wilbursmith_warlock-第31章
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where the pool of blood had been。 Even when his sandalled feet were firmly planted upon it he felt no pain and his sense of well…being remained intact。
'Go in peace； my friend and my king； and may you live for all eternity；' he said aloud； and made the sign for long life and happiness。
He turned away； and would have started back down the hill to where the chariots waited but something stopped him in his tracks。 He lifted his head and tested the air again。 There was still a faint whiff of that evil smell； just an elusive trace of it。 Warily he turned back up the slope； passing the place where Pharaoh had died； and went on。 With each pace the stench of evil grew stronger； until it caught in his throat and made his gorge rise。 Once again； he realized that this was something from beyond the natural order。 He went on； until after twenty measured paces the odour began to fade。 He stopped and retraced his steps。 Immediately the stench grew stronger。 He quested back and forth until it was at its zenith。 Then he stepped off the path and found it stronger still； almost suffocating。
He was standing under the twisted branches of a thorn tree that grew next to the path。 He looked up and saw that the branches were strangely shaped； as though they had been fashioned by a human hand into a distinctive cross that stood out against the blue of the sky。 He looked down and a rock the size and shape of a horse's head caught his attention。 It had recently been dislodged then replaced in its original position。 Taita lifted it out of the depression in which it sat； and saw that it had covered a niche between the roots of the thorn tree。 He laid it aside and peered into the niche。 There was something in it and he reached in gingerly…it was the kind of shelter that might hide a snake or scorpion。
He brought out a magnificently carved and tooled object。 He stared at it for a moment before he realized that it was an arrow quiver。 There was no doubting its origin； for the design was in the Hyksosian heraldic style； and the image tooled into the leather cover was Seueth； the crocodile god of war revered by Hyksosian warriors。
Taita twisted off the stopper cover and found that the quiver contained five war arrows； fletched in green and red。 He drew out one of the shafts and his heart beat fiercely as he recognized it。 There could be no mistake。 He had minutely examined the broken； blood…caked one that Naja had brought before the council。 This was identical to the arrow that had killed Pharaoh。
He held it to the light and peered closely at the signet etched into the painted shaft。 It was a stylized head of a leopard； holding the hieratic letter T in its jaws。 This was the device he had seen on the fatal arrow。 This was its identical twin。 Taita turned it over and over in his hands； as though trying to draw from it the last grain of information。 He held it to his nose and sniffed it。 There was just the smell of wood； paint and feathers。 The foul odour that had guided him to the cache had disappeared。
Why should the assassin of Pharaoh hide his quiver？ After the fight the Hyksos had been left in possession of the field。 They would have had all the time they needed to recover their weapons。 This is a beautiful and valuable object。 No warrior would abandon it； unless he were forced to； Taita thought。
For another hour he searched the hillside； but found no other item of interest； nor did he detect again the supernatural odour of putrefaction and evil。 When he went down to where the chariots waited in the sand of the wadi he carried the quiver concealed under his apron。
* * *
They waited hidden in the wadi until after nightfall。 Then； the wheel…hubs freshly greased with mutton fat to stop them squealing； the horses' hoofs covered with leather boots； and all the loose weapons and tack carefully muffled； they went on deep into Hyksosian territory； with Gil guiding them。
The lance…bearer knew the area well； and although Taita made no ment； he wondered how often the man had travelled this way with his master； and what other rendezvous they had kept with the enemy。
By now they were down on the alluvial plain of the Nile。 Twice they had to turn off the road and wait while parties of armed men； anonymous in the darkness； rode past their hiding…place。 After midnight they came to an abandoned temple of some forgotten god that had been hollowed out of the side of a low clay hill。 The cave was large enough to shelter the entire squadron； vehicle； horses and men。 It was immediately apparent that it had been used before for this purpose： lamps and an oil amphora were hidden behind the ruined altar； and bales of horse fodder were stacked in the sanctum。
As soon as they had removed the horses' harness and fed them； the troopers ate their own meal then settled down on mattresses of dried straw and were soon snoring。 In the meantime Gil had changed from his cavalry uniform to the nondescript attire of a peasant。 'I cannot use a horse；' he explained to Taita。 'It would attract too much interest。 On foot it will take me half a day to reach the camp at Bubasti。 Do not expect me back before tomorrow evening。' He slipped out of the cave and disappeared into the night。
Honest Gil is not such a simple bluff soldier as he seems； Taita thought； as he settled down to wait for Lord Naja's allies to answer the message that Gil was taking to them。
As soon as it was light he posted a sentry at the top of the hill； where the air shaft from the subterranean temple emerged。 Just before noon a low whistle down the shaft warned them of danger and Taita climbed up to join the sentry。 From the east a caravan of heavily laden donkeys was heading directly for the temple entrance； and Taita guessed that it was these merchants who used the temple as a makeshift caravanserai。 It was almost certainly they who had left the store of fodder in the sanctum。 He scrambled down the hillside； keeping out of sight of the approaching caravan。 In the middle of the roadway he arranged a pattern of white quartz stones while he recited three verses from the Assyrian Book of the Evil Mountain。 Then he retired to await the arrival of the caravan。
The leading donkey was fifty cubits or so ahead of the rest of the column。 It was clear that the animal knew of the temple and the delights it contained； for he needed no encouragement from his driver to e on at a trot。 As he reached the pile of white quartz stones in the path the little animal shied so violently that the pack slid over and hung under his belly。 He started to buck and gallop at the same time； heading out across the plain away from the temple； hoofs flying in every direction。 His hoarse honking and braying affected the rest of the animals in the column； and soon they were rearing and throwing their heads against the lead reins； kicking out at their drivers and running in circles as though attacked by a swarm of bees。
It took the caravan drivers half of the rest of the afternoon to catch and reassemble the runaways； to pacify the terrified animals and to set off again on the road towards the temple。 This time the portly and richly robed figure of the head driver marched in the van； dragging the reluctant donkey behind him on a long rein。 He saw the stones in the middle of the road and stopped。 The column crowded up behind him； and the other drivers came forward。 They held an impromptu conference with raised voices and arms waving。 Their voices carried to where Taita sat hidden among the olive trees on the hillside。
At last the head driver left the others and came on alone。 At first his step was bold and assured； but soon it slowed and became timid until at last he stood ill…at…ease and； from a distance； studied the pattern of quartz stones。 Then he spat towards the stones and jumped back； as if he expected them to return the insult。 Finally he made the sign against the evil eye； turned and trotted back with alacrity to join his fellows； shouting and waving them back。 The others needed little convincing。 Soon the entire caravan was in full retreat along the road it had e。 Taita
