elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第34章

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eau。　〃Mr。　Woolley　is　an　old　friend。　I　was　very　sorry　to　hear　he　had　been　taken　prisoner　by　the　Ottomans。〃
　〃The　fortunes　of　war；　ma'am；　the　fortunes　of　war。〃
　〃Stupidity　and　ineptitude；〃　Emerson　declared。　〃Sailing　up　and　down　the　coast　in　that　distinctive　yacht；　trying　to　put　agents　ashore　under　the　very　noses　of　the　Turks。　He　was　bound　to　be　caught　sooner　or　later。〃
　Cartright　flushed　angrily；　but　kept　his　temper。　〃Yes；　sir。　May　I　have　the　honor　of　introducing　another　admirer　of　yours　…　Lieutenant　Algernon　Chetwode。〃
　I　have　never　seen　a　countenance　so　prototypically　English。　Like　his　hair；　the　brave　mustache　was　flaxen…fair；　the　lashes　framing　his　blue　eyes　were　so　pale　they　were　almost　invisible；　and　his　cheeks　were　as　smooth　as　a　girl's。　They　turned　pink　as　he　stuttered　out　a　series　of　incoherent　pliments。
　〃Can't　express　my　pleasure　。　。　。　such　an　honor　。　。　。〃
　〃Yes；　how　nice；〃　I　said；　and　since　they　showed　no　intention　of　going　away；　I　added；　〃I　would　offer　to　show　you　around；　gentlemen；　but　as　my　husband　mentioned；　there　is　nothing　here　that　would　interest　you。　I　presume　you　are　on　leave　from　Cairo？　May　I　suggest　the　Valley　of　the　Kings　or　the　temple　of　Medinet　Habu；　which　is　in　that　direction。〃
　〃You　are　most　kind；　Mrs。　Emerson；〃　Cartright　said；　with　a　smile　that　showed　he　was　well　aware　of　my　real　motive。　〃We　only　dropped　by　to　pay　our　respects。　We　had　hoped　…　that　is　to　say　…　is　your　son　with　you？〃
　Emerson's　eyes　narrowed　and　I　felt　a　constriction　in　the　region　of　the　diaphragm。　Naturally　and　necessarily；　Ramses's　activities　on　behalf　of　the　War　Office　had　been　a　closely　guarded　secret。　Had　his　courageous　sacrifices　been　generally　known；　he　would　have　been　a　hero；　since　they　were　not；　he　was　regarded　by　many　of　our　acquaintances　in　Cairo　as　a　coward　and　a　pacifist。　（The　two　words　being　synonymous　in　the　views　of　the　ignorant。）　There　was　hardly　an　officer　in　Cairo　who　would　have　spoken　to　him　last　year　…　and　here　were　two　of　them　actually　seeking　him　out。
　I　might　have　been　tempted　to　lie；　but　I　could　not；　Ramses　had　seen　us　and　was　approaching。　It　was　not　in　his　nature　to　avoid　a　confrontation。　Nefret　had　hold　of　his　arm。　She　was　biting　her　lip；　a　sure　sign　of　worry　or　annoyance。
　If　young　Lieutenant　Chetwode　had　fawned　over　us；　he　did　all　but　genuflect　before　Ramses。　He　paid　no　more　attention　to　Nefret　than　courtesy　demanded；　which　was　in　itself　highly　suspicious；　most　men　paid　attention　to　Nefret。
　Unsmiling　and　posed；　Ramses　shook　hands　with　both　men。　〃On　holiday；　are　you？〃　he　inquired。
　〃A　brief　holiday；〃　Cartright　replied。　〃I　have　just　got　back　from　the　Gaza　front；　and　after　I　had　reported　to　the　general；　he　was　good　enough　to　give　me　a　few　days'　leave。〃
　〃I'm　sure　you　deserved　it；〃　I　said　politely。
　〃Ha；〃　said　Emerson。　〃What　the　devil　are　you　people　doing？　You　pushed　the　Turks　across　the　Egyptian　border　early　in　January；　and　you've　been　squatting　outside　Gaza　ever　since。　We　need　a　victory　in　the　Middle　East；　gentlemen；　God　knows　the　news　on　other　fronts　is　bad　enough。　Why　isn't　General　Murray　pushing　ahead　toward　Jerusalem？〃
　〃I'm　sure　you　know　the　terrain；　sir；〃　Cartright　said　deferentially。　Glancing　at　me　…　a　mere　female；　who　presumably　knew　nothing　about　military　matters　…　he　explained；　〃The　Turks　are　determined　to　hold　Gaza；　the　town　is　heavily　fortified　and　so　are　the　ridges　that　run　all　the　way　from　Gaza　to　Beersheba。　It's　a　natural　defensive　line　twenty…five　miles　long。　Water　is　one　of　our　major　problems；　we　have　to　pump　it　from　the　sweet…water　canal　at　Suez　clear　across　the　Sinai；　and　the　advance　of　the　railroad　has　been　delayed　by　difficult　terrain。　Intelligence　is　dreadfully　vague　at　the　moment。　Our　agents　find　great　difficulty　in　getting　through；　and　their　aircraft　…〃
