elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第12节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　He　wasn't　worried　…　not　really　…　but　she　knew　they　were　due　to　leave　that　evening；　and　she　had　said　she'd　be　back　before　luncheon。
　He　took　the　most　direct　way　to　the　hospital；　the　one　they　always　followed；　expecting　at　every　turn　of　the　street　to　see　her　hurrying　toward　him。　The　foul　alleys　were　deserted；　the　denizens　were　indoors；　resting　during　the　heat　of　the　day。　Anger；　born　of　concern；　quickened　his　steps。　She　had　no　business　worrying　him　like　this；　after　he　had　done　her　the　courtesy　of　leaving　her　free　of　his　escort。
　He　had　almost　reached　the　hospital　when　a　man　stepped　out　into　his　path。　〃You　must　e　with　me；　Brother　of　Demons。〃
　〃Get　out　of　my　way；　Musa。　I　haven't　time　to　listen　to　el…Gharbi's　pliments。〃
　〃You　must！〃　the　other　man　repeated。　He　held　out　his　hands。　Stretched　between　his　palms　was　the　filmy　scarf　Nefret　had　worn　round　her　neck　that　morning。
　Seeing　Ramses's　expression；　Musa　jumped　back　a　few　feet　and　began　to　babble。　〃Do　not　strike　me；　Brother　of　Demons；　she　is　not　hurt；　she　is　safe；　I　will　take　you　to　her。〃
　〃Damned　right　you　will。〃　Ramses's　hand　shot　out；　catching　Musa's　stringy　arm　in　a　bruising　grip。　〃Where　is　she？〃
　〃e。　e　with　me；　it　is　not　far。　She　is　unharmed；　I　tell　you。　Would　any　of　us　dare　injure　…〃
　〃Shut　up。　Which　way？〃
　Knowing　he　was　no　longer　in　imminent　danger　of　violence；　Musa　said　plaintively；　〃You　are　hurting　my　arm；　Brother　of　Demons。　I　can　walk　faster　if　you　do　not　hold　on　to　me。　I　will　not　run　away。　I　was　ordered　to　bring　you　to　her。〃
　Ramses　didn't　bother　to　ask　who　had　given　the　order。　He　released　his　grip　and　brushed　at　the　enterprising　fleas　that　had　already　found　his　hand。　〃Where？〃
　〃This　way；　this　way。〃　Musa　trotted　ahead；　around　a　corner　and　through　a　pile　of　discarded　fruit　rinds　and　peelings　that　squelched　under　his　bare　feet。　〃This　way；〃　he　said　again；　and　turned　his　head　to　nod　reassuringly　at　Ramses。　〃Do　you　have　a　cigarette？〃
　〃Don't　push　me　too　far；　Musa。〃
　He　was　no　longer　worried　about　Nefret；　though。　The　man　who　must　be　responsible　for　this　would　not　harm　her。　They　ended　up　where　Ramses　had　expected：　in　an　outstandingly　filthy　alley　behind　the　house　el…Gharbi　had　once　occupied。　Musa　went　to　the　small　inconspicuous　door　Ramses　remembered　from　earlier　visits。　The　police　had　barricaded　it　with　heavy　boards；　but　someone　had　removed　most　of　the　nails；　Musa　pulled　the　planks　aside　and　climbed　through　the　opening。
　The　house　that　had　once　been　alive　with　music　and　the　other　colorful　acpaniments　of　a　contemptible　trade　was　dark；　deserted；　and　dusty。　The　windows　had　been　boarded　up；　the　rich　furnishings　removed　or　left　to　molder。　There　was　a　little　light；　streaking　through　cracks　in　the　boards。　When　they　reached　the　room　in　which　el…Gharbi　had　held　court；　Ramses　made　out　a　massive　shape　squatting　on　the　ruined　cushions。　Nefret　sat　next　to　him。　A　ray　of　sunlight　sparked　in　her　hair。
　〃Sorry；〃　she　said　cheerfully。　〃I　did　it　again。〃
