the metal monster-第23章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


terned　flat　covered　with　still　symbol　and　inexplicable　movement。　Under　their　summits　brooded　the　blue　black；　metallic　mass　of　the　Seeing　City。

Within　circling　walls；　over　plain　and　from　the　City　hovered　a　cosmic　spirit　not　to　be　understood　by　man。　Like　an　emanation　of　stars　and　space；　it　was　yet　gem　fine　and　gem　hard；　crystalline　and　metallic；　lapidescent　and

Conscious！

Down　from　the　ledge　where　we　stood　fell　a　steep　ramp；　similar　to　that　by　which；　in　the　darkness；　we　had　descended。　It　dropped　at　an　angle　of　at　least　forty…five　degrees；　its　surface　was　smooth　and　polished。

Through　the　mists　at　our　back　stole　a　shining　block。　It　paused；　seemed　to　perk　itself；　spun　so　that　in　turn　each　of　its　six　faces　took　us　in。

I　felt　myself　lifted　upon　it　by　multitudes　of　little　invisible　hands；　saw　Drake　whirling　up　beside　me。　I　moved　toward　himthrough　the　force　that　held　us。　A　block　swept　away　from　the　ledge；　swayed　for　a　moment。　Under　us；　as　though　we　were　floating　in　air；　the　Pit　lay　stretched。　There　was　a　rapid　readjustment；　a　shifting　of　our　two　selves　upon　another　surface。　I　looked　down　upon　a　tremendous；　slender　pillar　of　the　cubes；　dropping　below；　five　hundred　feet　to　the　valley's　floor　a　column　of　which　the　block　that　held　us　was　the　top。

Gone　was　the　whirling　wheel　that　had　crowned　it；　but　I　knew　this　for　the　Grinding　Thing　from　which　we　had　fled；　the　questing　block　had　been　its　scout。　As　though　curious　to　know　more　of　us；　the　Shape　had　sought　us　out　through　the　mists；　its　messenger　had　caught　us；　delivered　us　to　it。

The　pillar　leaned　overbent　like　that　shining　pillar　that　had　bridged　for　us；　at　Norhala's　commands；　the　abyss。　The　floor　of　the　valley　arose　to　meet　us。　Further　and　further　leaned　the　pillar。　Again　there　was　a　rapid　shifting　of　us　to　another　surface　of　the　crowning　cube。　Fast　now　swept　up　toward　us　the　valley　floor。　A　dizziness　clouded　my　sight。　There　was　a　little　shock；　a　rolling　over　the　Thing　that　had　held　us

We　stood　upon　the　floor　of　the　Pit。

And　breaking　from　the　immense　and　prostrate　shaft　on　whose　top　we　had　ridden　downward　came　score　upon　score　of　the　cubes。　They　broke　from　it；　disintegrating　it；　circled　about　us；　curiously；　interestedly；　twinkling　at　us　from　their　deep　sparkling　points　of　eyes。

Helplessly　we　gazed　at　those　who　circled　around　us。　Then　suddenly　I　felt　myself　lifted　once　more；　was　tossed　to　the　surface　of　the　nearest　block。　Upon　it　I　spun　while　the　tiny　eyes　searched　me。　Then　like　a　human　ball　it　tossed　me　to　another。　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　Drake's　tall　figure　drifting　through　the　air。

The　play　became　more　rapid；　breathtaking。　It　was　play；　I　recognized　that。　But　it　was　perilous　play　for　us。　I　felt　myself　as　fragile　as　a　doll　of　glass　in　the　hands　of　careless　children。

I　was　tossed　to　a　waiting　cube。　On　the　ground；　not　ten　feet　from　me；　was　Drake；　swaying　dizzily。　Suddenly　the　cube　that　held　me　tightened　its　grip；　tightened　it　so　that　it　drew　me　irresistibly　flat　down　upon　its　surface。　Before　I　dropped；　Drake's　body　leaped　toward　me　as　though　drawn　by　a　lasso。　He　fell　at　my　side。

Then　pursued　by　scores　of　the　Things　and　like　some　mischievous　boy　bearing　off　the　spoils；　the　block　that　held　us　raced　away；　straight　for　an　open　portal。　A　blaze　of　incandescent　blue　flame　blinded　me；　again　as　the　dazzlement　faded　I　saw　Drake　beside　mea　skeleton　form。　Swiftly　flesh　melted　back　upon　him；　clothed　him。

The　cube　stopped；　abruptly；　the　hosts　of　little　unseen　hands　raised　us；　slid　us　gently　over　its　edge；　set　us　upright　beside　it。　And　it　sped　away。

All　about　us　stretched　another　of　those　vast　halls　in　which　on　high　burned　the　pale…gilt　suns。　Between　its　colossal　columns　streamed　thousands　of　the　Metal　Folk；　no　longer　hurriedly；　but　quietly；　deliberately；　sedately。

