anner.themummy-第76节

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　〃Well；　we'll　just　take　the　lift　to　the　second　floor；〃　　he　said；　beaming　at　her。〃　And　walk　to　the　very　front　of　the　building。〃
　
　The　lift？　He　led　her　towards　a　pair　of　brass　gates。　He　pressed　a　small　button　in　the　wall…
　
　A　huge　drawing　stood　between　these　gates：　Aida；　the　opera。　And　there　were　the　same　Egyptian　figures　she'd　seen　before。〃　Ah；　the　opera；〃　　she　said。
　
　〃Yes；　quite　an　event；〃　　he　said。　The　brass　gate　had　opened；　and　a　man　inside　the　small　chamber　appeared　to　be　waiting　for　them。　She　stepped　inside。　It　was　like　a　cage。　And　it　frightened　her　suddenly。　The　doors　clanged　shut。　Some　sort　of　trap；　and　the　room　began　to　rise。
　
　〃Lord　Summerfield；〃　　she　cried。
　
　〃It's　quite　all　right；　Your　Highness；〃　　he　said。　He　threw　his　arms　around　her；　and　turning；　she　bowed　her　head　against　his　chest。　Oh；　he　was　so　much　sweeter　than　all　the　others；　and　when　a　strong　man　is　sweet；　even　goddesses　look　down　from　Mount　Olympus。
　
　At　last　the　doors　opened。　He　led　her　out　and　into　a　silent　passageway。　They　walked　towards　a　distant　window。
　
　〃What　frightened　you　so？〃　　he　asked。　But　his　intonation　had　no　mockery　or　disapproval。　It　was　almost　soothing。　He　took　the　key　from　her；　and　put　it　in　the　lock。
　
　〃The　room　moved；〃　　she　sighed。〃　Are　those　not　the　right　English　words？〃
　
　〃Yes；　they　are；〃　　he　said。　He　paused　as　they　entered　the　long　sitting　room；　with　rich　hangings　and　chairs　that　looked　for　all　the　world　like　giant　cushions。〃　Why；　you　are　die　strangest　creature。　So　out　of　this　world。〃
　
　She　reached　out　and　caressed　his　face；　and　slowly　kissed　him。　His　brown　eyes　were　troubled；　suddenly。　But　then　he　kissed　her　back；　and　the　sudden　fire　surprised　her　and　thrilled　her。
　
　〃For　this　night；　Lord　Summerfield；〃　　she　said；〃　this　is　my　palace；　and　now　we　must　go　and　seek　the　royal　bedchamber。〃
　
　Elliott　walked　to　the　door　of　the　bar　with　Pitfield。〃　I　can't　thank　you　enough　for　ing　immediately。〃
　
　〃Have　every　confidence；　old　boy；　and　do　see　if　you　can　get　some　word　to　your　friend。　Of　course；　I　can't　advise　you　to…〃
　
　〃I　know；　I　know。　Let　me　handle　that。〃　　Elliot　went　back　into　the　bar；　settled　down　into　the　leather　chair　and　picked　up　the　gin。　Yes；　definitely　he　would　slowly　drink　himself　to　death　when　this　was　over。
　
　He　would　go　out　to　the　country；　stock　the　finest　sherry　and　port　and　Scotch　and　gin；　and　just　drink　day　in　and　day　out　until　he　was　dead。　It　would　be　very　simply　wonderful。　He　saw　himself　there；　by　the　great　log　fire；　one　foot　on　the　leather　ottoman。　The　image　shimmered；　then　faded。　The　sickness　rose　in　his　throat；　and　he　was　near　to　breaking　down　pletely。
　
　〃Get　Alex　home；　get　him　home　and　safe；〃　　he　whispered；　and　then　he　began　to　tremble　almost　uncontrollably。　He　saw　her　again；　moving　through　the　museum　with　her　arms　out。　And　then　in　the　bed　looking　up　at　him：　he　felt　her　caress；　and　the　bare　bones　in　her　side　as　she'd　pressed　against　him。　He　remembered　the　crazed　look　in　Ramsey's　eyes　when　he'd　fought　her。
　
