anner.themummy-第66节

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id。
　
　Before　they'd　left　the〃　railway　station〃　　she'd　realized　that　the　big　iron　chariots　pulled　people　about。　Just　a　mon　means　of　transportation。　How　strange。
　
　This　one　was　not　as　elegant　as　Lord　Rutherford；　by　any　means；　but　he　spoke　more　slowly　and　it　was　being　quite　simple　for　her　to　understand；　especially　as　he　pointed　to　things　as　he　spoke。　She　knew　now　what　was　a　Ford　automobile；　and　a　Stutz　Bearcat；　and　also　a　little　roadster。　This　man　sold　such　things　in　America。　He　was　a　merchant　of　Ford　automobiles　in　America。　Even　poor　people　could　buy　these　driving　machines。
　
　She　clutched　the　canvas　bag　he'd　bought　her；　which　held　the　money　and　the　bits　of　paper　with　OPERA　written　on　them。
　
　〃And　this　here　is　where　the　tourists　live；〃　　he　said　to　her；〃　more　or　less。　I　mean；　this　is　the　British　sector。　。。。〃
　
　〃English；〃　　she　said。
　
　〃Yes；　but　all　the　Europeans　and　Americans　pretty　much　e　here；　too。　And　that　building　there…that's　where　all　the　best　people　stay；　the　British　and　the　Americans；　that's　Shepheard's；　the　hotel；　if　you　know　what　I　mean。〃
　
　〃Shepheard's…the　hotel？〃　　She　gave　a　little　laugh。
　
　〃That's　where　the　opera　ball's　going　to　be　tomorrow　night。　That's　where　I'm　staying。　I　don't　much　like　opera〃　…he　made　a　little　face…〃never　did　much　care　for　it。　But　here　in　Cairo；　well；　this　is　an　important　thing；　you　see。〃
　
　〃Important　thing；　you　see。〃
　
　〃Real　important。　So　I　figured　pretty　much　I'd　go；　you　see；　and　to　the　ball　afterwards；　though　I　had　to　rent　a　tailcoat　and　all　that。〃　　He　had　a　lovely　light　in　his　eyes　as　he　looked　down　at　her。　He　was　enjoying　himself　immensely。
　
　And　she　was　enjoying　herself　as　well。
　
　〃And　Aida　being　all　about　ancient　Egypt。〃
　
　〃Yes；　Radames　singing。〃
　
　〃Yes！　So　you　know　it。　Bet　you　like　opera；　bet　you　appreciate　it。〃　　Suddenly　he　made　a　little　frown。〃　Are　you　okay；　little　lady？　Maybe　you'd　find　the　old　city　more　romantic。　You　want　something　to　drink？　How　about　a　little　ride　in　my　car。　It's　parked　right　behind　Shepheard's。〃
　
　〃Motorcar？〃
　
　〃Oh；　you're　quite　safe　with　me；　little　lady；　I'm　a　real　safe　driver。　Tell　you　what。　Have　you　been　out　to　the　pyramids？〃
　
　Pee…ra…mids。
　
　〃No；〃　　she　said。〃　Drive　in　your　car；　super！〃
　
　He　laughed。　He　shouted　a　mand　to　the　taxi　and　the　driver　pulled　the　horse　to　the　left。　They　rode　around　the　hotel；　Shepheard's；　a　handsome　building　with　pretty　gardens。
　
　When　he　reached　up　to　help　her　down　from　the　carriage；　he　almost　touched　the　tender　opening　in　her　side。　She　shivered。　But　it　had　not　happened。　Yet　it　had　reminded　her　that　the　wound　was　there。　How　could　one　live　with　such　awful　sores？　That　was　the　mystery。　Whatever　happened　now；　she　must　return　at　dusk　to　see　Lord　Rutherford　again。　Lord　Rutherford　had　gone　to　speak　with　the　man　who　could　explain　these　things…the　man　with　the　blue　eyes。
　
　They　arrived　together　at　the　hideout。　Julie　agreed　to　wait　as　Samir　and　Ramses　entered；　inspected　the　three　little　rooms　and　their　neglected　garden；　then　they　motioned　for　her　to　e　in；　and　Ramses　bolted　the　door。
