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！
Then it struck soundlessly and Nefer half expected the flimsy shaft to snap； be thrown aside contemptuously by the grunting； bounding animal。
Just as the lion's mouth gaped wide； showing the full array of ragged stained fangs； the flint arrowhead disappeared into the thick coating of dark hair that covered its chest。 There was no sound of the impact but the slim straight shaft of the arrow slid in after it； until only a hand's span of shaft and the bright feathers of the fletching protruded。
Nefer thought that he had struck the heart。 The lion leaped high in a monumental convulsion and its grunting changed to a barrage of continuous roars that shook a cloud of dried leaves from the thorn branches over its head。 Then the beast spun in a circle snapping at its own chest； chewing the projecting end of the shaft of the arrow to splinters。 Mintaka lay almost under his flying； slashing paws。 'Get away from him！' Nefer screamed。 'Run！'
He stooped and grabbed a second arrow from the quiver at his feet； and ran forward； nocking the arrow as he closed in。 Mintaka sprang up。 She had recovered enough of her wits not to impede his aim by racing to him for protection； and dodged behind the trunk of the nearest thorn tree。
The movement was enough to draw the wounded lion's attention back to her。 Now in pain and fury； rather than in hunger； it lashed out at her。 The hooked yellow claws tore a slab of wet bark from the tree trunk behind which Mintaka crouched。
'e！ Here I am！ e to me！' Nefer yelled wildly； trying to pull the lion off her。 It swung its huge； mane…shaggy head towards him； and Nefer drew and shot the next shaft with one desperate movement。 His arms were shaking and his aim was hurried and wild。 The arrowhead took the beast too far back； lancing deep into its belly； and it coughed at its sting。 It left Mintaka and hurled itself towards Nefer。
Though it was mortally wounded and already slowing； there was no chance for Nefer to evade this fresh charge。 He had shot his last arrow and the quiver lay on the hard ground well out of his reach。 He reached down and drew his dagger from the sheath on his belt。
It was a flimsy weapon against this furious beast。 The thin bronze blade was not long enough to stab through to the heart； but he had heard the royal huntsman tell tales of miraculous escapes from just such a deadly predicament。 As the lion launched itself into the death spring； Nefer fell backwards； not even attempting to resist the beast's weight and impetus。 He lay between its forepaws； and the lion opened its jaws to full stretch and thrust its head down to crush Nefer's skull with those terrible fangs。 Its breath was so foul； with the stench of rotten meat and open graves； that Nefer felt hot vomit rise in his throat。 He steeled himself for the moment and thrust his right hand； with the dagger； deep into the open jaws。 The lion bit down instinctively。
Nefer had the dagger held firmly in his fist； with the blade aligned upright； and as the lion's jaws closed the bronze point was driven up through the roof of its mouth。 Nefer snatched away his hand before the fangs could crush the bones of his wrist； but the lion's jaws were fixed open by the dagger held between them； and it could not bite down。
It was ripping at him with both its forepaws； the claws fully extended。 He wriggled and writhed beneath the heavy body； evading some of the claw strokes； but his apron was ripped from him； and he felt the bony hooks tearing into his flesh。 He knew he could not hold out much longer。 Involuntarily he screamed at the lion above him； 'Leave me； you filthy creature！ Get off me！'
The lion was still roaring and the blood from its skewered palate blew out in a crimson cloud； mingled with its stinking breath and hot saliva； into Nefer's face。
His shouts galvanized Mintaka； and when she peered out from behind the bole of the thorn tree Nefer was a blood…soaked spectacle beneath the lion's bulk。 He was being mauled to death； and her own fear was forgotten。
Nefer's bow was trapped under his body； and without it the quiver full of arrows was useless to her。 She sprang out from behind the tree and raced towards the chariot。 The screams and roars behind her goaded her on and she ran until her heart seemed on the point of bursting。
Ahead of her the horses were terrified by the scent of the beast and its roaring。 They reared and threw their heads； kicking out at the traces。 They would have bolted long ago had not Nefer secured the locking brake on one wheel so they could only turn in a tight； right…handed circle。 Mintaka ran in under their flying hoofs； and jumped up on to the footplate。 She seized the loose reins and called to the team； 'Ho there； Stargazer！ Hold hard； Hammer！〃
On many of their previous outings； Nefer had let her drive； so the horses knew her voice and recognized her touch on the traces。 Swiftly she brought them under control； but it seemed to her an eternity for she could hear Nefer's screams and the lion's deafening bellows。 The moment she had the pair in hand she leaned over the side and knocked off the brake。 She brought the horses round in a hard left…hand turn then drove them forward straight at the lion and its victim。
Hammer balked； but Stargazer held true。 She snatched up the whip that Nefer had never used on them； and laid a stroke across Hammer's glossy haunches that raised a welt as thick as her thumb。
'Ha！' she yelled。 'Pull； curse you； Hammer！'
Startled； Hammer leaped forward； and they pounded down on the lion。 All its attention was on the shrieking； writhing victim between its front paws； and it did not look up at the chariot bearing down on it。
Mintaka dropped the whip； and instead snatched the long lance from its rack。 She had carried it for Nefer during hours of hunting； and now it felt light and familiar in her right hand。 Guiding the racing team with the reins in her left hand； she leaned far out over the side panel and raised the lance high。 As they ran past the crouching lion； its head was lowered and the back of its neck was fully exposed。 The exact juncture of spine and skull in the back of its neck was covered by the dense black bush of its mane； but she guessed at the spot and thrust down with all the strength of her fear and her love for Nefer。
Her lance hand had the impetus of the flying chariot behind it。 To her amazement the blade slid in readily； full length through the taut hide； and deep into the back of the animal's neck。 She felt the slight tick in her hand as the point found the joint between the vertebrae of the spine and went on to severe the spinal column。
As the chariot raced past； the haft of the lance was plucked from her grip。 But the lion collapsed in a loose； inert heap on top of Nefer。 It did not twitch again； killed on the instant。
It took her fifty cubits to bring the crazed horses to a halt； wheel them round and force them back to where Nefer lay beneath the huge carcass。 She had the presence of mind to throw on the wheel brake before she jumped down from the