anner.themummy-第70节

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　〃Well；　you　have　my　proposition；　Your　Royal　Highness。　You　give　me　the　elixir。　And　in　a　quantity　sufficient　to　resolve　all　doubts。　And　I　shall　give　you　Cleopatra；　Queen　of　Egypt；　to　do　with　as　you　like。〃
　
　Ramses　looked　at　him　directly。〃　And　suppose　I　told　you　I　would　kill　you　if　you　did　not　tell　me　where　she　was？〃
　
　〃Kill　me。　Without　the　elixir　I'll　die　anyway。　Those　are　the　only　two　things　I　think　of　now：　death　and　the　elixir。　I'm　not　sure　I　can　distinguish　between　the　two　any　longer。〃　　One　more　glass　of　whisky；　that　was　all　he　could　handle。　He　drank　it　down　and　made　a　faint　bitter　face。〃　Look；　I'll　be　frank　with　you。　I　have　no　stomach　for　what　I've　seen　today。　But　I　want　that　potion。　And　all　else　collapses　in　the　face　of　mat　desire。〃
　
　〃Yes；　how　well　I　remember。　Yet　it　didn't　for　her。　She　chose　death。　To　be　with　her　beloved　Mark　Antony；　though　I　held　it　out　to　her。　That　was　her　choice。〃
　
　〃Then　she　didn't　really　know　what　death　was。〃
　
　Ramses　smiled。
　
　〃In　any　case；　that；　I　am　certain；　she　doesn't　remember。　And　if　she　does；　I　doubt　she　cares。　She's　alive　now；　suffering；　struggling　with　her　wounds；　her　hungers　。。。〃　He　stopped。
　
　Ramses　leaned　forward。〃　Where　is　she！〃
　
　〃Give　it　to　me。　And　I　will　help　you　with　her。　I　will　do　anything　that　I　can。　We　won't　be　enemies；　you　and　I。　We　aren't　enemies　now；　are　we？〃
　
　〃No；　not　enemies！〃　　Ramses　whispered。　His　voice　was　soft；　but　his　eyes　were　full　of　anger。〃　But　I　can't　give　it　to　you。　It's　far　too　dangerous。　You　simply　do　not　understand。〃　
　
　〃Yet　you　raised　her　from　the　dead　like　a　bloody　alchemist！〃　　Elliott　said　heatedly。〃　And　you　will　give　it　to　Julie　Stratford；　will　you　not？　And　your　devoted　friend；　Samir？〃
　
　Ramses　didn't　answer。　He　rested　back　against　the　wall；　eyes　forward　again。
　
　Elliott　stood　up。
　
　〃I'll　be　at　Shepheard's。　When　you've　brewed　the　elixir；　call　me　there。　I'll　know　your　voice　when　you　call。　But　be　careful。　Then　we　shall　arrange　another　meeting。〃
　
　Gathering　up　his　walking　stick；　he　started　for　the　door。　He　did　not　look　back；　hard　as　that　was　for　him。　His　face　was　burning　with　shame。　But　this　was　the　only　feeble　chance　that　remained　to　him；　and　he　played　it　out；　miserable　though　he　was。
　
　There　was　a　moment　of　fear　as　he　walked　in　the　dark　alleyway　alone。　He　was　keenly　aware　not　only　of　all　the　familiar　aches　and　pains　that　plagued　him；　but　also　of　the　general　weakness　from　which　he　was　suffering；　the　premature　curse　of　old　age。　Then　it　occurred　to　him　that　Ramses　would　follow！
　
　He　stopped；　listened。　Not　a　sound　in　the　darkness。　He　went　on。
　
　She　stood　in　the　front　room；　she　had　not　made　up　her　mind　whether　or　not　she　should　kill　this　noisy　bird。　It　was　being　quiet　at　this　moment；　clucking；　dancing　on　its　perch。　And　it　was　beautiful。　If　it　did　not　scream；　she　would　not　kill　it。　That　seemed　fair　enough。
　
　The　body　of　the　dancing　girl　had　begun　to　rot。　She　had　dragged　it　into　the　farthest　corner　of　the　garden　and　there　thrown　a　great　cloth　over　it；　but　still　she　could　smell　it。
