elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第42章

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　in　his　search　for　tombs；　but　since　I　knew　Emerson　would　take　a　poor　view　of　that；　I　remained；　watching　and　thinking。
　I　had　not　given　up　my　intention　of　speaking　with　Yusuf。　He　had　been　doing　his　best　to　avoid　us；　which　was　suspicious　in　itself；　his　frequent　visits　to　the　mosque　were　also　suspicious；　though　not　necessarily　for　the　reason　Emerson　had　mentioned。　Repetition　of　the　daily　prayers　is　one　of　the　Five　Pillars　of　Islam；　but　a　man　may　pray　wherever　he　chances　to　be。　Jamil　would　not　dare　e　to　the　house。　They　would　have　to　meet　elsewhere。
　I　decided　to　wait　until　evening；　after　the　sunset　time　for　prayer；　before　paying　my　visit。　If　Jamil　had　been　reluctant　to　show　his　face　near　the　village　before　this；　he　would　be　even　more　wary　now。　He　would　wait　until　after　dark　before　meeting　his　father。
　I　did　not　explain　my　intentions　to　Emerson　until　later　that　day。　Bertie　and　Cyrus；　who　was　still　sulking　a　bit；　had　set　off　for　home；　and　Emerson　was　down　in　the　cellar　with　the　last　of　the　mummies。　He　did　not　want　to　e　up；　but　I　insisted。
　His　initial　reaction　was　skeptical。　〃There　are　a　good　many　ifs　in　your　theory；　Peabody。　It　may　be　a　plete　waste　of　time。〃
　〃If　we　succeed　in　proving　Yusuf　innocent　of　plicity；　it　will　not　be　a　waste　of　time；〃　I　retorted。　〃What　was　it　you　said　about　whittling　away　Jamil's　supports？〃
　〃Oh；　bah；〃　said　Emerson。　He　cast　a　longing　look　at　his　mummies；　which　Selim　was　loading　onto　a　cart。　〃Careful　with　that；　Selim。〃
　〃Emerson；　please　pay　attention。〃
　〃What？　Oh。　It　can't　do　any　harm；　I　suppose。　Tomorrow。〃
　〃Today。　We　must　strike　while　the　iron　is　hot。〃　Eyes　fixed　on　Selim；　Emerson　tried　to　pull　away　from　my　grasp　of　his　sleeve。　〃If　you　won't　go　with　me；　I　will　go　alone；〃　I　added。
　As　I　had　expected；　this　drew　his　attention　back　to　me。　His　brows　drew　together。　〃No；　you　will　not。　What's　this　about　irons？　Another　of　your　confounded　aphorisms？〃
　〃A　very　apt　one；　my　dear。　Yusuf　must　have　learned　of　Jamil's　latest　and　most　serious　crime。　We　must　talk　with　him；　and　reinforce　the　gravity　of　the　matter；　before　the　boy　has　a　chance　to　tell　his　version；　which　will　be　a　pack　of　lies　but　which　a　doting　father　might　believe。〃
　〃Hmph。〃　Emerson　fingered　the　cleft　in　his　chin。　〃Oh；　very　well。　But　not　until　I　have　seen　our　find　safely　back　at　the　house。〃
　〃Selim　and　Daoud　could　manage　it　perfectly　well；　as　you　know。　However；　there　is　no　hurry。　It　won't　be　dark　for　another　hour。〃
　With　a　little　encouragement　from　me；　the　carts　were　loaded　in　good　time　and　we　set　off　for　home；　where　the　men　carried　our　new　acquisitions　into　the　storeroom。　The　shelves　were　filling　with　a　variety　of　objects；　none　as　impressive　as　the　new　coffins；　but；　Ramses　assured　me；　of　much　greater　interest。　Emerson　studied　them　with　satisfaction。
