wilbursmith_warlock-第34部分

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e　of　her　maids　could　resist。　They　burst　into　merry　squeals　and　giggles　that　set　the　huntsmen　and　boatmen　off。　Even　Taita　joined　in；　cackling　unrestrainedly。
　　
　　For　a　moment　Nefer　looked　as　though　he　might　burst　into　tears；　but　then　his　anger；　kept　so　long　on　a　tight　rein；　exploded。　He　snatched　up　a　handful　of　thick　black　mud　and　hurled　it　up　at　the　laughing　princess。　His　humiliation　gave　strength　to　his　arm　and　improved　his　aim　while　Mintaka　was　so　helpless　with　mirth　that　she　could　neither　duck　nor　dodge　and　it　hit　her　full　in　the　face。　Her　laughter　died　and　she　stared　at　Nefer　with　huge　eyes　in　a　running　black　mask。
　　
　　It　was　Nefer's　turn　to　laugh。　Still　sitting　in　the　swamp　he　threw　back　his　head　and　gave　vent　to　all　his　frustration　and　humiliation　with　a　howl　of　mocking　laughter。　When　Pharaoh　laughs　all　the　world　laughs　with　him。　The　slaves；　boatmen　and　huntsmen　redoubled　their　shouts　of　merriment。
　　
　　Mintaka　recovered　swiftly　from　her　shock；　and　then；　without　any　warning；　launched　herself　over　the　bank　into　the　attack。　She　dropped　on　top　of　Nefer　with　all　her　weight。　He　was　taken　so　pletely　by　surprise　that　he　could　not　even　draw　a　full　breath　before　he　was　driven　clean　under　with　her　sitting　on　his　head。
　　
　　He　floundered　about　beneath　the　surface；　trying　to　get　purchase　on　the　muddy　bottom　but　her　weight　kept　him　pinned。　She　had　both　arms　locked　around　his　neck。　He　tried　to　throw　her　off；　but　she　was　nimble　and　slippery　as　an　eel　with　the　coating　of　mud。　With　a　huge　effort　he　lifted　her　just　long　enough　to　allow　him　to　stick　his　head　out　and　catch　a　quick　breath；　then　she　plunged　him　under　again。　He　managed　to　get　on　top　of　her　but　it　took　a　mighty　effort　to　hold　her。　She　wriggled　and　kicked　with　surprising　strength。　Her　tunic　had　rucked　up　round　her　waist　and　her　legs　were　bare　and　smooth。　She　hooked　her　one　leg　through　his　and　hung　on。　Now　they　were　face　to　face；　and　he　could　feel　her　body　warmth　through　the　slippery　mud。
　　
　　Their　filthy　faces　were　only　inches　apart；　her　hair　was　streaming　down　into　her　eyes；　and　he　was　startled　to　realize　that　she　was　grinning　at　him　through　the　slimy　coating。　He　grinned　back；　and　then　they　were　both　laughing。　But　neither　would　concede　defeat；　and　they　kept　up　the　struggle。
　　
　　His　chest　was　bare；　and　her　shift　so　wet　and　flimsy　that　it　might　not　have　existed。　Her　bare　legs　were　still　hooked　around　his。　He　reached　down　with　one　hand　to　prise　himself　free　of　their　tenacious　grip。　Unintentionally　his　right　hand　came　upon　a　hard　round　buttock　that　was　wriggling　around　with　great　energy。
　　
　　Nefer　became　aware　of　a　strange　and　pleasurable　sensation　that　seemed　to　suffuse　his　entire　body；　and　the　urgency　went　out　of　his　efforts　to　subdue　her。　He　was　content　to　hold　her　and　let　her　struggle　against　him　while　he　enjoyed　this　new　and　extraordinary　feeling。
　　
　　Abruptly　she　stopped　laughing　as　she　in　her　turn　made　a　momentous　discovery。　Between　their　lower　bodies　had　grown　up　a　protuberance　that；　only　moments　before；　had　not　existed。　It　was　so　rubbery　and　large　that　she　could　not　previously　have　overlooked　it。　She　pushed　her　hips　out　to　test　its　nature；　but　every　time　she　did　that　it　grew　harder　and　larger。　This　was　something　beyond　her　experience；　and　in　a　spirit　of　discovery　she　repeated　the　movement。
　　
