elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第28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！
you …〃
〃Stop carrying on and sit down；〃 I said impatiently。 〃Something to do with Jamil； I suppose。 No； Jumana； I do not want any more theatrics。 Emerson； be quiet。 Ramses？〃
He gave us a bare outline of what had transpired； and the sympathy for Jumana that had softened Emerson's keen blue eyes turned to wrath。
〃Good God；〃 he shouted。 〃He might have killed you！ Nefret … Ramses … why didn't you wake me？〃
〃There wasn't time； Father；〃 Ramses said。 He was certainly correct about that； it takes Emerson at least ten minutes to get his wits together when he has been suddenly aroused。 Ramses went on in the same quiet voice； 〃I miscalculated。 I ought to have sent Nefret round to flush him out instead of leaving her there alone。〃
〃Let us not have any further beating of breasts；〃 I said； for I knew his tendency to blame himself for anything that went wrong； whether it was his fault or not。 To be sure； it often was his fault； but in this case anyone might have done the same。
Emerson had gone to stand by Nefret。 He put out his hand； and then drew it back。 〃The stone struck your shoulder？〃
〃Yes。〃 She turned her head to look up at him and winced even as she smiled。 〃I have a few bruises； but that's all the damage。〃
I cleared my throat。 〃Your medical expertise is far beyond mine； of course； but if you would like me …〃
〃Thank you； Mother； but there is no need。 It's all right。 Everything is all right；〃 she added softly。
〃Ah；〃 I said。 〃Good。 Well。 What are we going to do about Jamil？〃
That produced another outburst from Jumana； in the course of which she swore she would never trust Jamil again； and proposed that we beat her and lock her up on bread and water； or marry her off to disgusting old Nuri Said； who had often asked her father for her。 She deserved nothing better。 She deserved any fate we might decree； and would accept it。
I was tempted to shake her； but forbore； deciding I might as well allow her the privilege of self…expression。 When she finally broke off for want of breath； her eyes were swimming with tears。 I did not doubt she was utterly sincere； nor did I doubt that at the same time she was enjoying herself immensely。
〃Now； now；〃 said Emerson feebly； 〃it's all right。 Curse it； don't cry。〃
〃How can you forgive me？〃 she demanded in tragic accents。
〃We offered Jamil a second chance。 Can we do less for you； who are guilty of nothing except misplaced love and loyalty？〃
〃Quite right；〃 I said； before the melodrama could continue。 〃What is wanted now； Jumana； is for you to behave like … well； like Nefret and me。 Tears and self…reproach are tricks some females employ in order to evade responsibility。 I do not permit them here。 You are … potentially … the equal of any man； and you must …〃
〃Peabody；〃 Emerson said。 His accents were severe； but there was a twinkle in his handsome blue eyes。
〃Yes； quite。 I believe I have made my point； Jumana。 You did a foolish thing； and I trust you have learned a valuable lesson。 The question I asked has not been answered。 Have you another appointment with Jamil？〃
Ramses answered for her。 〃I doubt he will keep it now。 It was for tonight。 The same place； Jumana？〃
〃Yes。 We played in the ruins there； when we were children。 But Ramses is right； he will not e now； he will believe I betrayed him。 He has found another tomb。 It is in the Cemetery of the Monkeys。 But …〃 She was watching Nefret。 〃But you know。 You were listening！〃
Her voice held a note of accusation。 Ramses； who in my opinion suffers from an overly sensitive conscience； was not moved on this occasion to apologize。
〃You should be glad we did；〃 he said。 〃You have nothing to be ashamed of； Jumana。 You told him you would not steal for him； and you tried to persuade him to give himself up； and now you have confessed； of your own accord。〃
〃So long as you have confessed all；〃 I added； for Jumana had responded to his praise with a placent smile。 The young are resilient； and a good thing； too； for brooding over past mistakes is a waste of time； but it wouldn't do to let the girl off too lightly。 〃We are willing to give you a second chance； Jumana； but if I learn that you have held something back …〃
〃No。 No； I swear！〃
〃So he's found another tomb； has he？〃 Emerson mused。 〃Talented young rascal。〃
I frowned at Emerson； who is too easily distracted by archaeological speculation； and continued my questioning of the girl。
〃How did he municate with you before？〃
〃I was given a message … just a scrap of paper； with a few words scribbled on it … yesterday； when we were at Gurneh。 By Mohammed Hammad。〃
