anner.themummy-第82节

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　They　stood　amid　the　crowds　of　the　lobby；　lost　in　each　other's　gaze。
　
　〃Like　a　ghost？〃　　she　suggested。〃　A　visitant　from　another　realm？〃
　
　〃No；　you're　much　too　。。。　too　real　for　that！〃　　He　laughed　softly。〃　You're　altogether　vivid　and　warm！〃
　
　They　crossed　the　veranda　together。　His　car　was　waiting；　just　as　he'd　said　it　would　be。　A　long　black　saloon；　he'd　called　it；　with　deep　velvet　seats　and　a　roof。　They　would　still　feel　the　wind　through　the　windows。
　
　〃Wait；　let　me　just　leave　word　at　the　desk　for　my　father；　that　we'll　see　him　tonight。〃
　
　〃I　can　do　that　for　you；　my　lord；〃　　said　the　servant　who　held　the　door　for　them。
　
　〃Oh；　thank　you；　I　do　appreciate　it；〃　　Alex　said　politely；　that　same　generosity　evinced　for　the　lowest　underling。　As　he　gave　the　man　a　small　gratuity；　he　looked　him　directly　in　the　eye。〃　Tonight；　I　shall　see　him　at　the　opera…if　you　please。〃
　
　She　admired　the　subtle　grace　with　which　he　did　the　smallest　things。　She　took　his　arm　as　they　went　down　the　steps。
　
　〃And　tell　me；〃　　she　said　as　he　helped　her　into　the　front　seat；〃　about　this　Julie　Stratford。　What　is　a　modem　woman？〃
　
　Ramsey　was　still　arguing　as　the　car　pulled　into　the　drive　before　Shepheard's。
　
　〃We　will　do　everything　society　expects　of　us；〃　　Elliott　said。〃　You　have　the　rest　of　eternity　to　search　for　your　lost　Queen。〃
　
　〃But　what　puzzles　me　is　this；〃　　Ramsey　insisted。　He　opened　the　door　carelessly；　almost　wrenching　one　of　the　hinges。〃　If　her　cousin　is　wanted　for　high　crimes；　how　can　Julie　dance　at　a　ball　as　if　this　thing　is　not　happening？〃
　
　〃Under　English　law；　my　friend；　a　man　is　innocent　until　proved　guilty；〃　　Elliott　explained；　accepting　Ramsey's　helping　hand。〃　And　publicly　we　presume　Henry　is　innocent；　and　we　know　nothing　of　these　atrocities；　so　in　private　we　have　done　our　duty　as　citizens　of　the　Crown。〃
　
　〃Yes；　you　definitely　should　have　been　an　adviser　to　a　King；〃　　Ramsey　said。
　
　〃Good　Lord；　look　at　that。〃
　
　〃What？〃
　
　〃Just　my　son　driving　off　with　a　woman。　At　a　time　like　this！〃
　
　〃Ah；　but　perhaps　he　is　doing　what　society　expects　of　him！〃　　Ramsey　said　contemptuously；　leading　the　way　up　the　steps。
　
　〃Lord　Rutterford；　excuse　me…your　son　said　to　tell　you　that　he　would　see　you　tonight；　at　the　opera。〃
　
　〃Thank　you；〃　　Elliott　said；　with　a　short　ironic　laugh。
　
　Elliott　wanted　only　to　sleep　as　he　entered　the　sitting　room　of　his　suite。　Some　drunk　he　was　going　to　be；　he　was　already　thoroughly　bored　with　being　inebriated。　He　wanted　a　clear　head；　though　he　understood　the　dangers。
　
　Ramsey　helped　him　to　a　chair。
　
　He　suddenly　realized　that　they　were　alone。　Samir　had　gone　on　to　his　own　room；　and　Walter　for　the　moment　was　nowhere　about。
　
　Elliott　sat　there；　trying　to　collect　his　strength。
　
　〃And　what　do　you　do　now；　my　lord？〃　　Ramsey　asked。　He　stood　in　the　center　of　the　room；　studying　Elliott。〃　You　go　back　home　to　England　after　your　precious　opera　ball；　as　if　none　of　this　ever　happened？〃
　
