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To drown the bad fairies。' Merykara used their childhood euphemism。 Heseret shrugged； climbed back into her own litter and drew the curtains。
As soon as she was hidden from the road； Merykara stopped and gave her own inept version of the bird call。 Almost at once a firm hand closed on her upper arm and her brother whispered in her ear； 'Pray desist； little one； you will terrify every nightingale from here to Beersheba。'
She spun round； threw her arms about his neck； and hugged him with all her strength； too overe to speak。 Gently he loosened her grip then took her hand and led her along the dark riverbank。 He went swiftly and he seemed to have the night eyes of a leopard for he never stumbled or hesitated。 He did not speak except to whisper a warning when there was a hole or an obstacle in the path。 She followed him blindly。 After what seemed half the night； he stopped to allow her to rest。
'Does Misha know what to do？' he asked。
'She will keep the curtains of the litter closed and tell anyone who asks that I am sleeping and will not be disturbed。 No one will know that I am gone。'
'Until they halt tomorrow；' he qualified。 'We have only that much time to get away。 Are you ready to go on？ We must cross back over the river here。'
He picked her up easily and carried her across； and she was amazed at how strong he had grown。 She was a doll in his arms。 He set her down again on the opposite bank； and they went on。
After a while she tugged on his hand。 'What is that awful smell？' She gagged。
'It's you；' he told her。 'Or； at least； one who shall take your place。' Before he finished speaking two dark figures stepped out into the starlight on the path ahead of them； and Merykara gave a small gasp of fright。
''Tis only Taita and Meren；' Nefer reassured her。 They led her into a coppice in which they were screened by the dense growth of leafy branches； and Meren opened the shutter of the lantern he carried。 Merykara gasped again as； by the feeble yellow light； she saw the gruesome object stretched on the ground。 It was a corpse； but so dreadfully mutilated that it was difficult to tell that it was human and female。
'Quickly； now！' Nefer told her。 'Give me all your jewellery and your clothing。'
Merykara stripped herself naked； and handed everything to Nefer。 Taita handed her a small bundle of spare clothing； tunic； skirt and sandals； to replace her own。
Nefer knelt beside the corpse and placed the strings of necklaces around the dead girl's neck； and the rings and bracelets on her skeletal fingers and wrists。 He could not work Merykara's skirt and loincloth up over the rigid legs； so he ripped them to tatters and rubbed them in the dirt； then he stabbed his own thumb with the point of his dagger and dribbled fresh blood on the fine cloth。 From near at hand there came the shrieking； whooping chorus of a pack of hungry hyena。
Merykara shuddered。 'They have smelt the body。'
They will leave only enough evidence to convince Naja that you were devoured by wild animals。' He stood up。 'Now we must go。'
The chariots were waiting a little further upstream。 Nefer had not wanted to leave their tracks too close to the body of the dead girl。 As he pulled his sister up on to the footplate beside him； he looked into the east。 'The morning star；' he said quietly。 'It will be light in an hour。 We must make the most of the darkness that remains。'
When the dawn bloomed； like a bouquet of roses and mimosa blossom； across the sky behind them they were already halfway down the escarpment of the plateau； and the desert was spread out below them。
It was such a grand sight that involuntarily they reined in the horses and stared out across the ocean of golden sands in awe。 All except Meren。 With the air of a pilgrim who has travelled across half the world to reach the shrine of the goddess he worshipped； he stared at Merykara as she stood beside her brother in the leading chariot。 Through the long night ride she had been hidden from him by the darkness； but now the early sun played upon her； and he stared。 He had known her for most of his life as the saucy； impish little sister of his best friend； but this was the first time in two years that he had laid eyes upon her。 Time had wrought a miracle of change。 Now； every movement she made； each gesture and turn of her head； was perfect grace。 Every angle and plane of her face； every curve and line of her slim body was exquisite。 Her skin was cream and mother…of…pearl； her eyes greener and brighter than any emerald； her voice and laughter the most enchanting music he had ever heard。
Taita caught his expression and smiled inwardly。 Even in the most dire situations； life struggles to renew itself； he thought； but aloud he said； 'Majesty； we must not linger here。 The horses are in need of water。'
At the foot of the hills they left the highway and struck out in a southerly direction towards the Great Bitter Lake。 They kept going until they reached the first cache of water jars they had left for their return journey； and found that Hilto had been there before them。 From his tracks they could tell that his chariots； heavily laden with gold bullion； were moving only slowly； and that he was not far ahead。
They found with relief that he had not used up all the water but had left four jars untouched； enough to keep their horses going until they reached the next oasis at Zinalla。
Although Merykara had been sparkling and animated when she chatted and jested with Nefer and Taita； by some chance she had not acknowledged Meren or even glanced in his direction； except when she knew it was safe to do so。 Although once not long ago he had treated her with lordly disdain； Meren was now too overe to approach her directly。 For she was a queen； albeit to a false pharaoh； and in his eyes at least a goddess。
For the hundredth time since they had halted he placed himself artlessly in her direct line of vision as she rested in the scant shade of a flowering acacia tree。 This time she lifted her eyes and inclined her head。 He made a loyal obeisance。 'Greetings； Your Majesty。 I am delighted to see you safe。 I was infernally worried for your safety。'
She gave him a single long look； searching and calculating； to take in his increased height and the confident； powerful set of his shoulders。 She saw how long and thick his hair had grown； and not for the first time that day she was aware of a strange congestion in her breathing。 'Meren Cambyses；' she said sternly； 'the last time I had any truck with you； you broke my favourite kite。 Can I ever trust you again？'
'With your very life；' he said fervently。
When the horses were fed and rested and it was time to move on； Merykara told her brother casually； 'Your horses have borne my extra weight all night。 I think I should relieve them now。'
'How will you do that？' He looked puzzled。
'I will ride in another chariot；' she said； and went to where Meren waited for her。
The following day they reached the oasis of Zinalla and found Hilto's squadron there before them。 Now Nefer redistributed the weight of men and bullion equally between the fifteen chariots and they went on towards Gallala at a much better pace。
* * *
Mintaka was on the roof of the temple of Hathor； which she and some of the women and old men were making habitable for the goddess so that they might resume their worship in her presence。 The building might have been a thousand years old； there was no way of telling； but many of the murals were in a marvellous state of preservation and needed only a little touching up。 The roof was another matter。 However； the elements were kindly and so consistent that the great holes mattered little。 It was only necessary to remove the rotten rafters； which placed the worshippers below in mortal jeopardy。 Mintaka was supervising this work。 She was dressed like the other women in simple； well…worn clothing； and like them she was burnt brown by the sun。 This life was so different from that closet