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limestone portals of the tunnel； once； twice； three times。
Deep in the earth there was a rumble of collapsing rock； and a gust of air and dust blew from the tunnel mouth as； deep in the earth； the roof of the cavern caved in。
'With the stone spike driven through your heart； not even your foul god can free you from your tomb。 Lie in it through all eternity； Ishtar the Mede；' Taita said； and turned away。 With his staff tapping on the stones； he struck out along the road back to Gallala。
* * *
The three messengers reached Babylon in the spring when the snows were still thick upon the distant mountain…tops in the north where the two great rivers rise。
Pharaoh Naja Kiafan gave them audience on the uppermost terrace garden of the palace of Babylon。 Queen Heseret sat beside his throne。 She wore the most magnificent jewels that the treasury of King Sargon had yielded。 Her high…piled dark hair was covered by a silken net on which gemstones sparkled like all the stars of the firmament。 Her arms were laden with bracelets and her fingers with rings so heavy with emeralds and rubies and sapphires that she could barely lift them。 Around her throat was a stone the size of an unripe fig； as clear as water from a mountain spring and so adamantine that it could cut through glass or obsidian。 This marvellous gem came from the land beyond the Indus river； and when the sun caught it； the shafts of light it threw out pained the eye。
The messengers were all high officers from the army that Pharaoh Trok had taken westward four months before。 They came in great fear of their lives； for they bore evil tidings。 They had ridden so far and so fast that they were thin and burned dark by the suns of the desert and the high mountains。 They threw themselves at the foot of the throne on which Naja sat in glory and splendour to overshadow even that of his wife。 'All hail to you； Pharaoh Naja； mightiest of the gods of Egypt；' they greeted him。 'We are bearers of terrible tidings。 Have mercy upon us。 Though what we have to tell you will displease you； be merciful and turn away your wrath from us。'
'Speak！' Naja manded sternly。 'I alone shall judge if you are to be spared。'
'The news we bring is of Pharaoh Trok Uruk； your brother god and the co…ruler of Egypt；' said the officer who was a mander of the Vanguard； bore the rank of Best of Ten Thousand and wore the Gold of Valour upon his chest。
'Speak！' Naja ordered again； for the man had faltered。
'In the desert that surrounds the ancient city of Gallala there took place a mighty battle between the armies of Pharaoh Trok Uruk and those of the usurper Nefer Seti。' He fell silent again。
'Continue！' Naja rose to his feet； and pointed the royal flail at the man's face； a gesture that threatened torture and death。
The messenger went on hurriedly； 'By the means of cowardly deceit and wicked witchcraft the army of your brother and our Pharaoh Trok Uruk was lured to destruction。 He is slain and his army decimated。 Those of his men who survived have gone over to the enemy； and have rallied to the standard of the false pharaoh Nefer Seti； may Seth visit him with a terrible vengeance and eradicate his name and all his works。 This same wicked usurper with all his force marches on Avaris and both kingdoms of this very Egypt！'
Naja sank back on his throne and stared at him in astonishment。 At his side Heseret smiled。 When she did so； the cruel lines at the corners of her mouth vanished and she was transformed； being once more ineffably beautiful。 She touched Naja's arm with a bejewelled finger； and when he leaned towards her she whispered in his ear； 'Praise to the gods； and all hail to the one and only Pharaoh of the Upper and Lower Kingdoms； the mighty Naja Kiafan！'
Naja tried to remain stern and expressionless but a tiny smile played for an instant over his lean and handsome features。 It took him a moment to suppress it then he rose again。 His voice was sibilant and soft； but menacing as the sound of a sword blade being swiped across the face of the whetstone。 'You bring the news of the death of a pharaoh and a god。 Woe upon you for you are now contaminated and steeped in misery and misfortune。' He made a gesture to his bodyguard who stood around the throne。 Take them away and give them over to the priests of the god Marduk that they be sacrificed in the furnace to appease the wrath of the god。'
When they were bound and led away to the sacrifice； Naja stood again and announced； 'The god and Pharaoh Trok Uruk is dead。 We mend his soul to the gods。 I declare before you all that there is now only one ruler over both kingdoms； and over all the territories and all the conquered lands and possessions of Egypt。 I declare further that ruler to be myself； Pharaoh Naja Kiafan。'
'Bak…her！' cried all the courtiers and captains； who stood around his throne； and they drew their swords and beat them on their shields。 'Bak…her！ Exalted be the king…god Naja Kiafan！'
'Send word to all my manders and the generals of all my armies。 We will meet in war council at the noon hour this same day。'
For eleven days that followed； from dawn to dusk； Pharaoh Naja sat at the head of his council in the throne room of the palace of Sargon。 With sentries at the doors to bar interlopers or spies they drew up their plans and their order of battle。 On the twelfth day Naja manded the muster of his armies in Mesopotamia； and sent ambassadors to the subservient kings and satraps in all the conquered territories between Babylon and the borders of Egypt。 He ordered them to prepare all their forces for war； and place themselves under his mand for the campaign against Nefer Seti。
In the full of the following moon； when the army mustered before the Blue Gate of the city of Babylon they were forty thousand strong； all veteran and blooded troops； well equipped with horse and chariot； bow and sword。
Heseret stood with her husband； the one and only true Pharaoh of Egypt； on the ramparts of the city to review the array。
'What a glorious sight；' she told him。 'Surely there was never such a muster as this in all the annals of war。'
'As we march westwards； back towards the motherland； our numbers will be swollen by the Sumerians and the Hittites； the Hurrians and all the armies of the conquered lands through which we pass。 We will return to Egypt with two thousand chariots。 The puppy dare not stand against us。' He looked down at her。 'Do you feel no pity for your brother Nefer？'
'None！' She shook her head so her jewellery glinted and sparkled in the sunlight。 'You are my pharaoh and my husband。 Whosoever rises against you is a traitor； and deserves death。'
'Death he shall have； and the treacherous Warlock will share his funeral pyre and burn beside him；' Naja promised grimly。
* * *
They smelt the river from afar； the perfume of the sweet cool waters on the desert air。 The horses lifted their heads and whickered。 The infantry quickened their step and gazed ahead； eager for the first glimpse of the waters that； at this season of the year； would be swollen and dark with rich silts； the flesh and blood of the motherland。
Nefer and Mintaka rode together in his chariot at the head of the long cavalcade that wound down the caravan road from Gallala。 Meren and Merykara rode at his right hand in the second chariot of the column。 Over the protests of Merykara； who thought him still too weak and sick； Meren had insisted on being in the van。 'I missed the battle at Gallala； but I vow I will never miss another。 As long as there is breath in my body I will ride with my king and my dearest friend。' Though he was thin and pale as an egret he stood proud on the footplate； with the reins in his hands。
The leading chariots topped the escarpment； and below them stretched the green valley of the Nile； with the mighty river itself gleaming like a spill of molten copper from the furnace； glowing red in the early sunlight。 Nefer turned and smiled at Meren in the chariot alongside。 'We are ing home！'
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