wilbursmith_warlock-第124部分

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　　Nefer　stood　his　ground　and　let　them　e　on。　Naja's　taunts　rang　in　his　ears　still；　and　he　felt　a　terrible　temptation　to　abandon　his　well　laid…out　plan；　and　rush　forward　to　meet　Naja　head　to　head　and　pierce　his　traitor　heart。　With　a　violent　effort　he　put　aside　the　temptation；　and　lifted　his　sword。　He　described　three　flashing　arcs　with　the　blade　above　his　head。　His　legions　responded　instantly。　Like　a　flock　of　birds　swerving　in　full　flight　or　a　shoal　of　fish　avoiding　the　attacking　barracuda；　they　turned　as　though　possessed　of　a　single　controlling　mind；　and　raced　away　over　the　plain；　back　the　way　they　had　e。
　　
　　Naja's　front　rank　had　braced　itself　for　the　impact；　but　they　met　no　resistance　and；　like　a　man　stumbling　over　a　step　that　did　not　exist；　they　lost　impetus。　By　the　time　they　had　recovered；　Nefer　had　pulled　away　another　hundred　paces。　Now　his　squadrons　smoothly　changed　their　formation　and　drew　together　from　extended　order　into　a　column　of　fours。
　　
　　Naja　tore　after　him；　but　within　three　hundred　paces　his　flanks　came　upon　a　low　stone　breastwork　that　slanted　across　their　front。　They　could　not　stop　now；　so　they　veered　left　and　right　towards　their　own　centre。　Like　the　current　of　a　wide　river　forced　suddenly　into　the　mouth　of　a　narrow　rocky　gorge　they　were　squeezed　together。　Wheel　snagged　wheel；　and　horse　teams　were　forced　to　give　way　to　each　other。　The　charge　wavered　and　slowed　as　chariots　and　horses　jammed　into　a　solid　mass。
　　
　　At　that　fatal　moment；　the　ram's　horns　brayed　across　the　field；　and　at　the　signal　the　heads　and　shoulders　of　the　archers　and　slingers　rose　from　behind　the　breastworks　on　either　hand。　The　arrows　were　already　nocked　and　now　the　archers　drew　and　flexed　their　short　recurved　bows。　They　held　their　aim　a　moment；　choosing　their　targets　with　care。　The　first　volley　was　always　the　most　telling。
　　
　　The　slingers　whirled　their　weapons　on　high；　double…handed　to　counter　the　weight　of　the　hard…baked　clay　balls　in　the　leather　pouches　at　the　end　of　the　long　straps。　They　buzzed　through　the　air　as　they　built　up　a　dreadful　momentum。
　　
　　Naja's　leading　squadrons　were　deep　in　the　funnel　between　the　breastworks；　when　the　trumpets　sang　out　again　and　the　archers　loosed；　in　a　single　concerted　volley。　They　had　been　ordered　to　aim　for　the　horses；　and　to　pick　out　the　enemy　captains。　The　arrows　flew　in　almost　silently；　with　just　the　soft　whisper　of　the　fletchings　through　the　air；　but　the　range　was　short；　and　the　strike　of　the　arrowheads　into　living　flesh　sounded　like　a　handful　of　gravel　thrown　into　a　mud…bank。　The　first　rank　of　Naja's　charge　was　shot　down；　and　as　the　horses　fell　the　chariots　piled　up　over　their　carcasses；　swerving　out　of　control　into　the　stone　walls　on　either　hand；　or　capsizing　and　rolling。
　　
　　Then　the　slingers　loosed　their　missiles　with　uncanny　accuracy。　The　solid　balls　of　burnt　clay　were　the　size　of　a　ripe　pomegranate　but　heavy　as　ivory。　They　could　crack　the　skull　of　man　or　horse；　snap　a　leg　or　shatter　ribs　as　though　they　were　dry　twigs。　They　thudded　into　the　next　rank　of　charging　chariots；　and　the　havoc　they　wrought　was　terrible。
　　
