wilbursmith_warlock-第99章

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　　Nefer　and　Taita　questioned　them　keenly；　demanding　to　know　the　muster　of　their　regiments　and　their　state　of　readiness。　It　soon　became　apparent　that　Trok　and　Naja　had　skimmed　the　cream　of　the　regiments　for　their　Mesopotamian　adventure；　and　left　only　the　reserve　battalions；　made　up　mostly　of　new　recruits；　the　very　young　and　untried；　or　the　elderly　nearing　the　end　of　their　military　lives；　tired　and　unfit；　already　looking　forward　to　the　retirement　and　their　little　plot　of　land　near　the　river　where　they　could　sit　in　the　sun　and　play　with　their　grandchildren。
　　
　　'What　of　the　chariots　and　horses？'　Nefer　asked　the　crucial　question。　The　captains　shook　their　grey　heads　and　looked　grave。　'Trok　and　Naja　stripped　the　regiments　bare。　Almost　every　vehicle　went　with　them　on　the　western　road。　They　left　hardly　enough　to　patrol　the　eastern　borders　to　discourage　the　Bedouin　raiders　from　the　desert。'
　　
　　'What　about　the　workshops　in　Memphis；　Avaris　and　Thebes？'　Nefer　wanted　to　know。　'Each　of　them　can　turn　out　at　least　fifty　chariots　in　a　month。'
　　
　　'As　soon　as　horses　are　trained　to　pull　them；　they　are　sent　to　the　east　to　join　the　army　of　the　twin　pharaohs　in　Babylon。'
　　
　　Taita　assessed　this　information。　'The　false　pharaohs　are　fully　aware　of　the　threat　we　pose　to　their　rear。　They　want　to　ensure　that　if　the　regiments　they　have　left　in　Egypt　rebel　against　them　and　declare　for　the　true　Pharaoh；　Nefer　Seti；　they　will　lack　cavalry　and　chariots　to　be　an　effective　force。'
　　
　　'You　must　return　to　your　regiments；'　Nefer　ordered　the　officers。　'We　are　too　many　in　Gallala　already；　and　we　are　near　the　limits　of　our　food　and　water。　Do　not　allow　any　more　vehicles　or　horses　to　leave　Egypt。　Keep　your　men　in　training；　and　equip　the　best　of　them　with　the　new　chariots　as　they　bee　available。　I　will　e　to　you　soon；　very　soon；　to　lead　you　against　the　tyrants。'　They　left；　praising　his　name；　and　with　renewed　assurances　of　their　loyalty。
　　
　　'You　dare　not　fulfil　your　promise　to　them　prematurely。　You　can　only　return　to　Egypt　with　a　powerful　force　under　your　mand；　well　trained　and　well　equipped；'　Taita　advised　Nefer。　'These　captains　who　have　e　over　to　you　are　good；　loyal　men；　and　I　know　you　can　count　on　them。　However；　there　will　be　many　others　who　remain　true　to　Trok　and　Naja；　either　in　fear　of　the　consequences　when　the　false　pharaohs　return　or　because　they　believe　in　their　divine　right　to　rule。　Also；　there　will　be　many　who　are　undecided；　but　who　will　turn　against　you　if　they　detect　any　weakness。'
　　
　　Then　we　have　much　to　do。'　Nefer　accepted　this　advice。　'We　must　still　break　the　last　of　the　horses　we　took　at　Thane　and　plete　the　repairs　to　the　chariots　from　the　dunes。　Then　our　men　must　finish　their　training　so　that　they　can　stand　up　against　Trok　and　Naja's　veterans。　When　we　have　done　these　things；　we　will　return　to　Egypt。'
　　
　　So　the　little　army　of　Gallala　redoubled　its　efforts　to　build　itself　into　a　force　to　challenge　the　might　of　the　false　pharaohs。　They　were　inspired　by　their　young　mander；　for　Nefer　worked　harder　than　any　of　them。　He　rode　out　with　the　first　squadrons　long　before　dawn；　and　with　the　other　warriors　of　the　Red　Road　at　his　side；　and　Taita　to　advise　him；　he　gradually　forged　his　divisions　into　a　cohesive　body。　When　he　rode　back　into　the　city；　weary　and　dusty；　in　the　evening；　he　would　go　to　the　workshops　where　he　cajoled　and　argued　with　the　foremen　armourers　and　chariot　builders。　Then；　after　he　had　eaten；　he　would　sit　up　in　the　lamp…light　with　Taita；　going　over　the　battle　plans　and　the　dispositions　of　their　forces。　Usually　it　was　after　midnight　when　he　stumbled　to　his　bedchamber。　Mintaka　woke　and　rose　from　the　bed　without　plaint　to　help　him　strip　off　his　armour　and　sandals　and　to　bathe　his　feet　and　massage　aching　muscles　with　sweet　oils。　Then　she　warmed　a　bowl　of　wine　and　honey　to　help　him　sleep。　Often　the　bowl　dropped　from　his　hand　before　he　had　finished　it；　and　his　head　flopped　back　on　to　the　pillow。　Then　she　would　slip　off　her　chiton；　take　his　head　on　to　her　bosom　and　hold　him　until　he　woke　to　dawn's　first　promise。
