elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第44部分

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　before；　with　opponents　far　more　dangerous　than　that　miserable　boy；　and　yet　he's　managed　to　get　us　in　an　exceedingly　tight　spot。　No　one　knows　where　we　are　。　。　。　except　Jumana。　Have　we　been　so　mistaken　in　her　character？　I　can't　believe　she　would　connive　in　murder。〃
　〃No；〃　I　said。　〃She　wouldn't。〃　The　strained　voice；　the　odd；　bent　walk　。　。　。　〃That　wasn't　Jumana；　Emerson。　It　was　Jamil。〃
　
　　
　
　7
　　
　FROM　MANUSCRIPT　H
　　
　When　the　citizens　of　Deir　el　Medina　abandoned　their　houses　they　took　their　most　valued　possessions　with　them　…　except　for　the　most　valuable　of　all；　the　goods　devoutly　deposited　with　the　dead。　Looking　for　tombs　was　a　gamble；　with　approximately　the　same　odds　as　any　game　of　chance。　The　great　majority　of　them　were　empty　and　vandalized；　but　every　now　and　then　a　lucky　winner　would　find　a　prize；　with　some　of　the　grave　goods　still　intact；　and　the　grand　prize；　the　unrobbed　tomb　of　a　king　or　king's　wife；　was　a　will…o'…the…wisp　that　tantalized　the　imagination　of　every　excavator；　whether　he　admitted　it　or　not。　However　slim　the　odds；　the　temptation　to　search　for　treasure　was　hard　to　resist；　especially　when　the　alternative　was　a　clutter　of　unimpressive　mud…brick　walls；　or　the　tedious　tasks　of　measuring　and　recording。
　Jumana　was　supposed　to　be　helping　Bertie　and　Cyrus　finish　the　surveying；　but　Ramses　wasn't　surprised　to　see　her　halfway　up　the　hillside；　squatting；　her　head　bent；　her　hands　busy。　He　let　out　a　shout　that　made　Nefret　jump　and　brought　Jumana　to　her　feet。　She　waved　vigorously　and　started　down。
　〃She　shouldn't　be　doing　that；〃　he　said　in　exasperation。　〃Look　at　her；　grinning　and　cavorting。　She　knows　she　is　violating　orders。〃
　〃Don't　be　too　hard　on　her；〃　Nefret　said　tolerantly。　〃Mother　would　be　up　there　too。　She's　found　something。〃
　She　was　holding　a　small　stela。　It　was　not　an　unusual　discovery；　a　good　many　of　them　had　been　found　by　earlier　excavators；　in　or　near　the　chapels　of　the　tombs。　She　offered　it　to　Ramses；　raising　shining　eyes　to　him。
　〃You　were　told　not　to　remove　objects　from　their　place；〃　Ramses　said　severely。　The　way　she　was　looking　at　him　made　him　nervous。
　〃I　tagged　the　place；〃　Jumana　protested。　〃As　you　showed　me。　I　made　the　measurements；　I　know　exactly　where　it　should　go　on　the　plan。　There　is　no　chapel　there；　Ramses；　it　must　have　fallen　from　its　place　and　tumbled　down　the　hillside。　See　…　isn't　it　pretty？〃
　Mollified；　and　regretting　his　hard　tone；　he　took　the　stone　from　her。　The　curved　top　and　straight　sides；　the　rows　of　hieroglyphs　that　praised　the　deities　worshiped　by　the　male　and　female　figures；　were　of　a　standard　type；　but　the　deities　were　somewhat　unusual　…　two　plump　cats；　facing　each　other　across　an　offering　table。
　〃I've　seen　other　stelae　from　Deir　el　Medina　that　depict　cats；〃　he　said。　〃They　were　identified　with　several　goddesses；　including　Amon's　wife　Mut。〃
　〃Not　with　the　Great　Cat　of　Re？〃　Jumana　asked。
