elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第79节

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　〃Then　we　will　have　to　settle　for　claret；〃　said　Sethos；　going　to　the　wine　cabinet。　〃My　supplies　have　bee　somewhat　depleted。　Amelia？〃
　〃Yes；〃　I　said；　answering　both　the　spoken　question　and　the　unspoken　order。　〃Esin；　I　suggest　you　…　er　…　go　to　your　room　and　rest。〃
　〃I　don't　need　to　rest；〃　said　the　young　person。　〃I　am　not　tired。〃
　〃Then　help　Selim　find　us　something　to　eat。〃
　I　gave　Selim　a　wink　and　a　nod。　As　a　rule　this　was　all　Selim　needed；　but　this　time　I　had　to　give　him　a　little　poke；　for　he　was　not　looking　at　me。　His　intent　black　eyes　were　fixed　on　Sethos。
　〃Your　pardon；　Sitt　Hakim；〃　he　said；　starting。
　I　repeated　the　suggestion。　He　nodded　obediently；　and　got　Esin　to　go　with　him　by　requesting　the　details　of　her　daring　escape　from　her　father's　house。　〃Such　courage；〃　I　heard　him　say；　as　they　left　the　room。　〃Such　cleverness！〃
　Sethos　turned　from　the　cabinet；　the　bottle　in　one　hand　and　the　corkscrew　in　the　other。　〃Report；〃　he　said　curtly。
　〃The　town's　quiet；〃　Sir　Edward　said。　〃Less　damage　than　I　had　expected。　The　house　is　guarded　by　several　soldiers　and　they're　scouring　the　countryside　looking　for　you　people。　According　to　the　worthy　citizens　of　Khan　Yunus；　you　simply　vanished　into　thin　air；　like　the　djinn　you　are　reputed　to　be。　The　military　hasn't　accepted　that；　though。〃　He　took　the　glass　Sethos　handed　him　and　went　on；　〃They　haven't　made　up　their　minds　whether　you　were　abducted　by　force　or　went　off　on　your　own；　for　purposes　of　your　own。　Either　way；　they　want　you。〃
　Ramses　took　the　bottle　from　Sethos；　who　had　neglected　the　rest　of　us　in　his　concern　for　his　aide；　and　poured　wine　for　Nefret　and　me。
　〃What　about　Gaza？〃　Sethos　asked。
　〃The　place　is　shut　up　tighter　than　a　prison。〃　Sir　Edward　sipped　his　wine　appreciatively。　〃I　made　contact　with　one　of　our　lads　…　Hassan。　He'd　just　got　back　from　an　attempt　to　enter　the　city　by　his　usual　route；　but　what　he　saw　made　him　veer　off。　They're　stopping　everyone。〃
　〃Shutting　the　barn　door　after　the　horse　is　stolen；〃　I　said　with　a　smile。
　〃Ha；〃　said　Emerson；　motioning　Ramses　to　fill　his　glass。　〃Any　news　of　Sahin　Pasha？〃
　Sir　Edward　shook　his　head；　and　Sethos　said；　〃It　will　take　them　a　while　to　decide　how　to　deal　with　him。　The　most　sensible　course　of　action　would　be　to　execute　him　and　announce　he'd　been　assassinated　by　the　vile　British。〃
　〃That　was　your　plan；　then；〃　I　said。　〃To　make　him　appear　guilty　of　treason。〃
　〃I　didn't　have　a　plan　when　I　started　out；〃　Sethos　said　snappishly。　〃My　orders　were　to　remove　him　…　pleasant　little　euphemism；　isn't　it？　One　learns　to　take　advantage　of　unexpected　events。　We　were　damned　lucky。　All　of　us。〃
　〃It　took　more　than　luck；〃　Ramses　said　grudgingly。　His　uncle　gave　him　a　mocking　bow。
　〃Selim　can't　keep　the　girl　away　for　long；〃　I　said。　〃And　I　certainly　don't　want　her　to　know　her　father　may　be　under　arrest　and　facing　death。　We　must　decide　what　we　are　going　to　do　with　her。〃
　〃Quite　right；　Amelia；〃　said　my　brother…in…law。　〃You'll　have　to　take　her　back　to　Cairo；　and　the　sooner；　the　better。　The　sooner　you　are　all　back　in　Cairo；　the　better。〃
