elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第3节
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ian； had given up a professional career for domesticity。 Perhaps she felt she could now trust Nefret to look after him。
Basima brightened as soon as she set foot on dry land； and Gargery； though still unsteady； went off with Daoud to see about the luggage。 We had a great deal more than usual this time； for we had reached a momentous decision。 Ordinarily we left for Egypt in the autumn and ended our excavation season before the summer heat set in； but this time we had e for an indefinite stay。 Emerson； who does not fear man nor beast nor demon of the night on his own account； had declared his nerves were unequal to having the rest of us travel back and forth as long as the submarine menace remained。
〃It will get worse before it gets better； mark my words；〃 he had declared。 〃I don't mind people shooting at us or shutting us up in pyramids or trying to brain us with heavy objects … that is to say； I don't much like it； but I have bee accustomed to it。 Having a bloody ship sunk under us by a bloody U…boat is something else again。 Call me a coward if you will 。 。 。〃
None of us did； as Ramses remarked； there was not a man alive who would have dared。 I knew how Emerson felt； for I have the same fear of air raids。 We had； all of us； been in deadly peril on more than one occasion； and felt quite fortable about our ability to deal with ordinary human adversaries。 To be sure； there were human beings at the control of aeroplanes and submarines； but since one never saw them； one was inclined to think of the machine itself as the enemy … a remote mechanical menace。
Nor for worlds would I have questioned Emerson's motives in proposing the scheme； but he had always yearned to work year…round in Egypt instead of having to close down the dig in March or April； sometimes when the excavation was at its most interesting。 For the past several seasons our archaeological activities had been even more constrained by family matters and by Ramses's undercover work for the War Office。 This season Emerson had been awarded the firman for a site in Luxor。 It was of all places in Egypt the one we loved best … the scene of several of our greatest discoveries； our home for many happy years； and the home as well of our dear friends the Vandergelts； who were even then settling in for a long season of excavation。
There was only one objection I could think of to such a splendid prospect。 I do not refer to the blistering heat of Luxor in summer … an objection that would never have occurred to Emerson； who has the constitution of a camel … but to the fact that we would leave behind for Heaven knew how long our beloved family。 The Reader will be cognizant； after my earlier remarks on the subject； that I was not thinking of the members of my side of the family。
〃Nonsense；〃 said Emerson； when I mentioned this。 〃You are hopelessly given to melodrama； Peabody。 We are not bidding anyone a final farewell； only prolonging the separation a trifle。 Circumstances may change； we will not be pletely cut off。〃
He had readily agreed that we must spend Christmas with our loved ones and we did our best to make a merry time of it； for the sake of the children … Sennia； and Lia and David's little Dolly； who was just old enough to toddle about。 All our surviving nieces and nephews were there： Raddie and his new wife； the widow of a friend who had died in France； Margaret； newly engaged to a young officer； even Willie； on leave from France； who tried； dear lad； to make twice as many jokes to pensate for the absence of his twin brother； Johnny； who had been killed in action the year before。 There were tears as well as laughter； the war was too much with us； but we carried it off； I think； and there was one moment of genuine hilarity when Emerson asked David if he had considered ing out later in the season。
〃Up to you； of course；〃 he added hastily。 〃But little Dolly is fit and healthy； and Lia …〃
〃She is doing very well；〃 said Nefret。 〃All things considered。〃
She smiled at David； whose candid countenance betrayed his relief at her intervention。 He had difficulty in refusing Emerson anything； and he had not known how to break the news。
I； of course； had known the moment I set eyes on Lia。
Emerson's jaw dropped。 〃Oh； good Gad！〃 he shouted。 〃Not again！ Just like her mother！ It must be a hereditary …〃
〃Emerson！〃 I exclaimed。
