elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第21章

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ed；　too；　but　with　sunburn；　not　amusement。　He　removed　his　hat　and　inspected　me　with　cool　curiosity。
　Emerson；　being　Emerson；　greeted　the　Egyptians　first。　〃Salaam　aleikhum；　Ali；　Mahmud；　Hassan　。　。　。　Good　morning；　er　…　um　…〃
　〃Albion；〃　the　gentleman　in　question　supplied；　while　his　son　stared　curiously　at　us。　〃We　met　on　the　boat。〃
　〃No；　we　didn't；〃　said　Emerson。
　Albion　chortled。　His　face　turned　even　redder。　〃Not　for　want　of　effort　on　my　part。　Tried　to　track　you　down　in　Cairo；　too；　but　didn't　succeed。　Figured　we'd　run　into　you　sooner　or　later。　How's　the　rest　of　the　family？〃
　〃Very　well；〃　I　said。　〃Thank　you。　Where　are　you　on　your　way　to　this　morning？〃
　〃Just　out　for　a　little　ride；〃　said　Mr。　Albion。　He　took　out　a　large　white　handkerchief　and　mopped　his　face。　〃Say；　you　folks　couldn't　introduce　me　to　a　few　tomb　robbers；　could　you？〃
　Emerson　had　begun　backing　away。　This　remarkable　request　stopped　him　dead。　〃What　did　you　say？〃
　〃Well；　we're　collectors；〃　Albion　said　calmly。　〃Especially　Sebastian　here。　He's　just　crazy　about　ancient　Egypt。〃
　If　I　understood　the　meaning　of　that　slang　word；　it　did　not　suit　young　Mr。　Albion。　He　did　not　look　like　a　man　who　would　go　〃crazy〃　over　anything。　His　eyes　were　wide…set　and　somewhat　protuberant；　and　as　cool　as　ice…clouded　water；　whose　color　they　matched。
　〃Yessir；〃　his　father　went　on　cheerfully。　〃We've　been　collecting　for　quite　a　while。　That's　why　we　came　out　this　winter；　looking　for　more　good　stuff。〃
　Emerson　was　staring；　his　astonishment　now　mitigated　by　amusement。　I　feared　annoyance　would　soon　mitigate　the　amusement；　when　he　realized；　as　had　I；　that　Albion　was　absolutely　serious。
　〃The　usual　method　of　collecting　antiquities；〃　I　said　somewhat　sarcastically；　〃is　to　buy　from　dealers。　Mohassib　in　Luxor　…〃
　〃Been　to　see　him　already；〃　said　Albion。　〃　'Scuse　me　for　interrupting；　ma'am；　but　I　didn't　want　to　waste　your　time。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　I　said；　taken　aback。
　〃You're　wele；　ma'am。　Now　Mohassib　has　some　fine　things；　but　he's　playing　the　dealer　on　me；　trying　to　raise　the　price。　I　figure　the　best　way　is　to　go　straight　to　the　people　he　gets　his　stuff　from。　Cut　out　the　middleman；　eh？〃
　I　looked　at　Mrs。　Albion；　wondering　if　she　would　display　embarrassment　at　her　husband's　outrageous　speech。　She　had　loosened　her　veils。　There　was　no　doubt　which　side　of　the　family　her　son　favored。　She　had　the　same　long　face　and　thin　lips　and　pale　gray　eyes。　They　were　fixed　on　Mr。　Albion　with　a　look　of　fatuous　admiration。
　〃Well？〃　said　Mr。　Albion　hopefully。　〃You'd　get　your　cut；　of　course。〃
　〃We　are　not　dealers；〃　Emerson　said。　〃And　I　must　warn　you；　Mr。　Albion；　that　what　you　have　proposed　…　in　all　innocence；　I　trust　…　is　not　only　illegal　but　dangerous。〃
　〃Dangerous？〃　Mrs。　Albion　transferred　her　stare　to　Emerson。　Her　lips　straightened　out　and　her　eyes　lost　their　warmth。　〃What　possible　danger　could　there　be　for　us？　We　are　American　citizens。〃
　〃The　danger；〃　said　Emerson；　〃is　me。　If　you　have　not　heard　enough　about　me　to　understand　my　meaning；　ask　your　guides。　Let　us　go；　Peabody。〃
　I　thought　it　best　to　take　his　advice。　Emerson　had　kept　his　temper　remarkably　well　…　though　I　was　unable　to　say　the　same　about　his　grammar　…　but　he　was　bound　to　lose　it　if　the　Albions　went　on　in　the　same　way。　We　went　on；　leaving　three　people　gaping　at　us　and　six　others　concealing　their　grins　behind　rather　dirty　hands。
　〃Very　good；　Emerson！〃　I　exclaimed。　〃You　did　not　use　bad　language　…　and　under　considerable　provocation；　too。〃
　〃Don't　talk　to　me　as　if　I　were　Sennia；〃　Emerson　grumbled。　His　well…shaped　lips　twitched；　and　after　a　moment　he　began　to　laugh。　〃One　can't　bee　angry　with　people　like　that。　Introduce　him　to　a　few　tomb　robbers！　I　would　be　tempted　to　cultivate　him　for　ic　relief；　if　we　didn't　already　have　enough　of　it　in　this　family。〃
