anner.themummy-第65节

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wanted　to　bed　him　immediately？　They　should　find　a　small　inn。　Surely　these　people　had　inns。
　
　Across　from　her　a　young　woman　spoke　rapidly：
　
　〃Well；　I　don't　even　like　opera。　I　wouldn't　go　if　I　were　in　New　York　at　all。　But　since　we're　in　Cairo；　we're　all　supposed　to　go　to　the　opera　and　love　it。　It's　ridiculous。〃
　
　〃But　darling；　it's　Aida。〃
　
　Aida。〃　Celeste　Aida。〃　　She　began　to　hum　it；　then　sing　it　softly；　too　low　for　these　people　to　hear。　But　her　panion　heard　her。　He　smiled　at　her；　positively　beamed。　Getting　him　into　bed　would　be　nothing。　Finding　the　bed；　that　might　be　hard。　Of　course　she　could　take　him　back　to　the　little　house；　but　that　was　too　far　away。　She　stopped　singing。
　
　〃Oh；　no；　you　mustn't　stop；〃　　he　said。〃　Go　on　singing。〃
　
　Go　on　singing；　go　on　singing。　Waiting　just　a　moment　was　the　secret；　then　the　meaning　came　surprisingly　clear。
　
　Ramses　had　taught　her　that。　In　the　beginning；　each　tongue　sounds　impenetrable。　You　speak　it；　you　listen；　and　gradually　it　es　clear。
　
　Ramses；　Ramses；　whose　statue　stood　among　the　iron　chariots！　She　turned；　craning　her　neck　to　see　through　the　window…why；　the　window　was　covered　over　with　a　giant　piece　of　very　clear　glass。　She　could　see　the　dirt　on　it。　However　did　they　make　such　a　thing？〃　Modern　times；〃　　as　Lord　Rutherford　said。　Well；　if　they　could　make　those　monstrous　chariots；　they　could　make　such　glass。
　
　〃You've　a　lovely　voice；　positively　lovely。　Are　you　by　any　chance　going　to　the　opera？　Everyone　in　Cairo　is　going；　or　so　it　seems。〃
　
　〃The　ball　will　last　till　dawn；〃　　said　the　woman　opposite　to　her　female　panion。
　
　〃Well；　I　think　it's　super。　We're　just　too　far　from　civilization　to　plain。〃
　
　He　laughed。　He　had　overheard　the　women　too。
　
　〃The　ball's　supposed　to　be　the　event　of　the　season　here。　They　hold　it　at　Shepheard's。〃　　He　drank　a　swallow　of　his　coffee。　That　was　the　signal　she'd　been　waiting　for。　She　downed　her　entire　cup。
　
　He　smiled。　He　poured　her　another　from　the　little　pot。
　
　〃Thank　you；〃　　she　said；　carefully　mimicking　the　record。
　
　〃Oh；　but　didn't　you　want　sugar？〃
　
　〃I　think　I　prefer　cream；　if　you　don't　mind。〃
　
　〃Of　course　not。'　*　He　poured　a　dollop　of　milk　in　her　cup。　Was　that　cream？　Yes；　Lord　Rutherford　had　given　her　the　last　of　it　that　the　slave　woman　had　in　the　house。
　
　〃Are　you　going　to　the　ball　at　Shepheard's？　We're　staying　at　Shepheard's；　my　uncle　and　I。　My　uncle's　in　trade　here。〃
　
　He　stopped　again。　What　was　he　staring　at？　Her　eyes？　Her　hair？　He　was　very　pretty；　she　loved　the　fresh　new　skin　of　his　face　and　throat。　Lord　Rutherford　was　a　fine…looking　man；　for　certain；　but　this　one　had　the　beauty　of　youth。
　
　She　reached　across　the　table　and　felt　his　chest　through　the　linen　of　his　clothing；　through　the　silk　that　covered　her　fingers。　Don't　let　him　feel　the　bone。　How　surprised　he　looked。　Her　fingertips　touched　his　nipple　and　she　pinched　it　ever　so　slightly　with　her　fourth　finger　and　thumb。　Why；　he　blushed　like　a　vestal　virgin。　The　blood　was　roaring　in　his　face。　She　smiled。
