anner.themummy-第42部分

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All　gone　without　a　trace。　The　mausoleum；　the　library；　the　lighthouse。　All　that　Alexander　built；　and　Cleopatra　built。　Tell　me；　why　are　the　pyramids　still　standing　at　Giza？　Why　is　my　temple　still　standing　at　Luxor？〃
　
　〃Do　you　want　to　see　them？〃　　She　reached　across　the　little　table　and　took　his　hand。〃　Are　you　ready　to　leave　here　now？〃
　
　〃Yes；　it's　time　to　go　on；　isn't　it？　And　then　when　we've　seen　it　all；　we　can　leave　this　land。　You　and　I。　。。。　That　is；　if　you　want　to　remain　with　me。〃
　
　Such　lovely　brown　eyes　with　their　deep　fringe　of　brown　lashes；　and　the　pure　sweetness　of　her　mouth　as　she　smiled。　And　wouldn't　you　know？　The　Earl　had　just　e　out　of　the　lift；　along　with　his　charming　ninpoop　of　a　son；　and　Samir。
　
　〃I'll　go　with　you　to　the　ends　of　the　earth；〃　　she　whispered。
　
　He　held　her　gaze　for　a　long　moment。　Did　she　know　what　she　was　saying？　No。　The　question　was；　did　he　know　what　she　was　saying？　That　she　loved　him；　yes。　But　the　other；　the　other　great　question　had　never　been　asked；　had　it？
　
　They　had　been　heading　up　the　Nile　for　the　better　part　of　the　afternoon；　the　sun　beating　down　with　full　force　upon　the　striped　awnings　of　the　small；　elegant　steamer。　The　bination　of　Julie's　purse　and　Elliott's　gift　for　mand　had　provided　them　with　every　luxury。　The　staterooms　of　the　small　boat　were　as　fine　as　those　of　the　P&O　liner　which　had　brought　them　across　the　sea。　The　saloon　and　dining　room　were　more　than　fortable。　The　cook　was　a　European；　the　servants；　with　the　exception；　of　course；　of　Walter　and　Rita；　were　Egyptian。
　
　But　the　greatest　luxury　of　all　was　that　it　was　their　craft。　They　shared　it　with　no　one　else。　And　they　had　bee；　much　to　Julie's　surprise；　an　extremely　congenial　group　of　travelers。　Now　that　Henry　was　gone；　that　is。　And　for　that　she　couldn't　have　been　more　grateful。
　
　He'd　fled　like　a　coward　as　soon　as　they　landed　in　Alexandria。　And　what　a　preposterous　story；　that　he　would　prepare　things　for　them　in　Cairo。　Shepheard's　Hotel　would　prepare　things　for　them　in　Cairo。　They　had　cabled　before　they　ever　started　the　journey　south　towards　Abu　Simbel。　They　did　not　know　how　long　their　cruise　would　be；　but　Shepheard's；　the　old　standby　of　the　British　abroad；　would　be　waiting。
　
　Opera　season　was　about　to　begin；　they'd　been　advised。　Should　the　concierge　arrange　for　box　seats　for　all　of　them？　Julie　had　said　yes；　though　she　could　not　imagine　how　this　trip　would　end。
　
　She　knew　only　that　Ramses　was　in　fine　spirits；　that　he　loved　being　on　the　Nile。　That　he　had　stared　for　hours　from　the　deck　at　the　palm　trees　and　the　golden　desert　on　either　side　of　the　broad；　gleaming　strip　of　brown　water。
　
　No　one　had　to　tell　Julie　that　these　were　the　same　airy；　fanlike　palms　painted　upon　the　walls　of　ancient　Egyptian　tombs。　Or　that　the　dark…faced　farmers　were　drawing　water　from　the　river　by　the　very　same　crude　means　they　had　used　four　thousand　years　ago。　No　one　had　to　tell　her　that　the　many　native　boats　which　passed　them　were　little　changed　since　the　time　of　Ramses　the　Great。
　
　And　the　wind　and　the　sun　changed　for　no　one。
　
　But　there　was　something　she　had　to　do；　and　it　could　wait　no　longer。　She　sat　contentedly　in　the　saloon；　idly　watching　Samir　and　Elliott　play　chess。　And　then　when　Alex　rose　from　his　game　of　solitaire　and　went　out　on　the　deck　alone；　she　followed　him。
　
