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ground。
A moment's respite and Nefer saw that the flames had died down； the grass fence burned almost entirely away。 The other chasers had left their chariots and were jumping over the bed of glowing ash and running to join the fight。
'Form a ring around him； and cut him down！' Daimios shouted to them as they ran up。
Nefer glanced back and saw that Meren had led Krus far out on the catwalk。 The colt was trembling and sweating at the sensation of the moving deck under his hoofs； but he could not see the terrible aching void below him。
Just then the other chasers ran up； brandishing their blades and jeering at Nefer： 'Now； we will ram your hair braid up your right royal arse。'
Nefer retreated quickly on to the head of the bridge。 Now they could e at him only one at a time； and the jeers died away。 They paused in a group at the head of the catwalk。
'He has nicked me；' said Daimios。 'Do you go after him； Rastafa； while I bind it up。' With his teeth he tore a strip off the hem of his tunic； and tied it over the shallow flesh wound。 While he was doing this Rastafa ran out on to the bridge。 He was bearded and swarthy with a dark and angry gaze； a big man but quick as a ferret。 He balanced easily on the moving deck and thrust at Nefer's throat； ing on so strongly that Nefer had to fall back again。
Krus heard the clash of blades and the shouting close behind him and he reared up in protest。 The bridge jumped and wobbled under him； and for a terrible moment it seemed that the colt might lose his balance and go over the side； but by some miraculous chance he came down on all four legs； and stood quivering on the wildly swinging catwalk。
It was Rastafa who stumbled and teetered on the edge。 He windmilled his arms as he fought to regain his balance。 Nefer took one quick step towards him and stabbed him under his lifted arm。 The bronze blade slipped in between the ribs and went in deeply。 Rastafa looked at him with mild surprise； and said； 'It hurts。 In the name of Seth； it hurts！'
Nefer jerked the blade out and Rastafa's heart…blood fountained after it。 Spouting crimson； he toppled backwards； and went spinning into the abyss； arms and legs spread like the spokes of a wheel。 His voice was a wild screech； fading in volume as he fell away； and the sound was cut off abruptly as his armour clattered on the rocks in the gut of the gorge。 His rades hesitated at the bridgehead； appalled by the horror of that death plunge； suddenly reluctant to step out on to the narrow way。
Nefer seized that moment to turn back and stroke Krus' trembling haunches； 'Steady； Krus。 I am here； my darling。 Walk on！' Krus calmed to his voice； and then； as the wild gyrations of the bridge eased； he took a step forward and another。
'Walk on； Krus； walk on。'
They were almost halfway across when Meren shouted a warning： 'Behind you； brother！'
Nefer whirled around just in time to meet another opponent。 Nefer knew him by reputation。 He was a Libyan slave； and was righting for his freedom。 Fearlessly； he ran down the narrow deck； straight at Nefer。 He used the full impetus of his charge and Nefer was only just able to turn aside that first stroke。 They locked blades and came chest to chest； clamping each other in a murderous embrace with their free arms。 They heaved and wrestled； shifting and shoving for the advantage。
Krus heard the struggle behind him and it spurred him on。 He lunged forward again； covering another few paces towards the safety of the far bank。
Nefer was face to face with his man。 His teeth were black and jagged and his breath stank like rotten fish。 He tried to sink those filthy fangs into Nefer's face； snapping at him like a dog； but Nefer pulled back then butted with his forehead； slamming the peak of his leather helmet into the bridge of the man's nose。 He felt the bone and gristle break； and the man released his grip and reeled back。 He lost his footing and grabbed the side rope of the bridge to steady himself； hanging on desperately； his back arched out over the drop。 Nefer chopped off his grasping fingers； and the rope slipped from the bloody severed stubs。 He went over backwards； screaming and twisting in the air。 He seemed to fall for a long time before he struck the rocks far below with a meaty thump。
There were three men on the catwalk behind him； led by Daimios。 He had bound up his wound； and seemed unhurt。 But he had seen what had happened to his two rades and now he was more wary。 Nefer engaged him； keeping him off a full blade's length； giving him ground only as Krus moved forward slowly and hesitantly towards the far bank。
Suddenly Meren shouted triumphantly； 'We are across； Nefer。' And he heard Krus' hoofs clatter on the rock bank。 'Krus has e over。'
Nefer could not look round for Daimios blade flashed and gleamed before his eyes； but he shouted； 'Cut down the bridge； Meren； cut away the mainstays； and let her fall。'
Daimios heard the mand and jumped back with alarm。 He glanced over his shoulder and saw how far he had e out on to the catwalk； how far it was back to the other bank。
Meren stood over the two thick ropes that carried the full weight of the catwalk。 He hacked at one； and his first stroke cut halfway through； the strands parted with a sharp popping sound and began to unravel like mating serpents。
Pale horror washed over Daimios' sweaty face and he turned and fled； his rades with him； back along the narrow way。 Nefer whirled and ran towards where Meren stood over the ropes。 He reached the end of the bridge and jumped to safety。 Immediately he attacked the other mainstay； chopping at it with full overhead blows。 One of the stays parted and the entire bridge shivered then tilted violently to one side。 Daimios flung himself forward and dragged himself on to firm ground just as the second stay gave way； and the bridge sagged and fell into the abyss。
Daimios recovered and stood on the edge of the precipice； glaring at them across the void。 Nefer sheathed his sword and gave him a taunting wave。 'You have a long ride ahead of you。'
Then he ran to help Meren reassemble the chariot。 They had practised this a dozen times under Taita's watchful eye。 While Meren lifted one side of the chassis Nefer eased the wheels on to the hubs and drove the bronze locking pins home with the mallet。 Then they lifted the shaft and fastened it to the ringbolt in the footplate。
Nefer wasted a few seconds to look back across the gorge。 He saw that Daimios and the surviving chasers were already mounting their chariots； and through the last wisps of smoke from the smouldering grass fence； he saw them speed away in a line ahead； following the track along the edge of the gorge that would lead them eventually to where the cliffs flattened out； so that they would be able to bring their vehicles and horses across； and renew the pursuit。
'We have won enough time。' Meren tried to sound confident； but the effort of bringing the nervous horses across the bridge had taxed him severely； and he pressed a hand t