elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第22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！


　you；　Mohammed；　if　you　bring　us　news　of　Jamil。　Tell　the　others　the　same　…　and　warn　them　to　watch　out　for　accidents。〃
　〃Hmmmm。〃　Mohammed　scratched　his　neck。　〃Accidents。〃
　〃You　should　have　asked　him　to　break　the　news　to　Abdul's　family；　Emerson；〃　I　said；　after　Mohammed　had　scuttled　off。
　〃He　will　anyhow；〃　said　Emerson。　〃Let's　go　before　the　bereaved　relatives　descend　on　us。〃
　After　all；　there　is　nothing　like　an　early…morning　ride　in　the　brisk　desert　air　to　raise　the　spirits。　We　were　taking　the　horses　as　far　as　they　could　safely　go；　and　even　the　thought　of　the　nasty　job　ahead　of　us　faded　as　we　went　on。　Admittedly；　the　worst　part　of　the　business　was　not　something　I　had　to　tackle。　I　wondered　what　Abdullah　would　have　thought　of　it。　He　would　probably　have　remarked　that　it　served　the　fellow　right；　and　that　we　should　leave　it　to　his　family　to　have　the　body　out；　but　if　he　had　been　asked　to　take　the　responsibility　he　would　have　carried　it　out　with　his　usual　efficiency。
　I　had　not　dreamed　of　him　for　a　long　time。　They　were　strange　dreams；　unlike　most　others　…　as　vivid　and　consistent　as　a　real…life　encounter　would　have　been。　I　am　not　at　all　superstitious；　but　I　had　e　to　believe　that　in　some　way　the　profound　affection　Abdullah　and　I　had　felt　for　one　another　transcended　the　barrier　of　death；　and　I　looked　forward　to　those　dreams　as　I　would　have　anticipated　another　meeting　with　a　distant　friend。　Perhaps　now　that　I　was　back　in　Luxor；　where　we　had　shared　so　many　unforgettable　experiences；　Abdullah　would　e　to　me　again。
　After　we　passed　Medinet　Habu　the　road　narrowed　to　a　path　and　then　to　a　track　as　it　turned　toward　the　hills。　It　was　Ramses　who　halted　our　caravan　and　Ramses　who　was　the　first　to　dismount；　swinging　himself　off　Risha's　back　in　a　single　smooth　movement。　The　rest　of　us　followed　his　lead。
　It　was　over　a　mile　to　the　end　of　the　wadi。　Leaving　the　cart　and　the　horses　there；　we　proceeded　on　foot　for　a　few　hundred　yards；　to　the　place　where　the　wide　mouth　of　the　canyon　narrowed　and　the　hills　began　to　rise；　dividing　the　southern　branch　of　the　wadi　from　another　tongue　that　ran　off　to　the　north。　Ramses　stripped　off　his　coat　and　took　one　of　the　coils　of　knotted　rope。
　We　had　discussed　the　best　method　of　proceeding　the　night　before；　and　had　agreed；　or　so　I　believed；　Emerson　had　not　liked　it　then　and　he　did　not　like　it　now。
　〃My　turn；〃　he　insisted。　〃You've　been　in　the　stinking　place　already。　Once　was　enough。〃
　Ramses's　mouth　tightened　with　annoyance。　I　knew　how　he　felt；　when　there　is　a　dirty　job　to　be　done；　one　wishes　to　get　it　over。　He　wanted　to　spare　his　father；　who　wanted　to　spare　him；　and　neither　of　them　would　give　in　without　a　struggle。　Then　Bertie；　who　stood　a　little　to　one　side；　said　suddenly；　〃I'll　go。〃
　Taken　by　surprise；　all　of　us　turned　to　stare　at　him。　Meeting　my　doubtful　eye；　he　smiled。　〃I've　almost　certainly　seen　worse；　you　know。〃
　It　was　almost　certainly　true。　He　had　been　in　the　trenches　in　France　for　almost　two　years　before　he　suffered　the　wounds　that　sent　him　home；　ill　and　embittered。　I　had　heard　stories　。　。　。
