anner.themummy-第43部分

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　〃Julie；　let　us　make　this　journey　fast；〃　　he　said。〃　Tomorrow　the　Valley　of　the　Kings　and　then　we　sail　south　again。〃
　
　They　went　at　dawn；　before　the　full　heat　of　the　sun　came　down　on　them。
　
　Julie　took　Elliott's　arm。　Ramses　was　talking　again；　with　spirit；　prompted　by　any　question　Elliott　asked；　and　they　took　their　time　on　the　path；　descending　through　desecrated　tombs；　where　the　tourists　were　already　thick　as　well　as　the　photographers　and　the　turbaned　peddlers　in　their　filthy　gellebiyyas；　selling　trinkets　and　fakes　with　fantastical　claims。
　
　Julie　was　already　suffering　from　the　heat。　Her　big　drowsy　straw　hat　did　not　help　much；　she　had　to　stop；　take　a　deep　breath。　The　smell　of　camel　dung　and　urine　almost　overcame　her。
　
　A　peddler　brushed　against　her　and　she　looked　down　to　see　a　blackened　hand　outstretched；　fingers　curling　like　the　legs　of　a　spider。
　
　She　screamed　before　she　could　stop　herself。
　
　〃Get　away！〃　　Alex　said　roughly。〃　These　native　fellows　are　intolerable。〃
　
　〃Mummy's　hand！〃　　cried　the　peddler。〃　Mummy's　hand；　very　ancient！〃
　
　〃I'm　sure；〃　　Elliott　laughed。〃　Probably　came　from　some　mummy　factory　in　Cairo。〃
　
　But　Ramses　was　staring　at　the　peddler　and　at　the　hand；　as　if　transfixed。　The　peddler　suddenly　froze；　there　was　a　look　of　terror　in　his　face。　Ramses　reached　out　and　grabbed　the　withered　hand；　and　the　peddler　let　it　go；　stumbling　to　his　knees　and　then　scrambling　backwards　off　the　path。
　
　〃What　in　the　world？〃　　Alex　said。〃　Surely　you　don't　want　that　thing。〃
　
　Ramses　stared　at　the　hand；　at　the　ragged　bits　of　linen　wrapping　still　clinging　to　it。
　
　Julie　couldn't　tell　what　was　wrong。　Was　he　outraged　by　the　sacrilege？　Or　did　the　thing　have　some　other　fascination？　A　memory　swept　over　her；　the　mummy　in　the　coffin　in　her　father's　library；　and　this　living　being　whom　she　loved　had　been　that　thing。　It　seemed　a　century　had　passed　since　then。
　
　Elliott　was　watching　all　this　with　keen　concentration。
　
　〃What　is　it；　sire？〃　　Samir　said　under　his　breath。　Did　Elliott　hear　it？
　
　Ramses　drew　out　several　coins　and　threw　them　in　the　sand　for　the　peddler。　The　man　gathered　them　up　and　then　took　off　at　a　dead　run。　Then　Ramses　took　out　his　handkerchief；　neatly　covered　the　hand　and　slipped　it　in　his　pocket。
　
　〃And　what　were　you　saying？〃　　Elliott　said　politely；　resuming　their　conversation　as　if　nothing　had　happened。〃　I　believe　you　were　saying　that　the　dominant　theme　of　our　time　is　change？〃
　
　〃Yes；〃　　Ramses　said　with　a　sigh。　He　appeared　to　be　seeing　the　valley　in　an　entirely　new　perspective。　He　stared　at　the　gaping　doors　of　the　tombs；　at　the　dogs　lying　there　in　the　morning　sun。　Elliott　went　on：
　
　〃And　the　dominant　theme　of　these　ancient　times　was　that　things　would　remain　the　same；　always。〃
　
　Julie　could　see　the　subtle　changes　in　his　face；　the　faint　shadow　of　despair；　yet　as　they　moved　on；　he　answered　Elliott　smoothly。
　
　〃Yes；　no　concept　of　progress　whatsoever。　But　then　the　concept　of　time　was　not　as　well　developed；　either。　A　new　count　of　years　began　with　each　King's　birth。　You　know　that；　of　course。　No　one　counted　time　itself　in　terms　of　centuries。　I'm　not　sure　the　simple　Egyptian　had　any　sense　at　ail　。。。　of　centuries。〃
　
　Abu　Simbel。　They　had　e　at　last　to　the　greatest　of　Ramses'　temples。　The　shore　excursion　had　been　brief　on　account　of　the　heat；　but　now　the　night　wind　blew　cold　over　the　desert。
