elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第72部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃General　Chetwode　…〃
　〃Nor　his。　I　will　report　to　whom　I　see　fit　and　when　I　see　fit。　In　Cairo；　to　be　precise。　Are　you　going　to　get　us　the　supplies　we　need　or　must　I　go　over　your　head？〃
　〃I　。　。　。　yes。　That　is；　I　will　get　them。　And　go　with　you。〃
　〃There　won't　be　room　in　the　motorcar；〃　said　Emerson　with　finality。　〃Oh　…　I　almost　forgot。　The　horses。　Fine　animals。　They　are　in　the　stable。〃
　Cartright　sat　bolt　upright。　〃Then　it　was　you　who　。　。　。　One　of　the　troopers　swore　there　was　a　woman　in　the　party；　but　…〃
　〃Me；〃　said　Nefret　with　a　smile。　〃The　poor　boy　wants　his　Mary　back；　I　expect。　Tell　him　she　has　been　well　cared　for　and　that　I　thank　him　for　the　loan。〃
　〃That　is　all　you　have　to　say？〃　His　frowning　visage　turned　from　Nefret　to　Emerson。
　〃It　is　all　any　of　us　have　to　say；〃　Emerson　assured　him。　〃When　may　we　expect　those　supplies？〃
　Major　Cartright's　countenance　underwent　a　series　of　contortions。　He　had　been　sorely　tried；　but　knew　perfectly　well　that　any　attempt　to　detain　Emerson　against　his　will　would　result　in　an　uproar　that　would　reverberate　through　every　level　of　British　officialdom。
　〃I'm　not　certain　I　can　obtain　everything　you　need　today；〃　he　muttered。
　〃Oh；　I　think　you　can；〃　said　Emerson；　showing　his　teeth。
　〃Yes；　sir。　Then　。　。　。　I　will　see　you　in　Cairo？〃　He　looked　at　Ramses；　who　had　remained　silent。
　〃No　doubt；〃　said　Ramses。
　〃You　are　the　one　he　would　like　to　question；〃　I　said；　after　Cartright　had　taken　his　departure。　〃I　expect　he　will　go　haring　off　to　General　Chetwode　and　demand　we　be　held　here。〃
　〃Chetwode　has　no　authority　to　detain　us；〃　said　Emerson。　He　rubbed　irritably　at　the　cast；　which　was　looking　somewhat　the　worse　for　wear。　〃Nefret；　can't　I　have　this　cursed　thing　off？〃
　〃Not　yet；　Father。　As　soon　as　we　get　to　Cairo　I'll　have　a　look　at　it。〃
　Selim　returned　from　his　inspection　of　the　motorcar　to　report　that　everything　seemed　to　be　in　order；　and　went　off　to　mandeer　some　household　assistance；　since　I　did　not　suppose　Major　Cartright　would　consider　that　matter　worthy　of　his　attention。　It　had　begun　to　rain；　so　we　retreated　into　the　room　behind　the　open　mak'ad；　where　we　had　left　our　baggage。
　〃We　may　as　well　unpack　our　bundles；〃　I　said。　〃What　with　all　our　ings　and　goings；　I　have　lost　track　of　precisely　what　we　still　have。　I　gave　my　bar　of　soap　to　Mustafa；　but　here　is　my　medical　kit　and　my　parasol　…〃
　〃You　won't　need　that；　Mrs。　Emerson。　You　will　not　be　leaving　the　house　just　yet。〃
　I　had　missed　one　of　the　secret　rooms。　Unlike　the　makhba　under　the　floor　of　the　harem；　this　was　a　small　hidden　chamber　whose　door　resembled　that　of　a　wall　cupboard。　He　looked　much　the　same　as　he　had　when　I　had　seen　him　before；　a　big　man　with　a　grizzled　beard　and　shoulders　almost　as　impressive　as　those　of　Emerson。　He　had　a　pistol　in　one　hand　and　a　knife　in　the　other。
　〃Sahin　Pasha；　I　presume；〃　I　said；　after　a　slight　catch　of　breath。　〃We　ought　to　have　anticipated　that　a　clever　man　would　prehend　the　gravity　of　his　predicament　and　escape　before　he　could　be　apprehended。　On　the　run；　are　you？〃
　〃One　might　call　it　that。　Now；　if　you　don't　mind　…〃
　〃ing　here　was　also　a　clever　move；〃　I　mused。　〃There　is　a　saying　that　the　safest　place　for　a　criminal　is　in　the　police　station。〃
　〃Is　there？　No；　my　young　friend；　don't　take　another　step。　I　want　all　of　you　close　together。〃
