wilbursmith_warlock-第114部分

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higher　and　higher。　Nefer　knew　that　if　he　attempted　to　break　away　he　would　expose　his　chest　for　the　killing　thrust。　Yet　the　cut　in　his　thigh　had　weakened　and　slowed　him　still　further。　The　grin　on　Trok's　face　was　triumphant。　'Courage；　boy！　It　is　nearly　over。　Then　you　can　rest…for　ever；'　he　gloated。
　　
　　Nefer　heard　Mintaka　shout　something；　but　it　made　no　sense；　and　he　could　not　afford　the　distraction。　Gradually　Trok　forced　aside　his　blade　and　towered　over　him；　so　they　came　chest　to　chest；　then　suddenly　he　shifted　his　weight　to　the　left；　towards　Nefer's　wounded　leg。　Nefer　tried　to　counter；　but　his　leg　gave　way　under　him。　Trok　hooked　his　foot　behind　Nefer's　heel　and　threw　him　over　backwards。
　　
　　The　sword　flew　from　Nefer's　weakened　grip；　and　as　he　sprawled　on　the　sunbaked　earth；　Trok　lifted　his　blade　above　his　head　with　both　hands　for　the　killing　stroke。　He　was　poised　like　that　when　suddenly　his　expression　changed　to　one　of　surprise　and　bewilderment。　Without　pleting　the　blow　he　reached　up　behind　his　own　neck　with　one　hand。　He　brought　the　hand　back　and　held　it　before　his　face。　It　was　wet　with　his　blood。　He　opened　his　mouth　to　say　something；　but　a　double　stream　of　bright　blood　trickled　from　the　corners　of　his　mouth　and　he　turned　slowly　away　from　Nefer。　Trok　stared　up　at　Mintaka　who　stood　on　the　pinnacle　of　the　rock　above　him。　With　a　detached　feeling　of　disbelief；　Nefer　saw　the　shaft　of　the　javelin　sticking　out　of　the　back　of　Trok's　neck。
　　
　　As　she　saw　Nefer　go　down；　Mintaka　had　snatched　up　the　javelin　that　lay　at　her　feet；　the　weapon　that　Nefer　had　thrown　at　the　start　of　the　engagement。　She　hurled　it　at　Trok's　back。　The　point　took　Trok　beneath　the　rim　of　his　bronze　helmet　and　went　in　deeply；　just　missing　the　spinal　column；　but　opening　the　carotid　artery。
　　
　　Standing　like　a　gargoyle　with　his　mouth　wide　open；　blood　spewing　out　in　a　fountain；　Trok　dropped　his　sword　and　reached　up。　He　seized　Mintaka　around　the　waist　and　dragged　her　screaming　from　her　perch　above　him。　He　was　trying　to　say　something；　but　the　sheets　of　blood　pouring　from　his　mouth　drowned　his　voice。
　　
　　Mintaka　screamed　as　he　crushed　her　to　his　chest；　and　Nefer　scrambled　to　his　feet。　He　picked　up　Trok's　sword　from　where　he　had　dropped　it；　and　limped　up　behind　him。
　　
　　Mintaka's　cries　had　given　renewed　strength　to　his　sword　arm。　He　sent　his　first　thrust　through　the　lacings　of　Trok's　corselet；　deeply　into　his　back。　Trok　stiffened；　and　dropped　Mintaka。　She　scrambled　away；　and　Nefer　pulled　out　the　blade　and　stabbed　again。　Swaying　on　his　feet；　Trok　turned　slowly　to　face　him。　He　took　a　step　towards　Nefer；　reaching　out　for　him　with　bloody　mailed　hands。　Nefer　stabbed　him　in　the　throat；　and　Trok　dropped　to　his　knees；　clutching　at　the　blade。　Nefer　pulled　it　away；　slicing　deeply　into　Trok's　fingers　and　palms；　severing　the　sinews　and　nerves。
　　
　　Trok　toppled　forward　on　his　face；　and　Nefer　stabbed　him　through　the　lacing；　between　his　shoulder…blades　to　his　heart。　He　left　the　blade　in　him；　and　turned　to　Mintaka　who　crouched　in　the　shelter　of　the　rock。　She　flew　to　him；　and　clung　to　him　with　all　her　strength。　Now　that　the　danger　was　past；　Mintaka　lost　all　her　icy　control　and　she　was　sobbing；　barely　coherently；　'I　thought　he　was　going　to　kill　you；　my　love。'
　　
　　'He　almost　did；　but　for　you；'　Nefer　gasped。　'I　owe　you　a　life。'
　　
