wilbursmith_warlock-第36章
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Dressed in their yellow robes they were gathered in the courtyard of the temple； between the two massive statues of the goddess。 One of these depicted Hathor as the piebald cow with golden horns； and the other was her human manifestation； the tall； beautiful lady wearing the crown of horns and the golden sun disc on her head。
The priestesses chanted and rattled the sistrum as the suite of Pharaoh Nefer Seti filed into the courtyard from the eastern wing； while King Apepi's courtiers entered through the western colonnade。 The order of arrival at the conference had been a matter of such heated debate that the negotiations had almost broken down before they had begun。 The first arrival would have the prestige of the incumbent in the position of power； while the second arrival would appear as the supplicant begging for peace。 Neither side had been willing to forgo the advantage。
It was Taita who had suggested the expedient of a simultaneous arrival。 He had also tactfully settled the equally vexing question of the regalia to be worn by the two protagonists。 Both would eschew the double crown。 Apepi would wear the red deshret crown of Lower Egypt； while Nefer Seti would confine himself to the white hedjet crown of Upper Egypt。
The entourages of both rulers packed the spacious courtyard； their ranks facing each other unsmiling and grim。 Only a few paces separated them physically； but the bitterness and hatred of sixty years' strife formed a mighty barrier between them。
The hostile silence was shattered by a rolling fanfare of rams' horns； and the thunder of bronze gongs。 This was the signal for the royal parties to emerge from the opposite wings of the temple。
Lord Naja and Pharaoh Nefer Seti paced out solemnly and took their places on the high…backed thrones； while the two princesses； Heseret and Merykara； followed them meekly and took their seats at the foot of Naja's throne； for they were his betrothed。 Both girls were so heavily made…up that their faces were as expressionless as that of the statue of Hathor in whose shadow they sat。
At the same time the Hyksosian royal family emerged from the opposing wing of the temple。 Apepi led them； an impressive； warlike figure in full battle armour。 He glared across the courtyard at the boy pharaoh。 Eight of his sons followed him； only Khyan； the youngest； had not recovered sufficiently from the plague to make the journey upriver。 Like their father they were armed and armoured； and strutted and posed with the same bravado。
A formidable coterie of bloodthirsty ruffians； Taita thought； as he surveyed them from where he stood close to Nefer's throne。
Apepi had brought only one of his many daughters with him。 Like a desert rose in a thicket of spiny cactus； the contrast to her brothers made Mintaka's beauty shine out。 She picked out Taita's tall lank figure and silver hair in the crowd opposite and her face lit in a smile so radiant that it seemed for a moment that the sun had burst through the awnings stretched over the courtyard。 None of the Egyptians had ever laid eyes on her before； and there was a subdued 。rustle and murmur through their ranks。 They had been unprepared for her。 The myth was that all Hyksosian women were as heavily built as their menfolk and twice as ugly。
Pharaoh Nefer Seti leaned forward slightly and despite the solemnity of the occasion tugged at his earlobe under the bottle…shaped white crown。 It was a habit Taita had tried to break； and Nefer only did it when he was intensely interested in something； or when he was distracted。 Taita had not seen Nefer for over two months…Naja had kept them separated since his return from Apepi's headquarters at Bubasti …yet he was so familiar with the boy； so attuned to his mind； that he could still read his thoughts with ease。 He sensed that Nefer was in a ferment of elation and excitement； as intense as if he had just spotted a gazelle moving within arrow range； or was about to mount an unbroken colt； or had launched a hawk at a heron and was watching it begin its stoop。
Taita had never known him react like this to the presence of a member of the opposite sex。 Nefer had always looked upon all females； including his sisters； with a regal disdain。 However； it was less than a year since he had been launched on to the troubled waters of puberty； and most of that time he had been sequestered with Taita in the wilderness of Gebel Nagara where there had been nothing to rivet his attention in the way that Mintaka was now doing。
Taita felt smug at what he had achieved with so little effort。 It would have plicated all his plans and enhanced the danger in which they found themselves if Nefer had taken a violent dislike to the Hyksosian girl。 If the two married； Nefer would be the son…in…law of Apepi and e under his protection。 Even Naja must pause before giving offence to someone so powerful and dangerous。 Mintaka might unwittingly save Nefer from the Regent's machinations and ambitions。 That at least was Taita's intention in fostering the union。
During the short time they had nursed and cared for her brother Taita and Mintaka had formed a firm friendship。 Now Taita nodded almost imperceptibly and returned her smile。 Then Mintaka's gaze moved past him。 She looked with interest at the noble Egyptian women opposite her。 She had heard much about them； but these were the first she had seen。 Swiftly she singled out Heseret。 With sure feminine instinct she recognized someone as attractive as herself； and a possible future rival。 Heseret reacted to her in exactly the same way； and they exchanged a brief but haughty and mutually hostile glance。 Then Mintaka raised her eyes to the impressive figure of Lord Naja and stared at him with fascination。
He was such a splendid sight； so different from her own father and brothers。 He shone with gold and precious stones； and his linen was dazzling in its purity。 She could smell his perfume across the distance that separated them； like a field of wild flowers。 His face was a mask of makeup； his skin almost luminous and his eyes outlined and enhanced with kohl。 Yet she thought that his was the fatal beauty of a snake or a poisonous insect。 She shivered and turned her eyes to the figure on the throne beside the Regent。
Pharaoh Nefer Seti was staring at her with such intensity that she caught her breath。 His eyes were so green…that was the first thing that struck her and she wanted to look away but found she could not。 Instead she started to blush。
Pharaoh Nefer Seti looked so dignified and divine under the white crown and with the false goatee beard on his chin that she felt flustered。 Then； suddenly； Pharaoh gave her a warm and conspiratorial smile。 Instantly his face was boyish and appealing； and unaccountably her breath came faster and she blushed deeper。 With an effort she tore away her eyes； and studied the cow statue of the goddess Hathor with great attention。
It took her some time to bring herself under control； and by that time Lord Naja； the Regent of Upper Egypt； was speaking。 In measured tones he greeted Apepi； diplomatically referring to him as King of the Hyksos but avoiding any reference to his claims to Egyptian territory。 Mintaka watched his lips intently； but she was aware of Nefer's eyes on her； and determined not to look at him。
Lord Naja's voice was sonorous and boring； and at last she could hold out no longer。 She sneaked a quick sideways glance at Nefer； intending to look away again immediately； but his eyes were still fastened on her。 They glinted with silent laughter and fascinated her。 Hers was not a timid nature； but this time her smile was shy and hesitant； and she felt her colour rise again。 She dropped her eyes and looked at her hands in her lap； twisting her fingers together until she realized that she was fidgeting and stopped herself。 She kept her hands still； but now she was irritated with Nefer for having ruffled her calm。 He is only a precious Egyptian fop。 Any one of my brothers is more of a man and twice as handsome。 He is only trying to make me look a fool by staring at me in that boorish way。
