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The light shone in its huge staring eyes； the eyelids eaten away； the hair thickening and writhing as it grew sleeker and blacker and tumbled down longer over the bony shoulders。
But dear God； what were the patches of white all over it？ They were the bones of the thing； the bare bones where the flesh had been torn away； perhaps centuries ago！ Bare bone showing in the left leg； bare bone in the right foot； bare bones in the fingers struggling to reach Ramsey。
It's not whole。 You've raised a thing which is not whole。
The light brightened in the window above。 The first distinct rays pierced the ashen gloom。 As Ramsey backed away again； passing Elliott； half stumbling towards the far railing of the stair； the thing came on； gaining speed until it reached the sunlight。
And there it reached up as if trying to catch the rays； its moaning breaths ing rapid and desperate and full of panic。
The shriveled flesh of the hands was now bronze。 The face was bronze； and growing lighter and paler and more truly human as the sun struck it。
It turned and rocked on its feet； as if drinking up the light； and the blood began to ooze from the torn wounds that everywhere exposed the skeleton。
Elliott closed his eyes。 For one moment he almost lost consciousness。 He was aware of noise below。 A door slamming far to the back of the huge building。
He opened his eyes to see the thing drawing nearer。 Glancing over his shoulder； he saw Ramses plastered to the rail of the stairs； staring in undisguised horror。
God in heaven； drive it back。 Elliott felt the burning in his chest； the familiar tightening。 The pain shot down his left arm； and with all his strength he clutched the silver cane。 He willed himself to breathe； to remain standing。
The skeletal thing was filling out。 Its flesh was now the color of Elliott's own flesh； and the hair a great wavy mop veiling its shoulders pletely。 And its clothing…even its clothing had changed。 Its clothing was once again white linen where the elixir had splashed。 The creature bared its white teeth to the roots as it moaned。 Its breasts heaved and the ragged linen fell loose from the womanly shape； tangling in the legs that trudged doggedly forward。
Its eyes were fixed on the man at the end of the hall。 Its breath came in heaves。 Its mouth became a grimace。
Noises from below。 The shrill sound of a whistle。 A man shouting in Arabic。
Ramses reeled。 They were ing up the staircase。 Their shouts could only mean that they had seen him。
In panic； he turned back to the female figure drawing ever closer。
A rasping cry escaped her lips。
〃Ramses！〃
The Earl closed his eyes。 Then he opened them again and stared at the skeletal hands outstretched as the woman passed him。
There was a cry of〃 Halt！〃 and then a shot。 The creature screamed and clamped her fingers over her ears。 She staggered backwards。 Ramses had been struck by the bullet； and pivoted to face the men ing up the stairs。 Desperately he turned back to the female。 Another volley of shots！ The deafening roar resounded through the corridor。 Ramses fell back against the marble rail。
The female shuddered； hands still covering her ears。 She appeared to lose her balance； staggering between the stone sarcophagi on the opposite side of the hall。 When the whistle shrieked again； she roared in terror。
〃Ramses！〃 It was the cry of a wounded animal。
GAIN； ELLIOT almost lost consciousness。 Again he closed his eyes； and struggled to fill his lungs with air。 His left hand； clutching the walking stick； was now entirely numb。
He could hear the sounds of the guards dragging Ramses down the stairs。 Clearly Ramses was fighting。 But there were too many of them。
And the woman！ She'd disappeared。 Then he heard her feet scraping the stone floor again。 He peered through the glass beside him to see her retreating to the far end of the hall。 Whimpering； her breath still ing in gasps； she vanished through a side door。
All sound had died away below。 Apparently Ramses had been removed from the museum。 But undoubtedly men would e to search within minutes。
Ruthlessly ignoring the pain in his chest； Elliott hurried down the corridor。 He reached the side door in time to see the female just disappearing from view at the foot of a service stair。 Quickly he turned back； glancing under the display cases。 There lay the vial； still gleaming in the grey light。 Going down on one knee； he managed to get hold of it； and closing its cap； he put it in his coat。
