wilbursmith_warlock-第27部分

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nd　rapine。
　　
　　They　entered　the　fortress　and　found　that　conditions　were　not　much　better　within　its　walls。　Plague　victims　lay　where　they　had　been　struck　down　by　the　disease；　and　the　rats　and　pariah　dogs　gnawed　at　their　corpses；　and　even　at　those　still　alive　but　too　far　gone　to　defend　themselves。
　　
　　Apepi's　headquarters　was　the　principal　building　in　Bubasti；　a。　massive　sprawling　mud…brick　and　thatch　palace　in　the　centre　of　the　town。　Grooms　took　their　horses　at　the　gates；　but　one　carried　Taita's　saddlebags。　Lord　Trok　led　Taita　through　courtyards　and　the　dark　shuttered　halls　where　incense　and　sandalwood　burned　in　bronze　braziers　to　cloak　the　plague　stench　that　wafted　up　from　the　town　and　the　surrounding　encampments；　but　whose　guttering　flames　made　the　heated　air　scarcely　bearable。　Even　here　in　the　main　headquarters　the　groans　of　plague　victims　rang　eerily　through　the　rooms；　and　huddled　figures　lay　in　dark　corners。
　　
　　Sentries　stopped　them　outside　a　barred　bronze　door　in　the　deepest　recesses　of　the　building；　but　as　soon　as　they　recognized　Trok's　hulking　figure　they　stood　aside　and　allowed　them　to　pass　through。　This　area　was　Apepi's　private　quarters。　The　walls　were　hung　with　magnificent　carpets　and　the　furniture　was　of　precious　wood；　ivory　and　mother…of…pearl；　much　of　it　plundered　from　the　palaces　and　temples　of　Egypt。
　　
　　Trok　ushered　Taita　into　a　small　but　luxuriously　furnished　antechamber；　and　left　him　there。　Female　slaves　brought　him　a　jug　of　sherbet　and　a　platter　of　ripe　dates　and　pomegranates。　Taita　sipped　the　drink　but　ate　only　a　little　of　the　fruit。　He　was　always　abstemious。
　　
　　It　was　a　long　wait。　A　sunbeam　through　the　single　high　window　moved　sedately　along　the　opposite　wall　measuring　the　passage　of　time。　Lying　on　one　of　the　carpets；　he　used　his　saddlebags　as　a　pillow；　dozing；　never　sinking　into　deep　sleep；　and　ing　instantly　awake　at　every　noise。　At　intervals　he　heard　the　distant　sound　of　women　weeping；　and　the　keening　wail　of　mourning　somewhere　behind　the　massive　walls。
　　
　　At　last　there　came　the　tramp　of　heavy　footsteps　down　the　passage　outside；　and　the　curtains　over　the　doorway　were　thrown　open。　A　burly　figure　stood　in　the　doorway。　He　wore　only　a　crimson　linen　kilt　belted　below　his　great　belly　with　a　gold　chain。　His　chest　was　covered　with　grizzled　wiry　curls；　coarse　as　the　pelt　of　a　bear。　There　were　heavy　sandals　on　his　feet　and　greaves　of　hard　polished　leather　covered　his　shins。　But　he　carried　no　sword　or　other　weapon。　His　arms　and　legs　seemed　massive　as　the　pillars　of　a　temple；　and　were　covered　with　battle　scars；　some　white　and　silky；　long…ago　healed；　others；　more　recent；　were　purple　and　angry…looking。　His　beard　and　dense　bush　of　hair　were　grizzled　also；　but　lacking　the　usual　ribbons　or　plaits。　They　had　not　been　oiled　or　bed　and　were　in　careless　disarray。　His　dark　eyes　were　wild　and　distracted；　and　his　thick　lips　under　the　great　beaked　nose　were　twisted　as　if　with　pain。
　　
　　'You　are　Taita；　the　physician；'　he　said。　His　voice　was　powerful；　but　without　accent　for　he　had　been　born　in　Avaris　and　had　adopted　much　of　the　Egyptian　culture　and　way　of　life。
　　
　　Taita　knew　him　well：　to　him　Apepi　was　the　invader；　the　bloody　barbarian；　mortal　enemy　of　his　country　and　his　Pharaoh。　It　took　the　exercise　of　all　his　self…control　to　keep　his　expression　neutral　and　his　voice　calm　as　he　replied；　'I　am　Taita。'
