elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第8章

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　the　loot。　Those　scoundrels　cheat　even　one　another。〃
　〃I　suppose　you　are　now　even　more　on　fire　to　go　on　to　Luxor　and　track　down　the　thieves；〃　Nefret　said；　tucking　her　feet　under　her　and　leaning　against　Ramses。
　〃You　would　like　a　few　more　days　at　the　hospital；　wouldn't　you？〃　Emerson　asked。
　〃Well；　yes；　but　I　wouldn't　want　you　to　change　your　plans　on　my　account。〃
　I　must　give　my　dear　Emerson　credit；　he　was　too　forthright　to　pretend　he　was　doing　it　on　her　account。　〃The　tomb　has　already　been　robbed　and　the　loot　dispersed；〃　he　explained。　〃And　I　expect　everyone　knows　the　identity　of　the　thieves　…　the　Abd　er　Rassuls；　or　one　of　the　other　Gurneh　families　who　specialize　in　such　activities。　It　is　strange；　though；　to　have　some　of　the　objects　turn　up　in　Cairo。　The　local　boys　usually　work　with　Mohassib　or　another　of　the　Luxor　dealers。　Ramses；　are　you　certain　that　ointment　vessel　is　Eighteenth　Dynasty？〃
　〃No；　of　course　not；〃　Ramses　said；　somewhat　defensively。　〃I'm　not　an　expert　on　hard　stone　vessels。　The　same　forms　and　materials　were　used　over　a　long　period　of　time。　If　you　think　it's　important；　we　might　pay　a　visit　to　the　Museum　and　see　what　examples　they　have。〃
　〃If　we　can　find　them；〃　Emerson　muttered。　〃The　way　that　place　is　arranged　is　a　damned　disgrace。〃
　Emerson　always　plained　about　the　Museum　and　about　almost　everything　else　that　was　not　under　his　direct　supervision。　I　pointed　out　that　Mr。　Quibell；　the　director；　was　doing　the　best　he　could　under　difficult　circumstances。　Emerson　nodded　grudgingly。
　〃No　doubt。　I　suppose　we　ought　to　call　on　him。　Or　we　might　have　one　of　your　little　archaeological　dinner　parties；　Peabody。　The　Quibells；　and　Daressy；　and　anyone　else　you　can　collect。〃
　My　dinner　parties；　celebrating　our　return　to　Egypt；　had　been　very　popular。　For　the　past　few　years　I　had　been　loath　to　hold　them；　it　was　too　painful　to　see　the　diminished　pany　and　reflect　on　the　fates　of　those　who　were　no　longer　with　us：　our　German　and　Austrian　colleagues　departed；　the　ranks　of　the　French　and　English　Egyptologists　depleted　by　death　or　military　service。　However；　I　had　already　been　in　receipt　of　friendly　messages　from　those　who　were　still　in　Cairo　…　the　news　of　our　arrival　had；　of　course；　immediately　bee　known。　Emerson's　proposal　solved　the　difficulty　of　how　I　was　to　respond　to　these　greetings　and　invitations；　and　astonished　me　not　a　little；　for　he　was　never　inclined　toward　social　engagements；　and　he　had　been　insistent　on　leaving　Cairo　as　soon　as　was　possible。
　A　brief　period　of　reflection　explained　his　change　of　heart。　The　letter　from　Cyrus　and　the　discovery　of　the　artifacts　at　Aslimi's　had　whetted　his　curiosity；　Cyrus's　mention　of　Howard　Carter　being　in　some　manner　involved　aroused　an　understandable　desire　to　question　that　individual。　There　was　another　reason　for　his　willingness　to　stay　on　in　Cairo；　he　was　hoping　for　a　further　munication　from　his　brother。　He　had　made　a　point　of　looking　through　the　messages　every　day　and　his　disappointment　at　finding　nothing　of　the　sort　was　evident　to　me　at　least。　I　confess　I　was　also　somewhat　exasperated　with　Sethos。　What　had　been　the　point　of　that　brief　encounter？
　Unfortunately　I　was　unable　to　locate　the　archaeologist　whom　Emerson　had　hoped　to　interrogate。　Howard　Carter　was　not　in　Cairo。　No　one　knew　where　he　was。　However；　when　the　sadly　diminished　group　met　next　evening；　he　was　the　chief　topic　of　conversation。　Owing　to　the　short　notice；　the　Quibells　were　the　only　ones　who　had　been　able　to　accept　my　invitation。
　〃You　just　missed　him；〃　Annie　Quibell　said。　〃He　got　back　from　Luxor　a　few　days　ago；　and　went　off　again　without　any　of　us　seeing　him。　James　was　furious。〃
