elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-µÚ18ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡Mohammed¡¡accepted¡¡the¡¡brandy¡¡£¨one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡little¡¡items¡¡I¡¡always¡¡carry¡¡attached¡¡to¡¡my¡¡belt£©¡¡with¡¡an¡¡eagerness¡¡unbeing¡¡a¡¡good¡¡Moslem¡¡£¨which¡¡I¡¡had¡¡never¡¡thought¡¡he¡¡was£©¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡talk£»¡¡the¡¡words¡¡poured¡¡out¡¡of¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡disturbing¡¡story¡¡it¡¡was¡£
¡¡Of¡¡the¡¡original¡¡thieves£»¡¡two¡¡were¡¡now¡¡dead¡£¡¡The¡¡other¡¡death¡¡had¡¡been¡¡attributed¡¡to¡¡accident£»¡¡the¡¡body¡¡had¡¡been¡¡found¡¡at¡¡the¡¡base¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cliffs¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡assumed¡¡he¡¡had¡¡fallen¡£
¡¡¡¨The¡¡curse¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pharaohs£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Emerson£»¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡resist¡£¡¡¡¨Death¡¡to¡¡those¡¡who¡¡defile¡¡the¡¡tombs¡£¡¨
¡¡The¡¡brandy¡¡had¡¡restored¡¡Mohammed's¡¡nerve¡£¡¡He¡¡gave¡¡Emerson¡¡a¡¡cynical¡¡look¡£¡¡¡¨It¡¡took¡¡the¡¡pharaohs¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡¡to¡¡act£»¡¡Father¡¡of¡¡Curses¡£¡¡Abdul¡¡has¡¡been¡¡robbing¡¡tombs¡¡since¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡boy¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨He¡¡won't¡¡rob¡¡any¡¡more£»¡¨¡¡Emerson¡¡pointed¡¡out¡£¡¡¡¨Who¡¡were¡¡the¡¡others£¿¡¨
¡¡Mohammed¡¡rattled¡¡the¡¡names¡¡off¡¡without¡¡hesitating¡£¡¡Everyone¡¡in¡¡the¡¡village¡¡knew£»¡¡including¡¡his¡¡rivals¡¡in¡¡the¡¡business£»¡¡so¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡profit¡¡in¡¡reticence¡£¡¡He¡¡demanded¡¡extralarge¡¡baksheesh¡¡for¡¡his¡¡candor£»¡¡of¡¡course¡£¡¡¡¨That¡¡is¡¡all¡¡I¡¡can¡¡tell¡¡you£»¡¡Father¡¡of¡¡Curses¡£¡¡Can¡¡I¡¡go¡¡now£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨You¡¡have¡¡not¡¡told¡¡me¡¡everything£»¡¨¡¡Emerson¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡gave¡¡me¡¡six¡¡names¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡seventh¡¡man£»¡¡wasn't¡¡there£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨He¡¡was¡¡not¡¡one¡¡of¡¡us£»¡¨¡¡Mohammed¡¡muttered¡£
¡¡¡¨I¡¡know¡¡who¡¡he¡¡was¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨The¡¡Father¡¡of¡¡Curses¡¡knows¡¡all£»¡¨¡¡Daoud¡¡intoned¡£
¡¡Emerson¡¡acknowledged¡¡this¡¡tribute¡¡with¡¡a¡¡gracious¡¡nod£»¡¡and¡¡went¡¡on£»¡¡¡¨Was¡¡it¡¡Jamil¡¡who¡¡found¡¡the¡¡tomb£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨We¡¡all¡¡found¡¡it£¡¡¡We¡¡shared¡¡with¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡were¡¡generous¡£¡¨
