elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第72节
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able state of aggravation。
Esin proved to be a noisy panion； breathing heavily through her nose and changing position every few minutes。 However； there is a silver lining to every cloud； wakefulness gave me ample time for reflection。 The situation had bee even more confusing than before； and the possible permutations were manifold。 If we did not make preparations to depart； Cartright might decide to place us under house arrest or remove us by force … for our own good； as he would explain。 I did not trust him one inch； or believe in his protestations。 Heaven only knew what Sethos would do next。 I had never believed he was a traitor； I did not believe it now； though his real purpose was still a mystery。 He had not exaggerated； however； when he spoke of a noose round his neck； a turncoat is automatically under suspicion； and Sahin； an old hand at the Game； was probably watching his every move。 Ramses's suggestion that Sethos had taken the girl as a possible bargaining counter； in case he was arrested； made a horribly convincing theory； in fact； it was the only reason I could think of why he might have taken that risk。 Sahin Pasha was another unpredictable factor。 What would he do when he discovered his daughter was missing？
By morning I had formulated my plans。 I explained them to the others over breakfast。
〃I am having serious doubts as to the advisability of our remaining here。 Let us at least behave as if our departure were imminent。〃
〃Start packing； you mean？〃 Nefret asked； her brow furrowed。
〃It would certainly do no harm if each of us made up a little bundle of basic necessities。 What I meant； however； was that we should shop for items we would need on a journey and inspect the motorcar to make certain it is in good order。〃
〃It is in good order；〃 Selim declared； in some indignation。
〃I am sure it is； Selim。 But you could pretend it was not； couldn't you … that some repairs were needed？ That would give us a reasonable excuse to stay on for another day。〃
〃Yes； I could do that；〃 Selim agreed。 His eyes shone in anticipation of an interesting vehicular challenge。 〃These people know nothing of motorcars。 I could take off the …〃
〃No； no； you mustn't take anything off！ I want to be ready to leave at a moment's notice； if we have to。〃
〃Not having one of your famous premonitions； are you？〃 Emerson inquired； his eyes narrowing。 〃Because if you are …〃
〃You don't want me to tell you about it。 I am only trying to anticipate every contingency； Emerson。 That is not superstition； it is simply good sense。 We must stay here until tomorrow at the earliest； so that we can confer with Sethos； and we don't want some helpful military person dropping by to inquire into our plans。〃
〃How far do you want to go？〃 Selim asked。 〃If it is more than five miles； we will need more petrol。〃
〃What else will we need？〃
I made a little list。 Our guest； who had not spoken except to bid us good morning； said； 〃Am I to go with you？〃
I leaned back and gave her my full attention。 A bath and a change of clothing； into one of 〃the favorite's〃 silk robes； had improved her appearance considerably； and I had braided her hair myself。 One could not have called her pretty； her features were too strong； but she was a handsome girl； in her way。 Selim kept sneaking sidelong glances at her。
〃We aren't going anywhere just yet；〃 I replied。 〃As for taking you back to Cairo with us； that depends on a number of factors that are as yet unknown。〃
〃We can't do anything else；〃 said Emerson。 〃She has placed herself in our hands and we owe her our protection。〃
Esin's admiring gaze indicated her appreciation of this noble sentiment； which was； I should add； entirely sincere。 It wasn't that simple； of course； men fix on words like honor and decency and noblesse oblige； and lose sight of the important issues。 My chivalrous husband would never consent to an exchange； even if the life at stake was that of his own brother。 I had not decided what I would do if the situation arose。 We would not be selling the girl into slavery； only returning her to a father who had always treated her indulgently 。 。 。
Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof； I reminded myself。 We must hope that the hard decision did not arise。 The likelihood of Sahin's agreeing to an exchange of any kind was slight； I thought。 Pride and duty … two more of those masculine catchwords … would forbid it； and he would not fear for her safety if we were looking after her。
〃Speaking of that … I refer to my husband's statement that you placed yourself in our hands；〃 I said。 〃Did you？ Were you aware that you were being brought to us？〃
