elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第51部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


nd　of　song　Ramses　had　once　described　as　tools　of　the　warmonger；　with　their　sentimental　references　to　love　and　duty　and　sacrifice。　I　knew　this　one　very　well。　Nefret　had　played　it　the　night　we　got　the　news　of　the　death　in　battle　of　our　beloved　nephew　Johnny。
　Ramses　rose　and　offered　Nefret　his　hand。　I　don't　know　what　had　moved　him　to　want　to　dance　to　that　song；　perhaps　the　memory　of　Johnny；　who　had　loved　music　and　gaiety　and　laughter；　perhaps　a　sudden　need　to　take　her　in　his　arms。　In　my　opinion　the　new　dances　were　not　nearly　so　pretty　as　the　waltz；　but　they　certainly　offered　the　opportunity　for　close　embraces。
　It　was　always　a　pleasure　to　watch　them　dance　together；　they　moved　with　such　matching　grace；　even　in　the　clumsy　（in　my　opinion）　two…step。　She　was　wearing　a　gown　of　pale　blue　voile　printed　with　little　flowers；　a　copy　of　a　favorite　garment　of　Ramses's　that　had　been　worn　to　shreds　and　discarded。　Her　skirts　floated　out　as　he　turned　her。
　My　sentimental　husband　cleared　his　throat　and　reached　for　my　hand。　There　was　no　need　for　speech；　we　were　both　thinking　the　same　thoughts：　of　Johnny；　only　one　of　the　millions　of　gallant　young　men　who　were　lost　forever；　and　of　another　young　man；　even　dearer；　who　was　about　to　disappear　into　the　dark　underworld　of　war。　Would　we　ever　see　our　children　dance　together　again？
　〃Yes；〃　I　said　emphatically。
　So　closely　attuned　are　my　dear　Emerson　and　I　（some　of　the　time）　that　he　required　no　explanation。　He　squeezed　my　hand。　〃Yes；〃　he　repeated。　〃How　are　your　arrangements　ing　along；　Peabody？〃
　〃Very　well。　And　yours？〃
　〃I　will　be　ready　when　the　time　es。〃
　　
　Ramses　was　in　and　out　at　odd　hours；　all　he　would　say；　when　I　questioned　him；　was　that　he　was　exploring　various　sources　of　information。　He　spent　a　good　deal　of　time　alone　with　Nefret。　I　did　not　begrudge　them　this；　but　I　could　not　help　asking　her；　one　morning　when　we　were　alone；　whether　he　had　told　her　anything　I　wasn't　supposed　to　know。
　〃If　I　had　promised　not　to　tell　you；　I　wouldn't；〃　she　said　with　a　smile　that　took　any　possible　sting　out　of　the　words。　〃But　there's　nothing。〃
　〃Are　you　all　right；　Nefret？〃
　〃Yes；　of　course。　Why　do　you　ask？〃
　〃You　are　too　calm。　More　than　calm　…　serene。　Misty…eyed。〃
　〃Good　Gad；　Mother！〃　She　burst　out　laughing。　〃You　do　have　a　way　with　words。　Perhaps　I've　bee　a　fatalist。　If　I　could　go　with　him　I　would；　but　I'm　beginning　to　realize　…　finally！　…　that　my　whining　and　my　clinging　only　make　it　harder　for　him。　There　are　some　dangers　one　must　face　alone。〃
　〃True；〃　I　said　thoughtfully。　〃However；　there　is　nothing　wrong　with　attempting　to　minimize　the　danger　if　one　can。〃
　〃You've　got　something　in　mind；　haven't　you？〃　She　looked　alarmed。　〃Mother；　don't　tell　me　unless　you　want　Ramses　to　know。　We　keep　nothing　from　one　another。〃
　〃And　quite　right；　too。　Perhaps　I　had　better　not；　then。　He　would　only　fuss。　Fear　not；　my　dear；　I　won't　do　anything　that　might　endanger　him。〃
　I　had　not　expected　Ramses　would　give　us　much　notice　of　his　departure；　so　I　went　ahead　with　my　own　schemes　as　quickly　as　was　possible。　Sure　enough；　my　son　turned　up　one　afternoon　in　time　for　tea；　with　the　news　that　he　would　be　leaving　immediately。
　〃There's　a　new　batch　of　Labour　Corps　'volunteers'　going　off　tomorrow。　I'll　stay　with　them　as　far　as　Rafah；　where　I　am　to　meet　Chetwode。〃
