the metal monster-第3章

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Whispering　little　playful　breezes　flew　down　the　slopes　to　gossip　for　a　moment　with　the　nodding　flowers。　Flocks　of　rose　finches　raced　chattering　overhead　to　quarrel　with　the　tiny　willow　warblers；　the　chi…u…teb…tok；　holding　fief　of　the　drooping；　graceful　bowers　bending　down　to　the　little　laughing　stream　that　for　the　past　hour　had　chuckled　and　gurgled　like　a　friendly　water　baby　beside　us。

I　had　proven；　almost　to　my　own　satisfaction；　that　what　we　had　beheld　had　been　a　creation　of　the　extraordinary　atmospheric　attributes　of　these　highlands；　an　atmosphere　so　unique　as　to　make　almost　anything　of　the　kind　possible。　But　Drake　was　not　convinced。

〃I　know；〃　he　said。　〃Of　course　I　understand　all　that　superimposed　layers　of　warmer　air　that　might　have　bent　the　ray；　vortices　in　the　higher　levels　that　might　have　produced　just　that　effect　of　the　captured　aurora。　I　admit　it's　all　possible。　I'll　even　admit　it's　all　probable；　but　damn　me；　Doc；　if　I　BELIEVE　it！　I　had　too　clearly　the　feeling　of　a　CONSCIOUS　force；　a　something　that　KNEW　exactly　what　it　was　doingand　had　a　REASON　for　it。〃

It　was　mid…afternoon。

The　spell　of　the　valley　upon　us；　we　had　gone　leisurely。　The　western　mount　was　close；　the　mouth　of　the　gorge　through　which　we　must　pass；　now　plain　before　us。　It　did　not　seem　as　though　we　could　reach　it　before　dusk；　and　Drake　and　I　were　reconciled　to　spending　another　night　in　the　peaceful　vale。　Plodding　along；　deep　in　thought；　I　was　startled　by　his　exclamation。

He　was　staring　at　a　point　some　hundred　yards　to　his　right。　I　followed　his　gaze。

The　towering　cliffs　were　a　scant　half　mile　away。　At　some　distant　time　there　had　been　an　enormous　fall　of　rock。　This；　disintegrating；　had　formed　a　gently…curving　breast　which　sloped　down　to　merge　with　the　valley's　floor。　Willow　and　witch　alder；　stunted　birch　and　poplar　had　found　roothold；　clothed　it；　until　only　their　crowding　outposts；　thrusting　forward　in　a　wavering　semicircle；　held　back　seemingly　by　the　blue　hordes；　showed　where　it　melted　into　the　meadows。

In　the　center　of　this　breast；　beginning　half　way　up　its　slopes　and　stretching　down　into　the　flowered　fields　was　a　colossal　imprint。

Gray　and　brown；　it　stood　out　against　the　green　and　blue　of　slope　and　level；　a　rectangle　all　of　thirty　feet　wide；　two　hundred　long；　the　heel　faintly　curved　and　from　its　hither　end；　like　claws；　four　slender　triangles　radiating　from　it　like　twenty…four　points　of　a　ten…rayed　star。

Irresistibly　was　it　like　a　footprintbut　what　thing　was　there　whose　tread　could　leave　such　a　print　as　this？

I　ran　up　the　slopeDrake　already　well　in　advance。　I　paused　at　the　base　of　the　triangles　where；　were　this　thing　indeed　a　footprint；　the　spreading　claws　sprang　from　the　flat　of　it。

The　track　was　fresh。　At　its　upper　edges　were　clipped　bushes　and　split　trees；　the　white　wood　of　the　latter　showing　where　they　had　been　sliced　as　though　by　the　stroke　of　a　scimitar。

I　stepped　out　upon　the　mark。　It　was　as　level　as　though　planed；　bent　down　and　stared　in　utter　disbelief　of　what　my　own　eyes　beheld。　For　stone　and　earth　had　been　crushed；　compressed；　into　a　smooth；　microscopically　grained；　adamantine　complex；　and　in　this　matrix　poppies　still　bearing　traces　of　their　coloring　were　imbedded　like　fossils。　A　cyclone　can　and　does　grip　straws　and　thrust　them　unbroken　through　an　inch　boardbut　what　force　was　there　which　could　take　the　delicate　petals　of　a　flower　and　set　them　like　inlay　within　the　surface　of　a　stone？

Into　my　mind　came　recollection　of　the　wailings；　the　crashings　in　the　night；　of　the　weird　glow　that　had　flashed　about　us　when　the　mist　arose　to　hide　the　chained　aurora。

〃It　was　what　we　heard；〃　I　said。　〃The　soundsit　was　then　that　this　was　made。〃

〃The　foot　of　Shin…je！〃　Chiu…Ming's　voice　was　tremulous。　〃The　lord　of　Hell　has　trodden　here！〃

