anner.themummy-第32部分

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　Suddenly　a　memory；　one　of　the　oldest　and　most　vivid；　caught　him　off　guard；　ripping　him　from　the　present；　cruelly；　and　planting　him　squarely　in　another　time　and　place。
　
　He　stood　in　the　cave　of　the　Hittite　priestess。　In　his　battle　garb；　his　hand　on　the　hilt　of　his　bronze　sword；　he　stood　looking　up　at　the　white　doves　circling　in　the　sunlight　under　the　high　grate。
　
　〃They're　immortal？〃　　he　asked　her。　He　spoke　in　the　crude；　guttural　Hittite　tongue。
　
　She　had　laughed　madly。〃　They　eat；　but　they　do　not　need　to　eat。　They　drink；　but　they　do　not　need　to　drink。　It　is　the　sun　that　keeps　them　strong。　Take　it　away　and　they　sleep；　but　they　do　not　die；　my　King。〃
　
　He　had　stared　at　her　face；　so　old；　shrunken　with　its　deep　wrinkles。　The　laughter　had　angered　him。
　
　〃Where　is　the　elixir！〃　　he　had　demanded。
　
　〃You　think　it　is　a　great　thing？〃　　How　her　eyes　had　gleamed　as　she　approached　him；　taunting　him。〃　And　what　if　all　the　world　were　filled　with　those　who　could　not　die？　And　their　children？　And　their　children's　children？　This　cave　harbours　a　horrid　secret；　I　tell　you。　The　secret　of　the　end　of　the　world　itself；　I　tell　you！〃
　
　He　had　drawn　his　sword。〃　Give　it　to　me！〃　　he　had　roared。
　
　She　had　not　been　frightened；　she　had　only　smiled。
　
　〃What　if　it　kills　you；　my　rash　Egyptian？　No　human　being　has　ever　drunk　it。　No　man；　woman　or　child。〃
　
　But　he　had　already　seen　the　altar；　seen　the　cup　of　white　liquid。　He　had　seen　the　tablet　behind　it　covered　with　tiny　wedgelike　letters。
　
　He　stepped　up　to　the　altar。　He　read　the　words。　Could　this　possibly　be　the　formula　of　the　elixir　of　life？　mon　ingredients　which　he　himself　could　have　gathered　from　the　fields　and　riverbanks　of　his　native　land？　Half　believing；　he　mitted　it　to　memory；　never　dreaming　that　he　would　never　forget。
　
　And　the　liquid；　ye　gods；　look　at　it。　With　both　hands　he　lifted　the　cup　and　drank　it　down。　Somewhere　for　off　he　heard　her　laughing　and　laughing；　it　echoed　through　the　endless　chambers　of　the　cave。
　
　And　then　he'd　turned；　wiping　his　lip　with　the　back　of　his　hand；　his　eyes　wide　as　the　shock　coursed　through　him；　his　face　throbbing；　his　body　hardening　as　if　he　were　in　his　chariot　before　the　battlefield；　on　the　verge　of　raising　his　sword　and　giving　the　cry。　The　priestess　had　taken　a　step　backwards。　What　had　she　seen？　His　hair　stirring；　writhing；　as　if　lifted　by　a　swift　breeze；　the　grey　hairs　falling　away　as　the　strong　brown　hair　replaced　them；　his　black　eyes　fading；　turning　the　colour　of　sapphires…the　stunning　transformation　that　he　would　verify　later　when　he　held　up　the　mirror。
　
　〃Well；　we　shall　see；　shan't　we？〃　　he　had　cried；　his　heart　pumping　fiercely；　his　muscles　tingling。　Ah；　how　light　and　powerful　he'd　felt。　He　could　have　taken　flight。〃　Do　I　live　or　die；　priestess？〃
　
　Stunned；　he　stared　at　the　London　street　before　him。　As　if　it　were　only　hours　ago！　The　moment　whole　and　entire；　and　he　could　still　hear　the　flapping　of　those　wings　against　the　grate。　Seven　hundred　years　had　passed　between　that　moment　and　the　night　he'd　entered　the　tomb　for　his　first　long　sleep。　And　two　thousand　since　he'd　been　awakened；　only　to　go　to　the　grave　within　a　few　years　again。
　