¡¡Mohammed's¡¡voice¡¡was¡¡shrill¡¡with¡¡unconvincing¡¡indignation¡£¡¡The¡¡falsity¡¡of¡¡his¡¡claim¡¡was¡¡obvious¡£¡¡Jamil¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡regular¡¡member¡¡of¡¡their¡¡little¡¡gang£»¡¡they¡¡would¡¡never¡¡have¡¡shared¡¡the¡¡treasure¡¡with¡¡him¡¡unless¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡the¡¡one¡¡responsible¡¡for¡¡discovering¡¡it¡£
¡¡¡¨Have¡¡you¡¡seen¡¡or¡¡heard¡¡from¡¡him¡¡since¡¡you¡¡divided¡¡the¡¡money£¿¡¨¡¡Emerson¡¡persisted¡£
¡¡A¡¡look¡¡of¡¡calculation£»¡¡not¡¡unmixed¡¡with¡¡fear£»¡¡sharpened¡¡Mohammed's¡¡features¡£¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡Father¡¡of¡¡Curses¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡clutched¡¡his¡¡chest¡¡and¡¡rolled¡¡his¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡¨Ah£¡¡¡The¡¡pain£¡¡¨
¡¡He¡¡was¡¡not¡¡too¡¡feeble¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡out¡¡his¡¡hand¡£¡¡Emerson¡¡dropped¡¡a¡¡few¡¡coins¡¡into¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¨There¡¡will¡¡be¡¡more¡¡for¡¡you£»¡¡Mohammed£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡bring¡¡us¡¡news¡¡of¡¡Jamil¡£¡¡Tell¡¡the¡¡others¡¡the¡¡same¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡warn¡¡them¡¡to¡¡watch¡¡out¡¡for¡¡accidents¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Hmmmm¡£¡¨¡¡Mohammed¡¡scratched¡¡his¡¡neck¡£¡¡¡¨Accidents¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨You¡¡should¡¡have¡¡asked¡¡him¡¡to¡¡break¡¡the¡¡news¡¡to¡¡Abdul's¡¡family£»¡¡Emerson£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡after¡¡Mohammed¡¡had¡¡scuttled¡¡off¡£
¡¡¡¨He¡¡will¡¡anyhow£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Emerson¡£¡¡¡¨Let's¡¡go¡¡before¡¡the¡¡bereaved¡¡relatives¡¡descend¡¡on¡¡us¡£¡¨
¡¡After¡¡all£»¡¡there¡¡is¡¡nothing¡¡like¡¡an¡¡early¡morning¡¡ride¡¡in¡¡the¡¡brisk¡¡desert¡¡air¡¡to¡¡raise¡¡the¡¡spirits¡£¡¡We¡¡were¡¡taking¡¡the¡¡horses¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡they¡¡could¡¡safely¡¡go£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡the¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡the¡¡nasty¡¡job¡¡ahead¡¡of¡¡us¡¡faded¡¡as¡¡we¡¡went¡¡on¡£¡¡Admittedly£»¡¡the¡¡worst¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡business¡¡was¡¡not¡¡something¡¡I¡¡had¡¡to¡¡tackle¡£¡¡I¡¡wondered¡¡what¡¡Abdullah¡¡would¡¡have¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡He¡¡would¡¡probably¡¡have¡¡remarked¡¡that¡¡it¡¡served¡¡the¡¡fellow¡¡right£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡we¡¡should¡¡leave¡¡it¡¡to¡¡his¡¡family¡¡to¡¡have¡¡the¡¡body¡¡out£»¡¡but¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡asked¡¡to¡¡take¡¡the¡¡responsibility¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡carried¡¡it¡¡out¡¡with¡¡his¡¡usual¡¡efficiency¡£