　
　Even　in　the　back　kitchen　she　could　smell　it。　But　that　had　not　stopped　her　from　consuming　all　the　food　she　could　find。　A　few　lemons；　very　sweet：　a　loaf　of　stale　bread。
　
　After　that　she　had　changed　into　one　of　the　other〃　frocks；〃　　to　use　the　American's　word　for　frilly　dress。　This　one　was　white；　she　liked　it　because　it　made　her　skin　look　very　fine　and　faintly　golden；　and　it　had　even　bigger　skirts　with　great　ruffles　to　hide　her　feet。
　
　The　pain　in　her　feet　was　bad。　So　was　the　pain　in　her　side。　If　Lord　Rutherford　did　not　e　soon；　she　would　go　out　again。　Though　how　to　find　him；　she　had　no　idea。　It　had　been　hard　enough　finding　this　house　again。　She　had　driven　the　American　motor　car　to　the　outskirts　of　this　curious　part　of　the　city　where　the　houses　were　old　and　without　colour　or　decoration；　and　then　she　had　wandered　through　the　narrow　streets　until　she　saw　the　open　door。　Now　she　was　growing　impatient。
　
　Suddenly　she　heard　a　knock。
　
　〃Your　name？〃　　she　said　in　English。
　
　〃Elliott；　Lord　Rutherford。　Open　for　me。〃
　
　She　opened　the　door　at　once。
　
　〃I　have　waited　a　long　while　for　you；　Lord　Rutherford。　You　have　brought　the　elixir　to　me？　You　know　where　is　the　man　with　the　blue　eyes？〃
　
　Lord　Rutherford　was　startled　by　her　English。　She　gave　a　little　shrug　of　her　shoulders　as　she　closed　the　door。〃　Oh；　yes；　your　language　is　no　puzzle　to　me；〃　　she　said。〃　In　the　streets　of　this　city　today　I　heard　much　of　it　and　other　such　tongues。　I　learned　many　things。　It's　the　past　that's　the　puzzle；　the　world　I　cant　remember！〃　　Suddenly　she　felt　angry。　Why　was　he　staring　at　her　like　that！〃　Where　is　Ramses！〃　　she　demanded。　She　was　certain　that　that　was　the　name　of　the　man　with　the　blue　eyes。
　
　〃I　spoke　with　him。　I　told　him　what　was　needed。〃
　
　〃Yes；　Lord　Rutherford。〃　　She　approached　him。　He　backed　away　from　her。〃　Do　you　fear　me？〃
　
　〃I　don't　know。　I　want　to　protect　you；〃　　he　whispered。
　
　〃Ah；　true。　And　Ramses；　the　blue…eyed　one。　Why　does　he　not　e？〃　　Something　unpleasant；　something　very　unpleasant。　A　dim　image　of　Ramses　backing　away　from　her。　Of　Ramses　standing　many　feet　away　from　her　as　she　cried　out。　Something　about　the　venom　of　the　snake　and　。。。　she　was　screaming；　but　no　one　could　hear　her！　And　then　they　pulled　the　black　cover　over　her　face。　She　turned　away　from　Lord　Rutherford。〃　If　I　remembered　nothing；　it　would　be　easier；〃　　she　whispered。〃　But　I　see　it；　and　then　I　see　it　no　more。〃　　She　turned　back　to　him。
　
　〃You　have　to　be　patient；〃　　Lord　Rutherford　said。〃　He　will　e。〃
　
　〃Patient！　I　don't　want　to　be　patient。　I　want　to　find　him。　Tell　me　where　he　is。　I　shall　go　to　him。〃
　
　〃I　can't。　That's　impossible！〃
　
　〃Is　it！〃　　Her　voice　had　risen　to　a　shriek。　She　saw　the　fear　in　him；　she　saw　the　。。。　what　was　it？　He　was　not　repelled　as　the　others　had　been。　No；　it　was　something　else　as　he　stared　at　her。〃　Tell　me　where　to　find　him！〃　　she　screamed。　She　took　another　step　towards　him；　driving　him　towards　the　wall。〃　I　will　tell　you　a　secret；　Lord　Rutherford。　You　are　weak；　all　of　you。　Strange　beings！　And　I　like　killing　you。　It　soothes　my　pain　to　watch　you　die。〃
