elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第63部分

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　〃A　little　late　for　me　to　start　now；　I　guess。〃　He　looked　up　with　a　rueful　smile。　〃Sorry。　I'll　do　everything　you　say　from　now　on。〃
　〃Then　get　some　sleep。〃
　Chetwode　couldn't　keep　quiet　even　when　he　slept。　He　snored。　Lying　awake；　his　hands　under　his　head；　Ramses　was　tempted　to　kick　him；　but　his　better　nature　prevailed。　Let　the　fellow　sleep。　He　wished　he　could。　The　night　noises　here　weren't　the　same　as　the　ones　at　home；　his　nerves　twitched　at　every　rustle　in　the　weeds。　Since　sleep　was　impossible；　he　went　over　and　over　the　conversations　he　had　held　that　day；　picking　them　apart；　looking　for　hints　he　might　have　missed。
　He　got　a　little　sleep；　but　not　much；　what　with　Chetwode's　snores　and　the　need　to　listen　for　suspicious　sounds。　At　daybreak　he　roused　his　panion。　Chetwode　was　uncharacteristically　silent　…　sulking　or　brooding；　or　maybe　fighting　an　attack　of　cold　feet；　for　which　Ramses　wouldn't　have　blamed　him。
　Suddenly　Chetwode　said；　〃What　if　something　goes　wrong？〃
　〃I　told　you。　Run。〃
　〃That's　not　much　of　a　plan；〃　Chetwode　said。　His　mouth　twitched。　Perhaps　he　was　trying　to　smile。
　Ramses　came　to　a　decision。　One　of　the　many　worries　that　had　prevented　him　from　sleeping　was　the　thought　of　his　anxious　family；　waiting　in　Khan　Yunus。
　〃If　you　make　it　out　and　I'm　caught　or　killed；〃　he　said；　〃go　to　the　house　of　Ibn　Rafid　in　Khan　Yunus。　It's　on　the　main　square；　the　largest　house　in　town　…　anyone　can　show　you　which　it　is。　Leave　a　written　message　for　。　。　。〃　He　realized　he　didn't　know　the　name　Emerson　was　currently　using。　〃For　the　present　master　of　the　house；　telling　him　what　happened　to　me。〃
　〃Is　he　one　of　us？〃　Chetwode　asked。
　〃No。〃　The　boy's　curiosity　made　him　wonder　if　he'd　done　the　right　thing。　The　alternative　would　have　been　worse；　though　…　leaving　them　in　ignorance　of　his　fate；　possibly　for　days。　They　might　even　decide　to　invade　Gaza　looking　for　him。　None　of　them　was　noted　for　patience；　and　if　the　worst　happened；　certain　knowledge　was　better　than　false　hope。
　Chetwode　asked　no　further　questions。
　After　they　had　finished　the　bread　and　fruit　left　over　from　the　previous　night；　Ramses　led　the　other　man　on　a　circuitous　route　back　toward　the　center　of　town。　The　mosque　was　near　the　Askalon　Gate。　Ramses　found　a　coffeeshop　…　not　the　one　they　had　visited　the　previous　day　…　and　they　settled　down　to　wait。
　As　the　morning　wore　on；　the　cafés　filled　and　people　began　to　gather。　It　lacked　half　an　hour　till　midday　when　the　procession　appeared。　It　was　small　but　impressive；　headed　by　half　a　dozen　mounted　men　wearing　baggy　trousers　and　jackets　heavy　with　tarnished　gilt；　and　silken　sashes　wound　round　their　waists。　They　were　armed　with　long　swords　and　pistols。　The　horses　were　splendid　animals；　their　bridles　and　stirrups　of　silver。　Not　Turkish　regulars；　the　personal　guard　of　some　important　official。　They　cleared　the　way　brutally　but　effectively；　using　the　flats　of　their　swords。　Since　he　was　a　head　taller　than　most　of　the　spectators；　Ramses　could　see　reasonably　well；　there　seemed　to　be　another　group　of　guards　at　the　end　of　the　procession。　Between　the　guards　were　several　horsemen：　the　governor；　flashing　with　gold；　his　fleshy　face　set　in　a　look　of　conscious　piety；　and；　next　to　him；　flanked　by　two　officers　in　Turkish　uniform　。　。　。