　Ramses　stopped。　〃You　daren't　use　that　gun；〃　he　said。　〃The　sound　of　a　shot　will　bring　the　servants　and　a　dozen　soldiers。〃
　〃If　I　am　forced　to　fire；　there　will　be　more　than　one　shot　and　by　the　time　your　assistants　arrive　it　will　be　too　late　for　some　of　you。　There　is　no　need　for　that。　All　I　want　is　my　daughter。〃
　〃Let　us　discuss　this　calmly；〃　I　said。　〃How　do　you　propose　to　get　her　away　from　here；　against　her　will；　without　killing　all　of　us；　which　is；　as　you　must　see；　impractical？〃
　A　rather　jolly　rumble　of　laughter　emerged　from　his　parted　lips。　〃Mrs。　Emerson；　it　is　a　pleasure　to　meet　you　at　last。　I　know　you　are　hoping　that　your　fascinating　conversation　will　distract　me。　It　won't。　But　since　you　ask；　I　have　already　dealt　with　Esin。　She　is　lying　bound　and　gagged　on　the　divan　in　the　ka'ah。　I　found　this　hiding　place　last　night。　As　soon　as　I　have　persuaded　you　to　enter　it；　I　will　take　her　and　go。〃
　〃Go　where？〃　I　demanded。　〃Back　into　the　lion's　den？　You　are　being　unrealistic　if　you　believe　you　can　convince　your　erstwhile　friends　that　you　are　still　to　be　trusted。〃
　The　man's　strong　jaw　hardened。　〃I　will　prove　my　good　faith　by　returning；　with　my　daughter。〃
　It　would　require　more　than　that。　He　knew　it；　and　so　did　I。　But　if　he　could　recapture　the　prisoner　he　had　let　escape　。　。　。　If　he　could　herd　us　one　by　one　into　the　secret　room；　leaving　Ramses　till　last　。　。　。
　〃Go　on；〃　Sahin　said；　gesturing　with　the　pistol。　〃You　first；　Mrs。　Emerson。〃
　〃No；〃　I　exclaimed。　〃Emerson；　do　you　see　what　…〃
　〃It's　all　right；　Mother；〃　Ramses　said　quietly。　〃I　think　he's　bluffing。　I　wonder　how　many　bullets　are　left　in　that　pistol？　Enough　to　stop　all　of　us？〃
　〃A　good　point。〃　Emerson　nodded。　〃I　call　your　bluff；　sir。　We　are　not　sheep；　to　be　herded　into　a　pen。　The　girl　stays　with　us；　but　we　will　give　you　。　。　。　oh；　let　us　say　an　hour　。　。　。　to　get　away。〃
　They　measured　one　another；　two　men　of　manding　presence　and　stature。　The　Turk　said　slowly；　〃You　would　do　that？〃
　〃As　the　lesser　of　two　evils。　Your　usefulness　to　your　government　has　been　destroyed。　This　way　no　one　will　be　injured。　You　can　trust　us　to　look　after　the　child；　and　when　the　war　is　over　you　may　be　reunited　with　her。〃
　〃The　word　of　an　Englishman？〃　Sahin　Pasha　murmured。
　〃Don't　be　foolish；〃　Ramses　said　urgently。　〃There　are　two　…　four；　I　mean　…　of　us。　Hand　over　the　gun。〃
　Sahin　smiled　wryly。　〃Four？　Ah　well；　it　seems　I　have　no　choice。　You　were　correct。　The　gun　isn't　loaded。　I　had　to　fight　my　way　out　of　Gaza。〃
　〃Drop　it；　then；〃　Ramses　said。　He　took　a　step　forward　and　held　out　his　hand。　〃Or　give　it　to　me。〃
　His　eyes　were　fixed　on　the　pistol。　It　might　be　a　double　bluff；　we　could　not　be　certain；　with　a　man　so　crafty。　Sahin　held　it　out　…　and　then　the　knife　flashed　and　Ramses　stumbled　back　and　fell；　blood　spurting　from　his　side。　Nefret　flung　herself　down　beside　him。
　〃You　never　learn；　do　you？〃　Sahin　shook　his　head　regretfully。　〃You　really　ought　to　give　up　this　line　of　work；　my　boy。〃
　Emerson　had　not　stirred。　〃Nefret？〃　he　asked　softly。
　Her　quick　surgeon's　hands　had　slowed　the　flow　of　blood。　〃It's　。　。　。　not　too　bad；〃　she　said。
　〃But　now；　you　see；　there　are　only　three　of　you；〃　Sahin　said。　〃And　I　lied　when　I　said　the　gun　was　not　loaded。　Do　I　take　the　ladies　on　next？〃
　〃Yes；〃　I　said；　and　swung　my　parasol。　It　was　one　of　my　better　efforts；　if　I　do　say　so。　The　gun　flew　out　of　Sahin's　hand　and　fell　with　a　clatter　onto　the　tiled　floor。
　〃Ah；〃　Emerson　breathed。　〃Well　done；　Peabody。　Get　the　gun。〃
