elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第79章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃We　better　have　more　than　that；〃　Cyrus　said。　〃I've　got　a　couple　of　rifles　and　a　pistol；　latest…model　Mauser。　I　only　hope　I　can　sneak　'em　out　of　the　house　without　Katherine　seeing；〃　he　added　uneasily。
　We　had　to　get　Sennia　off　to　bed　before　we　made　the　final　arrangements。　Emerson　had　sent　word　to　Selim；　warning　him　of　our　suspicions　and　giving　him　his　instructions；　and　Cyrus　did　manage　to　get　his　weapons　smuggled　out　of　the　Castle　without　Katherine's　knowledge。　She　would　have　been　deeply　distressed　if　she　had　known　what　we　were　up　to。
　A　little　contretemps　arose　at　the　last　minute；　when　the　men　realized　that　Nefret　and　I　and　Jumana　meant　to　acpany　them。　I　put　an　end　to　their　protests　in　short　order；　however。
　〃So　long　as　you　don't　bring　that　damned　sword　parasol〃　was　Emerson's　way　of　conceding　defeat。
　The　moon　was　on　the　wane；　but　the　dazzling　desert　stars　gave　sufficient　light　for　us　to　make　our　way　over　the　ancient　path　that　crossed　the　gebel。　When　we　reached　Deir　el　Medina；　all　was　quiet。　The　coals　of　a　fire　burned　near　the　place　where　our　men　were　stationed；　there　were　only　four　of　them；　including　Selim。　They　had　been　ordered　to　look　as　if　they　had　relaxed　their　guard；　and　on　no　account　to　resist　an　attack。　One　by　one　we　descended　the　slope；　and　found　concealment　in　the　shadows　of　the　ruined　tombs。
　We　waited　for　over　an　hour　before　they　came；　from　the　south；　creeping　along　the　base　of　the　hill。　I　counted　the　dim　shapes：　twelve　in　all。　The　last　two　carried　rifles。　Like　the　others；　they　were　masked；　but　I　had　no　difficulty　in　recognizing　the　rotund　form　of　Mr。　Albion　and　the　taller　outline　of　his　son。　One　might　have　expected　they　would　lead　their　troops　from　behind！　When　Selim　sprang　to　his　feet；　Sebastian　advanced；　with　his　weapon　aimed；　while　one　of　his　hirelings　called　out　in　Arabic；　〃Do　not　move　or　we　will　shoot！〃
　For　a　moment　I　was　afraid　Daoud　would　forget　his　orders。　It　is　not　in　his　nature　to　submit　meekly　to　threats。　However；　he　remained　seated；　and　within　a　few　minutes　our　fellows　were　tightly　bound；　gagged；　and　blindfolded。
　〃Now？〃　Cyrus　whispered。
　Emerson　shook　his　head。
　Sebastian　put　his　rifle　down　and　began　to　climb　the　ladder。　Obeying　his　gesture；　five　of　the　others　followed。　Neither　he　nor　his　father　had　spoken；　our　people　could　hear；　if　they　could　not　see；　and　the　use　of　English　would　have　been　a　dead　giveaway。　Mr。　Albion　sat　down　with　a　grunt；　and　the　other　men　stood　close　by　him。
　Emerson　waited　until　Sebastian　had　reached　the　platform　outside　the　tomb。　His　stentorian　voice　echoed　between　the　cliffs。　〃Stop　where　you　are；　all　of　you。　You　are　surrounded　by　armed　men。〃　He　added　in　English；　〃Drop　the　rifle；　Albion。〃
