anner.themummy-第85节

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be　utterly　grotesque。　But　the　melodies　overcame　him；　even　as　they　worsened　Julie's　pain。　Julie　leaned　against　his　shoulder　in　the　privacy　of　the　darkness。　The　lovely　voices　rising　in　the　gloom　touched　his　heart。　These　hours　wouldn't　be　the　agony　he　had　imagined；　it　even　occurred　to　his　cowardly　soul　that　perhaps　Cleopatra　had　fled　Cairo；　that　she　was　lost　now　in　the　modern　world；　beyond　all　hope　of　his　finding　her。　And　this　both　released　him　and　terrified　him。　What　would　her　loneliness　be　as　the　weeks　and　months　passed；　what　would　her　rage　demand？
　
　She　lifted　the　magical　opera　glasses。　She　peered　at　Ramses　and　Julie；　astonished　at　the　intimate　focus。　The　woman　was　crying；　no　doubt　of　it。　Her　dark　eyes　were　fixed　on　the　stage；　where　the　ugly　little　man　sang　the　beautiful　song；〃　Celeste　Aida；〃　　his　voice　enormous；　the　melody　enough　to　break　the　heart。
　
　She　was　about　to　put　down　the　glasses　when　suddenly　Julie　Stratford　whispered　something　to　her　partner。　They　rose　together；　Julie　Stratford　hurrying　through　the　curtain；　and　Ramses　following。
　
　Quickly；　Cleopatra　touched　Alex's　hand。
　
　〃You　stay　here；〃　　she　whispered　in　his　ear。
　
　He　seemed　to　think　it　quite　the　normal　thing。　He　didn't　try　to　stop　her。　She　hurried　through　the　alcove　behind　their　little　section　of　the　theatre；　and　moved　slowly　and　cautiously　out　into　the　grand　room　of　the　second　floor。
　
　It　was　almost　empty。　Servants　behind　a　marble…top　counter　poured　drinks　for　a　few　old　men　who　looked　quite　miserable　in　their　black…and…white　uniforms；　one　of　them　pulling　at　his　collar　in　obvious　annoyance。
　
　At　a　far　table；　against　a　great　arched　window　hung　with　tapestried　drapery；　Julie　Stratford　and　Ramses　talked　in　whispers　that　she　could　not　possibly　hear。　She　moved　closer；　behind　a　stand　of　potted　trees；　and　lifted　the　opera　glasses；　bringing　their　faces　close　again；　but　not　the　words。
　
　Julie　Stratford　shook　her　head；　recoiling。　Ramses　held　her　hand；　he　would　not　let　her　go。　What　was　she　saying　with　such　passion？　And　how　he　pleaded　with　her；　she　knew　that　authority；　that　insistence；　but　Julie　Stratford　was　strong　just　as　she　herself　had　been　strong。
　
　Suddenly　Julie　Stratford　rose；　clutching　a　small　bag　in　her　hand；　and　walked　swiftly　away　with　her　head　bowed。　Ramses　was　in　despair。　He　rested　his　forehead　on　his　hand。
　
　Swiftly；　she　followed　after　Julie　Stratford；　cleaving　to　the　wall；　praying　that　Ramses　did　not　look　up。
　
　Julie　Stratford　passed　through　a　wooden　door。
　
　POWDER　ROOM
　
　She　was　confused；　uncertain。　Suddenly　a　voice　spoke　to　her；　it　was　a　young　servant。
　
　'Looking　for　the　ladies'　room；　miss？　It's　right　there。〃　〃Thank　you；〃　　she　said；　and　she　went　towards　it。　It　was　obviously　a　public　room。
　
　Thank　God；　the　powder　room　was　empty。　Julie　sat　down　at　the　last　velvet　stool　before　the　long　dressing　table；　and　merely　rested　for　a　moment；　her　hand　covering　her　eyes。
　
