wilbursmith_warlock-第114章
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The next day Nefer introduced Krus to Dov。 The horses circled each other warily； sniffed each other's mouths and circled again。 When Krus thrust his nose under Dov's tail she feigned outrage and lashed out at him with both back legs； then raced away flirtatiously with Krus prancing after her。 Nefer let them graze together for the rest of the day； and the following morning showed them the chariot。 This was not the magnificent royal vehicle； but an older； well…used one。 He let them smell the shaft； which had been rubbed and polished smooth by contact with the flanks of many other horses。 When they both lost interest in such a mundane object； Meren led Krus away while Nefer took Dov through the next step。
Stroking and caressing her； he placed the harness carefully over her shoulders and fastened the straps。 She fidgeted unhappily but allowed him to place these unaccustomed restraints on her。 He went up on her back and took her on two circuits of the field。 When he brought her back； Meren had the shaft ready。 It was not attached to the chariot； although it had the ring bolt at one end。 Nefer hitched the harness to it； and Dov rolled her eyes nervously as she felt the weight hanging down her side。 She turned her head to examine the shaft； and once she had satisfied her curiosity he took her head and led her forward。
She snorted and crabbed as the shaft followed her； but Nefer gentled and reassured her。 After they had circled the field a few times she was no longer skittering sideways。 Now came the crucial step。 Nefer had borrowed Hike's placid old mare and placed her in the right…hand traces。 She stood there stolidly。 He hitched Dov into the left…hand position。 The calm nature of the old mare reassured Dov and she stood quietly。 Nefer put their nosebags on them and fed them a ration of crushed dhurra。 When she was relaxed and content； he padded Dov's back legs with strips of linen bandage so that she did not damage herself if she started kicking when she felt the full weight of the chariot behind her。
He need not have worried。 He took her head and led her forward and she moved easily beside the old mare。 Nefer touched her shoulder and she leaned into the harness and took her share of the weight like a veteran。 Nefer broke into a run and Dov trotted at his side。 Then he jumped up into the cockpit and gathered up the reins。 He put the pair through a series of turns； each one tighter than the last； and though Dov had never felt the reins before she mimicked her right…hand partner faithfully。 By the end of that first day she recognized the mands and responded to them instantly； rather than waiting for the old mare to show her the way。 For another five days he ran the two mares together and Dov learned fast。
Now it was time to take Krus through the same routine。 It was three days before he stopped bolting as soon as he felt the drag of the shaft。 Nefer almost gave up on him； but Taita made him persevere。 'Give him your patience now and he will reward you a thousand times over；' he counselled。 'He has intelligence and heart。 You will never find another to replace him。'
Eventually Krus resigned himself to the pole that slithered after him and aped his every move so alarmingly。 Nefer was at last able to place him in the traces beside Dov。 She turned her head and nuzzled his neck； like a mother with a fractious child。 Krus calmed down and ate his dhurra。 When Nefer led them forward he tried to turn sideways and balk but Nefer slapped him sternly across the haunch。 He straightened up and fell in line with Dov； but he was shirking。 Another slap and he put his shoulder into the traces and took his fair share。 The sensation must have pleased him for soon he was hauling with a will。 The only difficulty was to make him stop。
Meren threw open the gate of the paddock and jumped up on to the footplate as the chariot rolled past。 They took the trade road and swept up the hills in a cloud of their own red dust。
It was the route they took at dawn every day over the months that followed。 Each evening when they returned to Gallala the horses were quicker and ran truer； shoulder to shoulder like a single beast with two heads and eight legs。 The two young warriors on the footplate were harder and tougher； burned dark by the desert sun。
Mintaka learned how it must feel to be a widow。
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There were only five warriors of the Red Road in the fortress city of Gallala： Hilto； Shabako； Socco； Timus and Toran。 Many others had tried but had lost their hair braids in the attempt。 Hilto and Shabako were adepts of the third and highest degree of the order； worshippers of the nameless god； the Bull of Heaven； the Sumerian god of war。 Only his adepts knew his true name； from all others he was concealed behind the covert name of the Red God。 He had no temple or shrine dedicated to him。 He came when two or more of his adepts invoked his name upon any field where men had died in battle。 Such a place was Gallala； for here Lord Tanus had vanquished the enemies of Egypt and piled their severed heads in the plaza of the city。
Secret catabs honeybed the limestone beneath the central square； making it a most suitable temple for the worship of the nameless one。
After midnight； while the rest of the city slept above； Hilto led a prime white bullock down the narrow tunnel that was the entrance to the catabs； and he sacrificed it upon the stone altar they had built in the dark recesses of the main cistern。 In the wavering torchlight the blood spurted and puddled on the paved floor。 Then the five warriors of the order dipped their swords in the blood and prayed for the blessing of the secret god on their deliberations and implored him to help them choose wisely。 Then they considered the ordeal to be set for Pharaoh Nefer Seti and his panion。
There must be no concession made to Pharaoh。 He must be tested as relentlessly as any other novice；' said Hilto。
'To do otherwise would be to give offence to the mighty and warlike one。' Even in this distinguished pany he hesitated to use the god's true name。 'It would degrade the honour of those warriors who have ridden the Red Road before Nefer Seti；' Shabako agreed。
Their conclave lasted most of that night and； wrapped in their woollen cloaks； the two novices waited outside the entrance to the tunnel that led down to the catabs。 They spoke little for they were intensely aware that their very lives would be decided by the five warriors in the dark cave beneath where they sat。 The light of the dawning day had not yet washed out the pinprick of the morning star from the eastern horizon when Shabako came to summon them before the conclave。
They followed him along the stone…lined tunnel。 The torch he carried shone into the niches in which lay the painted mummy cases of men and women dead five hundred years and more。 The air was dry and cool。 It smelt of earth and mushrooms； decay and antiquity。 Their footsteps echoed eerily； and there were faint whispers in the air； perhaps the voices of the dead or the rustle of bats' wings。
Then they smelt fresh blood； which splashed under their feet as they passed the carcass of the sacrificial bullock。 There were torches in the brackets upon the walls of the echoing cavern where the warriors waited for them。
'Who approaches the mysteries？' called the voice of Hilto； but his face was hidden in the folds of his cloak。
'I am Nefer Seti。'
'And I am Meren Cambyses。'
'Do you wish to attempt the Red Road？'
'We do。'
'Are you both natural men； entire in body and mind？'
'We are。'
'Have you killed your first man in fair bat？'
'We have。'
'Is there a warrior who sponsors you； Nefer Seti？'
'I am the sponsor。' Shabako spoke up for him。
'Is there a warrior who sponsors you； Meren Cambyses？'
'I am the sponsor；' replied Socco。
When the catechism had been pleted； Nefer and Meren were inducted into the first grade of the order。 'In the blood of the Bull； and the fire of
