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

Nefer and the old man stood together beside the shattered walls of Gallala and watched the column fly
past. Pharaoh led it, the reins wrapped around his wrists, leaning back against the pull of the horses, his
chest bare, linen skirts whipping around his muscular legs, the blue war crown on his head rendering him
tall and godlike.



Next came Lord Naja, almost as tall, almost as handsome. His mien was haughty and proud, the great
recurved bow slung over his shoulder. Naja was one of the mightiest warriors of this very Egypt and his
name had been given to him as a title of honour: Naja was the sacred cobra in the royal uraeus crown.
Pharaoh Tamose had bestowed it upon him on the day that, together, they had won through the ordeal of
the Red Road.



Naja did not deign to glance in Nefer's direction. Pharaoh's chariot had plunged into the mouth of the
dark gorge before the last vehicle in the column went racing past where Nefer stood. Meren, his friend
and companion of many illicit boyhood adventures, laughed in his face and made an obscene gesture,
then raised his voice mockingly above the whine and rattle of the wheels. 'I will bring you the head of
Apepi as a toy,' he promised, and Nefer hated him as he sped away. Apepi was the King of the Hyksos,
and Nefer needed no toys: he was a man now, even if his father refused to recognize it.



The two were silent for long after Meren's chariot had disappeared, and the dust had settled. Then Taita
turned without a word and went to where their horses were tethered. He tightened the surcingle around
his mount's chest, hiked up his kilts and swung up with the limber movement of a much younger man.
Once astride the animal's bare back he seemed to become one with it. Nefer remembered that legend
related he had been the very first Egyptian to master the equestrian arts. He still bore the title Master of
Ten Thousand Chariots, bestowed upon him with the Gold of Praise by two pharaohs in their separate
reigns.



Certain it was that he was one of the few men who dared to ride astride. Most Egyptians abhorred this
practice, considering it somehow obscene and undignified, not to mention risky. Nefer had no such
qualms and as he vaulted up on to the back of his favourite colt, Stargazer, his black mood started to
evaporate. By the time they had reached the crest of the hills above the ruined city he was almost his
usual ebullient self. He cast one last longing glance at the feather of distant dust left on the northern
horizon by the squadron then firmly turned his back upon it. 'Where are we going, Tata?' he demanded.
'You promised to tell me once we were on the road.'
 Taita was always reticent and secretive, but seldom to the degree that he had been over the matter of
their ultimate destination on this journey. 'We are going to Gebel Nagara,' Taita told him.



Nefer had never heard the name before, but he repeated it softly. It had a romantic, evocative ring.
Excitement and anticipation made the back of his neck prickle, and he looked ahead into the great