elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第75节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


s　were　twelve　feet　high　and　eight　feet　thick。　A　small　two…storied　structure　within　the　enclosure　must　be　the　living　quarters。
　〃Go　ahead　into　the　house；〃　their　host　said；　indicating　this　building。　〃Straight　through　and　up　the　stairs　to　the　saloon。　I'm　afraid　you'll　find　us　ill…prepared　for　guests；　but　Mustafa　and　I　will　see　what　can　be　done　in　the　way　of　food　and　drink。〃
　He　drew　the　other　man　aside。　Leaving　his　father　to　assist　his　mother；　and　Selim　the　girl；　Ramses　edged　toward　the　pair。　He　caught　only　two　words：　〃No　message？〃　and　saw　Mustafa　shake　his　head。
　Mustafa　looked　like　the　sort　of　man　who　would　be　employed　by　Sethos　…　burly；　black…bearded　as　a　pirate；　and　wary。　He　shot　a　suspicious　look　at　Ramses；　and　Sir　Edward　turned。
　〃This　is　the　notorious　…　er　…　famous　Brother　of　Demons；　Mustafa；〃　he　said　in　Arabic。　〃You　have　heard　of　him。〃
　〃Ah！〃　Mustafa　held　out　a　hand。　〃We　will　shake　hands　as　the　English　do；　eh？　It　is　an　honor　to　meet　you。　And　so　the　others　are　。　。　。　？〃
　〃The　even　more　notorious　Father　of　Curses　and　his　family；〃　Ramses　said。　〃If　you　will　forgive　me　for　failing　in　courtesy；　may　I　suggest　that　there　are　important　matters　to　be　dealt　with　before　we　exchange　additional　pliments？　The　horses；　for　instance。　Their　owners　will　want　them　back。〃
　Mustafa　threw　his　head　back　and　let　out　a　bellow　of　laughter。　〃You　stole　them？　Well　done。　They　will　fetch　a　good　price。〃
　〃Control　your　mercantile　instincts；　Mustafa；〃　said　Sir　Edward。　〃They　must　be　returned　eventually。　We　…　er　…　borrowed　them　from　the　Australians。〃
　〃Hmmm。〃　Mustafa　stroked　his　beard。　〃A　pity。　But　you　are　right；　the　Australians　are　fierce　fighters　and　they　love　their　horses。〃
　Ramses　stroked　the　friendly　muzzle　that　had　e　to　rest　on　his　shoulder。　〃Take　care　of　them；　will　you；　Mustafa？　Rub　them　down　and　water　them。〃
　〃If　you　have　handled　that　to　your　satisfaction；〃　said　Sir　Edward；　〃shall　we　go　in？　Your　mother　will　be　waiting　in　the　saloon　for　us。〃
　〃No；　she　won't；〃　Ramses　said。
　
　The　saloon　was　an　elegantly　appointed　apartment　at　the　front　of　the　house。　I　recognized　Sethos's　refined　tastes　in　the　furnishings　…　cushioned　divans；　carved　screens；　and　low　tables　of　brass　and　copper　…　but　it　was　clear　at　a　glance　that　this　was　a　bachelor　establishment。　There　was　a　bird's　nest　in　one　of　the　window　embrasures；　and　dust　covered　every　flat　surface。
　〃Dear　me；〃　I　said。　〃This　won't　do。　Let　us　see　what　the　rest　of　the　house　is　like。〃
　〃He　told　us　to　wait　here；〃　Nefret　said。　She　was　supporting　Esin；　who　looked　as　if　she　was　at　the　limit　of　her　strength。
　〃I　have　no　intention　of　waiting　for　a　man　to　make　the　necessary　arrangements；〃　I　replied。　〃That　girl　should　be　in　bed。　Let　us　find　one。〃
　Two　of　the　small　rooms　behind　the　saloon　had　obviously　been　used　as　sleeping　chambers。　Various　articles　of　masculine　attire　hung　over　chairs　and　chests。　The　beds　were　brass；　in　the　European　style；　rather　at　odds　with　the　rest　of　the　furnishings；　but　with　fortable　mattresses　and　sheets　and　pillows。　Selim　and　I　straightened　the　crumpled　bedding　and　put　Esin　on　the　bed。　I　did　not　bother　removing　her　clothing；　since　it　did　not　appear　that　the　sheets　had　been　changed　for　several　weeks。
