anner.themummy-第59部分

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　She　rose　from　the　table。　She　beckoned　and　went　towards　the　doors。
　
　Noise　outside。　The　chariots。　She　did　not　care。　If　they　didn't　frighten　all　these　people；　surely　they　were　something　explainable。　What　she　had　to　do　now　was　find　a　place。　He　was　right　behind　her；　talking　to　her。
　
　〃e；〃　　she　said　in　English。〃　e　with　me。〃
　
　An　alleyway；　she　led　him　back；　stepping　over　the　puddles。　Shadowy　here；　and　quieter。　She　turned　around　and　slipped　her　arms　under　his。　He　bent　to　kiss　her。
　
　〃Well；　not　here；　right　here！〃　　he　asked　nervously。〃　Miss；　I　don't　think　。。。〃
　
　〃I　say　here；〃　　she　whispered；　kissing　him　and　thrusting　her　hand　into　his　clothes。　Hot　his　skin；　what　she　wanted。　Hot　and　sweet　smelling。　And　so　ready　he　was；　the　young　fawn。　She　lifted　the　skirts　of　the　pink　dress。
　
　It　was　over　too　quickly；　she　shuddered　as　she　held　on　to　him；　her　body　clamped　to　him；　her　arms　wrapped　around　his　neck。　She　heard　him　moan　as　he　spilled　into　her。　He　was　still　for　a　moment；　too　still。　The　shudders　were　still　passing　through　her；　but　she　could　not　coax　him　anymore。　He　released　her　and　leaned　back　against　the　wall；　staring；　as　if　he　was　ill。
　
　〃Wait；　please；　give　me　a　moment；〃　　he　said　when　she　started　to　kiss　him　again。
　
　She　studied　him　for　a　few　seconds。　Very　easy。　Snap。　Then　she　reached　up；　took　a　firm　hold　of　his　head　with　both　her　hands；　and　twisted　it　until　his　neck　broke。
　
　He　stared　off；　the　way　the　woman　had　stared　off；　and　the　way　the　man　had　also。　Nothing　in　his　eyes。　Nothing。　Then　he　slipped　down　the　wall；　his　legs　wide　apart。
　
　She　studied　him。　There　was　that　nagging　sense　of　a　mystery　again；　something　to　do　with　her。　Something　to　do　with　what　she'd　just　done。
　
　She　remembered　that　dim　figure　standing　over　her。　Had　it　been　a　dream？〃　Rise；　Cleopatra。　I；　Ramses；　call　you！〃
　
　Ah；　no！　Merely　trying　to　remember　caused　a　searing　pain　in　her　head。　But　the　pain　was　not　physical。　Pain　of　the　soul　it　was。　She　could　hear　women　crying；　women　she　had　known。　Women　weeping。　Saying　her　name　to　her。　Cleopatra。　Then　someone　covered　her　face　with　a　sheer　black　cloth。　Was　the　snake　still　alive？　Strange　it　seemed　to　her　that　the　snake　should　outlive　her。　She　felt　again　the　sting　of　the　fangs　in　her　breast。
　
　She　gave　a　dull　little　groan　as　she　stood　there；　leaning　against　the　wall；　looking　down　at　the　dead　boy。　When　had　all　that　happened？　Where？　Who　had　she　been？
　
　Don't　remember。〃　Modern　times〃　　await。
　
　She　bent　over；　and　slipped　the　money　out　of　the　boy's　coat。　Lots　and　lots　of　money　in　a　little　leather　book。　She　slipped　it　deep　into　her　pocket。　Other　things　here　as　well。　A　card　with　English　writing　and　a　tiny　portrait　of　the　boy；　how　remarkable。　Very　beautiful　work。　And　then　two　small　bits　of　stiff　paper　with　AIDA　written　on　them。　And　OPERA。　They　bore　the　same　tiny　drawing　she　had　seen　in　the〃　magazine〃　　of　an　Egyptian　woman's　head。
　
　Surely　these　were　worth　taking　as　well。　She　threw　away　the　dead　man's　picture。　Slipping　the　little　opera　papers　into　her　pocket　also；　she　sang〃　Celeste　Aida〃　　again　softly　to　herself　as　she　stepped　over　the　dead　boy　and　walked　out　again　into　the　noisy　street。
　
　Be　not　afraid。　Do　as　they　do。　If　they　walk　near　the　metal　pathways；　you　must　do　this　too。
　