　〃Your　secret's　safe。　It　always　was。　No　one　would　believe　what　I've　seen。　And　I　wish　only　to　forget　it；　though　I　never　will。〃
　
　〃And　the　lust　for　immortality　has　burnt　itself　out？〃
　
　Elliott　thought　for　a　moment。　Then　he　answered　in　unhurried　fashion；　rather　relieved　himself　at　the　resignation　in　his　voice。
　
　〃Perhaps　in　death；　I'll　find　what　I　seek；　rather　than　what　I　deserve。　There's　always　the　chance　of　that。〃　　He　smiled　up　at　Ramsey；　who　appeared　pletely　surprised　by　the　response。〃　Now　and　then；〃　　Elliott　continued；〃　I　picture　heaven　as　a　vast　library；　with　unlimited　volumes　to　read。　And　paintings　and　statues　to　examine　galore。　I　picture　it　as　a　great　doorway　to　learning。　Do　you　think　the　hereafter　could　be　like　that？　Rather　than　one　great　dull　answer　to　all　our　questions？〃
　
　Ramsey　gave　him　a　sad　wondering　smile。
　
　〃A　heaven　of　man…made　things。　Like　our　ancient　Egyptian　heaven。〃
　
　〃Yes；　I　suppose　so。　A　great　museum。　And　a　failure　of　the　imagination。〃
　
　〃I　think　not。〃
　
　〃Oh；　there　are　so　many　things　I　wanted　to　discuss　with　you；　so　much　I　wanted　to　know。〃
　
　Ramsey　didn't　answer　him。　The　man　just　stood　there；　looking　at　him；　and　Elliott　had　the　weirdest　sense　of　being　listened　to；　studied。　It　made　him　aware　of　how　inattentive　most　human　beings　were　in　general。
　
　〃But　it's　too　late　for　all　that。〃　　Elliott　sighed。〃　My　son　Alex　is　the　only　immortality　that　matters　to　me　now。〃
　
　〃You're　a　wise　man。　I　knew　that　when　I　first　looked　into　your　eyes。　And　by　the　way；　you　are　bad　at　treachery。　You　told　me　where　you　were　keeping　Cleopatra　when　you　told　me　she'd　slain　Henry　and　his　mistress。　It　had　to　have　been　the　belly　dancer's　house。　I　played　out　your　game　with　you。　I　wanted　to　see　how　far　you'd　go　with　it。　But　you　gave　yourself　away。　You　are　not　so　good　at　such　things。〃
　
　〃Well；　my　brief　career　at　them　is　over。　Unless　you　want　me　to　remain　here　when　the　children　go　home。　But　I　don't　see　how　a　crippled；　prematurely　old　man　can　help　you。　Do　you？
　
　Ramsey　seemed　perplexed。〃　Why　weren't　you　afraid　of　her　when　you　saw　her　in　the　museum？〃　　he　asked。
　
　〃I　was　afraid　of　her。　I　was　horrified。〃
　
　〃But　you　sheltered　her。　It　couldn't　have　been　merely　for　your　own　ends。〃
　
　〃Ends？　No。　I　don't　think　so。　I　found　her　irresistible；　as　I　found　you　irresistible。　It　was　the　mystery。　I　wanted　to　sit…Move　into　it。　Besides　。。。〃
　
　〃Yes。〃
　
　〃She　was　。。。　a　living　thing。　A　being　in　pain。〃
　
　Ramsey　thought　about　this　for　a　moment。
　
　〃You　will　persuade　Julie　to　go　back　to　London…until　this　is　over；〃　　Elliott　asked。
　
　〃Yes；　I'll　do　that；〃　　Ramsey　said。
　
　He　went　out　quietly；　closing　the　door　behind　him。
　
　They　walked　through　the　City　of　the　Dead；〃　the　place　of　the　exalted　ones；〃　　as　they　said　in　Arabic。　Where　the　Maml1'6　Sultans　had　built　their　mausoleums；　they　had　seen　the　fortes　of　Babylon；　they　had　wandered　the　bazaars；　now　the　he〃　l　°f　me　afternoon　wore　on　Alex；　and　her　soul　was　chastened　and　shocked　by　the　things　she'd　discovered；　the　long　thread　of　history　having　connected　the　centuries　for　her　from　this　radiant　afternoon　to　the　time　she'd　been　alive。
