Lord of the Silent - Elizabeth Peters [138]
“So?”
“So, if this is the first attack, he was infected approximately ten days ago, through a mosquito bite. There are malarial areas in the Delta and the Canal Zone, but public health methods have reduced the incidence of the disease. There is only one other area near here,” Nefret concluded, “where malaria is endemic.”
“The oases?”
“That’s right.”
“Kharga,” Ramses muttered. “It’s been more than ten days since Asad was freed.”
“So he’s been back since, on other business. As you pointed out, it’s only a few hours away by train.” She leaned forward, her smooth brow furrowing. “Remember it was he who asked you if you suspected him of setting Asad on your trail. The idea had never occurred to you, or to me, before he brought it up. Guilt?”
“I can’t believe it.”
“I don’t like the idea any better than you do, but we’d be fools to ignore the possibility. He knew you took Wardani’s place last winter; he knew Wardani’s lieutenants had been sent to the oases, and he’s certainly clever enough to realize that an emotional fellow like Asad could be egged on to seek revenge. You said it yourself—he’s after something big, something for which he needs time and privacy. What better way of keeping us in Cairo, out of his way, than to set a dedicated assassin on your trail? Unfortunately for him, we didn’t react as he had hoped. Everything that’s happened since has been designed to get us to leave Luxor.”
“Including the attack on Mother?” Ramses demanded incredulously.
“His henchmen—I love that word—may have misunderstood his instructions.”
“Now look here, Nefret—”
“It was just a thought,” Nefret murmured. “No, darling, there is another alternative. He was telling the truth when he spoke of a rival. Someone else is after his big discovery.”
“So it would appear.” He blew out the lamp before he went to her. “Sayid was bribed to tell her where she might find Sethos. It’s the only possible explanation; Sayid is the last man on earth Sethos would have trusted with that information. They must have tried to trap him before and failed. They hoped her presence would slow him down enough for them to move in.”
“Sayid must know who ‘they’ are, then.”
“Not with everyone trotting about in disguise,” Ramses said disgustedly. “He’s not the keenest of observers. Oh, we’ll have a chat with him, but I expect he’ll claim it was just a jolly little joke on the Sitt.”
“We’re in too deep to pull out now, aren’t we?” she asked in a small voice. He took her in his arms.
“I’m afraid so. Get some sleep, it’s late. We’ll worry about our next move tomorrow.”
The proximity of his wife had the usual effect, but the damnable sense of duty his mother had pounded into him made him say, “Perhaps I ought to stay with him tonight. If he’s feeling fit enough by morning, he’ll try to get away.”
“No, he won’t. I took his clothes.”
• • •
Thirteen
• • •
Emerson was determined to go on working until the last possible moment—leaving all the domestic and travel arrangements to me. That suited me admirably, since he would only have been in the way, so I sent him off to Giza after breakfast, with every intention of joining him once I had completed my tasks.
We had announced our intentions at breakfast, arousing some mild surprise and a great deal of pleasure, especially from Sennia. There had been no question of her attending school that day. Not only was she entitled to a rest after her frightening experiences, but I didn’t want to let her out of my sight—or at least, out of the house. After her cries of delight had subsided and she had been persuaded to resume her chair, I said, “We have a great deal to do if we are to be ready to leave tomorrow evening. You must help Basima pack your clothes and the other things you want to take.”
“My presents.” Her juvenile brow wrinkled. “I don’t have all my Christmas presents. Can we go to the Khan el