The Murder of King Tut by James Patterson, Martin Dugard Page B
Authors: James Patterson, Martin Dugard
Tags: HIS002030
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who don’t understand anything except brutal
domination. If they come out to fight, we will first launch arrows and then send chariots to scatter their army. Our fighting
men will wade in and slaughter them like the weak little piglets that they are. The desert sands will be engorged with their
blood, which will flow from their bodies like water over a raging cataract.”
Horemheb grinned maliciously. Instead of groveling, he was now testing Tut for signs of squeamishness.
“When that moment comes, General, I will personally gut a Canaanite. I will use his innards to grease the axles of my chariot.”
“As you should,” said Horemheb, who seemed to approve of the pharaoh’s words.
Tut stared at Megiddo again and then turned to Horemheb. “And if they do not come out, what then?”
“Then there will be a siege. We will poison their wells and starve them. It might take months, but we will enter the city.
I guarantee it. You haven’t lived until you’ve plundered a city like this one. The women cannot refuse you. And the men know
to bring the youngest and most beautiful. You, of course, will have your pick.”
Horemheb paused, his sense of timing exquisite. “That is, if you desire a grown woman. They can be tempestuous, Pharaoh. Particularly
when reluctantly submitting to a victor.”
Tut resisted the urge to draw his sword and hack off Horemheb’s arm to put him in his place. The general would be able to
do nothing in his defense.
“My wife is woman enough for me. You may have my share of tempestuous whores.”
Suddenly, Horemheb’s eyes caught sight of something.
“What is it, General?”
“Permission to sound the call to order?”
“But what is it? What do you see? Tell me.”
Horemheb pointed a gnarled finger. “The gates to the city. Look for yourself. They are opening! The Canaanites are coming
out to fight.”
Chapter 46
Egyptian Desert
1324 BC
“
HOLD!
” YELLED HOREMHEB, the low timbre of his powerful voice cutting through the dry desert air. The highly trained Egyptian forces
halted abruptly. Tut stopped too. Then he stared in utter amazement at the scene unfolding before him.
A mile distant, the Canaanite army poured forth from behind the city walls.
The infantry marched three columns abreast, numbering perhaps five thousand men. The all-important archers were assembled
on the wings, ready to fire on any Egyptian flanking movement.
Up in the very front, in a mirror image of Horemheb and Tut and the rest of Egypt’s commanders, the Canaanite charioteers
charged forward. There were two men in each chariot, a driver and an archer, which allowed arrows to be fired while racing
into battle.
The Canaanites came fast, as if intending to take immediate control of the field.
Their hulking shoulders and the great, dark beards that covered their chests made them look bigger and stronger than the Egyptians.
To his shame, Tut’s throat instantly closed in terror. He threw up in his mouth. As he studied the Canaanites, he realized
that their march had not faltered, nor had their pace slackened. They seemed to grow more terrifying as they closed to within
five hundred yards.
But their horses!
Tut could see that they were ill trained and struggling to turn away from the fight.
Even the animals have the good sense to fear the coming battle,
he thought. These were not the horses of victorious warriors, but horses that knew what it was like to turn and flee.
The realization galvanized Tut, but the chaos in his stomach intensified. He bent over and vomited in his chariot, quickly
wiping his mouth and standing up straight so that his men would not think their pharaoh weak.
But there was no hiding anything from Horemheb. “I have done it many times myself, Pharaoh,” he said, his voice laced with
sarcasm.
No, now would not be a good time to cut off Horemheb’s arm. Later, perhaps. After the victory was assured.
“It will not happen again,” Tut barked,
domination. If they come out to fight, we will first launch arrows and then send chariots to scatter their army. Our fighting
men will wade in and slaughter them like the weak little piglets that they are. The desert sands will be engorged with their
blood, which will flow from their bodies like water over a raging cataract.”
Horemheb grinned maliciously. Instead of groveling, he was now testing Tut for signs of squeamishness.
“When that moment comes, General, I will personally gut a Canaanite. I will use his innards to grease the axles of my chariot.”
“As you should,” said Horemheb, who seemed to approve of the pharaoh’s words.
Tut stared at Megiddo again and then turned to Horemheb. “And if they do not come out, what then?”
“Then there will be a siege. We will poison their wells and starve them. It might take months, but we will enter the city.
I guarantee it. You haven’t lived until you’ve plundered a city like this one. The women cannot refuse you. And the men know
to bring the youngest and most beautiful. You, of course, will have your pick.”
Horemheb paused, his sense of timing exquisite. “That is, if you desire a grown woman. They can be tempestuous, Pharaoh. Particularly
when reluctantly submitting to a victor.”
Tut resisted the urge to draw his sword and hack off Horemheb’s arm to put him in his place. The general would be able to
do nothing in his defense.
“My wife is woman enough for me. You may have my share of tempestuous whores.”
Suddenly, Horemheb’s eyes caught sight of something.
“What is it, General?”
“Permission to sound the call to order?”
“But what is it? What do you see? Tell me.”
Horemheb pointed a gnarled finger. “The gates to the city. Look for yourself. They are opening! The Canaanites are coming
out to fight.”
Chapter 46
Egyptian Desert
1324 BC
“
HOLD!
” YELLED HOREMHEB, the low timbre of his powerful voice cutting through the dry desert air. The highly trained Egyptian forces
halted abruptly. Tut stopped too. Then he stared in utter amazement at the scene unfolding before him.
A mile distant, the Canaanite army poured forth from behind the city walls.
The infantry marched three columns abreast, numbering perhaps five thousand men. The all-important archers were assembled
on the wings, ready to fire on any Egyptian flanking movement.
Up in the very front, in a mirror image of Horemheb and Tut and the rest of Egypt’s commanders, the Canaanite charioteers
charged forward. There were two men in each chariot, a driver and an archer, which allowed arrows to be fired while racing
into battle.
The Canaanites came fast, as if intending to take immediate control of the field.
Their hulking shoulders and the great, dark beards that covered their chests made them look bigger and stronger than the Egyptians.
To his shame, Tut’s throat instantly closed in terror. He threw up in his mouth. As he studied the Canaanites, he realized
that their march had not faltered, nor had their pace slackened. They seemed to grow more terrifying as they closed to within
five hundred yards.
But their horses!
Tut could see that they were ill trained and struggling to turn away from the fight.
Even the animals have the good sense to fear the coming battle,
he thought. These were not the horses of victorious warriors, but horses that knew what it was like to turn and flee.
The realization galvanized Tut, but the chaos in his stomach intensified. He bent over and vomited in his chariot, quickly
wiping his mouth and standing up straight so that his men would not think their pharaoh weak.
But there was no hiding anything from Horemheb. “I have done it many times myself, Pharaoh,” he said, his voice laced with
sarcasm.
No, now would not be a good time to cut off Horemheb’s arm. Later, perhaps. After the victory was assured.
“It will not happen again,” Tut barked,
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