wilbursmith_warlock-第23章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


en　doorways　streaming　over　it。
　　
　　Once　it　was　as　desiccated　as　firewood；　it　could　be　bound　up。　The　linen　bandages　were　laid　on　it　in　an　intricate　design；　as　incantations　to　the　gods　were　chanted　by　choirs　of　priests。　Under　them　were　placed　more　precious　talismans　and　amulets；　and　each　layer　was　painted　with　resins　that　dried　to　a　metallic　hardness　and　sheen。　Only　the　head　was　left　uncovered；　and　then　for　the　week　before　Opening　the　Mouth；　four　of　the　most　skilful　makeup　artists　of　the　guild　of　embalmers；　using　wax　and　cosmetics；　had　restored　the　King's　features　to　lifelike　beauty。
　　
　　They　replaced　the　missing　eyes　with　perfect　replicas　of　rock…crystal　and　obsidian。　The　whites　were　translucent；　the　iris　and　pupils　an　exact　match　of　the　king's　natural　colour。　The　glass　orbs　seemed　endowed　with　life　and　intelligence；　so　that　now　Nefer　gazed　into　them　with　awe；　expecting　to　see　the　lids　blink　and　his　father's　pupils　widen　in　recognition。　The　lips　were　shaped　and　rouged　so　that　at　any　moment　they　might　smile；　and　his　painted　skin　looked　silken　and　warm；　as　though　bright　blood　still　ran　beneath　it。　His　hair　had　been　washed　and　set　in　the　familiar　dark　ringlets　that　Nefer　remembered　so　well。
　　
　　Lord　Naja；　the　high　priest　and　the　choir　began　to　chant　the　incantation　against　dying　for　the　second　time；　but　Nefer　could　not　tear　his　gaze　away　from　his　father's　face。
　　
　　'He　is　the　reflection　and　not　the　mirror；
　　He　is　the　music　and　not　the　lyre；
　　He　is　the　stone　and　not　the　chisel；
　　He　will　live　for　ever。'
　　
　　The　high　priest　came　to　Nefer's　side　and　placed　the　golden　spoon　in　his　hand。　Nefer　had　been　coached　in　the　ritual；　but　his　hand　trembled　as　he　placed　the　spoon　on　his　father's　lips　and　recited；　'I　open　thy　lips　that　thou　might　have　the　power　of　speech　once　more。'　He　touched　his　father's　nose　with　the　spoon。　'I　open　thy　nostrils　that　thou　might　breathe　once　more。'　He　touched　each　of　the　magnificent　eyes。　'I　open　thine　eyes　that　thou　might　behold　the　glory　of　this　world　once　more；　and　the　glory　of　the　world　to　e。'
　　
　　When　at　last　it　was　done；　the　royal　party　waited　as　the　embalmers　wrapped　the　head　and　painted　it　with　aromatic　resins。　Then　they　laid　the　golden　mask　over　the　blind　face；　and　once　more　it　glowed　with　splendid　life。　Contrary　to　custom　and　usage；　there　was　only　one　death　mask　and　one　golden　sarcophagus　for　Pharaoh　Tamose。　His　father　had　gone　before　him　to　his　tomb　covered　by　seven　masks　and　seven　sarcophagi；　one　within　the　other；　each　larger　and　more　ornate　than　the　next。
　　
　　For　the　rest　of　that　night　Nefer　stayed　beside　the　golden　sarcophagus；　praying　and　burning　incense；　entreating　the　gods　to　take　his　father　among　them　and　seat　him　in　the　midst　of　the　pantheon。　In　the　dawn　he　went　out　with　the　priests　on　to　the　terrace　of　the　temple　where　his　father's　head　falconer　waited。　He　carried　a　royal　falcon　on　his　gloved　fist。
　　
　　'Nefertem！'　Nefer　whispered　the　bird's　name。　'Lotus　Flower。'　He　took　the　magnificent　bird　from　the　falconer　and　held　it　high　upon　his　own　fist；　so　that　the　populace　gathered　below　the　terrace　might　see　it　clearly。　Around　its　right　leg　the　falcon　wore　a　tiny　goldtag　on　a　golden　chain。　On　it　was　engraved　his　father's　royal　cartouche。　'This　is　the　godbird　of　Pharaoh　Tamose　Mamose。　It　is　the　spirit　of　my　father。'　He　paused　to　regain　his　posure；　for　he　was　near　to　tears。　Then　he　went　on；　'I　set　my　father's　godbird　free。'　He　slipped　the　leather　rufterhood　from　the　falcon's　head。　Fierce　eyes　blinked　at　the　light　of　the　dawn　and　the　bird　ruffled　its　feathers。　Nefer　unknotted　the　jesses　from　its　leg；　and　the　bird　spread　its　wings。　'Fly；　divine　spirit！'　Nefer　cried。　'Fly　high　for　me　and　my　father！'
　　
　　He　threw　the　bird　up；　it　caught　the　dawn　wind　and　soared　on　high。　Twice　it　circled　overhead；　and　then；　with　a　wild　and　haunting　cry；　it　sped　away　across　the　Nile。
　　
　　'The　godbird　flies　to　the　west！'　the　high　priest　called　out。　Every　member　of　the　congregation　upon　the　steps　of　the　temple　knew　that　that　was　a　most　unpropitious　omen。