I　translated　for　Drake's　benefit。

〃Has　the　lord　of　Hell　but　one　foot？〃　asked　Dick；　politely。

〃He　bestrides　the　mountains；〃　said　Chiu…Ming。　〃On　the　far　side　is　his　other　footprint。　Shin…je　it　was　who　strode　the　mountains　and　set　here　his　foot。〃

Again　I　interpreted。

Drake　cast　a　calculating　glance　up　to　the　cliff　top。

〃Two　thousand　feet；　about；〃　he　mused。　〃Well；　if　Shin…je　is　built　in　our　proportions　that　makes　it　about　right。　The　length　of　this　thing　would　give　him　just　about　a　two　thousand　foot　leg。　Yeshe　could　just　about　straddle　that　hill。〃

〃You're　surely　not　serious？〃　I　asked　in　consternation。

〃What　the　hell！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃am　I　crazy？　This　is　no　foot　mark。　How　could　it　be？　Look　at　the　mathematical　nicety　with　which　these　edges　are　stamped　outas　though　by　a　die

〃That's　what　it　reminds　me　ofa　die。　It's　as　if　some　impossible　power　had　been　used　to　press　it　down。　Like　like　a　giant　seal　of　metal　in　a　mountain's　hand。　A　sigil　a　seal〃

〃But　why？〃　I　asked。　〃What　could　be　the　purpose〃

〃Better　ask　where　the　devil　such　a　force　could　be　gotten　together　and　how　it　came　here；〃　he　said。　〃Lookexcept　for　this　one　place　there　isn't　a　mark　anywhere。　All　the　bushes　and　the　trees；　all　the　poppies　and　the　grass　are　just　as　they　ought　to　be。

〃How　did　whoever　or　whatever　it　was　that　made　this；　get　here　and　get　away　without　leaving　any　trace　but　this？　Damned　if　I　don't　think　Chiu…Ming's　explanation　puts　less　strain　upon　the　credulity　than　any　I　could　offer。〃

I　peered　about。　It　was　so。　Except　for　the　mark；　there　was　no　slightest　sign　of　the　unusual；　the　abnormal。

But　the　mark　was　enough！

〃I'm　for　pushing　up　a　notch　or　two　and　getting　into　the　gorge　before　dark；〃　he　was　voicing　my　own　thought。　〃I'm　willing　to　face　anything　humanbut　I'm　not　keen　to　be　pressed　into　a　rock　like　a　flower　in　a　maiden's　book　of　poems。〃　　Just　at　twilight　we　drew　out　of　the　valley　into　the　pass。　We　traveled　a　full　mile　along　it　before　darkness　forced　us　to　make　camp。　The　gorge　was　narrow。　The　far　walls　but　a　hundred　feet　away；　but　we　had　no　quarrel　with　them　for　their　neighborliness；　no！　Their　solidity；　their　immutability；　breathed　confidence　back　into　us。

And　after　we　had　found　a　deep　niche　capable　of　holding　the　entire　caravan　we　filed　within；　ponies　and　all；　I　for　one　perfectly　willing　thus　to　spend　the　night；　let　the　air　at　dawn　be　what　it　would。　We　dined　within　on　bread　and　tea；　and　then；　tired　to　the　bone；　sought　each　his　place　upon　the　rocky　floor。　I　slept　well；　waking　only　once　or　twice　by　Chiu…Ming's　groanings；　his　dreams　evidently　were　none　of　the　pleasantest。　If　there　was　an　aurora　I　neither　knew　nor　cared。　My　slumber　was　dreamless。





CHAPTER　III

RUTH　VENTNOR

The　dawn；　streaming　into　the　niche；　awakened　us。　A　covey　of　partridges　venturing　too　close　yielded　three　to　our　guns。　We　breakfasted　well；　and　a　little　later　were　pushing　on　down　the　cleft。

Its　descent；　though　gradual；　was　continuous；　and　therefore　I　was　not　surprised　when　soon　we　began　to　come　upon　evidences　of　semi…tropical　vegetation。　Giant　rhododendrons　and　tree　ferns　gave　way　to　occasional　clumps　of　stately　kopek　and　clumps　of　the　hardier　bamboos。　We　added　a　few　snow　cocks　to　our　larderalthough　they　were　out　of　their　habitat；　flying　down　into　the　gorge　from　their　peaks　and　table…lands　for　some　choice　tidbit。

All　that　day　we　marched　on；　and　when　at　night　we　made　camp；　sleep　came　to　us　quickly　and　overmastering。　An　hour　after　dawn　we　were　on　our　way。　A　brief　stop　we　made　for　lunch；　pressed　forward。

It　was　close　to　two　when　we　caught　the　first　sight　of　the　ruins。

The　soaring；　verdure…clad　walls　of　the　canyon　had　long　been　steadily　marching　closer。　Above；　between　their　rims　the　wide　ribbon　of　sky　was　like　a　fantastically　shored　river；　shimmering；　dazzling；　every　cove　and　headland　edged　with　an　opalescent　glimmering　as　of　shining　pearly　beaches。

