anner.themummy-第44部分

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　〃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　Antony。〃
　
　〃I　see。　It's　a　wonder　I　didn't　guess　it。〃
　
　〃Mark　Antony　was　a　man　who　had　destroyed　his　life　and　hers　also。　But　she　didn't　know　what　she　was　asking。　She　didn't　understand。　She　did　not　realize　what　such　a　thing　would　have　meant…a　selfish　King　and　Queen　with　such　power。　And　the　formula；　they　would　have　wanted　that　too。　Would　Antony　not　have　wanted　immortal　armies？〃
　
　〃Good　God！〃　　she　whispered。
　
　Ramses　stopped　suddenly　and　moved　away　from　her。　They　had　e　some　distance　from　the　temple　and　he　turned　back；　looking　at　the　giant　seated　figures　again。
　
　〃But　why　did　you　write　the　story　in　the　scrolls？〃　　she　asked。　She　couldn't　stop　herself。
　
　〃Cowardice；　my　love。　Cowardice；　and　the　dream　that　someone　would　e　who　would　find　me　and　my　strange　tale；　and　take　the　burden　of　secrecy　from　my　shoulders！　I　had　failed；　my　love。　My　strength　was　gone。　And　so　I　slipped　into　dreams　and　left　the　story　there　。。。　like　an　offering　to　fate。　I　could　be　strong　no　longer。〃
　
　She　came　to　him　and　threw　her　arms　around　him。　He　didn't　look　at　her。　He　was　looking　at　the　statues　still。　The　tears　were　in　his　eyes。
　
　〃Maybe　I　dreamed　that　someday　I'd　be　awakened　again；　to　a　new　world。　To　new　and　wise　beings。　Maybe　I　dreamed　of　someone　who　。。。　would　take　the　challenge。〃　　His　voice　broke。〃　And　I　would　be　the　lone　wanderer　no　more。　Ramses　the　Damned　would　bee　once　again　Ramses　the　Immortal。〃
　
　He　looked　as　if　his　own　words　had　surprised　him。　Then　he　looked　down　at　her　and；　closing　his　hands　tightly　on　her　shoulders；　lifted　her　as　he　kissed　her。
　
　With　her　whole　soul　she　yielded。　She　felt　his　arms　gathering　her　up。　She　leaned　against　his　chest　as　he　carried　her　towards　the　tent；　and　the　flickering　firelight。　The　stars　fell　down　over　the　distant　shadowy　hills。　The　desert　was　a　great　tranquil　sea　stretching　out　on　all　sides　from　this　sanctuary　of　warmth　which　they　now　entered。
　
　Incense　here；　the　smell　of　wax　candles。　He　set　her　down　on　silken　pillows；　on　a　carpet　of　dark　woven　flowers。　The　dancing　flames　of　the　candles　made　her　close　her　eyes。　Perfume　rising　from　the　silk　beneath　her。　A　bower　he　had　made；　for　her；　for　himself；　for　this　moment。
　
　〃I　love　you；　Julie　Stratford；〃　　he　whispered　in　her　ear。〃　My　English　Queen。　My　timeless　beauty。〃
　
　His　kisses　were　paralyzing　her。　She　lay　back；　eyes　closed；　and　let　him　open　her　tight　lace　blouse；　let　him　loosen　the　hooks　of　her　skirt。　Luxuriating　in　this　helplessness；　she　let　him　rip　away　the　chemise　and　the　corset；　and　pull　down　the　long　lace　undergarments。　She　lay　naked；　looking　up　at　him　as　he　knelt　over　her；　peeling　off　his　own　garments。
　
　Regal　he　seemed；　his　chest　gleaming　in　the　light；　his　sex　hard　and　ready　for　her。　Then　she　felt　his　delicious　weight　e　down　upon　her；　crushing　her。　The　tears　had　sprung　to　her　eyes；　tears　of　relief。　A　soft　moan　escaped　her　lips。
　
　〃Batter　down　the　door；〃　　she　whispered。〃　The　virgin　door。　Open　it；　I　am　yours　forever。〃
　
　He　went　through　the　seal。　Pain；　a　tiny　sputtering　pain　that　burnt　itself　out　in　her　mounting　passion　immediately。　She　was　kissing　him　ravenously；　kissing　the　salt　and　heat　from　his　neck；　his　face；　his　shoulders。　He　drove　hard　into　her；　over　and　over　again；　and　she　arched　her　back；　lifting　herself；　pressing　herself　against　him。