　　'It　was　terrible。'　Mintaka's　voice　quavered。　'I　thought　he　would　never　die。'
　　
　　'He　was　a　god。'　Nefer　tried　to　laugh　but　it　came　out　wrongly。　'They　take　a　little　killing。'
　　
　　He　became　aware　that　the　sounds　of　battle　from　further　down　the　valley　had　changed。　With　his　arm　still　around　her；　he　turned　to　look　back。　Trok's　men　had　seen　their　pharaoh　cut　down；　and　the　fight　had　gone　out　of　them。　They　were　throwing　down　their　weapons；　and　wailing；　'Enough！　Enough！　We　yield。　All　praise　to　Pharaoh　Nefer　Seti；　the　one　true　king。'
　　
　　With　the　realization　of　victory；　Nefer　felt　the　last　vestiges　of　strength　flow　out　of　his　battered　and　bleeding　body。　He　had　just　enough　left　to　raise　his　voice；　and　shout；　'Give　them　quarter。　They　are　our　brother　Egyptians。　Give　them　quarter！'
　　
　　As　Nefer　slumped　down；　Taita　materialized　at　his　side　and　helped　Mintaka　lower　him　to　the　ground。　While　the　two　of　them　dressed　his　wounds；　and　staunched　the　bleeding　from　the　deep　cut　in　his　thigh；　his　officers　came　to　report　to　Nefer。
　　
　　Nefer　discounted　his　own　injuries　as　he　demanded　to　know　who　had　survived　the　battle　and　who　had　been　wounded　and　killed。　With　joy；　and　thanks　to　Horus　and　the　Red　God；　Nefer　saw　that　his　trusted　captains；　Hilto；　Shabako　and　Socco；　were　among　the　men　who　crowded　around　him；　exulting　in　the　victory；　proud　of　themselves　and　their　men；　filled　with　joy　to　see　him　alive。
　　
　　They　made　a　litter　of　lances　and　carried　him　back　down　the　valley　to　Gallala；　but　it　was　a　long　journey　for　Trok's　captured　officers；　and　men　crowded　the　roadside；　kneeling　unarmed　and　bare…headed　to　plead　for　his　mercy；　shouting　repentance　and　remorse　that　they　had　ever　taken　up　arms　against　the　true　Pharaoh。
　　
　　Three　times　before　they　reached　the　gates　of　the　city；　Nefer　signalled　for　his　litter　to　be　lowered　and　allowed　the　captured　centurions　and　captains　to　e　forward　and　kiss　his　feet。　'I　spare　you　from　the　traitor's　death　you　so　richly　deserve；'　he　told　them　sternly；　'but　you　are　all　reduced　to　the　rank　of　sergeants　of　the　Blue；　and　you　must　prove　once　more　your　duty　and　loyalty　to　the　House　of　Tamose。'
　　
　　They　praised　him　for　his　mercy；　but　Nefer　frowned　and　shook　his　head　when　they　addressed　him　as　a　god。　'I　am　not　one　of　the　pantheon；　as　the　blasphemers　Trok　and　Naja　claim　they　are。'　But　they　would　not　be　dissuaded；　and　renewed　their　praises　and　entreaties；　and　his　own　men　led　by　his　brother　warriors　of　the　Red　Road；　joined　their　voices　to　those　of　the　defeated；　begging　him　to　declare　his　divinity。
　　
　　To　distract　them　Nefer　issued　his　orders　with　a　frowning　mien。　'The　corpse　of　Trok　Uruk；　the　false　claimant　to　the　double　crown　of　this　very　Egypt；　shall　be　burned　without　ceremony；　here　upon　the　battlefield　so；　that　his　soul　shall　wander　through　all　eternity　seeking　but　never　finding　a　home。'
　　
　　They　murmured　with　awe　for　this　was　the　most　dreadful　punishment　that　could　be　devised。
　　
　　The　other　enemy　dead　are　to　be　treated　with　all　respect；　and　allowed　embalmment　and　a　decent　burial。　The　name　of　Trok　Uruk　shall　be　erased　from　every　monument　and　building　in　the　land；　and　the　temple　that　he　erected　to　himself　in　Avaris　shall　in　his　stead　be　dedicated　to　the　winged　Horus　in　memory　of　the　victory　that　he　gave　us　this　day　before　the　city　of　Gallala。'
　　
