wilbursmith_warlock-第7章

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were　tragic。　'You　must　be　brave　now；　and　remember　that　you　are　princesses　of　the　royal　house；　because　I　have　bitter　news　for　you。　Pharaoh　your　father　is　dead。〃　For　a　minute　they　did　not　seem　to　understand；　then　Heseret　let　out　the　high　keening　wail　of　mourning；　followed　immediately　by　Merykara。
　　
　　Gently　Naja　put　his　arms　around　them；　and　led　them　to　sit　at　the　foot　of　the　throne；　where　they　sank　to　their　knees　and　clung　to　each　other；　weeping　inconsolably。
　　
　　The　distress　of　the　royal　princesses　is　plain　for　all　the　world　to　see；'　Naja　told　the　assembly。　'The　trust　and　the　duty　that　Pharaoh　placed　upon　me　is　equally　plain。　As　I　have　taken　Prince　Nefer　Memnon　into　my　care；　so　now　I　take　the　two　princesses；　Heseret　and　Merykara；　under　my　protection。'
　　
　　'Now　he　has　all　the　royal　brood　in　his　hands。　But　no　matter　where　he　is　in　the　wilderness；　and　how　hale　and　strong　the　Prince　Nefer　may　seem；'　Talla　whispered　to　his　neighbour；　'methinks　he　is　already　sickening　unto　death。　The　new　Regent　of　Egypt　has　made　abundantly　clear　his　style　of　government。'
　　
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　　Nefer　sat　in　the　shadow　of　the　cliff　that　towered　above　Gebel　Nagara。　He　had　not　moved　since　the　sun　had　first　shown　its　upper　rim　above　the　mountains　across　the　valley。　At　first　the　effort　of　remaining　still　had　burned　along　his　nerve　endings　and　made　his　skin　itch　as　though　poisonous　insects　were　crawling　upon　it。　But　he　knew　that　Taita　was　watching　him　so　he　had　forced　his　wayward　body　slowly　to　his　will　and　risen　above　its　petty　dictates。　Now　at　last　he　sat　in　a　state　of　exalted　awareness；　his　every　sense　tuned　to　the　wilderness　about　him。
　　
　　He　could　smell　the　water　that　rose　from　its　secret　spring　in　the　cleft　in　the　cliff。　It　came　up　a　slow　drop　at　a　time　and　dripped　into　the　basin　in　the　rock　that　was　not　much　larger　than　the　cup　of　his　two　hands；　then　overflowed　and　dribbled　down　into　the　next　basin；　green…lined　with　slippery　algae。　From　there　it　ran　down　to　disappear　for　ever　into　the　ruddy　sands　of　the　valley　bottom。　Yet　much　life　was　supported　by　this　trickle　of　water：　butterfly　and　beetle；　serpent　and　lizard；　the　graceful　little　gazelle　that　danced　like　whiffs　of　saffron　dust　on　the　heat…quivering　plains；　the　speckled　pigeons　with　their　ruffs　of　wine…coloured　feathers　that　nested　on　high　ledges　all　drank　here。　It　was　because　of　these　precious　pools　that　Taita　had　brought　him　to　this　place　to　wait　for　his　godbird。
　　
　　They　had　begun　to　make　the　net　on　the　day　of　their　arrival　at　Gebel　Nagara。　Taita　had　bought　the　silk　from　a　merchant　in　Thebes。　The　hank　of　thread　had　cost　the　price　of　a　fine　stallion；　for　it　had　been　brought　from　a　land　far　to　the　east　of　the　Indus　river　on　a　journey　that　had　taken　years　to　plete。　Taita　had　shown　Nefer　how　to　weave　the　net　out　of　the　fine　threads。　The　mesh　was　stronger　than　thick　strands　of　linen　or　thongs　of　leather　but　almost　invisible　to　the　eye。
　　
　　When　the　net　was　ready　Taita　had　insisted　that　the　boy　catch　the　decoys　himself。　'It　is　your　godbird。　You　must　take　it　yourself；'　he　had　explained。　'That　way　your　claim　will　be　more　secure　in　the　sight　of　the　great　god　Horus。'
　　
　　So；　in　the　baking　daylight　out　on　the　valley　floor；　Nefer　and　Taita　had　studied　the　route　up　the　cliff。　When　darkness　fell　Taita　had　sat　beside　the　small　fire　at　the　base　of　the　cliff　and　softly　chanted　his　incantations；　at　intervals　throwing　a　handful　of　herbs　on　to　the　fire。　When　the　crescent　moon　rose　to　illuminate　the　darkness　of　midnight　Nefer　had　started　the　precarious　climb　to　the　ledge　where　the　pigeons　roosted。　He　had　seized　two　of　the　big；　fluttering　birds　while　they　were　still　disorientated　and　confused　by　the　darkness　and　the　spell　that　Taita　had　cast　over　them。　He　brought　them　down　in　the　leather　saddlebag　slung　on　his　back。
