anner.themummy-第55节

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！


　
　The　light　shone　in　its　huge　staring　eyes；　the　eyelids　eaten　away；　the　hair　thickening　and　writhing　as　it　grew　sleeker　and　blacker　and　tumbled　down　longer　over　the　bony　shoulders。
　
　But　dear　God；　what　were　the　patches　of　white　all　over　it？　They　were　the　bones　of　the　thing；　the　bare　bones　where　the　flesh　had　been　torn　away；　perhaps　centuries　ago！　Bare　bone　showing　in　the　left　leg；　bare　bone　in　the　right　foot；　bare　bones　in　the　fingers　struggling　to　reach　Ramsey。
　
　It's　not　whole。　You've　raised　a　thing　which　is　not　whole。
　
　The　light　brightened　in　the　window　above。　The　first　distinct　rays　pierced　the　ashen　gloom。　As　Ramsey　backed　away　again；　passing　Elliott；　half　stumbling　towards　the　far　railing　of　the　stair；　the　thing　came　on；　gaining　speed　until　it　reached　the　sunlight。
　
　And　there　it　reached　up　as　if　trying　to　catch　the　rays；　its　moaning　breaths　ing　rapid　and　desperate　and　full　of　panic。
　
　The　shriveled　flesh　of　the　hands　was　now　bronze。　The　face　was　bronze；　and　growing　lighter　and　paler　and　more　truly　human　as　the　sun　struck　it。
　
　It　turned　and　rocked　on　its　feet；　as　if　drinking　up　the　light；　and　the　blood　began　to　ooze　from　the　torn　wounds　that　everywhere　exposed　the　skeleton。
　
　Elliott　closed　his　eyes。　For　one　moment　he　almost　lost　consciousness。　He　was　aware　of　noise　below。　A　door　slamming　far　to　the　back　of　the　huge　building。
　
　He　opened　his　eyes　to　see　the　thing　drawing　nearer。　Glancing　over　his　shoulder；　he　saw　Ramses　plastered　to　the　rail　of　the　stairs；　staring　in　undisguised　horror。
　
　God　in　heaven；　drive　it　back。　Elliott　felt　the　burning　in　his　chest；　the　familiar　tightening。　The　pain　shot　down　his　left　arm；　and　with　all　his　strength　he　clutched　the　silver　cane。　He　willed　himself　to　breathe；　to　remain　standing。
　
　The　skeletal　thing　was　filling　out。　Its　flesh　was　now　the　color　of　Elliott's　own　flesh；　and　the　hair　a　great　wavy　mop　veiling　its　shoulders　pletely。　And　its　clothing…even　its　clothing　had　changed。　Its　clothing　was　once　again　white　linen　where　the　elixir　had　splashed。　The　creature　bared　its　white　teeth　to　the　roots　as　it　moaned。　Its　breasts　heaved　and　the　ragged　linen　fell　loose　from　the　womanly　shape；　tangling　in　the　legs　that　trudged　doggedly　forward。
　
　Its　eyes　were　fixed　on　the　man　at　the　end　of　the　hall。　Its　breath　came　in　heaves。　Its　mouth　became　a　grimace。
　
　Noises　from　below。　The　shrill　sound　of　a　whistle。　A　man　shouting　in　Arabic。
　
　Ramses　reeled。　They　were　ing　up　the　staircase。　Their　shouts　could　only　mean　that　they　had　seen　him。
　
　In　panic；　he　turned　back　to　the　female　figure　drawing　ever　closer。
　
　A　rasping　cry　escaped　her　lips。
　
　〃Ramses！〃
　
　The　Earl　closed　his　eyes。　Then　he　opened　them　again　and　stared　at　the　skeletal　hands　outstretched　as　the　woman　passed　him。
　
　There　was　a　cry　of〃　Halt！〃　　and　then　a　shot。　The　creature　screamed　and　clamped　her　fingers　over　her　ears。　She　staggered　backwards。　Ramses　had　been　struck　by　the　bullet；　and　pivoted　to　face　the　men　ing　up　the　stairs。　Desperately　he　turned　back　to　the　female。　Another　volley　of　shots！　The　deafening　roar　resounded　through　the　corridor。　Ramses　fell　back　against　the　marble　rail。
