elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第28部分

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you　…〃
　〃Stop　carrying　on　and　sit　down；〃　I　said　impatiently。　〃Something　to　do　with　Jamil；　I　suppose。　No；　Jumana；　I　do　not　want　any　more　theatrics。　Emerson；　be　quiet。　Ramses？〃
　He　gave　us　a　bare　outline　of　what　had　transpired；　and　the　sympathy　for　Jumana　that　had　softened　Emerson's　keen　blue　eyes　turned　to　wrath。
　〃Good　God；〃　he　shouted。　〃He　might　have　killed　you！　Nefret　…　Ramses　…　why　didn't　you　wake　me？〃
　〃There　wasn't　time；　Father；〃　Ramses　said。　He　was　certainly　correct　about　that；　it　takes　Emerson　at　least　ten　minutes　to　get　his　wits　together　when　he　has　been　suddenly　aroused。　Ramses　went　on　in　the　same　quiet　voice；　〃I　miscalculated。　I　ought　to　have　sent　Nefret　round　to　flush　him　out　instead　of　leaving　her　there　alone。〃
　〃Let　us　not　have　any　further　beating　of　breasts；〃　I　said；　for　I　knew　his　tendency　to　blame　himself　for　anything　that　went　wrong；　whether　it　was　his　fault　or　not。　To　be　sure；　it　often　was　his　fault；　but　in　this　case　anyone　might　have　done　the　same。
　Emerson　had　gone　to　stand　by　Nefret。　He　put　out　his　hand；　and　then　drew　it　back。　〃The　stone　struck　your　shoulder？〃
　〃Yes。〃　She　turned　her　head　to　look　up　at　him　and　winced　even　as　she　smiled。　〃I　have　a　few　bruises；　but　that's　all　the　damage。〃
　I　cleared　my　throat。　〃Your　medical　expertise　is　far　beyond　mine；　of　course；　but　if　you　would　like　me　…〃
　〃Thank　you；　Mother；　but　there　is　no　need。　It's　all　right。　Everything　is　all　right；〃　she　added　softly。
　〃Ah；〃　I　said。　〃Good。　Well。　What　are　we　going　to　do　about　Jamil？〃
　That　produced　another　outburst　from　Jumana；　in　the　course　of　which　she　swore　she　would　never　trust　Jamil　again；　and　proposed　that　we　beat　her　and　lock　her　up　on　bread　and　water；　or　marry　her　off　to　disgusting　old　Nuri　Said；　who　had　often　asked　her　father　for　her。　She　deserved　nothing　better。　She　deserved　any　fate　we　might　decree；　and　would　accept　it。
　I　was　tempted　to　shake　her；　but　forbore；　deciding　I　might　as　well　allow　her　the　privilege　of　self…expression。　When　she　finally　broke　off　for　want　of　breath；　her　eyes　were　swimming　with　tears。　I　did　not　doubt　she　was　utterly　sincere；　nor　did　I　doubt　that　at　the　same　time　she　was　enjoying　herself　immensely。
　〃Now；　now；〃　said　Emerson　feebly；　〃it's　all　right。　Curse　it；　don't　cry。〃
　〃How　can　you　forgive　me？〃　she　demanded　in　tragic　accents。
　〃We　offered　Jamil　a　second　chance。　Can　we　do　less　for　you；　who　are　guilty　of　nothing　except　misplaced　love　and　loyalty？〃
　〃Quite　right；〃　I　said；　before　the　melodrama　could　continue。　〃What　is　wanted　now；　Jumana；　is　for　you　to　behave　like　…　well；　like　Nefret　and　me。　Tears　and　self…reproach　are　tricks　some　females　employ　in　order　to　evade　responsibility。　I　do　not　permit　them　here。　You　are　…　potentially　…　the　equal　of　any　man；　and　you　must　…〃
　〃Peabody；〃　Emerson　said。　His　accents　were　severe；　but　there　was　a　twinkle　in　his　handsome　blue　eyes。
　〃Yes；　quite。　I　believe　I　have　made　my　point；　Jumana。　You　did　a　foolish　thing；　and　I　trust　you　have　learned　a　valuable　lesson。　The　question　I　asked　has　not　been　answered。　Have　you　another　appointment　with　Jamil？〃
