the metal monster-第10章

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The　valley　was　very　still；　as　silent　as　though　sound　had　been　withdrawn　from　it。　The　shimmering　radiance　suffusing　it　had　thickened　perceptibly；　hovered　over　the　valley　floor　faintly　sparkling　mists；　hid　it。

Like　a　shroud　was　that　silence。　Beneath　it　my　mind　struggled；　its　unease；　its　forebodings　growing　ever　stronger。　Silently　we　repacked　the　saddlebags；　girthed　the　pony；　silently　we　waited　for　Norhala's　return。

Idly　I　had　noted　that　the　place　on　which　we　stood　must　be　raised　above　the　level　of　the　vale。　Up　toward　us　the　gathering　mists　had　been　steadily　rising；　still　was　their　wavering　crest　a　half　score　feet　below　us。

Abruptly　out　of　their　dim　nebulosity　a　faintly　phosphorescent　square　broke。　It　lifted；　slowly；　then　swept；　a　dully　lustrous　six…foot　cube；　up　the　slope　and　came　to　rest　almost　at　our　feet。　It　dwelt　there；　contemplated　us　from　its　myriads　of　deep…set；　sparkling　striations。

In　its　wake　swam；　one　by　one；　six　otherstheir　tops　raising　from　the　vapors　like　the　first；　watchfully；　like　shimmering　backs　of　sea　monsters；　like　turrets　of　fantastic　angled　submarines　from　phosphorescent　seas。　One　by　one　they　skimmed　swiftly　over　the　ledge；　and　one　by　one　they　nestled；　edge　to　edge　and　alternately；　against　the　cube　which　had　gone　before。

In　a　crescent；　they　stretched　before　us。　Back　from　them；　a　pace；　ten　paces；　twenty；　we　retreated。

They　lay　immobilestaring　at　us。

Cleaving　the　mists；　silk　of　copper　hair　streaming　wide；　unearthly　eyes　lambent；　floated　up　behind　themNorhala。　For　an　instant　she　was　hidden　behind　their　bulk；　suddenly　was　upon　them；　drifted　over　them　like　some　spirit　of　light；　stood　before　us。

Her　veils　were　again　about　her；　golden　girdle；　sandals　of　gold　and　turquoise　in　their　places。　Pearl　white　her　body　gleamed；　no　mark　of　lightning　marred　it。

She　walked　toward　us；　turned　and　faced　the　watching　cubes。　She　uttered　no　sound；　but　as　at　a　signal　the　central　cube　slid　forward；　halted　before　her。　She　rested　a　hand　upon　its　edge。

〃Ride　with　me；〃　she　said　to　Ruth。

〃Norhala。〃　Ventnor　took　a　step　forward。　〃Norhala；　we　must　go　with　her。　And　this〃he　pointed　to　the　pony　〃must　go　with　us。〃

〃I　meantyouto　come；〃　the　faraway　voice　chimed；　〃but　I　had　not　thought　ofthat。〃

A　moment　she　considered；　then　turned　to　the　six　waiting　cubes。　Again　as　at　a　command　four　of　the　things　moved；　swirled　in　toward　each　other　with　a　weird　precision；　with　a　monstrous　martial　mimicry；　joined；　stood　before　us；　a　platform　twelve　feet　square；　six　high。

〃Mount；〃　sighed　Norhala。

Ventnor　looked　helplessly　at　the　sheer　front　facing　him。

〃Mount。〃　There　was　half…wondering　impatience　in　her　command。　〃See！〃

She　caught　Ruth　by　the　waist　and　with　the　same　bewildering　swiftness　with　which　she　had　vanished　from　us　when　the　aurora　beckoned　she　stood；　holding　the　girl；　upon　the　top　of　the　single　cube。　It　was　as　though　the　two　had　been　lifted；　had　been　levitated　with　an　incredible　rapidity。

〃Mount；〃　she　murmured　again；　looking　down　upon　us。

Slowly　Ventnor　began　to　bandage　the　pony's　eyes。　I　placed　my　hand　upon　the　edge　of　the　quadruple；　sprang。　A　myriad　unseen　hands　caught　me；　raised　me；　set　me　instantaneously　on　the　upward　surface。

〃Lift　the　pony　to　me；〃　I　called　to　Ventnor。

〃Lift　it？〃　he　echoed；　incredulously。

Drake's　grin　cut　like　a　sunray　through　the　nightmare　dread　that　shrouded　my　mind。

〃Catch；〃　he　called；　placed　one　hand　beneath　the　beast's　belly；　the　other　under　its　throat；　his　shoulders　heaved　and　up　shot　the　pony；　laden　as　it　was；　landed　softly　upon　four　wide…stretched　legs　beside　me。　The　faces　of　the　two　gaped　up；　ludicrous　in　their　amazement。