　And　now　this　is　London；　this　is　the　twentieth　century。　Suddenly　he　was　trembling　violently。　Again；　the　damp　smoky　wind　stirred　the　feathers　of　the　grey　dove　that　lay　dead　in　the　street。　He　walked　forward　through　the　sludge　and　knelt　down　beside　the　bird　and　scooped　it　up　in　his　hands。　Ah；　fragile　thing。　So　full　of　life　one　moment；　and　now　no　more　than　refuse；　though　the　white　down　fluttered　on　its　warm；　narrow　little　chest。
　
　Oh；　how　the　chill　wind　hurt　him。　How　the　sight　of　the　dead　thing　pierced　his　heart。
　
　Holding　it　in　his　right　hand；　he　drew　out　the　half…full　vial　of　the　elixir　with　his　left。　He　pushed　open　the　hinged　cap　with　his　thumb　and　poured　the　shimmering　liquid　over　the　dead　creature；　forcing　one　heavy　drop　after　another　into　its　open　beak。
　
　Not　a　second　passed　before　the　thing　quickened。　The　tiny　round　eyes　opened。　The　bird　struggled　to　right　itself；　its　wings　flapping　violently。　He　let　it　go；　and　up　it　went；　circling　as　it　soared　beneath　the　heavy　leaden　sky。
　
　He　watched　until　it　had　disappeared　from　sight。　Immortal　now。　To　fly　forever。
　
　And　another　memory　came；　silent　and　swift　as　an　assassin。　The　mausoleum；　the　marble　halls；　the　pillars；　and　the　gaunt　figure　of　Cleopatra　running　beside　him　as　he　walked　on；　faster　and　faster；　away　from　the　dead　body　of　Mark　Antony　lying　on　the　gilded　couch。
　
　〃You　can　bring　him　back！〃　　she　screamed。〃　You　know　you　can。　It's　not　too　late。　Ramses。　Give　it　to　us　both；　Mark　Antony　and　me！　Ramses；　don't　turn　away　from　me。〃　　Her　long　nails　had　scratched　at　his　arm。
　
　In　a　rage　he'd　turned；　slapped　her；　knocked　her　backwards。　Astonished；　she'd　fallen；　then　crumpled　into　sobs。　How　frail　she'd　been；　almost　haggard；　with　the　dark　circles　beneath　her　eyes。
　
　The　bird　was　gone　over　the　London　rooftops。　The　sun　grew　brighter；　a　shocking　white　light　behind　the　rolling　clouds。
　
　His　vision　blurred；　his　heart　was　pounding　thickly　in　his　chest。　He　was　weeping；　weeping　helplessly。　Ye　gods；　what　had　made　him　think　the　pain　would　not　e？
　
　He'd　wakened　after　centuries　in　a　great　luxurious　numbness；　and　now　that　numbness　was　thawing；　and　the　heat　of　his　love　and　his　grief　would　soon　be　wholly　his　once　more。　This　was　but　the　first　taste　of　suffering；　and　what　was　the　blessing；　that　he　was　alive；　heart　and　soul；　again？
　
　He　stared　at　the　vial　in　his　hand。　He　was　tempted　to　crush　it；　and　let　its　contents　drip　from　his　fingers　into　this　foul　and　rutted　street。　Take　the　other　vials　out　someplace　far　away　from　London　where　the　grass　grew　high　surely；　and　only　the　wild　flowers　would　witness；　and　there　pour　all　the　liquid　into　the　field。
　
　But　what　were　these　vain　fancies？　He　knew　how　to　make　it。　He　had　memorized　those　words　off　that　tablet。　He　could　not　destroy　what　was　forever　engraved　on　his　own　mind。
　
　Samir　left　the　cab　and　walked　the　remaining　fifty　yards　to　his　destination；　hands　shoved　in　his　pockets；　collar　turned　up　against　the　driving　wind。　Reaching　the　house　on　the　corner；　he　went　up　the　stone　steps　and　knocked　on　the　peeling　door。
　
　A　woman　draped　all　in　black　wool　opened　the　door　a　crack；　then　admitted　him。　Quietly　he　entered　a　cluttered　room　where　two　Egyptians　sat　smoking　and　reading　the　morning　papers；　the　shelves　and　tables　around　them　covered　with　Egyptian　goods。　A　papyrus　and　a　magnifying　glass　lay　to　one　side　on　the　table。
　
　Samir　glanced　at　the　papyrus。　Nothing　of　importance。　He　glanced　at　a　long；　yellow　mummy；　its　wrappings　still　quite　well　preserved；　lying　carelessly；　it　seemed；　on　a　nearby　shelf。
　