Swearing inventively； Emerson agreed we must stop at Gurneh on our way to the site and question Mohammed Hammad。 The village was up and about its daily business and we were greeted politely。 However； when we called on Mohammed Hammad； we discovered that the bird had flown。 His wife … his elderly wife … said he had business in Coptos。 His son said he had gone to Cairo。 One of his acquaintances was more forthing。 〃He ran away； Father of Curses； when he found out about the death of Abdul Hassan。 I would have done the same。〃 He added with a certain air of regret； 〃I was not one of those who robbed the tomb。〃
〃You should thank Allah for that；〃 Emerson said。 〃And pay more heed to his laws。 You see how he punishes evildoers。〃
〃There is nothing in the Koran about robbing tombs； Father of Curses。〃
Emerson's forbidding frown was replaced by a look of interest。 He does so enjoy arguing theology。 Before he could get off onto this sidetrack； I intervened。 〃Did Mohammed say who it was he feared？〃 I inquired。
The fellow hesitated； his eyes on Emerson's hand； which had gone into his pocket。 He knew he would get more baksheesh if he came up with a name； he also knew that if he was caught in a lie； he would arouse the wrath of the Father of Curses。
〃He did not have to say。 One death may be an accident； but two is a warning。 Jamil had threatened them。 They laughed。〃 He shrugged； spreading his hands wide。 〃They are not laughing now。〃
〃Ah；〃 said Emerson。 〃There would be a reward for the man who told us where the boy is hiding。〃
〃A large reward？〃 The fellow thought it over and shrugged again。 〃Money is of no use to a dead man； Father of Curses。〃
〃Quite a philosopher； isn't he？〃 Emerson remarked in English。 He dropped a few more coins into the leathery brown palm and turned away。
The interview had taken place on the street； if it could be called that； in contrast to the ancient workmen's village； with its gridlike plan； the houses of Sheikh el Gurneh had been fitted into whatever space was available … along the slopes of the hill； around the tombs of the nobles of the Empire。 Some of the less important； uninscribed tombs were occupied； the forecourt； where offerings had been made to the honored dead； now served the ignominious role of stables for the beasts of the tomb dwellers。 In front of many of these tomb…caves stood cylindrical mud…brick structures like giant mushrooms with their edges turned up。 They served the double purpose of granaries and sleeping quarters。 The hollow on top is safe from scorpions； and there are even egg…cup…shaped projections along the rim to hold water jars … an interesting and unusual adaptation to local conditions； which I mention for the edification of the Reader。
After he had gone a few feet； Emerson stopped。 〃Mohammed can't have got the note directly from Jamil。〃
I might have accused him； as he often accuses me； of jumping to conclusions； but in this case I had to agree。 〃I hadn't thought of that；〃 I admitted handsomely。 〃It does seem unlikely that Jamil would show his face openly in the village or risk betrayal by a man he had threatened。〃
〃But he might have e secretly； by night； to a house where at least one person was likely to wele him；〃 Emerson said。
A brief； rather awkward silence followed。 Jumana had stuck close by me； she was obviously unfortable in the village of her birth。 How could she be otherwise； dressed as she was； the object of curious and hostile glances； especially from the older women？
〃Is it my father you mean？〃 she asked。
〃Yes；〃 Emerson admitted。 〃How does he feel about Jamil？〃
〃I have not spoken to my father since he told me to leave his house and never e back。〃
There was not much anyone could say to that。 Her hard； cold voice told me that even an expression of regret would be unwele。
〃I meant to call on Yusuf before this；〃 I said。 〃Shall we go round to see him now？〃
Emerson took out his watch； looked at it； groaned； and said； 〃We are already late。〃
〃Supposing you go on； then；〃 I said。 〃You and Jumana。 Nefret and I will inquire after his health and offer our medical skills。 Ramses will go with us。 No； Emerson； I really believe that is the best course。 You would go thundering into the house and bully the old man until he confessed to anything and everything。 My methods of interrogation …〃
〃I know what they are like；〃 said Emerson； eyeing my parasol； which I had been using as a walking stick。 〃Oh； very well。〃
He stalked off。 Jumana shot me a grateful look and trotted after Emerson。 The rest of us went on up the hillside toward Yusuf's house； which was one of the finest in the village； and as we wended a
