anner.themummy-第15部分

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　Into　the　hottest　glare　of　the　sun　it　moved；　and　suddenly　it　stopped　beside　the　fountain　and　rolled　over　on　its　back。　One　hand　reached　up　towards　the　glass　ceiling；　the　other　fell　limp　on　its　chest。
　
　Silently；　Julie　moved　into　the　conservatory。　Still　trembling　uncontrollably；　she　went　closer　and　closer　until　she　was　staring　directly　down　at　this　thing。
　
　The　body　was　filling　out　in　the　sunlight！　It　was　growing　ever　more　robust　as　she　watched！　She　could　hear　the　sound　of　the　wrappings　releasing　it。　She　could　see　the　chest　rising　and　falling　with　regular　breath。
　
　And　the　face；　my　God；　the　face。　There　were　eyes　there；　great　shining　blue　eyes　under　the　thin　wrappings。　It　reached　up　suddenly　and　tore　loose　the　bandages。　Yes；　large　and　beautiful　blue　eyes。　With　another　rip；　it　tore　the　bandages　from　its　skull　and　released　a　soft　mop　of　brown　hair。
　
　Then　it　rose　on　its　knees　with　quiet　grace　and　reached　down　into　the　fountain　with　its　bandaged　hands；　scooping　up　the　sparkling　water　to　its　lips。　It　drank　and　drank　the　water；　with　deep　sighing　gulps。　Then　it　stopped　and　turned　towards　her；　wiping　away　more　of　the　thick　ashen　layer　of　linen　from　its　face。
　
　A　man　looking　at　her！　A　blue…eyed　man　with　intelligence　looking　at　her！
　
　That　scream　rose　again；　but　was　not　released。　Only　a　soft　sigh　came　out　of　her。　Or　was　it　a　gasp？　She　realized　she　had　taken　a　step　backwards。　The　thing　climbed　to　its　feet。
　
　It　rose　now　to　its　full　height　and　gazed　calmly　at　her；　its　fingers　working　almost　absently　to　clear　the　rest　of　the　rotted　bandages　from　its　head　as　if　they　were　cobwebs。　Yes；　a　full　head　of　dark　wavy　brown　hair。　It　fell　to　just　below　the　ears；　and　came　now　softy　over　the　forehead。　And　the　eyes　evinced　fascination　as　it　looked　at　her。　Good　Lord；　imagine！　Fascination　as　it　looked　at　her。
　
　She　was　going　to　faint。　She　had　read　about　it。　She　knew　what　it　was；　though　it　had　never　happened　to　her。　But　her　legs　were　literally　going　out　from　under　her　and　things　were　going　dim。　No。　Stop！　She　couldn't　faint　with　this　thing　staring　at　her。
　
　This　was　the　mummy　e　to　life！
　
　She　backed　into　the　Egyptian　room；　legs　trembling；　her　body　moist　all　over；　her　hands　clawing　at　her　face　peignoir。
　
　It　watched　her　as　if　genuinely　curious　as　to　what　she　meant　to　do。　Then　it　wiped　more　of　the　bandages　away　from　its　neck　and　its　shoulders　and　its　chest。　Its　broad　naked　chest。　She　closed　her　eyes；　and　then　opened　them　slowly。　Still　there；　with　those　powerful　arms；　and　the　dust　falling　from　its　lustrous　brown　hair。
　
　It　took　a　step　towards　her。　She　backed　away。　It　took　another　step。　She　backed　up　farther。　In　fact；　she　was　backing　up　all　the　way　across　the　library；　and　very　suddenly　she　felt　the　centre　table　of　the　second　drawing　room　behind　her。　She　felt　her　hands　touch　the　edge　of　the　silver　coffee　tray。
　
　With　silent；　even　steps　it　came　towards　her…this　thing；　this　beautiful　man　with　the　splendid　body　and　the　large　gentle　blue　eyes。
　
　Good　Lord；　are　you　losing　your　reason！　Never　mind　that　it's　handsome！　It　just　tried　to　strangle　Henry！　Quickly　she　darted　around　the　table；　groping　behind　her　with　outstretched　hands　as　she　moved　towards　the　front　drawing　room　doors。
　
