elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第23节

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　〃Thank　you；〃　Cyrus　muttered；　eyeing　his　sandwich　with　distaste。
　〃There　were　a　number　of　broken　bones；〃　Nefret　went　on。　〃I　looked　for　a　bullet　or　knife　wound；　but　it　wasn't　easy　to　。　。　。　Well；　I　won't　go　into　that　either。　The　head　injury　was　enough　to　have　killed　him。〃
　〃Fall　or　blunt　instrument？〃　I　inquired。
　Nefret　shrugged。　〃Impossible　to　determine。　I　did　the　best　I　could；　but　without　the　proper　instruments　…〃
　〃Yes；　quite；〃　said　Emerson。
　Selim　returned　to　announce　that　Hassan　had　gone　on　with　the　cart　and　its　burden；　and　we　continued　with　our　lunch。　Daoud　soon　joined　us。　He　had　e　round　the　long　way；　since　he　was　not　fond　of　climbing　ropes；　up　or　down。
　〃Are　there　more　tombs　in　these　cliffs？〃　Bertie　asked；　accepting　another　sandwich。
　〃Unquestionably；〃　Ramses　replied。　〃If　this　area　was　used　for　the　burials　of　royal　females　during　the　Eighteenth　Dynasty；　which　seems　likely；　there　are　a　number　of　known　queens　whose　mummies　have　never　been　found；　and　Heaven　knows　how　many　unknown　princesses　and　kings'　lesser　wives。〃
　〃Not　to　mention　princes；〃　Nefret　added；　her　eyes　shining　with　archaeological　fervor。　〃And　royal　mothers　and　sisters　and　…〃
　〃Cousins　and　aunts；〃　I　said；　with　a　chuckle；　reminded　of　one　of　my　favorite　Gilbert　and　Sullivan　arias。
　The　others　acknowledged　my　little　joke　with　smiles　and　nods；　except　for　Emerson；　who　sat　like　a　boulder；　staring　off　into　space；　and　Selim；　who　was　growing　restless。
　〃The　horses　will　not　run　away；〃　he　said。　〃Not　our　horses。　But　we　should　not　leave　them　there　too　long。〃
　Emerson　jumped　up。　〃Quite　right；　quite　right。　I　will　…　er　…　this　will　only　take　a　minute。〃
　I　had　expected　Emerson　would　want　to　get　into　the　cursed　tomb。　I　was　not　the　only　one　who　attempted　to　make　him　see　reason；　but　he　waved　all　objections　aside。　〃I　only　want　to　have　a　look。〃
　〃Put　on　your　pith　helmet；　Emerson；〃　I　called　after　him。
　〃Yes；　yes；〃　said　Emerson；　not　doing　so。
　He　started　to　climb　the　rope；　moving　with　an　agility　remarkable　in　so　heavy　a　man。　He　had　not　got　very　far　when　the　quiet　air　was　rent　by　a　prolonged；　high…pitched　scream。　It　was　not　an　animal。　No　creature　in　Egypt　made　a　sound　like　that。　Emerson　lost　his　grip　on　the　rope　and　dropped　down；　staggering　a　bit　before　he　got　his　balance。
　〃What　the　devil　…〃　he　began。
　〃He's　up　there。〃　Ramses　handed　his　father　the　binoculars　he　had　snatched　up。　I　saw　the　figure　now；　atop　the　cliff。　It　was　too　far　away　for　me　to　make　out　details；　but　it　was　capering　and　prancing；　waving　its　arms　and　kicking　up　its　heels；　as　if　in　a　grotesque　dance。　Small　bits　of　rock　rattled　down　the　sheer　face。
　I　took　the　binoculars　from　Emerson　and　when　I　raised　them　to　my　eyes　the　bizarre　figure　took　on　form　and　substance。　Its　only　garment　was　a　short　skirt　or　kilt。　The　body　was　human。　The　head　was　not。　Pricked　ears　and　protruding　muzzle　were　covered　with　coarse　brown　hair；　and　fanged　teeth　fringed　the　jaws。
