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e quaintly Egyptian woman and her warrior lover； and the sketch of the three pyramids behind them and the fanlike Egyptian palms。
She gave a little agitated moan as she studied this。 Then her finger moved over the columns of English； and she looked up at Elliott； her eyes large and glossy and slightly mad。
〃My language；〃 he said to her in Latin。〃 English。 This advertises a drama with music。 It is called an opera。〃
〃Speak in English；〃 she said to him in Latin。 Her voice was sharp yet lovely。〃 I tell you； speak。〃
There was a sound at the door。 He took her arm and moved her to one side； out of sight。〃 Strangers；〃 he said in English and then immediately in Latin。 He went on in this vein； alternating languages； translating for her。〃 Lie down and rest； and I shall bring you food。〃
She cocked her head； listening to the noises from the other room。 Then her body moved with a violent spasm and she put her hand to the wound in her chest。 Yes； they hurt her； these awful oozing ulcers； for that's what they looked like。 But there was something else wrong with her； accounting for her sudden jerky movements； and the way every sound startled her。
Quickly he led her to the bed； and； shoving back the netting； he urged her to He back on the lace pillows。 A great look of relief came over her as she did so。 She shivered violently again； fingers dancing now over her eyes； as she turned instinctively towards the sun。 Surely he should cover her； only a few rags now clung to her； thin as paper； but then she needed the sun。
He opened the blinds opposite； letting the full heat e in。
Then he hurried to close the door to the sitting room； and he peered out the window that opened onto the yard。
Malenka was just opening the garden gate。 Two men had e in with a rolled…up carpet。 They unrolled it on the pavement； lifted the body of Henry； dumped it down on the carpet and rolled it up again。
The sight of the heavy flopping limbs sickened Elliott。 He swallowed； and waited out the sudden increased pressure in his chest。
Then he heard a soft weeping ing from the bed。 He went back to the woman and looked down at her。 He could not tell if the healing was continuing。 And then he thought of the vial in his coat。
For a moment he hesitated。 Who would not？ But there were only a few droplets。 And he could not bear the sight of her pain。
The deaths she'd caused； they had been almost blunders。 And how impossible to measure her confusion and torments。
She looked up at him； squinting as though the brightness hurt her。 And softly in Latin； she asked his name。
For a moment he couldn't respond。 Her simple tone had evinced a natural intelligence。 And it was intelligence now that he beheld in her eyes。
That is； she seemed no longer mad or disoriented。 Only a woman suffering。
〃Forgive me；〃 he said in Latin。〃 Elliott； Lord Rutherford。 In my land； I am a lord。〃
Shrewdly she studied him。 She sat up； and reaching for the folded forter at the foot of the bed； she brought it up to cover her to the waist。 The sunlight sparkled on her black hair； and once again he saw the tendrils dancing about her face。
Her black eyebrows were beautifully drawn； high and just wide enough apart。 Her hazel eyes were magnificent。
〃May I ask your name？〃 he said in Latin。
A bitter smile came over her。〃 Cleopatra；〃 she said。〃 In my land； I am a Queen。〃
The silence shimmered。 A soft heat washed through him； utterly unlike the pain of other shocks。 He stared into her eyes； unable to answer。 And then a great exhilaration seized him； obliterating every fear and regret of his soul。
〃Cleopatra；〃 he whispered； awestruck； respectful。
In Latin she said；〃 Speak to me in English； Lord Rutherford。 Speak the tongue you spoke to the slave girl。 Speak the tongue written there in the book。 Bring me food and drink； for I am ravenous。〃
〃Yes；〃 he said in English； nodding to her。 He repeated the assent in Latin。〃 Food and drink。〃
〃And you must tell me…〃 she started； but then stopped。 The pain in her side hurt her； and then frantically she touched the wound on her head。〃 Tell me…〃 she tried again； then looked at him in pure confusion。 She was obviously struggling to remember； then panic seized her； and clamping her hands to her head； she closed her eyes and started to weep。
〃Here； wait； I have the medicine；〃 he whispered。 He eased himself down slowly on the side of the bed。 He drew the vial out of his coat。 A half inch of fluid remained in it； sparkling unnaturally in the sun。