　〃Better　fire　a　warning　shot；〃　Cyrus　advised。　〃In　case　they　haven't　noticed　our　weapons。〃
　We　were　all　on　our　feet；　except　for　Nefret；　who　had　given　me　her　word　she　would　not　expose　herself　to　gunfire。　Emerson　pointed　his　rifle　toward　the　temple　and　pulled　the　trigger。
　The　men　with　Albion　broke　like　a　drop　of　quicksilver；　scattering　in　all　directions。　〃Let　them　go；〃　said　Emerson；　plunging　down　the　slope。　〃It's　Albion　I　want。〃
　However；　he　was　too　late。　I　would　never　have　supposed　such　a　round；　elderly　man　could　move　so　fast。　The　bullet　Emerson　aimed　at　his　heels　only　made　him　run　faster。
　〃Emerson；〃　I　said；　tugging　at　his　arm。　〃We　had　better　do　something　about　Sebastian；　don't　you　think？〃
　Emerson　looked　up　and　let　out　an　exclamation。
　The　men　who　had　started　to　follow　Sebastian　up　to　the　platform　were　dropping　to　the　ground；　but　Sebastian　himself　was　still　there　…　hanging　by　his　hands　from　the　edge　of　the　platform　and　screaming　at　the　top　of　his　lungs。　Quite　a　number　of　people　were　shouting；　so　his　cries　had　been　lost　in　the　uproar。　He　must　have　lost　his　balance　when　the　gun　went　off。
　〃I'll　get　him；〃　Ramses　said。
　〃Give　him　a　hand；　Bertie；〃　Emerson　ordered。　〃You'll　need　to　get　a　rope　round　the　bloody　idiot。　There's　plenty　in　the　supply　shed。　I　wonder　how　much　longer　he　can　hold　on；〃　he　added　with　mild　interest。
　Nefret　and　I　set　about　freeing　our　men；　who　set　about　collecting　fallen　tomb　robbers。　Some　of　them　had　dropped　quite　a　distance；　so　there　were　sprains　and　a　broken　bone　or　two；　which　Nefret　treated　in　her　usual　efficient　fashion。
　〃Have　they　got　him？〃　she　asked；　referring　to　Sebastian。　He　was　still　screaming。　〃I　can't　see　from　here。〃
　〃Bertie　got　a　rope　around　him；〃　Cyrus　said。　〃They　don't　seem　to　be　in　any　hurry　to　pull　him　up；　though。〃
　　
　Leaving　the　robbers　in　Selim's　charge；　we　took　a　silent；　shivering　Sebastian　back　to　his　ma　and　pa。　As　Emerson　declared；　he　had　not　finished　with　Mr。　Albion；　not　by　a　damned　sight。　We　all　went　along；　naturally。　No　one　wanted　to　miss　the　denouement。
　There　was　no　response　to　Emerson's　emphatic　knocks　on　the　door　of　the　Albions's　sitting　room。　Fearing　that　he　would　wake　the　poor　convalescent　officers；　I　announced　in　low　but　penetrating　tones；　〃We　have　your　son。　If　you　want　him　back　you　must　let　us　in。〃
　The　door　was　flung　open　by　Mrs。　Albion。　Despite　the　lateness　of　the　hour　she　was　fully　dressed　and　bejeweled。　〃What　have　you　done　to　him？〃　she　cried；　seizing　hold　of　the　young　man。
　〃He　did　it　to　himself；〃　I　replied；　pushing　mother　and　son　out　of　the　way。　Mr。　Albion　was　sitting　on　the　sofa。　He　must　have　arrived　just　before　we　did；　since　he　was　breathless；　disheveled；　and　very　red　in　the　face。
　〃Now　you've　brought　him　back；　get　out；〃　he　said。
　〃This　is　not　a　presentation；　it　is　an　exchange；〃　said　Emerson。　〃Peabody；　my　dear；　may　I　invite　you　to　take　a　chair；　since　no　one　else　has　had　the　courtesy　to　do　so？　Albion；　I　want　the　artifacts　you　got　from　Jamil。〃