　But　no　sooner　had　she　started　off　again　than　there　came　one　of　those　shrill　blasts　from　the　iron　chariots。　She　covered　her　ears；　crying　in　spite　of　herself；　and　when　she　looked　up　another　fine　man　was　standing　in　her　path。
　
　〃Can　I　help　you；　little　lady？　You're　not　lost　down　here；　are　you？　You　mustn't　go　about　down　here　by　the　railway　station　with　that　money　showing　in　your　pocket　like　that。〃
　
　〃Railway　station　。。。〃
　
　〃Don't　you　have　a　handbag？〃
　
　〃No；〃　　she　said　innocently。　She　allowed　him　to　take　her　arm。〃　You　help　me？〃　　she　said；　remembering　the　phrase　Lord　Rutherford　had　used　a　hundred　times　to　her。〃　I　can　trust　you？〃
　
　〃Oh；　of　course！〃　　he　said。　And　he　meant　it。　Another　young　one。　With　smooth；　lovely　skin！
　
　Two　Arabs　left　the　rear　of　Shepheard's；　one　slightly　taller　than　the　other；　both　striding　very　fast。
　
　〃Remember；〃　　Samir　said　under　his　breath；〃　take　very　big　steps。　You　are　a　man。　Men　do　not　take　small　steps；　and　swing　your　arms　naturally。〃
　
　〃I　should　have　（earned　this　trick　a　long　time　ago；〃　　Julie　answered。
　
　The　Great　Mosque　swarmed　with　the　faithful　as　well　as　tourists　who　had　e　to　see　this　wonder；　and　e　to　see　the　sight　of　devout　Moslems　in　worship　on　their　knees。　Julie　and　Samir　moved　lazily　through　the　crush　of　tourists。　Within　minutes　they　had　spotted　the　tall　Arab　with　the　dark　glasses；　in　his　flowing　white　robes。
　
　Samir　placed　a　key　in　Ramses'　hand。　He　whispered　the　address　and　the　directions。　Ramses　should　follow　him。　It　would　not　be　a　long　walk。
　
　He　and　Julie　moved　on；　with　Ramses　a　few　paces　behind。
　
　Ah；　she　liked　this　one；　who　called　himself　an　American　and　spoke　in　such　a　strange　voice。　They　rode　along　together　in　the　horse…drawn〃　taxi〃　　carriage；　among　the〃　motorcars。〃　　And　she　was　no　longer　afraid。
　
　Before　they'd　left　the〃　railway　station〃　　she'd　realized　that　the　big　iron　chariots　pulled　people　about。　Just　a　mon　means　of　transportation。　How　strange。
　
　This　one　was　not　as　elegant　as　Lord　Rutherford；　by　any　means；　but　he　spoke　more　slowly　and　it　was　being　quite　simple　for　her　to　understand；　especially　as　he　pointed　to　things　as　he　spoke。　She　knew　now　what　was　a　Ford　automobile；　and　a　Stutz　Bearcat；　and　also　a　little　roadster。　This　man　sold　such　things　in　America。　He　was　a　merchant　of　Ford　automobiles　in　America。　Even　poor　people　could　buy　these　driving　machines。
　
　She　clutched　the　canvas　bag　he'd　bought　her；　which　held　the　money　and　the　bits　of　paper　with　OPERA　written　on　them。
　
　〃And　this　here　is　where　the　tourists　live；〃　　he　said　to　her；〃　more　or　less。　I　mean；　this　is　the　British　sector。　。。。〃
　
　〃English；〃　　she　said。
　
　〃Yes；　but　all　the　Europeans　and　Americans　pretty　much　e　here；　too。　And　that　building　there…that's　where　all　the　best　people　stay；　the　British　and　the　Americans；　that's　Shepheard's；　the　hotel；　if　you　know　what　I　mean。〃
　
　〃Shepheard's…the　hotel？〃　　She　gave　a　little　laugh。
　
　〃That's　where　the　opera　ball's　going　to　be　tomorrow　night。　That's　where　I'm　staying。　I　don't　much　like　opera〃　…he　made　a　little　face…〃never　did　much　care　for　it。　But　here　in　Cairo；　well；　this　is　an　important　thing；　you　see。〃
　
　〃Important　thing；　you　see。〃
　
　〃Real　important。　So　I　figured　pretty　much　I'd　go；　you　see；　and　to　the　ball　afterwards；　though　I　had　to　rent　a　tailcoat　and　all　that。〃　　He　had　a　lovely　light　in　his　eyes　as　he　looked　down　at　her。　He　was　enjoying　himself　immensely。
　
　And　she　was　enjoying　herself　as　well。
　
　〃And　Aida　being　all　about　ancient　Egypt。〃
