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！
ng to the gramophone。 He was even getting used to that damned parrot。
As he dozed off now； the parrot was screeching and clucking and walking back and forth； upside down； on the ceiling of its cage。 African greys liked to do things like that。 In truth the thing looked like a giant bug to him。 Maybe he should kill it when Malenka wasn't here。
He felt himself drifting； dozing； on the edge of dream。 He took one more sip of Scotch； so smooth； and let his head roll to the side。 Julie's house； the library； that thing at his shoulder； the scream curled at the back of his throat。
〃God！〃 He shot forward out of the chair； and the glass fell out of his hands。 If only that dream would stop。。。
Elliott had to stop to catch his breath。 The two bulbous eyes stared at him over the black serge。 It seemed they tried to squint in the sunlight； but the half…eaten lids would not fully close。 The woman's hand pulled the veil tighter as if she wanted to hide herself from his gaze。
Whispering softly in Latin； he begged for patience。 The carriage had been unable to get very close to the house to which they were going。 It was only a few paces more。
He mopped his forehead with his handkerchief。 But wait a moment。 The hand。 The hand which was holding the black serge over her mouth。 He looked at it again。 It was changing in the burning sun。 The wound exposing the knucklebone had almost closed。
He stared at it for a moment； then he looked at her eyes again。 Yes； the eyelids had filled in somewhat and long beautiful black lashes were now curving upwards； hiding the leprouslike ruin of the flesh。
He put his arm about her again： at once she cleaved to him； a soft and trembling thing。 A soft sigh escaped her。
He was aware suddenly of a perfume rising from her； a rich； sweet and altogether lovely perfume。 There was the smell of dust； of mud； actually； of the deep river silt…but that was very faint。 The perfume was strong and musky。 He could feel her warmth ing through the black serge。
Dear God； what is this potion！ What is it capable of！
〃There； there； my dear；〃 he said in English。〃 We're very close。 That door at the end。〃
He felt her arm slip around him。 With a powerful grip she lifted him slightly； taking the pressure off his numb left foot。 The pain in his left hip slackened。 He gave a little laugh of relief。 In fact； he almost broke into outright laughter。 But he didn't。 He simply moved on； allowing her to assist him； until he reached the door。
There he rested for a moment； and then he pounded with his right fist。
He could not have gone another step。
There was a long moment in which he heard nothing。 He pounded again； and again。
Then came the sound of the bolt sliding； and Henry appeared； squinting； his face unshaven； dressed only in a green silk robe。
〃What the hell do you want？〃
〃Let me in。〃 He pushed the door back and brought the woman with him into the room。 Desperately she crowded against him； hiding her face。
Dimly； he saw that the place was luxurious…carpets； furniture； decanters gleaming on a marble sideboard。 Through the archway； a dark…skinned beauty in a satin dancing costume…obviously Malenka…had just set down a tray of steaming food。 Small orange trees crowded against the whitewashed garden wall。
〃Who is this woman！〃 Henry demanded。
Holding tight to her still； Elliott struggled to the chair。 But he could see that Henry was staring at the woman's feet。 He'd seen the bare bones showing in the instep。 A look of disgust passed over Henry； of puzzlement。
〃Who is she！ Why did you bring her here！〃
Then convulsively； Henry moved back； slamming into the pillar that divided the archway to the courtyard； his head thudding dangerously against the stone。〃 What's wrong with her！〃 he gasped。〃 Patience； I'll tell you everything；〃 Elliott whispered。 The pain in his chest was so bad now that he could hardly form the words。 Easing down in the rattan chair； he felt the woman's grip loosen。 He heard her make a faint sound。 He looked up； and realized she had seen the cupboard across the room； the glass bottles gleaming in the light from the courtyard。
She went towards the liquid； groaning。 The black serge garment fell from her head and then from her shoulders； fully revealing the bones of her ribs gleaming through the gaping holes
in her back； and the remnants of cloth that barely concealed her nakedness。
〃For the love of God； don't panic！〃 Elliott shouted。