　
　There　was　a　small　wooden　table　with　a　candle　in　the　middle；　stuck　in　an　old　wine　bottle。　Samir　lighted　the　candle。　Ramses　drew　up　two　of　the　straight…backed　chairs。　Julie　brought　the　other。
　
　This　was　fortable　enough。　The　afternoon　sun　came　through　the　old　garden　and　through　the　back　door；　and　the　place　was　hot；　but　not　unbearable；　as　it　had　been　locked　up　for　a　long　time。　A　damp　musky　odor　of　spices　and　hemp　hung　in　the　air。
　
　Julie　took　off　the　Arab　headdress；　and　shook　out　her　hair。　She　had　not　pinned　it　up　because　of　the　headdress；　and　now　she　loosened　the　ribbon　that　kept　it　tied　at　the　back　of　her　neck。
　
　〃I　don't　believe　you　killed　that　woman；〃　　she　said　immediately；　looking　up　at　Ramses　as　he　sat　across　from　her。
　
　Like　a　sheikh　he　looked　in　the　desert　robes；　his　face　partially　in　shadow；　the　candle　glinting　in　his　eyes。
　
　Samir　sat　down　quietly　to　her　left。
　
　〃I　didn't　kill　the　woman；〃　　Ramses　said　to　her。〃　But　I　am　responsible　for　the　woman's　death。　And　I　need　your　help；　both　of　you。　I　need　someone's　help。　And　I　need　your　forgiveness。　The　time　has　e　for　me　to　tell　you　everything。〃
　
　〃Sire；　I　have　a　message　for　you；〃　　Samir　said；〃　which　I　must　give　you　at　once。〃
　
　〃What　message？〃　　Julie　asked。　Why　hadn't　Samir　told　her　of　this？
　
　〃Is　it　from　the　gods；　Samir'？　Are　they　calling　me　to　account？　I　have　no　time　for　less　important　messages。　I　must　tell　you　what　has　happened；　what　I've　done。〃
　
　〃It's　from　the　Earl　of　Rutherford；　sire。　He　accosted　me　at　the　hotel。　He　looked　like　a　madman；　he　said　that　I　must　tell　you　that　he　has　her。〃
　
　Ramses　was　obviously　stunned。　He　glared　at　Samir　almost　murderously。
　
　Julie　could　not　bear　this。
　
　Samir　removed　something　from　under　his　robe　and　gave　it　to　Ramses。　It　was　a　glass　vial；　such　as　those　she'd　seen　among　the　alabaster　jars　in　the　collection。
　
　Ramses　looked　at　this；　but　he　didn't　move　to　touch　it。　Samir　went　to　speak　again；　but　Ramses　gestured　for　quiet。　His　face　was　so　heavily　disfigured　with　emotion　that　he　scarce　looked　like　himself。
　
　〃Tell　me　what　this　means！〃　　Julie　said；　unable　to　stop　herself。
　
　〃He　followed　me　to　the　museum；〃　　Ramses　whispered。　He　stared　at　the　empty　vial。
　
　〃But　what　are　you　talking　about？　What　happened　at　the　museum？〃
　
　〃Sire；　he　says　that　the　sun　has　helped　her。　That　the　medicine　in　the　vial　helped　her；　but　that　she　needs　more　of　it。　She　is　damaged；　inside　and　out。　She　has　killed　three　times。　She　is　mad。　He　keeps　her　safe　in　hiding；　he　wants　a　meeting　with　you。　He　has　given　me　the　time　and　place。〃
　
　For　a　moment；　Ramses　said　nothing。　Then　he　rose　from　the　table　and　headed　towards　the　door。
　
　〃No；　stop！〃　　Julie　cried　out；　rushing　towards　him。
　
　Samir　was　also　on　his　feet。
　
　〃Sire；　if　you　try　to　find　him　sooner；　you　may　be　apprehended。　The　hotel　is　surrounded。　Wait　till　he　leaves　and　goes　to　this　place　for　the　meeting。　It　is　the　only　safe　thing　to　do！〃
　
