elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第50章

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　〃When　will　we　see　you　again？〃　I　asked。
　〃I　don't　know。　I　am　to　rendezvous　with　Chetwode　this　evening　and　go　on　to　Gaza　with　him。　Two　days；　perhaps　three。　I'll　e　here　as　soon　as　we've　finished　the　job；　I　promise。〃
　He　kissed　my　hands　and　my　feet　and　rose。　〃Is　there　a　bab…sirr？〃　he　asked　Emerson。　〃I　may　want　to　use　it　next　time。〃
　〃A　secret　door？　Oh；　yes。　Mahmud　has　too　many　enemies　to　do　without　that　little　convenience。　I'll　show　you；　and　get　you　some　clothes。〃
　Ramses　nodded。　He　turned　to　his　wife。　She　stood　as　still　as　a　prettily　dressed　doll；　lips　parted　and　braceleted　arms　folded　over　her　breast。　Ramses　knelt　and　bowed　his　head。
　〃Don't　worry；〃　he　whispered。　〃It　will　be　all　right。〃
　She　put　out　her　hand；　as　if　to　touch　his　hair；　but　stopped　herself　in　time。　〃e　straight　here　after　。　。　。〃
　〃As　soon　as　I　can。〃　He　took　her　hands　and　raised　them　to　his　lips。
　　
　FROM　MANUSCRIPT　H
　　
　Ramses　hadn't　told　her　the　part　that　worried　him　most。　He　shared　that　information　with　his　father；　as　they　tried　to　find　him　something　to　wear。
　〃I　met　Chetwode　in　Rafah；　as　we　had　arranged。　He's　not　awfully　good　at　this　sort　of　thing；　his　jaw　dropped　down　to　his　chest　when　a　filthy　'Gyppie'　edged　up　to　him　and　gave　him　the　word　we'd　agreed　upon。〃
　〃Curse　it；〃　said　Emerson。　〃Can't　you　go　off　on　your　own　…　leave　him　behind？〃
　〃They'd　stop　me　before　I　got　out　of　Khan　Yunus。　You　haven't　heard　the　worst　of　it。　General　Chetwode；　the　mander　of　the　Desert　Column；　is　our　lad's　uncle。　I　was　dragged　off　to　his　office；　where　I　was　required　to　report　to　him　and　his　chief　of　field　intelligence。〃
　〃Hell　and　damnation！　Who　else　knows　about　your　'secret'　mission？〃
　〃God　knows。〃　Ramses　picked　up　a　shirt；　grinned；　and　put　it　aside。　〃Mother　would　say　He　does。　If　the　word　has　e　down　the　chain　of　mand；　Chetwode's　superior　Dobell　must　also　have　been　informed。　There's　nothing　here　I　can　use；　Father。〃
　〃What　about　that　parcel　you　asked　me　to　bring　along？〃
　〃I'll　take　it　with　me；　but　I　don't　want　to　wear　those　things　in　Khan　Yunus。　Selim　must　have　a　change　of　clothing　he'll　lend　me。〃
　〃You　mean　to　let　him　in　on　this？〃　Emerson　asked。
　〃How　much　does　he　know？〃
　〃Only　that　we　are　obviously　bent　on　mischief　of　some　sort。　Selim　doesn't　ask　questions。〃
　〃He　deserves　to　be　told　…　some　of　it；　at　any　rate。　It's　a　poor　return　for　his　friendship　and　loyalty　to　be　treated　as　if　he　were　not　pletely　trustworthy。　Especially；〃　Ramses　added　bitterly；　〃when　every　idiot　and　his　bloody　uncle　knows。　I　think　Selim　may　have　spotted　me　when　I　arrived；　he　gave　me　a　very　fishy　look　when　I　was　arguing　with　the　doorman。〃
　Selim　had　spotted　him；　but　not；　as　he　was　careful　to　explain；　because　of　any　inadequacy　in　Ramses's　disguise。　〃Who　else　could　it　be；　though？〃　he　demanded。　〃I　do　not　ask　questions　of　the　Father　of　Curses；　but　I　expected　you　would　join　the　others　sooner　or　later。〃
　〃You　must　have　wondered　what　this　is　all　about；　though。〃　The　clothes　Selim　had　given　him　would　suit　well　enough；　Arab　garments　were　not　designed　to　be　form…fitting。
　Selim　folded　his　arms　and　said　stiffly；　〃It　is　not　my　place　to　wonder。〃
　Ramses　grinned　and　slapped　him　on　the　back。　〃You　sound　exactly　like　your　father。　I　and　another　man　are　going　into　Gaza；　Selim。　There　have　been　rumors　about　a　certain　Ismail　Pasha　…　that　he's　a　British　agent　who　has　gone　over　to　the　enemy。　Since　I　am；　er；　acquainted　with　the　gentleman　in　question；　they　are　sending　me　to　get　a　look　at　Ismail　and　find　out　whether　the　rumors　are　true。〃
　〃Acquainted；〃　Selim　repeated。　〃Ah。　Is　it　possible；　Ramses；　that　I　am　also；　er；　acquainted　with　him？〃
