elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第13部分

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　〃Someone　will　have　to　make　a　choice。〃
　His　mother　dropped　her　fancywork　and　stared　at　him。　〃You　don't　mean　you　would　give　up　Egyptology！〃
　〃Nothing　so　drastic。　I　can　always　get　a　position　with　Reisner；　at　Giza。〃　She　looked　so　horrified；　he　put　his　hand　over　hers。　〃I　don't　want　to　work　with　anyone　but　Father；　you　know　that。　But　I　have　to　be　with　her　and　I　want　her　to　be　happy。　Why　should　I　expect　her　to　give　up　her　work　when　I'm　not　willing　to　make　a　reasonable　promise？〃
　〃Honestly；　Ramses。〃　His　mother　gave　him　a　look　of　exasperation。　〃I　would　expect　any　son　of　mine　to　appreciate　the　talents　and　aspirations　of　women；　but　you　are　carrying　fairness　to　a　ridiculous　extreme。　What　makes　you　suppose　Nefret　wants　to　abandon　archaeology？　Have　you　asked　her？〃
　〃No。　I　didn't　want　…〃
　〃To　force　the　issue？　Well；　my　dear；　Nefret　is　not　the　woman　to　keep　her　opinions　to　herself。　You　are　leaping　to　unwarranted　conclusions　and　tormenting　yourself　about　something　that　will　never　happen。　It　is　a　bad　habit　of　yours。〃
　〃D'you　really　think　so？〃
　〃I　am　certain　of　it。〃　She　hesitated；　but　not　for　long。　Indecision　was　not　one　of　his　mother's　weaknesses。　〃She　once　told　me　something　that　perhaps　you　should　know。　'I　would　leave　the　hospital　forever；　without　a　backward　glance；　if　it　would　help　to　keep　him　safe。'　〃
　〃She　said　that？〃
　〃I　do　not　claim　to　remember　the　precise　words；　but　that　was　unquestionably　the　gist　of　her　remark。　Goodness　gracious；　Ramses；　don't　look　so　stupefied。　If　you　are　really　unaware　of　the　strength　of　your　wife's　affection；　you　have　not　been　paying　her　the　proper　attentions。〃
　He　didn't　dare　ask　what　she　meant　by　that。　Her　prim　circumlocutions　always　amused　him；　but　he　said　humbly　and　without　a　smile；　〃You　are　right；　Mother；　as　always。　I　haven't　said　anything　to　her；　and　I　never　shall。　Please　don't　tell　her。〃
　〃Why；　Ramses；　I　would　never　betray　another　individual's　confidence。〃　She　patted　his　hand。　He　flinched；　and　she　let　out　an　exclamation　of　distress。　〃Oh；　dear。　I　forgot　I　was　holding　the　needle。　Suck　it。〃
　Ramses　dutifully　obeyed。　〃What　is　that　you're　making？〃　he　asked。　It　was　hard　to　tell　the　bloodstains　from　the　pattern。
　〃It's　just　a　little　something　to　keep　my　hands　occupied。　Stop　fretting；　dear　boy；　I　will　talk　to　Nefret　myself。　Tactfully。〃
　She　stuck　the　needle　into　the　fabric　and　folded　her　work。　〃It　is　past　time　for　luncheon。　Emerson　is　late　as　usual。〃
　He　turned　up　a　few　minutes　later；　with　Sennia；　and　dropped　rather　heavily　into　a　chair。　Emerson　could　work　under　the　hot　Upper　Egyptian　sun　from　dawn　until　sunset　without　any　sign　of　fatigue；　but　a　few　hours　with　Sennia　left　even　him　worn　out。　〃Are　we　ready　for　lunch？〃　he　asked。
　〃Nefret　isn't　back　yet；〃　his　wife　said。
　Ramses　had　been　watching　the　clock。　It　was　after　one。　His　father　gave　him　a　critical　look。　〃Is　she　waiting　for　you　to　fetch　her？〃
　〃No；〃　Ramses　said；　and　went　on；　before　his　father　could　voice　his　opinion　of　a　man　who　would　allow　his　wife　to　walk　the　alleys　of　el…Wasa　unattended。　〃I　expect　she's　got　involved　and　lost　track　of　the　time。　The　rest　of　you　go　down；　I'll　run　over　to　the　hospital。〃
　He　wasn't　worried　…　not　really　…　but　she　knew　they　were　due　to　leave　that　evening；　and　she　had　said　she'd　be　back　before　luncheon。
　He　took　the　most　direct　way　to　the　hospital；　the　one　they　always　followed；　expecting　at　every　turn　of　the　street　to　see　her　hurrying　toward　him。　The　foul　alleys　were　deserted；　the　denizens　were　indoors；　resting　during　the　heat　of　the　day。　Anger；　born　of　concern；　quickened　his　steps。　She　had　no　business　worrying　him　like　this；　after　he　had　done　her　the　courtesy　of　leaving　her　free　of　his　escort。
　He　had　almost　reached　the　hospital　when　a　man　stepped　out　into　his　path。　〃You　must　e　with　me；　Brother　of　Demons。〃
　〃Get　out　of　my　way；　Musa。　I　haven't　time　to　listen　to　el…Gharbi's　pliments。〃
　〃You　must！〃　the　other　man　repeated。　He　held　out　his　hands。　Stretched　between　his　palms　was　the　filmy　scarf　Nefret　had　worn　round　her　neck　that　morning。
