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！
When we returned home I had several more nice ostraca for Ramses。
FROM MANUSCRIPT H
The windows of their bedroom faced the stables； but that building was some distance away and they would not have heard the soft noises if they had not been awake。 They had been late getting to bed； since Ramses had to be pried away from his 〃nice ostraca。〃 Once Nefret had got his attention she had no difficulty holding it； but it was he who heard the sounds； not she。 Responding to the slow movements of his lips and hands； she was jarred out of her state of drowsy pleasure when he suddenly jumped up and went to the window。
〃Hell and damnation；〃 she began。
〃Sssh。 It's Jumana。 She's leading one of the horses。〃
He started to climb out the window。 〃Put on some clothes；〃 Nefret said； rising in her turn and fumbling in the dark for various discarded garments。
〃Well； then； damn it； find … I don't care what … something。 I can't let her get too far ahead。〃
He snatched the trousers from her hand and put them on； and then he was gone； over the sill and into the darkness。 Nefret pulled a caftan over her head and found a pair of boots that turned out to be hers。 She would need them； her feet were not as hardened as his。 She caught him up as he was leading Risha； unsaddled and unbridled； out of the stable。
〃Wait for me；〃 she gasped。
〃No time。〃 He vaulted onto Risha's back； and in spite of her excitement and worry； the sheer beauty of the movement stopped her breath。 She could do it sometimes； but never like that； never in a single seemingly effortless flow of muscle and sinew。 He turned Risha with a touch of his knee and the stallion responded instantly； breaking into a canter。 They looked like figures from the Parthenon frieze； the slender strength of the rider at one with his mount。
〃Damn；〃 said Nefret under her breath。 She'd lost an additional few seconds gaping after him like a lovestruck girl。 It was his fault for being so bloody beautiful on horseback。
And if she couldn't catch him up she wouldn't be there to help if； as seemed likely； Jumana was on her way to meet Jamil。 What other reason could she have for stealing out at this hour of the night？
Moonlight stretched an inquiring head over the door of her stall； she was accustomed to go where Risha went； and wondered what was happening at this strange hour。 Nefret led her out of the stall。
No acrobatics for her tonight； not in a long robe with nothing under it。 She used the mounting block； grimacing as her bare thighs gripped Moonlight's hide； and tucking part of the robe under her。
Moonlight was too adult and well…behaved to prance with anticipation； but as soon as Nefret gave her the word she was off。 Hands twisted in the mare's mane； Nefret let her have her head； knowing she would follow her sire。
The road was in fair enough condition the first part of the way； rising and falling and curving round the hills that rose out of the plain。 She was nearing the edge of the cultivation； and the ruined temples that fringed it； before she saw Risha。 Ramses had dismounted and was waiting for her。 He greeted her with a grin。
〃I hate to think what Mother would say about that ensemble； but I rather like the effect of the boots and the bare …〃
〃Where is Jumana？〃
〃Gone ahead； on foot。〃 He gestured； and she saw another horse； the mare that had been assigned to Jumana。 〃We'd better leave the horses here； too。〃
〃Thank you for waiting for me。〃
〃If I hadn't； you'd have gone thundering by in hot pursuit；〃 said her husband； lifting her off Moonlight and politely adjusting her skirts。 〃She doesn't seem to be aware that she is being followed； and I'd like to keep it that way。〃
〃What are you going to do？〃
〃Catch him and put an end to this nonsense once and for all so we can get on with our work。 Let's see if we can get close enough to overhear their conversation。〃
The walls of the Rameseum raised shadowy outlines ahead and to their right。 The temple was half ruined； but it was in better condition than the tumbled piles of stone and mud brick stretching off to the north … all that remained of the once…proud mortuary temples of other pharaohs。 West of Ramses's temple the ground was broken by extensive brickwork； probably the former storage areas of the temple。
〃How are we going to find them in this maze？〃 Nefret breathed； trying to step lightly。
〃Sssh。〃 Ramses stopped and listened； his head raised。 He must have heard something； for he took her arm and led her on； toward one of the piles of rubble。 They had almost reached it before Nefret heard the voices。
〃You're late；〃 Jumana whispered。 〃Are you well？〃
〃Did you bring the money？〃
〃All I could。 It isn't much。〃
〃It is not enough。 I need more。 Get it from the Inglizi and bring it to me tomorrow night。〃
〃Steal from them？ No； I will not do that。 Jamil； the Father of Curses has said he will help you。 Go to him； tell him you …〃
〃What will the Father of Curses do for me … make me a basket carrier？ Why are they at Deir el Medina？〃
〃Excavating … what do you suppose？ They trust me。 They are teaching me what I want to know。〃
〃But they were in the Cemetery of the Monkeys。 I thought they meant to work there。〃
〃You have been spying on them！〃
〃Watching them；〃 Jamil corrected。 〃What is wrong with that？〃
〃Nothing 。 。 。〃 Her voice trailed off。 〃Jamil； they found the body of Abdul Hassan in the tomb。 Did you 。 。 。 It was not you who killed him； was it？〃
〃It was an accident。 He fell。〃 Jumana's gasp was loud enough to reach Nefret's ears； and Jamil realized he had made a mistake。 His voice became soft and caressing。 〃Jumana； I didn't mean it when I threatened to kill the Brother of Demons。 I was frightened and hungry and lonely。 I mean no harm to anyone！ Dear sister … I know where there is another tomb。 It is in the Gabbanat el…Qirud。 Do you see how I trust you？ All I need is enough money to keep me for a while； until I can sell some of the small objects from the tomb。 There is no crime in that。 The tombs do not belong to the Inglizi； they belong to us。〃
Ramses put his mouth to Nefret's ear。 〃I'm going round the back。 I doubt he's armed； but if he is； don't get in his way。〃
He squeezed her shoulder and slid away。 A jackal howled in the hills； and the village dogs answered it。 Cautiously Nefret shifted one foot and then the other。 She could see them now； dark shapes near one of the standing sections of wall。 Jamil skulked in the shadow； he was wearing a robe of some muted color； dark blue or brown； but his headcloth showed palely against the mud brick。 Jumana's small form was faintly lit by starlight。 She was still arguing with him； trying to convince him to turn himself in； but she was wavering。 Jamil no longer made demands； he pleaded and wheedled。 He put his arm round her； and she embraced him。
The ground was a bewildering jumble of stone and masonry； of shadow and pallid light； but Nefret could see a path of sorts； winding its narrow and tortuous way from the opening where she stood toward the wall。 It was the quickest and easiest way out of the area； but surely not the only one。
〃e again tomorrow night；〃 Jamil begged。 〃Even if you cannot bring the money； just so I ca