elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第13章

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　discover。　One　of　his　most　notable　traits　is　greed。　He　also　has　an　uncanny　instinct　for　locating　lost　tombs。　Depend　on　it；　that　is　why　he　hasn't　left　Luxor。　He　hopes　to　find　another；　good　Gad；　perhaps　he　has　already　done　so！〃
　An　all…too…familiar　glint　brightened　Emerson's　sapphirine　orbs；　but　after　a　moment's　thought　he　shook　his　head　regretfully。　〃Pure　conjecture；　Peabody；　born　of　your　rampageous　imagination。　It's　more　likely　that　he　hasn't　the　courage　to　leave　familiar　surroundings　and　strike　out　on　his　own。　He　made　enough　from　his　share　of　the　princesses'　treasure　to　live　fortably　for　a　while；　I　would　guess　that　the　money　has　been　squandered；　and　that　he　approached　Jumana　as　a　last　resort。　He　won't　try　it　again。　As　for　attacking　Ramses　…　stuff　and　nonsense！〃
　〃Yes；　but　he　might　try　and　get　back　at　Jumana；〃　I　said。　〃Especially　if　he　learns　she　told　us　he　is　still　in　Luxor。　She　probably　won't　believe　that　she　could　be　in　danger　from　him；　so　we　must　make　certain　she　is　not　allowed　to　go　off　alone。　Katherine　and　I　had　agreed　she　would　e　to　us；　we　will　bring　her　back　with　us　tonight。　I　will　ask　Fatima　to　get　a　room　ready　for　her。　David's　old　room；　I　think；　it　is　next　to　ours；　Emerson；　with　windows　that　open　only　onto　the　courtyard。　It　will　not　be　easy　for　anyone　to　get　at　her　there　…　or　for　her　to　creep　out　unobserved。〃
　〃Are　you　going　to　tell　Cyrus　and　Katherine　about　Jamil？〃　Nefret　asked。
　〃I　am　glad　you　raised　that　point；　Nefret。　I　will　explain　the　situation　to　them　eventually；　but　I　do　not　believe　it　would　be　advisable　to　mention　it　this　evening。　The　walls　have　ears　and　the　tongues　of　Luxor　wag　at　both　ends。　We　certainly　don't　want　Jamil　to　find　out　that　his　sister　has　informed　on　him。〃
　〃There　you　go；　trying　to　make　a　mountain　out　of　a　molehill；〃　Emerson　declared。　〃In　my　humble　opinion；　the　sooner　Jamil　learns　that　we　are　aware　of　his　pathetic　threats；　the　better。　He　won't　dare　show　his　face　again。〃
　〃In　your　opinion？〃　I　repeated。　〃Humble？　I　trust　that　you　agree　that　Selim　and　Daoud　must　be　informed。　Harmless　the　wretched　boy　may　be；　but　he　is　their　cousin　…　of　some　degree　…　and　…〃
　〃Here　is　Cyrus's　carriage；　e　for　us；〃　Nefret　said　quickly。　〃Are　we　ready？　Mother；　where　is　your　hat？〃
　Cyrus's　carriage　was　a　handsome　open　barouche；　drawn　by　a　splendid　pair　of　grays。　A　brilliant　sunset　washed　the　western　sky；　and　across　the　river　the　lights　of　Luxor　began　to　shine。　When　the　carriage　turned　into　the　narrow　way　that　led　to　the　Valley　of　the　Kings；　the　hills　rose　up　around　us；　cutting　off　the　last　of　the　sunset　light。　Few　spots　on　earth　are　as　magical　as　the　Valley；　it　is　not　only　the　grandeur　of　the　scenery；　but　the　romance　of　its　history。　In　the　gray　twilight　one　could　easily　imagine　that　the　shadows　cast　by　the　carriage　lamps　were　the　ghostly　forms　of　the　royal　dead；　and　that　the　howling　in　the　hills　came　from　the　throat　of　the　divine　jackal　Anubis；　god　of　cemeteries。
　〃Now　that　we　are　settled　here　for　a　long　time；　we　must　think　seriously　of　getting　our　own　carriage；〃　I　remarked。　〃I　don't　like　depending　on　Cyrus　or　on　the　rattletraps　for　hire　at　the　dock。〃
　Emerson　said　something　under　his　breath；　and　I　said；　〃I　beg　your　pardon？〃　and　Emerson　said；　〃Motorcar。〃
　That　subject　caught　everyone's　attention　and　we　had　a　nice　little　argument　that　lasted　all　the　way　to　the　Castle。　I　pointed　out　that　the　utility　of　such　vehicles　was　limited　by　the　condition　of　the　roads　and　Emerson　retorted　that　the　military　was　using　them；　and　that　the　new　Ford　cars　had　proved　to　perform　admirably　in　desert　terrain。　Nefret　and　Ramses　contributed　very　little。　To　be　fair；　they　didn't　get　a　chance　to　say　much。