　〃Time　for　tea；　eh？〃
　〃No；　Emerson；　we　must　go　at　once。　As　I　told　you　…〃
　〃You've　told　all　of　us；　so　don't　do　it　again。　e　on　then。'
　〃Do　you　mean　us　to　e；　Mother？〃　Nefret　asked。
　〃Yes。　We　will　employ　a　bination　of　intimidation　…　Emerson　and　Ramses　…　and　gentle　persuasion　…　you　and　I　and　Jumana。〃
　Emerson　snorted　in　derision　…　presumably　at　the　idea　of　me　employing　gentle　persuasion。　Jumana　gave　me　an　apprehensive　look。
　〃But；　Sitt　Hakim　…〃
　〃No　objections；　if　you　please。〃　I　added；　in　a　kindlier　tone；　〃You　were　of　great　assistance　yesterday。　If　your　father　does　possess　information　about　Jamil；　you　may　be　able　to　add　something。　If　he　does　not　…　well；　in　my　opinion　it　is　high　time　he　got　over　his　annoyance　with　you。　We　may　not　be　able　to　effect　a　plete　reconciliation　today；　but　it　will　be　a　beginning。　You　would　like　to　be　reconciled　with　him；　wouldn't　you？〃
　〃He　is　my　father；〃　the　girl　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃I　did　not　leave　him；　it　was　he　who　told　me　to　leave。〃
　〃I　am　sure　he　has　regretted　that；　Jumana。　Words　spoken　in　anger　…〃
　〃Damnation；　Peabody！〃　Emerson　shouted。　〃This　is　no　time　for　more　of　your　meddling　in　other　people's　feelings。　Let's　get　it　over。〃
　The　luminous　dusk　of　Upper　Egypt　had　fallen　when　we　climbed　the　hill　toward　Yusuf's　house。　The　first　stars　shone　in　the　eastern　sky　and　the　afterglow　flushed　the　cliffs；　pale　gray　ghosts　of　smoke；　swaying　in　the　evening　breeze；　rose　from　the　cooking　fires。
　We　were　met　at　the　door　by　Mahira；　whose　scowl　made　her　look　even　more　like　a　medieval　witch。
　〃It　is　high　time　you　came。　What　did　you　do　to　my　husband？〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　I　asked。
　She　hurried　us　through　the　house；　talking　all　the　while。　〃It　was　the　medicine　you　gave　him。　At　first　he　was　better；　but　this　morning　。　。　。〃　She　flung　open　the　door　of　the　old　man's　room。　〃See　for　yourself。　He　has　been　like　this　all　day。〃
　The　lamp　she　carried　showed　the　form　on　the　bed。　Yusuf　was　twisting　and　twitching　and　talking　to　himself　…　or　rather；　to　Someone　else　…　repeating　the　same　words　over　and　over。　〃Lead　us　in　the　right　way　of　those　to　whom　you　have　shown　mercy　。　。　。〃
　〃He's　delirious；〃　Nefret　whispered；　her　eyes　shining　with　pity。　〃What　did　you　give　him；　Mother？〃
　〃Sugar　water。　It　is　not　delirium；　but　nervous　excitability。　Speak　to　him；　Emerson。〃
　Emerson　hesitated　for　only　a　moment。　Like　another；　he　is　not　above　quoting　Scripture　for　his　own　purposes。　His　sonorous　voice　rolled　out　in　the　words　of　the　fathah；　the　first　sureh　of　the　Koran；　from　which　Yusuf　had　quoted。　〃In　the　name　of　God；　the　merciful　and　gracious。　Praise　be　to　God；　the　Lord　of　the　Worlds。〃
　Yusuf　sat　up　with　a　galvanic　start。　His　wild　eyes　gleamed　like　those　of　an　animal。　〃So；〃　he　said。　〃It　is　you；　Father　of　Curses。　Have　you　e　to　punish　me　because　my　silence　might　have　caused　your　death　and　that　of　the　Sitt　Hakim？〃
