wilbursmith_warlock-第29部分

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　　Dressed　in　their　yellow　robes　they　were　gathered　in　the　courtyard　of　the　temple；　between　the　two　massive　statues　of　the　goddess。　One　of　these　depicted　Hathor　as　the　piebald　cow　with　golden　horns；　and　the　other　was　her　human　manifestation；　the　tall；　beautiful　lady　wearing　the　crown　of　horns　and　the　golden　sun　disc　on　her　head。
　　
　　The　priestesses　chanted　and　rattled　the　sistrum　as　the　suite　of　Pharaoh　Nefer　Seti　filed　into　the　courtyard　from　the　eastern　wing；　while　King　Apepi's　courtiers　entered　through　the　western　colonnade。　The　order　of　arrival　at　the　conference　had　been　a　matter　of　such　heated　debate　that　the　negotiations　had　almost　broken　down　before　they　had　begun。　The　first　arrival　would　have　the　prestige　of　the　incumbent　in　the　position　of　power；　while　the　second　arrival　would　appear　as　the　supplicant　begging　for　peace。　Neither　side　had　been　willing　to　forgo　the　advantage。
　　
　　It　was　Taita　who　had　suggested　the　expedient　of　a　simultaneous　arrival。　He　had　also　tactfully　settled　the　equally　vexing　question　of　the　regalia　to　be　worn　by　the　two　protagonists。　Both　would　eschew　the　double　crown。　Apepi　would　wear　the　red　deshret　crown　of　Lower　Egypt；　while　Nefer　Seti　would　confine　himself　to　the　white　hedjet　crown　of　Upper　Egypt。
　　
　　The　entourages　of　both　rulers　packed　the　spacious　courtyard；　their　ranks　facing　each　other　unsmiling　and　grim。　Only　a　few　paces　separated　them　physically；　but　the　bitterness　and　hatred　of　sixty　years'　strife　formed　a　mighty　barrier　between　them。
　　
　　The　hostile　silence　was　shattered　by　a　rolling　fanfare　of　rams'　horns；　and　the　thunder　of　bronze　gongs。　This　was　the　signal　for　the　royal　parties　to　emerge　from　the　opposite　wings　of　the　temple。
　　
　　Lord　Naja　and　Pharaoh　Nefer　Seti　paced　out　solemnly　and　took　their　places　on　the　high…backed　thrones；　while　the　two　princesses；　Heseret　and　Merykara；　followed　them　meekly　and　took　their　seats　at　the　foot　of　Naja's　throne；　for　they　were　his　betrothed。　Both　girls　were　so　heavily　made…up　that　their　faces　were　as　expressionless　as　that　of　the　statue　of　Hathor　in　whose　shadow　they　sat。
　　
　　At　the　same　time　the　Hyksosian　royal　family　emerged　from　the　opposing　wing　of　the　temple。　Apepi　led　them；　an　impressive；　warlike　figure　in　full　battle　armour。　He　glared　across　the　courtyard　at　the　boy　pharaoh。　Eight　of　his　sons　followed　him；　only　Khyan；　the　youngest；　had　not　recovered　sufficiently　from　the　plague　to　make　the　journey　upriver。　Like　their　father　they　were　armed　and　armoured；　and　strutted　and　posed　with　the　same　bravado。
　　
　　A　formidable　coterie　of　bloodthirsty　ruffians；　Taita　thought；　as　he　surveyed　them　from　where　he　stood　close　to　Nefer's　throne。
　　
　　Apepi　had　brought　only　one　of　his　many　daughters　with　him。　Like　a　desert　rose　in　a　thicket　of　spiny　cactus；　the　contrast　to　her　brothers　made　Mintaka's　beauty　shine　out。　She　picked　out　Taita's　tall　lank　figure　and　silver　hair　in　the　crowd　opposite　and　her　face　lit　in　a　smile　so　radiant　that　it　seemed　for　a　moment　that　the　sun　had　burst　through　the　awnings　stretched　over　the　courtyard。　None　of　the　Egyptians　had　ever　laid　eyes　on　her　before；　and　there　was　a　subdued　。rustle　and　murmur　through　their　ranks。　They　had　been　unprepared　for　her。　The　myth　was　that　all　Hyksosian　women　were　as　heavily　built　as　their　menfolk　and　twice　as　ugly。
　　