　The　thing　was　out　there；　the　monster；　the　creation；　whatever　one　could　call　such　a　being；　and　they　were　locked　in　this　stupid　auditorium　listening　to　music；　as　if　horrors　had　not　been　mitted；　as　if　they　would　not　be　mitted　again。
　
　But　the　worst　of　it　was　Ramses　pushing　it　to　this　conclusion　between　them；　holding　her　hand　and　telling　her　that　he　couldn't　bear　to　lose　her。
　
　And　she；　she　had　burst　out　with　it：〃　I　wish　I'd　never　laid　eyes　on　you。　I　wish　you　had　let　Henry　do　his　work。〃
　
　Had　she　meant　it？　He'd　hurt　her　wrist　as　he　held　her；　it　was　hurting　her　now　as　she　cried　softly　in　this　quiet　room；　her　softest　murmurs　echoing　off　the　cold　mirrored　walls。
　
　〃Julie；〃　　he'd　said；〃　it　was　a　horrible　thing　I　did；　yes；　I　know。　But　I'm　speaking　now　of　you　and　me。　You're　alive；　you're　whole　and　beautiful；　soul　and　body　united…〃
　
　〃No；　don't　say　it；〃　　she'd　pleaded。
　
　〃Take　the　elixir；　and　e　with　me；　forever。〃
　
　She　had　been　unable　to　remain　there。　She'd　broken　away　and　run。　And　now　alone　in　this　room　she　wept。　She　tried　to　quiet　her　soul；　she　tried　to　think；　but　she　could　not。　She　told　herself　that　she　must　envision　her　life；　years　from　now；　when　this　seemed　a　dark　adventure　that　she　would　confide　only　to　those　she　dearly　loved。　She　would　tell　of　the　mysterious　man　who　had　e　into　her　life。。。　But　this　was　unbearable。
　
　As　the　door　of　the　powder　room　opened；　she　covered　her　face　with　her　handkerchief；　keeping　her　head　down；　trying　only　to　be　calm；　to　breathe。〃
　
　How　dreadful　to　be　noticed　now；　when　she　wanted　to　withdraw　and　go　back　alone　to　the　hotel。　And　this　other　woman　who　had　e　in；　why　in　the　world　was　she　sitting　so　close　to　her；　right　on　the　next　stool？　She　turned　her　head　away　to　the　right。　She　had　to　get　a　grip　on　herself。　Get　through　this　night　somehow　for　Elliott；　though　she　was　losing　faith　in　the　meaning　of　any　sustained　direction。　She　folded　the　handkerchief；　the　miserable　little　ruin　of　lace　and　linen　now　soaked　with　tears；　and　blotted　her　eyes。
　
　Almost　by　accident　she　looked　up　into　the　mirror。　Was　she　losing　her　mind！　The　woman　directly　on　her　left　was　staring　at　her　with　great　ferocious　blue　eyes。　Why；　the　woman　was　scarcely　inches　from　her；　and　what　a　creature　she　was；　with　all　her　long　rippling　black　hair　pouring　down　over　her　naked　shoulders　and　her　back。
　
　She　turned　and　faced　the　woman；　drawing　back　as　far　as　she　could　on　the　stool；　her　hand　out　to　the　mirror　to　brace　herself。
　
　〃Good　Lord！〃　　A　shock　went　through　her；　she　was　trembling　so　violently；　she　couldn't　hold　her　hand　steady！
　
　〃Oh；　you　are　lovely；　yes；〃　　said　the　woman　in　a　low；　perfect　British　accent。〃　But　he　has　not　given　you　his　precious　elixir。　You're　mortal。　There's　no　doubt。〃
　
　〃Who　are　you！〃　　she　gasped。　But　she　knew。
　
　〃Do　you　call　it　by　another　name？〃　　the　woman　said；　pressing　in　on　her；　the　strong；　beautifully　modeled　face　looming　over　her；　the　rippling　black　hair　seeming　to　eat　the　very　light。〃　Why　has　he　waked　me　from　my　sleep　and　not　given　the　magic　potion　to　you？〃
　
　〃Leave　me　alone！〃　　Julie　whispered；　violent　tremors　coursed　through　her。　She　tried　to　rise；　but　the　woman　had　forced　her　securely　into　the　er。　In　panic；　she　almost　screamed。