　　She　hardly　noticed　that　he　had　stopped　his　violent　efforts　to　dislodge　her；　and　that　his　left　arm　was　wrapped　around　her　upper　body。　His　right　hand　was　cupped　around　her　posterior　and　when　next　she　pushed　out　her　hips　to　examine　the　lump；　he　imitated　her　movement　thrusting　out　to　meet　her　and　his　cupped　hand　drew　her　closer　still。　The　lump　prodded　against　her　as　though　it　were　some　small　animal　with　a　life　of　its　own。
　　
　　She　had　never　anticipated　the　sensation　that　overcame　her。　Suddenly　that　mysterious　creature　took　on　an　importance　far　beyond　anything　she　had　dreamed　of　up　to　that　time。　Her　entire　being　was　filled　with　a　dreamy；　pleasurable　warmth。　Without　conscious　intent　she　reached　down　with　one　hand　to　catch　hold　of　it；　to　capture　it　as　though　it　were　a　kitten　or　a　puppy。
　　
　　Then；　with　a　shock　like　a　blow　to　her　stomach；　she　remembered　the　wild　tales　her　slave　girls　had　told　her　about　that　thing；　and　what　men　did　with　it。　On　more　than　one　occasion　they　had　described　it　to　her　in　startling　detail。　Up　to　that　time　she　had　discounted　these　descriptions　as　pure　invention；　for　they　bore　no　resemblance　to　the　small　dangling　appendages　that　her　younger　brothers　carried　in　that　area　of　their　anatomy。
　　
　　She　particularly　remembered　what　Saak；　the　Numidian　slave　girl；　had　told　her：　'You　won't　waste　any　more　prayers　on　Hathor　once　you　have　seen　the　one…eyed　god　when　he　is　angry。'
　　
　　Mintaka　threw　herself　backwards　out　of　Nefer's　embrace　and　sat　in　the　mud　staring　at　him　in　consternation。　Nefer　struggled　into　a　sitting　position　and　returned　her　stare　with　a　bemused　air。　Both　were　panting　as　though　they　had　run　a　gruelling　race。
　　
　　The　guffaws　and　shrieks　of　laughter　from　the　high　bank　slowly　petered　out　as　the　spectators　became　aware　that　something　untoward　had　taken　place；　and　the　silence　became　unfortable。　Taita　covered　it　up　smoothly：　'Your　Majesty；　if　you　extend　your　swim　much　longer　you　will　offer　a　fine　breakfast　to　any　passing　crocodile。'
　　
　　Nefer　jumped　up　and　sloshed　across　to　where　Mintaka　sat。　He　lifted　her　to　her　feet　as　gently　as　if　she　were　made　of　the　most　delicate　Hurrian　glass。
　　
　　Dripping　slime　and　Nile　water；　with　her　hair　dangling　in　a　muddy　tangle　over　her　face　and　shoulders；　her　maids　led　the　princess　away　to　find　a　clean　pool　well　screened　by　reeds。　When　she　reappeared　some　time　later　she　was　washed　clean　of　the　last　traces　of　slime　and　ooze。　The　maids　had　brought　with　them　a　change　of　apparel；　so　Mintaka　was　resplendent　in　a　clean　dry　apron　embroidered　with　silk　and　seed　pearls　and　there　were　golden　bracelets　on　her　arms　and　a　necklace　of　turquoise　and　coloured　glass　at　her　throat。　Her　hair；　though　damp；　was　bed　and　plaited　neatly。
　　
　　Nefer　hurried　to　meet　her　and　led　her　to　her　a　giant　kigelia　tree　under　whose　spreading　branches　a　breakfast　feast　was　laid　out　in　the　shade。　At　first　the　young　couple　were　restrained　and　shy；　still　overawed　by　the　momentous　awakening　that　they　had　shared；　but　soon　their　natural　high　spirits　reasserted　themselves；　and　they　joined　in　the　banter　and　the　chatter；　although　their　eyes　kept　meeting　and　almost　every　word　they　uttered　was　aimed　at　the　other。
　　
　　Mintaka　loved　to　riddle　and　she　challenged　him　to　an　exchange。　She　made　it　more　difficult　for　Nefer　by　couching　her　clues　in　the　Hyksosian　language。
　　
　　'I　have　one　eye　and　a　sharp　nose。　I　run　my　victim　through　and　through；　but　I　draw　no　blood。　What　am　I？'
