wilbursmith_warlock-第38部分

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sed　him　in　avid　detail；　endlessly　pointing　out　his　more　obvious　virtues　and；　with　breathless　giggles；　speculating　in　salacious　detail　on　his　hidden　attributes。
　　
　　Perhaps　as　a　consequence　of　these　discussions　Heseret　had　recently　been　experiencing　intriguing　dreams。　In　one　she　had　run　naked　through　a　lush　garden　on　the　bank　of　the　river　pursued　by　the　Regent。　When　she　looked　back　at　him　over　her　shoulder　she　saw　that　he　also　was　naked；　but　that　he　was　human　only　as　far　as　his　waist。　From　there　down　he　was　a　horse；　exactly　like　Nefer's　favourite　stallion；　Stargazer。　When　he　was　with　the　mares；　she　had　often　seen　Stargazer　in　the　same　amazing　condition　as　the　Regent　now　exhibited；　and　she　had　always　found　herself　strangely　moved　by　the　sight。　However；　just　as　the　Regent　caught　up　with　her　and　reached　out　a　bejewelled　hand　to　seize　her　the　dream　ended　abruptly　and　she　found　herself　sitting　bolt　upright　on　her　mattress。　Without　realizing　what　she　was　doing　she　reached　down　and　touched　herself。　Her　fingers　came　away　wet　and　slippery。　She　was　so　disturbed　that　she　could　not　sleep　again　and　pick　up　the　dream　where　it　had　broken　off；　although　she　tried　hard　to　do　so。　She　wanted　to　know　the　oute　of　this　enthralling　experience。　The　next　morning　she　felt　restless　and　irritable；　and　took　out　her　bad　temper　on　all　those　around　her。　From　that　time　onwards　her　girlish　interest　in　Meren　began　to　fade。　She　saw　him　seldom；　these　days；　anyway：　since　the　death　of　his　grandfather　at　Lord　Naja's　hands　his　fortune　had　been　forfeit；　and　the　family　had　fallen　into　disgrace。　She　came　to　realize　that　he　was　an　impecunious　boy；　a　mon　soldier　without　favour　or　prospects。　Lord　Naja's　social　rank　almost　matched　hers；　and　his　fortune　far　exceeded　her　own。
　　
　　Now　she　kept　a　demure　and　chaste　demeanour　as　Apepi　led　her　down　the　long　hypostyle　gallery　of　the　temple　to　the　sanctuary。　Lord　Naja　was　waiting　there　for　the　bridal　party；　and　although　he　was　surrounded　by　courtiers　and　officers　in　fine　costumes　and　magnificent　uniforms；　Heseret　had　eyes　for　him　alone。
　　
　　He　wore　a　plumed　headdress　of　ostrich　feathers　to　emulate　the　god　Osiris　and　stood　tall　above　even　Asmor　and　Lord　Trok；　who　flanked　him。　As　Heseret　approached　him　she　became　aware　of　his　perfume。　It　was　a　blend　of　essences　of　blooms　from　a　land　beyond　the　Indus　and　also　contained　the　precious　ambergris；　found　only　rarely　on　the　seashore；　a　bounty　from　the　gods　of　the　ocean　depths。　The　aroma　stirred　her；　and　she　took　the　hand　that　Naja　offered　her　without　hesitation；　and　looked　up　into　those　fascinating　yellow　eyes。
　　
　　When　Naja　offered　his　other　hand　to　Merykara　she　burst　into　loud　sobs；　and　it　was　all　Nefer　could　do　to　fort　her。　She　sobbed　softly　at　intervals　during　the　long　ceremony　that　followed。
　　
　　When　at　last　Lord　Naja　broke　the　jars　of　Nile　water　to　mark　the　culmination　of　the　ceremony；　the　crowds　gasped　with　amazement：　the　waters　of　the　great　river；　on　whose　bank　the　temple　stood；　turned　a　brilliant　blue。　Around　the　first　bend　Naja　had　caused　a　line　of　barges　to　be　anchored　from　bank　to　bank；　and　at　a　signal　relayed　from　the　temple　roof　they　had　released　jars　of　dye　into　the　waters。　The　effect　was　breathtaking；　for　blue　was　the　colour　of　the　Tamosian　dynasty。　Naja　was　declaring　to　the　world　his　new　pharaonic　connections。
　　
