elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第31部分

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　〃Go　after　him；〃　she　panted。
　〃The　hell　with　him。　Lie　still。　Where　does　it　hurt？〃
　〃Everywhere。〃　She　managed　a　smile。　〃It's　all　right；　darling；　nothing　is　broken。〃
　His　answering　smile　was　forced。　〃You　wouldn't　lie　to　me；　would　you？〃
　〃Not　about　a　broken　leg。〃　She　let　out　a　yelp　of　pain　as　his　hand　explored　her　arms　and　shoulders。　〃Ow！　I'll　have　some　spectacular　bruises；　but　that's　all。〃
　She　realized　then　that　his　were　not　the　only　hands　she　felt。　Kneeling；　her　eyes　like　dark　holes　in　the　small　oval　of　her　face；　Jumana　was　straightening　her　skirt；　smoothing　it　carefully　over　her　calves。　It　was　a　useless　gesture；　but　the　girl　seemed　to　be　in　a　state　of　shock。
　Not　so　shocked　she　couldn't　speak；　though。　〃It　was　my　fault。　You　might　have　been　struck　in　the　face。　He　didn't　care　if　you　were　hurt。　I　will　go　back　to　my　father's　house。〃
　〃No；　you　won't。〃　Ramses　lifted　Nefret　and　stood　up。　〃You　will　follow　us；　leading　Moonlight。　You〃　…　he　looked　down　at　his　wife　…　〃are　ing　with　me；　on　Risha。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Nefret　said　meekly。
　His　heavy　black　brows　drew　together。　〃You　are　hurt！〃
　〃Mostly　in　places　I　wouldn't　care　to　mention。〃　She　raised　one　hand　to　his　cheek。　〃Riding　astride；　sans　trousers；　is　something　I　won't　try　again　for　a　while。〃
　
　5
　　
　Emerson　and　I　and　Sennia　were　halfway　through　breakfast　when　the　children　made　their　appearance；　followed　by　the　kitten。　I　observed　immediately　that　Nefret　was　walking　without　her　usual　grace　…　not　limping；　but　trying　not　to。　Sennia　bounced　up　out　of　her　chair　and　ran　to　them；　before　she　could　give　Nefret　one　of　her　fierce　hugs；　Ramses　snatched　her　up　and　swung　her　round　and　round　until　she　squealed　with　pleasure。
　〃Has　something　happened？〃　I　asked。
　Nefret　subsided；　very　carefully；　into　the　chair　Emerson　held　for　her；　and　gave　me　a　warning　look。　〃Just　a　fall。　Good　morning；　Little　Bird。　You　had　better　hurry　and　finish　breakfast；　or　you　will　be　late　for　your　lessons。〃
　〃I　think　I　will　not　go　to　them　today；〃　Sennia　announced。　〃I　think　I　will　stay　and　take　care　of　Aunt　Nefret。〃　She　sat　down　on　the　floor　and　began　stroking　the　kitten。
　〃I　think　you　will　not；〃　I　said。　〃Don't　dawdle。　You　must　not　keep　Mrs。　Vandergelt　waiting。〃
　We　got　Sennia　off　after　the　usual　argument；　it　was　not　so　much　the　lessons；　which　she　had　proclaimed　〃only　somewhat　boring；〃　as　her　desire　to　be　with　us。　Emerson　caved　in；　as　she　had　known　he　would；　and　promised　she　could　e　with　us　to　Deir　el　Medina　next　day。
　〃We　must　go；〃　he　declared。　〃Where　is　Jumana？　Good　Gad；　the　girl　is　always　late。〃
　〃I　told　her　not　to　join　us　until　after　Sennia　had　left；〃　Ramses　said。　〃That　must　be　she　now。〃
　When　she　crept　in　I　understood　why　Ramses　had　not　wanted　Sennia　to　see　her。　The　girl　had　no　self…control；　every　emotion　she　felt　showed　on　her　face　and　in　her　movements。　Just　now　she　looked　like　a　little　old　woman；　her　head　bowed　and　her　movements　slow。
　〃Did　she　suffer　a　fall　too？〃　I　inquired。
　〃No！〃　Jumana　raised　her　head。　Her　brown　eyes　were　pools　of　tragedy。　〃I　have　done　wrong。　Very　wrong。　I　wanted　to　run　away；　but　I　did　not；　because　I　knew　I　should　be　punished。　Do　to　me　whatever　you　…〃
　〃Stop　carrying　on　and　sit　down；〃　I　said　impatiently。　〃Something　to　do　with　Jamil；　I　suppose。　No；　Jumana；　I　do　not　want　any　more　theatrics。　Emerson；　be　quiet。　Ramses？〃
　He　gave　us　a　bare　outline　of　what　had　transpired；　and　the　sympathy　for　Jumana　that　had　softened　Emerson's　keen　blue　eyes　turned　to　wrath。
　〃Good　God；〃　he　shouted。　〃He　might　have　killed　you！　Nefret　…　Ramses　…　why　didn't　you　wake　me？〃
　〃There　wasn't　time；　Father；〃　Ramses　said。　He　was　certainly　correct　about　that；　it　takes　Emerson　at　least　ten　minutes　to　get　his　wits　together　when　he　has　been　suddenly　aroused。　Ramses　went　on　in　the　same　quiet　voice；　〃I　miscalculated。　I　ought　to　have　sent　Nefret　round　to　flush　him　out　instead　of　leaving　her　there　alone。〃
　〃Let　us　not　have　any　further　beating　of　breasts；〃　I　said；　for　I　knew　his　tendency　to　blame　himself　for　anything　that　went　wrong；　whether　it　was　his　fault　or　not。　To　be　sure；　it　often　was　his　fault；　but　in　this　case　anyone　might　have　done　the　same。
