The Hippopotamus Pool - Elizabeth Peters [150]
‘There is no proof of that,’ Evelyn said steadily.
‘Well, where the devil else could they have gone but to Gurneh?’ Emerson demanded.
My slight involuntary start would have passed unobserved by anyone else; but Emerson knows me well. His iron control was beginning to crack. Turning to – or rather, on – me, he growled, ‘Well, Peabody? If you have been concealing something from me . . .’
‘I swear to you, Emerson, I just this instant thought of it. I confess it should have occurred to me earlier, but I have been somewhat distracted . . . Now, my dear, don’t shout. I think Ramses may have gone off looking for Riccetti.’
That dreaded name produced the silence I required in order to complete my explanation. Horrified conviction whitened every face.
‘My God,’ Walter whispered. ‘Not Riccetti!’
‘I may be wrong,’ I said. ‘I hope I am wrong. But Ramses did express reservations about Kevin’s ability to pursue the matter competently, and he has always been prone to take matters into his own hands.’
‘It’s all right, Peabody.’ Emerson’s affectionate heart saw the emotion I strove to conceal. His strong brown hand closed over mine. ‘Don’t blame yourself. Wherever he went we must assume that he is being detained against his will, otherwise he would have returned by now or sent a message. I am off to Gurneh. That still seems to me the most likely possibility.’
‘I am going with you.’ Walter rose.
‘If you like. The rest of you remain here. Abdullah has considerable influence with the Gurnawis; his assistance will be invaluable.’
‘What are you going to tell him?’ I asked.
‘What else but the truth? His grandson is missing too.’
‘You won’t distress the poor man even more by mentioning your suspicions of the boy?’
‘Unnecessary,’ Emerson said curtly. ‘Do you suppose he won’t think of that himself?’
‘I am going to Luxor,’ I said.
‘No!’ He grasped me by the shoulders. ‘Peabody, for the love of God, do as I ask for once. If there is no trace of Ramses in Gurneh, we – you and I – will go to Luxor later on and try to follow his trail. You must not venture there alone. If I lose you too . . .’
The prospect of waiting, helpless and inactive, for endless hours, literally sickened me, but Emerson was in the right. We could not scatter in all directions. I nodded dumbly.
‘Thank you, Peabody,’ said Emerson.
‘Be careful, Emerson.’
‘Certainly. I may be the one pursuing a wild goose,’ he added. ‘There is still a chance he will turn up, and if he is being held captive, we can expect to hear from the kidnappers before too long.’
‘You are right,’ I cried, hope rising. ‘I will send someone for you at once if either eventuality occurs.’
‘The kidnappers may wish to prolong our anxiety for hours or days,’ Walter said soberly.
‘No, no,’ Emerson said. ‘They will want to get Ramses off their hands as quickly as possible. Wouldn’t you?’
He ran down the stairs, followed by Walter.
‘How can he joke about such a thing?’ Evelyn demanded.
‘Humour is an excellent method of keeping a tight rein on unproductive displays of emotion,’ I explained. ‘Evelyn, put that parasol down. Your hand will cramp if you hold it so tightly.’
Evelyn relaxed her white-knuckled grip, but retained her hold on the implement. It seemed to comfort her. ‘As usual,’ she said bitterly, ‘we women are left here to wait while the men act. I did not think you would give in so meekly, Amelia.’
‘Do you suppose I would give in unless I knew it was the most sensible course of action? We would only be in Emerson’s way. Walter won’t be of much use either, but at least his Arabic is fairly fluent. Now for pity’s sake sit down – both of you – and let us go over the evidence again. Ramses said nothing to you, Nefret, that might give us a clue as to his intentions?’
Nefret flung herself into a chair. ‘No, confound him. He is always trying to keep me out of things. I don’t believe for a moment, though, that David is still loyal to that vile old man. The Professor won’t find them in Gurneh. They must have gone to Luxor.’
‘How?’ Evelyn asked.
‘I have been wondering about that myself,