　　
　　'I　have　heard　of　your　skills；'　said　Apepi。　'I　have　need　of　them　now。　e　with　me。'
　　
　　Taita　slung　the　saddlebags　over　his　shoulder　and　followed　him　out　into　the　cloister。　Lord　Trok　was　waiting　there　with　an　escort　of　armed　men。　They　fell　in　around　Taita　as　he　followed　the　Hyksosian　king　deeper　into　the　palace。　Ahead　the　sound　of　weeping　became　louder；　until　Apepi　threw　aside　the　heavy　curtains　that　covered　another　doorway；　and　took　Taita's　arm　to　push　him　through。
　　
　　Dominating　the　crowded　chamber　was　a　large　contingent　of　priests　from　the　temple　of　Isis　in　Avaris。　Taita's　lip　curled　as　he　recognized　them　by　their　headdress　of　egret　feathers。　They　were　chanting　and　shaking　sistrums　over　the　brazier　in　one　corner　in　which　cauterizing　tongs　glowed　red　hot。　Taita's　professional　feud　with　these　quacks　went　back　two　generations。
　　
　　Apart　from　the　healers；　twenty　others　were　gathered　around　the　sickbed　in　the　centre　of　the　floor；　courtiers　and　army　officers；　scribes　and　other　officials；　all　looking　solemn　and　funereal。　Most　of　the　women　were　kneeling　on　the　floor；　wailing　and　keening。　Only　one　was　making　any　attempt　to　nurse　the　young　boy　who　lay　on　the　couch。　She　seemed　not　much　older　than　her　patient；　probably　thirteen　or　fourteen　years　of　age；　and　she　was　sponging　him　down　with　heated；　perfumed　water　from　a　copper　bowl。
　　
　　With　a　single　glance　Taita　saw　that　she　was　a　striking…looking　girl；　with　a　determined；　intelligent　face。　Her　concern　for　her　patient　was　evident；　her　expression　loving　and　her　hands　quick　and　petent。
　　
　　Taita　switched　his　attention　to　the　boy。　His　naked　body　was　also　well　formed；　but　wasted　by　disease。　His　skin　was　blotched　with　the　characteristic　stigmata　of　the　plague；　and　dewed　with　perspiration。　On　his　chest　were　the　raw　and　inflamed　wounds　where　he　had　been　bled　and　cauterized　by　the　priests　of　Isis。　Taita　saw　that　he　was　in　the　final　stages　of　the　disease。　His　thick　dark　hair　was　sodden　with　sweat；　it　hung　over　his　eyes；　which　were　sunk　into　plum…coloured　cavities；　open　and　bright　with　fever　but　unseeing。
　　
　　'This　is　Khyan；　my　youngest　son；'　Apepi　said；　as　he　went　to　the　bedside；　and　looked　down　at　the　child　helplessly。　The　plague　will　take　him；　unless　you　can　save　him；　Magus。'
　　
　　Khyan　groaned　and　rolled　on　to　his　side　with　his　knees　drawn　up　in　agony　to　his　lacerated　chest。　With　an　explosive　spluttering　sound　a　mixture　of　liquid　faeces　and　bright　blood　spurted　from　between　his　shrunken　buttocks　on　to　the　soiled　bed　linen。　The　girl　who　was　nursing　him　at　once　cleaned　his　backside　with　the　cloth；　then　wiped　up　the　mess　on　the　sheets　without　any　sign　of　distaste。　In　the　corner　the　healers　renewed　their　chants；　and　the　high　priest　took　up　a　pair　of　hot　tongs　from　the　charcoal　brazier　and　came　towards　the　bed。
　　
　　Taita　stepped　forward；　barring　the　man's　way　with　his　long　staff。　'Get　out！'　he　said　softly。　'You　and　your　butchers　have　done　enough　damage　here。'
　　
　　'I　must　burn　the　fever　out　of　his　body；'　the　man　protested。　'Out！'　Taita　repeated　grimly；　then　to　the　others　who　crowded　the　chamber；　'Out；　all　of　you。'
　　
　　'I　know　you　well；　Taita。　You　are　a　blasphemer；　and　a　familiar　of　demons　and　evil　spirits。'　The　priest　stood　his　ground；　and　brandished　the　glowing　bronze　instrument　menacingly。　'I　do　not　fear　your　magic。　You　have　no　authority　here。　The　prince　is　in　my　charge。'
