elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第44部分

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　He　turned　to　his　son；　his　handsome　features　sober。　〃Do　you　feel　that　strongly　about　it；　Ramses？　You　know　I　would　never　。　。　。　Why　didn't　you　tell　me？〃
　〃He　did　tell　you；〃　I　said　in　exasperation。　〃You　didn't　listen。〃
　〃It's　all　right；　Father；〃　Ramses　said　quickly。　〃Perhaps　I　didn't　express　myself　clearly　enough。〃
　〃Clearly　enough　for　me　to　understand；〃　I　said　with　a　sniff。　〃Never　mind。　My　solution　is　very　simple。　Cyrus　and　we　are　both　shorthanded。　I　suggest　we　bine　forces　and　focus　on　one　site　…　this　one　…　dividing　the　responsibility。　Cyrus　can　have　the　tombs；　we　will　take　the　village。　M。　Daressy　can　have　no　objection　to　our　expanding　our　workforce。〃
　Cyrus；　who　had　listened　in　gloomy　silence　to　what　he　expected　would　be　the　failure　of　his　hopes；　immediately　cheered　up。　〃You　mean　it？〃　he　exclaimed。
　〃Certainly；〃　I　replied；　returning　his　smile。　〃Naturally　we　will　assist　one　another　should　anything　of　particular　interest　turn　up　which　would　demand　additional　manpower。〃
　Emerson　had　been　thoroughly　humbled。　He　loved　his　son　dearly　…　though　I　do　not　believe　he　had　ever　actually　said　so　…　and　was　ready　to　accept　any　penance　I　proposed　…　until　I　added　that　last　sentence。　It　livened　him　up　considerably。　He　turned　on　me　with　a　shout。
　〃Confound　it；　Amelia！　I　see　through　you。　You　are　bored　with　sifting　rubbish。　You　are　after　those　tombs　yourself。〃
　〃I　have　just　now　proposed　handing　that　part　of　our　concession　over　to　Cyrus；　Emerson；〃　I　reminded　him。　〃Do　you　agree？〃
　〃Oh。〃　Emerson　rubbed　his　chin。　〃Well　。　。　。〃
　〃It's　a　durned　good　idea；〃　Cyrus　declared。　〃Just　what　I'd　have　expected　you　to　e　up　with；　Amelia。　What　do　you　say；　old　pal？　Shake　on　it？〃
　Instead　of　taking　Cyrus's　outstretched　hand；　Emerson　turned　to　his　son。　〃Is　that　acceptable　to　you；　Ramses？　Be　honest。〃
　〃I　think　it　is　an　excellent　plan；　Father。　Honestly；〃　he　added。
　〃In　that　case　。　。　。〃　Emerson　seized　Cyrus's　hand　in　a　firm　grip。　〃It　is　agreed。〃
　〃Perhaps　we　should　sign　a　written　agreement；〃　I　suggested。　〃In　case　M。　Daressy　inquires。〃
　〃No；　ma'am；　that　won't　be　necessary；〃　Cyrus　declared。　〃Emerson's　word　is　good　enough　for　me。〃
　〃The　word　of　the　Father　of　Curses；〃　Daoud　said；　〃is　stronger　than　another　man's　oath。〃
　I　believe　I　may　be　excused　for　feeling　a　trifle　smug。　Ramses　was　pleased　and　so　was　Cyrus；　Nefret　was　happy　because　Ramses　was　happy；　even　Selim　condescended　to　mend　me。　The　only　one　who　was　not　thoroughly　delighted　with　the　arrangement　was　Emerson；　and　I　felt　certain　that　his　main　objection　was　that　I　had　thought　of　it　first。
　I　will　say　for　Emerson　that　he　does　not　hold　a　grudge。　Having　agreed；　he　immediately　began　issuing　orders。
　〃The　first　thing　for　you　to　do；　Vandergelt；〃　he　declared；　〃is　to　produce　a　proper　survey　of　the　slope　and　the　location　of　the　tombs；　and　see　that　it　is　published。　Good　Gad；　if　you　only　do　that；　you　will　have　made　a　great　contribution。　Everybody　from　Wilkinson　to　Schiaparelli　has　found　tombs　…〃
　〃The　royal　architect　Kha；〃　Cyrus　murmured　longingly。　〃Much　as　I'd　like　a　royal　tomb；　I'd　settle　for　a　find　like　that。　Sealed　up　and　undisturbed　for　over　three　thousand　years；　the　wooden　door　still　latched；　jam…packed　with　furniture　and　linen　and　。　。　。〃
　〃Pay　attention；〃　Emerson　said　forcibly。　〃The　survey　is　the　first　priority。　Our　cursed　predecessors　never　published　their　notes；　if　they　bothered　to　make　any；　so　you　will　have　to　begin　afresh。　Some　of　the　tombs　are　known　and　open；　but　not　all；　and　a　certain　amount　of　clearance　。　。　。〃
　Cyrus　began　to　fidget；　and　I　said；　〃Quite　right；　Emerson；　we　all　understand。〃
　〃And；〃　said　Emerson；　raising　his　voice；　〃you　will　have　to　shut　down　your　dig　at　Medinet　Habu。　Anything　that　has　been　exposed　will　be　at　risk　from　weather　and　vandals。　We　will　go　round　there　later　and　see　what　needs　to　be　done。〃
