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leaving only Meren to serve Taita and Nefer。 Hilto had resigned from his regiment on the pretext of ill…health； so he was free； with Bay； to return with every full moon to bring supplies； medicine and news from Thebes。
The first month at Gebel Nagara passed swiftly。 In the clean； dry desert air Nefer's wounds closed without further reverses； and soon he was limping out into the desert to hunt with Meren。 They startled the desert hares and bowled them over with their throwing sticks； or Taita sat on the crags of the hills above the spring and worked his charm of concealment to entice the herds of gazelle within arrow shot。
At the end of that month Hilto returned from Thebes with Bay。 They brought the news that Taita's subterfuge had not yet been discovered and Pharaoh Naja Kiafan； along with all the populace； still believed that Nefer's corpse was pickling in the natron bath in the Hall of Sorrow。
They also brought news of insurrections in the Lower Kingdom； and the terrible reprisals by Pharaoh Trok at Manashi。 Unrest had also flared in the Upper Kingdom where Naja； like Trok； had increased taxation and ordered an enlistment of men into the army。 'The people are angry that there should be such an enlargement of the armed forces when there is peace throughout the land；' Hilto reported。 'I think that the armed insurrection will soon spread to the Upper Kingdom； where Naja will deal with it as kindly as Trok has in the north。 Those who cheered the ascension of these two pharaohs will soon have reason to regret it。'
'What other news have you from the Lower Kingdom？' Nefer asked eagerly。 Hilto launched into a long recitation of trade news and millet prices； of the visit of the Assyrian special envoy to the court of Pharaoh Trok。 Nefer listened impatiently； and when Hilto had finished he asked； 'What news is there of Princess Mintaka？'
Hilto looked puzzled。 'None that I know of。 I should think she is in Avaris； but I cannot be certain。'
On the ining leg of his journey Hilto had crossed the spoor of a large herd of oryx； and asked Taita's permission to follow them up and hunt them。 Dried venison would eke out their supplies； so Taita agreed readily。 But he decreed that Nefer was not yet strong enough to join the hunting party。 Strangely； this did not seem to make Nefer unhappy： instead； he suggested that Taita go out with the hunting party to use his powers to find the game； and to conceal the hunters when they closed in。
As soon as he was alone in the cave； Nefer unpacked the small cedarwood chest of fresh papyrus scrolls and writing material that Hilto had brought him； and began to pose a letter to Mintaka。 He knew with all certainty that by now the reports of his death would have been received in Avaris。 He remembered his own terrible suffering when he had heard the false reports of Mintaka's death with her family at Balasfura； and he wanted to spare her the same kind of agony。 He wanted also to explain that it was Naja and Trok who had annulled their betrothal； but that as far as he； Nefer； was concerned he still loved her beyond his own hope of eternal life； and would never rest until she was his wife。
All this had to be couched in language that； should the scroll fall into the wrong hands； would be meaningless to any person other than Mintaka。
He saluted her in his opening as 'The First Star'。 She would remember how； when they had discussed the derivation of her name； she had told him； 'I am called after the third star in the belt of the celestial Hunter。'
He had replied； 'No； not the third。 The very first in all the firmament。'
He drew the symbols of the hieratic with great care…he had always excelled at penmanship。 He signed himself as the 'Fool from Dabba'； sure that she would recognize the reference to his solecism when they had been alone in the desert。
That evening when the hunters had returned and they were feasting on fresh oryx steaks； Nefer waited his opportunity to speak to Hilto in private。 This came when Taita left the circle around the camp fire to stalk out into the desert night for a while。 Hilto had brought several large jars of beer among the load of supplies from Thebes； and Taita had enjoyed a bowl or two； but one of the few signs he showed of his age was the rate at which the brew passed through him。
As soon as he was out of earshot； Nefer leaned closer to Hilto and whispered； 'I have a special duty for you to perform for me。'
'I shall be greatly honoured； Your Majesty。'
Nefer passed him the tiny roll of papyrus。 'Guard this with your very life；' he ordered； and when Hilto had hidden it in his shawl Nefer gave him the orders for its delivery to the princess in Avaris。 He ended with a further caution： 'Tell nobody of this。 Not even the Magus。 On your sacred oath！'
The following evening Hilto and Bay left Gebel Nagara at the setting of the sun； when the air had started to cool。 They made their loyal obeisance to Nefer； asked Taita for his blessing and a charm of protection； then struck out into the starlit wilderness。 The horses toiled up the first slope of the dune hills and into the jumble of moon silver rocks that crackled as they cooled in the night。
Walking ahead of the horses； Bay suddenly recoiled； gave a startled exclamation in his savage tongue and reached for the lion…bone charm on his necklace。 He pointed it at the strange shape that had emerged from the shadows of the rocks。
Hilto was even more agitated； 'Stand aside； evil shade；' he shouted； cracked his whip； and made the sign against evil then gabbled an incantation to turn aside all ghosts and hobgoblins。
'Peace； Hilto！' The apparition spoke at last。 The moon was so bright that it threw a long shadow along the shale…hard earth and made the head of the creature glow like molten silver in the crucible。 'It is I； Taita the Magus。'
