anner.themummy-第50部分

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　All　sound　had　died　away　below。　Apparently　Ramses　had　been　removed　from　the　museum。　But　undoubtedly　men　would　e　to　search　within　minutes。
　
　Ruthlessly　ignoring　the　pain　in　his　chest；　Elliott　hurried　down　the　corridor。　He　reached　the　side　door　in　time　to　see　the　female　just　disappearing　from　view　at　the　foot　of　a　service　stair。　Quickly　he　turned　back；　glancing　under　the　display　cases。　There　lay　the　vial；　still　gleaming　in　the　grey　light。　Going　down　on　one　knee；　he　managed　to　get　hold　of　it；　and　closing　its　cap；　he　put　it　in　his　coat。
　
　Then；　fighting　a　wave　of　dizziness；　he　crept　down　the　stairs　after　the　female；　his　numbed　left　leg　almost　tripping　him。　Halfway　down　he　saw　her…bewildered；　staggering；　one　clawlike　hand　raised　as　if　groping　in　the　dimness。
　
　A　door　opened　suddenly；　leaking　yellow　light　into　the　passage；　and　a　servant　woman　emerged；　her　hair　and　body　draped　in　the　Moslem　manner　by　a　garment　of　black　wool。　She　carried　a　mop　in　her　right　hand。
　
　At　once　she　saw　the　skeletal　figure　approaching；　and　she　let　out　a　shrill　scream；　the　mop　falling　from　her　hands。　She　fled　back　into　the　lighted　room。
　
　A　low　hiss　came　out　of　the　wounded　one　and　then　that　awful　roar　again　as　she　went　after　the　serving　maid；　skeletal　hands　out　as　if　to　stop　the　piercing　scream。
　
　Elliott　moved　as　fast　as　he　could。　The　screams　stopped　before　he　reached　the　door　of　the　lighted　room。　As　he　entered；　he　saw　the　body　of　the　servant　woman　slumping；　dead；　to　the　floor。　Her　neck　had　apparently　been　broken　and　the　flesh　torn　from　her　cheek。　Her　glassy　black　eyes　stared　at　nothing。　And　the　ragged　wounded　one　stepped　over　her　and　moved　towards　a　small　mirror　over　the　washbasin　on　the　wall。
　
　A　wretched　agonized　sobbing　broke　from　her　when　she　saw　her　reflection。　Gasping；　shuddering；　she　reached　out　and　touched　the　glass。
　
　Again；　Elliott　almost　collapsed。　The　sight　of　the　dead　body　and　the　ghastly　creature　before　the　glass　were　more　than　he　could　bear。　But　a　ruthless　fascination　sustained　him；　as　it　had　all　along。　He　must　use　his　wits　now。　Damn　the　pain　in　his　chest　and　the　panic　rising　like　nausea　in　his　throat。
　
　Quickly　he　closed　the　door　of　the　room　behind　him。　The　noise　startled　her。　She　wheeled　about；　hands　poised　again　for　the　attack。　For　a　moment；　he　was　paralyzed　by　the　full　horror　of　what　he　now　beheld。　The　light　from　the　ceiling　bulb　was　merciless。　Her　eyes　bulged　from　their　half…eaten　sockets。　White　rib　bones　gleamed　through　a　huge　wound　in　her　side。　Half　of　her　mouth　was　gone；　and　a　bare　stretch　of　clavicle　was　drenched　in　oozing　blood。
　
　Dear　God；　what　must　her　suffering　be！　Poor；　tragic　being！
　
　Giving　a　low　growl；　she　advanced　on　him。　But　Elliott　spoke　quickly　in　Greek：
　
　〃Friend；〃　　he　said。〃　I　am　a　friend　and　offer　you　shelter。〃　　And　as　his　mind　went　blank　on　the　ancient　tongue；　he　switched　to　the　Latin：〃　Trust　in　me。　I　shall　not　let　you　e　to　harm。〃
　
　Not　taking　his　eyes　off　her　for　a　second；　he　groped　for　one　of　several　black　cloaks　hanging　on　the　wall。　Yes；　what　he　wanted…　one　of　those　shapeless　robes　worn　by　Moslem　women　in　public。　It　was　easily　large　enough　to　drape　her　from　head　to　toe。
　
　Fearlessly；　he　approached　her；　throwing　the　cloak　over　her　head　and　winding　it　over　her　shoulders；　and　at　once　her　hands　went　up　to　assist；　closing　it　over　her　face　save　for　her　frightened　eyes。
