elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第25章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


nasty；　when　he　visited　the　queen　in　the　shape　of　her　husband　and　fathered　the　royal　heir。　These　God's　Wives；　who　also　held　the　title　of　Adorer　of　the　God；　did　not　bear　children　but　adopted　their　successors。　There　were　practical　political　reasons　for　this　policy；　the　Late　Period　was　a　time　of　turmoil；　with　the　throne　of　Egypt　passing　from　pharaoh　to　usurper　to　conqueror　and　back；　many　of　these　men；　residing　in　the　north；　sent　royal　daughters　to　Thebes　to　succeed　the　reigning　God's　Wife；　achieving　thereby　continuity　and　a　certain　legitimacy。
　The　position　was　one　of　high　honor；　the　occupant　surrounded　by　luxury　and　prestige；　but　I　had　often　wondered　about　the　women　themselves。　Doomed　to　lifelong　celibacy；　forbidden　the　joys　of　motherhood；　they　had　not　even　the　pleasures　of　power　to　pensate；　for　it　is　more　than　likely　…　men　being　what　they　are　…　that　the　ladies　were　mere　figureheads；　controlled　by　the　king　and　the　powerful　nobles　of　Thebes。
　However；　I　would　be　the　last　to　deny　that　celibacy　has　its　advantages；　when　the　alternative　is　a　state　marriage　to　a　man　unloving　and　unloved。　As　for　the　joys　of　motherhood　。　。　。　I　glanced　at　Ramses；　who　was　wandering　about　reading　the　inscriptions。　We　were　using　torches；　since　the　inner　chamber　was　enclosed　and　unlighted。　Shadows　outlined　his　well…cut　features　and　the　little　half　smile　that　betokened　his　total　absorption。　Yes；　it　had　been　worth　it；　though　there　had　been　times　when　I　had　serious　doubts。　However；　not　all　children　turned　out　as　well　as　he　had　done。
　We　inspected　the　other　chapels；　which　were　not　so　well　preserved。　In　the　floor　of　one　an　irregular　hole　gaped；　where　the　stone　flooring　blocks　had　been　taken　up。
　〃Not　a　durned　thing　down　there；〃　Cyrus　plained。
　Emerson　glared　at　him。　〃Curse　it；　Vandergelt；　I　told　you　the　burial　chambers　were　empty。　You　had　better　replace　the　flooring　before　some　damned　fool　tourist　falls　in。〃
　〃I　thought　maybe　there　might　be　another　burial；〃　Cyrus　said　defensively。　〃There　are　four　chapels　and　five　God's　Wives。〃
　〃More　than　five；〃　Ramses　said。　He　proceeded　to　reel　off　the　names。　They　had　an　exotic；　almost　poetic　cadence。　〃Karomama；　Tashakheper；　Shepenwepet；　Amenirdis；　Nitocris；　Ankhnesneferibre。〃
　〃So　where　are　the　rest　of　'em？〃　Cyrus　demanded。　〃And　the　coffins　and　mummies　of　the　ones　who　were　buried　here？〃
　〃Jumana　asked　me　that　once；〃　Ramses　said。　〃She　had　a　romantic　notion　that　they　might　have　been　hidden　away　to　protect　them　from　tomb　robbers。〃
　〃Nonsense；〃　grunted　Emerson。
　〃We　know　where　two　of　the　sarcophagi　are；　or　were；〃　I　explained。　〃At　Deir　el　Medina；　in　tomb　shafts　high　on　the　hillside。　They　were　dragged　there　by　individuals　who　meant　to　usurp　them　for　their　own　burials。　One　had　actually　been　reinscribed　with　the　name　and　titles　of　…　er　…〃
