Part 39 (1/2)

Ramses nodded. ”All right.”

”I'll tell Reis Ha.s.san,” Walter said happily, and trotted off.

”All right,” Ramses repeated.

My heart ached for him. ”What about a nice whiskey and soda?” I suggested.

”If you would like one, Mother.”

I was afraid I would have to administer another therapeutic smack on the face. However, Ramses is a true son of his father (and me). He pa.s.sed his hand over his mouth, gave himself a little shake, and managed a smile.

Everyone joined us except Selim, who could not be extracted from his engines. Reis Ha.s.san got us turned round in a series of maneuvers that inspired several breathtaking close calls and a lot of bad language from the persons thus inconvenienced. The white sail of a felucca pa.s.sed so close it filled the entire window aperture. But finally we were headed south again.

It was late in the afternoon and the sun was setting when Bertie came into the saloon to report that someone was hailing us. ”Looks like a local fis.h.i.+ng boat.”

”Probably hope to sell us something,” Cyrus grumbled.

”We had better see what they want,” I said. ”They may have news.”

We followed Bertie onto the deck. The sun was low in the west. A flotilla of small boats raced toward us, their white sails flapping like the wings of a flock of birds. The occupants were all shouting at once. It was impossible to make out words.

”Good heavens,” I said. ”It is a miniature armada-every boat in that small village, by the looks of it. Tell Selim to stop the engines. They must have news for us.”

In my understandable agitation I caught the arm of Ramses, who stood next to me. He shook me off with absentminded force and raised both hands to s.h.i.+eld his eyes against the glare of the sunset. Then his rigid body sagged forward across the rail and his breath came out in a long, shuddering sigh.

My vision is not the equal of his, but I believe I was the next to see her, standing in the nearest boat, supported by one of the men. The coronet of golden hair was unmistakable, but so unbelievable and so welcome was the sight I refused to credit the evidence of my own eyes until the little boat came alongside and the grinning crewmen lifted her up into Ramses's outstretched arms.

”It is a miracle,” Walter said reverently. He removed his eyegla.s.ses and wiped them on his s.h.i.+rttail.

”Miracle be d.a.m.ned,” said my other brother-in-law. ”Nefret, I am unspeakably relieved to see you, but-”

”Give them a minute,” I said. Ramses's arms held her close and his face was hidden against her hair.

Nefret raised her head and turned in the circle of his arm. She held out her hands to me. ”He is alive, Mother. I spoke with him early this morning. I didn't want to leave him, but he-”

”You did the right thing, my dear,” I said. The situation was still grave, but I felt as if an enormous weight had been lifted off my shoulders. ”Now come and rest, and eat something.”

”I'm not hungry,” Nefret said. ”They fed me and washed my clothes and dried them. They-”

David had been talking with the boatmen. They were so pleased with themselves they were reluctant to go, but after we had showered them with praise and thanks, and all the money we had in our pockets, they tore themselves away. Ahead the lights of Qena shone through the gathering dusk.

It took a little while for us to get underway, since every man on the Amelia had to see Nefret and touch her before they could believe she was safely back. Nasir burst into tears and flung himself at her feet. The sight of Selim, oily, weary, and smiling, brought a cry of protest from his physician but he would not let her examine him.

”Tell us,” he said. ”Everything.”

After Nasir had been restored, he stumbled round lighting the lamps and the rest of us crowded round Nefret, who was seated on the divan, with Ramses's arm round her. I am not ashamed to admit that the whiskey flowed freely. Nefret shook her head when Cyrus offered her a gla.s.s.

”My stomach is still a little queasy, and you know how the stuff affects me. I'll tell you everything in due time, but you must hear this first. They are planning to take the princesses' treasure!”

The announcement fell a little flat. ”Curse it,” Nefret said. ”You knew? How? I didn't find out until last night.”

”Walter figured it out,” said Sethos. ”Do you know when they plan to strike, and how?”

”No.”

”d.a.m.nation. If Lacau has already left Luxor, they could seize the steamer tonight.”

”I've been thinking,” Walter said.

This time his announcement got more attention. ”Yes?” Sethos said respectfully.

”Certain of my initial a.s.sumptions may have been in error,” Walter explained in his precise schoolmaster's voice. ”One takes it for granted that dastardly deeds are done under cover of darkness, but they cannot travel at night, can they? Surely they would want to get underway as soon as they are in possession of the treasure.”

”It would take 'em a while to unload the cargo,” Cyrus said, stroking his goatee.

”No, no,” Walter said excitedly. ”Why should they do that? It would, as you say, take a great deal of time, and the dahabeeyah is certain to be seen, however she changes her appearance. Every craft on the river would be on the lookout for her. The government steamer, on the other hand . . .”

”Of course,” I breathed. ”They will board the steamer-ma.s.sacre the crew-sink the Isis . . . Oh, my. What will they do to poor M. Lacau?”

No one seemed especially concerned about poor M. Lacau. Sethos shook his head. ”I've been out of the business too long. Lost my touch. It's a pity Walter is an honest man. What a partner he would make!”

Walter beamed. ”You think I am right, then?”

”I know you are right.” Sethos slammed his fist into his palm. ”That's exactly how I would have planned it, supposing I were cold-blooded enough to murder a dozen innocent men. We've got until morning, then. Someone must go ash.o.r.e at Qena and try to find out whether Lacau has left Luxor, and if so, when.”

”I'll go,” Ramses said. It was the first time he had spoken since he took his wife into his arms, and his face was still alight with joy and disbelief.

”We must hear Nefret's story first,” I said, with a fond smile at the pair. ”She may have seen or heard something that will affect our plans. Start at the beginning, my dear, if you will be so good, and don't leave anything out.”

It was, to say the least, an absorbing tale. The faces of the listeners reflected their feelings-surprise, indignation, admiration-but no one interrupted until she described the transformation of Mrs. Fitzroyce.

”Good Gad,” I cried in chagrin. ”I never suspected her.”

”No wonder she avoided me,” Sethos said grimly. ”I knew the-I knew her well. That explains Martinelli. They were bitter enemies. That isn't good news. She was one of Bertha's most ruthless a.s.sistants.”

”Justin is equally ruthless,” Nefret said. ”He-she-isn't quite normal.”

She went on to describe her last conversation with Emerson, and his insistence that she leave him. ”I would never have made it if he hadn't been there,” she said simply. ”It was impossible not to live up to his faith in my abilities and my nerve. But I did come close to breaking down when I saw the Amelia pa.s.s by earlier today.”

”It must have been horrible,” I said sympathetically. ”Where were you?”

”On one of the islands in midstream. I was trying to swim to sh.o.r.e when I was struck by a floating log. I managed to hang on to it until it came aground, but my shoulder was. .h.i.t-”

Ramses took his arm away. ”Why didn't you tell me when I grabbed hold of you? Did I hurt you?”

She touched his cheek. ”I didn't even feel it. I never dared hope I would see you so soon, even after I finally managed to attract the attention of a fisherman from the village. Once I had identified myself, they couldn't do enough for me. Late in the afternoon they got word that the Amelia was heading back this way, and the whole village piled into their boats, they were so anxious to be the first to give you the news. Now tell me what happened after I left the clinic. Is everyone-are they-”