elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第47章

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ore　than　a　long　journey　by　camel；　but　there　seems　to　be　no　alternative。〃
　〃Ah；　but　there　is；〃　Emerson　said。　Self…satisfaction　is　too　weak　a　word　for　the　emotion　that　illumined　his　countenance　and　swelled　his　broad　chest。　〃I　will　give　you　three　guesses；　Peabody。〃
　A　hideous　sense　of　foreboding　came　over　me。　〃Oh；　no；　Emerson。　Please。　Don't　tell　me　…〃
　〃Yes；　my　dear。　I　have　acquired　a　new　motorcar。〃　Avoiding　my　stricken　expression；　he　turned　to　Ramses　and　explained。　〃It's　a　splendid　vehicle；　my　boy；　one　of　the　T　Model　Ford　Light　cars　the　military　has　been　using。　It　has　…〃
　〃How　did　you　…　uh　…　acquire　it？〃　Ramses　asked。
　〃Ah；　well；　you　know　my　methods；〃　said　Emerson　with　a　grin。
　〃You　stole　it！〃
　〃No。　Well。　Not　exactly。　It　has　…〃
　〃You　can't　drive　it　yourself；　you　know；〃　I　interrupted。　This　obvious　fact　had　occurred　to　me　once　I　got　over　my　initial　consternation；　and　it　cheered　me　quite　a　lot。　〃Think　how　absurd　you　would　look　at　the　wheel；　in　turban　and　caftan。〃
　〃I　have　considered　that；〃　said　Emerson；　with　great　dignity。　〃You　said　you　would　leave　the　problem　of　transport　to　me。〃
　〃Hmmmm。　Frankly；　I　do　not　see　how　we　can　drive　all　that　distance　without　getting　bogged　down　in　sand　dunes　and　blowing　up　tires；　but　if　all　goes　well　…〃
　〃It　won't；〃　Ramses　muttered。
　〃If　it　does；　we　should　arrive　within　a　few　days　of　one　another。　Mind　this；　Ramses；　you　are　to　report　yourself　to　us　before　you　go　to　Gaza。　You　know　where　we　will　be。　For　our　own　peace　of　mind　and　for　safety's　sake；　we　want　to　be　made　cognizant　of　your　plans。　Have　I　your　word？〃
　〃Yes。〃　He　hesitated　for　a　moment；　and　then　shrugged。　〃You'll　have　to　follow　the　road；　so　I　suppose　the　worst　that　can　happen　is　that　you'll　break　down　and　be　forced　to　accept　help　from　the　military。　Speaking　of　peace　of　mind；　I　would　like　to　be　made　cognizant　of　your　plans。　Is　Father　to　be　a　wealthy　aristocrat　…　a　wealthy；　bearded　aristocrat　…　and　Mother　his　favorite　wife？〃
　〃No；　that　is　Nefret；〃　I　explained。　〃I　am　the　older　wife。〃
　Ramses　exchanged　bemused　glances　with　Nefret。　Her　open…mouthed　astonishment　convinced　him；　had　he　doubted　it；　that　she　had　known　nothing　of　my　scheme。　He　laughed　a　little；　and　shook　his　head。
　〃Mother；　you　never　cease　to　amaze　me。　I　hope　you　enjoy　yourself。　As　the　older　wife　you　will　be　in　a　position　to　bully　Nefret　…　and　Father。〃
　〃Ha；〃　said　Emerson　meaningfully。
　　
　Ramses　was　gone　next　morning。　When　Nefret　joined　us　for　breakfast　she　was　a　trifle　hollow…eyed　and　pale；　but　that　might　have　been　a　normal　reaction　to　such　a　hard　parting。　I　did　not　feel　I　had　the　right　to　ask　what　they　had　said　to　one　another　…　my　sympathetic　imagination　supplied　a　good　deal　of　the　dialogue　…　but　I　did　venture　to　inquire　whether　Ramses　had　been　angry　about　our　following　him。
　〃Resigned；　rather；〃　Nefret　said；　toying　with　her　toast。
　〃Eat　something；〃　I　ordered。　〃We　are　leaving　in　an　hour　and　it　will　be　a　long；　hard　day。　The　first　of　many；　I　fear。〃
　〃Not　at　all；〃　said　Emerson。　〃The　T　Model　Ford　Light　car　…〃
　〃I　don't　want　to　hear　about　it；　Emerson。　Eat　your　breakfast。〃
　〃I　have；〃　said　Emerson　indignantly。　〃You　are　the　one　who　is　delaying　us。〃
　To　have　left　the　hotel　in　disguise　or　in　the　vehicle　Emerson　had　acquired　would　have　aroused　speculation。　We　went　by　cab　to　Atiyeh；　the　village　where　the　northern　branch　of　Abdullah's　family　lived；　and　there　we　found　no　other　than　Selim　awaiting　our　arrival。　He　was　disappointed　when　I　failed　to　register　surprise　at　seeing　him。
　〃It　was　logical；〃　I　explained。　〃Once　I　learned　of　the　motorcar。　I　am　pleased；　Emerson；　that　you　didn't　insist　on　driving　it　yourself。〃