And　as　though　we　were　sinking　in　that　sky　stream's　depths　its　light　kept　lessening；　darkening　imperceptibly　with　luminous　shadows　of　ghostly　beryl；　drifting　veils　of　pellucid　aquamarine；　limpid　mists　of　glaucous　chrysolite。

Fainter；　more　crepuscular　became　the　light；　yet　never　losing　its　crystalline　quality。　Now　the　high　overhead　river　was　but　a　brook；　became　a　thread。　Abruptly　it　vanished。

We　passed　into　a　tunnel；　fern　walled；　fern　roofed；　garlanded　with　tawny　orchids；　gay　with　carmine　fungus　and　golden　moss。　We　stepped　out　into　a　blaze　of　sunlight。

Before　us　lay　a　wide　green　bowl　held　in　the　hands　of　the　clustered　hills；　shallow；　circular；　as　though；　while　plastic　still；　the　thumb　of　God　had　run　round　its　rim；　shaping　it。　Around　it　the　peaks　crowded；　craning　their　lofty　heads　to　peer　within。

It　was　about　a　mile　in　its　diameter；　this　hollow；　as　my　gaze　then　measured　it。　It　had　three　openingsone　that　lay　like　a　crack　in　the　northeast　slope；　another；　the　tunnel　mouth　through　which　we　had　come。　The　third　lifted　itself　out　of　the　bowl；　creeping　up　the　precipitous　bare　scarp　of　the　western　barrier　straight　to　the　north；　clinging　to　the　ochreous　rock　up　and　up　until　it　vanished　around　a　far　distant　shoulder。

It　was　a　wide　and　bulwarked　road；　a　road　that　spoke　as　clearly　as　though　it　had　tongue　of　human　hands　which　had　cut　it　there　in　the　mountain's　breast。　An　ancient　road　weary　beyond　belief　beneath　the　tread　of　uncounted　years。

From　the　hollow　the　blind　soul　of　loneliness　groped　out　to　greet　us！

Never　had　I　felt　such　loneliness　as　that　which　lapped　the　lip　of　the　verdant　bowl。　It　was　tangibleas　though　it　had　been　poured　from　some　reservoir　of　misery。　A　pool　of　despair


Half　the　width　of　the　valley　away　the　ruins　began。　Weirdly　were　they　its　visible　expression。　They　huddled　in　two　bent　rows　to　the　bottom。　They　crouched　in　a　wide　cluster　against　the　cliffs。　From　the　cluster　a　curving　row　of　them　ran　along　the　southern　crest　of　the　hollow。

A　flight　of　shattered；　cyclopean　steps　lifted　to　a　ledge　and　here　a　crumbling　fortress　stood。

Irresistibly　did　the　ruins　seem　a　colossal　hag；　flung　prone；　lying　listlessly；　helplessly；　against　the　barrier's　base。　The　huddled　lower　ranks　were　the　legs；　the　cluster　the　body；　the　upper　row　an　outflung　arm　and　above　the　neck　of　the　stairway　the　ancient　fortress；　rounded　and　with　two　huge　ragged　apertures　in　its　northern　front　was　an　aged；　bleached　and　withered　head　staring；　watching。

I　looked　at　Drakethe　spell　of　the　bowl　was　heavy　upon　him；　his　face　drawn。　The　Chinaman　and　Tibetan　were　murmuring；　terror　written　large　upon　them。

〃A　hell　of　a　joint！〃　Drake　turned　to　me；　a　shadow　of　a　grin　lightening　the　distress　on　his　face。　〃But　I'd　rather　chance　it　than　go　back。　What　d'you　say？〃

I　nodded；　curiosity　mastering　my　oppression。　We　stepped　over　the　rim；　rifles　on　the　alert。　Close　behind　us　crowded　the　two　servants　and　the　ponies。

The　vale　was　shallow；　as　I　have　said。　We　trod　the　fragments　of　an　olden　approach　to　the　green　tunnel　so　the　descent　was　not　difficult。　Here　and　there　beside　the　path　upreared　huge　broken　blocks。　On　them　I　thought　I　could　see　faint　tracings　as　of　carvingsnow　a　suggestion　of　gaping；　arrow…fanged　dragon　jaws；　now　the　outline　of　a　scaled　body；　a　hint　of　enormous；　batlike　wings。

Now　we　had　reached　the　first　of　the　crumbling　piles　that　stretched　down　into　the　valley's　center。

Half　fainting；　I　fell　against　Drake；　clutching　to　him　for　support。

A　stream　of　utter　hopelessness　was　racing　upon　us；　swirling　and　eddying　around　us；　reaching　to　our　hearts　with　ghostly　fingers　dripping　with　despai