Part 36 (1/2)

Michael told her everything he could remember, the things which he knew would interest her, the most personal facts relating to the minute examination of the tomb. It was proving a great puzzle to Egyptologists.

There were many conflicting theories about it--whether the mummy which was found on the floor beside the effigy of the dead queen was the mummified body of the queen or not. It had been sent away to be carefully examined by experts; the report of the examination had not yet been made known. If it was the body of the queen, why had they endeavoured to cut off the golden wrappings which had been rolled round her body? Why had her name been roughly cut out of the inside of the coffin? Why had this queen, who had been buried with such royal magnificence, been ”debarred from all benefits of the earthly prayers of her descendants? Why had she become a nameless outcast, a wanderer unrecognized and unpitied in the vast underworld?” [2]

These questions had not yet been solved. Millicent was excited and interested and Michael enjoyed telling her about it. She was inquisitive and insistent. She wanted to know all about the doings in the camp since her visit to the Valley, and Michael thoroughly enjoyed talking to a sympathetic, intelligent listener. Like all Celts, he had the gift of words.

He was so engrossed that Ha.s.san appeared with their coffee long before he was ready for it or expected it. Noticing his surprise, the man instantly took his cue. He salaamed respectfully in front of Millicent.

”_Ta, Sitt_,” he said, ”will it please you to wait for another hour? The camels are not yet rested, the day is still young.”

Millicent looked at Michael. Time really did not matter to him one sc.r.a.p, yet she dared not hint so. He could just as well look for this phantom treasure a year from now. It was all a mystic's mirage to her, a delightful excuse for a sojourn in the outer desert.

”I'm ready if you are,” she said, addressing Mike. Her woman's tact told her the wisdom of putting no hindrance in his way.

”If the Effendi will graciously consent, it would be wiser to remain here for one hour more,” Ha.s.san said. ”The men are tired, also.”

Michael a.s.sented. If the beasts and the men were tired, they would wait.

The excuse was not unwelcome. The good meal had relaxed his energies.

Ha.s.san thanked him and silently disappeared.

Michael sipped his coffee; it was perfect. He lit a cigarette, after they had turned their chairs to the open front of the shelter. Presently Millicent slipped down from her chair and sat on the sand in front of the tent; there was more air. Soon Michael did the same.

They had lunched well and were friends. A certain delicious apathy stole over Michael, which kept him from referring to any unpleasant topics. He left alone the subject as to why Millicent had trapped him and forced her company upon him. For the time being she was good and gentle, the reason being that she also was relaxed and inert--the result of a good meal after a strenuous morning on camel-back.

Michael had been riding since dawn. The temptation to let things alone was an unconscious one; he submitted to it.

A great expanse of the desert was before them. Millicent lay curled up, like a golden tortoise-sh.e.l.l cat, in the sun; Michael, with his legs doubled up to his chin, rested his head on his knees. He would have been asleep in a few minutes if Millicent had not spoken; suddenly she said:

”Look! Surely that's my holy man, whose reasoning powers are in heaven?

There, look--far away, over there!”

Michael raised himself and looked to where she pointed. There was nothing to indicate any particular spot in the stretch of sand before them.

”I can just see the tattered rags of his staff. I'm sure it's the same man. Can't you see him?”

Michael looked again. ”I can only distinguish something moving in the distance. I can't say what it is, or if it is coming this way.”

”Can't you see a thing like a flag fluttering in the air? I can--there, can't you see him now?”

”Yes, now I can,” Michael said. He got up from his low seat, his energies fully alert, his drowsiness gone. He held himself in check. It was absurd to appear so interested in a desert-fanatic--or an idiot--coming across their path. They were both common enough occurrences in the East.

Millicent watched his face. Why was he so thrilled, why so interested?

Michael's first impulse was to go and meet the man. He was afraid that he would not notice their encampment. He was afraid that he would not come their way. At the same time, he was conscious that if there was any truth in the old man's words, their meeting would come about naturally and not by his seeking. The ”child of G.o.d” would find him out.

They waited for some time and nothing happened. Michael's hopes abated.