　〃Pamontu；〃　Ramses　said。　〃A　priest　of　the　Ptolemaic　or　early　Roman　period；　approximately　five　hundred　years　after　the　last　God's　Wife　died　and　was　buried。〃
　〃Just　what　I　was　about　to　say；　Ramses。〃
　〃I　beg　your　pardon；　Mother。〃
　〃It　seems　likely；　therefore；〃　I　continued；　acknowledging　his　apology　with　a　nod；　〃that　by　the　first　century　a。d。　the　original　burial　chambers　here　at　Medinet　Habu　were　empty　except　for　the　sarcophagi。　They　were　too　heavy　and　of　no　value　to　ordinary　…〃
　〃Yes；　yes；　Peabody；〃　said　Emerson。　〃Vandergelt；　you're　as　bad　as　Jumana。　There　is　some　excuse　for　her；　but　you　ought　to　know　better。　The　brickwork　west　of　here　may　be　the　remains　of　a　fifth　chapel。〃
　〃Abu　and　Bertie　are　working　there　now；〃　Cyrus　said；　with　a　vague　gesture　toward　the　west。　〃So　far；　no　luck。　I'm　getting　tired　of　this；　Emerson。〃
　〃Of　what；　the　Saite　chapels？　I　hope　you　aren't　thinking　of　shifting　to　another　area。　You　haven't　the　manpower　to　tackle　the　larger　temples。〃
　〃Well；　I　know　that！〃　He　glanced　at　Ramses；　who　was　talking　to　Nefret；　and　lowered　his　voice。　〃The　truth　is；　Emerson；　none　of　us　has　got　the　skill　for　this　job。　Oh；　sure；　we　can　clean　the　place　up　and　make　proper　plans；　but　what's　needed　here　is　somebody　to　record　the　inscriptions　and　reliefs。〃
　〃You　can't　have　Ramses；〃　said　Emerson。
　〃Emerson；〃　I　murmured。
　〃Well；　he　can't！　I　know；　I　said　the　boy　could　do　anything　he　liked　and　work　for　anyone　he　chooses；　but　…　er　…　confound　it；　Vandergelt；　stealing　another　man's　staff　away　is　one　of　the　lowest；　most　contemptible　…〃
　〃Gol…durn　it；　Emerson；　I　wouldn't　do　a　thing　like　that！〃
　Their　raised　voices　had　caught　Ramses's　attention。　〃What　seems　to　be　the　trouble？〃　he　asked。
　〃No　trouble；〃　Cyrus　declared。　〃Um　…　see　here；　Emerson；　I　just　got　to　thinking　。　。　。　How　about　if　we　trade　places？　You　take　Medinet　Habu　and　I'll　take　Deir　el　Medina。〃
　Emerson　opened　his　mouth；　preparatory　to　delivering　a　cry　of　protest。　Then　his　scowl　smoothed　out。　He　stroked　his　chin。　〃Hmmm；〃　he　said。
　〃Cyrus；　that　is　an　outrageous　suggestion；〃　I　exclaimed。　〃You　can't　go　trading　archaeological　sites　as　if　they　were　kitchen　utensils！〃
　〃I　don't　see　who's　gonna　stop　us；〃　Cyrus　said　stubbornly。　〃The　Service　des　Antiquités　has　got　too　much　on　its　plate　to　bother　with　two　respectable　excavators　like　us。　What　do　you　say；　Emerson；　old　pal？〃
　Emerson's　face　widened　in　a　grin。　〃You　want　to　get　at　those　tombs　at　Deir　el　Medina。〃
　〃Any　tomb's　better　than　none；〃　Cyrus　retorted。　〃There's　none　here。　What　I'd　really　like　to　do　is　mount　an　expedition　to　the　Cemetery　of　the　Monkeys；　but　…〃
　〃You'd　break　your　neck　climbing　round　those　wadis；〃　Emerson　declared　forcibly。　〃And　waste　your　time。　The　most　practical　method　of　locating　tombs　in　that　area　is　to　follow　the　Gurnawis　…　or　go　out　after　a　heavy　rainstorm；　as　they　do。〃