　〃Take　my　parasol；　then。〃　I　pulled　out　the　little　sword　and　forced　the　weapon　into　Emerson's　hand。　Sahin　Pasha　let　out　a　guffaw。　Emerson　swore；　but　he　got　the　blade　up　just　in　time　to　parry　a　wicked　cut　at　his　good　arm。
　〃I　lied　again；〃　said　the　Turk；　grinning。　〃The　gun　is　empty。〃
　〃We　will　see　about　that；〃　I　replied。　I　pointed　the　weapon　out　the　window　and　squeezed　the　trigger。　There　was　no　explosion；　only　a　click。　〃Curse　it；〃　I　remarked。
　〃This　is　so　entertaining　I　hate　to　end　it；〃　said　Sahin　Pasha。　〃Professor；　I　admire　you；　I　respect　you；　and　I　do　not　want　to　injure　you。　Anyhow；　my　reputation　would　never　be　the　same　if　I　overcame　a　man　armed　with　a　parasol　who　has　only　one　serviceable　arm。　I　accept　your　offer。　Put　down　the　。　。　。〃　A　gurgle　of　amusement　escaped　him。　〃The　umbrella。〃
　〃Oh；　e；　don't　insult　my　intelligence；〃　said　Emerson　in　exasperation。　〃You　have　no　intention　of　giving　yourself　up；　and　I　have　no　intention　of　allowing　you　to　take　my　son　prisoner　again。　I　cannot　imagine　how　you　could　acplish　it；　but　I　do　not　underestimate　you。　En　garde。〃
　Ramses　pulled　himself　to　a　sitting　position。　〃Be　careful；　Father。　He　doesn't　…〃
　〃Fight　like　a　gentleman？　Well；　well。　Neither　do　I。〃
　He　bent　his　knee　and　lunged。　A　cry　of　alarm　escaped　me。　It　was　almost　certainly　the　most　ineffective　move　he　could　have　made。　The　blade　of　the　sword　was　only　three　inches　longer　than　that　of　Sahin's　knife。　The　Turk　didn't　even　bother　to　parry　it。　One　quick　step　backward　took　him　out　of　range；　and　as　Emerson　straightened；　staggering　a　little；　the　Turk's　knife　drove　at　his　side。
　It　sank　with　a　crunch　into　the　plaster　encasing　Emerson's　raised　forearm　and　stuck；　just　long　enough。　Emerson　dropped　the　parasol　and　hit　the　other　man　in　the　stomach。　Rather　below　the　stomach；　to　be　accurate。
　〃Oh；　Emerson；〃　I　gasped。　〃Oh；　my　dear！　That　was　magnificent！〃
　〃Most　ungentlemanly；〃　said　my　husband；　contemplating　the　writhing；　wheezing　form　of　his　foe。　〃But　I　was　never　much　good　with　a　parasol。〃
　　
　The　capture　of　the　chief　of　the　Turkish　secret　service　ended　any　doubts　the　military　might　have　entertained　about　letting　us　leave。　General　Chetwode　himself　called　to　congratulate　us；　acpanied　by　several　of　his　staff。　We　had　quite　a　time　getting　rid　of　them。
　〃Medals　again；〃　Emerson　grumbled。　〃They　seem　to　think　we　intended　this　all　along。〃
　〃You　encouraged　them　to　think　so；〃　Ramses　said。　At　Nefret's　insistence　he　was　reclining　on　one　of　the　divans。　She　had　had　to　put　a　few　stitches　into　the　cut；　which　had　bled　copiously。　〃It　was　inspired　lying；　Father。〃
　〃At　least　we　got　a　bottle　of　whiskey　out　of　them；〃　Emerson　said　placently。　〃Much　more　useful　than　medals。　Here；　my　boy；　this　will　put　a　little　color　into　your　face。〃
　〃I　would　like　some　too；〃　said　Esin。
　〃Spirits　are　not　suitable　for　young　ladies；〃　I　said；　sipping　my　own　whiskey　appreciatively。　It　had　been　quite　a　busy　day；　what　with　one　thing　and　another；　and　I　was　not　in　a　good　humor　with　the　girl。　After　we　freed　her　she　carried　on　quite　extravagantly；　and　she　had　accepted　the　news　of　her　father's　capture　with　unbeing　equanimity。
　〃Aren't　you　at　all　concerned　about　your　father？〃　I　asked。
　〃What　will　happen　to　him？〃
　〃He　is　a　prisoner　of　war；〃　Emerson　said。　〃Do　you　want　to　see　him　before　we　leave？　I　can　probably　arrange　that。〃
　〃No。〃　She　shivered。　〃He　tried　to　take　me　away。　He　says　he　loves　me；　but　he　will　not　allow　me　to　do　what　I　want。　Is　that　love？〃
　〃Sometimes；〃　Nefret　said。
　Th