elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第76章

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I　let　out　a　small　exclamation。
　〃It's　all　right；　Mother；〃　Ramses　said。　〃He's　reached　the　platform。〃
　〃He　won't　be　able　to　get　through　the　passage；〃　I　muttered。　〃He's　twice　the　size　of　Jamil。〃
　〃He'll　get　through；〃　Ramses　said；　passing　his　sleeve　over　his　perspiring　face。　〃If　he　has　to　dig　the　fill　out　with　his　bare　hands。　One　bare　hand。〃
　I　could　hear　him　doing　it。　Loose　rock　began　falling　from　the　bottom　of　the　cleft；　rattling　down　the　hillside。　It　slowed　and　stopped。　After　that　there　was　nothing　but　silence；　until　a　call　from　Cyrus　brought　us　all　to　our　feet。　Daoud　seized　the　rope　and　pulled　with　all　his　might。　As　soon　as　Cyrus's　head　appeared　we　fell　on　him　and　dragged　him　out。
　〃Well？〃　I　cried。
　Cyrus　shook　his　head。　His　lips　moved；　but　no　words　emerged。　Tears　ran　down　his　face。　His　eyes　were　red…rimmed。
　〃Dust；〃　said　my　practical　son。　He　handed　Cyrus　the　water　bottle；　and　then　leaped　for　the　other　rope　as　it　tightened。　With　Daoud's　help　they　soon　had　Emerson　up；　he　hadn't　even　bothered　tying　the　rope　round　his　body；　but　was　holding　on　with　one　hand。　We　hauled　him　over　the　edge　and　he　staggered　to　his　feet；　blinking　bloodshot　eyes。
　〃There　are　four　coffins；〃　he　gasped。　〃Four。　Four　of　everything；　packed　into　that　room　from　floor　to　ceiling　and　side　to　side。　Four　sets　of　canopic　jars；　four　gold…inlaid　boxes；　four　funerary　papyri；　four　hundred　ushebtis；　four　thousand　…〃
　Cyrus　began　jumping　up　and　down　and　waving　his　arms。　〃The　God's　Wives；〃　he　bellowed。　〃Four！　I　never　thought　I'd　live　to　see　this　day！　If　I　were　struck　dead　tonight；　I'd　be　the　happiest　man　alive。〃
　〃No；　you　wouldn't；〃　I　said；　catching　hold　of　him。　〃You　would　be　dead。　And　you　will　be；　if　you　fall　off　the　cliff。〃
　I　wanted　to　take　Emerson　home；　he　had　ruined　another　shirt　squeezing　through　those　tight　spaces；　and　banged　his　head；　and　scraped　most　of　the　skin　off　both　hands　and　cracked　the　cast。　Cyrus　was　in　little　better　case；　but　neither　of　them　heard　a　word　I　said；　they　kept　shouting　enthusiastically　at　each　other　and　shaking　hands。　I　consigned　them　both　to　the　devil　（they　didn't　hear　that　either）　and　concluded　I　was　entitled　to　satisfy　my　own　curiosity。
　We　went　down　in　turn；　two　at　a　time　for　safety's　sake：　Jumana　and　Bertie；　Ramses　and　I；　Selim　and　Daoud。　Emerson　offered　to　take　Nefret；　but　she　said　she　believed　she　would　wait。　The　procedure　was　somewhat　unfortable　…　crawling　on　hands　and　knees　over　rough　fragments　of　stone；　with　dust　choking　one's　mouth　and　an　occasional　bat　squeaking　past　overhead；　but　the　sight　was　so　incredible　I　would　not　have　wanted　to　miss　it。
