"Tarr,.Judith.-.Lord.Of.The.Two.Lands2" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tarr Judith)

the water: beyond the lotus that was Egypt, a red tide of
blood, a blackness of war. Persia had held the Two Lands
once. She would seize them again and grind them under
her booted heel.

Nectanebo bent over the basin. The lappets of his head-
dress swung forward, nearly brushing the water. He thrust
them back. One shoulder ached. A Persian mace had bro-
ken it in that last battle, just before he knew that he had
won- The bone had healed well, but the ache had never
wholly faded.

It was distracting him now, making the image waver, the
power drain away. He drew a sharp breath, and the image
steadied. It did not change. Persia was comingЧnot soon,
perhaps; not for years, it might beЧbut inevitable, and in-
escapable. There was no power in Pharaoh, even in a pha-
raoh who was a great mage and master of the hidden art,
to overcome an enemy so implacable. Their gods were
young and few and eager for empire. His were old beyond
telling and numerous beyond counting, and they had never
willingly been gods of war.

"I can hold," he said, soft in the silence, "with the gods'
help. But my body will die, and I become Osiris; and who
will be Horus to defend my lands? I had a son. He is dead;

the Parsa killed him. I have a wife. .She is with child; and
if it is a son, will his strength suffice for what I foresee?
Who will defend my kingdom? Who will wrest it from the
Persian's fist?"

The air sighed again, louder. The tamps flickered, cast-
ing long shadows. Painted kings seemed to stir, their eyes
to kindle. Painted gods drew breath like living things. The

PROLOGUE 3

ranks of hieroglyphs quickened, beasts and birds and styl-
ized men shifting, stretching, yearning toward freedom.

Nectanebo breathed a word. The lamps ceased their
swaying. The walls stilled. Something chittered away
overhead. Bat; or spirit blown from its course and flutter-
ing lost among the pillars. Nectanebo took no notice of it.
The water blurred and rippled. A new vision grew in it.

Almost, he laughed. He had asked the gods, and they
answered, from the very beginning. Lamplight limned it,
granted it more shadow than light, but there was no mis-