　Ramses　got　only　a　glimpse　of　a　bearded　profile　and　prominent；　hawklike　nose；　before　a　gun　went　off；　so　close　to　his　ear；　it　momentarily　deafened　him。　He　spun　round　and　struck　the　weapon　out　of　Chetwode's　hand。　The　second　shot　went　wild。
　〃You　goddamned　fool！〃
　Chetwode's　lips　moved。　Ramses　couldn't　hear　what　he　said；　the　people　around　them　were　screaming　and　shoving；　some　of　them　trying　to　reach　the　would…be　assassin；　others　…　the　wiser　majority　…　scampering　for　safety。　There　was　no　such　thing　as　an　innocent　bystander　in　the　eyes　of　Ottoman　officials。
　〃Run！〃　Ramses　yelled；　and　emphasized　the　order　with　a　shove。　Chetwode　gave　him　a　wild…eyed　stare　and　dashed　off。　Ramses　tripped　one　of　the　avengers　who　were　closing　in；　knocked　another　one　down；　ducked　under　the　outstretched　arms　of　a　third；　and　set　out　at　a　run　toward　the　mosque。
　〃That's　the　man！　Stop　him！〃　someone　shouted　in　Turkish。　He　heard　the　pound　of　hoofbeats　behind　him　and　threw　himself　aside　in　time　to　avoid　being　ridden　down；　but　the　brief　delay　was　fatal。　When　he　got　to　his　feet　he　was　surrounded　by　the　gaudily　uniformed　guard；　all　heroically　brandishing　their　swords。
　〃No　weapons；〃　the　officer　ordered。　〃Take　him　alive。〃
　Ramses　considered　his　options。　He　could　only　think　of　two；　and　neither　held　much　appeal。　He　could　cringe　and　whine　and　deny　guilt；　or　he　could　take　on　six　men。　It　would　end　the　same　in　either　case；　so　he　decided　to　give　himself　the　satisfaction　of　hitting　someone。
　He　had　two　of　them　on　the　ground　and　a　third　on　his　knees；　when　a　missile　skimmed　the　side　of　his　head；　hard　enough　to　throw　him　off　balance　for　a　vital　moment。　Flat　on　his　back；　with　four　of　them　pinning　his　arms　and　legs；　he　reconsidered　his　options。　There　didn't　seem　to　be　any。
　The　officer　raked　his　men　with　a　scornful　eye。　〃Six　against　one；　and　it　took　a　lucky　throw　from　a　safe　distance　to　bring　him　down。　Tie　his　hands；　my　brave　fellows；　or　he　may　yet　escape　you。〃
　Not　much　chance　of　that；　Ramses　knew。　The　blow　on　the　head　had　left　him　slightly　giddy　and　there　was　blood　trickling　down　his　face。　After　they　had　bound　his　hands　behind　him；　one　of　them　looped　a　rope　round　his　neck　and　fastened　it　to　the　leader's　saddle。　Wonderful。　One　slip；　on　any　of　the　scraps　of　rotting　fruit　that　littered　the　street；　and　he'd　be　dragged；　choking；　until　the　officer　decided　to　stop。　The　only　positive　feature　in　an　otherwise　gloomy　situation　was　that　Chetwode　was　nowhere　in　sight。
　Hot　sunlight　beat　down　on　the　deserted　square。　No　…　not　quite　deserted。　The　onlookers　had　fled　and　the　guard　must　have　escorted　the　dignitaries　to　safety；　but　from　the　opposite　side　of　the　square　a　rider　was　ing　slowly　toward　them。　Ramses　stared；　hoping　his　eyes　had　deceived　him；　knowing　they　hadn't。　He'd　believed　his　situation　couldn't　be　any　worse。　He　had　been　wrong。
