elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第17部分

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　〃We　only　waited　to　say　good　night；〃　Nefret　said；　ing　to　give　me　a　kiss。
　〃I　hope　the　house　is　satisfactory；〃　I　said；　addressing　Ramses；　who　had　not　yet　given　me　his　opinion。　〃And　that　you　have　everything　you　need　for　tonight。〃
　〃So　long　as　there　is　a　bed；〃　said　my　son；　and　broke　off　with　a　grunt　as　Nefret　elbowed　him　in　the　ribs。
　〃I　want　to　leave　at　daybreak；〃　Emerson　said　self…consciously。
　〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　Ramses。
　〃Breakfast　here　at　six；〃　I　said。
　〃Yes；　Mother；〃　said　Nefret。
　Jumana's　wide　eyes　followed　them　as　they　went　off；　arm　in　arm；　their　heads　close　together。　Or　was　it　Ramses　she　watched　with　such　wistful　attention？　She　was　of　an　age　where　girls　fancy　themselves　in　love　with　unsuitable　persons；　and　Ramses　had　every　quality　she　could　want　in　a　prospective　husband　（aside　from　the　inconvenient　fact　that　he　was　already　married）。　If　Jamil　knew　or　suspected　her　attachment　it　would　explain　why　he　had　selected　Ramses　as　the　object　of　his　ire。
　〃By　the　by；〃　said　I　to　Emerson；　〃you　didn't　tell　Cyrus　about　the　artifacts　I　bought　in　Cairo。　I　had　expected　you　would　want　to　show　them　off。〃
　〃Quite　the　contrary；〃　said　Emerson　to　me。　〃He'd　go　haring　off　to　Cairo　looking　for　more　of　the　cursed　things。　He　should　be　thinking　of　his　excavations。〃
　He　fell　silent；　concentrating　on　his　pipe。　Now　that　the　moment　had　e；　he　was　regretting　having　offered　to　question　Jumana；　he　was　afraid　she　would　cry。　Emerson　is　a　hopeless　coward　with　women。
　He　did　not　know　this　one。　Before　either　of　us　could　speak；　Jumana　sat　up　straight　and　raised　her　chin　defiantly。　〃I　was　very　silly；〃　she　declared。　〃Jamil　can't　do　anything　。　。　。　can　he？〃
　〃No；〃　said　Emerson。　〃Except；　perhaps；　to　you。〃
　〃He　wouldn't　hurt　me。〃
　I　was　pleased　to　see　she　had　recovered　her　nerve　…　timid　women　are　a　confounded　nuisance　…　but　her　confidence　was　somewhat　alarming。
　〃He　won't　get　the　chance；〃　I　said。　〃Listen　to　me；　Jumana。　You　were　right　to　warn　Ramses　about　Jamil；　but　you　are　wrong　if　you　believe　he　is　harmless。　I　want　your　word　that　you　will　go　nowhere　alone　and　that　if　Jamil　attempts　to　municate　with　you；　you　will　inform　us　immediately。〃
　〃What　will　you　do　to　him　if　you　find　him？〃
　For　once；　Emerson　was　too　quick　for　me。　〃Lock　him　up。　You　must　see　that　we　cannot　allow　him　to　hang　about　threatening　people　and　。　。　。　Why　are　you　glaring　at　me；　Peabody？〃
　〃I　am　not　glaring；　Emerson；〃　I　said；　forcing　my　features　into　a　smile。　〃It　is　just　that　I　believe　I　can　explain　our　intentions　more　accurately　than　you。　Jumana；　if　Jamil　would　e　to　us　and　express　repentance；　we　will　do　all　we　can　to　help　him。〃
　〃You　would？〃
　〃Yes；〃　I　said　firmly。　She　still　loved　the　wretched　boy　and　probably　believed　she　could　redeem　him。　This　is　a　mon　delusion　of　women。
　After　all；　I　had　not　been　specific。　In　my　opinion　the　best　way　to　help　Jamil　would　be　to　put　him　in　a　cell　…　a　nice；　clean；　fortable　cell；　naturally　…　and　let　him　consider　the　advantages　of　an　honest　life。