　　Watching　from　the　roof　of　the　western　enclosure；　Taita　saw　the　river　change　colour　and　shuddered　with　a　sense　of　foreboding。　It　seemed　that　for　a　moment　the　sun　darkened　in　the　tall　Egyptian　sky　while　the　blue　waters　took　on　the　colour　of　blood。　But　when　he　looked　up　there　was　no　cloud；　no　passing　flock　of　birds　to　dull　its　rays；　and　when　he　looked　down　the　waters　were　once　more　cerulean　blue。
　　
　　Now　Naja　is　of　the　blood　royal；　and　Nefer　is　stripped　of　even　that　protection。　I　am　the　only　shield　he　has；　and　I　am　one　man　and　old。　Will　my　powers　be　enough　to　turn　away　the　cobra　from　the　fledgling　falcon？　Give　me　your　strength；　divine　Horus。　You　have　been　my　buckler　and　my　lance　down　all　the　years。　Do　not　forsake　me　now；　mighty　god。
　　
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　　Lord　Naja　and　his　two　new　wives　rode　back　in　splendour　down　the　sacred　avenue　guarded　by　the　ranks　of　granite　lions　to　the　palace　gates。　There　they　dismounted　and　went　in　procession　through　the　gardens　to　the　banquet　hall。　Most　of　the　guests　had　arrived　ahead　of　them；　and　had　been　sampling　the　wine　from　the　vineyards　of　the　temple　of　Osiris。　The　motion　as　the　wedding　party　entered　was　deafening。　Naja　led　a　new　young　wife　on　each　hand。　The　trio　processed　with　dignity　through　the　throng　and　briefly　inspected　the　heaps　of　gifts　stacked　in　the　centre　of　the　banquet　hall；　which　were　fitting　to　such　a　momentous　occasion。　Apepi　had　sent　a　chariot　covered　in　gold　leaf。　It　was　so　brilliant　that　even　in　the　dimly　lit　hall　it　was　difficult　to　look　at　it　directly。　From　Babylon　King　Sargon　had　sent　a　hundred　slaves；　each　bearing　a　sandalwood　chest　filled　with　jewellery；　precious　stones　or　golden　vessels。　They　knelt　before　the　Regent　and　offered　their　burdens。　Naja　touched　each　as　a　sign　of　acceptance。　Pharaoh　Nefer　Seti；　at　the　suggestion　of　Lord　Naja；　had　deeded　to　his　new　brother…in…law　five　expansive　estates　on　the　riverbank。　The　scribes　had　calculated　that　all　these　treasures　were　worth　upward　of　three　lakhs　of　pure　gold。　The　Regent　had　bee　almost　as　rich　as　his　pharaoh。
　　
　　When　the　connubial　trio　took　their　seats　at　the　head　of　the　wedding　board；　the　palace　cooks　laid　a　feast　before　them　and　their　guests　that　consisted　of　forty　different　dishes　served　by　a　thousand　slaves。　There　were　trunks　of　elephants；　tongues　of　the　buffalo　and　fillets　of　Nubian　mountain　goat；　the　flesh　of　wild　boar　and　warthog；　gazelle　and　Nubian　ibex；　of　monitor　lizard　and　python；　of　crocodile　and　hippopotamus；　oxen　and　sheep。　Every　type　of　Nile　fish　was　served；　from　barbelled　catfish；　whose　flesh　ran　with　rich　yellow　fat；　to　white…fleshed　perch　and　bream。　From　the　northern　sea　there　was　tuna；　shark；　grouper；　crayfish　and　crab；　sent　up　by　fast　river　galley　from　the　delta。　The　birds　of　the　air；　including　mute　swans；　three　types　of　goose；　numerous　varieties　of　duck；　and　lark；　bustard；　partridge　and　quail；　were　roasted；　baked　or　grilled；　marinated　in　wine　or　wild　honey；　or　stuffed　with　herbs　and　spices　from　the　Orient。　The　aromatic　smoke　from　the　fires　and　the　smell　of　cooking　was　savoured　by　the　crowds　of　beggars　and　moners　at　the　palace　gates；　and　by　those　who　lined　the　far　bank　of　the　river；　or　filled　the　feluccas　in　mid…stream　all　vying　for　a　closer　view　of　the　festivities。
　　
　　To　entertain　the　guests　there　were　musicians　and　jugglers；　acrobats　and　animal　trainers。　Maddened　by　the　uproar；　one　of　the　huge　brown　bears　broke　its　chain　and　escaped。　A　party　of　Hyksosian　nobles；　led　by　Lord　Trok；　pursued　it　through　the　gardens　with　drunken　shouts　and　slew　the　cringing　animal　on　the　riverbank。