　
　The　female　shuddered；　hands　still　covering　her　ears。　She　appeared　to　lose　her　balance；　staggering　between　the　stone　sarcophagi　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　hall。　When　the　whistle　shrieked　again；　she　roared　in　terror。
　
　〃Ramses！〃　　It　was　the　cry　of　a　wounded　animal。
　
　GAIN；　ELLIOT　almost　lost　consciousness。　Again　he　closed　his　eyes；　and　struggled　to　fill　his　lungs　with　air。　His　left　hand；　clutching　the　walking　stick；　was　now　entirely　numb。
　
　He　could　hear　the　sounds　of　the　guards　dragging　Ramses　down　the　stairs。　Clearly　Ramses　was　fighting。　But　there　were　too　many　of　them。
　
　And　the　woman！　She'd　disappeared。　Then　he　heard　her　feet　scraping　the　stone　floor　again。　He　peered　through　the　glass　beside　him　to　see　her　retreating　to　the　far　end　of　the　hall。　Whimpering；　her　breath　still　ing　in　gasps；　she　vanished　through　a　side　door。
　
　All　sound　had　died　away　below。　Apparently　Ramses　had　been　removed　from　the　museum。　But　undoubtedly　men　would　e　to　search　within　minutes。
　
　Ruthlessly　ignoring　the　pain　in　his　chest；　Elliott　hurried　down　the　corridor。　He　reached　the　side　door　in　time　to　see　the　female　just　disappearing　from　view　at　the　foot　of　a　service　stair。　Quickly　he　turned　back；　glancing　under　the　display　cases。　There　lay　the　vial；　still　gleaming　in　the　grey　light。　Going　down　on　one　knee；　he　managed　to　get　hold　of　it；　and　closing　its　cap；　he　put　it　in　his　coat。
　
　Then；　fighting　a　wave　of　dizziness；　he　crept　down　the　stairs　after　the　female；　his　numbed　left　leg　almost　tripping　him。　Halfway　down　he　saw　her…bewildered；　staggering；　one　clawlike　hand　raised　as　if　groping　in　the　dimness。
　
　A　door　opened　suddenly；　leaking　yellow　light　into　the　passage；　and　a　servant　woman　emerged；　her　hair　and　body　draped　in　the　Moslem　manner　by　a　garment　of　black　wool。　She　carried　a　mop　in　her　right　hand。
　
　At　once　she　saw　the　skeletal　figure　approaching；　and　she　let　out　a　shrill　scream；　the　mop　falling　from　her　hands。　She　fled　back　into　the　lighted　room。
　
　A　low　hiss　came　out　of　the　wounded　one　and　then　that　awful　roar　again　as　she　went　after　the　serving　maid；　skeletal　hands　out　as　if　to　stop　the　piercing　scream。
　
　Elliott　moved　as　fast　as　he　could。　The　screams　stopped　before　he　reached　the　door　of　the　lighted　room。　As　he　entered；　he　saw　the　body　of　the　servant　woman　slumping；　dead；　to　the　floor。　Her　neck　had　apparently　been　broken　and　the　flesh　torn　from　her　cheek。　Her　glassy　black　eyes　stared　at　nothing。　And　the　ragged　wounded　one　stepped　over　her　and　moved　towards　a　small　mirror　over　the　washbasin　on　the　wall。
　
　A　wretched　agonized　sobbing　broke　from　her　when　she　saw　her　reflection。　Gasping；　shuddering；　she　reached　out　and　touched　the　glass。
　
　Again；　Elliott　almost　collapsed。　The　sight　of　the　dead　body　and　the　ghastly　creature　before　the　glass　were　more　than　he　could　bear。　But　a　ruthless　fascination　sustained　him；　as　it　had　all　along。　He　must　use　his　wits　now。　Damn　the　pain　in　his　chest　and　the　panic　rising　like　nausea　in　his　throat。