　
　He　glanced　around；　at　the　two　women　opposite。　But　they　went　right　on　talking。〃　Simply　super！〃
　
　〃I　bought　this　gown；　you　know；　spent　a　fortune　on　it。　I　said；　well；　if　I'm　going　to　be　here；　and　everyone's　going　。。。〃
　
　〃The　opera。〃　　She　laughed。〃　Going　to　the　opera。〃
　
　〃Yes；〃　　he　said；　but　he　was　still　amazed　at　what　she'd　done。　She　emptied　the　pot　into　her　cup　and　drank　it。　Then　she　picked　up　the　little　pitcher　of　milk　and　drank　that　too。　She　picked　up　the　sugar　and　poured　it　into　her　mouth。　Ah；　she　did　not　like　that。　She　set　it　down；　and　then　slipped　her　hand　under　the　small　table　and　squeezed　his　leg。　He　was　ready　for　her！　Ah；　poor　young　boy；　poor　wide…eyed　young　boy。
　
　She　remembered　that　time　when　she　and　Antony　had　brought　those　young　soldiers　in　the　tent；　and　stripped　them；　before　making　a　choice。　That　had　been　a　lovely　game。　Until　Ramses　found　out　about　it。　Was　there　anything　he　hadn't　accused　her　of　in　the　end？　But　this　one　was　powerfully　amorous！　He　wanted　her。
　
　She　rose　from　the　table。　She　beckoned　and　went　towards　the　doors。
　
　Noise　outside。　The　chariots。　She　did　not　care。　If　they　didn't　frighten　all　these　people；　surely　they　were　something　explainable。　What　she　had　to　do　now　was　find　a　place。　He　was　right　behind　her；　talking　to　her。
　
　〃e；〃　　she　said　in　English。〃　e　with　me。〃
　
　An　alleyway；　she　led　him　back；　stepping　over　the　puddles。　Shadowy　here；　and　quieter。　She　turned　around　and　slipped　her　arms　under　his。　He　bent　to　kiss　her。
　
　〃Well；　not　here；　right　here！〃　　he　asked　nervously。〃　Miss；　I　don't　think　。。。〃
　
　〃I　say　here；〃　　she　whispered；　kissing　him　and　thrusting　her　hand　into　his　clothes。　Hot　his　skin；　what　she　wanted。　Hot　and　sweet　smelling。　And　so　ready　he　was；　the　young　fawn。　She　lifted　the　skirts　of　the　pink　dress。
　
　It　was　over　too　quickly；　she　shuddered　as　she　held　on　to　him；　her　body　clamped　to　him；　her　arms　wrapped　around　his　neck。　She　heard　him　moan　as　he　spilled　into　her。　He　was　still　for　a　moment；　too　still。　The　shudders　were　still　passing　through　her；　but　she　could　not　coax　him　anymore。　He　released　her　and　leaned　back　against　the　wall；　staring；　as　if　he　was　ill。
　
　〃Wait；　please；　give　me　a　moment；〃　　he　said　when　she　started　to　kiss　him　again。
　
　She　studied　him　for　a　few　seconds。　Very　easy。　Snap。　Then　she　reached　up；　took　a　firm　hold　of　his　head　with　both　her　hands；　and　twisted　it　until　his　neck　broke。
　
　He　stared　off；　the　way　the　woman　had　stared　off；　and　the　way　the　man　had　also。　Nothing　in　his　eyes。　Nothing。　Then　he　slipped　down　the　wall；　his　legs　wide　apart。
　
　She　studied　him。　There　was　that　nagging　sense　of　a　mystery　again；　something　to　do　with　her。　Something　to　do　with　what　she'd　just　done。
　
　She　remembered　that　dim　figure　standing　over　her。　Had　it　been　a　dream？〃　Rise；　Cleopatra。　I；　Ramses；　call　you！〃
　
　Ah；　no！　Merely　trying　to　remember　caused　a　searing　pain　in　her　head。　But　the　pain　was　not　physical。　Pain　of　the　soul　it　was。　She　could　hear　women　crying；　women　she　had　known。　Women　weeping。　Saying　her　name　to　her。　Cleopatra。　Then　someone　covered　her　face　with　a　sheer　black　cloth。　Was　the　snake　still　alive？　Strange　it　seemed　to　her　that　the　snake　should　outlive　her。　She　felt　again　the　sting　of　the　fangs　in　her　breast。
