wilbursmith_warlock-第67章

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r　the　influence　of　the　elixir。　At　last　he　went　to　the　door　and　removed　the　locking　bar。
　　
　　'Send　word　to　the　Regent　of　the　Upper　Kingdom。　He　should　e　immediately　to　hear　terrible　tidings　of　Pharaoh。'
　　
　　Lord　Naja　arrived　with　surprising　alacrity。　Princess　Heseret　was　with　him；　and　they　were　followed　by　a　crowd　of　their　intimates；　which　included　Lord　Asmor；　the　Assyrian　doctor　Noom；　and　most　of　the　members　of　the　council。
　　
　　Naja　ordered　the　others　to　watt　in　the　corridor　outside　the　royal　apartments；　while　he　and　Heseret　came　into　the　chamber。　Taita　rose　from　beside　the　bed　to　greet　them。
　　
　　Heseret　was　weeping　ostentatiously　and　covering　her　eyes　with　an　embroidered　linen　shawl。　Naja　glanced　at　the　bandaged　body　laid　out　stiffly　on　the　couch；　then　glanced　at　Taita　with　a　question　in　his　eyes。　In　reply　Taita　nodded　slightly。　Naja　masked　the　gleam　of　triumph　in　his　eyes；　then　knelt　beside　the　bed。　He　laid　one　hand　on　Nefer's　chest　and　felt　the　warmth　slowly　ebbing　to　be　replaced　by　a　spreading　coolness。　Naja　prayed　aloud　to　Horus；　who　was　the　patron　god　of　the　dead　pharaoh。　When　he　rose　to　his　feet　again　he　took　Taita's　upper　arm　in　a　firm　grip。
　　
　　'Console　yourself；　Magus；　you　did　all　that　we　could　require　of　you。　You　will　not　lack　reward。'　He　clapped　his　hands；　and　when　the　guard　hurried　through　the　door　he　ordered；　'Summon　the　members　of　the　council　to　assemble。'
　　
　　They　filed　into　the　room　in　solemn　procession　and　formed　up　around　the　bed　three　deep。
　　
　　'Let　the　good　doctor　Noom　e　forward；'　Naja　ordered。　'Let　him　confirm　the　Magus'　pronouncement　of　Pharaoh's　death。'
　　
　　The　ranks　opened　for　the　Assyrian　to　reach　the　couch。　His　long　locks　had　been　curled　with　hot　tongs　and　dangled　to　his　shoulders。　His　beard　had　also　been　curled　in　the　fashion　of　Babylon。　His　robe　swept　the　floor　and　was　decorated　with　embroidered　symbols　of　strange　gods　and　magical　patterns。　He　knelt　beside　the　deathbed　and　began　an　examination　of　the　corpse。　He　sniffed　at　Nefer's　lips　with　a　huge　hooked　nose　from　whose　nostrils　protruded　clumps　of　black　hair。　Then　he　placed　his　ear　against　Nefer's　chest　and　listened；　during　a　hundred　beats　of　Taita's　anxious　heart。　He　had　placed　much　store　in　the　Assyrian's　ineptitude。
　　
　　Then　Noom　took　a　long　silver　pin　from　the　hem　of　his　robe　and　opened　Nefer's　limp　hand。　He　pricked　the　point　deeply　up　under　the　fingernail　and　watched　for　a　muscular　reaction　or　for　a　drop　of　blood　to　form。
　　
　　At　last　he　stood　up　slowly；　and　Taita　thought　that　there　was　evidence　of　deep　disappointment　in　his　curled　lip　and　lugubrious　expression　as　he　shook　his　head。　Taita　reflected　that　he　had　certainly　been　offered　untold　rewards　to　use　the　silver　pin　to　other　effect。　'Pharaoh　is　dead；'　he　announced；　and　those　around　the　bed　made　the　sign　against　the　evil　eye　and　the　wrath　of　the　gods。
　　
　　Lord　Naja　threw　back　his　head　and　gave　the　first　cry　of　lamentation；　and　Heseret；　standing　behind　him；　took　up　the　wailing　cry　in　her　lovely　soaring　voice。
　　
　　Taita　hid　his　impatience　while　he　waited　for　the　mourners　to　file　past　the　couch；　and　one　by　one　to　leave　the　chamber。　When　only　Naja　and　Heseret；　Noom　and　the　viziers　of　the　nomes　of　the　Upper　Kingdom　remained；　Taita　stepped　forward　again。　'Lord　Naja；　I　beg　your　indulgence。　You　are　aware　that　I　have　been　Pharaoh　Nefer　Seti's　tutor　and　servant　since　his　birth。　I　owe　him　respect　and　duty；　even　now　in　death。　I　beg　you　to　grant　me　a　boon。　Will　you　allow　me　to　be　the　one　to　convey　his　corpse　to　the　Hall　of　Sorrow；　and　there　to　make　the　incision　to　remove　his　heart　and　viscera？　I　would　take　that　as　the　greatest　honour　you　could　bestow　on　me。'
　　
　　Lord　Naja　thought　for　a　while；　then　nodded。　'You　have　earned　that　honour。　I　charge　you　with　the　duty　of　conveying　Pharaoh's　sacred　body　to　the　funeral　temple；　and　of　beginning　the　process　of　embalming　by　making　the　incision。'
　　
　　*　　*　　*
　　