　
　Quickly　he　closed　the　door　of　the　room　behind　him。　The　noise　startled　her。　She　wheeled　about；　hands　poised　again　for　the　attack。　For　a　moment；　he　was　paralyzed　by　the　full　horror　of　what　he　now　beheld。　The　light　from　the　ceiling　bulb　was　merciless。　Her　eyes　bulged　from　their　half…eaten　sockets。　White　rib　bones　gleamed　through　a　huge　wound　in　her　side。　Half　of　her　mouth　was　gone；　and　a　bare　stretch　of　clavicle　was　drenched　in　oozing　blood。
　
　Dear　God；　what　must　her　suffering　be！　Poor；　tragic　being！
　
　Giving　a　low　growl；　she　advanced　on　him。　But　Elliott　spoke　quickly　in　Greek：
　
　〃Friend；〃　　he　said。〃　I　am　a　friend　and　offer　you　shelter。〃　　And　as　his　mind　went　blank　on　the　ancient　tongue；　he　switched　to　the　Latin：〃　Trust　in　me。　I　shall　not　let　you　e　to　harm。〃
　
　Not　taking　his　eyes　off　her　for　a　second；　he　groped　for　one　of　several　black　cloaks　hanging　on　the　wall。　Yes；　what　he　wanted…　one　of　those　shapeless　robes　worn　by　Moslem　women　in　public。　It　was　easily　large　enough　to　drape　her　from　head　to　toe。
　
　Fearlessly；　he　approached　her；　throwing　the　cloak　over　her　head　and　winding　it　over　her　shoulders；　and　at　once　her　hands　went　up　to　assist；　closing　it　over　her　face　save　for　her　frightened　eyes。
　
　He　ushered　her　out　into　the　corridor；　closing　the　door　behind　him　to　conceal　the　dead　body。　Noises　and　shouts　were　ing　from　the　floor　above。　He　could　hear　voices　ing　from　a　room　at　the　far　end　of　the　hall。　Spotting　the　service　door　to　his　right；　he　opened　it；　and　led　her　out　into　the　alleyway；　where　the　bright　sun　came　down　upon　them　both。
　
　Within　moments；　he　was　clear　of　the　building。　And　they　had　entered　the　great　endless　crowd　of　Moslems；　Arabs　and　Westerners　one　saw　everywhere　in　Cairo；　thousands　of　pedestrians　moving　in　all　directions；　despite　the　blast　of　motor…car　horns　and　the　progress　of　donkey…drawn　carts。
　
　The　woman　stiffened　when　she　heard　the　motor　horns。　At　the　sight　of　a　motor　car　rocking　past　her；　she　drew　back；　crying　through　clenched　teeth。　Again；　Elliott　spoke　to　her　in　Latin；　reassuring　her　that　he　would　take　care　of　her；　he　would　find　her　shelter。
　
　What　she　understood　he　could　not　possibly　guess。　Then　the　Latin　word　for　food　came　from　her　in　a　low；　tortured　voice。〃　Food　and　drink；〃　　she　whispered。　She　murmured　something　else；　but　he　did　not　understand。　It　sounded　like　a　prayer　or　a　curse。
　
　〃Yes；〃　　he　said　in　her　ear；　the　Latin　words　ing　easily　now　that　he　knew　she　understood　them。〃　I　shall　provide　all　you　require。　I　shall　take　care　of　you。　Trust　in　me。〃
　
　But　where　could　he　take　her？　Only　one　place　came　to　mind。　He　had　to　reach　old　Cairo。　But　did　he　dare　put　the　creature　into　a　motor　taxi？　Seeing　a　horse…drawn　cab　passing；　he　hailed　it。　She　climbed　willingly　up　to　the　leather　seat。　Now；　how　was　he　to　do　it；　when　he　could　scarce　breathe　and　his　left　leg　was　almost　useless？　He　planted　his　right　foot　firmly　on　the　step　and　swung　himself　up　with　his　right　arm。　And　then；　near　to　collapse　as　ever　he'd　been　in　his　life；　he　slumped　down　beside　th