the metal monster-第2章

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mpudently；　wholly　trustfully；　into　the　faces　of　the　jeweled　giants　standing　guard　over　them。　And　when　the　little　breeze　walked　upon　them　it　was　as　though　they　bent　beneath　the　soft　tread　and　were　brushed　by　the　sweeping　skirts　of　unseen；　hastening　Presences。

Like　a　vast　prayer…rug；　sapphire　and　silken；　the　poppies　stretched　to　the　gray　feet　of　the　mountain。　Between　their　southern　edge　and　the　clustering　summits　a　row　of　faded　brown；　low　hills　kneltlike　brown…robed；　withered　and　weary　old　men；　backs　bent；　faces　hidden　between　outstretched　arms；　palms　to　the　earth　and　brows　touching　earth　within　themin　the　East's　immemorial　attitude　of　worship。

I　half　expected　them　to　riseand　as　I　watched　a　man　appeared　on　one　of　the　bowed；　rocky　shoulders；　abruptly；　with　the　ever…startling　suddenness　which　in　the　strange　light　of　these　latitudes　objects　spring　into　vision。　As　he　stood　scanning　my　camp　there　arose　beside　him　a　laden　pony；　and　at　its　head　a　Tibetan　peasant。　The　first　figure　waved　its　hand；　came　striding　down　the　hill。

As　he　approached　I　took　stock　of　him。　A　young　giant；　three　good　inches　over　six　feet；　a　vigorous　head　with　unruly　clustering　black　hair；　a　clean…cut；　clean…shaven　American　face。

〃I'm　Dick　Drake；〃　he　said；　holding　out　his　hand。　〃Richard　Keen　Drake；　recently　with　Uncle's　engineers　in　France。〃

〃My　name　is　Goodwin。〃　I　took　his　hand；　shook　it　warmly。　〃Dr。　Walter　T。　Goodwin。〃

〃Goodwin　the　botanist？　Then　I　know　you！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃Know　all　about　you；　that　is。　My　father　admired　your　work　greatly。　You　knew　himProfessor　Alvin　Drake。〃

I　nodded。　So　he　was　Alvin　Drake's　son。　Alvin；　I　knew；　had　died　about　a　year　before　I　had　started　on　this　journey。　But　what　was　his　son　doing　in　this　wilderness？

〃Wondering　where　I　came　from？〃　he　answered　my　unspoken　question。　〃Short　story。　War　ended。　Felt　an　irresistible　desire　for　something　different。　Couldn't　think　of　anything　more　different　from　Tibetalways　wanted　to　go　there　anyway。　Went。　Decided　to　strike　over　toward　Turkestan。　And　here　I　am。〃

I　felt　at　once　a　strong　liking　for　this　young　giant。　No　doubt；　subconsciously；　I　had　been　feeling　the　need　of　companionship　with　my　own　kind。　I　even　wondered；　as　I　led　the　way　into　my　little　camp；　whether　he　would　care　to　join　fortunes　with　me　in　my　journeyings。

His　father's　work　I　knew　well；　and　although　this　stalwart　lad　was　unlike　what　one　would　have　expected　Alvin　Drakea　trifle　dried；　precise；　wholly　abstracted　with　his　experimentsto　beget；　still；　I　reflected；　heredity　like　the　Lord　sometimes　works　in　mysterious　ways　its　wonders　to　perform。

It　was　almost　with　awe　that　he　listened　to　me　instruct　Chiu…Ming　as　to　just　how　I　wanted　supper　prepared；　and　his　gaze　dwelt　fondly　upon　the　Chinese　busy　among　his　pots　and　pans。

We　talked　a　little；　desultorily；　as　the　meal　was　prepared　fragments　of　traveler's　news　and　gossip；　as　is　the　habit　of　journeyers　who　come　upon　each　other　in　the　silent　places。　Ever　the　speculation　grew　in　his　face　as　he　made　away　with　Chiu…Ming's　artful　concoctions。

Drake　sighed；　drawing　out　his　pipe。

〃A　cook；　a　marvel　of　a　cook。　Where　did　you　get　him？〃

Briefly　I　told　him。

Then　a　silence　fell　upon　us。　Suddenly　the　sun　dipped　down　behind　the　flank　of　the　stone　giant　guarding　the　valley's　western　gate；　the　whole　vale　swiftly　darkeneda　flood　of　crystal…clear　shadows　poured　within　it。　It　was　the　prelude　to　that　miracle　of　unearthly　beauty　seen　nowhere　else　on　this　earththe　sunset　of　Tibet。

We　turned　expectant　eyes　to　the　west。　A　little；　cool　breeze　raced　down　from　the　watching　steeps　like　a　messenger；　whispered　to　the　nodding　poppies；　sighed　and　was　gone。　The　poppies　were　still。　High　overhead　a　homing　kite　whistled；　mellowly。

