wilbursmith_warlock-第50章

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had　engineered　a　tryst　for　Tanus　and　his　beloved　Lostris；　and　the　consequences　still　echoed　like　thunder　down　the　years。　When　Nefer　and　Mintaka　played　bao　there　was　always　an　audience　of　slave　girls；　while　courtiers　and　the　ubiquitous　Lord　Asmor　hovered　nearby。　Nefer　had　learned　his　lesson　well；　and　no　longer　underrated　Mintaka's　skill　on　the　board。　He　played　against　her　as　if　he　were　matched　against　Taita。　He　came　to　learn　her　strengths；　and　to　recognize　her　few　weaknesses：　she　was　always　overprotective　of　her　home　castle；　and　if　he　pressed　her　hard　in　that　quadrant　she　might　sometimes　offer　an　opening　in　her　flanks。　Twice　he　exploited　this　and　broke　up　her　defence；　but　the　third　time　he　discovered　too　late　that　had　anticipated　his　tactic　and　had　laid　a　trap。　When　he　had　exposed　his　west　castle　she　rammed　a　phalanx　through　the　gap；　and　laughed　so　deliciously　when　he　was　forced　to　capitulate　that　he　almost；　but　not　quite；　forgave　her。　Their　bouts　became　ever　more　keenly　contested　and　in　the　end　were　of　epic　proportions；　so　that　even　Taita　spent　hours　watching　them　and　occasionally　nodding　in　approval　or　smiling　his　thin；　ancient　smile。
　　
　　Their　love　was　so　apparent　that　it　cast　a　glow　upon　all　those　around　them；　and　wherever　they　went　together　there　were　smiles　and　laughter。　As　Nefer's　chariot　sped　through　the　streets　of　Thebes　with　Mintaka　on　the　footplate　as　his　lance…bearer；　her　dark　hair　flowing　in　the　wind　like　a　banner；　the　goodwives　ran　out　of　their　houses　and　the　men　paused　from　their　labours　to　shout　greetings　and　good　wishes。　Even　Naja　smiled　benignly　upon　them；　and　none　would　have　believed　that　he　fiercely　resented　the　attention　of　the　populace　having　been　diverted　from　his　own　nuptials　and　brides。
　　
　　Lord　Trok　was　the　only　sombre　presence　at　the　hunting　parties；　the　picnics　in　the　countryside　and　the　banquets　in　the　palace。
　　
　　Their　time　together　sped　by　too　fast。
　　
　　There　are　always　so　many　people　around　us；'　Nefer　whispered　over　the　bao　board。　'I　long　to　be　alone　with　you　even　for　just　a　few　minutes。　There　are　only　three　more　days　before　you　have　to　return　to　Avaris　with　your　father。　It　might　be　months；　even　years；　before　we　meet　again；　and　there　is　so　much　I　want　to　tell　you；　but　not　with　all　these　eyes　and　ears　pointed　at　us　like　nocked　arrows。'
　　
　　She　nodded；　then　reached　across　and　moved　a　stone　that　in　his　preoccupation　he　had　overlooked。　He　glanced　down　and　almost　discounted　it；　until　he　realized　that　his　west　castle　was　now　under　a　forked　attack。　Three　moves　later　she　had　broken　his　front。　He　kept　up　the　losing　battle　for　a　while　longer；　but　his　forces　were　in　disarray　and　the　oute　was　inevitable。　'You　caught　me　when　I　was　distracted　by　other　things；'　he　groused。　'So　much　like　a　woman。'
　　
　　'Your　Majesty；　I　make　no　claims　to　being　anything　else　than　a　woman。'　She　used　his　title　with　an　irony　that　bit　like　the　jewelled　dagger　she　wore　on　her　belt。　Then　she　leaned　close　and　whispered；　'If　I　were　alone　with　you；　would　you　promise　to　respect　my　chastity？'
　　
　　'I　swear　by　the　wounded　eye　of　the　great　god　Horus　that　I　will　never；　as　long　as　I　live；　cause　you　shame；'　he　told　her　earnestly。
　　
　　She　smiled　at　him。　'My　brothers　will　not　be　overpleased　to　hear　that。　They　would　wele　an　excuse　to　slit　your　throat。'　She　slanted　those　magnificent　dark　eyes　at　him。　'Or；　failing　your　throat；　some　other　part　of　you　might　satisfy　them。'
　　
　　Their　chance　came　the　next　day。　One　of　the　royal　huntsmen　came　in　from　the　hills　above　the　village　of　Dabba　to　report　that　a　lion　had　e　out　of　the　eastern　wilderness　and　raided　the　cattle　pens　during　the　night。　It　had　jumped　the　stockade　and　killed　eight　of　the　terrified　beasts。　In　the　dawn　a　horde　of　villagers；　brandishing　burning　torches；　blowing　horns；　beating　drums　and　screaming　wildly；　had　driven　it　off。
　　
　　'When　did　this　happen？'　asked　Naja。
　　
　　'Three　nights　ago；　Your　Grace。'　The　man　was　prostrate　before　the　throne。　'I　came　upriver　as　soon　as　I　could；　but　the　current　runs　strongly　and　the　winds　were　flukey。'