　〃The　boy　didn't　utter　a　word；〃　I　said。
　Emerson　was　still　in　an　amazingly　good　humor。　〃He　isn't　a　boy。　He　appears　to　be　about　the　same　age　as　Ramses。　I　suppose　you　find　his　reticence　suspicious？〃
　He　began　to　chuckle　again；　and　I　joined　in；　not　for　worlds　would　I　have　taken　umbrage　at　his　little　joke。　I　did　find　the　younger　Mr。　Albion　suspicious；　however。　Either　he　was　pletely　cowed　by　his　father　or　he　did　not　deign　to　express　his　own　ideas；　whatever　they　might　be。　And　what　had　brought　that　oddly　assorted　trio　to　the　difficult　path？　Where　had　they　e　from；　and　why？　It　was　possible；　if　nerve…racking；　to　ride　a　donkey　up　the　steep　path　from　the　Valley　of　the　Kings；　but　I　would　not　have　supposed　that　Mr。　Albion　or　his　elegant　wife　would　be　up　to　it。　The　downward　path　was　even　more　hazardous　on　donkey…back；　and　so　was　the　descent　behind　Deir　el　Bahri。
　Our　path　was　relatively　level　until　we　reached　the　hill　overlooking　the　little　valley　of　Deir　el　Medina。　We　paused　there；　not　to　rest；　for　it　had　been　an　easy　stroll；　but　to　get　a　bird's…eye　view　of　the　site。
　The　tombs　of　Deir　el　Medina　had　been　known　and　looted　for　many　years。　They　were　relatively　unpretentious；　the　shaft　leading　down　to　the　burial　chamber　surmounted　by　small　chapels　crowned　with　miniature　brick　pyramids。　Many　of　the　latter　had　crumbled　and　fallen　and　the　remaining　chapels　were　in　very　poor　condition。　However；　the　underground　chambers　were　often　beautifully　decorated。　They　were　the　tombs　of　the　people　who　had　lived　in　the　village　below。　It　was　still　largely　unexcavated。　Studying　the　rough；　partially　exposed　walls；　Emerson　burst　out；　〃Confound　the　lazy；　inpetent　scoundrel！　Only　look　what　he　has　done　to　the　place！〃
　He　was　referring　to　Mr。　Kuentz；　our　predecessor；　who　had　been　arrested　（thanks　to　us）　the　previous　year。　〃He　hasn't　done　much；〃　I　said；　hoping　to　calm　my　grumbling　spouse。　〃I　expect　he　was　too　busy　with　his　other　activities　…　spying　and　tomb　robbing。　They　do　take　time。〃
　〃He　has　put　his　damned　rubbish　dump　smack　in　the　middle　of　the　site；〃　Emerson　exclaimed。　〃I　will　have　to　do　it　all　over　again。〃
　He　always　said　that。
　We　scrambled　down　the　hillside。　Selim　joined　us；　and　Emerson　began　rapping　out　orders。　The　men　scattered。　Emerson　stripped　off　his　coat　and　rolled　up　his　sleeves。　〃Where　is　Ramses？〃　he　demanded。
　〃They　will　be　ing　shortly；　I　am　sure。　If　you　want　to　start　the　surveying；　I　am　perfectly　capable　…〃
　〃Very　good　of　you；　Peabody；　but　I　believe　I　will　just　wait　for　Ramses。　Why　don't　you　arrange　one　of　your　…　er　…　your　little　rest　places？〃
　I　had　intended　to　do　it　anyhow。　In　my　opinion；　periods　of　rest　and　refreshment　increase　efficiency。　Shade　is　hard　to　e　by　when　the　sun　is　directly　overhead；　and　it　was　at　that　time　of　day　we　…　and　the　dear　devoted　horses　…　would　need　it　most。　I　prefer　tombs　to　all　other　forms　of　shelter；　naturally；　but　there　was　not　much　left　of　the　superstructures　of　the　small　tombs　on　the　hillside。　I　concluded　that　the　temple　at　the　far　end　of　the　village　would　serve　me　best。
　A　number　of　deities　had　shrines　there；　but　the　principal　dedicatee　was　Hathor；　one　of　the　great　goddesses　of　the　Egyptians。　Since　these　broad…minded　ancients　were　not　especially　concerned　with　consistency；　Hathor　played　a　number　of　different　roles　over　the　long　centuries　and　was　identified　at　various　times　with　other　goddesses；　but　her　primary　function　was　that　of　nurturer　and　protector；　of　the　living　and　the　dead。　The　lover　called　upon　her　for　help　in　winning　his　beloved；　the　barren　woman　prayed　to　her　for　a　child。　She　was　worshiped　with　music　and　dancing；　and　her　epithets　included　some　of　the　loveliest　phrases　in　the　liturgy　…　Mistress　of　All　That　Exists；　Lady　of　the　Sycamore；　Golden　One。