　　
　　King　Apepi　was　titillated　by　the　suppleness　and　athleticism　of　two　of　the　Assyrian　female　acrobats：　so　he　picked　up　one　under　each　arm　and　carried　them；　kicking　and　squealing；　from　the　dance　floor　into　the　private　quarters　of　the　palace。　When　he　returned　he　confided　to　Taita；　'One　of　them；　the　pretty　one　with　long　curls；　was　a　boy。　I　was　so　surprised　when　I　discovered　what　he　had　between　his　legs　that　I　almost　let　him　escape。'　He　roared　with　laughter。　'Luckily　I　did　not；　for　he　was　by　far　the　most　succulent　of　the　two。〃
　　
　　By　nightfall　most　of　the　guests　were　drunk　or　so　stuffed　with　food　that　few　could　stand　when　Lord　Naja　and　his　brides　retired。　As　soon　as　they　were　in　the　private　apartments　Naja　called　for　the　nursemaids　to　take　Merykara　to　her　own　quarters。　'Treat　her　gently；'　he　warned　them。　'The　poor　child　is　asleep　on　her　feet。'
　　
　　Then　he　took　Heseret　by　the　hand　and　led　her　to　his　own　sumptuous　apartments；　which　overlooked　the　river。　The　Nile's　dark　waters　were　spangled　with　the　reflection　of　the　golden　stars。
　　
　　As　soon　as　they　entered　the　chamber；　Heseret's　handmaidens　took　her　behind　the　screen　of　bamboo　to　remove　her　wedding　dress　and　jewellery。
　　
　　Covering　the　marriage　bed　was　a　sheepskin　that　had　been　bleached　shining　white。　Lord　Naja　inspected　it　carefully；　and　when　he　was　assured　of　its　perfection　he　went　out　on　to　the　terrace　and　inhaled　deeply　the　cool　river　air。　A　slave　brought　him　a　bowl　of　spiced　wine；　and　he　sipped　appreciatively。　It　was　the　first　he　had　allowed　himself　all　evening。　Naja　knew　that　one　of　the　most　vital　secrets　of　survival　was　to　keep　his　wits　clear　in　the　presence　of　his　enemies。　He　had　watched　all　the　other　guests　drink　themselves　into　a　pitiful　state。　Even　Trok；　in　whom　he　placed　so　much　trust　and　confidence；　had　succumbed　to　his　animal　nature…Naja　had　last　seen　him　puking　copiously　into　a　bowl　held　for　him　by　a　pretty　Libyan　slave　girl。　When　he　had　finished　Trok　had　wiped　his　mouth　on　the　girl's　skirts　then　lifted　them　over　her　head；　pushed　her　down　on　the　grassy　sward　and　mounted　her　from　behind。　Naja's　fastidious　nature　had　been　offended　by　this　display。
　　
　　He　returned　to　the　chamber　as　two　slaves　staggered　in；　bearing　between　them　a　cauldron　of　hot　water；　in　which　floated　lotus　petals。　Naja　set　aside　the　wine　bowl　and　went　to　bathe。　One　of　the　slaves　dried　and　braided　his　hair；　while　the　other　brought　him　a　clean　white　robe。　He　dismissed　them　and　returned　to　the　marriage　bed。　He　lay　upon　it；　stretched　out　his　long；　elegant　limbs　and　rested　his　braided　head　on　the　gold…inlaided　ivory　headrest。
　　
　　From　the　far　end　of　the　chamber　came　the　rustle　of　clothing　and　feminine　whispers。　Once　he　recognized　Heseret's　giggle　and　the　sound　aroused　him。　He　propped　himself　up　on　one　elbow　and　looked　across　at　the　bamboo　screen。　The　gaps　in　it　were　just　large　enough　to　afford　him　tantalizing　glimpses　of　pale　smooth　skin。
　　
　　Power　and　political　aspiration　were　the　main　reasons　for　this　marriage；　but　they　were　not　the　only　ones。　Although　he　was　a　warrior　by　trade　and　an　adventurer　by　disposition；　Naja　had　a　voluptuous　and　sensual　nature。　For　years　he　had　watched　Heseret　surreptitiously；　and　his　interest　had　increased　at　each　stage　in　her　journey　towards　womanhood；　from　infancy　through　gawky　girlhood；　and　then　that　tantalizing