elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第11部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


hank　you　for　your　time；　gentlemen；〃　and　returned　to　his　papers。
　〃That's　that；〃　Emerson　declared。　〃It's　high　time　we　got　out　of　this　bloody　city。　Is　Nefret　ready　to　leave？〃
　On　the　morning　of　their　departure　Nefret　and　Ramses　breakfasted　alone　in　their　room；　at　what　struck　Ramses　as　an　obscenely　early　hour。
　〃I　need　all　the　time　I　can　get　at　the　hospital；〃　she　declared。　〃Since　Father　is　determined　on　leaving　today。〃
　〃He'd　have　put　it　off　again　if　you　had　asked　him。〃
　〃I　couldn't　do　that。　He's　on　fire　to　get　to　Luxor　and　catch　a　few　tomb　robbers。　There　was　no　need　for　you　to　get　up　so　early。　You　don't　have　to　escort　me。〃
　〃Would　you　rather　I　didn't？〃
　〃You　can　if　you　like。〃　Frowning　slightly；　she　concentrated　on　the　piece　of　toast　she　was　cutting　into　strips。　〃It's　boring　for　you；　though。　You　hardly　said　a　word　the　other　night　when　we　dined　with　Sophia　and　Beatrice。〃
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　began。
　〃Don't　apologize；　damn　it！〃　She　put　her　knife　down　and　gave　him　a　rueful　smile。　〃There's　no　need　for　you　to　be　so　defensive；　darling。　I　didn't　mean　it　as　a　reproach。　You　couldn't　have　got　a　word　in　anyhow！　It　was　rude　of　us　not　to　include　you　in　the　conversation。〃
　〃That's　all　right。〃　The　pronouns　jarred；　though。　Us　and　you。　〃I　think　I　will　e　along；　if　you　don't　mind。　There's　someone　I　want　to　see；　if　I　can　find　him。〃
　〃Who？〃
　He　described　his　encounter　with　Musa　as　they　walked　through　the　ornate　lobby　and　out　the　door　of　the　hotel。
　〃You　didn't　tell　me；〃　Nefret　said；　and　then　laughed　and　took　his　arm。　〃You　couldn't　get　a　word　in；　could　you？　Sophia　told　me　about　el…Gharbi's　being　arrested。　Did　you　know　he　had　put　the　word　out　that　we　were　not　to　be　bothered？〃
　〃I　thought　he　might　have　done。〃
　〃I　never　supposed　I　would　regret　the　arrest　of　the　worst　procurer　in　Cairo。〃　Her　face　was　troubled。　〃But　Sophia　says　things　have　got　worse。　More　injuries；　and　fewer　of　the　women　are　ing　to　us。〃
　〃Musa　wants　me　to　intervene　on　behalf　of　el…Gharbi。　Shall　I　try　to　get　him　out？〃
　〃Could　you？〃
　〃Do　you　want　him　out？〃
　〃Oh；　I　don't　know；〃　Nefret　said　despairingly。　〃How　does　one　choose　between　two　evils？　Leave　it　alone；　darling。　I　don't　want　you　getting　involved　with　the　police　again。　Russell　would　try　to　recruit　you　for　some　rotten　job；　and　I　won't　allow　it。〃
　〃Russell's　sticking　to　ordinary　police　work　these　days。　There's　a　new　military　intelligence　organization　…　or　will　be；　if　they　ever　get　it　right。　They　keep　shuffling　people　around。　Clayton　and　the　Arab　Bureau　are　now　…〃
　〃How　did　you　find　that　out？〃　Her　eyes　narrowed　and　her　voice　was　sharp。
　〃From　Wingate；　for　the　most　part。　Plus　odds　and　ends　of　gossip　here　and　there。〃
　〃Oh；　very　informative。　Ramses；　I　don't　care　who　is　doing　what　with　whom；　so　long　as　'whom'　isn't　you。　Promise　me　you'll　stay　away　from　them。　All　of　them。〃
　〃Yes；　ma'am。〃
　Her　tight　lips　relaxed　into　one　of　her　most　bewitching　smiles；　plete　with　dimples；　and　as　a　further　inducement　to　good　behavior；　she　told　him　she　would　be　back　in　time　for　luncheon。　Ramses　watched　her　run　lightly　up　the　steps　and　in　the　door　before　he　turned　away。