　Leaving　Selim　in　charge；　we　set　out　for　the　temple　after　luncheon。　It　was　a　mild；　mellow　afternoon；　with　bright　sunlight　and　a　faint　breeze　stirring；　one　of　Mr。　Cook's　tours　was　making　a　late　day　of　it；　strolling　about　the　temple　precincts　and　taking　photographs　with　their　little　cameras。　Emerson　glowered　at　the　tourists。　They　did　look　a　trifle　ridiculous　in　their　pristine　pith　helmets　and　veils；　their　faces　crimson　with　sunburn。　Some　of　them　were　all　hung　round　with　straps　supporting　field　glasses；　canteens；　pocket　passes；　and　other　accoutrements　that　probably　made　them　feel　very　professional。
　〃Some　of　them　have　got　acetylene　or　magnesium　lamps；〃　Emerson　grumbled。　〃Confound　it；　don't　they　know　they　mustn't　use　them？〃
　〃Possibly　not；〃　I　replied。
　〃Then　I　will　tell　them。　e；　let's　see　if　any　of　the　louts　have　invaded　our　temple。　Smoking　up　the　wall　surfaces；　scratching　their　wretched　names　。　。　。〃
　Mumbling；　he　strode　off　toward　a　group　that　was　staring　up　at　the　empty　windows　of　the　upper　stories　of　the　tower；　and　as　I　followed；　hoping　to　avert　a　nasty　scene；　I　heard　the　guide　lecturing。　〃This　tower；　sirs　and　madams；　was　the　harem　of　the　great　Ramses；　where　he　enjoyed　himself　with　his　beautiful　concubines。　The　floors　have　fallen；　so　you　cannot　go　up　to　see　the　reliefs　on　the　walls；　but　they　show　the　king　reclining　on　a　soft　couch　while　the　concubines　caress　…〃
　〃Wrong！〃　Emerson　shouted。　〃Curse　it；　Nazir；　you　know　better　than　that！　Why　are　you　telling　these　idiots　such　lies？〃
　The　tourists　let　out　little　squeals　of　surprise；　several　of　the　ladies　got　behind　their　husbands。　The　sight　of　Emerson　in　a　rage；　advancing　in　great　bounds；　was　enough　to　terrify　the　timid。　Nazir；　who　was　accustomed　to　him；　only　grinned　and　shook　his　head。
　〃It　is　what　they　want　to　hear；　Father　of　Curses；〃　he　said　in　Arabic。
　〃Oh；　bah；〃　said　Emerson。　〃Don't　let　them　use　those　damned　magnesium　torches；　that's　all。〃
　He　pushed　through　the　crowd　and　headed　straight　for　the　Saite　chapels；　with　the　rest　of　us　following　close　on　his　heels。　I　was　distressed　to　observe　that　his　fears　had　been　justified。　Several　persons；　coolly　ignoring　the　ropes　and　No　Trepass　signs　that　enclosed　the　work　area；　were　passing　in　and　out　of　the　chapel。　There　was　a　flash　of　light　from　the　interior　as　a　magnesium　flare　went　off。　Emerson　began　to　run。
　〃Hurry　and　catch　him　up；　Ramses；〃　I　panted。　〃Don't　let　him　hit　anyone！〃
　〃All　right；　Mother。〃　Ramses　was　the　only　one　of　us　who　could　cover　ground　as　quickly　as　his　father。　It　was　as　well　I　had　anticipated　the　worst；　we　found　them　inside　the　lovely　little　chapel　of　Amenirdis；　confronting　a　trio　of　tourists。　Ramses　had　managed　to　get　between　them　and　his　father；　who　was　cursing　at　the　top　of　his　lungs。
　〃Damnation！〃　I　said。　〃It's　the　confounded　Albions　again。　What　do　they　want？〃
　〃A　spot　of　sight…seeing；　one　must　suppose；〃　Nefret　answered。　She　went　to　Emerson　and　slipped　her　arm　through　his。　〃Good　afternoon；　everyone。〃
　None　of　the　Albions　appeared　perturbed　by　Emerson's　tirade。　To　judge　by　his　broad　apple…cheeked　smile；　Mr。　Albion　had　enjoyed　every　profane　word。　〃He　sure　can　cuss；〃　he　observed　admiringly。　〃Not　proper　in　the　presence　of　a　lady；　though。〃
　Mrs。　Albion；　hands　folded　and　face　posed；　emitted　a　genteel　cough。　Emerson　looked　a　little　sheepish。　〃I　didn't　say　a　word　that　could　…〃
　〃What　got　you　riled　up？〃　Albion　inquired　curiously。
　Emerson　drew　a　deep　breath。　Fearing　another　tirade；　Ramses　said　quickly；　〃For　one　thing；　sir；　this　area　is　out　of　bounds　to　tourists。　Didn't　you　see　the　signs？〃
　〃I　wanted　to　examine　the　reliefs；〃　said　Sebastian　Albion。　He　was　leaning　against　them；　another　archaeological　sin　in　Emerson's　book。
　〃Stand　up　straight；　Mr。　Sebastian；〃　I　ordered。　He　obeyed　instantly；　his　eyes　widening。　I　went　on；　〃Touching　or　leaning　against　the　walls　mars　the　paint。　Magnesium　flares　give　off　smoke　which　damages　the　reliefs。　You　risk　a　bad　fall　wandering　round　in　the　dark。　Cyrus；　I　thought　you　were　going　to　repair　the　floor。〃
　〃Hadn't　got　around　to　it；〃　Cyrus　admitted。　〃Thought　the　signs　would　keep　people　out。〃
　〃We　assumed　the　prohibition　did　not　apply　to　us；〃　said　Mrs。　Albion　coldly。
　〃You　were　mistaken；〃　said　Emerson。　〃Out；　everyone。〃
　〃The　Cook's　people　are　leaving；〃　I　added。　〃You　had　better　hurry　if　you　want　to　go　with　them。〃
　〃We　didn't　e　with　them。〃　Albion　hopped　nimbly　over　the　rope　while　Emerson；　endeavoring　to　make