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Then he ran forward； darting behind the golden image。 Quickly he examined the back； tapping the metal with the tip of his blade。 It sounded hollow as a drum； and when he looked more closely he discovered a removable panel that fitted almost perfectly。
'A trap…door！' he growled。 'It seems that there is more in Marduk's belly than ever went in through his mouth。'
He ducked back and peered into the slit in the god's belly。 A human eye looked back at him。 The pupil widened with astonishment； and Trok gave a mighty shout： 'e out of there； you slime of the great beast！' He placed his shoulder against the idol and heaved with all his strength。 The statue wobbled on its stone base； and Trok heaved again。 Slowly the image went down with a crash on to the stone flags。 Ishtar screamed and leaped out of the way as it threatened to crush him。
The head of the god was bent at an angle by the fall； and in the silence after the shattering impact there was a scrabbling sound； like startled rats； from the interior of the fallen idol。 The trap…door flew open and a small figure crawled out。 Trok seized it by its thick head of curls。 'Mercy； great King Trok；' the girl pleaded； in that honey…sweet voice。 'It was not I who tried to deceive you。 I was doing the bidding of others。' She was such a lovely child that； for a moment； Trok felt his rage subside。 Then he snatched her up by the ankles and dangled her upside…down in one fist。 She was weeping and writhing in his grip。 ？
'Who ordered you to this？' Trok demanded。
'Ishtar the Mede；' she wept。
Trok swung her twice in a circle around his head； building up speed and momentum； then dashed the child against the temple column。 Her screams were cut off instantly。 Trok let her corpse drop in a crumpled heap on the altar。
He turned back to the golden idol and thrust his sword into the opening of the trapdoor； rummaging around in the belly of the God。 There was another squeal and a grotesque creature shot out of the opening。 At first Trok thought it was a huge bullfrog； and jumped back in alarm。 Then he saw that it was a hunch…backed dwarf； even shorter and smaller than the girl he had just killed。 The dwarf bellowed with a voice like a bull； the deafening roars out of keeping with his diminutive stature。 He was the ugliest man Trok had ever laid eyes upon； with eyes out of kilter and of disparate sizes。 Clumps of black hair bushed out of his ears and nostrils； and from the huge moles that hung from his face。
'Forgive me； that I tried to deceive you； mighty god and King of Egypt！' Trok slashed at him with the sword； but the creature ducked and dodged and leaped nimbly about the sanctum； roaring with terror in that outlandish voice。 Trok found himself laughing at his antics。 The dwarf shot behind the curtains at the back of the chamber and disappeared through a secret doorway。
Trok let him go and turned back to Ishtar； just in time to seize a handful of his stiff…lacquered hair as he tried to flee from the chamber。 He flung him full length on the stone floor and kicked him in the ribs； belly and back。 'You have lied to me。' Trok was no longer laughing； and his face turned dark purple with rage。 'You have deliberately misled me。 You have diverted me from my purpose。'
'Please； master；' Ishtar wailed； rolling across the floor to avoid the savage kicks； 'it was for your good alone。'
'Was it for my good that you allowed the spawn of Tamose to flourish in Gallala unchecked； and to spread rebellion and sedition throughout my realm？' Trok bellowed。 'Do you think I am mad； and so stupid that I should believe that？'
'It is true；' Ishtar blubbered； as Trok's toe caught him in the ribs and knocked him over on his back。 'How could we go against a Warlock who mands the storm to his will as though it were his pet dog？'
'You are afraid of Taita。' Trok stood back to regain his breath。 'The Warlock？' he demanded incredulously。
'He overlooks us。 He can turn my own spells back upon me！ I cannot prevail against him。 I sought only to save you from him； great Pharaoh。'
'You sought only to save your own blue…tattooed skin；' Trok snarled； and rushed in again to slam kicks into Ishtar's doubled…up body。
'I beg of you； first of all the gods；' Ishtar covered his head with both arms； 'give me my reward and let me go。 Taita has dissipated my powers。 I cannot confront him again。 I can be of no further use to you。'
Trok stood with one foot drawn back； frozen in the act of delivering another kick。 'Your reward？' he demanded in astonishment。 'Surely you do not believe that I will reward your disloyalty with three lakhs of gold。'
Ishtar came up on his knees and tried to kiss Trok's foot。 'I have given you Babylon； great master。 You cannot deny me what was promised。'
Trok laughed angrily。 'I can deny you anything I please to。 Even life itself。 If you wish to live another day then you will lead me to Gallala； and take your chances in a trial of magical strength with the Warlock。'
* * *
It seemed that all Egypt had heard that Nefer Seti had run the Red Road and was ordained in his kingship。 Each day visitors from all over the country arrived in Gallala。 Some were the colonels and captains of the regiments that Trok and Naja had left to guard Egypt in their absence。 Others were emissaries of the elders of the great cities along the Nile…Avaris and Memphis； Thebes and Aswan…and the high priests from the temples in those cities。 Sickened and saddened by the tyrannies and excesses of Naja and Trok； and emboldened by their absence in Babylon so far to the east； all had e to swear allegiance to Nefer Seti。
The populace of Egypt is ready to wele you；' the emissaries told him。
'Our regiments will declare for you as soon as you step again on to the sacred soil； and they see your face； and know that the rumours of your survival are true；' the captains assured him。
Nefer and Taita questioned them keenly； demanding to know the muster of their regiments and their state of readiness。 It soon became apparent that Trok and Naja had skimmed the cream of the regiments for their Mesopotamian adventure； and left only the reserve battalions； made up mostly of new recruits； the very young and untried； or the elderly nearing the end of their military lives； tired and unfit； already looking forward to the retirement and their little plot of land near the river where they could sit in the sun and play with their grandchildren。
'What of the chariots and horses？' Nefer asked the crucial question。 The captains shook their grey heads and looked grave。 'Trok and Naja stripped the regiments bare。 Almost every vehicle went with them on the western road。 They left hardly enough to patrol the eastern borders to discourage the Bedouin raiders from the desert。'
'What about the workshops in Memphis； Avaris and Thebes？' Nefer wanted to know。 'Each of them can turn out at least fifty chariots in a month。'
'As soon as horses are trained to pull them； they are sent to the east to join the army of the twin pharaohs in Babylon。'
Taita assessed this information。 'The false pharaohs are fully aware of the threat we pose to their rear。 They want to ensure that if the regiments they have left in Egypt rebel against them and declare for the true Pharaoh； Nefer Seti； they will lack cavalry and chariots to be an effective force。'
'You must return to your regiments；' Nefer ordered the officers。 'We are too many in Gallala already； and we are near the limits of our food and water。 Do not allow any more vehicles or horses to leave Egypt。 Keep your men in training； and equip the best of them with the new chariots as they bee available。 I will e to you soon； very soon； to lead you against the tyrants。' They left； praising his name； and with renewed assurances of their loyalty。
'You dare not fulfil your promise to them prematurely。 You can only return to Egypt with a powerful force under your mand； well trained and well equipped；' Taita advised Nefer。 'These captains who have e over