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ew Regent of Egypt。' At last Menset looked directly at Naja； but such a dark； scornful expression blighted his usually jovial features that before the full of this moon he would be found dead in his bed。 For the time being Naja merely nodded。
'I accept the duty and heavy responsibility you have placed upon me。' He sheathed his sword and mounted the dais to the throne。 'As my first official pronouncement in my capacity of Regent in Council I wish to describe to you the gallant death of the divine Pharaoh Tamose。' He paused significantly； then for the next hour he related in detail his version of the fatal campaign and the attack on the heights of El Wadun。 Thus died one of Egypt's most gallant kings。 His last words to me as I carried him down the hill were； 〃Care for my only remaining son。 Guard my son Nefer until he is man enough to wear the double crown。 Take my two small daughters under your wings； and see that no harm befalls them。〃'
Lord Naja made little attempt to hide his terrible grief and it took him some moments to bring his emotions under control。 Then he went on firmly； 'I will not fail the god who was my friend and my pharaoh。 Already I have sent my chariots into the wilderness to search for Prince Nefer and bring him back to Thebes。 As soon as he arrives we will set him on the throne； and place the scourge and the sceptre in his hands。'
There was the first murmur of approval among the councillors； and Naja continued； 'Now send for the princesses。 Have them brought to the chamber immediately。'
When they came hesitantly through the main doors； Heseret the elder was leading her little sister； Merykara； by the hand。 Merykara had been playing pitch and toss with her friends。 She was flushed from her exertions and her slim body was dewed with sweat。 She was still several years from womanhood so her legs were long and coltish and her bare chest was as flat as a boy's。 She wore her long black hair in a side…lock that hung over her left shoulder； and her linen breech clout was so diminutive that it left the lower half of her little round buttocks exposed。 She smiled shyly around this formidable gathering of famous men； and clung harder to her elder sister's hand。
Heseret had seen her first red moon and was dressed in the linen skirts and wig of a marriageable woman。 Even the old men looked at her avidly for she had inherited in full measure her grandmother Queen Lostris' celebrated beauty。 Her skin was milky。 Her limbs were smooth and shapely； and her naked breasts were like celestial moons。 Her expression was serene but the corners of her mouth lifted in a secret； mischievous smile； and there were intriguing lights in her huge dark green eyes。
'e forward； my pretty darlings；' Naja called to them； and only then they recognized the man who was the close and beloved friend of their father。 They smiled and came towards him trustingly。 He rose from the throne； went down to meet them and placed his hands on their shoulders。 His voice and his expression were tragic。 'You must be brave now； and remember that you are princesses of the royal house； because I have bitter news for you。 Pharaoh your father is dead。〃 For a minute they did not seem to understand； then Heseret let out the high keening wail of mourning； followed immediately by Merykara。
Gently Naja put his arms around them； and led them to sit at the foot of the throne； where they sank to their knees and clung to each other； weeping inconsolably。
The distress of the royal princesses is plain for all the world to see；' Naja told the assembly。 'The trust and the duty that Pharaoh placed upon me is equally plain。 As I have taken Prince Nefer Memnon into my care； so now I take the two princesses； Heseret and Merykara； under my protection。'
'Now he has all the royal brood in his hands。 But no matter where he is in the wilderness； and how hale and strong the Prince Nefer may seem；' Talla whispered to his neighbour； 'methinks he is already sickening unto death。 The new Regent of Egypt has made abundantly clear his style of government。'
* * *
Nefer sat in the shadow of the cliff that towered above Gebel Nagara。 He had not moved since the sun had first shown its upper rim above the mountains across the valley。 At first the effort of remaining still had burned along his nerve endings and made his skin itch as though poisonous insects were crawling upon it。 But he knew that Taita was watching him so he had forced his wayward body slowly to his will and risen above its petty dictates。 Now at last he sat in a state of exalted awareness； his every sense tuned to the wilderness about him。
He could smell the water that rose from its secret spring in the cleft in the cliff。 It came up a slow drop at a time and dripped into the basin in the rock that was not much larger than the cup of his two hands； then overflowed and dribbled down into the next basin； green…lined with slippery algae。 From there it ran down to disappear for ever into the ruddy sands of the valley bottom。 Yet much life was supported by this trickle of water： butterfly and beetle； serpent and lizard； the graceful little gazelle that danced like whiffs of saffron dust on the heat…quivering plains； the speckled pigeons with their ruffs of wine…coloured feathers that nested on high ledges all drank here。 It was because of these precious pools that Taita had brought him to this place to wait for his godbird。
They had begun to make the net on the day of their arrival at Gebel Nagara。 Taita had bought the silk from a merchant in Thebes。 The hank of thread had cost the price of a fine stallion； for it had been brought from a land far to the east of the Indus river on a journey that had taken years to plete。 Taita had shown Nefer how to weave the net out of the fine threads。 The mesh was stronger than thick strands of linen or thongs of leather but almost invisible to the eye。
When the net was ready Taita had insisted that the boy catch the decoys himself。 'It is your godbird。 You must take it yourself；' he had explained。 'That way your claim will be more secure in the sight of the great god Horus。'
So； in the baking daylight out on the valley floor； Nefer and Taita had studied the route up the cliff。 When darkness fell Taita had sat beside the small fire at the base of the cliff and softly chanted his incantations； at intervals throwing a handful of herbs on to the fire。 When the crescent moon rose to illuminate the darkness of midnight Nefer had started the precarious climb to the ledge where the pigeons roosted。 He had seized two of the big； fluttering birds while they were still disorientated and confused by the darkness and the spell that Taita had cast over them。 He brought them down in the leather saddlebag slung on his back。
Under Taita's instruction Nefer had plucked the feathers from one wing of each bird； so that they were no longer able to fly。 Then they had selected a spot close to the base of the cliff and the spring； but exposed enough to make the birds clearly visible from the sky above。 They tethered the pigeons by the leg with a thread of hor