　
　〃So　alive　you　are　nevertheless；〃　　the　woman　whispered。〃　Young；　delicate；　like　a　flower；　so　easy　to　pick。〃
　
　Julie　sank　back　against　the　mirrored　wall。　If　she　shoved　the　woman；　could　she　knock　her　off　balance？　It　seemed　a　virtual　impossibility；　and　once　again；　as　she　had　when　Ramses　rose　from　the　coffin；　she　felt　she　was　going　to　faint。
　
　〃It　seems　monstrous；　does　it　not？〃　　the　woman　went　on　in　the　same　clipped　British　accent。〃　That　I　should　pluck　this　flower　because　what　I　loved　was　allowed　to　die。　What　have　you　to　do　with　the　loss　suffered　so　long　ago？　Julie　Stratford　for　Antony。　It　seems　unfair。〃
　
　〃God　help　me！〃　　Julie　gasped。〃　God　help　us　both；　you　and　me。　Oh；　please　let　me　go。〃
　
　The　woman's　hand　flew　towards　her；　grabbing　her　about　the　throat；　she　couldn't　bear　it；　the　fingers　closing　out　her　life's　breath；　her　head　struck　the　mirror　behind　her；　once；　twice。　She　was　losing　consciousness。
　
　〃Why　should　I　not　kill　you！　You　tell　me！〃　　came　the　seething　voice　in　her　ear。
　
　The　hand　suddenly　let　her　go。　Gasping；　she　fell　forward　over　me　dressing　table。
　
　〃Ramses！〃　　she　screamed；　the　breath　rushing　out　of　her。〃　Ramses！〃
　
　The　door　of　the　powder　room　opened；　two　women　stopped　dead　in　their　confusion。　Beside　her；　Cleopatra　rose　from　the　table　and　plunged　past　them；　knocking　one　of　them　to　the　side。　In　a　flurry　of　streaming　black　hair　and　shimmering　silver　cloth　she　vanished。
　
　Julie　fell　sobbing　to　the　floor。
　
　People　shouting；　hurried　footsteps。　An　old　woman　with　soft　wrinkled　hands　was　helping　her　to　her　feet。
　
　〃Have　to　get　to　Ramses；〃　　she　said。　She　struggled　towards　the　door。　The　other　women　tried　to　stop　her。　She　should　sit　down。〃　Someone　get　a　glass　of　water！〃　〃No；　let　me　go！〃
　
　Finally　she　reached　the　door；　and　forced　her　way　through　it；　through　the　small　knot　of　ushers　gathered。　Ramses　came　rushing　towards　her；　she　collapsed　in　his　arms。
　
　〃She　was　there；〃　　she　gasped　in　his　ear。〃　She　spoke　to　me。　She　touched　me。〃　　She　moved　her　hand　to　her　aching　throat。〃　She　ran　away　when　the　others　came　in。〃
　
　〃What　is　it；　miss？〃
　
　〃Miss　Stratford；　what　happened？〃
　
　〃No；　I'm　all　right　now。〃　　He　almost　lifted　her　off　her　feet；　and　carried　her　away　from　them。
　
　〃Well；　all　I　saw　was　another　woman　with　her；　yes；　a　tall　woman；　black　hair。〃
　
　Into　the　foyer　of　the　box；　he　led　her；　a　quiet　private　space。　She　tried　to　clear　her　vision；　Elliott　and　Samir　stood　over　her　suddenly；　and　the　music；　the　music　was　a　ghastly　din　pouring　through　the　curtains。　Samir　filled　a　glass　with　champagne　for　her。　How　absurd！　Champagne。
　
　〃Here　in　the　auditorium　somewhere。　Dear　God；　she　was　like　a　terrible　angel！　A　goddess！　Ramses；　she　knew　me；　my　name。　She　knew　me。　She　spoke　of　vengeance　for　Antony。　Ramses；　she　knew　who　I　was！〃
　
　His　face　was　a　mask　of　rage。　He　started　for　the　door。　She　grabbed　hold　of　him；　knocking　the　champagne　glass　over。〃　No；　don't　go！　Don't　leave　my　side！〃　　she　whispered。〃　She　could　have　killed　me。　She　wanted　to。　But　then　she　couldn't。　Ramses！