　
　〃Yes；　Radames　singing。〃
　
　〃Yes！　So　you　know　it。　Bet　you　like　opera；　bet　you　appreciate　it。〃　　Suddenly　he　made　a　little　frown。〃　Are　you　okay；　little　lady？　Maybe　you'd　find　the　old　city　more　romantic。　You　want　something　to　drink？　How　about　a　little　ride　in　my　car。　It's　parked　right　behind　Shepheard's。〃
　
　〃Motorcar？〃
　
　〃Oh；　you're　quite　safe　with　me；　little　lady；　I'm　a　real　safe　driver。　Tell　you　what。　Have　you　been　out　to　the　pyramids？〃
　
　Pee…ra…mids。
　
　〃No；〃　　she　said。〃　Drive　in　your　car；　super！〃
　
　He　laughed。　He　shouted　a　mand　to　the　taxi　and　the　driver　pulled　the　horse　to　the　left。　They　rode　around　the　hotel；　Shepheard's；　a　handsome　building　with　pretty　gardens。
　
　When　he　reached　up　to　help　her　down　from　the　carriage；　he　almost　touched　the　tender　opening　in　her　side。　She　shivered。　But　it　had　not　happened。　Yet　it　had　reminded　her　that　the　wound　was　there。　How　could　one　live　with　such　awful　sores？　That　was　the　mystery。　Whatever　happened　now；　she　must　return　at　dusk　to　see　Lord　Rutherford　again。　Lord　Rutherford　had　gone　to　speak　with　the　man　who　could　explain　these　things…the　man　with　the　blue　eyes。
　
　They　arrived　together　at　the　hideout。　Julie　agreed　to　wait　as　Samir　and　Ramses　entered；　inspected　the　three　little　rooms　and　their　neglected　garden；　then　they　motioned　for　her　to　e　in；　and　Ramses　bolted　the　door。
　
　There　was　a　small　wooden　table　with　a　candle　in　the　middle；　stuck　in　an　old　wine　bottle。　Samir　lighted　the　candle。　Ramses　drew　up　two　of　the　straight…backed　chairs。　Julie　brought　the　other。
　
　This　was　fortable　enough。　The　afternoon　sun　came　through　the　old　garden　and　through　the　back　door；　and　the　place　was　hot；　but　not　unbearable；　as　it　had　been　locked　up　for　a　long　time。　A　damp　musky　odor　of　spices　and　hemp　hung　in　the　air。
　
　Julie　took　off　the　Arab　headdress；　and　shook　out　her　hair。　She　had　not　pinned　it　up　because　of　the　headdress；　and　now　she　loosened　the　ribbon　that　kept　it　tied　at　the　back　of　her　neck。
　
　〃I　don't　believe　you　killed　that　woman；〃　　she　said　immediately；　looking　up　at　Ramses　as　he　sat　across　from　her。
　
　Like　a　sheikh　he　looked　in　the　desert　robes；　his　face　partially　in　shadow；　the　candle　glinting　in　his　eyes。
　
　Samir　sat　down　quietly　to　her　left。
　
　〃I　didn't　kill　the　woman；〃　　Ramses　said　to　her。〃　But　I　am　responsible　for　the　woman's　death。　And　I　need　your　help；　both　of　you。　I　need　someone's　help。　And　I　need　your　forgiveness。　The　time　has　e　for　me　to　tell　you　everything。〃
　
　〃Sire；　I　have　a　message　for　you；〃　　Samir　said；〃　which　I　must　give　you　at　once。〃
　
　〃What　message？〃　　Julie　asked。　Why　hadn't　Samir　told　her　of　this？
　
　〃Is　it　from　the　gods；　Samir'？　Are　they　calling　me　to　account？　I　have　no　time　for　less　important　messages。　I　must　tell　you　what　has　happened；　what　I've　done。〃
　
　〃It's　from　the　Earl　of　Rutherford；　sire。　He　accosted　me　at　the　hotel。　He　looked　like　a　madman；　he　said　that　I　must　tell　you　that　he　has　her。〃
　
　Ramses　was　obviously　stunned。　He　glared　at　Samir　almost　murderously。
　
　Julie　could　not　bear　this。
　
　Samir　removed　something　from　under　his　robe　and　gave　it　to　Ramses。　It　was　a　glass　vial；　such　as　those　she'd　seen　among　the　alabaster　jars　in　the　collection。
　
　Ramses　looked　at　this；　but　he　didn't　move　to　touch　it。　Samir　went　to　speak　again；　but　Ramses　gestured　for　quiet。　His　face　was　so　heavily　disfigured　with　emotion　that　he　scarce　looked　like　him