按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
on became evident。 We found a number of interesting objects； including a basket of papyri。 They were in wretched condition； but Ramses's eyes lit up at the sight of them； and for several evenings he worked late in the little laboratory he had set up at the house； carefully repairing and restoring them。
Sennia had been out with us twice； and had enjoyed herself a great deal running from one person to another and 〃helping〃 them。 Gargery took to his bed as soon as we returned from these excursions。 I pointed out to him that there was no need for him to follow so close on her heels； the site was enclosed； dozens of people were there； and I had strictly forbidden her to climb the hills on either side。
He shook his head。 〃You know how she is； madam； she can disappear in a twinkling when she wants； and she is all over the place； here one minute and there the next。 What if that young villain Jamil lured her away； or she fell into one of those holes the men are digging？〃
I thought it much more likely that Gargery would fall in； but he could not be dissuaded。 His self…appointed duties were plicated even more by his suspicion of Jumana； he considered us hopelessly naive for believing in her reformation； and tried to keep an eye on her as well as on Sennia。 The days Sennia spent with us were extremely lively； what with one thing and another。 Horus was one of the things。 We could not leave him at the house； since he bullied the maids and went raging about； breaking bric…a…brac and furniture。 His determination to follow Sennia wherever she went led to several unpleasant scenes between him and Gargery。
The other cat was far less trouble。 It had made a remarkable recovery； and once we had got it cleaned up it turned out to be quite a pretty creature； with an interesting pattern of black spots and a ringed tail； but it didn't want to stay at the house either。 It trotted after Ramses； shrieking pitifully when he tried to leave for the dig； and it managed to escape from any confinement we arranged。 Ramses would not allow it to be caged； and closed doors and shutters proved no impediment。 I could not imagine how it got out； but Sennia felt certain she knew。 〃It is the Great Cat of Re；〃 she announced。 〃It has magical powers。〃
Ramses's eyebrows tilted up in silent skepticism as he looked at the miniature creature sitting on his knee； and Sennia elaborated。 〃I know it is not very large just now； but it will grow。〃
Nefret had planned to name the creature Osiris； since it had virtually e back from the dead； but from then on it was the Great Cat of Re； and soon learned to answer to its name。 Emerson； who is fond of cats and whose sense of humor is somewhat childish； found it very amusing to bellow out those sonorous syllables and have his summons promptly answered by a very small； very fuzzy kitten。 At first Horus was fascinated by the creature。 Seized by what appeared to be a misplaced maternal instinct； he would wash it till it squealed and carry it around in his mouth。 He became bored with this eventually。 Such is often the case； even with human parents。
Toward the end of the week Emerson proposed that we stop work early and go to Medinet Habu to see how Cyrus was getting on。 We took the cat with us； since it would not be left behind。 It was still small enough to fit into one of Ramses's pockets； and I must say it looked very peculiar with its paws hooked over the flap and its small head peering interestedly out at the world。 Our cats had a considerable reputation in Egypt； being regarded as possessing supernatural powers。 I suspected this one would prove to be no exception。
During the Pyramid Age； the temples serving the dead monarch's funerary cult were built close by the monuments。 When the pharaohs of the Eighteenth Dynasty decided to hide their tombs in the depths of the western mountains； the temples had to be located elsewhere。 At one time a long row of them ran along the edge of the cultivation。 Most were now in a sad state of ruination； but Medinet Habu； the temple of Ramses III （not to be confused with Ramses II）； was still well preserved； and full of interest。 The fortified towers through which one entered the area were decorated in the conventional style； with reliefs of the king smiting various enemies； but the interior contained some charming scenes of his majesty dallying with ladies of the court。 （Let me hasten to add that there were no vulgarities depicted。） The first great pylon stood almost intact； its walls and the walls of the courts and colonnades covered with reliefs and inscriptions。 The place had been a residence as well as a religious edifice； a tumble of mud…brick walls indicated the site of what had once been a palace。 In addition to the monuments of Ramses III； there were two other structures； one of which； begun in the early Eighteenth Dynasty； had been added on to by successive rulers clear down to the Roman period。 Another； smaller； plex belonged to the God's Wives of Amon； who had held almost royal status in Thebes during the late dynasties。 It was this area Cyrus was excavating。
We passed through the towers of the gateway into the great open court。 Emerson's keen gaze swept the surroundings； from the smaller temple on our right； past the great pylons of Ramses III； and on to the left； where the chapels of the God's Wives stood。 His handsome countenance proclaimed his emotion： greed； pure and simple。 If Emerson has a particular Egyptological passion； it is for temples； as mine is for pyramids； and he had wanted for years to tackle Medinet Habu。 However； as he had admitted to me only this past year； it would be the work of a lifetime。 He said it again as he stared wistfully about … a man trying to convince himself of something he knows is true and does not want to believe。
〃We haven't a large…enough staff；〃 I said； as I had said before。 〃And there is no hope of hiring skilled persons at the present time。 Many of our younger colleagues are in the army。〃
〃Damned war；〃 Emerson muttered。 〃But with Lia and David； and Walter and Evelyn …〃
〃Yes； my dear； that would be very nice； and I hope with all my heart that one day they will join us。 Until then we must make the best of what fate has to offer； and accept the good with gratitude and the bad with fortitude。〃
〃Good Gad；〃 said Emerson； and went stamping off toward the rope…enclosed area where Cyrus's men were working。
Cyrus hailed us with pleasure and offered tea； which Emerson refused； without consulting anyone else。 〃I want to have a look round first； Vandergelt。〃
〃You wasted your time ing here if you expected I'd have anything new to show you；〃 Cyrus said grumpily； but he led the way toward the small building。 On the lintel of the doorway were several rows of hieroglyphs； which Ramses scanned with an expert eye。 The cat； which had climbed up onto his shoulder； leaned forward and stared as intently as he。 I caught myself on the verge of asking it for a translation。
〃What does it say？〃 I inquired； addressing Ramses。
〃It's an invocation to visitors； asking them to pray for the Adorer of the God Amenirdis and her successor； who built the chapel for her。 'O you living ones who are on earth 。 。 。 if you love your children and would leave to them your positions； your hopes； your lakes； and your canals 。 。 。 please say 。 。 。 ' The usual prayer； asking for bread and beer and every good thing for the lady's spirit。〃
〃How sweet！〃 I exclaimed。
Ramses gave me an amused look。 〃Not really。 The lady asks very nicely； but the inscription ends with what can only be described as a threat。 If a visitor doesn't speak the proper words； he and his wife will be afflicted with illness。〃
The open forecourt； with columns on either side； led to an enclosed sanctuary。 On the right of this building； which was both tomb and mortuary temple； were three smaller chapels； dedicated to a queen and two more of the God's Wives。 I had always been intrigued by these ladies； for their status was unusual。 Kings' daughters all； they were not kings' wives； but wives of the god Amon； who had apparently lost the ability to procreate as he had done in the Eighteenth Dynasty； when he visited the queen in the shape of her husband and fathered the royal heir。 These God'