　At　the　beginning　of　the　war；　Britain　had　promised　the　Egyptians　they　would　not　be　asked　to　take　part　in　the　conflict。　That　promise；　like　so　many　others；　had　been　broken。　Some　of　the　poor　fellows　who　made　up　the　Labour　Corps　had　volunteered；　but　most　had　been　conscripted　by　local　magistrates　to　fill　their　quotas。　I　didn't　doubt　Ramses　could　blend　in　perfectly；　for　a　man　who　had　played　the　parts　of　beggars；　camel　drivers；　and　mad　dervishes；　a　peasant　from　Upper　Egypt　presented　no　difficulty。　It　sounded　like　a　very　unfortable　method　of　getting　where　he　wanted　to　go；　but　there　was　no　use　asking　Ramses　to　explain。
　〃Ah；〃　I　said。　〃In　that　case；　we　had　better　start　packing。〃
　Ramses　must　have　known　there　wasn't　a　hope　of　persuading　us　to　remain　in　Cairo；　but　he　tried。
　〃Mother；　too　many　people　already　know　about　this　supposedly　secret　expedition。　The　three　of　you　marching　purposefully　on　Gaza　will　be　a　dead　giveaway。　You're　too　well　known；　especially　Father。〃
　〃Ah；　but　we　will　be　in　disguise；〃　Emerson　said。
　Emerson　loves　disguises；　and　is　not　allowed　to　indulge　in　them　as　often　as　he　would　like；　he　looked　so　pleased；　his　lips　parted　in　a　broad　smile；　his　blue　eyes　shining；　that　Ramses　hadn't　the　heart　to　object。　Instead　he　gave　me　a　critical　look。　〃You've　worked　it　all　out；　haven't　you；　Mother？　Nefret；　why　didn't　you　tell　me　about　this？〃
　〃She　knew　nothing　of　it；〃　I　said　quickly。　〃I　couldn't　ask　her　to　keep　secrets　from　you；　now　could　I？〃
　〃Oh；　God。〃　Indignation　and　reluctant　amusement　mingled　on　his　face；　to　be　replaced　by　remorse。　He　went　to　Nefret　and　took　her　hands　in　his。　〃I'm　sorry；　sweetheart。〃
　〃Your　apology　is；　for　once；　appropriate。〃　She　looked　up　at　him　with　a　smile。　〃I　accept　it。　Mother　only　told　me　she　had　the　situation　well　in　hand。　I　didn't　ask　for　details。　I　trusted　her；　and　I　suggest　you　do　the　same。〃
　〃Don't　worry；　my　dear；〃　I　said　cheerfully。　〃Your　father　and　I　have　it　worked　out。　He　has　a　dear　old　friend　in　Khan　Yunus　…〃
　〃Of　course；〃　Ramses　said　resignedly。　〃Mahmud　ibn　Rafid。　Is　there　any　place　in　the　Middle　East　where　Father　doesn't　have　a　'dear　old　friend'？〃
　〃Not　many；〃　said　Emerson；　smoking。　〃Khan　Yunus　is　only　ten　miles　south　of　Gaza；　and　Mahmud　owns　a　villa　there。〃　He　chuckled。　〃When　he　told　me　'My　house　is　your　house；'　he　may　not　have　meant　it　literally；　but　he　cannot　object　if　I　take　him　up　on　the　offer。　He's　scampered　off　to　Damascus；　so　that　will　be　all　right。　It　is　quite　a　fortable　house。　Even　your　mother　will　be　pleased　with　it。〃
　I　doubted　that　very　much；　but　at　such　a　time　I　would　have　settled　into　a　cave　or　a　tent　in　order　to　be　nearby　when　Ramses　carried　out　his　hazardous　mission。　〃Quite；〃　I　murmured。　〃Emerson；　I　presume　you　have　made　the　other　arrangements　we　discussed？　I　cannot　think　of　anything　I　dislike　more　than　a　long　journey　by　camel；　but　there　seems　to　be　no　alternative。〃
　〃Ah；　but　there　is；〃　Emerson　said。　Self…satisfaction　is　too　weak　a　word　for　the　emotion　that　illumined　his　countenance　and　swelled　his　broad　chest。　〃I　will　give　you　three　guesses；　Peabody。〃
　A　hideous　sense　of　foreboding　came　over　me。　〃Oh；　no；　Emerson。　Please。　Don't　tell　me　…〃
　〃Yes；　my　dear。　I　have　acquired　a　new　motorcar。〃　Avoiding　my　stricken　expression；　he　turned　to　Ramses　and　explained。　〃It's　a　splendid　vehicle；　my　boy；　one　of　the　T　Model　Ford　Light　cars　the　military　has　been　using。　It　has　…〃
　〃How　did　you　…　uh　…　acquire　it？〃　Ramses　asked。
　〃Ah；　well；　you　know　my　methods；〃　said　Emerson　with　a　grin。
