elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第38章

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　The　word　ended　in　a　gurgle　as　Selim　spun　round　and　caught　him　by　the　throat。　〃You　saw　him？　When？　Why　didn't　you　say　so？〃
　Plucking　at　his　fingers；　the　luckless　man　gasped；　〃You　did　not　ask；　Selim。〃
　Selim　loosened　his　grip　and　Ramses　apologized　in　the　usual　way。　Clutching　a　handful　of　coins　and　swelling　with　pride　at　being　the　center　of　attention；　their　informant　explained　that　he　had　seen　the　Father　of　Curses　and　the　Sitt　Hakim　early　that　morning；　when　he　was　on　his　way　to　work。　They　had　been　wearing　Egyptian　dress；　but；　the　fellow　added；　the　Father　of　Curses　could　not　be　mistaken　for　any　other　man。　He　had　been　tempted　to　follow；　but　he　was　late　for　his　work　and　they　were　going　too　fast。　Yes；　that　way；　toward　Deir　el　Bahri。
　He　and　several　of　the　other　men　trailed　along；　speculating　and　discussing　the　matter。　The　sun　was　low　and　the　shallow；　well…remembered　bay　was　deep　in　shadow。　Ramses　thought　he　saw　a　darker　shadow；　slim　and　supple　as　a　snake；　move　rapidly　along　the　broken　ground　to　the　south。　He　might　have　imagined　it；　and　just　then　it　was　the　least　of　his　concerns。
　One　look　into　the　shaft　told　him　they　had　e　to　the　right　place。　It　was　four　feet　deep　in　rubble　…　not　the　drift　of　sand　and　random　bits　of　rock　that　might　have　accumulated　naturally；　but　new　fill；　broken　stone。　Not　far　from　the　opening　lay　a　rough　wooden　ladder　and　a　crumpled　basket。
　〃My　God；〃　Nefret　gasped。　〃He　was　filling　in　the　shaft。　They　must　be　。　。　。　Mother！　Father；　can　you　hear　me？〃
　The　uneven　surface　of　the　fill　moved；　shifted；　subsided。　Using　language　he　had　never　before　employed　in　their　presence；　Selim　fell　flat　on　the　ground；　reached　down　and　snatched　a　handful　of　chips。　〃They　are　under　it！　They　are　still　alive；　they　are　moving！　Hurry　…　Daoud　…〃
　〃Hold　on；〃　Ramses　said；　ducking　to　avoid　the　chips　Selim　had　flung　frantically　over　his　shoulder。　〃There's　the　basket　Jamil　must　have　used。　Leave　it　to　Daoud。〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Daoud　placidly。　〃There　is　no　hurry。　Look。〃　Another　shift　of　the　stone　surface　resulted　in　a　further　subsistence　…　no　more　than　an　inch；　but　now　Ramses　saw　what　Daoud's　calmer　mind　had　grasped。　Someone　was　digging　the　stone　out　from　below；　a　little　at　a　time。
　〃They　will　be　in　the　passage；〃　Daoud　went　on；　climbing　down　into　the　shaft　and　taking　the　basket　Selim　handed　him。　〃We　will　soon　have　them　out。〃
　There　wasn't　anything　they　could　do　to　help　Daoud　except　empty　the　basket　as　soon　as　he　handed　it　up。　Ramses　fought　the　urge　to　join　him　in　the　shaft；　but　only　one　person　could　work　efficiently　in　the　narrow　space。　It　was　not　long；　though　it　seemed　an　eternity　to　the　anxious　watchers；　before　a　break　in　the　solid　wall　of　the　shaft　became　visible　…　the　squared…off　lintel　of　the　entrance　to　the　side　passage。
　It　was　filled　to　the　top　with　broken　stone。
　Ramses　lost　the　last　remnants　of　his　calm。　〃Father！〃　he　shouted　at　the　top　of　his　lungs。　〃Mother；　for　God's　sake　…〃
　Daoud　stopped　digging。　In　the　silence　Ramses　heard　sounds　of　activity　behind　that　ominous　blockage。　An　irregular　gap；　less　than　two　inches　deep；　appeared；　and　an　eerily　distorted；　very　irritated　voice　was　heard。
　〃Ramses；　is　that　you？　I　trust　you　did　not　allow　him　to　escape。　Is　Daoud　with　you？　He　will　have　to　empty　the　entire　shaft；　the　cursed　stones　keep　trickling　down　into　the　passage。　Though　'trickle'　is　perhaps　an　inappropriate　word。〃
