The Snake, the Crocodile, and the Dog - Elizabeth Peters [139]
I had one too. “Oh, no,” I gasped.
“What?” Cyrus cried, hardly less agitated than I.
“…a hideous foreboding that we had not seen the last of nocturnal invasions. I felt certain it would be impossible to convince Uncle Walter of the logic of my decision, so I had to carry it out myself, and it was cursed inconvenient having to wait for everyone to go to sleep before I crept out to let… [My voice broke.] … let … the lion… out of…”
“By the Almighty!” Cyrus exclaimed. “For pity’s sake, go on, Amelia, I can’t stand the suspense!”
“… its cage, and then waking up at dawn to put it back before some other member of the household encountered it. Nefret very kindly assisted me…”
Again emotion overcame me. “Another one,” I said hollowly. “I thought one was bad enough, and now… Forgive me, Cyrus. I will endeavor not to break down again.
“… assisted me on two occasions; she said I was a growing boy and needed my rest. I hardly need say, Mama and Papa, that I took this without resentment, in the spirit in which it was meant.
“Naturally I had shut up the dogs and warned Bob and Jerry to lock themselves into the lodge while the lion was out. They agreed this was a sensible procedure.
“Uncle Walter has insulted me mortally. His remarks on the subject of the lion were uncalled for, unfair, and extremely rude, particularly in view of the fact that my foresight prevented—or helped to prevent, at least—an incident that might have proved disastrous.
“Having anticipated such an occurrence, I was the first to wake when the piercing screams of a female in the last extremity of terror, mingled with the growls of a large feline, rent the night! I had been sleeping in my clothes, of course, in order to be fully prepared and ready for action; it was the work of a moment to snatch up the weapon I had put at hand (a poker from the fireplace) and rush down the stairs.
“The moon cast a frosty light upon the lawn (which was, in fact, covered with frost, the night being cold). The forms of the great jungle beast and its prey stood out in sharp outline. Hastening toward the group, poker at the ready, I beheld a somewhat disconcerting sight. There was just enough light for me to make out the features of the individual lying supine between the lion’s paws. With a start of chagrin, I recognized her as Ellis, Aunt Evelyn’s new maid.
“In fact, the lion would probably not have harmed her. To be sure, it was growling, but the sound held a note of inquiry rather than ferocity. I had the distinct impression it did not know what to do next. Ellis had swooned, which was no doubt a sensible move on her part.
“While I was thinking how best to proceed, I saw Nefret running toward me, her little bare feet noiseless on the grass. Her unbound hair streamed out behind her, silver-gold in the pale light; her light nightdress billowed about her slender limbs. She was a vision of… [Something had been scratched out here. Ramses went on.]… of womanly efficiency. Her knife was in her hand.
“With her assistance I persuaded the lion to abandon his new toy. Grumbling under his breath he ambled off, with Nefref’s fingers twisted affectionately in his mane. The literary allusions that occurred to me will doubtless occur to you, Mama, as well, so I will not take up paper describing them.
“I set to work restoring Ellis to consciousness, but I had not had time to slap her more than once before I heard a considerable racket coming from the house. I had been expecting some reaction from that quarter; I was surprised it had not occurred before, but I suppose the actions I have described had taken only a few minutes. Astonishing, is it not, how quickly time passes when one is engaged in interesting activities?
“The sounds I heard suggested to me something rather more serious than the indignation of Uncle Walter at being awakened. These cries were highpitched—female, I deduced. So abandoning