按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
came。 Even though they were unable to move their bodies to use up moisture； the hot dry sand and air sucked it out of them。 Nefer felt his tongue slowly cleave to the roof of his mouth。 Then it began to swell so his breathing； already difficult； became almost impossible because of the huge spongy thing that filled his mouth。
With the fear and the thirst he lost track of time； and it seemed that years had passed。 Nefer aroused himself from the stupor that was slowly overtaking him。 He realized that something had changed。 He tried to fathom what it was； but his mind was numb and unresponsive。 Mintaka was very still beside him。 He squeezed her fearfully。 In reply he felt a tiny shudder of movement。 She was still alive。 Both of them were alive； but entombed； able only to move some small part of their bodies。
He felt himself drifting back into that dark stupor； into haunted dreams of water； of cool green expanses of the great river； of cascades and bright rivulets of water。 He forced himself up from the darkness； and listened。 He heard nothing。 That was what had roused him。 There was no sound。 The roaring clamour of the khamsin had given way to a profound silence。 The silence of a sealed tomb； he thought； and the horror returned full force。
He began to struggle again； to try to work his way out of the sand。 He managed at last to free his right arm； reached out and found Mintaka's covered head。 He stroked it and in the silence heard her whimper。 He tried to speak； to reassure her； but his swollen tongue would let no word pass。 Instead he reached out beyond her to see if he could touch Hilto； who had been sitting on the far side of her。 Either Hilto was gone or was beyond the reach of his arm； for he touched nothing。
He rested a while then roused himself once more； and made an effort to clear the sand from around the entrance to the cave。 But there was little space to store what he scraped away。 A handful at a time he scooped it away and pushed it into a nook in their tiny cell。 Soon he was working at the furthest reach of his right arm； scraping away a few grains at a time。 It was a despairing attempt but he knew that he had to keep trying or give up hope。
Abruptly he felt the sand cascade out from under his fingers； and even through the folds of his headcloth fresh air that had not been breathed seeped into the cave。 And he was aware of the faintest glimmer of light beyond his closed eyelids。 Painfully he began to pull away the cloth from his face。 The light grew stronger and the air was sweet in his dry mouth and aching lungs。 When his face was free of the cloth he half opened one eye； and was almost dazzled by the light。 When his vision had adjusted he saw that he had opened a hole to the outside that was no larger than the circle of his thumb and forefinger； but from beyond there was quiet。 The storm had passed。
Excited and with new hope he tugged at the cloth that covered Mintaka's head and heard her breathe the fresh air。 Again he tried to speak； but again his voice failed him。 He tried to move； to escape from the deadly grip of the heavy sand； but his body was still encased to the armpits。
With all his remaining strength； he struggled silently to free himself； but the effort soon exhausted him and his throat burned and ached with thirst。 He thought how cruel it would be to die here with the promise of air and light mocking him through that tiny cleft。
He closed his eyes again wearily； giving up。 Then he was aware of another change in the light； and he opened his eye again。 With a sense of disbelief he saw a hand reaching through the opening towards him。 An ancient hand； with desiccated skin covered with the dark blotches of age。
'Nefer！' He heard a voice so strange； so hoarse and altered； that for a moment he doubted it was the Magus。 'Nefer； can you hear me？'
Nefer tried to reply but still could not speak。 He reached out and touched Taita's fingers。 Immediately the old man's fingers closed over his with surprising strength。
'Hold hard。 We will dig you out。'
He heard other voices then； rough and faint with thirst and effort； and hands scraped away the sand that entrapped him until at last they could lay hold of him and pull him free of the soft； deadly grasp of the sand。
Nefer slithered out through the narrow cleft as though the rocky hillock was giving birth to him。 Then Hilto and Meren reached in again and dragged Mintaka out of the soft dark womb into the brilliant sunlight。
They lifted the pair to their feet and held them from falling again； for their legs had no strength。 Nefer shrugged off Meren's hands； lurched across to Mintaka and embraced her silently。 She was shivering as though in the crisis of malaria。 After a while he held her at arm's length and studied her face with horror and pity。 Her hair was white with sand； which clung thickly in her eyebrows。 Her eyes had receded into deep purple cavities； and her lips were swollen black； so that when she tried to speak they cracked open and a drop of blood； bright as a ruby； trickled down her chin。
'Water；' Nefer managed to articulate at last。 'She must have water。'
He dropped to his knees and began frantically to dig into the sand that still blocked the cave。 Meren and Hilto were working beside him and they uncovered the waterskin。 They pulled it out； and found that most of the water that had remained had evaporated or been squeezed from it。 There remained only sufficient for a few mouthfuls each； but even that amount was enough to keep them alive a little longer。 Nefer felt strength return to his dehydrated body； and for the first time looked about him。
It was the middle of the morning。 He did not know what morning or for how many days they had been buried。 There was still a haze of fine sand like gold…dust in the still air。
He shaded his eyes； looked out over the desert and did not recognize it。 The landscape had changed pletely： the high dunes had marched away to be replaced by others； of different shape and alignment。 There were valleys where there had been mountains； and vales where hills had stood。 Even the colours had changed： the sullen purples and bruised blues had been replaced by reds and golden yellows。
He shook his head in wonder； and looked at Taita。 The Magus was leaning on his staff； watching Nefer with those pale； ancient but ageless eyes。
'Trok？' Nefer managed to say。 'Where？'
'Buried；' Taita replied； and now Nefer could see that he also was dried out like a stick of firewood； and suffering the same agonies as they were。
'Water？' Nefer whispered； touching his swollen and bleeding mouth。
'e；' said Taita。
Nefer took Mintaka's hand and slowly they followed the Magus out into the brazen sands。 Now at last thirst and exposure had taken their toll on Taita and he moved slowly and stiffly。 The others staggered along behind him。
Taita seemed to be wandering aimlessly through the new valleys of fine sand that ran beneath their feet。 He held out his staff in front of him； making a sweeping motio