〃Follow；〃　cried　Norhala。

Ventnor　leaped　wildly　for　the　top；　Drake　beside　him；　in　the　flash　of　a　humming…bird's　wing　they　were　gripping　me；　swearing　feebly。　The　unseen　hold　angled；　struck　upward；　clutched　from　ankle　to　thigh；　held　us　fastmen　and　beast。

Away　swept　the　block　that　bore　Ruth　and　Norhala；　I　saw　Ruth　crouching；　head　bent；　her　arms　around　the　knees　of　the　woman。　They　slipped　into　the　mists；　vanished。

And　after　them；　like　a　log　in　a　racing　current；　we；　too；　dipped　beneath　the　faintly　luminous　vapors。

The　cubes　moved　with　an　entire　absence　of　vibration；　so　smoothly　and　skimmingly；　indeed；　that　had　it　not　been　for　the　sudden　wind　that　had　risen　when　first　we　had　stirred；　and　that　now　beat　steadily　upon　our　faces；　and　the　cloudy　walls　streaming　by；　I　would　have　thought　ourselves　at　rest。

I　saw　the　blurred　form　of　Ventnor　drift　toward　the　forward　edge。　He　walked　as　though　wading。　I　essayed　to　follow　him；　my　feet　I　could　not　lift；　I　could　advance　only　by　gliding　them　as　though　skating。

Also　the　force；　whatever　it　was；　that　held　me　seemed　to　pass　me　on　from　unseen　clutch　to　clutch；　it　was　as　though　up　to　my　hips　I　moved　through　a　closely　woven　yet　fluid　mass　of　cobwebs。　I　had　the　fantastic　idea　that　if　I　so　willed　I　could　slip　over　the　edge　of　the　blocks；　crawl　about　their　sides　without　fallinglike　a　fly　on　the　vertical　faces　of　a　huge　sugar　loaf。

I　drew　beside　Ventnor。　He　was　staring　ahead；　striving；　I　knew；　to　pierce　the　mists　for　some　glimpse　of　Ruth。

He　turned　to　me；　his　face　drawn　with　anxiety；　his　eyes　feverish。

〃Can　you　see　them；　Walter？〃　His　voice　shook。　〃God　why　did　I　ever　let　her　go　like　that？　Why　did　I　let　her　go　alone？〃

〃They'll　be　close　ahead；　Martin。〃　I　spoke　out　of　a　conviction　I　could　not　explain。　〃Whatever　it　is　we're　bound　for；　wherever　it　is　the　woman's　taking　us；　she　means　to　keep　us　togetherfor　a　time　at　least。　I'm　sure　of　it。〃

〃She　saidfollow。〃　It　was　Drake　beside　us。　〃How　the　hell　can　we　do　anything　else？　We　haven't　any　control　over　this　bird　we're　on。　But　she　has。　What　she　meant；　Ventnor；　is　that　it　would　follow　her。〃

〃That's　true〃new　hope　softened　the　haggard　face　〃that's　truebut　is　it？　We're　reckoning　with　creatures　that　man's　imagination　never　conceivednor　could　conceive。　And　with　thiswomanhuman　in　shape；　yes；　but　human　in　thoughtnever。　How　then　can　we　tell〃

He　turned　once　more；　all　his　consciousness　concentrated　in　his　searching　eyes。

Drake's　rifle　slipped　from　his　hand。

He　stooped　to　pick　it　up；　then　tugged　with　both　hands。　The　rifle　lay　immovable。

I　bent　and　strove　to　aid　him。　For　all　the　pair　of　us　could　do；　the　rifle　might　have　been　a　part　of　the　gleaming　surface　on　which　it　rested。　The　tiny；　deepset　star　points　winked　up

〃They'relaughing　at　us！〃　grunted　Drake。

〃Nonsense；〃　I　answered；　and　tried　to　check　the　involuntary　shuddering　that　shook　me；　as　I　saw　it　shake　him。　〃Nonsense。　These　blocks　are　great　magnetsthat's　what　holds　the　rifle；　what　holds　us；　too。〃

〃I　don't　mean　the　rifle；〃　he　said；　〃I　mean　those　points　of　lightsthe　eyes〃

There　came　from　Ventnor　a　cry　of　almost　anguished　relief。　We　straightened。　Our　head　shot　above　the　mists　like　those　of　swimmers　from　water。　Unnoticed；　we　had　been　climbing　out　of　them。

And　a　hundred　yards　ahead　of　us；　cleaving　them；　veiled　in　them　almost　to　the　shoulders；　was　Norhala；　red…gold　tresses　steaming；　and　close　beside　her　were　the　brown　curls　of　Ruth。　At　her　brother's　cry　she　turned　and　her　arm　flashed　out　of　the　veils　with　reassuring　gesture。

A　mile　away　was　an　opening　in　the　valley's　mountainous　wall；　toward　it　we　were　speeding。　It　was　no　ragged　crevice；　no　nature　split　fissure；　it　gave　the　impression　of　a　gigantic　doorway。

