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.She is sipping her drink and gazing out across the Valley frombehind the reflective silver panes of her sunglasses.Lucia forces down the final sickly-sweet dregs of her drink, wanting to kill Mark forso obviously looking at another woman in her presence. Well, Doug pushes his chair back, are we ready for Nefertari s tomb? The only thing Lucia wants now is an empty tomb in which to bury that blonde. It s the most beautiful tomb in the Valley. Doug looks bewildered by her suddenlack of enthusiasm. Are tourists allowed in there? Mark asks abruptly. Of course not, Doug snaps. You know that. Good.Let s go. 66 Crook & FlailChapter NineAfter Nefertari s tomb they drop Doug off at the Institute near the Valley, afterwhich Lori chauffeurs them back to the East Bank to spare them a crowded touristbarge.She speeds across the river with her back to them, supporting Mark s silence.And, feeling increasingly insecure about him, Lucia can t think of anything to say tolighten the mood.In the elevator taking them up to what is now their room, Mark remains asunsociable as an obelisk while she tortures herself trying to figure out what he isthinking.He is probably wondering where that beautiful blonde is staying and planning hisapproach.The doors part with a mechanical sigh and he steps out into the corridor.She remains in the lift, miserably wondering if Elizabeth was right about him afterall.He grabs her arm and pulls her out before the doors close. Are you all right? No. Do you feel dizzy? He sounds concerned. Nauseous? No, it s not physical. He unlocks their door. What is it then? She walks into the room ahead of him and drops listlessly onto edge of the bed.Sheis a fool to believe that love is strong enough to defeat time and space.Mark closes the door and comes to stand in front of her. Lucia, he grips her chinbetween his thumb and forefinger and forces her to look up at him, talk to me. The evanescent particle of personality she knew as Richard Taylor has been sweptback into the dark waves of energy from which it came.He nourished her desires whilehe lived but she has to let him go now because anything else is unnatural, unhealthy.She focuses on the softly undulating horizon of Mark s lips. I m just tired. I thought you said it wasn t physical. There is a knock at the door. Mrs.Taylor? a heavily accented voice inquires with an odd blend of deferenceand impatience. Yes? You have just returned from the desert, so we bring you more water. Leave it outside please. Very well& enjoy. 67 Maria Isabel PitaMark strides to the door, flings it open and disappears out into the hall.She runs after him. Oh my God! Get back in the room, Lucia. She recognizes the native man who originally delivered the sparkling water eventhough half his face is pressed against the wall. Let s have a little talk. Firmly clutching the back of the man s neck, Mark twistsone of his arms up against his back. Who s paying you to bring her the water? Compliments of hotel! The one coal-black eye she can see smolders with adisturbing mix of pain and anger.Mark shifts his hold up to the man s curly black hair, pulls his head back and slamshis forehead into the wall.She gasps as the dull thudding sound reverberates sickeningly in her womb. Who s paying you to drug her water, asshole?! All her nerves stand en pointe and the blood rushes through her body in a breathlesschoreography of fear and excitement. Another woman! Don t know her name! Is she staying here in the Etap? Aywa! Bass! What s her room number? Don t know! Bass! Minfadlak! Mark thrusts his knee between the man s fleshy thighs. What s her roomnumber? La! La! We meet in lobby and she give me powder to put in water! I don t knowroom number! What does the bitch look like? Answer me! Tall and skinny, like model, yellow hair! Mark, let him go before someone sees this! The bastard s drugging you, Lucia
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