elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第35章

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The　grave　of　a　saint　or　sheikh　of　eminence　might　be　marked　by　a　simple　structure　crowned　with　a　small　cupola。　There　were　only　a　few　of　such　monuments　in　this　humble　cemetery；　Abdullah's　was　conspicuous　not　only　by　the　freshness　of　the　stones　that　had　been　used　in　its　construction　but　by　the　somewhat　unusual　design。　It　was　the　conventional　four…sided　building；　but　there　was　a　subtle　grace　in　its　proportions；　and　the　dome　seemed　to　float；　light　as　a　bubble。
　The　sun　was　about　to　set。　The　rosy　light　warmed　the　white　limestone　of　the　walls；　and　from　a　mosque　in　a　neighboring　village　came　the　first　musical　notes　of　the　evening　call　to　prayer。
　〃It　will　be　dark　shortly。〃　Ramses　spoke　for　the　first　time　since　we　had　left　the　house。　〃We　mustn't　stay　long。〃
　〃No。　I　only　want　…〃
　I　broke　off　with　a　catch　of　breath。　It　was　somewhat　uncanny　to　see　any　movement　in　that　deserted　place；　and　this　figure；　emerging　from　the　dimness　under　the　cupola；　was　human。　We　were　still　some　distance　away；　I　could　not　make　out　details；　only　the　long　galabeeyah　and　white　turban；　before　it　scuttled　into　concealment　behind　the　walls　of　the　mosque。
　〃Who　was　that？〃　I　asked。
　〃I　don't　know。　Did　you　bring　a　torch？〃
　〃Certainly。　I　have　all　my　accoutrements。　Shall　we　follow　him？〃
　〃That　wasn't　Jamil。　I　don't　see　any　point　in　chasing　after　the　fellow。　Let's　just　make　certain　he　hasn't　done　any　damage。〃
　The　disturbance　of　the　sandy　dust　was　the　only　sign　that　anyone　other　than　we　had　e　there。　〃There　are　a　number　of　footprints；〃　Ramses　muttered；　shining　the　torch　around。　〃Overlapping。　That's　odd。〃
　〃Perhaps　members　of　the　family　have　e　to　pay　their　respects；　or　to　pray；〃　I　suggested。
　〃Perhaps。　Are　you　ready　to　go？〃
　I　had　intended　to　say　a　few　words　…　think　them；　rather　…　but　he　was　obviously　uneasy；　and　really；　what　more　was　there　to　say　when　I　had　just　had　a　long　conversation　with　Abdullah？　I　acquiesced　and　let　Ramses　take　my　arm；　since　the　dusk　had　thickened。
　〃I　like　the　design；〃　Ramses　said　as；　with　the　aid　of　the　torch；　we　picked　a　path　around　the　standing　monuments。　〃I　hope　Abdullah　is　pleased　with　it。〃
　〃Oh；　yes。　He　was　only　annoyed　because　he　had　to　ask。　He　implied　that　I　ought　to　have　thought　of　it　myself。〃
　〃Ah；〃　said　Ramses　nonmittally。
　　
　On　the　Thursday　we　were　in　the　midst　of　our　preparations　for　departure　…　plicated　these　days　by　Sennia　and　the　Great　Cat　of　Re　…　when　a　messenger　arrived。　Jumana　had　left　for　Deir　el　Medina；　Ramses　was　explaining　to　the　cat　that　he　would　prefer　it　did　not　acpany　him；　I　was　dealing　with　the　customary　delaying　tactics　from　Sennia；　and　Emerson　was　stamping　up　and　down　demanding　that　we　hurry。　He　took　the　note　from　Fatima。
　〃Well；　what　do　you　think　of　this？〃　he　inquired。　〃Yusuf　wants　to　see　us。〃
　〃Us？〃　I　echoed。　〃Who？　Sennia；　get　your　books　together　and　go。〃
　〃You　and　me。　He　says　it's　urgent。　I　wonder　who　wrote　it　for　him？〃
　Ramses　finished　his　conversation　with　the　cat　and　put　it　down。　〃A　public　letter　writer；　perhaps。　Shall　Nefret　and　I　e？〃
　Emerson　stroked　the　cleft　in　his　chin。　〃No；　he　said　for　us　to　e　alone。　Run　along；　we'll　join　you　shortly。〃
　〃Unless　something　interesting　develops；〃　I　amended。
　〃Something　about　Jamil；　perhaps；〃　Nefret　said。　〃Do　you　suppose　Yusuf　knows　where　he's　been　hiding？〃
　〃Let　us　hope　so。　It　would　be　a　relief　to　have　that　business　over　and　done　with。　I　ought　to　have　made　more　of　an　effort　to　question　Yusuf；〃　I　admitted。
　〃Don't　be　unkind　to　the　poor　old　fellow；〃　Nefret　said。　〃He　must　have　been　suffering　horribly；　torn　between　his　love　for　his　son　and　his　loyalty　to　you。〃
　〃It　could　be　another　trick；〃　said　Ramses。　〃Remember　your　warning；　Father；　not　to　go　after　the　boy　alone；　even　if　he　is　wearing　…〃