　
　As　the　first　tide　crested　she　cried　out　as　if　she　truly　would　die。　She　heard　the　deep　growl　rise　from　his　throat　as　he　came。　But　it　was　only　the　beginning。
　
　Elliott　had　watched　the　dinghy　pull　away。　Through　his　binoculars　he　saw　the　tiny　light　of　the　camp　far　out　over　the　low；　hard…packed　dunes。　He　saw　the　tiny　figure　of　the　servant；　and　the　camels。
　
　Then　hurrying　down　the　deck；　not　daring　to　use　his　cane　for　fear　of　the　sound　it　would　make；　he　turned　the　knob　of　Ramses'　door。
　
　Unlocked。　He　stepped　into　the　darkened　stateroom。
　
　Ah；　this　thing　has　made　me　a　sneak　and　a　thief；　he　thought。　But　he　didn't　stop。　He　did　not　know　how　long　he　would　have。　And　now；　with　only　the　moon　through　the　portal　to　light　his　way；　he　searched　the　wardrobe　full　of　neatly　hung　clothes；　the　bureau　drawers　of　shirts　and　other　such　things；　the　trunk　which
　
　contained　nothing。　No　secret　formula　in　this　room。　Unless　it　was　well　hidden。
　
　Finally　he　gave　up。　He　stood　over　the　desk；　staring　down　at　the　biology　books　spread　open　there。　And　then　something　black　and　ugly；　glimpsed　from　the　er　of　his　eye；　frightened　him。　But　it　was　only　the　mummy's　hand；　curled　there　on　the　blotter。
　
　How　foolish　he　felt。　How　ashamed。　Yet　he　stood　there　staring　at　the　thing；　his　heart　knocking　dangerously　in　his　chest；　and　then　he　felt　the　burning　pain　that　always　followed　such　shocks　and　the　numbness　in　his　arm。　He　stood　quite　still；　breathing　very　slowly。
　
　Finally　he　went　out　and　closed　the　door　behind　him。
　
　A　sneak　and　a　thief；　he　thought。　And　leaning　on　his　silver　cane；　he　walked　slowly　back　to　the　saloon。
　
　It　was　almost　dawn。　They　had　left　the　warmth　of　the　tent　hours　ago　and　e　here　into　the　deserted　temple；　with　only　the　loose　silk　sheets　around　them。　They　had　made　love　in　the　sand；　over　and　over。　And　then　he　had　lain　in　the　dark；　looking　up　at　the　stars；　the　King　who　had　built　this　house。
　
　No　words　now。　Only　the　warmth　of　his　naked　body　against　hers；　as　he　cradled　her　in　his　left　arm。　Only　the　smooth　sheet　wound　tightly　around　her。
　
　Just　before　sunrise。　Elliott　dozed　in　the　chair。　He　heard　the　little　boat　e　alongside；　the　lapping；　the　sound　of　the　ropes　creaking　as　the　two　lovers　came　back　on　board。　He　heard　their　furtive　quick　steps　on　the　deck。　Silence　again。
　
　When　he　opened　his　eyes；　his　son　was　there　in　the　shadows。　Disheveled；　as　if　he　had　not　undressed　to　go　to　bed；　his　face　unshaven。　He　watched　as　his　son　took　a　cigarette　from　the　ivory　box　on　the　table　and　lighted　it。
　
　Then　Alex　saw　him。　For　a　moment；　neither　said　a　word；　and　then　Alex　smiled　the　familiar　congenial　smile。
　
　〃Well；　Father；〃　　he　said　slowly。〃　It　will　be　good　to　get　back　to　Cairo　and　a　little　civilization。〃
　
　〃You're　a　good　man；　my　son；〃　　Elliott　said　softly。
　
　They　must　have　all　known；　she　realized。　She　lay　beside　Ramses　beneath　die　warm　blankets　of　her　bed；　the　little　steamer　moving　north　again；　towards　Cairo。
　
　Yet　they　were　being　discreet。　He　came　and　went　only　when　no　one　was　about。　There　were　no　displays　of　affection。　Yet　they　revelled　in　the　freedom　they　had　stolen；　until　dawn　they　made　love；　tumbling；　struggling；　coupling　in　the　dark　as　the　engines　of　the　ship　carried　them　ever　onward。
　
