elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第62节
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dmiring the fine old mosques and making a brief； informal survey of the ancient remains； since he knew his father would expect one。 There weren't many。 For almost four thousand years the area between the Sinai and the Euphrates had been fought over； conquered and reconquered； destroyed and rebuilt。 Egyptians； Assyrians； Phoenicians； Greeks； Romans； Saracens； and Crusaders had occupied Gaza in turn。 It had been one of the five cities of the Philistines； the site of the great temple of Dagon； pulled down by Samson in his last and mightiest feat。 （He'd got that information from his mother； his father didn't give much credence to anything in Scripture unless it could be confirmed by archaeological sources。） The most recent conquest had been by the Ottoman Sultan； Selim the First； in the sixteenth century； in revenge for the city's stubborn resistance he had let his troops sack and destroy a large part of it。 However； by 1912 Gaza had bee a prosperous town with almost forty thousand inhabitants。 The population had spilled out beyond the walls； to north and south and east； the central city； raised on the accumulated debris of various levels of destruction； contained the administrative and mercial buildings； as well as the homes of wealthier citizens。
On the hill that rose from the center of the upper town stood the Great Mosque； formerly a Christian church built in the twelfth century。 He had spent an enjoyable afternoon admiring the carvings and the magnificent gray marble columns。 It was now being used as a powder magazine。
So much for the Great Mosque； Ramses thought。 So much for the other architectural treasures of Gaza … the little church of St。 Porphyry； an exquisite example of early Christian architecture； the beautiful ancient mosque of Hashim； even the remains of the old walls and their seven gates。 Modern weapons were much more efficient than the older variety。 One well…placed shell and the Great Mosque； with its delicate octagonal minaret； would be gone。
And so would hundreds； maybe thousands； of people。
The suk appeared to be as prosperous as ever； with stalls selling everything from handmade lace and the fine black pottery of the region to a variety of mouthwatering fruits and nuts and vegetables； whose discarded rinds and husks littered the ground。 Ramses found a popular café； squatted genteelly； and ordered mint tea。 The habitués were an inquisitive lot； they put him through a merciless but friendly interrogation； not leaving off until they had determined his name； place of origin； business； and ancestry； and had miserated with him on the condition of his poor young brother。 〃He has blue eyes；〃 said one observant man。
〃His mother was Circassian；〃 Ramses explained。 〃My father's favorite； until she died giving birth to him。 My mother 。 。 。〃
It did not take long for Ramses to establish his bona fides as a seller of desirable merchandise。 The town was full of men in uniform； strutting through the street with the arrogance of Europeans among natives。 The most loquacious of their newfound friends； a middle…aged man with only one eye and a stump where his right hand had been； had a few pungent epithets for the Germans。 〃But；〃 he added； 〃they are no worse than the Turks。 God curse this war！ Whoever wins we will be the losers。 If Gaza is defended； our homes and livelihoods will be destroyed。〃
It was a good opening； and Ramses took advantage of it。 His questions and ments brought out a spate of information； much of it highly inaccurate； and some more accurate descriptions of various public figures。 Von Kressenstein； the German mander； was feared but respected； the governor was feared and loathed； the Turkish general was a fat pig who did nothing but sit in his fine house and eat。 And so it went； until dusk grayed the sky and the party dispersed。
Ramses and Chetwode spent the night in the picturesque ruins of what was locally known as Samson's tomb … actually a structure dating from the Middle Ages。 Moonlight filtering through the broken walls and roof made baroque patterns on the ground； and the leaves of the ancient olive trees rustled in the night wind。 As they ate the food purchased in the bazaar； Chetwode enlivened the meal with questions。 He hadn't had a chance to talk all day； and it must be wearing on him。
〃You didn't ask about Ismail Pasha；〃 he said accusingly。
〃One tries to avoid asking direct questions。〃 Ramses tossed away a handful of orange peel and stretched out on the ground。 〃In this case it wasn't necessary。 You were there； didn't you hear what they said about him？〃