　It　was　almost　evening；　the　breeze　was　cool　for　the　first　time；　and　the　sky　was　slowly　turning　a　deep　shade　of　blue　which　was　almost　violet。
　
　〃You're　a　darling；〃　　she　said。〃　And　I　don't　want　to　hurt　you。　But　I　don't　want　to　marry　you；　either。〃
　
　〃I　know；〃　　he　said。〃　I've　known　for　a　long　time。　But　I'm　going　to　continue　to　pretend　it　isn't　so。　Just　as　I've　always　done。〃
　
　〃Alex；　don't…〃
　
　〃No；　darling；　don't　give　advice。　Let　me　do　things　my　own　way。　After　all；　it's　a　woman's　privilege　to　change　her　mind；　isn't　it？　And　you　may　change　yours；　and　when　you　do；　I'll　be　waiting。　No；　don't　say　anything　more。　You're　free。　You've　always　been　free；　really。〃
　
　She　drew　in　her　breath。　A　deep　pain　radiated　through　her。　She　felt　it　in　her　chest；　in　the　pit　of　her　stomach。　She　wanted　to　cry；　but　this　was　not　the　place。　She　kissed　him　quickly　on　the　cheek；　and　then　she　went　down　the　deck；　and　into　her　cabin。
　
　Thank　God；　Rita　wasn't　there。　She　lay　down　on　the　small　bed　and　cried　softly　in　the　pillow。　And　then；　exhausted；　she　drifted　into　a　half　sleep；　her　last　thought　being；　May　he　never　find　out　that　I　never　loved　him。　May　he　always　think　it　was　another　man；　an　adversary　who　swept　me　off　my　feet。　That　he　can　understand；　not　the　other。
　
　It　was　dark　beyond　the　windows　when　she　opened　her　eyes。　Rita　had　lighted　a　small　lamp　from　the　deck。　And　she　realized　Ramses　was　standing　in　the　room；　looking　down　at　her。
　
　She　felt　no　anger；　and　certainly　no　fear。
　
　And　then　suddenly　she　realized　that　she　was　still　dreaming。　Only　now　did　she　fully　wake　and　find　the　room　lighted　and　empty。　Oh；　if　only　he　had　been　there。　Her　body　ached　for　him。　She　no　longer　cared　about　past　or　future。　She　cared　only　for　him；　and　surely　he　knew　this。
　
　When　she　came　into　the　dining　room；　he　was　in　fast　conversation　with　others。　The　table　was　littered　with　exotic　dishes。
　
　〃Should　we　have　awakened　you；　my　dear；　we　weren't　sure；〃　　Elliott　said；　rising　at　once　to　help　her　with　her　chair。
　
　〃Ah；　Julie；〃　　Ramses　said；〃　these　native　dishes　are　simply　delicious。〃　　He　was　gaily　helping　himself　to　shish　kebab　and　grape　leaves　and　spiced　dishes　for　which　she　didn't　know　the　names；　fingers　moving　as　always　with　great　delicacy　and　deliberation。
　
　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　　Alex　said。〃　You　mean；　you've　never　had　this　food　before？〃
　
　〃Well；　no；　in　that　crazy　pink　hotel　we　ate　meat　and　potatoes　if　memory　serves　me　right；〃　　Ramses　said。〃　And　this　is　a　very　fine　dish；　this　chicken　and　cinnamon。〃
　
　〃But　wait　a　minute；〃　　Alex　said。〃　Are　you　not　a　native　Egyptian？〃
　
　〃Alex；　please；　I　think　Mr。　Ramsey　likes　to　be　mysterious　about　his　origins；〃　　Julie　said。
　
　Ramses　laughed。　He　drank　down　a　tumbler　full　of　wine。〃　That's　true；　I　must　confess。　But　if　you　must　know；　I　am　。。。　Egyptian；　yes。〃
　
　〃And　where　in　the　world　。。。〃
　
　〃Alex；　please；〃　　Julie　said。
　
　Alex　shrugged。〃　What　a　puzzle　you　are；　Ramsey！〃　〃Ah；　but　I　don't　offend　you；　do　I；　Alexander？〃　〃Call　me　that　again　and　I'll　call　you　out；〃　　Alex　said。〃　What　does　this　mean？〃
　
　〃Nothing；〃　　Elliott　said。　He　patted　his　son's　hand。　But　Alex　wasn't　cross。　And　certainly　he　wasn't　offended。　He　gazed　at　Julie　across　the　table。　He　gave　her　a　little　sad　secret　smile；　for　which　she　knew　she　would　be　forever　grateful。
　
　It　was　burning　hot　at　midday　in　Luxor。　They　waited　until　late　afternoon　before　going　ashore　and　taking　the　long　stroll　through　the　immense　temple　plex。　Ramses　had　no　need　to　be　alone；　she　could　see　that。　He　walked　among　the　pillars；　now　and　then　looking　up；　but　for　the　most　part　deep　in　his　own　thoughts。