　　The　vehicles　that　followed　were　unable　to　stop　the　charge；　and　crashed　into　the　wreckage　of　those　in　front。　The　coachwork　crackled　and　tore　with　the　sound　of　green　branches　in　a　raging　bushfire。　Some　of　the　long　drive…shafts　shattered　and　deadly　splinters　speared　the　horses　that　pulled　them。　Wheels　burst　and　were　torn　from　their　axles。　Men　were　hurled　from　the　cockpits　and　trampled　under　the　frantic　hoofs　of　the　rearing；　milling　horses。
　　
　　At　the　head　of　his　squadron；　Nefer　gave　the　hand　signal　that　the　men　following　him　were　expecting；　and　a　swarm　of　foot…soldiers　leaped　out　of　hiding　and　dragged　away　the　thornbushes　that　concealed　the　openings　that　had　been　deliberately　left　in　the　stone　walls　on　either　hand。　In　quick　succession　Nefer's　chariots　swerved　through　them　and　out　into　the　open　ground　beyond　the　walls。　No　longer　constricted；　they　were　free　to　manoeuvre　across　the　plain。　They　doubled　back；　circling　in　behind　Naja's　trapped　squadrons；　and　falling　on　their　rear　echelons。
　　
　　Now　both　armies　were　locked　together；　like　fighting　bulls；　horn　to　horn。　Not　all　of　Naja's　vehicles　had　been　lured　into　the　trap　between　the　walls。　There　had　simply　not　been　enough　space　for　them　all　to　enter　at　one　time。　These　loose　chariots　now　came　rushing　forward　to　engage　Nefer；　and　a　traditional　chariot　battle　swiftly　developed。　Running　chariots　circled；　charged　and　withdrew；　then　charged　again。　The　squadrons　broke　up　into　smaller　units；　and　across　the　plain　single　vehicles　viciously　engaged　each　other；　wheel　to　wheel；　and　man　to　man。
　　
　　Despite　the　frightful　losses　he　had　inflicted　on　the　enemy　in　the　opening　phase；　Nefer　was　still　heavily　outnumbered。　As　the　advantage　swung　back　and　forth；　Nefer　was　forced　to　call　in　more　and　more　of　the　reserves　he　had　been　holding　concealed　in　the　wadi　behind　the　fort。　Now　he　signalled　in　the　last　of　them。　He　was　fully　mitted。　He　had　brought　up　every　last　chariot。　But　they　were　not　enough。　Slowly　his　horses　and　his　men　were　being　ground　down　by　the　sheer　numbers　of　his　enemy。
　　
　　In　the　dust　and　clamour　and　turmoil；　Nefer　desperately　searched　the　plain　for　Naja's　golden　chariot　and　the　royal　red　pennant。　He　knew　that　if　he　could　force　Naja　to　single　bat　and　kill　him；　he　could　still　carry　the　day。　But　there　was　no　sign　of　him。　Perhaps　he　had　been　cut　down　in　the　defile　between　the　walls；　perhaps　he　was　lying　wounded　or　dead　somewhere　in　the　confusion　of　the　battle。
　　
　　Close　by　Nefer　saw　Hilto's　chariot　hemmed　in　by　two　of　the　enemy；　and　the　old　warrior　wounded　and　thrown　to　earth。　Hilto's　squadron　saw　him　go　down；　and　broke　up　in　confusion。　Nefer　felt　the　cold　hand　of　despair　squeeze　his　heart。　They　were　losing　the　battle。
　　
　　He　saw　a　line　of　Red　chariots　circle　out　then　sweep　around　behind　the　backs　of　his　archers　and　slingers　along　the　breastworks；　and　cut　them　down　with　arrows　and　javelins。　The　foot…soldiers　scattered　and　fled；　a　screaming　rabble；　and　their　despair　was　infectious。　Grimly　Nefer　remembered　that　Taita　called　it　the　'little　bird　effect…when　one　flies　they　all　fly。'
　　
　　Nefer　knew　that　his　army　would　soon　be　in　rout；　and　he　shouted　encouragement　to　the　charioteers　close　enough　to　hear　him；　and　tried　to　rally　them　by　running　down　another　enemy　chariot　and　slaying　the　crew　with　a　dozen　strokes　of　the　sword。　Then　he　wheeled　away　in　pursuit　of　another　Red　chariot；　but　by　now　Dov　and　Krus　were　almost　worn　out；　and　the　enemy　pulled　away　from　them。
　　
　　Then　beside　him　Meren　shouted；　'Look；　Pharaoh！'　and　he　pointed　to　the　east　out　into　the　desert。　With　the　back　of　his　hand　Nefer　wiped　his　own　sweat　and　splashes　of　enemy　blood　from　his　face；　and　stared　out　into　the　glare。