　Ramses　got　the　words　out　through　lips　unsteady　with　relief。　〃Not　your　fault　this　time。　Another　black　mark　against　you；　el…Gharbi。　What　do　you　mean　by　this？〃
　〃But；　my　dear　young　friend；　what　choice　had　I？〃　The　voice　was　the　well…remembered　high…pitched　whine；　but　as　his　eyes　adjusted　to　the　gloom；　Ramses　saw　that　the　procurer　was　dressed　in　a　ragged　galabeeyah　instead　of　his　elegant　white　robes。　He　didn't　appear　to　have　lost　any　weight；　though。　Shifting　unfortably；　he　went　on；　〃You　would　not　e　to　the　camp。　You　would　not　have　e　to　me　here　…　so　I　invited　your　lovely　wife。　We　have　been　having　a　most　enjoyable　conversation。　Sit　down；　won't　you？　I　regret　I　cannot　offer　you　tea　…〃
　〃What　do　you　want？〃　Ramses　interrupted。
　〃Why；　the　pleasure　of　seeing　you　and　your　lovely　…〃
　〃I　don't　have　time　for　this；〃　Ramses　said　rather　loudly。　〃You　cannot　keep　us　here　against　our　will；　you　know。〃
　〃Alas；　it　is　true。〃　The　procurer　sighed。　〃I　do　not　have　the　manpower　I　once　had。〃
　〃What　is　your　point；　then？〃
　〃You　won't　sit　down？　Oh；　very　well。　It　is　the　camp；　you　see。　It　is　no　place　for　a　person　of　refinement　like　myself。〃　A　shudder　of　distaste　ran　through　the　huge　body。　〃I　want　out。〃
　〃You　are　out；〃　Ramses　said；　unwilling　amusement　replacing　his　annoyance。　El…Gharbi　was　unconquerable。
　〃Only　for　a　few　hours。　If　I　am　not　there　tonight　when　they　make　the　rounds；　that　rude　person　Harvey　will　turn　out　every　police　officer　in　Cairo　to　look　for　me。　I　do　not　intend　to　spend　the　rest　of　my　life　running　away　from　the　police；　it　is　too　unfortable。〃
　〃Yes；　I　suppose　it　would　be。　Can　you　give　me　one　good　reason　why　I　should　intercede　on　your　behalf；　even　if　I　were　able？〃
　〃But　my　dear　young　friend；　surely　the　many　favors　I　have　done　for　you　…〃
　〃And　I　have　done　several　for　you。　If　the　score　is　not　even；　the　debt　is　on　your　side。〃
　〃I　was　afraid　you　would　see　it　that　way。　What　of　future　favors；　then？　I　am　at　your　mand。〃
　〃There　is　nothing　I　want　from　you。　Nefret；　let's　go。　The　parents　will　be　getting　anxious。〃
　〃Yes；　of　course。〃　She　rose。　〃Good…bye；　Mr。　el…Gharbi。〃
　She　used　the　English　words；　possibly　because　the　Arabic　terms　of　farewell　invoked　a　blessing　or　an　expression　of　goodwill。　El…Gharbi　didn't　miss　the　implications。　He　chuckled　richly。
　〃Maassalameh；　honored　lady。　And　to　you；　my　beautiful　young　friend。　Remember　what　I　have　said。　The　time　may　e　。　。　。〃
　〃I　hope　to　God　it　won't　e；〃　Ramses　muttered；　as　they　left　the　room。　〃Nefret；　are　you　all　right？〃
　〃Musa　was　very　polite。　No　damage；　darling；　except　。　。　。〃　She　scratched　her　arm。　〃Let's　hurry。　I　expect　Father　is　frantic　by　this　time；　and　I'm　being　devoured　by　fleas。〃
　〃That　makes　two　of　us。〃
　〃My　poor　darling。　What　you　suffer　for　me！〃
　The　narrow　back　door　was　still　unbarred。　Ramses　did　not　bother　replacing　the　boards。
　Taking　the　coward's　way　out；　he　sent　a　servant　to　the　dining　saloon　to　announce　their　return；　and　they　went　straight　to　their　room　and　the　adjoining　bath　chamber。　When　he　emerged；　wearing　only　a　towel；　his　father　was　sitting　in　an　armchair；　pipe　in　hand。
　〃Where　is　she？〃　he　demanded。
　〃Still　bathing。　I'll　tell　her　you're　here。〃