　Could　he　get　el…Gharbi　paroled？　The　answer　was　probably　no。　Unless　。　。　。　the　idea　hadn't　occurred　to　him　until　Nefret　asked。　It　had　probably　been　Thomas　Russell　who　reeled　him　in。　If　he　could　persuade　Russell　that　el…Gharbi　had　information　that　could　be　of　use　to　him　。　。　。
　The　answer　was　still　no。　Russell　wouldn't　make　a　deal　with　someone　he　despised　as　much　as　he　did　the　procurer。　Anyhow；　there　were　only　two　questions　Ramses　would　like　to　have　answered：　the　whereabouts　of　his　infuriating　uncle；　and　the　identity　of　the　man　who　had　sold　the　artifacts　to　Aslimi。　El…Gharbi　had　once　had　contacts　with　every　illegal　activity　in　Cairo；　but　drugs　and　prostitution　were　his　chief　interests；　he　dealt　with　illegal　antiquities　and　espionage　only　when　they　impinged　on　his　primary　business。
　Musa　was　nowhere　to　be　found；　so　Ramses　spent　a　few　hours　wandering　through　the　green　groves　of　the　Ezbekieh　Gardens；　to　get　the　smells　of　el…Wasa　out　of　his　system。　It　was　a　little　after　midday　when　he　returned　to　the　hotel。　Nefret　was　not　there；　so　he　went　to　see　what　his　parents　were　doing。　He　found　his　mother　alone　in　the　sitting　room；　placidly　working　at　a　piece　of　embroidery。　Wondering　what　had　prompted　this　unusual　exercise　…　she　hated　sewing　and　did　it　very　badly　…　he　joined　her　on　the　sofa。
　〃Where　is　Father？〃　he　asked。
　〃He　took　Sennia　for　a　walk；　in　order　to　work　off　some　of　her　energy。　Have　you　finished　packing？〃
　〃No；〃　Ramses　admitted。　〃Nefret　told　me　I　mustn't；　she　says　I　always　make　a　mess　of　it。〃
　〃Just　like　your　father。　His　notion　of　packing　is　to　dump　the　entire　contents　of　a　drawer　into　a　suitcase　and　then　throw　his　boots　on　top。〃
　〃What's　wrong　with　that？〃　Ramses　asked；　and　got　a　smile　in　return。
　〃I'll　ask　Gargery　to　take　care　of　it；〃　she　promised。
　〃That's　all　right；　Nefret　said　she'd　be　back　before　luncheon。　I　suppose　you　are　all　ready？〃
　〃Certainly。〃　She　looked　searchingly　at　Ramses。　〃Is　something　wrong？　You　seem　somewhat　pensive。〃
　〃No；　nothing　is　wrong。　I'm　sorry　if　I　。　。　。〃　Her　steely　gray　stare　remained　fixed　on　him；　and　he　felt　a　sudden　need　to　confess。　His　mother's　stare　often　had　that　effect　on　people。
　〃I'm　jealous　…　oh；　not　of　another　man；　it's　even　worse。　Jealous　of　the　hospital　and　the　time　she　spends　there。　Contemptible；　isn't　it；　that　I　should　resent　Nefret's　skills　and　interests？〃
　〃Quite　understandable；〃　his　mother　said　calmly。　She　poked　her　needle　into　the　piece　of　fabric；　muttered　something；　and　wiped　her　finger　on　her　skirt。　Ramses　noticed　that　the　skirt　and　the　embroidered　fabric　were　spotted　with　blood。　〃Do　you　want　her　to　give　up　her　medical　work？〃
　〃Good　God；　no！　I'd　hate　her　to　do　that　on　my　account。　I'd　hate　myself　if　she　did。〃
　〃She　will　have　to　make　a　choice；　though。　While　we　were　working　at　Giza　she　could　spend　a　certain　amount　of　time　at　the　hospital；　but　it　appears　we　will　be　in　Luxor　for　some　time　to　e。〃
　〃Someone　will　have　to　make　a　choice。〃
　His　mother　dropped　her　fancywork　and　stared　at　him。　〃You　don't　mean　you　would　give　up　Egyptology！〃