　　Pharaoh　Nefer　Seti　leaned　forward　slightly　and　despite　the　solemnity　of　the　occasion　tugged　at　his　earlobe　under　the　bottle…shaped　white　crown。　It　was　a　habit　Taita　had　tried　to　break；　and　Nefer　only　did　it　when　he　was　intensely　interested　in　something；　or　when　he　was　distracted。　Taita　had　not　seen　Nefer　for　over　two　months…Naja　had　kept　them　separated　since　his　return　from　Apepi's　headquarters　at　Bubasti　…yet　he　was　so　familiar　with　the　boy；　so　attuned　to　his　mind；　that　he　could　still　read　his　thoughts　with　ease。　He　sensed　that　Nefer　was　in　a　ferment　of　elation　and　excitement；　as　intense　as　if　he　had　just　spotted　a　gazelle　moving　within　arrow　range；　or　was　about　to　mount　an　unbroken　colt；　or　had　launched　a　hawk　at　a　heron　and　was　watching　it　begin　its　stoop。
　　
　　Taita　had　never　known　him　react　like　this　to　the　presence　of　a　member　of　the　opposite　sex。　Nefer　had　always　looked　upon　all　females；　including　his　sisters；　with　a　regal　disdain。　However；　it　was　less　than　a　year　since　he　had　been　launched　on　to　the　troubled　waters　of　puberty；　and　most　of　that　time　he　had　been　sequestered　with　Taita　in　the　wilderness　of　Gebel　Nagara　where　there　had　been　nothing　to　rivet　his　attention　in　the　way　that　Mintaka　was　now　doing。
　　
　　Taita　felt　smug　at　what　he　had　achieved　with　so　little　effort。　It　would　have　plicated　all　his　plans　and　enhanced　the　danger　in　which　they　found　themselves　if　Nefer　had　taken　a　violent　dislike　to　the　Hyksosian　girl。　If　the　two　married；　Nefer　would　be　the　son…in…law　of　Apepi　and　e　under　his　protection。　Even　Naja　must　pause　before　giving　offence　to　someone　so　powerful　and　dangerous。　Mintaka　might　unwittingly　save　Nefer　from　the　Regent's　machinations　and　ambitions。　That　at　least　was　Taita's　intention　in　fostering　the　union。
　　
　　During　the　short　time　they　had　nursed　and　cared　for　her　brother　Taita　and　Mintaka　had　formed　a　firm　friendship。　Now　Taita　nodded　almost　imperceptibly　and　returned　her　smile。　Then　Mintaka's　gaze　moved　past　him。　She　looked　with　interest　at　the　noble　Egyptian　women　opposite　her。　She　had　heard　much　about　them；　but　these　were　the　first　she　had　seen。　Swiftly　she　singled　out　Heseret。　With　sure　feminine　instinct　she　recognized　someone　as　attractive　as　herself；　and　a　possible　future　rival。　Heseret　reacted　to　her　in　exactly　the　same　way；　and　they　exchanged　a　brief　but　haughty　and　mutually　hostile　glance。　Then　Mintaka　raised　her　eyes　to　the　impressive　figure　of　Lord　Naja　and　stared　at　him　with　fascination。
　　
　　He　was　such　a　splendid　sight；　so　different　from　her　own　father　and　brothers。　He　shone　with　gold　and　precious　stones；　and　his　linen　was　dazzling　in　its　purity。　She　could　smell　his　perfume　across　the　distance　that　separated　them；　like　a　field　of　wild　flowers。　His　face　was　a　mask　of　makeup；　his　skin　almost　luminous　and　his　eyes　outlined　and　enhanced　with　kohl。　Yet　she　thought　that　his　was　the　fatal　beauty　of　a　snake　or　a　poisonous　insect。　She　shivered　and　turned　her　eyes　to　the　figure　on　the　throne　beside　the　Regent。
　　
　　Pharaoh　Nefer　Seti　was　staring　at　her　with　such　intensity　that　she　caught　her　breath。　His　eyes　were　so　green…that　was　the　first　thing　that　struck　her　and　she　wanted　to　look　away　but　found　she　could　not。　Instead　she　started　to　blush。
　　
　　Pharaoh　Nefer　Seti　looked　so　dignified　and　divine　under　the　white　crown　and　with　the　false　goatee　beard　on　his　chin　that　she　felt　flustered。　Then；　suddenly；　Pharaoh　gave　her　a　warm　and　conspiratorial　smile。　Instantly　his　face　was　boyish　and　appealing；　and　unaccountably　her　breath　came　faster　and　she　blushed　deeper。　With　an　effort　she　tore　away　her　eyes；　and　studied　the　cow　statue　of　the　goddess　Hathor　with　great　attention。
