the metal monster-第21章

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Is　it　what　many　call　the　soul？　Or　is　it　a　finer　form　of　matter；　a　self…realizing　force；　which　uses　the　body　as　its　vehicle　just　as　other　forces　use　for　their　vestments　other　machines？　After　all；　I　thought；　what　is　this　conscious　self　of　ours；　the　ego；　but　a　spark　of　realization　running　continuously　along　the　path　of　time　within　the　mechanism　we　call　the　brain；　making　contact　along　that　path　as　the　electric　spark　at　the　end　of　a　wire？

Is　there　a　sea　of　this　conscious　force　which　laps　the　shores　of　the　farthest…flung　stars；　that　finds　expression　in　everythingman　and　rock；　metal　and　flower；　jewel　and　cloud？　Limited　in　its　expression　only　by　the　limitations　of　that　which　animates；　and　in　essence　the　same　in　all。　If　so；　then　this　problem　of　the　life　of　the　Metal　People　ceased　to　be　a　problem；　was　answered！

So　thinking　I　became　aware　of　increasing　light；　strode　past　Yuruk　to　the　door　and　peeped　out。　Dawn　was　paling　the　sky。　I　stooped　over　Drake；　shook　him。　On　the　instant　he　was　awake；　alert。

〃I　only　need　a　little　sleep；　Dick；〃　I　said。　〃When　the　sun　is　well　up；　call　me。〃

〃Why；　it's　dawn；〃　he　whispered。　〃Goodwin；　you　ought　not　to　have　let　me　sleep　so　long。　I　feel　like　a　damned　pig。〃

〃Never　mind；〃　I　said。　〃But　watch　the　eunuch　closely。〃

I　rolled　myself　up　in　his　warm　blanket；　sank　almost　instantly　into　dreamless　slumber。





CHAPTER　XVIII

INTO　THE　PIT

High　was　the　sun　when　I　awakened；　or　so；　I　supposed；　opening　my　eyes　upon　a　flood　of　daylight。　As　I　lay；　lazily；　recollection　rushed　upon　me。

It　was　no　sky　into　which　I　was　gazing；　it　was　the　dome　of　Norhala's　elfin　home。　And　Drake　had　not　aroused　me。　Why？　And　how　long　had　I　slept？

I　jumped　to　my　feet；　stared　about。　Ruth　nor　Drake　nor　the　black　eunuch　was　there！

〃Ruth！〃　I　shouted。　〃Drake！〃

There　was　no　answer。　I　ran　to　the　doorway。　Peering　up　into　the　white　vault　of　the　heavens　I　set　the　time　of　day　as　close　to　seven；　I　had　slept　then　three　hours；　more　or　less。　Yet　short　as　that　time　of　slumber　had　been；　I　felt　marvelously　refreshed；　reenergized；　the　effect；　I　was　certain；　of　the　extraordinarily　tonic　qualities　of　the　atmosphere　of　this　place。　But　where　were　the　others？　Where　Yuruk？

I　heard　Ruth's　laughter。　Some　hundred　yards　to　the　left；　half　hidden　by　a　screen　of　flowering　shrubs；　I　saw　a　small　meadow。　Within　it　a　half…dozen　little　white　goats　nuzzled　around　her　and　Dick。　She　was　milking　one　of　them。

Reassured；　I　drew　back　into　the　chamber；　knelt　over　Ventnor。　His　condition　was　unchanged。　My　gaze　fell　upon　the　pool　that　had　been　Norhala's　bath。　Longingly　I　looked　at　it；　then　satisfying　myself　that　the　milking　process　was　not　finished；　slipped　off　my　clothes　and　splashed　about。

I　had　just　time　to　get　back　in　my　clothes　when　through　the　doorway　came　the　pair；　each　carrying　a　porcelain　pannikin　full　of　milk。

There　was　no　shadow　of　fear　or　horror　on　her　face。　It　was　the　old　Ruth　who　stood　before　me；　nor　was　there　effort　in　the　smile　she　gave　me。　She　had　been　washed　clean　in　the　waters　of　sleep。

〃Don't　worry；　Walter；〃　she　said。　〃I　know　what　you're　thinking。　But　I'mME　again。〃

〃Where　is　Yuruk？〃　I　turned　to　Drake　bruskly　to　smother　the　sob　of　sheer　happiness　I　felt　rising　in　my　throat；　and　at　his　wink　and　warning　grimace　abruptly　forebore　to　press　the　question。

〃You　men　pick　out　the　things　and　I'll　get　breakfast　ready；〃　said　Ruth。

Drake　picked　up　the　teakettle　and　motioned　me　before　him。

〃About　Yuruk；〃　he　whispered　when　he　had　gotten　outside。　〃I　gave　him　a　little　object　lesson。　Persuaded　him　to　go　down　the　line　a　bit；　showed　him　my　pistol；　and　then　picked　off　one　of　Norhala's　goats　with　it。　Hated　to　do　it；　but　I　knew　it　would　be　good　for　his　soul。