　〃Not　these。〃　They　were　rather　charming　animals；　fatter　and　less　aloof　than　the　usual　lean　Egyptian　cat。　He　indicated　the　appropriate　hieroglyphs。　〃　'Giving　praise　to　the　good　and　peaceful　cat。'　Well；　maybe　they　are　at　that。　They　aren't　named。　But　the　Great　Cat　of　Re　wasn't　peaceful；　was　he。〃
　〃They're　delightful；〃　Nefret　said；　nodding　at　Jumana。　She　got　no　response；　Jumana　was　watching　Ramses；　breathless　and　expectant；　waiting　for　a　word　of　praise　from　him。
　〃They　are；〃　he　conceded。　〃Let's　take　it　to　Bertie。　Drawing　it　will　be　good　practice　for　him。〃
　〃I　would　like　to　give　it　to　the　Little　Bird；〃　Jumana　said；　as　they　walked　toward　the　shelter。　〃Her　cat　is　getting　fat；　like　these；　and　we　could　tell　her　one　of　them　was　the　Great　Cat　of　Re。〃
　〃We　will　have　to　wait　for　the　Antiquities　Department　to　decide　which　pieces　we　may　keep；〃　Ramses　said。　Feeling　he　had　been　a　trifle　harsh；　he　added；　〃It　was　kind　of　you　to　think　of　it；　Jumana。〃
　They　greeted　Bertie　and　handed　over　the　stela；　and　Ramses　said；　〃It's　rather　a　charming　piece。　Why　don't　you　try　your　hand　at　making　a　copy；　Bertie？　Unless　you're　busy　with　something　else。〃
　〃I　will　do　it；〃　Jumana　said。　〃I　can　…〃
　〃Yes；　I　know　you　can；　but　I　need　you　elsewhere。〃
　
　　
　Selim　had　set　the　men　to　work。　He　hailed　Ramses；　demanding　his　opinion　of　an　unusual　raised　platform　in　the　corner　of　the　house　they　were　excavating；　and　Ramses　lost　track　of　the　time。　It　wasn't　until　Cyrus　joined　them　and　suggested　they　stop　for　luncheon　that　Ramses　realized　how　late　it　was。
　〃Where're　your　ma　and　pa？〃　Cyrus　asked　with　a　grin。
　〃They　haven't　e？〃　He　knew　they　hadn't；　his　father　always　made　his　presence　known。　〃They　went　to　see　Yusuf；　he　sent　a　message　asking　for　them。　But　they　ought　to　be　here　by　now。〃
　Nefret's　expressive　face　reflected　his　own　uneasiness。　〃Were　we　right　after　all　…　about　Yusuf　and　Jamil？　I　really　didn't　believe　it；　you　know。〃
　〃Neither　did　I；〃　Ramses　admitted。　He　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair。
　〃Where　is　your　hat？〃　Nefret　asked。
　〃I　don't　know。　Never　mind　my　damned　hat。　Confound　it；　they've　no　business　wandering　off　without　informing　us。　What　are　we　going　to　do？〃
　〃Have　lunch；〃　Nefret　said　practically。　〃And　wait　a　little　longer。〃
　Cyrus　demanded　to　know　what　was　going　on；　and　after　they　had　set　out　the　food；　Ramses　told　all　of　them　about　the　message。　Cyrus　was　unconcerned。　〃They　can　take　care　of　themselves。〃　Selim　scowled。　〃If　Yusuf　knew；　and　did　not　tell　me　…〃
　〃That's　only　a　theory；　Selim。　We　can't　be　certain　what　Yusuf　wanted。　Maybe　it　was　Mother's　notorious　medical　skills。〃
　〃He　would　be　more　likely　to　ask　for　hers　than　for　mine；〃　Nefret　admitted。　〃The　older　men　and　women　don't　believe　in　my　newfangled　notions。　But　it　shouldn't　have　taken　them　this　long；　even　if　Yusuf　asked　Father　to　perform　an　exorcism。〃
　By　the　time　they　had　finished　the　meal　Ramses　had　e　to　a　decision。　〃We　had　better　try　to　find　them。　Assume　the　worst；　as　Mother　says；　and　act　on　it。〃
　〃Where　are　you　going　to　look？〃　Cyrus　asked。　〃You　don't　know　where　they　might　be　by　now。〃
　〃Yusuf；〃　Ramses　said　shortly。　〃If　he　has　any　information；　I'll　get　it　out　of　him。〃
　Selim　rose。　〃Daoud　and　I　will　e　with　you。〃