　It　stopped　as　it　reached　the　table。　It　looked　down　at　the　silver　coffeepot　and　the　overturned　cup。　It　picked　up　something　off　the　tray。　What　was　it？　A　wadded　handkerchief。　Had　Henry　left　it　there？　Quite　unmistakably　it　pointed　to　the　spilt　coffee；　and　then　in　a　soft；　resonant　and　distinctly　masculine　voice　it　spoke：
　
　〃e　and　have　a　cup　of　coffee　with　me；　Julie！〃　　it　said。
　
　Perfect　British　accent！　Familiar　words！　Julie　felt　a　shock　course　through　her。　This　was　no　invitation　from　the　thing。　Why；　it　was　imitating　Henry。　Same　precise　intonation。　That's　what　Henry　had　said！
　
　It　held　out　the　handkerchief；　which　it　had　opened。　White　powder；　sparkling　as　if　full　of　tiny　crystals。　It　pointed　to　the　distant　row　of　alabaster　jars。　The　top　was　missing　from　one　of　the　jars！　And　again　it　spoke　with　the　same　flawless；　crisp　English　accent：
　
　〃Drink　your　coffee；　Uncle　Lawrence。〃
　
　A　groan　escaped　her　lips。　The　meaning　was　unmistakable。　She　stood　there　staring；　the　words　echoing　in　her　head。　Henry　had　poisoned　her　father　and　this　creature　had　witnessed　it。　Henry　had　tried　to　poison　her。　With　all　her　spirit　she　tried　to　deny　it。　She　tried　to　find　some　reason　that　it　could　not　be　so。　But　she　knew　it　was　so。　Just　as　surely　as　she　knew　this　thing　was　alive　and　breathing　and　occupying　space　before　her；　and　that　it　was　the　immortal　Ramses　e　to　life　out　of　those　decayed　wrappings；　standing　before　her　in　the　drawing　room　with　the　sun　at　its　back。
　
　Her　legs　were　going　out　from　under　her。　No　way　to　prevent　it；　and　the　darkness　was　rising。　And　as　she　felt　herself　slip　downwards；　she　saw　the　tall　figure　dart　forward；　and　she　felt　the　strong　arms　catch　her　and　lift　her　and　hold　her　quite　firmly；　so　that　she　felt　almost　safe。
　
　She　opened　her　eyes；　and　looked　up　into　its　face。　No；　his　face。　His　beautiful　face。　She　heard　Rita　scream　from　the　hallway。　And　the　darkness　rose　again。
　
　〃What　the　hell　are　you　saying！〃　　Randolph　was　not　really　fully　awake。　He　struggled　out　of　the　tangle　of　covers；　reaching　for　his　crumpled　silk　robe　at　the　foot　of　the　bed。〃　You're　telling　me　you　left　your　cousin　there　alone　in　that　house　with　this　thing！〃
　
　〃I'm　telling　you　it　tried　to　kill　me！〃　　Henry　roared　like　a　madman。〃　That's　what　I'm　telling　you！　The　damned　thing　got　out　of　the　coffin　and　tried　to　strangle　me　with　its　right　hand！〃
　
　〃Damn　it；　where　are　my　slippers！　She's　alone　in　that　house；　you　fool！〃
　
　Barefoot；　he　ran　into　the　hall　and　down　the　stairway；　his　robe　ballooning　behind　him。
　
　〃Hurry；　you　imbecile！〃　　he　shouted　to　his　son；　who　hesitated　at　the　top　of　the　steps。
　
　She　opened　her　eyes。　She　was　sitting　on　the　sofa；　and　Rita　was　clinging　to　her。　Rita　was　hurting　her。　Rita　was　making　little　whimpering　sounds。
　
　And　there　was　the　mummy；　standing　right　there。　Nothing　about　it　imagined。　Not　the　dark　lock　of　hair　fallen　down　on　his　smooth　broad　forehead。　Or　his　deep　shadowy　blue　eyes。　He　had　torn　loose　more　of　the　rotted　stuff　that　covered　him。　He　was　bare　to　the　waist；　a　god；　it　seemed　at　the　moment。　Especially　with　that　smile。　That　warm　and　embracing　smile。　His　hair　seemed　to　be　moving　as　she　looked　at　it；　as　if　it　were　growing　before　her　eyes。　It　was　fuller　and　more　lustrous　than　it　had　been　before　she　fainted。　But　what　in　God's　name　was　she　doing；　staring　at　this　creature's　hair！
　
　He　drew　a　little　closer。　His　bare　feet　were　free　of　the　cumbersome　wrappings。
　
　〃Julie；〃　　he　said　softly。
　
　〃Ramses；〃　　she　whispered　back。
　
