the metal monster-第35章

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　that　unerringly　he　had　taken　the　only　means　by　which　he　could　have　gained　a　hearing；　have　temporized。　Could　he　win　her　with　his　guile？

〃Is　it　not　true？〃　There　was　a　leonine　purring　in　the　question。

〃It　IS　true！〃　she　answered　proudly。　〃Though　why　YOU　should　dwell　upon　this；　Cherkis；　whose　word　is　steadfast　as　the　running　stream　and　whose　promises　are　as　lasting　as　its　bubbleswhy　YOU　should　dwell　on　this　I　do　not　know。〃

〃I　have　changed　greatly；　Princess；　in　the　years　since　my　great　wickedness；　I　have　learned　much。　He　who　speaks　to　you　now　is　not　he　you　were　taughtand　taught　justly　thento　hate。〃

〃You　may　speak　truth！　Certainly　you　are　not　as　I　have　pictured　you。〃　It　was　as　though　she　were　more　than　half　convinced。　〃In　this　at　least　you　do　speak　truththat　IF　I　promise　I　will　go　and　molest　you　no　more。〃

〃Why　go　at　all；　Princess？〃　Quietly　he　asked　the　amazing　questionthen　drew　himself　to　his　full　height；　threw　wide　his　arms。

〃Princess？〃　the　great　voice　rumbled　forth。　〃Nay　Queen！　Why　leave　us　againNorhala　the　Queen？　Are　we　not　of　your　people？　Am　I　not　of　your　kin？　Join　your　power　with　ours。　What　that　war　engine　you　ride　may　be；　how　built；　I　know　not。　But　this　I　do　knowthat　with　our　strengths　joined　we　two　can　go　forth　from　where　I　have　dwelt　so　long；　go　forth　into　the　forgotten　world；　eat　its　cities　and　rule。

〃You　shall　teach　our　people　to　make　these　engines；　Norhala；　and　we　will　make　many　of　them。　Queen　Norhalayou　shall　wed　my　son　Kulun；　he　who　stands　beside　me。　And　while　I　live　you　shall　rule　with　me；　rule　equally。　And　when　I　die　you　and　Kulun　shall　rule。

〃Thus　shall　our　two　royal　lines　be　made　one；　the　old　feud　wiped　out；　the　long　score　be　settled。　Queenwherever　it　is　you　dwell　it　comes　to　me　that　you　have　few　men。　Queenyou　need　men；　many　men　and　strong　to　follow　you；　men　to　gather　the　harvests　of　your　power；　men　to　bring　to　you　the　fruit　of　your　smallest　wishyoung　men　and　vigorous　to　amuse　you。

〃Let　the　past　be　forgottenI　too　have　wrongs　to　forget；　O　Queen。　Come　to　us；　Great　One；　with　your　power　and　your　beauty。　Teach　us。　Lead　us。　Return；　and　throned　above　your　people　rule　the　world！〃

He　ceased。　Over　the　battlements；　over　the　city；　dropped　a　vast　expectant　silenceas　though　the　city　knew　its　fate　was　hanging　upon　the　balance。

〃No！　No！〃　It　was　Ruth　crying。　〃Do　not　trust　him；　Norhala！　It's　a　trap！　He　shamed　mehe　tortured〃

Cherkis　half　turned；　before　he　swung　about　I　saw　a　hell　shadow　darken　his　face。　Ventnor's　hand　thrust　out；　covered　Ruth's　mouth；　choking　her　crying。

〃Your　son〃Norhala　spoke　swiftly；　and　back　flashed　the　cruel　face　of　Cherkis；　devouring　her　with　his　eyes。　〃Your　sonand　Queenship　hereand　Empire　of　the　World。〃　Her　voice　was　rapt；　thrilled。　〃All　this　you　offer？　MeNorhala？〃

〃This　and　more！〃　The　huge　bulk　of　his　body　quivered　with　eagerness。　〃If　it　be　your　wish；　O　Queen；　I；　Cherkis；　will　step　down　from　the　throne　for　you　and　sit　beneath　your　right　hand；　eager　to　do　your　bidding。〃

A　moment　she　studied　him。

〃Norhala；〃　I　whispered；　〃do　not　do　this　thing。　He　thinks　to　gain　your　secrets。〃

〃Let　my　bridegroom　stand　forth　that　I　may　look　upon　him；〃　called　Norhala。

Visibly　Cherkis　relaxed；　as　though　a　strain　had　been　withdrawn。　Between　him　and　his　crimson…clad　son　flashed　a　glance；　it　was　as　though　a　triumphant　devil　sped　from　them　into　each　other's　eyes。

I　saw　Ruth　shrink　into　Ventnor's　arms。　Up　from　the　wall　rose　a　jubilant　shouting；　was　caught　by　the　inner　battlements；　passed　on　to　the　crowded　terraces。

〃Take　Kulun；〃　it　was　Drake；　pistol　drawn　and　whispering　across　to　me。　〃I'll　handle　Cherkis。　And　shoot　straight。〃