　〃I　won't　be　alone；〃　Emerson　said。　〃Your　mother　will　be　with　me。〃
　Ramses's　heavy　dark　eyebrows　tilted。　〃Don't　forget　your　parasol；　Mother。〃
　〃Certainly　not。　However；　I　expect　Yusuf　only　wants　sympathy　and　some　medicine。　It　is　the　least　I　can　do；　and　I　ought　to　have　done　it　before　this。〃
　I　put　together　a　little　parcel　for　Yusuf；　some　of　his　favorite　tobacco　and　a　freshly　baked　assortment　of　Fatima's　honey　cakes；　of　which　he　was　fond。　I　also　took　my　medical　kit。　The　others　had　gone　by　the　time　I　had　collected　everything　I　needed。　Emerson　and　I　were　soon　on　our　way；　but　as　we　turned　the　horses　onto　the　path　that　led　by　the　tombs　on　the　lower　part　of　the　hill　of　Sheikh　Abd　el　Gurneh；　I　saw　something　that　made　me　bring　my　little　mare　to　a　rude　halt。
　〃Emerson！　Look　there！〃
　Where　she　had　e　from　I　could　not　tell　…　one　of　the　tombs；　perhaps　…　but　the　outlines　of　that　trim　figure　were　unmistakable。　Only　a　few　women　in　Luxor　wore　boots　and　divided　skirts　and　only　one　other　woman　wore　a　belt　jangling　with　objects。
　Emerson；　who　had　also　stopped；　let　out　an　oath。　〃After　her！〃　he　exclaimed。
　〃Not　so　fast；　my　dear。　We　must　follow　at　a　distance　and　ascertain　where　she　is　going　…　and　why。　She　has　been　in　the　village；　if　Yusuf　admitted　his　intention　of　turning　Jamil　in；　she　may　be　on　her　way　to　warn　him。〃
　〃Damnation；〃　said　Emerson。　〃How　could　she　。　。　。　Well；　we　will　soon　find　out。〃
　He　had　dismounted　as　he　spoke。　Hailing　one　of　the　villagers；　he　said；　〃Give　me　your　galabeeyah。〃
　〃But；　Father　of　Curses；〃　the　fellow　began。
　〃Hand　it　over；　I　say。〃　Emerson　dispensed　baksheesh　with　so　lavish　a　hand　that　he　was　instantly　obeyed。　The　jingle　of　coins　attracted　several　other　men。　One　of　them　was　willing　to　part　with　his　outer　garment　too。　（I　had　selected　the　shortest　and　cleanest　of　them。）
　Jumana　was　almost　out　of　sight　by　then；　trotting　along　with　the　agility　I　knew　so　well；　but　the　delay　had　been　necessary；　she　would　have　spotted　us　instantly　if　we　had　been　in　our　usual　clothing　and　on　horseback。　We　got　into　our　impromptu　disguises；　left　the　horses　with　one　of　the　men；　and　hastened　after　the　girl。
　〃She's　heading　back　toward　our　house；〃　Emerson　said；　looking　uneasy。　〃Perhaps　we　are　wrong；　Peabody。　She　may　have　been　paying　a　duty　call　on　her　father。〃
　〃Don't　be　such　a　sentimentalist；　Emerson。　She　admitted　she　hadn't　spoken　to　him　for　months　…　and　why　would　she　not　tell　us　of　her　intentions；　if　they　were　innocent？　She　has　deliberately　deceived　me；　the　treacherous　little　creature。〃
　The　truth　of　this　soon　became　apparent。　Shoulders　hunched　and　bent；　as　if　to　make　herself　less　conspicuous；　Jumana　cut　off　onto　a　rough　track　that　wound　around　houses　and　hills　toward　the　western　cliffs　south　of　Deir　el　Bahri。　Once　or　twice　she　glanced　over　her　shoulder。　She　must　have　seen　us；　but　evidently　our　clumsy　disguises　were　good　enough　to　deceive；　for　she　went　on　without　pausing；　scrambling　nimbly　up　the　rising　slope　at　the　base　of　the　cliffs。　I　could　see　the　temple；　below　and　to　our　right；　as　we　climbed；　the　colonnades　and　tumbled　stones　shone　in　the　morning　light。
　Quickly　as　the　girl　moved；　Emerson　kept　up　without　difficulty；　his　breathing　even；　his　stride　slower　than　his　usual　pace。　Since　my　lower　limbs　were　not　much　longer　than　Jumana's；　I　had　to　trot。
　〃Where　the　devil　is　she　going？〃　I　panted。　〃Curse　the　girl　…〃
　〃Save　your　breath；〃　Emerson　advised；　offering　me　his　hand。　〃By　Gad；　Peabody；　you　don't　suppose　。　。　。　That's　where　she's　headed；　though。〃