　〃Good　Gad；　no；〃　exclaimed　Emerson；　shocked　into　English。
　〃The　Father　of　Curses　is　also　merciful　and　gracious；〃　I　explained；　hoping　this　did　not　sound　blasphemous。　〃We　are　here　to　help　you　…　and　Jamil；　if　we　can。　Where　is　he？〃
　〃Is　it　the　truth？　It　is　the　truth；　you　do　not　lie。　You　do　not　seek　his　life？〃
　We　had　to　listen　to　quite　a　lot　of　this　sort　of　thing　and　repeat　the　same　reassurances　several　times。　In　psychological　terms　it　was　quite　therapeutic　for　Yusuf；　though　rather　tiresome　for　us。　My　diagnosis　had　been　correct；　his　indisposition　was　not　physical　but　mental；　and　the　news　of　Jamil's　latest　assault　on　us；　which　he　had　undoubtedly　heard　that　morning；　had　left　him　torn　between　loyalty　and　affection；　unable　to　decide　what　to　do。
　〃I　will　take　you　to　him；〃　Yusuf　quavered。　〃We　meet；　at　different　times；　in　the　cemetery　near　the　mosque。　He　will　be　there　tonight；　when　the　moon　rises。〃
　〃Abdullah's　tomb；〃　I　said。　〃Praying　at　that　holy　place　was　an　excuse　for　meeting　your　son？〃
　My　resentment　must　have　shown　in　my　voice。　The　old　man　shrank　back。　〃It　was　not　an　excuse。　I　prayed　there。　That　my　cousin　Abdullah　would　forgive　me　and　ask　God　to　forgive　me。〃
　He　had　ignored　Jumana　as　if　she　were　invisible。　This　did　not　seem　the　proper　time　for　a　little　lecture　on　the　subject　of　forgiving　one's　daughter。
　The　cemetery　was　on　the　north　side　of　the　hill；　on　a　space　of　level　ground。　Over　the　cliff　floated　a　silver　orb；　flooding　the　landscape　with　light。　Abdullah's　monument　shone　like　snow。
　On　the　edge　of　the　cemetery；　still　in　the　shadow　of　the　hill；　Yusuf　stopped。　〃Let　me　go　ahead。　Let　me　talk　to　him。　I　will　tell　him　he　must　give　himself　up。〃
　〃Go　on　then；〃　said　Emerson。
　He　waited　until　the　old　man　was　out　of　earshot　before　muttering；　〃I　don't　share　Yusuf's　confidence　in　his　power　of　persuasion。　Peabody；　give　me　that　pistol　of　yours　…　I　know　you　have　it；　so　don't　pretend　you　don't。〃
　I　did　not　hesitate　to　do　so。　I　had　been　practicing　with　the　confounded　weapon　for　years　without　attaining　the　degree　of　skill　Emerson　possesses。
　〃No；〃　Jumana　whispered。　〃Please；　you　said　you　would　not　kill　him。〃
　〃Couldn't　kill　a　rabbit　with　this　thing；〃　said　Emerson　contemptuously。　〃If　he　bolts；　a　few　warning　shots　should　stop　him。　Worst　es　to　worst；　I'll　shoot　him　in　the　leg。〃
　Yusuf　made　no　attempt　to　conceal　himself。　Standing　full　in　the　moonlight　several　yards　from　the　tomb；　he　called　out；　〃It　is　I；　Jamil；　your　father。　e　out　and　speak　with　me。〃
　Though　he　spoke　softly；　we　heard　every　word。　The　cemetery　was　silent　and　deserted。　Few　people　came　there　at　any　time；　and　none　came　after　nightfall。　It　was　one　of　the　safest　places　Jamil　could　have　chosen。
　After　a　moment　the　boy　emerged　from　the　entrance　to　the　tomb。　〃Are　you　afraid　to　e　closer；　my　father？　The　spirits　of　the　dead　do　not　trouble　the　living。〃
