elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第26章

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　〃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？〃
　〃No；〃　Selim　admitted。
　〃Then　if　you　have　no　further　objections；　Selim；　we　will　proceed　with　our　plan；〃　Emerson　said。　〃You　and　Daoud　with　us　at　Medinet　Habu；　of　course；　and　Jumana　as　well。〃
　〃Vandergelt　Effendi　will　want　to　look　for　tombs　here；〃　Selim　said　dourly。
　〃No　doubt。〃　Emerson　chuckled。　〃What's　the　harm　in　that？〃
　　
　Cyrus's　soiree　was　like　all　his　parties　…　elegant　and　genteel。　Since　he　was　the　most　hospitable　of　men；　he　always　invited　everyone　he　could　get　hold　of；　so　the　pany　was　mixed：　friends　who　lived　year…round　in　Luxor；　tourists；　a　few　professional　associates　…　too　few；　alas；　in　these　terrible　times　…　and　members　of　the　military。　I　had　got　to　the　point　where　the　very　sight　of　a　uniform　depressed　me；　and　I　prayed　that　the　day　would　soon　e　when　the　men　who　wore　them　could　take　them　off　and　go　back　to　their　normal　lives。
　Those　that　survived。
　I　took　a　sip　of　the　champagne　Cyrus　handed　me　and　told　myself　to　cheer　up！　No　cloud　shadowed　Cyrus's　lined　countenance；　and　indeed　he　was　one　of　the　most　fortunate　of　men。　Wealthy　and　respected；　happily　married；　absorbed　in　work　he　loved；　he　had　required　only　one　thing　to　fill　his　cup；　and　Bertie　had　given　him　that　…　the　devoted　affection　of　a　son；　and　a　panion　in　his　work。
　〃What's　on　your　mind；　Amelia？〃　Cyrus　asked。　〃You　look　kinda　gloomy。　Has　that　young　villain　Jamil　turned　up　again？〃
　〃No；　we　have　heard　nothing　of　him。　I　am　sorry　if　I　gave　the　impression　I　am　not　thoroughly　enjoying　myself；　and　I　am　ready　to　do　my　duty　in　entertaining　your　guests。　Is　there　anyone　you　would　like　to　be　soothed；　amused；　or　stirred　up？〃
　Cyrus　chuckled。　〃Especially　the　last。　Anything　you　like；　Amelia；　but　if　you　want　to　pick　on　someone；　have　a　go　at　Joe　Albion。　He　was　a　business　rival　of　mine　some　years　back；　and　he's　got　one　of　the　best　private　collections　of　antiquities　in　the　world。　I　wouldn't　like　to　guess　how　he　acquired　some　of　them。〃
　〃I　didn't　know　he　was　an　acquaintance　of　yours；〃　I　said；　recognizing　the　rotund　shape　and　round　red　face　of　Mr。　Albion。　〃He　and　his　family　were　on　the　boat　ing　over；　and　we　ran　into　them　the　other　day　near　Deir　el　Bahri。　What　an　odd　family　they　are；　to　be　sure。　Mr。　Albion　asked　us　to　introduce　him　to　some　tomb　robbers。〃
　Cyrus　let　out　an　emphatic　American　ejaculation。　〃Gol…durn　it！　Sounds　like　Joe；　all　right。〃
　〃I　thought　he　was　joking。　He　is　such　a　jolly　little　man。〃
　〃Jolly　Joe。〃　Cyrus　grinned；　but　he　began　tugging　at　his　goatee　…　a　sure　sign　of　perturbation。　〃Don't　let　that　fool　you；　Amelia。　He's　got　a　reputation　for　going　straight　for　the　jugular。〃
　〃His　wife　appears　quite　devoted　to　him。〃
　〃It　is　an　odd　marriage；〃　Cyrus　admitted。　〃She's　from　one　of　the　best　families　in　Boston　and　Joe　is　mon　as　dirt。　Nobody　could　figure　out　why　she　married　him；　but　she's　living　like　a　queen　now　…　and　the　boy　was　raised　like　a　prince。〃
　I　had　no　particular　interest　in　talking　with　any　of　the　Albions；　so　I　moved　about　from　one　group　to　another；　paying　particular　attention　to　those　who　were　strangers　or　seemed　ill　at　ease。　It　was　my　duty；　but　I　cannot　say　I　enjoyed　it；　most　of　the　gentlemen　would　talk　of　nothing　but　the　war。　Emerson　had　been　correct；　the　Germans　had　announced　they　would　begin　unrestricted　submarine　warfare；　on　all　vessels　of　Allied　and　neutral　nations。　This　put　the　tourists　present　in　a　somewhat　awkward　position。　One　of　them；　a　tall；　distinguished　American　named　Lubancic；　took　the　matter　philosophically。