〃Everybody was talking too fast；〃 Chetwode said sullenly。 〃Anyhow； it's your job to locate the fellow。〃
The hero worship was wearing thin。 Ramses couldn't have said why he was reluctant to share this bit of news； old habit； perhaps； or one of the Secret Service's basic rules： Don't tell anyone more than he needs to know。 Maybe Chetwode did need to know this； if only to keep him from doing something impulsive。
〃The holy infidel； as they call him； is going to pray at the mosque of Hashim tomorrow at midday；〃 Ramses explained。 〃There will be quite a crowd； I expect。 We'll go early and find a place where we can get a good long look at him。〃
〃And then？〃
〃Then we make a quick and； let us hope； unobtrusive exit from Gaza。〃
〃After only two days？ Without … without doing anything？〃
Ramses tried to hold on to his temper。 Being responsible for this ingenuous youth was nerve…racking enough without having to deliver lectures on espionage。 〃You hadn't planned on an indefinite stay； had you？ We have to assume that there are certain people here who keep tabs on newers。 One of our amiable acquaintances at the coffeeshop could be an agent of the governor or the military。〃
〃Really？〃
〃That's how the Turks operate。 They don't trust anyone； and with good reason。 They aren't well liked in these parts。 Sooner or later our presence will be known； and some bright soul may decide it would be a good idea to question us。 Then there are the press gangs。 They're always looking for recruits。 One more day is all we can risk。〃 He yawned and wondered why he was bothering。 〃Get some rest。〃
〃As soon as I finish this。〃
Ramses sat up with a start。 Chetwode squatted by the ruined arch of the entrance； scribbling busily by moonlight on what appeared to be a folded piece of paper。 〃What the hell are you doing？〃
〃Making notes。 I didn't recognize all the insignia of the men we saw； but if I describe them； our people can get a good idea which units …〃
〃Eat it。〃
〃What？〃
〃Get rid of the goddamn paper！〃 Chetwode stared blankly at him。 He got to his feet。 〃If you were caught and they found that on you； you'd be dead。 Or wish you were。 What other incriminating objects are you carrying？〃
He snatched the paper from Chetwode。 Hastily； eyes wide； the boy took a pouch from the breast of his robe。 It contained sheets of paper； several pencils； a small pocket torch； and a tiny bottle containing two white pills。
〃Christ； I should have searched you before we left；〃 Ramses muttered； as he shredded the papers and stamped on the neatly sharpened pencils。 〃What's in the bottle？ Cyanide； no doubt。 The Secret Service loves cyanide。〃
〃But if we're caught …〃
〃We had better be able to talk our way out of it； which we could not do if we were carrying British…made writing materials。 As for these 。 。 。〃 He ground the innocent…looking pills under his heel。 〃Were you planning to ask the governor's head torturer to hang on a minute while you fished round in your pouch for the bottle； opened it； and popped the pills into your mouth？〃
Chetwode's head drooped。 〃It does sound ridiculous； when you put it that way。 They told me …〃
〃Yes； all right。 Look here； there are a number of ways we could have gone about this； including your uncle's idiotic suggestion that we wear captured Turkish uniforms and march into their headquarters demanding information。〃
〃I don't see why …〃
〃Then I'll tell you why。〃 Ramses lost the remains of his temper。 〃It's a miracle you haven't already been spotted。 If I were picked up and questioned； they would probably do nothing worse than send me to the trenches； from which I would soon remove myself。 If they caught you； it wouldn't take a trained officer more than ten seconds to identify you as an Englishman。 It's not just your accent； it's the way you stand； and sit； and move and 。 。 。 everything about you！〃
Chetwode bowed his head。 〃I didn't know I was that bad。〃
〃All of you are。 It's not your fault；〃 he added； more kindly。 〃To pass convincingly as a native of the area； you have to live there and think in the language for years。 This is the safest way； and I'm trying to minimize the risks。 You've done fine so far； but you'll have to follow my orders and keep your notes in your head。〃
〃Like you？ All that〃 … he gestured at the scattered bits of paper … 〃was a waste of time； wasn't it？ You've got it memorized。〃
He was back to the hero worship。 It was almost worse than his brief attempts at independent thinking。 But not as dangerous。 Ramses shrugged。 〃It's a matter of practice。〃
〃A little late for me to start now； I guess。〃 He looked up with a rueful smile。 〃Sorry。 I'll do everything you say from now on。〃
