wilbursmith_warlock-第37部分

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face　and　swimming　into　the　thick　papyrus　beds；　staying　submerged　beneath　the　mat　of　roots　and　stems。　The　number　of　dead　birds　piled　on　the　floorboards　of　the　skiff　grew　pitifully　slowly。　In　contrast　the　happy　cries　from　the　other　skiff　continued　almost　without　a　break。
　　
　　In　desperation　Nefer　discarded　his　curved　sticks　and　snatched　up　the　heavy　war　bow；　but　it　was　too　late。　His　right　arm　was　almost　exhausted　by　his　efforts　with　the　sticks。　His　draw　was　laboured　and　he　shot　behind　the　faster　birds　and　in　front　of　the　slower　ones。　Taita　watched　him　flounder　ever　deeper　into　the　trap　he　had　set　for　himself。　A　little　humiliation　will　do　him　no　real　harm；　he　told　himself。
　　
　　With　a　few　words　of　advice　he　could　have　corrected　Nefer's　mistakes：　almost　fifty　years　ago　Taita　had　written　the　standard　texts；　not　only　on　chariot　handling　and　tactics　but　also　on　archery。　For　once　his　sympathy　was　not　wholeheartedly　with　the　boy；　and　he　smiled　secretly　as　he　watched　Nefer　miss　again　and　Mintaka　take　down　two　birds　from　the　same　flight　as　they　passed　over　her　head。
　　
　　However；　he　felt　pity　for　his　king　when　one　of　Mintaka's　slaves　swam　across　the　lagoon；　and　hung　on　to　the　side　of　Nefer's　skiff。　'Her　Royal　Highness　Princess　Mintaka　hopes　that　mighty　Pharaoh　might　enjoy　jasmine…scented　days　and　starry　nights　filled　with　the　song　of　the　nightingale。　However；　her　boat　begins　to　sink　under　the　weight　of　her　bag；　and　she　is　hungry　for　her　breakfast；　which　she　says　was　promised　her　these　hours　past。'
　　
　　An　untimely　sally！　Taita　thought；　as　Nefer　scowled　furiously　at　this　impertinence。
　　
　　'You　can　give　thanks　to　whatever　god　of　apes　and　cur…dogs　you　worship；　slave；　that　I　am　a　man　of　passion。　Otherwise　I　would　myself　hack　off　your　ugly　head　and　send　it　back　to　your　mistress　to　answer　that　jest。'
　　
　　It　was　time　for　Taita　to　intervene　smoothly：　'Pharaoh　apologizes　for　his　thoughtlessness；　but　he　was　enjoying　the　sport　so　much　that　he　forgot　the　passage　of　time。　Please　tell　your　mistress　that　we　shall　all　go　in　to　breakfast　immediately。'
　　
　　Nefer　glowered　at　him　but　put　up　his　bow　and　made　no　effort　to　revoke　Taita's　decision。　The　two　small　boats　paddled　back　towards　the　island　in　close　formation；　so　that　the　piles　of　duck　on　the　floorboards　of　each　could　be　readily　pared。　Not　a　word　was　said　by　the　crew　of　either　skiff；　but　everyone　was　conscious　of　the　results　of　the　morning's　hunt。
　　
　　'Your　Majesty；'　Mintaka　called　across　to　Nefer；　'I　must　thank　you　for　a　truly　diverting　morning。　I　cannot　remember　when　last　I　enjoyed　myself　so　much。'　Her　voice　was　lilting　and　her　smile　angelic。
　　
　　'You　are　too　kind　and　forgiving。'　Unsmilingly　Nefer　made　a　regal　gesture　of　dismissal。　'I　thought　it　was　rather　poor　sport。'
　　
