下载辰思小说免费APP
Itwasaftertheplagueoflocusts，whichatealltherewaslefttoeatinEgypt，sothatthepoorfolkwhohaddonenowrongandhadnaughttosaytothedealingsofPharaohwiththeIsraelitesstarvedbythethousand，andduringthatofthegreatdarkness，thatLabancame。Nowthisdarknesslayuponthelandlikeathickcloudforthreewholedaysandnights。Nevertheless，thoughtheshadowsweredeep，therewasnotruedarknessoverthehouseofSetiatMemphis，whichstoodinafunnelofgreylightstretchingfromearthtosky。
Nowtheterrorwasincreasedtenfold，anditseemedtomethatallthehundredsofthousandsofMemphisweregatheredoutsideourwalls，sothattheymightlookuponthelight，suchasitwas，iftheycoulddonomore。Setiwouldhaveadmittedasmanyastheplacewouldhold，butKibadehimnot，saying，thatifhedidsothedarknesswouldflowinwiththem。OnlyMerapididadmitsomeoftheIsraelitishwomenwhoweremarriedtoEgyptiansinthecity，thoughforherpainstheyonlycursedherasawitch。FornowmostoftheinhabitantsofMemphiswerecertainthatitwasMerapiwho，keepingherselfsafe，hadbroughtthesewoesuponthembecauseshewasaworshipperofanaliengod。
“IfshewhoistheloveofEgypt’sheirwouldbutsacrificetoEgypt’sgods，thesehorrorswouldpassfromus，“saidthey，having，asI
think，learnedtheirlessonfromthelipsofKi。OrperhapstheemissariesofUsertihadtaughtthem。
Oncemorewestoodbythegatewatchingthepeopleflittingtoandfrointhegloomwithout，forthissightfascinatedMerapi，asasnakefascinatesabird。ThenitwasthatLabanappeared。Iknewhishookednoseandhawk-likeeyesatonce，andsheknewhimalso。
“Comeawaywithme，MoonofIsrael，“hecried，“andallshallyetbeforgivenyou。Butifyouwillnotcome，thenfearfulthingsshallovertakeyou。“
Shestoodstaringathim，answeringneveraword，andjustthenthePrinceSetireachedusandsawhim。
“Takethatman，“hecommanded，flushingwithanger，andguardssprangintothedarknesstodohisbidding。ButLabanwasgone。
Ontheseconddayofthedarknessthetumultwasgreat，onthethirditwasterrible。Acrowdthrusttheguardaside，brokedownthegatesandburstintothepalace，humblydemandingthattheladyMerapiwouldcometoprayforthem，yetshowingbytheirmienthatifshewouldnotcometheymeanttotakeher。
“Whatistobedone？“askedSetiofKiandBakenkhonsu。
“ThatisforthePrincetojudge，“saidKi，“thoughIdonotseehowitcanharmtheladyMerapitoprayforusintheopensquareofMemphis。“
“Lethergo，“saidBakenkhonsu，“lestpresentlyweshouldallgofurtherthanwewould。“
“Idonotwishtogo，“criedMerapi，“notknowingforwhomIamtoprayorhow。“
“Beitasyouwill，Lady，“saidSetiinhisgraveandgentlevoice。
“Only，hearkentotheroarofthemob。Ifyourefuse，Ithinkthatverysooneveryoneofuswillhavereachedalandwhereperhapsitisnotneedfultoprayatal