　The　trembling　got　worse。　Much　worse。
　
　No　one　noticed　in　the　dark　bar；　a　pianist　had　e　in…a　young　man；　who　began　to　play　a　slow　ragtime。
　
　He　had　helped　her　with　her　fine　dress　of　green　satin。　He　laid　it　over　the　chair；　and　when　the　lights　went　out；　she　saw　the　city　through　the　pale　curtains。　She　saw　the　river。
　
　〃The　Nile；〃　　she　whispered。　She　wanted　to　say　how　beautiful；　this　gleaming　strip　of　water　winding　through　the　built…up　city；　but　a　shadow　fell　over　her　soul。　An　image　came　to　her　like　all　the　rest；　descending　plete　and　entire　and　then　vanishing；　only　this　one　had　been　so　quick。　A　catab；　a　priest　walking　before　her。
　
　〃What　is　it；　Your　Highness？〃
　
　She　lifted　her　head　slowly。　She'd　moaned；　that's　what　had　frightened　him。
　
　〃You're　so　tender　with　me；　young　Lord　Summerfield；〃　　she　said。　Where　was　the　inevitable　unkindness　in　this　boy？　The　inevitable　need　to　hurt　which　all　men　evinced　sooner　or　later？
　
　She　looked　up　and　saw　that　he　was　now　naked　as　well；　and　the　sight　of　his　strong；　youthful　body　pleased　her　intensely。　She　placed　her　hand　on　his　flat　belly；　and　then　gently　on　his　chest。　It　was　always　the　hardness　of　men　all　over　that　excited　her；　even　the　hardness　of　their　mouths；　that　they　tensed　their　mouths　when　they　kissed；　she　liked　even　to　feel　their　teeth　behind　their　lips。
　
　She　kissed　him　roughly　and　pressed　her　breasts　against　him。　He　could　hardly　control　himself；　he　wanted　to　carry　her　to　the　bed；　he　tried　to　be　gentle。
　
　〃Such　an　unearthly　thing；〃　　he　whispered。〃　Wherever　did　you　e　from？〃
　
　〃From　darkness　and　coldness。　Kiss　me。　I　am　only　warm　again　when　I'm　kissed。　Make　a　fire；　Lord　Summerfield；　to　burn　both　of　us。〃
　
　She　went　back　against　the　pillows；　tugging　him　down　on　top　of　her。　Her　hand　plunged；　grasped　his　sex　and　stroked　it；　pinching　the　tip。　When　he　moaned；　she　opened　his　lips　with　her　own；　licking　at　his　tongue　and　his　teeth。
　
　〃Now；〃　　she　said。〃　Into　me。　The　second　time　is　for　the　slow　song。〃
　
　Julie's　suite。　Samir　set　the　newspapers　down　on　the　table。　Julie　drank　a　second　cup　of　the　sweet　Egyptian　coffee。
　
　〃You　mustn't　leave　me　tonight；　Samir。　Not　till　we　hear　from　him；〃　　she　said。　She　stood　up。〃　I'm　going　to　change　into　my　robe。　Promise　me　you　won't　leave　me。〃
　
　〃I'll　be　here；　Julie；〃　　he　said；〃　but　perhaps　you　should　sleep。　I'll　wake　you　as　soon　as　I　hear　anything。〃
　
　〃No；　I　can't　do　that。　I　want　only　to　get　out　of　these　tired　clothes。　I　won't　be　but　a　minute。〃
　
　She　went　into　the　bedroom。　She　had　sent　Rita　off　an　hour　ago　to　her　own　room；　and　thank　God　for　that；　she　wanted　only　to　be　with　Samir。　Her　nerves　were　worn　thin。　She　knew　Elliott　was　in　the　hotel；　but　she　could　not　bring　herself　to　ring　him。　She　did　not　want　to　see　him　or　talk　to　him。　Not　until　she　knew　what　Ramses　had　done；　and　she　could　not　break　the　feeling　of　foreboding。
　
　Slowly　she　took　the　pins　out　of　her　hair；　gazing　absently　in　the　mirror。　For　a　moment；　she　noticed　nothing　amiss；　and　then　suddenly　she　realized　that　a　tall　Arab　in　white　robes　was　standing　in　the　corner　of　the　room；　still　as　the　shadows；　merely　watching　her。　Her　Arab；　Ramses。