　　
　　Taita　stepped　back　and　dropped　his　staff　at　the　feet　of　the　priest；　who　shrieked　and　sprang　back　as　the　rod　of　tambootie　wood　began　to　writhe；　hiss　and　snake　towards　him　over　the　tiles。　Suddenly　it　reared　up　head…high；　its　forked　tongue　darting　between　thin　grinning　lips　and　its　beady　black　eyes　glittering。
　　
　　Instantly　there　was　a　yelling　stampede　for　the　door。　Courtiers　and　priests；　soldiers　and　servants　panicked；　clawing　and　elbowing　their　way　through　the　press　to　be　the　first　out。　In　his　haste　to　escape；　the　high　priest　knocked　over　the　brazier；　then　screamed　as　he　danced　barefoot　on　the　scattered　coals。
　　
　　Within　seconds　the　chamber　was　deserted　except　for　Apepi；　who　had　not　moved；　and　the　girl　at　the　sickbed。　Taita　stooped　and　picked　up　the　writhing　serpent　by　the　tail。　Instantly　it　was　straight；　rigid　and　wooden　in　his　grasp。　He　pointed　the　restored　staff　at　the　girl　at　the　bedside。　'Who　are　you？'　he　demanded。
　　
　　'I　am　Mintaka。　This　is　my　brother。'　She　laid　her　hand　protectively　on　the　boy's　sweat…damp　curls；　and　lifted　her　chin　with　a　defiant　air。　'Do　your　worst；　Magus；　but　I　will　not　leave　him。'　Her　lips　trembled　and　her　dark　eyes　were　huge　with　terror。　She　was　clearly　overawed　by　his　reputation　and　by　the　serpent　staff　that　Taita　was　pointing　at　her。　'I　am　not　afraid　of　you；'　she　told　him；　then　moved　around　the　bed　until　it　was　between　them。
　　
　　'Good；'　said　Taita　briskly；　'Then　you　will　be　of　more　use　to　me。　When　did　the　boy　last　drink？'
　　
　　It　took　a　moment　for　her　to　gather　herself。　'Not　since　this　morning。'
　　
　　'Can't　those　quacks　see　that　he　is　dying　of　thirst　as　much　as　of　the　disease？　He　has　sweated　and　voided　most　of　the　water　from　his　body；'　Taita　grunted；　and　picked　up　the　copper　jug　from　beside　the　bed　to　sniff　the　contents。
　　
　　'This　is　foul　with　priest　poison　and　plague　humours。'　He　hurled　it　against　the　wall。　'Go　to　the　kitchens　and　find　another　jug。　Make　sure　it　is　clean。　Fill　it　from　the　well；　not　with　river　water。　Hurry；　girl。'　She　fled　and　Taita　opened　his　bag。
　　
　　Mintaka　returned　almost　immediately　with　a　brimming　jug　of　clean　water。　Taita　prepared　a　potion　of　herbs；　and　heated　it　on　the　brazier。
　　
　　'Help　me　give　it　to　him；'　he　ordered　the　girl　when　it　had　brewed。　He　showed　her　how　to　position　her　brother's　head　and　to　stroke　his　throat　as　he　dribbled　the　water　into　his　mouth。　Soon　Khyan　was　swallowing　freely。
　　
　　'What　can　I　do　to　help　you？'　the　king　asked。
　　
　　'My　lord；　there　is　nothing　for　you　here。　You　are　better　at　destroying　than　at　healing。'　Taita　dismissed　him　without　looking　up　from　his　patient。　There　was　a　long　silence；　then　the　tramp　of　Apepi's　bronze…studded　sandals　as　he　left　the　chamber。
　　
　　Mintaka　soon　lost　her　terror　of　the　Magus；　and　as　a　helper　she　was　quick　and　willing。　She　seemed　able　to　anticipate　Taita's　wishes。　She　forced　her　brother　to　drink　while　Taita　brewed　up　another　cup　of　medicine　from　his　bag　on　the　brazier。　Between　them　they　were　able　to　get　this　down　his　throat　without　losing　a　drop。　She　helped　him　smear　a　soothing　ointment　on　the　burns　that　covered　his　chest。　Then　between　them　they　wrapped　Khyan　in　linen　sheets　and　soaked　them　with　well　water　to　cool　his　burning　body。
　　
　　When　she　came　to　sit　beside　him　to　rest　for　a　moment　Taita　took　her　hand　and　turned　it　palm　up。　He　examined　the　red　lumps　on　the　inside　of　her　wrist；　but　Mintaka　tried　to　pull　her　hand