elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第45节

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e　accusers；　to　trouble　a　sick　old　man？〃
　Daoud　turned；　in　his　ponderous　fashion；　and　Jumana　let　out　a　little　squeak。　Her　father's　eyes　rested　briefly　on　her　and　shifted　away。
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　Ramses　said。　〃We　are　looking　for　my　father　and　mother；　who　may　be　in　trouble。　It　is　true　that　Yusuf　sent　no　message　…　that　they　did　not　e　here？〃
　〃It　is　true；〃　the　old　woman　snapped。　〃Ask　anyone。〃
　〃Shall　we　go　now？〃　Daoud　asked　nervously。　According　to　Selim；　his　giant　uncle　feared　only　two　things：　the　displeasure　of　the　Father　of　Curses；　and　an　angry　old　woman。
　〃We　may　as　well；〃　Ramses　said。
　Daoud　was　the　first　to　go。　Jumana　followed；　so　closely　she　was　treading　on　his　heels。　Ramses　hesitated。　He　had　meant　to　ask　Yusuf　about　Jamil；　but　this　disclosure　had　altered　everything。　His　parents　must　have　been　intercepted　or　distracted　before　they　reached　Yusuf；　lured　away　by　a　false　message。　There　was　no　time　to　waste；　the　afternoon　was　passing。
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　said　again。
　〃I'll　e　back；〃　Nefret　promised　the　old　man。　〃As　soon　as　I　can。〃
　Yusuf　did　not　reply。　His　eyes　were　closed。
　The　usual　crowd　had　gathered　outside。　Selim；　who　had　been　talking　with　several　of　the　men；　turned　to　Ramses。　〃It　is　true；　they　did　not　e　to　this　house。　But　Ahmed　says　Mahmud　says　his　cousin　Mohammed　saw　them　this　morning。　They　left　their　horses　with　him　and　gave　him　money。〃
　〃Which　Mohammed？〃　Ramses　demanded。
　〃His　house　is　at　the　bottom　of　the　hill；　near　the　tomb　of　Ramose。〃
　〃Oh；　that　Mohammed。　All　right；　let's　find　him。〃
　They　led　the　horses；　the　slope　on　this　side　was　steep。　Mohammed；　who　was　stretched　out　in　the　shade　peacefully　sleeping；　did　not　wake　until　Ramses　shook　him。　〃Ah；〃　he　said；　rubbing　his　eyes；　〃you　have　e　for　the　horses。　I　took　good　care　of　them；　you　see。〃
　They　were　in　the　courtyard　of　an　ancient　tomb；　shaded　and　well　supplied　with　water。　Ramses　handed　over　baksheesh。　〃Yes；　you　did。　When　did　the　Father　of　Curses　and　the　Sitt　Hakim　leave　the　horses？〃
　〃Many　hours　ago。〃　Mohammed　yawned。
　〃They'd　have　e　straight　here；〃　Nefret　interposed；　knowing；　as　did　Ramses；　that　Mohammed's　notions　of　time　were　vague。
　〃Probably。　It's　been　at　least　six　hours；　then。　Where　did　they　go；　Mohammed？〃
　〃That　way。〃　A　gesture　indicated　the　direction　…　not　up　the　hill；　toward　Yusuf's　house；　but　northward。
　〃On　foot？〃
　〃How　could　they　ride　when　they　left　the　horses　with　me？〃
　Selim　lost　patience。　〃Don't　try　to　be　clever；　Mohammed；　because　you　are　not。　Why　did　they　leave　the　horses　and　go　on　foot？　What　did　they　say　to　each　other？〃
　〃How　should　I　know？　They　spoke　in　English；　very　fast。〃　Another　gigantic　yawn　concluded　the　speech。
　A　younger　man；　his　beard　just　beginning　to　show；　plucked　at　Selim's　sleeve。　〃My　father　only　thinks　of　baksheesh　and　sleep；　Selim；　but　I　can　tell　you　what　happened。　The　Father　of　Curses　took　his　galabeeyah；　and　the　Sitt　took　mine。　It　was　because　they　saw　someone。　She　said　'Look　there；'　and　he　looked　and　swore　and　then　they　took　our　clothes　and　went　hurrying　away；　behind　the　tombs　and　around　the　hill。〃
