elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第44章

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mount　to　teasing　a　tiger。　However；　I　am　sure　you　will　want　to　hear　what　I　have　to　say；　and　if　I　am　mistaken；　you　will　…　er　…　take　whatever　steps　occur　to　you。　May　I　sit　down？〃
　〃Oh；　I　suppose　so；〃　Emerson　grumbled。　〃Just　be　quick　about　it。　You　want　Ramses　for　some　other　filthy　job；　I　suppose。　He　has　already　refused。　What　makes　you　suppose　that　you　can　change　his　mind？〃
　〃He　is　wanted；〃　Smith　said　quietly。　〃And　I　think　he　will　change　his　mind。〃
　Nefret　caught　hold　of　Ramses's　hand。　Ramses　gave　her　a　quick　glance　from　under　lowered　lids；　and　although　his　controlled　countenance　did　not　change；　I　knew　he　had　misunderstood；　and　resented；　the　gesture。　It　was　not　one　of　possessiveness　but　of　fear　…　the　unreasoning　panic　of　a　child　reaching　out　for　fort　in　a　dark　room。
　〃He　will；〃　Smith　went　on；　〃because　he　won't　want　to　see　a　close　friend　face　a　firing　squad。　Someone　closer　than　a　friend；　in　fact。　A　kinsman。〃
　There　was　no　doubt　as　to　whom　he　meant。　Nefret's　face　turned　pale；　Emerson's　turned　red。　〃Don't　speak；　Emerson；〃　I　exclaimed。　〃Don't　anyone　speak　until　he　has　explained　what　he　means。〃
　〃You　know　who　I　mean；〃　Smith　said；　with　that　thin；　satisfied　smirk　I　remembered　so　well。　〃He　has　turned　traitor。　Gone　over　to　the　enemy。〃
　　
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　Nefret　had　told　herself　there　was　no　reason　to　be　apprehensive。　She　had　Ramses's　word；　and　he　would　not　break　it。　But　because　she　was　so　intensely　aware　of　the　emotions　he　succeeded　in　concealing　from　almost　everyone　but　her；　she　had　sensed　his　growing　restlessness　and　feelings　of　guilt　at　going　on　with　his　work　while　friends　and　kin　were　fighting　and　dying。　He　wouldn't　fight；　but　his　unique　skills　could　be　of　use　without　violating　his　pacifist　principles；　and　there　was　one　appeal　he　would　find　impossible　to　resist：　danger　to　her　or　his　parents　or　a　friend。　It　was　difficult　to　classify　the　enigmatic；　eccentric　individual　who　was　Emerson's　half　brother；　but　whether　he　was　friend　or　foe　…　over　the　years　he　had　been　both　…　they　were　indebted　to　him。
　Emerson's　sun…browned　face　was　almost　as　expressionless　as　that　of　his　son；　and　when　he　spoke；　it　was　in　a　soft　purring　voice。　〃That's　a　lie。〃
　Smith　leaned　forward。　〃Then　prove　it。〃
　〃I　thought　it　was　Ramses　you　wanted；〃　said　Emerson；　in　the　same　soft　voice。
　〃It　is。　May　I　explain？〃
　〃You　had　damned　well　better；〃　said　Emerson。　〃Peabody；　my　dear；　would　you　care　for　a　whiskey　and　soda？〃
　Nefret　had　never　been　certain　precisely　how　her　mother…in…law　felt　about　the　man　who　had　pursued　her　so　ardently　all　those　years；　obviously　she　cared　enough　about　him　to　resent　the　accusation。　Her　gray　eyes　had　a　hard；　almost　metallic　shine。
　〃No；〃　she　said。　〃Thank　you。　Mr。　Smith；　how　did　you　find　out？〃
　〃Find　out　what？〃
　She　was　too　clever　to　be　tricked　into　an　admission。　〃Whatever　it　is　you　know。〃
　Smith　gave　her　a　nod　of　grudging　admiration。　〃If　you　are　referring　to　my　knowledge　of　the　…　er　…　relationship　between　you　and　the　individual　in　question；　I　…　uh　…　Please；　Mrs。　Emerson；　won't　you　let　me　offer　you　something　to　drink？〃
　〃No。　There　were　a　good　many　people　present　the　evening　we　ourselves　learned　of　that　relationship；〃　she　went　on　thoughtfully。　〃Military　persons。　One　of　them　overheard　our　conversation　and　reported　it　to　you？〃
　〃Only　a　few　words　of　the　conversation；　but　they　were　enough　to　arouse　his　curiosity。　Eventually　the　word　got　back　to　me；　and　aroused　my　curiosity。　It　took　my　associate　in　England　a　while　to　find　the　proof　…　birth　and　death　certificates；　records　of　certain　financial　transactions　…　you　know　the　procedure。　I　haven't　told　anyone　else；　Mrs。　Emerson。〃