　〃You　are　not　a　good　climber；〃　said　Jumana；　arms　folded。　〃Ramses　is　much　better。〃
　I　could　have　shaken　the　girl。　Bertie　flushed　painfully；　and　I　believe　Cyrus　was　about　to　express　his　fatherly　concern　when　Ramses　cut　him　off。
　〃Right；　then。　Here　you　go。〃　He　handed　Bertie　the　rope　and　gave　Daoud　an　almost　imperceptible　nod。　They　started　off；　Daoud　sticking　close　to　Bertie；　Hassan　trailing　at　a　slight　distance。
　〃Ramses；〃　I　said。　〃Was　that　wise？〃
　〃He'll　be　all　right；　Mother。〃　Hands　on　hips；　he　watched　the　men　climb　up　out　of　sight。
　〃He's　got　that　bad　leg；〃　Cyrus　said　anxiously。
　〃What's　needed　for　this　job　is　strength　in　the　arms　and　shoulders；〃　Ramses　said。　〃And　nerve。　He's　got　them。　Daoud　knows　what　to　do。〃
　We　went　on　to　the　end　of　the　valley　and　the　cliff　in　which　the　tomb　lay　hidden。　The　rope　Ramses　had　descended　the　previous　day　was　still　there；　but　we　had　concluded　it　would　be　safer　for　the　men　to　approach　from　above　rather　than　climb　the　sheer　face。　They　would　then　lower　the　remains　down；　and　descend　themselves。
　The　first　part　of　the　procedure　went　as　planned。　His　white　handkerchief　pressed　to　his　face；　Cyrus　watched　every　move　made　by　the　small　forms　atop　the　cliff　with　a　concern　he　was　not　unwilling　to　express。　He　had　taken　Katherine's　children　for　his　own；　and　Bertie　had　repaid　his　affection；　even　adopting　Cyrus's　name。　〃Have　they　got　something　to　cover　their　faces？〃　he　demanded；　his　voice　muffled　by　the　linen。　〃And　gloves？　And　…〃
　〃Daoud　knows　what　to　do；〃　Ramses　said　again。　He　was　watching；　too；　his　brow　furrowed。　Jumana　was　the　least　concerned；　having　found　a　rock　on　which　to　sit；　she　was　refreshing　herself　from　a　water　bottle　and　humming　under　her　breath。
　Bertie　was　the　first　to　descend；　and　I　was　relieved　to　observe　that　he　was　being　lowered　by　Daoud　instead　of　going　down　hand　over　hand　as　Ramses　had　done。　He　disappeared　into　the　cleft　and　was　followed　by　Hassan；　who　was　carrying　a　folded　piece　of　canvas　and　a　length　of　rope。
　I　suppose　it　did　not　take　more　than　ten　minutes　for　them　to　finish　what　they　had　e　to　do；　but　it　seemed　longer。　The　first　thing　I　saw　was　the　neat　white　turban　of　Hassan。　Emerging　with　some　haste；　he　caught　hold　of　the　rope　and　slid　to　the　ground。
　〃Hell　and　damnation；〃　Emerson　remarked；　in　a　voice　that　echoed　between　the　cliffs。　〃Did　you　leave　him　alone　up　there？〃
　〃It's　all　right；〃　Bertie　called。　〃Look　out　below。〃
　The　canvas…wrapped　bundle　swung　as　he　lowered　it；　and　kept　banging　against　the　rock　face　in　a　grisly　fashion。　The　stench　was　really　quite　horrid；　but　not　even　Cyrus　backed　away。　He　was　watching　Bertie；　who　stood　with　feet　braced；　paying　out　the　rope。　Ramses's　assessment　had　been　correct；　he　had　strength　enough　for　this。　The　bundle　was　not　very　large。
　It　settled　onto　the　rock…strewn　ground　with　a　flexibility　I　prefer　not　to　describe；　and　Bertie　immediately　began　to　descend。　Drawing　his　knife；　Ramses　cut　the　rope　and　would　have　lifted　the　body　out　of　Bertie's　way　had　not　Selim　intervened。　Hassan　hastened　to　help　him　lift　it　onto　a　rough　litter　and　carry　it　away。