　
　She　gave　a　dull　little　groan　as　she　stood　there；　leaning　against　the　wall；　looking　down　at　the　dead　boy。　When　had　all　that　happened？　Where？　Who　had　she　been？
　
　Don't　remember。〃　Modern　times〃　　await。
　
　She　bent　over；　and　slipped　the　money　out　of　the　boy's　coat。　Lots　and　lots　of　money　in　a　little　leather　book。　She　slipped　it　deep　into　her　pocket。　Other　things　here　as　well。　A　card　with　English　writing　and　a　tiny　portrait　of　the　boy；　how　remarkable。　Very　beautiful　work。　And　then　two　small　bits　of　stiff　paper　with　AIDA　written　on　them。　And　OPERA。　They　bore　the　same　tiny　drawing　she　had　seen　in　the〃　magazine〃　　of　an　Egyptian　woman's　head。
　
　Surely　these　were　worth　taking　as　well。　She　threw　away　the　dead　man's　picture。　Slipping　the　little　opera　papers　into　her　pocket　also；　she　sang〃　Celeste　Aida〃　　again　softly　to　herself　as　she　stepped　over　the　dead　boy　and　walked　out　again　into　the　noisy　street。
　
　Be　not　afraid。　Do　as　they　do。　If　they　walk　near　the　metal　pathways；　you　must　do　this　too。
　
　But　no　sooner　had　she　started　off　again　than　there　came　one　of　those　shrill　blasts　from　the　iron　chariots。　She　covered　her　ears；　crying　in　spite　of　herself；　and　when　she　looked　up　another　fine　man　was　standing　in　her　path。
　
　〃Can　I　help　you；　little　lady？　You're　not　lost　down　here；　are　you？　You　mustn't　go　about　down　here　by　the　railway　station　with　that　money　showing　in　your　pocket　like　that。〃
　
　〃Railway　station　。。。〃
　
　〃Don't　you　have　a　handbag？〃
　
　〃No；〃　　she　said　innocently。　She　allowed　him　to　take　her　arm。〃　You　help　me？〃　　she　said；　remembering　the　phrase　Lord　Rutherford　had　used　a　hundred　times　to　her。〃　I　can　trust　you？〃
　
　〃Oh；　of　course！〃　　he　said。　And　he　meant　it。　Another　young　one。　With　smooth；　lovely　skin！
　
　Two　Arabs　left　the　rear　of　Shepheard's；　one　slightly　taller　than　the　other；　both　striding　very　fast。
　
　〃Remember；〃　　Samir　said　under　his　breath；〃　take　very　big　steps。　You　are　a　man。　Men　do　not　take　small　steps；　and　swing　your　arms　naturally。〃
　
　〃I　should　have　（earned　this　trick　a　long　time　ago；〃　　Julie　answered。
　
　The　Great　Mosque　swarmed　with　the　faithful　as　well　as　tourists　who　had　e　to　see　this　wonder；　and　e　to　see　the　sight　of　devout　Moslems　in　worship　on　their　knees。　Julie　and　Samir　moved　lazily　through　the　crush　of　tourists。　Within　minutes　they　had　spotted　the　tall　Arab　with　the　dark　glasses；　in　his　flowing　white　robes。
　
　Samir　placed　a　key　in　Ramses'　hand。　He　whispered　the　address　and　the　directions。　Ramses　should　follow　him。　It　would　not　be　a　long　walk。
　
　He　and　Julie　moved　on；　with　Ramses　a　few　paces　behind。
　
　Ah；　she　liked　this　one；　who　called　himself　an　American　and　spoke　in　such　a　strange　voice。　They　rode　along　together　in　the　horse…drawn〃　taxi〃　　carriage；　among　the〃　motorcars。〃　　And　she　was　no　longer　afraid。
　
　Before　they'd　left　the〃　railway　station〃　　she'd　realized　that　the　big　iron　chariots　pulle