She studied the vial suspiciously。 She watched him open it。 He raised it； gendy touching her hair with his left hand； but she stopped him。 She pointed to her eyelids and he saw that there were still small places there where the skin appeared eaten away。 She took the vial from him； poured a drop or two onto her fingers and smoothed this on her lids。
Elliott narrowed his eyes as he watched the action of the chemical。 He could almost hear it； a faint rustling； crackling sound。
Now； desperately； she took the whole vial and poured the fluid over the gaping hole in her chest。 She smeared it with her left fingers； whimpering softly； and then lay back； gasping faindy； head tossing on the pillows； then still。
Several minutes passed。 He was fascinated by what he saw。 But the healing went only so far； then stopped。 Her lids； they were now entirely normal； and indeed her lashes were a dark unbroken fringe。 But the wound in her side was as evil as ever。
It was only just penetrating to him that she was Cleopatra； that Ramses had stumbled upon the body of his lost love。 It was only just ing clear to him why Ramses had done what he had done。 Dully he wondered what it meant to have such power。 He had dreamed of immortality； but not the power to convey it。 And this was the power not only to grant immortality； but to triumph over death。
But the implications 。。。 they staggered him。 This creature； what was going on in her mind？ Indeed； where had her mind as such e from？ God； he had to reach Ramsey！
〃I'll get more of the medicine；〃 he said in English； translating it immediately into Latin。〃 I'll bring it here to you； but you must rest now。 You must lie here in die sun。〃 He pointed to the window。 Using both languages； he explained that the sun was making the medicine work。
Drowsily she looked at him。 She repeated his English phrases； mimicking his accent perfectly。 But her eyes had a glazed and utterly mad look now。 She murmured something in Latin about not being able to remember and then she began to weep again。
He could not bear the sight of it。 But what more could he do？ As quickly as he could； he went into the other room and brought back a bottle of liqueur for her； a thick spicy brandy； and at once she took it from him and drank it down。
Her eyes went dim for a moment。 And then she moaned aloud in pure distress again。
The gramophone。 Ramsey loved music。 Ramsey was spellbound by it。 Elliott went to the little machine； and examined the few records beside it in a pile。 Lots of the English…language foolishness。 Ah； here was what he wanted： Aida。 Caruso singing Radames。
He wound the box； and set the needle on the record。 At the first thin sound of the orchestra； she sat up in the bed； she stared in horror。 But he went to her and touched her shoulder gently。
〃Opera； Aida；〃 he said。 He groped for words in Latin to explain it was a music box； it worked by parts fitted together。〃 The song was from a man to his Egyptian love。〃
She climbed out of the bed and stumbled past him。 She was now almost entirely naked； and her form was quite beautiful； her hips narrow and her legs beautifully proportioned。 He tried not to stare at her； not to stare at her breasts。 Approaching slowly； he lifted the gramophone needle。 She screamed at him。 A volley of curses broke from her in Latin。〃 Make the music go on。〃
〃Yes； but I want to show you how；〃 he told her。 He cranked the handle of the machine again。 He set the needle on the record again。 Only then did the utter savagery go out of her expression。 She began to moan in time with the music； and then she put her hands on her head； and shut her eyes very tight。
She began to dance； rocking frantically from side to side。 It terrified him to watch her； but he knew he'd seen this very kind of dancing before。 He had seen it among severely damaged children…an atavistic response to the rhythm and sound。
She didn't notice as he slipped away to bring her food。
Ramses bought the newspaper from the British newsstand and walked on； slowly； through the crowded bazaar。
MURDER IN THE MUSEUM MUMMY STOLEN； MAID KILLED
Beneath the headline was the column heading：
MYSTERIOUS EGYPTIAN SOUGHT IN GRISLY DEATH
He scanned the details； then crumpled up the newspaper and threw it away。 He walked on with his head bowed； arms folded under the Arab robe。 Had she slain this serving woman？ And why had she done it？ 'And how had she managed to escape？
Of course the officials might be lying； but that seemed unlikely。 Not enough time had elapsed f