　〃Well；　it　doesn't　look　like　rain。　e　on；　Emerson；　this　job　is　right　up　Ramses's　alley。　Look　at　him。〃
　He　did　appear　to　be　enjoying　himself。　He　and　Nefret　were　absorbed　with　the　reliefs　…　and　each　other。　They　were　holding　hands　and　talking　in　low　voices　as　they　moved　slowly　along　the　wall。　With　my　customary　rapidity　of　thought；　I　considered　the　pros　and　cons　of　Cyrus's　suggestion。　There　were　a　good　many　things　in　its　favor。　The　reliefs　needed　to　be　recorded　before　time　and　vandals　destroyed　them。　This　was　a　perfect　place　for　the　photographic　technique　of　copying　Ramses　had　developed；　and　Nefret　would　work　at　his　side　…　close　by　him；　in　a　nice；　safe；　enclosed　area。　And　while　they　were　doing　that；　Emerson　could　root　around　the　ruins　to　his　heart's　content。　However　。　。　。
　〃Are　we　agreed？〃　Cyrus　asked　hopefully。
　〃Agreed　on　what？〃　Nefret　asked；　turning。
　〃e　and　have　some　tea　with　Bertie　and　me；　and　we'll　tell　you　all　about　it；〃　Cyrus　said。
　As　we　left　the　chapel　I　lingered；　looking　up　at　the　carved　lintel。　〃An　offering　which　the　King　gives；　a　thousand　of　bread　and　beer　and　every　good　thing　。　。　。〃
　〃Did　you　say　something；　Mother？〃　Ramses　inquired。
　〃Just　…　er　…　humming　a　little　tune；　Ramses。〃
　〃What　is　Father　up　to　now？〃
　〃I　will　leave　it　to　him　to　tell　you；　my　dear。〃
　And　tell　us　he　did；　without　asking　anyone　else's　opinion　or　voicing　a　single　reservation。　Having　had　time　to　reconsider　the　matter；　I　had　thought　of　several。　M。　Lacau；　who　had　replaced　Maspero　as　head　of　the　Antiquities　Department；　might　not　find　out　about　our　violation　of　the　rules　for　some　time；　he　had　returned　to　France　for　war　work；　leaving　his　second…in…mand；　Georges　Daressy；　to　carry　on。　Daressy　was　a　genial　soul；　whom　we　had　known　for　years；　but　even　he　might　be　offended　by　our　proceeding　without　his　permission。
　Considerations　of　this　sort　did　not　enter　Emerson's　mind。　He　had　always　done　precisely　as　he　liked；　and　had　taken　the　consequences　（though　not　without　a　great　deal　of　grumbling）。　Realizing　that　Ramses　had　fixed　me　with　a　pointed　stare；　brows　tilted；　I　was　reminded　of　certain　of　those　consequences；　such　as　the　time　we　had　been　barred　forever　from　the　Valley　of　the　Kings　after　Emerson　had　insulted　M。　Maspero　and　everybody　else　in　the　vicinity。
　I　cleared　my　throat。　〃Perhaps　we　ought　to　give　the　matter　a　little　more　thought　before　we　decide；　Emerson。〃
　〃Why？〃　Emerson　demanded。　〃It　is　an　excellent　idea。　Ramses　will　enjoy　copying　the　inscriptions　…〃
　〃I　would　prefer　to　go　on　at　Deir　el　Medina；　Father；〃　Ramses　said；　politely　but　firmly。　Emerson　looked　at　him　in　surprise；　and　I　gave　Ramses　an　encouraging　nod。　It　had　taken　him　a　long　time　to　get　courage　enough　to　disagree　with　his　father。　〃The　site　is　unique；〃　Ramses　went　on。　〃Do　you　realize　what　we　might　learn　from　it？　We've　already　e　across　a　cache　of　papyri　and　a　number　of　inscribed　ostraca；　they　confirm　my　belief　that　the　people　who　lived　in　the　village　were　craftsmen　and　artists　who　worked　on　the　royal　tombs　in　the　Valley　of　the　Kings。〃
