elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第15章

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　of　the　sky　above　the　only　color。
　〃Emerson；　are　you　sure　you　know　where　you　are　going？〃　I　inquired；　mopping　my　perspiring　face。
　〃Certainly；〃　said　Emerson；　looking　surprised。　He　pointed。　〃We　are　only　eight　thousand　feet　from　Medinet　Habu。　Cheer　up；　Peabody；　we'll　be　going　down　from　here；　there　is　a　perfectly　good　path　to　the　next　wadi　and　from　there　it's　only　a　hop；　skip；　and　a　jump　to　the　Cemetery　of　the　Monkeys。〃
　By　the　time　we　reached　the　end　of　his　〃perfectly　good　path；〃　which　was　nothing　of　the　sort；　the　sun　was　high　overhead。　A　long；　relatively　low　ridge　of　rock　separated　the　first　wadi　from　the　second；　though　I　certainly　would　not　have　described　its　traverse　as　a　hop；　skip；　and　a　jump。　A　scramble；　a　slip；　and　a　stretch　would　be　more　like　it。　Once　over　the　ridge　we　saw　a　narrow；　irregular　canyon；　stretching　out　to　the　north。　The　ground　was　extremely　uneven；　littered　with　fallen　rock　and　archaeological　debris　…　fragments　of　red　pottery；　flints；　and　so　on。
　Hot；　out　of　breath；　and　faced　with　this　unpromising　view；　I　allowed　myself　to　speak　candidly。　〃That；　I　take　it；　is　the　wadi　where　the　princesses'　tomb　is　located。　Would　you　now　care　to　explain　what　the　devil　we　are　doing　here？　You　told　Cyrus　he　would　be　wasting　his　time　looking　for　tombs　here。〃
　〃Hmph；〃　said　Emerson。　〃Modesty　forbids　me　to　mention　that　I　am　perhaps　a　trifle　more　qualified　than　Vandergelt。　However；　that　is　not　my　primary　aim。　I　just　…　er　…　want　to　have　a　look　at　the　princesses'　tomb。　The　bastards　can't　have　made　a　plete　clearance。〃
　〃Oh；　yes；　they　could　have。　I　tell　you；　Emerson；　you　won't　find　anything　of　interest　…　and　how　are　we　to　locate　the　exact　spot？　The　tomb　was　well　hidden；　and　there　are　dozens　of　clefts　and　rifts　in　those　walls。〃
　〃There　may　be　signs；〃　Emerson　insisted。　〃Watermarks；　fresh　stone　chips；　possibly　even　scraps　of　the　burial　equipment。　Do　you　see　anything；　Ramses？〃
　〃No；　sir。〃　Ramses　bent　and　picked　up　a　piece　of　worked　stone；　covered　with　a　thick　patina。　He　tossed　it　away。　〃Paleolithic。〃
　We　made　our　way　slowly　along　the　uneven　floor　of　the　wadi；　scanning　the　rocky　walls　on　either　side。　There　was　a　good　deal　more　debris；　in　the　form　of　pottery　shards　and　scraps　of　stone。　I　came　to　a　halt　next　to　a　gaping　hole　and　let　out　a　cry　of　excitement。　〃Emerson！　A　pit　tomb；　is　it　not？　And　here　…〃　I　reached　for　an　object　half　hidden　in　dusty　chips　…　something　that　was　surely　metallic；　for　a　glint　of　sunlight　had　shone　off　it。　〃Here　is　…　oh。〃
　It　was　a　crumpled　cigarette　tin。
　〃Carter；〃　said　Emerson；　making　the　name　sound　like　an　expletive。
　〃How　do　you　know？〃
　〃None　of　the　local　men　can　afford　European　cigarettes；〃　Emerson　said。　〃It's　the　brand　he　smokes；　isn't　it？〃
　As　we　went　on；　the　ground　underfoot　became　even　more　uneven；　it　appeared　as　if　someone　had　conducted　a　random　but　extensive　excavation。　Emerson　growled。　〃Either　Carter　has　lost　all　remnants　of　archaeological　conscience；　or　the　locals　have　been　digging；　looking　for　tombs。〃
　〃The　latter；　surely；〃　said　Ramses。　〃Carter　had　every　right　to　be　here；　Father；　he　has　done　nothing　wrong。〃
　〃Hmph；〃　said　Emerson；　who　could　not　deny　this；　but　who；　in　his　heart　of　hearts；　regarded　the　entire　country　of　Egypt　as　his　personal　property；　archaeologically　speaking。
　We　had　almost　reached　the　end　of　the　canyon　when　I　became　aware　of　a　faint；　unpleasant　smell。　I　looked　up；　expecting　to　see　floating　overhead　the　winged　predators　that　feed　on　carrion；　but　the　sky　was　empty　of　all　but　light。
　Jumana　was　the　first　to　see　the　signs　for　which　we　had　been　searching。　She　ran　on　ahead；　quick　and　sure…footed　over　the　uneven　ground；　and　came　to　a　stop。　〃See！〃
　The　object　she　held　up　was　a　small　gold　bead。
