elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第59部分
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ver him。 His head was bare； his fine linen shirt was torn and smeared with oil； in short； he was having a wonderful time。
As the sun sank westward； it became apparent that we were not going to make it back to the coastal road that day。 Bathed in perspiration； muffled in fabric； I was considering methods of murdering Emerson； and perhaps Selim as well； when I saw ahead a few spindly palm trees。
〃There it is；〃 Emerson said happily。 〃I thought I remembered the location。〃
〃You thought？〃 I repeated。
It was not much of an oasis； but there was water； brackish and muddy； but enough to allow us to sponge our faces and limbs。 〃Your little shortcut has only cost a day；〃 I remarked； as we sat round the small fire。 〃So far。〃
〃We'll be back on the main road tomorrow；〃 Emerson said。 〃And in Khan Yunus by nightfall。〃
〃So you say。〃 I looked at Nefret； who was sitting cross…legged on the ground eating sardines out of a tin。 〃I will have to dye your skin again； Nefret。 What with sand and perspiration； most of it is gone。 And you； Emerson …〃
〃What's wrong with my appearance？〃 Emerson demanded； running his hand through his beard and sprinkling his sardines with sand。
〃Shall I have a disguise； Sitt Hakim？〃 Selim asked hopefully。
〃You might shave your beard；〃 I said。
Selim went pale and clutched at his treasured beard。 I repented my cruelty almost at once。 〃I was joking； Selim。 You are not known in this region； I do not believe a disguise is necessary。〃
One can easily prehend how the Israelites felt when； after toiling through the arid wilderness； they beheld before them the green pastures and fertile fields of the Promised Land。 （I did not mention this charming idea to Emerson； since he does not believe in the Exodus and would have given me a long boring lecture about it。）
All was fresh and emerald green； with the brilliant scarlet spots of poppies dotting the landscape。 Winter was passing and summer was yet to e； the air was fresh and cool； the sky a cerulean cloudless vault； wildflowers grew in profusion： anemones and lilies； wild purple iris and sweet peas of all shades； from golden yellow to rosy mauve。
Yet the signs of war were everywhere。 Every now and again an aircraft would drone overhead； and sometimes its passage was followed by an explosion and a cloud of dust。 None of the bombs came close to us； but I was glad of the veil that covered my face。 Since that air raid in London I had a tendency to flinch at explosions。
We did not want to spend another night on the road； so we started early and went on with scarcely a pause until late afternoon。 As the sun blazoned the western sky with flaming color we came to the outskirts of Khan Yunus。 An old city of the Philistines； like Gaza； it was a garden spot indeed； with flowers everywhere and fig and orange trees heavy with fruit。 Selim propelled the motorcar skillfully through the narrow streets； and I realized that our arrival would not go unnoticed by the military。 Since the enemy had withdrawn without a battle； the town had been spared destruction； and our brave fellows were enjoying the amenities of the suk and the picturesque winding lanes。 In the center of the main square； a group of field engineers was at work improving the old well。 According to Emerson； Mahmud's house was on one side of this square。
Unlike the city mansions with which I was acquainted； this one did not face directly onto the street。 Instead we saw a high； featureless wall of stone covered with crumbling plaster and a double…leaved door wide enough to be called a gate。 Heavy and banded with iron； it stood ajar； and from the litter that had blown up against it I had the impression it had not been closed for quite a while。
Selim got out and shoved at it。 Emerson maintained his stately persona； looking neither to right nor left。 I leaned forward and spoke softly。 〃It is an unusual arrangement； Emerson。 More like a khan or caravansary。 And the gate is wide enough for …〃
〃Camels；〃 said Emerson； sotto voce and without turning his head。 〃Some of the old villain's caravans carry merchandise that cannot be unloaded in the open street。 Be quiet； Peabody； you have not been given permission to speak。〃
After shoving with all his strength； Selim got the rusted hinges to move。 When the gates creaked open we saw an unpaved courtyard and a group of men； women； naked babies； chickens； goats； and a sheep gathered in the courtyard。 All； except for the chickens； stared in stupefaction。 Obviously we had not been expected。
