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he thin lips were curved in a sardonic grin； and the feathery black tongue flickered out between them； tasting the air； and the scent of the girl who sat in front of it。
They stared at each other； the girl and the cobra； for a hundred slow beats of her heart。 Once the serpent swayed back as though to strike； then came gently upright once more like some fatal flower on a long stem。
'Why will it not do its work？' Mintaka asked； with her lips close enough to those of the cobra to exchange a kiss。 She reached out her hand and the serpent turned his head to watch her fingers e towards him。 Mintaka showed no fear。 Gently she stroked the back of the cobra's widely distended hood。 Instead of attacking the cobra turned half away from her； almost like a cat offering its head to be caressed。
'Make it do what has to be done；' Mintaka begged the priestess； but the old woman shook her head in puzzlement。
'This I have never seen before；' she whispered。 'You must strike the messenger with your hand。 That will surely make him deliver the gift of the goddess。'
Mintaka drew back her hand； with open palm and fingers spread。 She aimed at the ophidian head of the serpent and was on the point of striking； when she started with surprise and lowered her hand。 Puzzled； she glanced around the darkened chamber； into the shadowed corners； then looked directly at the priestess。
'Did you speak again？' she asked。
'I said nothing。'
Mintaka raised her hand again； but this time the voice was closer and clearer。 She recognized it with a rush of superstitious fear； and felt the hairs rise upon the back of her neck。
'Taita？' she whispered； looking around。 She expected him to be standing at her shoulder； but the chamber was still empty except for the two of them kneeling in front of the basket。 'Yes！' Mintaka said； as though replying to a question or an instruction。 She listened to the silence and twice nodded； then softly； 'Oh； yes！'
The priestess heard nothing； but she knew and understood that there had been some mystical intervention in their proceedings。 She was unsurprised when the cobra sank back slowly into the depths of the basket。 She replaced the lid； and stood up。
'Forgive me； Mother；' Mintaka said softly； 'I will not take the way of the goddess。 There is still much for me to do in this world。'
The priestess picked up the basket； and said to the girl； 'May the goddess bless you and grant you eternal life hereafter。' She backed away to the door of the chamber； and left Mintaka sitting in the gloom。 She seemed to be listening still to a voice that the old woman could not hear。
* * *
Taita brought Nefer back to Thebes from Dabba in the deep sleep of the Red Shepenn。 As soon as the galley carrying them moored at the stone jetty below the palace； Taita had him carried ashore on a litter； curtained from the gaze of the mon people。 It would have been unwise for Pharaoh's critical condition to bee widely known in the city。 There had been previous occasions when the death of a king had plunged the city and the entire state into wild despair； and caused devastating speculation in the millet exchange； riots； looting and a breakdown of all the mores and conventions of society。
Once Nefer was safely ensconced in his royal quarters at the palace； Taita was able to work on him in safety and seclusion。 His first concern was to examine again the terrible lacerations down the front of the boy's legs and lower abdomen and assess if there had been any morbid changes。
His greatest fear was that the entrails had been punctured and that their contents had leaked into the stomach cavity。 If this had happened then his skills would be to little avail。 He unwrapped the bandages； probed the openings gently； sniffed the effluent for the stink of faeces； and was greatly relieved to find no taint of that contamination。 He syringed the deepest wounds with a mixture of vinegar and Oriental spices。 Then he stitched them closed with cat…gut and bandaged them with all his skill； touching them with the golden Periapt of Lostris； mending her grandson to the goddess with each wrap of the linen strip。
Over the days that followed Taita gradually reduced the dosage of the Red Shepenn and was rewarded when Nefer recovered consciousness； and smiled at him。 'Taita； I knew you were with me。' Then he looked around him； still drowsy with the drug。 'Where is Mintaka？'
When Taita explained her absence； Nefer's disappointment was almost palpable； and he was too weak to conceal it。 Taita tried to console him by telling him that the parting was only temporary； and that he would soon be well enough to make the voyage northwards to visit Avaris。 'We will find a fine excuse for Naja to allow you to make the journey；' Taita assured him。
For a while Nefer's recovery was encouraging。 The following day he was sitting up； and ate a hearty meal of dhurra bread and chick…pea soup。 The next day he took a few steps on the crutches Taita had carved for him； and asked for meat with his meal。 In order not to heat his blood； Taita forbade red meat； but allowed him fish and poultry。
The next day Merykara came to visit her brother； and spent most of the day with him。 Her merry laughter and her childlike prattle cheered him。 Nefer asked after Heseret； and wanted to know why she had not e also。 Merykara answered evasively and invited him to play another game of bao。 This time he deliberately opened his centre castle to let her win。
The next day the terrible news of the tragedy at Balasfura reached Thebes。 The first reports were that Apepi and his entire family； including Mintaka； had perished in the flames。 Nefer was stricken down again； this time by grief。 Taita had to mix him another potion of the Red Shepenn； but within hours the wounds in his leg had turned。 Over the next few days his condition worsened； and soon he was at the very frontiers of death。 Taita sat with him and watched him tossing and raving in delirium while the livid scarlet lines of morbidity ran like rivers of fire up his limbs and his belly。
Then news came from the Lower Kingdom that Mintaka had survived the tragedy that had engulfed the rest of her family。 When Taita whispered these wonderful tidings in his ear Nefer seemed to understand and respond。 The next day he was weak but lucid； and he tried to convince Taita that he was strong enough to make the long journey to be with Mintaka in her bereavement。 Gently Taita dissuaded him； but promised that as soon as Nefer was strong enough he would use all his influence to convince Lord Naja to allow him to go。 With this goal to strive towards； Nefer rallied strongly once again。 Taita could see him subduing the fevers and evil humours in his blood by sheer strength of will。
Lord Naja returned from the north； and within hours Heseret came to visit Nefer for the first time since his mauling by the lion。 She brought him gifts of sweetmeats； a pot of wild honey in the b； and a magnificent bao board made of coloured agate； with stones of carved ivory and black coral。