　〃Oh；〃　said　Emerson；　belatedly　aware　of　his　intrusion　on　their　privacy。　〃Oh。　Er　…〃
　Ramses　opened　the　door　to　the　bath　chamber　and　announced　his　father's　presence。　Water　splashed　and　Nefret　called　out；　〃I'll　be　with　you　in　a　few　minutes；　Father。〃
　It　wasn't　often　that　Ramses　could　embarrass　his　father　and　he　was　rather　inclined　to　enjoy　those　moments。　Emerson　was　blushing。　〃You've　been　the　devil　of　a　long　time；〃　he　plained。　〃We　are　due　to　leave　in　a　few　hours；　you　know。〃
　〃It　couldn't　be　helped。〃　Ramses　dressed　as　he　told　Emerson　what　had　happened。　He　expected　an　outburst；　Emerson　had　nothing　but　contempt　for　procurers　in　general　and　el…Gharbi　in　particular。　Instead　of　shouting；　Emerson　looked　thoughtful。
　〃I　wonder　if　he　knows　anything　about　…　um　…　Sethos。〃
　〃I　didn't　ask。　I　don't　want　to　be　in　his　debt；　and　I　was　in　a　hurry　to　get　away。　It's　highly　unlikely；　Father。　The　illegal　antiquities　trade　was　only　a　sideline；　and　he's　been　shut　up　in　Hilmiya　for　weeks。〃
　〃Hmm；　yes。〃　Emerson　brooded。
　The　door　of　the　bath　chamber　opened　and　Nefret　appeared；　wreathed　in　steam。　She　was　wrapped　in　a　long　robe　that　covered　her　from　chin　to　bare　feet；　but　Emerson　fled；　mumbling　apologies。
　Getting　my　family　onto　the　train　…　any　train　…　is　a　task　that　tries　even　my　well…known　patience。　Emerson　had　sent　Selim　and　Daoud　on　to　Luxor　a　few　days　earlier；　to　survey　the　site　and　determine　what　needed　to　be　done。　That　left　seven　of　us；　not　counting　the　cat；　who　was　more　trouble　than　anyone。　The　railroad　station　is　always　a　scene　of　pure　pandemonium；　people　and　luggage　and　parcels　and　an　occasional　goat　mill　about；　voices　are　raised；　and　arms　wave　wildly。　What　with　Horus　shrieking　and　thrashing　around　in　his　basket；　and　Sennia　trying　to　get　away　from　Gargery　and　Basima　so　she　could　dash　up　and　down　the　platform　looking　for　acquaintances；　and　Emerson　darting　suspicious　glances　at　every　man；　woman；　and　child　who　came　anywhere　near　him；　my　attention　was　fully　engaged。
　The　train　was　late；　of　course。　After　I　had　got　everyone　on　board　and　in　the　proper　partment；　I　was　more　than　ready　for　a　refreshing　sip　of　whiskey　and　soda。　Removing　the　bottle；　the　gasogene；　and　the　glasses　from　the　hamper；　I　invited　Emerson　to　join　me。
　As　I　could　have　told　him　…　and　indeed；　did　tell　him　…　it　had　been　a　waste　of　time　to　look　for　Sethos。　He　never　did　the　same　thing　twice；　and　he　had　had　ample　time　to　municate　with　us　had　he　chosen　to　do　so。
　Emerson　said；　〃Bah；〃　and　poured　more　whiskey。
　I　had　dispatched　telegrams　to　the　Vandergelts　and　to　Fatima；　our　housekeeper；　informing　them　of　the　change　in　schedule；　but　being　only　too　familiar　with　the　leisurely　habits　of　the　telegraph　office　in　Luxor；　I　was　not　surprised　to　find　that　no　one　was　waiting　to　meet　us　at　the　station。　No　doubt　the　telegrams　would　be　delivered　later　that　day；　after　the　unofficial　telegraph；　gossip；　had　already　announced　our　arrival。　It　did　not　go　unremarked。　There　were　always　people　hanging　about　the　station；　meeting　arrivals　and　bidding　farewell　to　departing　travelers；　or　simply　wasting　time。　A　great　shout　went　up　when　the　loungers　recognized　the　unmistakable　form　o