"Wilbur Smith - Egyptian 01 - Warlock" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith Wilbur)

Not even Pharaoh knew that Naja's mother had been Hyksosian. In the decades of their occupation the
invaders had adopted many of the Egyptian ways. With a dearth of their own women to choose from,
many of the Hyksos had taken Egyptian wives, and over the generations the blood-lines had become
blurred.



A tall man stepped out on to the rampart. He wore a skull-hugging basinet of bronze, and multicoloured
ribbons were tied in his full beard. The Hyksos dearly loved bright colours.



He opened his arms. The blessing of Seueth on you, cousin,' he growled, as Naja stepped into his
embrace.



'And may he smile on you also, Cousin Trok, but we have little time,' Naja warned him, and indicated
the first light fingers of the dawn stroking the eastern heavens with a lover's touch.



'You are right, coz.' The Hyksosian general broke the embrace, and turned to take a linen-wrapped
bundle from his lieutenant, who stood close behind him. He handed it to Naja, who unwrapped it as he
kicked life back into the beacon fire. In the light of the flames he inspected the arrow quiver it contained.
It was carved from a light tough wood and covered with finely tooled and stitched leather. The
workmanship was superb. This was the accoutrement of a high-ranking officer. Naja twisted free the
stopper and drew one of the arrows from the container. He examined it briefly, spinning the shaft
between his fingers to check its balance and symmetry



The Hyksosian arrows were unmistakable. The fletching feathers were dyed with the bright colours of
the archer's regiment and the shaft was branded with his personal signet. Even if the initial strike was not
fatal, the flint arrowhead was barbed and bound to the shaft in such a way that if a surgeon attempted to
draw the arrow from a victim's flesh, the head would detach from the shaft and remain deep in the wound
channel, there to putrefy and cause a lingering, painful death. Flint was much harder than bronze, and
would not bend nor flatten if it struck bone.
 Naja slipped the arrow back into the quiver and replaced the stopper. He had not taken the chance of
bringing such distinctive missiles with him in his chariot. If discovered in his kit by his groom or
lance-bearer, its presence would be remembered, and difficult to explain away.



'There is much that we still should discuss.' Naja squatted down and gestured for Trok to do the same.
They talked quietly until at last Naja rose. 'Enough! Now we both know what must be done. The time for
action has at last arrived.'