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They went up through the pass on to the plateau where they found ample water； although much of it had been fouled by the thousands of animals and men who had been there ahead of them。 The horses were well rested； and they travelled fast in the lightly laden chariots。 They passed hundreds of abandoned campsites； marked by dead fires and sagging lean…to shelters； litter and scattered filth。 There were also hastily dug graves； for an army on the march suffers constant attrition。 Some had already been dug open by the hyena and the jackal； the corpses dragged out and partially consumed。
'We will need her；' Nefer said； as he dismounted and stood over the body of a young woman； probably one of the army whores。 There was no way of telling how she had died for the vultures had almost pleted what the hyena had begun。 Her eyes and lips were missing and her skull grinned at them through blood blackened teeth。
'In all love of the gods；' Meren cried； 'have you lost your senses？ That thing stinks to the skies。'
'Help me wrap her。' Nefer ignored his protest。 He had found a length of discarded linen； so torn and dirty that even the Bedouin who scavenged behind the army had found no use for it。 Between them they lifted the remains of the dead woman on to it and wrapped her neatly。 Then； to his loudly expressed disgust； they tied the bundle to the back of Meren's chariot。
Though they had been travelling under the dust pall since dawn； it was mid…morning before they caught up with the rearguard of the army。 The entire expeditionary force had already gone into laager for the day； and the smoke from the cooking fires marked the position of hundreds of separate encampments along the road ahead。
Nefer led them off the road； and they circled out to avoid the baggage train； keeping out of sight of the road。 Scouting the terrain ahead； they went forward cautiously。 Eventually they caught up with the convoy of treasure carts and the tall litters of the royal wives halted in a grove of olive trees。 It was well past noon when Nefer crept up close to them； and climbed a tamarind tree from which he could spy over the thornbush zareba that surrounded the camp。
Queen Merykara's pavilion was set up at some distance from that of Heseret； but the two sisters were sitting under a linen awning； protected from the sun and picking at the lavish meal their serving maids had brought from the cooking fires。
Nefer was not close enough to overhear their conversation。 Heseret sat facing him； chattering and laughing gaily。 She was even more beautiful than Nefer remembered her。 Even in these informal circumstances she was wearing carefully applied makeup； which was intended to make her resemble the statue of Hathor in Memphis。 She was decked out in a suite of magnificent jewels； and her thick dark hair had been freshly oiled and crimped。 Misha； the tall black slave girl with the legendary posterior； leaned over her shoulder to refill her golden bowl。 A splash of the red wine spilled down the front of Heseret's dress。 She sprang to her feet and thrashed Misha over the head with a heavy fan of silver and ostrich feathers。 The girl fell to her knees and covered it with both hands but the blood sprang up between her fingers。 Merykara tried to restrain her elder sister； but Heseret rained blows on Misha's head until the shaft of the fan snapped in two； then hurled the broken end at Merykara and flounced away； yelling threats and abuse over her shoulder。
Merykara lifted the slave girl to her feet and led her away to her own pavilion。 Nefer waited patiently； hidden in the top branches of the tamarind tree。 Some time later； Misha left the tent with her head bandaged。 Still weeping she disappeared among the trees。 Nefer did not move； until Merykara appeared in the opening of her pavilion。
When they had last spoken； Nefer had warned her to keep alert and to wait for him to e to her。 Now she looked around her carefully； spoke to the guard at the door of the tent； and began to wander； without any apparent purpose； around the periphery of the camp。 Clearly she had taken Nefer's instructions seriously and was searching the surrounding countryside for a glimpse of her rescuers。 She was the only person stirring： most of the others were sheltering from the sun and the heat； and even the sentries showed no interest in her。
Nefer took a small polished silver mirror from his pouch； picked up the sun's reflection and shot a ray of light into Merykara's face。 She stopped instantly； shaded her eyes； and peered in his direction。 He flashed thrice more； the agreed signal and； even from that distance； saw her smile bee as radiant as the reflected sunbeam that danced over her lovely face。
* * *
Merykara lay in the swaying； jolting litter； on cushions and a mattress stuffed with swansdown。 Misha was curled at her feet like a sleeping puppy； but Merykara was awake and alert。 The curtains of the litter were drawn back to let in the cool night air and she could hear the sounds of the army on the march： the clatter of hoofs； the creak and rattle of the wagons； the lowing of the draught oxen； the cries of the wagoners and the tramp of the guards alongside the litter。
Suddenly there was a motion ahead； the swish and crack of whips； the crash of wheels over rocks； the sound of running water and the splashing of animals and vehicles。 Then Merykara heard her sister's querulous voice： 'Ho there！ What is happening？'
'Your Majesty； we are fording a small stream。 I must beg you to dismount； lest the litter capsize。 The safety of your divine person is all our concern。'
She heard Heseret plain bitterly about the inconvenience； and Merykara took advantage of the diversion to whisper her final instructions to Misha。 Then they climbed down from the litter。 Slaves waited with lanterns to lead them down to the riverbank； where Heseret was already waiting。
