wilbursmith_warlock-第29章
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There was only one certain course open to Taita if he were to ensure Nefer's survival and that was to get him out of Egypt while Naja was still in power。 Was there an opportunity to do that now？ Naja was offering him a safe conduct to the frontier。 Could he use that to take Nefer with him？ Within seconds he realized he could not。 His contacts with the boy Pharaoh were still severely circumscribed by Naja。 He was never allowed to be alone with him。 He was not even allowed to sit close to him at sessions of the council； or to exchange even the most innocent messages with him。 The only time in the last few weeks that he had been allowed close to him was when Nefer had developed an agonizing septic throat。 Then Taita had been allowed into the royal bedchamber to tend him； but both Naja and Asmor had been present； watching everything that transpired； listening to every word that was spoken。 Because of his affliction Nefer had not been able to speak above a whisper； but his eyes never left Taita's face and he clung to his hand when the time came for them to part。 That had been almost ten days ago。
Taita learned that Naja had chosen tutors to replace him； and Asmor had provided instructors from the Blue Guards to continue Nefer's exercises in horsemanship and chariot handling； swordsmanship and archery。 None of his old friends were allowed to visit him。 Even his crony Meren had been ordered out of Pharaoh's quarters。
If he made an attempt to get Nefer away and failed； not only would he have sacrificed Naja's confidence； he would have placed Nefer in terrible peril。 No； he could use this sortie across the lines into the Hyksosian territory only to make more careful and secure arrangements for the young Pharaoh's safety。
'It is my duty； a duty placed upon me by the gods； to help you in every way。 I will undertake this mission；' Taita said。 'What is the safest way for me to pass through the Hyksosian lines？ You say I am well known among them； and that I will be recognized。'
Naja had foreseen this query。 'You must use the old chariot road through the dunes and down the wadi at Gebel Wadun。 My friends on the other side keep the road under surveillance。'
Taita nodded。 'That is the road along which Pharaoh Tamose met his death。 I have never travelled beyond Gallala。 I will need a guide to show me the rest of the way。'
'I will send my own lance…bearer and a squadron of the Blues to take you through；' Naja promised。 'But the road is long and hard。 You must leave at once。 Every day； every hour might make the difference。'
* * *
Taita had driven the chariot all the way from the ruined city of Gallala with only four halts。 They had made the run in half a day less than it had taken Naja and Tamose to cover the same route； and at less cost to the condition of the animals。
The troopers in the nine vehicles that followed him were in awe of the Magus' reputation。 They knew him as the father of the corps of cavalry； for he had been the first Egyptian ever to build a chariot and harness a team to it。 His celebrated ride from Thebes to Elephantine to carry the news of the victory of Pharaoh Tamose over the Hyksos was the stuff of legend。 Now； as they followed his chariot through the dunes； they learned that the legend was well founded。 The old man's stamina was amazing； and his concentration never wavered。 His gentle but firm hands on the reins never tired； as hour after hour he coaxed the horses into giving their best。 He had impressed every man in the squadron； not least the one riding beside him in the cockpit。
Gil was Naja's lance…bearer。 He had a rugged； sun…darkened face and was lightly built； which was desirable for a charioteer； but he possessed also a wiry strength and cheerful disposition。 He had to have been one of the best to be selected to ride in the mander's chariot。
With the moon waxing and the weather at its hottest they had driven through the cool of the night。 Now； in the dawn； they halted to rest。 When he had watered the horses； Gil came to where Taita sat on a boulder overlooking the wadi of Gebel Wadun and handed him a ceramic water jug。 Taita took a long swig from the spout and swallowed the bitter water they had carried with them from Gallala with no sign of repugnance。 It was the first drink he had taken since their last stop at midnight。
The old devil…rouser is tough as a Bedouin raider； Gil thought； with admiration； and squatted at a respectful distance to await any order that Taita might issue。
'Where is the place at which Pharaoh was struck down？' Taita asked at last。
Gil shaded his eyes against the glare of the rising sun and pointed down the wadi towards where the dry riverbed debouched on to the plains。 'Down there； my lord。 Near that distant line of hills。'
The first time Taita had questioned Gil had been before the council when the lance…bearer had given evidence on the circumstances of Pharaoh's death。 The council had called every person who might have any knowledge of it to testify at the inquiry。 Taita remembered that Gil's evidence had been coherent and credible。 He had not been overawed by the pomp of the council and its illustrious members； but had spoken out like the honest； simple soldier he was。 When it was shown to him； he had recognized the Hyksosian arrow as the one that had struck down Pharaoh Tamose。 The shaft had been snapped in two。 Lord Naja had broken it off to ease the pain of the wound。
That had been the first occasion of their meeting。 They had spoken briefly one or twice since leaving Thebes； but until now there had not been the opportunity for any long conversation。
'Are any other men here who were with you on that day？' Taita asked now。
'Only Samos； but he was waiting with the chariots in the wadi when we were attacked；' Gil replied。
'I want you to point out the exact place to me； and I want you to take me over the battleground；' Taita told him。
Gil shrugged。 'It was no battle； just a skirmish。 There will be precious little to see。 'Tis a barren place。 However； it shall be as the mighty Magus mands。'
The troop mounted and descended the steep side of the wadi in single file。 There had been no rain here in a hundred years and even the desert wind had not wiped away the tracks of Pharaoh's chariots； which were still deeply scored and plain to read。 When they reached the floor of the wadi Taita continued to follow them； his own wheels riding in the deep grooves that they had left。
They were alert for a Hyksos ambush and watched both banks of the wadi； but although the raw rock danced in the heat mirage； there was no sign of an enemy。
'There is the watchtower。' Gil pointed ahead； and Taita saw its gnarled silhouette leaning drunkenly again the unblemished pale blue of the sky。
They swept around another bend in the riverbed； and even from two hundred paces Taita could make out the area of confused wheel…tracks where the chariots of Pharaoh's squadron had halted and circled； and where many men had dismounted and remounted in the soft sand of the wadi bottom。 Taita signalled his small force to slow down and they moved forward at a walk。
'This is where Pharaoh dismounted and we went forward with Lord Naja to scout the camp of Apepi。' Gil pointed over the side of the dashboard。
Taita halted the chariot and signalled the others to do the same。 'Wait for me here；' he ordered the sergeant of the following vehicle； then turned to Gil。 'e with me。 Show me the battleground。'
Gil led the way up the rude pathway。 At first he went slowly； in deference to the old man； but soon realized that Taita was matching him step for step and speeded up。 The gradient increased and the surface became more uneven as they went on。 Even Gil was breathing hard when at last they reached the tumble of large boulders halfway up the hill that almost blocked the pathway。
'This is as far as I went；' Gil explained。
'So where did Pharaoh fall？' Taita looked around him at the steep but open hillside； 'Where were the Hyksosian