　〃You　stole　it！〃
　〃No。　Well。　Not　exactly。　It　has　…〃
　〃You　can't　drive　it　yourself；　you　know；〃　I　interrupted。　This　obvious　fact　had　occurred　to　me　once　I　got　over　my　initial　consternation；　and　it　cheered　me　quite　a　lot。　〃Think　how　absurd　you　would　look　at　the　wheel；　in　turban　and　caftan。〃
　〃I　have　considered　that；〃　said　Emerson；　with　great　dignity。　〃You　said　you　would　leave　the　problem　of　transport　to　me。〃
　〃Hmmmm。　Frankly；　I　do　not　see　how　we　can　drive　all　that　distance　without　getting　bogged　down　in　sand　dunes　and　blowing　up　tires；　but　if　all　goes　well　…〃
　〃It　won't；〃　Ramses　muttered。
　〃If　it　does；　we　should　arrive　within　a　few　days　of　one　another。　Mind　this；　Ramses；　you　are　to　report　yourself　to　us　before　you　go　to　Gaza。　You　know　where　we　will　be。　For　our　own　peace　of　mind　and　for　safety's　sake；　we　want　to　be　made　cognizant　of　your　plans。　Have　I　your　word？〃
　〃Yes。〃　He　hesitated　for　a　moment；　and　then　shrugged。　〃You'll　have　to　follow　the　road；　so　I　suppose　the　worst　that　can　happen　is　that　you'll　break　down　and　be　forced　to　accept　help　from　the　military。　Speaking　of　peace　of　mind；　I　would　like　to　be　made　cognizant　of　your　plans。　Is　Father　to　be　a　wealthy　aristocrat　…　a　wealthy；　bearded　aristocrat　…　and　Mother　his　favorite　wife？〃
　〃No；　that　is　Nefret；〃　I　explained。　〃I　am　the　older　wife。〃
　Ramses　exchanged　bemused　glances　with　Nefret。　Her　open…mouthed　astonishment　convinced　him；　had　he　doubted　it；　that　she　had　known　nothing　of　my　scheme。　He　laughed　a　little；　and　shook　his　head。
　〃Mother；　you　never　cease　to　amaze　me。　I　hope　you　enjoy　yourself。　As　the　older　wife　you　will　be　in　a　position　to　bully　Nefret　…　and　Father。〃
　〃Ha；〃　said　Emerson　meaningfully。
　　
　Ramses　was　gone　next　morning。　When　Nefret　joined　us　for　breakfast　she　was　a　trifle　hollow…eyed　and　pale；　but　that　might　have　been　a　normal　reaction　to　such　a　hard　parting。　I　did　not　feel　I　had　the　right　to　ask　what　they　had　said　to　one　another　…　my　sympathetic　imagination　supplied　a　good　deal　of　the　dialogue　…　but　I　did　venture　to　inquire　whether　Ramses　had　been　angry　about　our　following　him。
　〃Resigned；　rather；〃　Nefret　said；　toying　with　her　toast。
　〃Eat　something；〃　I　ordered。　〃We　are　leaving　in　an　hour　and　it　will　be　a　long；　hard　day。　The　first　of　many；　I　fear。〃
　〃Not　at　all；〃　said　Emerson。　〃The　T　Model　Ford　Light　car　…〃
　〃I　don't　want　to　hear　about　it；　Emerson。　Eat　your　breakfast。〃
　〃I　have；〃　said　Emerson　indignantly。　〃You　are　the　one　who　is　delaying　us。〃
　To　have　left　the　hotel　in　disguise　or　in　the　vehicle　Emerson　had　acquired　would　have　aroused　speculation。　We　went　by　cab　to　Atiyeh；　the　village　where　the　northern　branch　of　Abdullah's　family　lived；　and　there　we　found　no　other　than　Selim　awaiting　our　arrival。　He　was　disappointed　when　I　failed　to　register　surprise　at　seeing　him。
　〃It　was　logical；〃　I　explained。　〃Once　I　learned　of　the　motorcar。　I　am　pleased；　Emerson；　that　you　didn't　insist　on　driving　it　yourself。〃
　〃I　had　a　number　of　reasons　for　bringing　Selim　along；　all　of　them　excellent；　and　all　of　them；　you　will　claim；　obvious　to　you。　Let　us　not　waste　time　discussing　the　subject。　Is　the　car　ready；　Selim？〃
　〃Yes；　Father　of　Curses。　It　is；〃　Selim　said　enthusiastically；　〃a　wonderful　motorcar。　It　has　…〃
　〃What　about　supplies？〃　I　asked。
　〃Everything　is　in　order；　Sitt　Hakim；〃　Selim　said。　He　looked　doubtfully　at　the　piles　of　personal　luggage　I　had　brought。　〃I　think　there　will　be　room。〃
　There　was；　but　just　barely。　Nefret　and　I　would　have　to　sit