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bony finger at Taita。 'Back； Warlock！' he screamed。 'I warn you！'
Taita walked towards him and he screamed again； this time in a guttural language； and made the gesture of hurling some unseen missile at Taita's head。 Quickly Taita held the Periapt of Lostris before his eyes； and felt something fly close past his head； with the sound of a flighting arrow。
Ishtar turned and bolted into a narrow opening in the rock wall behind him； that had been screened from Taita by his body。 Taita paused before the entrance； and tapped the stony portals with his staff。 The rock rang true； and he heard Ishtar's blundering footsteps echoing out of the dark entrance。 Taita was almost certain that this was no illusion； but the real entrance to a cavern in the limestone cliff。
Taita stepped through after him； and found that he was in a low； rocky passage； dimly lit by the sunlight through the entrance behind him。 The floor of the cave sloped away in front of him； and he went on； stepping more cautiously。 Now he was certain that the passage was real in time and dimension； not something conjured up by the Mede to thwart him and turn him aside。
He could hear the echoes of Ishtar's footsteps； distorted and magnified in the tunnel ahead。 Taita counted his paces as he went forward into darkness。 After a hundred and twenty the light strengthened again； a strong emanation from some source deeper in the hillside。
Suddenly the tunnel took a sharp bend； and as he stepped round it Taita found himself in a large cavern with a high roof。 In the centre of the roof was an aperture which must lead to the outside world and open air for a beam of bright sunlight fell from it to the floor of the cavern。
From the floor rose sharp…pointed stalagmites； the crystals glimmering like the fangs of a man…eating shark。 From the high roof hung down matching stalactites； some shaped like spearheads and others like the shining wings of the gods。
Across the cavern Ishtar crouched against the far wall。 There was no escape that way。 When he saw Taita appear in the mouth of the tunnel he began to shriek and blubber。 'Mercy； mighty Magus！ There is a bond between us。 We are brothers。 Spare me and I will show you such mysteries as even you have never dreamed of。 I will place all my powers at your disposal。 I will be your faithful dog。 I will devote my life to your service。'
So abject were his entreaties and his promises that； despite himself； Taita felt his resolve waver。 It was just the mere flicker of doubt in his mind； but Ishtar picked up the tiny chink in his armour； and exploited it instantly。 He flung out one hand with the thumb and forefinger forming a circle； the sign of Marduk； and shouted something in that strange guttural tongue。
From behind him Taita felt an insupportable physical weight bear down upon his shoulder； and something like the invisible tentacles of a giant octopus envelop his body； trapping his arms to his sides； wrapping around his throat in a strangler's grip。 He smelt scorching human flesh； the aura of the Devourer； suffocating him。 He could not move。
On the far side of the cavern Ishtar danced and capered； his tattooed face contorted in a grotesque mask； his tongue sticking out between his blue lips and lapping at the air like that of a cat。 He lifted his skirts and thrust his hips out at Taita。 His penis was in full erection； the skin peeled back from the swollen purple head like an obscene fruit。 'Your frail goddess cannot protect you here deep in the earth； Taita。 You can no longer prevail against Marduk the Devourer and Ishtar； his minion；' he shrieked。 'Our contest is over。 I have defeated you and all your wiles； Warlock！ Now you will die。'
Taita turned his eyes up towards the high dim roof of the cavern and fixed all his attention on one of the long gleaming stalactites that hung down from it like a great shimmering dagger。 He gathered all his reserves； lifted the staff in his right hand and pointed it upwards。 With the last breath in his lungs he shouted； 'Kydash！' the word of power。
There was a crack like the ice shattering in the depths of a glacier； the stalactite broke from the roof and plunged downwards。 Driven by its own immense weight； the point struck Ishtar on the top of his shoulder； close to its juncture with his neck。 It transfixed him through chest and belly and tore out through his anus。 The long stone spike pegged him down on the cavern floor like a gutted fish on the drying rack。
As Ishtar twitched and shuddered and kicked convulsively in his death throes； Taita felt the weight lifted from his shoulders and the pressure on his throat relax。 Marduk had retreated and Taita could breathe again。 The smell of burnt flesh was gone。 The air was ancient and sterile once again； cool and tainted only with the faint odour of fungus。
He picked up his staff； turned and walked back along the tunnel into the open air and the sunlight。 At the entrance he turned back and with his staff struck the limestone portals of the tunnel； once； twice； three times。
Deep in the earth there was a rumble of collapsing rock； and a gust of air and dust blew from the tunnel mouth as； deep in the earth； the roof of the cavern caved in。
'With the stone spike driven through your heart； not even your foul god can free you from your tomb。 Lie in it through all eternity； Ishtar the Mede；' Taita said； and turned away。 With his staff tapping on the stones； he struck out along the road back to Gallala。
* * *
The three messengers reached Babylon in the spring when the snows were still thick upon the distant mountain…tops in the north where the two great rivers rise。
Pharaoh Naja Kiafan gave them audience on the uppermost terrace garden of the palace of Babylon。 Queen Heseret sat beside his throne。 She wore the most magnificent jewels that the treasury of King Sargon had yielded。 Her high…piled dark hair was covered by a silken net on which gemstones sparkled like all the stars of the firmament。 Her arms were laden with bracelets and her fingers with rings so heavy with emeralds and rubies and sapphires that she could barely lift them。 Around her throat was a stone the size of an unripe fig； as clear as water from a mountain spring and so adamantine that it could cut through glass or obsidian。 This marvellous gem came from the land beyond the Indus river； and when the sun caught it； the shafts of light it threw out pained the eye。
The messengers were all high officers from the army that Pharaoh Trok had taken westward four months before。 They came in great fear of their lives； for they bore evil tidings。 They had ridden so far and so fast that they were thin and burned dark by the suns of the desert and the high mountains。 They threw themselves at the foot of the throne on which Naja sat in glory and splendour to overshadow even that of his wife。 'All hail to you； Pharaoh Naja； mightiest of the gods of Egypt；' they greeted him。 'We are bearers of terrible tidings。 Have mercy upon us。 Though what we have to tell you will displease you； be merciful and turn away you