elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第69节

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ith　us　by　then；　we'll　go　in　after　him。〃
　〃Father！〃　Ramses　exclaimed。
　〃Now；　my　boy；　don't　waste　your　breath。　You　mean　to　go；　don't　deny　it。　If　my　…　er　…　if　he　is　being　held　against　his　will；　he　must　be　freed。　If　he　has　turned　traitor　…　which；〃　Emerson　said　grimly；　〃is　seeming　more　and　more　likely　…　he　must　be　taken　prisoner　by　us。〃
　〃Why　do　you　consider　it　more　likely？〃　I　demanded　hotly。　〃You　said　before　…〃
　〃He　couldn't　have　managed　Ramses's　escape　if　he　were　a　closely　guarded　prisoner；〃　Emerson　replied；　with　equal　heat。　〃Don't　try　to　defend　him；　Peabody；　or　I　will　begin　to　wonder　whether　you　have　got　over　your　…〃
　〃Please；　Emerson！〃
　〃Father　has　the　right　idea。〃　Nefret's　quiet　voice　reminded　both　of　us　that　we　were　in　danger　of　getting　off　the　subject。　〃Traitor　or　captive；　we　must　get　him　out　of　Gaza。〃
　Ramses　turned　appalled　eyes　on　her。　〃What　do　you　mean；　we？　I　admit　I　didn't　succeed；　but　that　was　because　Chetwode　mucked　things　up。　One　person　has　a　better　chance　than　three　。　。　。　four　。　。　。　five　。　。　。　Good　God；　Father；　you　can't　…〃
　〃I　believe　I　can；〃　said　Emerson。　〃More　safely　than　you；　Ramses。　Do　you　suppose　Sahin　won't　have　everyone　in　Gaza　looking　for　a　man　of　your　description？〃
　〃But　how　…〃
　Emerson　held　up　one　hand；　demanding　silence；　and　reached　with　the　other　into　his　pocket。　〃I　have　another　set　of　papers；〃　he　announced　proudly。
　They　were　a　good　deal　more　impressive　than　the　first　set　…　spattered　with　blobs　of　crimson　sealing　wax；　framed　in　ornate　curlicues；　and　with　quite　a　lot　of　gilt。　The　script　was　equally　ornamental；　it　looked　like　Arabic；　but　I　could　make　nothing　of　it。　I　handed　the　papers　to　Ramses。
　〃Turkish；〃　he　muttered。　〃Father；　do　you　have　any　idea　what　this　says？〃
　〃No；〃　said　Emerson　placidly。　〃Is　there　more　coffee？〃
　〃But　…　but　…〃　Ramses　ran　one　hand　through　his　tumbled　curls　and　brandished　the　papers　in　front　of　Emerson's　nose。　〃Were　you　planning　to　use　these　to　get　into　Gaza？　For　all　you　knew；　it　might　be　a　denunciation　of　you；　or　…　or　somebody's　laundry　list！〃
　〃Is　it？〃　Emerson　inquired。
　Nefret　served　him　and　Ramses　with　fresh　cups　of　the　Turkish　coffee　she　brewed　so　expertly；　and　Ramses　inspected　the　papers　again。
　〃No；〃　he　admitted。　〃They　appear　to　be　in　order　…　so　far　as　I　can　tell。　I've　never　been　privileged　to　see　a　direct　order　from　the　Sublime　Porte；　signed　by　the　sultan　himself。〃
　〃Few　have；〃　said　Emerson；　and　sipped　his　coffee。　〃Ah　…　excellent。　Thank　you；　Nefret。　I　didn't　suppose　el…Gharbi　would　play　me　false；　but　the　very　look　of　those　documents　is　enough　to　overawe　most　people；　especially　since　literacy　is　…〃
　〃El…Gharbi；〃　Ramses　broke　in。　〃I　might　have　known。　What　did　you　promise　him　in　return？〃
　〃My　goodwill；〃　said　Emerson；　with　an　evil　smile。
　Ramses　was　not　quite　himself；　and　the　effect　of　the　stunning　surprises　his　father　had　administered　showed　on　his　face；　together　with　evidence　of　another；　equally　strong　emotion。　〃So；〃　he　said；　trying　without　plete　success　to　control　his　voice；　〃if　I　had　not　e　back　you　would　have　marched　up　to　the　Turkish　lines　with　a　set　of　papers　you　couldn't　read　and　a　broken　arm　and　…〃
