elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第22章

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　When　we　returned　home　I　had　several　more　nice　ostraca　for　Ramses。
　　
　FROM　MANUSCRIPT　H
　　
　The　windows　of　their　bedroom　faced　the　stables；　but　that　building　was　some　distance　away　and　they　would　not　have　heard　the　soft　noises　if　they　had　not　been　awake。　They　had　been　late　getting　to　bed；　since　Ramses　had　to　be　pried　away　from　his　〃nice　ostraca。〃　Once　Nefret　had　got　his　attention　she　had　no　difficulty　holding　it；　but　it　was　he　who　heard　the　sounds；　not　she。　Responding　to　the　slow　movements　of　his　lips　and　hands；　she　was　jarred　out　of　her　state　of　drowsy　pleasure　when　he　suddenly　jumped　up　and　went　to　the　window。
　〃Hell　and　damnation；〃　she　began。
　〃Sssh。　It's　Jumana。　She's　leading　one　of　the　horses。〃
　He　started　to　climb　out　the　window。　〃Put　on　some　clothes；〃　Nefret　said；　rising　in　her　turn　and　fumbling　in　the　dark　for　various　discarded　garments。
　〃Well；　then；　damn　it；　find　…　I　don't　care　what　…　something。　I　can't　let　her　get　too　far　ahead。〃
　He　snatched　the　trousers　from　her　hand　and　put　them　on；　and　then　he　was　gone；　over　the　sill　and　into　the　darkness。　Nefret　pulled　a　caftan　over　her　head　and　found　a　pair　of　boots　that　turned　out　to　be　hers。　She　would　need　them；　her　feet　were　not　as　hardened　as　his。　She　caught　him　up　as　he　was　leading　Risha；　unsaddled　and　unbridled；　out　of　the　stable。
　〃Wait　for　me；〃　she　gasped。
　〃No　time。〃　He　vaulted　onto　Risha's　back；　and　in　spite　of　her　excitement　and　worry；　the　sheer　beauty　of　the　movement　stopped　her　breath。　She　could　do　it　sometimes；　but　never　like　that；　never　in　a　single　seemingly　effortless　flow　of　muscle　and　sinew。　He　turned　Risha　with　a　touch　of　his　knee　and　the　stallion　responded　instantly；　breaking　into　a　canter。　They　looked　like　figures　from　the　Parthenon　frieze；　the　slender　strength　of　the　rider　at　one　with　his　mount。
　〃Damn；〃　said　Nefret　under　her　breath。　She'd　lost　an　additional　few　seconds　gaping　after　him　like　a　lovestruck　girl。　It　was　his　fault　for　being　so　bloody　beautiful　on　horseback。
　And　if　she　couldn't　catch　him　up　she　wouldn't　be　there　to　help　if；　as　seemed　likely；　Jumana　was　on　her　way　to　meet　Jamil。　What　other　reason　could　she　have　for　stealing　out　at　this　hour　of　the　night？
　Moonlight　stretched　an　inquiring　head　over　the　door　of　her　stall；　she　was　accustomed　to　go　where　Risha　went；　and　wondered　what　was　happening　at　this　strange　hour。　Nefret　led　her　out　of　the　stall。
　No　acrobatics　for　her　tonight；　not　in　a　long　robe　with　nothing　under　it。　She　used　the　mounting　block；　grimacing　as　her　bare　thighs　gripped　Moonlight's　hide；　and　tucking　part　of　the　robe　under　her。
　Moonlight　was　too　adult　and　well…behaved　to　prance　with　anticipation；　but　as　soon　as　Nefret　gave　her　the　word　she　was　off。　Hands　twisted　in　the　mare's　mane；　Nefret　let　her　have　her　head；　knowing　she　would　follow　her　sire。
　The　road　was　in　fair　enough　condition　the　first　part　of　the　way；　rising　and　falling　and　curving　round　the　hills　that　rose　out　of　the　plain。　She　was　nearing　the　edge　of　the　cultivation；　and　the　ruined　temples　that　fringed　it；　before　she　saw　Risha。　Ramses　had　dismounted　and　was　waiting　for　her。　He　greeted　her　with　a　grin。
　〃I　hate　to　think　what　Mother　would　say　about　that　ensemble；　but　I　rather　like　the　effect　of　the　boots　and　the　bare　…〃
　〃Where　is　Jumana？〃
　〃Gone　ahead；　on　foot。〃　He　gestured；　and　she　saw　another　horse；　the　mare　that　had　been　assigned　to　Jumana。　〃We'd　better　leave　the　horses　here；　too。〃
　〃Thank　you　for　waiting　for　me。〃
　〃If　I　hadn't；　you'd　have　gone　thundering　by　in　hot　pursuit；〃　said　her　husband；　lifting　her　off　Moonlight　and　politely　adjusting　her　skirts。　〃She　doesn't　seem　to　be　aware　that　she　is　being　followed；　and　I'd　like　to　keep　it　that　way。〃
　〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃
　〃Catch　him　and　put　an　end　to　this　nonsense　once　and　for　all　so　we　can　get　on　with　our　work。　Let's　see　if　we　can　get　close　enough　to　overhear　their　conversation。〃
　The　walls　of　the　Rameseum　raised　shadowy　outlines　ahead　and　to　their　right。　The　temple　was　half　ruined；　but　it　was　in　better　condition　than　the　tumbled　piles　of　stone　and　mud　brick　stretching　off　to　the　north　…　all　that　remained　of　the　once…proud　mortuary　temples　of　other　pharaohs。　West　of　Ramses's　temple　the　ground　was　broken　by　extensive　brickwork；　probably　the　former　storage　areas　of　the　temple。
　〃How　are　we　going　to　find　them　in　this　maze？〃　Nefret　breathed；　trying　to　step　lightly。
　〃Sssh。〃　Ramses　stopped　and　listened；　his　head　raised。　He　must　have　heard　something；　for　he　took　her　arm　and　led　her　on；　toward　one　of　the　piles　of　rubble。　They　had　almost　reached　it　before　Nefret　heard　the　voices。
　〃You're　late；〃　Jumana　whispered。　〃Are　you　well？〃
　〃Did　you　bring　the　money？〃
　〃All　I　could。　It　isn't　much。〃
　〃It　is　not　enough。　I　need　more。　Get　it　from　the　Inglizi　and　bring　it　to　me　tomorrow　night。〃
　〃Steal　from　them？　No；　I　will　not　do　that。　Jamil；　the　Father　of　Curses　has　said　he　will　help　you。　Go　to　him；　tell　him　you　…〃
　〃What　will　the　Father　of　Curses　do　for　me　…　make　me　a　basket　carrier？　Why　are　they　at　Deir　el　Medina？〃
　〃Excavating　…　what　do　you　suppose？　They　trust　me。　They　are　teaching　me　what　I　want　to　know。〃
　〃But　they　were　in　the　Cemetery　of　the　Monkeys。　I　thought　they　meant　to　work　there。〃
　〃You　have　been　spying　on　them！〃
　〃Watching　them；〃　Jamil　corrected。　〃What　is　wrong　with　that？〃
　〃Nothing　。　。　。〃　Her　voice　trailed　off。　〃Jamil；　they　found　the　body　of　Abdul　Hassan　in　the　tomb。　Did　you　。　。　。　It　was　not　you　who　killed　him；　was　it？〃
　〃It　was　an　accident。　He　fell。〃　Jumana's　gasp　was　loud　enough　to　reach　Nefret's　ears；　and　Jamil　realized　he　had　made　a　mistake。　His　voice　became　soft　and　caressing。　〃Jumana；　I　didn't　mean　it　when　I　threatened　to　kill　the　Brother　of　Demons。　I　was　frightened　and　hungry　and　lonely。　I　mean　no　harm　to　anyone！　Dear　sister　…　I　know　where　there　is　another　tomb。　It　is　in　the　Gabbanat　el…Qirud。　Do　you　see　how　I　trust　you？　All　I　need　is　enough　money　to　keep　me　for　a　while；　until　I　can　sell　some　of　the　small　objects　from　the　tomb。　There　is　no　crime　in　that。　The　tombs　do　not　belong　to　the　Inglizi；　they　belong　to　us。〃
　Ramses　put　his　mouth　to　Nefret's　ear。　〃I'm　going　round　the　back。　I　doubt　he's　armed；　but　if　he　is；　don't　get　in　his　way。〃
　He　squeezed　her　shoulder　and　slid　away。　A　jackal　howled　in　the　hills；　and　the　village　dogs　answered　it。　Cautiously　Nefret　shifted　one　foot　and　then　the　other。　She　could　see　them　now；　dark　shapes　near　one　of　the　standing　sections　of　wall。　Jamil　skulked　in　the　shadow；　he　was　wearing　a　robe　of　some　muted　color；　dark　blue　or　brown；　but　his　headcloth　showed　palely　against　the　mud　brick。　Jumana's　small　form　was　faintly　lit　by　starlight。　She　was　still　arguing　with　him；　trying　to　convince　him　to　turn　himself　in；　but　she　was　wavering。　Jamil　no　longer　made　demands；　he　pleaded　and　wheedled。　He　put　his　arm　round　her；　and　she　embraced　him。
　The　ground　was　a　bewildering　jumble　of　stone　and　masonry；　of　shadow　and　pallid　light；　but　Nefret　could　see　a　path　of　sorts；　winding　its　narrow　and　tortuous　way　from　the　opening　where　she　stood　toward　the　wall。　It　was　the　quickest　and　easiest　way　out　of　the　area；　but　surely　not　the　only　one。
　〃e　again　tomorrow　night；〃　Jamil　begged。　〃Even　if　you　cannot　bring　the　money；　just　so　I　can　see　you　again。　I　have　missed　you。〃
　〃I'll　try；〃　Jumana　whispered。　〃I　have　missed　you；　too；　and　worried　about　you。　Jamil；　please；　won't　you　…〃
　〃We　will　talk　about　it　tomorrow。〃　He　freed　himself　from　her　clinging　arms　and　moved　away；　along　the　path　Nefret　had　seen；　toward　her。