　　
　　It　took　her　some　time　to　bring　herself　under　control；　and　by　that　time　Lord　Naja；　the　Regent　of　Upper　Egypt；　was　speaking。　In　measured　tones　he　greeted　Apepi；　diplomatically　referring　to　him　as　King　of　the　Hyksos　but　avoiding　any　reference　to　his　claims　to　Egyptian　territory。　Mintaka　watched　his　lips　intently；　but　she　was　aware　of　Nefer's　eyes　on　her；　and　determined　not　to　look　at　him。
　　
　　Lord　Naja's　voice　was　sonorous　and　boring；　and　at　last　she　could　hold　out　no　longer。　She　sneaked　a　quick　sideways　glance　at　Nefer；　intending　to　look　away　again　immediately；　but　his　eyes　were　still　fastened　on　her。　They　glinted　with　silent　laughter　and　fascinated　her。　Hers　was　not　a　timid　nature；　but　this　time　her　smile　was　shy　and　hesitant；　and　she　felt　her　colour　rise　again。　She　dropped　her　eyes　and　looked　at　her　hands　in　her　lap；　twisting　her　fingers　together　until　she　realized　that　she　was　fidgeting　and　stopped　herself。　She　kept　her　hands　still；　but　now　she　was　irritated　with　Nefer　for　having　ruffled　her　calm。　He　is　only　a　precious　Egyptian　fop。　Any　one　of　my　brothers　is　more　of　a　man　and　twice　as　handsome。　He　is　only　trying　to　make　me　look　a　fool　by　staring　at　me　in　that　boorish　way。　I　will　not　look　at　him　again。　I　will　ignore　him　pletely；　she　decided；　and　her　resolve　lasted　until　Lord　Naja　stopped　speaking；　and　her　father　rose　to　answer　him。
　　
　　She　shot　Nefer　another　quick　look　from　under　her　thick　dark　lashes。　He　was　gazing　at　her　father；　but　the　moment　her　glance　touched　his　face　his　eyes　swivelled　to　her。　She　tried　to　make　her　expression　severe　and　forbidding；　but　as　soon　as　he　smiled　her　lips　twitched　in　sympathy。　He　really　is　as　handsome　as　some　of　my　brothers；　she　conceded；　then　took　another　quick　peek。　Or　perhaps　as　any　of　them。　She　looked　back　at　her　lap　and　thought　about　it。　Then　she　took　another　peep　just　to　make　certain。　Perhaps　even　more　handsome　than　any　of　them；　even　Ruga。　Immediately　she　felt　that　she　had　betrayed　her　eldest　brother　and　qualified　her　opinion：　But　in　a　different　kind　of　way；　of　course。
　　
　　She　glanced　sideways　at　Ruga：　with　his　beribboned　beard　and　dark　brow；　he　was　all　warrior。　Ruga　is　a　fine…looking　man；　she　thought　loyally。
　　
　　In　the　ranks　opposite；　Taita　did　not　seem　to　be　watching　her　but　he　missed　not　a　single　nuance　of　the　surreptitious　exchanges　between　Nefer　and　Mintaka。　He　saw　more　than　that。　Lord　Trok；　Naja's　cousin；　was　standing　close　behind　Apepi's　throne；　almost　within　arm's　reach　of　Mintaka。　His　arms　were　folded　over　his　chest；　and　he　wore　embossed　wristlets　of　solid　gold。　Over　one　shoulder　was　slung　a　heavy　recurved　bow；　over　the　other　an　arrow　quiver　covered　with　gold　leaf。　Around　his　neck　were　the　gold　chains　of　valour　and　praise。　The　Hyksos　had　adopted　Egyptian　military　honours　and　decorations　as　well　as　their　beliefs　and　customs。　Trok　was　watching　the　Hyksosian　princess　with　an　unfathomable　expression。
　　
　　There　was　another　brief　exchange　of　glances　between　Mintaka　and　Nefer；　which　Trok　followed　with　his　dark；　brooding　gaze。　Taita　could　sense　his　anger　and　jealousy。　It　was　as　though　the　hot　and　oppressive　cloud　of　the　khamsin；　the　terrible　Saharan　sandstorm；　was　building　up　on　the　desert　horizon。　I　had　not　fore