wilbursmith_warlock-第107章
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erdsman。
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 Sh
