anner.themummy-第68部分

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house　she　was　sharing　with　Henry。　All　Henry's　things　were　there。　Passport；　money；　everything。〃
　
　Elliott　swallowed。　He　needed　another　drink　badly。　It　occurred　to　him　that　he　ought　to　take　some　supper　just　so　that　he　could　go　on　drinking　without　passing　out。
　
　〃Same　thing　that　happened　to　the　Oxford　student　this　afternoon；　neck　broken；　and　the　American　kid　out　at　the　pyramids；　and　the　maid　at　the　museum。　Wonder　why　he　bothered　to　use　a　knife　on　Sharpies！　You'd　better　tell　me　everything　you　know　about　this。〃
　
　The　waiter　set　down　the　fresh　glasses　of　Scotch　and　gin。　Elliott　took　his　drink　and　sipped　it　thoughtfully。
　
　〃Just　what　I　was　afraid　of；　the　whole　thing。　He　was　going　out　of　his　mind　with　guilt。〃
　
　〃Over　the　gambling。〃
　
　〃No。　Over　Lawrence。　It　was　Henry；　you　see；　and　the　poisons　in　the　tomb。〃
　
　〃Good　Lord；　man；　are　you　serious？〃
　
　〃Gerald；　that's　how　it　all　started。　He　had　papers　for　Lawrence　to　sign。　He　probably　forged　them。　But　that's　not　the　point。　He　admitted　the　killing。〃
　
　〃To　you。〃
　
　〃No；　to　someone　else。〃　　He　broke　off；　had　to　think　this　through；　but　there　was　no　time。〃　To　Ramsey。〃
　
　〃Ramsey；　the　one　they're　searching　for。〃
　
　〃Yes；　Ramsey　tried　to　talk　to　him；　early　this　morning；　before　Henry　went　on　the　rampage　and　broke　into　the　museum。　By　the　way　。　。　？　you　said　they'd　been　to　the　belly　dancer's　house。　Did　they　find　any　evidence　of　a　mummy　there；　any　wrappings？　That　would　certainly　tie　it　up　and　then　they'd　stop　persecuting　poor　Ramsey。　Ramsey　is　entirely　innocent；　you　see。　He　went　to　the　museum　to　reason　with　Henry。〃
　
　〃You　know　this　for　a　fact？〃
　
　〃It　was　all　my　fault。　I　can't　sleep　of　late；　pain　in　my　joints　is　too　severe。　Five　o'clock　this　morning　I　was　just　ing　in　from　my　walk。　I'd　seen　Henry；　roaring　drunk；　near　the　museum；　as　I　told　you。　I　thought　he　was　pub　crawling。　And　I　made　the　mistake　of　telling　Ramsey；　who　had　just　e　down　for　his　morning　coffee。　Ramsey　had　tried　to　reason　with　Henry　earlier。　And　off　he　went　to　find　him　again；　for　Julie's　sake。〃
　
　〃Julie　and　this　Ramsey；　they're　。。。〃
　
　〃Yes。　The　engagement's　off　with　Alex。　It's　all　quite　amicable；　Alex　and　Ramsey　are　friends。　And　the　whole　thing　must　be　straightened　out。〃
　
　〃Of　course；　of　course。〃
　
　〃Ramsey　was　trying　to　stop　the　robbery　when　the　police　apprehended　him。　He's　a　strange　man。　He　panicked。　But　surely　you　can　get　this　cleared　up。〃
　
　〃Well；　I　can　do　my　damnedest。　But　why　in　the　world　would　Stratford　break　into　the　museum　to　steal　a　mummy？〃
　
　〃That　part　I　can't　quite　figure。〃　　Understatement　of　the　year；　he　thought。〃　All　I　know　is　that　the　mummy　of　Ramses　the　Damned　in　London　is　missing　too　and　apparently　he　stole　some　coins　and　jewelry　as　well。　I　believe　somebody　may　have　put　him　up　to　it。　Steal　a　pair　of　valuable　relics；　get　some　ready　cash；　that　sort　of　thing。〃
　
　〃So　he　goes　blundering　into　the　most　famous　museum　in　the　entire　world？〃
　
　〃Egyptian　security　isn't　very　good；　old　boy。　And　you　haven't　seen　Henry　in　the　last　few　months；　have　you？　He's　quite　deteriorated；　my　friend。　This　may　be　a　case　of　pure　insanity。　The　thing　is；　I　can't　have　Alex　and　Julie　detained　in　Cairo。　And　they　won't　leave　until　Ramsey's　cleared；　and　Ramsey　has　not　done　anything。〃
　
　He　finished　off　the　gin。
　
