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l penalty。'
'I understand；' Hilto said stolidly。
'If there is ever again a choice between Pharaoh and an interfering old man； you will choose Pharaoh。 Is that clear to you？'
'It is clear as the midday sun。' Hilto hung his head penitently； but smiled into his beard。
'You have been evading my questions； Hilto。 Now； what news do you have of the princess？'
Hilto stopped smiling； and opened and closed his mouth； trying to find the courage to tell him the dire news。
'Speak！' Nefer ordered。 'Have you so soon forgotten your duty？'
'Gracious Majesty； the news will not please you。 Six weeks ago the Princess Mintaka was married in Avaris to Pharaoh Trok Uruk。'
Nefer stood as still as if he had been turned into a granite statue。 For a long time the only sound in the cave was the crackle of the acacia logs in the fire。 Then； without another word； Nefer walked past Hilto； out into the desert night。
When he returned the dawn was a faint red promise in the eastern sky。 Hilto and Meren were wrapped in their sheepskins at the back of the cave； but Taita sat in exactly the same position as Nefer had left him。 For a moment he thought that the old man was asleep also。 Then Taita raised his head and looked at him with eyes that were bright and alert in the firelight。
'I was wrong； and you were right。 I need you now； more than ever； old friend；' said Nefer。 'You will not desert me？'
'You need not ask；' Taita said softly。
'I cannot leave her with Trok；' Nefer said。
'No。'
Nefer came back to his seat opposite Taita； who took a slow； deep breath。 The storm had passed。 They were still together。
Nefer picked up a charred stump of firewood and pushed it deeper into the flames。 Then he looked up at Taita again。 'You have tried to teach me to overlook at a distance；' he said。 'I have never acquired the gift。 Not until this last night。 Out there in the darkness and the great silence； I tried again to overlook Mintaka。 This time I saw something； Taita； but only dimly and I did not understand it。〃
'Your love for her has made you sensitive to her aura；' Taita explained。 'What did you see？'
'I saw only shadows； but I felt devastating sorrow and grief。 I sensed despair so insupportable that it made me wish for death myself。 I knew that these were Mintaka's emotions and not my own。'
Taita stared expressionlessly into the fire； and Nefer went on； 'You must overlook her for me。 There is something terribly wrong。 Only you can help her now； Taita。'
'Do you have anything of Mintaka's？' he asked。 'Any gift or token that she gave you？'
Nefer's hand went to the necklace at his throat。 He touched the tiny golden locket that hung in the centre of the chain。 'It is my most precious possession。'
Taita held out his hand across the fire。 'Give it to me。' Nefer hesitated； then opened the clasp and held the amulet in his closed fist。
'Other than my own； hers were the last fingers to touch it。 It contains a lock of her hair。'
'Then it is highly potent。 It contains her essence。 Give it to me； if you wish me to help her。' Nefer passed it to him。
'Wait here；' Taita said； and stood up。 Although he had squatted cross…legged through all the hours of darkness； there was no stiffness in his movements； which were those of a young； virile man。 He went out into the dawn and climbed to the crest of the dunes； then gathered the skirts of his chiton around his skinny shanks and squatted in the sand； facing the dawn。
He pressed Mintaka's amulet to his forehead and closed his eyes。 He began to rock slightly from side to side。 The sun cleared the horizon and struck fully into his face。
The amulet in his right hand seemed to take on some strange life of its own。 Taita felt it pulse softly in rhythm to his own heartbeats。 He opened his mind and let the currents of existence enter freely； swirling around him like a great river。 His own spirit broke free of his body and he soared aloft。 As though he was borne on the wings of some gigantic bird； he saw fleeting； confused images of lands and cities； forests； plains and deserts far below him。 He saw armies on the march； the squadrons throwing up thunderclouds of yellow dust in which spearheads glinted。 He saw ships on high seas battered by wave and wind。 He saw cities burning as they were sacked； and he heard strange voices in his head； and knew they were from the past and the future。 He saw the faces of those long dead； and those not yet born。
He moved on； his spirit ranging wide； always with the amulet his lodestone。 In his mind he called for her； Mintaka！ and felt the amulet grow warm then burning hot in his hand。
Slowly the images cleared away； and he heard her sweet voice reply； 'I am here。 Who is it that calls？'
'Mintaka； it is； Taita；' he replied； but he was aware that something evil had intervened and broken the stream between them。 Mintaka had gone and instead there was a fateful presence。 He focused all his powers upon it； trying to disperse the dark clouds。 They seemed to coalesce； and took the shape of a rearing cobra； the same baleful influence that he and Nefer had encountered in the nest of the royal falcon on the cliffs of Bir Umm Masara。
In his mind he wrestled with the cobra； extending his powers to drive it back； but rather than succumbing； the image of the serpent became clearer and more menacing。 Suddenly he knew that this was not a psychic manifestation； but a direct and mortal threat exerted against Mintaka。 He redoubled his efforts to break through the curtains of evil and to reach her； but so much pain and grief was interposed between them that it was an impenetrable barrier。
Then； suddenly； he saw a hand； slim and graceful； reach out towards the sinister scaly head。 He knew it was Mintaka's hand； for the blue lapis lazuli ring on the index finger was engraved with her cartouche。 He held the venomous serpent in check with all his life force； and prevented it striking at Mintaka's hand as she stroked the back of its extended hood。 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。' Taita heard Mintaka's voice； and another voice he recognized replied； 'This I have never seen before。 You must strike the messenger with your hand。 That will surely make him deliver the gift of the goddess。' It was the voice of the high priestess of the temple of Hathor in Avaris； and Taita understood。 Mintaka； overwhelmed with grief； was about to take the way of the goddess。
'Mintaka！' He exerted himself to reach her； and was rewarded at last。
Taita？' she whispered； and because Mintaka was at last aware of him； Taita's view expanded so that he could see it all clearly。
Mintaka was in a stone…walled bedchamber。 She was kneeling in front of a basket。 The holy priestess was at her side； and in front of her reared the deadly snake。
'You must not take this road；' Taita ordered her。 'It is not for you。 Th