Прокляття мумії, або Камінь Семи Зірок
Chapter 17
ThevastdistancebetweenLondonandAswanbecameasnaught;andwhateverpowerofnecromancytheSorceresshadmighthavebeenexercisedoverthedeadmother,andpossiblythedeadchild.
Thedeadchild!Wasitpossiblethatthechildwasdeadandwasmadealiveagain?Whencethencametheanimatingspirit—thesoul?Logicwaspointingthewaytomenowwithavengeance!
IftheEgyptianbeliefwastrueforEgyptians,thenthe"Ka"ofthedeadQueenandher"Khu"couldanimatewhatshemightchoose.InsuchcaseMargaretwouldnotbeanindividualatall,butsimplyaphaseofQueenTeraherself;anastralbodyobedienttoherwill!
HereIrevoltedagainstlogic.Everyfibreofmybeingresentedsuchaconclusion.HowcouldIbelievethattherewasnoMargaretatall;butjustananimatedimage,usedbytheDoubleofawomanoffortycenturiesagotoitsownends...!Somehow,theoutlookwasbrightertomenow,despitethenewdoubts.
AtleastIhadMargaret!
Backswungthelogicalpendulumagain.Thechildthenwasnotdead.Ifso,hadtheSorceresshadanythingtodowithherbirthatall?Itwasevident—soItookitagainfromCorbeck—thattherewasastrangelikenessbetweenMargaretandthepicturesofQueenTera.Howcouldthisbe?Itcouldnotbeanybirth-markreproducingwhathadbeeninthemother’smind;forMrs.Trelawnyhadneverseenthepictures.Nay,evenherfatherhadnotseenthemtillhehadfoundhiswayintothetombonlyafewdaysbeforeherbirth.