　Emerson　had　gone　to　stand　by　Nefret。　He　put　out　his　hand；　and　then　drew　it　back。　〃The　stone　struck　your　shoulder？〃
　〃Yes。〃　She　turned　her　head　to　look　up　at　him　and　winced　even　as　she　smiled。　〃I　have　a　few　bruises；　but　that's　all　the　damage。〃
　I　cleared　my　throat。　〃Your　medical　expertise　is　far　beyond　mine；　of　course；　but　if　you　would　like　me　…〃
　〃Thank　you；　Mother；　but　there　is　no　need。　It's　all　right。　Everything　is　all　right；〃　she　added　softly。
　〃Ah；〃　I　said。　〃Good。　Well。　What　are　we　going　to　do　about　Jamil？〃
　That　produced　another　outburst　from　Jumana；　in　the　course　of　which　she　swore　she　would　never　trust　Jamil　again；　and　proposed　that　we　beat　her　and　lock　her　up　on　bread　and　water；　or　marry　her　off　to　disgusting　old　Nuri　Said；　who　had　often　asked　her　father　for　her。　She　deserved　nothing　better。　She　deserved　any　fate　we　might　decree；　and　would　accept　it。
　I　was　tempted　to　shake　her；　but　forbore；　deciding　I　might　as　well　allow　her　the　privilege　of　self…expression。　When　she　finally　broke　off　for　want　of　breath；　her　eyes　were　swimming　with　tears。　I　did　not　doubt　she　was　utterly　sincere；　nor　did　I　doubt　that　at　the　same　time　she　was　enjoying　herself　immensely。
　〃Now；　now；〃　said　Emerson　feebly；　〃it's　all　right。　Curse　it；　don't　cry。〃
　〃How　can　you　forgive　me？〃　she　demanded　in　tragic　accents。
　〃We　offered　Jamil　a　second　chance。　Can　we　do　less　for　you；　who　are　guilty　of　nothing　except　misplaced　love　and　loyalty？〃
　〃Quite　right；〃　I　said；　before　the　melodrama　could　continue。　〃What　is　wanted　now；　Jumana；　is　for　you　to　behave　like　…　well；　like　Nefret　and　me。　Tears　and　self…reproach　are　tricks　some　females　employ　in　order　to　evade　responsibility。　I　do　not　permit　them　here。　You　are　…　potentially　…　the　equal　of　any　man；　and　you　must　…〃
　〃Peabody；〃　Emerson　said。　His　accents　were　severe；　but　there　was　a　twinkle　in　his　handsome　blue　eyes。
　〃Yes；　quite。　I　believe　I　have　made　my　point；　Jumana。　You　did　a　foolish　thing；　and　I　trust　you　have　learned　a　valuable　lesson。　The　question　I　asked　has　not　been　answered。　Have　you　another　appointment　with　Jamil？〃
　Ramses　answered　for　her。　〃I　doubt　he　will　keep　it　now。　It　was　for　tonight。　The　same　place；　Jumana？〃
　〃Yes。　We　played　in　the　ruins　there；　when　we　were　children。　But　Ramses　is　right；　he　will　not　e　now；　he　will　believe　I　betrayed　him。　He　has　found　another　tomb。　It　is　in　the　Cemetery　of　the　Monkeys。　But　…〃　She　was　watching　Nefret。　〃But　you　know。　You　were　listening！〃
　Her　voice　held　a　note　of　accusation。　Ramses；　who　in　my　opinion　suffers　from　an　overly　sensitive　conscience；　was　not　moved　on　this　occasion　to　apologize。
　〃You　should　be　glad　we　did；〃　he　said。　〃You　have　nothing　to　be　ashamed　of；　Jumana。　You　told　him　you　would　not　steal　for　him；　and　you　tried　to　persuade　him　to　give　himself　up；　and　now　you　have　confessed；　of　your　own　accord。〃
　〃So　long　as　you　have　confessed　all；〃　I　added；　for　Jumana　had　responded　to　his　praise　with　a　placent　smile。　The　young　are　resilient；　and　a　good　thing；　too；　for　brooding　over　past　mistakes　is　a　waste　of　time；　but　it　wouldn't　do　to　let　the　girl　off　too　lightly。　〃We　are　willing　to　give　you　a　second　chance；　Jumana；　but　if　I　learn　that　you　have　held　something　back　…〃
　〃No。　No；　I　swear！〃
　〃So　he's　found　another　tomb；　has　he？〃　Emerson　mused。　〃Talented　young　rascal。〃
　I　frowned　at　Emerson；　who　is　too　easily　distracted　by　archaeological　speculation；　and　continued　my　questioning　of　the　girl。
　〃How　did　he　municate　with　you　before？〃
　〃I　was　given　a　message　…　just　a　scrap　of　paper；　with　a　few　words　scribbled　on　it　…　yesterday；　when　we　were　at　Gurneh。　By　Mohammed　Hammad。〃
　　
　Swearing　inventively；　Emerson　agreed　we　must　stop　at　Gurneh　on　our　way　to　the　site　and　question　Mohammed　Hammad。　The　village　was　up　and　about　its　daily　business　and　we　were　greeted　politely。　However；　when　we　called　on　Mohammed　Hammad；　we　discovered　that　the　bird　had　flown。　His　wife　…　his　elderly　wife　…　said　he　had　business　in　Coptos。　His　son　said　he　had　gone　to　Cairo。　One　of　his　acquaintances　was　more　forthing。　〃He　ran　away；　Father　of　Curses；　when　he　found　out　about　the　death　of　Abdul　Hassa