　
　He　ushered　her　out　into　the　corridor；　closing　the　door　behind　him　to　conceal　the　dead　body。　Noises　and　shouts　were　ing　from　the　floor　above。　He　could　hear　voices　ing　from　a　room　at　the　far　end　of　the　hall。　Spotting　the　service　door　to　his　right；　he　opened　it；　and　led　her　out　into　the　alleyway；　where　the　bright　sun　came　down　upon　them　both。
　
　Within　moments；　he　was　clear　of　the　building。　And　they　had　entered　the　great　endless　crowd　of　Moslems；　Arabs　and　Westerners　one　saw　everywhere　in　Cairo；　thousands　of　pedestrians　moving　in　all　directions；　despite　the　blast　of　motor…car　horns　and　the　progress　of　donkey…drawn　carts。
　
　The　woman　stiffened　when　she　heard　the　motor　horns。　At　the　sight　of　a　motor　car　rocking　past　her；　she　drew　back；　crying　through　clenched　teeth。　Again；　Elliott　spoke　to　her　in　Latin；　reassuring　her　that　he　would　take　care　of　her；　he　would　find　her　shelter。
　
　What　she　understood　he　could　not　possibly　guess。　Then　the　Latin　word　for　food　came　from　her　in　a　low；　tortured　voice。〃　Food　and　drink；〃　　she　whispered。　She　murmured　something　else；　but　he　did　not　understand。　It　sounded　like　a　prayer　or　a　curse。
　
　〃Yes；〃　　he　said　in　her　ear；　the　Latin　words　ing　easily　now　that　he　knew　she　understood　them。〃　I　shall　provide　all　you　require。　I　shall　take　care　of　you。　Trust　in　me。〃
　
　But　where　could　he　take　her？　Only　one　place　came　to　mind。　He　had　to　reach　old　Cairo。　But　did　he　dare　put　the　creature　into　a　motor　taxi？　Seeing　a　horse…drawn　cab　passing；　he　hailed　it。　She　climbed　willingly　up　to　the　leather　seat。　Now；　how　was　he　to　do　it；　when　he　could　scarce　breathe　and　his　left　leg　was　almost　useless？　He　planted　his　right　foot　firmly　on　the　step　and　swung　himself　up　with　his　right　arm。　And　then；　near　to　collapse　as　ever　he'd　been　in　his　life；　he　slumped　down　beside　the　hunched　figure　and　told　the　driver　where　he　must　go　with　his　last　breath。
　
　The　cab　shot　forward；　the　driver　shouting　at　the　pedestrians　and　cracking　his　whip。　The　poor　creature　beside　him　cried　brokenheartedly；　drawing　the　veil　pletely　over　her　face。
　
　He　embraced　her；　he　ignored　the　cold　hard　bone　he　could　feel　through　the　thin　black　cloth。　He　held　tight　to　her　and；　gradually　catching　his　breath；　told　her　again　in　Latin　that　he　would　care　for　her；　that　he　was　her　friend。
　
　As　the　cab　sped　out　of　the　British　district；　he　tried　to　think。　But　shocked　and　in　pain；　he　could　achieve　no　rational　explanation　for　himself　for　what　he'd　witnessed　or　what　he'd　done。　He　only　knew　on　some　inchoate　level　that　he'd　seen　a　miracle　and　a　murder；　and　that　the　former　meant　infinitely　more　to　him　than　the　latter；　and　he　was　set　now　upon　an　irrevocable　course。
　
　Julie　was　only　half…awake。　Surely　she　was　misunderstanding　the　British　official　who　stood　in　the　door。
　
　〃Arrested？　For　breaking　into　the　museum？　I　don't　believe　it。〃
　
　〃Miss　Stratford；　he's　been　wounded；　badly。　There　seems　to　be　some　confusion。〃
　
　〃What　confusion？〃
　
　The　doctor　was　furious。　If　the　man　was　badly　wounded；　he　should　be　in　hospital；　not　in　the　back　of　the　jail。
　
　〃Make　way；〃　　he　shouted　to　the　uniformed　men　in　front　of　him。〃　What　in　God's　name　is　this；　a　firing　squad？〃
　
　No　less　than　twenty　rifles　were　pointed　at　the　tall　blue…eyed　man　standing　against　the　wall。　Dried　blood　covered　the　man's　shirt。　The　shoulder　had　been　blown　away　from　his　coat。　There　was　dried　blood　there　as　well。　Panic…stricken；　he　stared　at　the　doctor。