¡¡I¡¡had¡¡not¡¡dreamed¡¡of¡¡him¡¡for¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡strange¡¡dreams£»¡¡unlike¡¡most¡¡others¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡vivid¡¡and¡¡consistent¡¡as¡¡a¡¡real¡life¡¡encounter¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡£¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡at¡¡all¡¡superstitious£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡had¡¡e¡¡to¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡in¡¡some¡¡way¡¡the¡¡profound¡¡affection¡¡Abdullah¡¡and¡¡I¡¡had¡¡felt¡¡for¡¡one¡¡another¡¡transcended¡¡the¡¡barrier¡¡of¡¡death£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡forward¡¡to¡¡those¡¡dreams¡¡as¡¡I¡¡would¡¡have¡¡anticipated¡¡another¡¡meeting¡¡with¡¡a¡¡distant¡¡friend¡£¡¡Perhaps¡¡now¡¡that¡¡I¡¡was¡¡back¡¡in¡¡Luxor£»¡¡where¡¡we¡¡had¡¡shared¡¡so¡¡many¡¡unforgettable¡¡experiences£»¡¡Abdullah¡¡would¡¡e¡¡to¡¡me¡¡again¡£
¡¡After¡¡we¡¡passed¡¡Medinet¡¡Habu¡¡the¡¡road¡¡narrowed¡¡to¡¡a¡¡path¡¡and¡¡then¡¡to¡¡a¡¡track¡¡as¡¡it¡¡turned¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡hills¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡Ramses¡¡who¡¡halted¡¡our¡¡caravan¡¡and¡¡Ramses¡¡who¡¡was¡¡the¡¡first¡¡to¡¡dismount£»¡¡swinging¡¡himself¡¡off¡¡Risha's¡¡back¡¡in¡¡a¡¡single¡¡smooth¡¡movement¡£¡¡The¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡us¡¡followed¡¡his¡¡lead¡£
¡¡It¡¡was¡¡over¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡to¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wadi¡£¡¡Leaving¡¡the¡¡cart¡¡and¡¡the¡¡horses¡¡there£»¡¡we¡¡proceeded¡¡on¡¡foot¡¡for¡¡a¡¡few¡¡hundred¡¡yards£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡place¡¡where¡¡the¡¡wide¡¡mouth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡canyon¡¡narrowed¡¡and¡¡the¡¡hills¡¡began¡¡to¡¡rise£»¡¡dividing¡¡the¡¡southern¡¡branch¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wadi¡¡from¡¡another¡¡tongue¡¡that¡¡ran¡¡off¡¡to¡¡the¡¡north¡£¡¡Ramses¡¡stripped¡¡off¡¡his¡¡coat¡¡and¡¡took¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡coils¡¡of¡¡knotted¡¡rope¡£
¡¡We¡¡had¡¡discussed¡¡the¡¡best¡¡method¡¡of¡¡proceeding¡¡the¡¡night¡¡before£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡agreed£»¡¡or¡¡so¡¡I¡¡believed£»¡¡Emerson¡¡had¡¡not¡¡liked¡¡it¡¡then¡¡and¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡like¡¡it¡¡now¡£
¡¡¡¨My¡¡turn£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡insisted¡£¡¡¡¨You've¡¡been¡¡in¡¡the¡¡stinking¡¡place¡¡already¡£¡¡Once¡¡was¡¡enough¡£¡¨
¡¡Ramses's¡¡mouth¡¡tightened¡¡with¡¡annoyance¡£¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡how¡¡he¡¡felt£»¡¡when¡¡there¡¡is¡¡a¡¡dirty¡¡job¡¡to¡¡be¡¡done£»¡¡one¡¡wishes¡¡to¡¡get¡¡it¡¡over¡£¡¡He¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡spare¡¡his¡¡father£»¡¡who¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡spare¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡neither¡¡of¡¡them¡¡would¡¡give¡¡in¡¡without¡¡a¡¡struggle¡£¡¡Then¡¡Bertie£»¡¡who¡¡stood¡¡a¡¡little¡¡to¡¡one¡¡side£»¡¡said¡¡suddenly£»¡¡¡¨I'll¡¡go¡£¡¨
