wilbursmith_warlock-第59节

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at　he　dared　not　move　the　boy　while　his　life　hung　on　such　a　slender　thread。　The　plans　that　he　had　laid　so　carefully　over　the　past　weeks　could　not　go　forward　unless　he　took　drastic　action。　To　interfere　further　with　the　wound　in　this　condition　was　to　risk　a　fatal　poisoning　of　the　blood；　but　there　was　no　other　course　open　to　him。　He　laid　out　his　instruments　and　bathed　the　entire　leg　in　a　solution　of　vinegar。　Then　he　forced　another　heavy　dose　of　the　Red　Shepenn　between　Nefer's　lips；　and　while　he　waited　for　the　drug　to　take　effect　he　prayed　to　Horus　and　to　the　goddess　Lostris　for　their　protection。　Then　he　took　up　the　scalpel　and　cut　one　of　the　stitches　that　held　the　lips　of　the　wound　together。
　　
　　He　was　taken　aback　by　the　way　in　which　the　flesh　burst　open　and　at　the　gagging　flood　of　yellow　corruption　that　poured　out。　He　used　a　gold　spoon　to　scrape　it　clean；　and　when　he　felt　the　metal　strike　some　hard　obstruction　in　the　depths　of　the　wound；　he　probed　with　ivory　forceps　and　gripped　the　object　in　the　jaws。　At　last　he　prised　it　free。　He　took　it　to　the　light　from　the　doorway　and　found　that　it　was　a　ragged　splinter　of　the　lion's　claw；　half　as　long　as　his　little　finger；　which　must　have　broken　off　as　the　beast　was　savaging　Nefer。
　　
　　He　placed　a　gold　tube　in　the　wound　to　allow　it　to　drain；　then　rebandaged　it。　By　evening　Nefer's　recovery　was　miraculous。　In　the　morning　he　was　weak　but　the　fever　in　his　blood　had　abated。　Taita　gave　him　a　tonic　to　fortify　him；　and　placed　the　Periapt　of　Lostris　on　his　leg。　While　he　sat　beside　him　in　the　noonday；　gathering　his　resolve；　there　was　a　soft　scratching　at　the　shutters。　When　he　opened　them　a　crack；　Merykara　slipped　into　the　chamber。　She　was　distraught　and　had　been　weeping。　She　flung　herself　against　Taita　and　hugged　his　legs。
　　
　　'They　have　forbidden　me　to　e　here；'　she　whispered　and　she　did　not　have　to　explain　who　'they'　were；　'but　I　know　the　guards　on　the　terrace　and　they　let　me　pass。'
　　
　　'Gently；　my　child。'　Taita　stroked　her　hair。　'Do　not　distress　yourself　so。'
　　
　　'Taita；　they　are　going　to　kill　him。'
　　
　　'Who　are　they？'
　　
　　'The　two　of　them。'　Merykara　started　sobbing　again　and　her　explanation　was　barely　coherent。　'They　thought　I　was　asleep　or　that　I　would　not　understand　what　they　were　discussing。　They　never　said　his　name；　but　I　knew　they　were　talking　about　Nefer。'
　　
　　'What　did　they　say？'
　　
　　'They　will　send　for　you。　When　you　leave　Nefer　alone；　they　say　that　it　won't　take　long。'　She　broke　off　and　gulped；　'It's　so　horrible；　Taita！　Our　own　sister；　and　that　awful　man…that　monster。'
　　
　　'When？'　Taita　shook　her　gently　to　brace　her。
　　
　　'Soon。　Very　soon。'　Her　voice　steadied。
　　
　　'Did　they　say　how；　Princess？'
　　
　　'Noom；　the　surgeon　from　Babylon。　Naja　says　that　he　will　push　a　thin　needle　up　through　Nefer's　nostril　and　into　his　brain。　There　will　be　no　bleeding　or　any　other　sign。'　Taita　knew　Noom　well：　they　had　debated　against　each　at　the　library　of　Thebes；　arguing　the　correct　treatment　for　fractured　limbs。　Noom　had　e　away　smarting　from　the　lash　of　Taita's　eloquence　and　knowledge。　He　was　deeply　jealous　of　Taita's　reputation　and　his　powers。　He　was　a　rival　and　a　bitter　enemy。
