Egyptian #02 - The Seventh Scroll by Wilbur Smith

Author:Wilbur Smith [Smith, Wilbur]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, History, Fiction, General, Historical, Action & Adventure, Egypt, Adventure Fiction, Ancient, Antiquities, Antiquities - Collection and preservation, Egypt - Antiquities - Collection and Preservation, Ethiopia
ISBN: 9780312945985
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 1932-05-28T04:00:00+00:00

Seventh Scroll

The drop area was just far enough from the monastery for the engine noise of the jet Ranger not to alarm the monks. Even if they did hear it, Nogo was banking on the probability that they were by this time thoroughly conditioned to the frequent sorties of the machine, and would not associate it with any threat to themselves.

The men waited in the darkness, warned to silence and not even allowed by Nogo to smoke, while the jet Ranger ferried in the remaining troopers. When the last flight came in Nogo ordered his detachment to fall in, and led them in single file down the path beside the river. They were all trained bush fighters in top physical condition, and they moved swiftly and purposefully through the night.

Only Nahoot was a soft urbanite, and within half a mile he was wheezing and whining for a chance to rest. Nogo smiled vindictively to himself as he listened to Nahoot’s pathetic whispered pleas for mercy as he was prodded along by the men behind him.

Nogo had timed his arrival at the monastery to coincide with the hour of matins and lauds, the break of day. He led his contingent down the cliff staircase at a trot.

Their weapons were at high port, all the equipment was carefully muted so as not to clatter or creak, and their rubber-soled paratrooper boots made little noise on the stone paving as they hurried along the deserted cloisters to the entrance of the underground cathedral.

From the interior echoed the monotonous chanting and drumming of the ceremony, punctuated at intervals by the higher treble descant of the abbot leading the service.

Colonel Nogo paused outside the doors, and his men drew LA up in double ranks behind him. There was no need for orders for his briefing had covered every aspect of the raid.

He looked the men over for a moment, then nodded at his lieutenant.

The outer chamber of the church was empty, as the monks were gathered in the middle chamber, the qiddist.

Nogo crossed the outer nave swiftly, with his detachment moving up close behind him. Then he ran up the steps to the wooden doors of the qiddist, which stood open. As he entered, his men fanned out in two files behind him and swiftly took up their positions along the side walls of the qiddist, their assault rifles cocked and locked, and with bayonets fixed, ing cover the kneeling congregation.

and swiftly that it was some it was done so silently minutes before the monks gradually became aware of this alien presence in their holy place. The chanting and drumming died away, and the dark faces turned apprehensively towards the ranks of armed men. Only Jah Hora, the and happen ancient abbot, was unaware of anything untow ing. Completely absorbed in his devotions, he continued kneeling before re the doors of the maqdas, the Holy of Holies, his quavering voice the lonely cry of a lost soul.

In the silence Co nel Nogo marched down the centre of the nave kicking the kneeling monks out of his way.

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