anner.themummy-第60部分

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ed　for　quiet。　His　face　was　so　heavily　disfigured　with　emotion　that　he　scarce　looked　like　himself。
　
　〃Tell　me　what　this　means！〃　　Julie　said；　unable　to　stop　herself。
　
　〃He　followed　me　to　the　museum；〃　　Ramses　whispered。　He　stared　at　the　empty　vial。
　
　〃But　what　are　you　talking　about？　What　happened　at　the　museum？〃
　
　〃Sire；　he　says　that　the　sun　has　helped　her。　That　the　medicine　in　the　vial　helped　her；　but　that　she　needs　more　of　it。　She　is　damaged；　inside　and　out。　She　has　killed　three　times。　She　is　mad。　He　keeps　her　safe　in　hiding；　he　wants　a　meeting　with　you。　He　has　given　me　the　time　and　place。〃
　
　For　a　moment；　Ramses　said　nothing。　Then　he　rose　from　the　table　and　headed　towards　the　door。
　
　〃No；　stop！〃　　Julie　cried　out；　rushing　towards　him。
　
　Samir　was　also　on　his　feet。
　
　〃Sire；　if　you　try　to　find　him　sooner；　you　may　be　apprehended。　The　hotel　is　surrounded。　Wait　till　he　leaves　and　goes　to　this　place　for　the　meeting。　It　is　the　only　safe　thing　to　do！〃
　
　Ramses　was　clearly　stymied。　Reluctantly；　he　turned；　looking　past　Julie　with　dull；　crazed　eyes。　He　moved　back　sluggishly　to　the　chair　and　sat　down。
　
　Julie　wiped　her　tears　with　her　handkerchief　and　took　her　chair　again。
　
　〃Where　and　when？〃　　Ramses　asked。
　
　〃Seven　tonight。　The　Babylon；　it's　a　French　night　club。　I　know　it。　I　can　take　you　there。〃
　
　〃I　cannot　wait　until　then！〃
　
　〃Ramses；　tell　us　what　all　this　means。　How　can　we　help　you　if　we　don't　know？〃
　
　〃Sire；　Julie　is　right。　Take　us　into　your　trust　now。　Allow　us　to　assist　in　this。　If　you　are　captured　again　by　the　police　。。。〃
　
　Ramses　waved　it　away　in　disgust。　His　face　was　working　silently　with　emotion。
　
　〃I　need　you；　and　when　I　tell　you；　I　may　lose　you。　But　so　be　it。　For　I　have　wreaked　havoc　with　your　lives。〃
　
　〃You　will　never　lose　me；〃　　Julie　said；　but　her　fear　was　mounting。　A　great　dread　of　what　was　to　e　was　building　in　her　soul。
　
　Until　these　last　few　moments　she　thought　she　understood　what　had　happened。　He　had　taken　the　body　of　his　love　from　the　museum。　He　had　wanted　to　see　it　properly　put　in　a　tomb。　But　now；　faced　with　the　vial　and　these　strange　words　from　Elliott；　she　considered　other　more　ghastly　possibilities；　denying　them　in　the　same　instant；　but　returning　to　them　again。
　
　〃Put　your　trust　in　us；　sire。　Let　us　share　this　burden。〃
　
　Ramses　looked　at　Samir；　then　at　her。
　
　〃Ah；　the　guilt　you　can　never　share；〃　　he　said。〃　The　body　in　the　museum。　The　unknown　woman　。。。〃
　
　〃Yes；〃　　Samir　whispered。
　
　〃She　was　not　unknown　to　me；　my　dear　ones。　The　ghost　of　Julius　Caesar　would　have　known　her。　The　shade　of　Mark　Antony　would　have　kissed　her。　Millions　once　mourned　for　her。　。。。〃
　
　Julie　nodded；　tears　rising　again。
　
　〃And　I　have　done　the　unspeakable。　I　took　the　elixir　to　the　museum。　I　did　not　realize　how　much　her　body　had　been　ravaged；　that　whole　hunks　of　flesh　were　no　longer　there；　I　poured　the　elixir　over　her！　After　two　thousand　years　life　stirred　in　her　ruined　body。　She　rose！　Bleeding；　wounded；　she　stood　upright。　She　walked。　She　reached　out　for　me。　She　called　my　name！〃
　
　Ah；　it　was　better　than　the　finest　wine；　better　even　than　making　love；　racing　over　the　road　in　the　open　American　motor　car；　the　wind　whistling　past　her；　the　American　shouting　convivially　as　he　jerked　the〃　stick　shift〃　　this　way　and　that。
　
