![]() Those ships were lying abandoned in the docks of Memphis and Tanis in the Delta. We knew that when he swept through the Lower Kingdom, Salitis had captured most of the fleet of the red pretender intact. It was the enemy's logical move, and both Salitis and Lord Intef should have made it much earlier. Secretly, I had expected and dreaded what would happen next. THE SUCCESS OF MY CHARIOTS AT ESNA, and the feeling of confidence that it instilled in us all, were short-lived. "What, in the name of Horus, were you laughing about?" "You crazy old fool." He forced a grin at me. I will not ride with you again until you do something about them." However, those new-fangled wheels of yours " are more dangerous than a regiment of Hyksos. "If I am to have five hundred of those contraptions of yours for my new chariot division, I will need a thousand of those cursed brutes to pull them. I have already sent Hui to gather them up," he assured me. "Don't worry that battered head of yours". "The gods cannot desert this very Egypt now. "No" my mistress's voice shook with the force of her denial. However, Salitis had brought his transports up behind the screen of fighting galleys, and while the river battle still raged, he was able to embark almost two full regiments of horse and chariot, and ferry them intact to our side of the river, without our galleys being able to reach them. His chariots are so fast that he can swing around our positions as he did at Asyut. We can wait for him behind walls of stone, or behind barriers of the sharp staves that Taita has equipped us with. "I can slow him down, perhaps," he replied frankly. I must know what the gods require of us." I ask you to work the Mazes of Ammon-Ra for me. But I must ask you now before I make the final decision. "Taita, I have not asked you before, because I know how dearly it costs you. Their horses are in the traces and they are coming on a cloud of dust, swiftly as the flight of the swallow. They swam the horses over as they did before, but this time there were none of our galleys ready to turn back their boats. The messenger stuttered in fear of his life, "Divine Majesty, while our fleet was busy at Asyut, the barbarian made another crossing at Esna. "Taita, what about your chariots? Can they not give battle to the Hyksos?" ![]() Tanus ordered him into the council chamber, and the messenger fell to his knees before Queen Lostris. He had fled to us on the current and the wind, so his news was only a day old. While we thus debated, another messenger arrived, this time from the south. When we were alone, Tanus said softly, "Salitis has four regiments across the river. ![]()
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