　
　She　spun　around；　her　hair　tumbling　down　all　at　once　over　her　shoulders。　Her　heart　was　about　to　burst。
　
　She　might　have　fainted　again　for　the　second　time　in　her　life；　if　he　hadn't　caught　her。　Then　she　saw　the　deep　bloodstain　on　his　robe　and　again　she　felt　weak；　blackness　rising　all　around　her。
　
　Silently　he　embraced　her；　pressing　her　to　himself。〃　My　Julie；〃　　he　said；　his　voice　heartbroken。〃　How　long　have　you　been　here？〃
　
　〃Only　a　little　while；〃　　he　said。〃　Let　me　be　silent　now；　let　me　hold　you。〃
　
　〃Where　is　she？〃
　
　He　let　her　go；　backing　off。〃　I　don't　know；〃　　he　said　in　a　defeated　voice。〃　I　have　lost　her。〃
　
　Julie　watched　him　as　he　paced；　turned　and　looked　at　her　from　a　distance。　She　was　keenly　aware　that　she　loved　him；　and　would　go　on　loving　him　no　matter　what　had　happened。　But　she　could　not　say　such　a　thing　to　him；　not　until　she　knew。。。
　
　〃Let　me　call　Samir；〃　　she　said。〃　He's　there；　in　the　sitting　room。〃
　
　〃I　want　to　be　alone　with　you　for　a　moment；〃　　he　said。　And　for　the　first　time；　he　appeared　just　slightly　afraid　of　her。　It　was　a　subtle　thing；　but　she　felt　it。
　
　〃You　must　tell　me　what's　happened。〃
　
　He　remained　impassive；　looking　at　her；　the　sheikh　robes　doing　their　damnedest　to　make　him　irresistible。　And　then　suddenly　his　expression　broke　her　heart；　no　use　denying　it。
　
　In　a　tremulous　voice；　she　said；〃　You　gave　her　more　of　it。〃
　
　〃You　haven't　seen　her；〃　　he　said　quietly；　his　voice　unhurried；　his　eyes　full　of　undisguised　sorrow。〃　You　have　not　heard　the　sound　other　voice！　You　have　not　heard　her　weeping。　Don't　judge　me。　She　is　as　alive　as　I　am！　I　brought　her　back。　Let　me　judge　myself。〃
　
　She　clasped　her　hands　tightly；　hurting　the　fingers　of　her　right　hand　with　the　fingers　of　the　other。
　
　〃What　do　you　mean；　you　don't　know　where　she　is？〃
　
　〃I　mean　she　escaped　from　me。　She　attacked　me；　she　tried　to　kill　me。　And　she　is　mad。　Lord　Rutherford　was　right。　Absolutely　mad。　She　would　have　killed　him　if　I　hadn't　stopped　her。　The　elixir　hasn't　changed　that。　It　merely　healed　her　body。〃
　
　He　took　a　step　towards　her；　and　before　she　could　stop　herself　she　turned　her　back。　She　was　going　to　cry　again；　oh；　so　many　tears。　And　she　didn't　want　to。
　
　〃Pray　to　your　gods；〃　　she　said；　looking　at　him　through　the　mirror。〃　Ask　them　what　to　do。　My　God　would　only　condemn　you。　But　whatever　happens　with　this　creature；　one　thing　is　certain。〃　　She　turned　and　looked　him　in　the　eye。〃　You　must　never；　never　brew　the　elixir　again。　Whatever　remains；　consume　it。　Do　it　now　in　my　presence。　And　men　erase　the　formula　from　your　mind。〃
　
　No　response。　Slowly　he　removed　the　headdress；　and　ran　his　hand　back　through　his　hair。　For　some　reason　this　only　made　him　look　all　the　more　gallant　and　seductive。　A　biblical　figure　now　with　flowing　hair　and　flowing　robes。　It　maddened　her　slightly；　and　made　the　threat　of　tears　all　the　more　sharp。
　
　〃Do　you　realize　what　you're　saying？〃
　
　〃If　it's　too　dangerous　to　consume　it；　then　find　someplace　far　out　in　the　desert　sands；　and　make　a　d