　She　smiled　at　her　husband；　whose　equable　temper　was　well　known；　and　who　said　calmly；　〃I　presume　his　duties　for　the　War　Office　called　him　away；　but　I　had　hoped　to　hear　more　about　his　recent　work　in　Luxor。〃
　〃And　his　dealings　with　Mohassib？〃　Emerson　inquired；　motioning　the　waiter　to　refill　James's　wineglass。
　〃Who　told　you　that？〃
　〃Cyrus　Vandergelt；〃　I　replied。　〃Is　it　true？〃
　James　shrugged。　〃I've　heard　the　rumor　too；　but　I　doubt　Carter　would　admit　it　to　me；　even　if　it　were　true。　He　spent　several　months　out　in　the　southwest　wadis；　where　the　princesses'　tomb　was　found；　when　he　was　in　Cairo　for　a　few　days　early　in　December；　he　gave　me　a　brief　report。　Did　you　hear　about　his　finding　another　tomb　of　Hatshepsut's？　This　one　was　made　for　her　when　she　was　queen；　before　she　assumed　kingly　titles。　It　was　empty　except　for　a　sarcophagus。〃　He　picked　up　his　glass　and　sipped　his　wine　appreciatively。
　〃Where？〃　Emerson　asked。
　〃High　in　a　cleft　in　the　cliffs；　in　one　of　the　western　wadis；〃　Annie　said。　She　and　her　husband　were　not　great　admirers　of　Howard；　after　his　falling…out　with　the　Service；　he　had　begun　dealing　in　antiquities；　and　this　did　not　make　him　popular　with　his　professional　colleagues。　She　added；　with　a　distinct　and　amusing　touch　of　malice；　〃He　didn't　find　Hatshepsut's　tomb；　James。　Some　of　the　Gurnawis　did。　He　only　followed　them。〃
　〃Bah；〃　said　Emerson　vehemently。　〃I　wonder　what　else　he　did？〃
　〃So　do　I；〃　said　James。
　　
　Having　failed　to　locate　Howard；　Emerson　was　ready　to　leave　for　Luxor　at　once。　However；　it　was　not　to　be。　We　were　finishing　breakfast　en　famille　in　our　sitting　room　when　a　messenger　arrived　with　a　letter　for　Emerson。　It　was　a　delightful　little　domestic　scene；　with　Sennia　badgering　Ramses　to　give　her　a　lesson　in　hieroglyphs　and　Horus　snarling　at　Gargery　and　Emerson　reading　the　Egyptian　Gazette　and　smoking　his　pipe；　while　Nefret　told　me　about　the　new　arrangements　at　the　hospital。　When　I　saw　the　envelope；　with　its　official　seal；　it　was　as　if　the　sun　had　gone　behind　a　cloud。
　〃Whom　is　it　from？〃　I　demanded。
　Emerson　frowned　over　the　epistle；　which　he　was　holding　so　I　couldn't　read　over　his　shoulder。　〃Wingate。　He　would　like　me　to　e　to　his　office　at　my　earliest　convenience。〃
　〃Sir　Reginald　Wingate？　What　does　the　Sirdar　of　the　Sudan　want　with　you？〃
　〃He　replaced　MacMahon　as　high　missioner　last　month；〃　Emerson　replied。　〃He　doesn't　say　what　he　wants。〃
　We　had　all　fallen　silent　except　for　Sennia；　who　had　no　idea　who　the　high　missioner　was　and　cared　even　less。　Emerson　looked　at　his　son。　〃Er　…　Ramses　。　。　。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　When？〃
　〃Later。　He　says　'at　our　convenience。'　It　is　not　convenient　for　me　at　present。〃
　Sennia　understood　that。　〃Ramses　will　have　time　to　give　me　my　lesson；〃　she　announced　firmly。　Sennia　was　in　the　habit　of　making　pronouncements　instead　of　asking　questions；　it　usually　worked。
　Ramses　rose；　smiling。　〃A　short　lesson；　then。　Let's　go　to　your　room　where　we　won't　be　distracted。〃
　The　door　closed　behind　them　…　and　Horus；　who　went　wherever　Sennia　went　unless　forcibly　prevented　from　doing　so。　Having　got　Sennia　out　of　the　way；　Emerson　turned　stern　blue　eyes　on　Gargery；　who　stood　with　arms　folded　and　feet　slightly　apart；　exuding　stubbornness。　〃Go　away；　Gargery；〃　Emerson　said。
　〃Sir　…〃
　〃I　said；　go　away。〃
　〃But　sir　…〃
　〃If　there　is　anything　you　need　to　know；　Gargery；　I　will　tell　you　about　it　at　the　proper　time；〃　I　interrupted。　〃That　will　be　all。〃
　Gargery　stamped　out；　slamming　the　door；　and　Nefret　said　quietly；　〃Do　you　want　me　to　leave　too？〃
　〃No；　of　course　not。〃　Emerson　leaned　back　in　his　chair。　〃It　isn't　the　military　or　the　secret　service　this　time；　Nefret。　Wingate　probably　wants　us　for　some　tedious　office　job。〃
　〃Are　you　going　to　accept？〃