　Cyrus's　Theban　residence　was　called　the　Castle；　and　it　well　deserved　the　name。　From　certain　angles　it　reminded　me　of　the　Mena　House　hotel；　it　was　almost　as　large　as　that　excellent　hostelry　and　had　the　same　screened　balconies　attractively　arranged　at　various　levels。　There　was　a　stout　wall　around　the　entire　estate；　that　night　the　heavy　gates　stood　hospitably　open；　and　flaming　torches　lined　the　drive　leading　to　the　house；　where　Cyrus　stood　waiting　to　greet　us。
　He　had；　as　promised；　invited　no　other　guests。　I　asked　after　William　Amherst；　who　had　worked　for　Cyrus　the　previous　year；　and　was　told　that　he　had　left。
　〃Finally　wangled　his　way　into　the　army；〃　Cyrus　said　rather　enviously。　〃Some　kind　of　office　job。　Leaves　me　confounded　shorthanded；〃　he　added。　〃But　Abu　is　a　good　reis；　and　Bertie's　filling　in　real　well。〃
　Katherine　gave　her　son　a　fond　look。　She　had　grown　a　touch　stouter；　but　the　additional　weight　was；　in　my　opinion；　quite　being。　She　wore　a　long　loose　gown　in　the　Egyptian　style　and　an　emerald　necklace　that　matched　her　eyes。　Now　that　she　was　freed　from　worry　about　her　son；　who　had　been　severely　wounded　in　action　the　past　year；　her　face　had　lost　its　haggard　look　and　once　again　she　resembled　the　pleasant；　plump…cheeked　tabby　cat　of　which　she　had　reminded　me　at　our　first　meeting。
　Bertie　was　looking　well　too。　He　had　taken　up　the　study　of　Egyptology；　partly　to　please　his　stepfather；　but　primarily　to　win　favor　with　Jumana；　and　there　is　nothing　like　the　vigorous　pursuit　of　archaeology　to　give　an　individual　healthy　color　and　a　sturdy　frame。　I　did　notice；　when　he　advanced　to　greet　me；　that　one　leg　still　dragged　a　little。　I　had　hoped　that　time　would　bring　about　a　plete　cure。　Evidently　it　had　not。　Ah　well；　I　thought；　it　will　keep　him　from　going　back　into　the　military。
　The　only　other　person　present　was　Jumana；　who　sat　as　still　as　a　little　mouse　until　Emerson　went　to　her。　Everyone　was　talking　and　laughing；　I　believe　I　was　the　only　one　who　heard　what　he　said　to　her。
　〃You　did　the　right　thing；　child。　The　matter　is　in　my　hands　now；　and　there　is　nothing　to　worry　about。〃
　I　could　only　hope　he　was　right。
　It　wasn't　long　before　Cyrus　turned　the　conversation　to　the　subject　that　had　obviously　bee　an　idée　fixe。　〃I　want　a　crack　at　that　treasure；〃　he　declared。　〃Emerson；　you're　gonna　have　to　help　me　with　Mohassib。〃
　Ramses　glanced　at　me。　His　dark　brows　tilted　in　an　expression　of　amused　skepticism；　and　I　intervened　before　Emerson　could　answer。
　〃Now；　Cyrus；　you　know　perfectly　well　that　Emerson　is　the　last　person　in　whom　Mohassib　would　confide。　Emerson　has　told　him　only　too　often　and　only　too　profanely　what　he　thinks　of　dealers　in　antiquities。　I　would　like　to　hear　more　about　the　business。　How　was　the　tomb　found；　has　it　been　investigated；　why　hasn't　the　Service　des　Antiquités　taken　steps？〃
　That　ought　to　keep　Emerson　quiet　for　a　while；　I　thought　placently。
　Nothing　loath；　Cyrus　launched　into　a　tale　that　was　even　more　bizarre　than　the　usual　stories　of　such　discoveries　…　and　that；　I　assure　you；　Reader；　is　saying　a　good　deal。
　It　does　not　often　rain　in　Luxor；　but　when　it　does；　the　storms　are　severe。　One　such　storm　had　struck　the　previous　summer；　washing　away　houses　and　cutting　deep　channels　through　the　land。　The　canny　thieves　of　Luxor　knew　that　such　downpours　were　more　effective　than　excavation　in　removing　accumulated　debris　and；　perhaps；　exposing　tomb　entrances。　Scrambling　around　the　cliffs；　they　had　found　a　place　where　a　stream　of　falling　water　disappeared　into　a　crevice　and　then　came　out　again；　forty　feet　away。
　What　they　saw　when　they　squirmed　through　the　choked　passageway　into　the　tomb　chamber　must　have　left　even　those　hardened　thieves　speechless。　Unrobbed　tombs　aren't　found　every　day；　and　this　one　was　spectacularly　rich。　Astonishment　did　not　render　them　less　efficient；　within　a　few　hours　the　treasure　had　been　removed　and　deposited　with　Mohassib；　who　paid　them　in　gold　coins。　The　money　was　divided　among　the　miscreants；　who　immediately　began　to　spend　it。
