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The black rocks were worn and carved by windblown sand into strange shapes。 Some were the size of a man's head and others as big as the chariot under them。 Nefer managed to steer the crazed horses clear of the first； but they ran on into a gap between two of the largest rocks。 It was too narrow for them to pass through： the off…wheel struck with a rending crash； and disintegrated。 Shattered spokes and sections of the rim were hurled into the air。 The carriage dropped on to its axle； dragging down the off horse； which was thrown into the next rock。 Nefer heard its front legs snap like kindling； even as he and Mintaka were hurled clear of it。
They hit the soft sand； narrowly avoiding being thrown into the rock that had maimed the horse。 When they came to a standstill； Nefer was still holding Mintaka in his arms。 He had cushioned her fall； and now he demanded breathlessly； 'Are you all right？ Are you hurt？'
'No；' she answered at once； 'Are you？'
Nefer came to his knees； and stared in horror at the wreckage of the chariot and the crippled horses。
'Sweet Horus！' he cried。 'We are finished。' The chariot was smashed beyond any hope of repair。 One horse was down for ever； both front legs shattered。 The other was standing； still in its traces and harnessed to the single shaft of the chariot； but one leg was swinging loosely from its dislocated shoulder。
Unsteadily he came to his feet； and pulled Mintaka up after him。 They clung to each other as Taita drove his chariot to the edge of the lava field； tossed the reins to Meren and jumped down from the footplate。 He came to them with long strides。 'What happened？ What caused the horses to bolt？'
'Did you not see it？' Nefer asked； still shaken and bewildered。
'What was it？' Taita insisted。
'A thing。 Dark and huge as a mountain。 It rolled down the dune on top of us。' Nefer groped for words to describe what they had seen。
'It was big as the temple of Hathor。' Mintaka supported him。 'It was terrifying。 You must have seen it also。'
'No；' Taita replied。 'It was an aberration of your mind and vision。 Something placed there by our enemies。'
'Witchcraft？' Nefer was bemused。 'But the horses saw it also。'
Taita turned away from them and called to Hilto as he drove up； 'Destroy those poor beasts。' He pointed to the maimed horses。 'Help him； Nefer。' Taita wanted to distract him from the disaster and its consequences。
With a heavy heart Nefer held the head of the downed horse。 He stroked its forehead and covered its eyes with his headcloth so that it would not see death ing。
Hilto was an old trooper and had done this sad work on many far…flung battlefields。 He placed the point of the dagger behind the animal's ear and with a single thrust drove it into the brain。 The horse stiffened； shivered and then relaxed。 They went to the second animal。 It dropped instantly to Hilto's thrust and lay without moving again。
Taita and Bay stood together； watching this harrowing act of mercy； and Bay said softly； The Mede is stronger than I thought him to be。 He has singled out the most vulnerable among us and directed his powers at them。'
'He has Trok's other sorcerers to reinforce his influence。 From now onwards we will have to watch over Hilto and Meren also；' Taita agreed。 'Until I can gather my own force to oppose Ishtar we are in great danger。'
He left Bay's side。 It would trouble the others if they saw the two of them conferring secretly together。 It was of the utmost importance to keep up their spirits。
'Bring the waterskins；' Taita ordered。 One had burst in the crash and the other two were only half full； but they strapped them on to the remaining chariots。
'From here onwards； Meren will ride with Hilto and Bay。 I will take Their Majesties with me。'
With the waterskins and the weight of the extra passengers the chariots were now overloaded。 The horses were straining as they went forward into the glaring heat； with the lurid sun almost obscured by the strange yellow overcast。
Taita held the golden Periapt of Lostris in his right hand； and chanted softly to himself； warding off the evil that was thickening everywhere around them。 In the following chariot Bay was singing also； a monotonous repetitive refrain。
They came to a section of the road where the wind had wiped away the tracks of other caravans and travellers。 There were no signs to follow except for the small cairns of stones that had been placed at intervals。 Eventually even these petered out； and they went on into the trackless sands。 They relied now on Taita's experience； his knowledge of the desert； and his deep instincts。
At last they came out into flat ground between two ranges of high dunes。 The sand here was smooth and level； but Taita stopped at the edge of it and considered it carefully。 He climbed down from the footplate and beckoned to Bay。 The black man came to his side and together they examined the innocuous surface。
'I like it not at all；' Taita said。 'We must look for a detour around this plain。 There is something here。'
Bay walked a short way out on to the firm level sand and sniffed the hot air。 He spat twice and studied the pattern of his own spittle。 Then he came back to Taita。 'I can find nothing troublesome here。 If we look for a way round it may cost us hours； even days。 The pursuit is not far behind。 We must decide which is the greatest risk。'
'There is something；' Taita repeated。 'Like you； I also feel an impulse to cross here。 That feeling is too strong and illogical。 The idea has been placed in our minds by the Mede。'
'Mighty Magus；' Bay shook his head； 'In this case I do not agree with you。 We must take the risk and cross this valley。 Otherwise Trok will catch up with us before nightfall。'
Taita took him by the shoulders and stared into his black eyes。 He saw that they were slightly unfocused； as though he had been smoking the bhang weed。 'The Mede has penetrated your armour；' he said； and placed the Periapt on Bay's forehead。 Bay blinked and opened his eyes wide。 Taita could see him struggling to throw off the influence。 He exerted his own will to help him。
At last Bay shivered and his gaze cleared。 'You are right；' he whispered。 'Ishtar had overlooked me。 There is great danger in this place。'
They looked down the length of the narrow valley。 It was a river of yellow sand with no beginning and no end in sight。 The far bank was close； no more than three hundred cubits across at the narrowest places； but it might have been two hundred leagues； and Trok's regiments were close behind them。
'South or north？' Bay asked。 'I cannot see the way round。'
Taita closed his eyes and exerted all his powers。 Suddenly there was a sound in the terrible silence。 A faint high cry。 They all looked up and saw the tiny shape of a royal falcon turning high in the furious yellow sky。 It circled twice then sped south along the valley； and disappeared into the haze。
'South；' Taita said。 'We