wilbursmith_warlock-第151章
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'You no longer hate him； then？' Merykara asked。
'I never did；' Mintaka denied hotly； then hesitated。 'Well； perhaps for a moment and only a very little。'
'I know just how you feel；' Merykara assured her。 'At times； they can be so stubborn and bull…headed and 。。。' she sought for a word to describe it '。。。 and so male。'
'Yes！' Mintaka agreed； 'That's it exactly。 Like children。 I suppose we must forgive them； for they cannot help themselves。'
During the rest of that day and the following night they sailed eastwards along the coast； through the Khalig el Tina and along the string of islands and sandbars that enclosed the vast lagoon of the Sabkhet el Bardawill。 The next morning the dhow edged in towards the beach at El Arish； and as soon as the water was waist deep the two bodyguards； Lok and Lokka； carried the women ashore then waded back to the boat to fetch the baggage。 The small party stood and watched the crew of the dhow row off； then set the sail and head back out to sea for the return to Egypt and the delta。
'Well； we have done it；' said Merykara uncertainly。 Despite Mintaka's pany； she was feeling vulnerable and alone。 'But what do we do now？' She sounded close to tears。
'I will send Lok to find transport for us；' said Mintaka； and then to give her fort and a little more confidence she went on to explain to Merykara； 'Nefer might have stopped us going southwards through the desert to find my uncle Tonka； but we have outwitted him。' She smiled more gaily than her spirits dictated； for she was even more aware than Merykara of their invidious position。 'Just think how furious Nefer and Meren would be if they only knew！' They laughed together； and Mintaka went on； 'Here we are in the rear of Naja's advancing army； and the road between Beersheba and Ismailiya lies a very few leagues south of us。 When Lok finds a cart or wagon for us we can lose ourselves in the baggage train of Naja's army； hide among the camp…followers until we can reach the headquarters of Uncle Tonka。'
It was not quite as easy to find transport as Mintaka had made it sound。 The quartermasters of Naja's army had been ahead of them； and had seized wagons and horses； as well as food and provisions from the local populace。 In the end they had to settle for a string of five decrepit donkeys； and they had to pay dearly for these； with two heavy gold rings and two of silver。 The animals were barely able to support the weight of even the two women； let alone their bodyguards； so they walked most of the rugged path southwards； until on the third day after landing they topped a rise and saw in the valley below them the tail of the army of Pharaoh Naja。 This great host filled the main east…to…west road in both directions as far as the eye could see； and the dust it raised sullied the sky like the smoke from a forest fire。
They went down to join it； and found themselves in the baggage train。 They fell in with the long caravan of wagons and pack animals。 Mintaka and Merykara kept their heads and faces covered； and in their dusty； bedraggled clothing excited little notice。 Lok and Lokka chaperoned them closely； and discouraged the attentions of any other travellers。 The rate of march was of the slowest； so even on the poor donkeys they were moving a little faster than the rest of the cavalcade and； like a scrap of flotsam in the mighty river； they drifted forward towards the head。 As they went they passed every type and condition of humanity； beggars and bawds； merchants and water…carriers； barbers； coppersmiths and carpenters； troubadours and jugglers。 There were captains splendid in the Gold of Valour； driving their chariots furiously through the throng； lashing out of their path the limping cripples on their crutches； and the army women with their bastards at the breast； feeding on the march； toddlers whining at their skirts。
Mintaka and Merykara kept up the best speed the wretched donkeys could manage； and they camped that first night under the stars； surrounded by the campfires； the hubbub and stench of this immense agglomeration of humanity。
In the dawn； as soon as it was light enough to see the road underfoot； they set off again。 Before noon they had caught up with the rearguard of the main army： the marching panies of spearmen； and the ranks of archers with bows unstrung； the battalions of slingers singing their marching songs in the barbaric language of the western islands。 Next they passed the long lines of the horses of the remount division； twenty to a string； being led behind the fodder wagons and the water carts。 Mintaka marvelled at the numbers： it did not seem possible that there were so many animals in all Egypt。
The soldiers looked at the two women； and not even their shoddy dress or the voluminous shawls wound around their heads could hide their youth and grace from such discerning eyes。 They called suggestive pliments and lewd invitations as they passed； but the discipline of their officers and the stern presence of Lok and Lokka kept them from any further advances。
That evening they kept on travelling after the main army had encamped and after sunset they came upon a large zareba of poles and thornbushes just off the road。 This had been set up in an easily defended defile of low hills。 The entrance was heavily guarded； and there was much activity around it； the marching and counter…marching of the sentries； the scurrying of servants and orderlies； and the ing and going of chariots driven by officers of the Red。 Above the gate of the stockade flew the gonfalon that Mintaka recognized at once： on it was depicted the severed head of a wild boar with its tongue lolling from the corner of its tusked jaws。
'This is the man we are looking for；' Mintaka whispered to Merykara。
'But how do we get in to see him？' Merykara asked doubtfully； eyeing the sentries。
They made their own rudimentary camp a little further down the road； but within sight of the gates of the regimental headquarters of General Prenn； centurion of the Red； and the mander of the rearguard of the pharaonic army。
From one of the leather saddlebags Mintaka brought out the precious oil lamp that had so far survived the journey； and by its light she wrote a short message on a scrap of papyrus parchment。 It was addressed to 'Uncle Bear' and signed 'from your little cricket'。
The two women washed the dust from their faces； dressed each other's hair； and shook out their chitons。 Then； hand in hand to give each other courage； they approached the gate of the stockade。 The sergeant of the guard saw them ing and stepped out in front of them to head them off。 'e now； you two juicy pieces of prong bait。 You know better than to e flaunting your joy…clefts hereabouts。 Get away with you。'
'You look like a kind and good man；' Mintaka told him primly。 'Would you allow any ruffian to talk to your own daughters in that coarse fashion？'
The sergeant checked； and gawked at her。 She spoke the Hyksos language in the cultured tones and accent of the aristocracy。 He lifted his lantern and shone the light upon them。 Their dress was mon； but their features made him draw breath sharply。 These were clearly young women of high rank。 In fact their faces were disturbingly familiar； even though he could not immediately place them。
'Forgive me； ladies；' he mumbled。 'Mistook you for…' He broke off； and Mintaka smiled graciously。
'Of course； you are forgiven。 Will you deliver a message for us to Centurion Prenn？' She proffered the rolled parchment。
The sergeant hesitated a moment before he took it。 'I am sorry but I will have to ask you to wait here until I have an instruction from him。'
He came hurrying back within a very short time。 'My ladies！ I am desolated to have kept you waiting。 Please follow me。'
He led them to a pavilion of coloured linen in the centre of the stockade； and there was another short delay as he whispered to the junior officer in charge of the entrance。 Then they were led through into the tent。 The interior was sparsely furnished and the floor w
