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〃Well； we'll just take the lift to the second floor；〃 he said； beaming at her。〃 And walk to the very front of the building。〃
The lift？ He led her towards a pair of brass gates。 He pressed a small button in the wall…
A huge drawing stood between these gates： Aida； the opera。 And there were the same Egyptian figures she'd seen before。〃 Ah； the opera；〃 she said。
〃Yes； quite an event；〃 he said。 The brass gate had opened； and a man inside the small chamber appeared to be waiting for them。 She stepped inside。 It was like a cage。 And it frightened her suddenly。 The doors clanged shut。 Some sort of trap； and the room began to rise。
〃Lord Summerfield；〃 she cried。
〃It's quite all right； Your Highness；〃 he said。 He threw his arms around her； and turning； she bowed her head against his chest。 Oh； he was so much sweeter than all the others； and when a strong man is sweet； even goddesses look down from Mount Olympus。
At last the doors opened。 He led her out and into a silent passageway。 They walked towards a distant window。
〃What frightened you so？〃 he asked。 But his intonation had no mockery or disapproval。 It was almost soothing。 He took the key from her； and put it in the lock。
〃The room moved；〃 she sighed。〃 Are those not the right English words？〃
〃Yes； they are；〃 he said。 He paused as they entered the long sitting room； with rich hangings and chairs that looked for all the world like giant cushions。〃 Why； you are die strangest creature。 So out of this world。〃
She reached out and caressed his face； and slowly kissed him。 His brown eyes were troubled； suddenly。 But then he kissed her back； and the sudden fire surprised her and thrilled her。
〃For this night； Lord Summerfield；〃 she said；〃 this is my palace； and now we must go and seek the royal bedchamber。〃
Elliott walked to the door of the bar with Pitfield。〃 I can't thank you enough for ing immediately。〃
〃Have every confidence； old boy； and do see if you can get some word to your friend。 Of course； I can't advise you to…〃
〃I know； I know。 Let me handle that。〃 Elliot went back into the bar； settled down into the leather chair and picked up the gin。 Yes； definitely he would slowly drink himself to death when this was over。
He would go out to the country； stock the finest sherry and port and Scotch and gin； and just drink day in and day out until he was dead。 It would be very simply wonderful。 He saw himself there； by the great log fire； one foot on the leather ottoman。 The image shimmered； then faded。 The sickness rose in his throat； and he was near to breaking down pletely。
〃Get Alex home； get him home and safe；〃 he whispered； and then he began to tremble almost uncontrollably。 He saw her again； moving through the museum with her arms out。 And then in the bed looking up at him： he felt her caress； and the bare bones in her side as she'd pressed against him。 He remembered the crazed look in Ramsey's eyes when he'd fought her。
The trembling got worse。 Much worse。
No one noticed in the dark bar； a pianist had e in…a young man； who began to play a slow ragtime。
He had helped her with her fine dress of green satin。 He laid it over the chair； and when the lights went out； she saw the city through the pale curtains。 She saw the river。
〃The Nile；〃 she whispered。 She wanted to say how beautiful； this gleaming strip of water winding through the built…up city； but a shadow fell over her soul。 An image came to her like all the rest； descending plete and entire and then vanishing； only this one had been so quick。 A catab； a priest walking before her。
〃What is it； Your Highness？〃
She lifted her head slowly。 She'd moaned； that's what had frightened him。
〃You're so tender with me； young Lord Summerfield；〃 she said。 Where was the inevitable unkindness in this boy？ The inevitable need to hurt which all men evinced sooner or later？
She looked up and saw that he was now naked as well； and the sight of his strong； youthful body pleased her intensely。 She placed her hand on his flat belly； and then gently on his chest。 It was always the hardness of men all over that excited her； even the hardness of their mouths； that they tensed their mouths when they kissed； she liked even to feel their teeth behind their lips。
She kissed him roughly and pressed her breasts against him。 He could hardly control himself； he wanted to carry her to the bed； he tried to be gentle。
〃Such an unearthly thing；〃 he whispered。〃 Wherever did you e from？〃
