wilbursmith_warlock-第78章

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　　'Tell　me　all　you　can　about　Thane。　Is　Socco　still　in　mand　there？'
　　
　　'We　drank　beer　in　the　local　brothel　with　a　sergeant　of　the　garrison。　He　told　me　that　Socco　has　done　such　a　good　job　there　that　Trok　has　promoted　him　to　the　rank　of　Best　of　Ten　Thousand。'
　　
　　Ten　days　later　Nefer　and　Taita　sat　in　the　thick　green　grass　and　pretended　to　watch　over　the　herd　of　goats　that　grazed　around　them。　Although　the　land　around　the　garrison　of　Thane　was　well　irrigated　and　rich　in　grazing；　it　was　also　flat；　treeless　and　featureless。　There　were　no　hills　from　which　they　could　overlook　the　camp。　The　nearest　high　ground　was　along　the　edge　of　the　desert；　a　league　to　the　east。
　　
　　The　two　of　them　were　dressed　in　the　ragged　dusty　black　robes　of　the　Bedouin。　In　this　guise　they　were　able　to　blend　into　the　landscape　as　readily　as　a　pair　of　hares　or　crows。　At　intervals　they　stood　and　herded　the　goats　a　little　closer　to　the　garrison；　then　squatted　down　again　in　the　characteristic　attitude　of　the　Bedouin　herdsman。
　　
　　Not　far　from　where　they　sat　the　herds　of　remounts　were　also　grazing；　tended　by　armed　and　uniformed　herders。　'I　would　think　there　are　upward　of　two　thousand　animals　here；'　Nefer　guessed。
　　
　　'Perhaps　not　as　many　as　that。'　Taita　shook　his　head。　'Closer　to　fifteen　hundred；　but　still　more　than　we　can　handle。'
　　
　　They　watched　and　waited　through　the　long；　lazy　afternoon。　In　the　stockades　alongside　the　cavalry　lines　the　handlers　were　at　work　breaking　the　young　animals　to　the　chariot　harness。　Their　shouted　mands　and　the　crack　of　the　stock　whips　carried　faintly　to　where　Nefer　and　Taita　sat。　In　the　late　afternoon　the　herds　of　horses　were　driven　in　from　the　fields　and　stockades　to　the　long　horse　lines　beyond　the　fort。　From　a　distance　they　watched　them　tethered　and　bedded　down　for　the　night。
　　
　　As　the　sun　was　setting　Nefer　and　Taita　rounded　up　their　goats　and　drove　them　slowly　back　towards　the　desert。　In　the　dusk　a　small　detachment　of　four　chariots　came　bowling　down　the　road　from　Avaris。　At　the　reins　of　the　leading　vehicle　stood　a　burly　officer　wearing　the　silver　pectoral　plate　of　the　Best　of　Ten　Thousand。　As　he　came　closer　they　both　recognized　him。
　　
　　The　curse　of　Seth　on　it；'　Nefer　murmured。　''Tis　Socco；　Hilto's　old　rade…in…arms。　Will　he　recognize　us？'
　　
　　They　bowed　their　heads；　slumped　their　shoulders　in　a　submissive　attitude；　and　shuffled　along　after　the　goats。　Socco　swerved　off　the　road　and　drove　directly　at　them。　'You　stinking　scum！'　he　shouted。　'How　often　must　I　warn　you　to　keep　your　filthy；　disease…ridden　beasts　off　my　grass　and　away　from　my　horses？'　He　leaned　out　and　struck　Nefer　across　the　shoulders。　The　whiplash　hummed　and　cracked　against　his　flesh；　and　red　rage　blinded　Nefer。　Before　he　could　drag　Socco　out　of　the　chariot；　though；　Taita　made　a　restraining　gesture　that　riveted　him　where　he　stood。　It　seemed　to　affect　Socco　too；　for　his　tone　moderated　a　little　as　he　coiled　his　whip　and　said；　'If　I　catch　you　people　here　again；　I'll　lop　off　your　balls　and　stick　them　up　your　bung…hole。'　He　steered　the　chariot　back　on　to　the　road　and　trotted　off　towards　the　fort。
　　
　　Six　nights　later　in　the　dark　of　the　new　moon；　they　returned　to　Thane　in　force；　every　man　from　Gallala　who　could　ride　astride；　forty　horsemen　with　black…dyed　robes　and　soot…daubed　faces。　Each　rider　carried　a　large　bag　slung　behind　him　over　his　horse's　haunches。　The　contents　of　the　bags　squirmed　and　writhed；　emitting　muffled　yips　and　whimpers：　for　each　contained　two　or　three　live　jackals。　Their　legs　were　tied；　and　strips　of　flax　twine　were　bound　around　their　muzzles　to　gag　them。
　　