　
　〃e　no　closer！〃　　he　cried。〃　You　will　not　examine　me。　You　will　not　touch　me　with　your　medical　instruments。　I　am　unharmed　and　I　want　to　leave　this　place。〃
　
　〃Five　bullets；〃　　whispered　the　officer　in　the　doctor's　ear。〃　I　saw　the　wounds；　I　tell　you。　He　can't　possibly　have　withstood　such　a…〃
　
　〃Let　me　have　a　look　at　you！〃　The　doctor　attempted　to　move　in。
　
　Instantly　the　man's　fist　shot　towards　him；　knocking　the　black　bag　to　the　ceiling。　One　of　the　rifles　went　off　as　the　man　charged　the　policemen；　slamming　several　of　them　backwards；　against　the　wall。　The　doctor　fell　to　his　knees。　His　glasses　fell　on　the　ground　before　him。　He　felt　the　heel　of　a　boot　e　down　on　his　hand　as　the　soldiers　stampeded　into　the　hall。
　
　Again　the　rifle　cracked。　Shouts　and　curses　in　Egyptian。　Where　were　his　glasses！　He　must　find　his　glasses。
　
　Suddenly　someone　was　helping　him　to　his　feet。　The　glasses　were　in　his　hand　and　quickly　he　put　them　on。
　
　A　civilized　English　face　came　into　focus。
　
　〃Are　you　all　right？〃
　
　〃What　the　devil's　happened？　Where　is　he？　Did　they　shoot　him　again？〃
　
　〃The　man's　as　strong　as　a　bull。　He　broke　the　back　door　out；　bars　and　all。　He's　escaped。〃
　
　Thank　God；　Alex　was　with　her。　No　one　could　find　Elliott。　Samir　had　gone　on　to　the　police　station　to　find　out　what　he　could。　As　she　and　Alex　were　ushered　into　the　office；　she　saw　with　relief　that　it　was　the　governor's　assistant。　Miles　Winthrop；　and　not　the　governor　himself。　Miles　had　gone　to　school　with　Alex。　Julie　had　known　him　since　he　was　a　little　boy。
　
　〃Miles；　this　is　a　misunderstanding；〃　　Alex　said。〃　It　has　to　be。〃
　
　〃Miles；〃　　she　said。〃　Do　you　think　you　can　get　him　released？〃
　
　〃Julie；　the　situation　is　more　plicated　than　we　realized。　First　off；　the　Egyptians　aren't　too　fond　of　those　who　break　into　their　world…famous　museum。　But　now　there's　a　theft　and　a　murder　to　be　considered　as　well。〃
　
　〃What　are　you　talking　about！〃　　Julie　whispered。
　
　〃Miles；　Ramsey　couldn't　murder　anybody；〃　　Alex　said。〃　That's　patently　absurd。〃
　
　〃I　hope　you're　right；　Alex。　But　there's　a　maid　dead　in　the　museum　with　her　neck　broken。　And　a　mummy's　been　stolen　from　a　display　case　on　the　second　floor。　And　your　friend　has　escaped　the　jail。　Now；　tell　me；　both　of　you。　How　well　do　you　really　know　this　man？〃
　
　Running　at　full　sprint　across　the　roof；　he　took　the　alleyway　before　him　in　one　leap。　Within　seconds；　he　covered　another　roof；　and　dropped　down　to　another；　and　then　cut　across　another　narrow　street。
　
　Only　then　did　he　look　back。　His　pursuers　had　lost　him。　He　could　hear　the　faint；　very　distant　crack　of　the　rifle。　Perhaps　they　were　shooting　at　each　other。　He　did　not　care。
　
　He　dropped　down　into　the　street　and　ran。　Within　a　short　distance；　the　street　became　an　alley。　The　houses　hemming　him　in　had　high　windows　covered　over　with　wooden　screens。　He　saw　no　more　British　shops　or　English　signs。　Only　Egyptians　passed　him；　and　for　the　most　part　they　were　old　women　in　pairs；　with　veils　over　their　faces　and　their　hair。　They　averted　their　eyes　at　once　from　his　bloodstained　shirt　and　torn　clothes。
　
　Finally　he　stepped　into　a　doorway　and　rested；　and　then　slowly　slipped　his　hand　into　his　coat。　The　wound　was　healed　on　the　outside；　though　he　could　still　feel　the　throbbing　inside。　He　felt　the　broad　strip　of　the　moneybelt。　The　vials　were　intact。
　
　The　cursed　vials！　Would　that　he　had　never　taken