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！
he valley； and disappeared into the haze。
'South；' Taita said。 'We will follow the falcon。'
They had been so intent on these deliberations； that neither of them had noticed that Hilto had eased his own chariot up closer to where they stood。 He and Meren were leaning over the dashboard and listening to this exchange。 Hilto was frowning with impatience。 Suddenly he exclaimed； 'Enough of this！ The way is clear ahead。 We cannot afford any delay。 Will you dare to follow if Hilto leads the way？'
He whipped up his team； and the startled horses jumped forward。 Meren was taken so pletely by surprise that he was almost thrown backwards over the footplate but he grabbed a handhold and managed to stay on the racing vehicle。
Taita shouted at Hilto； 'e back！ You are bewitched。 You do not know what you are doing。'
Bay jumped up to catch the harness of the off…side horse； but he was too late： the chariot sped past him and out on to the flat ground。 It gathered speed and Hilto's laughter floated back to them。 'The way is open。 'Tis smooth and fast。'
Nefer snatched up the reins of the stationary vehicle； and shouted； 'I will stop him or turn him。'
'No！' Taita turned back to him； desperately raising his hand in a mand to stop； 'Don't go out there。 There is danger。 Stop； Nefer！'
But Nefer ignored his cries。 With Mintaka beside him he lashed up the team and the wheels sang over the smooth hard sand。 He was catching up with Hilto rapidly。
'Oh； sweet Horus！' Taita groaned。 'Watch the wheels。'
A fine feather of silver sand began to rise from behind the spinning wheels of Hilto's chariot。 Then； as they watched in horror； the feather became a thick plume of yellow slush； then slabs of loose mud。 The horses slowed as they sank to their hocks in the soft footing and lumps of mud were thrown up so high from their driving hoofs that they flew over Hilto's head。 He made no attempt to stop or turn back but drove them on deeper into the quagmire。
'The sinking sands！' Taita cried bitterly。 'This is the work of the Mede。 He has hidden the true road from us and led us into this trap。'
Abruptly Hike's team broke through the crust into the treacherous swamp beneath。 As its wheels dropped in over the rims； the chariot came to such a sudden halt that both Hilto and Meren were catapulted over the dashboard。 They rolled across the innocent…seeming surface； but when they came to a stop and tried to stand up their bodies were coated with sticky yellow mud； and immediately they sank in to their knees。
The horses were pleted mired。 Only their heads and front quarters were free； but as they whinnied and plunged they sank deeper and deeper still。
Nefer was bemused and reacted too slowly to the disaster taking place before his eyes。 By the time he attempted to turn back it was too late。 Within ten cubits his wheels were in over the hubs and both horses were bogged down to the shoulders。 He jumped down to help them； to try to unharness them and lead them back； but immediately he was trapped in the slimy mud； sinking in to the knees and then to the waist。 'Don't try to stand；' Mintaka warned him frantically。 'It will swallow you under。 Throw yourself flat and swim。'
She threw herself headlong from the sinking vehicle； and lay flat on the quaking mud。 'Like this； Nefer。 Do as I do。'
He recovered his wits and stretched out flat on the surface。 In an awkward swimming motion； like a child learning to doggy…paddle； he reached the chariot before it disappeared pletely。 With his dagger he cut the leather straps that held the floorboards in place and； in desperate haste； ripped them up and threw them clear。 They floated on the surface of the deadly quicksands； but the heavy…laden chariot slid inexorably below the surface and drew the horses down with it。 Within minutes there was only a lighter patch on the dun…coloured plain to mark their grave。
Hilto's chariot had also been drawn under and his horses with it。 He and Meren were floundering about； yelling with terror； managing only to keep their mud…daubed heads and shoulders clear。
Nefer shoved one of the floorboards to Mintaka。 'Use this！' he ordered her； and she crawled on to it。
He did the same with another board； which supported his weight。 Towing two more boards with him by their leather straps he propelled himself across the swamp until he was close enough to throw them to Hilto and Meren。 They dragged themselves out of the glutinous clutches of the mud。 All four started to swim laboriously back towards where Taita and Bay watched in horror from firm ground。
Taita waved his arms and shouted urgently； 'You are already halfway across。 Don't return here。 Go on。 Cross to the other side。'
Nefer saw the sense in this immediately。 They turned for the far bank。 It was slow； hard work； for the mud clung tenaciously to their arms and legs and to the bottom of the boards。 Mintaka's lighter weight soon told and she drew ahead of the others。 She was first to reach firm ground and to drag herself from the clutches of the sinking sands。 At last Nefer； Hilto and Meren followed her。 They were almost exhausted。 They threw themselves down at the foot of the eastern dunes。
While they crossed； there had been time for Taita to consider their predicament。 It seemed hopeless。 They were split into two groups； with a gulf between them two hundred cubits wide。 They had lost all of their horses and vehicles； their weapons and equipment； but the worst loss of all was the precious waterskins。
Now Bay touched his arm and whispered； 'Listen！'
It was a susurration in the air； far off； sometimes fading away； then growing louder again； a distant echo reverberating from the enclosing dunes。 Though faint； it was unmistakable： the sound of a column of chariot cavalry on the march。
The three mud…soaked figures on the far side of the valley heard it also； and came to their feet。 All of them stared back into the dunes and listened to Trok and his men ing on apace。
Suddenly Mintaka ran back to the edge of quagmire where they had abandoned the boards that had carried them across。 Nefer stared after her； trying to fathom out what she intended。 She gathered up the boards and waded out knee…deep； dragging the boards after her by their leather straps。
Nefer realized suddenly what she was doing； but he was too late to stop her。 She threw herself flat on one of the boards and began to skim out over the yellow mud。 She was out of his reach when at last he was forced to stop waist…deep。
'e back；' he shouted after her。 'I will go。'
'I am lighter and faster than you；' she called back； and though he went on pleading with her she ignored him and used all her breath and strength on skimming forward。
The sound of chariots grew louder； and spurred Mintaka on to greater effort。 Watching her Nefer was torn with fear for her safety and anger for her intransigence； but even stronger was his pride in her courage。 'She has the heart of a warrior and a queen；' he whispered