　　
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　　Each　day　Meren　sank　a　little　lower　from　the　wounds　he　had　received　on　the　Red　Road。　Taita　had　strapped　his　broken　ribs　and　they　had　healed　swiftly　enough。　He　had　sewn　back　the　torn　ear　so　neatly　that　now　it　was　cocked　only　slightly　awry；　and　Merykara　thought　that　the　half…moon　scar　down　his　cheek　made　him　look　older　and　more　distinguished。　However；　the　sword　thrust　under　his　arm　worried　even　Taita：　when　he　probed　it　he　knew　from　its　angle　and　depth　that　the　weapon　must　have　penetrated　Meren's　lung。　Twice；　when　it　seemed　to　have　healed　over；　the　wound　broke　open　again　and　leaked　foul…smelling　pus　and　fluid。　Sometimes　Meren　was　lucid；　able　to　sit　up　and　eat　without　assistance。　Then；　when　the　morbid　humours　welled　up　again；　he　sank　back　into　semi…consciousness　and　fever。
　　
　　Merykara　stayed　at　his　bedside；　changing　his　dressings　and　anointing　the　wound　with　the　unguent　Taita　brewed　for　her。　When　Meren　was　stronger　she　sang　to　him　and　related　all　the　news　of　the　city　and　the　army。　She　played　bao　with　him；　and　made　up　rhymes　and　riddles　to　amuse　him。　When　the　wound　turned　again；　she　fed　him　and　bathed　him　like　a　baby；　stroking　his　sweat…soaked　head　until　he　calmed。　At　night　she　slept　at　the　foot　of　his　bed；　ing　awake　immediately　every　time　he　stirred　and　muttered　in　delirium。
　　
　　She　came　to　know　his　body　as　intimately　as　if　he　had　been　her　own　child。　She　cleaned　his　teeth　with　the　green　twigs　of　the　acacia　tree；　chewing　the　ends　into　a　stiff　brush　with　her　own　small　white　teeth。　She　dressed　his　hair；　brushing　it　until　it　grew　out　long　enough　to　plait　again。　She　trimmed　his　nails；　and　came　to　know　and　love　the　shape　of　his　fingers　calloused　by　the　hilt　of　sword　and　chariot　reins。　She　scraped　the　wax　from　his　ears；　and　the　dried　mucus　from　his　nostrils　without　the　slightest　revulsion。　She　used　her　own　ivory　b　on　the　soft　dark　hair　that　grew　in　thick　clumps　under　his　arms；　curled　on　his　chest　and　nestled　at　the　base　of　his　belly。
　　
　　Each　morning　she　washed　every　part　of　him；　every　crease；　plane　and　bulge　of　hard　muscle；　and　mourned　as　his　flesh　melted　off　him　in　the　fevers　and　his　bones　began　to　show　through。
　　
　　At　first　she　averted　her　eyes　from　his　manly　parts　as　she　washed　them；　but　soon　this　seemed　prudish　to　her。　Then　she　cupped　them　in　the　hollow　of　her　hand　and　studied　them　closely。　They　invoked　in　her　feelings　of　tenderness　and　passion。　They　were　so　soft　and　warm；　the　skin　so　smooth　and　flawless。　Then　her　emotions　changed　when　she　gently　drew　back　the　skin　in　the　way　that　Mintaka　had　shown　her；　and　the　pink　tip　popped　out；　silky　as　an　oleander　petal。　It　stiffened　and　swelled　in　her　hand　until　she　could　barely　enpass　its　girth　with　her　thumb　and　forefinger。　When　this　happened　she　felt　a　strange；　breathless　sensation；　and　a　warmth　in　the　most　unlikely　parts　of　her　own　anatomy。
　　
　　One　night　she　woke　with　the　moonlight　from　the　window　lying　like　a　silver　bar　across　the　stone　floor　of　the　chamber。　For　a　moment　she　thought　she　was　in　her　own　bedchamber　in　the　river　palace　of　Thebes；　but　then　she　heard　Meren's　painful　breathing；　the　incoherent　cries　inspired　by　his　nightmare；　and　it　all　came　back　to　her　with　a　rush　of　dread。　She　jumped　up　naked　from　her　mattress　at　the　foot　of　his　couch　and　ran　to　him。
　　