　
　Elliott　had　refused　to　miss　this　part　of　the　journey；　no　matter　how　difficult　it　was　for　him。　Alex　hung　back　to　give　his　father　an　arm　to　lean　on。　And　Samir　walked　with　the　Earl　as　well。　They　appeared　to　be　in　deep　discussion。
　
　〃The　pain's　leaving　you；　isn't　it？〃　　Julie　said。
　
　〃When　I　look　at　you　I　don't　feel　it　at　all；〃　　Ramses　answered。〃　Julie　is　as　beautiful　in　Egypt　as　she　was　in　London。〃
　
　〃Were　these　ruins　already　when　you　last　saw　them？〃
　
　〃Yes；　they　were；　and　covered　over　with　sand　so　deep　that　only　the　very　tops　of　the　columns　were　visible。　The　avenue　of　the　sphinxes　was　buried　entirely。　A　thousand　years　had　passed　since　I　walked　in　this　place　a　mortal　man；　a　fool　who　thought　the　kingdom　of　Egypt　was　the　civilized　world　and　that　no　truth　lay　outside　its　boundaries。〃　　He　stopped；　turning　to　her　and　kissing　her　quickly　on　the　forehead。　Then　there　was　a　guilty　glance　in　the　direction　of　the　party　ing　behind　him。　No；　not　guilty；　only　resentful。
　
　She　took　his　hand。　They　moved　on。
　
　〃Someday　I'm　going　to　tell　you　all　of　it；〃　　he　said。〃　I　shall　tell　you　so　much　that　you'll　tire　of　listening。　I　shall　tell　you　how　we　dressed　and　how　we　spoke　to　each　other；　and　how　we　dined　and　how　we　danced；　and　what　these　temples　and　palaces　were　when　the　paint　still　gleamed　on　the　walls；　and　I　came　forth　at　dawn　and　noon　and　sunset　to　greet　the　god　and　say　the　prayers　the　people　expected。　But　e；　there's　time　for　us　to　cross　the　river　and　ride　out　to　the　temple　of　Ramses　the　Third。　I　want　so　much　to　see　it。〃
　
　He　signaled　one　of　the　turbaned　Egyptians　near　at　hand。　He　wanted　a　buggy　to　take　them　to　the　landing。　She　was　glad　to　be　free　of　the　others　for　a　little　while。
　
　But　when　they　had　made　the　river　crossing　and　reached　the　immense　roofless　temple　with　its　court　of　pillars　within；　he　fell　strangely　silent。　He　looked　up　at　the　great　reliefs　of　the　warrior　King　in　battle。
　
　〃This　was　my　first　pupil；〃　　he　said。〃　The　one　to　whom　I　had　e　after　hundreds　of　years　of　wandering。　I'd　e　home　to　Egypt　to　die；　but　nothing　could　kill　me。　And　then　I　conceived　of　what　I　should　do。　Go　to　the　royal　house；　bee　a　guardian；　a　teacher。　He　believed　me；　this　one；　my　namesake；　my　distant　child。　When　I　spoke　to　him　of　history；　of　distant　lands；　he　listened。〃
　
　〃And　the　elixir；　did　he　want　it？〃　　Julie　asked。
　
　They　stood　alone　in　the　ruins　of　the　great　hall；　entirely　surrounded　by　the　carved　pillars。　The　desert　wind　was　cold　now。　It　tore　at　Julie's　hair。　Ramses　slipped　his　arms　around　her。
　
　〃I　never　told　him　I　had　been　a　mortal　man；〃　　he　said。〃　You　see；　I　never　told　that　to　any　of　them。　I　knew　from　the　last　years　of　my　own　mortal　life　what　the　secret　could　do。　I　had　seen　it　turn　my　son；　Meneptah；　into　a　traitor。　Of　course　he　failed　in　his　attempt　to　imprison　me　and　extract　from　me　the　secret。　I　gave　him　the　kingdom；　and　left　Egypt　then　for　centuries。　But　I　knew　what　the　knowledge　could　do。　It　was　centuries　later　that　I　told　Cleopatra。〃
　
　He　stopped。　It　was　clear　that　he　didn't　want　to　go　on。　The　pain　he'd　felt　in　Alexandria　had　returned。　The　light　had　gone　out　of　his　eyes。　They　walked　back　to　the　carriage　in　silence。
　
　〃Julie；　let　us　make　this　journey　fast；〃　　he　said。〃　Tomorrow　the　Valley　of　the　Kings　and　then　we　sail　south　ag