　With　the　help　of　his　strong　arm　I　found　the　going　easier；　and　was　able　to　look　about。　I　knew　the　place　well。　The　previous　year　we　had　removed　the　golden　statue　of　the　god　Amon…Re　from　its　hidden　shrine　at　the　back　of　a　shallow　bay。　Jamil　was　the　original　discoverer　of　that　place。　Could　he　have　selected　it　as　his　hiding　place？　The　shaft　that　led　down　to　a　small　chamber　cut　out　of　the　rock　was　only　eight　feet　deep　and　it　was　unlikely　that　anyone　would　go　there；　the　Gurnawis　knew　we　had　cleared　the　place　of　everything　it　contained。
　Jumana　stopped；　her　back　to　us；　in　the　mouth　of　the　little　bay。　Her　head　turned　from　side　to　side。　Emerson　pulled　me　down　behind　a　heap　of　detritus。　We　dared　not　risk　going　closer；　we　were　only　twenty　feet　from　Jumana；　and　there　was　no　one　else　in　sight。
　She　called　out。　〃Jamil；　are　you　there？〃　Her　voice　cracked　with　nervousness。
　I　heard　nothing。　She　called　again；　〃I　am　ing。〃
　〃We've　got　him　now；〃　Emerson　whispered。　〃Let's　go。〃
　When　I　got　to　my　feet；　Jumana　was　no　longer　in　sight。　Emerson　ran　toward　the　opening　of　the　bay。　I　ran　after　him。
　The　declivity　was　shallow　and　the　morning　sun　shone　directly　into　it。　At　its　far　end　the　shaft　we　had　cleared　gaped　open；　a　black　square　against　the　rock。　There　was　no　sign　of　Jumana。
　〃Where　is　she？〃　I　demanded。
　〃Never　mind　her。　He　can't　have　got　out；　there　wasn't　time。〃　Kneeling　on　the　rubble…strewn　ground；　Emerson　took　out　his　torch　and　shone　it　down　into　the　shaft。
　It　was　as　empty　as　we　had　left　it；　and　that　in　itself　was　confirmation　of　our　theory。　Sand　and　pebbles　would　have　partially　filled　it　unless　someone　had　kept　it　clear。　In　the　light　of　the　torch　I　saw　additional　confirmation：　a　rough　but　sturdy　wooden　ladder。
　Before　I　could　stop　him；　Emerson；　disdaining　the　ladder；　had　lowered　himself　by　his　hands　and　dropped；　landing　with　a　thump　of　booted　feet。　Jamil　must　have　heard　that；　even　if　he　had　not　heard　the　sound　of　our　approach。
　〃Damnation；　Emerson；〃　I　exclaimed。　〃Wait　for　me！〃
　He　had　already　proceeded　into　the　short　passage　that　led　to　the　chamber。　The　roof　was　low；　he　would　have　to　bend　over；　which　would　put　his　head　at　a　particularly　convenient　level　…　convenient　for　a　blow；　that　is　…　when　he　emerged。　I　dropped　my　parasol　into　the　shaft　and　descended　the　ladder。　Snatching　up　the　parasol；　I　proceeded　quickly　into　the　passageway。
　There　was　light　at　the　end　of　it；　but　I　could　hear　nothing；　which　did　not　lessen　my　anxiety；　already　Emerson　might　be　unconscious　and　bleeding。　I　removed　my　little　gun　from　my　pocket。
　It　was　plucked　from　my　hand　the　moment　I　reached　the　end　of　the　passage。
　〃I　knew　you'd　be　waving　that　damned　pistol；〃　Emerson　remarked；　helping　me　to　rise。　〃He's　not　here；　Peabody。　He's　been　here；　though。〃
　He　shone　his　torch　round　the　small　chamber。　A　pile　of　rugs；　forming　a　rough　pallet；　tins　of　food；　jars　of　water；　and　。　。　。　I　lifted　the　saucer　that　covered　one　of　them。　Beer。　He　had　made　himself　fortable。
　〃He　has　eluded　us　again；〃　I　said　angrily。　〃How　could　she　have　warned　him？〃
　〃Obviously　he　was　not　in　residence；〃　Emerson　replied。　〃That's　all　to　the　good；　Peabody；　if　he　wasn't　here　he　can't　have　seen　us。　He　will　e　back　eventually　…　it's　a　cozy　little　den；　isn't　it？　We'll　go　for　the　others　and　stake　the　place　out。　Once　I　get　my　hands　on　that　girl　I　will　make　certain　she　cannot　warn　him。〃　His　large　square　teeth；　bared　in　a　snarl；　shone　white　in　the　torchlight。
　〃Let　us　go；〃　I　said　uneasily。　〃I　am　not　at　all　fortable　here；　Emerson。〃
　〃One　of　your　famous　premonitions？〃　He　chuckled；　but　perhaps　he　had　one；　too；　for　he　added；　〃I'll　go　first。〃
　He　waited　in　the　shaft　while　I　crawled　through　the　passage。
　The　ladder　was　no　longer　there。
　Before　I　could　stop　him；　Emerson　reached　up　and　gripped　the　rim　of　the　shaft　with　both　hands。　The　muscles　on　his　bare　forearms　tightened　as　he　prepared　to　pull　himself　up。
　〃Watch　out！〃　I　shrieked；　an　instant　too　late。　The　heavy　stick　struck　Emerson's　arm；　causing　him　to　loosen　his　grip　and　fall　down。　I　had　heard　the　bone　crack。
　A　trifle　un