Tomb of the Golden Bird - Elizabeth Peters [44]
I was unable to extract any additional information out of Sethos, even when I showed him the little list I had made. “You have absolutely no idea who is involved in this shadowy organization of yours?”
Smiling his irritating smile, he read the list aloud. “The French, the Zionists, the anti-Zionists, Ibn Saud, Feisal of Iraq, the British Secret Service, Sharif Hussein, Gertrude…Gertrude Bell? Come now, Amelia! I know you and she don’t get on, but—”
“I do not approve of women who claim the privileges of men for themselves but deny them to other women. She is a confirmed antifeminist with a monumental ego. She fancies herself a king-maker. Such people consider that the end justifies the means.”
“It could be any of them, or all of them, or none of them,” Sethos said, tacitly accepting my judgment of Miss Bell.
“Not a very comforting conclusion, I must say.”
“Did you discuss your list with Ramses?”
“I am thoroughly conversant with the present political situation,” I replied. I never lie unless it is absolutely necessary. “It is even more volatile than your initial summary suggested. Since Ibn Saud defeated his chief rival, the Rashid, at Hayil—”
“I know, I know,” Sethos said somewhat abstractedly.
“Hayil is where you and Margaret first met, isn’t it? Where is she now?”
Sethos started. “You do have an unnerving habit of jumping from one subject to another,” he complained. “I don’t know where she is. What would you do with the address if you had it? You surely didn’t intend to inform her I was with you, or issue an urgent summons to Luxor. You might as well stand in the suk and shout the news aloud.”
“Would she not wish to be by your side when danger threatened?” I asked.
“My dear Amelia, you are such a romantic. I’ll tell you what will fetch her, though. If that tomb of Carter’s turns out to be big news, she’ll be first on the spot.”
He was playing the same trick on me, but I decided not to challenge the change of subject. “Who told you about the tomb? Ramses?”
“Ramses is avoiding me these days. Hadn’t you noticed? No, it was Selim. He and Daoud believe the omens are propitious.”
“The golden bird,” I said with a sniff. “It is only Howard’s canary.”
“That was Daoud. Selim isn’t superstitious. From his description I’d say Carter may have come upon something…interesting.” He moved restlessly. “I’d love to have a look for myself. When can I get up?”
“Not until Emerson arrives.”
“You aren’t afraid I’ll bolt, are you?”
“You aren’t fool enough to try that. We must find a new identity for you and work out some explanation for your presence. The dying beggar won’t serve much longer.”
“I have a few ideas,” Sethos said pensively.
“I’m sure you do. Try to control your extravagant imagination. Emerson will be here tomorrow and then we will have a council of war.”
“I am afire with anticipation at the prospect.”
Emerson had hired the two new staff members, and what is more, he had brought them with him. We were all at home that morning; Nefret had patients and Ramses was still struggling with Sethos’s mystery document. I sent Fatima to summon Ramses, and greeted the newcomers.
“As I told you, Peabody, they suit our requirements admirably,” said Emerson. “I trust their rooms are ready?”
“As I told you, Emerson, they will be staying with Cyrus,” I replied. My temper was firmly under control. I did not even mention the fact that Emerson had neglected to tell me they were coming with him. “I will notify Katherine at