wilbursmith_warlock-第42部分

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hariots　down　the　valley。　One　of　the　trackers　will　go　with　you　to　search　for　sign。'　To　Asmor　he　said；　Take　three　chariots　and　cast　back　along　the　edge　of　the　plain　to　Dabba；　in　case　he　has　returned　to　where　he　last　killed。'　Then　he　looked　at　Nefer。　'Pharaoh；　you　cast　in　the　opposite　direction；　north　towards　Achmim。'
　　
　　Nefer　realized　that　he　was　being　given　the　least　promising　ground　to　cover；　but　he　had　no　plaint。　This　new　plan　meant　that　for　the　first　time　he　and　Mintaka　would　be　away　from　the　direct　surveillance　of　his　guardians。　Naja；　Asmor　and　Trok　were　being　sent　in　different　directions。　He　waited　for　someone　to　point　this　out；　but　they　were　all　so　wrapped　up　in　the　hunt　that　no　one　seemed　to　realize　the　significance　of　this　move。　Except　Naja。
　　
　　He　looked　hard　at　Nefer。　Perhaps　he　was　weighing　the　advisability　of　countermanding　Apepi's　orders；　but　in　the　end　he　must　have　realized　that　this　would　be　unwise　and　concluded　that　Nefer　was　guarded　by　the　desert　as　effectively　as　he　would　have　been　by　Asmor：　there　was　no　place　for　him　to　run　to；　and　if　he　took　Mintaka　with　him　on　some　wild　adventure　he　would　have　the　entire　armies　of　both　kingdoms　upon　him　like　swarms　of　wild　bees。
　　
　　Naja　looked　away　from　him　as　Apepi　went　on　to　nominate　an　assembly　point；　and　to　give　his　final　orders。　At　last　the　ram's　horns　sounded　the　mount…up　and　the　advance；　and　the　five　columns　drove　out　of　the　valley。　On　the　level　ground　they　split　into　their　separate　squadrons　and　headed　out　in　diverging　directions。
　　
　　As　the　last　of　the　other　squadrons　disappeared　among　the　stark　hills；　Mintaka　leaned　even　closer　to　Nefer　and　murmured；　'At　last　Hathor　has　shown　mercy　to　us。'
　　
　　'I　believe　it　is　Horus　who　has　granted　us　his　favour；'　Nefer　grinned　down　at　her；　'but　I　will　accept　this　benevolence　from　whomsoever　it　es。'
　　
　　There　were　two　other　chariots　in　Nefer's　squadron；　manded　by　Colonel　Hilto；　the　old　soldier　who　had　discovered　him　and　Taita　when　they　had　tried　to　escape　from　Egypt。　He　had　served　under　Nefer's　father　and　was　loyal　unto　death：　Nefer　knew　he　could　trust　him　without　reservation。
　　
　　Nefer　led　them　fast；　wanting　to　make　the　most　of　the　remaining　daylight；　and　within　an　hour's　ride　the　vast　vista　of　the　river　plain　opened　beneath　them。　He　reined　in　to　admire　it　for　a　few　minutes。　The　river　was　an　emerald　mounted　in　the　luscious　green　of　fields　and　plantations　that　enclosed　it。
　　
　　'How　beautiful　it　is；　Nefer。'　Mintaka　spoke　almost　dreamily。　'Even　when　we　are　married；　we　must　always　remember　that　this　land　owns　us；　and　that　we　do　not　own　it。'
　　
　　Sometimes　he　forgot　that　she　had　been　born　in　Avaris　and　had　as　strong　claim　to　the　land　as　he　had。　He　felt　his　heart　swell　with　pride　that　she　loved　it　as　he　did；　and　felt　the　same　patriotic　duty。
　　
　　'I　will　never　forget　it；　not　with　you　at　my　side。'　She　lifted　her　face　to　him　and　her　lips　were　parted　slightly。　He　could　smell　her　sweet　breath；　and　the　temptation　to　reach　down　for　those　lips　with　his　own　mouth　was　almost　irresistible。　Then　he　felt　the　gaze　of　Hilto　and　the　other　men　on　them；　and　from　the　corner　of　his　eye　saw　one　smile　knowingly。　He　drew　back　and　looked　at　Hilto　coolly。　He　had　been　rehearsing　his　next　order　since　they　had　left　the　rest　of　the　hunting　party。　'Colonel；　if　the　lion　is　here　it　will　probably　be　lying　up　somewhere　on　the　slope　of　the　hills　down　below　us。'　He　indicated　the　area　with　a　sweep　of　his　arm。　'I　want　to　extend　in　line　abreast。　The　left　flank　must　be　on　the　edge　of　the　plain　and　our　right　up　here　on　the　crest　of　the　hills。　We　will　sweep　northwards。'　He　made　a　wide　gesture；　but　Hilto　looked　dubious　and　scratched　the　scar　on　his　cheek。