　
　She　wanted　to　see　no　more　of　the　ancient　ruins。　She　wanted　only　to　be　with　him。
　
　〃I　like　you；　young　lord；〃　　she　said　to　him。〃　You　fort　me…You　make　me　forget　my　pain。　And　the　scores　I　must　settle。〃
　
　〃But　what　do　you　mean；　my　darling？〃
　
　She　was　overe　again　by　that　sense　of　his　fragile　mortal　man。　She　laid　her　fingers　on　his　neck。　The　memories　rose；　threatening　inundation；　all　too　similar　to　the　black　waves　from　which　she'd　risen；　as　if　death　were　water。
　
　Was　it　different　for　each　being？　Had　Antony　gone　down　in　black　waves？　Nothing　separated　her　from　that　moment　if　she　wanted　to　seize　it；　to　see　Ramses　turn　his　back　again　and　refuse　to　give　Antony　the　elixir；　to　see　herself　on　her　knees；　begging。〃　Don't　let　him　die。〃
　
　〃So　fragile；　all　of　you　。。。〃　　she　whispered。
　
　〃I　don't　understand；　dearest。〃
　
　And　so　I　'm　to　be　alone；　am　I？　In　this　wilderness　of　those　who　can　die！　Oh；　Ramses；　I　curse　you！　Yet　when　she　saw　the　ancient　bedchamber　again；　when　she　saw　the　man　dying　on　the　couch；　and　the　other；　immortal；　turning　his　back　on　her；　she　saw　something　she　had　not　seen　in　those　tragic　moments。　She　saw　that　both　were　human；　she　saw　the　grief　in　Ramses'　eyes。
　
　Later；　when　she'd　lain　as　if　dead　herself；　refusing　to　move　or　speak；　after　they'd　buried　Antony；　Ramses　had　said　to　her：〃　You　were　the　finest　of　them　all。　You　were　the　one。　You　had　the　courage　of　a　man　and　the　heart　of　a　woman。　You　had　the　wits　of　a　King　and　a　Queen's　cunning。　You　were　the　finest。　I　thought　your　lovers　would　be　a　school　for　you；　not　your　ruin。〃
　
　What　would　she　say　now　if　she　could　revisit　that　chamber？　I　know。　I　understand？　Yet　the　bitterness　welled　in　her；　the　dark　uncontrollable　hatred　when　she　looked　at　young　Lord　Summer…field　walking　beside　her；　this　fair　and　fragile　mortal　boy…man。
　
　〃Dearest；　can　you　confide　in　me？　I've　only　known　you　for　a　short　while；　but　I　。。。〃
　
　〃What　is　it　you　want　to　say；　Alex？〃
　
　〃It　sounds　so　foolish。〃
　
　〃Tell　me。〃
　
　〃That　I　love　you。〃
　
　She　lifted　her　hand　to　his　cheek；　touched　it　tenderly　with　her　knuckles。
　
　〃But　who　are　you？　Where　did　you　e　from？〃　　he　whispered。　He　took　her　hand　and　kissed　it；　his　thumbs　rubbing　her　palm。　A　faint　ripple　of　passion　softened　her　all　over；　made　the　heat　throb　in　her　breasts。
　
　〃I'll　never　hurt　you；　Lord　Alex。〃
　
　〃Your　Highness；　tell　me　your　name。〃
　
　〃Make　a　name　for　me；　Lord　Alex。　Call　me　what　you　will；　if　you　do　not　believe　the　name　I　gave　you。〃
　
　Troubled；　his　dark　brown　eyes。　If　he　bent　to　kiss　her；　she　would　pull　him　down　here　on　the　stones。　Make　love　to　him　till　he　was　spent　again。
　
　〃Regina；〃　　he　whispered。〃　My　Queen。〃
　
　So　Julie　Stratford　had　left　him；　had　she？　The　modern　woman　who　went　everywhere　on　her　own　and　did　as　she　pleased。　But　then　it　had　been　a　great　King　who　had　seduced　her。　And　now　Alex　had　his　Queen。
　
　She　saw　Antony　again；　dead　on　the　couch。　Your　Majesty；　we　should　take　him　away　now。
　
　Ramses　had　turned　to　her　and　whispered；〃　e　with　me！〃
　
　Lord　Summerfield　st