　　
　　He　knew　then　beyond　all　doubt　that　it　was　over；　and　that　they　had　lost　the　battle。　A　fresh　mass　of　enemy　chariots　was　tearing　in　towards　them。　Where　they　had　suddenly　e　from　Nefer　could　not　fathom。　He　had　thought　that　Naja　had　mitted　all　his　vehicles。　That　did　not　matter　now；　for　the　battle　was　lost。
　　
　　'How　many？'　Nefer　wondered；　with　black　desolation　filling　his　soul。
　　
　　Two　hundred；'　Meren　guessed。　'Maybe　more。'　His　voice　was　resigned。　'It　is　all　over；　Pharaoh。　We　will　die　fighting。'
　　
　　'One　last　charge。'　Nefer　shouted　to　the　chariots　nearest　to　him；　'On　me　the　Blues！　Death　with　glory。'
　　
　　They　cheered　him　hoarsely　and　wheeled　in　on　either　side　of　him。　Even　Dov　and　Krus　seemed　imbued　with　new　strength；　and　the　thin　line　of　Blue　chariots　tore　in　at　the　new　foe；　going　to　meet　them　head　to　head。　As　they　closed　they　saw　that　the　leading　enemy　chariot　flew　the　pennant　of　a　general；　a　centurion。
　　
　　'By　Horus；　I　know　him；'　Meren　cried。　'It's　Prenn；　the　old　sodomite。'
　　
　　So　close　were　they　now　that　Nefer　also　recognized　the　gaunt　figure；　with　the　black　patch　over　one　eye。　He　had　seen　him　on　the　staff　of　King　Apepi；　in　the　temple　at　Perra　when　they　had　met　to　negotiate　the　treaty　of　Hathor。　The　same　wondrous　day　that　he　had　first　laid　eyes　on　Mintaka。
　　
　　'His　arrival　is　untimely；'　Nefer　said　grimly；　'but　perhaps　we　can　save　the　next　generation　of　young　boys　from　his　amorous　attentions。'
　　
　　He　steered　Dov　and　Krus　straight　at　Prenn；　trying　to　force　him　to　swerve　and　offer　a　flank　shot　for　his　javelin　throw。　But　as　they　came　closer　together；　Meren　shouted；　startled；　'He　flies　the　Blue！'　Prenn's　pennant　was　streaming　back；　directly　away　from　them；　which　was　why　Nefer　had　not　noticed　it　until　this　moment；　but　Meren　was　right：　Prenn　was　flying　the　Blue　of　the　House　of　Tamose；　and　all　his　chariots　with　him。
　　
　　Now　Prenn　slowed　and　held　his　right　arm　across　his　chest　in　salute　to　Nefer；　and　he　shouted　in　a　great　voice　that　carried　above　the　rumble　of　the　chariot　wheels；　'Hail；　Pharaoh！　May　you　live　ten　thousand　years；　Nefer　Seti。'
　　
　　In　amazement　Nefer　lowered　the　javelin　he　had　been　about　to　hurl；　and　checked　his　horses。
　　
　　'What　are　your　orders；　Pharaoh？'　Prenn　shouted。
　　
　　'What　strange　business　is　this；　General　Prenn？　Why　do　you　call　on　me　for　orders？'　Nefer　called　back。
　　
　　'The　Princess　Mintaka　delivered　to　me　your　message；　and　I　have　e　to　place　myself　under　your　mand　and　to　help　you　avenge　the　murders　of　King　Apepi　and　Pharaoh　Tamose。'
　　
　　'Mintaka？'　Nefer　was　confused；　for　surely　she　was　still　closeted　in　the　sanctuary　of　the　temple　in　Avaris。　But　then　his　warrior　instincts　took　over；　and　he　thrust　aside　those　thoughts。　There　would　be　time　for　such　musing　later。　'Well　met；　General　Prenn。　You　arrive　none　too　soon。　Lay　your　chariot　alongside　mine　and　we　will　sweep　this　field　from　end　to　end。'
　　
　　They　charged　side　by　side；　and　Nefer's　broken　and　scattered　legions　saw　the　blue　pennants　ing　and　heard　the　war…cry；　'Horus　and　Nefer　Seti！'　and　the　blaring　of　the　ram's　horn　trumpets；　and　they　took　new　heart。　The　Red　squadrons　of　Naja　Kiafan　were　in　hardly　better　case　and　could　offer　only　scant　resistance　as　Prenn's　fresh　troops　charged　into　them。　They　fought　on　for　a　while；　but　the　heart　was　torn　out　of　them。　Some　scrambled　out　of　their　chariots　to　kneel　in　the　dust；　hands　raised