　　The　horses'　hoofs　were　muffled　with　leather　boots　so　they　made　no　sound　as　Nefer　led　them　in　single　file　in　a　wide　circuit　round　to　the　westerly　side　of　the　fort；　keeping　well　clear　of　the　cavalry　lines　so　that　they　did　not　alarm　the　sentries。
　　
　　Every　man　knew　what　was　expected　of　him　for　they　had　practised　this　manoeuvre　many　times；　and　they　kept　silently　in　their　formation；　a　half…moon　of　dark　horsemen　between　Thane　and　the　river。　They　were　spaced　at　intervals　just　close　enough　together　that　a　quiet　mand　could　be　passed　down　the　line。　Nefer　was　in　the　centre；　Meren　on　the　left　wing　and　Shabako　on　the　right。
　　
　　When　Nefer　was　satisfied　that　they　were　in　position　he　gave　the　warbling　call　of　a　nightingale；　three　times　repeated；　and　saw　the　red　line　of　glowing　spots　in　the　darkness　as　his　men　opened　the　lids　of　the　clay　firepots　they　all　carried　and　blew　the　tinder　into　flame。　He　did　the　same；　and　then　he　opened　the　mouth　of　one　of　the　bags　on　his　horse's　rump　and　reached　in。　He　brought　out　a　fat　vixen　by　the　scruff　of　the　neck。　She　writhed　in　his　grip。
　　
　　There　was　a　harsh；　tarry　smell；　strong　enough　to　mask　the　natural　odour　of　the　animals。　The　fur　and　brush　had　been　soaked　in　a　black　viscous　liquid。　Taita　had　gathered　this　sticky　substance　from　a　natural　seep　that　he　knew　of　in　the　wilderness。　It　oozed　from　the　earth　and　Taita　said　that　it　came　up　from　great　depth。　It　was　highly　inflammable；　but　he　had　mixed　it　with　another　substance；　a　yellow　crystalline　powder；　that　made　it　even　more　so。　Every　one　of　the　captured　jackals　had　been　treated　with　this　mixture。
　　
　　With　his　dagger　Nefer　cut　the　twine　that　secured　the　vixen's　four　paws　together。　When　she　sensed　freedom；　she　kicked　and　thrashed　in　his　grip。　He　touched　the　firepot　to　her　furry　brush；　which　burst　into　spluttering；　smoking　flame。　She　redoubled　her　efforts　to　escape；　but　before　he　released　her　he　slipped　the　point　of　the　dagger　between　her　lips　and　cut　the　loop　of　twine　that　muzzled　her。　She　opened　her　jaws　wide　and　let　loose　a　screech；　unearthly　and　terrifying。　Nefer　dropped　her　to　the　ground　and　the　little　creature　shot　away；　spreading　a　stream　of　fire　and　sparks　behind　her；　howling　and　shrieking　in　a　fashion　that　set　even　his　nerves　on　edge　and　made　the　hair　rise　down　the　back　of　his　neck。
　　
　　He　pulled　another　jackal　out　of　the　bag。　All　down　the　line　balls　of　flame　flared　in　the　darkness　and　steamed　out　across　the　open　fields　and　those　terrible　agonized　howls　made　the　night　hideous。　A　few　of　the　tormented　creatures　broke　back　towards　the　river　valley　but　the　rest　headed　instinctively　for　their　home　in　the　desert；　with　the　garrison　of　Thane　directly　in　their　path。　In　a　pack　they　bore　down　on　the　cavalry　lines。
　　
　　As　Nefer　released　the　last　screaming　jackal；　he　drew　his　sword　and　kicked　his　mount　into　a　gallop。　He　raced　after　the　burning　animals；　and　on　either　hand　his　troopers　rode　with　him。　They　were　all　yelling　like　demons；　adding　their　voices　to　the　uproar。
　　
　　Some　of　the　jackals　dragged　their　flaming　tails　through　the　dry　horse　fodder　and　bedding；　which　burst　into　flame　also。　The　scene　was　lit　by　an　eerie　flickering　light　that　made　the　dark　riders　seem　monstrous。
　　
　　Ahead　Nefer　saw　the　nearest　sentries　hurl　aside　their　weapons　and　flee；　screaming　as　loudly　as　the　burning　animals。
　　
　　'Djinns！'　they　howled。
　　
　　'Save　us！　The　dark　legions　of　Seth　are　upon　us！'
　　
　　'The　hordes　of　hell！　Run！　Run！'
　　
　　The　tethered　horses　were　rearing　and　plunging。　When　a　stake　was　pulled　up　from　the　earth；　or　one　of　the　long　lines　snapped　under　the　strain；　twenty　horses　were　freed　at　once　and　wheeled　away　before　the　line　of　yelling；　shrieking　riders　that　swept　into　the　camp。
　　
