elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第84节

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　his　chin。　〃There　are　ways。〃
　〃Well；　I　sure　don't　want　to　miss　that；〃　Cyrus　declared。　〃I'll　be　waiting　for　you　in　the　morning。　You'll　all　dine　with　us　tomorrow　evening；　I　hope。　Katherine　is　anxious　to　see　you。〃
　Ramses　and　Nefret　decided　they　did　not　want　to　miss　it　either。　I　went　along　to　make　certain　Emerson　behaved　himself。　Jumana　went　along　because　I　insisted。　Nefret's　diagnosis　might　be　correct　…　it　was　in　keeping　with　the　principles　of　psychology　I　favored　…　but　she　had　confessed　herself　uncertain　as　to　the　appropriate　treatment。　I　had　my　own　ideas　on　that　subject。　If　my　methods　were　not　effective；　at　least　they　could　do　no　harm。
　Jumana　ate　very　little　at　breakfast；　but　I　had　checked　the　larder　before　retiring　and　again　when　I　arose；　and　was　not　surprised　to　find　that　half　a　loaf　of　bread　and　a　chicken　breast　had　disappeared　overnight。　It　was　no　wonder　Fatima　had　not　noticed　anything　amiss。　The　larder　was　open　to　everyone　in　the　house；　and　Sennia　had　an　appetite　quite　out　of　proportion　to　her　little　frame。
　Cyrus　and　Bertie　had　been　looking　out　for　us　and　joined　us　at　the　end　of　the　track　that　led　up　to　the　Castle。　It　was　a　bright；　beautiful　morning　with　clear　skies；　after　the　fog　of　Cairo　and　the　rainy　weather　of　Palestine；　I　appreciated　Luxor　even　more。
　〃How　well　you　look；　Bertie；〃　I　said。　〃The　foot　is　pletely　healed？〃
　〃Yes；　ma'am；　thank　you。　I　need　not　ask　if　you　are　in　good　health；　you　are　blooming；　as　usual。　We　had　heard　that　Ramses　…〃
　〃The　reports　were　exaggerated；〃　Ramses　said　with　a　smile。　〃As　you　can　see。〃
　〃And　your　arm；　Professor？〃　Bertie　asked。
　〃A　confounded　nuisance；〃　said　Emerson。　〃Can　we　get　on　now？　I　want　to　finish　this　little　job；　so　I　can　start　work。〃
　Bertie　was　not　given　the　opportunity　to　ask　after　the　person　who　interested　him　most。　Jumana　had　not　spoken　to　him　or　to　Cyrus。　She　sat　slumped　in　the　saddle；　her　head　bowed　and　her　pretty　mouth　twisted。　The　taste　of　the　medicine　I　had　insisted　she　take　lingered　on　the　tongue。
　We　left　the　horses　in　the　donkey　park　and　proceeded　on　foot；　along　paths　long　familiar　to　us。　I　should　explain　that　the　Valley　of　the　Kings　is　not　a　single　long　canyon。　From　above　it　resembles　a　lobed　leaf；　like　that　of　an　oak　or　maple；　with　side　wadis　branching　off　to　left　and　right。　The　tomb　of　Hatshepsut　was　at　the　far　end　of　one　of　these　branches。　We　had　worked　in　that　area　before　and　knew　it　well。
　The　tourists　had　e　early　to　the　Valley　in　order　to　avoid　the　heat　of　midday。　We　were　not　so　early　as　Emerson　would　have　liked；　but　in　part　it　was　his　own　fault；　he　had　wasted　some　time　playing　with　the　Great　Cat　of　Re；　who　had　e　to　breakfast　with　Ramses　and　Nefret。　It　had　grown　quite　fat；　through　overfeeding　（by　Sennia　…　she　claimed　to　have　been　training　it；　to　do　what　I　could　not　imagine）。　She　had　also　bed　and　brushed　it　every　day；　so　that　its　fur　had　bee　long　and　silky。　Emerson　was　highly　entertained　by　its　antics。　As　it　leaped　at　the　bit　of　chicken　he　dangled　above　it；　it　looked　like　a　bouncing　ball　of　fluff。　（Horus's　look　of　contempt　as　he　watched　this　degrading　performance　was　equally　entertaining。）　However；　when　we　left　the　house　it　declined　to　ride　on　his　shoulder　and　climbed　onto　that　of　Ramses。
