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out the execution； and during this friendly exchange three heavy gold rings had found their way into that worthy's purse。 It was agreed that the strangulation be delayed until Hilto gave him the word； and that it would be carried out with as little apparent damage to the victim as the executioner's skill could enpass。 The prisoner had been given justice that very morning and his body was not yet cold。
The canopic jars were arranged in the small shrine at the end of the hall。 Taita ordered Meren to fetch them and open the stoppers ready for filling。 While he was doing this； Taita rolled the corpse over and made a sweeping incision down his left side。 There was little time for surgical finesse。 He thrust his hand into the opening and drew forth the viscera then； using both hands； he worked the scalpel deep into the interior of the corpse。 First he cut through the diaphragm to gain access to the chest cavity； then reached deeper； past the lungs； liver and spleen； until he could sever the windpipe above its juncture with the lungs。 Finally he rolled the corpse over； ordered Meren to hold the buttocks apart and with sure strokes freed the sphincter muscles of the anus。 Now all the contents of the interior of the chest and abdomen were unanchored。
He brought them out on to the diorite slab in a single mass。 Meren blanched； swayed on his feet and clapped his hand over his mouth。
'Not on the floor； in the sink；' Taita ordered brusquely。 Meren had fought against Apepi's regiments in the north。 He had killed a man and been unaffected by the carnage of the battlefield； but now he fled to the stone basin in the corner and puked noisily into it。
Bloodied to the elbows； Taita began to separate the liver； lungs； stomach and entrails into piles。 As soon as this was done he took the entrails and stomach to the sink； wherein already reposed Meren's contribution。 He flushed out the contents of the dismembered stomach and entrails and packed them into their jars。 He filled every jar with the pickling natron salts； and sealed the stoppers。 Then he washed his hands and arms in the bronze basins filled with water expressly for that purpose。 He glanced enquiringly at Bay； and the Nubian nodded his bald； scarified head； reassuring Taita as to Nefer's condition。 Working with controlled haste Taita stitched the abdominal incision closed。 Then he bandaged the head until its features were hidden。 When that was done； he and Hilto carried the corpse to the large natron bath and lowered it into the harsh alkali mixture； until only the bandaged head was not immersed。 It would remain in the bath； with the head covered； for the next sixty days。 At the end of that time the priests would remove the bandage； and discover the substitution。 By that time； however； Taita and Nefer would be far away。
It took only a little longer to sluice down the slab with leather buckets of water； and to pack Taita's instruments； before they were ready to leave。 Taita knelt beside the basket in which Nefer lay； and laid a hand on his naked chest to feel the warmth of his skin and to check his breathing。 It was slow and even。 He drew down one eyelid and watched the pupil react to the light。 Satisfied； he stood up and gestured for Hilto and Bay to cover the hidden partment。 When this was done and they began to replace the basket lid； Taita stopped them。 'Leave it open；' he ordered。 'Let the priests see that it is empty。'
The bearers lifted the basket by its handles and Taita led them to the doors。 As they approached Hilto threw them open； and the assembly of priests craned forward。 They gave the empty basket only a cursory glance as it was carried out； then rushed into the Hall of Sorrow with almost indecent haste to take over the duties that had been usurped from them。 Ignored by the crowds that had gathered outside the temple； Taita's men loaded the basket on to the leading chariot and drove in column back to the city。
When they entered the main gates they found the narrow streets almost deserted。 The populace had either flocked to the funerary temple to pray for the young pharaoh； or they had hurried to the palace to await the announcement of his successor； although there was little doubt in anyone's mind as to who would be the next pharaoh of the upper kingdom。
Hilto drove the chariot to the guards' barracks near the east gate； and the basket was carried through the back entrance of his private quarters。 Here； everything was in readiness to receive Nefer。 They lifted him out of the bottom partment and Taita； with Bay assisting him； went to work to revive Nefer fully。 Within hours he was well enough to eat a little millet bread and drink a bowl of warm mare's milk and honey。
At last Taita judged it safe to leave him for a while in Bay's charge； and drove through the narrow empty streets。 Ahead of him he heard the sudden din of wild cheering。 When he reached the environs of the palace he found himself enveloped in a dense crowd of citizens celebrating the ascension of the new pharaoh。 'Eternal life to His Sacred Majesty Pharaoh Naja Kiafan！' they howled； with loyal fervour； and passed the wine jugs from hand to hand。
So thick were the crowds that Taita was forced to leave the chariot with Meren to go the rest of the way on foot。 At the palace gate the guards recognized him； and used the butts of their spears to clear the way for him to pass。 Once he was in the grounds he hurried to the great hall； and there he found another press of obsequious humanity。 All the military officers； courtiers and state dignitaries were waiting to swear loyalty and fealty to the new pharaoh； but Taita's reputation and his unnerving gaze ensured that the crowd made way for him to pass to the front ranks。
Pharaoh Naja Kiafan and his queen were in the private cabinet beyond the doors at the end of hall； but Taita had to wait only a short while before he was granted access to the royal presence。