　〃Ha；〃　said　Emerson。　〃Well　done；　Jumana。　Yes；　just　as　I　expected。　The　tomb　must　have　been　partially　filled　with　rock　fallen　from　the　walls　and　ceiling。　The　villains　were　careful　not　to　remove　any　more　of　it　than　they　had　to；　but　they　were　bound　to　lose　a　few　items。　By　Gad；　that　looks　like　a　bone。〃
　It　fell　to　pieces　in　a　shower　of　dust　when　he　picked　it　up。　〃Water…rotted；〃　Emerson　muttered；　and　began　rooting　around　in　the　debris。
　〃The　tomb　must　be　up　there；〃　Ramses　said；　shading　his　eyes　with　his　hand。　〃Directly　above；　in　that　rift。〃
　Emerson　got　to　his　feet。　Only　then　did　something　odd　seem　to　strike　him。　He　threw　his　shoulders　back；　raised　his　head；　and　sniffed。　〃Have　the　local　lads　been　up　to　their　old　tricks　…　throwing　the　carcass　of　a　dead　animal　into　the　shaft　to　deter　other　explorers？　You　remember　the　Abd　er　Rassuls；　and　the　Royal　Cache。〃
　〃Why　would　they　bother　to　do　that；　if　there　is　nothing　left　in　the　tomb？〃　I　asked。　I　pinched　my　nose　with　my　fingers。
　〃Precisely；〃　said　Emerson；　looking　pleased。　〃I　will　just　have　a　look。〃
　We　were　at　the　far　end　of　the　valley；　facing　a　steep　cliff　that　I　judged　to　be　over　a　hundred　feet　high。　Some　thirty　feet　above　us　I　made　out　a　cleft　running　deep　into　the　rock。
　〃Emerson；〃　I　said；　choosing　my　words　with　care；　〃it　is　a　sheer　drop　from　the　cleft　down　to　the　base　of　the　cliff。　If　you　are　bent　on　breaking　your　arm　or　your　leg　or　your　neck　or　all　three；　find　a　place　closer　to　home　so　we　won't　have　to　carry　you　such　a　distance。〃
　Emerson　grinned　at　me。　〃You　do　enjoy　your　little　touches　of　sarcasm；　Peabody。　I　can　make　it。〃
　〃No；　sir；　I　don't　believe　you　can；〃　Ramses　said；　quietly　but　firmly。　〃I　wouldn't　care　to　try　it　either。　I'll　go　round　and　up；　with　the　rope；　and　lower　myself　from　the　top　as　the　thieves　did。〃
　I　let　out　a　sigh　of　relief。　Ramses　seldom　contradicted　his　father；　but　when　he　did；　Emerson　heeded　his　advice　…　a　pliment　he　paid　few　people；　including　me。
　〃Oh；〃　he　said；　stroking　his　chin。　〃Hmph。　Very　well；　my　boy。　Be　careful。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃I　will　go　too；〃　Daoud　volunteered。　〃To　hold　the　rope。〃
　He　slung　a　coil　of　rope　over　his　shoulder　and　the　two　of　them　set　out　toward　the　mouth　of　the　wadi；　where　the　enclosing　cliffs　were　lower　and　easier　to　climb。　They　would　have　quite　a　scramble　to　get　to　the　top；　but　I　was　not　concerned　about　them；　Ramses　was　the　best　rock　climber　in　the　family　and　Daoud　had　been　up　and　down　cliffs　like　these　since　childhood。　He　would　make　certain　Ramses　took　sensible　precautions。
　I　occupied　the　time　by　writing　up　a　few　notes　about　the　appearance　and　location　of　the　tomb；　while　Emerson　dug　in　the　rubble　as　happily　as　a　dog　looking　for　buried　bones；　and　Nefret　paced　restlessly　back　and　forth；　glancing　from　time　to　time　at　the　top　of　the　cliff。　The　sun　was　almost　directly　overhead　and　it　was　very　warm。　I　removed　my　coat；　folded　it　neatly；　placed　it　on　the　ground　beside　me；　and　went　on　with　my　journal。　The　smell　did　not　seem　so　strong　now。　The　olfactory　sense　is　quick　to　adjust。
　Despite　Nefret's　frequent　glances　upward；　Jumana　was　the　first　to　see　them。　She　began　jumping　up　and　down　and　waving　her　arms。　The　two　figures；　diminished　by　distance；　made　me　realize　how　high　the　cliff　was；　and　how　precipitous　the　drop。　I　wondered　if　the　rope　would　be　long　enough；　and　if　they　could　find　some　stout　object　to　which　it　could　be　fastened；　and　if　Ramses　would　have　sense　enough　not　to　rely　solely　on　Daoud　to　hold　it。　Our　friend's　strength　was　legendary；　but　if　a　slip　or　a　snakebite　caused　him　to　lose　his　grip；　even　for　a　second　。　。　。