　　Nefer　leaned　from　his　horse's　back　and　sabred　one　of　the　running　guards；　striking　deeply　between　his　shoulder…blades　and　letting　the　slack　body　slide　off　the　blade。　Then　he　swerved　to　where　a　bunch　of　terrified　horses　struggled　against　a　line　that　resisted　their　bined　efforts　to　break　free。　With　a　single　slash　he　cut　the　rope　and　whooped　to　send　them　to　join　the　panic…stricken　horde；　then　rounded　up　another　bunch　of　milling　disorientated　animals　and　pushed　them　out　of　the　lines　into　the　open　fields。　Shabako　and　his　men　rode　with　him；　shouting　and　whipping　the　horses　along；　a　racing　tide　of　men　and　animals　pressed　into　a　single　entity　and　lit　only　by　the　flames　of　the　burning　garrison　behind　them。　The　last　of　the　jackals　had　burnt　to　death　and　their　black；　smouldering　carcasses　were　left　in　the　grass　as　the　riders　thundered　towards　the　hills。
　　
　　Shabako　appeared　out　of　the　night　and　rode　at　Nefer's　side。　'By　the　sweat　and　seed　of　Seth！'　he　shouted。　That　was　fun！'　Then　he　turned　and　looked　back。　'No　sign　yet　of　any　pursuit；　more　is　the　pity。　A　good　hack　and　slash　now　would　be　the　perfect　ending　to　an　entertaining　evening。'
　　
　　'I　promise　you　much　entertainment　later；'　Nefer　laughed；　'but　now；　we　must　head　off　the　herd；　before　they　run　their　guts　out。'
　　
　　They　pushed　their　mounts　hard；　moving　through　the　galloping　mass　until　they　rode　in　the　first　rank；　then　cut　across　them　flagging　them　down　from　the　gallop　into　a　trot　and　then　a　walk；　turning　them　in　the　direction　of　the　open　desert　and　Gallala。
　　
　　Dawn　found　the　long　herd　of　loose　horses　spread　out　down　a　gaunt；　rocky　defile；　moving　at　an　easy　but　steady　pace　with　Nefer　and　Shabako　pointing　them　while　Meren　and　his　drovers　brought　up　the　stragglers　from　behind。
　　
　　Nefer　squinted　into　the　first　rays　of　the　sun；　and　called　to　Shabako；　'Keep　them　headed　up　and　moving。　I　am　going　back　to　see　if　Socco　and　his　men　are　after　us　yet。'
　　
　　As　he　rode　back；　Nefer　singled　out　Meren　and　three　others；　all　skilled　with　javelin　and　sword。　He　signalled　to　them　and　they　galloped　up　to　join　him。　'If　they　are　after　us；　we　should　try　to　change　their　minds　for　them。'
　　
　　Nefer　led　them　along　their　back　trail；　and　at　a　point　where　the　rock　defile　narrowed　they　left　the　three　troopers　to　hold　their　horses；　and　he　and　Meren　climbed　the　steep　rock…strewn　slope。
　　
　　By　the　time　they　reached　the　top　the　sun　was　clear　of　the　horizon；　but　had　not　yet　dissipated　the　cool　of　the　night　and　the　dust　and　heat…haze　had　not　built　up。　The　land　glowed　with　that　peculiar　lambency　of　the　desert　dawn。　Each　distant　detail　of　rock　and　dune；　cliff　and　gnarled　tree；　was　etched　with　breath…stopping　beauty。
　　
　　'There！'　said　Nefer。　Meren's　eyes　were　sharp；　but　his　were　more　so。　'Ten　riders。'　Meren　tried　to　hide　his　chagrin　at　not　finding　them　first。　'Eleven；'　Nefer　corrected　him；　and　he　did　not　argue。　Instead　he　grinned　delightedly。　'Fair　odds　to　our　five。'
　　
　　'We　will　take　them　there。'　Nefer　pointed　down　into　the　gorge。　'There；　where　it　narrows。　We　don't　want　them　to　carry　back　their　news　to　Avaris。　There　must　be　no　survivors。'
　　
　　'That　suits　me　above　all　things。'　Meren　laughed。　They　waited　among　the　boulders；　standing　by　the　heads　of　their　horses；　hands　over　their　nostrils　to　prevent　them　whickering　or　snorting　and　springing　the　trap　prematurely。　In　the　middle　of　the　gap；　Nefer　had　placed　a　leather　bag；　that　had　earlier　contained　captured　jackals。　It　was　now　stuffed　with　their　cloaks；　which　were　no　longer　needed　in　the　rising　morning　warmth。
　　
　　Their　heads　went　up　as；　from　lower　down　the　gorge；　they　heard　the　click　of　hoof　against　stone　and　the　rattle　of　a　dislodged　pebble。　Nefer　looked　across　the　open　ground　to　where　Meren　and　one　of　the　other　men　were　hidden　on　the　far　side　of　the　defile。　He　held　up　his　left　hand　with　fingers