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Trok found a patch of shade under a gnarled tamarind near the well。 The wizards and holy men came in response to his summons and squatted in a circle around him。 There were four of them； two shaven priests of Seueth in their black robes； a Nubian shaman hung with necklaces and bracelets of charms and bones； and a sorcerer from the east known as Ishtar the Mede。 Ishtar had one wall eye and his face was tattooed with purple and red whorls and circles。
'The man we are pursuing is an adept of the occult arts；' Trok warned them。 'He will exert all his powers to frustrate us。 It is said that he can weave a spell of concealment； and that he can conjure up images that might dismay our legions。 You will have to work your own spells to turn aside his powers。'
'Who is this charlatan？' asked Ishtar the Mede。 'You can be certain that he will not prevail against our bined force。'
'His name is Taita；' Trok replied； and only Ishtar showed no dismay at the identity of their adversary。
'I know Taita only by reputation；' he said； 'but I have long looked for an opportunity to match him。'
'Weave your magic；' Trok ordered them。
The priests of Seueth went aside a short distance and laid out their accoutrements and mystical trappings on the sand。 They began to chant softly and shake their rattles over them。
The Nubian searched among the rocks around the well； until he found a venomous horned adder under one of them。 He lopped off its head and dribbled the blood over his own head。 With it running down his cheeks and dripping off the tip of his nose； he hopped in circles like a great black toad。 As he pleted each turn he spat copiously towards the east where Taita lay。
Ishtar built a small fire near the well and squatted over it； rocking on his heels and muttering incantations to Marduk； the most powerful of all the two thousand and ten gods of Mesopotamia。
Once he had given his orders to Tolma； Trok went across to watch him at work。 'What magic are you making here？' he asked at last； as Ishtar opened a vein in his wrist and let a few drops of his own blood drip and sizzle in the flames of the fire。
'This is the hex of fire and blood。 I am placing obstacles and hardships in Taita's path。' Ishtar did not look up。 'I am confusing and confounding the minds of his followers。'
Trok grunted sceptically； but secretly he was impressed。 He had seen Ishtar work before。 He walked a short way along the road and glared at the line of eastern hills。 He was hot for the pursuit and grudged this stay。 On the other hand he was enough of a general to realize the absolute necessity of resting and watering the horse after the long night ride。
He knew well the nature of the ground ahead。 As a young captain of chariots he had patrolled there on many occasions。 He had crossed the shale beds that cut hoofs and hocks like flint knives； and had endured the terrible heat and thirst of the dunes。
He walked back to where he had left his chariot； but he had to pause and turn his back as a sudden dust devil came swirling across the yellow plain； spinning upon itself and rising several hundred cubits into the sultry air。 The vortex enpassed him。 The air was as hot as the breath from a bronze furnace； and he had to cover his nose and eyes with his headcloth and breathe through the material to strain out the flying sand。 It swept past and spun away across the hot earth with the grace of a harem dancer； leaving him coughing and wiping his eyes。
It was a little before noon and they had just finished the watering when the second column under Colonel Zander caught up with them and came down the slope to the well。 They were as much in need of water as the first column and now there was danger of congestion at the oasis。 Already the water was depleted and muddied。 They would be forced to fall back on the precious waterskins to eke out the supply。
Trok held a brief conference with Zander and Tolma； explaining his plan of action； and the formation he wanted to employ to prevent Taita from twisting and turning out of the net they were spreading for him。 'Warn the regimental manders to be on the alert for any magical snares that Taita puts out to confuse us；' he ended。 'Ishtar the Mede has worked a potent spell。 I have much faith in him。 He has never failed me before。 If we are fully aware of the wiles of the Warlock we will succeed。 After all； how can he prevail against such an array？' With a sweep of his arm he indicated the huge gathering of chariots and horses and elite troops； 'No！ By the breath of Seueth； this time tomorrow I will be dragging Taita and Mintaka behind my chariot on the way back to Avaris。'
He ordered the leading column to mount。 Four chariots abreast and in a column half a league long they headed out into the wilderness。 On the soft sandy earth ahead the wheel tracks of their quarry were clearly etched。
* * *
Taita signalled the two vehicles that followed him to halt。 They stopped in the purple shade thrown across the sands by a tall slip…faced dune shaped like the elegant curve of a gigantic seashell。
The horses were already showing signs of distress。 They hung their heads and their chests heaved as they breathed。 The sweat had dried in salt white rime on their dust…dulled hides。
Carefully they measured out a water ration from the waterskins into the leather buckets and the horses drank eagerly。 Taita treated Mintaka 's feet and was relieved to find no evidence that the injuries were mortifying。 When he had retied the bandages he led Bay out of earshot of the others。
'We are being overlooked；' he said flatly。 There is a baleful influence slowly enveloping us。'
'I have felt it also；' Bay agreed； 'and I have begun to resist it。 But it is powerful。'
'We can best frustrate it if we bine our powers against it。'
'We must be careful of the others。 They are more vulnerable。'
'I will warn them to be on their guard。'
Taita walked back to where the others were just finishing the watering。 'Be ready to go on；' he told Nefer。 'Bay and I are going to scout the ground ahead。 We will return in a short while。'
The two adepts went forward on foot and disappeared around the curved sand wall of the slip…face。 Out of sight of the chariots they halted。 'Do you know who Trok has with him who can work such a potent spell？'
'He has priests and sorcerers with all his regiments； but the most powerful of them is Ishtar the Mede。'
'I know of him。' Taita nodded。 'He works in fire and blood。 We must try to turn his influence back on him。'
Bay started a small fire of dried horse dung； and when it was burning steadily they pricked the end of their thumbs and squeezed out a few red drops into the flames。 With the whiff of burnt blood in the air they faced the enemy； for they could feel that the influence was in the western segment； from the direction that they had e。 They exerted their bined powers and after a while they felt it begin to diminish； and disperse like the smoke of the dying fire。
When they had pleted the ritual； and were smothering the fire with sand； Bay said softly； 'It is still there。'
'Yes；' Taita said。 'We have weakened it； but it is still dangerous； especially to those who have not learned how to resist it。'
'The youngest will be more susceptible；' Bay suggested。 'The two boys； Pharaoh and Meren； and the girl。'
They went back to where the chariots waited。 Before they mounted again Taita spoke to the others。 He knew that they would be frightened if he mentioned the true reason for his concern； so he said； 'We are entering the most inhospitable and dangerous area of the dune…lands。 I know you are all tired and thirsty； drained by the rigours of the journey； but it could be fatal for any of you to bee careless。 Watch the horses and the ground ahead。 Do not allow yourselves to be distracted by any strange sound or by an unusual sight； a bird or an animal。' He paused and looked directly at Nefer。 'That applies to you part