　〃No；　you　hoard　information　like　coins；　paying　it　out　only　when　you　can　gain　something〃　was　the　furious　response。　〃Do　not　expect　thanks　for　your　discretion　from　us。〃
　〃Never　mind；　Mother；〃　Ramses　said。　〃That　isn't　the　issue　now。　He's　won　the　first　round。　Perhaps　we　should　let　him　explain　further。〃
　It　was　a　damning　story。　A　few　weeks　earlier；　a　man　calling　himself　Ismail　Pasha　had　appeared　in　Constantinople。　The　word　soon　spread　among　the　faithful：　he　had　been　an　infidel；　a　high…ranking　member　of　the　British　Secret　Service；　who　had　e　over　to　the　true　religion　and　the　right　cause。　He　had　been　seen　in　public　with　German　officers　and　also　with　Enver　and　the　other　members　of　the　ruling　triumvirate；　richly　dressed　and　clanking　with　jewels。　He　had　prayed　at　the　mosques；　and　on　at　least　two　occasions　he　had　addressed　the　crowd　with　an　eloquence　that　brought　them　to　their　knees。　For　surely　no　one　could　be　so　familiar　with　the　words　of　the　Prophet　unless　he　himself　was　a　holy　man！
　Shortly　thereafter；　one　of　the　local　agents　in　British　pay　was　caught　and　executed。　It　was　pure　luck　that　the　others　in　the　group　got　away。　Sethos　was　one　of　the　few　who　knew　of　that　particular　network；　he　had　been　sent　to　Constantinople　to　meet　with　its　members。
　〃That　isn't　proof　of　anything；〃　Emerson　declared。
　〃No；〃　Smith　agreed。　〃However；　he　has　not　been　heard　from　since。　Attempts　to　contact　him　through　the　usual　channels　have　received　no　response。　His　assumed　name　is　interesting；　too；　don't　you　think？〃
　〃Ismail　is　a　very　mon　name；〃　Emerson　said。
　〃The　name　of　the　son　of　Abraham　by　his　handmaiden　Hagar；　who　was　cast　out　into　the　wilderness；　lest　he　challenge　the　position　of　Abraham's　legitimate　son；〃　Smith　said；　his　thin　lips　curving　in　a　cynical　smile。　〃　'His　hand　will　be　against　every　man　and　every　man's　hand　will　be　against　him。'　〃
　〃I　believe　I　am　better　acquainted　with　Holy　Writ　than　you；〃　Nefret's　mother…in…law　said　with　a　sniff。　〃God　saved　Ismael　and　blessed　him　and　promised　to　make　him　…　er　…　fruitful。〃
　〃Confound　it；　Peabody；　will　you　stop　talking　about　the　Bible？〃　Emerson　was　trying　not　to　shout；　the　words　squeezed　between　his　lips　like　rumbles　of　distant　thunder。　〃Prove　it；　you　say。　How？〃
　〃That　should　be　obvious。〃　Smith　knew　he　had　won。　He　leaned　back　in　his　chair。　〃Ismail　Pasha　is　now　in　Gaza。　Find　him。　You　will　know　if　he　is　the　man　we　believe　him　to　be　…　or　that　he　is　not。　If　he　is　that　man；　and　you　can　bring　back　evidence　that　he　is　a　prisoner　or　under　duress；　we　will　take　steps　to　free　him　…　unless　you　can　do　the　job　yourself。〃
　〃That's　rather　a　tall　order；〃　said　Emerson。　〃Even　for　us。〃
　〃You　mistook　my　meaning；　Professor。　That's　the　trouble　with　English；　it　is　too　imprecise　about　pronouns。〃
　〃So；〃　said　Emerson；　after　a　long　moment。　〃You　want　Ramses　to　go　after　the　fellow。　Alone。〃
　〃It's　the　only　way；　Professor。　You　surely　don't　suppose　that　the　four　of　you　could　cross　enemy　lines　in　disguise？　Individually　you　are　only　too　recognizable；　as　a　group　you　are　unmistakable。　It's　a　job　for　one　man；　and　there　is　only　one　man　who　can　maintain　a　convincing　disguise　long　enough　to　do　the　job。〃
　They　were　all　looking　at　Ramses；　waiting　for　him　to　speak；　Emerson　caught　himself　on　the　verge　of　a　heated　reply　and　remained　silent；　possibly　because　his　wife　had　administered　an　admonitory　kick　under　the　table。　Ramses　turned　his　head　and　met　Nefret's　eyes。
　They　had　been　over　this　subject　many　times；　with　Nefret　continuing　to　demand　promises　and　reassurances　and　Ramses　increasingly　resentful　of　her　refusal　to　accept　his　given　word。　There　was　no　need　for　speech　now；　she　knew　what　he　wanted　to　do；　what　he　felt　he　must　do；　and　she　knew　that　the　decision　was　hers。
　She　had　the　means　to　hold　him。　A　few　sentences；　a　few　words　。　。　。　She　released　her　grip　on　his　hand。　Her　fingers　had　left　white　marks。