To his astonishment he found that Naja was already wearing the double crown； and holding the flail and the crook crossed over his chest。 Beside him Queen Heseret seemed to have blossomed like the desert rose under the caress of rain。 She was as lovely as Taita had ever known her； pale and serene under her makeup； her eyes made enormous by skilfully applied kohl。
When Taita entered Naja dismissed those around him and soon the three were alone。 This； in itself； was a sign of high favour。 Then Naja laid aside the flail and the crook and came to embrace Taita。 'Magus； I should never have doubted you；' he said； his voice even more sonorous and manding than before。 'You have earned my gratitude。' He took from his right hand a magnificent ring of gold and ruby； and placed it on Taita's right index finger。 This is but a small token of my favour。' Taita wondered that he had placed such a powerful talisman in his hands： only a lock of Naja's hair or the clippings of his nails would have been more potent。
Heseret came forward and kissed him。 'Dearest Taita； you have always been faithful to my family。 You shall have gold； land and influence beyond anything you have ever coveted。'
After all these years she knew so little of him。 'Your generosity is exceeded only by your beauty；' he said； and she simpered。 Then he turned back to Naja。 'I have done what the gods required of me； Your Grace。 But it has cost me dear。 It is not a light or easy matter to go against my sense of duty and the dictates of my own heart。 You know that I loved Nefer。 Now I owe you that same duty and love。 But for a space I must mourn Nefer； and make my peace with his shade。'
'It would be strange indeed if you did not feel for the dead Pharaoh；' Naja agreed。 'What do you wish of me； Magus？ You have only to speak the words。'
'Your Grace； I ask your dispensation to go out into the desert to be alone for a time。'
'How long？' Naja asked； and Taita could see he was alarmed by the thought of losing the key to eternal life； which he truly believed Taita held in his hands。
'Not too long； Majesty；' Taita assured him。
Naja thought about it for a while。 He was never a man for hasty decisions。 At last he sighed and went to the low table upon which stood stylus and papyrus。 Swiftly he wrote out a safe pass and sealed it with his royal cartouche。 It was clear that the seal had been carved long ago in anticipation of his succession。 While Naja waited for the ink to dry he said； 'You may absent yourself until the next inundation of the Nile begins； but then you must return to me。 This safe…conduct will allow you to travel at large and to avail yourself of whatever food and equipment you may need from my royal storehouses anywhere in my domains。'
Taita prostrated himself in gratitude； but Naja lifted him to his feet in another extraordinary act of condescension。 'Go； Magus！ But return to us on the appointed day to receive the rewards you so richly deserve。'
Clutching the roll of papyrus Taita backed towards the door； making the signs of blessing and benediction。
* * *
They left Thebes in the early hours of the next morning while most of the city still slept and even the guards at the east gate were yawning and heavy…eyed。
Nefer was laid in the back of the wagon drawn by a team of four horses。 These draught animals had been chosen carefully by Hilto。 They were strong and healthy； but not exceptional in any way that might excite envy or ment。 The wagon was loaded with essential supplies and the equipment they might need once they had left the river valley。 Hilto was dressed as a wealthy farmer； Meren as his son and Bay as their slave。
Nefer was laid on a straw mattress in the bed of the wagon； under a screen of tanned leather。 He was now fully conscious and able to understand all that Taita had to tell him。 Despite the royal safe…conduct the sergeant of the guard was officious。 He did not recognize Taita under his hood； so he climbed into the back of the wagon to inspect the contents。 When he pulled back the screen and Nefer peered out at him with his gaunt； pale features spotted with the unmistakable scarlet stigmata of the plague that Taita had applied； the sergeant of the guard swore with horror and leaped down from the wagon signing so vehemently against evil that he dropped his lamp； which shattered at his feet。
'Get you gone！' he shouted frantically at Hilto on the reins。 'Take that filthy poxy wretch out of the city。'
Twice more during the days that it took them to cross the littoral plain of the river and to reach the hills that marked the frontiers of the cultivated lands and the desert they were stopped by military patrols。 Each time the royal scroll and the plague victim were enough to send them on their way again with only the briefest delay。
It was clear from the attitude of the patrols that in Thebes the substitution of corpses had not been discovered； and that no alarm had been raised。 All the same Taita was relieved when they climbed the hills into the desert and followed the old trade route eastwards towards the Red Sea。
Now Nefer was able to climb down from his bed in the wagon； and for short periods limp along beside it。 At first it was clear that； despite his denials； the leg was painful； but soon he was walking more easily and for longer periods。
They rested for three days at the ancient ruined city of Gallala。 They refilled the waterskins at the meagre and bitter well and let the horses recover from the rigours of the hard； stony road。 Bay and Taita tended their hocks and hoofs。 When they were fit to resume the journey； they turned aside from the known way： travelling in the cool of the night； they took the path known only to Taita that led to Gebel Nagara。 Bay and Hilto swept their back…trail and covered all signs of their passage。
They arrived at the cave in the middle of a night lit by bright stars。 There was not enough water in the tiny seep to supply so many men and horses； so once the wagon was unloaded Hilto and Bay started back； leaving only Meren to serve Taita and Nefer。 Hilto had resigned from his regiment on the pretext of