　〃What　about　you？〃　I　asked。　〃And　Sir　Edward？〃
　〃Don't　concern　yourself　about　us。　As　soon　as　it's　light　I　want　you　all　to　return　to　Khan　Yunus。　That　will　stop　them　searching　the　whole　damned　neighborhood　and　finding　this　place；　which　wouldn't　be　convenient　for　me。　Make　your　preparations　to　leave　Khan　Yunus　and　get　the　hell　away。　You'll　have　to　e　up　with　some　story　to　explain　the　girl。　The　military　mustn't　know　who　she　is；　or　take　her　from　you。〃
　〃As　if　I　would　leave　a　girl　of　eighteen　with　a　troop　of　soldiers；〃　I　said　with　a　sniff。　〃What　do　we　do　with　her　when　we　reach　Cairo？〃
　〃Take　her　to　an　address　I　will　give　you。〃　He　glanced　at　Ramses。　〃Memorize　it；　don't　write　it　down。〃
　〃That's　it；　then；〃　said　Emerson；　hearing　Selim　and　Esin　returning。　〃You　have　nothing　more　to　tell　us？〃
　Sethos　made　sure　we　had　no　chance　to　ask　for　more。　After　a　scratch　meal　he　went　off　with　Sir　Edward；　instructing　us　to　get　our　gear　together　and　be　ready　for　an　early　departure。　We　did　not　see　him　again　until　morning。
　It　was　still　dark　when　we　gathered　in　the　courtyard；　with　only　the　light　of　our　torches　to　guide　our　steps。　The　horses　were　waiting。
　〃Good…bye；〃　said　Sethos。　〃A　safe　journey。〃
　He　shook　Emerson's　hand　and　mine。　〃When　will　we　see　you　again？〃　I　asked。
　〃When　you　least　expect　me；　Amelia　dear。　That's　my　trademark。〃　He　smiled　at　me。　〃You'll　hear　from　me　soon；　I　promise。　Good…bye；　Nefret。　Try　and　keep　Ramses　out　of　mischief。〃
　〃I　always　do。〃　She　stood　on　tiptoe　and　kissed　him　on　the　cheek。　〃Take　care　of　yourself。　Sir　Edward；　try　and　keep　him　out　of　mischief。〃
　〃Don't　I　get　a　kiss？〃　that　gentleman　inquired。
　She　laughed　at　him；　and　gave　him　her　hand。　〃Good　luck。　And　thank　you。〃
　We　reached　Khan　Yunus　by　midmorning　and　went　at　once　to　the　house；　followed　by　a　throng　of　idlers。　The　gate　was　closed；　and　there　were　two　soldiers　guarding　it。　They　snapped　to　attention；　rifles　raised；　when　they　saw　us；　and　then　one　of　them　exclaimed；　〃It's　them！〃
　〃Grammar；　young　man；〃　I　said。　〃It　is　indeed　we。　Let　us　pass；　if　you　please。〃
　Selim　went　at　once　to　his　beloved　motorcar。　〃They　have　stolen　two　of　the　tires！〃　he　cried　in　anguished　tones。
　〃That's　easily　remedied；〃　said　Emerson；　helping　me　to　dismount。　〃e　along；　Selim；　you　can　play　with　the　motorcar　later。〃
　A　quick　inspection　assured　us　that　the　house　was　deserted　and　that　a　good　many　items　were　missing；　including　the　best　part　of　〃the　favorite's〃　elegant　wardrobe。　〃Can't　be　helped；〃　said　Emerson。　〃Lucky　we　had　everything　we　needed　with　us。　Let　us　go　to　the　mak'ad。　I　expect　we　will　be　receiving　a　visit　soon。〃
　〃Yes；　our　arrival　will　have　been　reported；〃　I　agreed。　〃Esin；　I　want　you　to　stay　here　in　the　harem。〃
　〃Why？〃　she　demanded。
　〃You　are　an　enemy　alien；〃　Nefret　said。　〃If　the　soldiers　find　out　you　are　here；　they　will　take　you　away。〃
　I　hadn't　intended　to　be　quite　so　blunt　about　it；　but　the　warning　had　the　desired　effect。　Esin's　rounded　cheeks　paled。
　〃We　won't　let　them　take　you；〃　Ramses　said　quickly。　〃Just　stay　out　of　sight　and　keep　quiet。〃