　〃Jamil！〃　Ramses　had　waited　until　Jamil　was　some　distance　away　from　his　sister。　Now　he　rose　into　view　from　behind　one　of　the　fallen　sections　of　wall。　Even　though　Nefret　had　known　he　was　somewhere　about；　his　sudden　appearance　and　clear　hail　startled　her　into　an　involuntary　cry。　Jamil　stopped　as　if　he　had　been　struck；　spun　round；　and　let　out　a　much　louder　cry　when　he　saw　Ramses　poised　atop　the　rubble；　looking　…　Nefret　could　not　help　thinking　…　like　one　of　the　more　attractive　djinn。
　〃Don't　move；〃　Ramses　ordered。　〃We　only　want　to　talk　to　you。〃
　The　boy's　paralysis　lasted　no　more　than　a　second　or　two。　He　bolted；　with　Ramses　after　him；　but　he　had　a　clear　run；　and　Ramses　had　to　scramble　over　the　debris　that　separated　him　from　the　path。　Nefret　stepped　out　into　the　open。
　〃Jamil；　stop！〃　she　called。　〃We　won't　hurt　you。〃
　He　was　ten　feet　away；　close　enough　for　her　to　see　the　scarf　he　had　drawn　over　the　lower　part　of　his　face。　He　dropped　down；　as　if　he　were　kneeling；　and　she　thought　exultantly；　we've　got　him　now。
　She　had　no　warning。　Jamil　straightened；　and　the　missile　came　hurtling　toward　her。　There　was　only　time　enough　to　turn；　her　arms　clasped　protectively　around　her　body；　so　that　the　stone　struck　her　shoulder　instead　of　her　breast。　She　fell　sideways；　her　other　shoulder　and　hip　smashing　against　the　hard　unevenness　of　the　ground。　The　fall　knocked　the　breath　out　of　her　and　she　curled　herself　up　like　a　hedgehog　as　Jamil　ran　past。　Ramses　must　have　been　hot　on　his　heels；　a　moment　later　she　felt　a　touch　she　could　never　have　mistaken　for　that　of　anyone　else。　She　rolled　over；　into　the　curve　of　his　arm。
　〃Go　after　him；〃　she　panted。
　〃The　hell　with　him。　Lie　still。　Where　does　it　hurt？〃
　〃Everywhere。〃　She　managed　a　smile。　〃It's　all　right；　darling；　nothing　is　broken。〃
　His　answering　smile　was　forced。　〃You　wouldn't　lie　to　me；　would　you？〃
　〃Not　about　a　broken　leg。〃　She　let　out　a　yelp　of　pain　as　his　hand　explored　her　arms　and　shoulders。　〃Ow！　I'll　have　some　spectacular　bruises；　but　that's　all。〃
　She　realized　then　that　his　were　not　the　only　hands　she　felt。　Kneeling；　her　eyes　like　dark　holes　in　the　small　oval　of　her　face；　Jumana　was　straightening　her　skirt；　smoothing　it　carefully　over　her　calves。　It　was　a　useless　gesture；　but　the　girl　seemed　to　be　in　a　state　of　shock。
　Not　so　shocked　she　couldn't　speak；　though。　〃It　was　my　fault。　You　might　have　been　struck　in　the　face。　He　didn't　care　if　you　were　hurt。　I　will　go　back　to　my　father's　house。〃
　〃No；　you　won't。〃　Ramses　lifted　Nefret　and　stood　up。　〃You　will　follow　us；　leading　Moonlight。　You〃　…　he　looked　down　at　his　wife　…　〃are　ing　with　me；　on　Risha。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Nefret　said　meekly。
　His　heavy　black　brows　drew　together。　〃You　are　hurt！〃
　〃Mostly　in　places　I　wouldn't　care　to　mention。〃　She　raised　one　hand　to　his　cheek。　〃Riding　astride；　sans　trousers；　is　something　I　won't　try　again　for　a　while。〃
　
　5
　　
　Emerson　and　I　and　Sennia　were　halfway　through　breakfast　when　the　children　made　their　appearance；　followed　by　the　kitten。　I　observed　immediately　that　Nefret　was　walking　without　her　usual　grace　…　not　limping；　but　trying　not　to。　Sennia　bounced　up　out　of　her　chair　and　ran　to　them；　before　she　could　give　Nefret　one　of　her　fierce　hugs；　Ramses　snatched　her　up　and　swung　her　round　and　round　until　she　squealed　with　pleasure。
　〃Has　something　happened？〃　I　asked。
　Nefret　subsided；　very　carefully；　into　the　chair　Emerson　held　for　her；　and　gave　me　a　warning　look。　〃Just　a　fall。　Good　morning；　Little　Bird。　You　had　better　hurry　and　finish　breakfast；　or　you　will　be　late　for　your　lessons。〃
　〃I　think　I　will　not　go　to　them　today；〃　Sennia　announced。　〃I　think　I　will　stay　and　take　care　of　Aunt　Nefret。〃　She　sat　down　on　the　floor　and　began　stroking　the　kitten。
　〃I　think　you　will　not；〃　I　said。　〃Don't　dawdle。　You