Then； fighting a wave of dizziness； he crept down the stairs after the female； his numbed left leg almost tripping him。 Halfway down he saw her…bewildered； staggering； one clawlike hand raised as if groping in the dimness。
A door opened suddenly； leaking yellow light into the passage； and a servant woman emerged； her hair and body draped in the Moslem manner by a garment of black wool。 She carried a mop in her right hand。
At once she saw the skeletal figure approaching； and she let out a shrill scream； the mop falling from her hands。 She fled back into the lighted room。
A low hiss came out of the wounded one and then that awful roar again as she went after the serving maid； skeletal hands out as if to stop the piercing scream。
Elliott moved as fast as he could。 The screams stopped before he reached the door of the lighted room。 As he entered； he saw the body of the servant woman slumping； dead； to the floor。 Her neck had apparently been broken and the flesh torn from her cheek。 Her glassy black eyes stared at nothing。 And the ragged wounded one stepped over her and moved towards a small mirror over the washbasin on the wall。
A wretched agonized sobbing broke from her when she saw her reflection。 Gasping； shuddering； she reached out and touched the glass。
Again； Elliott almost collapsed。 The sight of the dead body and the ghastly creature before the glass were more than he could bear。 But a ruthless fascination sustained him； as it had all along。 He must use his wits now。 Damn the pain in his chest and the panic rising like nausea in his throat。
Quickly he closed the door of the room behind him。 The noise startled her。 She wheeled about； hands poised again for the attack。 For a moment； he was paralyzed by the full horror of what he now beheld。 The light from the ceiling bulb was merciless。 Her eyes bulged from their half…eaten sockets。 White rib bones gleamed through a huge wound in her side。 Half of her mouth was gone； and a bare stretch of clavicle was drenched in oozing blood。
Dear God； what must her suffering be！ Poor； tragic being！
Giving a low growl； she advanced on him。 But Elliott spoke quickly in Greek：
〃Friend；〃 he said。〃 I am a friend and offer you shelter。〃 And as his mind went blank on the ancient tongue； he switched to the Latin：〃 Trust in me。 I shall not let you e to harm。〃
Not taking his eyes off her for a second； he groped for one of several black cloaks hanging on the wall。 Yes； what he wanted… one of those shapeless robes worn by Moslem women in public。 It was easily large enough to drape her from head to toe。
Fearlessly； he approached her； throwing the cloak over her head and winding it over her shoulders； and at once her hands went up to assist； closing it over her face save for her frightened eyes。
He ushered her out into the corridor； closing the door behind him to conceal the dead body。 Noises and shouts were ing from the floor above。 He could hear voices ing from a room at the far end of the hall。 Spotting the service door to his right； he opened it； and led her out into the alleyway； where the bright sun came down upon them both。
Within moments； he was clear of the building。 And they had entered the great endless crowd of Moslems； Arabs and Westerners one saw everywhere in Cairo； thousands of pedestrians moving in all directions； despite the blast of motor…car horns and the progress of donkey…drawn carts。
The woman stiffened when she heard the motor horns。 At the sight of a motor car rocking past her； she drew back； crying through clenched teeth。 Again； Elliott spoke to her in Latin； reassuring her that he would take care of her； he would find her shelter。
What she understood he could not possibly guess。 Then the Latin word for food came from her in a low； tortured voice。〃 Food and drink；〃 she whispered。 She murmured something else； but he did not understand。 It sounded like a prayer or a curse。
〃Yes；〃 he said in her ear； the Latin words ing easily now that he knew she understood them。〃 I shall provide all you require。 I shall take care of you。 Trust in me。〃
But where could he take her？ Only one place came to mind。 He had to reach old Cairo。 But did he dare put the creature into a motor taxi？ Seeing a horse…drawn cab passing； he hailed it。 She climbed willingly up to the leather seat。 Now； how was he to do it； when he could scarce breathe and his left leg was almost useless？ He planted his right foot firmly on the step and swung himself up with his right arm。 And then； near to collapse as ever he'd been in his life； he slumped down beside th