　〃That　depends。〃　Emerson　got　to　his　feet　and　began　pacing。　〃Like　it　or　not；　and　God　knows　we　don't；　we　cannot　ignore　the　fact　that　there　is　a　bloody　war　going　on。　They　won't　let　me　carry　a　rifle；　and　Ramses　won't　carry　one；　but　there　are　other　things　we　can　do；　and　we　have　no　right　to　refuse。〃
　〃You　and　Ramses；〃　Nefret　repeated；　with　a　curl　of　her　lip。　〃Men。　Never　women。〃
　〃You　offered　your　services　as　a　surgeon；　didn't　you？〃
　〃Yes。〃　Nefret's　eyes　flashed。　〃The　military　isn't　accepting　women　physicians。　But　that　would　have　been　saving　lives；　not　…〃
　〃There　are　other　ways　of　saving　lives；　or　at　least　minimizing　suffering。　You　can't　keep　him　out　of　this　forever；　Nefret；　I've　seen　the　signs；　and　so　have　you。　He's　feeling　guilty　because　he　thinks　he　is　not　doing　his　part。〃
　〃He's　done　his　part　and　more；〃　Nefret　cried。　〃It　wasn't　only　that　ghastly　business　two　years　ago；　it　was　the　same　sort　of　thing　again　last　winter；　if　he　hadn't　risked　his　life　twice　over；　the　War　Office　would　have　lost　its　favorite　spy　and　a　German　agent　would　have　got　away。　What　more　do　they　want　from　him？〃
　It　did　seem　to　me　as　if　she　were　underestimating　my　contribution　and　that　of　Emerson；　but　I　did　not　say　so；　where　her　husband　was　concerned；　Nefret　was　passionately　single…minded。　Her　eyes　were　bright　with　tears　of　anger。　Emerson　stopped　by　the　chair　in　which　she　sat　and　put　his　hand　on　her　shoulder。
　〃I　know；　my　dear；〃　he　said　gently。　〃But　I　cannot　suppose　they　want　us　to　go　chasing　spies　again。　The　situation　has　changed。　With　the　Turks　driven　out　of　the　Sinai；　the　Canal　is　no　longer　in　danger；　and　the　Senussi　are　in　full　retreat。　There　is　nothing　going　on　that　requires　Ramses's　unusual　talents；　or；〃　he　added　with　a　grin；　〃mine。〃
　〃Unless；〃　I　said；　〃this　has　something　to　do　with　Sethos。〃
　Emerson　shot　me　a　reproachful　glance；　but　I　had　only　voiced　aloud　what　was　in　all　our　minds。
　〃There's　been　no　further　word　from　him？〃　Nefret　asked。　I　shook　my　head。
　〃If　Ramses　gets　in　trouble　because　of　him；　I'll　murder　him；〃　she　muttered。
　She　did　not　go　to　the　hospital　that　morning。　She　did　not　want　to　leave　the　hotel；　though　I　pointed　out　that　we　could　probably　not　expect　Emerson　and　Ramses　back　before　luncheon。　Finally　I　managed　to　persuade　her　to　go　walking　in　the　Ezbekieh　Gardens　with　Sennia　and　me。　I　always　say　there　is　nothing　like　the　beauties　of　nature　to　distract　one　from　worrisome　thoughts。　The　Gardens　are　planted　with　rare　trees　and　shrubs　and　the　air　is　harmonious　with　birdsong。　Sennia　was　even　more　of　a　distraction；　it　required　both　of　us　to　keep　track　of　her　as　she　ran　up　and　down　the　graveled　paths。　It　did　Nefret　good；　I　believe。　When　we　started　back；　both　of　us　holding　tight　to　Sennia's　hands；　she　said　ruefully；　〃You　think　I'm　behaving　like　a　silly　coward；　don't　you？〃
　〃Perhaps　just　a　bit。　But　I　understand。　One　bees　accustomed　to　it；　you　see；〃　I　continued。　〃One　never　likes　it；　but　one　bees　resigned。〃
　〃I　know　I　can't　keep　him　out　of　trouble；〃　Nefret　said。　〃It's　just　this　particular　…〃
　〃Little　pitchers　have　big　ears；〃　I　warned。
　〃If　you　are　referring　to　me；〃　said　Sennia；　with　great　dignity；　〃my　ears　are　not　at　all　large。　Ramses　says　they　are　pretty　ears。　Is　he　in　trouble？〃
　Nefret　laughed　and　picked　her　up。　We　were　about　to　cross　the　street；　which　was　crowded　with　traffic。　〃No；　Little　Bird。　And　we　will　make　sure　he　doesn't　get　into　it；　won't　we？〃
　We　had　been　waiting　for　almost　an　hour　before　they　returned。　Sennia　was　reading　aloud　to　us　from　a　little　book　of　Egyptian　fairy　tales；　but　the　moment　the　door　opened　she　dropped　it　and　ran　to　meet　them。　Throwing　her　arms　round　Ramses's　waist；　she　asked　anxiously；　〃Are　you　in　trouble？〃
　〃Not　unless　you　crack　one　of　my　ribs；〃　Ramses　said；　with　a　theatrical　gasp　of　pain。　〃Who　told　you　that？〃
　〃Let　us　go　to　luncheon；〃　I　said。
　〃Yes；　I　am　starving；〃　Sennia　announced；　rolling　her　eyes　dramatically。　〃I　didn't