　　
　　'That　is　a　broad　front；　Your　Majesty。　It's　almost　half　a　league　to　the　valley　bottom。　At　times　we　will　be　out　of　sight　of　each　other。'
　　
　　Nefer　could　see　that　it　went　against　all　his　military　instincts　to　spread　his　front　too　thin；　and　he　went　on　swiftly　to　mollify　him。　'If　we　do　bee　separated　we　will　reassemble　on　the　third　ridge　ahead　of　us；　under　that　small　hillock　over　there。　It　will　give　us　a　good　landmark。'　He　pointed　out　a　distinctive　rock　pile　four　miles　ahead。　'If　any　of　us　is　late　to　the　rendezvous　the　others　must　wait　until　the　sun　is　at　that　angle　before　ing　back　to　look　for　the　missing　vehicle。'
　　
　　He　had　given　himself　a　few　hours　before　they　would　begin　to　search　for　him　and　Mintaka。　Still　Hilto　hesitated。　'I　beg　Your　Majesty's　indulgence；　but　the　Lord　Naja　charged　me　most　strictly…'
　　
　　Nefer　cut　in　with　a　sharp　tone　and　cold　expression：　'Do　you　presume　to　argue　with　your　pharaoh？'
　　
　　'Never；　Majesty！'　Hilto　was　shocked　at　the　accusation。
　　
　　'Then　do　your　duty；　fellow。'
　　
　　Hilto　saluted　with　deep　respect　and　hurried　back　to　his　own　chariot　shouting　urgent　orders　to　his　men　as　he　ran。　As　the　squadron　wheeled　out　down　the　slope；　Mintaka　nudged　Nefer　and　smiled。　'Do　your　duty；　fellow！'　She　mimicked　his　haughty　tone　then　laughed。　'Please　never　look　at　me　like　that　or　use　that　tone　to　me；　Your　Majesty。　I　am　sure　I　would　die　of　fright。'
　　
　　'We　have　only　a　little　time；'　he　replied。　'We　must　make　the　most　of　it；　and　find　a　place　where　we　can　be　alone。'
　　
　　He　swung　the　chariot　back　over　the　skyline　so　that　they　could　no　longer　be　seen　from　the　river　valley　or　by　the　chariots　lower　down　the　slope；　and　as　they　trotted　forward　they　were　both　craning　eagerly　ahead。
　　
　　'Look；　over　there。'　Mintaka　pointed　to　the　right。　A　small　grove　of　thorn　trees　was　almost　hidden　by　a　fold　in　the　ground；　only　the　dull　green　tops　showing。　Nefer　turned　towards　it；　and　they　found　a　narrow　ravine　that　had　been　cut；　over　millennia；　into　the　hillside　by　wind　and　weather；　and　rare　thunderstorms。　There　must　have　been　subterranean　water　for　the　thorn　trees　were　robust。　Their　thick　foliage　offered　shade　and　privacy　in　this　hot　midday。　Nefer　drove　down　the　bank　and　into　the　shade。　As　soon　as　he　stopped　Mintaka　hopped　down　from　the　footplate。
　　
　　'Loosen　the　harness；　and　give　the　horses　a　rest；'　she　suggested。
　　
　　Nefer　hesitated；　then　shook　his　head。　It　was　against　his　training：　in　a　detached　and　unsupported　position　such　as　this；　he　must　have　the　vehicle　ready　for　any　sudden　alarm　or　excursion。　He　jumped　down　and　went　to　fill　the　bucket　from　the　waterskin　to　water　the　horses。　Mintaka　came　to　help　him。　They　worked　side　by　side　in　silence。
　　
　　Now　that　the　moment　they　had　both　longed　for　had　arrived；　they　were　shy　and　tongue…tied。　Suddenly　they　turned　to　each　other　simultaneously；　and　spoke　in　unison。
　　
　　Nefer　said；　'I　wanted　to　tell　you…'
　　
　　Mintaka　said；　'I　think　that　we　should…'
　　
　　They　stopped　and　laughed　shyly；　standing　close　together　in　the　shade。　Mintaka　blushed　and　looked　down　at　her　feet；　and　Nefer　stroked　the　head　of　his　stallion。
