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her hands。 'It doesn't matter。 Nothing matters any more。 Naja is dead。 Our dearly beloved husband is dead 。。。〃
Dazed as a sleep…walker she went to her tent and into the luxuriously appointed but deserted interior。 She pulled off the blood… and urine…soaked chiton and dropped in the centre of the floor； then she picked another robe at random from the pile in the corner； and pulled sandals on to her feet。
'I am going to find Naja；' she said； with sudden resolve。 Quickly she gathered a few items and stuffed them into a leather satchel。 Then with new determination she headed for the door。
As she stepped out into the early sunlight； Mintaka called to her from the cage。 'Please release me； Heseret。 I must tend your little sister。 She is badly wounded。 In all charity； let me go to her。'
'You don't understand。' Heseret shook her head wildly。 'I have to go to my husband； the Pharaoh of all Egypt。 He needs me。 He has sent for me。'
She did not glance at Mintaka again but hurried out of the stockade； shaking her head and muttering incoherently to herself。 She turned towards the west； in the opposite direction from the flood of terrified humanity； and started to run back towards Ismailiya and Egypt。
Mintaka heard her scream once more； 'Wait for me； Naja； my one true love。 I am ing。 Wait for me！' and then her ravings faded with distance。
* * *
Mintaka struggled against her bonds； twisting and tugging； bracing her bare feet against the struts of the cage to give herself better purchase。 She felt the skin smearing from her wrists； and warm blood dripping down her hands and her fingers； but the leather thongs were tight and strong and she could neither stretch nor snap them。 She felt her hands being numb from lack of blood。 Whenever she rested from her struggle her eyes went to Merykara's limp body on the wheel。 She called to her； 'I love you； my darling。 Meren loves you。 Don't die。 For our sakes； please don't die。' But Merykara's eyes were wide open and her stare was fixed。 Soon her eyeballs began to dry out and glaze over with a thin film of dust； and the flies swarmed busily over them and drank from the puddle of blood between her legs。
Once Mintaka heard a stealthy scuffle at the entrance to the tent and when she twisted her head she saw Heseret's two maids creeping out of the tent。 They were each carrying a large bag crammed with valuables they had looted。 Mintaka called to them； 'Please set me free。 You shall have your freedom and a great reward。' But they glanced at her with startled； guilty expressions； scurried from the stockade and out into the road to join the retreating rabble of the defeated army passing eastwards。
Later there were voices at the gate and Mintaka was on the point of crying out。 In time she recognized the coarse accents； and managed to check herself。 Four men crept cautiously into the stockade。 By their features； dress and talk； she knew they were ruffians of the lowest sort； probably members of those gangs of jackals and scavengers that followed every army for loot and pickings。 She let her head sag； and feigned death。
The men stopped to examine Merykara's body。 One laughed and made such an obscene remark that Mintaka squeezed her eyelids closed； and forced herself to hold her tongue with the greatest difficulty。
Then they came to her cage and peered in at her。 She lay pletely still and held her breath。 She knew what a dreadful appearance she must have； and she tried to play dead。
'This one stinks like a sow；' one remarked。 'I would rather have it with Mistress Palm and her five daughters。' They all guffawed at the jest； then scattered to ransack the camp for loot。 After they had crept away； carrying what they could； Mintaka watched the shadows lengthen across the beaten earth of the stockade floor； while outside the sounds of passing wagons and carts and people on foot slowly diminished。 Just before sunset the last of them passed； and the silence of the desert and the dead settled over the camp。
During the night Mintaka dozed at times； overtaken by exhaustion and pervading despair。 Whenever she started awake she saw Merykara's pale body stretched out in the silver moonlight and the terrible cycle of her grief began again。
The dawn came and the sun rose； but the only sound was the soughing of the desert wind through the branches of the scrawny thorn tree at the gate； and at times her own sobs。 But these grew softer and weaker as another day passed without water。
Then she heard something else； a distant murmur that grew into a soft rumble； and she knew it was the sound of wheels ing on at speed…chariots； for she could hear the hoofbeats now and the sound of men's voices growing stronger； and stronger still； until she could recognize one。 'Nefer！' She tried to scream his name； but her voice was a draughty whisper。 'Nefer！'
Then she heard shouts of horror and dismay； and she twisted her head slowly and saw Nefer storm through the gateway； Meren and Taita close behind him。
Nefer saw her at once； and ran to the cage。 He tore the gate off its hinges with his bare hand then pulled his dagger from its sheath to slash loose the leather thongs from her wrists。 Gently he drew her out of the stinking cage and held her to his chest。 He was weeping as he carried her into the tent。
'Merykara！' she whispered； through cracked and swollen lips。
Taita will see to her； but I fear it is too late。' Mintaka looked back over his shoulder and saw that Taita and Meren between them had cut Merykara free from the wheel and drawn the blood…clotted weapon from her body。 Now they were spreading a clean white linen sheet over her body； covering the terrible mutilations。
Mintaka shut her eyes。 'I am exhausted by sorrow and grief but； my darling； your face is the most beautiful and wele sight I have ever beheld。 Now I will rest awhile。' And she slumped into unconsciousness。
* * *
Mintaka came awake slowly as though she were rising up from the depths of that dark and terrible pit where demons live。 When she opened her eyes the demons that had haunted her dreams fled away； and she saw with immense relief the two most beloved faces in her world。 Taita sat at one side of her couch and Nefer at the other。
'How long？' she asked。 'How long was I gone？'
'A day and a night；' Taita answered her。 'I gave you of the Red Shepenn flower。' She raised her hand to her face and found a thick coating of salve upon it。 She rolled her head towards Nefer； and whispered； 'I am ugly。'
'No！' he replied； 'You are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes upon； and I love you past the counting of it。'
'You are not angry with me for disobeying you。'
'You have given me a crown and a land。' He shook his head and one of his tears fell upon her face。 'Above that you have given me your love； which is more precious to me than all of that。 How could I ever be angry with you？'
Taita rose softly and left the tent； and they stayed together all the rest of that day； s