　〃They　can't　keep　it　up　for　long。　This　is　going　to　get　the　American　government　riled　up；　and　I　wouldn't　be　surprised　to　see　us　get　into　this　business　pretty　soon。　Anyhow；〃　he　added　with　a　smile；　〃Egypt's　not　such　a　bad　place　to　be　stuck　for　the　duration。　There's　plenty　to　see　and　do；　and　prices　are　cheap；　with　the　tourist　trade　down。　Do　you　suppose　there's　any　chance　of　my　doing　a　little　digging；　Mrs。　Emerson？　Plenty　of　local　men　for　hire；　I　believe。〃
　It　was　a　mon　enough　question；　few　visitors　understood　the　regulations　that　governed　excavation　and　many　of　them　naively　believed　that　all　they　had　to　do　was　dig　to　find　a　rich　tomb。　I　was　sorry　to　disillusion　Mr。　Lubancic；　for　he　seemed　a　very　pleasant　fellow；　but　I　felt　obliged　to　explain。
　〃One　must　have　permission　from　the　Department　of　Antiquities；　and　all　excavations　must　be　supervised　by　a　trained　archaeologist。　At　this　particular　time　there　aren't　many　such　persons　available。〃
　〃The　Brits　and　French　have　got　something　else　on　their　minds　besides　archaeology；〃　said　another　gentleman。　〃The　war　on　this　front　seems　to　be　going　well；　though。　The　Senussi　are　in　retreat　and　the　Turks　have　been　driven　out　of　the　Sinai。〃
　〃But　the　British　advance　has　stalled　outside　Gaza；〃　Mr。　Lubancic　objected。
　〃It's　only　a　matter　of　time　before　we　take　Gaza；〃　said　a　military　officer；　stroking　his　large　mustache。　〃Johnny　Turk　isn't　much　of　a　threat。〃
　His　insignia　identified　him　as　a　member　of　the　staff；　and　his　portly　frame　and　flushed　face　suggested　that　he　had　fought　the　war　from　behind　a　desk　in　Cairo。　Another；　younger；　officer　gave　him　a　look　of　thinly　veiled　contempt。　〃Johnny　Turk　was　a　considerable　threat　at　Rafah；　and　Gaza　won't　be　easy　to　take。　The　city　is　ringed　round　with　trenches　and　they've　got　fortifications　along　the　ridges　all　the　way　from　Gaza　to　Beersheba。〃
　The　conversation　turned　to　a　discussion　of　strategy　and　I　excused　myself。　The　remote　city　of　Gaza　held　no　interest　for　me。
　　
　FROM　MANUSCRIPT　H
　　
　Cyrus's　soiree　was　like　all　his　other　parties　…　elegant；　genteel；　and　full　of　boring　people。　Ramses　always　found　Cyrus　congenial　pany　when　there　were　no　strangers　present；　he　couldn't　understand　why　a　man　would　willingly　endure；　much　less　invite；　such　a　motley　mob。　There　was　no　one　he　wanted　to　talk　to。　His　family　had　deserted　him；　his　mother　was　chatting　with　Katherine；　Nefret　was　〃mingling；〃　and　his　father；　whose　social　graces　were　the　despair　of　his　wife；　had　ignored　everyone　else　and　gone　straight　to　Bertie。　From　his　animated　gestures　and　Bertie's　deferential　pose；　Ramses　felt　certain　Emerson　was　telling　him　what　they　had　done　at　Deir　el　Medina；　and　what　he　should　do　from　here　on　in。
　Jumana　was　with　them；　looking　very　pretty　in　a　pale　yellow　frock　that　set　off　her　brown　skin　and　sleek　black　hair。　Ramses　wondered　how　she　felt　about　gatherings　like　this　one。　Even　her　superb　self…confidence　must　be　slightly　daunted　by　so　many　strangers；　many　of　whom；　uncertain　about　her　precise　status；　ignored　or　snubbed　her。　They　wouldn't　dare　be　rude　to　another　of　Cyrus's　guests；　but　she　was　obviously　Egyptian　and　they　were　not　accustomed　to　mingling　socially　with　〃natives。〃
　His　eyes　returned；　as　they　had　a　habit　of　doing；　to　his　wife。　She　saw　him；　one　eyelid　lowered　in　a　discreet　but　unmistakable　wink　before　she　returned　her　attention　to　the　woman　with　whom　she　was　conversing。　She　was　tall　and　stately　and　glittering　with　jewels；　when　she　turned　her　head；　pointing　out　something　or　someone　to　Nefret；　he　knew　he'd　seen　her　somewhere；　but　couldn't　remember　where。
　He　was　rather　enjoying　his　role　as　detached　observer　when　someone　touched　him　on　the　shoulder　and　he　turned。　The　face　beaming　up　at　him　looked　vaguely　familiar；　but　he　was　unable　to　identify　it　until　the　fellow　spoke。
　〃Albion。　Joe　Albion。　We　met　on　the　boat　ing　over。〃
