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〃Have lunch；〃 Nefret said practically。 〃And wait a little longer。〃
Cyrus demanded to know what was going on； and after they had set out the food； Ramses told all of them about the message。 Cyrus was unconcerned。 〃They can take care of themselves。〃 Selim scowled。 〃If Yusuf knew； and did not tell me …〃
〃That's only a theory； Selim。 We can't be certain what Yusuf wanted。 Maybe it was Mother's notorious medical skills。〃
〃He would be more likely to ask for hers than for mine；〃 Nefret admitted。 〃The older men and women don't believe in my newfangled notions。 But it shouldn't have taken them this long； even if Yusuf asked Father to perform an exorcism。〃
By the time they had finished the meal Ramses had e to a decision。 〃We had better try to find them。 Assume the worst； as Mother says； and act on it。〃
〃Where are you going to look？〃 Cyrus asked。 〃You don't know where they might be by now。〃
〃Yusuf；〃 Ramses said shortly。 〃If he has any information； I'll get it out of him。〃
Selim rose。 〃Daoud and I will e with you。〃
〃Damn this foot！〃 Bertie burst out。 〃Look； it's almost healed； I can keep up。〃
〃Not this time。〃 Ramses's hand rested briefly on the other man's shoulder。 〃We don't need additional manpower …〃
〃No；〃 said Daoud； folding his massive arms。
〃No；〃 Ramses repeated； nodding in acknowledgment。 〃Cyrus； you had better stay here。 Jumana； e with us。〃
She stared at him； her eyes wide and dark。 〃You think I know something I have not told you？ It is not true！〃
〃I haven't accused you of anything；〃 Ramses said。
〃Do let's go；〃 Nefret exclaimed。 〃Why are we wasting time talking？〃
They took the most direct route； past the temple and across the foothills； approaching the village from the south。 Most of the inhabitants were enjoying their afternoon nap； but by the time they reached Yusuf's house a few wakeful souls had spotted them and run on ahead； so Yusuf was expecting them。
He was lying on the divan in the main room； covered with a blanket； though the day was warm。 It was the first time Ramses had seen the old man since their arrival。 The change in him was distressing。 The once plump jowls hung down in loose folds； and his thin hands gripped the edge of the coverlet。 He shrank back as they all crowded into the room。 Ramses didn't blame him； they made a threatening assemblage： he and Nefret； Daoud looming like a monolith； Selim's face unyielding as walnut。
Nefret let out a little sound of pity and surprise； pushed past the others； and bent over the old man。 〃Salaam aleikhum； Uncle Yusuf。 I regret we did not e before。 We did not know you were so ill。〃
Her low voice； sweet with sympathy； reproached the others and reassured Yusuf。 〃I am better； Nur Misur；〃 he croaked。
Ramses gestured Selim to remain silent。 He couldn't bully a pathetic specimen like Yusuf。 Anyhow； Nefret's methods were more likely to win him over。 He looked around for Jumana。 She was behind Daoud； whose large form hid all of her but her little boots。
〃Was it the Sitt Hakim who made you better； Uncle Yusuf？〃 Nefret asked。 〃What did she give you？〃
〃The Sitt Hakim？ She has not been here。 No one has been here。〃 Self…pity and resentment gave new life to his feeble voice。 〃None of you came to ask about me。〃
〃We are sorry； Uncle；〃 Nefret said。 〃But the Sitt Hakim did e； this morning。 You sent her a message asking her to e。〃
〃I sent no message；〃 Yusuf said sullenly。 〃Why should I？ You should have e without my asking。〃
Selim moved slightly； and again Ramses motioned him to be quiet。 Yusuf's resentment … justifiable resentment； Ramses had to admit … was genuine。 There was no reason for him to lie； since he knew there were dozens of witnesses who would have seen the elder Emersons had they been there。
From the doorway a harsh voice said； 〃He speaks the truth； Brother of Demons。 The Sitt has not been here。〃
It was Yusuf's eldest wife； her voice accusatory； her face crumpled into innumerable wrinkles by age and indignation。 She shoved at Daoud。 〃Get out； Daoud； and take her with you； the shameless creature。 Why have you all e； like accusers； to trouble a sick old man？〃