　The　opening　of　the　chamber　had　been　closed　with　mortared　blocks。　Jamil　had　removed　the　upper　layers；　stacking　the　stones　along　the　passage；　which　made　the　last　few　feet　something　of　a　squeeze。　Looking　in；　I　saw　at　first　only　a　dazzle　of　gold。　It　was　the　end　of　an　anthropoid　coffin；　inlaid　with　glass　and　semiprecious　stones。　Packed　all　around　it　were　smaller　objects：　woven　baskets；　caskets　of　ebony　and　cedar；　tattered　fragments　of　papyrus　and　linen。　Jamil　had　rummaged　through　the　smaller　boxes；　dragging　out　anything　he　could　reach。
　Cyrus's　long　patient　wait　had　been　rewarded　at　last。　This　was　another　cache；　like　that　of　the　royal　mummies；　loyal　followers　of　the　Adorers　of　the　God　had　rescued　them　and　their　funerary　goods　from　tomb　robbers；　and　hidden　them　away　in　this　remote　spot。　Time　and　careless　handling　had　destroyed　some　of　the　artifacts；　but　it　was　still　one　of　the　richest　finds　ever　made　in　Egypt。
　We　could　not　even　begin　excavating　the　tomb　chamber　that　day。　The　passage　and　the　platform　had　to　be　pletely　cleared　first　and　a　method　of　stabilizing　and　removing　the　objects　determined　upon。　Needless　to　say；　all　work　came　to　a　standstill；　the　men　danced　and　sang　and　cheered　and　Daoud　told　them　all　extravagant　lies　about　the　treasures　in　the　chamber。　It　was　necessary　to　make　arrangements　for　guards；　by　day　and　by　night；　for　the　news　would　spread　like　wildfire。
　〃We　might　stop　at　Gurneh　and　have　a　word　with　Mohammed　Hassan；〃　I　suggested。　〃A　curse　or　two；　perhaps？〃
　Emerson　chuckled。　〃He　will　probably　cry　like　a　baby。　Yes；　I　will　point　out　the　moral　advantages　of　honesty。　If　he　had　not　cheated　Jamil；　he'd　have　had　a　chance　at　this　tomb。〃
　〃It　would　have　been　a　bit　tricky；〃　Ramses　said。　〃Even　if　they　worked　only　at　night；　they　would　have　left　traces　of　their　activities；　and　we　might　have　observed　those　signs。　That　was　why　Jamil　tried　to　lure　us　out　into　the　western　wadis。　He　wanted　everyone　away　from　Deir　el　Medina。〃
　Since　the　tomb　must　not　be　left　unguarded　for　an　instant；　Daoud　and　several　of　the　other　men　volunteered　to　stay　until　evening；　when　they　would　be　relieved。
　〃I　suppose　you　plan　to　sleep　here　every　night；〃　I　said　to　Cyrus。
　〃Every　night　and　every　day　till　we　can　get　a　steel　door　in　place。　Jumping　Jehoshaphat；　Amelia；　you　don't　know　what　this　means　to　me！　Katherine！　I've　got　to　tell　Katherine。　She'll　be　so　durned　proud　of　this　boy！　And　then；〃　Cyrus　went　on；　grinning　fiendishly；　〃maybe　I'll　just　run　over　to　Luxor　and　break　the　news　to　Joe　Albion。　I　want　to　see　his　face　when　he　hears。〃
　We　sent　Selim　off　with　a　list　of　the　equipment　we　would　need；　and　dismissed　the　men　for　the　day。　A　celebration　was　definitely　in　order；　Cyrus　had　promised　the　greatest　fantasia　ever　seen　in　Luxor；　but　that　would　have　to　wait。　Excitement　and　exertion　had　left　everyone　weary；　and　Bertie　and　Jumana　both　showed　the　effects　of　several　sleepless　nights。　I　instructed　Bertie　to　go　home　and　rest。
