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the fire of his might； you are accepted by the god as his novices。 You are not yet entitled to sit in conclave with the anointed warriors of the second and third grades； nor to worship the Red God； nor even to learn his hidden name。 You have only the right to attempt the road that the god lays out for you。 Knowing that it might mean death； do you accept this challenge？'
'We do。'
Then know that there are five stages along the road and the first of these is。。。〃
Each of the anointed warriors spoke in turn； explaining the ordeal Nefer and Meren faced and setting out the rules to which they must adhere。 The five stages were designated as the javelin； the wrestler； the bow； the chariot and the sword。 The two novices felt their spirits quail。
In the end Hilto spoke again。 'You have heard what the god has ordained。 Are you determined to embark upon this endeavour？'
'We are。' Their voices were unnaturally loud； the tone cracked with false bravado； for now they knew the full extent of what lay ahead of them。
'Then from this point onwards there is no turning back；' said Hilto。
* * *
The chariot is the main discipline；' Taita told them。 'Remember that it is a race。 There will be ten chariots pursuing you。 Speed is all。 You must learn to get the very best out of your team。' They worked relentlessly。 By the time the new moon of Osiris was a sliver of bronze on the horizon； Dov and Krus had learned all that Nefer and Meren could teach them。 They ran like one horse； leading with the same stride； aware of the balance and stability of the chariot behind them； using their weight and strength to hold true in the tightest turns； bringing it down from full gallop to dead stop in its own length； responding to the most subtle mands instantly。
Mintaka brought Merykara out into the desert； driving her own chariot； to watch them in training。 At noon when they halted to water and rest the pair； Mintaka called out spontaneously； 'Perfection！ Surely there is nothing more you can teach them。 Nothing more for them to learn。'
Nefer gulped from the water jug then wiped his mouth on the back of his hand and looked up at the crest of the black rock hills。
'There is one who would not agree with you。'
The girls shaded their eyes and followed the direction of his gaze。 They saw the figure perched up there； sitting so still that he might have been part of the rock。
'Taita。 How long has he been watching？'
'Sometimes it seems that he has been watching for ever。'
'Is there something more he can show you？' Mintaka demanded。 'If there is； then why has he not already done so？'
'He is waiting for me to ask him；' Nefer said。
'Go to him at once；' Mintaka ordered。 'If you don't I will。'
Nefer climbed the hill and sat down beside Taita。 They were silent for a while； and then Nefer said； 'I need you again； Old Father。'
Taita did not respond at once； except to blink like an owl caught out of his nest by the rising sun。 He would never have a son； and no man had ever called him father before。
'You can help me。 What must I still do？'
After a long pause Taita spoke softly。 'Krus senses when you are going to loose the javelin or shoot the arrow。 He steps high at the moment； chopping with his right fore。 Dov feels it and flinches。'
Nefer thought about it。 'Yes！ I have felt the break in their stride at the moment of release。'
'It can throw your aim by a thumb's breadth。'
'What can I do？'
'You must teach them the fifth gait。'
'There are only four。 Walk； trot； canter and gallop。'
'There is another。 I call it the glide； but it must be taught Most horses will never learn。'
'Help me teach them。'
They took the horses out of the harness； and Nefer went up on Dov's back。 He took her for a short canter then brought her back to where Taita stood。 The old man made her lift her right front hoof and tied a leather thong around her fetlock。 Attached to the thong was a perfectly round； water…worn pebble wrapped in leather。 Dov put her head down and sniffed it curiously。 Take her round again；' said Taita。
Nefer prodded his toes behind her shoulder and she started forward。 The pebble dangled on her leading foot； and instinctively she tried to rid herself of the nuisance； flipping her leading hoof with each pace。 It changed her whole motion。 Her back no longer came up to slap into his buttocks； there was no longer that rocking movement； that lunge。 'She flows like a river under me！' Nefer shouted with delight。 'Like the Nile herself！'
Within two days he was able to take off the bobber； and she would change from the canter or gallop into the glide at his mand。 The word of mand was 'Nile'。
When they first brought it to him； Krus behaved as though the bobber was a venomous cobra。 He reared and pawed the air。 When he saw it ing in Nefer's hands； he rolled his eyes and quivered all over。
For three days he and Nefer pitted their wills against each other； and then suddenly； on the fourth day； he flicked out his right hoof and glided away。 The next day he was gliding on mand as readily as Dov。
On the tenth day Taita watched from his hilltop as they came galloping down on the line of targets； Nefer with the javelin thong wrapped around his wrist。 Krus was watching the painted wooden circles on their tripods； his ears pricked forward nervously； but before he could break and chop Nefer called； 'Nile！'
Dov and Krus changed gait simultaneously； the chariot steadied and glided forward like a fighting galley under sail。 Nefer's first javelin slapped into the red central ring of the target。
* * *
Taita observed Nefer nock； draw and hold his aim。 He was watching the yellow flag on its staff behind the row of targets that were set up two hundred paces in front of them。 The flag stirred and flapped； filled for a moment then sagged limply as the hot breeze died away。 Nefer loosed and the arrow rose on its lazy parabola of flight。 It reached its zenith and as it started to drop the breeze puffed again on Taita's cheek。
The arrow felt the breeze also and veered perceptibly in flight。 It dropped towards the target； and struck three hands' breadth to the leeward side of the red bullseye。
'Seth vomit on this treacherous wind！' Nefer swore。
'The light arrow feels it more；' Taita said； and walked back to the little cart that carried the spare bows and the quivers。 He came back with a long bundle wrapped in a leather sheath。
'No！' Nefer said； as he unwrapped Trok's great war bow。 'It outdoes me！'
'When did you last attempt to draw it？' Taita asked。
'On the day we unearthed it；' Nefer replied。 'You should know。 You were there。'
'That was six months ago。' Taita said； and glanced significantly at Nefer's bare chest and arms。 The muscles had grown hard as carved cedarwood。 He handed the bow to him。
Reluctantly Nefer took it and turned it in his hands。 He saw that the stock had been rebound recently with fine electrum wire and lacquered。 The bowstring was new…the sinews of a lion's forelegs； cured and twisted until they were hard and unyielding as bronze。
The refusal rose to his lips again but did not pass them for Taita was watching him。 He lifted the bow and； without an arrow in place； raised it and tried to draw。 It came back half a cubit； then his arms locked and although the muscles flattened and hardened across his chest it would move no further。 Carefully Nefer released the pressure and the bow stock returned to rest。
'Let me have it back。' Taita reached out to take the weapon from him。 'You have neither the strength nor the determination。'
Nefer jerked it away from him； and his lips went thin and white； his eyes blazed。
'You don't know everything； old man； even though you think you do。'
He reached into the cart and snatched one of the long heavy arrows from the quiver that carried the cartou