wilbursmith_warlock-第58章
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brothers！ Khyan！ Where are they？'
The felucca pushed off into the stream and now she fought with all her strength to free herself； but the arms that pinioned her were remorseless。 She managed to twist her head and see the face of the man who held her。
'Trok！' She was angered by his presumption； at the way he was handling her； and ignoring her cries。 'Let me go！ I mand you！'
He did not respond。 He held her easily but he was watching the burning galley with a calm； detached expression。
'Go back！' shrieked at him。 'My family！ Go back and fetch them！'
His only response was to snap an order to the oarsmen。 'Hold the stroke！' They shipped their paddles and the felucca rocked on the current。 The crew watched the burning hulk with fascination。 There were agonizing screams from those trapped below the decks。
Abruptly part of the after…deck collapsed in a tower of flame and sparks。 The mooring cables burned through and the galley swung round slowly on the current and drifted downstream。
'Please！' Mintaka changed her tone。 'Please； Lord Trok； my family！ You cannot let them burn。'
Now the screams from inside the hull died away and were replaced by the low thunder of the flames。 Tears poured down Mintaka's cheeks and dripped from her chin； but still she was helpless in his grasp。
Suddenly the main hatch on the burning deck was thrown open； and the crew of the felucca gasped with horror as a figure emerged。 Lord Trok's arms tightened around Mintaka until it seemed that he would crush in her ribs。 'It cannot be！' he grated。
Seen through the smoke and flames it seemed like an apparition from the shades of the underworld。 Naked and covered with hair； great belly bulging； Apepi staggered towards the side of the barge。 He carried the body of his youngest son in his arms； and his mouth was wide open； gasping for air in the holocaust of flame。
'The monster is hard to kill。' Trok's anger was tinged with fear。 Even in her own distress Mintaka read the meaning of his words。
'You； Trok！' she whispered。 'You have done this to them。' Trok ignored the accusation。
The hair on Apepi's body singed and in a puff of heat was gone； for a moment leaving him naked and blackened。 Then his skin began to blister and fall away in tatters。 His bush of beard and the hair upon his head burst into flame like a pitch…soaked torch。 He was no longer moving forward； but he stood with legs astraddle and lifted Khyan high above his head。 The boy was as scorched as he was； and the raw flesh showed red and wet where his skin had been burned away。 Perhaps Apepi was attempting to throw him over the ship's side into the river to escape the flames； but his strength failed him at last and he stood like a colossus with his head in flames； unable to summon the last reserves to hurl his son to safety in the cool Nile waters。
Mintaka could not move and she was silenced by the horror of the spectacle。 To her it seemed to last an eternity； until suddenly the deck under Apepi's feet burst open。 He and his son dropped through； and in a tall fountain of flame； sparks and smoke were gone into the guts of the hull。
'It's over。' Trok's voice was dispassionate and detached。 He released Mintaka so suddenly that she fell into the bilges of the felucca。 He looked at his horrified crew。 'Row to my galley；' he ordered。
'You did this to my family；' Mintaka repeated； as she lay at his feet。 'You will pay for it。 I swear it to you。 I will make you pay。'
But she felt numbed and bruised as though she had been beaten with the knotted leather lashes of a flail。 Her father was gone； that monumental figure in her life whom she had hated a little and loved a great deal。 Her family was gone； all of her brothers； even little Khyan； who had been more a son than a sibling to her。 She had watched him burn and she knew that the horror of it would stay with her all her days。
The felucca drew alongside Lord Trok's galley and she made no protest as he picked her up as though she were a doll and carried her on board； then down to the main cabin。 He laid her on the mattress with uncharacteristic gentleness。 'Your slave girls are safe。 I will send them to you；' he said； and went out。 She heard the locking bar placed across the door then the sound of him climbing the panion ladder； and crossing the deck above her head。
'Am I a prisoner； then？' she whispered； but that seemed of little importance in the light of what she had just witnessed。 She hid her face in pillows that smelt of Trok's stale sweat； and wept until her tears were exhausted。 Then she slept。
* * *
The burning hull of Apepi's royal barge drifted up on to the riverbank opposite the temple of Hapi。 In the dawn the smoke rose high into the still air。 It was tainted by the stench of burned flesh。 When Mintaka awoke the smell had penetrated into the cabin and sickened her。 The smoke seemed to act like a beacon； for the sun had hardly risen above the eastern hills before the fleet of Lord Naja came sweeping around the bend of the river。
The slave girls brought the news to Mintaka。 'Lord Naja has e in full array；' they told her excitedly。 'Yesterday he left us to return to Thebes。 Is it not strange that he could reach here so soon when he should be twenty leagues upriver？'
'Surpassing strange；' Mintaka agreed grimly。 'I must dress and be ready for whatever new atrocity awaits me now。'
Her baggage had all gone up in flames in the royal barge； but her maids borrowed clothing from the other noble ladies in the fleet。 They washed and curled her hair； then dressed her in a simple linen shift； gold girdle and sandals。
Before noon an armed escort came aboard the galley； and she followed them on deck。 Her eyes went first to the blackened timbers of the royal barge that lay on the far bank； burned down to the waterline。 No effort was being made to recover any bodies from the wreck。 It was her family's funeral pyre。 The Hyksosian tradition called for cremation； not embalmment and elaborate funeral procedures and ceremonials。
Mintaka knew that her father would have approved of the manner of his own going； and this gave her some small fort。 Then she thought of Khyan and averted her eyes。 It was with an effort that she held back further tears as she went down into the waiting felucca and was taken to the bank below the temple of Hapi。
Lord Naja was waiting with all his pany assembled to meet her。 She remained aloof and pale when he embraced her。 'This is a bitter time for all of us； Princess；' he said。 'Your father； King Apepi； was a mighty warrior and statesman。 In view of the recent treaty between the two kingdoms； and the bining of this very Egypt into one sacred and historical whole； he leaves a dangerous gap。 For the good of all； this must be filled immediately。'
He took her hand and led her to the pavilion； which had last evening been the scene of feasting and festivity； but where now were assembled in solemn conclave most of the nobility and officialdom of both the kingdoms。
She saw Trok in the forefront of this throng。 He was a striking figure in full regimentals。 He wore his sword on a gold…studded belt and carried his war bow over his shoulder。 Behind him in packed ranks were all his officers； grim； cold…eyed and menacing despite the gay ribbons plaited in their beards。 They stared at her； unsmilingy； and she was bitterly aware that she was the last of the Apepi line； abandoned and unprotected。
She wondered to whom she could appeal； and whose loyalty she still manded。 She searched for friendly familiar faces in the multitude。 They were all there； her father's councillors and advisers； his generals and rades of the battlefield。 Then she saw their eyes slide away from her face。 None smiled at her or returned her scrutiny。 She had never felt so alone in her life。
Naja led her to a cushioned stool at one side of the pavilion。 When she sat down Naja and his staff formed a screen around her； hiding her from view。 She was certain that this had been