　Ramses　was　clearly　stymied。　Reluctantly；　he　turned；　looking　past　Julie　with　dull；　crazed　eyes。　He　moved　back　sluggishly　to　the　chair　and　sat　down。
　
　Julie　wiped　her　tears　with　her　handkerchief　and　took　her　chair　again。
　
　〃Where　and　when？〃　　Ramses　asked。
　
　〃Seven　tonight。　The　Babylon；　it's　a　French　night　club。　I　know　it。　I　can　take　you　there。〃
　
　〃I　cannot　wait　until　then！〃
　
　〃Ramses；　tell　us　what　all　this　means。　How　can　we　help　you　if　we　don't　know？〃
　
　〃Sire；　Julie　is　right。　Take　us　into　your　trust　now。　Allow　us　to　assist　in　this。　If　you　are　captured　again　by　the　police　。。。〃
　
　Ramses　waved　it　away　in　disgust。　His　face　was　working　silently　with　emotion。
　
　〃I　need　you；　and　when　I　tell　you；　I　may　lose　you。　But　so　be　it。　For　I　have　wreaked　havoc　with　your　lives。〃
　
　〃You　will　never　lose　me；〃　　Julie　said；　but　her　fear　was　mounting。　A　great　dread　of　what　was　to　e　was　building　in　her　soul。
　
　Until　these　last　few　moments　she　thought　she　understood　what　had　happened。　He　had　taken　the　body　of　his　love　from　the　museum。　He　had　wanted　to　see　it　properly　put　in　a　tomb。　But　now；　faced　with　the　vial　and　these　strange　words　from　Elliott；　she　considered　other　more　ghastly　possibilities；　denying　them　in　the　same　instant；　but　returning　to　them　again。
　
　〃Put　your　trust　in　us；　sire。　Let　us　share　this　burden。〃
　
　Ramses　looked　at　Samir；　then　at　her。
　
　〃Ah；　the　guilt　you　can　never　share；〃　　he　said。〃　The　body　in　the　museum。　The　unknown　woman　。。。〃
　
　〃Yes；〃　　Samir　whispered。
　
　〃She　was　not　unknown　to　me；　my　dear　ones。　The　ghost　of　Julius　Caesar　would　have　known　her。　The　shade　of　Mark　Antony　would　have　kissed　her。　Millions　once　mourned　for　her。　。。。〃
　
　Julie　nodded；　tears　rising　again。
　
　〃And　I　have　done　the　unspeakable。　I　took　the　elixir　to　the　museum。　I　did　not　realize　how　much　her　body　had　been　ravaged；　that　whole　hunks　of　flesh　were　no　longer　there；　I　poured　the　elixir　over　her！　After　two　thousand　years　life　stirred　in　her　ruined　body。　She　rose！　Bleeding；　wounded；　she　stood　upright。　She　walked。　She　reached　out　for　me。　She　called　my　name！〃
　
　Ah；　it　was　better　than　the　finest　wine；　better　even　than　making　love；　racing　over　the　road　in　the　open　American　motor　car；　the　wind　whistling　past　her；　the　American　shouting　convivially　as　he　jerked　the〃　stick　shift〃　　this　way　and　that。
　
　To　see　the　houses　flying　past。　To　see　the　Egyptians　trudging　with　their　donkeys　and　camels　and　to　leave　them　in　a　spray　of　gravel。
　
　She　adored　it。　She　looked　up　at　the　open　sky　above；　letting　the　wind　lift　her　hair　pletely　as　she　kept　one　hand　firmly　on　her　hat。
　
　Now　and　then　she　studied　what　he　did　to　make　this　chariot　move。　Pump　the　〃pedals〃；　　as　he　called　them；　over　and　over　again；　pull　the　stick；　turn　the　wheel。
　
　Ah；　it　was　too　thrilling；　too　marvellous。　But　suddenly　that　horrid　shrill　sound　caught　her　off　guard。　That　roaring　she　had　heard　in　the　　railway　station。　Her　hands　flew　to　her　ears。
　
　〃Don't　be　frightened；　little　lady；　it's　just　a　train。　See　there；　the　train's　ing！〃　　The　motor　coach　came　to　a　jerking　halt。
　
　Metal　pathways　side　by　side　in　the　desert　sand　bef