Daoud turned； in his ponderous fashion； and Jumana let out a little squeak。 Her father's eyes rested briefly on her and shifted away。
〃I'm sorry；〃 Ramses said。 〃We are looking for my father and mother； who may be in trouble。 It is true that Yusuf sent no message … that they did not e here？〃
〃It is true；〃 the old woman snapped。 〃Ask anyone。〃
〃Shall we go now？〃 Daoud asked nervously。 According to Selim； his giant uncle feared only two things： the displeasure of the Father of Curses； and an angry old woman。
〃We may as well；〃 Ramses said。
Daoud was the first to go。 Jumana followed； so closely she was treading on his heels。 Ramses hesitated。 He had meant to ask Yusuf about Jamil； but this disclosure had altered everything。 His parents must have been intercepted or distracted before they reached Yusuf； lured away by a false message。 There was no time to waste； the afternoon was passing。
〃I'm sorry；〃 he said again。
〃I'll e back；〃 Nefret promised the old man。 〃As soon as I can。〃
Yusuf did not reply。 His eyes were closed。
The usual crowd had gathered outside。 Selim； who had been talking with several of the men； turned to Ramses。 〃It is true； they did not e to this house。 But Ahmed says Mahmud says his cousin Mohammed saw them this morning。 They left their horses with him and gave him money。〃
〃Which Mohammed？〃 Ramses demanded。
〃His house is at the bottom of the hill； near the tomb of Ramose。〃
〃Oh； that Mohammed。 All right； let's find him。〃
They led the horses； the slope on this side was steep。 Mohammed； who was stretched out in the shade peacefully sleeping； did not wake until Ramses shook him。 〃Ah；〃 he said； rubbing his eyes； 〃you have e for the horses。 I took good care of them； you see。〃
They were in the courtyard of an ancient tomb； shaded and well supplied with water。 Ramses handed over baksheesh。 〃Yes； you did。 When did the Father of Curses and the Sitt Hakim leave the horses？〃
〃Many hours ago。〃 Mohammed yawned。
〃They'd have e straight here；〃 Nefret interposed； knowing； as did Ramses； that Mohammed's notions of time were vague。
〃Probably。 It's been at least six hours； then。 Where did they go； Mohammed？〃
〃That way。〃 A gesture indicated the direction … not up the hill； toward Yusuf's house； but northward。
〃On foot？〃
〃How could they ride when they left the horses with me？〃
Selim lost patience。 〃Don't try to be clever； Mohammed； because you are not。 Why did they leave the horses and go on foot？ What did they say to each other？〃
〃How should I know？ They spoke in English； very fast。〃 Another gigantic yawn concluded the speech。
A younger man； his beard just beginning to show； plucked at Selim's sleeve。 〃My father only thinks of baksheesh and sleep； Selim； but I can tell you what happened。 The Father of Curses took his galabeeyah； and the Sitt took mine。 It was because they saw someone。 She said 'Look there；' and he looked and swore and then they took our clothes and went hurrying away； behind the tombs and around the hill。〃
〃Your clothes？〃 Nefret repeated。
〃Our galabeeyahs； my father's and mine。 The Father of Curses paid well； but when the Sitt Hakim has finished with mine； I would like to have it back。 I have only …〃
〃Did you see the person they were following？〃 Ramses interrupted。
〃Oh； yes。〃 The boy pointed。 〃It was she。〃
Jumana froze； her eyes focusing on the pointing finger。 〃He lies；〃 she gasped。
〃I do not lie。 She wore the same clothing； boots and coat and a skirt； that blew out as she ran。 Not trousers； as men wear。 What other woman would wear such garments？〃
〃Several of us；〃 Nefret said； catching hold of Jumana； who appeared ready to fly at her accuser。 〃We know it wasn't you； Jumana； you couldn't have got from here to Deir el Medina before we arrived。〃
Ramses rewarded the observant youth extravagantly and went after Selim； who was already running along the path the boy had indicated。 It turned and rose； and there before them lay the length of the desert plain； covered with hillocks and hills； houses and villages and ruins … almost two miles long from Medinet Habu to th