　〃Yes；　yes；〃　Emerson　said　impatiently。　〃But　the　longer　you　delay；　the　more　time　the　Turks　will　have　to　bring　in　reinforcements　and　dig　more　trenches。　You'll　have　to　hit　Beersheba　at　the　same　time　you　attack　Gaza。　There's　plenty　of　water　there。〃
　〃I'm　sure　General　Murray　would　be　interested　in　hearing　your　views；　sir；〃　Cartright　said。
　I　cleared　my　throat　loudly；　and　Emerson　recollected　himself。　〃If　he　needs　me　to　point　out　the　obvious；　his　staff　isn't　doing　its　job。　Good　day；　gentlemen。〃
　He　took　me　firmly　by　the　arm　and　stalked　off；　leaving　the　two　officers　no　choice　but　to　mount　and　depart。　〃Hell　and　damnation；〃　he　remarked。
　〃Quite；〃　said　Ramses；　catching　us　up。　〃Extraordinarily　forthright；　wasn't　he？〃
　〃Too　forthright；〃　Emerson　muttered。　〃Why　did　he　tell　us　so　much？〃
　Ramses's　lips　tightened。　After　a　moment；　he　said；　〃There　is　no　reason　why　you　should　remember；　but　Cartright　was　one　of　the　three　patriots　with　whom　I　had　that　rude　encounter　at　the　Turf　Club　two　years　ago。　He　was　with　the　Egyptian　Army　at　the　time。〃
　〃The　man　who　struck　you　in　the　face　while　two　others　held　your　arms？〃　I　demanded　indignantly。　〃Good　Gad。　If　I'd　known　that　I　would　not　have　been　so　courteous。〃
　〃No；　he　was　one　of　the　ones　who　held　me；〃　Ramses　corrected。　〃Something　has　brought　about　a　radical　change　in　his　attitude。〃
　〃We　can　guess　what　it　is；〃　Emerson　grunted。　〃He's　with　intelligence　now；　and　someone　has　told　him　about　you。　Secret　Service！　Good　Gad；　they　might　as　well　shout　their　business　from　the　rooftops。〃
　I　said；　〃The　news　of　your　heroism　…〃　Ramses　made　a　wry　face；　and　I　went　on　firmly；　〃That　is　what　it　was；　and　I　will　call　it　what　it　was。　But　perhaps　the　information　has　not　spread　as　widely　as　we　suppose。〃
　〃I　hope　it　has　spread；〃　Nefret　said。　She　raised　her　chin　defiantly。　〃I　hope　everyone　knows。〃
　None　of　us　had　to　request　elucidation　of　this　statement。　Nefret　lived　in　constant　fear　of　his　being　again　involved　in　a　mission　like　the　one　that　had　almost　cost　him　his　life　two　years　ago。　Accepting　another　assignment　would　have　been　dangerous　enough　even　when　his　former　activities　were　known　only　to　a　few　…　particularly　when　one　of　those　few　was　the　head　of　the　Turkish　Secret　Service。　It　would　have　been　suicidal　if　every　intelligence　officer　in　Cairo　knew。　As　Ramses　had　once　remarked；　there　is　no　point　in　being　a　spy　if　everybody　knows　you　are　one。
　〃I've　told　you　before；〃　Ramses　said；　addressing　his　wife　in　a　voice　that　brought　a　flush　to　her　cheeks；　〃that　the　subject　is　closed。　May　we　drop　it；　please？〃
　〃Quite；〃　said　Emerson　quickly。　Though　he　is；　as　his　conduct　proves；　a　firm　believer　in　thrashing　out　differences　of　opinion　on　the　spot　and　with　vigor；　disharmony　between　his　beloved　children　upsets　him。　〃We've　wasted　enough　time　on　this　nonsense。　Back　to　work；　eh？〃
　I　had　myself　been　a　trifle　surprised　at　the　harshness　of　Ramses's　tone。　However；　I　did　not　suppose　that　his　ill　humor　would　last　or　that　she　would　be　unreceptive　to　an　attempt　at　apology；　and　so　it　proved。　Sometime　later　I　happened　to　observe　that　neither　was　in　sight；　and　since　it　was　almost　time　for　luncheon　I　entered　the　vestibule　of　the　temple；　where　I　had　set　up　my　little　shelter。　They　were　not　there；　but　I　heard　a　murmur　of　voices　from　behind　one　of　the　columns　that　separated　the　vestibule　from　the　pronaos。　It　was　a　very　nice　column；　with　the　head　of　the　goddess　Hathor　instead　of　a　capital。　I　moved　forward　to　examine　it　more　closely。
　I　did　not　tiptoe　or　try　to　walk　silently；　but　neither　of　them　was　aware　of　my　presence　until　they　saw　me。　〃Damnation！〃　said　Ramses；　releasing　her　and　turning　rather　red。　〃Er　…　I　beg　your　pardon；　Mother。〃