　〃And　your　mother；〃　said　Emerson。
　He　was；　I　believe；　attempting　to　lighten　the　emotional　atmosphere　with　a　touch　of　humor。　His　ment　did　not　have　that　effect。　Ramses　went　pale；　and　I　said　firmly；　〃Quite　right。　All　for　one　and　one　for　all　…　that　is　our　motto；　is　it　not？　You　would　have　taken　equal　or　greater　risks　for　any　of　us；　Ramses。　Now　that　that　is　settled；　let　us　get　back　to　business。　Are　those　papers　adequate　for　the　purpose　your　father　had　in　mind？〃
　〃Is　my　name　on　them？〃　Selim　demanded。
　〃No　one　else's　name　is　on　them；〃　Emerson　replied。　〃If　an　honorable　sheikh；　a　friend　of　the　sultan's；　decides　to　take　his　servants　…〃
　〃And　wives；〃　I　said。
　〃Bah；〃　said　Emerson。　〃He　can　take　anyone　he　likes；　I　suppose。　Do　be　quiet；　all　of　you。　I　haven't　decided　yet　how　to　go　about　this。　It　might　be　better　to　make　my　way　through　the　lines　under　cover　of　darkness。〃
　〃With　one　arm　in　a　cast；〃　said　Ramses　under　his　breath。
　Emerson　inspected　the　cast　irritably。　〃I　don't　see　why　I　need　it。　My　arm　itches　like　fury。　Nefret　…〃
　〃No；　Father。　Absolutely　not。〃　She　moved　closer　to　Ramses；　her　shoulder　against　his。　〃We　don't　have　to　e　to　a　decision　immediately。　In　fact；　it　would　be　the　height　of　folly　to　go　rushing　into　action　until　we　know　more。　It's　all　very　well　to　say　that　Sethos　must　be　in　Gaza　because　only　he　could　have　got　Ramses　away；　but　we　can't　be　certain　of　that；　can　we？　The　most　sensible　course　is　to　give　him　a　chance　to　municate　with　us；　as　Father　suggested。〃
　And　keep　Ramses　with　her　a　few　days　longer。　〃I　agree；〃　I　said。　〃It　behooves　us；　then；　to　make　our　presence　known。　Shall　we　pay　a　little　visit　to　the　suk；　Nefret？　Gracious；　it　will　be　good　to　get　out　of　this　house。〃
　Ramses's　limited　wardrobe；　and　the　fact　that　he　had；　as　he　remarked；　seen　enough　of　bloody　Khan　Yunus；　made　him　agreeable　to　my　suggestion　that　he　remain　in　the　house。　Selim　stayed　with　him。　We　left　them　deep　in　conversation；　some　of　which　had　to　do　with　Sahin's　interesting　daughter。
　Squashed　into　the　tonneau　of　the　motorcar　and　half…buried　in　bundles；　I　had　not　seen　much　of　the　town　when　we　arrived。　It　had　only　one　structure　of　artistic　interest；　a　fine　thirteenth…century　mosque。　With　a　few　exceptions　the　houses　were　small　and　mean；　and　the　suk　had　not　much　to　offer。　However；　the　gardens　made　up　for　the　general　squalor。　Some　of　them　were　enclosed　by　the　same　thick　cactus　hedges　that　surrounded　the　town；　very　curious　in　appearance　and　more　effective　than　any　fence　or　wall。　It　was　a　veritable　garden　spot；　where　every　variety　of　fruit　and　vegetable　was　grown。　Fig　and　almond　trees；　orange　and　pomegranate　waved　leafy　branches。
　We　strolled　for　an　hour　or　so；　admiring　the　luxuriant　vegetation；　and　purchased　a　few　articles　of　clothing　for　Ramses　in　the　bazaar。　By　the　time　we　returned　to　the　house　I　felt　certain　our　presence　had　been　noted　by　the　entire　population　of　Khan　Yunus。　Nefret　and　I　were　wearing　our　European　garments。　Emerson　was　bareheaded；　but　he　had　declined　to　abandon　his　fortable　caftan；　or　his　beard。　（I　meant　to　attend　to　the　beard　in　due　course。）　Our　presence　occasioned　considerable　curiosity　but　less　surprise　than　I　had　anticipated；　and　as　we　crossed　the　square；　Emerson　was　accosted　by　a　ragged　individual　who　addressed　him　by　name　and　demanded　baksheesh。