But it was too late。 Henry's face went white； his mouth twisted and shuddering。 Behind him； in the courtyard； Malenka let out a full…throated scream。
The wounded creature dropped the bottle with a great piteous moan。
Henry's hand rose from his pocket； sun glinting on the barrel of a small silver gun。
〃No； Henry！〃 Elliott cried。 He tried to rise； but he couldn't。 The shot exploded with the same nerve…shattering volume of the guns in the museum。 A parrot screeched in its cage。
The wounded woman cried out as she took the bullet in her chest； staggering backwards； and then let out a great bellow as she ran at Henry。
The sounds ing from Henry were scarcely human。 All reason had left him。 He backed into the courtyard； firing the gun again and again。 Crying in agony； the woman closed on him； knocking the gun out of his hand and taking him by the throat。 In an ugly waltz they struggled； Henry clawing at her desperately； her own bony fingers holding fast to his neck。 The wicker table went over； china shattering on the tiles。 Into the orange trees they stumbled； tiny leaves pouring down in a shower。
In terror Malenka crouched against the wall。
〃Elliott； help me！〃 Henry screamed。 He was being bent over backwards； knees buckling and hands flailing； catching stupidly in the creature's hair。
Elliott managed somehow to reach the edge of the archway。 But only in time to hear the bones snap。 He winced as he saw Henry's body go limp and tumble softly； in a heap of green silk； on the ground。
The creature staggered backwards； whimpering； and then sobbing； her mouth making a grimace again； as it had in the museum； teeth bared。 The ragged cloth covering her had been torn from one shoulder； her dark pink nipples showed through the sheer linen。 Great gouts of blood hung in the wrappings still clinging to her torso； strips of fabric falling from her thighs with each step。 Her eyes； bloodshot and running with tears； stared at the dead body and then at the spilt food； the hot tea steaming in the sun。
Slowly she went down on her knees。 She grabbed up the muffins and stuffed them into her mouth。 On all fours she lapped the spilt tea。 She scraped up the jam with her fingers and sucked them frantically。 She gnawed on the bacon and then swallowed the rasher whole。
In utter silence； Elliott watched her。 He was vaguely conscious of Malenka running silently towards him； and then hovering behind him。 Deliberately； he took one short breath after another； listening at the same time to the hammer trip of his heart。
The creature devoured the butter； the eggs she crushed and scraped with her teeth from the shells。
Finally there was no more food。 Yet she remained there； on her knees。 She was staring at her outstretched hands。
The sun beat down on the little courtyard。 It gleamed on her dark hair。
In a daze； Elliott continued to watch。 He could not absorb what he was seeing or judge it。 The continuing shock of all he'd witnessed was too great。
Suddenly the creature turned and lay down on the paved ground。 She stretched out full length； crying as if into a soft pillow； her hand scratching at the hard…baked tiles。 Then she rolled over on her back into the full sunlight； free of the soft dancing green shadows from the small trees。
For a moment she stared up into the burning sky； and then her eyes appeared to roll up in her head。 Only a half…moon of
pale iris showed。
〃Ramses；〃 she whispered。 Her bosom moved faintly with her breathing。 But otherwise she lay still。
The Earl turned and reached for Malenka。 Leaning heavily on her； he struggled back towards the chair。 He could feel the dark…skinned woman trembling。 He settled down silently on the tapestried cushions； and rested his head against the high rounded chair back of prickly rattan。 This is all a nightmare； he thought。 But it was not a nightmare。 He had seen this creature raised from the dead。 He had seen her kill Henry。 What in God's name was he to do？
Malenka remained at his elbow； then went down slowly on her knees。 Her eyes were wide… and empty； her mouth agape。 She stared towards the garden。
Flies circled over Henry's face。 They swooped down on the remnants of the overturned meal。
〃There； there； nothing will harm you；〃 Elliott whispered。 The burning in his chest subsided very slowly。 He felt a dull warmth in his left hand。〃 She won't hurt you。 I promise you。〃 He moistened his dry lips with his tongue； then somehow managed to go on。〃 She is ill； and I must take care of her。 She will not harm you； you understand。〃
The Egyptian woman clutched at his wrist