the metal monster-第31章

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They　weretaken。〃

〃Taken！〃　I　gasped。　〃Taken　by　whatthese？〃　I　swept　my　hands　out　toward　the　Metal　Things　milling　around　us。

〃No！　THESE　are　mine。　These　are　they　who　obey　me。〃　The　golden　voice　now　shrilled　with　her　passion。　〃Taken　bymen！〃

Drake　had　read　my　face　although　he　could　not　understand　our　words。

〃Ruth〃

〃Taken；〃　I　said。　〃Both　Ruth　and　Ventnor。　Taken　by　the　armored　menthe　men　of　Cherkis！〃

〃Cherkis！〃　She　had　caught　the　word。　〃YesCherkis！　And　now　he　and　all　his　menand　all　his　womenand　every　living　thing　he　rules　shall　pay。　And　fear　notyou　two。　For　I；　Norhala；　will　bring　back　my　own。

〃Woe；　woe　to　you；　Cherkis；　and　to　all　of　yours！　For　I；　Norhala；　am　awake；　and　I；　Norhala；　remember。　Woe　to　you；　Cherkis；　woefor　now　all　ends　for　you！

〃Not　by　the　gods　of　my　mother　who　turned　their　strength　against　her　do　I　promise　this。　I；　Norhala；　have　no　need　for　themI；　Norhala；　who　have　strength　greater　than　they。　And　would　I　could　crush　those　gods　as　I　shall　crush　you；　Cherkisand　every　living　thing　of　yours！　Yeaand　every　UNLIVING　thing　as　well！〃

Not　halting　now　was　Norhala's　speech；　it　poured　from　the　ruthless　lipsflamingly。

〃We　go；〃　she　cried。　〃And　something　of　vengeance　I　have　saved　for　youas　is　your　right。〃

She　tossed　her　arms　high；　stamped　upon　the　back　of　the　Metal　Thing　that　held　us。

It　quivered　and　sped　away。　Swiftly　dwindled　the　City's　bulk；　fast　faded　its　glimmering　watchful　face。

Not　toward　the　veils　of　light　but　out　over　the　plain　we　flew。　Above　us；　crouching　against　the　blast　of　our　going；　streamed　like　a　silken　banner　Norhala's　hair；　gemmed　with　the　witch　lights。

We　were　far　out　now；　the　City　far　away。　The　cube　slowed。　Norhala　threw　high　her　head。　From　the　arched；　exquisite　throat　pealed　a　trumpet　callgolden；　summoning；　imperious。　Thrice　it　rang　forthand　all　the　surrounding　valley　seemed　to　halt　and　listen。

Followed　upon　its　ending；　a　chanting　as　goldenly　sonorous。　Wild；　peremptory；　triumphant。　It　was　like　a　mustering　shouting　to　adventurous　stars；　buglings　to　buccaneering　winds；　cadenced　beckonings　to　restless　ranks　of　viking　waves；　signaling　to　all　the　corsairs　and　picaroons　of　the　elemental。

A　cosmic　call　to　slay！

The　gigantic　block　upon　which　we　rode　quivered；　I　myself　felt　a　thousand　needle…pointed　roving　arrows　prick　me；　urging　me　on　to　some　jubilant；　reckless　orgy　of　destruction。

Obeying　that　summoning　there　swirled　to　us　cube　and　globe　and　pyramid　by　the　scoreby　the　hundreds。　They　swept　into　our　wake　and　followedlifting　up　behind　us；　an　ever…rising　sea。

Higher　and　higher　arose　the　metal　wavemounting；　ever　mounting　as　other　score　upon　score　leaped　upon　it；　rushed　up　it　and　swelled　its　crest。　And　soon　so　great　it　was　that　it　shadowed　us；　hung　over　us。

The　cubes　we　rode　angled　in　their　course；　raced　now　with　ever…increasing　speed　toward　the　spangled　curtains。

And　still　Norhala's　golden　chant　lured；　higher　and　even　higher　reached　the　following　wave。　Now　we　were　rising　upon　a　steep　slope；　now　the　amethystine；　gleaming　ring　was　almost　overheard。

Norhala's　song　ceased。　One　breathless；　soundless　moment　and　we　had　pierced　the　veils。　A　globule　of　sapphire　shone　afar；　the　elfin　bubble　of　her　home。　We　neared　it。


Heart　leaping；　I　saw　three　ponies；　high　and　empty　saddles　turquoise　studded；　lift　their　heads　from　their　roadway　browsing。　For　a　moment　they　stood；　stiff　with　terror；　then　whimpering　raced　away。

We　were　at　Norhala's　door；　were　lifted　down；　stood　close　to　its　threshold。　Slaves　to　a　single　thought；　Drake　and　I　sprang　to　enter。

〃Wait！〃　Norhala's　white　hands　caught　us。　〃There　is　peril　therewithout　me！　Me　you　mustfollow！〃

Upon　the　exquisite　face　was　no　unshadowing　of　wrath；　no　diminishing　of　rage；　no　weakening　of　dreadful　determination。　The　star…flecked　eyes　were　not　upon　us；　they　looked　over　and　beyondcoldly；　calculatingly。