¡¡Taken¡¡by¡¡surprise£»¡¡all¡¡of¡¡us¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡stare¡¡at¡¡him¡£¡¡Meeting¡¡my¡¡doubtful¡¡eye£»¡¡he¡¡smiled¡£¡¡¡¨I've¡¡almost¡¡certainly¡¡seen¡¡worse£»¡¡you¡¡know¡£¡¨
¡¡It¡¡was¡¡almost¡¡certainly¡¡true¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡been¡¡in¡¡the¡¡trenches¡¡in¡¡France¡¡for¡¡almost¡¡two¡¡years¡¡before¡¡he¡¡suffered¡¡the¡¡wounds¡¡that¡¡sent¡¡him¡¡home£»¡¡ill¡¡and¡¡embittered¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡heard¡¡stories¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£
¡¡¡¨You¡¡are¡¡not¡¡a¡¡good¡¡climber£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Jumana£»¡¡arms¡¡folded¡£¡¡¡¨Ramses¡¡is¡¡much¡¡better¡£¡¨
¡¡I¡¡could¡¡have¡¡shaken¡¡the¡¡girl¡£¡¡Bertie¡¡flushed¡¡painfully£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡Cyrus¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡express¡¡his¡¡fatherly¡¡concern¡¡when¡¡Ramses¡¡cut¡¡him¡¡off¡£
¡¡¡¨Right£»¡¡then¡£¡¡Here¡¡you¡¡go¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡handed¡¡Bertie¡¡the¡¡rope¡¡and¡¡gave¡¡Daoud¡¡an¡¡almost¡¡imperceptible¡¡nod¡£¡¡They¡¡started¡¡off£»¡¡Daoud¡¡sticking¡¡close¡¡to¡¡Bertie£»¡¡Hassan¡¡trailing¡¡at¡¡a¡¡slight¡¡distance¡£
¡¡¡¨Ramses£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨Was¡¡that¡¡wise£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨He'll¡¡be¡¡all¡¡right£»¡¡Mother¡£¡¨¡¡Hands¡¡on¡¡hips£»¡¡he¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡men¡¡climb¡¡up¡¡out¡¡of¡¡sight¡£
¡¡¡¨He's¡¡got¡¡that¡¡bad¡¡leg£»¡¨¡¡Cyrus¡¡said¡¡anxiously¡£
¡¡¡¨What's¡¡needed¡¡for¡¡this¡¡job¡¡is¡¡strength¡¡in¡¡the¡¡arms¡¡and¡¡shoulders£»¡¨¡¡Ramses¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨And¡¡nerve¡£¡¡He's¡¡got¡¡them¡£¡¡Daoud¡¡knows¡¡what¡¡to¡¡do¡£¡¨
¡¡We¡¡went¡¡on¡¡to¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡valley¡¡and¡¡the¡¡cliff¡¡in¡¡which¡¡the¡¡tomb¡¡lay¡¡hidden¡£¡¡The¡¡rope¡¡Ramses¡¡had¡¡descended¡¡the¡¡previous¡¡day¡¡was¡¡still¡¡there£»¡¡but¡¡we¡¡had¡¡concluded¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡safer¡¡for¡¡the¡¡men¡¡to¡¡approach¡¡from¡¡above¡¡rather¡¡than¡¡climb¡¡the¡¡sheer¡¡face¡£¡¡They¡¡would¡¡then¡¡lower¡¡the¡¡remains¡¡down£»¡¡and¡¡descend¡¡themselves¡£
¡¡The¡¡first¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡procedure¡¡went¡¡as¡¡planned¡£¡¡His¡¡white¡¡handkerchief¡¡pressed¡¡to¡¡his¡¡face£»¡¡Cyrus¡¡watched¡¡every¡¡move¡¡made¡¡by¡¡the¡¡small¡¡forms¡¡atop¡¡the¡¡cliff¡¡with¡¡a¡¡concern¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡unwilling¡¡to¡¡express¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡Katherine's¡¡children¡¡for¡¡his¡¡own£»¡¡and¡¡Bertie¡¡had¡¡repaid¡¡his¡¡affection£»¡¡even¡¡adopting¡¡Cyrus's¡¡name¡£¡¡¡¨Have¡¡they¡¡got¡¡something¡¡to¡¡cover¡¡their¡¡faces£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡demanded£»¡¡his¡¡voice¡¡muffled¡¡by¡¡the¡¡linen¡£¡¡¡¨And¡¡gloves£¿¡¡And¡¡¡¡¨