'It cannot be you！' Hilto shouted。 'I left Taita at Gebel Nagara at sunset。 I know you。 You are some dreadful shade from the netherworld； pretending to be the Magus。'
Taita strode forward and seized Hike's whip hand。 'Feel the warmth of my flesh；' he said； then lifted Hilto's hand to his face； 'Feel my face； and listen to my voice。'
However； it was only when Bay had touched Taita's breast with the lion bone； smelt his breath for the stench of the tomb and declared him to be who he claimed he was that the old warrior was reluctantly convinced。 'But how did you reach this place ahead of us？' he demanded plaintively。
These are the ways of the adept；' Bay told him mysteriously。 'It is best never to ask that question。'
'Hilto； you have something on your person that places all of us in mortal danger。' Taita cut through the trivialities。 'It exudes the smell of death and confusion。'
'I cannot think what that might be；' Hilto said uneasily。
'It is something that was entrusted to you by the very Egypt；' Taita insisted； 'and you know it well enough。'
'By the very Egypt。' Hilto scratched his beard； and shook his head。
Taita held out his hand； and Hilto sighed and capitulated without further resistance。 He reached into the leather purse on his belt and brought out the roll of parchment。 Taita took it from him。 'Say nothing of this；' Taita warned him； 'not to anybody； not to Pharaoh himself。 Do you hear me； Hilto？'
'I hear you； Magus。'
Taita held the papyrus in his right hand and stared hard at it。 After a few seconds a tiny glowing spot appeared on the scroll； a wisp of smoke curled up into the night air； then abruptly it burst into flame。
Taita let it burn out between his fingers without flinching at the heat； then crumbled the ashes to dust。
''Tis magic；' Hilto gasped。
'A simple feat；' Bay muttered； 'one that even an apprentice could perform。'
Taita raised his right hand in benediction。 'May the gods keep you safe during your journey；' he said； and watched the wagon roll away and merge with the gloom。
* * *
When Taita stood once again beside the small hearth fire in the cave of Gebel Nagara； warming his old bones from the desert chill； he studied Nefer's sleeping form covered by a sheepskin； against the back wall。
He felt no anger at the boy's pathetic attempt to outwit him。 Age had not withered his humanity； or dimmed his memories of the torments of passion； and he empathized with Nefer's wish to allay Mintaka's fears and her suffering。 Added to which was the deep affection； verging on love； that he had conceived for Mintaka。
He would never confront Nefer with what might have been the consequences of this deed of passion。 He would allow him the opiate of believing that Mintaka would soon know that he still lived。
He squatted down beside Nefer and； without touching him； gently worked his way into the boy's inner being。 From long exercise of this power over his patient； he achieved it readily。 Nefer stirred； groaned and gabbled something that made no sense。 Even in deep sleep Taita's power； cast like a web over him； had touched him and brought him almost awake。
His body has journeyed well along the road to full recovery。 Taita delved deeper。 His spirit is strong； and he has lost nothing by the ordeal through which he has passed。 It will not be long now before we can move on to our next endeavour。
He went back to the fire； and placed a few more acacia sticks upon it。 Then he settled back； not to sleep； for at his age he needed only a few hours each night； but to open his mind to the currents generated by events； some distant and others much closer。 He let them eddy around him as though he were a rock in the stream of existence。
* * *
The next moon passed more swiftly than the last； as Nefer grew stronger and more restless。 Each day his limp became less noticeable until at last it disappeared。 Soon he was racing Meren from the valley floor to the crest of the hills。 These contests became a regular part of their lives at the oasis。 At first Meren won easily； but soon that changed。
At dawn on the twentieth day after the departure of Hilto； they started at the mouth of the cave and flew across the stony valley bottom shoulder to shoulder； but when they started the climb up the dune face Nefer edged ahead。 Halfway up he unleashed a sudden； powerful rush and left Meren struggling after him。 On the crest of the hill he turned back and laughed down at Meren； placing his hands on his hips in a triumphant gesture。 In the dawn wind his long dense tresses floated on his shoulders。 The early sun was rising behind him and the golden rays cast a nimbus of light around his head。
Taita had watched it all from below； and was about to turn back into the cave when an eerie sound in the desert silence stopped him。 He lifted his face to the sky to see a dark speck describing a high circle against the blue； and felt the divine presence of the god close at hand。 The cry sounded again； small and faint； but it pierced to the heart： the unforgettable cry of a royal falcon。
On the crest of the dune Nefer heard it also； and turned his head to search for the source。 He picked out the tiny shape and lifted both hands towards it。 As though the gesture was a mand the falcon dropped into a stoop； seeming to swell in size。 The wind across its cocked wings sighed as it dived straight at Nefer。 If it struck at that speed it would rip flesh and break bone； but Nefer did not flinch as it came straight for his upturned face。
At the last possible second the falcon flared out of the stoop； and hovered above the boy's head。 Nefer reached up and could almost touch the sleek； beautiful plumage of its breast。 For a moment Taita thought that the bird might allow itself to be captured； but then it changed its wingbeats and rose on high。 Once again it uttered that forlorn and lovely cry； then sped away towards the sun and seemed to disappear into the flaming orb。
* * *
On his last visit to Gebel Nagara Hilto had brought with him a full…weight war bow。 Under Taita's ins