　The　creature　nodded；　the　smile　lengthening。〃　Ramses！〃　　he　said　emphatically；　and　he　made　her　a　very　subtle　bow　with　his　head。
　
　Dear　God；　she　thought；　this　is　not　merely　a　man　gifted　with　beauty；　this　is　the　most　beautiful　man　I've　ever　seen。
　
　In　a　daze；　she　forced　herself　to　climb　to　her　feet。　Rita　clung　to　her；　but　she　struggled　free　of　Rita；　and　then　the　mummy…the　man…reached　out　and　took　her　hand　and　helped　her　to　stand。
　
　The　fingers　were　warm；　dusty。　She　found　herself　staring　right　into　his　face。　Skin　like　the　skin　of　any　other　human　being；　only　smoother；　perhaps　softer；　and　full　of　more　high　colour…like　that　of　a　man　who　had　been　running；　the　cheeks　faintly　flushed。
　
　He　turned　his　head　sharply。　She　heard　it　too。　Voices　outside；　argument。　A　motor　car　had　pulled　up　in　front　of　the　house。
　
　Rita　made　an　awkward　dash　to　the　window　as　if　the　mummy　were　going　to　stop　her。
　
　〃It's　Scotland　Yard；　miss；　thank　God　for　that。〃
　
　〃No；　but　this　is　a　disaster！　Bolt　the　door　at　once。〃
　
　〃But　miss！〃
　
　〃Bolt　it。　Now。〃
　
　Rita　ran　to　obey。　Julie　took　Ramses'　hand。
　
　〃e　with　me；　upstairs；　immediately；〃　　she　said　to　him。〃　Rita；　put　the　lid　on　that　coffin。　It　weighs　almost　nothing。　Close　it　up　fast　and　e。〃
　
　No　sooner　had　Rita　slid　the　bolt　than　they　were　knocking　and　pulling　the　bell。　The　shrill　clanging　from　the　back　of　the　house　startled　Ramses。　His　eyes　moved　quickly　over　the　ceiling　and　to　the　back　of　the　house　as　though　he　had　heard　the　sound　traveling　the　wire　to　the　kitchen　wall。
　
　Julie　tugged　him　gently　but　urgently；　and　to　her　amazement　he　followed　easily　as　they　made　their　way　up　the　stairs。
　
　She　could　hear　little　cries　of　distress　ing　from　Rita。　But　Rita　was　doing　as　she　had　been　told。　Julie　heard　the　thump　as　the　lid　of　the　coffin　slid　into　place。
　
　And　Ramses；　he　was　staring　at　the　wallpaper；　at　the　framed　portraits；　at　the　knickknack　shelf　nestled　in　the　corner　at　the　top　of　the　stairs。　He　was　looking　at　the　stained…glass　window。　He　looked　down　at　the　wool　carpet　with　its　pattern　of　feathers　and　twisted　leaves。
　
　The　pounding　was　being　quite　impossible。　Julie　could　hear　her　uncle　Randolph　calling　her　name。
　
　〃What　shall　I　do；　miss？〃　　Rita　called　out。
　
　〃e　up　at　once。〃　　She　looked　at　Ramses；　who　was　watching　her　with　a　strange　mixture　of　patience　and　amusement。〃　You　look　normal；〃　　she　whispered。〃　Perfectly　normal。　Beautiful；　but　normal。〃　　She　pulled　him　on　down　the　hallway。〃　The　bath；　Rita！〃　　she　shouted　as　Rita　appeared；　quivering　and　tentative；　behind　him。〃　Quick。　Run　the　bath。〃
　
　She　brought　him　on　towards　the　front　of　the　house　as　Rita　hurried　past。　They　had　stopped　their　pounding　for　a　minute。　She　could　hear　the　grind　of　a　key　in　the　lock。　But　the　bolt；　thank　God　for　that！　The　pounding　started　again。
　
　Ramses　was　truly　smiling　at　her　now；　as　if　he　were　about　to　laugh。　He　peered　into　the　bedrooms　as　he　passed　them。　Suddenly　he　saw　the　electric　chandelier　hanging　on　its　dusty　chain　from　the　ceiling　rose　above。　The　tiny　light　bulbs　looked　dull　and　opaque　in　the　daylight；　but　they　were　burning；　and　he　narrowed　his　eyes　to　study　this；　gently　resisting　her　for　the　first　time。
　
　〃Later　you　can　see　it！〃　　she　said　in　panic。　The　water　was　roaring　into　the　tub。　The　steam　was　pouring　out　of　the　door。
　
　He　gave　her　another　decorous　little　nod　with　a　slight　lift　of　his　eyebrows；　and　followed　her　into　the　bath。　The　shining　tile　seemed　to　please　him。　He　turned　slowl