　Ramses　did　not　contradict　him。　〃I　remember　you；　sir；　of　course；〃　he　said　politely。
　The　little　man　burst　out　laughing。　〃No；　you　don't；　young　fella。　Tried　to　meet　you　folks；　but　you　managed　to　avoid　us。　Did　your　ma　and　pa　tell　you　we　met　the　other　day　on　the　path　to　the　Valley　of　the　Kings？〃
　〃Er　…　no；　sir。〃
　〃I　asked　your　pa　if　he'd　introduce　me　to　a　few　tomb　robbers；〃　Albion　went　on。　〃He　said　no。　Seemed　a　little　put　out。〃
　〃Ma〃　and　〃Pa〃　had　been　bad　enough；　this　bland　statement　made　Ramses　choke　on　his　champagne。　Albion　smacked　him　on　the　back。
　〃Shouldn't　try　to　talk　and　drink　at　the　same　time；　young　fella。　Don't　need　your　advice　anyhow；　there's　plenty　of　the　rascals　hereabouts；　especially　in　that　village　…　Gurneh。　Talked　to　a　couple　of　them　the　other　day。〃
　〃Who？〃　Ramses　demanded。
　〃Fella　named　Mohammed。〃　Albion　chortled。　〃Seems　like　everybody's　named　Mohammed。〃
　Ramses　had　recovered　himself；　though　he　still　couldn't　believe　the　man　was　serious。　〃I　think　I　know　which　Mohammed　you　mean。　You　can　get　in　serious　trouble　dealing　with　him　and　his　friends；　Mr。　Albion。〃
　〃Just　let　me　worry　about　that。〃　The　smile　was　as　broad；　but　for　an　instant　there　was　a　look　in　the　deep…set　eyes　that　made　Ramses　wonder　if　Albion　was　as　naive　and　harmless　as　he　seemed。
　〃e　meet　my　son；〃　the　little　man　went　on。　His　pudgy　hand　gripped　Ramses's　arm　with　unexpected　strength；　and　Ramses　allowed　himself　to　be　towed　toward　a　young　man　who　stood　apart　from　the　rest；　slouching　a　little；　a　glass　of　champagne　in　his　hand　and　an　aloof　expression　on　his　face。　Probably　the　same　expression　that　is　on　my　face；　Ramses　thought。　Either　young　Mr。　Albion　found　the　other　people　present　not　worth　his　notice；　or　he　was　shy。
　He　straightened　to　his　full　height；　a　little　under　six　feet；　when　his　father　came　up　with　Ramses。　His　thin　reserved　face　and　eyeglasses　were　those　of　a　scholar；　but　he　looked　to　be　in　good　physical　trim；　except　for　being　a　bit　thick　around　the　middle。　His　sharply　chiseled　features　warmed　a　trifle　when　his　father　introduced　Ramses。
　〃Figure　you　two　young　fellas　have　a　lot　in　mon；〃　the　older　man　went　on　breezily。　〃Get　to　know　each　other；　right？　Don't　stand　on　ceremony。　Folks　call　you　Ramses；　don't　they？　Some　sort　of　private　joke；　I　guess。　Ramses　…　Sebastian。　Sebastian　…　Ramses。〃　He　chortled。　〃Never　could　understand　the　British　sense　of　humor。〃
　He　trotted　off；　and　Sebastian　said；　〃Glad　to　meet　you。　I　glanced　at　your　book　on　Egyptian　grammar；　seemed　quite　adequate；　but　I　don't　pretend　to　be　an　expert　on　the　language。　Egyptian　art　is　my　specialty。〃
　Not　shy。　〃Where　did　you　study？〃　Ramses　asked。
　〃Harvard。〃
　Of　course；　Ramses　thought。　The　accent　was　unmistakable；　and　pletely　different　from　his　father's。　Albion　was　what　his　mother　would　call　a　〃mon　little　man。〃　Ramses　rather　liked　〃mon〃　people；　but　he　wondered　how　the　jolly；　uninhibited　Albion　had　produced　such　a　supercilious；　self…consciously　intellectual　prig。　Sebastian　didn't　seem　to　be　embarrassed　by　his　father's　manners；　which　was　one　point　in　his　favor。
　Just　about　the　only　one。　Young　Albion　went　on。　And　on。　He　was　not　inclined　to　give　America's　oldest　university　any　credit　for　his　present　state　of　admitted　erudition。　〃There's　not　much　being　done　with　Egyptian　art　qua　art；〃　he　stated。　〃I　had　to　work　it　out　myself。　I've　pretty　well　exhausted　what　the　Metropolitan　Museum　and　the　Boston　Museum　of　Fine　Arts　have　to　offer。　A　winter　in　Egypt　seemed　the　logical　next　step。〃
　〃And　a　spot　of　tomb　robbing？〃　Ramses　finally　managed　to　get　a　word　in。　〃I　trust　your　father　was　joking　about　that。　A　number　of　people；　including　my　father；　wouldn't　be　amused。〃
　〃It　goes　on　all　the　time；　doesn't　it？〃
　〃To　some　extent；　but　…〃
　〃Yes；　yes；〃　Sebastian　said　condescendingly。　〃I　understand　how　people　like　you