CHAPTER　XXVI

THE　VENGEANCE　OF　NORHALA

Norhala's　hand　that　had　gone　from　my　wrist　dropped　down　again；　the　other　fell　upon　Drake's。

Kulun　loosed　his　hood；　let　it　fall　about　his　shoulders。

He　stepped　forward；　held　out　his　arms　to　Norhala。

〃A　strong　man！〃　she　cried　approvingly。　〃Hailmy　bridegroom！　But　staystand　back　a　moment。　Stand　beside　that　man　for　whom　I　came　to　Ruszark。　I　would　see　you　together！〃

Kulun's　face　darkened。　But　Cherkis　smiled　with　evil　understanding；　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　whispered　to　him。　Sullenly　Kulun　stepped　back。　The　ring　of　the　archers　lowered　their　bows；　they　leaped　to　their　feet　and　stood　aside　to　let　him　pass。

Quick　as　a　serpent's　tongue　a　pyramid　tipped　tentacle　flicked　out　beneath　us。　It　darted　through　the　broken　circle　of　the　bowmen。

It　LICKED　up　Ruth　and　Ventnor　andKulun！

Swiftly　as　it　had　swept　forth　it　returned；　coiled　and　dropped　those　two　I　loved　at　Norhala's　feet。

It　flashed　back　on　high　with　the　scarlet　length　of　Cherkis's　son　sprawled　along　its　angled　end。

The　great　body　of　Cherkis　seemed　to　wither。

Up　from　all　the　wall　went　a　tempestuous　sigh　of　horror。

Out　rang　the　merciless　chimes　of　Norhala's　laughter。

〃Tchai！〃　she　cried。　〃Tchai！　Fat　fool　there。　Tchaiyou　Cherkis！　Toad　whose　wits　have　sickened　with　your　years！

〃Did　you　think　to　catch　me；　Norhala；　in　your　filthy　web？　Princess！　Queen！　Empress　of　Earth！　Hoold　fox　I　have　outplayed　and　beaten；　what　now　have　you　to　trade　with　Norhala？〃

Mouth　sagging　open；　eyes　glaring；　the　tyrant　slowly　raised　his　armsa　suppliant。

〃You　would　have　back　the　bridegroom　you　gave　me？〃　she　laughed。　〃Take　him；　then。〃

Down　swept　the　metal　arm　that　held　Kulun。　The　arm　dropped　Cherkis's　son　at　Cherkis's　feet；　and　as　though　Kulun　had　been　a　grapeit　crushed　him！

Before　those　who　had　seen　could　stir　from　their　stupor　the　tentacle　hovered　over　Cherkis；　glaring　down　at　the　horror　that　had　been　his　son。

It　did　not　strike　himit　drew　him　up　to　it　as　a　magnet　draws　a　pin。

And　as　the　pin　swings　from　the　magnet　when　held　suspended　by　the　head；　so　swung　the　great　body　of　Cherkis　from　the　under　side　of　the　pyramid　that　held　him。　Hanging　so　he　was　carried　toward　us；　came　to　a　stop　not　ten　feet　from　us

Weird；　weird　beyond　all　telling　was　that　sceneand　would　I　had　the　power　to　make　you　who　read　see　it　as　we　did。

The　animate；　living　Shape　of　metal　on　which　we　stood；　with　its　forest　of　hammer…handed　arms　raised　menacingly　along　its　mile　of　spindled　length；　the　great　walls　glistening　with　the　armored　hosts；　the　terraces　of　that　fair　and　ancient　city；　their　gardens　and　green　groves　and　clustering　red　and　yellow…roofed　houses　and　temples　and　palaces；　the　swinging　gross　body　of　Cherkis　in　the　clutch　of　the　unseen　grip　of　the　tentacle；　his　grizzled　hair　touching　the　side　of　the　pyramid　that　held　him；　his　arms　half　outstretched；　the　gemmed　cloak　flapping　like　the　wings　of　a　jeweled　bat；　his　white；　malignant　face　in　which　the　evil　eyes　were　burning　slits　flaming　hell's　own　blackest　hatred；　and　beyond　the　city；　from　which　pulsed　almost　visibly　a　vast　and　hopeless　horror；　the　watching　columnand　over　all　this　the　palely　radiant　white　sky　under　whose　light　the　encircling　cliffs　were　tremendous　stony　palettes　splashed　with　a　hundred　pigments。

Norhala's　laughter　had　ceased。　Somberly　she　looked　upon　Cherkis；　into　the　devil　fires　of　his　eyes。

〃Cherkis！〃　she　half　whispered。　〃Now　comes　the　end　for　youand　for　all　that　is　yours！　But　until　the　end's　end　you　shall　see。〃

The　hanging　body　was　thrust　forward；　was　thrust　up；　was　brought　down　upon　its　feet　on　the　upper　plane　of　the　prostrate　pyramid　tipping　the　metal　arm　that　held　him。　For　an　instant　he　struggled　to　escape；　I　think　he　meant　to　hurl　himself　down　upon　Norhala；　to　kill　her　before　he　himself　was　slain。