　〃Damn　this　foot！〃　Bertie　burst　out。　〃Look；　it's　almost　healed；　I　can　keep　up。〃
　〃Not　this　time。〃　Ramses's　hand　rested　briefly　on　the　other　man's　shoulder。　〃We　don't　need　additional　manpower　…〃
　〃No；〃　said　Daoud；　folding　his　massive　arms。
　〃No；〃　Ramses　repeated；　nodding　in　acknowledgment。　〃Cyrus；　you　had　better　stay　here。　Jumana；　e　with　us。〃
　She　stared　at　him；　her　eyes　wide　and　dark。　〃You　think　I　know　something　I　have　not　told　you？　It　is　not　true！〃
　〃I　haven't　accused　you　of　anything；〃　Ramses　said。
　〃Do　let's　go；〃　Nefret　exclaimed。　〃Why　are　we　wasting　time　talking？〃
　They　took　the　most　direct　route；　past　the　temple　and　across　the　foothills；　approaching　the　village　from　the　south。　Most　of　the　inhabitants　were　enjoying　their　afternoon　nap；　but　by　the　time　they　reached　Yusuf's　house　a　few　wakeful　souls　had　spotted　them　and　run　on　ahead；　so　Yusuf　was　expecting　them。
　He　was　lying　on　the　divan　in　the　main　room；　covered　with　a　blanket；　though　the　day　was　warm。　It　was　the　first　time　Ramses　had　seen　the　old　man　since　their　arrival。　The　change　in　him　was　distressing。　The　once　plump　jowls　hung　down　in　loose　folds；　and　his　thin　hands　gripped　the　edge　of　the　coverlet。　He　shrank　back　as　they　all　crowded　into　the　room。　Ramses　didn't　blame　him；　they　made　a　threatening　assemblage：　he　and　Nefret；　Daoud　looming　like　a　monolith；　Selim's　face　unyielding　as　walnut。
　Nefret　let　out　a　little　sound　of　pity　and　surprise；　pushed　past　the　others；　and　bent　over　the　old　man。　〃Salaam　aleikhum；　Uncle　Yusuf。　I　regret　we　did　not　e　before。　We　did　not　know　you　were　so　ill。〃
　Her　low　voice；　sweet　with　sympathy；　reproached　the　others　and　reassured　Yusuf。　〃I　am　better；　Nur　Misur；〃　he　croaked。
　Ramses　gestured　Selim　to　remain　silent。　He　couldn't　bully　a　pathetic　specimen　like　Yusuf。　Anyhow；　Nefret's　methods　were　more　likely　to　win　him　over。　He　looked　around　for　Jumana。　She　was　behind　Daoud；　whose　large　form　hid　all　of　her　but　her　little　boots。
　〃Was　it　the　Sitt　Hakim　who　made　you　better；　Uncle　Yusuf？〃　Nefret　asked。　〃What　did　she　give　you？〃
　〃The　Sitt　Hakim？　She　has　not　been　here。　No　one　has　been　here。〃　Self…pity　and　resentment　gave　new　life　to　his　feeble　voice。　〃None　of　you　came　to　ask　about　me。〃
　〃We　are　sorry；　Uncle；〃　Nefret　said。　〃But　the　Sitt　Hakim　did　e；　this　morning。　You　sent　her　a　message　asking　her　to　e。〃
　〃I　sent　no　message；〃　Yusuf　said　sullenly。　〃Why　should　I？　You　should　have　e　without　my　asking。〃
　Selim　moved　slightly；　and　again　Ramses　motioned　him　to　be　quiet。　Yusuf's　resentment　…　justifiable　resentment；　Ramses　had　to　admit　…　was　genuine。　There　was　no　reason　for　him　to　lie；　since　he　knew　there　were　dozens　of　witnesses　who　would　have　seen　the　elder　Emersons　had　they　been　there。
　From　the　doorway　a　harsh　voice　said；　〃He　speaks　the　truth；　Brother　of　Demons。　The　Sitt　has　not　been　here。〃
　It　was　Yusuf's　eldest　wife；　her　voice　accusatory；　her　face　crumpled　into　innumerable　wrinkles　by　age　and　indignation。　She　shoved　at　Daoud。　〃Get　out；　Daoud；　and　take　her　with　you；　the　shameless　creature。　Why　have　you　all　e；　like　accusers；　to　trouble　a　sick　old　man？〃
　Daoud　turned；　in　his　ponderous　fashion；　and　Jumana　let　ou