¡¡¡¨Daoud¡¡knows¡¡what¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¨¡¡Ramses¡¡said¡¡again¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡watching£»¡¡too£»¡¡his¡¡brow¡¡furrowed¡£¡¡Jumana¡¡was¡¡the¡¡least¡¡concerned£»¡¡having¡¡found¡¡a¡¡rock¡¡on¡¡which¡¡to¡¡sit£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡refreshing¡¡herself¡¡from¡¡a¡¡water¡¡bottle¡¡and¡¡humming¡¡under¡¡her¡¡breath¡£
¡¡Bertie¡¡was¡¡the¡¡first¡¡to¡¡descend£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡was¡¡relieved¡¡to¡¡observe¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡being¡¡lowered¡¡by¡¡Daoud¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡going¡¡down¡¡hand¡¡over¡¡hand¡¡as¡¡Ramses¡¡had¡¡done¡£¡¡He¡¡disappeared¡¡into¡¡the¡¡cleft¡¡and¡¡was¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡Hassan£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡carrying¡¡a¡¡folded¡¡piece¡¡of¡¡canvas¡¡and¡¡a¡¡length¡¡of¡¡rope¡£
¡¡I¡¡suppose¡¡it¡¡did¡¡not¡¡take¡¡more¡¡than¡¡ten¡¡minutes¡¡for¡¡them¡¡to¡¡finish¡¡what¡¡they¡¡had¡¡e¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡longer¡£¡¡The¡¡first¡¡thing¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡was¡¡the¡¡neat¡¡white¡¡turban¡¡of¡¡Hassan¡£¡¡Emerging¡¡with¡¡some¡¡haste£»¡¡he¡¡caught¡¡hold¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rope¡¡and¡¡slid¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground¡£
¡¡¡¨Hell¡¡and¡¡damnation£»¡¨¡¡Emerson¡¡remarked£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡voice¡¡that¡¡echoed¡¡between¡¡the¡¡cliffs¡£¡¡¡¨Did¡¡you¡¡leave¡¡him¡¡alone¡¡up¡¡there£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨It's¡¡all¡¡right£»¡¨¡¡Bertie¡¡called¡£¡¡¡¨Look¡¡out¡¡below¡£¡¨
¡¡The¡¡canvas¡wrapped¡¡bundle¡¡swung¡¡as¡¡he¡¡lowered¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡kept¡¡banging¡¡against¡¡the¡¡rock¡¡face¡¡in¡¡a¡¡grisly¡¡fashion¡£¡¡The¡¡stench¡¡was¡¡really¡¡quite¡¡horrid£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡even¡¡Cyrus¡¡backed¡¡away¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡watching¡¡Bertie£»¡¡who¡¡stood¡¡with¡¡feet¡¡braced£»¡¡paying¡¡out¡¡the¡¡rope¡£¡¡Ramses's¡¡assessment¡¡had¡¡been¡¡correct£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡strength¡¡enough¡¡for¡¡this¡£¡¡The¡¡bundle¡¡was¡¡not¡¡very¡¡large¡£
¡¡It¡¡settled¡¡onto¡¡the¡¡rock¡strewn¡¡ground¡¡with¡¡a¡¡flexibility¡¡I¡¡prefer¡¡not¡¡to¡¡describe£»¡¡and¡¡Bertie¡¡immediately¡¡began¡¡to¡¡descend¡£¡¡Drawing¡¡his¡¡knife£»¡¡Ramses¡¡cut¡¡the¡¡rope¡¡and¡¡would¡¡have¡¡lifted¡¡the¡¡body¡¡out¡¡of¡¡Bertie's¡¡way¡¡had¡¡not¡¡Selim¡¡intervened¡£¡¡Hassan¡¡hastened¡¡to¡¡help¡¡him¡¡lift¡¡it¡¡onto¡¡a¡¡rough¡¡litter¡¡and¡¡carry¡¡it¡¡away¡£