If　so；　after　one　frenzied　effort　he　realized　the　futility；　for　with　a　certain　dignity　he　drew　himself　upright；　turned　his　eyes　toward　the　city。

Over　that　city　a　dreadful　silence　hung。　It　was　as　though　it　cowered；　hid　its　face；　was　afraid　to　breathe。

〃The　end！〃　murmured　Norhala。

There　was　a　quick　trembling　through　the　Metal　Thing。　Down　swung　its　forest　of　sledges。　Beneath　the　blow　down　fell　the　smitten　walls；　shattered；　crumbling；　and　with　it　glittering　like　shining　flies　in　a　dust　storm　fell　the　armored　men。

Through　that　mile…wide　breach　and　up　to　the　inner　barrier　I　glimpsed　confusion　chaotic。　And　again　I　say　it　they　were　no　cowards；　those　men　of　Cherkis。　From　the　inner　battlements　flew　clouds　of　arrows；　of　huge　stones　as　uselessly　as　before。

Then　out　from　the　opened　gates　poured　regiments　of　horsemen；　brandishing　javelins　and　great　maces；　and　shouting　fiercely　as　they　drove　down　upon　each　end　of　the　Metal　Shape。　Under　cover　of　their　attack　I　saw　cloaked　riders　spurring　their　ponies　across　the　plain　to　shelter　of　the　cliff　walls；　to　the　chance　of　hiding　places　within　them。　Women　and　men　of　the　rich；　the　powerful；　flying　for　safety；　after　them　ran　and　scattered　through　the　fields　of　grain　a　multitude　on　foot。


The　ends　of　the　spindle　drew　back　before　the　horsemen's　charge；　broadening　as　they　wentlike　the　heads　of　monstrous　cobras　withdrawing　into　their　hoods。　Abruptly；　with　a　lightning　velocity；　these　broadenings　expanded　into　immense　lunettes；　two　tremendous　curving　and　crablike　claws。　Their　tips　flung　themselves　past　the　racing　troops；　then　like　gigantic　pincers　began　to　contract。

Of　no　avail　now　was　it　for　the　horsemen　to　halt　dragging　their　mounts　on　their　haunches；　or　to　turn　to　fly。　The　ends　of　the　lunettes　had　met；　the　pincer　tips　had　closed。　The　mounted　men　were　trapped　within　half…mile…wide　circles。　And　in　upon　man　and　horse　their　living　walls　marched。　Within　those　enclosures　of　the　doomed　began　a　frantic　millingI　shut　my　eyes

There　was　a　dreadful　screaming　of　horses；　a　shrieking　of　men。　Then　silence。

Shuddering；　I　looked。　Where　the　mounted　men　had　been　wasnothing。

Nothing？　There　were　two　great　circular　spaces　whose　floors　were　glistening；　wetly　red。　Fragments　of　man　or　horsethere　was　none。　They　had　been　crushed　into　what　was　it　Norhala　had　promisedhad　been　stamped　into　the　rock　beneath　the　feet　of　herservants。

Sick；　I　looked　away　and　stared　at　a　Thing　that　writhed　and　undulated　over　the　plain；　a　prodigious　serpentine　Shape　of　cubes　and　spheres　linked　and　studded　thick　with　the　spikes　of　the　pyramid。　Through　the　fields；　over　the　plain　its　coils　flashed。

Playfully　it　sped　and　twisted　among　the　fugitives；　crushing　them；　tossing　them　aside　broken；　gliding　over　them。　Some　there　were　who　hurled　themselves　upon　it　in　impotent　despair；　some　who　knelt　before　it；　praying。　On　rolled　the　metal　convolutions；　inexorable。

Within　my　vision's　range　there　were　no　more　fugitives。　Around　a　corner　of　the　broken　battlements　raced　the　serpent　Shape。　Where　it　had　writhed　was　now　no　waving　grain；　no　trees；　no　green　thing。　There　was　only　smooth　rock　upon　which　here　and　there　red　smears　glistened　wetly。

Afar　there　was　a　crying；　in　its　wake　a　rumbling。　It　was　the　column；　it　came　to　me；　at　work　upon　the　further　battlements。　As　though　the　sound　had　been　a　signal　the　spindle　trembled；　up　we　were　thrust　another　hundred　feet　or　more。　Back　dropped　the　host　of　brandished　arms；　threaded　themselves　into　the　parent　bulk。

Right　and　left　of　us　the　spindle　split　into　scores　of　fissures。　Between　these　fissures　the　Metal　Things　that　made　up　each　now　dissociate　and　shapeless　mass　geysered；　block　and　sphere　and　tetrahedron　spike　spun　and　swirled。　There　was　an　instant　of　formlessness。

Then　right　and　left　of　us　stood　scores　of　giant；　grotesque　warriors。　Their　crests　were　fully　fifty　feet　below　our　li