　〃Gerald；　get　us　off　the　hook；　all　of　us。　I'11　make　a　statement；　if　you　advise　it。　I'll　try　to　reach　Ramsey。　If　he's　granted　immunity；　then　surely　he'll　back　me　up。　You　can　handle　it；　Gerald；　you　know　these　colonial　idiots！　You've　put　up　with　them　for　years。〃
　
　〃Yes；　I　certainly　have。　This　has　to　be　handled　delicately；　but　immediately。　And　the　fact　is；　they're　on　to　Stratford。　It's　merely　a　question　of　exonerating　Ramsey。〃
　
　〃Yes；　and　protocol　and　propriety　and　paperwork　and　all　the　other　colonial　rot。　Go　to　it；　Gerald。　I　don't　care　what　you　do；　I　have　to　get　my　son　home。　I've　used　my　son　badly　in　all　this。。。〃
　
　〃What？〃
　
　〃Nothing。　Can　you　work　it　out？〃
　
　〃Yes；　but　Henry　himself　。。。　Have　you　any　idea　where　he　could　be？〃
　
　In　the　vat　of　bitumen。　Elliot　shuddered。〃　No；〃　　he　said。〃　No　idea　at　all。　But　he　has　many　enemies　out　there；　people　whom　he　owes　money。　I　need　another　drink。　Get　the　attention　of　the　pretty　little　nitwit；　will　you？〃
　
　〃Young　Lord　Summerfield；〃　　she　said；　gazing　at　his　beautiful　mouth；〃　let　us　banquet　in　my　rooms。　And　leave　this　place　to　be　alone　there。〃
　
　〃If　you　wish。〃　　The　inevitable　flame　in　the　cheeks。　Oh；　what　would　the　rest　of　the　young　body　look　like？　Pray　there　was　a　priapic　organ　there　worthy　of　all　the　other　charms！
　
　〃Indeed；　but　do　you　wish？〃　　she　asked　him。　She　ran　the　backs　of　her　fingers　along　his　cheek。　Then　slid　her　fingers　under　the　stiff　cloth　of　his　garment。
　
　〃Yes；　I　do；〃　　he　whispered。
　
　She　led　him　off　the　dance　floor；　collecting　her　handbags　as　they　went　out　of　the　swimming　music　and　lights；　back　into　the　crowded　grand　room。
　
　〃Suite　two…oh…one；〃　　she　said；　producing　the　key。〃　How　do　we　find　it？〃
　
　〃Well；　we'll　just　take　the　lift　to　the　second　floor；〃　　he　said；　beaming　at　her。〃　And　walk　to　the　very　front　of　the　building。〃
　
　The　lift？　He　led　her　towards　a　pair　of　brass　gates。　He　pressed　a　small　button　in　the　wall…
　
　A　huge　drawing　stood　between　these　gates：　Aida；　the　opera。　And　there　were　the　same　Egyptian　figures　she'd　seen　before。〃　Ah；　the　opera；〃　　she　said。
　
　〃Yes；　quite　an　event；〃　　he　said。　The　brass　gate　had　opened；　and　a　man　inside　the　small　chamber　appeared　to　be　waiting　for　them。　She　stepped　inside。　It　was　like　a　cage。　And　it　frightened　her　suddenly。　The　doors　clanged　shut。　Some　sort　of　trap；　and　the　room　began　to　rise。
　
　〃Lord　Summerfield；〃　　she　cried。
　
　〃It's　quite　all　right；　Your　Highness；〃　　he　said。　He　threw　his　arms　around　her；　and　turning；　she　bowed　her　head　against　his　chest。　Oh；　he　was　so　much　sweeter　than　all　the　others；　and　when　a　strong　man　is　sweet；　even　goddesses　look　down　from　Mount　Olympus。
　
　At　last　the　doors　opened。　He　led　her　out　and　into　a　silent　passageway。　They　walked　towards　a　distant　window。
　
　〃What　frightened　you　so？〃　　he　asked。　But　his　intonation　had　no　mockery　or　disapproval。　It　was　almost　soothing。　He　took　the　key　from　her；　and　put　it　in　the　lock。
　
　〃The　room　moved；〃　　she　sighed。〃　Are　those　not　the　right　English　words？〃
　
　〃Yes；　they　are；〃　　he　said。　He　paused　as　they　entered　the　long　sitting　room；　with　rich　hangings　and　chairs　that　looked　for　all　the　world　like　giant　cushions。〃　Why；　you　are　die　strangest　creature。　So　out　of　this　world。〃
　
　She　reached　out　and　caressed　his　face；　and　slowly　kissed　him。　His　brown　eyes　were　troubled；　suddenly。　But　then　he　kissed　her　back；　and　the　sudden　fire　surprised　her　and　thrilled　her。
　