　〃Ah；　Samir；　don't　trouble　yourself；〃　　said　the　tallest　of　the　two　men；　whose　name　was　Abdel。〃　Nothing　but　fakes　on　the　market。　Zaki's　work；　as　you　know。　Except　for　that　fellow。。。〃　　The　man　pointed　to　the　mummy。〃　He's　real　enough；　but　not　worth　your　time。〃
　
　Nevertheless　Samir　took　a　closer　look　at　the　mummy。
　
　〃The　dregs　of　a　private　collection；〃　　Abdel　said。〃　Not　in　your　class。〃
　
　Samir　nodded；　then　turned　back　to　Abdel。
　
　〃I　did　hear；　however；　that　some　rare　Cleopatra　coins　have　surfaced；〃　　Abdel　said；　a　bit　playfully。〃　Ah；　if　I　could　get　my　hands　on　one　of　those。〃
　
　〃I　need　a　passport；　Abdel；〃　　Samir　said。〃　Citizenship　papers。　I　need　them　fast。〃
　
　Abdel　did　not　immediately　answer。　He　watched　with　interest　as　Samir　reached　into　his　pocket。
　
　〃And　money。　I　need　that　too。〃
　
　Samir　held　up　the　glittering　Cleopatra　coin。
　
　Abdel　reached　for　it　before　he　was　out　of　his　chair。　Samir　watched　him　without　expression　as　he　examined　it。
　
　〃Discretion；　my　friend；〃　　Samir　said。〃　Speed　and　discretion。　Let　us　discuss　the　details。〃
　
　Oscar　was　back。　Now　that　might　be　a　problem；　Julie　thought；　but　only　if　Rita　said　something　foolish；　but　then　Oscar　never　listened　to　Rita。　He　thought　Rita　was　a　fool。
　
　As　Julie　came　down　the　stairs；　she　found　her　butler　just　closing　the　front　door。　He　had　a　bouquet　of　roses　in　his　arms。　He　gave　her　the　letter　that　had　e　with　them。
　
　〃Just　arrived；　miss；〃　　he　said。
　
　〃Yes；　I　know。〃
　
　With　relief　she　saw　it　was　from　Elliott；　not　Alex；　and　hastily　she　read　the　letter　as　Oscar　waited。
　
　〃Call　the　Earl　of　Rutherford；　Oscar。　Tell　him　I　cannot　possibly　e　tonight。　And　I　shall　call　later　myself　to　explain。〃
　
　He　was　about　to　go　when　she　took　one　of　the　roses　out　of　the　bouquet。〃　Put　them　in　the　dining　room；　Oscar；〃　　she　said。　She　sampled　the　fragrance；　then　felt　the　soft　petals　with　her　finger。　What　was　she　going　to　do　about　Alex？　Surely　it　was　too　soon　to　do　anything；　but　every　day　only　made　matters　worse。
　
　Ramses。　Where　was　he？　That　was　really　the　first　order　of　business。　The　door　of　her　father's　room　had　been　open；　the　bed　untouched。
　
　She　hurried　back　through　the　hall　to　the　conservatory。　Even　before　she　reached　the　door；　she　saw　the　magnificent　bougainvillea　laden　with　red　blossoms。
　
　And　to　think　that　yesterday　she　hadn't　noticed　these　beautiful　blooms。　And　look　at　the　ferns；　magnificent。　And　the　lilies　that　had　opened　early　in　their　pots　throughout　the　room。
　
　〃What　a　miracle；〃　　she　said。
　
　She　saw　Ramses　seated　in　a　wicker　chair；　watching　her。　And　already　dressed　splendidly　for　the　day's　adventures。　And　this　time　he'd　made　no　mistakes。　How　ruddy　and　beautiful　he　looked　in　the　streaming　sunlight；　his　hair　fuller；　richer；　and　his　great　blue　eyes　filled　with　a　sombre　melancholy　as　he　looked　at　her；　that　is；　before　he　brightened　pletely　and　gave　her　that　irresistible　smile。
　
　For　one　moment　a　shock　of　fear　passed　through　her。　He　seemed　on　the　edge　of　tears。　He　rose　from　the　chair　and　came　towards　her　and　lightly　touched　her　face　with　his　fingers。
　
　〃What　a　miracle　you　are！〃　　he　said。
　
　A　silence　fell　gently　between　them。　She　wanted　to　reach　up　and　throw　her　arms　about　his　neck。　She　merely　looked　at　him；　feeling　his　closeness；　then　she　reached　out　and　touched　his　face。
　
　She　should　draw　back；　she　knew　it。　But　he　surprised　her。　He　drew　back　and　then；　kissing　her　almost　reverently　on　the　forehead；　he　said：
　
　〃I　want　t