elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第59部分

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s　of　escape　before　dashing　them；　with　his　daughter　as　the　very　visible　alternative　to　re…imprisonment？
　Her　palm　and　fingers　slid　slowly　across　his　mouth。　〃Why？〃　he　asked　softly。
　〃Don't　ask　questions！〃　Her　voice　was　thin　with　nervousness。　She　straightened；　and　he　saw　she　was　wearing　the　enveloping　black　tob　over　a　rather　frivolous　pink　frock　of　European　style。
　It　took　her　a　while　to　open　the　manacles。　Under　the　perfume　that　wafted　round　her；　Ramses　could　sense　the　fear　that　made　her　hands　shake　and　soaked　her　with　sweat。
　The　iron　circles　finally　parted。　He　had　lost　all　track　of　time　in　the　eternal　darkness；　but　he　must　have　been　there　for　hours。　Slowly　he　lowered　his　aching　arms　and　flexed　his　hands。　She　was　kneeling；　working　at　the　chain　around　his　feet。　He　bent　over　and　pushed　her　hands　away。　〃I'll　do　it。　Hold　the　torch。　How　do　they　work？〃
　〃You　have　to　push　。　。　。　here　。　。　。〃　A　shaking　finger　indicated　the　spot。　〃And　pull　this　at　the　same　time。　They're　rusty；　stiff　。　。　。〃
　The　chains　clinked　and　he　swore　under　his　breath。　They　were　making　too　much　noise　and　taking　too　much　time。　It　was　too　damned　quiet。　Hadn't　Sahin　left　a　guard？　Maybe　it　wasn't　a　trick　after　all。　If　her　father　had　set　it　up；　she　was　putting　on　a　very　convincing　show　of　fear。　As　soon　as　he　stood；　she　thrust　a　bundle　at　him。
　〃Put　it　on。　Hurry！〃
　The　caftan　was　probably　one　of　Sahin's。　It　was　of　fine　wool　and　far　too　costly　for　someone　who　wanted　to　be　inconspicuous；　but　since　he　had　no　choice　in　the　matter；　he　put　it　on；　and　wound　the　woolen　scarf　over　his　head　and　face。　The　last　item　in　the　bundle　was　a　knife。　She'd　thought　of　everything　…　except　a　belt。　He　slashed　a　strip　off　the　bottom　of　the　caftan；　tied　it　round　his　waist；　and　slipped　the　knife　through　the　makeshift　sash。
　She　let　him　precede　her　to　the　door　but　stayed　so　close　behind　him　he　could　hear　her　agitated　breathing。　She'd　left　the　door　ajar。　Ramses　swept　the　torch　in　a　hasty　circuit；　half　expecting　to　see　Sahin's　grin　and　a　heavily　armed　guard；　but　the　corridor　was　empty。
　〃That　way。〃　She　extended　a　shaking　arm　over　his　shoulder。
　〃I　know。　Is　there　anyone　in　the　other　cells？〃
　〃What　does　it　matter？　Hurry！〃
　She　pushed　at　him；　but　he　stood　firm。　〃Is　there？〃
　〃No！〃
　The　light　of　the　torch　showed　that　the　doors　were　not　barred　or　bolted；　but　he　couldn't　leave　without　making　certain。　He　eased　them　open；　one　after　the　other；　just　far　enough　to　look　inside。　Despite　his　care；　the　hinges　gave　off　a　series　of　groans；　echoed；　on　a　higher　note；　by　the　girl。　She　tugged　at　his　arm。
　Ramses　let　himself　be　drawn　away。　The　cells　had　been　unoccupied　except　by　a　family　of　rats　that　had　set　up　housekeeping　in　a　pile　of　moldy　straw。　She　led　the　way　now；　tiptoeing；　her　black　skirts　raised。　Ramses　followed　her　up　the　stone　steps　and　through　a　mazelike　series　of　narrow　passages　and　small　storerooms。　She　certainly　knew　her　way　around　the　cellars。　He　doubted　very　much　that　she　had　explored　them　herself。
　But　they　had　met　no　one　and　seen　no　one　when　she　finally　stopped　by　a　wooden　door　and　tugged　at　the　handle。　Somehow　Ramses　was　not　surprised　when　the　portal　swung　silently　open。　Stars　shone　bright　overhead；　illumining　a　walled　courtyard。　It　was　strictly　utilitarian；　no　fountain；　no　flowers；　only　weeds　and　piles　of　trash。　They　were　at　the　back　of　the　villa；　near　the　kitchens。　He　looked　up；　scanning　the　night　sky；　and　found　the　Dipper　and　the　North　Star。　It　would　be　light　in　a　few　hours。　Time　was　definitely　of　the　essence；　but　there　was　one　question　he　had　to　ask。