〃Oh； yes。〃 She transferred her admiring gaze to Ramses。 〃Did you not say you were in my debt … that you would protect me from my father's wrath？〃
〃Did you？〃 Nefret inquired sweetly。
Ramses's beleaguered gaze moved from the girl to Nefret and back。 〃I … uh … to be honest； I don't remember what the hell I said！〃
〃If you did not say it； you meant it；〃 Esin declared。 〃No Englishman would leave a woman to suffer for a service she had done him。〃
〃But you said your father didn't suspect you；〃 Ramses protested。
〃He was beginning to。 That is what Ismail Pasha told me。〃
〃Ah；〃 I said。 〃So he offered to help you。〃
Her forehead wrinkled。 〃I think that is how it was。 But I did most of it myself。 I had to find my own way out of the house。 That was not so hard； I know all the secret passages and cellars； but then I had to go to the place he told me about； the tomb of a saint that is outside the wall of the Serai。 It is not far； but I was very frightened； and I had to wait a long time before the rug merchant came with his cart； and then he was stopped at the guard post and I could hear them talking and laughing and I was afraid they would search the cart。 But they did not。 It was a long bumpy ride and I could not breathe very well； and …〃
〃You were very courageous；〃 I interrupted； for I had heard enough。 The essentials of the story had been told。 It sounded as if Ramses had been correct about Sethos's devious methods。
The various schemes I had proposed kept us busy all day。 Selim spent a good deal of the time underneath the motorcar； surrounded by a fascinated audience； including the babies and the goats。 From time to time he emerged； sweating and oil…stained； to report progress and bask in the admiration of the beholders。 We could have got the petrol from an independent businessman … there was a thriving black market on all military items … but Emerson decided that we might just as well ask the authorities for it。 It required only four hours for his request to be approved。 Clearly； they were anxious to be rid of us。
By evening our plans had been pleted。 I had whiled away the hours exploring the rest of the house。 It was like many others I had visited； with nothing of particular interest except for even more secret passages and hidden chambers than usual。 Mahmud or one of his ancestors appeared to have had little faith in his government； his associates； and his wives。
According to Ramses； we should allow at least an hour to reach the spot Sethos had indicated。 When we gathered in the ka'ah for a light evening repast； we discussed who should go。 Naturally I intended to make one of the party； and Emerson was set on confronting his infuriating brother。 Someone had to stay with the girl； we all agreed to that … Nefret with a caustic 〃I'm always the one〃 … but Selim and Ramses could not decide which of them should go and which should remain with the two young women。 It lacked half an hour till the time we were to leave； and we were still discussing the matter； when a horrible； ululating howl broke the silence of the quiet night。 The mashrabiya screen was ajar and I heard the words quite clearly：
〃O unbelievers； prepare for death！ O ye unrighteous； who walk in darkness pursued by afrits and 。 。 。〃 The speech ended in an anticlimactic squawk。
In a body we rushed to the window and flung the screen open。 In the moonlight I saw a dark mass huddled outside the gate； and Selim； his shoulder braced against it。 Realizing they had been discovered； the invaders began battering at the gate。
I tried； too late； to catch hold of Ramses； who had climbed over the sill。 He dropped to the ground and reached Selim as the gate gave way。 Selim's knife flashed。 Ramses had snatched up a lever or spanner as he ran past the motorcar； he swung his arm； and a scream from one of the attackers wavered into silence。
〃Quick！〃 Emerson exclaimed。 〃Out the bab…sirr； all of you。〃
〃Be damned to that！〃 I shrieked； for my blood was up。 〃 'Now who will stand on either hand； And keep the bridge with … ' 〃
〃Me；〃 said Emerson。 〃Curse it； Peabody； get the girls out of here。 You know what to do。〃
He was already halfway out the window； lowering himself by one hand。
The fighting instincts of the Peabodys were not easily controlled； but the confidence he had placed in me enabled me to master them。 I expected some objection from Nefret； but she made none。 Pausing only long enough to collect the bundles we had packed earlier； we fled down the stairs and through the rooms of the ground floor toward the small chamber that contained the secret door。 Esin had spoken only on
