elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第103部分

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　〃Sorry　to　disturb　you　folks；〃　Cyrus　said。　He　did　not　look　at　all　sorry。　Bliss　…　delight　…　happiness　。　。　。　The　words　are　too　weak　for　the　emotion　that　transformed　his　face。　The　only　other　time　I　had　seen　that　glow　was　on　the　day　he　and　Katherine　were　wed。
　〃What　is　it；　Cyrus？〃　I　cried；　jumping　to　my　feet。
　〃It's　for　Bertie　to　make　the　announcement；〃　Cyrus　replied。　He　was　puffed　with　pride。
　Bertie　looked　round　the　table。　〃Where's　Jumana？　She　should　be　here。〃
　〃Oh　my　goodness；〃　I　gasped。　〃You　aren't　。　。　。　you　two　aren't　engaged？〃
　Bertie's　boyish　laugh　rang　out。　〃Better　than　that；　Mrs。　Emerson。　We've　found　it；　Jumana　and　I。　Jamil's　tomb。〃
　　
　Pandemonium　ensued。　Even　Gargery；　who　had　only　the　vaguest　notion　of　what　Bertie　meant；　clapped　his　hands　and　joined　in　the　cries　of　excitement　and　congratulation。　As　the　others　gathered　round　Bertie；　all　talking　at　once；　I　slipped　out　of　the　room。
　Jumana　was　sitting　on　her　bed；　her　hands　folded　and　her　face　smeared　with　dried　tears。　Now　that　I　got　a　good　look　at　her；　I　realized　she　was　not　dressed　for　a　romantic　rendezvous。　Her　shirt　and　trousers　were　torn　and　dusty；　her　boots　were　scuffed；　and　her　hair　straggled　over　her　face。
　〃Bertie　is　here；〃　I　said。
　She　jumped　up。　〃Then　it's　all　right？　He　told　you？　I　promised　I　would　not；　it　was　to　be　a　surprise；　his　surprise。　May　I　go　now？〃　She　let　out　a　peal　of　laughter。　〃I　am　very　hungry！〃
　Ah；　the　resilience　of　youth！　From　despair　to　delight　in　the　twinkling　of　an　eye！　I　could　have　let　her　go　without　further　delay；　I　was　tempted　to　do　so；　but　justice　pelled　me　to　make　what　amends　I　could。
　〃First；　I　must　apologize；〃　I　said。
　〃Apologize？　To　me？　Why？〃
　〃For　misjudging　you。　I　was　wrong；　and　you　were　right　to　keep　your　promise　to　Bertie。　I　deeply　regret　the　injustice　I　did　you　and　I　hope　you　will　forgive　me。〃　I　held　out　my　hand。　She　would　have　fainted　with　sheer　surprise　if　I　had　attempted　to　embrace　her；　and　anyhow；　she　was　very　grubby。
　〃Forgive？　You？〃　She　stared　wide…eyed　at　my　offered　hand。
　〃I　did　you　an　injustice；〃　I　repeated。　〃Shake　hands；　if　you　will；　and　then　go　to　the　others。〃
　She　did　not　shake　my　hand。　She　kissed　it；　fervently　and　damply；　gave　me　a　radiant　smile；　and　ran　out　of　the　room。
　I　would　not　have　blamed　her　for　taking　advantage　of　her　role　as　heroine　…　misjudged；　falsely　accused　heroine　at　that！　Instead　she　insisted　that　all　the　credit　belonged　to　Bertie。　It　was　he　and　he　alone　who　had　deduced　where　the　tomb　must　be。
　〃But　where　is　it？〃　Emerson　shouted；　tugging　at　his　hair。　〃Bertie　won't　say。　Jumana；　where　…〃
　〃We　want　to　show　you；〃　Bertie　explained。　〃You'll　never　believe　it　otherwise。〃