　I　had　expected　Emerson　would　want　to　go　straight　to　the　site　next　morning。　I　had　no　objection　to　his　doing　so；　there　was　a　great　deal　to　do　round　the　house；　and　Emerson　was　more　of　a　hindrance　than　a　help；　always　grumbling　and　plaining。　However；　when　we　sat　down　to　breakfast　I　saw　that　he　and　Ramses　were　dressed　for　rough　terrain；　in　old　tweeds　and　stout　boots。　It　did　not　require　much　thought　to　deduce　where　they　meant　to　go。　I　ought　to　have　known！　My　hypocritical　husband's　lecture　to　Cyrus　had　been　meant　to　deter　the　latter　from　doing　precisely　what　Emerson　intended　to　do　that　day。　The　southwest　wadis　are　remote　and　difficult　of　access。
　I　attempted　to　catch　Emerson's　eyes　but　failed；　he　was　looking　at　the　sugar　bowl；　the　coffeepot；　the　salt　cellar　…　anything　but　me。　〃Emerson；〃　I　said　loudly；　〃I　trust　you　had　the　courtesy　to　inform　Fatima　last　night　that　we　would　want　a　packed　luncheon？〃
　〃Luncheon？　We？〃　Emerson's　heavy　black　brows　drew　together。　〃See　here；　Peabody　…〃
　〃I　will　tell　her　now；〃　I　said　with　a　sigh。　〃Fortunately　she　always　has　a　full　larder。　Are　we　taking　Selim　and　Daoud　with　us？〃
　〃Yes。　No。　Oh；　curse　it；〃　said　Emerson。
　〃What　about　Jumana？〃　I　persisted。
　〃No；〃　said　Emerson　firmly。
　〃I　don't　believe　we　ought　to　leave　her　alone。〃
　〃She　won't　be　alone。　There　are　a　dozen　people　。　。　。　Damnation。　You　don't　think　she　would　creep　out　to　meet　that　young　swine？　She　gave　me　her　word　…〃
　〃No；　she　did　not。　I　don't　trust　her　out　of　my　sight。　She's　been　climbing　over　those　hills　since　she　was　a　child；　she　can　keep　up　as　well　as　the　rest　of　us。〃
　〃If　you　are　going　to　make　a　full…scale　expedition　of　this　…〃
　〃You　would　have　gone　off　without　so　much　as　a　water　bottle；〃　I　retorted。　〃I　will　change　my　boots　and　get　my　parasol；　and　have　a　few　words　with　Fatima。〃
　Emerson　made　one　last；　and　as　he　ought　to　have　known；　futile　attempt　to　head　me　off。　〃But；　Peabody；　I　thought　you　meant　to　spend　the　day　here。　There　is　a　great　deal　to　do；　unpacking　and　…〃
　〃Yes；　my　dear；　there　is。　Obviously　it　will　have　to　wait。　I　won't　be　long。〃
　I　had　my　few　words　with　Fatima　and　sent　one　of　the　maids　to　tell　Jumana　she　was　wanted　in　the　sitting　room。　It　took　me　a　while　to　find　my　boots；　which　were　buried　under　a　heap　of　Emerson's　clothes。　The　most　important　part　of　my　costume　was　ready　at　hand。　Though　my　working　attire　of　trousers　and　tweed　coat　is　well　equipped　with　pockets；　I　have　never　abandoned　my　invaluable　belt　of　tools。　Over　the　years　I　had　refined　and　added　to　these　accoutrements：　a　pistol　and　knife；　a　coil　of　rope；　a　small　flask　of　brandy；　candles　and　matches　in　a　waterproof　box；　and　other　useful　items。　On　an　expedition　such　as　this；　one　could　not　take　too　many　precautions。　I　hung　a　small　first…aid　kit　and　a　brush　from　two　of　the　empty　hooks；　and　returned　to　the　breakfast　room；　where　I　found　that　Jumana　had　joined　the　others。
　Emerson；　who　objects　to　my　being　hung　all　round　with　sharp…edged　or　blunt　objects；　gave　me　a　sour　look　but　refrained　from　ment。　I　turned　to　Nefret。