They woke me when I was sleeping；' she told Merykara。 'I shall report that oaf of a caravan master to my husband； the Pharaoh of Upper Egypt。'
'I am sure that it will be beneficial to your health to have the skin flogged from his back；' Merykara agreed； with sweet irony。 Heseret tossed her head and turned away。
At that moment a nightingale called upstream from where they stood； and Merykara thrilled to the sound。 As children Nefer had tried to teach her how to imitate that low； warbling note； but she had never mastered it。 Three times the bird called； but only she took notice of it。 The others were engrossed in getting the ungainly litters and the heavy treasure carts across the treacherous riverbed。 The thousands of vehicles ahead of them had cut up the entrance to the ford； and churned the bottom to a morass。 It was after midnight before the crossing was acplished and the last treasure cart was dragged through with loud exhortations to the oxen to 'Heave away！' and the flourish and cracking of whips up the far bank。
Then the caravan master brought up sedan chairs for the royal wives。 They were helped into the seats and carried over by teams of slaves。 When they reached the far bank there was further consternation and confusion for one of the treasure carts had lost a wheel and was blocking the road ahead。 Now； in addition to this mishap； the slaves who had carried Heseret across in the sedan chair had allowed the water to flow over her feet and ruin her sandals。 Heseret insisted that they were punished on the spot； and the slash of the overseers' whips and the howls of the miscreants added to the uproar。
Over it all Merykara heard the nightingale call again； this time close at hand and on the same side of the stream。 'Do not fail me；' she said to Misha。
'My life is yours； mistress；' the girl replied； and Merykara kissed her。
'You have proved that often； and I shall never forget it。' She turned from Misha and walked calmly into the darkness。
Only Heseret paid her the least notice。 'Where are you going； Merykara？'
To drown the bad fairies。' Merykara used their childhood euphemism。 Heseret shrugged； climbed back into her own litter and drew the curtains。
As soon as she was hidden from the road； Merykara stopped and gave her own inept version of the bird call。 Almost at once a firm hand closed on her upper arm and her brother whispered in her ear； 'Pray desist； little one； you will terrify every nightingale from here to Beersheba。'
She spun round； threw her arms about his neck； and hugged him with all her strength； too overe to speak。 Gently he loosened her grip then took her hand and led her along the dark riverbank。 He went swiftly and he seemed to have the night eyes of a leopard for he never stumbled or hesitated。 He did not speak except to whisper a warning when there was a hole or an obstacle in the path。 She followed him blindly。 After what seemed half the night； he stopped to allow her to rest。
'Does Misha know what to do？' he asked。
'She will keep the curtains of the litter closed and tell anyone who asks that I am sleeping and will not be disturbed。 No one will know that I am gone。'
'Until they halt tomorrow；' he qualified。 'We have only that much time to get away。 Are you ready to go on？ We must cross back over the river here。'
He picked her up easily and carried her across； and she was amazed at how strong he had grown。 She was a doll in his arms。 He set her down again on the opposite bank； and they went on。
After a while she tugged on his hand。 'What is that awful smell？' She gagged。
'It's you；' he told her。 'Or； at least； one who shall take your place。' Before he finished speaking two dark figures stepped out into the starlight on the path ahead of them； and Merykara gave a small gasp of fright。
''Tis only Taita and Meren；' Nefer reassured her。 They led her into a coppice in which they were screened by the dense growth of leafy branches； and Meren opened the shutter of the lantern he carried。 Merykara gasped again as； by the feeble yellow light； she saw the gruesome object stretched on the ground。 It was a corpse； but so dreadfully mutilated that it was difficult to tell that it was human and female。
'Quickly； now！' Nefer told her。 'Give me all your jewellery and your clothing。'
Merykara stripped herself naked； and handed everything to Nefer。 Taita handed her a small bundle of spare clothing； tunic； skirt and sandals； to replace her own。
Nefer knelt beside the corpse and placed the strings of necklaces around the dead girl's neck； and the rings and bracelets on her skeletal fingers and wrists。 He could not work Merykara's skirt and loincloth up over the rigid legs； so he ripped them to tatters and rubbed them in the dirt； then he stabbed his own thumb with the point of his dagger and dribbled fresh blood on the fine cloth。 From near at hand there came the shrieking； whooping chorus of a pack of hungry hyena。
Merykara shuddered。 'They have smelt the body。'
They will leave only enough evidence to convince Naja that you were devoured by wild animals。' He stood up。 'Now we must go。'
The chariots were waiting a little further upstream。 Nefer had not wanted to leave their tracks too close to the body of the dead girl。 As he pulled his sister up on to the footplate beside him； he looked into the east。 'The morning star；' he said quietly。 'It will be light in an hour。 We must make the most of the darkness that remains。'
When the dawn bloomed； like a bouquet of roses and mimosa blossom； across the sky behind them they were already halfway down the escarpment of the plateau； and the desert was spread out below them。
It was such a grand sight that involuntarily they reined in the horses and stared out across the ocean of golden sands in awe。 All except Meren。 With the air of a pilgrim who has travelled across half the world to reach the shrine of the goddess he worshipped； he stared at Merykara as she stood beside her brother in the leading chariot。 Through the long night ride she had been hidden from him by the darkness； but now the early