　〃They're　entitled；〃　Ramses　said；　smiling　in　sympathy。　〃Lead　the　way；　Bertie。〃
　He　led　us　to　Deir　el　Medina。
　Our　men　were　there；　waiting　to　begin　the　day's　work。　Ramses　called　them　to　gather　round；　explaining　that　Bertie　had　an　important　announcement　to　make。　The　truth　had　begun　to　dawn　on　Emerson　by　then。　〃It　can't　be；〃　he　mumbled。　〃I　don't　believe　it。　Damnation！〃
　〃Father；　if　you　please；〃　Ramses　said。　〃Bertie；　you　have　the　floor。〃　He　added；　with　a　grin；　〃Make　the　most　of　it。〃
　〃Oh；　well；〃　Bertie　said；　blushing。　〃It　was　an　accident；　really；　you　know。　I　sat　here　for　days　with　my　foot　up　and　nothing　much　to　do　but　stare　at　the　scenery。　I　got　to　know　it　pretty　well。　Look　up　there。〃
　He　pointed。
　Straight　ahead；　the　walls　of　the　temple　occupied　the　opening　of　the　little　valley；　with　the　fields　and　the　river　stretching　out　to　the　north　and　the　cliffs　rising　up　on　either　side。　The　ruined　tombs　of　the　workers　were　scattered　along　the　western　slope。　Bertie's　extended　arm　indicated　the　highest　point；　to　the　left　of　the　temple。　We　stared　in　silent　bewilderment　for　a　time。　We　were　all　looking　for　a　sculpture　…　the　figure　of　a　god；　weathered　by　time；　shaped　by　the　hand　of　man。
　A　divinity　had　shaped　it　…　nature　herself。　As　I　have　had　occasion　to　mention；　the　rock　formations　of　the　western　mountains　assume　bizarre　forms。　This　might　have　been　a　giant　fist；　gripping　the　crest　of　the　hill　…　four　regular；　rounded；　parallel　shapes；　with　a　small　spur　of　rock　next　to　them　like　the　end　of　a　thumb。　It　was　a　prominent　landmark；　rising　high　above　the　lower；　less　precipitous　part　of　the　hillside；　and　once　the　eye　had　defined　it　the　resemblance　was　unmistakable。
　〃There！〃　I　exclaimed　in　wonderment。　〃Emerson；　do　you　see？〃
　Emerson　removed　his　pith　helmet　and　flung　it　onto　the　ground。　I　gave　him　a　warning　frown　and　a　little　poke。　It　was　sufficient；　his　better　nature　triumphed　over　envy。　〃Well；　well；〃　he　said　hoarsely。　〃Hmph。　That　is　…　congratulations；　Vandergelt。〃
　Cyrus　slapped　him　on　the　back。　〃It　belongs　to　both　of　us；　old　pal。　All　of　us；　I　should　say。〃
　〃No；　no。〃　Emerson　drew　himself　up。　〃We　made　an　agreement；　Vandergelt。　The　tombs　of　Deir　el　Medina　are　yours；　and　it　was　Bertie　who　found　this　one。　Congratulations；　I　say。〃
　Never　had　I　admired　my　dear　Emerson　more。　He　looked　so　noble；　his　shoulders　thrown　back　and　his　tanned　face　wearing　a　strained　smile；　it　was　all　I　could　do　not　to　embrace　him。　Cyrus　was　equally　moved。　He　took　out　his　handkerchief　and　blew　his　nose。
　〃That's　darned　decent　of　you；　Emerson。　But　no　more　than　I　expected。〃
　〃And　no　less　than　you　deserve；〃　Emerson　said　gruffly。　〃So　where　is　the　damned　tomb？〃