　The　rider　had　only　a　single　escort；　a　servant　who　followed　at　a　respectful　distance。　His　mount　was　superb　…　a　roan　stallion；　his　tail　and　mane　braided　with　bright　ribbons。　He　was　an　impressive　specimen；　too；　a　tall；　heavily　built　man　with　finely　cut　features　and　a　neat　gray　beard。　His　robes　were　of　silk　and　on　the　front　of　his　turban　was　a　jewel　of　rubies　and　emeralds；　surmounted　by　a　white　egret　feather。　Even　the　whip　he　held　had　a　jeweled；　enameled　handle。　He　pulled　up　next　to　Ramses　and　acknowledged　the　officer's　respectful　salute　with　a　casual　movement　of　his　hand。
　〃What　is　this？〃　he　asked　in　Turkish。
　〃As　you　see；　Sahin　Pasha。　We　have　captured　the　assassin。〃
　So　now　he's　a　pasha；　Ramses　thought。　What　was　the　head　of　the　Turkish　secret　service　doing　in　Gaza？　His　first　and　…　he　had　hoped　…　last　encounter　with　this　formidable　individual　had　ended　in　the　failure　of　Sahin's　mission；　it　wouldn't　be　surprising　if　he　bore　a　grudge　against　the　man　who　had　been　partially　responsible。　Ramses　could　only　pray　the　Turk　wouldn't　recognize　him。　He　was　bareheaded；　having　lost　his　khafiyeh　during　the　fight；　but　in　his　filthy　torn　robes；　bearded　and　disheveled；　he　bore　little　resemblance　to　the　man　Sahin　had　last　seen　…　disheveled；　admittedly；　but　clean…shaven　and　in　European　clothing。　He　cringed　and　ducked　his　head。
　〃We　are　taking　him　to　His　Excellency　the　Kaimakam；〃　the　officer　went　on。
　〃The　governor？　Why？〃
　〃Because　…　because　…　why；　because　he　is　an　assassin！　One　of　those　fanatics　who　would　rebel　against　our　benevolent　rule；　who　…〃
　〃No；〃　Sahin　said。　The　handle　of　the　whip　caught　Ramses　under　the　chin　and　forced　his　head　up。　The　Turk　studied　him　thoughtfully　for　a　few　seconds。　Then　he　leaned　down　and　with　a　powerful　jerk　pulled　the　beard　off；　taking　several　square　inches　of　skin　with　it。　Ramses　straightened　and　met　the　Turk's　inquiring　gaze。　He　was　in　for　it　now。
　〃Ah；〃　Sahin　Pasha　said；　and　smiled。　〃I　relieve　you　of　your　prisoner；　Bimbashi。〃
　〃But；　Your　Excellency　…　
　〃He　is　an　English　spy。　Espionage　is　my　department；　Bimbashi。　Do　you　question　my　authority？〃　He　beckoned　his　servant；　who　dismounted　and　untied　the　rope　from　the　officer's　saddle。
　The　officer　didn't　like　what　was　happening。　A　direct　refusal　was　more　than　he　dared　risk；　but　he　ventured　to　protest。　〃You　will　need　an　escort；　Excellency。　He　fights　like　a　demon。　It　took　six　of　my　men　…〃
　〃No　need　for　that；〃　Sahin　said　affably。　He　raised　his　arm　and　brought　the　whip　handle　down。
　
　　
　
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　FROM　MANUSCRIPT　H　（CONTINUED）
　　
　It　was　a　very　pleasant　dream。　The　surface　on　which　he　lay　was　soft　and　faintly　perfumed。　Above　him　arched　a　golden　canopy　…　yellow　silk；　gilded　by　sunlight　streaming　through　the　gathered　folds。　He　could　hear　birdsong　and　the　crystalline　tinkle　of　water。
　The　only　discordant　note　was　a　headache　of　stupendous　proportions。　He　raised　his　hand　to　his　temple；　and　a　familiar　voice　said；　〃Try　this。　I　do　not　indulge；　of　course；　but　I　keep　it　for　certain　of　my　guests。〃
　It　wasn't　a　dream。　Ramses　sat　up。　A　few　feet　away；　cross…legged　on　a　pile　of　tasseled　cushions；　Sahin　held　out　a　glass　half…filled　with　an　amber　liquid。
　Ramses