　　
　　'The　gods　will　reward　you；　Merykara；　for　daring　to　e　and　warn　us。　But　you　must　go　now；　before　they　find　out　that　you　have　been　here。　If　they　suspect　you；　they　will　treat　you　as　they　plan　to　do　Nefer。'
　　
　　When　she　had　gone　Taita　sat　for　a　while　collecting　his　thoughts；　reviewing　his　plans。　He　could　not　do　it　alone；　and　he　would　have　to　rely　on　others；　but　he　had　chosen　the　best　and　most　reliable。　They　were　ready　to　act；　and　they　had　been　waiting　for　his　word。　He　could　delay　no　longer。
　　
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　　At　his　bidding　the　slaves　brought　kettles　of　hot　water　and　Taita　washed　Nefer　carefully　from　head　to　foot　and　rebandaged　his　wounds；　placing　a　dressing　of　lambswool　over　the　gaping　opening　in　his　thigh　that　was　still　draining。
　　
　　When　he　had　finished；　he　warned　the　guards　not　to　let　anybody　pass；　and　barred　all　the　entrances　to　the　chamber。　He　prayed　for　a　while　and　then　threw　incense　on　the　brazier　and　in　the　blue　and　aromatic　smoke　made　an　ancient；　potent　incantation　to　Anubis；　the　god　of　death　and　cemeteries。
　　
　　Only　then　did　he　prepare　the　elixir　of　Anubis　in　a　new　and　unused　oil　lamp。　He　warmed　the　mixture　on　the　brazier　until　it　was　the　temperature　of　blood；　and　took　it　to　the　bed　where　Nefer　was　sleeping　quietly。　Gently　he　turned　his　head　to　one　side　and　placed　the　spout　of　the　lamp　in　his　ear。　He　poured　the　elixir　into　the　eardrum；　a　heavy　viscid　drop　at　a　time。　Carefully　he　wiped　away　the　excess；　taking　care　that　it　should　not　touch　his　own　skin。　Then　he　plugged　Nefer's　ear　with　a　small　ball　of　wool　and　pushed　it　deeply　into　the　passage　until　it　could　not　be　detected　by　any　but　a　detailed　examination。
　　
　　He　emptied　what　remained　of　the　elixir　on　to　the　coals　of　the　brazier；　and　it　flared　in　a　puff　of　acrid　steam。　Then　he　filled　the　lamp　with　oils　and　lit　the　wick。　He　placed　it　with　the　other　lamps　in　the　corner　of　the　chamber。
　　
　　He　went　back　to　the　bed　and　squatted　beside　it。　He　watched　Nefer's　chest　rise　and　fall　to　his　breathing。　Each　breath　was　slower　and　the　intervals　between　them　longer。　At　last　they　ceased　altogether。　He　placed　two　fingers　on　Nefer's　throat　beneath　his　ear；　and　felt　the　slow　deliberate　pulsing　of　the　life　force　within　him。　Gradually　that　also　faded　away　until　it　was　only　a　flutter　like　the　wing　of　tiny　insect　that　took　all　his　skill　and　experience　to　detect。　With　the　fingers　of　his　left　hand　he　counted　the　beating　of　the　life　force　in　his　own　neck；　and　pared　the　two。
　　
　　At　last　his　own　beat　was　three　hundred　to　a　single　barely　detectable　flutter　in　Nefer's　neck。　Gently　he　closed　the　boy's　eyes；　placed　an　amulet　on　the　lids　in　the　traditional　preparation　of　the　corpse。　Next　he　bound　a　strip　of　linen　over　them；　and　another　strip　under　his　jaw　to　keep　his　mouth　from　gaping　open。　He　worked　quickly　for　there　was　danger　in　every　minute　that　Nefer　remained　under　the　influence　of　the　elixir。　At　last　he　went　to　the　door　and　removed　the　locking　bar。