　He　turned　to　the　girl。　〃Who　helped　you？〃
　〃No　one　helped　me！　I　did　it　myself；　all　of　it。　I　saw　you　today　when　they　brought　you　in；　and　I　。　。　。　There　is　no　time　for　this。　You　must　hurry。〃
　〃But　how　did　you　know　…〃
　〃No　questions！　It　won't　be　easy　to　find　your　way　out　of　the　city。　I　must　show　you　where　…〃
　〃No；　go　back　to　your　rooms　before　you　are　missed。　I　know　where　I　am　now。〃
　She　put　her　hands　on　his　arms。　〃A　horse。　I　will　get　one　for　you。〃
　〃Why　don't　you　just　paint　a　target　on　my　back？〃　Ramses　inquired；　and　immediately　felt　guilty　when　her　mouth　quivered　pathetically。　Her　face　was　so　close　he　could　see　the　kohl　lining　her　eyes。　She'd　made　herself　up　as　if　for　an　assignation；　and　that　absurd　pink　frock　was　probably　one　of　her　best。
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　whispered；　and　although　every　moment　counted　now；　he　racked　his　brain　to　remember　a　few　pleasing　platitudes。　〃You　have　saved　my　life。　I　will　never　forget　…〃
　His　breath　came　out　in　a　grunt　as　she　threw　herself　against　him。　〃We　will　meet　again　one　day；〃　she　gasped。　〃You　can　never　be　mine；　but　your　image　will　be　enshrined　in　my　heart！〃
　〃I　forgot　that　one；〃　Ramses　muttered。　She　was　a　well…rounded　armful；　soft　and　warm　and　heavy；　and　there　seemed　to　be　only　one　way　of　getting　her　to　stop　talking。
　So　he　kissed　her；　thoroughly　but　somewhat　absentmindedly；　and　then　detached　the　clinging　arms　and　propelled　her　through　the　open　door。
　〃Through　that　gate；〃　she　panted。　〃Turn　to　the　left　…〃
　〃Yes；　right。　Uh　…　God　bless　you。〃
　He　pulled　the　door　shut　and　headed；　not　for　the　gate；　but　for　the　wall　to　his　right。　How　long　would　it　be　before　they　discovered　he　was　gone；　and　warned　the　defenders　that　an　English　spy　was　on　the　loose？　Maybe　not　for　hours。　Maybe　a　lot　sooner。　He　couldn't　take　the　chance　of　waiting　until　morning　and　strolling　out　the　way　he　had　e。
　Once　over　the　wall；　he　found　himself　in　a　typical　Middle　Eastern　street；　narrow；　dusty；　and　extremely　dark。　His　suspicions　had　been　incorrect；　there　was　no　one　lurking　outside　the　gate。
　He　had　exaggerated　a　trifle　when　he　told　the　girl　he　knew　where　he　was；　but　it　didn't　take　long　to　orient　himself。　The　lacy；　domed　minaret　of　the　Great　Mosque　pricked　the　moonlit　sky　to　the　southwest。　He　was　near　the　Serai；　then；　the　governor's　palace；　and　the　quickest　way　out　of　town　was　westward。
　It　took　him　longer　than　he　had　hoped。　He　had　to　avoid　the　main　east…west　street；　which　was　well　lighted；　with　men　standing　guard　at　the　entrances　to　official　buildings。　The　lanes　wound　in　illogical　curves；　and　twice　he　had　to　climb　a　wall　to　avoid　patrols。　Luckily　the　marching　men　made　enough　noise　to　warn　him　of　their　approach。
　Three　miles　of　sand　dunes　separated　Gaza　from　the　Mediterranean。　There　was　plenty　of　cover　…　the　ruins　of　the　ancient　seaport　of　Gaza　…　and　the　picket　lines　were　widely　spaced；　since　their　primary　purpose　was　to　guard　against　agents　who　might　be　landed　from　the　sea。　The　first　pallid　light　of　dawn　was　showing　in　the　east　before　Ramses　waded　out　into　the　water。　He　had　hoped　to　〃borrow〃　a　fishing　boat　under　cover　of　darkness；　but　it　was　too　late　now；　a　boat　would　be　seen　and　fired　upon。　With　a　heartfelt　groan；　he　shed　Sahin's　caftan　and　began　to　swim。
　
