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way and merge with the gloom。
* * *
When Taita stood once again beside the small hearth fire in the cave of Gebel Nagara； warming his old bones from the desert chill； he studied Nefer's sleeping form covered by a sheepskin； against the back wall。
He felt no anger at the boy's pathetic attempt to outwit him。 Age had not withered his humanity； or dimmed his memories of the torments of passion； and he empathized with Nefer's wish to allay Mintaka's fears and her suffering。 Added to which was the deep affection； verging on love； that he had conceived for Mintaka。
He would never confront Nefer with what might have been the consequences of this deed of passion。 He would allow him the opiate of believing that Mintaka would soon know that he still lived。
He squatted down beside Nefer and； without touching him； gently worked his way into the boy's inner being。 From long exercise of this power over his patient； he achieved it readily。 Nefer stirred； groaned and gabbled something that made no sense。 Even in deep sleep Taita's power； cast like a web over him； had touched him and brought him almost awake。
His body has journeyed well along the road to full recovery。 Taita delved deeper。 His spirit is strong； and he has lost nothing by the ordeal through which he has passed。 It will not be long now before we can move on to our next endeavour。
He went back to the fire； and placed a few more acacia sticks upon it。 Then he settled back； not to sleep； for at his age he needed only a few hours each night； but to open his mind to the currents generated by events； some distant and others much closer。 He let them eddy around him as though he were a rock in the stream of existence。
* * *
The next moon passed more swiftly than the last； as Nefer grew stronger and more restless。 Each day his limp became less noticeable until at last it disappeared。 Soon he was racing Meren from the valley floor to the crest of the hills。 These contests became a regular part of their lives at the oasis。 At first Meren won easily； but soon that changed。
At dawn on the twentieth day after the departure of Hilto； they started at the mouth of the cave and flew across the stony valley bottom shoulder to shoulder； but when they started the climb up the dune face Nefer edged ahead。 Halfway up he unleashed a sudden； powerful rush and left Meren struggling after him。 On the crest of the hill he turned back and laughed down at Meren； placing his hands on his hips in a triumphant gesture。 In the dawn wind his long dense tresses floated on his shoulders。 The early sun was rising behind him and the golden rays cast a nimbus of light around his head。
Taita had watched it all from below； and was about to turn back into the cave when an eerie sound in the desert silence stopped him。 He lifted his face to the sky to see a dark speck describing a high circle against the blue； and felt the divine presence of the god close at hand。 The cry sounded again； small and faint； but it pierced to the heart： the unforgettable cry of a royal falcon。
On the crest of the dune Nefer heard it also； and turned his head to search for the source。 He picked out the tiny shape and lifted both hands towards it。 As though the gesture was a mand the falcon dropped into a stoop； seeming to swell in size。 The wind across its cocked wings sighed as it dived straight at Nefer。 If it struck at that speed it would rip flesh and break bone； but Nefer did not flinch as it came straight for his upturned face。
At the last possible second the falcon flared out of the stoop； and hovered above the boy's head。 Nefer reached up and could almost touch the sleek； beautiful plumage of its breast。 For a moment Taita thought that the bird might allow itself to be captured； but then it changed its wingbeats and rose on high。 Once again it uttered that forlorn and lovely cry； then sped away towards the sun and seemed to disappear into the flaming orb。
* * *
On his last visit to Gebel Nagara Hilto had brought with him a full…weight war bow。 Under Taita's instruction Nefer practised with it every day； building up the muscles in his back and shoulders until he had the strength to throw up the weapon； draw to full stretch and hold his aim without his arms beginning to tire and shake。 Then； at Taita's word of mand； he would send an arrow arcing high to drop on to the target two hundred cubits distant。
Nefer cut himself a heavy acacia…wood staff from a hidden grove in the foothills and shaped； scraped and polished it until it had perfect balance and length in his hands。 In the cool of the dawn； he and Taita fought in the traditional fashion。 At first Nefer held back in deference to Taita's age； but the Magus bloodied his shins and raised a lump on his scalp。 Furious and humiliated； Nefer attacked in earnest； but the old man was quick and nimble。 He hopped just out of reach of Nefer's slashing staff； then darted in to impart a painful rap on an unprotected elbow or knee。
Taita had lost little of his skill with the blade。 Hilto had brought them a rack of heavy sickle swords； and when Taita decided that they had had sufficient practice with the fighting staffs； he brought out the swords and led Nefer and Meren through the entire repertoire of cuts； thrusts and parries。 He made them repeat every manoeuvre fifty times； then start again。 By the time he called a halt for supper both Nefer and Meren were flushed and running with sweat as though they had plunged into a pool of the Nile。 Taita's skin； though； was dry and cool。 When Meren remarked ruefully on this； he chuckled。 'I sweated my last drop of juice before you were ever born。'
On other evenings Nefer and Meren stripped naked； oiled their bodies and wrestled； while Taita umpired their bouts and called advice and instruction。 Although Meren was taller by a hand and heavier in the shoulders and limbs； Nefer had natural balance and Taita had taught him how to use his opponent's weight against him。 They matched each other throw for throw。
In the evenings and late into the night Taita and Nefer sat by the fire and debated every subject from medicine and politics to war and religion。 Often Taita would outline a theory； then require Nefer to discover any flaws in his postulates and arguments。 He placed hidden traps and illogicalities in these lessons； and more often now； and with greater alacrity； Nefer would uncover and question them。 Then there was always the bao board to puzzle over in the attempt to unravel the laws and infinite possibilities inherent in the movements and patterns of the stones。
'If you could understand all there is to know of the bao stones； you would know all there is to know of life itself；' Taita told him。 'The subtleties and nuances of the game tune and sharpen the mind to the greater mysteries。'
The month passed so swiftly that it was with a small shock of surprise that Nefer； while running hard through the desert in pursuit of a mortally wounded gazelle； suddenly descried on the horizon； distorted by the mirage； a tiny cloud of yellow dust； and beneath it the distant shape of the wagon returning from the river valley。 On the instant； he forgot the gazelle he was chasing and raced to meet Hilto。 Even though Hilto was accustomed to feats of physical prowess from his men； he was impressed with the speed at which Nefer covered the ground through the shimmering heat。
'Hilto！' Nefer yelled； still at a distance； and without any sign of laboured breathing。 'May the gods love you and grant you eternal life！ What news？ What news？'
Hilto pretended to misunderstand the significance of the question； and as Nefer walked at his side he began a long…winded recital of political and social events in the kingdoms。 There has been another rebellion in the north。 This time Trok found it harder to put down。 He lost four hundred men in three days of hard fighting； and half the rebels escaped his wrath。'
'Hilto； you know that is not what I wanted to hear from you。'
Hilto indicated Bay with a jerk of his head。 'Perhaps this is