Trok　let　her　corpse　drop　in　a　crumpled　heap　on　the　altar。
　　
　　He　turned　back　to　the　golden　idol　and　thrust　his　sword　into　the　opening　of　the　trapdoor；　rummaging　around　in　the　belly　of　the　God。　There　was　another　squeal　and　a　grotesque　creature　shot　out　of　the　opening。　At　first　Trok　thought　it　was　a　huge　bullfrog；　and　jumped　back　in　alarm。　Then　he　saw　that　it　was　a　hunch…backed　dwarf；　even　shorter　and　smaller　than　the　girl　he　had　just　killed。　The　dwarf　bellowed　with　a　voice　like　a　bull；　the　deafening　roars　out　of　keeping　with　his　diminutive　stature。　He　was　the　ugliest　man　Trok　had　ever　laid　eyes　upon；　with　eyes　out　of　kilter　and　of　disparate　sizes。　Clumps　of　black　hair　bushed　out　of　his　ears　and　nostrils；　and　from　the　huge　moles　that　hung　from　his　face。
　　
　　'Forgive　me；　that　I　tried　to　deceive　you；　mighty　god　and　King　of　Egypt！'　Trok　slashed　at　him　with　the　sword；　but　the　creature　ducked　and　dodged　and　leaped　nimbly　about　the　sanctum；　roaring　with　terror　in　that　outlandish　voice。　Trok　found　himself　laughing　at　his　antics。　The　dwarf　shot　behind　the　curtains　at　the　back　of　the　chamber　and　disappeared　through　a　secret　doorway。
　　
　　Trok　let　him　go　and　turned　back　to　Ishtar；　just　in　time　to　seize　a　handful　of　his　stiff…lacquered　hair　as　he　tried　to　flee　from　the　chamber。　He　flung　him　full　length　on　the　stone　floor　and　kicked　him　in　the　ribs；　belly　and　back。　'You　have　lied　to　me。'　Trok　was　no　longer　laughing；　and　his　face　turned　dark　purple　with　rage。　'You　have　deliberately　misled　me。　You　have　diverted　me　from　my　purpose。'
　　
　　'Please；　master；'　Ishtar　wailed；　rolling　across　the　floor　to　avoid　the　savage　kicks；　'it　was　for　your　good　alone。'
　　
　　'Was　it　for　my　good　that　you　allowed　the　spawn　of　Tamose　to　flourish　in　Gallala　unchecked；　and　to　spread　rebellion　and　sedition　throughout　my　realm？'　Trok　bellowed。　'Do　you　think　I　am　mad；　and　so　stupid　that　I　should　believe　that？'
　　
　　'It　is　true；'　Ishtar　blubbered；　as　Trok's　toe　caught　him　in　the　ribs　and　knocked　him　over　on　his　back。　'How　could　we　go　against　a　Warlock　who　mands　the　storm　to　his　will　as　though　it　were　his　pet　dog？'
　　
　　'You　are　afraid　of　Taita。'　Trok　stood　back　to　regain　his　breath。　'The　Warlock？'　he　demanded　incredulously。
　　
　　'He　overlooks　us。　He　can　turn　my　own　spells　back　upon　me！　I　cannot　prevail　against　him。　I　sought　only　to　save　you　from　him；　great　Pharaoh。'
　　
　　'You　sought　only　to　save　your　own　blue…tattooed　skin；'　Trok　snarled；　and　rushed　in　again　to　slam　kicks　into　Ishtar's　doubled…up　body。
　　
　　'I　beg　of　you；　first　of　all　the　gods；'　Ishtar　covered　his　head　with　both　arms；　'give　me　my　reward　and　let　me　go。　Taita　has　dissipated　my　powers。　I　cannot　confront　him　again。　I　can　be　of　no　further　use　to　you。'
　　
　　Trok　stood　with　one　foot　drawn　back；　frozen　in　the　act　of　delivering　another　kick。　'Your　reward？'　he　demanded　in　astonishment。　'Surely　you　do　not　believe　that　I　will　reward　your　disloyalty　with　three　lakhs　of　gold。'
　　
　　Ishtar　came　up　on　his　knees　and　tried　to　kiss　Trok's　foot。　'I　have　given　you　Babylon；　great　master。　You　cannot　deny　me　what　was　promised。'
　　
　　Trok　laughed　angrily。　'I　can　deny　you　anything　I　please　to。　Even　life　itself。　If　you　wish　to　live　another　day　then　you　will　lead　me　to　Gallala；　and　take　your　chances　in　a　trial　of　magical　strength　with　the　Warlock。'
　　
　　*　　*　　*
　　
　　It　seemed　that　all　Egypt　had　heard　that　Nefer　Seti　had　run　the　Red　Road　and　was　ordained　in　his　kingship。　Each　day　visitors　from　all　over　the　country　arrived　in　Gallala。　Some　were　the　colonels　and　captains　of　the　regiments　that　Trok　and　Naja　had　left　to　guard　Egypt　in　their　absence。　Others　were　emissaries　of　the　elders　of　the　great　cities　along　the　Nile…Avaris　and　Memphis；　Thebes　and　Aswan…and　the　high　priests　from　the　temples　in　those　cities。　Sickened　and　saddened　by　the　tyrannies　and　excesses　of　Naja　and　Trok；　and　emboldened　by　their　absence　in　Babylon　so　far　to　the　east；　all　had　e　to　swear　allegiance　to　Nefer　Seti。
　　
　　The　populace　of　Egypt　is　ready　to　wele　you；'　the　emissaries　told　him。
　　
　　'Our　regiments　will　declare　for　you　as　soon　as　you　step　again　on　to　the　sacred　soil；　and　they　see　your　face；　and　know　that　the　rumours　of　your　survival　are　true；'　the　captains　assured　him。
　　
　　Nefer　and　Taita　questioned　them　keenly；　demanding　to　know　the　muster　of　their　regiments　and　their　state　of　readiness。　It　soon　became