　〃I　had　a　number　of　reasons　for　bringing　Selim　along；　all　of　them　excellent；　and　all　of　them；　you　will　claim；　obvious　to　you。　Let　us　not　waste　time　discussing　the　subject。　Is　the　car　ready；　Selim？〃
　〃Yes；　Father　of　Curses。　It　is；〃　Selim　said　enthusiastically；　〃a　wonderful　motorcar。　It　has　…〃
　〃What　about　supplies？〃　I　asked。
　〃Everything　is　in　order；　Sitt　Hakim；〃　Selim　said。　He　looked　doubtfully　at　the　piles　of　personal　luggage　I　had　brought。　〃I　think　there　will　be　room。〃
　There　was；　but　just　barely。　Nefret　and　I　would　have　to　sit　on　some　of　the　parcels　and　put　our　feet　on　others。　There　was　not　even　space　on　top　of　the　vehicle；　where　Selim　had　fastened　several　long　planks。
　The　whole　village　gathered　to　wave　good…bye　and　shout　blessings。　It　would　have　been　impossible　to　conceal　our　expedition；　whose　ostensible　purpose　was　to　examine　certain　ruins　in　the　Sinai。　Selim　had　asked　them　not　to　speak　of　it；　and　since　they　all　knew　about　Emerson's　frequent　disputes　with　the　Antiquities　Department；　they　assumed　we　were　planning　to　excavate　without　official　permission。　Sooner　or　later　someone　would　tell　the　story；　as　a　good　joke　on　the　authorities；　but　as　Emerson　philosophically　remarked；　it　didn't　matter　much；　by　the　time　the　gossip　reached　General　Murray；　it　would　be　too　late　to　stop　us。
　As　an　additional　precaution　we　waited　until　we　were　well　away　from　the　village　before　we　assumed　our　disguises。　Emerson's　consisted　of　shirt　and　trousers；　an　elegant　long　vest　and　flowing　robe；　and；　of　course；　a　beard。　Instead　of　a　tarboosh　or　turban；　he　covered　his　head　with　a　khafiyeh　…　the　flattering　headdress　worn　by　the　desert　people　that　frames　the　face　in　folds　of　cloth　and　is　held　in　place　by　a　twisted　cord。　It　shadowed　those　distinctive　features　more　effectively　than　a　turban　and　protected　the　back　of　his　neck　from　the　sun。
　Nefret　and　I　bundled　ourselves　up　in　the　inconvenient　and　unfortable　ensembles　worn　by　Moslem　ladies　when　they　travel　abroad。　Ramses　always　said　that　if　a　disguise　is　to　be　successful；　it　must　be　accurate　in　every　detail；　so　Nefret　and　I　were　dressed　from　the　skin　out　in　appropriate　garments：　a　shirt　and　a　pair　of　very　full　trousers；　with　a　long　vest；　called　a　yelek；　over　them；　and　over　the　yelek　a　gibbeh；　and　over　the　gibbeh　the　additional　layers　of　the　traveling　costume　…　a　large　loose　gown　called　a　tob；　a　face　veil　that　reaches　nearly　to　the　feet　…　and　on　top　of　it　all　a　voluminous　habarah　of　black　silk　which　conceals　the　head　and　the　hands　as　well　as　everything　else。
　Emerson　and　Selim　both　stared　when　Nefret　removed　the　scarf　that　had　covered　her　head；　I　had　dyed　her　hair　before　we　left　the　hotel；　and　it　made　quite　a　difference　in　her　appearance。
　〃What　did　you　do　that　for？〃　Emerson　demanded。　〃Her　hair　will　be　covered。〃
　〃Not　from　other　women　in　the　household；〃　I　replied；　applying　brown　coloring　to　Nefret's　smooth　cheeks。　〃And　one　must　always　be　prepared　for　accidents。　That　red…gold　hair　is　too　distinctive。〃
　Selim　nodded　and　grinned。　He　was　in　a　state　of　boyish　exuberance；　flattered　by　Emerson's　confidence　and　looking　forward　to　the　adventure。　He　had　not　been　told　of　Ramses's　mission；　nor　of　our　real　purpose。　That　did　not　matter。　He　had　plete　faith　in　Emerson　…　and；　I　believe　I　may　say；　in　me　…　and　rather　fancied　himself　as　a　conspirator。
　I　can　best　sum　up　that　journey　by　saying　that　camels　might　have　been　worse。　Without　Selim's　expertise　and　Emerson's　strength　we　could　never　have　got　through。　The　first　part　of　the　trip　was　not　too　bad；　for　the　Corps　of　Engineers　had　improved　the　roads　from　Cairo　to　the　Canal。　We　crossed　it　at　Kantara；　on　one　of　the　pontoon　bridges；　and　it　was　here　we　met　our　first　and　only　check　by　the　military。　Huddled　in　the　tonneau　amid　piles　of　parcels；　enveloped　in　muffling　garments　that　concealed　everything　except　our　eyes；　Nefret　and　I　waited　in　suspense　while　Emerson　produced　a　set　of　papers　and　handed　them　to　Selim；　who　passed　them　over　to　the　officer。　Staring　straight　ahead；　arms　folded　and　brow　dark；　Emerson　was　a　model　of　arrogant　indignation。　He　did　not　move　an　inch；　even　when　the　officer　handed　the　papers　back　and　saluted。