　Seeing　Ramses's　expression；　Musa　jumped　back　a　few　feet　and　began　to　babble。　〃Do　not　strike　me；　Brother　of　Demons；　she　is　not　hurt；　she　is　safe；　I　will　take　you　to　her。〃
　〃Damned　right　you　will。〃　Ramses's　hand　shot　out；　catching　Musa's　stringy　arm　in　a　bruising　grip。　〃Where　is　she？〃
　〃e。　e　with　me；　it　is　not　far。　She　is　unharmed；　I　tell　you。　Would　any　of　us　dare　injure　…〃
　〃Shut　up。　Which　way？〃
　Knowing　he　was　no　longer　in　imminent　danger　of　violence；　Musa　said　plaintively；　〃You　are　hurting　my　arm；　Brother　of　Demons。　I　can　walk　faster　if　you　do　not　hold　on　to　me。　I　will　not　run　away。　I　was　ordered　to　bring　you　to　her。〃
　Ramses　didn't　bother　to　ask　who　had　given　the　order。　He　released　his　grip　and　brushed　at　the　enterprising　fleas　that　had　already　found　his　hand。　〃Where？〃
　〃This　way；　this　way。〃　Musa　trotted　ahead；　around　a　corner　and　through　a　pile　of　discarded　fruit　rinds　and　peelings　that　squelched　under　his　bare　feet。　〃This　way；〃　he　said　again；　and　turned　his　head　to　nod　reassuringly　at　Ramses。　〃Do　you　have　a　cigarette？〃
　〃Don't　push　me　too　far；　Musa。〃
　He　was　no　longer　worried　about　Nefret；　though。　The　man　who　must　be　responsible　for　this　would　not　harm　her。　They　ended　up　where　Ramses　had　expected：　in　an　outstandingly　filthy　alley　behind　the　house　el…Gharbi　had　once　occupied。　Musa　went　to　the　small　inconspicuous　door　Ramses　remembered　from　earlier　visits。　The　police　had　barricaded　it　with　heavy　boards；　but　someone　had　removed　most　of　the　nails；　Musa　pulled　the　planks　aside　and　climbed　through　the　opening。
　The　house　that　had　once　been　alive　with　music　and　the　other　colorful　acpaniments　of　a　contemptible　trade　was　dark；　deserted；　and　dusty。　The　windows　had　been　boarded　up；　the　rich　furnishings　removed　or　left　to　molder。　There　was　a　little　light；　streaking　through　cracks　in　the　boards。　When　they　reached　the　room　in　which　el…Gharbi　had　held　court；　Ramses　made　out　a　massive　shape　squatting　on　the　ruined　cushions。　Nefret　sat　next　to　him。　A　ray　of　sunlight　sparked　in　her　hair。
　〃Sorry；〃　she　said　cheerfully。　〃I　did　it　again。〃
　Ramses　got　the　words　out　through　lips　unsteady　with　relief。　〃Not　your　fault　this　time。　Another　black　mark　against　you；　el…Gharbi。　What　do　you　mean　by　this？〃
　〃But；　my　dear　young　friend；　what　choice　had　I？〃　The　voice　was　the　well…remembered　high…pitched　whine；　but　as　his　eyes　adjusted　to　the　gloom；　Ramses　saw　that　the　procurer　was　dressed　in　a　ragged　galabeeyah　instead　of　his　elegant　white　robes。　He　didn't　appear　to　have　lost　any　weight；　though。　Shifting　unfortably；　he　went　on；　〃You　would　not　e　to　the　camp。　You　would　not　have　e　to　me　here　…　so　I　invited　your　lovely　wife。　We　have　been　having　a　most　enjoyable　conversation。　Sit　down；　won't　you？　I　regret　I　cannot　offer　you　tea　…〃
　〃What　do　you　want？〃　Ramses　interrupted。
　〃Why；　the　pleasure　of　seeing　you　and　your　lovely　…〃
　〃I　don't　have　time　for　this；〃　Ramses　said　rather　loudly。　〃You　cannot　keep　us　here　against　our　will；　you　know。〃
　〃Alas；　it　is　true。〃　The　procurer　sighed。　〃I　do　not　have　the　manpower　I　once　had。〃
　〃What　is　your　point；　then？〃
　〃You　won't　sit　down？　Oh；　very　well。　It　is　the　camp；　you　see。　It　is　no　place　for　a　person　of　refinement　like　myself。〃　A　shudder　of　distaste　ran　through　the　huge　body。　〃I　want　out。〃
　〃You　are　out；〃　Ramses　said；　unwilling　amusement　replacing　his　annoyance。　El…Gharbi　was　unconquerable。
　〃Only　for　a　few　hours。　If　I　am　not　there　tonight　when　they　make　the　rounds；　that　rude　person　Harvey　will　turn　out　every　police　officer　in　Cairo　to　look　for　me。　I　do　not　intend　to　spend　the　rest　of　my　life　running　away　from　the　police；　it　is　too　unfortable。〃
　〃Yes；　I　suppose　it　would　be。　Can　you　give　me　one　good　reason　why　I　should　intercede　on　your　behalf；　even　if　I　were　able？〃
　〃But　my　dear　young　friend；　surely　the　many　favors　I　have　done　for　you　…〃
　〃And　I　have　done　several　for　you。　If　the　score　is　not　even；　the　debt　is　on　your　side。〃
　〃I　was　afraid　you　would　see　it　that　way。　What　of　future　favors；　then？　I　am　at　your　mand。〃
　〃There　is　nothing　I　want　from　you。　Nefret；　let's　go。　The　parents　will　be　getting　anxious。〃
　〃Yes；　of　course。〃　She　rose。　〃Good…bye；　Mr。　el…Gharbi。〃
　She　used　the　English　words；　possibly　because　the　Arabic　terms