　Ramses　ran　toward　the　cliff。　I　knew　what　he　intended；　and　I　felt　reasonably　certain　that　Emerson　would　follow　after　him。　Handing　Nefret　the　binoculars；　I　drew　my　little　pistol　from　its　holster；　aimed；　and　fired。
　I　did　not　expect　I　would　hit　the　creature。　Obviously　I　did　not；　for　a　long　mocking　laugh；　almost　as　unpleasant　as　the　animal　scream；　followed；　and　the　monstrous　figure　vanished　from　sight。
　〃e　back　here　this　instant；　Ramses；〃　I　shouted。　〃Emerson；　if　you　attempt　to　climb　that　rope　I　will　…　I　will　shoot　you　in　the　leg。〃
　〃Don't　fire　that　damned　pistol　again；〃　Emerson　exclaimed；　hurrying　toward　me。　〃Give　it　to　me。〃
　〃I　wouldn't　really　have　shot　you；〃　I　said；　as　he　carefully　removed　the　weapon　from　my　hand。　〃But　really；　Emerson；　haven't　you　better　sense　than　to　climb　a　cliff　when　there　is　someone　up　above　who　could　knock　you　off　the　rope　with　a　few　well…placed　rocks？〃
　〃That's　reasonable；〃　Emerson　conceded。
　〃Right；〃　said　Ramses；　who　had　obviously　had　second　thoughts。　〃We'll　go　up　and　around。　No；　not　you；　Bertie；　you've　done　your　bit　for　today。〃
　〃Nor　you；　Peabody；〃　my　husband　added。　〃Stay　here　and　…　and　head　him　off　if　he　es　down。〃
　〃Give　me　back　my　pistol；　then；〃　I　shouted；　as　he　and　Ramses　went　trotting　off；　acpanied　by　Selim。　Emerson　did　not　pause　but　his　reply　was　clearly　audible。　〃Hit　him　with　your　parasol。〃
　I　patted　Nefret　on　the　shoulder。　〃Don't　be　concerned；　my　dear。　He　will　have　taken　himself　off　by　the　time　they　get　to　the　top。〃
　〃Then　what　is　the　point　of　their　going？〃　Nefret　demanded。　〃Oh；　I　know；　it's　Father；　of　course。　He　is　determined　to　get　into　that　bloody　damned　tomb　one　way　or　another。〃
　〃Well　now；　you　can't　blame　him；〃　Cyrus　said。　〃There　must　be　something　in　there　the　fellow　doesn't　want　us　to　find　or　he　wouldn't　have　tried　to　scare　us　off。〃
　〃It　was　an　afrit；　a　demon；〃　Jumana　muttered；　twisting　her　slim　brown　hands　together。
　It　was　not　one　of　her　better　performances；　but　Daoud；　utterly　without　guile　himself；　patted　her　reassuringly。　〃Where　the　Father　of　Curses　walks；　no　afrit　dares　approach。〃
　〃That　was　no　afrit；　it　was　a　man；　wearing　some　sort　of　mask；〃　Bertie　said　coolly。　〃How　could　he　have　supposed　such　a　silly　stunt　would　frighten　us　away？〃
　I　had　wondered　myself。
　Knowing　it　would　be　some　time　before　Emerson　finished　rooting　around　in　the　disgusting　tomb；　I　found　a　（paratively）　fortable　seat　and　invited　the　others　to　do　the　same。　We　were　able　to　observe　some　of　their　activities；　rather　like　spectators　in　the　pit　of　a　theater　or　opera　house；　but　after　they　had　descended　into　the　cleft；　all　three　were　out　of　sight。　We　saw　no　one　else。　I　had　not　expected　we　would。
　When　they　finally　rejoined　us；　descending　by　means　of　the　rope；　they　were　all　three　in　an　appalling　state　of　filth。　Emerson；　naturally；　was　the　worst。　He　had　removed　his　coat　early　in　the　day；　he　was　now　without　his　shirt。　I　recognized　this　garment　in　the　bundle　he　carried　under　one　arm。　The　bronzed　skin　of　his　chest　and　back　was　smeared　with　a　disgusting　paste　pounded　of　dust；　perspiration；　bat　guano；　and　blood　from　a　network　of　scratches　and　scrapes；　and　his　hands　were　even　nastier。　He　did　not　smell　very　nice。
