A shielded torch was lit and by its wavering light Tuti drew a map of the encampment, pointed out positions of the Hawks, those of the slaves, also the whereabouts of merchandise and the baggage handlers.He could only however, give an approximation of the position of the lookouts, since he didn’t see their exactly location amongst the rocks.
‘Good map, good information, pity about the location of the lookouts.So what do we do now?’asked Commander Ayi.’
Was the question rhetorical? Had the commander already decided on a course of action? Or was he really asking for their opinion? Tuti wasn’t sure but still he spoke, ‘The rear wall of the camp is the weak point because the men there can’t give their full attention to guarding the wall while they have the slaves at their back.’
‘So how would you go about capturing the camp?’
Tuti marshalled his thoughts before continuing, ‘I would take out the lookouts, send a party of men around to the rear, make frontal attack on the camp. Then while the Hawks are fully occupied, I would attack from the rear and once we are inside we would be like cats amongst the pigeons.’
‘Except pigeons are not armed and these Hawks are,’ the commander said with a smile, ‘Now tell me how many men for each stage.’
‘Two for the lookouts, one hundred to the rear, one hundred and fifty for the frontal attack and fifty in reserve.’
‘Good, I suggest you confer with Hann and Abba and then when you are ready, make your attack.’
Startled, Tuti who had expected the commander to take charge of the attack, managed to gasp, ‘My attack?’
‘Yes, it’ll be a good chance for you all to show your leadership skills under battle conditions.’
Taking Abba and Hann to one side and despite his being put in charge of the operation, he listened to their input and incorporated it into the plan. Finally they were ready and with the men on standby, Tuti and Hann slipped into the rocks on either side of the wadi and managed to find and deal with the lookouts.Making their way back they waited with the main party, until Abba and his men circled around and came down into the wadi behind the camp.
A runner arrived to say that Abba was in place and they moved into the wadi just as the sky began to lighten in the east. Halting the men before they came within sight of the camp, Tuti climbed into the rocks he had used before. There were a dozen men guarding the walls directly facing him and more at the sides. The problem now was the open ground in front of the camp, the range was too great even for the bows and they would seen before they got close enough to fire. Ah well, he thought, nothing in this life is easy, I better get on with it.
After giving the orders to notch arrows, Tuti with Hann at his side, led the men as they raced for the walls.Unfortunately they were spotted almost as soon as they broke cover and by the time they were close enough to fire more of the Hawks had reached the wall. Firing off arrows on the run was a difficult task especial with only the head and shoulders of the enemy showing above the walls. Nevertheless they managed to hit a few before the Hawks returned fire and several of the men fell.Reaching the wall the men stabbed at the defenders with spears. Tuti, Hann and about fifty of men managed clamber onto the top of the wall and while they laid about them with axes, were in danger of being dragged down as more and more of the Hawks arrived.
Meanwhile, as soon as he heard the sounds of alarm from the front of the camp, Abba silently took out two of the guards at the rear and slipped his men over the wall into the slave compound. Hidden amongst the slaves he waited until the camp was in uproar and then burst out into the middle of the Hawks. Most of them were so busy trying to get at the intruders on the walls that nearly half of them were struck down before they had time to turn around.
The attack by Abba and his men took the pressure off the men on the wall and after dodging a thrust spear and hacking into the arm of the wielder Tuti jumped down amongst the Hawks. Hann followed suit and swinging his axe took the head from another. The other men on the wall flung themselves down into the fray and like a floodgate opening the other hundred poured over the wall. Soon the Hawks were surrounded and while some fought to the death the majority threw down their arms and surrendered.
As the battle came to an end, the search began for Nebarmun. Tuti had Hann and Abba line the prisoners up and he checked them one by one. But the Nomarch wasn’t amongst them, nor was among the wounded, they even searched through the slaves and baggage handlers to no avail. He must have slipped away during the fighting and Tuti cursed, it was his fault, he should have ensured that the leader of the Hawks wasn’t allowed to escape. Then as he mentally kicked himself, the commanders voice called from behind him,‘Is this what you lost? I found it hiding in the rocks.’
Turning, his face split into a grin at the sight of a battered looking Nomarch being held upright by two of the reservists.
‘I didn’t see him in the fight,’ said Tuti, ‘but he certainly looks a little the worse for wear.’
‘Ah,’ said the commander as he sucked on his bruised knuckles, ‘I had to persuade him not to run away.’
Nebarmun was led away under guard and while some of the Hawks dug graves to bury the men from the troop that died, the rest were force to drag the bodies of their dead comrades deep into the wadi.Altogether fifteen of Tuti’s men were wounded and ten died, all of them killed in the frontal attack on the walls. The Hawks came off the worst, loosing eighty-two of their number and ten of their men were wounded.
That night they celebrated their victory over the Hawks and the next day marched back to Akhmim.The prisoners were handed over to the local judge for punishment and messenger was sent down river with a message to the Pharaoh. On the inscribed tablet Commander Ayi praised the skill and bravery of the three young officers in capturing the treacherous Nomarch and his band of brigands.