　Ramses　answered　for　her。　〃I　doubt　he　will　keep　it　now。　It　was　for　tonight。　The　same　place；　Jumana？〃
　〃Yes。　We　played　in　the　ruins　there；　when　we　were　children。　But　Ramses　is　right；　he　will　not　e　now；　he　will　believe　I　betrayed　him。　He　has　found　another　tomb。　It　is　in　the　Cemetery　of　the　Monkeys。　But　…〃　She　was　watching　Nefret。　〃But　you　know。　You　were　listening！〃
　Her　voice　held　a　note　of　accusation。　Ramses；　who　in　my　opinion　suffers　from　an　overly　sensitive　conscience；　was　not　moved　on　this　occasion　to　apologize。
　〃You　should　be　glad　we　did；〃　he　said。　〃You　have　nothing　to　be　ashamed　of；　Jumana。　You　told　him　you　would　not　steal　for　him；　and　you　tried　to　persuade　him　to　give　himself　up；　and　now　you　have　confessed；　of　your　own　accord。〃
　〃So　long　as　you　have　confessed　all；〃　I　added；　for　Jumana　had　responded　to　his　praise　with　a　placent　smile。　The　young　are　resilient；　and　a　good　thing；　too；　for　brooding　over　past　mistakes　is　a　waste　of　time；　but　it　wouldn't　do　to　let　the　girl　off　too　lightly。　〃We　are　willing　to　give　you　a　second　chance；　Jumana；　but　if　I　learn　that　you　have　held　something　back　…〃
　〃No。　No；　I　swear！〃
　〃So　he's　found　another　tomb；　has　he？〃　Emerson　mused。　〃Talented　young　rascal。〃
　I　frowned　at　Emerson；　who　is　too　easily　distracted　by　archaeological　speculation；　and　continued　my　questioning　of　the　girl。
　〃How　did　he　municate　with　you　before？〃
　〃I　was　given　a　message　…　just　a　scrap　of　paper；　with　a　few　words　scribbled　on　it　…　yesterday；　when　we　were　at　Gurneh。　By　Mohammed　Hammad。〃
　　
　Swearing　inventively；　Emerson　agreed　we　must　stop　at　Gurneh　on　our　way　to　the　site　and　question　Mohammed　Hammad。　The　village　was　up　and　about　its　daily　business　and　we　were　greeted　politely。　However；　when　we　called　on　Mohammed　Hammad；　we　discovered　that　the　bird　had　flown。　His　wife　…　his　elderly　wife　…　said　he　had　business　in　Coptos。　His　son　said　he　had　gone　to　Cairo。　One　of　his　acquaintances　was　more　forthing。　〃He　ran　away；　Father　of　Curses；　when　he　found　out　about　the　death　of　Abdul　Hassan。　I　would　have　done　the　same。〃　He　added　with　a　certain　air　of　regret；　〃I　was　not　one　of　those　who　robbed　the　tomb。〃
　〃You　should　thank　Allah　for　that；〃　Emerson　said。　〃And　pay　more　heed　to　his　laws。　You　see　how　he　punishes　evildoers。〃
　〃There　is　nothing　in　the　Koran　about　robbing　tombs；　Father　of　Curses。〃
　Emerson's　forbidding　frown　was　replaced　by　a　look　of　interest。　He　does　so　enjoy　arguing　theology。　Before　he　could　get　off　onto　this　sidetrack；　I　intervened。　〃Did　Mohammed　say　who　it　was　he　feared？〃　I　inquired。
　The　fellow　hesitated；　his　eyes　on　Emerson's　hand；　which　had　gone　into　his　pocket。　He　knew　he　would　get　more　baksheesh　if　he　came　up　with　a　name；　he　also　knew　that　if　he　was　caught　in　a　lie；　he　would　arouse　the　wrath　of　the　Father　of　Curses。
　〃He　did　not　have　to　say。　One　death　may　be　an　accident；　but　two　is　a　warning。　Jamil　had　threatened　them。　They　laughed。〃　He　shrugged；　spreading　his　hands　wide。　〃They　are　not　laughing　now。〃
　〃Ah；〃　said　Emerson。　〃There　would　be　a　reward　for　the　man　who　told　us　where　the　boy　is　hiding。〃