　〃Well！〃　I　said；　drawing　the　first　deep　breath　I　had　taken　for　several　minutes。　〃Thank　goodness　that　is　safely　acplished。　Now　let　us　。　。　。　Nefret？　Nefret；　where　are　you　going？〃
　She　had　followed　after　Selim　and　Hassan　and　stopped　them；　far　enough　away　so　that　the　horrible　smell　did　not　reach　us。
　〃Hell　and　damnation；〃　Emerson　ejaculated。　〃She　isn't　。　。　。　She　surely　won't　。　。　。〃
　The　men　lowered　the　litter　to　the　ground。　Emerson　emitted　an　even　more　blistering　oath　and　started　toward　them。
　〃No；　Father；〃　Ramses　said。
　〃But　…　did　she　tell　you　she　…　aren't　you　going　to　stop　her？〃
　Ramses　shook　his　head。　〃She　didn't　tell　me；　but　I　suspected　she　would；　and　no；　I　am　not　going　to　stop　her。　I　played　the　masterful　husband　before。　I　ought　not　have　done　so。　It　is　her　decision　and　her　right。　Please　don't　interfere。〃
　He　went　to　join　Nefret　and　stood　watching；　his　hands　in　his　pockets。　She　looked　up　at　him　and　spoke；　briefly；　before　returning　to　her　grisly　task。　〃What　is　he　doing？〃　Emerson　demanded。
　〃Just　being　with　her；〃　I　said。　〃Sharing　the　unpleasantness　in　the　only　way　he　can。　It　is　really　very　sweet；　Emerson。〃
　〃A　sweet　experience　to　share；〃　Emerson　growled。　〃Well；　curse　it；　I　can　do　no　less。　I　will　just　go　and　…〃
　〃No；　Emerson。　What　about　a　spot　of　lunch　while　we　are　waiting？　Bertie；　I　neglected　to　mend　you　on　a　task　well　done。　Would　you　care　for　a　cheese　sandwich？〃
　Bertie　had　removed　the　cloth　that　had　covered　his　mouth　and　nose。　〃Good　Lord；　Mrs。　Emerson；　I　。　。　。　Well；　yes；　thank　you；　if　it　isn't　too　much　trouble；　but　she　…　Nefret　…　it　is　quite　a　horrible　object；　you　know；　and　the　sight　of　food　…〃
　〃Don't　worry　about　her；〃　I　said。
　Cyrus　only　shook　his　head。　He　had　known　Nefret　longer　than　Bertie　had。
　Though　I　am　accustomed　to　corpses　in　all　stages；　from　newly　slain　to　long　mummified；　I　was　not　particularly　anxious　to　examine　this　one；　or　even　to　watch　from　a　distance。　I　kept　my　eyes　averted　until　Selim　and　Hassan　rewrapped　the　bundle　and　replaced　it　on　the　litter。　When　Nefret　and　Ramses　came　back　I　observed　that　her　hands　and　forearms　were　red；　not　with　blood；　but　from　the　gritty　sand　with　which　she　had　cleaned　them。　She　was　perfectly　posed　…　more　so　than　Ramses；　whose　features　were　not　so　controlled　as　they　usually　were。　At　my　suggestion　he　got　out　the　bottle　of　alcohol　and　poured　it　over　her　hands。　She　then　seated　herself　and　asked　for　a　sandwich。
　The　others　watched　her　with　varying　degrees　of　admiration　and　consternation。　Jumana's　eyes　were　enormous　in　a　face　that　had　lost　its　healthy　color。　〃How　could　you？〃　she　quavered。
　〃It's　my　profession；〃　Nefret　said　calmly。　〃Not　an　enjoyable　profession　at　times　like　this　one；　but　I'm　used　to　it。　I　knew　the　family　wouldn't　allow　a　proper　autopsy；　so　this　was　my　only　chance　to　determine　how　the　poor　man　died。〃
　〃Well？〃　Emerson　demanded。　〃Did　you？〃
　Nefret　drank　deeply　from　the　water　bottle　before　replying。　〃Fractured　skull。　The　back　of　his　head　was　。　。　。　I　won't　go　into　detail。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　Cyrus　muttered；　eyeing　his　sandwich　with　distaste。
　〃There　were　a　number　of　broken　bones；〃　Nefret　went　o