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birds clearly visible from the sky above。 They tethered the pigeons by the leg with a thread of horsetail hair and a wooden peg driven into the hard earth。 Then they had spread the gossamer net above them； and supported it on stalks of dried elephant grass； which would snap and collapse under the stoop of the godbird。
'Stretch the net gently；' Taita had shown him； 'not too tight； nor again too slack。 It must catch in the bird's beak and his talons and tangle him so that he cannot struggle and damage himself before we can free him。'
When all was set up to Taita's satisfaction； they began the long wait。 Soon the pigeons had bee accustomed to their captivity； and pecked greedily at the handfuls of dhurra millet that Nefer scattered for them。 Then they sunned and dusted themselves contentedly under the silken net。 One day succeeded the next hot； sun…riven day； and still they waited。
In the cool of the evening they brought in the pigeons； furled the net； and then they hunted for food。 Taita climbed to the top of the cliff where he sat cross…legged on the edge； overlooking the long valley。 Nefer waited in ambush below； never in the same place so that the game were always surprised when they came to drink at the spring。 From his vantage…point Taita wove his spell of enticement； which seldom failed to seduce the dainty gazelle within fair shot of where Nefer lay with his arrow nocked and bow held at draw。 Every evening they grilled gazelle steaks over the fire at the entrance to the cave。
The cave had been Taita's retreat during all the years after the death of Queen Lostris when he had lived here as a hermit。 It was his place of power。 Although Nefer was a novice； and had no deep understanding of the old man's mystical skills； he could not doubt them； for every day they were demonstrated to him。
They had been at Gebel Nagara for many days before Nefer began to understand that they had not e here to find the godbird alone： this interlude was an extension of the training and instruction Taita had lavished upon him from as far back as Nefer's young memory stretched。 Even the long hours of waiting beside the decoys was a lesson in itself。 Taita was teaching him control over his body and being； teaching him to open doors within his mind； teaching him to look inward； to listen to the silence and hear whispers to which others were deaf。
Once he had been conditioned to the silence； Nefer was more amenable to the deeper wisdom and learning that Taita had to impart。 They sat together in the desert night； under the swirling patterns of the stars that were eternal but ephemeral as the winds and the currents of the oceans； and Taita described to him wonders that seemed to have no explanation but could only be perceived by an opening and extension of the mind。 He sensed that he stood merely on the shadowy periphery of this mystical knowledge； but he felt growing inside him a great hunger for more。
One morning when Nefer left the cave in the grey light before dawn； he saw a huddle of dark； silent figures sitting out in the desert beyond the spring of Gebel Nagara。 He went to tell Taita； and the old man nodded。 'They have been waiting all night。' He spread a woollen cloak over his shoulders and went out to them。
When they recognized Taita's gaunt figure in the half…light they burst into wails of supplication。 They were people of the desert tribes and they had brought children to him； children stricken by the Yellow Flowers； hot with fever and covered with the terrible sores of the disease。
Taita ministered to them； while they remained camped beyond the spring。 None of the children died； and after ten days the tribe brought gifts of millet； salt and tanned hides； which they left at the entrance to the cave。 Then they were gone into the wilderness。 After that there came others； suffering from disease and wounds inflicted by men and beasts。 Taita went out to all of them； and turned none away。 Nefer worked beside him and learned much from what he saw and heard。
No matter if there were the sick and ailing Bedouin to care for； or food to be gathered； or instruction or learning to be imparted； each morning they set out the decoys under the silken net and waited beside them。
Perhaps they had fallen under the calming influence of Taita； for the once…wild pigeons became docile and quiescent as chickens。 They allowed themselves to be handled without any sign of fear； and uttered soft throaty coos as their legs were secured to the pegs。 Then they settled and fluffed up their feathers。
On the twentieth morning of their stay； Nefer took up his position over the decoys。 As always； even without looking directly at Taita； Nefer was deeply aware of his presence。 The old man's eyes were closed and he； like the pigeons； seemed to be dozing in the sunlight。 His skin was criss…crossed with innumerable fine wrinkles and dappled with age spots。 It seemed so delicate that it might tear as easily as the finest papyrus parchment。 His face was hairless； no trace of beard or eyebrows； only fine lashes； colourless as glass； surrounded his eyes。 Nefer had heard his father say that neutering had left Taita's face beardless and little marked by the passage of time； but he was certain that there were more esoteric reasons for his longevity and the persistence of his strength and life…force。 In vivid contrast to his other features； Taita's hair was dense and strong as that of a healthy young woman； but bright burnished silver in colour。 Taita was proud of it and kept it washed and groomed in a thick plait down his back。 Despite his learning and age； the old Magus was not inured to vanity。
This little touch of humanity heightened Nefer's love for him to the point where it stabbed his chest with a strength that was almost painful。 He wished that there was some way in which he could express it； but he knew that Taita already understood； for Taita knew everything。
He reached out surreptitiously to touch the old man's arm as he slept； but suddenly Taita's eyes opened； focused and aware。 Nefer knew that he had not been asleep at all； but that all his powers had been concentrated on bringing in the godbird to the decoys。 He knew that； in some way； his wandering thoughts and his movement had affected the oute of the old man's efforts； for he sensed Taita's disapproval as clearly as if it had been spoken。
Chastened； he posed himself； and brought his mind and body under control again in the manner that Taita had taught him。 It was like passing through a secret doorway into the place of power。 The time passed swiftly； without being counted or grudged。 The sun climbed to its zenith and seemed to hang there for a long while。 Suddenly Nefer was blessed with a marvellous sense of prescience。 It was almost as if he； too； hung above the world and saw everything happening below him。 He saw Taita and himself sitting beside the well of Gebel Nagara； and the desert stretching away around them。 He saw the river that contained the desert like a mighty barrier and marked out the boundaries of this very Egypt。 He saw the cities and the kingdoms； the