anner.themummy-第5部分

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　since　you　sealed　yourself　in　this　chamber；　since　Cleopatra　put　the　poisonous　snake　to　her　breast。〃
　
　He　stared　at　the　figure；　silent　for　a　moment。　Was　there　a　mummy　that　did　not　arouse　in　one　some　deep；　cold　fear　of　death？　You　could　believe　life　lingered　there　somehow；　that　the　soul　was　trapped　in　the　wrappings　and　could　only　be　freed　if　the　thing　were　destroyed。
　
　Without　thinking　he　spoke　now　in　English。
　
　〃Oh；　if　only　you　were　immortal。　If　only　you　could　open　your　eyes　on　this　modern　world。　And　if　only　I　didn't　have　to　wait　for　permission　to　remove　those　miserable　bandages；　to　look　on　。。。　your　face！〃
　
　The　face。　Had　something　changed　in　the　face？　No；　it　was　only　the　full　sunlight；　wasn't　it？　But　the　face　did　seem　fuller。　Reverently；　Lawrence　reached　out　to　touch　it　but　then　didn't；　his　hand　poised　there　motionless。
　
　He　spoke　in　Latin　again。〃　It's　the　year　1914；　my　great　King。　And　the　name　Ramses　the　Great　is　still　known　to　all　the　world；　and　so　is　the　name　of　your　last　Queen。〃
　
　Suddenly　there　was　a　noise　behind　him。　Henry：
　
　〃Speaking　to　Ramses　the　Great　in　Latin；　Uncle？　Maybe　the　curse　is　already　working　on　your　brain。〃
　
　〃Oh；　he　understands　Latin；〃　　Lawrence　answered；　still　staring　at　the　mummy。〃　Don't　you；　Ramses？　And　Greek　also。　And　Persian　and　Etruscan；　and　tongues　the　world　has　forgotten。　Who　knows？　Perhaps　you　knew　the　tongues　of　the　ancient　northern　barbarians　which　became　our　own　English　centuries　ago。〃　　Once　again；　he　lapsed　into　Latin。〃　But　oh；　there　are　so　many　wonders　in　the　world　now；　great　Pharaoh。　There　are　so　many　things　I　could　show　you。　。。。〃
　
　〃I　don't　think　he　can　hear　you；　Uncle；〃　　Henry　said　coldly。　There　was　a　soft　chink　of　glass　touching　glass。〃　Let's　hope　not；　in　any　case。〃
　
　Lawrence　turned　around　sharply。　Henry；　a　briefcase　tucked　under　his　left　arm；　held　the　lid　of　one　of　the　jars　in　his　right　hand。
　
　〃Don't　touch　that！〃　　Lawrence　said　crossly。〃　It's　poison；　you　imbecile。　They're　all　full　of　poisons。　One　pinch　and　you'll　be　as　dead　as　he　is。　That　is；　if　he's　truly　dead。〃　　Even　the　sight　of　his　nephew　made　him　angry。　And　at　a　time　such　as　this。。。
　
　Lawrence　turned　back　to　the　mummy。　Why；　even　the　hands　seemed　fuller。　And　one　of　the　rings　had　almost　broken　through　the　wrapping。　Only　hours　ago。。。
　
　〃Poisons？〃　　Henry　asked　behind　him。
　
　〃It's　a　veritable　laboratory　of　poisons；〃　　Lawrence　answered。〃　The　very　poisons　Cleopatra　tried；　before　her　suicide；　upon　her　helpless　slaves！〃　　But　why　waste　this　precious　information　on　Henry？
　
　〃How　incredibly　quaint；〃　　his　nephew　answered。　Cynical；　sarcastic。〃　I　thought　she　was　bitten　by　an　asp。〃
　
　〃You're　an　idiot；　Henry。　You　know　less　history　than　an　Egyptian　camel　driver。　Cleopatra　tried　a　hundred　poisons　before　she　settled　on　the　snake。〃
　
　He　turned　and　watched　coldly　as　his　nephew　touched　the　marble　bust　of　Cleopatra；　his　fingers　passing　roughly　over　the　nose；　the　eyes。
　
　〃Well；　I　fancy　this　is　worth　a　small　fortune；　anyway。　And　these　coins。　You　aren't　going　to　give　these　things　to　the　British　Museum；　are　you？〃
　
　Lawrence　sat　down　in　the　camp　chair。　He　dipped　the　pen。　Where　had　he　stopped　in　his　translation？　Impossible　to　concentrate　with　these　distractions。
　