　〃Are　you　ing；　my　dear；　or　would　you　prefer　to　stay　here　and　get　your　new　quarters　in　order？　I　purchased　goods　for　draperies　…　a　very　pretty　blue；　shot　with　silver　…　but　I　haven't　done　anything　about　servants；　since　I　assumed　you　would　wish　to　select　them　yourself。　One　of　Yusuf's　brother's　cousins　has　already　e　round　asking　…〃
　〃Yes；　Mother；　you　mentioned　that。　I　am　ing；　of　course。　Do　you　suppose　I　would　allow　my　poor　helpless　husband　to　go　off　without　me　to　protect　him？〃
　Jumana　gave　her　a　startled　look；　and　Ramses's　lips　parted　in　a　grin。　He　must　have　told　Nefret　of　the　plan　the　night　before。　She　certainly　had　him　well　in　hand　…　better　than　I　had　Emerson！
　Fatima　bustled　in　with　two　heavily　laden　baskets；　and　we　went　to　the　stable；　where　we　found　Daoud　chatting　with　the　stableman　and　Selim　chatting　with　the　horses。　He　was　a　fine　rider；　and　he　had　been　in　charge　of　the　splendid　Arabians　while　we　were　away。　Risha　and　Asfur　had　been　gifts　to　Ramses　and　David　from　a　Bedouin　friend。　Their　progeny；　which　included　Nefret's　mare　Moonlight；　had　increased　over　the　years。
　〃Are　we　taking　the　horses？〃　I　inquired。　I　knew　the　answer　even　before　Emerson　shook　his　head。　He　had　told　Selim　and　Daoud　to　meet　him　in　the　stable　so　I　wouldn't　see　them！　Neither　appeared　surprised　to　see　me；　however。　Selim　greeted　me　with　a　knowing　smile。　He　and　Daoud　both　carried　coils　of　rope。　I　had　a　feeling　we　would　need　ropes　before　the　day　was　over；　if　the　paths　Emerson　meant　to　take　were　too　rough　for　the　horses。
　I　have　clambered　over　the　Theban　mountains　many　a　time；　by　day　and　by　night。　The　exercise　is　delightful　during　the　time　of　full　moon；　when　the　rugged　surface　is　a　symphony　of　silver　and　shadow。　The　first　part　of　the　trek　was　familiar　to　me；　and　not　difficult　…　up　the　slope　behind　Deir　el　Bahri　to　the　top　of　the　plateau　and　the　path　that　led　from　the　workmen's　village　to　the　Valley　of　the　Kings。　How　often　had　I　stood　there　gazing　out　upon　the　panorama　of　temples　and　villages；　desert　and　sown；　with　the　waters　of　the　Nile　sparkling　in　the　sunlight！　It　was　a　hallowed　spot；　for　as　our　dear　departed　reis　Abdullah　grew　older；　I　would　often　pretend　fatigue　after　the　climb　so　that　he　could　stop　and　catch　his　breath。　I　dreamed　of　him　from　time　to　time；　and　it　was　always　in　this　setting　that　I　saw　him。
　Difficult　as　it　is　to　believe　of　such　a　barren；　rocky　region；　the　wadis　of　the　Western　Desert　were　cut　by　water　pouring　down　the　cliffs　of　the　high　plateau　to　the　plain　below。　I　believe　I　can　best　make　the　Reader　e　to　an　understanding　of　this　particular　terrain；　which　is　nothing　at　all　like　the　sand　deserts　of　the　Sahara；　by　paring　the　plateau　to　a　plum　cake　which　has　been　set　down　on　a　flattish　platter　（the　Nile　Valley）。　Imagine　that　some　monstrous　being　has　thrust　taloned　claws　into　the　soft　top　and　sides　of　this　confection　and　withdrawn　them；　leaving　ragged　fissures　and　tumbled　lumps。
　（When　Emerson　happened　to　read　this　particular　section　of　my　narrative；　he　remarked　that　in　his　opinion　no　rational　person　could　make　such　an　absurd　parison。　In　my　opinion；　it　is　a　valid　figure　of　speech；　and　very　descriptive。）
　Paths　wind　to　and　fro　across　the　slopes　and　over　the　gebel；　some　are　fairly　easy；　others　are　more　suitable　for　goats。　These　latter　were