〃He　gave　one　screech　and　fell　on　his　face　and　groveled。　Thought　it　was　a　lightning　bolt；　I　figure；　decided　I　had　been　stealing　Norhala's　stuff。　'Yuruk；'　I　told　him；　'that's　what　you'll　get；　and　worse；　if　you　lay　a　finger　on　that　girl　inside　there。'〃

〃And　then　what　happened？〃　I　asked。

〃He　beat　it　back　there。〃　He　grinned；　pointing　toward　the　forest　through　which　ran　the　path　the　eunuch　had　shown　me。　〃Probably　hiding　back　of　a　tree。〃

As　we　filled　the　container　at　the　outer　spring；　I　told　him　of　the　revelations　and　the　offer　Yuruk　had　made　to　me。

〃Whew…w！〃　he　whistled。　〃In　the　nutcracker；　eh？　Trouble　behind　us　and　trouble　in　front　of　us。〃

〃When　do　we　start？〃　he　asked；　as　we　turned　back。

〃Right　after　we've　eaten；〃　I　answered。　〃There's　no　use　putting　it　off。　How　do　you　feel　about　it？〃

〃Frankly；　like　the　chief　guest　at　a　lynching　party；〃　he　said。　〃Curious　but　none　too　cheerful。〃

Nor　was　I。　I　was　filled　with　a　fever　of　scientific　curiosity。　But　I　was　not　cheerfulno！


We　ministered　to　Ventnor　as　well　as　we　could；　forcing　open　his　set　jaws；　thrusting　a　thin　rubber　tube　down　past　his　windpipe　into　his　gullet　and　dropping　through　it　a　few　ounces　of　the　goat　milk。　Our　own　breakfasting　was　silent　enough。

We　could　not　take　Ruth　with　us　upon　our　journey；　that　was　certain；　she　must　stay　here　with　her　brother。　She　would　be　safer　in　Norhala's　home　than　where　we　were　going；　of　course；　and　yet　to　leave　her　was　most　distressing。　After　all；　I　wondered；　was　there　any　need　of　both　of　us　taking　the　journey；　would　not　one　do　just　as　well？

Drake　could　stay

〃No　use　of　putting　all　our　eggs　in　one　basket；〃　I　broached　the　subject。　〃I'll　go　down　by　myself　while　you　stay　and　help　Ruth。　You　can　always　follow　if　I　don't　turn　up　in　a　reasonable　time。〃

His　indignation　at　this　proposal　was　matched　only　by　her　own。

〃You'll　go　with　him；　Dick　Drake；〃　she　cried；　〃or　I'll　never　look　at　or　speak　to　you　again！〃

〃Good　Lord！　Did　you　think　for　a　minute　I　wouldn't？〃　Pain　and　wrath　struggled　on　his　face。　〃We　go　together　or　neither　of　us　goes。　Ruth　will　be　all　right　here；　Goodwin。　The　only　thing　she　has　any　cause　to　fear　is　Yurukand　he's　had　his　lesson。

〃Besides；　she'll　have　the　rifles　and　her　pistols；　and　she　knows　how　to　use　them。　What　d'ye　mean　by　making　such　a　proposition　as　that？〃　His　indignation　burst　all　bounds。

Lamely　I　tried　to　justify　myself。

〃I'll　be　all　right；〃　said　Ruth。　〃I'm　not　afraid　of　Yuruk。　And　none　of　these　Things　will　hurt　menot　afternot　after〃　Her　eyes　fell；　her　lips　quivered；　then　she　faced　us　steadily。　〃Don't　ask　me　how　I　know　that；〃　she　said　quietly。　〃Believe　me；　I　do　know　it。　I　am　closer　tothem　than　you　two　are。　And　if　I　choose　I　can　call　upon　that　alien　strength　their　master　gave　me。　It　is　for　you　two　that　I　fear。〃

〃No　fear　for　us；〃　Drake　burst　out　hastily。　〃We're　Norhala's　little　playthings。　We're　tabu。　Take　it　from　me；　Ruth；　I'd　bet　my　head　there　isn't　one　of　these　Things；　great　or　small；　and　no　matter　how　many；　that　doesn't　by　this　time　know　all　about　us。

〃We'll　probably　be　received　with　demonstrations　of　interest　by　the　populace　as　welcome　guests。　Probably　we'll　find　a　sign'Welcome　to　our　City'hung　up　over　the　front　gate。〃

She　smiled；　a　trifle　tremulously。

〃We'll　come　back；〃　he　said。　Suddenly　he　leaned　forward；　put　his　hands　on　her　shoulders。　〃Do　you　think　there　is　anything　that　could　keep　me　from　coming　back？〃　he　whispered。

She　trembled；　wide　eyes　searching　deep　into　his。

〃Well；〃　I　broke　in；　a　bit　uncomfortably；　〃we'd　better　be　starting。　I　think　as　Drake　does；　that　we're　tabu。　Barring　accident　there's　no　danger。　And　if　I　guess　right　about　these　Things；　accident　is　impossible。〃

