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the name of great Horus； the all…powerful； let us begin；' he said； and made the sign of the god's wounded eye。 Then he led Nefer back to the point he had chosen from which to begin the ascent。
'I will lead the way；' he told the boy； as he knotted one end of the rope around his waist。 'Pay out the rope as I go。 Watch what I do； and when I call you； tie it to yourself and follow me。 If you slip I will hold you。'
At first Nefer climbed cautiously； following the route that Taita had taken； his expression set and his knuckles white with tension as he fastened on each hold。 Taita murmured encouragement from above； and the boy's confidence grew with each move upwards。 He reached Taita's side and grinned at him。 'That was easy。'
'It will grow harder；' Taita assured him drily； and led up the next pitch of rock。 This time Nefer was scampering behind him like a monkey； chattering with excitement and enjoyment。 They stood below a chimney in the rock face that tapered near the top into a narrow crack。
'This is like the climb you will have to make down to the nest when we reach the top。 Watch how I wedge my hands and feet into the crack。' Taita stepped up into the chimney and went up slowly but without pause。 When the chimney narrowed he kept on steadily； like a man climbing a ladder。 His kilts flapped about his skinny old legs； and Nefer could see up under the linen to the grotesque scar where his manhood had been cut away。 Nefer had seen it before； and grown so accustomed to it that the terrible mutilation no longer appalled him。
Taita called to him from above； and this time Nefer danced up the rock； falling naturally into the rhythm of the ascent。
Why should it not be so？ Taita tried to keep his pride within reasonable bounds。 In his veins runs the blood of warriors and great athletes。 Then he smiled and his eyes sparkled as though he were young again。 And he has had me to teach him…of course he excels。
The sun was only halfway up the sky when at last they stood together on the summit of the eastern peak。 'We will rest awhile here。' Taita took the waterskin from his shoulder and sank down。
'I am not tired； Tata。'
'Nevertheless； we will rest。' Taita passed him the skin and watched as he gulped down a dozen mouthfuls。 'The descent to the nest will be more difficult；' he said； when Nefer stopped for breath。 'There will be nobody to show you the way； and there is one place where you cannot see your feet when the rock leans away from you。'
'I will be all right； Tata。'
'If the gods allow；' Taita agreed； and turned away his head as if to admire the glory of mountain； sea and desert spread below them but in fact so that the boy would not see his lips move as he prayed。 'Spread your wings over him； mighty Horus； for this is the one you have chosen。 Cherish him； my mistress Lostris； who has bee a goddess； for this is the fruit of your womb and the blood of your blood。 Turn your hand from him； foul Seth； and touch him not； for you cannot prevail against those who protect this child。' He sighed as he reconsidered the wisdom of challenging the god of darkness and chaos； then softened his admonition with a small bribe： 'Pass him by； good Seth； and I will sacrifice an ox to you in your temple at Abydos when next I pass that way。'
He stood up。 'It is time to make the attempt。'
He led the way across the summit and stood on the far lip； looking down at the campsite and the grazing horses； which were rendered tiny as new…born mice by the drop。 The female falcon was in flight； circling out over the gorge。 He thought there was something unusual in her behaviour； particularly when she uttered a strange； forlorn cry； such as he had never before heard from a royal falcon。 There was no sign of her mate； though he searched the heavens for him。
Then he lowered his eyes and looked across the abyss at the main peak of the mountain and the ledge on which they had stood the previous day。 This enabled him to orientate himself； for the bulge of the rock face under him hid the nest from sight。 He moved slowly along the lip until he found the beginning of the crack； which he recognized as the one that ran down and opened into the cleft in which the falcons had built their nest。
He picked up a loose pebble and dropped it over the edge。 It clattered as it dropped down the wall and out of sight。 He hoped that it might alarm the tiercel off the nest and so confirm its exact position； but there was still no sign of it。 Only the female bird continued her aimless circles and uttered her strange； lonely cries。
Taita called Nefer to him and tied the end of the rope around his waist。 He checked the knot carefully and then； an inch at a time； drew the full length of the rope through his fingers； checking for any frayed or weakened spot。 'You have the saddlebag to carry the fledgling。' He checked the knot with which Nefer had secured it over his shoulder so that it would not hamper his movements on the climb。
'Stop fussing so； Tata。 My father says that sometimes you are like an old woman。'
'Your father should show more respect。 I wiped his arse when he was a mewling infant； just as I wiped yours。' Taita sniffed； and again checked the knot at the boy's waist； delaying the fateful moment。 But Nefer walked to the edge and stood straight…backed above the drop without any sign of hesitation。
'Are you ready？' He looked over his shoulder； and smiled with a flash of white teeth and a sparkle of his dark green eyes。 Those eyes reminded Taita so vividly of Queen Lostris。 With a pang he thought Nefer even more ely than his father had been at the same age。
'We cannot dally here all day。' Nefer uttered one of his father's favourite expressions in lordly tones； aping the royal manner faithfully。
Taita sat down and wriggled into a position in which he could anchor his heels in the crack and lean back to brace himself against the rope over his shoulder。 He nodded at Nefer； and saw the cocky grin leave the boy's face as he edged down over the drop。 He paid out the rope as Nefer worked his way down。
Nefer reached the bulge in the wall and； hanging on grimly with both hands； let his legs down to grope for a foothold beneath the overhang。 He found the crack with his toes and thrust his bare foot into it； twisting his ankle to lock the hold； then slithered down。 He glanced up one last time at Taita； tried to smile； but made a sickly grimace； then swung round the overhang。 Before he could find another hold he felt his foot slip in the crack and he started to swivel on the rope。 If he lost his footing he would pivot and swing out helplessly over the drop。 He doubted that the old man above would have the strength to haul him back。
He snatched desperately at the crack； and his fingers hooked on； steadying him。 He lunged with his other hand and grabbed the next hold。 He was round the bulge； but his heart was hammering and his breath hissed in his throat。
'Are you all right？' Taita's voice came down to him。
'All right！' he gasped。 He looked down between his knees and saw the crack in the rock widen into the top of the cleft above the nest。 His arms were tiring and beginning to shake。 He stretched his right leg down； and found another foothold。
Taita was right： it was more difficult to descend than to climb upwards。 When he moved his right hand down he saw that already his knuckle was raw and he left a small bloody smear on the rock。 Inching down； he reached the point where the crack opened into the main cleft。 Again he was forced to reach round the lip and find a hidden hold。
Yesterday； when he and Taita had discussed it； sitting together on the other side of the gulf； this transition point had looked so easy； but now both his feet were swinging out freely over the lip of the cleft； and the abyss seemed to suck at him like some monstrous mouth。 He moaned and hung on with both hands； freezing to the rock face。 He was afraid now； the last vestige of courage blown away on the gusts of hot wind that tugged at him； threatening to t