　〃That　old　fool　Mohammed　Hammad　bought　himself　a　young　wife；〃　Cyrus　said。　〃It　turned　out　to　be　a　mistake。　The　news　of　the　tomb　got　around；　as　it　always　does；　and　a　few　weeks　later　the　local　mamur　and　his　lads　descended　on　the　village。　Mohammed　had　time　to　hide　the　rest　of　his　money　in　a　basket　of　grain；　and　sent　the　girl　off　with　it；　but　she　hung　around　flirting　with　the　guards；　and　one　of　them　knocked　the　basket　off　her　head。　Well；　folks；　you　can　imagine　what　happened　after　that。　There　was　a　free…for…all；　villagers　and　police　rolling　around　the　ground　fighting　each　other　for　the　gold　pieces。　Mohammed　ended　up　with　nothing；　not　even　the　girl。　She　went　off　with　the　mamur。〃
　〃Disgusting；〃　Katherine　murmured。
　〃Poetic　justice；〃　said　Emerson　with　an　evil　grin。　〃Mohammed　must　be　feeling　hard　done　by。　He　may　be　persuaded　to　show　me　the　location　of　the　tomb。　They　can't　have　done　a　plete　clearance。〃
　〃Oh；　it's　been　located；〃　Cyrus　said。　〃In　the　Wadi　Gabbanat　el…Qirud　…　the　Cemetery　of　the　Monkeys。　I've　been　thinking　I　might　spend　a　little　time　out　there　looking　for　more　tombs。〃
　〃You　are　supposed　to　be　working　at　Medinet　Habu；〃　Emerson　said　with　a　severe　look　at　his　friend。　〃Not　going　off　on　wild…goose　chases。〃
　〃It's　all　very　well　for　you　to　talk；〃　Cyrus　said　indignantly。　〃You've　had　your　big　finds；　but　how　about　me？　All　those　years　in　the　Valley　of　the　Kings　and　not　a　durned　tomb　for　my　trouble！　There's　got　to　be　more　of　them　in　the　southwest　wadis。　With　Carter's　find　that　makes　two　tombs　of　royal　females　in　those　wadis。　What　I　figure　is　that　that　area　could　have　been　a　kind　of　early　queens'　cemetery。〃
　〃It　is　a　strong　possibility；〃　Ramses　agreed。
　Cyrus's　eye　brightened；　but　Emerson　said　firmly；　〃You'd　be　wasting　your　time；　Vandergelt。　Carter　didn't　find　that　tomb　of　Hatshepsut's；　he　trailed　a　group　of　the　locals　who　had　discovered　it。　You　had　better　stop　chasing　rainbows　and　get　to　work；　as　I　intend　to　do。　You　have　the　firman　for　Medinet　Habu；　and　you　were　damned　lucky　to　get　it。　It　is　one　of　the　best…preserved　temples　on　the　West　Bank。〃
　〃At　least　there　are　some　tombs　at　Deir　el　Medina；〃　Cyrus　muttered。
　〃Private　tombs；〃　Emerson　pointed　out。　〃And　I　will　not　be　searching　for　more。　I　mean　to　finish　excavating　that　settlement　in　its　entirety。　In　archaeological　terms　it　is　far　more　important　than　any　cursed　royal　tomb。　Town　sites　are　rare；　and　we　will　gain　valuable　information　about　the　daily　life；　occupations；　and　amusements　of　the　working　classes　。　。　。〃
　There　are　few　aspects　of　Egyptology　that　do　not　interest　Emerson；　but　in　this　case　he　was　bravely　disguising　a　certain　degree　of　disappointment　and　envy。　He　had　always　wanted　to　work　at　one　of　the　great　temples　like　Medinet　Habu。　To　be　honest；　I　was　not　especially　excited　about　the　village　either；　but　we　would　not　have　got　even　that　site　if　the　individual　who　had　held　the　firman　the　previous　year　had　not　been　taken　into　police　custody。　According　to　Emerson；　his　excavation　methods　had　been　careless　in　the　extreme；　so　there　was　a　good　chance　we　might　e　upon　artifacts　he　had　overlooked　or　discarded　as　worthless。
　And　I　just　might　have　a　look　round　for　more　of　the　private　tombs。　Some　of　them　were　beautifully　decorated；　and　two　had　contained　their　original　grave　goods　…　not　as　rich　as　those　of　the　princesses；　but　full　of　interest。
　Emerson　concluded　his　speech　by　remarking；　〃I　trust；　Vandergelt；　that　you　will　concentrate　on　Medinet　Habu。　You　cannot　expect　the　Department　of　Antiquities　to　think　well　of　you　if　you　keep　wandering　off　on　fanciful　quests。〃
　When　we　took　our　departure；　we　were　loaded　down。　There　was　room　for　Jum