anner.themummy-第64节
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Only a few steps more； he thought as the elevator doors opened。 If he could only make it to a clean bed。 He was dizzy now； and close to nausea。 He was grateful for his son； who held him firmly around the shoulders； and would not let him fall。
As soon as he reached his room； he lost his balance altogether。 But Walter was there； and Walter and Alex together helped him onto the bed。
〃I want to sit up；〃 he said crankily like an old invalid。
〃I'll run you a bath； my lord； a good hot restful bath。〃
〃Do that； Walter； but you'll bring me a drink first。 Scotch； and set the bottle beside the glass。〃
〃Father； I've never seen you like this。 I'm going to ring the house doctor。〃
〃You are not！〃 Elliott said。 His tone startled Alex； which was all well and good。〃 Would Lady Macbeth have benefited from a doctor？ I don't think a doctor would have helped her。〃
〃Father； what is all this about？〃 Alex's voice had dropped to a whisper； as it always did when he was truly upset。 He watched as Walter put the glass in Elliott's hand。
Elliott drank a swallow of the whisky。〃 Ah； that's good；〃 he sighed。 In that horrid little house； that house of death and madness； there had been a dozen bottles of Henry's liquor； yet he could not bring himself to touch them； could not bring himself to drink from a glass that had been Henry's； or to eat a morsel of Henry's food。 He had given it to her； but he could not himself touch it。 And now he luxuriated in the sweet warmth of the Scotch； so utterly different from the burning in his chest。
〃Now； Alex； you must listen；〃 he said； taking another swallow。〃 You are to leave Cairo immediately。 You're to pack your bags now and be on the five o'clock train to Port Said。 I 'm taking you to the train myself。〃
How utterly defenseless his son looked suddenly。 Just a boy； a sweet young boy。 And this is my dream of immortality； he
thought； and it has always been there。 My Alex； who must go home now to England where he will be safe。
〃That's out of the question； Father；〃 Alex said with the same gentleness。〃 I can't leave Julie here。〃
〃I don't want you to leave Julie。 You're taking Julie with you。 You're to go to her now。 Tell her to get ready！ Do as I say。〃
〃Father； you don't understand。 She won't leave until Ramsey's been cleared。 And no one can find Ramsey。 And no one can find Henry； either。 Father； until this matter's settled； I don't think the authorities would let any of us leave。〃
〃Dear God。〃
Alex took out his handkerchief； he folded it carefully and blotted Elliott's forehead。 He folded it again and offered it to Elliott。 Elliott took it and wiped his mouth。
〃Father； you don't think Ramsey really did these dreadful things； do you？ I mean； I was rather fond of Ramsey！〃
Walter came to the door。〃 Your bath's ready； my lord。〃
〃Poor Alex；〃 Elliott whispered。〃 Poor decent and honorable Alex。〃
〃Father； tell me what's the matter。 I've never seen you like this。 You're not yourself。〃
〃Oh； yes； I am myself。 My true self。 Desperate and cunning and full of mad dreams as always。 Too much myself。 You know； my son； when you inherit the title； you will probably be the only decent and honorable Earl of Rutherford in our whole history。〃
〃You're being the philosopher again。 And I'm not all that decent and honorable。 I'm merely well bred； which I hope is a tolerable substitute。 Now； get into the bath。 You'll feel much better。 And don't drink any more Scotch； please。〃 He called out to Walter to e and give him a hand。
Miles Winthrop stared at the telegram placed in his hand by the man standing before him。
〃Arrest her？ Julie Stratford！ For the theft of a priceless mummy in London？ But this is madness； all of it。 Alex Savarell and I went to school together！ I'm contacting the British Museum myself。〃
〃Very well； but do it promptly；〃 said the other。〃 The governor's furious。 The Department of Antiquities is up in arms。 And find Henry Stratford。 Track down that mistress of his； that dancing girl； Malenka。 Stratford's somewhere in Cairo； and
pretty well besotted； you can be sure of it。 In the meantime arrest somebody or the old man will blow his top。〃
'〃The hell I will；〃 Miles whispered as he picked up the phone。
Ah； such a bazaar。 Everything was for sale here…rich fabrics； perfumes； spices； and strange ticking devices with Roman numbers on them； jewelry and pottery； and food！ But she had no money to buy the food！ The first peddler had told her in English and with age…old indisputable gestures that the money she had was no good。
