elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第35部分

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ent　plans。　Where　is　that　cursed　boy；　Abdullah；　and　what　are　we　going　to　do　about　him？〃
　〃It　is　a　matter　of　shame　to　me　that　Jamil　is　a　member　of　my　family。〃　Abdullah's　face　was　as　stern　as　a　bronze　mask。　〃He　will　be　punished；　Sitt；　but　not　by　you。　Leave　him　to　me。　Do　not　take　foolish　chances；　here　or　elsewhere。〃
　〃Where　else　would　I　be？　If　you　are　referring　to　the　submarine　menace；　we　have　already　decided　。　。　。　Curse　it；　Abdullah；　you　are　trying　to　get　me　off　the　track　again。　Where　is　the　confounded　tomb？〃
　〃It　would　be　tangling　the　web　of　the　future　to　tell　you　that；〃　Abdullah　said　dreamily。　〃Now；　Sitt；　do　not　swear。　It　will　e　right　in　the　end；　though　not；　perhaps；　as　you　expect。〃
　He　took　my　hand　and　held　it　for　a　moment。　Then　he　turned　away。
　〃Wait；〃　I　said。　〃Please。〃
　〃No　more　questions；　Sitt。　I　have　told　you　all　I　am　allowed。〃
　〃I　only　wondered　how　you　liked　your　new　tomb。〃
　Abdullah　turned　back　to　face　me。　〃It　is　well　enough。〃
　〃Is　that　all　you　can　say？　David　designed　the　structure；　you　know；　and　Selim　got　the　men　to　work　as　soon　as　you　asked　me　for　it。〃
　〃I　should　not　have　had　to　ask；〃　said　Abdullah；　sounding　as　sulky　as　Sennia。
　It　was　so　like　him　…　so　human　…　so　like　a　man！　Laughing；　I　threw　my　arms　around　him　in　an　impetuous　embrace。　It　was　the　first　time　I　had　ever　done　so；　and　for　the　first　time　he　held　me　close　…　only　for　a　moment；　before　he　gently　loosened　my　hands　and　stepped　back。
　〃Is　there　anything　else　you　would　like？〃　I　asked。
　〃No。〃　The　corners　of　his　mouth　twitched；　and　he　said；　〃It　is　a　very　fine　tomb；　Sitt。　Fine　enough　for　a　pasha。〃
　I　did　not　follow　him。　I　never　had。　Something　held　me　back；　perhaps　it　was　the　sure　knowledge　that　I　would　see　him　again；　or　the　fort　I　always　gained　from　speaking　with　him；　even　when　he　was　at　his　most　irritatingly　vague。
　〃Good…bye　for　now；〃　I　called。　〃Maassalameh；　my　friend。〃
　　
　I　had；　of　course；　arrived　at　the　logical　solution　to　our　dilemma　…　or；　to　be　more　accurate；　Emerson　and　Cyrus's　impractical　plan。　I　had　said　nothing　to　Emerson；　for　in　my　opinion　he　did　not　deserve　my　confidence　after　playing　such　a　trick　on　me。　He　was　therefore　in　a　state　of　happy　ignorance　when　we　got　to　Deir　el　Medina；　where　we　found　Cyrus　and　Abu　and　their　crew　awaiting　us。　Bertie　was　not　there；　as　I　had　expected　she　would；　Katherine　wanted　to　keep　him　under　her　wing　for　a　few　days。　Sennia　had　gone　off　to　her　lessons　with　less　fuss　than　usual；　since　she　looked　forward　to　〃taking　care　of　Bertie。〃
　We　all　gathered　round　Emerson；　and　a　sizable　audience　we　were：　Selim　and　Daoud；　Cyrus　and　Abu；　Jumana；　Nefret；　Ramses；　and　of　course　the　Great　Cat　of　Re；　who　had　climbed　up　onto　Ramses's　shoulder　and　was　staring　at　Emerson　with　round　green　eyes。　I　waited　until　Emerson　had　drawn　a　deep　breath　and　opened　his　mouth　before　I　spoke。
　〃The　solution　to　our　problem　is　obvious。〃
　Caught　off…balance；　figuratively　speaking；　Emerson　forgot　what　he　had　been　about　to　say。　〃I　。　。　。　Curse　it；　Peabody；　what　are　you　talking　about？　What　problem？　We　have　no　problem。　We　…〃
　〃Several　problems；　I　should　have　said。　First；　the　distinct　possibility　that　your　plan　will　enrage　M。　Daressy　and　result　in　our　being　forbidden　to　work　in　Egypt。　Second；　the　fact　that　although　Bertie　has　bee　a　petent　supervisor；　he　knows　nothing　of　hieratic　and　cannot　cope　with　the　inscribed　materials　we　have　been　finding。　Third；　Ramses's　desire　to　continue　working　here。　Are　you　so　indifferent　to　the　feelings　of　your　son；　Emerson；　that　you　will　ride　roughshod　over　them？　I　had　not　supposed　you　would　be　so　unkind。〃
　I　managed　to　get　through　this　entire　speech　without　interruption；　since　I　had　learned　the　trick　of　pausing　for　breath；　not　at　the　end　of　sentences；　but　at　random　intervals　the　listeners　did　not　expect。　Emerson　would　not　have　been　reluctant　to　interrupt　at　any　interval；　but　as　he　explained　later；　my　tone　of　voice　warned　him　he　had　better　not。　And　by　the　time　I　had　finished；　the　alteration　of　his　expression　assured　me　that　the　last　point；　at　least；　had　made　the　desired　impression。
　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　anyo