　　He　turned　half　away　from　her　and　stared　broodingly　out　at　the　horizon　of　reeds　and　water。　Mintaka　showed　not　the　least　distress　at　the　pointed　snub；　but　turned　to　her　slave　girls。　'e；　let　us　give　Pharaoh　a　few　verses　of　〃The　Monkey　and　the　Donkey〃。'　One　of　her　maids　handed　her　the　lute；　and　she　strummed　the　opening　bar　then　launched　into　the　first　verse　of　the　silly　children's　song。　The　maids　joined　in　with　the　chorus；　which　involved　raucous　animal　imitations　and　uncontrolled　hilarity。
　　
　　Nefer's　lips　twitched　with　amusement　but　he　had　taken　up　a　position　of　frosty　dignity　from　which　he　could　not　retreat。　Taita　could　see　that　he　longed　to　join　in　the　fun；　but　once　again　he　had　trapped　himself。
　　
　　First　love　is　such　unmitigated　joy；　Taita　thought；　with　sympathetic　irony；　and　to　the　delight　of　all　the　girls　in　the　other　boat　he　improvised　a　new　version　of　what　the　monkey　said　to　the　donkey；　which　was　much　funnier　than　any　that　had　preceded　it。　They　squealed　anew　and　clapped　their　hands　with　delight。　Nefer　felt　himself　further　excluded　and　sulked　ostentatiously。
　　
　　They　came　in　to　the　landing　on　the　island　still　singing。　The　bank　was　cut　away　steeply；　and　the　mud　below　it　black　and　glutinous。　The　boatmen　jumped　over　the　side　into　the　knee…deep　ooze　and　held　the　first　skiff　steady　while　the　slaves　handed　the　princess　and　her　maids　across　the　gap　onto　the　firm　dry　ground　at　the　top　of　the　bank。
　　
　　As　soon　as　they　were　safely　ashore　the　royal　skiff　came　in　and　the　slaves　made　ready　to　hand　Nefer　across　to　join　Mintaka　on　the　high　bank。　He　waved　them　aside　imperiously。　He　had　suffered　enough　humiliation　for　one　morning；　and　he　was　not　about　to　lower　his　dignity　further　by　clinging　to　a　pair　of　half…naked　wet　slaves　for　support。　He　balanced　easily　on　the　transom　and　the　entire　pany　watched　respectfully　for　he　was　a　splendid　sight。　Mintaka　tried　not　to　let　her　emotions　show；　but　she　thought　he　was　the　most　beautiful　creature　she　had　ever　seen；　slim　and　sleek　with　his　boyish　body　just　starting　to　take　on　the　hard　contours　of　manhood。　Even　his　haughty；　sullen　expression　enthralled　her。
　　
　　He　is　of　the　stuff　from　which　heroes　and　great　pharaohs　are　moulded；　she　thought；　in　a　surfeit　of　romantic　ardour。　I　wish　I　had　not　angered　him　so。　It　was　unkind；　and　before　this　day　is　ended　I　shall　make　him　laugh　again；　as　Hathor　is　my　witness。
　　
　　Nefer　launched　himself　across　the　gap　between　skiff　and　landed　like　a　young　leopard　springing　from　the　branch　of　an　acacia　tree。　He　landed　gracefully　on　the　high　bank　almost　within　arm's　length　of　where　she　stood。　He　paused　there　conscious　of　every　eye　upon　him。
　　
　　Then　the　bank　collapsed　beneath　him。　A　chunk　of　the　friable　dry　clay　on　which　he　was　standing　broke　off　under　his　feet。　For　an　aching　moment　he　windmilled　his　arms；　trying　to　keep　his　balance；　then　toppled　backwards　into　the　swamp。
　　
　　Everyone　stared　down　at　him　in　horror；　appalled　by　the　spectacle　of　Royal　Egypt　sitting　waist　deep　in　sticky　black　Nile　mud　with　a　startled　expression　on　his　face。
　　
　　For　long　moments　nobody　moved　or　spoke。　Then　Mintaka　laughed。　She　had　not　meant　to　do　so；　but　it　was　too　much　for　her　self…control　and　once　it　began　she　could　not　stop　herself。　It　was　a　delightful；　infectious　laugh；　that　none　of　her　maids　could　resist。　They　burst　into　merry　squeals　and　giggles　that　set　the　huntsmen　and　boatmen　off。　Even　Taita　joined　in；　cackling　unrestrainedly。