　Too　much　to　wish　for　anything　more。　Yet　she　did。　She　wished　to　be　rid　of　those　she　loved；　save　for　him；　she　wished　to　be　his　bride　or　to　be　among　those　who　questioned　nothing。　She　knew　when　they　reached　Cairo；　she　would　make　her　decision。　And　she　would　not　see　England　again；　for　a　long　time；　unless　Ramses　wanted　it。
　
　Four　o'clock。　Ramses　stood　by　the　bed。　She　was　lovely　beyond　all　reckoning　in　her　sleep；　her　brown　hair　a　great　shadow　beneath　her　against　the　white　pillow。　Carefully　he　covered　her；　lest　she　get　cold。
　
　He　picked　up　his　moneybelt　from　the　tangle　of　his　coat　and　pants；　and　feeling　the　four　vials　safely　taped　against　the　fabric；　he　put　it　around　his　waist　again；　buckled　it　and　then　dressed　quickly。
　
　No　one　on　the　deck。　The　light　burned　in　the　saloon；　however。　And　when　he　peered　through　the　wooden　blinds；　he　saw　Elliott　fast　asleep　in　the　leather　wing　chair；　a　book　open　on　his　knee；　a　half…filled　glass　of　red　wine　beside　him。
　
　No　one　else　about。
　
　He　went　into　his　room；　locked　the　door　and　closed　the　little　wooden　blinds　on　the　window。　Then　he　went　to　his　desk；　turned　on　the　green　shaded　lamp；　sat　down　in　the　wooden　chair　and　stared　at　the　mummy's　hand　which　lay　there；　fingers　curled　almost　to　the　palm；　nails　yellowed　like　bits　of　ivory。
　
　Did　he　have　the　stomach　for　what　he　meant　to　do？　In　ages　past；　had　he　not　done　enough　of　these　ghastly　experiments？　But　he　had　to　know。　He　had　to　know　just　how　powerful　it　was。　He　told　himself　he　should　wait　for　laboratories；　equipment；　wait　until　he'd　mastered　the　chemistry　texts；　had　listened　to　the　learned　physicians。
　
　But　he　wanted　to　know　now。　It　had　e　into　his　mind　like　an　evil　light　in　the　Valley　of　the　Kings　when　he　had　seen　the　hand；　the　leathery；　shrivelled　hand。　No　fake。　He　knew　that。　He'd　known　it　the　minute　he'd　examined　the　bit　of　bone　protruding　from　the　severed　wrist；　the　moment　he'd　seen　the　black　flesh　cleaving　to　it。
　
　Ancient　as　he　was。
　
　He　shoved　the　biology　books　aside。　He　placed　the　thing　directly　under　the　lamp；　and　slowly　he　unwrapped　the　linen。　There；　very　faintly；　he　could　see　the　stamp　of　the　embalmer…　the　words　in　Egyptian　which　told　him　the　thing　was　from　a　dynasty　before　his　time。　Ah；　poor　dead　soul；　who　had　believed　in　the　gods；　and　the　makers　of　linen　wrappings。
　
　Do　not　do　this。　Yet　he　reached　into　his　shirt；　and　reached　inside　the　money　belt　and　pulled　out　the　half…full　vial　and　opened　the　cap　with　his　thumb　without　even　consciously　deciding　to　do　it。
　
　He　poured　the　elixir　on　the　blackened　thing。　Poured　it　into　the　palm；　and　over　the　stiffened　fingers。
　
　Nothing。
　
　Was　he　relieved？　Or　disappointed？　For　a　moment　he　didn't　know。　He　stared　at　the　window；　where　the　pale　dawn　pushed　at　the　blinds；　making　tiny　seams　of　brightness。　Maybe　the　sun　was　needed　for　the　first　effect。　Though　that　had　not　been　so　when　he'd　stood　in　the　cave　with　the　priestess。　He　had　felt　that　powerful　alchemy　before　the　sun's　rays　touched　him。　Of　course　they　had　strengthened　him　immeasurably。　And　without　them；　he　would　have　gone　into　the　sleep　within　a　few　days。　But　he　had　not　needed　them　initially。
　
　Well；　thank　the　gods　it　could　not　work　on　an　ancient　dead　thing！　Thank　the　gods　the　horrid　potion　had　its　limits。
　
　He　drew　out　a　cheroot　now　and　lighted　it；　and　enjoyed　the　smoke。　He　poured　a　little　brandy　in　the　glass　and　drank　it。
　
　Slowly　the　room　lightened　around　him。　He　wanted　to　creep　back　into　Julie's　arms；　and　lie　there。　But　that　could　not　be　done　by　day；　he　kne