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ion before he shed all dignity and jumped in on top of Meren and wrestled him beneath the surface。
Taita stood on the bank of the stream and looked down on the mayhem with a benign expression。 Then he turned to Mintaka。 'Put the thought out of your mind；' he said。
'What thought？' She feigned innocence。
'It would be an outrage to have a princess of Egypt cavorting with a rabble of rough； naked soldiers。' He took her hand and led her away down the hill； but she looked back wistfully at the revels。
'How did you do it； Taita？' she asked。 'How did you make the fountain appear？ What kind of magic was it？'
'The magic of mon sense and observation。 The water has been there for centuries； just waiting for us to dig down to it。'
'But what about the prayers and the words of power？ Were those of no effect？'
'Sometimes men need encouragement。' He smiled and touched the side of his nose。 'A little magic is a sovereign tonic for flagging spirits。'
* * *
For months thereafter every man was employed in the digging of a channel to lead the sweet flood of water down the hillside and into the old wells。 These now became storage cisterns for the settlement。 When they brimmed over； Taita surveyed the old fields at the lower end of the valley that were now a stony desolation。 However； the outlines of ancient irrigation ditches were still visible。 Their levels had been set out by the old inhabitants； and it took small effort to clean out the contour lines and divert the overflowing waters into them。
The desert earth was fertile； the goodness had not been leached out of it by heavy rainfall。 The continuous sunshine； and abundant water had a miraculous effect。 They planted the millet seed smuggled in from Egypt。 All Egyptians were farmers and gardeners by nature and tradition； and they lavished their skills upon the land and the crops。 Within months they had reaped their first harvest of dhurra。 Then they planted grass fields for grazing； which flourished and provided far beyond their present needs。 The women joined in the cutting； drying and stacking of fodder； and within the year they had sufficient to sustain an army of cavalry； though yet they lacked the horses。
Almost every day fugitives drifted into the city； having braved the desert crossing to escape the tyranny of the false pharaohs。 They came singly or in small parties； weary and almost dying of thirst and starvation。 The guards posted along the hills intercepted them； and sent them in to Hilto。 He made them swear the oath of fealty to Pharaoh Nefer Seti； then issued them with rations and； depending on their suitability； sent them to the training regiments or put them to work in the fields or on restoring the dilapidated buildings of the old city。 These waifs and foundlings were not the only recruits； however。 A cohort of deserters from the armies of the false pharaohs marched in smartly with their javelins； shouting the praises of Nefer Seti as soon as they were in sight of the walls。 Then a squadron of twenty chariots； driven by crack troopers of the Ankh regiment with a colonel named Timus at their head； came in under arms and joyously swore themselves in as the liegemen of Pharaoh Nefer Seti。 Timus brought the momentous news that Naja and Trok were prepared at last to march on their bined offensive against King Sargon of Babylon and Assyria。
Over the last few months the two pharaohs had mustered their expeditionary force of three thousand chariots at Avaris； and now they had almost finished their preparations to cross the land bridge that linked Egypt with the eastern lands to the north of the Great Bitter Lake and Lake Timsah。 First they had sent a column to drive in the Babylonian pickets along the border then； once the road was cleared； they had shipped in tens of thousands of water jars in carts and wagons and placed them at strategically located storage stations across the dry lands。 The country beyond was fertile and well watered。
They planned to cross the land bridge in the full of the moon； using its light and the cool nights to sweep past Ismailiya and up over the Khatmia Pass and on to Beersheba； gathering up the forces of their vassal satraps as they went。
Nefer and Taita had been preparing the defences of Gallala against an imminent attack by the false pharaohs。 They knew that their presence in the ancient city must by now be mon knowledge throughout the two kingdoms。 They had confidently expected Naja and Trok to move against them first； before starting on the Mesopotamian adventure。 Therefore they were amazed to have this reprieve。
They have not taken seriously the threat that our presence so close to their borders poses；' Nefer exulted。 'If they had attacked us now while we are still so weak； we would have had no choice but to fly。'
'Perhaps they took that possibility into their calculations；' Taita agreed。 'Perhaps they are intent on conquering Mesopotamia and cutting off any support that we might have attracted in the Orient。 Then they would have us surrounded。 I think they have miscalculated； for they leave us to grow stronger for at least another year。'
'Can we be certain that this is not a diversion？' Nefer asked thought…fully。 'Is the eastern expedition a pretence？ Perhaps their true offensive will be directed against us after they have lulled us into a sense of false security。'
'There is always that possibility。 Trok is a bull； but Naja especially is cunning and devious。 It is the type of bluff he might try。'
'We must keep the expeditionary army under observation；' Nefer decided。 'I will take a scouting party north to watch the road through Ismailiya； and make certain that they pass that way。'
'I will go with you；' Taita agreed。
'No； Magus；' Nefer demurred。 'You will best be employed here； to keep our defences alert； and ensure that if Naja leads three thousand chariots down upon us； the populace is poised for instant flight。 Also； there is another service I require of you 。。。' He hesitated。 'That is to care for Mintaka。 I believe she might be discontented here with the other women； and may attempt something unwise。'
Taita smiled。 'Precipitous action on the part of the princess is always a distinct possibility。 However； I know well enough where my first duty lies。 I will go with you。' Though Nefer argued long and strenuously； Taita was adamant； and in the end Nefer was secretly relieved to know that the old man would be at his side； as always。
Even with the latest arrival of troops to their cause； they could muster only thirty…two battle…ready chariots； and less than a hundred horses fit enough to draw them。
They left half of the chariots under the mand of Shabako to defend Gallala。 Taking Hilto and Meren with them； they set out with sixteen fighting vehicles to drive around the eastern shore of the Great Bitter Lake and intercept the main route north of Ismailiya。 The new moon was only days past full； the nights dark but pleasantly cool； so they made good progress； and pleted the journey through the uncharted wilderness before the moon was into its second quarter。
* * *
At dawn on the fifteenth day after leaving Gallala they lay hidden on the hills to the east of Ismailiya； from where they could overlook the town。 The main highway ran below their lookout post and the army of the two pharaohs would have to pass this way。 Ismailiya was the Egyptian border fortress； and the natural starting point for the campaign。
'It seems that our intelligence is good enough；' Nefer called down to Taita。 He had climbed one of the tall cedar trees on the front slope of the hill； and from there he had a fine uninterrupted view over many leagues of terrain。 'The town is swarming with activity。 There are horse lines and a city of tents outside the walls of the fort。' He shaded his eyes。 'There are clouds of dust ing up the road from the delta。 It looks like all the wagons and chariots of Egypt are on the march。'
He continued to call down his sightings to the Magus through the rest of that m