Guardian of the Horizon by Elizabeth Peters Read Free Book Online Page B

Once we have worked out the details we will have a little council of war." I took it upon myself to beard Emerson in his lair--the library. When I told him what Ramses and I had agreed upon, he gave me an outraged stare. "I will need David, curse it. Copying the reliefs in the temples and tombs of the Holy Mountain is of paramount importance." "Emerson, will you try to get it through your head that this is not an archaeological expedition, but a rescue mission? We will be lucky to get there at all, much less get away again. How can you think of risking David's life?" "We are risking the lives of Ramses and Nefret," Emerson pointed out. He sounded a trifle subdued, though, and his brow was furrowed. "Only because they were made aware of the situation by Merasen before we could prevent him. David is not aware of it. Given a free choice, he would much rather remain in England this winter with Lia. You must convince him he will not be needed." "How?" Emerson demanded. "He knows how useful he is to me." "I doubt that, since you have never paid him a compliment." Emerson looked blank, and I went on in mounting exasperation. "As soon as we announce the date of our departure, all our friends, including Walter and Evelyn, are going to ask where we mean to work this winter and why we are leaving so much earlier than usual. What do you propose to tell them?" "I do not propose to tell anyone anything," said Emerson haughtily. "I never discuss my plans in advance." "Not even with Walter?" "Hmph." Emerson fingered the cleft in his chin, leaving a smear of ink on that admirably modeled member. "I suppose you have a few ideas? You always do." "Naturally. Everyone knows that you are in a temper with Maspero; it would be quite in character for you to declare you won't excavate in Egypt this year. Our movements will be observed and commented upon, and we must have a sensible reason for traveling to the Sudan. For instance, a survey of the Meroitic sites, with a view to future excavation." "That might work," Emerson admitted. "With the dam at Aswan about to be raised, a number of the sites will be underwater all or part of the time." He put down his pen and smiled at me. "As always, Peabody, you are the voice of conscience and common sense. I confess that I hadn't given that aspect of the case much thought." "You had better," I retorted. The compliment and the smile had softened me, but I felt it advisable to hammer the point home while Emerson was in a chastened mood. "Covering our tracks won't be easy, but it must be done. Otherwise we will have a pack of journalists, archaeologists, and treasure hunters on our trail, not to mention Walter and Evelyn." Emerson's fingers twitched. He had only agreed with me so that I would go away and let him get back to work. "Confound it, Peabody, your suggestion about excavating in the Sudan makes perfectly good sense, and I am willing to accept it. There is no reason why anyone should doubt the story. Why are you anticipating difficulties that don't exist?" "Better safe than sorry, Emerson." "I might have known you would answer with an aphorism," Emerson grumbled. "Oh, the devil, do as you like. I leave it to you to cover our tracks, as you put it." I had thought he would. "I have made one of my little lists," I explained, removing the paper from my pocket. Emerson grinned reluctantly. "I thought you would." "The first thing is to get Merasen away from here as soon aspossible. That we have had such a visitor is known to the servants, but even Gargery, with all his poking and prying, has only the vaguest notion of where he came from or why. Gargery has not enough experience to realize how unusual he is, in appearance, language, and manner, but I assure you, it would not take David long to begin wondering about him." "That's sensible, I suppose," Emerson admitted. "What do you propose to do with him?" "Send him on ahead of us to Egypt and to Wadi Haifa." "On his own?" "He got here all the way from the Sudan,