We　were　within　the　Cityeven　as　Ventnor　had　commanded。





CHAPTER　XIX

THE　CITY　THAT　WAS　ALIVE

Close　beside　us　was　one　of　the　cyclopean　columns。　We　crept　to　it；　crouched　at　its　base　opposite　the　drift　of　the　Metal　People；　strove；　huddled　there；　to　regain　our　shaken　poise。　Like　bagatelles　we　felt　in　that　tremendous　place；　the　weird　luminaries　gleaming　above　like　garlands　of　frozen　suns；　the　enigmatic　hosts　of　animate　cubes　and　spheres　and　pyramids　trooping　past。

They　ranged　in　size　from　shapes　yard…high　to　giants　of　thirty　feet　or　more。　They　paid　no　heed　to　us；　did　not　stop；　streaming　on；　engrossed　in　whatever　mysterious　business　was　summoning　them。　And　after　a　time　their　numbers　lessened；　thinned　down　to　widely　separate　groups；　to　stragglers；　then　ceased。　The　hall　was　empty　of　them。

As　far　as　the　eye　could　reach　the　columned　spaces　stretched。　I　was　conscious　once　more　of　that　unusual　flow　of　energy　through　every　vein　and　nerve。

〃Follow　the　crowd！〃　said　Drake。　〃Do　you　feel　just　full　of　pep　and　ginger；　by　the　way？〃

〃I　am　aware　of　the　most　extraordinary　vigor；〃　I　answered。

〃Some　weird　joint；〃　he　mused；　looking　about　him。　〃Wonder　if　they　have　any　windows？　This　whole　place　looked　solid　to　mewhat　I　could　see　of　it。　Wonder　if　we'll　get　up　against　it　for　air？　These　Things　don't　need　it；　that's　sure。　Wonder〃

He　broke　off　staring　fascinatedly　at　the　pillar　behind　us。

〃Look　here；　Goodwin！〃　There　was　a　tremor　in　his　voice。　〃What　do　you　make　of　THIS？〃

I　followed　his　pointing　finger；　looked　at　him　inquiringly。

〃The　eyes！〃　he　said　impatiently。　〃Don't　you　see　them？　The　eyes　in　the　column！〃

And　now　I　saw　them。　The　pillar　was　a　pale　metallic　blue；　in　color　a　trifle　darker　than　the　Metal　Folk。　All　within　it　were　the　myriads　of　tiny　crystalline　points　that　we　had　grown　to　know　were　the　receptors　of　some　strange　sense　of　sight。　But　they　did　not　sparkle　as　did　those　others；　they　were　dull；　lifeless。　I　touched　the　surface。　It　was　smooth；　coolwith　none　of　that　subtle；　warm　vitality　that　pulsed　through　all　the　Things　with　which　I　had　come　in　contact。　I　shook　my　head；　realizing　as　I　did　so　what　a　shock　the　incredible　possibility　he　had　suggested　had　given　me。

〃No；〃　I　said。　〃There　is　a　resemblance；　yes。　But　there　is　no　force　about　thisstuff；　no　life。　Besides；　such　a　thing　is　utterly　incredible。〃

〃They　might　bedormant；〃　he　suggested　stubbornly。　〃Can　you　see　any　mark　of　their　joiningif　they　ARE　the　cubes？〃

Together　we　scanned　the　pillar　minutely。　The　faces　seemed　unbroken；　continuous；　there　was　no　trace　of　those　thin　and　shining　lines　that　marked　the　juncture　of　the　cubes　when　they　had　clicked　together　to　form　the　bridge　of　the　abyss　or　that　had　gleamed；　crosslike；　upon　the　back　of　the　combined　four　upon　which　we　had　followed　Norhala。

〃It's　a　sheer　impossibility。　It's　madness　to　think　such　a　thing；　Drake！〃　I　exclaimed；　and　wondered　at　my　own　vehemence　of　denial。

〃Maybe；〃　he　shook　his　head　doubtfully。　〃Maybebut　welllet's　be　on　our　way。〃

We　strode　on；　following　the　direction　the　Metal　Folk　had　gone。　Clearly　Drake　was　still　doubtful；　at　each　pillar　he　hesitated；　scanning　it　closely　with　troubled　eyes。

But　I；　having　determinedly　dismissed　the　idea；　was　more　interested　in　the　fantastic　lights　that　flooded　this　columned　hall　with　their　buttercup　radiance。　They　were　still　and　unwinking；　not　disks；　I　could　see　now；　but　globes。　Great　and　small；　they　floated　motionless；　their　rays　extending　rigidly　and　as　still　as　the　orb　that　shed　them。

Yet　rigid　as　they　were　there　was　nothing　about　either　rays　or　orbs　that　suggested　either　hardness　or　the　metallic。　They　were　vaporous；　soft　as　St。　Elmo's　fire；　the　witch　lights　that　cling　at　times　to　the　spars　of　ships；　weird　gleaming　visitors　from　the　invisible　ocean　of　atmospheric　electricity。