　The　rope　came　tumbling　down；　and　one　of　the　small　figures　began　to　descend　…　rather　too　rapidly；　in　my　opinion。　It　was　Ramses；　as　I　had　known　it　would　be。　It　was　hard　to　make　out　the　outlines　of　his　form；　even　with　the　sunlight　full　upon　him；　since　his　dusty　clothing　blended　with　the　color　of　the　stone；　but　his　bare　black　head　was　clearly　discernible。　When　he　reached　a　point　some　forty…five　feet　above　us　he　stopped；　feet　braced　against　the　cliff；　and　waved。
　〃Keep　hold　of　the　damned　rope！〃　I　shouted。
　He　heard　me。　A　faint　and　unquestionably　mocking　〃Yes；　Mother〃　floated　down　to　us。　Then　he　disappeared。
　〃Into　the　cleft；〃　Emerson　muttered。　〃How　long　。　。　。〃
　It　was　only　a　few　minutes　before　Ramses　reappeared。　Instead　of　reascending　he　looked　up　and　shouted　something　at　Daoud。　Apparently　the　rope　was　not　long　enough　to　reach　all　the　way　to　the　ground；　after　Daoud　had　untied　it；　Ramses　pulled　it　down　and　busied　himself　doing　something　I　could　not　see　…　fastening　it　again；　I　assumed；　since　in　a　short　while　it　uncoiled；　the　lower　end　touching　the　ground　not　far　from　where　we　stood。　It　had　been　knotted　at　regular　intervals　…　a　primitive　but　effective　method　of　preventing　the　climber　from　losing　his　grip。
　Ramses　swung　himself　out　of　the　cleft　and　descended。　Even　before　he　turned　to　face　us　I　knew　something　was　amiss。
　〃It　isn't　an　animal；〃　he　said。　〃It's　a　man。　Was　a　man。〃
　Nefret　reached　for　the　rope。　Ramses　pulled　her　back　and　turned　her　to　face　him；　holding　her　by　the　shoulders。
　〃He's　dead；　Nefret。　You　can't　do　anything　for　him。〃
　〃I　can　tell　how　he　died。〃　She　tried　to　twist　away　from　him　but　he　tightened　his　grasp。
　〃Nefret；　will　you　listen　to　me？　I'm　not　talking　about　a　nice　dry　mummy。　There's　still　water　in　the　chamber；　and　he's　been　there　for　days；　possibly　weeks。〃
　Her　face　was　flushed　with　heat　and　rising　temper。　〃Damnation；　Ramses；　I've　examined　more　cadavers　than　you　have！〃
　〃You　aren't　going　to　examine　this　one。〃
　〃Who's　going　to　stop　me？〃
　〃Er；〃　said　Emerson。
　I　poked　him　with　my　parasol。　〃Not　you；　Emerson。　Nefret；　stop　and　think。　I　am　in　full　sympathy　with　your　interest　in　corpses；　but　I　do　not　see　that　anything　is　to　be　gained　by　your　inspecting　this　one　at　this　time。〃
　The　smell　seemed　to　have　intensified　since　Ramses's　announcement。　I　pressed　my　handkerchief　to　my　nose；　and　Emerson　gaped　at　me。
　〃You　mean　you　don't　insist　on　inspecting　it；　and　the　tomb；　too？　Good　Gad；　Peabody；　do　you　feel　well？〃
　〃Quite　well；　my　dear；　thank　you；　and　I　intend　to　remain　so。〃
　The　children；　still　facing　each　other　in　somewhat　belligerent　attitudes；　turned　their　heads　to　look　at　us。　I　was　happy　to　observe　that　my　reasonable　remarks　had　lowered　the　emotional　temperature。　The　corners　of　Nefret's　mouth　quivered；　and　the　angry　color　faded　from　Ramses's　face。　His　hands　moved　from　her　shoulders　down　her　arms　in　a　quick；　caressing　gesture。　〃Please；〃　he　said。
　Nefret　tilted　her　head　back　and　looked　up　into　his　eyes。　〃Since　you　put　it　that　way　。　。　。〃
　Emerson　let　out　a　gusty　breath。　〃Very　good。　We'll　have　to　have　him　out；　though；　if　we　want　to　examine　the　tomb。〃
　〃mon　decency　requires　that　we　have　him　out；〃　I　said。　〃And　give　him　a　proper　burial。　I　suppose　he　met　with　an　accident　while　looking　for　another　tomb　to　rob。〃
　〃It　was　no　accident。　He'd　been　arranged；　propped　up　in　a　sitting　position　against　the　side　of　the　passage；　and　held　upright　by　。　。　。〃　Ramses　hesitated　for　a　moment　before　he　went　on。　〃。　。　。　By　a　metal　spike　driven　through　his　throat　and　into　a　crack　in　the　rock。〃
　4
　　
　We　retreated　some　distance　down　the　wadi　before　opening　the　baskets　of　food。　There　was　not　a　breath　of　air　stirring　and　very　little　shade；　we　all　removed　as　many　garments　as　propriety　allowed。　I　looked　enviously　from　Ramses　and　Emerson；　shirtless　as　well　as　coatless；　to　Selim　and　Daoud；　who　appeared　perfectly　fortable　in　their　enveloping　but　loose　garments。
　I　knew　I　was　going　to　have　another　argument　with　Emerson　about　how　to　proceed。　He　was　bound　an