　〃How　did　you　get　those？〃　I　asked；　sotto　voce。
　〃I　will　explain　later；〃　Emerson　grunted；　as　Selim　sent　the　car　bumping　over　the　bridge。
　We　camped　that　night　in　a　little　oasis　not　far　from　the　road；　and　a　great　relief　it　was　to　stretch　our　cramped　limbs　and　remove　several　layers　of　clothing。
　〃We　are　making　excellent　time；〃　Emerson　announced；　as　Selim　got　a　fire　started　and　Nefret　and　I　sat　by　the　little　tent　he　had　set　up。　So　far　I　could　not　fault　Emerson's　arrangements；　though　I　was　inclined　to　attribute　some　of　them　to　Selim。　Emerson　would　never　have　thought　of　the　tent。　Concealed　in　its　shadow；　away　from　the　flickering　firelight；　we　allowed　ourselves　the　luxury　of　removing　not　only　the　face　veil　and　habarah　but　the　tob　and　gibbeh。　The　air　had　cooled　rapidly　after　the　sun　set；　as　it　always　does　in　the　desert。
　Selim　insisted　upon　doing　the　cooking；　and　while　he　arranged　his　pots　and　pans；　Emerson　produced　the　set　of　papers　he　had　shown　the　officer。　I　studied　them　with　a　surprise　I　was　unable　to　conceal。　They　bore　the　signature　of　none　other　than　the　high　missioner；　Sir　Reginald　Wingate；　and　testified　to　the　moral　character　and　loyalty　of　Sheikh　Ahmed　Mohammed　ibn　Aziz。
　〃Where　did　you　get　these？〃　I　demanded。　〃Not　from　Wingate？〃
　〃Good　Gad；　no。〃　Emerson　began　digging　around　in　the　luggage。　〃What　did　you　do　with　my　pipe？〃
　〃I　didn't　do　anything　with　it　since　I　didn't　know　you　had　brought　it；〃　I　retorted。　〃Isn't　a　meerschaum　out　of　character？〃
　〃The　devil　with　that；〃　said　Emerson；　extracting　pipe　and　tobacco　pouch。　〃As　for　the　papers；　you　will　never　guess　how　I　got　them。〃
　〃A　forger？〃　inquired　Nefret；　scanning　the　papers　I　had　handed　her　by　the　light　of　the　flickering　flames。　〃A　very　skilled　forger。　You　know　a　good　many　of　them；　I　expect。〃
　Emerson　went　about　filling　his　pipe。　〃The　ones　with　whom　I　am　acquainted　specialize　in　antiquities；〃　he　replied。　〃I　required　a　different　sort　of　expertise。　So　I　paid　a　visit　to　Ibrahim　el…Gharbi。〃
　〃The　procurer？〃　I　gasped。　〃But；　Emerson；　you　called　him　…〃
　〃A　vile　trafficker　in　human　flesh。　A　good　phrase；　that；〃　said　Emerson；　puffing。　〃According　to　Ramses；　el…Gharbi　can　be　useful　if　one　takes　everything　he　says　with　a　strong　seasoning　of　skepticism；　and　he　has　connections　with　every　illegal　business　in　Cairo。　At　the　moment　he　is　open　to　reason。　He　wants　to　get　out　of　that　prison　camp。〃
　〃I　hope　you　didn't　promise　you　would　arrange　his　release　in　exchange　for　these　papers；〃　I　said　severely。　〃The　end　does　not　justify　the　means。〃
　〃I　made　no　promises〃　was　the　evasive　reply。　〃But　we　owe　the　rascal；　Peabody。　It　was　through　el…Gharbi；　or　rather　one　of　his　sources；　that　I　was　able　to　…　er　…　acquire　the　motorcar。　He　also　gave　me　the　name　of　the　man　who　forges　official　papers　for　him；　and　a　chit　telling　him　to　ply　with　my　request。　Good；　aren't　they？〃
　〃Let　us　hope　all　our　difficulties　will　be　so　easily　solved；〃　I　said。
　〃Don't　be　such　a　pessimist；　Peabody；〃　said　Emerson。　〃Aren't　you　the　one　who　keeps　telling　me　to　enjoy　the　moment；　without　worrying　about　what　the　future　may　bring？　What　could　be　more　enjoyable　than　this？〃
　I　could　have　mentioned　quite　a　number　of　things；　but　it　was　pleasant　to　sit　round　the　fire　with　the　fresh　breeze　of　the　desert　cooling　our　faces　and　the　blazing　stars　of　the　desert　shining　down。　The　infinite　eyes　of　God　…　and　nowhere　in　that　vast　wasteland　to　hide　from　them。
　Fortunately　my　conscience　was　perfectly　clear。
　It　was　to　be　our　last　peaceful　hour　for　several　days。　From　Romani　on；　th