　〃Is　money　all　you　think　about？〃　　he　asked　coldly。〃　And　what　have　you　ever　done　with　it　but　gamble　it　away？〃　　He　looked　up　at　his　nephew。　When　had　the　youthful　fire　died　in　that　handsome　face？　When　had　arrogance　hardened　it；　and　aged　it；　and　made　it　so　deadly　dull？〃　The　more　I　give　you；　the　more　you　lose　at　the　tables。　Go　back　to　London；　for　the　love　of　heaven。　Go　back　to　your　mistress　and　your　music　hall　cronies。　But　get　out。〃
　
　There　was　a　sharp　noise　from　outside…another　motor　car　backfiring　as　it　ground　its　way　up　the　sandy　road。　A　dark…faced　servant　in　soiled　clothes　entered　suddenly；　with　a　full　breakfast　tray　in　his　hands。　Samir　came　behind　him。
　
　〃I　cannot　hold　them　back　much　longer；　Lawrence；〃　　Samir　said。　With　a　small　graceful　gesture；　he　bid　the　servant　set　down　the　breakfast　on　the　edge　of　the　portable　desk。〃　The　men　from　the　British　embassy　are　here　also；　Lawrence。　So　is　every　reporter　from　Alexandria　to　Cairo。　It　is　quite　a　circus　out　there；　I　fear。〃
　
　Lawrence　stared　at　the　silver　dishes；　the　china　cups。　He　wanted　nothing　now　but　to　be　alone　with　his　treasures。
　
　〃Oh；　just　keep　them　out　as　long　as　you　can；　Samir。　Give　me　a　few　more　hours　alone　with　these　scrolls。　Samir；　the　story　is　so　sad；　so　poignant。〃
　
　〃I'll　do　my　best；〃　　Samir　answered。〃　But　do　take　breakfast；　Lawrence。　You're　exhausted。　You　need　nourishment　and　rest。〃
　
　〃Samir；　I've　never　been　better。　Keep　them　out　of　here　till　noon。　Oh；　and　take　Henry　with　you。　Henry；　go　with　Samir。　He'll　see　that　you　have　something　to　eat。〃
　
　〃Yes；　do　e　with　me；　sir；　please；〃　　Samir　said　quickly。
　
　〃I　have　to　speak　to　my　uncle　alone。〃
　
　Lawrence　looked　back　at　his　notebook。　And　the　scroll　opened　above　it。　Yes；　the　King　had　been　talking　of　his　grief　after；　that　he　had　retreated　here　to　a　secret　study　far　away　from　Cleopatra's　mausoleum　in　Alexandria；　far　away　from　the　Valley　of　the　Kings。
　
　〃Uncle；〃　　Henry　said　frostily；〃　I'd　be　more　than　happy　to　go　back　to　London　if　you　would　only　take　a　moment　to　sign　。。。〃
　
　Lawrence　refused　to　look　up　from　the　papyrus。　Maybe　there　would　be　some　clue　as　to　where　Cleopatra's　mausoleum　had　once　stood。
　
　〃　How　many　times　must　I　say　it？〃　　he　murmured　indifferently。〃　No。　I　will　sign　no　papers。　Now　take　your　briefcase　with　you　and　get　out　of　my　sight。〃
　
　〃Uncle；　the　Earl　wants　an　answer　regarding　Julie　and　Alex。　He　won't　wait　forever。　And　as　for　these　papers；　it's　only　a　matter　of　a　few　shares。〃
　
　The　Earl　。。。　Alex　and　Julie。　It　was　monstrous。〃　Good　God；　at　a　time　like　this！〃
　
　〃Uncle；　the　world　hasn't　stopped　turning　on　account　of　your　discovery。〃　　Such　acid　in　the　tone。〃　And　the　stock　has　to　be　liquidated。〃
　
　Lawrence　laid　down　die　pen。〃　No；　it　doesn't；〃　　he　said；　eyeing　Henry　coldly。〃　And　as　for　the　marriage；　it　can　wait　forever。　Or　until　Julie　decides　for　herself。　Go　home　and　tell　that　to　my　good　friend　the　Earl　of　Rutherford！　And　tell　your　father　I　will　liquidate　no　further　family　stock。　Now　leave　me　alone。〃
　
　Henry　didn't　move。　He　shifted　the　briefcase　uneasily；　his　face　tightening　as　he　stared　down　at　his　uncle。
　
　〃Uncle；　you　don't　realize…〃
　
　〃Allow　me　to　tell　you　what　I　do　realize；〃　　Lawrence　said；〃　that　you　have　gambled　away　a　king's　ransom　and　that　your　father　will　go　to　any　lengths　to　cover　your　debts。　Even　Cleopatra　and　her　drunken　lover　Mark　Antony　could　not　have　squandered　the　fortune　that　has　slipped　through　your　hands。　And　what　does　Julie　need　with　the　Rutherford　title　anyway？　Alex　needs　the　Stratford　millions；　that's　the　truth　of　it。　Alex　is　a　beggar　with　a　title　the　same　as　Elliott。　God　forgive　me。　It's　the　truth。〃