　
　She　rushed　at　him；　grabbing　him　by　the　throat。　She　would　shake　the　truth　from　him；　and　then　kill　him　if　he　did　not　tell　her。　But　suddenly　strong　hands　laid　hold　of　her；　wrenching　her　backwards。　For　a　moment　she　could　not　get　her　bearings；　she　screamed；　blundering；　and　then　saw　the　blue…eyed　man　standing　before　her。　Who　was　this！　She　knew；　ah；　but　it　was　just　beyond　Her　grasp。　Yet　the　word　broke　from　her：〃　Ramses！〃　　Yes；　this　was　Ramses；　the　blue…eyed　one。。。　She　ran　at　him　with　her　hands　out。
　
　〃Get　out；〃　　he　shouted　to　the　other。〃　Get　away　from　here。　Go。〃
　
　His　throat　felt　like　marble。　She　could　not　snap　the　bones！　But　he　could　not　throw　her　off；　either；　no　matter　how　hard　he　tried。　Vaguely；　she　knew　that　Elliot；　Lord　Rutherford；　had　left　the　house；　slamming　the　door　behind　him。　And　she　was　alone　now；　battling　her　nemesis；　Ramses；　who　at　another　time　had　turned　away　from　her；　Ramses；　who　had　hurt　her。　It　didn't　matter　that　she　couldn't　remember。　It　was　like　the　name。　She　knew！
　
　Through　the　room　they　struggled　and　into　the　other。　She　freed　her　right　hand　only　long　enough　to　scratch　at　him　with　her　bone…bare　fingers；　before　he　caught　her　wrist　again。　With　all　her　strength　she　fought　him；　seething　with　rage。　Then　she　saw　his　hand　go　up。　She　tried　to　duck；　but　the　blow　caught　her；　and　she　fell　back　on　the　bed。　Sobbing；　she　turned　and　pushed　her　face　into　the　pillows。　She　could　not　kill　him！　She　could　not　snap　his　neck。
　
　〃Damn　you；〃　　she　roared；　not　in　the　new　tongue　but　in　the　old　one。〃　Evil　Ramses！〃　　She　spat　at　him　as　she　lay　there；　hands　drawn　under　her　breast；　gazing　up　at　him；　wishing　she　had　the　strength　of　a　cat　to　spring　at　him　and　slice　open　his　eyes。
　
　Why　did　he　look　at　her　like　that？　Why　did　he　weep？
　
　〃Cleopatra！〃　　he　whispered。
　
　Her　vision　blurred　for　an　instant；　a　load　of　memories　so　vast　and　heavy　hovered　just　near　her；　ready　to　wipe　out　the　moment　utterly；　should　she　give　in。　Dark；　awful　memories；　memories　of　suffering　she　never　wanted　to　revisit　again。
　
　She　sat　up　on　the　bed；　looking　at　him；　puzzling　over　the　tender；　wounded　expression　of　his　face。
　
　Handsome　man　he　was；　beautiful。　Skin　like　the　young　ones；　firm；　sweet　mouth。　And　the　eyes；　the　large；　translucent　blue　eyes。　She　saw　him　in　another　place；　a　dark　place；　as　she　rose　up　out　of　the　abyss。　He'd　been　bending　over　her　saying　the　ancient　prayer　in　Egyptian。　You　are；　now　and　for　always。
　
　〃You　did　this　to　me；〃　　she　whispered。　She　heard　the　glass　breaking；　the　boards　shattering；　felt　those　stones　under　her　feet。　Her　arms　had　been　blackened；　withered！〃　You　brought　me　here；　to　these　'modern　times；'　and　when　I　reached　out　to　you；　you　ran　from　me！〃
　
　Like　a　boy；　he　bit　his　lip；　trembling；　tears　washing　down　his　cheeks。　Should　she　pity　him　in　his　suffering！
　
　〃No；　I　swear　it；〃　　he　said　in　the　old　familiar　Latin。〃　Others　came　between　us。　I　would　never　have　left　you。〃
　
　This　was　a　lie。　An　awful　lie。　She　had　tried　to　rise　off　the　couch。　The　poison　of　the　snake　was　paralyzing　her。　Ramses！　In　p