　He　was　in　Egyptian　clothing；　a　dark　robe　and　carelessly　wound　turban。　His　face　was　the　image　of　his　sister's　now　that　he　had　shaved　off　his　mustache；　he　looked　very　young　and　very　harmless。　But　there　was　a　knife　thrust　through　his　sash；　and　in　his　right　hand　he　carried　a　long　stick。
　〃The　spirit　of　my　revered　cousin　Abdullah　troubles　me；〃　the　old　man　retorted。　〃We　have　dishonored　him；　Jamil；　but　it　is　not　too　late　to　seek　forgiveness。　e　with　me　to　the　Father　of　Curses；　who　will　help　you。〃
　Jamil's　pretty　face　twisted　into　a　grimace　of　pure　hate。　His　head　turned　from　side　to　side；　his　eyes　searching　every　shadow。　Whether　he　saw　us　or　only　deduced　our　presence　I　will　never　know；　but　he　raised　the　stick　to　his　shoulder；　holding　it　as　one　might　hold　a　rifle。　It　was　a　rifle　…　Yusuf's　antique　weapon；　his　most　prized　possession。
　Yusuf　cried　out。　〃No；　Jamil！　You　said　you　would　not　fire　it　unless　one　attacked　you。　Put　it　down。〃
　Emerson　stepped　out　into　the　moonlight。　〃Drop　it；　Jamil；〃　he　called。　〃Yusuf；　get　away　from　him。〃
　Aiming　my　pistol　at　the　ground　in　front　of　Jamil；　he　took　a　long　step　forward。　If　he　meant　to　say　more　or　do　more；　he　did　not　have　the　chance。　A　loud　explosion　rent　the　air　and　the　darkness　was　reddened　by　fire。　Somewhat　belatedly　I　tried　to　fling　myself　in　front　of　Nefret。
　〃Dear　God；〃　Ramses　whispered。　〃The　damned　gun　exploded。　I　was　afraid　it　would　someday；　he　must　be　…〃
　Emerson　was　running　toward　the　crumpled　form。　By　the　time　we　reached　Jamil　there　were　two　crumpled　forms。　Yusuf　had　bent　over　his　son；　shrieked；　and　dropped　like　a　stone。
　Jamil　was　still　alive。　When　I　saw　the　ruin　that　remained　of　his　face　I　could　only　pray　he　would　not　live　long。　His　one　remaining　eye　rolled　from　side　to　side　and　focused。　Sounds　whistled　through　his　broken　teeth。
　〃Jumana。　Sister。　Is　our　father　…〃
　After　one　horrified　look　at　Jamil；　Nefret　had　known　there　was　nothing　she　could　do。　Kneeling　by　the　old　man；　her　hand　on　his　bared　breast；　she　said；　〃It　is　his　heart。　We　must　get　him　to　the　house。〃
　〃Heart；〃　Jamil　said　faintly。　〃I　killed　him。　My　father。　Sister　…　listen　…　the　tomb　…〃
　Jumana　leaned　closer。　Shock　had　deprived　her　even　of　tears。　〃Do　you　want　to　tell　me　where　it　is？　Speak；　then；　and　go　to　God　having　done　that　last　kindness。〃
　〃Kindness。〃　I　think　he　was　trying　to　laugh。　It　was　a　dreadful　sound；　bubbling　with　blood。　Then　he　said；　with　a　last　burst　of　strength；　〃The　fools。　It　was　there；　before　their　eyes。　In　the　hand　of　the　god。〃
　　
　Yusuf　lived　only　long　enough　to　take　the　hand　of　his　daughter　（placed　in　his　by　me）　and　murmur　a　few　unintelligible　words。　A　sentimentalist　might　say　he　had　died　of　a　broken　heart。　In　scientific　terms　he　had　succumbed　to　the　same　heart　ailment　from　which　Abdullah　had　suffered　in　his　last　years。　We　left　Ramses　to