wilbursmith_warlock-第51部分

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and　clatter　on　the　floor。
　　
　　He　was　laughing　as　he　dragged　her　across　the　room；　but　it　was　an　ugly　sound。　He　threw　her　back　on　to　the　rumpled　and　sweat…sour　bed。　'You　are　my　wife　now；'　he　said；　as　he　stood　over　her。　'You　belong　to　me；　like　a　brood　mare　or　a　bitch…dog。　You　must　learn　to　obey　and　respect　me。'
　　
　　She　lay　face　down；　pressing　her　face　into　the　soiled　linen；　refusing　to　look　at　him。　He　picked　up　the　sword　scabbard　from　where　it　lay　beside　the　bed。　'This　lesson　in　obedience　is　for　your　own　good。　A　little　pain　now　will　save　us　both　a　great　deal　of　unhappiness　and　suffering　later。'
　　
　　He　weighed　the　scabbard　in　his　right　hand。　It　was　of　polished　leather；　bound　with　gold　and　electrum　bands；　studded　with　metal　rosettes。　He　swung　it　down　across　the　back　of　her　naked　legs。　It　slapped　across　the　white　flesh　and　left　a　welt　with　the　raised　pattern　of　rosettes　in　brighter　scarlet。　She　was　so　taken　by　surprise　that　despite　herself　she　shrieked　aloud。
　　
　　He　laughed　at　her　pain；　and　lifted　the　scabbard　again。　She　tried　to　roll　away　from　him　but　the　next　blow　caught　her　across　her　raised　right　arm；　and　the　next　across　her　shoulder。　She　stopped　herself　crying　out　again；　and　tried　to　hide　her　distress　by　forcing　a　wicked　smile　and　spitting　at　him　like　a　lynx。　This　infuriated　him；　and　he　struck　with　more　venom。
　　
　　He　knocked　her　off　the　bed　and　followed　her　as　she　crawled　across　the　floor。　He　beat　her　across　the　back；　and　when　she　rolled　herself　into　a　ball　he　lashed　her　across　her　back；　shoulders　and　buttocks。　He　spoke　to　her　while　he　kept　the　blows　falling　to　a　steady　rhythm；　punctuating　his　words　with　the　exhalation　of　effort　as　he　struck。　'You　will　never　lift　a　hand　to　me　again；　hah！　Next　time　I　e　to　you；　hah！　You　will　behave　as　a　loving　wife；　hah！　Or　I　will　have　four　of　my　men　hold　you　down；　hah！　While　I　mount　you；　hah！　Then　when　I　have　finished；　hah！　I　will　beat　you　again；　hah！　Like　this；　hah！'
　　
　　She　clenched　her　jaws　as　the　blows　rained　down　upon　her　until　at　last　she　could　no　longer　fight　back；　but　mercifully　he　stepped　away；　breathing　heavily。
　　
　　He　pulled　on　his　stained　and　dust…streaked　tunic；　belted　the　scabbard　around　his　waist　and　thrust　his　sword　into　the　scabbard　that　was　smeared　with　her　blood；　and　stalked　to　the　door　of　the　chamber。　There　he　paused　and　looked　back　at　her。　'Remember　one　thing；　wife；　either　I　break　my　mares；'　he　said；　'or；　by　Seueth；　they　die　under　me。'　He　turned　and　was　gone。
　　
　　Mintaka　lifted　her　head　slowly　and　stared　after　him。　She　could　not　speak。　Instead　she　filled　her　mouth　with　spittle　and　spat　it　after　him。　It　splattered　on　the　tiles　streaked　with　blood　from　her　swollen　mouth。
　　
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　　It　was　long　after　the　waning　of　the　Moon　of　Isis　before　the　scabs　fell　off　Mintaka's　injuries　and　the　bruises　faded　to　greenish…yellow　stains　on　her　smooth；　creamy　skin。　Either　by　design　or　luck；　Trok　had　not　knocked　out　any　of　her　teeth；　broken　any　bones　or　left　her　face　scarred。
　　
　　Since　their　calamitous　wedding　day　he　had　left　her　alone。　Most　of　that　time　he　was　campaigning　in　the　south。　Even　when　he　returned　for　brief　periods　to　Avaris　he　avoided　her。　Perhaps　he　was　repelled　by　her　unsightly　injuries；　or　perhaps　he　was　shamed　by　his　inability　to　consummate　their　marriage。　Mintaka　did　not　ponder　the　reason　too　deeply；　but　she　rejoiced　in　being　free　for　a　while　of　his　brutish　attentions。
