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'Pharaoh is dead；' the surgeon said quietly； as he stood up with the royal blood coating his hands to the wrists。 A terrible cry of mourning started at the head of the column and ran down its entire length。 Naja let them play out their grief then sent for his troop captains。
The state is without a head；' he told them。 'Egypt is in dire peril。 Ten of the fastest chariots must take Pharaoh's body back to Thebes with all haste。 I shall lead them for it may be that the council will wish me to take up the duties of regent to Prince Nefer。'
He had planted the first seeds and saw by their awed expressions that they had taken root almost immediately。 He went on； with a grim； businesslike air that suited the tragic circumstances which had overtaken them； The surgeon must wrap the royal corpse before I take it home to the funeral temple。 But in the meantime we must find Prince Nefer。 He must be informed of his father's death and of his own succession。 This is the single most urgent matter of state； and of my regency。' He had assumed that title smoothly； and no man questioned him or even looked askance。 He unrolled a papyrus scroll； a map of the territory from Thebes down to Memphis； and spread it on the dashboard of his chariot。 He pored over it。 'You must split up into your troops and scour the countryside for the prince。 I believe that Pharaoh sent him into the desert with the eunuch to undertake the rituals of manhood； so we will concentrate our search here； from Gallala where we last saw him towards the south and east。' With the eye for ground of a mander of armies Naja picked out the search area； and ordered a net of chariots to be spread out across the land to bring in the prince。
* * *
The squadron returned to Gallala with Lord Naja in the van。 Next in line came the vehicle carrying the partially embalmed body of Pharaoh。 On the shore of the natron lake Waifra； the surgeon； had laid out the royal corpse and made the traditional incision in his left side。 Through this he had removed the viscera and internal organs。 The contents of the stomach and intestines had been washed in the viscous salt water of the lake。 Then all the organs were packed with the white crystals of evaporated natron from the lake edge and stored in pottery wine jars。 The king's body cavity was packed with natron salts； then wrapped in linen bindings soaked with the harsh salt。 When they reached Thebes he would be taken to his own funerary temple and handed over to the priests and embalmers for the ritual seventy days of preparation for burial。 Naja grudged every minute spent upon the road； for he was in desperate haste to return to Thebes before the news of the King's death preceded him。 Yet at the gates of the ruined city he took more precious time to instruct the troop captains who were to undertake the search for the prince。
'Sweep all the roads to the east。 The eunuch is a wily old bird and will have covered his tracks； but smell him out；' he ordered them。 There are villages at the oases of Satam and Lakara。 Question the people。 You may use the whip and the hot iron to make certain they hide nothing。 Search all the secret places of the wilderness。 Find the prince and the eunuch。 Fail me not； at your peril。'
When at last the captains had refilled their waterskins and were ready to take their divisions out into the desert； he held them with a final order； and they knew from his voice and his ferocious yellow eyes that this was the most fateful order of all； and that to disobey would mean death。 'When you find Prince Nefer； bring him to me。 Give him into no other hand but mine。'
There were Nubian scouts with the divisions； black slaves from the wild southlands highly skilled in the art of tracking down men and beasts。 They trotted ahead of the chariots as they fanned out into the wilderness； and Lord Naja spent another few precious minutes watching them go。 His jubilation was tempered with unease。 He knew that the ancient eunuch； Taita； was an adept； that he possessed strange and wonderful powers。 If there is one single man who can stop me now； it is he。 I wish that I could run them down myself； the eunuch and the brat； rather than send underlings to pit themselves against the Warlock's wiles。 But my destiny calls to me from Thebes and I dare not linger。
He ran back to his chariot and seized the reins。 'Onwards！' He gave the mand to advance with a clenched fist。 'Onwards to Thebes！'
They drove the horses hard； so that when they raced down the escarpment of the eastern hills on to the wide alluvial plain of the river； the lather had dried white on their heaving flanks and their eyes were red and wild。
Naja had withdrawn a full legion of the Phat Guards from the army encamped before Abnub。 He had explained to Pharaoh that these were the strategic reserves to throw into the gap and prevent a Hyksosian break…out should the offensive fail。 However； the Phat Guard was his own special regiment。 The manders were oath…bound to him。 Following his secret orders they had pulled back from Abnub； and were waiting for him now at the oasis of Boss； only two leagues from Thebes。
The guards' pickets saw the dust of the approaching chariots and stood to arms。 The colonel； Asmor； and his officers were turned out in full armour to meet Lord Naja。 The legion； under arms； was drawn up behind them。
'Lord Asmor！' Naja hailed him from the chariot。 'I have dreadful news to take to the council at Thebes。 Pharaoh is killed by a Hyksosian arrow。
'Lord Naja； I stand ready to carry out your orders。'
'Egypt is a child without a father。' Naja halted his chariot in front of the ranks of plumed and glittering warriors。 Now he raised his voice so it carried clearly to the rear ranks。 'Prince Nefer is a child still； and not yet ready to rule。 Egypt stands in desperate need of a regent to lead her； lest the Hyksos take advantage of our disarray。' He paused and stared significantly at Colonel Asmor。 Asmor lifted his chin slightly in acknowledgement of the trust that Naja had placed in him。 He had been promised rewards greater than any he had ever dreamed of。
Naja raised his voice to a bellow： 'If Pharaoh falls in battle； the army has the right by acclamation to appoint a regent in the field。' He fell silent and stood with one fist clenched on his breast and the lance in his other hand。
Asmor took a pace forward and turned to face the ranks of heavily armed guards。 With a theatrical gesture he removed his helmet。 His face was dark and hard。 A pale scar from a sword slash twisted his nose to one side； and his shaven pate was covered by a plaited horsehair wig。 He pointed his drawn sword to the sky； and he shouted； in a voice that had been trained to carry over the din of battle； 'Lord Naja！ Hail to the Regent of Egypt！ Hail to Lord Naja！'
There was a long moment of stunned silence before the legion erupted in a roar； like a pride of hunting lions； 'Hail to Lord Naja； Regent of Egypt。'
The cheering and the uproar lasted until Lord Naja raised his fist again； and in the silence that followed he spoke clearly： 'You do me great honour！ I accept the charge you place upon me。'
'Bak…her！' they shouted； and beat upon their shields with sword and lance until the echoes broke like distant thunder on the hills of the escarpment。
In the uproar Naja summoned Asmor to him。 'Place pickets on all the roads。 No man leaves this place until I do。 No word of this must reach Thebes ahead of me。'
* * *
The journey from Gallala had taken three days of hard riding。 The horses were worn out； and even Naja was exhausted。 Yet he allowed himself only an hour to rest； bathe away the dust of the journey and change his apparel。 Then； with his jaw shaven； his hair oiled and bed； he mounted the ceremonial chariot that Asmor had ready and waiting at the entrance to the tent。 The gold leaf that decorated the dashboard shone in the sunlight。
Naja wore a white linen skirt； with a pectoral plate of gold and semiprecious stones covering his bare muscled chest。 On his hip he carried th