Chapter 21 9

Words of joy and admiration filled the deck of the Carnac on Monday morning.The ship just docked, and a few yards offshore was a huge temple.Four giant stone statues stand, as if guarding the banks of the Nile forever.The rays of the rising sun shone on their faces, doubling the solemnity of the stone statues. Cornia said breathlessly: "Oh, Mr. Poirot, how wonderful! Look at them so grand, so peaceful, and make people feel so small, as insignificant as insects!" Fenthorp, who was standing aside, murmured, "It's really impressive." "How great!" Simon Doyle walked over slowly and said to Poirot: "You know? I personally don't particularly like temples and scenic spots. But such a place is indeed very attractive. I think those pharaohs in ancient times must be quite difficult characters.”

Everyone else walked away.Simon lowered his voice and said: "The pleasure this trip has given us is boundless. Well, it's finally clearing up. It's a wonder why it happened -- but it happened. Lina's nerves are gone, and she says it's because she's finally Because I can take care of the business." "I think it's a very sensible thing to do," said Poirot. "She said she was horrified when she saw Jackie on this boat again—and then, suddenly, it didn't bother her anymore. We both made a deal that we wouldn't run from Jackie anymore. She loved Let her do what she wants, and we'll show her that her erratic ways can't bother us anymore. It's just damn bad--that's all. She thinks she's got us all on edge, and now, We're not on edge anymore. That has to be made clear to her."

"Yes," said Poirot thoughtfully. "That's how things are handled, isn't it?" "Oh, of course, of course." Lin Na walked along the deck.She wore a loose apricot linen shirt.A smile spread across her face.But she didn't greet Poirot warmly, she just nodded to him coldly, and walked away with her husband on her arm. Before Poirot could comprehend Lin Na's expression, the tour guide had already summoned everyone loudly, preparing to go ashore to visit Abu Simbel. Poirot went with Pennington. "Is this your first visit to Egypt?" asked Poirot.

"Oh, no. When I came in 1923, I was only in Cairo. I didn't visit the banks of the Nile." "You came on the Carnanique? Mrs. Doyle told me so." Poirot gave him a keen eye. "That's right, I'm on the 'Kanaik'." Pennington replied. "I don't know if you met my old friends on the boat——Roxendon Smith's family?" "I don't remember this family. The ship was crowded and the weather was bad. Many passengers hid in their rooms. Besides, the journey was so short that there were not many opportunities to get to know each other."

"Ah, that's true. You and Mr. and Mrs. Doyle met this time is very clever! You didn't know anything about their marriage beforehand?" "I haven't heard anything about it. Mrs. Doyle wrote to me, but when the letter arrived, we had been together in Cairo for several days." "I heard that you have known Mrs. Doyle for many years?" "Oh, when I knew Linna, she was just the height of a little girl—" Pennington gestured. "Her father and I have been old friends for many years. Mei Erqu. Li Jiwei is an outstanding and successful person."

"His daughter undoubtedly inherited a considerable fortune." "Oh, that's well known. Yes, Linna is a rich woman," said Pennington cheerfully. "I believe that the recent decline in the stock market must affect every kind of stock, even the more stable ones, right?" Pennington thought for a moment before answering: "That's certainly true to a certain extent. It's pretty rough these days." Poirot murmured: "However, I think Mrs. Doyle is very business-minded." "Yes, Lin Na is indeed smart and capable." They stopped.Begins with the introduction to the temple built at the hands of the great Rameses.At the entrance, there are two pairs of four Rameses colossi, carved out of huge stones, overlooking groups of tourists.Mr. Richetti ignored the tour guide's briefing, and went to the stone base to study the reliefs of black people and Syrian prisoners of war.When a group of people stepped into the temple, a sense of tranquility enveloped them.After a while, the tourists dispersed in twos and threes.

Dr. Bessler recited "Bedick's Travel Guide" in loud German, stopping from time to time to translate for Cornia who was walking beside him docilely.Too bad this couldn't go on.Miss Vatican walked in with the support of Miss Bowles, and she ordered: "Conia, come here." The translation agency had to stop.Dr. Bessler looked at her gradually receding figure through the deep lens, with a smile on his face unconsciously. "A very gentle girl," he said to Poirot. "She doesn't look like those young women who have been starving for days. She is curvy. Also, she listens very attentively; it is a pleasure to explain to her."