　〃In　that　crack　between　the　first　and　second　fingers；〃　Bertie　said。　〃It　took　us　several　days　…　nights；　I　should　say　…　to　find　it。　Fortunately　the　moon　has　been　full。　We　haven't　been　inside。　We　thought　Cyrus　ought　to　have　the　privilege；〃　he　added；　wincing　as　Cyrus　seized　his　hand　and　wrung　it　vigorously。
　〃Are　you　sure　the　passage　is　open？〃　I　asked。　〃I　know　Jamil　has　been　in　and　out　of　the　place；　but　he　is　…　was　…　slightly　built　and　agile　and　foolhardy。〃
　Naturally　the　men　ignored　this　sensible　ment。　Emerson's　eyes　glittered　like　sapphires。　〃What　are　we　waiting　for？　Let's　go！〃
　We　restrained　Emerson　while　we　discussed　the　best　way　to　proceed。　Bertie　explained　how　he　and　Jumana　had　managed　it；　scaling　the　cliff　and　lowering　themselves　from　above　by　means　of　a　rope。　Emerson　was　pleased　to　approve　this　plan；　though　if　I　had　not　kept　hold　of　him　he　would　have　started　straight　up　the　sheerest　part　of　the　cliff。
　We　all　went；　of　course；　including　Selim　and　Daoud。　Their　assistance　was　invaluable；　for　it　was　a　tricky　climb。　When　we　stood　atop　the　rounded　〃finger〃　looking　down；　I　addressed　Jumana；　who　had　stuck　to　me　like　a　burr。
　〃You　did　this　at　night？　Really；　my　dear；　was　that　wise？　You　ought　to　have　told　the　Professor；　or　Cyrus；　of　your　theory。〃
　Bertie　overheard。　〃It　was　my　fault；　Mrs。　Emerson。　I　wanted　to　be　sure　before　I　told　anyone。　I　didn't　mean　to　tell　Jumana　either；　but　I　asked　too　many　questions　…　about　the　terrain　here；　and　whether　Jamil　had　explored　this　area　…　and　she　wrung　it　out　of　me。〃
　He　turned　to　respond　to　Emerson；　and　Jumana　said　in　a　low　voice；　〃He　would　have　searched　alone。　It　was　too　dangerous。〃
　〃It　certainly　would　have　been；〃　I　agreed。　〃I　am　surprised　he　allowed　you　to　acpany　him。〃
　〃He　said　I　could　not。　So；〃　said　Jumana　coolly；　〃I　told　him　that　you　and　Nefret　do　not　let　Ramses　and　the　Professor　stop　you　from　doing　what　you　want；　and　I　was　trying　to　be　like　you。　But　you　see　why　I　could　not　speak　before。　He　trusted　me；　and　I　had　…　I　had　been　unkind　and　unfair　to　him。〃
　〃Ah；〃　I　said　somewhat　uneasily。　〃So　you　think　well　of　him；　do　you？〃
　She　met　my　eyes　directly　and　with　no　sign　of　self…consciousness。　〃He　is　a　good　man。　We　are　friends；　I　hope。〃
　I　hoped　so　too。
　　
　Watching　Daoud　knot　the　rope　round　Cyrus's　waist；　I　issued　a　final　order。　〃Cyrus；　stop　at　once　and　e　back　if　the　passage　bees　too　narrow　or　the　ceiling　looks　unstable　or　…〃
　〃Sure；　Amelia。　Lower　away；　Daoud。〃
　〃You　shouldn't　have　allowed　him　to　go　first；　Emerson；〃　I　scolded；　as　Cyrus's　body　disappeared　into　the　crevice。
　〃My　dear　Peabody；　how　could　I　deprive　him　of　a　moment　he　has　waited　for　his　whole　life？　If　he　died　in　the　attempt；　he　would　die　happy。　That；〃　Emerson　added　quickly；　〃was　only　a　figure　of　speech。　Nothing　is　going　to　happen。　But　…　er　…　well；　perhaps　I　ought　to　follow　him。〃
　〃Not　with　one　arm；　Emerson！〃
　〃They　will　have　to　lower　me；　that's　all；〃　said　Emerson；