　　
　　'Send　word　to　the　Regent　of　the　Upper　Kingdom。　He　should　e　immediately　to　hear　terrible　tidings　of　Pharaoh。'
　　
　　Lord　Naja　arrived　with　surprising　alacrity。　Princess　Heseret　was　with　him；　and　they　were　followed　by　a　crowd　of　their　intimates；　which　included　Lord　Asmor；　the　Assyrian　doctor　Noom；　and　most　of　the　members　of　the　council。
　　
　　Naja　ordered　the　others　to　watt　in　the　corridor　outside　the　royal　apartments；　while　he　and　Heseret　came　into　the　chamber。　Taita　rose　from　beside　the　bed　to　greet　them。
　　
　　Heseret　was　weeping　ostentatiously　and　covering　her　eyes　with　an　embroidered　linen　shawl。　Naja　glanced　at　the　bandaged　body　laid　out　stiffly　on　the　couch；　then　glanced　at　Taita　with　a　question　in　his　eyes。　In　reply　Taita　nodded　slightly。　Naja　masked　the　gleam　of　triumph　in　his　eyes；　then　knelt　beside　the　bed。　He　laid　one　hand　on　Nefer's　chest　and　felt　the　warmth　slowly　ebbing　to　be　replaced　by　a　spreading　coolness。　Naja　prayed　aloud　to　Horus；　who　was　the　patron　god　of　the　dead　pharaoh。　When　he　rose　to　his　feet　again　he　took　Taita's　upper　arm　in　a　firm　grip。
　　
　　'Console　yourself；　Magus；　you　did　all　that　we　could　require　of　you。　You　will　not　lack　reward。'　He　clapped　his　hands；　and　when　the　guard　hurried　through　the　door　he　ordered；　'Summon　the　members　of　the　council　to　assemble。'
　　
　　They　filed　into　the　room　in　solemn　procession　and　formed　up　around　the　bed　three　deep。
　　
　　'Let　the　good　doctor　Noom　e　forward；'　Naja　ordered。　'Let　him　confirm　the　Magus'　pronouncement　of　Pharaoh's　death。'
　　
　　The　ranks　opened　for　the　Assyrian　to　reach　the　couch。　His　long　locks　had　been　curled　with　hot　tongs　and　dangled　to　his　shoulders。　His　beard　had　also　been　curled　in　the　fashion　of　Babylon。　His　robe　swept　the　floor　and　was　decorated　with　embroidered　symbols　of　strange　gods　and　magical　patterns。　He　knelt　beside　the　deathbed　and　began　an　examination　of　the　corpse。　He　sniffed　at　Nefer's　lips　with　a　huge　hooked　nose　from　whose　nostrils　protruded　clumps　of　black　hair。　Then　he　placed　his　ear　against　Nefer's　chest　and　listened；　during　a　hundred　beats　of　Taita's　anxious　heart。　He　had　placed　much　store　in　the　Assyrian's　ineptitude。
　　
　　Then　Noom　took　a　long　silver　pin　from　the　hem　of　his　robe　and　opened　Nefer's　limp　hand。　He　pricked　the　point　deeply　up　under　the　fingernail　and　watched　for　a　muscular　reaction　or　for　a　drop　of　blood　to　form。
　　
　　At　last　he　stood　up　slowly；　and　Taita　thought　that　there　was　evidence　of　deep　disappointment　in　his　curled　lip　and　lugubrious　expression　as　he　shook　his　head。　Taita　reflected　that　he　had　certainly　been　offered　untold　rewards　to　use　the　silver　pin　to　other　effect。　'Pharaoh　is　dead；'　he　announced；　and　those　around　the　bed　made　the　sign　against　the　evil　eye　and　the　wrath　of　the　gods。
　　
　　Lord　Naja　threw　back　his　head　and　gave　the　first　cry　of　lamentation；　and　Heseret；　standing　behind　him；　took　up　the　wailing　cry　in　her　lovely　soaring　voice。
　　
　　Taita　hid　his　impatience　while　he　waited　for　the　mourners　to　file　past　the　couch；　and　on