　〃You　can't　go　with　me；〃　Ramses　said。　He　hadn't　answered　the　question。　Selim　accepted　this　with　a　shrug　and　a　nod；　and　Ramses　went　on；　〃Thank　you　for　the　clothes。　I'll　try　to　return　them　in　good　condition。〃
　〃Tonight's　the　night；　then；〃　Emerson　said。
　〃Yes。　Chetwode　…　our　Chetwode　…　and　I　are　meeting　after　nightfall　in　an　abandoned　house　in　Dir　el　Balah；　just　north　of　here。　I　hope　to　God　he　can　find　it。　It　will　take　me　a　while　to　get　there　by　roundabout　ways；　since　I　don't　want　to　be　recruited　by　some　lad　looking　for　laborers。　I　had　better　go。　Do　you　want　to　send　me　on　my　way　with　a　few　curses　and　kicks；　Selim？〃
　Selim　did　not　return　his　smile。　〃If　you　say　I　should。　Be　careful。　Do　not　take　foolish　chances。〃
　〃As　your　father　would　have　said。　I'll　try　not　to。　Watch　over　them；　Selim。〃
　　
　Chetwode　was　late。　He　stood　squinting　into　the　darkness　of　the　half…ruined　building；　his　form　outlined　against　the　starry　sky。　Ramses　waited　only　long　enough　to　make　sure　the　other　man　was　alone　before　he　moved　out　of　the　shadows。
　〃Didn't　they　teach　you　not　to　make　a　target　of　yourself　in　an　open　doorway？〃　he　asked　caustically。
　〃Since　it　was　you　…〃
　〃You　hoped　it　was　me。　Get　out　of　that　uniform　and　put　these　on。〃
　He　made　certain　he　had　covered　Chetwode's　face；　neck；　hands；　and　forearms　with　the　dark　dye；　and　got　all　his　hair　concealed　under　the　turban。　There　wasn't　anything　he　could　do　about　the　blue　eyes　that　looked　trustingly　into　his；　but　when　the　boy　grinned；　cheerful　as　a　hound　pup；　the　expanse　of　healthy　white　teeth　was　another　reason　to　remind　him　to　keep　his　mouth　shut。　Patiently　Ramses　went　over　it　again。
　〃If　anybody　speaks　to　you；　drool　and　babble　and　bob　your　head。　Idiots　are　under　the　protection　of　God。　Stick　close　to　me　。　。　。〃　He　hesitated；　gripped　by　one　of　those　illogical　premonitions　…　or　maybe　it　wasn't　so　illogical；　under　the　circumstances。　〃Stick　close　unless　I　tell　you　otherwise。　If　I　tell　you　to　run；　do　it；　without　arguing　and　without　looking　back。　That's　an　order。　If　you　disobey　I'll　see　that　you　face　a　court…martial。〃
　〃But　if　we're　separated　…〃
　〃I'll　find　you　if　I　can。　If　I　can't；　you'll　have　to　make　your　own　way　back　to　our　lines。　Don't　wait　for　me　or　go　looking　for　me。〃
　Chetwode's　face　was　as　easy　to　read　as　a　page　of　print。　Some　of　the　sentences　read：　〃One　doesn't　abandon　a　rade。〃　〃You　can　count　on　me；　old　chap；　to　the　death。〃　Or　something　equally　trite。　Ramses　sighed　and　offered　another　cliché。　〃One　of　us　has　to　get　back　with　the　information　we've　collected。　We　know　we're　laying　our　lives　on　the　line；　that　is　part　of　the　job。〃
　Chetwode's　tight　lips　parted。　〃Oh。　Yes；　that's　right。　You　can　count　on　me；　old　chap　…〃
　〃Good。　One　more　thing。　Hand　over　that　pistol。〃
　Ramses　had　every　intention　of　searching　him　if　he　denied　carrying　a　weapon；　but　the　young　fool　didn't　even　try　to　bluster　it　out。　His　hand　flew　to　his　waist。
　〃What　if　we　have　to　shoot　it　out？〃　he　demanded。
　〃If　it　es　to　that；　we'll　have　a　hundred　men　shooting　back　at　us。　Hand　it　over；　or　I'll　leave　you　behind。〃
　Chetwode　looked　from　his　stern　face　to　his　clenched　fist　and　got　the　point。　Slowly　and　reluctantly　he　unbuckled　the　belt　fastened　round　his　waist　under　his　shirt　and　gave　it　and　the　holster　to　Ramses。
　Ramses　removed　the　shells　and　added　the　empty　gun　to　the　pile　of　abandoned　clothing；　which　he　covered　with　a　few　loose　stones。　〃Now　shut　up　and　watch　where　you're　going。〃
　The　boy　wouldn't　shut　up。　He'd　memorized　the　directions　that　Ramses　had　ignored；　since　he　didn't　need　them；　and　kept　up　a　breathless；　whispered　monologue：　〃Keep　to　the　north　until　the　mosque　bears　132；　bearing　266　till　we　e　to　the　edge　of　a　bog　。　。　。　is　this　。　。　。　Oh；　hell。〃
　Ramses　hauled　him　out。　〃One　more　word　and　I'll　sink　you　back　into　the　muck。　We're　within　a　hundred　feet　of　the　Turkish　trenches。　Don't　open　your　mouth　again　until　I　tell　you　you　may。〃