〃Not　enough；〃　I　heard　her　whisper。　〃Not　enough　for　that　which　I　will　do。〃

We　turned；　following　her　gaze。　A　hundred　feet　on　high；　stretching　nearly　across　the　gorge；　an　incredible　curtain　was　flung。　Over　its　folds　was　movementarms　of　spinning　globes　that　thrust　forth　like　paws　and　down　upon　which　leaped　pyramid　upon　pyramid　stiffening　as　they　clung　like　bristling　spikes　of　hair；　great　bars　of　clicking　cubes　that　threw　themselves　from　the　shutteringshook　and　withdrew。　The　curtain　was　a　fermentshifting；　mercurial；　it　throbbed　with　desire；　palpitated　with　eagerness。

〃Not　enough！〃　murmured　Norhala。

Her　lips　parted；　from　them　came　another　trumpeting　tyrannic；　arrogant　and　clangorous。　Under　it　the　curtaining　writhedout　from　it　spurted　thin　cascades　of　cubes。　They　swarmed　up　into　tall　pillars　that　shook　and　swayed　and　gyrated。

With　blinding　flash　upon　flash　the　sapphire　incandescences　struck　forth　at　their　feet。　A　score　of　flaming　columned　shapes　leaped　up　and　curved　in　meteor　flight　over　the　tumultuous　curtain。　Streaming　with　violet　fires　they　shot　back　to　the　valley　of　the　City。

〃Hai！〃　shouted　Norhala　as　they　flew。　〃Hai！〃

Up　darted　her　arms；　the　starry　galaxies　of　her　eyes　danced　madly；　shot　forth　visible　rays。　The　mighty　curtain　of　the　Metal　Things　pulsed　and　throbbed；　its　units　interweavingblock　and　globe　and　pyramid　of　which　it　was　woven；　each　seeming　to　strain　at　leash。

〃Come！〃　cried　Norhalaand　led　the　way　through　the　portal。

Close　behind　her　we　pressed。　I　stumbled；　nearly　fell；　over　a　brown…faced；　leather…cuirassed　body　that　lay　half　over；　legs　barring　the　threshold。

Contemptuously　Norhala　stepped　over　it。　We　were　within　that　chamber　of　the　pool。　About　it　lay　a　fair　dozen　of　the　armored　men。　Ruth's　defense；　I　thought　with　a　grim　delight；　had　been　most　excellentthose　who　had　taken　her　and　Ventnor　had　not　done　so　without　paying　full　toll。

A　violet　flashing　drew　my　eyes　away。　Close　to　the　pool　wherein　we　had　first　seen　the　white　miracle　of　Norhala's　body；　two　immense；　purple　fired　stars　blazed。　Between　them；　like　a　suppliant　cast　from　black　iron；　was　Yuruk。

Poised　upon　their　nether　tips　the　stars　guarded　him。　Head　touching　his　knees；　eyes　hidden　within　his　folded　arms；　the　black　eunuch　crouched。

〃Yuruk！〃

There　was　an　unearthly　mercilessness　in　Norhala's　voice。

The　eunuch　raised　his　head；　slowly；　fearfully。

〃Goddess！〃　he　whispered。　〃Goddess！　Mercy！〃

〃I　saved　him；〃　she　turned　to　us；　〃for　you　to　slay。　He　it　was　who　brought　those　who　took　the　maid　who　was　mine　and　the　helpless　one　she　loved。　Slay　him。〃

Drake　understoodhis　hand　twitched　down　to　his　pistol；　drew　it。　He　leveled　the　gun　at　the　black　eunuch。　Yuruk　saw　itshrieked　and　cowered。　Norhala　laughedsweetly；　ruthlessly。

〃He　dies　before　the　stroke　falls；〃　she　said。　〃He　dies　doubly　thereforeand　that　is　well。〃

Drake　slowly　lowered　the　automatic；　turned　to　me。

〃I　can't；〃　he　said。　〃I　can'tdo　it〃

〃Masters！〃　Upon　his　knees　the　eunuch　writhed　toward　us。　〃MastersI　meant　no　wrong。　What　I　did　was　for　love　of　the　Goddess。　Years　upon　years　I　have　served　her。　And　her　mother　before　her。

〃I　thought　if　the　maid　and　the　blasted　one　were　gone；　that　you　would　follow。　Then　I　would　be　alone　with　the　Goddess　once　more。　Cherkis　will　not　slay　themand　Cherkis　will　welcome　you　and　give　the　maid　and　the　blasted　one　back　to　you　for　the　arts　that　you　can　teach　him。

〃Mercy；　Masters；　I　meant　no　harmbid　the　Goddess　be　merciful！〃


The　ebon　pools　of　eyes　were　clarified　of　their　ancient　shadows　by　his　terror；　age　was　wiped　from　them　by　fear；　even　as　it　was　wiped　from　his　face。　The　wrinkles　were　gone。　Appallingly　youthful；　the　face　of　Yuruk　prayed　to　us。

