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the temple。 This was something between Nefer and Dov。 No others should interfere。
Nefer whistled as he came down to the fence and Dov threw up her head and galloped across the field to meet him。 As soon as she reached him she pushed her muzzle into his pouch。
'You are a typical woman；' Nefer scolded her。 'You are interested only in the gifts I bring you。'
While she ate the cake he fondled and caressed her； until he could slip one arm around her neck。 Then he walked her along the fence and back again； and she leaned her shoulder against him。 He fed her one more cake and as she savoured it he moved back along her left flank； stroking her and telling her how beautiful she was。 Then in one smooth movement he swung up and straddled her back。 She started under him and he braced himself for her first wild plunge； but she stood trembling with her legs slightly splayed。 Then she turned her head and stared at him in such ical astonishment that he could not help laughing。 'It's all right； my sweetling。 This is what you were born to。'
She stamped her forefoot and snorted。
'e now；' he said。 'Are you not going to try to throw me off？ Let us get this question settled at once。' She reached back and sniffed his toe； as if she could not bring herself to believe the extraordinary solecism he had mitted against her dignity。 She shuddered and stamped her hoof again； but she stood firm。
'e then！' he said。 'Let's try a canter。' He touched her flanks with his heels and she jumped with surprise； then walked forward。 They went down the fence sedately； and he touched her again。 She broke into a trot； then a gentle canter。 Meren was whooping and shouting from the temple roof； and the men and women working in the fields straightened up and watched with interest。
'Now let's see you really move。' Nefer slapped her lightly on the neck and urged her forward with a thrust of his hips。 She stretched out and floated away； her dainty hoofs seeming barely to touch the earth； like the gentle wind for which she had been named。 She ran so that the wind stung his eyes and the tears streamed over his temples and wet the dense tresses of his hair。
Round and round the paddock they sped； while on the roof of the temple Mintaka clapped her hands and cried out with amazement。
Beside her； Taita smiled distantly。 'A royal pair；' he said。 They will be hard to catch on the Red Road。'
* * *
The entire city had heard of the instant love affair between Pharaoh and his filly。 Now the word spread rapidly through Gallala that Nefer was going to put the rope on Krus。 Horsemen all； they knew that the colt would be a different proposition from the filly。 They were in a ferment of excitement at the prospect of Nefer's first attempt to break him in。 Nobody went out into the fields that morning and all work in the vehicle shops and on the buildings was suspended。 Even the training regiments were given a day's holiday to watch the attempt。 Thus； there was fierce petition for the best positions on the city walls and rooftops that overlooked the field below the fountain of Horus。
Nefer and Meren went out through the gates to ironical cheers and ribald advice shouted down from the walls by the wags among the crowd。 Krus was in the centre of the herd。 He stood out among the other animals； taller by a hand and his head was distinguished。 All the horses had sensed the mood of the watchers； and were skittish and nervous as the two men paused at the gate and hung the coils of flax ropes over the fence。
'I will try him first with a cake；' Nefer said； and Meren laughed。 'Look in his eye。 I think he would eat you before the cake。'
'Nevertheless； I will try。 Wait here。'
Nefer went through the gate； and moved in slowly as he had with Dov。 Krus disliked this attention。 He arched that long neck and rolled his eyes。 Nefer stopped and let him settle down to graze again。 He took a dhurra cake from his pouch and held it out； but when he moved forward Krus tossed his head； kicked his heels to the sky and galloped furiously away down the fence line。 Nefer chuckled ruefully。 'So much for my gifts。 He will not make it easy。'
'Look at him run；' Meren called。 'Sweet Horus； if Dov is the north wind then this one is the khamsin。'
Krus was running with the other horses now； leading them。 Nefer and Meren went into the field together and between them worked the herd gently down to the corner of the fence of heavy poles。 There they milled around nervously in the dust as the men came up。 Then they broke the wrong way； galloping back to the top end of the field before Nefer could cut them off。 Twice more Krus led them out of the trap； but then Nefer sent Meren to cut him off on the far side of the field and Krus made his first mistake。 He came thundering back towards Nefer。
Nefer shook out the loop on the end of the long flax rope he carried coiled over his shoulder； and waited for the colt to e through the narrow gap between him and the wooden slats of the fence。 Nefer judged his moment and put the loop into flight； a spinning circle over his head； then as Krus galloped through with his neck stretched out； Nefer shot out the loop； which dropped neatly over his head and slipped back to the front of his shoulder。 The coils of rope were whipped off Nefer's shoulder； one after the other； as Krus bore away。 Nefer braced himself with legs spread wide； leaning back with the end of the rope wrapped half a dozen times around his wrist。
The rope came up hard with the running colt at the other end； and Nefer was yanked off his feet； and hauled face down on to his belly。 The colt felt the grab of the rope and the weight； panicked and bolted。 Nefer was dragged after him like a sledge； bouncing and rolling at the rope's end。
The crowds on the rooftops and the walls exploded into hysterical mirth and cheers。 Mintaka stuffed her fingers into her mouth to stop herself screaming and Merykara covered her eyes and turned away。 'I cannot watch！' she cried。
The colt reached the fence at the end of the field and swung parallel to it。 For a moment there was slack in the rope and Nefer used it to roll on to his feet。 His belly and legs were grazed and covered with green grass stains； but the rope was tight around his wrist。 It came up hard again and he was jerked forward brutally； but he kept on his feet。 Using the impetus he went after Krus with long strides； dragged along on the rope's end。
After one circuit of the field Krus slowed to the heavy drag； and Nefer consolidated his gain by digging in the heels of his bronze…cleated sandals。 Then as they slowed he swung himself out on the rope's end； catching the colt by surprise。 The animal stumbled at the changed direction of the pull； and as soon as he steadied Nefer swung himself the other way。 Twice more Nefer was pulled down； but each time he fought his way to his feet again and put pressure on the colt。
In the meantime Meren had opened the gate and driven the rest of the herd into the adjacent field； then he closed it so that man and horse had the empty field in which to fight it out。
Nefer dug in for a foothold and swung the colt's head towards the fence； forcing him to back up on the rope or crash into the heavy poles。 He gathered up the slack in the rope then raced forward。 Before Krus could recover he had taken three turns of rope around the heavy corner post of the fence and pinned him。 Krus reared and plunged； shaking his head and rolling his eyes until the whites showed。
'I have you now；' Nefer gasped； and worked himself hand over hand down the rope towards him。 Krus rose on his hind legs and struck out at the rope； whinnying shrilly。 'Gently； gently。 Will you kill us both？'
Krus reared again and lifted Nefer off his feet。 He came down foursquare and they confronted each other； the colt trembling wildly and sweating down his back and shoulders。 Nefer was in no better case； the front of his body covered with scratches and grass burns； from which blood and pale lymph oozed。 He； too； was running with sweat； and hi