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en doorways streaming over it。
Once it was as desiccated as firewood； it could be bound up。 The linen bandages were laid on it in an intricate design； as incantations to the gods were chanted by choirs of priests。 Under them were placed more precious talismans and amulets； and each layer was painted with resins that dried to a metallic hardness and sheen。 Only the head was left uncovered； and then for the week before Opening the Mouth； four of the most skilful makeup artists of the guild of embalmers； using wax and cosmetics； had restored the King's features to lifelike beauty。
They replaced the missing eyes with perfect replicas of rock…crystal and obsidian。 The whites were translucent； the iris and pupils an exact match of the king's natural colour。 The glass orbs seemed endowed with life and intelligence； so that now Nefer gazed into them with awe； expecting to see the lids blink and his father's pupils widen in recognition。 The lips were shaped and rouged so that at any moment they might smile； and his painted skin looked silken and warm； as though bright blood still ran beneath it。 His hair had been washed and set in the familiar dark ringlets that Nefer remembered so well。
Lord Naja； the high priest and the choir began to chant the incantation against dying for the second time； but Nefer could not tear his gaze away from his father's face。
'He is the reflection and not the mirror；
He is the music and not the lyre；
He is the stone and not the chisel；
He will live for ever。'
The high priest came to Nefer's side and placed the golden spoon in his hand。 Nefer had been coached in the ritual； but his hand trembled as he placed the spoon on his father's lips and recited； 'I open thy lips that thou might have the power of speech once more。' He touched his father's nose with the spoon。 'I open thy nostrils that thou might breathe once more。' He touched each of the magnificent eyes。 'I open thine eyes that thou might behold the glory of this world once more； and the glory of the world to e。'
When at last it was done； the royal party waited as the embalmers wrapped the head and painted it with aromatic resins。 Then they laid the golden mask over the blind face； and once more it glowed with splendid life。 Contrary to custom and usage； there was only one death mask and one golden sarcophagus for Pharaoh Tamose。 His father had gone before him to his tomb covered by seven masks and seven sarcophagi； one within the other； each larger and more ornate than the next。
For the rest of that night Nefer stayed beside the golden sarcophagus； praying and burning incense； entreating the gods to take his father among them and seat him in the midst of the pantheon。 In the dawn he went out with the priests on to the terrace of the temple where his father's head falconer waited。 He carried a royal falcon on his gloved fist。
'Nefertem！' Nefer whispered the bird's name。 'Lotus Flower。' He took the magnificent bird from the falconer and held it high upon his own fist； so that the populace gathered below the terrace might see it clearly。 Around its right leg the falcon wore a tiny goldtag on a golden chain。 On it was engraved his father's royal cartouche。 'This is the godbird of Pharaoh Tamose Mamose。 It is the spirit of my father。' He paused to regain his posure； for he was near to tears。 Then he went on； 'I set my father's godbird free。' He slipped the leather rufterhood from the falcon's head。 Fierce eyes blinked at the light of the dawn and the bird ruffled its feathers。 Nefer unknotted the jesses from its leg； and the bird spread its wings。 'Fly； divine spirit！' Nefer cried。 'Fly high for me and my father！'
He threw the bird up； it caught the dawn wind and soared on high。 Twice it circled overhead； and then； with a wild and haunting cry； it sped away across the Nile。
'The godbird flies to the west！' the high priest called out。 Every member of the congregation upon the steps of the temple knew that that was a most unpropitious omen。
Nefer was so physically and emotionally exhausted that as he watched the bird fly away he swayed on his feet。 Taita steadied him before he fell and led him away。
Back in Nefer's bedchamber in the palace of Memnon； Taita mixed a draught at his bedside and knelt beside him to offer it。 Nefer took one long swallow then lowered the cup and asked； 'Why does my father have only one small coffin when you tell me my grandfather was entombed in seven heavy golden sarcophagi and that it took twenty strong oxen to draw his funeral wagon？'
'Your grandfather was given the richest funeral in all the history of our land； and he took a great store of grave goods to the underworld with him； Nefer；' Taita agreed。 'But those seven coffins consumed thirty lakhs of pure gold； and almost beggared the nation。'
Nefer looked thoughtfully into the cup； then drained the last few drops of the draught。 'My father deserved such a rich funeral； for he was a mighty man。'
'Your grandfather thought much of his afterlife。' Taita explained patiently。 'Your father thought much of his people and the welfare of this very Egypt。'
Nefer thought about this for a while； then sighed； settled down on the sheepskin mattress and closed his eyes。 He opened them again。 'I am proud of my father；' he said simply。
Taita laid his hand upon his forehead in blessing and whispered； 'And I know that one day your father will have reason to be proud of you。'
* * *
It did not need the ill omen of the flight of the falcon Nefertem to warn Taita that they had reached the most dire and fateful period in all the long history of this very Egypt。 When he left Nefer's bedchamber and started out into the desert； it was as though the stars stood frozen in their courses and all the ancient gods had drawn back and deserted them； abandoning them in this their most dangerous hour。 'Great Horus； we need your guidance now。 You hold this Ta…meri； this precious land； in the cup of your hands。 Do not let it slip through your fingers and shatter like crystal。 Do not turn your back upon us now that we are in our agony。 Help me； mighty falcon。 Instruct me。 Make your wishes clear to me； so that I may follow your will。'
Praying as he went； he climbed the hills at the periphery of the great desert。 The clicking of his long staff against the rocks alarmed a yellow jackal and sent it scampering away up the moonlit slope。 When he was certain that he was not observed he turned parallel to the river； and quickened his stride。 'Horus； well you know that we are balanced on the sword edge of war and defeat。 Pharaoh Tamose has been struck down and there is no warrior to lead us。 Apepi and his Hyksos in the north are grown so mighty as to have bee almost invincible。 They gather against us； and we cannot stand against them。 The double crown of the two kingdoms is rotten with the worm of treachery； and cannot survive against the new tyranny。 Open my eyes； mighty god； and show me the way； that we might triumph against the invading Hyksosian hordes from the north and against the destroying poison in our blood。'
For the rest of that day Taita journeyed through the stony hills and the silent places； praying and searching to discover the way forward。 In the late evening he turned back towards the river； and came at last to his ultimate destination。 He could have chosen to e here by the direct means of a felucca； but too many eyes would have remarked his passing； and he had needed that time alone in the desert。
In the deep darkness when most men slept he approached the temple of Bes on the riverbank。 A guttering torch burned in its niche above the gate。 It lit the carved figure of the god Bes； which guarded the entrance。 Bes was the deformed dwarf god of drunkenness and joviality。 His tongue lolled out between his leering lips。 In the wavering light of the torch he gave Taita an inebriated grin as he passed。
One of the temple acolytes was waiting to receive the Magus。 He led him to a stone cell in the depths of the temple where a jug of goat's milk stood on the tab