elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第40节

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a　word　that　could　…〃
　〃What　got　you　riled　up？〃　Albion　inquired　curiously。
　Emerson　drew　a　deep　breath。　Fearing　another　tirade；　Ramses　said　quickly；　〃For　one　thing；　sir；　this　area　is　out　of　bounds　to　tourists。　Didn't　you　see　the　signs？〃
　〃I　wanted　to　examine　the　reliefs；〃　said　Sebastian　Albion。　He　was　leaning　against　them；　another　archaeological　sin　in　Emerson's　book。
　〃Stand　up　straight；　Mr。　Sebastian；〃　I　ordered。　He　obeyed　instantly；　his　eyes　widening。　I　went　on；　〃Touching　or　leaning　against　the　walls　mars　the　paint。　Magnesium　flares　give　off　smoke　which　damages　the　reliefs。　You　risk　a　bad　fall　wandering　round　in　the　dark。　Cyrus；　I　thought　you　were　going　to　repair　the　floor。〃
　〃Hadn't　got　around　to　it；〃　Cyrus　admitted。　〃Thought　the　signs　would　keep　people　out。〃
　〃We　assumed　the　prohibition　did　not　apply　to　us；〃　said　Mrs。　Albion　coldly。
　〃You　were　mistaken；〃　said　Emerson。　〃Out；　everyone。〃
　〃The　Cook's　people　are　leaving；〃　I　added。　〃You　had　better　hurry　if　you　want　to　go　with　them。〃
　〃We　didn't　e　with　them。〃　Albion　hopped　nimbly　over　the　rope　while　Emerson；　endeavoring　to　make　up　for　his　rudeness　to　a　lady；　held　it　down　for　Mrs。　Albion。　He　got　not　so　much　as　a　murmur　of　thanks；　but　the　younger　Mr。　Albion　squared　his　shoulders　and　began　to　apologize。
　〃You　are　quite　right；　madam；　I　of　all　people　ought　to　have　known　better　than　to　risk　damage　to　the　reliefs。　We　were　also　wrong　to　ignore　the　barriers；　but；　you　see；　we　had　heard　you　were　working　at　Medinet　Habu；　but　when　we　arrived　no　one　was　here；　and　my　father　…〃
　〃Hmmm；　yes；〃　said　Emerson；　scowling　at　the　older　man。
　We　started　back　toward　the　gate；　with　Emerson　herding　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Albion　ahead　of　him；　and　Nefret　acpanying　them；　in　case　Emerson　started　to　be　rude。　I　followed　with　Jumana　and　Ramses　and　Mr。　Sebastian　Albion。
　〃I　would　appreciate　the　opportunity　to　examine　those　reliefs　and　perhaps　take　a　few　photographs；〃　the　latter　said。　〃If　you　could　spare　the　time　to　explain　them；　it　would　be　a　great　favor。　At　your　convenience；　of　course。〃
　〃We　will　be　working　elsewhere　for　a　time；〃　I　said。　He　had　addressed　Ramses；　not　me；　but　Ramses's　mouth　was　set　in　that　way　of　his　and　he　was　obviously　not　inclined　to　be　cooperative。　〃How　much　longer　are　you　planning　to　remain　in　Luxor？〃
　〃Indefinitely；　Mrs。　Emerson。　I　suppose　you　have　heard　about　the　resumption　of　submarine　warfare？　In　any　case；　we　had　planned　to　spend　the　entire　winter　in　Egypt。　I　am　thinking　of　doing　some　excavating。〃
　〃You　had　better　stop　thinking　of　it；〃　I　said。　〃Unless　you　can　obtain　permission　from　the　Service　des　Antiquités。〃
　〃Is　that　really　necessary？　There's　hardly　anyone　working　here　at　present。　The　Valley　of　the　Kings；　for　instance　…〃
　〃That　is　out　of　the　question；〃　I　said　sharply。　〃Few　expeditions　are　in　the　field　at　this　time；　but　most　of　the　sites　have　been　allocated。　Lord　Carnarvon　holds　the　firman　for　the　Valley　of　the　Kings；　and　I　assure　you　that　the　authorities　would　e　down　hard　on　anyone　who　began　digging　there。〃