When　they　disappeared；　as　they　did　frequently；　it　was　instantaneously；　completely；　with　a　disconcerting　sleight…of…hand　finality。　I　noted；　though；　that　when　they　did　vanish；　immediately　close　to　where　they　had　been　other　orbs　swam　forth　with　that　same　astonishing　abruptness；　sometimes　only　one；　larger　it　might　be　than　that　which　had　gone；　sometimes　a　cluster　of　smaller　globes；　their　frozen；　crocused　rays　impinging。

What　could　they　be；　I　wonderedhow　fixed；　and　what　the　source　of　their　light？　Products　of　electro…magnetic　currents　and　born　of　the　interpenetration　of　such　streams　flowing　above　us？　Such　a　theory　might　account　for　their　disappearance；　and　reappearance；　shiftings　of　the　flows　that　changed　the　light　producing　points　of　contact。　Wireless　lights？　If　so　here　was　an　idea　that　human　science　might　elaborate　if　ever　we　returned　to

〃Now　which　way？〃　Drake　broke　in　upon　my　musing。　The　hall　had　ended。　We　stood　before　a　blank　wall　vanishing　into　the　soft　mists　hiding　the　roof　of　the　chamber。

〃I　thought　we　had　been　going　along　the　way　They　went；〃　I　said　in　amazement。

〃So　did　I；〃　he　answered。　〃We　must　have　circled。　They　never　went　through　THAT　unlessunless〃　He　hesitated。

〃Unless　what？〃　I　asked　sharply。

〃Unless　it　opened　and　let　them　through；〃　he　said。　〃Have　you　forgotten　those　great　ovalslike　cat's　eyes　that　opened　in　the　outer　walls？〃　he　added　quietly。

I　HAD　forgotten。　I　looked　again　at　the　wall。　Certainly　it　was　smooth；　lineless。　In　one　unbroken；　shining　surface　it　rose；　a　facade　of　polished　metal。　Within　it　the　deep　set　points　of　light　were　duller　even　than　they　had　been　in　the　pillars；　almost　indeed　indistinguishable。

〃Go　on　to　the　left；〃　I　said　none　too　patiently。　〃And　get　that　absurd　notion　out　of　your　head。〃

〃All　right。〃　He　flushed。　〃But　you　don't　think　I'm　afraid；　do　you？〃

〃If　what　you're　thinking　were　true；　you'd　have　a　right　to　be；〃　I　replied　tartly。　〃And　I　want　to　tell　you　I'D　be　afraid。　Damned　afraid。〃

For　perhaps　two　hundred　paces　we　skirted　the　base　of　the　wall。　We　came　abruptly　to　an　opening；　an　oblong　passageway　fully　fifty　foot　wide　by　twice　as　high。　At　its　entrance　the　mellow；　saffron　light　was　cut　off　as　though　by　an　invisible　screen。　The　tunnel　itself　was　filled　with　a　dim　grayish　blue　luster。　For　an　instant　we　contemplated　it。

〃I　wouldn't　care　to　be　caught　in　there　by　any　rush；〃　I　hesitated。

〃There's　not　much　good　in　thinking　of　that　now；〃　said　Drake；　grimly。　〃A　few　chances　more　or　less　in　a　joint　of　this　kind　is　nothing　between　friends；　Goodwin；　take　it　from　me。　Come　on。〃

We　entered。　Walls；　floor　and　roof　were　composed　of　the　same　substance　as　the　great　pillars；　the　wall　of　the　outer　chamber；　filled　like　them　with　dimmed　replicas　of　the　twinkling　eye　points。

〃Odd　that　all　the　places　in　here　are　square；〃　muttered　Drake。　〃They　don't　seem　to　have　used　any　spherical　or　pyramidal　ideas　in　their　buildingif　it　is　a　building。〃

It　was　true。　All　was　mathematically　straight　up　and　down　and　across。　It　was　strangestill　we　had　seen　little　as　yet。

There　was　a　warmth　about　this　passageway　we　trod；　a　difference　in　the　air　of　it。　The　warmth　grew；　a　dry　and　baking　heat；　but　stimulative　rather　than　oppressive。　I　touched　the　walls；　the　warmth　did　not　come　from　them。　And　there　was　no　wind。　Yet　as　we　went　on　the　heat　increased。

The　passageway　turned　at　a　right　angle；　continuing　in　a　corridor　half　its　former　dimensions。　Far　away　shone　a　high　bar　of　pale　yellow　radiance；　rising　like　a　pillar　of　light　from　floor　to　roof。　Toward　it；　perforce；　we　trudged。　Its　brilliancy　grew　greater。

A　few　paces　away　from　it　we　stopped。　The　yellow　luminescence　streamed　through　a　slit　not　more　than　a　foot　wide　in　the　wall。　We　were　in　a　cul…