　Sir　Edward　and　Ramses　were　in　the　saloon　when　we　returned　to　that　room。
　〃Did　you　find　what　you　were　looking　for？〃　the　former　inquired　politely。
　〃I　found　a　bed　…　yours；　I　believe　…　and　got　Miss　Sahin　tucked　in。　The　poor　child　was　worn　out。　Now；　where　is　the　kitchen？　A　nice　hot　cup　of　tea　would　be　just　the　thing。〃
　〃Mustafa　is　making　tea；〃　Sir　Edward　said。
　〃Does　he　know　about　boiling　the　water　long　enough？　Perhaps　I　had　better　go　and　…〃
　Sir　Edward　took　the　liberty　of　seizing　me　by　the　arm。　〃He　knows。　He　knows！　Mrs。　Emerson；　please　sit　down。　I　can't　until　you　do；　and　I　am　dead　on　my　feet。〃
　〃Oh；　very　well。〃　I　selected　one　of　the　divans　that　did　not　have　evidence　of　avian　activity。　Sir　Edward　collapsed　onto　another　with　a　long　sigh　and　Ramses　took　his　place　next　to　Nefret。
　Emerson　was　still　prowling　about　the　room。　〃Ha！〃　he　exclaimed；　opening　a　cabinet。　〃My　…　er　…　old　acquaintance　does　himself　well。　Claret；　'pon　my　word；　and　an　excellent　vintage　too。　It　isn't　whiskey；　Peabody；　but　would　you　care　for　a　drop？〃
　〃Not　at　this　time　of　day；〃　I　replied。　〃Ah　…　here　is　Mustafa　with　the　tea　tray。　Just　put　it　here；　if　you　please。　I　will　pour。〃
　He　had　slopped　it　all　over　the　tray；　of　course。　As　he　stood　back；　fixing　me　with　a　bold；　curious　stare；　I　had　one　of　those　moments　of　utter　disorientation：　the　tea　tray；　set　out　in　proper　English　style　…　that　would　be　Sir　Edward's　influence　…　the　black…bearded　ruffian　who　had　served　it；　the　filthy；　ragged　beggar　who　was　Sir　Edward；　and　the　rest　of　us　in　a　motley　array　of　garments；　from　Nefret's　neat　but　crumpled　trousers　and　coat　to　Emerson's　torn　silken　robes。
　However；　the　situation　was　no　more　bizarre　than　many　in　which　we　had　found　ourselves。
　Mustafa　said　suddenly；　〃You　are　the　Sitt　Hakim？　I　have　a　little　sore；　here　on　my　…〃
　〃Later；　my　friend；〃　I　said　graciously。　Nefret　hid　her　face　against　Ramses's　shoulder　and　Emerson　shouted；　〃Good　Gad！　Even　here！　Curse　it；　Peabody！〃
　Mustafa　retreated；　visibly　impressed　by　the　volume　of　Emerson's　voice。　I　persuaded　Emerson　to　sit　down　and　take　out　his　pipe。　It　soothed　him；　it　usually　did。
　〃I　don't　know　where　you　are　all　going　to　sleep；〃　Sir　Edward　muttered。
　〃At　the　moment　my　brain　is　too　active　to　let　me　rest；　Sir　Edward；〃　I　informed　him。　〃We　need　to　know　where　we　stand。　First　and　most　important；　where　is　Sethos？　Did　you　expect　him　to　be　here？〃
　〃I　hoped　for　a　message；　at　least。　He　usually　finds　a　way　to　let　me　know　if　there　is　any　change　in　his　plans。　When　I　saw　him　yesterday　morning　…〃
　〃You　were　in　Gaza？　Goodness　gracious；　you　all　seem　to　walk　in　and　out　of　the　place　as　you　please。〃
　Whether　he　would　have　confided　in　us　under　different　circumstances　I　cannot　say。　It　may　have　been　exhaustion　that　loosened　his　tongue。
　〃The　fortifications　are　like　a　sieve　for　a　single　man；　if　he　knows　where　the　holes　are。　Once　inside　I　…　and　our　other　couriers　…　form　part　of　the　adoring　mob　that　presses　round　the　holy　man　asking　for　his　blessing。〃