　〃Be　damned　to　you！〃　Albion　growled。
　Having　determined　that　her　son　was　intact；　Mrs。　Albion　turned　indignantly　on　Emerson。　〃Mr。　Albion　paid　for　those　objects；　sir。　Are　you　a　mon　thief？〃
　〃Not　at　all　mon；　madam；〃　said　Emerson；　with　a　smile　that　reminded　me　of　his　brother。　〃I　propose　not　to　press　charges　for　armed　assault　and　purchasing　illegal　antiquities；　in　return　for　the　objects　that　were　stolen　…　and　for　your　promise　to　leave　Luxor　immediately。　Your　husband　and　your　son　are　extremely　inept　criminals；　but　I　cannot　have　this　sort　of　thing。　It　interferes　with　my　work。　e　now；　Albion；　you　are　a　practical　man。　Admit　you've　lost。〃
　〃Lost？〃　Mrs。　Albion　gasped。　〃Mr。　Albion　does　not　lose。　Mr。　Albion　…〃
　〃Is　a　practical　man；〃　her　husband　said；　with　difficulty。　〃All　right；　then。　I'll　get　them。〃
　〃And　I　will　e　with　you；〃　Emerson　declared。　〃To　make　sure　you　don't　overlook　anything。〃
　They　returned　with　a　heavy　box；　which　Emerson　handed　to　Cyrus。　〃All　there。　All　yours。　Shall　we　go；　my　dears？〃
　Mrs。　Albion　appeared　to　be　in　a　state　of　shock。　Her　eyes　had　a　bewildered　look　and　she　kept　murmuring；　〃Mr。　Albion　does　not　lose。　Mr。　Albion　。　。　。〃
　Was　in　for　a　spot　of　marital　trouble；　if　I　was　any　judge。　I　sincerely　hoped　so。
　〃Just　one　more　thing；〃　Bertie　said；　in　his　quiet　voice。　〃Sebastian；　take　off　your　glasses　and　put　up　your　hands。〃
　〃Hopelessly；　incorrigibly　well…bred；〃　said　Emerson；　shaking　his　head；　as　Bertie　knocked　Sebastian　flat。
　　
　Cyrus's　fantasia　was　remembered　for　years　as　the　finest；　most　extravagant　entertainment　Luxor　had　ever　seen。　The　courtyard　and　the　Castle　were　thrown　open；　tourists；　convalescent　officers；　Egyptian　workmen；　and　the　permanent　residents　of　Luxor　mingled　in　amity；　eating　and　drinking；　dancing　and　singing。　It　was　such　a　crush　I　soon　gave　up　trying　to　do　my　social　duty　and　was　enjoying　the　sight　of　Selim　and　Nefret　trying　to　waltz　to　the　beat　of　an　Egyptian　drum；　when　someone　tapped　me　on　the　shoulder　and　I　turned　to　see　Marjorie　Fisher；　a　longtime　friend　who　lived　in　Luxor。
　〃It's　been　ages；　Amelia；〃　she　said。　〃What　have　you　been　up　to？〃
　〃Just　the　usual；〃　I　replied。　〃And　what　have　you　been　up　to？〃
　She　laughed。　〃The　usual。　Lunches；　teas；　visitors　。　。　。　That　reminds　me；　I　ran　into　someone　recently　who　asked　to　be　remembered　to　you。　A　sweet　little　thing　with　freckles　on　her　nose。　Her　name　is　Molly　Throgmorton。〃
　I　swallowed　the　wrong　way。　〃Molly　what？〃
　〃She　has　been　recently　married；〃　Marjorie　said。　〃Her　husband　was　with　her　…　a　very　pleasant　but　rather　coarse　American；　who　looked　to　be　at　least　fifty　years　her　senior　…　but　she　was　wearing　a　diamond　the　size　of　a　lima　bean；　my　dear；　so　he　must　be　extremely　rich。　She　said　you　knew　her　by　her　maiden　name；　but　I'm　afraid　I　have　forgotten　it。　Do　you　know　who　I　mean？〃