　〃I've　always　felt　that　Ismail　was　unfairly　treated；〃　she　said；　shaping　the　words　with　care　so　her　voice　wouldn't　tremble。　〃God　won't　take　a　hand　this　time；　so　。　。　。　so　someone　else　must。〃
　
　
　　
　　
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　Gateway　toGaza
　　
　
　
　　
　
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　We　arrived　in　Cairo　on　a　misty　gray　morning。　The　city　was　swathed　in　fog　and　there　was　not　a　breath　of　air　stirring。　The　feeling　of　oppression　was　not　solely　physical。　We　had　had　to　leave　our　friends　to　cope　with　Jumana's　grief　and　Cyrus's　frustration　…　for　that　enigmatic　clue　of　Jamil's　was　driving　him　to　distraction。　I　had　made　him　promise　on　his　solemn　oath　that　he　would　not　go　wandering　round　the　wilderness　looking　for　Jamil's　tomb。　He　had　given　his　word；　but　his　hands　were　behind　his　back　and　I　suspected　he　had　his　fingers　crossed。　Although　Katherine　did　not　reproach　me；　I　knew　she　wondered　how　we　could　abandon　her　at　such　a　time。
　Emerson　had　pointed　out　that　I　need　not　abandon　her。　Not　only　was　there　no　need　for　me　to　go　to　Cairo；　my　presence　there　would　add　unnecessary　difficulties　to　an　already　difficult　situation。　The　summons　had　been　for　…　
　〃For　Ramses；〃　I　said；　cutting　into　his　tirade　with　the　skill　of　long　experience。　〃You　weren't　asked　either。〃
　〃If　you　think；〃　Emerson　announced　loudly；　〃that　I　am　going　to　let　the　boy　go　off　alone　to　face　that　pack　of　wolves　from　the　War　Office　…〃
　〃My　sentiments　exactly；〃　I　said。
　Upon　which；　Emerson　burst　out　laughing　and　pulled　me　into　a　close　embrace。　〃Peabody；　when　you　put　your　chin　out　and　give　me　that　steely　stare；　I　know　I've　lost　the　argument。〃
　〃You　wanted　me　to　e。　Admit　it。〃
　〃Mmmf；〃　said　Emerson；　his　lips　against　mine。
　We　caught　the　evening　train　and　went　straight　to　Shepheard's。　The　sufragi　on　duty　greeted　us　like　the　old　acquaintances　we　were；　and　asked　what　he　could　do　for　us。
　〃Breakfast；〃　I　said；　while　Emerson　divested　himself　of　various　articles　of　clothing　and　tossed　them　around　the　room。　Emerson　had　not　been　in　favor　of　staying　over；　but　even　he　admitted　that　we　could　not　dismiss　this　request　as　brusquely　as　we　had　done　with　the　War　Office's　other　attempts　to　bring　Ramses　back　into　the　service；　and　catch　the　first　train　back　to　Luxor。
　〃Emphatically　not；〃　said　Ramses。　〃Smith　told　us　virtually　nothing；　but　they　wouldn't　have　sent　for　me　unless　they　have　some　idea　as　to　how　to　locate　him。　We　must　try　to　find　him；　Father。　If　he　is　a　prisoner　…〃
　〃If？〃　Emerson　exclaimed。　〃Do　you　believe　he　is　a　turncoat　and　a　traitor？〃
　Once　upon　a　time　Emerson's　intimidating　scowl　would　have　reduced　Ramses　to　silence。　Now　he　met　those　narrowed　blue　orbs　squarely　and　smiled　a　little。　〃It's　odd　to　hear　you　defend　him；　Father。　Good　God；　I　don't　want　to　believe　it　either！　But　the　man　is　an　enigma　…　embittered；　cynical；　and　unpredictable。〃
　〃Hmph；〃　said　Emerson。　〃Well。　The　sooner　we　find　out　what　Murray　has　to　say；　the　better。　Shall　we　go？〃
　〃General　Murray？〃　I　repeated。　〃What　has　he　to　do　with　this？　You　haven't　even　made　an　appointment。〃
　〃You　know　my　policy；　Peabody　…　go　straight　to　the　top　and　avoid　underlings。　He　will　see　me　whenever　I　damn　well　decide　to　see　him；〃　said　Emerson。　〃Are　you　ready；　Ramses？〃
　I　would　have　insisted　upon　acpanying　them　if　I　had　believed　there　was　the　slightest　chance　the　general　would　allow　me　or　Nefret　to　take　part　in　the　discussion。　Men　are　singularly　limited　in　their　views　about　women；　and　military　men　are　even　worse。
　I　handed　Emerson　his　coat　…　he　would　have　walked　out　of　the　room　in　his　shirtsleeves　if　I　had　not　…　and　helped　him　into　it。　〃e　straight　back　here；〃　I　ordered。
　〃Mph；〃　said　Emerson。
　〃Yes；　of　course；〃　said　Ramses；　smiling　at　Nefret。
　　
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　Murray　kept　them　waiting　for　half　an　hour。　It　wasn't　long；　considering　his　busy　schedule　and　the