　The　fellow　was　tall　for　an　Arab　and　well　built；　I　thought　for　a　moment　Emerson　was　going　to　grab　hold　of　his　beard。　But　then　he　saw；　as　did　I；　that　one　of　the　extended　arms　had　no　hand；　and　that　the　sleeve　hung　empty　from　the　elbow。
　〃It　is　too　soon　to　hear　from　him；　Emerson；〃　I　said　as　we　walked　away；　followed　by　the　loud　blessings　of　the　beggar。
　〃No；　it　isn't。　We　might　have　spared　ourselves　this　little　stroll；　the　word　of　our　presence　had　already　spread。　Otherwise；〃　Emerson　added；　stroking　his　beard　fondly；　〃that　chap　wouldn't　have　recognized　me。〃
　〃But　how　did　it　get　about？〃　Nefret　demanded；　quickening　her　pace。
　〃Any　one；　or　all；　of　a　number　of　ways；〃　I　replied。　〃The　servants　have　been　gossiping　and　speculating　about　us　ever　since　we　arrived。　There　are　undoubtedly　informers　in　Khan　Yunus　who　report　to　the　Turks　or　the　British；　some　probably　sell　the　same　information　to　both。　Lieutenant　Chetwode　。　。　。　Don't　be　in　such　a　rush；　my　dear；　Selim　is　with　Ramses；　he　won't　let　anyone　get　near　him。〃
　Ramses　was　asleep；　curled　up　like　a　cat　on　the　cushions　of　the　divan。　Squatting　by　the　door；　his　knife　in　his　hand；　Selim　was　obviously　disappointed　to　see　us　instead　of　the　assassin　he　had　hoped　for。
　〃No　one　came；〃　he　said　regretfully。
　〃But　someone　might　have。〃　I　patted　his　shoulder。　〃Thank　you；　Selim；　for　guarding　him。〃
　〃It　is　my　duty　and　my　pleasure；〃　said　Selim。　〃Now　I　will　go　and　see　what　that　fool　of　a　cook　is　doing　to　our　lunch。〃
　　
　We　had　several　callers　that　afternoon。　All　of　them　wanted　to　sell　us　something。
　Our　visit　to　the　suk　had　aroused　the　mercenary　instincts　of　every　entrepreneur　within　a　twenty…mile　radius。　It　was　customary　for　sellers　of　choice　merchandise　to　bring　it　to　the　house　of　wealthy　individuals；　especially　to　the　ladies　of　the　harem。　Female　brokers　are　employed　for　this　latter　errand；　but　since　we　were　known　to　be　infidel　English　persons；　we　were　attended　by　the　merchants　themselves；　who　spread　out　their　silks　and　jewels；　carpets　and　brassware；　for　our　inspection。　One　of　them；　more　canny　than　the　rest；　had　several　antiquities　for　sale；　including　a　fine　scarab　of　Seti　I。　The　area　had　been　in　Egyptian　hands　for　a　long　period　of　time；　Gaza　being　one　of　the　cities　mentioned　in　documents　of　the　fourteenth　century　b。c。　Arms　folded　and　lips　set　in　a　sneer；　Emerson　refused　to　violate　his　rule　of　never　buying　from　dealers；　but　I　saw　the　acquisitive　gleam　in　his　eyes　and　bought　the　scarab　and　a　remarkably　well　preserved　Phoenician　vessel。
　After　that　I　told　Selim　we　would　receive　no　more　callers　for　a　while；　and　Emerson　got　out　the　whiskey。　We　were　using　the　ka'ah　of　the　harem　as　our　sitting　room；　I　had　got　it　in　a　state　of　relative　cleanliness；　which　could　not　be　said　of　other　apartments　in　the　house。　Ramses　had　just　opened　the　whiskey　when　Selim　came　hurrying　in