按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
at the javelin butts： his great strength bore them on and gave new heart to Dov at his side。 They reached the lip of the chasm and raced along the edge； so close to it that the small pebbles thrown up by the wheels were flung out over the void。 Though Krus was on the side closest to it he never broke his stride but leaned into the traces and ran with all his heart and will。 Nefer felt his spirits soar on high。
'We can still beat them to the bridge；' He shouted in the wind。 'e away； Krus！ e away； Dov。'
Nefer looked ahead and saw the tall； unmistakable figure of Taita standing on the lip of the precipice。 He was staring across the chasm at the archery targets on the far side； and he did not look round as they pulled up behind him and jumped down from the chariot。
The previous evening Taita had predicted； 'With the west wind blowing； the archery and the crossing of the chasm will determine the final oute。 I will wait for you there。'
They took down the bows and arrow quivers from the racks； and left the horse in the care of the waiting grooms as they hurried to join Taita at the edge of the cliff。
'We lost time at the javelin butts；' Nefer told him grimly； as he strung the great war bow； one end anchored on the ground between his feet as he exerted all his strength and weight on the other end to flex the stock。
'Krus was too eager；' Taita said； 'and so were you。 But there is no profit in looking back。 Look ahead！' He pointed across the deep void to where the targets were suspended on a light bamboo scaffolding。
As at the javelin butts； there were five targets。 They were inflated pigs' bladders； each suspended on the crosspiece of the scaffold by a length of flax twine。 They were well separated so that an arrow intended for one would not strike another by chance。 The twine that held them was two cubits long； so that they had freedom of movement。 Light as air they danced on the west wind； bobbing and ducking unpredictably。
The great open void between them made it almost impossible to judge the range accurately； and the west wind swirled and eddied along the cliffs。 The force and direction of the wind that they felt on this side of the chasm would be different from that on the far bank。 However； it would affect the arrows almost as much as the targets。
'What is the range； Old Father？' Nefer asked； as he chose a long arrow from the quiver。 Earlier that morning Taita had paced out one side of a right…angled triangle along this lip of the chasm。 Then he had gauged the angle subtended by the targets on the far side with a weird arrangement of pegs and strings on a board。 He had used these measurements； in a manner that was unfathomable to Nefer； to calculate the range across the chasm。
'One hundred and twenty…seven cubits；' Taita told him now。 Nefer added this information to his own calculations of wind speed and direction； as he took his stance on the crumbling edge of the cliff。 Meren stepped up beside him with the lighter cavalry bow in his hand。
'In the name of Horus and the goddess；' Nefer prayed； 'let us begin！' They shot at the same time。
Nefer's arrow dropped over the crosspiece of the scaffold； too long and high。 Meren's arrow rose at a steeper angle aimed wide into the wind。 As it slowed at the top of its trajectory the wind took hold of it； and it veered to the left； almost at the limit of its range it dropped towards the dangling bobbing line of pigs' bladders。 It struck the middle target cleanly and they heard the pop as it burst； and disappeared like a stroke of magic。
A joyous shout went up from the watchers； and the umpire called the hit in a loud voice； but Meren muttered as he nocked another arrow； 'That was a fluke。'
'I'll take any more flukes that you have in your quiver；' Nefer told him； 'Bak…her； brother； Bak…her。'
They drew and fired again； this time Meren's arrow fell short； rattling against the rocks of the cliff。 Nefer missed the bladder on the right…hand end by half a cubit； and cursed Seth for the wind he had sent。
Unlike the javelins； the rules of the Red Road placed no limit on the number of arrows they were allowed。 The only stipulation was that they must carry them all on the chariot from the start； so it was a trade…off between weight and numbers。 They had each brought fifty missiles； but one of Nefer's long arrows weighed half again as much as one of Meren's。
They shot and missed； and shot again and missed again。
Taita had watched the wind and the flight of each arrow。 He had gathered all his powers around him to feel the strength and impetus of the treacherous wind。 He could almost see it； the flow and the strength of it； like the currents in a clear stream of water。
'Hold the same point of aim！' he ordered Nefer。 'But wait for my mand。'
Nefer drew to full strength and though every muscle in his right arm quivered with the strain he held it。
Taita read the wind； became part of it； felt it in the depths of his being。 'Now！' he whispered； and the arrow leaped out high over the void and wavered on the capricious airs。 Then like a towering falcon it seemed to gather itself and stoop to the target。 The bladder popped as it struck； and the crowd howled。
The next one！' Taita ordered； and Nefer drew； held his aim high and to the right of the second bladder。
'Now！' Taita whispered。 The old man seemed to control the flight of the arrow by the force of his mind。 At the very last instant before it struck the west wind tried spitefully to turn it aside； but it held the line and the bladder burst with a sharp crack。
The next one。 Draw！' whispered Taita。 'Hold！' and a heartbeat later； 'Now！' This time the arrow almost touched the bladder； but at the last moment the ball bounced aside。
Nefer shot again on Taita's mand and he missed by a full arrow length； high and left。 The strain of working the great bow was too much； his right arm ached and his muscles cramped and jumped involuntarily。
'Rest！' Taita ordered。 Take the Periapt of Lostris in your right hand； and rest。'
Nefer laid aside the bow and stood with his head bowed in an attitude of prayer； with the golden amulet in his right hand。 He felt the strength begin to flow back into his bow arm。 Meren was still trying with the smaller bow； but the pain of his cracked ribs almost doubled him over and the sweat of agony ran down his pale face。
At that moment the crowd along the top of the cliff stirred and turned and looked back up the terrace。 Someone shouted； They e！' and the cry was taken up； until the shouting was deafening。
Nefer lifted his head and saw the first chariot e whirling over the skyline。 It was close enough for him to recognize Daimios at the reins； his golden hair streaming back on the wind。 Behind him came the other chariots of the pursuers strung out in a line。 Faintly he heard the drivers shouting to the horses and the rumble of the wheels over the rough ground。
'Do not look at them；' Taita ordered him。 'Do not think about them。 Think only of the target。'
Nefer turned his back on the approaching line of vehicles and lifted the bow。
'Draw and hold！' Taita said。 The wind spurted and dropped。 'Now！' The arrow sped unerringly across the chasm and the fourth bladder burst。
Nefer slid another arrow from the quiver； then he paused with the shaft in his hand and felt despair in his heart。 A dust…devil came spinning down out of the desert on to the line of targets。 The dun…coloured curtains of dust and sand and debris obscured the range； and the single remaining bladder disappeared in its depths。
High on the hill behind them the pursuing charioteers shouted with triumph； and Nefer heard Daimios' voice above the roar of the whirlwind； 'Now you must stand and fight me； Nefer Seti。'
'One more target before you are clear；' Socco； the umpire； shouted sternly。 'Stand your ground。'
There is no target；' Nefer protested。
'The will of the Nameless God；' Socco told him。 'You mus