anner.themummy-第42节

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of　the　door；　illuminating　the　thing　in　irregular　bursts。
　
　〃A　pistol；　am　I　correct？〃　　the　thing　said　to　him。〃　1　read　of　it　when　perhaps　I　should　have　been　reading　of　Oxford；　egomania；　aspirin　and　Marxism。　It　fires　a　small　projectile　of　metal　at　high　speed；　as　the　result　of　intense　bustion　within　the　chamber　behind　the　projectile。　Very　interesting；　and　useless　when　you　are　dealing　with　me。　And　were　you　to　fire　it；　men　would　e　and　want　to　know　why　you　did　it。〃
　
　〃I　know　what　you　are！　I　know　where　you　came　from。〃
　
　〃Oh；　you　do！　Then　you　realize　that　I　know　what　you　are。　And　what　you　have　been　up　to！　And　I　have　not　the　slightest　scruple　about　carrying　you　down　to　the　coal　furnaces　which　fuel　this　magnificent　ship　and　feeding　you　to　the　fires　which　drive　us　now　into　the　cold　Atlantic。〃
　
　Henry's　body　convulsed。　With　every　muscle　he　struggled；　but　he　could　not　free　himself　from　the　hand　that　now　locked　on　his　shoulder；　gently　crushing　the　bones。
　
　〃Listen　to　me；　foolish　one。〃　　The　thing　drew　in　closer。　He　could　feel　its　breath　on　his　face。〃　Harm　Julie　and　I　shall　do　it。　Make　Julie　cry　and　I　shall　do　it！　Make　Julie　frown　and　I　shall　do　it！　For　the　sake　of　Julie's　peace　of　mind；　you　live。　There　is　nothing　more　to　it。　Remember　what　I　say。〃
　
　The　hand　released　him。　He　slumped　towards　the　floor；　only　catching　himself　before　he　actually　fell。　He　gritted　his　teeth；　his　eyes　closing　as　he　felt　the　warm　stickiness　inside　his　pants；　and　smelled　his　own　waste。　His　bowels　had　cut　loose。
　
　The　thing　stood　there；　its　face　veiled　in　shadow　as　it　studied　the　gun　which　it　held　out　to　the　grey　light　from　the　porthole　in　the　door。　Then　it　pocketed　the　gun　and　turned　on　its　heel　and　left　him。
　
　A　wave　of　sickness　rose；　he　saw　blackness。
　
　When　he　awoke　he　was　crouched　in　the　corner　of　the　passage。　No　one　had　passed；　it　seemed。　Trembling；　dizzy；　he　climbed　to　his　feet　and　made　his　way　to　his　stateroom。　And　once　there　he　stood　over　the　small　toilet　vomiting　up　the　contents　of　his　stomach。　Only　then　did　he　strip　off　his　soiled　clothes。
　
　She　was　crying　when　he　came　in。　She　had　sent　Rita　off　to　supper　with　the　other　servants　on　board。　He　did　not　even　knock。　He　opened　the　door　and　slipped　inside。　She　wouldn't　look　at　him。
　
　She　pressed　her　handkerchief　to　her　eyes；　but　her　crying　wouldn't　stop。
　
　〃I'm　sorry；　my　Queen。　My　gentle　Queen。　Believe　me；　I　am。〃　　When　she　looked　up　she　saw　the　sadness　in　his　face。　He　stood　helplessly　before　her；　the　lamp　behind　him　filling　the　edges　of　his　brown　hair　with　an　uneven　golden　light。
　
　〃Let　it　be　for　now；　Ramses；〃　　she　said　desperately。〃　I　can't　bear　it；　the　knowledge　that　he　did　it。　Let　it　be；　I　beg　you。　I　only　want　us　to　be　in　Egypt　together。〃
　
　He　sat　down　on　the　settee　beside　her；　towering　over　her；　and　gently　he　turned　her　and　this　time　when　he　kissed　her　she　melted　pletely；　letting　him　enfold　her；　letting　him　breathe　into　her　that　powerful　heat。　She　kissed　his　face；　his　cheek　where　the　flesh　was　so　taut　over　the　bones；　and　then　his　closed　eyes。　She　felt　his　hands　tighten　on　her　naked　shoulders　and　she　realized　he　was　pushing　her　gown　down　and　away　from　her　breasts。
