Part 30 (1/2)

”Fragments of his sarcophagus have been found, none that might have been hers. If Nefert.i.ti died before her husband-”

”No one knows when she died,” I said. ”If she survived into the reign of Tutankhamon, she may have gone with him to Thebes and been buried- ”

”Yes, yes,” Emerson said impatiently. ”All that is idle speculation. But it was you who informed me that in recent years objects bearing her name have appeared on the antiquities market, and that there are rumors of fellahin carrying a golden coffin across the high desert behind the royal valley.”

(It was Charlie who had informed him, actually, hoping to distract him from the evening inquisition by relating archaeological gossip. The distraction had not succeeded.)

”There are rumors like that about every site in Egypt,” said Cyrus- but though his tone dismissed the story, the light in his eyes indicated his rising interest. To a man of Cyrus's romantic temperament there could be no more thrilling discovery than the last resting place of the heretic pharaoh's exquisite queen.

”Certainly,” said Emerson. ”And I put no great faith in the golden coffin. Such a unique object could not have been marketed without leaving signs of its pa.s.sage through the dirty world of dealers and collectors. Note, however, the significant word 'gold.' Any artifact made of or covered with gold could start the gossip mills grinding and lead to the usual exaggeration that distinguishes their operation. The appearance of inscribed objects on the antiquities market is even more significant. That, if you recall, was how Maspero got onto the cache of royal mummies in 1883. The Gurnawis who had found the hiding place began marketing objects from it, the names on those objects indicated they must have come from a tomb unknown to archaeologists.”

”Yes, but- ” I began.

”But me no buts, MISS Peabody. There are other tombs in the royal wadi. I have known of some of them for years, and I feel certain there are others. The royal tomb itself has not been properly explored, are there pa.s.sages and chambers as yet undiscovered? Certain of the existing ones seem strangely incomplete. Curse it, Akhenaton had thirteen years after his arrival at Amarna in which to prepare a tomb. It would have been one of his first acts. The boundary stelae mention his intention of doing so- ”

”Those same inscriptions suggest that the queen shared his tomb,” I interrupted.” There shall be made for me a tomb in the eastern mountain; my burial shall be therein . . . and the burial of the Great Royal Wife Nefert.i.ti shall be therein- '”

”Ah, but does 'in it' refer to the tomb itself or to the eastern mountain?” Emerson leaned forward, his eyes glittering with the joy of argument- or, I should say, learned debate. ”He goes on to say, 'If she (Nefert.i.ti, that is) shall die in any town north, south, west or east, she shall be brought and buried in Akhetaton.' He does not say 'in my tomb in Akhetaton- '”

”There was no need for him to say it, given the context. He meant- ”

”Will you two stop that?” Cyrus demanded. His goatee quivered with the muscular contractions of his jaws and chin. ”The man's been dead for over three thousand years, and anyhow, his original intentions don't mean a curse. What I want to know is, where are those other tombs you were talking about, and why the- er- d.i.c.kens haven't you excavated them?”

”You know my methods, Vandergelt,” said Emerson. ”Or at least you claim to. I never excavate unless I can finish the job without delay. Opening a site or a tomb invites the attentions of thieves, or of other archaeologists, who are almost as destructive. I have knowledge of or strong suspicions about at least six other sites . . .”

He let the words trail off. Then he said deliberately, ”We will excuse you, Charles and Rene. No doubt you want to freshen up before dinner.”

Two men cannot const.i.tute a stampede, but they tried.

Emerson had reached for his pipe and was spilling tobacco all over his papers. As soon as the door closed he said, ”I trust you have no objection to my dismissing your employees, Vandergelt?”

”It wouldn't do a whoop of good if I did object,” said Cyrus. ”But I think I see where you're heading, and the less those two innocents know about the other business, the better. Are you suggesting Vincey was trying to pick your brain about those unknown tombs?”

”Nonsense,” I exclaimed. ”We know exactly what Vincey wants, and it has nothing to do with- ”

”May I remind you,” said Emerson, in the growling purr that usually heralded a particularly devastating remark, ”that it was I the gentleman questioned, not you.”

”You need not remind me, since I was the first to observe the results of his questioning,” I snapped.

”But may I remind you that you have not seen fit to confide the details to me or to Cyrus. What the devil did he ask you?”

”My state of mind was a trifle confused,” said Emerson, with one of those infuriating volte-faces men employ to avoid a direct answer. ”The details elude me.”

”Oh, really!” I exclaimed. ”Now see here, Emerson- ”

”Don't waste your time, my dear,” said Cyrus, as Emerson grinned at me in a particularly trying fas.h.i.+on. ”Can we get back to the question of the tombs in the royal wadi? I take it that is your real goal this season. So what's the point of messing around with that brickwork in the hollow?”

Emerson opened his eyes very wide. ”Why, I intend to do both, of course. And copy the boundary stelae. We'll start in the hollow, as I said.” He rose, stretching like a great cat. ”I must change for dinner.

I trust, MISS Peabody, that you intend to do the same, that garment seems more suitable to the boudoir than the dinner table. The proprieties must be observed, you know.”