　〃Your　clothes？〃　Nefret　repeated。
　〃Our　galabeeyahs；　my　father's　and　mine。　The　Father　of　Curses　paid　well；　but　when　the　Sitt　Hakim　has　finished　with　mine；　I　would　like　to　have　it　back。　I　have　only　…〃
　〃Did　you　see　the　person　they　were　following？〃　Ramses　interrupted。
　〃Oh；　yes。〃　The　boy　pointed。　〃It　was　she。〃
　Jumana　froze；　her　eyes　focusing　on　the　pointing　finger。　〃He　lies；〃　she　gasped。
　〃I　do　not　lie。　She　wore　the　same　clothing；　boots　and　coat　and　a　skirt；　that　blew　out　as　she　ran。　Not　trousers；　as　men　wear。　What　other　woman　would　wear　such　garments？〃
　〃Several　of　us；〃　Nefret　said；　catching　hold　of　Jumana；　who　appeared　ready　to　fly　at　her　accuser。　〃We　know　it　wasn't　you；　Jumana；　you　couldn't　have　got　from　here　to　Deir　el　Medina　before　we　arrived。〃
　Ramses　rewarded　the　observant　youth　extravagantly　and　went　after　Selim；　who　was　already　running　along　the　path　the　boy　had　indicated。　It　turned　and　rose；　and　there　before　them　lay　the　length　of　the　desert　plain；　covered　with　hillocks　and　hills；　houses　and　villages　and　ruins　…　almost　two　miles　long　from　Medinet　Habu　to　the　slopes　of　Drah　abu'l　Naga　on　the　north。　The　sun　was　low　over　the　western　cliffs。
　〃Wait；〃　Ramses　called。　Selim　stopped；　and　the　others　came　up　to　him。
　〃What　can　we　do？〃　the　reis　asked；　for　the　hopelessness　of　pursuit　was　evident　to　him　as　well。　〃It　was　hours　ago　that　they　were　here。　Even　if　one　saw　them　…〃
　〃He　wouldn't　be　here　either；〃　Ramses　cut　in。　〃Or　remember　them。　Father　and　his　damned　disguises！〃
　〃The　Father　of　Curses；〃　said　Daoud；　his　calm　unshaken；　〃cannot　be　mistaken　for　any　other　man。〃
　〃That's　true；〃　Nefret　agreed。　〃Not　to　mention　Mother　trotting　along　holding　up　the　skirts　of　somebody　else's　galabeeyah。　Ramses　…　Selim　…　let's　just　keep　calm；　shall　we？　We　will　spread　the　word；　asking　anyone　who　may　have　seen　them　to　report　to　us；　but　that　may　take　a　while。　Perhaps　we　can　deduce　where　they　might　have　gone。〃　She　turned　to　Jumana。　〃You　know　whom　they　were　following；　don't　you？〃
　The　girl's　eyes　fell。　〃Jamil？〃
　〃It　couldn't　have　been　anyone　else；〃　Nefret　said。　〃He's　taller　than　you；　but　otherwise　the　resemblance　between　you　is　strong。　Somehow　he　got　hold　of　clothes　like　yours。　He　must　have　sent　the　message。　I　don't　believe　your　father　knew　anything　about　it。〃
　If　it　was　meant　as　consolation；　Jumana　remained　indifferent。　〃Why？〃　she　demanded。　〃Why　would　Jamil　do　this？〃
　〃Not　to　lead　them　to　his　tomb；〃　Ramses　said。　He　was　too　worried　now　to　be　considerate　of　her　feelings。　〃Face　the　facts；　Jumana。　He　meant　to　do　them　harm　…　and　he　must　have　succeeded；　God　knows　how；　or　they　would　have　been　back　before　this。　Can　you　think　of　anything　…　anything　at　all　…　that　might　help　us　to　find　them？〃
　〃How　could　Jamil　harm　the　Father　of　Curses？〃　She　flinched　back　from　Ramses　and　her　eyes　filled　with　tears。　〃No　…　wait　…　don't　be　angry。　I　am　trying　to　think；　trying　to　help。　And　I　think　there　are　only　a　few　things　he　could　do。　He　is　not　very　strong；　Jamil；　or　very　brave；　the　Father　of　Curses　could　break　him　in　two　with　one　hand；　and　the　Sitt　Hakim　is　as　fierce　as　a　man。　He　would　lead　them　to　some　place　where　he　can　play　a　dangerous　trick　on　them　with　no　danger　to　himself。〃