　〃I　should　rather　beg　yours；　my　dear。　I　didn't　realize　you　were　here。　It　is　almost　time　for　lunch。〃
　〃I'll　get　Father；〃　said　Ramses；　retreating　in　haste。　Nefret；　who　was　trying　to　twist　her　loosened　hair　into　a　knot；　let　out　one　of　her　musical　chuckles。　〃Were　you　afraid　we　had　gone　off　to　quarrel　in　private？〃
　〃Not　really。　I　presume　you　were　admiring　those　nice　heads　of　Hathor。　I　believe　I　heard　Ramses　repeat　one　of　her　charming　epithets　…　'Golden　One。'　〃
　〃If　you　heard；〃　said　Nefret；　amused　and　not　at　all　embarrassed；　〃you　know　he　was　addressing　me。〃
　〃Very　appropriate；〃　I　said。　A　ray　of　sunlight　haloed　the　red　gold　of　her　locks。　〃Hathor　was　the　goddess　of　love　and　beauty　and　…　er　…〃
　〃Happiness。〃　She　looked　up　at　the　carved　face。　It　might　not　have　struck　some　people　as　the　epitome　of　beauty；　for　the　ears　were　those　of　a　cow；　one　of　the　goddess's　sacred　animals。　After　so　many　years　of　viewing　ancient　Egyptian　art；　such　elements　had　e　to　seem　quite　natural　to　us；　however；　and　the　other　features　were　delicately　rendered；　the　long　hair　curling　over　the　shoulders。　〃Praising　the　Great　Goddess；　Lady　of　Turquoise；　Mistress　of　the　West；〃　Nefret　recited。　She　bowed　gravely　and　deferentially。
　I　couldn't　help　myself。　〃What　are　you　asking　for？〃
　〃Happiness；〃　Nefret　repeated。
　〃Then　…　it　is　all　right；　isn't　it？　Between　you　two？〃
　〃Of　course。〃　She　took　my　arm。　〃Let's　eat。〃
　Emerson　kept　us　so　busy　that　it　was　not　until　later　in　the　week　that　I　was　able　to　make　my　annual　pilgrimage　to　Abdullah's　grave。　I　never　felt　any　particular　urgency　about　doing　it；　since　I　did　not　think　of　him　as　being　there。　I　only　went　because　。　。　。　In　fact；　I　do　not　know　why。　Le　coeur　a　ses　raisons　que　la　raison　ne　conna？t　point。
　On　this　occasion　my　primary　purpose　was　to　look　at　his　new　monument。　I　had　not　seen　it　before；　since　Abdullah　had　not　got　round　to　mentioning　that　he　would　like　one　until　just　before　we　left　Egypt　the　previous　spring。　The　request　had　taken　me　by　surprise；　one　would　not　have　supposed　that　an　immortal　spirit　…　or；　according　to　Emerson；　a　sentimental　fantasy　of　my　sleeping　brain　…　would　care　about　such　things。　Emerson　raised　no　objection；　however；　and　I　had　sent　David's　sketch　and　plan　to　Selim；　asking　him　to　proceed。
　I　meant　to　go　alone；　but　Ramses　saw　me　slipping　out　of　the　house　and　intercepted　me。　〃I　thought　we　agreed　none　of　us　would　go　off　by　ourselves；　Mother。〃
　〃If　I　see　Jamil　wearing　the　Double　Crown　and　blowing　kisses　I　assure　you　I　will　not　follow　him。〃
　Ramses　was　not　amused　or　convinced。　〃Where　are　you　going？〃
　〃Only　to　the　cemetery。　I　have　not　seen　Abdullah's　tomb。〃
　〃Oh。　I　haven't　seen　it　either。　May　I　e　with　you？〃
　Recognizing　the　uselessness　of　a　refusal；　I　agreed。　In　point　of　fact；　he　was　the　only　person　to　whose　pany　I　had　no　objection。　He　had　been　with　me　the　day　after　Abdullah's　funeral；　and　had　helped　me　to　bury　over　the　grave　the　little　amulets　of　Horus　and　Sekhmet；　Anubis　and　Sobek　…　symbols　of　the　ancient　gods　who　guard　the　soul　on　the　road　to　the　West　…　in　flagrant　defiance　of　Abdullah's　faith　and　my　own。　However；　I　had　always　suspected　Abdullah　had　a　secret；　half…shamed　belief　in　the　old　gods。　Ramses's　silent　understanding　had　given　me　fort；　which　I　needed　badly　that　day。
　We　went　on　foot；　over　the　rocky　ridges　and　across　the　stony　expanse　of　the　desert　plain；　Ramses　slowing　his　long　strides　to　match　mine。　The　cemetery　was　on　the　north　side　of　the　village；　not　far　from　the　mosque。　It　was　all　desert　here；　all　baked　earth　and　stony　ground；　neither　tree　nor　flowering　plant　softened　the　starkness　of　the　lonely　graves。　The　tombs　themselves　were　underground；　their　location　indicated　by　low　rectangular　monuments　of　stone　or　brick；　with　upright　stones　at　head　and　foot。　The　grave　of　a　saint　or　sheikh　of　eminence　might　be　marked　by　a　simple　structure　crowned　with　a　smal