〃Look；〃　whispered　Drake。

Between　us　and　the　vast　gateway；　gleaming　triangles　began　to　break　through　the　vapors；　like　the　cutting　fins　of　sharks；　glints　of　round　bodies　like　gigantic　porpoises　the　vapors　seethed　with　them。　Quickly　the　fins　and　rolling　curves　were　all　about　us。　They　centered　upon　the　portal；　streamed　througha　horde　of　the　metal　things；　leading　us；　guarding　us；　playing　about　us。

And　weird；　unutterably　weird　was　that　spectaclethe　vast　and　silent　vale　with　its　still；　smooth　vapors　like　a　coverlet　of　cloud；　the　regal　head　of　Norhala　sweeping　over　them；　the　dull　glint　and　gleam　of　the　metal　paradoxes　flowing；　in　ordered　motion；　all　about　us；　the　titanic　gateway；　glowing　before　us。

We　were　at　its　threshold；　over　it。





CHAPTER　VIII

THE　DRUMS　OF　THUNDER

Upon　that　threshold　the　mists　foamed　like　breaking　billows；　then　ceased　abruptly　to　be。　Keeping　exactly　the　distance　I　had　noted　when　our　gaze　had　risen　above　the　fog；　glided　the　block　that　bore　Ruth　and　Norhala。　In　the　strange　light　of　the　place　into　which　we　had　emergedand　whether　that　place　was　canyon；　corridor；　or　tunnel　I　could　not　then　determineit　stood　out　sharply。

One　arm　of　Norhala　held　Ruthand　in　her　attitude　I　sensed　a　shielding　intent；　guardianshipthe　first　really　human　impulse　this　shape　of　mystery　and　beauty　had　revealed。

In　front　of　them　swept　score　upon　score　of　her　familiars　no　longer　dully　lustrous；　but　shining　as　though　cut　from　blue　and　polished　steel。　Theymarchedin　ordered　rows；　globes　and　cubes　and　pyramids；　moving　sedately　now　as　units。

I　looked　behind　me；　out　of　the　spume　boiling　at　the　portal；　were　pouring　forth　other　scores　of　the　Metal　Things；　darting　through　like　divers　through　a　wave。　And　as　they　drew　into　our　wake　and　swam　into　the　light；　their　dim　lustre　vanished　like　a　film；　their　surfaces　grew　almost　radiant。

Whence　came　the　light　that　set　them　gleaming？　Our　pace　had　slackenedI　looked　about　me。　The　walls　of　the　cleft　or　tunnel　were　perpendicular；　smooth　and　shining　with　a　cold；　metallic；　greenish　glow。

Between　the　walls；　like　rhythmic　flashing　of　fire…flies；　pulsed　soft　and　fugitive　glimmerings　that　carried　a　sense　of　the　infinitely　minuteof　electrons；　it　came　to　me；　rather　than　atoms。　Their　irradiance　was　greenish；　like　the　walls；　but　I　was　certain　that　these　corpuscles　did　not　come　from　them。

They　blinked　and　faded　like　motes　within　a　shifting　sunbeam；　or；　to　use　a　more　scientific　comparison；　like　colloids　within　the　illuminated　field　of　the　ultramicroscope；　and　like　these　latter　it　was　as　though　the　eyes　took　in　not　the　minute　particles　themselves　but　their　movement　only。

Save　for　these　gleamings　the　light　of　the　place；　although　crepuscular；　was　crystalline　clear。　High　above　us　five　hundred；　a　thousand　feetthe　walls　merged　into　a　haze　of　clouded　beryl。

Rock　certainly　the　cliffs　werebut　rock　cut　and　planed；　smoothed　and　polished　and　PLATED！

Yes；　that　was　itplated。　Plated　with　some　metallic　substance　that　was　itself　a　reservoir　of　luminosity　and　from　which；　it　came　to　me；　pulsed　the　force　that　lighted　the　winking　ions。　But　who　could　have　done　such　a　thing？　For　what　purpose？　How？

And　the　meticulousness；　the　perfection　of　these　smoothed　cliffs　struck　over　my　nerves　as　no　rasp　could；　stirring　a　vague　resentment；　an　irritated　desire　for　human　inharmonies；　human　disorder。

Absorbed　in　my　examination　I　had　forgotten　those　who　must　share　with　me　my　doubts　and　dangers。　I　felt　a　grip　on　my　arm。

〃If　we　get　close　enough　and　I　can　get　my　feet　loose　from　this　damned　thing　I'll　jump；〃　Drake　said。

〃What？〃　I　gasped；　blankly；　startled　out　of　my　preoccupation。　〃Jump　where？〃

I　followed　his　pointing　finger。　We　were　rapidly　closing　upon　the　other　cube；　it　was　now　a　scant　twenty　paces　ahead；　it　seemed　to　be　stopping。　Ventnor　was　leaning　forward；　quivering　with　eagerness。

〃Ruth！〃　he　called。　〃Ruthare　you　all　right？〃

Slowly　she　turned　to　usmy　heart　gave　a　great　leap；