They were members of a family that had been charged by Mahmud to look after the place； they had taken advantage of his absence to move in and make themselves at home。 Our appearance threw them into a total panic。 Emerson's curses soon sorted them out； and they scattered in all directions to carry out his orders。 Once the babies； goats； and sheep had been removed； Selim drove the car into the courtyard and closed the gates。 I did not doubt the military authorities would soon be informed of our arrival； and could only hope that Emerson's forged papers would convince them of our bona fides。 There was no use worrying about it。 We would deal with unexpected setbacks in our usual efficient fashion。
Straight ahead； forming one side of the courtyard； was the house itself。 The living quarters were on the first floor； with storage and work areas underneath。 The barred and closely screened windows on one side of the facade must be those of the haremlik； on the other side； stone steps led up to the carved arches of the mak'ad； a reception room that was open to the court so that the owner of the house could see approaching visitors … male visitors。 The mak'ad was not used by the women of the household。
Obeying a brusque gesture from Emerson； who was reveling in his role； Nefret and I gathered up our voluminous skirts and went through a side door and up a flight of narrow stairs to the haremlik。
We were followed by several women； squawking like the chickens as they made excuses and offered assistance。 I could see I had a long job ahead of me getting the place in proper order。 The basic plan was fortable if somewhat old…fashioned； with a bath chamber and a number of small cubicles surrounding a handsome saloon； or ka'ah； a lofty chamber with an arched ceiling and tiled floor。 One end was raised； with rugs covering the floor； and two divans。 I cannot describe to persons of fastidious tastes （as my Readers certainly are） the condition of the place。 It was all I could do to refrain from rolling up my sleeves and seizing a broom。 Since this was impossible； I threw myself into my role as elderly harridan and began shouting out directions。 I doubt the flustered females had ever moved so fast。 The rugs and cushions were removed to be beaten and fumigated； the floor was swept and scrubbed； the dust and cobwebs covering all the flat surfaces were removed。 When the room was habitable； and we had been supplied with a jug of warm water； I sent the whole lot of them off to the bath chamber； assuring them I would e soon to make certain they had cleaned it thoroughly。
Nefret had remained modestly silent； her Arabic was less fluent than mine。 I wondered what Ramses would think of the transformation in her appearance。 She had darkened her skin a shade or two； and her hair was now a pretty shade of russet brown。 The cornflower…blue eyes could not be concealed； but they could be explained by the assumption that she was of light…skinned Circassian or Berber ancestry。 There were a good many girls of that plexion in Turkish harems。
〃You certainly look like an old man's darling；〃 I remarked in French。 We had decided it was safer to use that language； even in private conversation； in case we were overheard。
Nefret made a face and plucked at the embroidered gibbeh that covered several other layers of garments。 〃I don't smell like one。 I'd give anything for a bath and a change of clothing。〃
〃So would I。 It will have to wait。 But you may as well remove the gibbeh and freshen up a bit。 Curse it； here are some of the women e back。〃
They had brought our luggage； including the mats on which I intended we should sit and sleep。 Emerson had howled at the amount of baggage I had considered necessary … he would have gone off to Timbuktu with only the clothes on his back … but I absolutely refused to share my bed with the interesting variety of insect life that I had good reason to expect。 The women spread the mats over the divans and unpacked a few more things； including my traveling tea set； which included a silver kettle and a spirit lamp。 （This had produced a particularly sarcastic string of remarks from Emerson。）
I was preparing an emphatic speech of dismissal for the ladies when the appearance of Emerson spared me that effort。 The women at once fled； drawing folds of their garments over their faces； and closed the doors。
Hands on hips； feet apart； Emerson inspected the room and us with a lordly sneer。 He looked magnificent！ I repressed the thrill of admiration that ran through my limbs； since it was unlikely I could do anything about it for some time。 Regret was mitigated by the presence of the beard。 It looked splendid； but I knew how it would feel … like a bramble bush。
〃Well； this is ver