　　
　　Nefer　was　so　physically　and　emotionally　exhausted　that　as　he　watched　the　bird　fly　away　he　swayed　on　his　feet。　Taita　steadied　him　before　he　fell　and　led　him　away。
　　
　　Back　in　Nefer's　bedchamber　in　the　palace　of　Memnon；　Taita　mixed　a　draught　at　his　bedside　and　knelt　beside　him　to　offer　it。　Nefer　took　one　long　swallow　then　lowered　the　cup　and　asked；　'Why　does　my　father　have　only　one　small　coffin　when　you　tell　me　my　grandfather　was　entombed　in　seven　heavy　golden　sarcophagi　and　that　it　took　twenty　strong　oxen　to　draw　his　funeral　wagon？'
　　
　　'Your　grandfather　was　given　the　richest　funeral　in　all　the　history　of　our　land；　and　he　took　a　great　store　of　grave　goods　to　the　underworld　with　him；　Nefer；'　Taita　agreed。　'But　those　seven　coffins　consumed　thirty　lakhs　of　pure　gold；　and　almost　beggared　the　nation。'
　　
　　Nefer　looked　thoughtfully　into　the　cup；　then　drained　the　last　few　drops　of　the　draught。　'My　father　deserved　such　a　rich　funeral；　for　he　was　a　mighty　man。'
　　
　　'Your　grandfather　thought　much　of　his　afterlife。'　Taita　explained　patiently。　'Your　father　thought　much　of　his　people　and　the　welfare　of　this　very　Egypt。'
　　
　　Nefer　thought　about　this　for　a　while；　then　sighed；　settled　down　on　the　sheepskin　mattress　and　closed　his　eyes。　He　opened　them　again。　'I　am　proud　of　my　father；'　he　said　simply。
　　
　　Taita　laid　his　hand　upon　his　forehead　in　blessing　and　whispered；　'And　I　know　that　one　day　your　father　will　have　reason　to　be　proud　of　you。'
　　
　　*　　*　　*
　　
　　It　did　not　need　the　ill　omen　of　the　flight　of　the　falcon　Nefertem　to　warn　Taita　that　they　had　reached　the　most　dire　and　fateful　period　in　all　the　long　history　of　this　very　Egypt。　When　he　left　Nefer's　bedchamber　and　started　out　into　the　desert；　it　was　as　though　the　stars　stood　frozen　in　their　courses　and　all　the　ancient　gods　had　drawn　back　and　deserted　them；　abandoning　them　in　this　their　most　dangerous　hour。　'Great　Horus；　we　need　your　guidance　now。　You　hold　this　Ta…meri；　this　precious　land；　in　the　cup　of　your　hands。　Do　not　let　it　slip　through　your　fingers　and　shatter　like　crystal。　Do　not　turn　your　back　upon　us　now　that　we　are　in　our　agony。　Help　me；　mighty　falcon。　Instruct　me。　Make　your　wishes　clear　to　me；　so　that　I　may　follow　your　will。'
　　
　　Praying　as　he　went；　he　climbed　the　hills　at　the　periphery　of　the　great　desert。　The　clicking　of　his　long　staff　against　the　rocks　alarmed　a　yellow　jackal　and　sent　it　scampering　away　up　the　moonlit　slope。　When　he　was　certain　that　he　was　not　observed　he　turned　parallel　to　the　river；　and　quickened　his　stride。　'Horus；　well　you　know　that　we　are　balanced　on　the　sword　edge　of　war　and　defeat。　Pharaoh　Tamose　has　been　struck　down　and　there　is　no　warrior　to　lead　us。　Apepi　and　his　Hyksos　in　the　north　are　grown　so　mighty　as　to　have　bee　almost　invincible。　They　gather　against　us；　and　we　cannot　stand　against　them。　The　double　crown　of　the　two　kingdoms　is　rotten　with　the　worm　of　treachery；　and　cannot　survive　against　the　new　tyranny。　Open　my　eyes；　mighty　god；　and　show　me　the　way；　that　we　might　triumph　against　the　invading　Hyksosian　hordes　from　the　north　and　against　the　destroying　poison　in　our　blood。'
　　
　　For　the　rest　of　that　day　Taita　journeyed　through　the　stony　hills　and　the　silent　places；　praying　and　searching　to　discover　the　way　forward。　In　the　late　evening　he　turned　back　towards　the　river；　and　came　at　last　to　his　ultimate　destination。　He　could　have　chosen　to　e　here　by　the　direct　means　of　a　felucca；　but　too　many　eyes　would　have　remarked　his　passing；　and　he　had　needed　that　time　alone　in　the　desert。
　　
　　In　the　deep　darkness　when　most　men　slept　he　approached　the　temple　of　Bes　on　the　riverbank。　A　guttering　torch　burned　in　its　niche　above　the　gate。　It　lit　the　carved　figure　of　the　god　Bes；　which　guarded　the　entrance。　Bes　was　the　deformed　dwarf　god　of　drunkenness　and　joviality。　His　tongue　lolled　out　between　his　leering　lips。　In　the　wavering　light　of　the　torch　he　gave　Taita　an　inebriated　grin　as　he　passed。
　　
　　One　of　the　temple　acolytes　was　waiting　to　receive　the　Magus。　He　led　him　to　a　stone　cell　in　the　depths　of　the　temple　where　a　jug　of　goat's　milk　stood　on　the　tab