　〃Must　we　take　it？〃　he　asked。　〃You　rather　overdid　the　grooming；　Sennia；　its　fur　is　all　over　my　face。〃
　〃His；〃　said　Sennia。　〃Yes；　you　must　take　him。　What　if　you　were　attacked　by　a　snake？　I　am　ing　too。〃
　So　that　caused　another　delay。　I　did　not　want　her　to　see　…　or　hear　…　Emerson　evicting　the　Albions。　He　was　bound　to　lose　his　temper　and　employ　bad　language。　We　pacified　her　by　promising　to　stop　back　at　the　house　and　take　her　to　Deir　el　Medina；　and　distracted　her　by　asking　her　to　help　Fatima　prepare　a　very　elaborate　picnic　basket。
　Draped　over　Ramses's　shoulder；　with　his　tail　hanging　down　behind；　the　Great　Cat　of　Re　resembled　a　luxuriant　fur　piece。　Several　ladies　wanted　to　stroke　him；　several　gentlemen　stared　and　laughed。　Among　the　latter　was　Mr。　Lubancic；　whom　I　had　met　at　Cyrus's　soiree。　〃Still　here；　are　you？〃　I　called；　as　we　passed。
　〃Yes；　ma'am。　What　on　earth　…〃
　〃Another　time。〃　I　waved。　Emerson　had　not　slowed　his　pace。
　The　signs　of　energetic　activity　were　visible　some　distance　off；　a　cloud　of　dust　blurred　the　brilliant　blue　of　the　sky；　and　voices　rose　in　one　of　the　chants　with　which　Egyptians　lighten　their　work。　The　sight　we　beheld　when　we　reached　the　spot　was　unusual　enough　to　bring　us　all　to　a　halt。
　In　the　background　a　group　of　men　were　digging　and　hauling　away　debris。　In　the　foreground；　some　distance　from　the　dust　and　racket；　was　a　little　kiosk；　a　sturdy　wooden　frame　with　a　roof　and　sides　of　canvas。　Two　of　the　canvas　side　pieces　had　been　rolled　up；　and　under　the　canopy；　fortably　seated　in　armchairs；　were　the　three　Albions。　Oriental　rugs　covered　the　ground；　a　table　was　spread　with　various　articles　of　food　and　drink；　over　which　a　turbaned　servant　stood　guard　with　a　fly　whisk。　Another　servant　waved　a　fan　over　Mrs。　Albion。　She　wore　a　frock　that　would　have　been　suitable　for　tea　at　Buckingham　Palace；　and　a　hat　wreathed　with　chiffon　veiling。　Mr。　Albion　had　adopted　what　he　believed　to　be　proper　archaeologist's　attire：　riding　breeches　and　boots；　a　tweed　coat；　and　a　very　large　solar　topee。　His　son　was　similarly　attired；　but　since　he　was　a　good　deal　taller　than　Mr。　Albion；　he　did　not　so　closely　resemble　a　mushroom。
　One　of　the　workmen　came　trotting　up　to　Mr。　Albion　with　a　bit　of　stone　in　his　hand。　Albion　took　it；　glanced　at　it；　and　tossed　it　away。　He　then　condescended　to　notice　us。
　〃Morning；　folks。　Out　bright　and　early；　are　you？〃
　〃Not　so　early　as　you；〃　said　Emerson；　advancing　with　shoulders　squared　and　brows　thunderous。　〃You　have　been　told；　I　believe；　that　you　are　in　violation　of　Lord　Carnarvon's　firman。　Close　down　your　excavation　at　once。〃
　〃Who's　gonna　make　us？〃　Mr。　Albion　inquired。　He　looked　even　more　cherubic；　his　eyes　twinkling　and　his　lips　pursed。　〃You？〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Emerson。　〃Oh；　yes。〃
　〃Father；　if　I　may？〃　Sebastian　Albion　had　got　to　his　feet。　〃Not　everyone　appreciates　your　sense　of　humor。　Won't　you　sit　down；　ladies　and　gentlemen；　and　discuss　the　situation？　Mrs。　Emerson；　please　take　my　chair。　I'm　afraid　the　rest　of　you　will　have　to　…　er　…〃