　I　wandered　about　for　a　time；　examining　some　of　the　reliefs。　One　of　our　fellow　Egyptologists　had　partially　restored　the　temple　a　few　years　earlier；　and　there　was　a　nice　little　corner　in　the　vestibule　which　suited　my　purposes　admirably。　With　the　efficiency　I　had　e　to　expect　of　him；　Selim　had　brought　all　the　equipment　I　would　need；　including　a　large　piece　of　canvas。　He　was　too　busy　chasing　after　Emerson　to　assist　me；　so　I　got　one　of　the　other　men　to　help　me　arrange　rugs　and　campstools　and　tables；　and　make　a　temporary　roof　of　the　canvas　next　to　the　enclosure　wall　to　provide　shade　for　the　horses。　I　was　just　finishing　this　essential　task　when　the　others　arrived。　Emerson；　whose　eye　is　everywhere；　immediately　bellowed　〃Ramses！〃　and　after　a　nod　at　me；　Ramses　trotted　off。
　I　ended　up；　as　I　usually　did；　with　the　rubbish　heap。
　I　do　not　mean　to　minimize　the　importance　of　this　task；　for　it　is　the　aim　of　a　good　excavator　to　find　every　scrap；　however　uninteresting　it　may　appear　to　be。　Our　men　were　very　well　trained；　but　when　one　is　scooping　up　sand　and　rubble　it　is　easy　to　overlook　something。　It　was　my　task；　therefore；　to　put　the　contents　of　the　baskets　brought　me　by　the　men　through　a　sifter。　It　turned　out　to　be　a　more　interesting　task　than　was　often　the　case；　since　the　previous　excavator　had　been　careless。　I　found　quite　a　few　interesting　ostraca；　scraps　of　limestone　all　scribbled　over　with　hieratic。　I　puzzled　over　a　few；　while　no　one　was　looking；　but　could　make　out　only　a　few　signs。　When　we　stopped　for　luncheon　I　handed　them　over　to　Ramses。
　The　ancient　language　was　his　specialty；　as　excavation　was　Emerson's；　and　he　reacted　with　as　much　enthusiasm　as　Emerson　had　done　over　his　wretched　huts。　We　got　not　a　word　out　of　him　during　luncheon。　Nefret　had　to　keep　jogging　his　elbow　to　remind　him　to　eat。
　〃What　does　it　say？〃　I　asked。
　〃Hmmm？〃　was　the　only　response。
　Nefret　brushed　a　lock　of　curling　hair　away　from　his　forehead；　and　he　gave　her　an　abstracted　smile　before　returning　his　attention　to　the　scrap　he　held。　I　understood　why　she　had　been　moved　to　that　tender　gesture。　Absorbed　in　a　task　that　challenged　and　delighted　him　like　no　other；　he　looked　as　happy　as　a　child　over　a　new　toy。　This　was　what　he　was　meant　to　do。　This　was　what　he　ought　to　be　doing　for　the　rest　of　his　life；　undisturbed　by　crime　and　war。
　Knowing　Ramses　as　I　did；　I　realized　there　was　not　much　chance　of　that；　and　I　consoled　myself　with　the　thought　that　it　was　not　my　fault　that　he　got　in　so　much　trouble　…　not　entirely。　According　to　the　latest　psychological　theories；　he　must　enjoy　a　certain　amount　of　danger；　or　he　wouldn't　go　out　of　his　way　to　invite　it。　It　made　a　change　from　hieratic；　at　any　rate。
　We　put　in　a　long　hard　day；　removing　Kuentz's　rubbish　dump；　and　Emerson　began　the　survey　of　the　site。　This　was　an　onerous　and　time…consuming　procedure；　which　some　archaeologists　neglected；　but　which　Emerson　considered　absolutely　necessary。　If　Kuentz　had　done　such　a　survey；　he　had　left　no　record　of　it。　（Emerson　would　have　done　it　again　anyhow。）
　Jumana　was　back　to　her　normal　self；　cheerful；　interested；　and　willing；　and　even　Ramses　admitted　she　was　of　considerable　help。　All　she　had　to　do；　really；　was　hold　a　stick　level　while　the　measurements　were　made；　but　it　was　a　rather　tedious　task　and　she　followed　orders　meticulously。
　Naturally　I　kept　a　close　eye　on　her。　There　were　two　possible　explanations　for　her　recovered　good　spirits：　either　she　was　not　as　attached　to　her　brother　as　I　had　believed；　and　had　dismissed　him　from　her　thoughts　…　or　she　was　more　devious　than　I　had　believed；　and　expected　to　hear　from　him　again。
　When　we　returned　home　I　had　several　more　nice　ostraca　for　Ramses。
　　
　FROM　MANUSCRIPT　H
　　
　The　windows　of　their　bedroom　faced　the　stables；　but　tha