Anubis realized his moment of freedom was short and with an instant
bound he was out and gone.
In no little dismay Rachel started in pursuit, but she had not moved
ten paces from the bottom of the steps before she paused, transfixed.
An Egyptian, not Pepi, was hauling a boat into the reeds. The craft
secure, he turned up the slant, walking rapidly.
There was no mistaking that commanding stature.
Anubis descended on him like an arrow. The man saw the ape, halted a
fraction of an instant, caught sight of Rachel, and with a cry, his
arms flung wide, broke into a run toward her.
The ape bounded for his shoulder, but missed and alighted at one side,
chattering raucously. The running man did not pause.
The world revolved slowly about Rachel, and the sustaining structure of
her frame seemed to lose its rigidity. She put out her hands, blindly,
and they were caught and clasped about Kenkenes' neck. And there in
the strong support of his tightening arms, her face hidden against the
leaping heart, all time and matters of the world drifted away. In
their place was only a vast content, featureless and full of soft dusk
and warmth.
Gone were all the demure resolutions, the memory of faith or unfaith.
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