　We　had　an　early　night　too。　Tea　and　biscuits　and　Sennia's　excited　questions　revived　Jumana　temporarily；　but　I　sent　her　off　to　bed　immediately　after　dinner。　Sennia　would　not　go　to　bed　until　Emerson　promised　to　take　her　into　the　tomb。
　〃Emerson；　I　absolutely　forbid　it；〃　I　exclaimed；　after　she　had　gone　dancing　off　with　Horus　in　her　arms。
　〃Oh；　e；　Peabody；　don't　be　a　spoilsport。　Ramses　was　in　and　out　of　worse　places　when　he　was　her　age。　I　won't　take　her　until　we've　made　sure　it's　safe。〃　He　threw　his　napkin　on　the　table　and　stood　up。　〃I'm　late。　Vandergelt　will　be　there　already。〃
　〃Emerson；〃　I　said。　〃This　is　Cyrus's　tomb。　He　is　in　charge；　not　you。〃
　Emerson　looked　unfortable。　〃I　suppose　I　am　allowed　to　offer　my　expert　advice？〃
　〃Not　unless　he　asks　for　it。　He　is　generously　allowing　you　to　participate；　which　is　more　than　you　ever　did　for　him！〃
　〃Hmph；〃　said　Emerson；　stroking　his　chin。
　〃You　might　quite　properly　offer　him　the　assistance　of　your　staff；〃　Ramses　suggested。
　〃Oh。　Hmmm。　Certainly。　Including　myself？〃　He　gave　me　a　questioning　look。
　I　pretended　to　consider。　Emerson　had　really　behaved　quite　well；　for　him。　〃If　he　asks　you；〃　I　conceded。
　〃He　asked　me　to　stand　guard　with　him　tonight。〃
　〃Then　you　may　go。〃
　Emerson　burst　out　laughing　and　gave　me　a　bruising　hug。　〃Thank　you　for　giving　me　permission；　my　dear。　Ramses；　are　you　ing？〃
　〃No；〃　I　said；　before　Ramses　could　reply。　〃He　won't　be　needed。　Nefret；　you　might　have　another　look　at　his　injury。　In　my　opinion　he　overdid　it　today。〃
　　
　FROM　MANUSCRIPT　H
　　
　Nefret　had　also　noticed　that　her　husband　seemed　abstracted。　He　submitted　without　ment　to　her　examination；　but　she　found　no　cause　for　concern。　The　wound　was　healing　well。
　〃It's　nice　to　have　an　evening　to　ourselves；〃　she　said。
　〃Yes。〃　He　was　prowling　restlessly　around　the　sitting　room；　picking　up　a　book　and　putting　it　down；　straightening　a　stack　of　papers。　Hands　folded　in　her　lap；　she　watched　him　for　a　while　and　then　took　a　deep　breath。　Her　heart　was　pounding。
　〃I　have　something　to　tell　you；〃　she　said。
　He　came　to　her　at　once；　dropping　to　his　knees　in　front　of　the　chair　and　taking　the　hand　she　offered。
　〃I　wondered。〃　His　other　hand　came　to　rest　lightly　on　her　waist。　〃But　I　didn't　want　to　ask。〃
　〃Why　not？　You　had　every　right。〃
　〃No；　I　hadn't。　When　did　you　know？　Nefret；　look　at　me。　Before　Gaza？〃
　She　might　have　equivocated；　mentioned　the　various　factors　that　made　certainty　difficult。　She　met　his　troubled　gaze　squarely。　〃Yes。〃
　〃And　you　risked　that？　That　awful　trip；　the　danger；　the　…〃
　She　took　his　face　between　her　hands。　〃I　knew　it　would　be　all　right。　I　can't　tell　you　how　I　knew；　but　I　did。　I　would　have　risked　it　anyhow。　I　want　this　very　much；　but　you　are　the　dearest　thing　in　the　world　to　me。　I　let　you　go　…　I　let　you　take　the　risk　…　but　I'd　have　died　of　suspense　waiting　in　Cairo。　Oh；　darling；　aren't　you　glad？〃