　To　see　the　houses　flying　past。　To　see　the　Egyptians　trudging　with　their　donkeys　and　camels　and　to　leave　them　in　a　spray　of　gravel。
　
　She　adored　it。　She　looked　up　at　the　open　sky　above；　letting　the　wind　lift　her　hair　pletely　as　she　kept　one　hand　firmly　on　her　hat。
　
　Now　and　then　she　studied　what　he　did　to　make　this　chariot　move。　Pump　the　〃pedals〃；　　as　he　called　them；　over　and　over　again；　pull　the　stick；　turn　the　wheel。
　
　Ah；　it　was　too　thrilling；　too　marvellous。　But　suddenly　that　horrid　shrill　sound　caught　her　off　guard。　That　roaring　she　had　heard　in　the　　railway　station。　Her　hands　flew　to　her　ears。
　
　〃Don't　be　frightened；　little　lady；　it's　just　a　train。　See　there；　the　train's　ing！〃　　The　motor　coach　came　to　a　jerking　halt。
　
　Metal　pathways　side　by　side　in　the　desert　sand　before　them。　And　that　thing；　that　great　black　monster　bearing　down　from　the　right。　A　bell　was　clanging。　She　was　dimly　aware　of　a　red　light　flashing；　like　a　lantern　beam。　Would　she　never　get　away　from　these　hideous　things？
　
　He　put　his　arm　around　her。
　
　〃It's　all　right；　little　lady。　We　just　have　to　wait　for　it　to　pass。〃
　
　He　was　still　speaking；　but　now　the　great　rattle　and　clatter　of　the　monster　drowned　out　his　words。　Horrid；　the　wheels　rumbling　by　in　front　of　her；　and　even　the　long　procession　of　wooden　wagons；　filled　with　human　beings　who　sat　inside　against　the　wooden　slats　as　if　this　were　the　most　simple　thing　in　the　world。
　
　She　tried　to　regain　her　posure。　She　liked　the　feel　of　his　warm　hands　on　her；　the　smell　of　the　perfume　rising　from　his　skin。　She　watched　dully　as　the　last　of　the　cars　rolled　by。　Again　the　bell　clanged。　The　light　atop　the　pillar　flashed。
　
　The　American　pumped　the　pedals　again；　pulled　the　stick；　the　car　began　to　rumble；　and　they　drove　over　the　metal　pathways　and　on　into　the　desert。
　
　〃Well；　most　people　in　Hannibal；　Missouri；　you　tell　them　about　Egypt；　they　don't　even　know　what　you're　talking　about。　I　said　to　my　father；　I'm　going　over　there；　that's　what　I'm　going　to
　
　do。　I'm　taking　the　money　I've　made　and　going　over　there；　and　then　I'll　settle　down　back　here。　。。。〃
　
　She　caught　her　breath。　She　was　settling　into　the　pleasure　of　it　again。　Then　far　away　to　the　left；　on　the　horizon；　she　saw　the　pyramids　of　Giza！　She　saw　the　figure　of　the　Sphinx　ing　into　view。
　
　She　gave　a　little　cry。　This　was　Egypt。　She　was　in　Egypt　in　〃modern　times；〃　　but　she　was　still　at　home。
　
　A　lovely　sadness　softened　her　all　over。　The　tombs　of　her　ancestors；　and　there　the　sphinx　to　whom　she　had　gone　as　a　young　girl；　to　pray　in　the　temple　between　its　great　paws。
　
　〃Ah；　yes；　that's　a　pretty　sight；　isn't　it？　I　tell　you；　if　people　in　Hannibal；　Missouri；　don't　appreciate　it；　it's　their　tough　luck。〃
　
　She　laughed。〃　Their　tough　luck；〃　　she　said。
　
　As　they　drew　closer；　she　saw　the　crowds。　A　great　field　of　motor　cars　and　carriages。　And　women　in　frilly　dresses　with　tiny　waists；　like　her　own。　Men　in　straw　hats　like　the　American。　And　many　Arabs　with　their　camels；　and　armfuls　of　cheap　necklaces。　She　smiled。
　
　In　her　time　they　had　sold　cheap　jewelry　here　to　the　visiting　Romans。　They　had　peddled　rides　on　their　camels。　They　were　doing　the　very　same　thing　now！
　
　But　it　took　her　breath　away；　the　great　tomb　of　King　Kufu　looming　above　her。　When　had　it　been　that　she　had　e　here；　a　small　girl；　and　seen　this　huge　structure　made　up　of　square　blocks？　And　then　with　Ramses；　later；　alone　in　the　cool　of　the　night；　when　she'd　been　wrapped　in　a　dark　robe；　a　mon　woman；　riding　with　him　along　this　very　same　road。