　　
　　That's　easy！'　Nefer　laughed　triumphantly。　'You　are　a　sewing　needle。'　And　Mintaka　threw　up　her　hands　in　surrender。
　　
　　'Forfeit！'　cried　the　slave　girls。　'Pharaoh　is　right。　Forfeit！'
　　
　　'A　song！'　Nefer　demanded。　'But　not　the　monkey。　We　have　had　enough　of　him　for　one　day。'
　　
　　'I　shall　give　you　〃The　Song　of　the　Nile〃；'　she　agreed；　and　when　she　finished　Nefer　demanded　another。　'Only　if　you　help　me；　Majesty。'
　　
　　His　voice　was　a　robust　tenor　but　whenever　he　slipped　off…key　she　covered　his　mistake　and　made　him　sound　much　better　than　he　was。
　　
　　Of　course　Nefer　had　brought　his　bao　board　and　stones。　Taita　had　taught　him　to　love　it；　and　he　had　bee　expert。　When　he　tired　of　the　singing　he　inveigled　Mintaka　into　a　game。
　　
　　'You　will　have　to　be　patient　with　me。　I　am　a　novice；'　she　warned　him；　as　he　set　out　the　board。　Bao　was　an　Egyptian　game；　and　this　time　he　expected　confidently　to　outmatch　her。
　　
　　'Don't　feel　bad　about　it；'　Nefer　encouraged　her。　'I　will　coach　you。〃
　　
　　Taita　smiled　because　he　and　Mintaka　had　wiled　away　a　few　hours　at　bao　in　the　palace　of　Bubasti　when　they　were　nursing　her　little　brother。　Within　eighteen　moves　her　red　stones　dominated　the　west　castle　and　were　menacing　his　centre。
　　
　　'Have　I　done　the　right　thing？'　she　asked　sweetly。
　　
　　Nefer　was　saved　by　a　hail　from　the　riverbank　and　looked　up　to　see　a　galley　flying　the　Regent's　pennant　ing　swiftly　down　the　channel。　'What　a　pity。　Just　when　the　game　was　getting　interesting。'　He　began　to　pack　up　the　board　with　alacrity。
　　
　　'Can't　we　hide　from　them？'　Mintaka　asked；　but　Nefer　shook　his　head。　They　have　seen　us　already。'　He　had　been　expecting　this　visitation　all　morning。　Sooner　or　later　the　Regent　must　hear　about　this　illicit　outing　and　send　Asmor　to　bring　in　his　errant　charge。
　　
　　The　galley　nosed　into　the　bank　below　where　they　sat　and　Asmor　sprang　ashore。　He　strode　up　to　the　picnic　party。　'The　Regent　is　much　displeased　by　your　absence。　He　bids　you　return　at　once　to　the　temple；　where　matters　of　state　await　your　attention。'
　　
　　'And　I；　Lord　Asmor；　am　much　displeased　by　your　ill　manners。'　Nefer　tried　to　retrieve　some　of　his　hurt　dignity。　'I　am　not　a　groom　or　a　house　servant　to　be　addressed　in　that　manner；　and　neither　have　you　shown　respect　for　the　Princess　Mintaka。'　But　there　was　no　escaping　that　he　was　being　treated　like　a　child。
　　
　　Still；　he　tried　to　put　a　good　face　on　it　and　invited　Mintaka　to　sail　back　with　him　in　the　skiff　while　her　maids　followed　in　the　second　vessel。　Taita　kept　tactfully　to　the　bows　as　this　was　their　first　opportunity　to　hold　a　private　conversation。　Not　quite　certain　what　to　expect　of　her　Nefer　was　startled　when；　rather　than　bothering　with　polite　niceties；　she　launched　immediately　into　a　discussion　of　the　chances　of　success　or　failure　of　the　peace　conference　between　their　opposing　sides。　She　soon　impressed　him　with　her　political　acumen　and　her　strong　views。　'If　only　we　women　were　allowed　to　run　this　world；　there　would　never　have　been　a　stupid　war　in　the　first　place；'　she　summed　up；　but　he　could　not　let　that　go　unchallenged。　They　argued　animatedly　all　the　way　back　to　the　temple。　The　journey　was　far　too　short　for　Nefer's　liking；　and　as　they　came　into　the　landing　he　took　her　hand。　'I　should　like　to　see　you　again。'
　　
　　'I　should　like　that　well　enough；'　she　replied；　without　withdrawing　her　hand。
　　
　　'Soon；'　he　insisted。