　〃Do　you　suppose　I　don't　feel　the　same　about　you？　I'm　beginning　to　understand　what　you　went　through；　all　those　times　when　I　was　off　on　some　bloody　damned　job　without　you。　Glad？　I　suppose　I　am。　Will　be。　At　this　moment；　I　。　。　。　I'm　afraid；　I　think。　I　can't　take　this　risk　for　you。　I　can't　even　share　it。〃
　She　had　never　seen　tears　in　his　eyes　before。　Her　heart　turned　over。　He　hid　his　face　against　her　and　she　held　him；　her　arms　tight　around　his　bowed　shoulders。
　〃It's　too　late　to　change　our　minds　now；〃　she　murmured。
　He　let　out　a　long　breath　and　when　he　raised　his　head　she　saw　again　the　boy　she　had　loved　so　long　without　realizing　how　much　she　loved　him。　His　eyes　were　bright　with　laughter　and　dawning　joy。　〃Are　you　sure　you're　prepared　for　this；　Nefret？　You've　heard　Mother's　stories。　What　if　it　turns　out　to　be　like　me？〃
　
　The　house　was　very　quiet。　I　was　alone；　without　even　a　cat　to　keep　me　pany。　Many　duties　awaited　me；　but　for　some　reason　I　didn't　feel　like　tackling　any　of　them。　Seating　myself　on　the　sofa；　I　found　my　sewing　box　and　took　out　the　crumpled　scrap　of　linen。
　The　sitting　room　door　opened。　One　look　at　their　faces　was　all　I　needed。　Hand　in　hand；　they　came　to　stand　before　me。
　〃We　wanted　you　to　be　the　first　to　know；　Mother；〃　Nefret　said。
　I　had　to　clear　my　throat　before　I　could　speak。　I　got　out　four　words　before　my　voice　failed　me。　〃Well！　Naturally；　I　am　。　。　。〃
　〃Oh；　Mother；　don't　cry。〃　Nefret　sat　down　beside　me　and　put　her　arms　round　me。　〃You　never　cry。〃
　〃Nor　will　I　mar　the　happiness　of　this　moment　by　doing　so；〃　I　assured　her；　somewhat　huskily。　I　held　out　my　hand　to　Ramses；　who　seated　himself　on　my　other　side；　let　out　a　yelp；　and　sprang　up。　He　had　sat　on　my　embroidery。
　We　laughed　until　the　tears　came；　they　had　not　far　to　e。　Returning　to　his　seat；　Ramses　held　up　the　miserable　object。
　〃She's　going　to　claim　she　has　known　for　weeks。　What　is　this；　Mother？〃
　I　wiped　my　eyes。　〃A　…　er　…　a　bib。　Babies　dribble　quite　a　lot。　These　blue　bits　are　violets；　and　these　。　。　。　It　is　rather　nasty…looking；　isn't　it？　I　think　the　bloodstains　will　wash　out。〃
　〃It's　the　most　beautiful　bib　I've　ever　seen；〃　Nefret　said；　wiping　her　eyes。　〃And　I　hope　the　bloodstains　never　wash　out。　You　did　know！〃
　〃Not　until　this　moment；〃　I　said　firmly。　It　would　have　been　the　height　of　unkindness　to　spoil　such　a　wonderful　surprise。　〃I　was　making　it　for　Lia's　little　girl。〃
　〃Girl？〃　Ramses's　eyebrows　tilted。
　〃I　suppose　Abdullah　told　you；〃　Nefret　said　with　a　chuckle。　〃Did　he　happen　to　mention　ours？〃
　〃He　never　tells　me　anything　important；〃　I　said。　Nefret　laughed；　and　I　saw　Ramses　shape　the　word　with　his　lips：　〃Ours。〃　He　was　still　trying　to　take　it　in。
　I　had　known；　of　course；　for　some　time。　To　an　experienced　eye　the　symptoms　are　unmistakable。
　〃When？〃　I　inquired。
　〃September；〃　Nefret　said。
　〃Ah。　So　the　worst　is　over；　and　you　are　obviously　in