下载辰思小说免费APP
NowI，Ana，listening，wishedthatKiwouldappearbeforethefaceofPharaoh，althoughIdidnotbelievethathecouldbekilledbyhimorbyanybodyelse，sinceagainstdeathhehadcharms。ForIwasafraidofKi，andfeltinmyselfthatagainhewasplottingeviltoMerapiwhomIknewtobeinnocent。
ThePrincewalkedupanddownthechamberaswashisfashionwhenlostinthought。Presentlyhestoppedoppositetomeandsaid：
“FriendAna，bepleasedtocommandthatmychariotsbemadereadywithageneral’sescortofahundredmenandsparehorsestoeachchariot。
Werideatdawn，youandI，toseekoutthearmyofPharaohandprayaudienceofPharaoh。“
“Mylord，“saidMerapiinakindofcry，“Iprayyougonot，leavingmealone。“
“WhyshouldIleaveyou，Lady？Comewithmeifyouwill。“Sheshookherhead，saying：
“Idarenot。Prince，therehasbeensomecharmuponmeoflatethatdrawsmebacktomyownpeople。TwiceinthenightIhaveawakenedandfoundmyselfinthegardenswithmyfacesettowardsthenorth，andheardavoiceinmyears，eventhatofmyfatherwhoisdead，saying：
“’MoonofIsrael，thypeoplewanderinthewildernessandneedthylight。’
“ItiscertainthereforethatifIcameneartothemIshouldbedraggeddownaswoodisdraggedofaneddy，norwouldEgyptseemeanymore。“
“ThenIprayyoubidewhereyouare，Merapi，“saidthePrince，laughingalittle，“sinceitiscertainthatwhereyougoImustfollow，whohavenodesiretowanderinthewildernesswithyourHebrewfolk。Well，itseemsthatasyoudonotwishtoleaveMemphisandwillnotcomewithme，Imuststaywithyou。“
Kifixedhispiercingeyesuponthepairofthem。
“LetthePrinceforgiveme，“hesaid，“butIswearitbythegodsthatneverdidIthinktolivetohearthePrinceSetiMeneptahsetawoman’swhimsbeforehishonour。“
“Yourwordsarerough，“saidSeti，drawinghimselfup，“andhadtheybeenspokeninotherdays，mayhap，Ki-“
“Oh!mylord，“saidKiprostratinghimselftillhisforeheadtouchedtheground，“bethinkyouthenhowgreatmustbetheneedwhichmakesmedaretospeakthem。WhenfirstIcamehitherfromthecourtofTanis，thespiritthatiswithinmespeakingthroughmylipsgavecertaintitlestoyourHighness，forwhichyourHighnesswaspleasedtoreproveme。YetthespiritinmecannotlieandIknowwell，andbidallheremakerecordofmywords，thatto-nightIstandinthepresenceofhimwhoeretwomoonshavepassedwillbecrownedPharaoh。“
“Trulyyouwereeverabearerofill-tidings，Ki，butifso，whatofit？“
“ThisyourHighness：WereitnotthatthespiritsofTruthandRightcompelmefortheirownreasons，shouldI，whohavebloodthatcanbeshedorbonesthatcanbebroken，daretohurlhardwordsathimwhowillbePharaoh？ShouldIdaretocrossthewillofthesweetdovewhonestlesonhisheart，thewise，whitedovethatmurmursthemysteriesofheaven，whenceshecame，andisstrongerthanthevultureofIsisandswifterthanthehawkofRa；thedovethat，weresheangry，couldrendmeintomorefragmentsthandidSetOsiris？“
NowIsawBakenkhonsubegintoswellwithinwardlaughterlikeafrogabouttocroak，butSetiansweredinawearyvoice：
“ByallthebirdsofEgyptwiththesacredcrocodilesthrownin，Idonotknow，sincethatmindofyours，Ki，isnotanopenwritingwhichcanbereadbythepasser-by。Still，ifyouwouldtellmewhatisthereasonwithwhichthegoddessesofTruthandJusticehaveinspiredyou-“
“Thereasonis，OPrince，thatthefateofallEgypt’s