　〃A　large　reward？〃　The　fellow　thought　it　over　and　shrugged　again。　〃Money　is　of　no　use　to　a　dead　man；　Father　of　Curses。〃
　〃Quite　a　philosopher；　isn't　he？〃　Emerson　remarked　in　English。　He　dropped　a　few　more　coins　into　the　leathery　brown　palm　and　turned　away。
　The　interview　had　taken　place　on　the　street；　if　it　could　be　called　that；　in　contrast　to　the　ancient　workmen's　village；　with　its　gridlike　plan；　the　houses　of　Sheikh　el　Gurneh　had　been　fitted　into　whatever　space　was　available　…　along　the　slopes　of　the　hill；　around　the　tombs　of　the　nobles　of　the　Empire。　Some　of　the　less　important；　uninscribed　tombs　were　occupied；　the　forecourt；　where　offerings　had　been　made　to　the　honored　dead；　now　served　the　ignominious　role　of　stables　for　the　beasts　of　the　tomb　dwellers。　In　front　of　many　of　these　tomb…caves　stood　cylindrical　mud…brick　structures　like　giant　mushrooms　with　their　edges　turned　up。　They　served　the　double　purpose　of　granaries　and　sleeping　quarters。　The　hollow　on　top　is　safe　from　scorpions；　and　there　are　even　egg…cup…shaped　projections　along　the　rim　to　hold　water　jars　…　an　interesting　and　unusual　adaptation　to　local　conditions；　which　I　mention　for　the　edification　of　the　Reader。
　After　he　had　gone　a　few　feet；　Emerson　stopped。　〃Mohammed　can't　have　got　the　note　directly　from　Jamil。〃
　I　might　have　accused　him；　as　he　often　accuses　me；　of　jumping　to　conclusions；　but　in　this　case　I　had　to　agree。　〃I　hadn't　thought　of　that；〃　I　admitted　handsomely。　〃It　does　seem　unlikely　that　Jamil　would　show　his　face　openly　in　the　village　or　risk　betrayal　by　a　man　he　had　threatened。〃
　〃But　he　might　have　e　secretly；　by　night；　to　a　house　where　at　least　one　person　was　likely　to　wele　him；〃　Emerson　said。
　A　brief；　rather　awkward　silence　followed。　Jumana　had　stuck　close　by　me；　she　was　obviously　unfortable　in　the　village　of　her　birth。　How　could　she　be　otherwise；　dressed　as　she　was；　the　object　of　curious　and　hostile　glances；　especially　from　the　older　women？
　〃Is　it　my　father　you　mean？〃　she　asked。
　〃Yes；〃　Emerson　admitted。　〃How　does　he　feel　about　Jamil？〃
　〃I　have　not　spoken　to　my　father　since　he　told　me　to　leave　his　house　and　never　e　back。〃
　There　was　not　much　anyone　could　say　to　that。　Her　hard；　cold　voice　told　me　that　even　an　expression　of　regret　would　be　unwele。
　〃I　meant　to　call　on　Yusuf　before　this；〃　I　said。　〃Shall　we　go　round　to　see　him　now？〃
　Emerson　took　out　his　watch；　looked　at　it；　groaned；　and　said；　〃We　are　already　late。〃
　〃Supposing　you　go　on；　then；〃　I　said。　〃You　and　Jumana。　Nefret　and　I　will　inquire　after　his　health　and　offer　our　medical　skills。　Ramses　will　go　with　us。　No；　Emerson；　I　really　believe　that　is　the　best　course。　You　would　go　thundering　into　the　house　and　bully　the　old　man　until　he　confessed　to　anything　and　everything。　My　methods　of　interrogation　…〃
　〃I　know　what　they　are　like；〃　said　Emerson；　eyeing　my　parasol；　which　I　had　been　using　as　a　walking　stick。　〃Oh；　very　well。〃
　He　stalked　off。　Jumana　shot　me　a　grateful　look　and　trotted　after　Emerson。　The　rest　of　us　went　on　up　the　hillside　toward　Yusuf's　house；　which　was　one　of　the　finest　in　the　village；　and　as　we　wended　a