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Naja led her to a cushioned stool at one side of the pavilion。 When she sat down Naja and his staff formed a screen around her； hiding her from view。 She was certain that this had been deliberately arranged。
Lord Naja opened the conclave with a lamentation for the tragic death of King Apepi and his sons。 Then he launched into a eulogy of the dead pharaoh。 He recounted his numerous military triumphs and his feats of statesmanship； culminating with his participation in the treaty of Hathor； which had brought peace to the two kingdoms torn by decades of internecine warfare and strife。
'Without King Apepi； or a strong pharaoh to guide the affairs of the Lower Kingdom and to rule in conjunction with Pharaoh Nefer Seti and his regent in Thebes； the treaty of Hathor is in jeopardy。 A return to the horrors and warfare of the last sixty years prior to the treaty is unthinkable。'
Lord Trok beat his sword scabbard against his bronze buckler； and shouted； 'Bak…her！ Bak…her！' Immediately the applause was taken up by all the military manders behind him； and spread slowly through the entire assembly until it was a deafening thunder。
Naja let it continue for a while； then held up both arms。 When silence fell he continued； 'In the tragic circumstances of his death； King Apepi leaves no male heir to the Crown。' Smoothly he passed over any mention of Mintaka。 'As a matter of urgency I have consulted the senior councillors and nome governors of both kingdoms。 Their choice for the new Pharaoh has been unanimous。 With one voice they have asked Lord Trok of Memphis to pick up the reins of power； to take the double crown upon himself and steer the nation forward in the noble tradition set by King Apepi。'
The silence that followed this announcement was profound and drawn…out。 Men looked at each other in blank astonishment； and only then became aware that while they had been absorbed in Lord Naja's address two regiments of the northern army manded by； and loyal to Trok； had e silently out of the palm groves and surrounded the assembly。 Their swords were sheathed； but every gloved hand was on the hilt。 It would take a moment only to draw the bronze blades。 An air of dismay and consternation fell upon them all。 Mintaka seized the moment。 She sprang off the stool where she had been hidden and cried； 'My lords and loyal citizens of this very Egypt 。。。〃
She got no further。 Four of the tallest Hyksosian warriors crowded around her； hiding her。 They rattled their drawn swords against their shields and shouted in unison； 'Long live； Pharaoh Trok Uruk。' The shout was taken up by the rest of the army。 In the joyous uproar that followed strong hands took Mintaka and spirited her away through the cheering press。 She struggled ineffectually； her movements smothered and her voice unheard in the storm of cheering。 On the riverbank she twisted in the arms of her captors and glanced back。 Over the heads of the crowd she glimpsed Lord Naja raising the double crown over the head of the new Pharaoh。
Then she was hustled down the bank to the waiting felucca； and back to her locked and guarded cabin on board Lord Trok's galley。
* * *
Mintaka sat with her slave girls in the crowded little cabin and waited to learn what was to be her fate when the new Pharaoh returned on board。 Her girls were terrified and as confused as she was。 However； she tried to fort them。 When they had calmed a little she started them playing their favourite games。 These soon palled so she called for a lute。 Her own had been lost on her father's barge； but they borrowed one from a guard。
Mintaka held a petition； making each girl dance in turn in the confined space of the little cabin。 They were laughing and clapping when they heard the new Pharaoh returning on board。 The girls fell silent but she urged them to continue； and soon they were as rowdy as before。
Mintaka did not join in the merriment。 Previously she had carefully explored her surroundings。 Attached to her main cabin was a much smaller one； little more than a cupboard； which served as a latrine。 It contained a large pottery toilet bowl with a lid and； beside it； a pitcher of water for washing。 The bulkhead dividing it from the next cabin was thin and flimsy。 The boat…builders had been concerned to save weight。 Mintaka had been on board this galley in happier times； when she and her father had been guests of Lord Trok。 She knew that the main cabin lay on the other side of this bulkhead。
Mintaka slipped into the latrine。 Even above the noise her girls were making； she heard men's voices from beyond the partition。 She recognized Naja's clear； manding tones； and Trok's gruff replies。 Carefully she laid her ear against the planking of the bulkhead and immediately the voices were clearer； the words intelligible。
Naja was dismissing the guards who had acpanied them on board。 She heard them stump away； and there was a long silence。 So long that she thought Naja might be alone in the saloon。 She heard the gurgle of wine being poured into a drinking bowl； and Naja's voice； heavy with sarcasm。 'Your Majesty； have you not over…refreshed yourself already？'
Then Trok's unmistakable laugh； and Mintaka could hear from the impediment to his speech that he was indeed already in his cups as he replied to Naja's jibe； 'e； cousin； be not so severe。 Take a bowl with me。 Let us drink to the successful oute of all our endeavours。 Drink to the crown on my head； and the one that will soon bless yours。' Naja's tone mellowed a little。 'A year ago； when we first began to plan； it all seemed so impossible； so remote。 Then we were disparaged and overlooked； as far from the throne as the moon is from the sun； and yet here we are； two pharaohs holding between us the whole of Egypt。'
'And two pharaohs gone on ahead of us；' Trok joined in； 'Tamose with your arrow through his heart and Apepi； the great hog； fried in his own lard along with all his piglets。' He shouted with triumphant laughter。
Tray； not so loud。 You are indiscreet； even if we are alone；' Naja rebuked him gently。 'It would be best if we never repeated those things。
Let our little secrets go with Tamose to his tomb in the Valley of the
Kings； and with Apepi to the bottom of the river。'
'e！' Trok insisted。 'Drink with me to all that we have achieved。'
'To what we have achieved；' Naja agreed。 'And to all that is to follow。'
'Today Egypt； and tomorrow the treasures and riches of Assyria； Babylon and the rest of the world！ Nothing can stand in our way。'
Mintaka heard Trok gulp noisily。 Then there was a crash against the bulkhead at the level of her ear。 It startled her and she jumped back； then realized that Trok had hurled the empty wine bowl against the panel smashing it to shards。 He belched loudly； and went on； 'Yet there is one detail that remains。 Tamose's puppy has your crown upon his head still。'
As she listened Mintaka was in a whirlpool of emotion that tugged her one way then the other； and spun her until her senses reeled。 She had listened in horror as； dispassionately； they discussed the murders of her father； her brothers and Pharaoh Tamose； but she was ill…prepared for what they had to say about Nefer。
'Not for much longer；' Naja said。 'That will be taken care of as soon as I return to Thebes。 It is all arranged。'
Mintaka clamped her hands across her mouth to prevent herself crying out。 They were going to murder Nefer as coldly as they had all the others。 Her heart seemed to shrivel within her； and she felt helpless。 She was a prisoner and without friends。 She tried to think of some way in which she could send a warning to Nefer； for only in that moment did she know the full extent of her love for him： she would do anything in her power to save him。
''Tis a pity the lion did not do your work for you；' said Trok； 'instead of only scratching him a little。'
'The beast set the stage nicely。 Nefer needs just a little push； and I will give him a funeral even more splendid than I gave his father。'
'You