　
　She　drew　back；　ashamed。　She　had　led　him　on　and　she　hadn't　meant　to。
　
　〃I　don't　want　it　to　happen；〃　　she　said；　her　tears　ing　again。
　
　Not　looking　at　him；　she　pushed　the　satin　sleeves　upwards。　When　finally　their　eyes　met；　she　saw　only　patience；　and　that　faint　half　smile；　now　tempered　by　the　same　sadness　she'd　seen　before。
　
　He　reached　out　for　her；　and　she　stiffened。　But　he　merely　adjusted　the　sleeves　of　her　dress　for　her。　And　straightened　the　pearls　around　her　neck。　Then　he　kissed　her　hand。
　
　〃e　out　with　me；〃　　he　said　in　a　low；　soft　voice；　kissing　her　tenderly　on　her　shoulder。〃　The　wind　is　cool　and　fresh。　And　they　are　playing　music　in　the　public　rooms。　Can　we　dance　together　to　the　music？　Ah；　this　floating　palace。　It　is　paradise。　e　with　me；　my　Queen。〃
　
　〃But　Alex；〃　　she　said。〃　If　only　Alex　。。。〃
　
　He　kissed　her　throat。　He　kissed　her　hand　again。　He　turned　her　hand　over　and　pressed　his　lips　to　her　palm。　The　heat　coursed　through　her　again。　To　stay　in　this　room　would　be　folly；　unless；　of　course。　But　no。　She　could　not　let　it　happen；　until　it　was　really　what　she　wanted　with　her　whole　soul。
　
　She　might　lose　her　soul　utterly；　that　was　the　horror。　There　was　a　dim　sense　again　of　her　world　being　destroyed。
　
　〃Let's　go；　then；〃　　she　said　drowsily。
　
　He　helped　her　to　her　feet。　He　took　her　handkerchief　from　her　and　wiped　her　eyes　with　it　as　if　she　were　a　child。　Then　he　picked　up　her　white　fur　from　the　arm　of　the　chair　and　put　it　over　her　shoulders。
　
　They　walked　together　along　the　windy　deck　and　into　the　corridor　and　towards　the　grand　ballroom…a　lovely　confection　of　gilded　wood　and　satin　wall　panels；　of　drowsing　palms　and　stained　glass。
　
　He　moaned　as　he　looked　at　the　distant　orchestra。〃　Oooh；　Julie；　this　music；〃　　he　whispered。〃　It　enslaves　me。〃
　
　It　was　a　Strauss　waltz　again；　only　there　were　many　musicians　here；　and　the　sound　was　louder　and　richer；　flooding　the　great　room。
　
　No　sign　of　Alex；　thank　God。　She　turned　to　him；　and　let　him　take　her　hand。
　
　With　a　great　sweeping　turn；　he　began　to　waltz　with　her；　beaming　down　at　her；　and　it　seemed　then　nothing　mattered。　There　was　no　Alex；　there　was　no　Henry；　there　had　been　no　terrible　death　for　her　father　which　must　be　avenged。
　
　There　was　only　this　moment　of　dancing　with　him；　round　and　round；　beneath　the　soft　iridescent　chandeliers。　The　music　surged；　the　other　dancers　seemed　perilously　close　around　them；　but　Ramses'　steps　were　perfect　for　all　their　great　breadth　and　strength。
　
　Wasn't　it　enough　that　he　should　be　a　mystery？　she　thought　desperately。　Wasn't　it　enough　that　he'd　torn　the　veil　away　pletely？　Did　he　have　to　be　irresistible？　Did　she　have　to　fall　so　hopelessly　in　love？
　
　Far　away；　from　the　deep　shadows　of　the　darkly　panelled　bar；　Elliott　watched　them　dancing。　They　were　going　into　the　third　waltz　now；　and　Julie　was　laughing　as　Ramsey　led　her　recklessly　and　madly；　driving　the　other　dancers　out　of　his　path。
