wilbursmith_warlock-第117部分
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cepted；' Nefer explained to Mintaka。 'We are not brothers of the order。 Besides； to sit down with the men who will oppose us would be flying in the face of convention and tradition。'
The day after the weling banquet the champions resumed their never…ending practice and training； under the sharp eye of Aartla。 They worked in the courtyard of the ancient palace； and all strangers were excluded。 Aartla was too shrewd to let other gamblers assess the form and style of his champions without paying good gold for the privilege。
However； Taita was no stranger。 When Aartla had lost his arm Taita had trimmed and sewn up the stump； and saved him from the gas gangrene that had infected the wound and threatened Aartla's life。 Aartla weled him to the practice courtyard and sat him on a pile of cushions on the side of his good eye。 The most beautiful woman in the world served him honey…flavoured sherbet in a golden bowl； and smiled at him with those haunting mismatched eyes from behind her veil。
First； Aartla gave Taita the latest news of the Egyptian campaign in Mesopotamia； whence he had e。 It seemed that King Sargon； with his armies broken and scattered； had retreated behind the walls of Babylon； his capital city。 The final oute could not be in doubt。 The armies of the false pharaohs would soon be free to return to Egypt and deal with the other threat posed to their monarchy by the little army of Gallala。 When he said this his look was significant； a timely warning to an old friend。
While they sat on the cushions and discussed many other things； politics； power and war； medicine； magic and the gods； Taita seemed engrossed in their discussion； hardly glancing at the athletes who struggled and sweated in the sunlight。 But his pale ancient eyes missed not a single throw or swordstroke。
The champions lived by their murderous skills。 They were devotees of the Red God； and their endeavours were a form of worship。 When Taita returned to his cell that evening； where Nefer and Meren waited for him； he was grave。 'I have watched your adversaries at practice； and I warn you that there is still much work for us to do；' he said； 'and only days left to us。'
Tell us； Old Father；' Nefer said。
'First there is Polios； the wrestler 。。。' Taita began； and he outlined the character and strength of each champion； his style of bat and his particular strengths。 Then he discussed any weakness he had discerned in them； and how that might best be exploited。
* * *
The five warriors of the order； assisted by Aartla； began to lay out the course to be run。 They spent day after day in the wilderness； surveying a wide circular track that began in the central forum of Gallala； went up into the hills and the broken lands； then three leagues later came back down the long valley past the fountain of Taita； and through the city gates to finish back in the forum。 Once they had laid out the course； they sent parties of workman to build the obstacles along the way。
Ten days before the contest； Hilto and Shabako read out the proclamation to the populace of the city。 They described the course in detail； and the rules governing the trial。 Then they named the champions who would oppose the novices。
'In the ordeal of wrestling； Pharaoh Nefer Seti will be matched against Polios of Ur。' The crowd sighed for Polios was a famous fighter。 His nickname was the Backbreaker。 Recently he had killed a man in Damascus； his seventeenth victim in the ring。
'Meren Cambyses will be matched against Sigassa of Nubia。' They knew him almost as well。 He was called the Crocodile； for some strange disease had made his skin as hard； lumpy and black as that of one of the great reptiles。
'In the ordeal by sword； Pharaoh Nefer Seti will meet Khama of Taurine。'
'Meren Cambyses will meet Drossa of Indus。'
That night Mintaka and Merykara sacrificed a white lamb to the goddess； and wept as they pleaded for her protection over the men they loved。
* * *
For seven days before the running of the Red Road the five warriors held trials to select the chasers。 There were no shortage of contenders for the honour。 Any man who plucked the hair braid of a king could expect immortality。 Hilto promised that there would be a carved stele five cubits high raised in the temple of his preferred god or goddess to memorate his feat。 He would receive a thousand taels of gold； sufficient to purchase a fine estate when at last they returned to the motherland。 In addition he would take as trophies all the weapons and accoutrements of the novice he succeeded in running down。
The five warriors made the final selection by a process of elimination； and proclaimed it from the stone platform in the centre of the forum。 They have chosen the ten best and most experienced men available； and given them their pick of chariots and horses。 There will be great danger both behind and in front；' Taita warned the pair； as he went over the list again。 'Consider this one； Daimios。 He is a captain of chariots。 He knows how to get the best out of a pair of horses。'
'It will all depend on the start；' Nefer said。 'And that will be decided by the Red God alone。'
* * *
For a seven…night before the trial Mintaka denied Nefer her couch。 'My love will weaken your resolve； and drain your strength。 But I will miss you a hundred times more than you will me；' she told him as together they braided Krus' long mane。
The day before the full moon of Horus； Taita ordered them all to rest。 Dov and Krus grazed quietly together in the field below the fountain。 Merykara made up a basket of figs and oranges and dhurra cakes； and she and Meren sat beside the fountainhead watching the horses on the green grass below them。 When they had eaten the simple meal； Merykara knelt behind him and plaited his hair into a rope that hung halfway down his back。 'It is so thick and lustrous；' she murmured； and buried her face in it。 'It smells so good。 Let no other take it from you； but bring your braid back to me。'
'How will you reward me if I do？' He turned his head to smile at her。
'I will give you such a reward as you have never dreamed of。' She blushed as she said it。
'I have dreamed of it；' he assured her fervently。 'I dream of it every night of my life。'
* * *
In the morning Taita came to wake Nefer。 He found him asleep； with one arm thrown over his face。 At Taita's touch he sat up； stretched and yawned。 The thick braid of his hair； which Mintaka had plaited； hung down his back。 As he looked at Taita his eyes focused and hardened； as he remembered what the day would bring forth。
While Nefer drank a bowl of sour milk and ate a handful of figs； Taita went to the window and looked out over the rooftops to the grove of young palm trees they had planted above the wells。 He saw the topmost fronds sway and nod to the breeze。 They had all prayed for a still day； but this breeze carried with it the threat of failure。 Now Nefer would have to rely more than ever on the great war bow to counter it。
Taita said nothing to Nefer of his misgivings。 Instead； he turned and cast his eyes down the avenue。 The sun was not yet risen； but it seemed that half the populace of Gallala was streaming out of the city gates。
They are anxious to secure vantage…points along the course； and to watch as much of the run as possible；' he told Nefer。 'No one except the participants and the judges are allowed to ride。 All others must follow the chase on foot。 Some argue that it might be possible to watch the javelin and the wrestling； then cut across the hills to look down on the swordplay from close at hand。 Those who are less fleet of foot will climb to the summit of Eagle Mount and watch the crossing of the chasm below them then run back here to see the finish。'
Despite the great exodus from the city many hundreds of others had chosen to watch the start and crowded into the forum。 Others had climbed high above the square and were perched on the walls and balconies。 Even so early in the da
