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！
ained。 These were the conditions in which the plague flourished。
Closer to Bubasti the encampments became more numerous； tents； huts and hovels crowded right up to the walls and ditches that surrounded the garrison town。 The more fortunate among the plague victims lay under tattered roofs of palm fronds； scant protection from the hot morning sunlight。 Others lay out in the trampled mud of the fields； abandoned to thirst and the elements。 The dead were mixed with the dying； those wounded in the fighting lying side by side with those ravaged by streaming dysentery。
Although his instincts were those of a healer； Taita would do nothing to succour them。 They were condemned by their own multitudes； for what could one man do to help so many？ What was more； they were the enemies of this very Egypt； and it was clear to him that the pestilence was a visitation from the gods。 Should he heal a single Hyksos； it would mean that there was one more to march on Thebes and put his beloved city to flame and rapine。
They entered the fortress and found that conditions were not much better within its walls。 Plague victims lay where they had been struck down by the disease； and the rats and pariah dogs gnawed at their corpses； and even at those still alive but too far gone to defend themselves。
Apepi's headquarters was the principal building in Bubasti； a。 massive sprawling mud…brick and thatch palace in the centre of the town。 Grooms took their horses at the gates； but one carried Taita's saddlebags。 Lord Trok led Taita through courtyards and the dark shuttered halls where incense and sandalwood burned in bronze braziers to cloak the plague stench that wafted up from the town and the surrounding encampments； but whose guttering flames made the heated air scarcely bearable。 Even here in the main headquarters the groans of plague victims rang eerily through the rooms； and huddled figures lay in dark corners。
Sentries stopped them outside a barred bronze door in the deepest recesses of the building； but as soon as they recognized Trok's hulking figure they stood aside and allowed them to pass through。 This area was Apepi's private quarters。 The walls were hung with magnificent carpets and the furniture was of precious wood； ivory and mother…of…pearl； much of it plundered from the palaces and temples of Egypt。
Trok ushered Taita into a small but luxuriously furnished antechamber； and left him there。 Female slaves brought him a jug of sherbet and a platter of ripe dates and pomegranates。 Taita sipped the drink but ate only a little of the fruit。 He was always abstemious。
It was a long wait。 A sunbeam through the single high window moved sedately along the opposite wall measuring the passage of time。 Lying on one of the carpets； he used his saddlebags as a pillow； dozing； never sinking into deep sleep； and ing instantly awake at every noise。 At intervals he heard the distant sound of women weeping； and the keening wail of mourning somewhere behind the massive walls。
At last there came the tramp of heavy footsteps down the passage outside； and the curtains over the doorway were thrown open。 A burly figure stood in the doorway。 He wore only a crimson linen kilt belted below his great belly with a gold chain。 His chest was covered with grizzled wiry curls； coarse as the pelt of a bear。 There were heavy sandals on his feet and greaves of hard polished leather covered his shins。 But he carried no sword or other weapon。 His arms and legs seemed massive as the pillars of a temple； and were covered with battle scars； some white and silky； long…ago healed； others； more recent； were purple and angry…looking。 His beard and dense bush of hair were grizzled also； but lacking the usual ribbons or plaits。 They had not been oiled or bed and were in careless disarray。 His dark eyes were wild and distracted； and his thick lips under the great beaked nose were twisted as if with pain。
'You are Taita； the physician；' he said。 His voice was powerful； but without accent for he had been born in Avaris and had adopted much of the Egyptian culture and way of life。
Taita knew him well： to him Apepi was the invader； the bloody barbarian； mortal enemy of his country and his Pharaoh。 It took the exercise of all his self…control to keep his expression neutral and his voice calm as he replied； 'I am Taita。'
'I have heard of your skills；' said Apepi。 'I have need of them now。 e with me。'
Taita slung the saddlebags over his shoulder and followed him out into the cloister。 Lord Trok was waiting there with an escort of armed men。 They fell in around Taita as he followed the Hyksosian king deeper into the palace。 Ahead the sound of weeping became louder； until Apepi threw aside the heavy curtains that covered another doorway； and took Taita's arm to push him through。
Dominating the crowded chamber was a large contingent of priests from the temple of Isis in Avaris。 Taita's lip curled as he recognized them by their headdress of egret feathers。 They were chanting and shaking sistrums over the brazier in one corner in which cauterizing tongs glowed red hot。 Taita's professional feud with these quacks went back two generations。
Apart from the healers； twenty others were gathered around the sickbed in the centre of the floor； courtiers and army officers； scribes and other officials； all looking solemn and funereal。 Most of the women were kneeling on the floor； wailing and keening。 Only one was making any attempt to nurse the young boy who lay on the couch。 She seemed not much older than her patient； probably thirteen or fourteen years of age； and she was sponging him down with heated； perfumed water from a copper bowl。
With a single glance Taita saw that she was a striking…looking girl； with a determined； intelligent face。 Her concern for her patient was evident； her expression loving and her hands quick and petent。
Taita switched his attention to the boy。 His naked body was also well formed； but wasted by disease。 His skin was blotched with the characteristic stigmata of the plague； and dewed with perspiration。 On his chest were the raw and inflamed wounds where he had been bled and cauterized by the priests of Isis。 Taita saw that he was in the final stages of the disease。 His thick dark hair was sodden with sweat； it hung over his eyes； which were sunk into plum…coloured cavities； open and bright with fever but unseeing。
'This is Khyan； my youngest son；' Apepi said； as he went to the bedside； and looked down at the child helplessly。 The plague will take him； unless you can save him； Magus。'
Khyan groaned and rolled on to his side with his knees drawn up in agony to his lacerated chest。 With an explosive spluttering sound a mixture of liquid faeces and bright blood spurted from between his shrunken buttocks on to the soiled bed linen。 The girl who was nursing him at once cleaned his backside with the cloth； then wiped up the mess on the sheets without any sign of distaste。 In the corner the healers renewed their chants； and the high priest took up a pair of hot tongs from the charcoal brazier and came