　Instead　of　appearing　abashed；　the　young　man　gave　us　a　supercilious　smile。　〃Thank　you　for　the　advice。　We　will　have　to　see；　won't　we？〃
　〃I　trust　we　won't　see　you　digging　in　the　Valley；〃　Ramses　said。　〃The　Service　des　Antiquités　is　not　the　only　one　who　would　e　down　hard　on　you。〃
　The　only　response　was　a　shrug。
　〃Goodness；　Ramses；　but　you　were　brusque　with　young　Mr。　Albion；〃　I　remarked；　after　we　had　seen　the　party　on　its　way　back　to　their　hotel　and　had　mounted　our　noble　steeds。
　〃Was　he？　Good；〃　said　Emerson。　〃Don't　want　people　of　that　sort　bothering　us。〃
　Ramses　glanced　back　at　Jumana；　who　was　talking　to　Nefret。　〃I　haven't　told　you　what　he　said　about　Jumana　the　other　evening。〃
　He　repeated　the　offensive　remark。　Cyrus　turned　red　with　indignation　and　Emerson　growled；　〃Damn　the　young　swine！　Why　didn't　you　tell　me？　I　would　have　…〃
　〃So　would　I；　if　Nefret　hadn't　stopped　me；〃　Ramses　said。　〃I　took　pains　to　make　the　position　clear。　There's　been　no　harm　done。〃
　〃And　there　won't　be　any；〃　Cyrus　declared。
　〃Quite　right；〃　I　said。　〃What　did　you　think　of　his　absurd　proposal　of　excavating　in　the　Valley　of　the　Kings？〃
　〃I　was　surprised；〃　Ramses　admitted。　〃Visitors　sometime　fall　into　the　error　of　supposing　they　can　dig　wherever　they　like；　but　he　ought　to　have　known　better。　Was　he　trying　to　provoke　us？〃
　〃You're　almost　as　suspicious…minded　as　your　mother；〃　said　Cyrus。
　〃My　ma；〃　Ramses　corrected。　〃That's　how　Mr。　Albion　referred　to　her　the　other　evening。　Father；　how　would　you　like　being　addressed　as　Pa？〃
　〃Not　very　much；〃　Emerson　grunted。
　〃You　are　taking　them　too　seriously；〃　I　insisted。　〃They　are　rather　silly　and　somewhat　annoying；　and　we　will　have　as　little　to　do　with　them　as　possible。　Have　you　decided　what　needs　to　be　done　here；　Emerson？〃
　〃What　needs　to　be　done；〃　said　Emerson　grumpily；　〃is　lock　the　whole　place　up　and　shoot　any　damned　tourist　who　tries　to　get　in。　Yes；　yes；　Peabody；　I　know；　it　is　an　impractical　suggestion。　You　made　plans　of　the　brickwork　you　found　west　of　the　chapel；　Vandergelt？　The　men　had　better　cover　it　up　again；　otherwise　the　bloody　tourists　will　climb　all　over　it　and　destroy　what　little　is　left。〃
　〃What　about　repairing　the　floor？〃　Cyrus　asked。　He　was　not　anxious　to　waste　time　on　that　chore；　but　he　was　a　conscientious　individual。
　〃Leave　it；〃　Emerson　said。　〃One　of　the　damned　tourists　may　fall　in。〃
　We　started　back　toward　the　donkey　park；　where　we　had　left　the　horses。　Still　chuckling　over　Emerson's　humorous　remark　…　I　think　it　was　supposed　to　be　humorous　…　Cyrus　remarked；　〃Bertie　was　in　a　pretty　glum　state　of　mind　this　morning。　Hates　being　laid　up。　Is　there　any　reason　why　he　can't　e　out　with　us　tomorrow？〃
　〃Why　not？〃　Emerson　replied。　〃We　can　use　another　pair　of　hands；　if　only　for　keeping　field　notes。〃
　〃I　suppose　we　could　arrange　a　chair　and　footstool；〃　I　mused。　〃But　in　my　opinion；　Bertie　ought　to　stay　at　home　for　a　few　more　days。〃
　〃He　won't　stand　for　it；〃　Ramses　said。　〃I　know　Katherine；　she'll　drive　him　wild；　and　then　he'll　run　off　and　do　something　foolish。〃
　〃You　are　speaking　from　personal　experience；　are　you？〃　I　inquired；　smiling　to　indicate　that　it　was　just　one　of　my　little　jokes。
