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！
The interior was sparsely furnished and the floor was covered by animal skins； oryx； zebra and leopard。 On these a man was sitting cross…legged with maps and scrolls spread about him； and a wooden platter on his lap containing grilled ribs and a lump of dhurra bread。 He looked up as the girls entered。 His face was gaunt； his cheeks sunken； and even the ribbons in his beard could not disguise the fact that it was more grey than black。 A leather patch covered one eye。 He scowled at them。
'Uncle Tonka！' Mintaka stepped into the lamplight and threw back her head shawl。 The man came to his feet slowly and stared at her。 Then suddenly he grinned； and his single eye gleamed。 'I did not think it possible！' He embraced her and lifted her off her feet。 'I heard that you had deserted us and gone over to the enemy。'
When he put her down again and she had partially recovered from this display of affection； she gasped； 'That's what I have e to speak to you about； Uncle Tonka。'
'Who is this with you？' He glanced at Merykara； then blinked his one good eye。 'By Seth's foul breath； I know you。'
'It's the Princess Merykara；' Mintaka told him。
'Naja's runaway wife。 He will be pleased to have you back。' Prenn chuckled。 'Have the two of you eaten？' Then； without waiting for a reply； he shouted to his servants to bring more meat and bread and wine。 The two girls covered their faces again while they were served； but once the servants had gone Mintaka sat close to Prenn； on the side of his good ear； and dropped her voice so that they could not be overheard by a listener outside the tent walls。
He heard her out silently； but his expression changed as she described to him in detail the events of that terrible night when her father and all her brothers had died in the burning galley on the river at Balasfura。 Mintaka thought she saw a tear gleam in the corner of his eye as she went on； but she knew that such a show of weakness was not possible in a centurion of the Red。 Prenn turned away his face and when he looked back at her the tear was gone and she knew she had been mistaken。
When at last she finished speaking Prenn said simply； 'I loved your father； almost as much as I love you； little cricket； but what you are proposing is treason。' He was silent a while longer and then he sighed。 'All this I will have to think on。 But in the meantime； you can't return whence you came。 It is much too risky。 You must stay under my care； both of you； until this affair is resolved。'
When they protested； he overrode them brusquely。 'It is not a request。 It is an order。' He thought a moment。 'I will have you disguised as a pair of my pretty boys。 That will cause little ment； for all my men know that I enjoy a slice of rump almost as much as a cut of breast。'
'Can I at least send a message to Nefer Seti？' Mintaka pleaded。
'That also is too great a risk。 Have patience。 It will not be for long。 Naja is poised on the heights of the Khatmia。 Within days he will begin the march on Ismailiya。 The battle will be decided before the full moon of Osiris begins to wane。' His voice dropped to a growl。 'And I will be forced to a decision。'
* * *
From a distance Meren watched the great host of Pharaoh Naja e down the escarpment from the Khatmia Pass into the arid lands； and he released a pair of the pigeons that Taita had given to him。 Two birds； so that if one was taken by a falcon or another predator the other might still win through。 Both birds had a single strand of red thread looped around a leg； the signal that the advance had begun。
Meren shadowed the stately progress of the enemy legions across the desert； and at night crept closer to the camps to watch them watering from the stored jars and to eavesdrop on any of the loud conversations around the campfires。
By the fifth night Naja's full army was mitted to the crossing； and the leading elements had passed the halfway mark between Khatmia and Ismailiya。 Meren was able to cut in behind the rearguard and examine the now deserted water stores they had left behind them。 He discovered that they were almost entirely used up； or had been carried away。 Naja was so confident of his victory that he had left no contingency reserves for a possible retreat。 From the unused jars that he did find Meren replenished his own waterskins； which were almost exhausted； and he smashed the few jars that remained。
Now he rode back parallel to Naja's line of march； but well out to the south and beyond the range of vision of his scouts； and circled out in front of the heavily encumbered； slowly moving host。 He came back to where he had left the bulk of his force concealed。 They were fifty chariots manned by crack troops and drawn by some of the finest horses in all Nefer's army。 He paused only to water； and to change the pennants his chariots flew from the blue to the red of Naja's army。 He consoled himself that this was a legitimate ruse of war。 Then； at the head of his squadron； he cut back in front of Naja's vanguard and drove furiously along his intended line of march。
The men who had been left to guard the water dumps saw the approaching chariots ing from where they expected their rades to arrive。 When they recognized the false colours flying above them they were lulled。 Meren gave them no time for second thoughts； but raced in upon them； and cut down any who tried to resist。 The survivors were given a choice： death or defection。 Most came over to Nefer Seti。 A single mallet blow was sufficient for each of the clay jars； and the precious fluid poured out into the sand。 Meren's squadron mounted again and went on to the next dump。
When at last they came in sight of Ismailiya Nefer rode out to greet them； and embraced Meren when he heard that he had fulfilled the task he had been set： Naja was now waterless in the wilderness。 'You have just earned your first Gold of Valour；' he told Meren； 'and you are promoted to the rank of Best of Ten Thousand。' He was relieved to see that Meren seemed to have recovered from his wound； and was now lean； eager and burned dark by the desert sun。 'In the battle that lies ahead； I am giving you mand of the right wing。'
'Pharaoh； if I have pleased you； I beg a boon。'
'Of course； old friend。 If it is in my power； you shall have it。'
'My rightful place is at your side。 We rode the Red Road together； let us see this battle out together。 Let me ride with you once again as your lance…bearer。 That is all the honour I seek。'
Nefer gripped his arm； and squeezed hard。 'You shall ride in my chariot one more time。 And it is I who will be honoured。' He dropped his hand。 'But we have no more time to chatter。 Naja will not be far behind you。 As soon as he discovers what you have done to his water supplies； he will be forced to e on at all speed。'
Instinctively they both looked back into the wilderness whence the enemy must e； but the heat…haze was grey and turbid and there was little to be seen across that grisly plain。 However； they had not long to wait。
* * *
Pharaoh Naja reined in his chariot and gazed out over the remains of his water dump。 Although the scouts had warned him； he was still appalled by the extent of the destruction。 Slowly he dismounted and strode out into the littered field。 Shards of shattered pottery crunched under his sandals； and suddenly his usual icy control snapped。 He kicked one of the broken jars in fury and frustration； then stood with his hands clenched into fists at his sides and glared towards the west。 Slowly he regained control of himself and his breathing slowed。 He turned and walked back to where his staff waited。
'Will you give the order to turn back？' asked one of his captains diffidently。
Naja turned on him coldly。 The next coward who suggests such a thing I will have stripped naked and tied feet first behind my chariot。 I will drag him back to Egypt。' They dropped their eyes and shuffled their feet in the sand。
Naja lifted the blue war crown from his head； and when his lance…bearer handed him a square of l