　　
　　'What　has　happened　to　the　beast？'　King　Apepi　interrupted　eagerly。
　　
　　'It　has　gone　back　into　the　hills；　but　I　have　sent　two　of　my　best　Nubian　trackers　to　follow　it。'
　　
　　'Did　any　man　see　it？　What　size　is　it？　Lion　or　lioness？'
　　
　　'The　villagers　say　that　it　is　a　large　male；　with　a　full　mane；　thick　and　black。'
　　
　　Up　until　the　last　sixty　years　lions　had　been　almost　unheard…of　in　the　lands　along　the　river。　They　were　royal　game；　and　had　been　hunted　ruthlessly　by　successive　pharaohs；　not　only　because　of　the　damage　they　inflicted　on　the　livestock　of　the　peasant　farmers　but　also　because　they　were　the　most　sought…after　trophy　of　the　royal　hunt。
　　
　　During　the　long；　bitter　struggle　of　the　Hyksos　wars　the　pharaohs　of　both　kingdoms　had　been　preoccupied　and　the　lions　had　been　hunted　seldom。　In　addition　the　human　corpses　left　on　the　battlefields　had　provided　an　easy　source　of　food　for　the　lion　prides。　In　the　last　few　decades　they　had　flourished；　their　numbers　had　increased　many…fold　and　so　had　their　boldness。
　　
　　'I　will　have　the　chariots　loaded　on　to　the　boats　at　once；'　Apepi　decided。　'With　the　state　of　the　river　we　can　be　at　Dabba　early　tomorrow　morning。'　He　grinned　and　punched　his　fist　into　the　horny　palm　of　his　sword　hand。　'By　Seueth；　I　would　like　a　chance　at　this　old　black…mane。　Since　I　have　had　to　give　up　killing　Egyptians；　I　am　starved　for　real　sport。'
　　
　　Naja　frowned　at　the　sally。　'Majesty；　you　are　expected　to　sail　back　to
　　
　　Avaris　the　day　after　tomorrow　morning。'
　　
　　'You　are　right；　Regent。　However；　most　of　our　baggage　is　already　loaded　and　the　fleet　lies　ready　to　depart。　Moreover；　Dabba　lies　on　my　way　homewards。　I　can　afford　a　day　or　two　to　join　in　the　hunt。'
　　
　　Naja　hesitated。　He　was　not　so　addicted　to　the　hunt　that　he　wished　to　neglect　the　numerous　affairs　of　state　that　awaited　his　attention。　He　had　looked　forward　to　the　departure　of　Apepi；　whose　boisterous；　uncouth　presence　in　Thebes　had　long　since　palled。　Also　he　had　other　plans　afoot；　which　could　only　be　furthered　once　Apepi　had　left　Thebes。　Yet　he　could　not　allow　the　Hyksosian　Pharaoh　to　hunt　alone　in　the　Upper　Kingdom。　Not　only　would　it　be　churlish　to　do　so；　but　it　would　be　impolitic　to　let　Apepi　behave　in　the　southern　kingdom　as　though　he　had　sole　right　to　it。
　　
　　'Your　Majesty；'　Nefer　intervened；　before　Naja　could　pose　a　suitable　refusal；　'we　will　join　in　the　hunt　with　the　greatest　of　pleasure。'　He　saw　an　opportunity　for　magnificent　sport；　for　he　had　never　had　the　chance　to　run　down　a　lion　in　his　chariot　and　test　his　own　courage　by　standing　down　the　charge。　But；　a　hundred　times　more　important；　the　hunt　might　also　delay　Mintaka's　dreaded　departure。　This　happy　circumstance　might　even　provide　the　opportunity　that　had　so　far　eluded　them　of　spending　a　short　time　alone。　Before　Naja　could　prevent　him　Nefer　had　turned　to　the　huntsman；　who　still　lay　with　his　forehead　pressed　to　the　tiled　floor。　'Well　done；　my　good　fellow。　The　chamberlain　will　give　you　a　gold　ring　for　your　trouble。　Return　to　Dabba　at　once　in　the　fastest　felucca　in　our　fleet。　Make　ready　for　our　arrival。　We　will　go　after　this　beast　in　full　array。'
　　
　　Nefer's　only　cause　for　regret　was　that　Taita　would　not　be　with　him　during　his　first　lion　hunt　to　offer　counsel　and　advice。　The　old　man　had　disappeared　into　the　wilderness　on　another　of　his　periodic　and　mysterious　forays；　and　no　one　knew　when　he　would　return。
　　
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　　In　the　early　morning　of　the　next　day　the　hunting　party　disembarked　on　the　bank　of　the　river　below　the　village　of　Dabba。　Then　all　the　horses　and　twenty　chariots　were　off…loaded　from　the　small　convoy　of　lighters　and　galleys。　While　this　was　being　done；　the　lance…bearers　sharpened　the　spear　blades；　restrung　the　hunting　bows　and　checked　the　arrows　for　balance　and　straightness。　While　the　horses　were　watered；　fed　and　groomed；　the　hunters　ate　a　hearty　breakfast　that　the　villagers　had　provided。
　　
　　The　mood　was　ebullient；　and　Apepi　sent　for　the　tracker　who　had　returned　from　the　hills　to　report。　'It　is　a　very　big　lion。　The　biggest　I　have　ever　seen　east　of　the　river；'　t