　　
　　Under　Taita's　instruction　Nefer　had　plucked　the　feathers　from　one　wing　of　each　bird；　so　that　they　were　no　longer　able　to　fly。　Then　they　had　selected　a　spot　close　to　the　base　of　the　cliff　and　the　spring；　but　exposed　enough　to　make　the　birds　clearly　visible　from　the　sky　above。　They　tethered　the　pigeons　by　the　leg　with　a　thread　of　horsetail　hair　and　a　wooden　peg　driven　into　the　hard　earth。　Then　they　had　spread　the　gossamer　net　above　them；　and　supported　it　on　stalks　of　dried　elephant　grass；　which　would　snap　and　collapse　under　the　stoop　of　the　godbird。
　　
　　'Stretch　the　net　gently；'　Taita　had　shown　him；　'not　too　tight；　nor　again　too　slack。　It　must　catch　in　the　bird's　beak　and　his　talons　and　tangle　him　so　that　he　cannot　struggle　and　damage　himself　before　we　can　free　him。'
　　
　　When　all　was　set　up　to　Taita's　satisfaction；　they　began　the　long　wait。　Soon　the　pigeons　had　bee　accustomed　to　their　captivity；　and　pecked　greedily　at　the　handfuls　of　dhurra　millet　that　Nefer　scattered　for　them。　Then　they　sunned　and　dusted　themselves　contentedly　under　the　silken　net。　One　day　succeeded　the　next　hot；　sun…riven　day；　and　still　they　waited。
　　
　　In　the　cool　of　the　evening　they　brought　in　the　pigeons；　furled　the　net；　and　then　they　hunted　for　food。　Taita　climbed　to　the　top　of　the　cliff　where　he　sat　cross…legged　on　the　edge；　overlooking　the　long　valley。　Nefer　waited　in　ambush　below；　never　in　the　same　place　so　that　the　game　were　always　surprised　when　they　came　to　drink　at　the　spring。　From　his　vantage…point　Taita　wove　his　spell　of　enticement；　which　seldom　failed　to　seduce　the　dainty　gazelle　within　fair　shot　of　where　Nefer　lay　with　his　arrow　nocked　and　bow　held　at　draw。　Every　evening　they　grilled　gazelle　steaks　over　the　fire　at　the　entrance　to　the　cave。
　　
　　The　cave　had　been　Taita's　retreat　during　all　the　years　after　the　death　of　Queen　Lostris　when　he　had　lived　here　as　a　hermit。　It　was　his　place　of　power。　Although　Nefer　was　a　novice；　and　had　no　deep　understanding　of　the　old　man's　mystical　skills；　he　could　not　doubt　them；　for　every　day　they　were　demonstrated　to　him。
　　
　　They　had　been　at　Gebel　Nagara　for　many　days　before　Nefer　began　to　understand　that　they　had　not　e　here　to　find　the　godbird　alone：　this　interlude　was　an　extension　of　the　training　and　instruction　Taita　had　lavished　upon　him　from　as　far　back　as　Nefer's　young　memory　stretched。　Even　the　long　hours　of　waiting　beside　the　decoys　was　a　lesson　in　itself。　Taita　was　teaching　him　control　over　his　body　and　being；　teaching　him　to　open　doors　within　his　mind；　teaching　him　to　look　inward；　to　listen　to　the　silence　and　hear　whispers　to　which　others　were　deaf。
　　
　　Once　he　had　been　conditioned　to　the　silence；　Nefer　was　more　amenable　to　the　deeper　wisdom　and　learning　that　Taita　had　to　impart。　They　sat　together　in　the　desert　night；　under　the　swirling　patterns　of　the　stars　that　were　eternal　but　ephemeral　as　the　winds　and　the　currents　of　the　oceans；　and　Taita　described　to　him　wonders　that　seemed　to　have　no　explanation　but　could　only　be　perceived　by　an　opening　and　extension　of　the　mind。　He　sensed　that　he　stood　merely　on　the　shadowy　periphery　of　this　mystical　knowledge；　but　he　felt　growing　inside　him　a　great　hunger　for　more。
　　
　　One　morning　when　Nefer　left　the　cave　in　the　grey　light　before　dawn；　he　saw　a　huddle　of　dark；　silent　figures　sitting　out　in　the　desert　beyond　the　spring　of　Gebel　Nagara。　He　went　to　tell　Taita；　and　the　old　man　nodded。　'They　have　been　waiting　all　night。'　He　spread　a　woollen　cloak　over　his　shoulders　and　went　out　to　them。
　　