　The　sun　was　sinking。　It　would　be　dark　in　a　few　hours。　〃This　isn't　getting　us　anywhere；〃　Ramses　said；　trying　to　keep　his　voice　level。　〃There　are　too　many　places　like　that。　If　he's　got　in　the　habit　of　pushing　people　off　cliffs；　as　Mother　put　it　。　。　。〃
　〃Can　you　visualize　Jamil　pushing　Father？〃　Nefret　demanded。　〃He'd　have　to　back　off　twenty　feet　and　run　at　Father　…　and　then　have　another　go　at　Mother；　who　would　be　peppering　him　with　bullets　while　he　ran。〃
　Jumana　gave　her　a　look　of　surprise　and　reproach；　but　Ramses　knew　his　wife's　lighthearted　ment　was　a　valiant　attempt　to　keep　their　spirits　up　and　reassure　them。　It　did　help　to　relieve　Ramses's　anxiety　a　bit；　the　scene　she　had　described　was　so　ludicrous　it　brought　a　halfhearted　smile　to　his　face。
　〃You're　right；　though；　Jumana；〃　she　went　on。　〃He'd　want　some　place　away　from　people。　Not　toward　the　cultivation；　but　back　that　way；　along　the　base　of　the　cliffs。　A　place　he　could　trick　them　into　entering　without　exposing　himself。〃
　〃But　then；〃　said　Daoud；　〃they　would　e　out　again。　How　could　he　prevent　them？　Unless　。　。　。〃
　Quick　wits　were　not　Daoud's　most　notable　characteristic；　but　every　now　and　then　he　confounded　them　all　by　reaching　a　conclusion　that　had　escaped　everyone　else。　They　waited　for　him　to　continue。
　〃Unless　it　was　a　very　narrow　space；〃　Daoud　went　on；　his　brow　wrinkling。　〃With　no　other　way　out。　Then；　when　they　tried　to　e　out；　crawling　or　bent　over；　he　could　prevent　them　…　standing　to　one　side　with　a　long　heavy　stick。　If　he　was　quick　and　lucky；　one　blow　might　be　enough。〃
　The　simple　words　had　created　a　vivid　and　very　ugly　picture。　〃You're　talking　about　a　tomb；〃　Ramses　said　slowly。　〃Or　a　cave。　Surely　they　wouldn't　be　stupid　enough　to　enter　an　obvious　trap　…　not　both　of　them　。　。　。〃　He　caught　Nefret's　eye　and　threw　up　his　hands。　〃Hell　and　damnation！　They　would；　wouldn't　they？　Especially　Mother。　Daoud；　you　reason　well；　but　there　are　hundreds　of　such　places　in　the　cliffs。　We　wouldn't　know　where　to　start　looking。　I'm　going　back　and　talk　to　Yusuf。　There's　an　outside　chance　…〃
　〃Wait　…　wait！〃　Jumana　was　bouncing　on　her　toes；　her　face　flushed　with　excitement。　〃I　have　remembered　something　…　something　Jamil　said　when　we　first　met　at　Luxor。　He　was　talking　about　the　tomb　of　the　princesses　and　how　he　had　been　cheated；　and　then　he　talked　very　fast　and　very　angrily；　saying　that　he　had　discovered　two　rich　treasures　and　had　nothing　to　show　because　everyone　had　cheated　him　of　what　was　rightfully　his；　and　…〃
　She　paused　to　draw　a　long　breath。　Ramses　was　about　to　express　his　impatience　with　her　dramatic；　long…drawn…out　narrative　when　Nefret　said　softly；　〃Let　her　tell　it　her　way。〃
　〃I　am　trying　to　remember　exactly　what　he　said；〃　Jumana　explained。　She　hadn't　missed　Ramses's　signs　of　impatience　either。　〃These　are　the　words；　the　exact　words。　'They　took　it；　the　Inglizi；　but　I　have　taken　it　back；　the　dwelling　place　of　a　god　is　not　too　good　for　me；　and　they　will　never　find　me　there；　and　someday　。　。　。　'　It　was　then　he　thre