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！
rasol。
Emerson's lips writhed； but the light of forlorn hope lingered in his eyes。 〃Please。 Tell me it isn't 。 。 。〃
I took hold of the handle and gave it a twist and a pull。 〃My sword parasol； yes。 The one you were kind enough to give me。〃
Emerson reached for the bottle。
We did not see the children again that evening。 When they joined us for breakfast； I was pleased to observe that Ramses looked more rested。 He was wearing the uniform shirt and trousers； but with the shirt open and his feet bare； the hated military look was diminished。 He was in full agreement with my decision that we might as well abandon our disguises。
〃I didn't suppose Mother would stand being confined to the harem for long；〃 he remarked； selecting a piece of fruit from the tray。
〃It is too inconvenient；〃 I explained。 〃We were running out of excuses for admitting strange men to our quarters。 I haven't spoken with Selim for days； and in my opinion a council of war is imperative。 We must plan our next move。〃
〃Next move？〃 Ramses's eyebrows tilted up at the corners。 〃Surely that's obvious。 There's no point in your staying on here。〃
The pronoun did not escape me； but I said only； 〃That is one of the things we must discuss。 Let us ask Selim to join us。 Perhaps he can find you something else to wear； Ramses。 I brought a change of clothing for us； but not for you。〃
〃Oh； I don't know；〃 Nefret drawled。 〃I like those short trousers。 You ought to wear them all the time。 Father； too。〃
Emerson does have well…shaped lower limbs； but he is rather shy about it。 He coughed and looked away。 Ramses； less self…conscious than his father； laughed and said； 〃I ought to return them to their owner； along with the rest of his things。 Never mind that now； let's have Selim up。〃
Selim was delighted to accept the invitation。 Settling himself fortably on a cushion； he looked round with an air of approval。 〃This is good。 We have not been able to talk。 Now tell me everything。 What happened in Gaza； Ramses？〃
He had known of Ramses's safe return … had； in fact； been the first to know； for he had recognized him at once。 Ramses had not lingered to chat； being anxious to reassure us； so he had to go over the whole business again for Selim。
〃Ah；〃 said that young man interestedly。 〃Is she beautiful？〃
Everyone laughed； and Ramses repeated what Sahin had said about multiple wives。
〃I have not found it so；〃 said Selim； looking a trifle smug。 〃She is a brave girl； to take the risk of freeing you。 I hope she does not suffer for it。〃
〃So do I；〃 Ramses said briefly。
I knew then what I had only suspected before。 He meant to go back to Gaza。 His mission had not been acplished； and the fate of that girl would haunt him until he made sure she was safe。
Selim was unable to add anything to our own deductions； such as they were； but he was of the opinion that Ismail Pasha must be Sethos。 〃So what shall we do now？〃 he inquired。
〃We will wait a day or two for the news of our presence to spread；〃 replied Emerson。 〃If Sethos has not municated with us by then； we'll go in after him。〃
〃Father！〃 Ramses exclaimed。
〃Now； my boy； don't waste your breath。 You mean to go； don't deny it。 If my … er … if he is being held against his will； he must be freed。 If he has turned traitor … which；〃 Emerson said grimly； 〃is seeming more and more likely … he must be taken prisoner by us。〃
〃Why do you consider it more likely？〃 I demanded hotly。 〃You said before …〃
〃He couldn't have managed Ramses's escape if he were a closely guarded prisoner；〃 Emerson replied； with equal heat。 〃Don't try to defend him； Peabody； or I will begin to wonder whether you have got over your …〃
〃Please； Emerson！〃
〃Father has the right idea。〃 Nefret's quiet voice reminded both of us that we were in danger of getting off the subject。 〃Traitor or captive； we must get him out of Gaza。〃
Ramses turned appalled eyes on her。 〃What do you mean； we？ I admit I didn't succeed； but that was because Chetwode mucked things up。 One person has a better chance than three 。 。 。 four 。 。 。 five 。 。 。 Good God； Father； you can't …〃
〃I believe I can；〃 said Emerson。 〃More safely than you； Ramses。 Do you suppose Sahin won't have everyone in Gaza looking for a man of your description？〃
〃But how …〃
Emerson held up one hand； demanding silence； and reached with the other into his pocket。 〃I have another set of papers；〃 he announced proudly。
They were a good deal more impressive than the first set … spattered with blobs of crimson sealing wax； framed in ornate curlicues； and with quite a lot of gilt。 The script was equally ornamental； it looked like Arabic； but I could make nothing of it。 I handed the papers to Ramses。
〃Turkish；〃 he muttered。 〃Father； do you have any idea what this says？〃
〃No；〃 said Emerson placidly。 〃Is there more coffee？〃
〃But … but …〃 Ramses ran one hand through his tumbled curls and brandished the papers in front of Emerson's nose。 〃Were you planning to use these to get into Gaza？ For all you knew； it might be a denunciation of you； or … or somebody's laundry list！〃
〃Is it？〃 Emerson inquired。
Nefret served him and Ramses with fresh cups of the Turkish coffee she brewed so expertly； and Ramses inspected the papers again。
〃No；〃 he admitted。 〃They appear to be in order … so far as I can tell。 I've never been privileged to see a direct order from the Sublime Porte； signed by the sultan himself。〃
〃Few have；〃 said Emerson； and sipped his coffee。 〃Ah … excellent。 Thank you； Nefret。 I didn't suppose el…Gharbi would play me false； but the very look of those documents is enough to overawe most people； especially since literacy is …〃
〃El…Gharbi；〃 Ramses broke in。 〃I might have known。 What did you promise him in return？〃
〃My goodwill；〃 said Emerson； with an evil smile。
Ramses was not quite himself； and the effect of the stunning surprises his father had administered showed on his face； together with evidence of another； equally strong emotion。 〃So；〃 he said； trying without plete success to control his voice； 〃if I had not e back you would have marched up to the Turkish lines with a set of papers you couldn't read and a broken arm and …〃
〃And your mother；〃 said Emerson。
He was； I believe； attempting to lighten the emotional atmosphere with a touch of humor。 His ment did not have that effect。 Ramses went pale； and I said firmly； 〃Quite right。 All for one and one for all … that is our motto； is it not？ You would have taken equal or greater risks for any of us； Ramses。 Now that that is settled； let us get back to business。 Are those papers adequate for the purpose your father had in mind？〃
〃Is my name on them？〃 Selim demanded。
〃No one else's name is on them；〃 Emerson replied。 〃If an honorable sheikh； a friend of the sultan's； decides to take his servants …〃
〃And wives；〃 I said。
〃Bah；〃 said Emerson。 〃He can take anyone he likes； I suppose。 Do be quiet； all of you。 I haven't decided yet how to go about this。 It might be better to make my way through the lines under cover of darkness。〃
〃With one arm in a cast；〃 said Ramses under his breath。
Emerson inspected the cast irritably。 〃I don't see why I need it。 My arm itches like fury。 Nefret …〃