¡¡¡¨Well£¡¡¨¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡drawing¡¡the¡¡first¡¡deep¡¡breath¡¡I¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡for¡¡several¡¡minutes¡£¡¡¡¨Thank¡¡goodness¡¡that¡¡is¡¡safely¡¡acplished¡£¡¡Now¡¡let¡¡us¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡Nefret£¿¡¡Nefret£»¡¡where¡¡are¡¡you¡¡going£¿¡¨
¡¡She¡¡had¡¡followed¡¡after¡¡Selim¡¡and¡¡Hassan¡¡and¡¡stopped¡¡them£»¡¡far¡¡enough¡¡away¡¡so¡¡that¡¡the¡¡horrible¡¡smell¡¡did¡¡not¡¡reach¡¡us¡£
¡¡¡¨Hell¡¡and¡¡damnation£»¡¨¡¡Emerson¡¡ejaculated¡£¡¡¡¨She¡¡isn't¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡She¡¡surely¡¡won't¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¨
¡¡The¡¡men¡¡lowered¡¡the¡¡litter¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground¡£¡¡Emerson¡¡emitted¡¡an¡¡even¡¡more¡¡blistering¡¡oath¡¡and¡¡started¡¡toward¡¡them¡£
¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡Father£»¡¨¡¡Ramses¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¨But¡¡¡¡¡did¡¡she¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡aren't¡¡you¡¡going¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡her£¿¡¨
¡¡Ramses¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡¡¨She¡¡didn't¡¡tell¡¡me£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡suspected¡¡she¡¡would£»¡¡and¡¡no£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡going¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡her¡£¡¡I¡¡played¡¡the¡¡masterful¡¡husband¡¡before¡£¡¡I¡¡ought¡¡not¡¡have¡¡done¡¡so¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡her¡¡decision¡¡and¡¡her¡¡right¡£¡¡Please¡¡don't¡¡interfere¡£¡¨
¡¡He¡¡went¡¡to¡¡join¡¡Nefret¡¡and¡¡stood¡¡watching£»¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡in¡¡his¡¡pockets¡£¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡at¡¡him¡¡and¡¡spoke£»¡¡briefly£»¡¡before¡¡returning¡¡to¡¡her¡¡grisly¡¡task¡£¡¡¡¨What¡¡is¡¡he¡¡doing£¿¡¨¡¡Emerson¡¡demanded¡£
¡¡¡¨Just¡¡being¡¡with¡¡her£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨Sharing¡¡the¡¡unpleasantness¡¡in¡¡the¡¡only¡¡way¡¡he¡¡can¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡really¡¡very¡¡sweet£»¡¡Emerson¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨A¡¡sweet¡¡experience¡¡to¡¡share£»¡¨¡¡Emerson¡¡growled¡£¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡curse¡¡it£»¡¡I¡¡can¡¡do¡¡no¡¡less¡£¡¡I¡¡will¡¡just¡¡go¡¡and¡¡¡¡¨
¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡Emerson¡£¡¡What¡¡about¡¡a¡¡spot¡¡of¡¡lunch¡¡while¡¡we¡¡are¡¡waiting£¿¡¡Bertie£»¡¡I¡¡neglected¡¡to¡¡mend¡¡you¡¡on¡¡a¡¡task¡¡well¡¡done¡£¡¡Would¡¡you¡¡care¡¡for¡¡a¡¡cheese¡¡sandwich£¿¡¨