　
　Stealthily　Julie　and　Ramses　climbed　down　the　rope　ladder　into　the　dinghy。　She　wrapped　her　shawl　tightly　over　her　shoulders。　The　moon　hung　perilously　low　over　the　shimmering　water。　With　the　help　of　a　lone　native　servant；　they　mounted　the　camels　awaiting　them；　and　rode　towards　the　great　temple　where　stood　the　largest　statues　of　Ramses　the　Great　in　existence。
　
　It　was　thrilling　to　ride　this　mad；　terrifying　beast。　Julie　laughed　into　the　wind。　She　dared　not　look　at　the　ground　moving　unevenly　beneath　her。　But　she　was　glad　when　they　came　to　a　halt；　and　Ramses　jumped　down　and　reached　up　to　catch　her。
　
　The　servant　took　the　beasts　away。　Alone　they　stood；　she　and　Ramses；　under　the　star…filled　sky；　the　desert　wind　faintly　howling。　Far　off　she　saw　the　lighted　tent　of　their　little　camp　waiting　for　them。　She　saw　the　lantern　shining　through　the　translucent　canvas；　she　saw　the　tiny　campfire　dancing　in　the　wind；　winking　out　and　then　reappearing　in　a　dazzle　of　yellow　brilliance。
　
　Into　the　temple　they　walked；　past　the　giant　legs　of　the　Pharaoh　god。　If　there　were　tears　in　Ramses'　eyes；　the　wind　carried　them　away；　but　his　sigh　she　heard。　The　faint　tremor　in　his　warm　hand　she　felt　as　she　cleaved　to　him。
　
　They　walked　on；　hand　in　hand；　his　eyes　roving　over　the　great　statues　still。
　
　〃Where　did　you　go；〃　　she　whispered；〃　when　your　reign　had　ended？　You　gave　the　throne　to　Meneptah　and　then　you　went　away。　。。。〃
　
　〃All　over　the　world。　As　far　as　I　dared。　As　far　as　any　mortal　man　had　dared。　I　saw　the　great　forests　of　Britannia　then。　The　people　wore　skins　and　hid　in　the　trees　to　shoot　their　wooden　arrows。　I　went　to　the　Far　East；　I　discovered　cities　which　have　now　pletely　vanished；　I　was　just　beginning　to　understand　that　the　elixir　worked　on　my　brain　as　it　did　on　my　limbs。　The　languages　I　could　learn　in　a　matter　of　days；　I　could　。。。　how　do　you　say　。。。　adapt。　But　inevitably　there　came　。。。　confusion；〃
　
　〃How　do　you　mean？〃　　she　asked。　They　had　stopped。　They　stood　on　the　hard…packed　sand。　A　great　soft　light　from　the　starry　sky　illuminated　his　face　as　he　looked　down　at　her。
　
　〃I　was　no　longer　Ramses。　I　was　no　longer　a　King。　I　had　no　nation。〃
　
　〃I　understand。〃
　
　〃I　told　myself　that　the　world　itself　was　everything。　What　did　I　need　but　to　wander；　to　see？　But　that　was　not　true。　I　had　to　e　back　to　Egypt。〃
　
　〃And　that　is　when　you　wanted　to　die。〃
　
　〃And　I　went　to　the　Pharaoh；　Ramses　the　Third；　and　told　him　that　I　had　been　sent　to　be　his　guardian。　That　is；　after　I　learned　that　no　poison　could　kilt　me。　Not　even　fire　could　kill　me。　Hurt　me；　yes；　beyond　endurance；　but　kill　me；　no。　I　was　immortal。　One　draught　of　the　elixir　had　done　this　to　me。　Immortal！〃
　
　〃Oh；　the　cruelty　of　it；〃　　she　sighed。　But　there　were　things　she　still　did　not　understand；　and　yet　she　dared　not　ask　him。　Patiently　she　waited　for　him　to　tell　her。
　
　〃There　were　many　others　after　my　brave　Ramses　the　Third。　Great　Queens　as　well　as　Kings。　I　came　when　it　pleased　me。　And　I　was　a　legend　by　then…the　human　phantom　who　spoke　only　to　the　rulers　of　Egypt。　It　was　seen　as　a　great　blessing　when　I　appeared。　And　of　course；　I　had　my　secret　life。　1　roamed　the　streets　of　Thebes；　an　ordinary　man；　seeking　panions；　women；　drinking　in　the　taverns。〃
　
　〃But　no　one　knew　VOM；　or　your　secret？〃　　She　shook　her　head。〃　I　don't　know　how　you　could　bear　it。〃
　