　〃Good　Gad；　Peabody；　you　won't　believe　what　a　mess　they　made　of　the　place；〃　he　exclaimed。　〃The　floor　of　the　burial　chamber　looks　like　a　rubbish　heap；　with　chunks　of　rotted　wood　and　soggy　bones　mixed　with　bits　of　stone。〃
　He　squatted　and　began　unwrapping　his　bundle。　Selim；　who　was　far　more　fastidious　in　his　habits　than　my　husband；　set　about　scrubbing　his　hands　and　arms　with　sand。
　〃If　there　was　nothing　left；　what　were　you　doing　all　that　time？〃　Nefret　asked；　handing　Ramses　a　dampened　handkerchief。
　〃Taking　measurements　and　notes。〃　He　wiped　his　mouth　before　he　went　on。　〃Father　managed　to　salvage　a　few　odds　and　ends。〃
　Still　squatting；　Emerson　studied　the　motley　objects　he　had　collected。　They　included　a　rim　fragment　from　a　stone　vessel；　scraps　of　gold　foil；　and　a　number　of　jewelry　elements；　beads　and　inlays　and　spacers。　Rapt　in　contemplation　of　these　uninspiring　artifacts；　he　did　not　so　much　as　twitch　when　I　uncorked　my　bottle　of　alcohol　and　trickled　the　liquid　down　his　scraped　back。　I　honestly　believe　I　could　amputate　one　of　Emerson's　limbs　without　his　taking　notice　if　he　had　found　something　of　archaeological　interest。
　〃We　had　some　trouble　getting　into　the　descending　passage；〃　Ramses　explained。　〃It　had　been　blocked　with　stones；　and　the　thieves　removed　only　enough　for　them　to　wriggle　through。　It　was　rather　a　tight　squeeze　for　Father。〃
　〃And　you；〃　said　Nefret。　〃At　least　you　had　sense　enough　to　wear　your　coat。〃
　〃I　had　writing　materials　and　a　torch　in　my　pockets；〃　Ramses　said。　He　fished　a　wad　of　crumpled　paper　from　inside　his　coat。
　〃You　can　work　up　your　notes　into　a　detailed　plan　tonight；〃　said　Emerson；　without　looking　up。　〃Curse　it；　Peabody；　what　are　you　doing？〃
　〃You　have　scratches　all　over　your　chest　too；〃　I　said。　〃Lean　back。〃
　〃Not　a　scrap　of　organic　material　survived；〃　Emerson　grumbled。　〃Wood；　mummy　wrappings；　bones　…　Ouch。〃
　〃I　doubt　that　even　we　could　have　preserved　the　coffins　or　the　mummies；〃　Ramses　said。
　〃We　could　have　tried；〃　Emerson　muttered。　〃Damn　the　bastards！　Who　knows　how　much　historical　data　was　lost　through　their　carelessness？〃
　〃The　damage　is　done；　and　regret　is　the　most　futile　of　all　emotions；〃　I　said。
　〃No；　it　damned　well　is　not；〃　Emerson　snarled。　〃Don't　quote　aphorisms　at　me。〃
　〃What；　in　your　opinion　…〃
　〃Mother；〃　said　Nefret；　gently　but　firmly；　〃you　and　Father　can　argue　about　aphorisms　all　the　way　home　if　you　like。　I　think　we　should　start　back。〃
　〃A　very　sensible　suggestion；　my　dear；〃　I　replied。　I　could　see　she　was　itching　to　get　Ramses　home　so　she　could　clean　him　up　and　disinfect　the　abrasions　that　marked　his　hands　and　face。　〃Emerson；　give　me　my　pistol　back。〃
　〃Not　on　your　life；　Peabody。　If　any　shooting　is　required；　I　will　do　it。〃
　None　was　required；　though　we　kept　a　sharp　lookout　along　the　way。　As　the　sun　sank　lower；　the　shadows　lengthened；　affording　some　relief　from　the　heat　but；　as　I　was　uneasily　aware；　offering　greater　possibilities　of　concealment　for　a　following　foe。　We　reached　the　place　where　the　horses　were　waiting　without　incident；　however；　and　started　on　the　homeward　path。　Daoud　walked　beside　Jumana；　talking　nonstop　in　an　effort　to　cheer　her　up。　Like