〃As　inconceivable　as　the　multiplication　table　going　wrong；〃　he　laughed；　straightening。

And　so　we　made　ready。　Our　rifles　would　be　worse　than　useless；　we　knew；　our　pistols　we　decided　to　carry　as　Drake　put　it；　〃for　comfort。〃　Canteens　filled　with　water；　a　couple　of　emergency　rations；　a　few　instruments；　including　a　small　spectroscope；　a　selection　from　the　medical　kitall　these　packed　in　a　little　haversack　which　he　threw　over　his　broad　shoulders。

I　pocketed　my　compact　but　exceedingly　powerful　field…glasses。　To　my　poignant　and　everlasting　regret　my　camera　had　been　upon　the　bolting　pony；　and　Ventnor　had　long　been　out　of　films　for　his。

We　were　ready　for　our　journey。


Our　path　led　straight　away；　a　smooth　and　dark…gray　road　whose　surface　resembled　cement　packed　under　enormous　pressure。　It　was　all　of　fifty　feet　wide　and　now；　in　daylight；　glistened　faintly　as　though　overlaid　with　some　vitreous　coating。　It　narrowed　abruptly　into　a　wedged　way　that　stopped　at　the　threshold　of　Norhala's　door。

Diminishing　through　the　distance；　it　stretched　straight　as　an　arrow　onward　and　vanished　between　perpendicular　cliffs　which　formed　the　frowning　gateway　through　which　the　night　before　we　had　passed　upon　the　coursing　cubes　from　the　pit　of　the　city。　Here；　as　then；　a　mistiness　checked　the　gaze。

Ruth　with　us；　we　made　a　brief　inspection　of　the　surroundings　of　Norhala's　house。　It　was　set　as　though　in　the　narrowest　portion　of　an　hour…glass。　The　precipitous　walls　marched　inward　from　the　gateway　forming　the　lower　half　of　the　figure；　at　the　back　they　swung　apart　at　a　wider　angle。

This　upper　part　of　the　hour…glass　was　filled　with　a　park…like　forest。　It　was　closed；　perhaps　twenty　miles　away；　by　a　barrier　of　cliffs。

How；　I　wondered；　did　the　path　which　Yuruk　had　pointed　out　to　me　pierce　them？　Was　it　by　pass　or　tunnel；　and　why　was　it　the　armored　men　had　not　found　and　followed　it？

The　waist　between　these　two　mountain　wedges　was　a　valley　not　more　than　a　mile　wide。　Norhala's　house　stood　in　its　center；　and　it　was　like　a　garden；　dotted　with　flowering　and　fragrant　lilies　and　here　and　there　a　tiny　green　meadow。　The　great　globe　of　blue　that　was　Norhala's　dwelling　seemed　less　to　rest　upon　the　ground　than　to　emerge　from　it；　as　though　its　basic　curvatures　were　hidden　in　the　earth。

What　was　its　substance　I　could　not　tell。　It　was　as　though　built　of　the　lacquer　of　the　gems　whose　colors　it　held。　And　beautiful；　wondrously；　incredibly　beautiful　it　wasan　immense　bubble　of　froth　of　molten　sapphires　and　turquoises。

We　had　not　time　to　study　its　beauties。　A　few　last　instructions　to　Ruth；　and　we　set　forth　down　the　gray　road。　Hardly　had　we　taken　a　few　steps　when　there　came　a　faint　cry　from　her。

〃Dick！　Dickcome　here！〃

He　sprang　to　her；　caught　her　hands　in　his。　For　a　moment；　half　frightened　it　seemed；　she　considered　him。

〃Dick；〃　I　heard　her　whisper。　〃Dickcome　back　safe　to　me！〃

I　saw　his　arms　close　about　her；　hers　tighten　around　his　neck；　black　hair　touched　the　silken　brown　curls；　their　lips　met；　clung。　I　turned　away。

In　a　little　time　he　joined　me；　head　down；　silent；　he　strode　along　beside　me；　utterly　dejected。

A　hundred　more　yards　and　we　turned。　Ruth　was　still　standing　on　the　threshold　of　the　house　of　mystery；　watching　us。　She　waved　her　hands；　flitted　in；　was　hidden　from　us。　And　Drake　still　silent；　we　pushed　on。

The　walls　of　the　gateway　were　close。　The　sparse　vegetation　along　the　base　of　the　cliffs　had　ceased；　the　roadway　itself　had　merged　into　the　smooth；　bare　floor　of　the　canyon。　From　vertical　edge　to　vertical　edge　of　the　rocky　portal　stretched　a　curtain　of　shimmering　mist。　As　we　drew　nearer　we　saw　that　this　was　motionless；　and　less　like　vapor　of　water　than　vapor　of　light；　it　streamed　in　oddly　fixed　lines　like　atoms　of　crystals　in　a　still　solution。　Drake　thrust　an　arm　within　it；　waved　it；　the　mist　did　not　move。　It　seemed　instead　to　interpenetrate　the　armas　though　bone　and　flesh　were　sp