As　if　it　were　a　signal　there　sprang　out　in　the　pale　azure　of　the　western　sky　row　upon　row　of　cirrus　cloudlets；　rank　upon　rank　of　them；　thrusting　their　heads　into　the　path　of　the　setting　sun。　They　changed　from　mottled　silver　into　faint　rose；　deepened　to　crimson。

〃The　dragons　of　the　sky　drink　the　blood　of　the　sunset；〃　said　Chiu…Ming。

As　though　a　gigantic　globe　of　crystal　had　dropped　upon　the　heavens；　their　blue　turned　swiftly　to　a　clear　and　glowing　amberthen　as　abruptly　shifted　to　a　luminous　violet　A　soft　green　light　pulsed　through　the　valley。

Under　it；　like　hills　ensorcelled；　the　rocky　walls　about　it　seemed　to　flatten。　They　glowed　and　all　at　once　pressed　forward　like　gigantic　slices　of　palest　emerald　jade；　translucent；　illumined；　as　though　by　a　circlet　of　little　suns　shining　behind　them。

The　light　faded；　robes　of　deepest　amethyst　dropped　around　the　mountain's　mighty　shoulders。　And　then　from　every　snow　and　glacier…crowned　peak；　from　minaret　and　pinnacle　and　towering　turret；　leaped　forth　a　confusion　of　soft　peacock　flames；　a　host　of　irised　prismatic　gleamings；　an　ordered　chaos　of　rainbows。

Great　and　small；　interlacing　and　shifting；　they　ringed　the　valley　with　an　incredible　gloryas　if　some　god　of　light　itself　had　touched　the　eternal　rocks　and　bidden　radiant　souls　stand　forth。

Through　the　darkening　sky　swept　a　rosy　pencil　of　living　light；　that　utterly　strange；　pure　beam　whose　coming　never　fails　to　clutch　the　throat　of　the　beholder　with　the　hand　of　ecstasy；　the　ray　which　the　Tibetans　name　the　Ting…Pa。　For　a　moment　this　rosy　finger　pointed　to　the　east；　then　arched　itself；　divided　slowly　into　six　shining；　rosy　bands；　began　to　creep　downward　toward　the　eastern　horizon　where　a　nebulous；　pulsing　splendor　arose　to　meet　it。

And　as　we　watched　I　heard　a　gasp　from　Drake。　And　it　was　echoed　by　my　own。

For　the　six　beams　were　swaying；　moving　with　ever　swifter　motion　from　side　to　side　in　ever…widening　sweep；　as　though　the　hidden　orb　from　which　they　sprang　were　swaying　like　a　pendulum。

Faster　and　faster　the　six　high…flung　beams　swayedand　then　brokebroke　as　though　a　gigantic；　unseen　hand　had　reached　up　and　snapped　them！

An　instant　the　severed　ends　ribboned　aimlessly；　then　bent；　turned　down　and　darted　earthward　into　the　welter　of　clustered　summits　at　the　north　and　swiftly　were　gone；　while　down　upon　the　valley　fell　night。

〃Good　God！〃　whispered　Drake。　〃It　was　as　though　something　reached　up；　broke　those　rays　and　drew　them　down　like　threads。〃

〃I　saw　it。〃　I　struggled　with　bewilderment。　〃I　saw　it。　But　I　never　saw　anything　like　it　before；〃　I　ended；　most　inadequately。

〃It　was　PURPOSEFUL；〃　he　whispered。　〃It　was　DELIBERATE。　As　though　something　reached　up；　juggled　with　the　rays；　broke　them；　and　drew　them　down　like　willow　withes。〃

〃The　devils　that　dwell　here！〃　quavered　Chiu…Ming。

〃Some　magnetic　phenomenon。〃　I　was　half　angry　at　myself　for　my　own　touch　of　panic。　〃Light　can　be　deflected　by　passage　through　a　magnetic　field。　Of　course　that's　it。　Certainly。〃

〃I　don't　know。〃　Drake's　tone　was　doubtful　indeed。　〃It　would　take　a　whale　of　a　magnetic　field　to　have　done　THAT　it's　inconceivable。〃　He　harked　back　to　his　first　idea。　〃It　was　soso　DAMNED　deliberate；〃　he　repeated。

〃Devils〃　muttered　the　frightened　Chinese。

〃What's　that？〃　Drake　gripped　my　arm　and　pointed　to　the　north。　A　deeper　blackness　had　grown　there　while　we　had　been　talking；　a　pool　of　darkness　against　which　the　mountain　summits　stood　out；　blade…sharp　edges　faintly　luminous。

A　gigantic　lance　of　misty　green　fire　darted　from　the　blackness　and　thrust　its　point　into　the　heart　of　the　zenith；　following　it；　leaped　into　the　sky　a　host　of　the　sparkling　spears　of　light；　and　now　the　blackness　was　like　an　ebon　hand；　brandishing　a　thousand　javelins　of　tinseled　flame。