　　When　she　lit　the　lamp；　she　saw　that　his　eyes　were　wide　open　but　unseeing；　and　that　his　face　was　ashen　and　contorted；　there　was　a　white　scum　on　his　lips　and　his　body　was　shining　with　running　sweat。　He　was　throwing　himself　about　so　violently　on　the　crumpled　linen　sheets　that　she　was　terrified　he　would　injure　himself　further。　She　knew　that　this　was　the　crisis　Taita　had　warned　her　to　expect。
　　
　　'Taita！'　she　screamed。　'Please；　we　need　you　now。'　Taita's　cell　was　across　the　courtyard　from　theirs；　and　he　always　slept　with　his　door　open　so　that　he　could　hear　her　call。
　　
　　Taita！'　she　shrieked　again；　as　she　threw　herself　across　Meren's　chest　to　restrain　him。　Then　she　remembered　that　the　Magus　had　gone　into　the　desert　with　Nefer　and　a　squadron　of　chariots　on　some　mysterious　expedition；　and　it　was　unlikely　that　they　would　return　for　many　days。　She　thought　of　calling　Mintaka；　but　her　chamber　was　at　the　other　end　of　the　ancient　palace；　and　she　dared　not　leave　Meren。
　　
　　She　was　on　her　own。　She　knew　that　Meren's　life　was　in　her　hands；　and　at　that　thought　she　felt　her　panic　subside。　A　cool　determination　took　its　place。　She　lay　against　him　and　held　him　tightly；　whispering　encouragement　and　reassurance。　After　a　while　he　calmed　so　that　she　could　leave　him　for　a　moment。　She　went　to　the　chest　against　the　window　wall；　found　the　vial　that　Taita　had　left　for　her；　mixed　the　pungent　contents　with　wine　and　warmed　it　on　the　brazier　as　he　had　instructed　her。
　　
　　When　she　held　the　goblet　to　Meren's　lips　he　tried　to　refuse；　but　she　forced　him　to　drink。　When　the　bowl　was　empty　she　heated　water　and　washed　the　sweat　from　his　face；　the　scum　from　his　lips。　She　was　about　to　wash　his　body　when　a　sudden　seizure　racked　him；　and　he　began　to　shake　and　groan。　Her　terror　returned　in　full　force。　She　flung　herself　on　him　and　clung　to　him　with　all　her　strength。　'Do　not　die；　my　darling；'　she　pleaded　with　him；　and　then　in　a　stronger　voice；　'I　will　not　let　you　die。　O　Hathor；　help　me。　I　will　drag　him　back　from　the　underworld　with　my　own　hands。'　She　knew　she　was　in　a　battle；　and　she　fought　with　him；　extending　all　her　strength　and　adding　it　to　his。　When　she　felt　him　go　limp　in　her　arms　and　his　sweat…drenched　body　start　to　cool；　she　cried　out；　'No；　Meren；　e　back！　e　back　to　me。　You　cannot　go　without　me。
　　
　　She　placed　her　mouth　over　his　and　tried　to　breathe　her　own　life　into　him。　Suddenly　he　gave　an　explosive　gasp；　emptying　his　lungs；　and　she　thought　it　was　all　over。　She　hugged　him　with　both　arms　around　his　bony　chest；　and　when　she　released　the　pressure　he　took　another　noisy　breath；　then　another　and　another。　The　flutter　of　his　heart　bee　a　strong；　regular　thumping　that　reverberated　through　her　frame。
　　
　　'You　have　e　back；'　she　whispered。　'You　have　e　back　to　me。'　He　was　still　cold；　and　when　he　shivered；　she　held　him　with　both　her　arms　around　his　chest；　and　wrapped　her　legs　around　his　hips；　warming　him　with　her　own　body。　Slowly；　his　breathing　became　deep　and　regular；　and　she　felt　the　warm　blood　flowing　back　into　his　veins。　She　lay　with　him　and　felt　a　deep　sense　of　fulfilment；　for　she　knew　that　she　had　saved　him；　and　that　from　this　night　onwards　he　would　belong　to　her　alone。
　　
　　In　the　dawn　another　miracle　occurred。　She　felt　his　body　awaken；　and　what　she　had　once　held　soft　and　small　in　the　palm　of　her　hand　now　swelled　against　her　once　more；　being　enormous；　hard　as　bone；　pressing　up　between　her　spread　thighs。
　　
　　She　looked　into　his　face　and　saw　that　he　was　conscious；　his　eyes　dark　and　sunken　in　the　wasted　sockets；　but　with　an　expression　of　such　awe　and　tenderness　in　them　that　her　heart　swelled　within　her　chest　so　that　she　felt　she　might　suffocate　with　the　strength　of　her　own　torrential　emotions。
　　
　　'Yes？'　he　asked。
　　
　　'Yes；'　she　answered。　'It　is　what　I　want　more　than　anything　else　in　all　the　world。'　She　spread　herself；　a