The reminder was sufficient； for Emerson is really the kindest of men。 He managed to choke out a few words of congratulatory import； but everyone had heard his bellow and most of them knew what had occasioned it。 Even Evelyn； who had not laughed a great deal since Johnny's death； had to retreat behind the Christmas tree to conceal her mirth。 She was well aware that Emerson had never entirely forgiven her for abandoning a promising career as a copier of Egyptian scenes in favor of motherhood。
We would miss David and Lia； and not only for their affectionate panionship； David was one of the best artists and epigraphers in the field and Lia had learned enough about Egyptology to have bee a valued assistant。 Their absence would leave us somewhat shorthanded that season。 I did not allow that to worry me。 We would manage somehow。 As I stood on the dock at Alexandria； the old joy of being back in Egypt pervaded every atom of my being。 We got ourselves and our baggage onto the train for Cairo with only the usual confusion； which was pounded by the presence of the cat。 Horus had to sit between Sennia and Nefret； since he refused to tolerate anyone else。
Other members of our Egyptian family awaited us at the station in Cairo。 We were soon the center of a shouting； cheering mob； which included not only our friends but practically every Egyptian who happened to be there； all greeting us by our Egyptian names。 Emerson disliked formal titles and would not allow our workers to address him as Effendi； but he rather reveled in his well…deserved sobriquet of the Father of Curses。 Many Egyptians still called me Sitt Hakim； though a lady doctor I was not； however； in my early days in Egypt； when medical services for the fellahin were practically nonexistent； even my limited medical skills were appreciated。 The title should have been Nefret's； but she had long been known as Nur Misur； 〃Light of Egypt〃； and Ramses was Brother of Demons … a tribute to his supposedly supernatural powers。
Emerson was soon so enveloped by well…wishers that only his head （hatless； as usual） showed above the crowd； some of whom attempted to embrace him while others knelt for his blessing （and baksheesh）。
All at once Emerson's voice rose in a vehement swearword。 〃Stop him！〃 he shouted； spinning round in a circle and swatting his admirers away with wide sweeps of his arms。 〃Where did he go？〃
〃Why； Emerson； what is the matter？〃 I demanded； hastening to his side。
Red…faced and shaking with rage； Emerson invoked the Creator in a manner of which I thoroughly disapprove。 〃He was here a second ago。 Dressed in rags； smelling like a camel； squatting at my feet 。 。 。 Where is he？〃
〃Vanished；〃 I said； as the crowd again closed in。 〃Did he speak to you？〃
〃Oh； yes； he spoke。 'Wele back； brother！ And thank you。' 〃 Said Emerson； between clenched teeth； 〃I had just given him fifty piastres。〃
Emerson's other brother。 Strictly speaking； he was a half brother； the son of Emerson's father and a lady who had had the misfortune not to be married to that gentleman。 Only recently had we discovered the true identity of the man who had been for many years our most formidable opponent； a master of disguise and the head of a ring of criminals that specialized in tomb robbing and antiquities fraud； and the additional； equally astonishing fact that Sethos； as he chose to be called； was one of Britain's most valued secret agents。 These revelations had forced us to reevaluate a relationship that had been marked by considerable acrimony。 As I pointed out to Emerson； one cannot wholly despise a man who has risked his life for us and for his country。
I made the point again as my seething spouse spun round and round in a vain attempt to locate the insolent beggar。 Ramses and Nefret hastened to us； demanding to know what had happened。 A few brief sentences of explanation sufficed； they were only too well acquainted with Sethos's skill at disguise and bizarre sense of humor。 Ramses's enigmatic countenance remained unmoved except for a faint line between his brows； but Nefret's dimples were very much in evidence。 She had a certain weakness for the man。 Most women did； and Sethos was not above exploiting it for his own advantage。
There was nothing to be done about locating him in that mob； so； with the assistance of the children； I forced Emerson into a carriage and persuaded him to delay discussion of the matter until we had got ourselves settled into the hotel。
Although he was anxious to get on to Luxor； Emerson had agreed to spend a few days in Cairo catching up on the news。 Press censorship was so strict； we had only the faintest idea of what had been going on in our part of the world。 We were staying at Shepheard's； and it was with a sense of agreeable nostalgia that I found myself once again in the ambience that had provided the prelude to so many remarkable experiences。 The villai