　〃For　this　night；　Lord　Summerfield；〃　　she　said；〃　this　is　my　palace；　and　now　we　must　go　and　seek　the　royal　bedchamber。〃
　
　Elliott　walked　to　the　door　of　the　bar　with　Pitfield。〃　I　can't　thank　you　enough　for　ing　immediately。〃
　
　〃Have　every　confidence；　old　boy；　and　do　see　if　you　can　get　some　word　to　your　friend。　Of　course；　I　can't　advise　you　to…〃
　
　〃I　know；　I　know。　Let　me　handle　that。〃　　Elliot　went　back　into　the　bar；　settled　down　into　the　leather　chair　and　picked　up　the　gin。　Yes；　definitely　he　would　slowly　drink　himself　to　death　when　this　was　over。
　
　He　would　go　out　to　the　country；　stock　the　finest　sherry　and　port　and　Scotch　and　gin；　and　just　drink　day　in　and　day　out　until　he　was　dead。　It　would　be　very　simply　wonderful。　He　saw　himself　there；　by　the　great　log　fire；　one　foot　on　the　leather　ottoman。　The　image　shimmered；　then　faded。　The　sickness　rose　in　his　throat；　and　he　was　near　to　breaking　down　pletely。
　
　〃Get　Alex　home；　get　him　home　and　safe；〃　　he　whispered；　and　then　he　began　to　tremble　almost　uncontrollably。　He　saw　her　again；　moving　through　the　museum　with　her　arms　out。　And　then　in　the　bed　looking　up　at　him：　he　felt　her　caress；　and　the　bare　bones　in　her　side　as　she'd　pressed　against　him。　He　remembered　the　crazed　look　in　Ramsey's　eyes　when　he'd　fought　her。
　
　The　trembling　got　worse。　Much　worse。
　
　No　one　noticed　in　the　dark　bar；　a　pianist　had　e　in…a　young　man；　who　began　to　play　a　slow　ragtime。
　
　He　had　helped　her　with　her　fine　dress　of　green　satin。　He　laid　it　over　the　chair；　and　when　the　lights　went　out；　she　saw　the　city　through　the　pale　curtains。　She　saw　the　river。
　
　〃The　Nile；〃　　she　whispered。　She　wanted　to　say　how　beautiful；　this　gleaming　strip　of　water　winding　through　the　built…up　city；　but　a　shadow　fell　over　her　soul。　An　image　came　to　her　like　all　the　rest；　descending　plete　and　entire　and　then　vanishing；　only　this　one　had　been　so　quick。　A　catab；　a　priest　walking　before　her。
　
　〃What　is　it；　Your　Highness？〃
　
　She　lifted　her　head　slowly。　She'd　moaned；　that's　what　had　frightened　him。
　
　〃You're　so　tender　with　me；　young　Lord　Summerfield；〃　　she　said。　Where　was　the　inevitable　unkindness　in　this　boy？　The　inevitable　need　to　hurt　which　all　men　evinced　sooner　or　later？
　
　She　looked　up　and　saw　that　he　was　now　naked　as　well；　and　the　sight　of　his　strong；　youthful　body　pleased　her　intensely。　She　placed　her　hand　on　his　flat　belly；　and　then　gently　on　his　chest。　It　was　always　the　hardness　of　men　all　over　that　excited　her；　even　the　hardness　of　their　mouths；　that　they　tensed　their　mouths　when　they　kissed；　she　liked　even　to　feel　their　teeth　behind　their　lips。
　
　She　kissed　him　roughly　and　pressed　her　breasts　against　him。　He　could　hardly　control　himself；　he　wanted　to　carry　her　to　the　bed；　he　tried　to　be　gentle。
　
　〃Such　an　unearthly　thing；〃　　he　whispered。〃　Wherever　did　you　e　from？〃
　
　〃From　darkness　and　coldness。　Kiss　me。　I　am　only　warm　again　when　I'm　kissed。　Make　a　fire；　Lord　Summerfield；　to　burn　both　of　us。〃
　
　She　went　back　against　the　pillows；　tugging　him　down　on　top　of　her。　Her　hand　plunged；　grasped　his　sex　and　stroked　it；　pinching　the　tip。　When　he　moaned；　she　opened　his　lips　with　her　own；　licking　at　his　tongue　and　his　teeth。
　
　〃Now；〃　　she　said。〃　Into　me。　The　second　time　is　for　the　slow　song。〃
　
　Julie's　suite。　Samir　set　the　newspapers　down　on　the　table。　Julie　drank　a　second　cup　of　the　sweet　Egyptian　coffee。
　
　〃You　mustn't　leave　me　tonight；　Samir。　Not　till　we　hear　from　him；〃　　she　s