　〃Nothing　so　drastic。　I　can　always　get　a　position　with　Reisner；　at　Giza。〃　She　looked　so　horrified；　he　put　his　hand　over　hers。　〃I　don't　want　to　work　with　anyone　but　Father；　you　know　that。　But　I　have　to　be　with　her　and　I　want　her　to　be　happy。　Why　should　I　expect　her　to　give　up　her　work　when　I'm　not　willing　to　make　a　reasonable　promise？〃
　〃Honestly；　Ramses。〃　His　mother　gave　him　a　look　of　exasperation。　〃I　would　expect　any　son　of　mine　to　appreciate　the　talents　and　aspirations　of　women；　but　you　are　carrying　fairness　to　a　ridiculous　extreme。　What　makes　you　suppose　Nefret　wants　to　abandon　archaeology？　Have　you　asked　her？〃
　〃No。　I　didn't　want　…〃
　〃To　force　the　issue？　Well；　my　dear；　Nefret　is　not　the　woman　to　keep　her　opinions　to　herself。　You　are　leaping　to　unwarranted　conclusions　and　tormenting　yourself　about　something　that　will　never　happen。　It　is　a　bad　habit　of　yours。〃
　〃D'you　really　think　so？〃
　〃I　am　certain　of　it。〃　She　hesitated；　but　not　for　long。　Indecision　was　not　one　of　his　mother's　weaknesses。　〃She　once　told　me　something　that　perhaps　you　should　know。　'I　would　leave　the　hospital　forever；　without　a　backward　glance；　if　it　would　help　to　keep　him　safe。'　〃
　〃She　said　that？〃
　〃I　do　not　claim　to　remember　the　precise　words；　but　that　was　unquestionably　the　gist　of　her　remark。　Goodness　gracious；　Ramses；　don't　look　so　stupefied。　If　you　are　really　unaware　of　the　strength　of　your　wife's　affection；　you　have　not　been　paying　her　the　proper　attentions。〃
　He　didn't　dare　ask　what　she　meant　by　that。　Her　prim　circumlocutions　always　amused　him；　but　he　said　humbly　and　without　a　smile；　〃You　are　right；　Mother；　as　always。　I　haven't　said　anything　to　her；　and　I　never　shall。　Please　don't　tell　her。〃
　〃Why；　Ramses；　I　would　never　betray　another　individual's　confidence。〃　She　patted　his　hand。　He　flinched；　and　she　let　out　an　exclamation　of　distress。　〃Oh；　dear。　I　forgot　I　was　holding　the　needle。　Suck　it。〃
　Ramses　dutifully　obeyed。　〃What　is　that　you're　making？〃　he　asked。　It　was　hard　to　tell　the　bloodstains　from　the　pattern。
　〃It's　just　a　little　something　to　keep　my　hands　occupied。　Stop　fretting；　dear　boy；　I　will　talk　to　Nefret　myself。　Tactfully。〃
　She　stuck　the　needle　into　the　fabric　and　folded　her　work。　〃It　is　past　time　for　luncheon。　Emerson　is　late　as　usual。〃
　He　turned　up　a　few　minutes　later；　with　Sennia；　and　dropped　rather　heavily　into　a　chair。　Emerson　could　work　under　the　hot　Upper　Egyptian　sun　from　dawn　until　sunset　without　any　sign　of　fatigue；　but　a　few　hours　with　Sennia　left　even　him　worn　out。　〃Are　we　ready　for　lunch？〃　he　asked。
　〃Nefret　isn't　back　yet；〃　his　wife　said。
　Ramses　had　been　watching　the　clock。　It　was　after　one。　His　father　gave　him　a　critical　look。　〃Is　she　waiting　for　you　to　fetch　her？〃
　〃No；〃　Ramses　said；　and　went　on；　before　his　father　could　voice　his　opinion　of　a　man　who　would　allow　his　wife　to　walk　the　alleys　of　el…Wasa　unattended。　〃I　expect　she's　got　involved　and　lost　track　of　the　time。　The　rest　of　you　go　down；　I'll　run　over　to　the　hospital。〃
　He　wasn't　worried　…　not　really　…　but　she　knew　they　were　due　to　leave　that　evening；　and　she　had　said　she'd　be