The Quest

'That I cannot tell you, for I do not know. I have been here less than ten years, but I have observed many men of special worth and talent come to this land as though by pure chance. But the oligarchs knew they were coming. Just as they knew you were coming. You are not the first of these whom I have been sent to meet. Can you imagine how many of these superior men and women have been brought to Jarri in this manner over the centuries?'

'There seem to be many layers in this society,' Taita said. 'You speak of them and us as though we are separate bands. Who are they, and who are we? Are we not all Egyptians? Do you include me in your band or am I one of them?'

That replied simply, “I count you as one of us because I now know enough about you to believe that you are a good and just man. I perceive that you are gifted. You are a man of power. I believe that you may be the saviour sent to put an end to the pervasive evil that directs the oligarchs and controls all things in Jarri. I hope that, if any man can, you will destroy the greatest evil of all ages.'

'What is it?' Taita asked.

'It is the reason I was sent here originally. Why you were sent after me,' That replied. 'I think you understand what I refer to.'

'Tell me,' Taita insisted.

That nodded. 'You do well not to trust me yet. The reason that Pharaoh Nefer Seti sent you south was to seek out and bring down the barriers that have been placed across the rivers that feed our Mother Nile so that she may run down once more to Egypt, revive and renew our nation. Then it is your purpose to destroy the one who raised those barriers.'

'I retract what I said of you before. You are a loyal soldier and a

 I THE QUEST

patriot. Our cause is one and it is just. How should we proceed? What do you propose?'

'Our first concern must be to identify our enemy.'

'The oligarchs?' Taita suggested, testing his understanding of the quest.

'The oligarchs do not stand alone. They are straw men, puppets, who strut and puff on the stage of the Supreme Council. There is aught that stands behind them. An unseen thing or person. They carry out its dictates, and the worship of this nameless power is the religion of Jarri.'

'Do you have any conception of what this thing may be? Is it a god, or do you believe it is mortal?'

'I am a soldier. I know how to fight men and armies. I do not understand this other dark presence. You are the magus. You understand the other world. It is my fervent hope that you will command us, that you will guide and counsel us. Without somebody like you we are not warriors but lost children.'

'Why have you not risen up against the oligarchs and seized power from them?'

'Because it has been done before, two hundred and twelve years ago.

There was a rebellion in Jarri. In the first days it was successful. The oligarchs were seized and executed. Then a terrible plague swept the land. The victims died in agony, bleeding from their mouths, ears, noses and the secret openings of their bodies. It was a disease that selected only the liberators and spared those who were loyal to the Supreme Council and worshipped the secret godhead.'

'How do you know this?'

'The history of the rebellion is engraved on the walls of the council chamber as a warning to all the citizens of Jarri,' That replied. 'No, Magus, I am fully aware of the power we seek to bring down, and the risk we shall run. I have thought on it without ceasing since I found you at Tamafupa. Our only hope of success will be if you can hold the dark power in check while we destroy the oligarchs and their human supporters.

I know not if you will be able to destroy the evil thing itself, but I pray to all the gods of Egypt that, with your wisdom and magical skills, you will be sufficient to protect us from its wrath long enough for us to escape from Jarri. I pray also that you can use those powers to shatter the barriers that the thing has placed across the tributaries of the Nile.'

'We tried once to destroy the wall of the Red Stones, Meren and I. In the attempt Meren lost his eye.'

'That was because you treated the demolition as a physical problem.

At that stage you had not realized its deeper, more sinister implications.

We know that our chance of success is infinitesimally small, but my followers and I are prepared to lay down our lives for it. Will you make the attempt? Will you lead us?'I 'That is why 1 came to Jarri,' said Taita. 'If we are to have that smallest chance, there is much work ahead of us. As you have pointed out, it will not be easy to escape detection. We must take full advantage of this rare opportunity to be alone and unobserved. First, you must tell me everything I should know of your preparations up to this time. How many men and women are with you? What dispositions have you made? Then I will tell you my own observations and conclusions.'

'That is a sensible course of action.'

In order to draw out the journey to its limit and thus give themselves every possible moment alone, Taita feigned weakness and exhaustion.

He demanded frequent stops to rest and even when he was on her back he held Windsmoke at her slowest pace. That, who had evidently prepared for this conference, provided him with a full report of his plans and the battle order of his forces.

When he had finished Taita told him, 'It seems to me that you are not strong enough to take on the task of overthrowing the oligarchs, let alone pitting yourselves against the power behind them. From your own report most of your loyalists are imprisoned or enslaved in the mines and quarries. How many will be fit to travel, let alone fight, when you free them?'

'Certainly we could not muster the forces to win a pitched battle against the oligarchs, then capture and hold the entire country. That was never my plan. I thought to capture the oligarchs by some subterfuge or ruse, then hold them hostage for the release of our compatriots from captivity and our safe passage out of Jarri. I know that this is the barest outline of a plan, one that, without your help, is bound to end in failure and death.'

Taita called Meren to ride in their company. 'Meren, as you know, is my trusted companion, a brave and clever warrior. I would like you to accept him as your second in command.'

That did not hesitate. 'I accept your recommendation.'

As they rode on down the steep pathway the three discussed the basic battle plan, enlarging upon it and trying to find ways to strengthen it.

The time passed too swiftly and soon the buildings and roofs of the citadel came into view far below. They stopped the horses and dismounted to divest themselves of their heavy leather cloaks and other mountain clothing.

'We have little more time to talk,' Taita said to That. 'You and Meren know what you must do. Now I shall explain what I plan. Colonel That, all that you have told me so far has the ring of truth, and coincides with everything I have observed and discovered. I was informed by a seer and magus much greater than myself of the dark presence about which you spoke. This “goddess” is neither divine nor immortal but of such immense antiquity that she has been able to accumulate powers far beyond any possessed before by a mortal being. She has taken the name of Eos, the Daughter of the Dawn, and has a monstrous, remorseless appetite for power. All this I learnt from the magus Demeter, who was as well known to Meren as to me.' Taita glanced at his companion for confirmation.

Meren nodded. 'He was indeed a great man, but I must contradict you, Magus. He was no greater than you.'

Taita smiled indulgently at the compliment. 'Loyal Meren, I hope you never discover my true defects. However, to continue, Demeter had encountered Eos face to face. Despite his power and wisdom, she almost destroyed him at their first encounter, and succeeded at the next. Meren and I witnessed the manner of his death, but he survived long enough to pass on to me vital information about Eos. He explained that her purpose in damming the Nile is to reduce Egypt to such a parlous state that the populace will welcome her as their saviour. That would enable her to usurp the throne of the Two Kingdoms. With all the power and wealth of Egypt behind her, she would launch herself upon the other nations of the earth like a falcon upon a flock of sparrows. Her ultimate design is to subjugate them all to her sway.'