　
　Ramses！　No；　something　horrid　that　she　did　not　want　to　remember。　The　dark　waters　rushing　over　her。　She　had　been　walking　towards　him；　and　he　had　been　backing　away！
　
　The　American　motor　car　jerked　to　a　halt　again。
　
　〃e　on；　little　lady；　let's　get　out　and　see　it。　Seventh　wonder　of　the　world。〃
　
　She　smiled　at　the　chubby…faced　American；　so　gentle　with　her　he　was。
　
　〃Okaaaay！　Super！〃　　she　said。　She　jumped　down　from　the　high　open　seat　before　he　could　give　her　a　helping　hand。
　
　Her　body　was　very　close　to　his。　His　chubby　nose　crinkled　as　he　smiled　at　her。　Sweet　young　mouth。　She　kissed　him　suddenly。　She　stood　on　tiptoe　and　embraced　him。　Hmmmm。　Sweet　and　young　like　the　other。　And　so　surprised！
　
　〃Well；　you　sure　are　an　affectionate　little　thing；〃　　he　said　hi　her　ear。　He　didn't　seem　to　know　what　to　do　now。　Well；　she　would　show　him。　She　took　his　hand　and　they　walked　over　the　beaten　sand　towards　the　pyramids。
　
　〃Ah；　look！〃　　she　said；　pointing　to　the　palace　that　had　been　built　to　the　right。
　
　〃Ah；　that's　the　Mena　House；〃　　he　said。〃　Not　a　bad　hotel；　either。　It's　not　Shepheard's；　but　it's　okay。　We　can　have　a　bite　to　eat　there　later；　if　you　like。〃
　
　〃I　tried　to　fight　them；〃　　Ramses　said。〃　It　was　impossible。　There　were　simply　too　many。　They　took　me　away　to　the　jail。　I　needed　time　to　heal。　It　must　have　been　a　half　hour　before　I　managed　to　escape。〃
　
　Silence。
　
　Julie　had　buried　her　face　in　her　handkerchief。
　
　〃Sire；〃　　Samir　said　gently。〃　You　knew　this　elixir　could　do　such　a　thing？〃
　
　〃Yes；　Samir。　I　knew；　though　I　had　never　put　it　to　such　a　test。〃
　
　〃Then　it　was　human　nature；　sire。　No　more　and　no　less。〃
　
　〃Ah；　but　Samir；　I　have　made　so　many　blunders　over　the　centuries。　I　knew　the　dangers　of　the　chemical。　And　you　must　know　those　dangers　now　too。　You　must　know　if　you　are　to　help　me。　This　creature…this　mad　thing　which　I've　brought　back　to　life　cannot　be　destroyed。〃
　
　〃Surely　there　is　some　way；〃　　Samir　said。
　
　〃No。　I've　learned　this　through　trial　and　error。　And　your　modem　biology　books；　they've　sharpened　my　understanding。　Once　the　cells　of　the　body　are　saturated　with　the　elixir；　they　renew　themselves　constantly。　Plant；　animal；　human…it　is　all　the　same。〃
　
　〃No　age；　no　deterioration；〃　　Julie　murmured。　She　was　calmer　now；　she　could　trust　her　voice。
　
　〃Precisely。　One　full　cup　made　me　immortal。　No　more　than　the　contents　of　that　vial。　I　am　eternally　in　the　prime　of　life。　I　don't　need　food；　yet　I　am　always　hungry。　I　don't　need　sleep；　yet　I　can　enjoy　it。　I　have　perpetually　the　desire　to　。。。　make　love。〃
　
　〃And　this　woman…she　did　not　receive　the　full　measure。〃
　
　〃No；　and　she　was　damaged　to　begin　with！　That　was　my　folly；　don't　you　see！　The　body　was　not　all　there！　But　damaged　or　no；　she　is　now　virtually　unstoppable。　I　understood　that　when　she　came　towards　me　through　the　corridor！　Don't　you　see？〃
　
　〃You're　not　thinking　in　terms　of　modern　science；〃　　Julie　said。　She　wiped　both　her　eyes　slowly。〃　There　must　be　a　way　to　halt　the　process。〃
　
　〃On　the　other　hand；　if　you　were　to　give　her　the　full　measure…　more　of　the　medicine；　as　the　Earl　put　it。。。〃
　
　〃That's　madness；〃　　Julie　interjected。〃　You　can't　even　consider　it。　You'll　make　the　thing　stronger。〃
　
　〃Listen；　both　of　you；〃　　Ramses　said；〃　to　what　I　have　to　say。　Cleop