　　They　shouted　their　approbation　at　this　decree；　and　Nefer　went　on；　'All　the　possessions　of　Trok　Uruk；　all　his　treasure　and　estates；　his　slaves　and　buildings；　his　warehouses　and　goods　of　whatsoever　nature　shall　be　forfeited　to　the　state。　Send　water　wagons　back　along　the　road　to　Safaga；　with　grooms　and　surgeons　to　bring　in　all　the　horses；　chariots　and　men　that　Trok　Uruk　left　along　the　way　during　his　arrogant　march　on　our　capital　here　in　Gallala。　If　they　repudiate　the　false　pharaohs　and　swear　allegiance　to　the　House　of　Tamose　the　prisoners　shall　be　pardoned　and　recruited　into　our　armies。'
　　
　　By　the　time　Nefer　had　given　his　last　order；　and　issued　his　last　decree　for　that　day；　his　voice　was　hoarse；　he　was　pale　and　almost　exhausted。　As　they　carried　him　through　the　city　gates　he　asked　Mintaka　quietly；　'Where　is　Taita？　Has　anybody　seen　the　Magus？'　But　Taita　had　disappeared。
　　
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　　Taita　watched　from　the　hillside　above　the　battlefield　as　the　jaws　of　the　trap　closed　on　Trok's　army　and　his　chariots　were　smashed　by　the　rock…filled　wagons；　the　arrows　and　the　javelins　falling　like　nights　of　locusts　upon　the　survivors；　when　a　single　bizarre　figure　caught　his　eye　in　the　chaos。
　　
　　Ishtar　the　Mede　scampered　between　the　rocks。　Like　a　running　hare　he　disappeared　from　sight　only　to　reappear　further　up　the　slope；　ducking　and　dodging。　By　some　chance　or　magical　charm　he　avoided　the　arrows　and　javelins　of　Nefer's　troops　and　at　last　dived　over　the　crest　and　disappeared　from　sight。
　　
　　Taita　let　him　go。　There　would　be　time　for　him　later。　He　watched　the　climax　of　the　battle；　extending　all　his　powers　to　act　as　a　shield　over　Nefer　during　his　single　bat　with　Trok　at　the　base　of　the　rock。　Even　at　this　distance　he　managed　to　deflect　many　of　Trok's　blows　that　should　have　been　fatal；　and　when　Trok　went　for　the　final　thrust　into　Nefer's　thigh　his　blade　might　have　found　the　great　femoral　artery　if　Taita　had　not　used　all　his　influence　to　turn　the　point　aside。
　　
　　Since　that　time　long　ago　when　Taita　had　saved　Mintaka　from　harm　during　the　encounter　with　the　cobra　of　the　goddess；　she　had　bee　a　subject　who　responded　readily　to　his　influence。　She　had　the　intelligence　and　imagination　that　opened　her　mind　to　him。　It　was　impossible　to　influence　a　fool。　He　had　summoned　her　back　to　Gallala　to　show　herself　to　Trok　at　the　head　of　the　valley；　and　to　lure　him　into　the　trap。　Then；　when　she　had　stood　frozen　with　horror　on　the　rock　above　the　fighting　pair；　Taita　had　bent　her　to　his　will　once　again　and　put　into　her　mind　the　impulse　to　reach　down　for　the　javelin　that　lay　at　her　feet。　He　had　bolstered　her　right　arm　as　she　steadied　her　aim　and　threw。　Then；　as　the　life　went　out　of　Trok；　he　had　rushed　down　the　slope　to　minister　to　Nefer　and　to　bind　up　the　wound　that　had　cut　so　perilously　close　to　the　pulsing　artery　in　his　thigh。
　　
　　When　his　brother　warriors　of　the　Red　Road　lifted　the　young　pharaoh　on　to　the　litter　of　spears；　Taita　with　his　duty　done　for　the　present　drifted　away　into　the　throng。　Nobody　paid　him　any　heed　as　he　went。
　　
　　He　picked　up　the　tracks　that　Ishtar　had　left　as　he　escaped　out　of　the　narrow　valley　and　followed　them　until　they　were　impossible　to　discern　on　the　earth　on　the　top　of　the　hills；　which　was　baked　hard　as　mosaic　tiles　by　the　sun。
　　
　　Taita　stopped　and　crouched　down。　From　his　pouch　he　took　out　a　sliver　of　dried　root　and　slipped　it　into　his　mouth。　As　he　chewed　on　it；　he　opened　his　mind　and　reached　out　to　detect　the　Mede's　aura；　the　trace　he　had　left　as　he　passed。　As　the　roo