　〃They　were　servants　in　the　Place　of　Truth；〃　Emerson　interrupted。　〃Some　scholars　believe　they　were　priests。〃
　〃Their　additional　titles　indicate　otherwise。　Draftsman；　architect；　foreman　…〃
　〃Well；　well；　most　interesting；〃　said　Emerson；　who　had　lost　interest　almost　at　once。　〃Your　opinion　is　of　course　important　to　me；　my　boy。　We　will　discuss　it　later；　eh？〃
　He　was　set　on　his　plan　and　had　no　intention　of　reconsidering　it。　When　Cyrus　reminded　him　that　we　had　agreed　to　attend　one　of　his　popular　soirees　that　evening；　he　did　not　even　swear。
　I　turned　to　Bertie；　who　appeared　to　be　in　a　pensive　mood；　for　he　had　not　spoken　after　his　initial　greeting。
　〃What　do　you　think；　Bertie？〃
　His　brown　hair　had　bee　sun…bleached　and　his　face　was　tanned；　so　that　he　was　a　pale　shade　of　brown　all　over。　One　could　not　call　him　handsome；　but　his　pleasant；　guileless　smile　was　very　attractive。　〃Whatever　you　decide　is　fine　with　me；　Mrs。　Emerson。　I'm　just　a　hired　hand；　as　Cyrus　would　say。〃
　〃You　appear　to　be　in　a　pensive　mood；〃　I　persisted。　〃You　are　feeling　well？〃
　〃Oh；　yes；　ma'am。　Thank　you。〃
　〃You　took　up　archaeology　to　please　Cyrus；〃　I　said；　and　patted　his　hand。　〃It　was　kind　of　you；　Bertie；　but　he　wouldn't　want　you　to　go　on　with　it　if　you　find　it　distasteful。〃
　〃I'd　do　more　than　that　for　him。〃　Bertie　blushed　slightly；　as　Englishmen　tend　to　do　when　they　give　vent　to　their　emotions。　〃He's　been　jolly　good　to　me；　you　know。　I　only　wish　。　。　。〃
　〃What；　Bertie？〃
　〃Oh　…　that　I　could　find　something　really　first…rate　for　Cyrus。　Not　that　I'm　likely　to；〃　he　added　diffidently。　〃I　really　am　keen；　Mrs。　Emerson；　but　I'll　never　be　as　good　as　Ramses。　Or　you；　ma'am。〃
　〃One　never　knows；〃　I　said。　〃Many　great　discoveries　are　serendipitous。　There　is　no　reason　why　you　should　not　succeed　as　well　as　another。〃
　After　finishing　our　tea　we　returned　to　Deir　el　Medina　to　consult　Selim　and　Daoud。　Daoud　had　no　opinion　on　the　subject；　anything　Emerson　chose　to　do　was　acceptable　to　him。　Selim　folded　his　arms　and　looked　severely　at　Emerson。
　〃We　have　made　a　good　beginning　here；　Emerson。〃
　〃Cyrus　and　Bertie　can　carry　on；〃　Emerson　replied　blithely。　〃The　boy　is　turning　into　a　pretty　fair　excavator。〃
　Selim　glanced　at　Jumana；　who　was　helping　Ramses　collect　the　ostraca　that　had　been　found　that　morning。　〃Will　you　leave　her　here　with　Vandergelt　Effendi？〃
　Emerson　grinned。　〃Does　she　annoy　you？〃
　〃She　talks　very　loudly　all　the　time。　And　I　do　not　trust　her。〃
　〃You　are　being　as　cynical　as　your　father；〃　I　said。　〃I　feel　certain　Jumana　will　tell　us　if　Jamil　attempts　to　reach　her。　Your　inquiries　in　Gurneh　have　not　produced　any　new　information；　have　they？〃