　〃So　he　can　pass　messages　to　you；　and　you　to　him；〃　I　prompted。
　〃Something　like　that；〃　Sir　Edward　said　evasively。　〃I　knew　he　planned　to　get　Sahin's　daughter　away。　I'd　have　talked　him　out　of　it　if　I　could；　or　at　least　tried　to　persuade　him　not　to　go　back　to　Gaza。　Sahin　was　bound　to　suspect　he'd　had　a　hand　in　the　business　and　clamp　down　on　him　even　more　closely。　I　think　that　is　what　has　happened。〃
　〃Can　you　send　someone　to　find　out？〃　I　asked。
　Emerson　cleared　his　throat。　〃My　papers　…〃
　〃No；〃　Ramses　and　I　said　in　the　same　breath。
　〃What　papers？〃　Sir　Edward　demanded；　his　eyes　widening。
　Proudly　Emerson　drew　them　forth　and　handed　them　to　Sir　Edward。　The　sun　was　well　up　now；　the　gilt　sparkled　impressively　in　the　light。
　〃I　can't　read　Turkish；〃　Sir　Edward　said　blankly。
　〃Ramses　can。〃　Emerson's　pipe　had　gone　out。　He　struck　a　match。　〃He　says　they　are　perfectly　in　order。〃
　〃Yes；　very　well；　but　you　can't　…　you　can't　just　walk　up　to　the　trenches　and　…〃
　〃No；　it　will　take　some　preparation；〃　Emerson　admitted。
　〃That　is　quite　right；〃　I　said；　seeing　in　my　mind's　eye　the　preparations　Emerson　was　planning。　Camels；　servants；　gold…trimmed　robes；　and　a　huge　scimitar　。　。　。　He　would　so　enjoy　it；　and　sheer　effrontery　might　allow　him　to　carry　it　off。　For　a　while。
　〃Admirable；〃　Sir　Edward　murmured。　He　sounded　more　horrified　than　admiring。　〃Sir；　give　me　a　chance　to　use　our　regular　channels　first。〃
　〃An　excellent　idea；〃　I　said；　before　Emerson　could　object。　〃Sir　Edward；　I　am　curious　to　know　how　…〃
　〃I　beg　you　will　excuse　the　interruption；　Mrs。　Emerson；　but　could　we　postpone　the　interrogation　for　a　few　hours？〃　Sir　Edward　rubbed　his　eyes。　〃I　need　to　rest；　even　if　you　don't；　and　there　are　a　few　domestic　matters　I　must　attend　to。〃
　〃Certainly。　Just　show　me　where　you　keep　the　clean　sheets。〃
　It　was　the　final　straw　for　poor　Sir　Edward。　〃I　…　Oh；　Lord。　I　don't　know　that　there　are　any；　Mrs。　Emerson。〃
　〃If　there　were；　where　would　they　be？　e；〃　I　said　in　a　kindly　manner；　〃let's　just　have　a　look。　It　won't　take　long。〃
　The　others　declared　they　would　stretch　out　on　the　divans；　and　Sir　Edward　and　I　went　off　on　what　he　clearly　believed　was　a　hopeless　quest。　Eventually　we　found　a　cupboard　that　contained　linens　of　various　kinds。　I　selected　a　few。　Sir　Edward；　always　the　gentleman；　took　the　pile　from　me。　I　allowed　him　to　do　so；　though　he　had　a　little　difficulty　getting　hold　of　it。
　〃I　was　sorry　to　see　that；〃　I　said；　with　the　lightest　possible　touch　of　his　arm。　〃It　was　in　France　that　it　happened；　I　suppose。〃
　〃Ypres。〃　He　spoke　curtly；　avoiding　my　eyes。　Pity　he　would　not　accept；　acknowledgment　of　his　sacrifice　was　owed　him；　and　I　felt　obliged　to　make　it。
　〃It　must　have　been　dreadful。　I　am　so　sorry。〃
　〃What；　womanly　sympathy　from　you；　Mrs。　Emerson？　A　touch　out　of　character；　isn't　it？〃
　〃It　is　sincere。〃
　〃I　know。〃　His　rigid　features　relaxed。　〃I　am　sorry　too；　for　speaking　rudely。　It's　not　so　bad；　you　know。　It　got　me　out　of　the　army；　which　was　all　to　the　good。　I　had　bee　somewhat　disenchanted。〃
　〃Can　nothing　be　done　about　an　artificial　limb？〃
　〃