The Ape Who Guards The Balance by Elizabeth Peters

Author:Elizabeth Peters
Language: eng
Format: epub

The Ape Who Guards The Balance

From Manuscript H

Sitting on the window ledge he waited for a long time, watching the slits of light that showed through the shuttered window of his parents’ room. They must be arguing. Nothing surprising about that. It would end as it always did, but it was taking them devilish long tonight.

The courtyard lay quiet under the moon. His father had brushed aside his mother’s suggestion that it be lighted, and he was in full agreement. The best possible solution was not to deter invaders but to catch them in the act. It wasn’t likely that anything of that sort would happen, though. “They” wouldn’t risk entering the house when there were easier ways.

A few of the precautions he had suggested had been taken. There were bars on the outer windows now, those of his—formerly Nefret’s—room and of his parents’. They could be removed, but not without making a lot of noise. The gates were barred and the glow of a cigarette in one corner betokened the presence of Mustafa, Daoud’s second son.

Finally the slits of light at his parents’ window disappeared. He waited a little longer before lowering his feet to the ground.

Nefret was still awake. She was not alone. The voices were soft, he couldn’t make out the words. Was she talking to the damned cat? Somehow he didn’t think so.

Eavesdropping was a despicable habit. But, as he had once told his mother, cursed useful. I oughtn’t do this, he thought, as he put his ear against the panel.

“You should tell him, David. It isn’t fair not to.”

“I know.” David’s voice was so low he could barely make out the words. “I’ve tried, but—”

He was not consciously aware of pressing the latch. The door seemed to open by itself. They were sitting side by side on the bed. Nefret’s arm was around David, and he had covered his face with his hands.

David lowered his hands. “Ramses!”

“Excuse me.” He stepped back. “I didn’t know you were here.”

“We were just about to go looking for you,” Nefret said, jumping up. “Come in and close the door.”

“No. I apologize for intruding. I’ll go.”

“What’s the matter?” Nefret asked. “Is your hand bothering you?”

“No, not at all. I—”

“Close the damned door.”

She did it for him and pushed him into the nearest chair. “I want to dress your hand again. David, get me a basin of water, will you?”

She cut through the cloth and guided his hand into the water. A green stain spread out, and Nefret eased the bandage off. “Amazing,” she murmured. “The confounded stuff does seem to be effective. The swelling has gone down.”

“It looks horrible,” David said in a smothered voice.

“That’s because it’s green,” Nefret explained.

“It does rather suggest rotting flesh,” Ramses agreed. “But it feels considerably better. I suppose Kadija gave you the ointment this morning?”

“She slipped it to me while Aunt Amelia wasn’t looking. Daoud got it from her, did you know that? She says the women of her family have handed the recipe down for generations.

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