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eep ooze and held the first skiff steady while the slaves handed the princess and her maids across the gap onto the firm dry ground at the top of the bank。
As soon as they were safely ashore the royal skiff came in and the slaves made ready to hand Nefer across to join Mintaka on the high bank。 He waved them aside imperiously。 He had suffered enough humiliation for one morning； and he was not about to lower his dignity further by clinging to a pair of half…naked wet slaves for support。 He balanced easily on the transom and the entire pany watched respectfully for he was a splendid sight。 Mintaka tried not to let her emotions show； but she thought he was the most beautiful creature she had ever seen； slim and sleek with his boyish body just starting to take on the hard contours of manhood。 Even his haughty； sullen expression enthralled her。
He is of the stuff from which heroes and great pharaohs are moulded； she thought； in a surfeit of romantic ardour。 I wish I had not angered him so。 It was unkind； and before this day is ended I shall make him laugh again； as Hathor is my witness。
Nefer launched himself across the gap between skiff and landed like a young leopard springing from the branch of an acacia tree。 He landed gracefully on the high bank almost within arm's length of where she stood。 He paused there conscious of every eye upon him。
Then the bank collapsed beneath him。 A chunk of the friable dry clay on which he was standing broke off under his feet。 For an aching moment he windmilled his arms； trying to keep his balance； then toppled backwards into the swamp。
Everyone stared down at him in horror； appalled by the spectacle of Royal Egypt sitting waist deep in sticky black Nile mud with a startled expression on his face。
For long moments nobody moved or spoke。 Then Mintaka laughed。 She had not meant to do so； but it was too much for her self…control and once it began she could not stop herself。 It was a delightful； infectious laugh； that none of her maids could resist。 They burst into merry squeals and giggles that set the huntsmen and boatmen off。 Even Taita joined in； cackling unrestrainedly。
For a moment Nefer looked as though he might burst into tears； but then his anger； kept so long on a tight rein； exploded。 He snatched up a handful of thick black mud and hurled it up at the laughing princess。 His humiliation gave strength to his arm and improved his aim while Mintaka was so helpless with mirth that she could neither duck nor dodge and it hit her full in the face。 Her laughter died and she stared at Nefer with huge eyes in a running black mask。
It was Nefer's turn to laugh。 Still sitting in the swamp he threw back his head and gave vent to all his frustration and humiliation with a howl of mocking laughter。 When Pharaoh laughs all the world laughs with him。 The slaves； boatmen and huntsmen redoubled their shouts of merriment。
Mintaka recovered swiftly from her shock； and then； without any warning； launched herself over the bank into the attack。 She dropped on top of Nefer with all her weight。 He was taken so pletely by surprise that he could not even draw a full breath before he was driven clean under with her sitting on his head。
He floundered about beneath the surface； trying to get purchase on the muddy bottom but her weight kept him pinned。 She had both arms locked around his neck。 He tried to throw her off； but she was nimble and slippery as an eel with the coating of mud。 With a huge effort he lifted her just long enough to allow him to stick his head out and catch a quick breath； then she plunged him under again。 He managed to get on top of her but it took a mighty effort to hold her。 She wriggled and kicked with surprising strength。 Her tunic had rucked up round her waist and her legs were bare and smooth。 She hooked her one leg through his and hung on。 Now they were face to face； and he could feel her body warmth through the slippery mud。
Their filthy faces were only inches apart； her hair was streaming down into her eyes； and he was startled to realize that she was grinning at him through the slimy coating。 He grinned back； and then they were both laughing。 But neither would concede defeat； and they kept up the struggle。
His chest was bare； and her shift so wet and flimsy that it might not have existed。 Her bare legs were still hooked around his。 He reached down with one hand to prise himself free of their tenacious grip。 Unintentionally his right hand came upon a hard round buttock that was wriggling around with great energy。
Nefer became aware of a strange and pleasurable sensation that seemed to suffuse his entire body； and the urgency went out of his efforts to subdue her。 He was content to hold her and let her struggle against him while he enjoyed this new and extraordinary feeling。
Abruptly she stopped laughing as she in her turn made a momentous discovery。 Between their lower bodies had grown up a protuberance that； only moments before； had not existed。 It was so rubbery and large that she could not previously have overlooked it。 She pushed her hips out to test its nature； but every time she did that it grew harder and larger。 This was something beyond her experience； and in a spirit of discovery she repeated the movement。
She hardly noticed that he had stopped his violent efforts to dislodge her； and that his left arm was wrapped around her upper body。 His right hand was cupped around her posterior and when next she pushed out her hips to examine the lump； he imitated her movement thrusting out to meet her and his cupped hand drew her closer still。 The lump prodded against her as though it were some small animal with a life of its own。
She had never anticipated the sensation that overcame her。 Suddenly that mysterious creature took on an importance far beyond anything she had dreamed of up to that time。 Her entire being was filled with a dreamy； pleasurable warmth。 Without conscious intent she reached down with one hand to catch hold of it； to capture it as though it were a kitten or a puppy。
Then； with a shock like a blow to her stomach； she remembered the wild tales her slave girls had told her about that thing； and what men did with it。 On more than one occasion they had described it to her in startling detail。 Up to that time she had discounted these descriptions as pure invention； for they bore no resemblance to the small dangling appendages that her younger brothers carried in that area of their anatomy。
She particularly remembered what Saak； the Numidian slave girl； had told her： 'You won't waste any more prayers on Hathor once you have seen the one…eyed god when he is angry。'
Mintaka threw herself backwards out of Nefer's embrace and sat in the mud staring at him in consternation。 Nefer struggled into a sitting position and returned her stare with a bemused air。 Both were panting as though they had run a gruelling race。
The guffaws and shrieks of laughter from the high bank slowly petered out as the spectators became aware that something untoward had taken place； and the silence became unfortable。 Taita covered it up smoothly： 'Your Majesty； if you extend your swim much longer you will offer a fine breakfast to any passing crocodile。'
Nefer jumped up and sloshed across to where Mintaka sat。 He lifted her to her feet as gently as if she were made of the most delicate Hurrian glass。
Dripping slime and Nile water； with her hair dangling in a muddy tangle over her face and shoulders； her maids led the princess away to find a clean pool well screened by reeds。 When she reappeared some time later she was washed clean of the last traces of slime and ooze。 The maids had brought with them a change of apparel； so Mintaka was resplendent in a clean dry apron embroidered with silk and seed pearls and there were golden bracelets on her arms and a necklace of turquoise and coloured glass at her throat。 Her hair； though damp； was bed and plaited neatly。
Nefer hurried to meet her and led her to her a giant kigelia tree under whose spreading branches a breakfast f