A thought flashed through Poirot's mind: Cornia's fate was probably either to be bullied as weak, or to be taught as an ignorant girl.In any case, she is the listener rather than the speaker. After Cornia was called away by the domineering Miss Van Schule, Miss Bowles breathed a sigh of relief, stood in the center of the temple, and glanced around casually with indifferent and uninterested eyes.Her response to Ancient Treasures was also pretty flat. "The tour guide mentioned a god whose name is Mut. Do you understand its meaning?" There are four stone statues in the inner hall. Their indifferent and empty eyes are quite special among the many stone statues, and they are easy to recognize.

Lin Na and her husband stood together in front of the four giant statues, arm in arm, with their faces raised—a curious expression of modern people. Simon said suddenly, "Let's go! I don't like these four guys at all, especially the one with the top hat." "That's probably Oman (ancient Egyptian god of life and fertility), why don't you like them, I think they are impressive!" "It's just too impressive to have a crafty vibe! Get out in the sun!" Lin Na laughed, and finally followed his wishes.They walked into the sun, and the yellow sand on the soles of their feet warmed their feet.

Lin Na laughed out loud.For a moment at their feet appeared the heads of six Nubian children lined up in a row. Their heads seemed to be sawn apart from their bodies, looking weird and terrifying.Their eyes rolled around, their heads shook rhythmically from side to side, and a pleading voice burst out from the corners of their lips: "Whoa! Whoa! Good, good. Thank you so much." "It's ridiculous! How could they do it? Are they really buried very deep?" Simon moved a few steps. "Okay, great, and cheap." He imitated their voices. The two little boys who had choreographed the "show" picked up the coins and wiped them.

Lin Na and Simon continued on their way.They didn't want to go back to the boat, and they were tired of sightseeing. They leaned against the cliff and let the warm sun bask in their bodies. "What a lovely sunshine!" Linna thought, "how warm! And safe... so wonderful to be so happy... so happy I am... Lina Doyle..." She closed her eyes, half asleep and half awake, intoxicated by this reverie. Simon's eyes opened, and there was satisfaction in his eyes.The first night he was so worried he was so stupid...nothing to worry about...everything was going well...most importantly, Jackie was dependable... Suddenly, there was a strange cry - the crowd was running towards them, waving their hands and shouting... Simon stared at them blankly for a while, then jumped up and dragged Linna aside. Before long, a big rock rolled down the cliff and smashed beside them.If Lin Na was still lying there, she would have been crushed into a meat paste. They paled and embraced.Poirot and Tim came running. "How risky, Mrs. Doyle!" The four instinctively looked towards the top of the cliff, but nothing happened.There was a path on the cliff, and Poirot remembered seeing some native people walking on it when he went up. He looked at the Doyles.Lin Na looked dazed, but Simon blurted out with anger, "God curse her!" He restrained himself, and quickly glanced at Tim beside him. "Oh, it's so dangerous. Who did it, or did the rocks fall from the loose?" Tim asked. Lin Na looked very pale, and said with difficulty: "I think some stupid guys did it!" "Almost crushed you like an egg! You don't have any enemies, Lin Na?" Lin Na swallowed twice, unable to answer the joking question at all. "Come on board, madam!" said Poirot. "You must take a sedative!" They hurried back to the ship, Simon still full of anger; Tim managed to speak lightly; Poirot looked grave.Simon froze as they stepped onto the gangplank. Jaclyn Dubelfer was coming ashore.In a blue cotton dress with checkered stripes, she looked childish this morning. "My God!" Simon said calmly, "It turned out to be an accident!" The scowl faded from his face, and there was something unusual about him that Jaclyn noticed too. "Good morning," she said, "I think I'm a little late." After she nodded to everyone, she headed towards the temple. The other two walked forward.Simon took Poirot by the arm and said: "Well, I'm relieved at last. I thought—" Poirot nodded. "Yes, I know what you were thinking just now." But his expression was still heavy and full of thoughts.He turned his head and carefully observed the movements of other passengers. Miss Van Schuyler was walking back slowly, supported by Bowers; not far away, Mrs. Elleton was smiling and looking at the heads of a row of Nubian children.Utterborn is with her on that.Others were nowhere to be seen. Poirot shook his head as he followed Simon Doyle into the boat.