　　When　they　recognized　Taita's　gaunt　figure　in　the　half…light　they　burst　into　wails　of　supplication。　They　were　people　of　the　desert　tribes　and　they　had　brought　children　to　him；　children　stricken　by　the　Yellow　Flowers；　hot　with　fever　and　covered　with　the　terrible　sores　of　the　disease。
　　
　　Taita　ministered　to　them；　while　they　remained　camped　beyond　the　spring。　None　of　the　children　died；　and　after　ten　days　the　tribe　brought　gifts　of　millet；　salt　and　tanned　hides；　which　they　left　at　the　entrance　to　the　cave。　Then　they　were　gone　into　the　wilderness。　After　that　there　came　others；　suffering　from　disease　and　wounds　inflicted　by　men　and　beasts。　Taita　went　out　to　all　of　them；　and　turned　none　away。　Nefer　worked　beside　him　and　learned　much　from　what　he　saw　and　heard。
　　
　　No　matter　if　there　were　the　sick　and　ailing　Bedouin　to　care　for；　or　food　to　be　gathered；　or　instruction　or　learning　to　be　imparted；　each　morning　they　set　out　the　decoys　under　the　silken　net　and　waited　beside　them。
　　
　　Perhaps　they　had　fallen　under　the　calming　influence　of　Taita；　for　the　once…wild　pigeons　became　docile　and　quiescent　as　chickens。　They　allowed　themselves　to　be　handled　without　any　sign　of　fear；　and　uttered　soft　throaty　coos　as　their　legs　were　secured　to　the　pegs。　Then　they　settled　and　fluffed　up　their　feathers。
　　
　　On　the　twentieth　morning　of　their　stay；　Nefer　took　up　his　position　over　the　decoys。　As　always；　even　without　looking　directly　at　Taita；　Nefer　was　deeply　aware　of　his　presence。　The　old　man's　eyes　were　closed　and　he；　like　the　pigeons；　seemed　to　be　dozing　in　the　sunlight。　His　skin　was　criss…crossed　with　innumerable　fine　wrinkles　and　dappled　with　age　spots。　It　seemed　so　delicate　that　it　might　tear　as　easily　as　the　finest　papyrus　parchment。　His　face　was　hairless；　no　trace　of　beard　or　eyebrows；　only　fine　lashes；　colourless　as　glass；　surrounded　his　eyes。　Nefer　had　heard　his　father　say　that　neutering　had　left　Taita's　face　beardless　and　little　marked　by　the　passage　of　time；　but　he　was　certain　that　there　were　more　esoteric　reasons　for　his　longevity　and　the　persistence　of　his　strength　and　life…force。　In　vivid　contrast　to　his　other　features；　Taita's　hair　was　dense　and　strong　as　that　of　a　healthy　young　woman；　but　bright　burnished　silver　in　colour。　Taita　was　proud　of　it　and　kept　it　washed　and　groomed　in　a　thick　plait　down　his　back。　Despite　his　learning　and　age；　the　old　Magus　was　not　inured　to　vanity。
　　
　　This　little　touch　of　humanity　heightened　Nefer's　love　for　him　to　the　point　where　it　stabbed　his　chest　with　a　strength　that　was　almost　painful。　He　wished　that　there　was　some　way　in　which　he　could　express　it；　but　he　knew　that　Taita　already　understood；　for　Taita　knew　everything。
　　
　　He　reached　out　surreptitiously　to　touch　the　old　man's　arm　as　he　slept；　but　suddenly　Taita's　eyes　opened；　focused　and　aware。　Nefer　knew　that　he　had　not　been　asleep　at　all；　but　that　all　his　powers　had　been　concentrated　on　bringing　in　the　godbird　to　the　decoys。　He　knew　that；　in　some　way；　his　wandering　thoughts　and　his　movement　had　affected　the　oute　of　the　old　man's　efforts；　for　he　sensed　Taita's　disapproval　as　clearly　as　if　it　had　been　spoken。
　　
　　Chastened；　he　posed　himself；　and　brought　his　mind　and　body　under　control　again　in　the　manner　that　Taita　had　taught　him。　It　was　like　passing　through　a　secret　doorway　into　the　place　of　power。　The　time　passed　swiftly；　without　being　counted　or　grudged。　The　sun　climbed　to　its　zenith　and　seemed　to　hang　there　for　a　long　while。　Suddenly　Nefer　was　blessed　with　a　marvellous　sense　of　prescience。　It　was　almost　as　if　he；　too；　hung　above　the　world　and　saw　everything　happening　below　him。　He　saw　Taita　and　himself　sitting　beside　the　well　of　Gebel　Nagara；　and　the　desert　stretching　away　around　them。　He　saw　the　river　that　contained　the　desert　like　a　mighty　barrier　and　marked　out　the　boundaries　of　this　very　Egypt。　He　saw　the　cities　and　the　kingdoms；　the