〃From darkness and coldness。 Kiss me。 I am only warm again when I'm kissed。 Make a fire； Lord Summerfield； to burn both of us。〃
She went back against the pillows； tugging him down on top of her。 Her hand plunged； grasped his sex and stroked it； pinching the tip。 When he moaned； she opened his lips with her own； licking at his tongue and his teeth。
〃Now；〃 she said。〃 Into me。 The second time is for the slow song。〃
Julie's suite。 Samir set the newspapers down on the table。 Julie drank a second cup of the sweet Egyptian coffee。
〃You mustn't leave me tonight； Samir。 Not till we hear from him；〃 she said。 She stood up。〃 I'm going to change into my robe。 Promise me you won't leave me。〃
〃I'll be here； Julie；〃 he said；〃 but perhaps you should sleep。 I'll wake you as soon as I hear anything。〃
〃No； I can't do that。 I want only to get out of these tired clothes。 I won't be but a minute。〃
She went into the bedroom。 She had sent Rita off an hour ago to her own room； and thank God for that； she wanted only to be with Samir。 Her nerves were worn thin。 She knew Elliott was in the hotel； but she could not bring herself to ring him。 She did not want to see him or talk to him。 Not until she knew what Ramses had done； and she could not break the feeling of foreboding。
Slowly she took the pins out of her hair； gazing absently in the mirror。 For a moment； she noticed nothing amiss； and then suddenly she realized that a tall Arab in white robes was standing in the corner of the room； still as the shadows； merely watching her。 Her Arab； Ramses。
She spun around； her hair tumbling down all at once over her shoulders。 Her heart was about to burst。
She might have fainted again for the second time in her life； if he hadn't caught her。 Then she saw the deep bloodstain on his robe and again she felt weak； blackness rising all around her。
Silently he embraced her； pressing her to himself。〃 My Julie；〃 he said； his voice heartbroken。〃 How long have you been here？〃
〃Only a little while；〃 he said。〃 Let me be silent now； let me hold you。〃
〃Where is she？〃
He let her go； backing off。〃 I don't know；〃 he said in a defeated voice。〃 I have lost her。〃
Julie watched him as he paced； turned and looked at her from a distance。 She was keenly aware that she loved him； and would go on loving him no matter what had happened。 But she could not say such a thing to him； not until she knew。。。
〃Let me call Samir；〃 she said。〃 He's there； in the sitting room。〃
〃I want to be alone with you for a moment；〃 he said。 And for the first time； he appeared just slightly afraid of her。 It was a subtle thing； but she felt it。
〃You must tell me what's happened。〃
He remained impassive； looking at her； the sheikh robes doing their damnedest to make him irresistible。 And then suddenly his expression broke her heart； no use denying it。
In a tremulous voice； she said；〃 You gave her more of it。〃
〃You haven't seen her；〃 he said quietly； his voice unhurried； his eyes full of undisguised sorrow。〃 You have not heard the sound other voice！ You have not heard her weeping。 Don't judge me。 She is as alive as I am！ I brought her back。 Let me judge myself。〃
She clasped her hands tightly； hurting the fingers of her right hand with the fingers of the other。
〃What do you mean； you don't know where she is？〃
〃I mean she escaped from me。 She attacked me； she tried to kill me。 And she is mad。 Lord Rutherford was right。 Absolutely mad。 She would have killed him if I hadn't stopped her。 The elixir hasn't changed that。 It merely healed her body。〃
He took a step towards her； and before she could stop herself she turned her back。 She was going to cry again； oh； so many tears。 And she didn't want to。
〃Pray to your gods；〃 she said； looking at him through the mirror。〃 Ask them what to do。 My God would only condemn you。 But whatever happens with this creature； one thing is certain。〃 She turned and looked him in the eye。〃 You must never； never brew the elixir again。 Whatever remains； consume it。 Do it now in my presence。 And men erase the formula from your mind。〃
No response。 Slowly he removed the headdress； and ran his hand back through his hair。 For some reason this only made him look all the more gallant and seductive。 A biblical figure now with flowing hair and flowing robes。 It maddened her slightly； and made the threat of tears all the more sharp。
〃Do you realize what you're saying？〃
〃If it's too dangerous to consume it； then find someplace far out in the desert sands； and make a d