　After　Ramses　had　drawn　his　first　full　breath　in　what　felt　like　hours；　he　persuaded　his　garrulous　mother　to　retreat　farther　down　the　passage。　She　continued　to　shout　instructions　and　questions；　and　they　shouted　questions　back　at　her　…　a　fairly　futile　exercise；　since　Daoud　had　gone　back　to　work　with　renewed　energy　and　the　crash　and　rattle　of　stone　drowned　out　most　of　the　words。　Ramses　shouted　along　with　the　rest　of　them。　He　had　been　utterly　taken　aback　by　the　intensity　of　his　relief　when　he　heard　his　mother's　voice；　and　a　distant　bellow　from　Emerson。　This　wasn't　the　first　time　they　had　been　in　trouble；　not　by　a　long　shot；　and　he　had　always　worried　about　them；　but　for　some　reason　he　had　never　fully　realized　how　much　he　loved　and　needed　them。　The　very　qualities　that　sometimes　irritated　him　were　the　qualities　he　would　miss　most：　his　mother's　infuriating　self…confidence　and　awful　aphorisms；　his　father's　belligerence　and　awful　temper。　After　all　the　adventures　they　had　survived　with　their　usual　aplomb；　it　would　be　horribly　ironic　if　they　met　their　final　defeat　（he　couldn't　even　think　the　other　word）　at　the　hands　of　the　most　contemptible　opponent　they　had　ever　faced。
　I'm　getting　to　be　as　superstitious　as　Mother；　he　thought。　It　hasn't　happened。　It　isn't　going　to　happen。
　His　mother's　half…heard　orders　had　provided　enough　information　to　save　valuable　time。　Some　of　their　followers　ran　off　and　came　back　with　enough　wood　to　make　a　litter　as　well　as　a　splint　for　Emerson's　arm。　The　light　of　several　torches　brightened　the　increasing　darkness　and　one　overly　enthusiastic　helper　got　a　basketful　of　rock　square　on　the　chin　as　he　leaned　over　the　shaft　offering　unnecessary　advice。
　As　soon　as　the　space　was　clear　enough；　Ramses　dropped　down　and　crawled　into　the　passage。　It　was　half…filled　with　bits　of　stone；　which　sloped　down　toward　the　far　end。　His　mother　hadn't　sat　waiting　to　be　rescued；　she　had　scooped　the　stuff　out　from　below　as　Jamil　dumped　it　in　above。　She　hadn't　been　able　to　keep　up　with　him；　but　that　was　his　mother　for　you　…　〃every　little　bit　helps；〃　she　would　have　told　herself；　and；　〃Never　give　up　hope。〃　Something　caught　in　his　throat。　He　hurried　on　toward　the　square　opening　at　the　far　end；　which　glowed　with　faint　light。
　He　took　in　the　scene　in　a　single　glance；　by　the　light　of　the　failing　torch　…　the　pile　of　rugs　on　which　Emerson　was　lying；　the　jars；　the　stores　of　food　…　and　his　mother；　sitting　on　the　floor　with　her　back　against　the　wall；　dredging　peas　out　of　a　tin　with　her　fingers。
　〃Ah；　there　you　are；　my　dear；〃　she　said。　〃And　Nefret　too？　How　nice。〃
　Her　face　was　filthy；　her　hair　gray　with　stone　dust。　Arms　and　shoulders　were　bare　and　as　dirty　as　her　face；　the　garment　that　more　or　less　covered　the　upper　part　of　her　body　had　narrow　ruffled　straps；　yards　of　lace；　and　several　little　pink　bows。
　Ramses　was　unable　to　speak　or　move。　Nefret　had　gone　at　once　to　Emerson　and　was　examining　his　arm。　She　let　out　a　choked　laugh。　〃She's　used　the　ribs　and　shaft　of　the　parasol　for　a　splint！〃
　〃Once　again　proving；　if　proof　were　needed；　the　all…round　usefulness　of　a　good　stout　parasol；〃　said　his　mother。
　Peas　went　flying　as　Ramses　snatched　her　up　and　hugged　her。
　
　〃All's　well　that　ends　well；〃　I　remarked；　sipping　my　whiskey　and　soda。
　The　axiom　was　trite；　I　confess；　but　I　do　not　believe　it　deserved　the　general　grumble　of　disapproval　it　received。　They　were　all　there　on　the　veranda；　even　Katherine。　Dinner　was　going　to　be　very　late；　since　Fatima　had　been　too　agitated　to　instruct　the　cook　when　she　learned　that　not　only　we；　but　Ramses　and　Nefret　and　Daoud　and　Selim；　had　vanished　into　thin　air；　somewhere　between　Sheikh　Abd　el　Gurneh　and　the　western　cliffs。　Cyrus　and　Bertie　had　waited　less　than　an　hour　before　going　in　pursuit；　finding　the　horses　still　in　Mohammed's　charge　and　with　no　idea　of　where　to　look　next；　they　had　returned　to　the　house　in　the　hope　that　some　or　all　of　us　had　returned。
　I　cannot　say　that　anyone　behaved　sensibly。　Cyrus　had　sent　for　his　wife；　Sennia　demanded　that　she　be　allowed　to　take　the　Great　Cat　of　Re　out　to　look　for　Ramses；　and　Gargery　had　to　be　forcibly　restrained　from　dashing　wildly　out　of　the　house　waving　a　pistol。　His　grumbles；　on　the　monotonous　theme　of　〃going　off　like　that　without　me〃　were　the　loudest　of　all。