　〃I　would　very　much　like　a　bath；〃　I　said。　〃But　that　will　have　to　wait　until　we　round　up　a　few　of　the　servants。　In　the　meantime；　what　about　a　nice　hot　cup　of　tea？〃
　　
　The　inefficiency　of　the　military　was　disappointing。　It　took　them　an　hour　to　react　to　the　news　that　we　had　returned。　The　open　arches　of　the　mak'ad　constituted　an　excellent　observation　post；　we　were　sipping　a　second　cup　of　tea　when　he　burst　into　the　courtyard；　kicked　an　unfortunate　chicken　out　of　his　path；　and　came　to　a　stop；　staring。　Emerson　leaned　over　the　rail　and　called　to　him。
　〃Up　here；　Cartright。　Join　us。〃
　〃We　ought　to　have　expected　it　would　be　he；〃　I　remarked。　〃He　appears　to　be　in　quite　an　unhappy　frame　of　mind。〃
　Cartright　took　the　stairs　two　at　a　time。　His　face　was　flushed　and　his　mustache　looked　as　if　he　had　been　chewing　on　it。
　〃You're　here；〃　he　gasped。　〃All　of　you。〃
　〃Obviously；〃　I　replied。　〃Nefret；　is　there　more　hot　water？　I　believe　Major　Cartright　could　do　with　a　cup　of　tea。　Do　sit　down；　Major。〃
　The　young　man　collapsed　onto　a　chair　and　passed　a　handkerchief　over　his　face。　〃Where　have　you　been？　We've　been　searching　for　days。〃
　〃Not　that　long；　surely；〃　I　said。　〃Drink　your　tea。　We　have　decided　to　take　advantage　of　your　kind　offer　to　facilitate　our　return　to　Cairo。　We　will　need　petrol；　water；　food；　and　two　new　tires。　Is　there　anything　else；　Emerson？〃
　Leaning　against　the　wall；　arms　folded　and　lips　twitching；　Emerson　shook　his　head。　〃Not　that　I　know　of。　Continue；　Peabody；　you　seem　to　have　the　situation　well　in　hand。〃
　〃We　would　like　to　leave　tomorrow　morning；〃　I　explained。　〃You　seem　to　have　frightened　our　servants　away。　Persuade　…　persuade；　I　said　…　them　to　return。　We　have　clothing　to　be　washed　and　meals　to　be　prepared。〃
　〃Mrs。　Emerson　。　。　。　please。〃　Cartright　waved　away　the　cup　I　had　offered。　〃Just　stop　talking；　will　you？　Professor；　I　want　to　know　where　the　devil　…〃
　〃Language；　language；〃　said　Emerson。　〃There　are　ladies　present。　As　for　answering　your　questions；　sir；　I　am　not　subject　to　your　orders。〃
　〃General　Chetwode　…〃
　〃Nor　his。　I　will　report　to　whom　I　see　fit　and　when　I　see　fit。　In　Cairo；　to　be　precise。　Are　you　going　to　get　us　the　supplies　we　need　or　must　I　go　over　your　head？〃
　〃I　。　。　。　yes。　That　is；　I　will　get　them。　And　go　with　you。〃
　〃There　won't　be　room　in　the　motorcar；〃　said　Emerson　with　finality。　〃Oh　…　I　almost　forgot。　The　horses。　Fine　animals。　They　are　in　the　stable。〃
　Cartright　sat　bolt　upright。　〃Then　it　was　you　who　。　。　。　One　of　the　troopers　swore　there　was　a　woman　in　the　party；　but　…〃
　〃Me；〃　said　Nefret　with　a　smile。　〃The　poor　boy　wants　his　Mary　back；　I　expect。　Tell　him　she　has　been　well　cared　for　and　that　I　thank　him　for　the　loan。〃
　〃That　is　all　you　have　to　say？〃　His　frowning　visage　turned　from　Nefret　to　Emerson。
　〃It　is　all　any　of　us　have　to　say；〃　Emerson　assured　him。　〃When　may　we　expect　those　supplies？〃
　Major　Cartright's　countenance　underwent　a　series　of　contortions。　He　had　been　sorely　tried；　but　knew　perfectly　well　that　any　attempt　to　detain　Emerson　against　his　will　would　result　in　an　uproar　that　would　reverberate　through　every　level　of　British　officialdom。
　〃I'm　not　cert