　　
　　'What　were　you　going　to　say？'
　　
　　'It　was　nothing。　Nothing　important。'　She　shook　her　head　and　he　saw　that　she　was　blushing。　He　so　loved　to　watch　the　colour　bloom　in　her　cheeks。　She　was　still　not　looking　at　him；　and　her　voice　was　so　soft　as　to　be　barely　audible　as　she　asked　in　her　turn；　'What　were　you　going　to　say？'
　　
　　'When　I　think　that　you　will　be　gone　in　just　a　few　more　days'　time；　I　feel　as　though　my　right　arm　has　been　cut　off；　and　I　want　to　die。'
　　
　　'Oh；　Nefer。'　She　looked　up　at　him　and　her　eyes　were　huge　and　liquid　with　the　turmoil　and　rapture　of　first　love。　'I　love　you。　I　do　truly　love　you。'
　　
　　In　the　same　instant　they　both　lunged　for　each　other；　and　their　teeth　came　together　with　a　click。　His　lower　lip　was　caught　between　them　and　a　drop　of　blood　oozed　from　the　nick；　so　their　kiss　was　salt　flavoured。　Their　embrace　was　unpractised　and　unrehearsed；　clumsy　and　frenzied。　It　evoked　wild　and　uncontrolled　feelings　in　both　of　them。　They　clung　together；　moaning　with　the　strength　of　these　new　sensations。　Even　though　her　body　was　flattened　against　his；　he　tried　to　pull　her　closer　still；　while　she　clung　harder　as　though　to　weld　their　separate　flesh　into　one　entity；　like　potter's　clay。　She　reached　up　and　twisted　her　fingers　into　his　thick　dusty　curls　and　said；　'Oh！　Oh！'　but　her　voice　was　blurred。
　　
　　'I　don't　want　to　lose　you。'　He　broke　the　kiss。　'I　never　want　to　lose　you。'
　　
　　'I　don't　want　to　leave　you　ever…ever！'　she　gasped；　and　they　kissed　again；　if　possible　even　more　furiously　than　before。　From　here　onwards　they　were　in　unexplored　realms　of　mind　and　body。　They　rode　together　on　a　chariot　that　was　out　of　their　control　drawn　by　the　runaway　horses　of　love　and　desire。
　　
　　Still　clinging　together　they　sank　down　on　the　soft　white　sand　of　the　wadi　bottom；　and　clawed　at　each　others　bodies　as　though　they　were　enemies。　Their　eyes　were　wild　and　unseeing；　their　breathing　ragged　and　broken。　The　linen　of　her　skirt　tore　like　papyrus　parchment　in　his　hands；　and　he　reached　through　the　opening。　She　moaned　as　though　in　mortal　agony　but　her　thighs　fell　apart　and　she　went　limp　and　pliable。　Neither　had　any　inkling　of　where　this　was　leading。　All　Nefer　wanted　was　to　feel　his　bare　skin　against　her　smoothness。　It　was　a　deep　need　on　which　his　very　life　seemed　to　depend。　He　ripped　away　his　own　apron　and　they　pressed　their　bodies　together；　both　absorbed　in　the　ecstatic　sensation　of　her　warm　young　flesh　against　his　hardness。　Then　without　any　conscious　thought　he　began　to　move　against　her；　rocking　rhythmically；　and　she　rode　his　movements　as　thought　she　were　flying　in　a　chariot　over　rough　ground。
　　
　　Then　abruptly　she　felt　something　hard　pressing　imperiously　at　the　very　portals　of　her　womanhood；　and　she　experienced　the　almost　undeniable　urge　to　meet　thrust　with　thrust；　to　help　him　break　through；　to　wele　him　into　her　soft；　secret　places。
　　
　　Then　reality　rushed　back　upon　her。　She　kicked　out　wildly；　arching　her　back　and　struggling　with　renewed　strength　like　a　gazelle　in　the　jaws　of　a　hunting　cheetah。　She　tore　her　mouth　from　his　and　screamed；　'No；　Nefer！　You　promised！　By　Horus'　wounded　eye；　you　promised！'
　　
　　He　sprang　away　from　her；　recoiling　as　though　from　a　slash　with　a　chariot　whip。　He　stared　at　her　with　wide　and　terrified　eyes。　His　voice　was　hoarse　and　panting；　as　though　he　had　run　far　an