　
　No　one　seemed　to　take　offense　at　it。　Everyone　respects　those　who　are　in　love。
　
　Elliott　finished　his　whisky；　then　rose　to　go。
　
　When　he　reached　Henry's　door；　he　knocked　once　and　then　opened　it。　Henry　sat　hunched　over　on　the　small　couch；　a　thin　green　robe　wrapped　around　him；　his　legs　naked　and　hairy　beneath　it；　his　feet　bare。　He　appeared　to　be　trembling；　as　if　he　were　terribly　cold。
　
　Elliott　was　appalled　suddenly　at　the　heat　of　his　own　anger。　His　voice　came　out　hoarse　and　unfamiliar。
　
　〃What　did　our　Egyptian　King　see？〃　　he　demanded。〃　What　happened　in　that　tomb　when　Lawrence　died！〃
　
　Henry　tried　to　turn　away　from　him；　in　a　pathetic　moment　of　hysteria；　as　if　he　could　claw　his　way　through　the　wall。　Elliott　turned　him　around。
　
　〃Look　at　me；　you　miserable　little　coward。　Answer　my　question。　What　happened　in　that　tomb！〃
　
　〃I　was　trying　to　get　what　you　wanted！〃　　Henry　whispered。　His　eyes　were　sunken。　There　was　a　great　bruise　on　his　neck。〃　I　was　。。。　trying　to　persuade　him　to　advise　Julie　to　marry　Alex。〃
　
　〃Don't　lie　to　me！〃　　Elliott　said。　His　left　hand　clutched　at　the　silver　walking　stick；　ready　to　lift　it；　to　wield　it　like　a　club。
　
　〃I　don't　know　what　happened；〃　　Henry　pleaded。〃　Or　what　it　saw！　It　was　wrapped　up　in　the　damned　mummy　case。　What　the　hell　could　it　have　seen！　Uncle　Lawrence　was　arguing　with　me。　He　was　upset。　The　heat。。。　I　don't　know　what　happened。　Suddenly　he　was　lying　on　the　floor。〃
　
　He　slumped　forward；　elbows　on　his　knees；　head　in　his　hands。〃　I　didn't　mean　to　hurt　him；〃　　he　sobbed。〃　Oh；　God；　I　didn't　mean　to　hurt　him！　I　did　what　I　had　to　do。〃　　He　bowed　his　head；　fingers　meshed　in　his　dark　hair。
　
　Elliott　stared　down　at　him。　If　this　had　been　his　son；　life　would　have　no　meaning。　And　if　this　miserable　creature　was　lying　。。。　But　he　didn't　know。　He　simply　could　not　tell。
　
　〃All　right；〃　　he　murmured。〃　You　have　told　me　everything？〃
　
　〃Yes！〃　　Henry　said。〃　God；　I　have　to　get　off　this　ship！　I　have　to　get　away　from　it！〃
　
　〃But　why　does　it　despise　you？　Why　did　it　try　to　kill　you；　and　why　does　it　seek　to　humiliate　you？〃
　
　There　was　a　moment　of　silence。　All　he　heard　were　Henry's　desperate　broken　gasps。　Then　the　thin　white　face　was　turned　up　again；　the　sunken　dark　eyes　imploring　him。
　
　〃I　saw　it　e　alive；〃　　Henry　said。〃　I'm　the　only　one　other　than　Julie　who　really　knows　what　it　is。　You　know；　but　I'm　the　one　who　saw　it。　It　wants　to　kill　me！〃　He　stopped；　as　if　he　feared　losing　control　altogether。　His　eyes　were　dancing　as　he　looked　at　the　carpet。〃　I'll　tell　you　something　too；〃　　he　said；　as　he　slumped　back　again　on　the　couch。〃　It's　unnaturally　strong；　that　thing。　It　could　kill　a　man　with　its　bare　hands。　Why　it　didn't　kill　me　the　first　time　it　tried；　I　don't　know。　But　it　could　succeed　if　it　tried　again。〃
　
　The　Earl　didn't　respond。
　
　He　turned　and　left　the　stateroom。　He　went　out　onto　the　deck。　The　sky　was　black　over　the　sea；　and　the　stars　were；　as　always　on　a　cloudless　night　over　the　ocean；　wonderfully　clear。
　
　He　leaned　on　the　railing　for　a　long　time；　and　then　drew　out　a　cheroot　and　lighte