wilbursmith_warlock-第65章
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'This I have never seen before；' she whispered。 'You must strike the messenger with your hand。 That will surely make him deliver the gift of the goddess。'
Mintaka drew back her hand； with open palm and fingers spread。 She aimed at the ophidian head of the serpent and was on the point of striking； when she started with surprise and lowered her hand。 Puzzled； she glanced around the darkened chamber； into the shadowed corners； then looked directly at the priestess。
'Did you speak again？' she asked。
'I said nothing。'
Mintaka raised her hand again； but this time the voice was closer and clearer。 She recognized it with a rush of superstitious fear； and felt the hairs rise upon the back of her neck。
'Taita？' she whispered； looking around。 She expected him to be standing at her shoulder； but the chamber was still empty except for the two of them kneeling in front of the basket。 'Yes！' Mintaka said； as though replying to a question or an instruction。 She listened to the silence and twice nodded； then softly； 'Oh； yes！'
The priestess heard nothing； but she knew and understood that there had been some mystical intervention in their proceedings。 She was unsurprised when the cobra sank back slowly into the depths of the basket。 She replaced the lid； and stood up。
'Forgive me； Mother；' Mintaka said softly； 'I will not take the way of the goddess。 There is still much for me to do in this world。'
The priestess picked up the basket； and said to the girl； 'May the goddess bless you and grant you eternal life hereafter。' She backed away to the door of the chamber； and left Mintaka sitting in the gloom。 She seemed to be listening still to a voice that the old woman could not hear。
* * *
Taita brought Nefer back to Thebes from Dabba in the deep sleep of the Red Shepenn。 As soon as the galley carrying them moored at the stone jetty below the palace； Taita had him carried ashore on a litter； curtained from the gaze of the mon people。 It would have been unwise for Pharaoh's critical condition to bee widely known in the city。 There had been previous occasions when the death of a king had plunged the city and the entire state into wild despair； and caused devastating speculation in the millet exchange； riots； looting and a breakdown of all the mores and conventions of society。
Once Nefer was safely ensconced in his royal quarters at the palace； Taita was able to work on him in safety and seclusion。 His first concern was to examine again the terrible lacerations down the front of the boy's legs and lower abdomen and assess if there had been any morbid changes。
His greatest fear was that the entrails had been punctured and that their contents had leaked into the stomach cavity。 If this had happened then his skills would be to little avail。 He unwrapped the bandages； probed the openings gently； sniffed the effluent for the stink of faeces； and was greatly relieved to find no taint of that contamination。 He syringed the deepest wounds with a mixture of vinegar and Oriental spices。 Then he stitched them closed with cat…gut and bandaged them with all his skill； touching them with the golden Periapt of Lostris； mending her grandson to the goddess with each wrap of the linen strip。
Over the days that followed Taita gradually reduced the dosage of the Red Shepenn and was rewarded when Nefer recovered consciousness； and smiled at him。 'Taita； I knew you were with me。' Then he looked around him； still drowsy with the drug。 'Where is Mintaka？'
When Taita explained her absence； Nefer's disappointment was almost palpable； and he was too weak to conceal it。 Taita tried to console him by telling him that the parting was only temporary； and that he would soon be well enough to make the voyage northwards to visit Avaris。 'We will find a fine excuse for Naja to allow you to make the journey；' Taita assured him。
For a while Nefer's recovery was encouraging。 The following day he was sitting up； and ate a hearty meal of dhurra bread and chick…pea soup。 The next day he took a few steps on the crutches Taita had carved for him； and asked for meat with his meal。 In order not to heat his blood； Taita forbade red meat； but allowed him fish and poultry。
The next day Merykara came to visit her brother； and spent most of the day with him。 Her merry laughter and her childlike prattle cheered him。 Nefer asked after Heseret； and wanted to know why she had not e also。 Merykara answered evasively and invited him to play another game of bao。 This time he deliberately opened his centre castle to let her win。
The next day the terrible news of the tragedy at Balasfura reached Thebes。 The first reports were that Apepi and his entire family； including Mintaka； had perished in the flames。 Nefer was stricken down again； this time by grief。 Taita had to mix him another potion of the Red Shepenn； but within hours the wounds in his leg had turned。 Over the next few days his condition worsened； and soon he was at the very frontiers of death。 Taita sat with him and watched him tossing and raving in delirium while the livid scarlet lines of morbidity ran like rivers of fire up his limbs and his belly。
Then news came from the Lower Kingdom that Mintaka had survived the tragedy that had engulfed the rest of her family。 When Taita whispered these wonderful tidings in his ear Nefer seemed to understand and respond。 The next day he was weak but lucid； and he tried to convince Taita that he was strong enough to make the long journey to be with Mintaka in her bereavement。 Gently Taita dissuaded him； but promised that as soon as Nefer was strong enough he would use all his influence to convince Lord Naja to allow him to go。 With this goal to strive towards； Nefer rallied strongly once again。 Taita could see him subduing the fevers and evil humours in his blood by sheer strength of will。
Lord Naja returned from the north； and within hours Heseret came to visit Nefer for the first time since his mauling by the lion。 She brought him gifts of sweetmeats； a pot of wild honey in the b； and a magnificent bao board made of coloured agate； with stones of carved ivory and black coral。 She was sweet； infinitely gentle and concerned with his suffering； excusing herself for having neglected him。
'My dear husband； the Regent of the Upper Kingdom； the illustrious Lord Naja； has been away all these weeks；' she explained； 'and I have pined so much for his return that I was not fit pany for anyone as ill as you have been。 I was afraid that my unhappiness might affect you badly； my poor darling Nefer。' She stayed an hour； sang to him； and related some of the doings of the court； much of it scandalous。 At last she excused herself： 'My husband； the Regent of the Upper Kingdom； does not like me to leave his side for long。 We are so much in love； Nefer。 He is a wonderful man； so kind and dedicated to you and Egypt。 You must learn to trust him pletely； as I do。' She rose to her feet and then； as though as an afterthought； she remarked lightly； 'You must have been relieved to hear that Pharaoh Trok Uruk and my dear husband； the Regent of Upper Egypt； have agreed for reasons of state to cancel your betrothal to that little Hyksosian barbarian； Mintaka。 I was so sorry for you when I heard that such a disgraceful marriage was thrust upon you。 My husband； the Regent of Upper Egypt； was against it from the very beginning； as I was。'
After she had gone Nefer sank back weakly on the pillow and closed his eyes。 When Taita came to him a little later he was puzzled by the way in which he had relapsed。 He removed the bandages and found that the infection in his injuries had flared up again； and that the malodorous pus streaming from the deepest wound was thick and yellow。 He stayed with him through that night； exerting all his skill and his powers to ward off the shadows of evil that surrounded the young Pharaoh。
At dawn Nefer was in a a。 Taita was truly alarmed by his condition。 It could not be explained entirely by the boy's grief。 Suddenly he was startled and angered by a motion at the door。 He was