　〃Yes。　I　know　who　you　mean。　Where　is　she　…　where　are　they　staying？〃
　〃They　left　Luxor　on　Tuesday。　Is　something　wrong；　Amelia？〃
　〃No。　It's　just　that　I　am　。　。　。　sorry　to　have　missed　her。　I　don't　suppose　she　happened　to　mention　where　they　were　going？〃
　Marjorie　shook　her　head。　〃She　said　she　hoped　to　see　you　another　time。　Her　exact　words　were　'Tell　her　she　hasn't　seen　the　last　of　me。'　Rather　an　odd　way　of　expressing　it；　but　I　suppose　she　meant　it　as　a　touch　of　humor。〃
　〃No　doubt；〃　I　said。
　〃I　am　going　to　break　all　the　rules　of　decorum　and　ask　Selim　to　dance　with　me；〃　Marjorie　announced　with　a　smile。　〃He　waltzes　beautifully！　e　to　tea　on　Friday；　Amelia？〃
　〃Thank　you。　That　would　be　nice。〃
　The　festivities　were　still　in　progress　when　we　took　our　departure；　leaving　Jumana　to　〃cavort　with　the　young　people；〃　as　Emerson　put　it。　The　sounds　of　revelry　faded　into　silence　as　the　carriage　traversed　the　winding　road；　and　the　still；　starry　night　of　Egypt　enclosed　us。
　〃Vandergelt　informed　me　that　the　Albions　left　Luxor　yesterday；〃　Emerson　remarked。　He　added　pensively；　〃I　must　say　that　the　general　quality　of　criminals　has　sadly　deteriorated。　Not　that　I　mind　…　especially　at　the　present　time。　How　are　you　feeling；　my　dear？〃
　He　put　his　arm　round　Nefret　and　she　leaned　against　his　shoulder。　〃A　little　tired；　perhaps。　But　it　was　a　wonderful　evening。〃
　〃Life；〃　Emerson　declared；　in　such　a　happy　frame　of　mind　he　actually　mitted　an　aphorism；　〃life　could　not　be　better。　Eh；　Peabody？〃
　〃Indeed；　Emerson。〃
　Not　for　worlds　would　I　have　cast　a　shadow　on　his　good　humor。　Nor　was　there　cause　to　do　so；　my　fancies　were　no　more　than　that；　idle　thoughts　of　a　wandering　mind。　Yet　the　words　kept　going　round　and　round　in　my　head；　like　a　broken　gramophone　record。
　〃If　she　blames　me　for　her　mother's　death；　how　do　you　suppose　she　feels　about　you？〃　。　。　。　〃Tell　her　she　hasn't　seen　the　last　of　me　。　。　。〃
　〃The　young　serpent　also　has　poisoned　fangs。〃
　
　　
　
　
　The　Amelia　Peabody　Mysteries
　　
　Crocodile　on　the　Sandbank
　When　strong…willed　Amelia　Peabody's　studious　father　dies；　Amelia　decides　to　use　her　ample　inheritance　to　travel。　After　rescuing　a　gentlewoman　（Evelyn　Barton…Forbes）　in　considerable　distress；　the　two　bee　friends　and　Amelia　hires　Evelyn　to　be　her　panion　on　the　next　leg　of　her　trip；　which　takes　them　to　Egypt。　There　Amelia　encounters　mysteries；　missing　mummies；　and　Radcliffe　Emerson；　an　opinionated　archaeologist　who　doesn't　need　a　woman's　help　to　solve　the　mystery　…　or　so　he　thinks。
　　
　The　Curse　of　the　Pharaohs
　When　Lady　Baskerville's　husband　Sir　Henry　dies　after　discovering　what　may　be　an　undisturbed　royal　tomb　in　Luxor；　she　appeals　to　eminent　archaeologist　Radcliffe　Emerson　and　his　wife　Amelia　to　take　over　the　excavation。　Amid　rumors　of　a　curse　haunting　all　those　involved　with　the　dig；　th