¡¡Bertie¡¡had¡¡removed¡¡the¡¡cloth¡¡that¡¡had¡¡covered¡¡his¡¡mouth¡¡and¡¡nose¡£¡¡¡¨Good¡¡Lord£»¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Emerson£»¡¡I¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡Well£»¡¡yes£»¡¡thank¡¡you£»¡¡if¡¡it¡¡isn't¡¡too¡¡much¡¡trouble£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡Nefret¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡is¡¡quite¡¡a¡¡horrible¡¡object£»¡¡you¡¡know£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡food¡¡¡¡¨
¡¡¡¨Don't¡¡worry¡¡about¡¡her£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£
¡¡Cyrus¡¡only¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡known¡¡Nefret¡¡longer¡¡than¡¡Bertie¡¡had¡£
¡¡Though¡¡I¡¡am¡¡accustomed¡¡to¡¡corpses¡¡in¡¡all¡¡stages£»¡¡from¡¡newly¡¡slain¡¡to¡¡long¡¡mummified£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡not¡¡particularly¡¡anxious¡¡to¡¡examine¡¡this¡¡one£»¡¡or¡¡even¡¡to¡¡watch¡¡from¡¡a¡¡distance¡£¡¡I¡¡kept¡¡my¡¡eyes¡¡averted¡¡until¡¡Selim¡¡and¡¡Hassan¡¡rewrapped¡¡the¡¡bundle¡¡and¡¡replaced¡¡it¡¡on¡¡the¡¡litter¡£¡¡When¡¡Nefret¡¡and¡¡Ramses¡¡came¡¡back¡¡I¡¡observed¡¡that¡¡her¡¡hands¡¡and¡¡forearms¡¡were¡¡red£»¡¡not¡¡with¡¡blood£»¡¡but¡¡from¡¡the¡¡gritty¡¡sand¡¡with¡¡which¡¡she¡¡had¡¡cleaned¡¡them¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡perfectly¡¡posed¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡so¡¡than¡¡Ramses£»¡¡whose¡¡features¡¡were¡¡not¡¡so¡¡controlled¡¡as¡¡they¡¡usually¡¡were¡£¡¡At¡¡my¡¡suggestion¡¡he¡¡got¡¡out¡¡the¡¡bottle¡¡of¡¡alcohol¡¡and¡¡poured¡¡it¡¡over¡¡her¡¡hands¡£¡¡She¡¡then¡¡seated¡¡herself¡¡and¡¡asked¡¡for¡¡a¡¡sandwich¡£
¡¡The¡¡others¡¡watched¡¡her¡¡with¡¡varying¡¡degrees¡¡of¡¡admiration¡¡and¡¡consternation¡£¡¡Jumana's¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡enormous¡¡in¡¡a¡¡face¡¡that¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡its¡¡healthy¡¡color¡£¡¡¡¨How¡¡could¡¡you£¿¡¨¡¡she¡¡quavered¡£
¡¡¡¨It's¡¡my¡¡profession£»¡¨¡¡Nefret¡¡said¡¡calmly¡£¡¡¡¨Not¡¡an¡¡enjoyable¡¡profession¡¡at¡¡times¡¡like¡¡this¡¡one£»¡¡but¡¡I'm¡¡used¡¡to¡¡it¡£¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡the¡¡family¡¡wouldn't¡¡allow¡¡a¡¡proper¡¡autopsy£»¡¡so¡¡this¡¡was¡¡my¡¡only¡¡chance¡¡to¡¡determine¡¡how¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡man¡¡died¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Well£¿¡¨¡¡Emerson¡¡demanded¡£¡¡¡¨Did¡¡you£¿¡¨
¡¡Nefret¡¡drank¡¡deeply¡¡from¡¡the¡¡water¡¡bottle¡¡before¡¡replying¡£¡¡¡¨Fractured¡¡skull¡£¡¡The¡¡back¡¡of¡¡his¡¡head¡¡was¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡I¡¡won't¡¡go¡¡into¡¡detail¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Thank¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡Cyrus¡¡muttered£»¡¡eyeing¡¡his¡¡sandwich¡¡with¡¡distaste¡£
¡¡¡¨The