下载辰思小说免费APP
“Nextdayarumourbegantorunthatthisawfulthinghadhappened。Itgrewstrongerandstronger，untilallsworethatithadhappened。Nowthefuryofthepeopleroseagainstme，andtheyravenedroundthepalacelikelionsofthedesert，roaringformyblood。Yetitwasasthoughtheycouldnotenterhere，sincewhenevertheyrushedatthegatesorwalls，theyfellbackagain，forsomespiritseemedtoprotecttheplace。Thedayswentby；thenightcameagainandatthedawn，thisdawnthatispast，oncemoreIstoodupontheterrace，andoncemorethecloakedmanappearedfromamongthetrees。
“’Nowyouhaveheard，MoonofIsrael，’hesaid，’andnowyoumustbelieveandcome，althoughyouthinkyourselfsafebecauseatthebeginningoftheplaguesthis，thehomeofSeti，wasenchantedagainstevil，sothatnonewithinitcanbeharmed。’
“’Ihaveheard，andIthinkthatIbelieve，thoughhowthetidingsreachedMemphisinanhourIdonotunderstand。Yet，stranger，Isaytoyouthatitisnotenough。’
“Thenthemandrewapapyrusrollfromhisbosomandthrewitatmyfeet。Iopeneditandread。ThewritingwasthewritingofAnaasI
knewwell，andthesignaturewasthesignatureofyou，mylord，anditwassealedwithyourseal，andwiththesealofBakenkhonsuasawitness。Hereitis，“andfromthebreastofhergarment，shedrewoutarollandgaveittomeuponwhomsherestedallthiswhile。
Iopenedit，andbythelightoftorchesthePrince，Bakenkhonsu，andIread。Itwasasshehadtoldusinwhatseemedtobemywriting，andsignedandsealedasshehadsaid。Thewordsran：
“ToMerapi，MoonofIsrael，inmyhouseatMemphis。
“Come，Lady，FlowerofLove，tomeyourlord，towhomthebearerofthiswillguideyousafely。Comeatonce，forIamingreatdanger，asyouare，andtogetheronlycanwebesafe。“
“Ana，whatmeansthis？“askedthePrinceinaterriblevoice。“Ifyouhavebetrayedmeandher-“
“Bythegods，“Ibeganangrily，“amIamanthatIshouldlivetohearevenyourHighnessspeakthustome，oramIbutadogofthedesert？“
Iceased，foratthatmomentBakenkhonsubegantolaugh。
“Lookattheletter!“helaughed。“Lookattheletter。“
Welooked，andaswelooked，beholdthewritingonitturnedfirsttothecolourofbloodandthenfadedaway，tillpresentlytherewasnothinginmyhandbutablanksheetofpapyrus。
“Oho-ho!“laughedBakenkhonsu。“Truly，friendKi，youarethefirstofmagicians，savethoseprophetsoftheIsraeliteswhohavebroughtyou——Whitherhavetheybroughtyou，friendKi？“
ThenforthefirsttimethepaintedsmileleftthefaceofKi，anditbecamelikeablockofstoneinwhichweresettwoangryjewelsthatwerehiseyes。
“Continue，Lady，“saidthePrince。
“Iobeyedtheletter。Ifledawaywiththemanwhosaidhehadachariotwaiting。Wepassedoutbythelittlegate。
“’Whereisthechariot？’Iasked。
“’Wegobyboat，’heanswered，andledthewaytowardstheriver。Aswethreadedthebigpalmgrovemenappearedfrombetweenthetrees。
“’Youhavebetrayedme，’Icried。
“’Nay，’heanswered，’Iammyselfbetrayed。’
“ThenforthefirsttimeIknewhisvoiceforthatofLaban。
“Themenseizedus；attheheadofthemwasKi。
“’Thisisthewitch，’hesaid，’who，herwickednessfinished，flieswithherHebrewlover，whoisalsothefamiliarofhersorceries。’
“Theytorethecloakandthefalsebeardfr