　I　got　an　answering　smile；　and　a　quick　kiss　on　the　cheek。　〃Not　at　all；　Mother。　Will　you　excuse　Nefret　and　me　if　we　go　on　ahead？〃
　Risha　was　aching　to　run；　and　so　was　Moonlight；　the　slow　pace　of　Cyrus's　amiable　mare　was　irksome　for　steeds　of　such　mettle。　So　I　nodded；　and　the　two　young　people　went　off　at　a　brisk　trot。
　〃They　sure　are　a　fine…looking　young　pair；〃　Cyrus　said　admiringly。　Nefret　had　taken　the　remaining　pins　from　her　hair；　it　streamed　out　like　a　bright　banner　as　Risha　broke　into　a　run　and　Moonlight；　not　to　be　outdone；　stretched　out　to　match　his　pace。　〃I'm　not　as　jealous　as　I　used　to　be；　though；〃　he　went　on。　〃Bertie　is　like　a　son　to　me。　I'm　gonna　make　him　my　heir；　Amelia。　After　Cat；　of　course。〃
　〃Excellent；　Cyrus；〃　I　said　approvingly。　〃He　has　earned　your　approbation。　I　wouldn't　mention　it　to　anyone　else；　though；　or　the　lad　will　be　courted　by　every　female　fortune…hunter　in　Egypt。　And　if　he　knows　of　it；　he　will　suspect　the　motives　of　every　young　lady　who　indicates　interest。〃
　〃That's　good　advice；　I　reckon；〃　Cyrus　agreed。
　Emerson's　glazed　stare　indicated　that　he　had　stopped　listening。　He　considers　me　far　too　prone　to　offer　advice；　and　talk　of　courting　bores　him。　〃A　stick；〃　he　said　suddenly。　〃Get　the　boy　a　good　stout　stick；　let　him　do　whatever　he　likes。〃
　〃Don't　be　ridiculous；　Emerson；〃　I　said。
　　
　At　Cyrus's　suggestion　we　dined　informally　at　the　Castle。　Bertie　was　pleased　to　see　us；　and　even　more　pleased　when　he　was　offered　the　chance　to　return　to　work。　I　examined　his　ankle；　it　was　better；　the　swelling　had　gone　down　and　there　was　only　a　little　bruising。　Everyone　attributed　this　to　Kadija's　miraculous　ointment；　and　such　may　well　have　been　the　case；　though　I　had　begun　to　wonder　whether　its　greatest　effectiveness　came　from　the　mind　of　the　patient。
　After　dinner　the　young　man　hobbled　off　to　the　library　with　the　others。　I　remained　with　Katherine　to　offer　additional　reassurances。
　〃I　have　set　up　a　nice　little　shelter　where　Bertie　will　be　perfectly　fortable；　and　if　it　proves　necessary　for　him　to　work　elsewhere　on　the　site；　we　will　make　certain　he　does　not　exert　himself。　Jumana　has　taken　it　upon　herself　to　look　after　him。〃
　This　last　was　not；　perhaps；　what　Katherine　wanted　to　hear。　In　my　opinion　her　worries　about　a　serious　attachment　were　groundless　as　well　as　prejudiced。　Bertie　had　not　got　over　his　interest　in　the　girl；　but　she　had　given　no　evidence　of　reciprocating；　she　treated　him　rather　like　a　slow…witted　child。　I　gave　Katherine　a　little　lecture　on　the　subject；　adding；　〃After　all；　Katherine；　there　is　nothing　so　destructive　of　romance　than　continued　proximity。〃
　Katherine　pursed　up　her　mouth。　〃It　didn't　work　that　way　for　Ramses　and　Nefret。〃
　〃That　is　a　special　case。　Mark　my　words；　working　together　will　soon　make　Bertie　and　Jumana　detest　one　another。〃
　I　had　exaggerated　a　trifle；　but　over　the　next　few　days　Bertie　showed　increasing　evidence　of　impatience　with　Jumana。　Being　a　man；　he　wanted　to　impress　her　with　his　strength　and　professional　skill；　being　Jumana；　she　took　advantage　of　his　enforced　helplessness　to　fuss　ov