　
　〃Uncle；　Alex　could　buy　any　heiress　in　London　with　that　title。〃
　
　〃Then　why　doesn't　he？〃
　
　〃One　word　from　you　and　Julie　would　make　up　her　mind…〃
　
　〃And　Elliott　would　show　his　gratitude　to　you　for　arranging　things；　is　that　it？　And　with　my　daughter's　money　he'd　be　very　generous　indeed。〃
　
　Henry　was　white　with　anger。
　
　〃What　the　hell　do　you　care　about　this　marriage？〃　　Lawrence　asked　bitterly。〃　You　humiliate　yourself　because　you　need　the　money。　。。。〃
　
　He　thought　he　saw　his　nephew's　lips　move　in　a　curse。
　
　He　turned　back　to　the　mummy；　trying　to　shut　it　ah1　out…the　tentacles　of　the　London　life　he'd　left　behind　trying　to　reach　him　here。
　
　Why；　the　whole　figure　looked　fuller！　And　the　ring；　it　was　plainly　visible　now　as　if　the　finger；　fleshing　out；　had　burst　the　wrappings　altogether。　Lawrence　fancied　he　could　see　the　faint　color　of　healthy　flesh。
　
　〃You're　losing　your　mind；〃　　he　whispered　to　himself。　And　that　sound；　there　it　was　again。　He　tried　to　listen　for　it；　but　his　concentration　only　made　him　all　the　more　conscious　of　the　noise　outside。　He　drew　closer　to　the　body　in　the　coffin。　Good　Lord；　was　that　hair　he　saw　beneath　the　wrappings　about　die　head？〃　I　feel　so　sorry　for　you；　Henry；〃　　he　whispered　suddenly。〃　That　you　can't　savour　such　a　discovery。　This　ancient　King；　this　mystery。〃　　Who　said　that　he　couldn't　touch　the　remains？　Just　move　perhaps　an　inch　of　the　rotted　linen？
　
　He　drew　out　his　penknife　and　held　it　uncertainly。　Twenty　years　ago　he　might　have　cut　the　thing　open。　There　wouldn't　have　been　any　busybody　officials　to　deal　with。　He　might　have　seen　for　himself　if　under　all　that　dust…
　
　〃I　wouldn't　do　that　if　I　were　you；　Uncle；〃　　Henry　interrupted。〃　The　museum　people　in　London　will　raise　the　roof。〃
　
　〃I　told　you　to　get　out。〃
　
　He　heard　Henry　pour　a　cup　of　coffee　as　if　he　had　all　the　time　in　the　world。　The　aroma　filled　the　close　little　chamber。
　
　Lawrence　backed　into　the　camp　chair；　and　again　pressed　his　folded　handkerchief　to　his　brow。　Twenty…four　hours　now　without　sleep。　Maybe　he　should　rest。
　
　〃Drink　your　coffee；　Uncle　Lawrence；〃　　Henry　said　to　him。〃　I　poured　it　for　you。〃　　And　there　it　was；　the　full　cup。〃　They're　waiting　for　you　out　there。　You're　exhausted。〃
　
　〃You　bloody　fool；〃　　Lawrence　whispered。〃　I　wish　you'd　go　away。〃
　
　Henry　set　the　cup　before　him；　right　by　die　notebook。
　
　〃Careful；　that　papyrus　is　priceless。〃
　
　The　coffee　did　look　inviting；　even　if　Henry　was　pushing　it　at　him。　He　lifted　the　cup；　took　a　deep　swallow；　and　closed　his　eyes。
　
　What　had　he　just　seen　as　he　put　down　the　cup？　The　mummy　stirring　in　the　sunlight？　Impossible。　Suddenly　a　burning　sensation　in　his　throat　blotted　out　everything　else。　It　was　as　if　his　throat　were　closing！　He　couldn't　breathe　or　speak。
　
　He　tried　to　rise；　he　was　staring　at　Henry；　and　suddenly　he　caught　the　smell　ing　from　the　cup　still　in　his　trembling　hand。　Bitter　almonds。　It　Was　the　poison。　The　cup　was　falling；　dimly　he　heard　it　shatter　as　it　hit　the　stone　floor。
　
　〃For　the　love　of　God！　You　bastard！〃　　He　was　falling；　his　hands　out　towards　his　nephew；　who　stood　white…faced　and　grim；　staring　coldly　at　him　as　if　this　catastrophe　were　not　happening；　as　if　he　were　not　dying。
　
　His　body　convulsed。　Violently；　he　turned　away。　The　last　thing　he　saw　as　he　fell　was