〃Why　do　you　wait？〃　she　asked　us。　〃Time　presses；　and　even　now　we　should　be　on　the　way。　When　so　many　are　so　soon　to　die；　why　tarry　over　one？　Slay　him！〃

〃Norhala；〃　I　answered；　〃we　cannot　slay　him　so。　When　we　kill；　we　kill　in　fair　fighthand　to　hand。　The　maid　we　both　love　has　gone；　taken　with　her　brother。　It　will　not　bring　her　back　if　we　kill　him　through　whom　she　was　taken。　We　would　punish　himyes；　but　slay　him　we　cannot。　And　we　would　be　after　the　maid　and　her　brother　quickly。〃

A　moment　she　looked　at　us；　perplexity　shading　the　high　and　steady　anger。

〃As　you　will；〃　she　said　at　last；　then　added；　half　sarcastically；　〃Perhaps　it　is　because　I　who　am　now　awake　have　slept　so　long　that　I　cannot　understand　you。　But　Yuruk　has　disobeyed　ME。　That　of　MINE　which　I　committed　to　his　care　he　has　given　to　the　enemies　of　me　and　those　who　were　mine。　It　matters　nothing　to　me　what　YOU　would　do。　Matters　to　me　only　what　I　will　to　do。〃

She　pointed　to　the　dead。

〃Yuruk〃the　golden　voice　was　cold〃gather　up　these　carrion　and　pile　them　together。〃

The　eunuch　arose；　stole　out　fearfully　from　between　the　two　stars。　He　slithered　to　body　after　body；　dragging　them　one　after　the　other　to　the　center　of　the　chamber；　lifting　them　and　forming　of　them　a　heap。　One　there　was　who　was　not　dead。　His　eyes　opened　as　the　eunuch　seized　him；　the　blackened　mouth　opened。

〃Water！〃　he　begged。　〃Give　me　drink。　I　burn！〃

I　felt　a　thrill　of　pity；　lifted　my　canteen　and　walked　toward　him。

〃You　of　the　beard；〃　the　merciless　chime　rang　out；　〃he　shall　have　no　water。　But　drink　he　shall　have；　and　soon　drink　of　fire！〃

The　soldier's　fevered　eyes　rolled　toward　her；　saw　and　read　aright　the　ruthlessness　in　the　beautiful　face。

〃Sorceress！〃　he　groaned。　〃Cursed　spawn　of　Ahriman！〃　He　spat　at　her。

The　black　talons　of　Yuruk　stretched　around　his　throat

〃Son　of　unclean　dogs！〃　he　whined。　〃You　dare　blaspheme　the　Goddess！〃

He　snapped　the　soldier's　neck　as　though　it　had　been　a　rotten　twig。

At　the　callous　cruelty　I　stood　for　an　instant　petrified；　I　heard　Drake　swear　wildly；　saw　his　pistol　flash　up。

Norhala　struck　down　his　arm。

〃Your　chance　has　passed；〃　she　said；　〃and　not　for　THAT　shall　you　slay　him。〃

And　now　Yuruk　had　cast　that　body　upon　the　others；　the　pile　was　complete。

〃Mount！〃　commanded　Norhala；　and　pointed。　He　cast　himself　at　her　feet；　writhing；　moaning；　imploring。　She　looked　at　one　of　the　great　Shapes；　something　of　command　passed　from　her；　something　it　understood　plainly。

The　star　slipped　forwardthere　was　an　almost　imperceptible　movement　of　its　side　points。　The　twitching　form　of　the　black　seemed　to　leap　up　from　the　floor；　to　throw　itself　like　a　bag　upon　the　mound　of　the　dead。

Norhala　threw　up　her　hands。　Out　of　the　violet　ovals　beneath　the　upper　tips　of　the　Things　spurted　streams　of　blue　flame。　They　fell　upon　Yuruk　and　splashed　over　him　upon　the　heap　of　the　slain。　In　the　mound　was　a　dreadful　movement；　a　contortion；　the　bodies　stiffened；　seemed　to　try　to　rise；　to　push　awaydead　nerves　and　muscles　responding　to　the　blasting　energy　passing　through　them。

Out　from　the　stars　rained　bolt　upon　bolt。　In　the　chamber　was　the　sound　of　thunder；　crackling　like　broken　glass。　The　bodies　flamed；　crumbled。　There　was　a　little　smoke　nauseous；　feebly　protesting；　beaten　out　by　the　consuming　fires　almost　before　it　could　rise。

Where　had　been　the　heap　of　slain　capped　by　the　black　eunuch　there　was　but　a　little　whirling　cloud　of　sad　gray　dust。　Caught　by　a　passing　draft；　it　eddied；　slipped　over　the　floor；　vanished　through　the　doorway。　Motionless　stood　the　blasting　stars；　contemplating　us。　Motionless　stood　Norhala；　her　wrath　no　whit　abated　by　the　ghastly　sacrifice。　And　paralyzed　by　what　we　had　beheld；　motionless　stood　we。

〃Listen；〃　she　said。　〃You　two　who　love　the