　〃Well；　I　could　bear　it　no　more；〃　　he　said　dejectedly；〃　when　I　finally　wrote　it　down　in　the　scrolls　your　father　found　in　my　secret　study。　But　in　those　early　days；　I　was　a　braver　man。　And　I　was　loved；　Julie。　You　must　realize　this。〃
　
　He　paused；　as　if　listening　to　the　wind。
　
　〃I　was　worshipped；〃　　he　went　on。〃　It　was　as　if　I　had　died；　and　bee　the　very　thing　I　claimed　to　be。　Guardian　of　the　royal　house。　Protector　of　the　ruler；　punisher　of　the　bad。　Loyal　not　to　the　King；　but　the　kingdom。〃
　
　〃Don't　even　gods　get　lonely？〃
　
　He　laughed　softly。
　
　〃You　know　the　answer。　But　you　don't　understand　the　full　power　of　the　potion　that　made　me　what　I　am。　I　myself　do　not　fully　prehend。　Oh；　the　folly　of　those　first　years；　when　I　experimented　with　it　like　a　physician。〃　　A　look　of　bitterness　came　over　his　face。〃　To　understand　this　world；　that's　our　task；　is　it　not？　And　even　the　simple　things　elude　us。〃
　
　〃Yes；　I　have　no　quarrel　with　that；〃　　she　whispered。
　
　〃In　the　hardest　moments；　I　put　my　faith　in　change。　I　understood　it；　though　no　one　around　me　did。〃　This　too　shall　pass；'　the　old　axiom。　But　finally　I　was　so　。。。　weary。　So　tired。〃
　
　He　put　his　arm　around　her；　closing　her　against　him　gently；　as　they　turned　and　made　their　way　out　of　the　temple。　The　wind　had　died　down。　He　kept　her　warm。　She　shaded　her　eyes　only　now　and　then　from　the　tiny　grains　of　sand　in　the　air。　His　voice　was　quiet；　slow；　as　he　remembered：
　
　〃The　Greeks　had　e　into　our　land。　Alexander；　the　builder　of　cities；　the　maker　of　new　gods。　I　wanted　only　the　deathlike　sleep。　Yet　I　was　afraid；　as　any　mortal　man　might　be。〃
　
　〃I　know；〃　　she　whispered。　A　shiver　went　through　her。
　
　〃I　made　a　coward's　bargain　finally。　I'd　go　into　the　tomb；　into　the　darkness；　which　I　knew　by　then　would　mean　a　gradual　weakening　and　then　a　deep　sleep　from　which　I　couldn't　wake。　But　the　priests　who　served　the　royal　house　would　know　where　I　lay；　and　that　sunlight　could　resurrect　me。　They　would　give　the　secret　to　each　new　ruler　of　Egypt　with　the　warning　that　if　I　were　awakened；　it　must　be　to　serve　the　good　of　Egypt。　And　woe　to　anyone　rash　enough　to　wake　me　for　curiosity　only；　or　with　evil　intentions；　because　then　I　might　take　my　revenge。〃
　
　They　passed　out　of　the　temple　doors；　stopping　as　he　looked　back　and　up　at　the　colossal　figures　seated　there。　High　above；　the　King's　face　was　bathed　in　moonlight。
　
　〃Were　you　conscious　at　all　as　you　slept？〃
　
　〃I　don't　know。　I　ask　myself　this　question！　Now　and　then　I'd　e　close　to　waking；　of　that　I'm　sure。　And　I　dreamed；　oh；　how　I　dreamed。　But　whatever　I　knew；　I　knew　as　if　in　a　dream。　There　was　no　urgency；　no　panic。　And　I　could　not　wake　myself；　you　see。　I　had　no　strength　to　pull　the　chain　that　would　make　the　great　iron…bound　wooden　shutter　above　admit　the　sunlight。　Maybe　I　knew　what　had　happened　in　the　world　outside。　Surely　it　did　not　surprise　me　to　learn　it　later。　I　had　bee　legend…Ramses　the　Damned；　Ramses　the　Immortal；　who　slept　in　the　cave　waiting　for　a　brave　King　or　Queen　of　Egypt　to　wake　him。　I　don't　think　they　believed　it　anymore；　not　really。　Until　。。。〃
　
　〃She　came。〃
　
　〃She　was　the　last　Queen　to　rule　Egypt。　And　the　only　one　to　whom　I　ever　told　the　full　truth。〃
　
　〃But　Ramses；　did　she　really　refuse　the　elixir？〃
　
　He　paused。　It　was　as　if　he　didn't　want　to　answer。　Then：
　
　〃In　her　own　way；　she　refused　it。　You　see；　she　couldn't　understand　finally　what　it　was；　the　elixir。　Later；　she　begged　me　to　give　it　to　Mark　An