　〃Squat；〃　said　Nefret；　doing　so。　〃Let's　hear　what　they　have　to　say；　Father。　It　won't　cause　much　of　a　delay　and　it　might　be　amusing。〃
　〃I　agree；〃　said　Ramses；　subsiding　with　boneless　ease　onto　the　rug　beside　Nefret　and　crossing　his　legs。
　〃Amusing；〃　Mr。　Albion　repeated。　〃Yes；　sirree；　that's　our　aim　in　life；　to　amuse　people　and　be　polite。　Here；　young　lady；　take　my　chair。　We　heard　you've　been　ailing。〃
　Jumana　started；　and　so；　I　believe；　did　we　all。　Such　gallantry　was　not　only　unexpected　but　was；　in　my　opinion；　highly　suspicious。
　〃No；　thank　you；〃　she　stammered。　〃Sir。〃
　〃I　insist。〃　He　was　on　his　feet；　his　face　wreathed　in　smiles。　〃Sebastian；　you　persuade　her。〃
　〃With　pleasure。〃　The　young　man　offered　his　hand。　Jumana　blushed　and　ducked　her　head。
　〃Sit　down；　Jumana；〃　I　ordered。　〃Since　Mr。　Albion　is　kind　enough　to　offer。〃
　Mrs。　Albion　ignored　this　little　byplay。　She　was　leaning　forward　with　the　first　sign　of　amiable　interest　I　had　seen　her　display。　〃What　a　beautiful　cat。　What　is　its　name？〃
　〃The　Great　Cat　of　Re；〃　I　replied。　〃You　would　call　it　Fluffy；　I　suppose。〃
　Mr。　Albion　chuckled。　〃No；　she　gives　her　cats　names　like　Grand　Duchess　Olga　of　Albion。　Fond　of　the　creatures。　I　put　up　with　'em　because　she's　fond　of　'em。〃
　〃Now　see　here；〃　Emerson　exclaimed。　〃I　will　be　cursed　if　I　will　spend　the　morning　talking　about　cats。　What　do　you　people　think　you　are　doing？〃
　Sebastian　Albion　removed　his　eyeglasses；　wiped　them　on　a　handkerchief；　and　replaced　them。　〃As　you　have　no　doubt　observed；　sir；　we　are　clearing　the　tomb　of　Prince　Mentuherkhepshef。　It　was　found　by　Belzoni　and　reexamined　in　1905　by　…〃
　〃Don't　tell　me　facts　I　know　better　than　you；〃　Emerson　interrupted。　Curiosity　had　weakened　his　wrath；　however；　the　Albions　were　so　blandly　outrageous；　it　was　difficult　to　remain　angry　with　them。　And　Sebastian　had　pronounced　the　prince's　name　correctly。　He　knew　more　about　Egyptology　than　we　had　supposed。
　〃What　do　you　hope　to　find？〃　Emerson　went　on。　〃The　tomb　is　empty。　Ayrton；　who　was　here　in　1905；　found　only　a　few　scraps。　The　paintings　。　。　。　oh；　good　Gad！〃
　He　whirled　round　and　ran　toward　the　workmen。　A　stentorian　bellow　stopped　diggers　and　basket　men；　and　as　the　cloud　of　dust　subsided；　Emerson　vanished　into　the　dark　opening　of　the　tomb。　He　was　out　again　in　ten　seconds；　waving　his　fists。　〃Someone　has　been　hacking　at　the　walls。　There　was　a　painting　of　the　prince　offering　to　Khonsu　…〃
　〃Defaced　or　missing？〃　Ramses　asked。
　〃Missing。　pletely　cut　out；　leaving　a　great　hole。　Probably　in　pieces。　Curse　it！〃
　〃We　didn't　do　it；〃　Sebastian　hastened　to　say。　〃We　haven't　touched　the　paintings。〃
　〃You　aren't　doing　them　any　good；〃　Emerson　retorted　furiously。　〃All　that　dust　and　debris　floating　about　。　。　。　My　patience　is　at　an　end。　Stop　work　at　once。〃
　〃What　are　you　going　to　do；　carry　us　out　of　here　bodily？〃　Mr。　Albion　inquired。　〃There's　nothing　to　stop　us　from　ing　back。〃
　〃Your　workmen　won't　e　back。　I　am　about　to　put　a　curse　on　the　place。　They　won't　dare　go　near　it　after　that；　and　neither　will　any　of　t