The Hippopotamus Pool - Elizabeth Peters [126]
‘Of course you cannot descend a ladder while you are carrying it! Go back the way you came or follow the path farther to the north and east, where the slope is not so steep.’
‘Really,’ he added, after he had joined me on the platform outside the tomb entrance, ‘so-called higher education in England has deteriorated even further than I had believed. Can you imagine a graduate of Oxford University making such an idiotic remark?’
‘It will be a difficult trip in the dark, whichever way he goes,’ I said.
‘He ought to know the paths, he was here last season with Northampton, wasn’t he? Anyhow,’ Emerson went on, ‘you do not suppose I would leave you and Nefret alone with him.’
‘Hardly alone, Emerson. Really, you . . . Oh, never mind. Did they do any damage? For I presume you have been in the tomb.’
‘Yes.’
Night had fallen. There is almost no twilight in Egypt, only a sudden transformation from daylight to dark. Emerson removed the candle from its rocky setting. The flame illuminated his grave, unsmiling countenance.
‘They meant to break into the burial chamber tonight, Peabody. And they might have done it, too, if I had not startled them into flight.’
‘Yet they chose to face all our men instead of you.’ I squeezed his arm affectionately.
‘They may have believed you were with me,’ Emerson said with a chuckle. ‘You and your parasol.’ But there was no humour in his voice when he continued. ‘The situation is more serious than I allowed myself to admit, Peabody. An attempt like this one, in broad daylight and in force, is uncharacteristic of the Gurnawis. Someone knows we are now within striking distance of the burial chamber, and he means to get there before we do. The next attempt may be more violent; one of the men, or one of us, could be seriously injured. It is against all my principles, but I see no help for it. We’ll have to go straight for the sarcophagus and the queen’s mummy.’
XI
I Have Known Several Villains Who Were Perfect Gentlemen
EMERSON’S announcement, made that evening to our assembled family, aroused universal approbation. His arguments were irrefutable. The contents of the burial chamber, whatever they might be, must be removed to safekeeping before they inspired another attack on us or our loyal men.
We resembled a little group of conspirators as we drew close together round the table on the upper deck, the light of the single lamp casting eerie shadows across our tense faces. Emerson’s first statement, even before he announced his intention, had been a warning that our plans must be kept secret.
‘As far as is possible, at any rate,’ he added grudgingly. ‘If I had my way I would allow no one but ourselves and the men in that tomb. I don’t see how I can keep Sir Edward out, though.’
‘Do you suspect him?’ Evelyn asked.
‘No.’ Emerson’s eyeballs gleamed as he rolled them in my direction. I contented myself with a sniff, and Emerson went on, ‘I have no reason to suppose he is anything but what he claims to be, and if I let him go now, without a valid excuse, it would arouse suspicion and justifiable resentment. I shall caution him as I do you not to breathe a word of what we are doing to an outsider. That includes Vandergelt, Amelia. And your friend O’Connell.’
‘Fortunately Kevin is presently suffering from a touch of stomach trouble, so we won’t have to worry about him for a while. But Cyrus –’
‘No one!’ Emerson’s fist came down on the table. We all jumped and I caught the lamp as it tottered. ‘It may be that only the local talent is involved, but today’s attempt was uncharacteristically bold. It suggests there is some unknown power directing operations.’
‘Riccetti,’ I said.
‘Quite possibly. If he has informants and allies among the villagers, as he undoubtedly does, secrecy is essential.’
‘Am I to take it,’ said Ramses, ‘that David is one of those included in your prohibition?’
Emerson is not, by nature, an unjust man. He hesitated