　　
　　There　had　been　further　serious　rebellion　in　the　south　of　the　kingdom。　Trok　had　responded　savagely。　He　had　fallen　on　the　insurgents　and　had　slaughtered　those　who　opposed　him；　seized　their　property　and　sold　their　families　into　slavery。　Lord　Naja　had　sent　two　regiments　to　assist　in　these　operations　against　the　rebels；　supporting　his　cousin　and　pharaoh；　and　at　the　same　time　sharing　in　the　spoils。
　　
　　Mintaka　knew　that　Trok　had　returned　triumphantly　to　Avaris　three　days　ago；　but　she　had　still　not　seen　him。　She　thanked　the　goddess　for　that；　but　it　was　premature。　The　summons　came　from　him　on　the　fourth　day。　Mintaka　was　to　attend　an　extraordinary　session　of　the　state　council。　So　urgent　was　the　matter　that　she　was　allowed　only　an　hour　to　prepare　herself。　His　message　warned　her　that　should　she　choose　to　ignore　his　summons　he　would　send　his　bodyguards　to　drag　her　to　the　conclave。　She　had　no　option；　and　her　girls　dressed　her。
　　
　　This　was　the　first　occasion　on　which　Mintaka　had　appeared　in　public　since　her　wedding。　With　her　makeup　carefully　applied　she　was　as　lovely　as　ever　as　she　took　her　seat　on　the　queen's　throne；　below　of　that　of　Pharaoh；　in　the　lavishly　redecorated　assembly　hall　of　the　palace。　She　tried　to　make　her　expression　remote；　and　to　keep　aloof　from　the　proceedings；　but　her　reserve　slipped　as　she　recognized　the　royal　herald　who　came　in　and　prostrated　himself　before　the　twin　thrones。　She　leaned　forward　attentively。
　　
　　Trok　acknowledged　the　herald　then　called　upon　him　to　rise　and　state　his　news　to　the　council。　When　he　rose　to　his　feet　Mintaka　saw　that　he　was　in　the　grip　of　deep　emotion。　He　had　to　clear　his　throat　several　times　before　he　could　utter　a　word；　and　then　at　last　he　spoke；　in　a　voice　so　shaken　that　at　first　Mintaka　did　not　understand　what　he　was　saying。　She　heard　the　words　but　could　not　bring　herself　to　accept　them。
　　
　　'Your　Sacred　Majesty　Pharaoh　Trok　Uruk；　Queen　Mintaka　Apepi　Uruk；　distinguished　members　of　the　state　council；　citizens　of　Avaris；　brothers　and　fellow　countrymen　of　this　reunited　Egypt；　I　bring　tragic　tidings　from　the　south。　I　would　rather　die　outnumbered　a　hundred　to　one　in　battle　than　have　to　tell　you　this。'　He　paused　and　coughed　again。　Then　his　voice　rose　stronger　and　clearer。
　　
　　'I　have　made　the　voyage　by　fast　galley　downriver　from　Thebes。　Travelling　day　and　night；　stopping　only　to　change　rowers；　I　have　taken　twelve　days　to　reach　Avaris。'
　　
　　He　paused　again　and　spread　his　arms　in　a　gesture　of　despair。　'Last　month；　on　the　eve　of　the　festival　of　Hapi；　the　young　Pharaoh　Nefer　Seti　whom　we　all　loved；　and　in　whom　we　placed　so　much　trust　and　hope；　died　of　the　grievous　wounds　that　he　received　at　Dabba　while　hunting　a　cattle…raiding　lion。'　There　was　concerted　sigh　of　despair。　One　of　the　councillors　covered　his　eyes　and　began　to　weep　silently。
　　
　　The　herald　spoke　into　the　silence：　'The　Regent　of　the　Upper　Kingdom；　Lord　Naja；　who　is　of　the　royal　family　of　Tamose　by　marriage；　and　who　is　next　in　the　line　of　succession；　has　been　raised　to　the　throne　in　the　place　of　the　departed　Pharaoh。　He　purifies　the　land　in　his　name　of　Kiafan；　he　endures　unto　eternity　in　his　name　of　Naja；　the　fear　of　him　through　all　the　world　is　great　in　his　name　of　Pharaoh　Naja　Kiafan。'
　　
　　The　cries　of　mourning　for　the　dead　Pharaoh；　and　the　clamour　of　acclamation　for　his　successor　filled　the　hall。