She walked on。 She was listening to the voices on all sides of her； picking out the English； trying to understand。
〃I won't pay that much。 That's too dear； the man's trying to rob us。。。〃
〃Just a little drink； e on now。 It's burning hot。〃
〃Oh； and these necklaces； how pretty。〃
Laughter； horrid noises； loud grating noises！ She had heard these before。 She put her hands over her ears under the broad floppy headdress。 She walked on； trying to shut out what hurt her and still hear what she needed in order to learn。
Suddenly a monstrous sound…an inconceivable sound…shook her and she looked up； on the verge of screaming。 Her hands would not shut it out。 She stumbled forward； realizing in her panic that those around her were not frightened！ Those around her were scarcely paying any attention at all。
She had to fathom this mystery！ And though the tears were welling in her eyes； she moved on。
What she beheld suddenly filled her with a nameless dread。 She had no words in any tongue to describe it。 Immense； black； it moved forward； on wheels made of metal； a chimney atop it belching smoke。 The sound was so loud all other sounds vanished。 Great wooden wagons following； coupled to it by huge hooks of black iron。 The whole monstrous caravan thundering along a thin strip of metal that ran along the ground。 And the noise grew even louder as the thing rolled past her and entered a great yawning tunnel in which hundreds crowded as if trying to get near to it。
She sobbed aloud； staring at it。 Oh； why had she left her hideaway？ Why had she left Lord Rutherford； who would have protected her？ But just when it seemed she could see nothing worse than this awful chain of wagons rattling past her； the last one entered the tunnel and she beheld； beyond the metal pathway； a great granite statue of the Pharaoh Ramses； standing with arms folded； his scepters in his crossed hands。
In dizzying shock she looked at this colossus。 Ripped from the land she had known； the land she had ruled； this tiling stood here； grotesque； abandoned； ludicrous。
She backed away。 Another one of the demonic chariots was ing。 She heard a great searing screech from it； and then it roared by； obliterating the statue。
She felt herself turning； inward； away from all of it； back into the darkness； into the dark water whence she'd e。
When she opened her eyes a young Englishman stood over her。 He had his arm around her and was lifting her and telling others to get away。 She understood that he was asking after her and what he might do。
〃Coffee；〃 she whispered。〃 I should like some sugar in my coffee。〃 Words from the talking machine Lord Rutherford had revealed to her。〃 I should like a bit of lemon in my tea。〃
His face brightened。〃 Well； yes； of course。 I shall get you some coffee。 I shall take you there； into the British cafe！〃
He lifted her to her feet。 What a fine muscular youth he was。 And blue eyes he had； so rich in color； almost like the other。。。
She glanced back over her shoulder。 It had not been a dream。 The statue stood there towering over the iron pathways； she could hear the roar of the chariots； though none was in sight。
She was weak again for a moment； stumbling； he caught her。 He helped her right along。
She listened keenly to the words he spoke。
〃It's a nice place； you can sit； rest。 You know； you gave me quite a scare there a moment ago。 Why； you fell just as if you'd been struck over the head。〃
The cafe。 The voice on the gramophone had said；〃 I shall meet you in the cafe。〃 A place for drinking coffee； obviously； for meeting； talking。 And full of women in these dresses； and young men clothed like Lord Rutherford and this fine creature； with the powerfully built arms and legs。
She sat down at the small marble…top table。 Voices everywhere。〃 Why； I frankly think everything here is super； but you know Mother； the way she carries on。〃 And〃 Gruesome； isn't it？ They say her neck was broken。〃 And〃 Oh； this tea is cold。 Call that waiter。〃
She watched the man at the next table peel off slips of printed paper for the servant。 Was this money？ The servant was giving him coins in return。
A tray of hot coffee had been set down before her。 She was so hungry now she could have drunk the pot entirely； but she knew it was proper to let him pour it in the cups。 Lord Rutherford had showed her that much。 And yes； the young man did it。 Pretty smile he had。 How to tell him that she wanted to bed him immediately？ They should find a small inn。