　〃Do　be　still；　Gargery；〃　I　said　sternly。　〃And　the　rest　of　you。　We　had　no　choice　but　to　act　at　once。〃
　〃Quite；〃　said　Emerson；　who　was　having　some　difficulty　smoking　his　pipe　and　drinking　his　whiskey　with　only　one　serviceable　arm。　Nefret　had　tended　to　him；　he　had　a　nice　neat　cast　and　a　proper　sling。　Nefret　had　admitted；　in　confidence；　that　she　had　made　the　cast　twice　as　heavy　and　thick　as　was　usual；　since　she　knew　he　would　keep　hitting　it　against　things。　I　saw　the　logic　of　this；　though　I　knew　it　would　mean　a　few　more　shirts　ruined。　I　had　had　to　cut　a　long　slit　in　the　sleeve　of　the　one　he　was　wearing　so　he　could　get　it　over　the　cast。
　〃Well；　mebbe　so；〃　Cyrus　conceded。　〃But　you　four　should　have　left　word　with　someone。　You　knew　we'd　be　worried。〃
　Ramses　began；　〃I'm　very　…〃
　〃Sorry　be　damned；〃　said　his　father　gruffly。　〃For　all　you　knew；　there　was　not　a　moment　to　lose。　Ramses；　my　boy　…　er　…　thank　you。　Again。〃
　Ramses's　thin　brown　face　broke　into　a　smile。　〃It　wasn't　me；　Father；　it　was　Daoud　and　Jumana。　Sherlock　Holmes　couldn't　have　done　better。〃
　Daoud　beamed。　〃Who　is　Sherlock　Holmes？〃　he　asked。
　〃The　greatest　detective　who　ever　lived；〃　Ramses　replied。　None　of　us　laughed；　for　fear　of　hurting　Daoud's　feelings；　but　Ramses　directed　another　smile　at　me。　〃Except　for　Mother。〃
　Then　we　could　laugh。　I　joined　in　as　heartily　as　the　others；　my　heart　swelling　with　affection。
　〃Sennia；　it　is　long　past　your　bedtime；〃　I　said。　〃Off　you　go。〃
　She　had　to　give　everyone　a　good…night　kiss　and　of　course　she　had　to　have　the　last　word。　〃The　Great　Cat　of　Re　would　have　found　you。〃
　〃Ha；〃　I　said；　but　I　said　it　under　my　breath。　The　kitten　had　grown　very　fat　and　lazy。　Curled　up　on　Ramses's　lap；　it　resembled　a　shapeless　bundle　of　spotted　gray　fur。
　After　Sennia　had　gone　I　took　another　cucumber　sandwich。　I　was　ravenous；　for　the　peas　and　the　foie　gras　that　had　preceded　them　had　done　very　little　to　assuage　the　hunger　resulting　from　long　hours　of　strenuous　manual　labor。
　〃Let　us　now；〃　I　said；　〃discuss　what　we　have　learned。　It　has　not　been　wasted　effort；　though　we　did　let　Jamil　get　away　from　us。〃
　〃I　haven't　learned　a　blamed　thing　except　that　you　two　are　incorrigible；〃　Cyrus　grumbled。
　〃Not　at　all；　Cyrus。　First；　there　is　the　interesting　matter　of　Jamil's　costume。　He　was　not　wearing　Jumana's　clothes。　They　would　have　been　far　too　small　for　him。　He　cannot　have　purchased　them　because　。　。　。　Need　I　explain　my　reasoning？〃
　〃No；〃　Katherine　said。　〃Aside　from　the　question　of　how　he　could　pay　for　them；　I　can't　see　him　going　into　one　of　the　shops　and　trying　on　blouses　and　skirts。〃
　〃That　is　right。　We　will　leave　that　matter　for　the　moment。　I　think　I　know　the　answer；　and　it　can　easily　be　proved。　The　second　clue　。　。　。　Ramses；　at　one　time　you　were　able　to　recall　the　entire　contents　of　a　crowded　storeroom　some　hours　after　you　had　seen　it。　Do　you　remember　what　was　in　Jamil's　hideout？〃
　〃Rugs；　several　jars　。　。　。　I　guess　I　wasn't　paying　attention。　Sorry；　Mother。〃
　〃Quite　understandable；　my　dear；〃　I　said。　His　impulsive　embrace　had　touched　me　deeply；　even　if　it　had　hurt　my　back。　To　see　my　imperturbable　son　forget　all　else　in　the　joy　of　finding　his　parents　alive　and　well　assured　me　that　his　affection　was　sincere　and　profound。
　〃Fortunately　I　had　ample　time　to　inspect　the　place；〃　I　went　on。　〃It　was　well　stocked；　but　the　most　interesting　items　were　the　tins　of　food。　European　food　…　peas　and　beans　and　cabbage；　beef；　even　a　tin　of　foie　gras。　Someone　supplied　him　with　those　delicacies；　or　with　the　money　to　purchase　them。　No；　Jumana；　I　know　it　wasn't　you。〃
　I　knew　because　I　had　been　careful　to　keep　all　the　cash　in　the　house　under　lock