〃The　aurora；〃　I　said。

〃It　ought　to　be　a　good　one；〃　mused　Drake；　gaze　intent　upon　it。　〃Did　you　notice　the　big　sun　spot？〃

I　shook　my　head。

〃The　biggest　I　ever　saw。　Noticed　it　first　at　dawn　this　morning。　Some　little　aurora　lighterthat　spot。　I　told　you　look　at　that！〃　he　cried。

The　green　lances　had　fallen　back。　The　blackness　gathered　itself　togetherthen　from　it　began　to　pulse　billows　of　radiance；　spangled　with　infinite　darting　swarms　of　flashing　corpuscles　like　uncounted　hosts　of　dancing　fireflies。

Higher　the　waves　rolledphosphorescent　green　and　iridescent　violet；　weird　copperous　yellows　and　metallic　saffrons　and　a　shimmer　of　glittering　ash　of　rosethen　wavered；　split　and　formed　into　gigantic；　sparkling；　marching　curtains　of　splendor。

A　vast　circle　of　light　sprang　out　upon　the　folds　of　the　flickering；　rushing　curtains。　Misty　at　first；　its　edges　sharpened　until　they　rested　upon　the　blazing　glory　of　the　northern　sky　like　a　pale　ring　of　cold　flame。　And　about　it　the　aurora　began　to　churn；　to　heap　itself；　to　revolve。

Toward　the　ring　from　every　side　raced　the　majestic　folds；　drew　themselves　together；　circled；　seethed　around　it　like　foam　of　fire　about　the　lip　of　a　cauldron；　and　poured　through　the　shining　circle　as　though　it　were　the　mouth　of　that　fabled　cavern　where　old　Aeolus　sits　blowing　forth　and　breathing　back　the　winds　that　sweep　the　earth。

Yesinto　the　ring's　mouth　the　aurora　flew；　cascading　in　a　columned　stream　to　earth。　Then　swiftly；　a　mist　swept　over　all　the　heavens；　veiled　that　incredible　cataract。

〃Magnetism？〃　muttered　Drake。　〃I　guess　NOT！〃

〃It　struck　about　where　the　Ting…Pa　was　broken　and　seemed　drawn　down　like　the　rays；〃　I　said。

〃Purposeful；〃　Drake　said。　〃And　devilish。　It　hit　on　all　my　nerves　like　alike　a　metal　claw。　Purposeful　and　deliberate。　There　was　intelligence　behind　that。〃

〃Intelligence？　Drakewhat　intelligence　could　break　the　rays　of　the　setting　sun　and　suck　down　the　aurora？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　he　answered。

〃Devils；〃　croaked　Chiu…Ming。　〃The　devils　that　defied　Buddhaand　have　grown　strong〃

〃Like　a　metal　claw！〃　breathed　Drake。

Far　to　the　west　a　sound　came　to　us；　first　a　whisper；　then　a　wild　rushing；　a　prolonged　wailing；　a　crackling。　A　great　light　flashed　through　the　mist；　glowed　about　us　and　faded。　Again　the　wailing；　the　vast　rushing；　the　retreating　whisper。

Then　silence　and　darkness　dropped　embraced　upon　the　valley　of　the　blue　poppies。





CHAPTER　II

THE　SIGIL　ON　THE　ROCKS

Dawn　came。　Drake　had　slept　well。　But　I；　who　had　not　his　youthful　resiliency；　lay　for　long；　awake　and　uneasy。　I　had　hardly　sunk　into　troubled　slumber　before　dawn　awakened　me。

As　we　breakfasted；　I　approached　directly　that　matter　which　my　growing　liking　for　him　was　turning　into　strong　desire。

〃Drake；〃　I　asked。　〃Where　are　you　going？〃

〃With　you；〃　he　laughed。　〃I'm　foot　loose　and　fancy　free。　And　I　think　you　ought　to　have　somebody　with　you　to　help　watch　that　cook。　He　might　get　away。〃

The　idea　seemed　to　appall　him。

〃Fine！〃　I　exclaimed　heartily；　and　thrust　out　my　hand　to　him。　〃I'm　thinking　of　striking　over　the　range　soon　to　the　Manasarowar　Lakes。　There's　a　curious　flora　I'd　like　to　study。〃

〃Anywhere　you　say　suits　me；〃　he　answered。

We　clasped　hands　on　our　partnership　and　soon　we　were　on　our　way　to　the　valley's　western　gate；　our　united　caravans　stringing　along　behind　us。　Mile　after　mile　we　trudged　through　the　blue　poppies；　discussing　the　enigmas　of　the　twilight　and　of　the　night。

In　the　light　of　day　their　breath　of　vague　terror　was　dissipated。　There　was　no　place　for　mystery　nor　dread　under　this　floor　of　brilliant　sunshine。　The　smiling　sapphire　floor　rolled　ever　on　before　us。

Whispering　little　playful　breezes　flew　down　the　slopes　to　gossip　for　a　moment　with　the　nodding　flowers。　Flocks　of　rose　finches　raced　chattering　o