　〃He's　all　right；〃　Nefret　said。　〃Believe　me。　I　always　know　when　he　isn't。〃
　I　wanted　to　believe　her。　The　bond　between　them　was　so　strong　that　she　had　always　been　able　to　sense；　not　so　much　danger　…　Ramses　was　in　trouble　a　good　deal　of　the　time　…　but　an　imminent　threat　to　his　life。　She　didn't　look　as　if　she　had　slept　well；　though。　None　of　us　had。　It　had　been　almost　twenty…four　hours　since　we　got　the　word　that　Ramses　had　been　captured　and　we　had　spent　most　of　that　time　discussing　what　we　should　do　about　it。　Emerson　does　not　bear　waiting　well。　By　late　afternoon　he　had　walked　a　good　ten　miles；　pacing　back　and　forth　across　the　tiled　floor　of　the　saloon。
　〃We　cannot　act　yet；〃　I　insisted；　for　the　tenth　time。　〃Give　him　a　little　more　time。　He's　got　himself　out　of　worse　situations；　and　at　least　we　know　he　was　alive　when　he　was　last　seen。　Emerson；　for　pity's　sake；　stop　pacing。　What　you　need　is　a　nice　hot　cup　of　tea。　Help　me；　Nefret。〃
　Emerson　said　he　did　not　need　the　confounded　tea；　but　I　needed　something　to　do　and　so；　in　my　considered　opinion；　did　Nefret。　The　confidence　she　had　expressed　to　us　had　not　rendered　her　indifferent　to　the　fate　of　one　dearer　to　her　than　life　itself；　her　breath　came　quick　and　fast；　and　her　hands　shook　so　badly　I　had　to　prepare　the　tea　myself。
　Suddenly　she　sprang　up。　It　was　anticipation；　not　fear；　that　had　made　her　tremble　…　the　unbearable；　final　moments　of　waiting　for　an　event　greatly　desired。　As　she　turned　toward　the　door；　it　opened；　and　there　he　stood。　There　was　no　mistaking　him；　though　he　was　wearing　a　British　uniform；　and　the　brim　of　his　pith　helmet　shadowed　his　face。
　I　had　not　really　been　worried。　Nefret's　instincts　had　never　been　wrong。　All　the　same；　I　felt　as　if　a　set　of　stiff　rods　had　been　removed　from　my　back　and　limbs。
　〃Ah；〃　said　Emerson；　trying　to　appear　unconcerned。　〃I　had　begun　to　believe　I　might　have　to　go　looking　for　you。〃
　〃I　had　begun　to　think　so　too。〃　Ramses　removed　his　hat　and　unbuckled　the　belt　with　its　attached　holster。　〃You'll　never　believe　。　。　。　Nefret！〃
　Her　face　had　gone　dead…white。　Ramses　sprang　to　catch　her　as　she　crumpled。　He　held　her　to　him　in　a　close　embrace；　with　her　head　resting　on　his　shoulder。　〃Nefret　…　sweetheart　…　darling；　say　something！〃
　〃There　is　no　need　for　such　a　fuss；〃　I　assured　him。　〃It's　only　a　swoon。　Put　her　down。〃
　〃She's　never　swooned　in　her　life！〃　Ignoring　my　sensible　suggestion；　he　dropped　onto　the　divan；　holding　her　tightly。　Uttering　incoherent　ejaculations；　Emerson　snatched　one　of　her　limp　hands　and　began　slapping　it。　I　selected　a　clean　cup；　poured　tea；　and　added　several　heaping　spoonfuls　of　sugar。
　A　moment　or　two　later　Nefret　stirred。　〃What　happened？〃　she　asked　weakly。
　〃You　swooned；〃　Emerson　said　in　a　hoarse　voice。
　〃I've　never　swooned　in　my　life！〃　Her　color　was　back　to　normal　and　indignation　brightened　her　blue　eyes。　〃Put　me　down。〃
　〃It　was　my　fault；〃　Ramses　said　wretchedly。　〃I　shouldn't　have　burst　in　like　that。　I　suppose　you　thought　。　。　。　Are　you　sure　you're　all　right？〃
　She　smiled　up　into　his　anxious　face。　〃I　can　think　of　something　that　would　plete　the　cure。〃
　I　have　no　objection　to　public　displays　of　affection　between　married　persons　or　those　about　to　be　wed；　but　I　did　not　want　Ramses　distracted。　I　said　firmly；　〃A　nice　hot　cup　of　tea；〃　and　took　it　to　her。
　Nefret　pushed　it　away。　〃Give　it　to　Ramses。　He　looks　as　if　he　needs　it　more　than　I　do。〃
　〃I'm　all　right。　Just　a　little　tired。　I　haven't　had　much　sleep　in　the　past　forty…eight　hours。〃
　〃Did　you　e　i