　　
　　In　the　uproar；　Mintaka　stared　at　the　herald。　Under　the　makeup　she　had　turned　chalky　pale　and　her　eyes　needed　no　kohl　to　make　them　huge　and　tragic。　The　world　seemed　to　turn　dark　around　her；　and　she　swayed　on　her　stool。　Although　she　had　heard　Nefer's　death　being　planned　and　plotted；　she　had　convinced　herself　that　it　would　not　happen。　She　had　made　herself　believe　that；　even　without　her　warnings；　Nefer；　with　Taita　to　help　him；　would　somehow　avoid　the　malignant　web　spun　by　Naja　and　Trok。
　　
　　Trok　was　watching　her　with　a　sly；　gloating　smile；　and　she　knew　he　was　revelling　in　her　pain。　She　did　not　care　any　longer。　Nefer　was　gone　and　with　him　her　will　and　her　reason　to　resist　and　to　go　on　living　herself。　She　stood　up　from　the　throne　and；　like　a　sleep…walker　left　the　hall。　She　expected　her　husband　to　order　her　back；　but　he　did　not。　In　the　general　consternation　and　lamentation　few　of　the　other　guests　noticed　her　leave。　Those　who　did　were　aware　of　her　terrible　sorrow。　They　recalled　that　she　had　once　been　betrothed　to　the　dead　Pharaoh；　and　they　forgave　her　this　breach　of　decorum　and　protocol。
　　
　　Mintaka　stayed　in　her　own　chamber　for　three　days　and　nights　without　eating。　She　drank　only　a　little　wine　mixed　with　water。　She　ordered　everyone　to　leave　her；　even　her　girls。　She　would　see　nobody；　not　even　the　physicians　Trok　sent　to　her。
　　
　　On　the　fourth　day　she　asked　for　the　chief　priestess　of　the　temple　of　Hathor。　They　were　alone　together　for　the　entire　morning；　and　when　the　old　woman　left　the　palace　she　had　covered　her　shaven　head　with　her　white　shawl　as　a　sign　of　mourning。
　　
　　The　next　morning　the　priestess　returned　with　two　of　her　acolytes；　who　carried　a　large　basket　of　woven　palm　fronds。　They　placed　the　basket　in　front　of　Mintaka；　then　covered　their　heads　and　withdrew。
　　
　　The　priestess　knelt　beside　Mintaka　and　asked　her　quietly；　'Are　you　certain　that　you　wish　to　take　the　way　of　the　goddess；　my　daughter？'
　　
　　'There　is　nothing　further　for　me　to　live　for；'　Mintaka　said　simply。
　　
　　The　priestess　had　tried　for　hours　the　previous　day　to　dissuade　her；　but　now　she　made　one　last　attempt。　'You　are　young　still　。。。'
　　
　　Mintaka　held　up　one　slim　hand。　'Mother；　I　may　not　have　lived　many　years；　but　in　that　short　time　I　have　experienced　more　pain　than　most　encounter　in　all　their　long　lives。'
　　
　　The　priestess　bowed　her　head　and　said；　'Let　us　pray　to　the　goddess。'　Mintaka　closed　her　eyes　as　she　went　on；　'Blessed　lady；　mighty　cow　of　the　sky；　mistress　of　music　and　love；　all…seeing；　all…powerful；　hear　the　prayers　of　your　daughters　who　love　you。'
　　
　　Something　in　the　basket　in　front　of　them　moved　and　there　was　a　faint　susurration　like　the　river　breeze　in　the　papyrus　beds。　Mintaka　felt　the　coldness　in　her　stomach；　and　knew　that　it　was　the　first　chill　of　death。　She　listened　to　the　prayer；　but　her　thoughts　were　with　Nefer。　She　recalled　vividly　so　much　that　they　had　shared　together；　and　in　her　mind　a　picture　of　him　appeared　as　though　he　still　lived。　She　saw　again　his　smile　and　the　way　he　held　his　head　so　perfectly　balanced　on　his　strong；　straight　neck。　She　wondered　what　point　he　had　reached　on　his　dread　journey　through　the　netherworld；　and　she　prayed　for　his　safety。　She　prayed　for　him　to　reach　the　green　hills　of　paradise；　and　that　she　should　soon　be　reunited　with　him　there。　I　shall　follow　you　soon；　my　heart；　she　promised　him。
　　
　　'Your　beloved　daught