　〃Sorry。〃　He　closed　his　mouth　and　nodded　vigorously。　The　starlight　reflected　in　his　eyes。
　Ramses　turned　and　led　them　along　the　edge　of　the　bog。　The　boy　followed　so　close　he　kept　treading　on　Ramses's　heels。　I　shouldn't　have　allowed　this；　Ramses　thought　in　silent　fury。　Goddamn　Murray　and　Cartright　and　the　rest　of　them；　the　kid's　doing　his　best；　but　I　would　spot　him　a　mile　away；　even　if　he　were　standing　still　with　his　face　hidden。　It　was　that　〃Lords　of　Creation〃　look；　shoulders　stiff　and　jaw　squared　…　drilled　into　them　from　childhood；　and　almost　impossible　to　eradicate。
　The　Turks　had　ringed　the　city　round　with　trenches　and　breastworks。　An　intricate　network　of　cactus　hedges　provided　an　additional　defense。　The　series　of　ridges　that　ran　from　Gaza　eastward　to　Beersheba　were　also　fortified；　but　they　had　no　trouble　getting　through。　The　defenders　knew　no　attack　was　imminent；　reconnaissance　planes　would　have　warned　them　of　such　preparations；　even　if　they　had　not　had　busy　little　spies　reporting　back　to　Turkish　HQ。　The　area　between　Gaza　and　Khan　Yunus　was　peaceful。　People　came　and　went；　tilling　the　fields；　carrying　produce　to　the　British　encampments；　engaging　in　all　the　mercantile　activities　that　spring　up　when　new　customers　are　available。　It　would　have　been　impossible　to　keep　tabs　on　all　of　them。
　Once　over　the　ridge；　Ramses　led　his　panion　in　a　wide　circle　that　brought　them　to　a　guard　post　just　as　the　sun　was　rising。　Chetwode　had　protested；　he　wanted　to　crawl　romantically　through　the　barbed　wire　and　the　cactus　hedges。
　〃It's　too　hard　on　one's　clothes；〃　Ramses　said　shortly。　He　had　learned　from　experience　…　and　from　that　master　thief；　his　uncle　…　that　the　best　way　of　getting　into　a　place　where　you　weren't　supposed　to　be　was　to　walk　boldly　up　and　demand　entrance。　He　had　supplied　himself　with　a　convincing　story　…　a　sick；　aged　mother　awaiting　him；　enough　money　to　arouse　cupidity　without　arousing　suspicion；　and　a　few　bags　of　a　substance　he　expected　would　serve　better　than　money。　Hashish　wasn't　hard　to　e　by　in　Turkish　areas；　but　the　best　varieties　were　expensive。
　The　nonmissioned　officer　in　charge　of　the　post　didn't　believe　the　pathetic　story　about　the　dying　mother。　Ramses　had　not　expected　he　would；　they　then　proceeded　to　the　next　stage　of　negotiation；　which　left　him　without　a　certain　percentage　of　his　money　and　his　merchandise。　It　wasn't　an　outrageously　high　percentage；　the　NCO　knew　that　if　his　victim　started　howling　protests；　it　would　have　brought　an　officer　to　investigate　…　and　demand　his　share。
　Ramses　had　been　in　Gaza　only　once；　in　the　summer　of　1912；　but　he　knew　the　place　fairly　well；　he'd　spent　several　days　wandering　around；　enjoying　the　amenities　of　the　suk　and　admiring　the　fine　old　mosques　and　making　a　brief；　informal　survey　of　the　ancient　remains；　since　he　knew　his　father　would　expect　one。　There　weren't　many。　For　almost　four　thousand　years　the　area　between　the　Sinai　and　the　Euphrates　had　been　fought　over；　conquered　and　reconquered；　destroyed　and　rebuilt。　Egyptians；　Assyrians；　Phoenicians；　Greeks；　Romans；　Saracens；　and　Crusaders　had　occupied　Gaza　in　turn。　It　had　been　one　of　the　five　cities　of　the　Philistines；　the　site　of　the　great　temple　of　Dagon；　pulled　down　by　Samson　in　his　last　and　mightiest　feat。　（He'd　got　that　information　from　his　mother；　his　father　didn't　give　much　credence　to　anything　in　Scripture　unless　it　could　be　confirmed　by　archaeological　sources。）　The　most　recent　conquest　had　been　by　the　Ottoman　Sultan；　Selim　the　First；　in　the　sixteenth　century；　in　revenge　for　the　city's　stubborn　resistance　he　had　let　his　troops　sack　and　destroy　a　large　part　of　it。　However；　by　1912　Gaza　had　bee　a　prosperous　town　with　almost　forty　thousand　inhabitants。　The　population　had　spilled　out　beyond　the　walls；　to　north　and　south　and　east；