　　
　　For　a　moment　Nefer　looked　as　though　he　might　burst　into　tears；　but　then　his　anger；　kept　so　long　on　a　tight　rein；　exploded。　He　snatched　up　a　handful　of　thick　black　mud　and　hurled　it　up　at　the　laughing　princess。　His　humiliation　gave　strength　to　his　arm　and　improved　his　aim　while　Mintaka　was　so　helpless　with　mirth　that　she　could　neither　duck　nor　dodge　and　it　hit　her　full　in　the　face。　Her　laughter　died　and　she　stared　at　Nefer　with　huge　eyes　in　a　running　black　mask。
　　
　　It　was　Nefer's　turn　to　laugh。　Still　sitting　in　the　swamp　he　threw　back　his　head　and　gave　vent　to　all　his　frustration　and　humiliation　with　a　howl　of　mocking　laughter。　When　Pharaoh　laughs　all　the　world　laughs　with　him。　The　slaves；　boatmen　and　huntsmen　redoubled　their　shouts　of　merriment。
　　
　　Mintaka　recovered　swiftly　from　her　shock；　and　then；　without　any　warning；　launched　herself　over　the　bank　into　the　attack。　She　dropped　on　top　of　Nefer　with　all　her　weight。　He　was　taken　so　pletely　by　surprise　that　he　could　not　even　draw　a　full　breath　before　he　was　driven　clean　under　with　her　sitting　on　his　head。
　　
　　He　floundered　about　beneath　the　surface；　trying　to　get　purchase　on　the　muddy　bottom　but　her　weight　kept　him　pinned。　She　had　both　arms　locked　around　his　neck。　He　tried　to　throw　her　off；　but　she　was　nimble　and　slippery　as　an　eel　with　the　coating　of　mud。　With　a　huge　effort　he　lifted　her　just　long　enough　to　allow　him　to　stick　his　head　out　and　catch　a　quick　breath；　then　she　plunged　him　under　again。　He　managed　to　get　on　top　of　her　but　it　took　a　mighty　effort　to　hold　her。　She　wriggled　and　kicked　with　surprising　strength。　Her　tunic　had　rucked　up　round　her　waist　and　her　legs　were　bare　and　smooth。　She　hooked　her　one　leg　through　his　and　hung　on。　Now　they　were　face　to　face；　and　he　could　feel　her　body　warmth　through　the　slippery　mud。
　　
　　Their　filthy　faces　were　only　inches　apart；　her　hair　was　streaming　down　into　her　eyes；　and　he　was　startled　to　realize　that　she　was　grinning　at　him　through　the　slimy　coating。　He　grinned　back；　and　then　they　were　both　laughing。　But　neither　would　concede　defeat；　and　they　kept　up　the　struggle。
　　
　　His　chest　was　bare；　and　her　shift　so　wet　and　flimsy　that　it　might　not　have　existed。　Her　bare　legs　were　still　hooked　around　his。　He　reached　down　with　one　hand　to　prise　himself　free　of　their　tenacious　grip。　Unintentionally　his　right　hand　came　upon　a　hard　round　buttock　that　was　wriggling　around　with　great　energy。
　　
　　Nefer　became　aware　of　a　strange　and　pleasurable　sensation　that　seemed　to　suffuse　his　entire　body；　and　the　urgency　went　out　of　his　efforts　to　subdue　her。　He　was　content　to　hold　her　and　let　her　struggle　against　him　while　he　enjoyed　this　new　and　extraordinary　feeling。
　　
　　Abruptly　she　stopped　laughing　as　she　in　her　turn　made　a　momentous　discovery。　Between　their　lower　bodies　had　grown　up　a　protuberance　that；　only　moments　before；　had　not　existed。　It　was　so　rubbery　and　large　that　she　could　not　previously　have　overlooked　it。　She　pushed