　　The　old　warrior；　Hilto；　came　swiftly　to　Taita's　summons。　He　had　been　waiting　in　the　guardroom　at　the　palace　gates。　With　him　he　brought　the　Nubian　shaman；　Bay；　and　four　of　his　most　trusted　men。　One　of　these　was　Meren；　the　friend　and　panion　of　Nefer's　childhood。　He　was　now　a　handsome　ensign　of　the　guards；　tall　of　stature　and　clear　of　eye。　Taita　had　asked　for　him　particularly　to　take　part　in　these　duties。
　　
　　Between　them　they　carried　the　long　woven　basket　that　the　embalmers　used　to　transport　their　cadavers　to　the　funerary　temple。　The　empty　basket　appeared　heavier　than　one　might　have　expected。
　　
　　Taita　let　them　into　the　death　chamber　and　whispered　to　Hilto；　'Swiftly　now！　Every　second　is　precious。'
　　
　　He　had　already　wrapped　Nefer　in　a　long　white　winding　sheet；　with　a　loose　fold　of　linen　covering　his　face。　The　pall…bearers　laid　the　basket　beside　the　couch　and　lifted　Nefer　reverently　into　it。　Taita　packed　bolsters　around　the　body　to　cushion　it　during　the　move；　then　closed　the　lid；　and　nodded。　To　the　temple；'　he　said。　'All　is　in　readiness。'
　　
　　Taita　trusted　his　bag　to　Meren；　and　they　moved　quickly　through　the　passages　and　courtyards　of　the　palace。　The　sounds　of　mourning　and　lamentation　followed　them。　The　guards　lowered　the　points　of　their　weapons　and　knelt　as　the　dead　Pharaoh　passed。　The　women　covered　their　faces；　and　wailed。　All　the　lamps　had　been　extinguished；　and　the　fires　in　the　kitchens　had　been　drawn　so　that　no　smoke　rose　from　the　chimneys。
　　
　　In　the　entrance　courtyard　a　squadron　of　Hilto's　chariots　was　drawn　up　with　the　horses　in　the　traces。　The　bearers　laid　the　long　basket　on　the　footplate　of　the　leading　chariot　and　secured　it　with　leather　straps。　Meren　placed　Taita's　leather　instrument　bag　in　the　cockpit；　and　Taita　mounted　and　took　the　reins。　The　ram's　horns　of　the　regiment　sounded　a　dirge；　and　the　column　moved　out　through　the　gates　at　a　walk。
　　
　　The　news　of　Pharaoh's　death　had　spread　through　the　city　like　the　plague。　The　citizens　crowded　around　the　gates；　wailing　and　ululating　as　the　column　passed。　Crowds　lined　the　route　along　the　river。　Women；　howling　their　grief；　ran　forward　and　threw　the　sacred　lotus　blossoms　on　to　the　basket。
　　
　　Taita　pushed　the　horses　into　a　trot；　then　into　a　canter。　He　was　desperate　to　get　the　basket　into　the　sanctuary　of　the　funerary　temple。　The　temple　of　Nefer's　father　had　not　yet　been　demolished　even　though　Pharaoh　Tamose　had　been　taken　months　ago　to　his　tomb　in　the　bleak　hills　to　the　west。　No　temple　had　yet　been　built　for　Nefer：　he　was　so　young　that　the　expectation　of　his　life　stretched　far　ahead　of　him。　His　death　now　was　untimely　and　left　them　no　alternative　but　to　use　the　building　prepared　for　his　father。
　　
　　The　tall；　rose…coloured　granite　walls　and　portico　of　the　temple　were　set　upon　a　low　prominence　overlooking　the　green　river。　The　priests；　hastily　assembled；　were　waiting　to　greet　the　column。　Their　heads　were　freshly　shaven　and　anointed　with　oil。　The　drums　and　sistrum　beat　a　slow　tempo　as　Taita　drove　up　the　wide　causeway　and　halted　the　chariot　at　the　foot　of　the　staircase　that　mounted　to　the　Hall　of　Sorrow。
　　
　　Hilto　and　his　warriors　lifted　the　basket　and　climbed　the　staircase　with　it　balanced　on　their　shoulders。　The　priests　fell　in　behind　them；　singing　mournfully。　Before　the　open　wooden　doors　of　the　Hall　of　Sorrow　the　pall…bearers　paused；　and　Taita　looked　back　at　the　priests；
　　
　　'By　the　grace　and　authority　of　the　Regent　of　Egypt；　I；　Taita；　have　been　charged　with　lifting　Pharaoh's　viscera。〃　He　fixed　the　high　priest　with　a　mesmeric　gaze。　'All　others　will　wait　without　while　I　perform　this　sacred　charge。'
　　
　　There　was　a　hum　of　consternation　among　the　brotherhood　of　Anubis。　This　was　a　solecism；　against　tradition　and　their　own　authority。　But　Taita　held　the　priest's　eye　sternly；　then　slowly　lifted　his　right　hand　holding　the　Periapt　of　Lostris。　The　priest　knew；　by　fearful　repute；　the　power　of　that　relic。　'As　the　Regent　of　Egypt　has　decreed；'　he　capitulated。　'We　will　pray　without　while　the　Magus　performs　his　duty。'
　　
　　Taita　led　Hilto　and　the　bearers　through　the　doorway　and　they　solemnly　laid　the　basket　on　the　floor　beside　the　black　diorite　slab　in　the　centre　of　the　Hall　of　Sorrow。　Taita　glanced　at