the metal monster-第38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！



〃Drums？〃　muttered　Drake。　〃THEY'RE　no　drums。　It's　drum　fire。　It's　like　a　dozen　Marnes；　a　dozen　Verduns。　But　where　could　batteries　like　those　come　from？〃

〃Drums；〃　whispered　Ventnor。　〃They　ARE　drums。　The　drums　of　Destiny！〃

Louder　the　roaring　grew。　Now　it　was　a　tremendous　rhythmic　cannonading。　The　Thing　halted。　The　tower　that　upheld　Ruth　and　Norhala　swayed；　bent　over　the　gap　between　us；　touched　the　top　on　which　we　rode。

Gently　the　two　were　plucked　up；　swiftly　they　were　set　beside　us。

Came　a　shrill；　keen　wailinglouder　than　ever　I　had　heard　before。　There　was　an　earthquake　trembling；　a　maelstrom　swirling　in　which　we　spun；　a　swift　sinking。

The　Thing　split　in　two。　Up　before　us　rose　a　stupendous；　stepped　pyramid；　little　smaller　it　was　than　that　which　Cheops　built　to　throw　its　shadows　across　holy　Nile。　Into　it　streamed；　over　it　clicked；　score　upon　score　of　cubes；　building　it　higher　and　higher。　It　lurched　forwardaway　from　us。

From　Norhala　came　a　single　cryresonant；　blaring　like　a　wrathful；　golden　trumpet。

The　speeding　shape　halted；　hesitated；　it　seemed　about　to　return。　Crashed　down　upon　us　an　abrupt　crescendo　of　the　distant　drumming；　peremptory；　commanding。　The　shape　darted　forward；　raced　away　crushing　to　straw　the　trees　beneath　it　in　a　full　quarter…mile…wide　swath。

Great　gray　eyes　wide；　filled　with　incredulous　wonder；　stunned　disbelief；　Norhala　for　an　instant　faltered。　Then　out　of　her　white　throat；　through　her　red　lips　pelted　a　tempest　of　staccato　buglings。

Under　them　what　was　left　of　the　Thing　leaped；　tore　on。　Norhala's　flaming　hair　crackled　and　streamed；　about　her　body　of　milk　and　pearlabout　Ruth's　creamy　skina　radiant　nimbus　began　to　glow。

In　the　distance　I　saw　a　sapphire　spark；　knew　it　for　Norhala's　home。　Not　far　from　it　now　was　the　rushing　pyramidand　it　came　to　me　that　within　that　shape　was　strangely　neither　globe　nor　pyramid。　Nor　except　for　the　trembling　cubes　that　made　the　platform　on　which　we　stood；　did　the　shrunken　Thing　carrying　us　hold　any　unit　of　the　Metal　Monster　except　its　spheres　and　tetrahedrons　at　least　within　its　visible　bulk。

The　sapphire　spark　had　grown　to　a　glimmering　azure　marble。　Steadily　we　gained　upon　the　pyramid。　Never　for　an　instant　ceased　that　scourging　hail　of　notes　from　Norhala　never　for　an　instant　lessened　the　drumming　clamor　that　seemed　to　try　to　smother　them。

The　sapphire　marble　became　a　sapphire　ball；　a　great　globe。　I　saw　the　Thing　we　sought　to　join　lift　itself　into　a　prodigious　pillar；　the　pillar's　base　thrust　forth　stilts；　upon　them　the　Thing　stepped　over　the　blue　dome　of　Norhala's　house。

The　blue　bubble　was　close；　now　it　curved　below　us。　Gently　we　were　lifted　down；　were　set　before　its　portal。　I　looked　up　at　the　bulk　that　had　carried　us。

I　had　been　rightbuilt　it　was　only　of　globe　and　pyramid；　an　inconceivably　grotesque　shape；　it　hung　over　us。

Throughout　the　towering　Shape　was　awful　movement；　its　units　writhed　within　it。　Then　it　was　lost　to　sight　in　the　mists　through　which　the　Thing　we　had　pursued　had　gone。

In　Norhala's　face　as　she　watched　it　go　was　a　dismay；　a　poignant　uncertainty；　that　held　in　it　something　indescribably　pitiful。

〃I　am　afraid！〃　I　heard　her　whisper。

She　tightened　her　grasp　upon　dreaming　Ruth；　motioned　us　to　go　within。　We　passed；　silently；　behind　us　she　came；　followed　by　three　of　the　great　globes；　by　a　pair　of　her　tetrahedrons。

Beside　a　pile　of　the　silken　stuffs　she　halted。　The　girl's　eyes　dwelt　upon　hers　trustingly。

〃I　am　afraid！〃　whispered　Norhala　again。　〃Afraidfor　you！〃

Tenderly　she　looked　down　upon　her；　the　galaxies　of　stars　in　her　eyes　soft　and　tremulous。

〃I　am　afraid；　little　sister；〃　she　whispered　for　the　third　time。　〃Not　yet　can　you　go　as　I　doamong　the　fires。〃　She　hesitated。　〃Rest　here　until　I　return。　I　shall　leave　these　to　guard　you　and　obey　you。〃

She　motioned　to　the　five　shapes。　They　ranged　themselves　about　Ruth。　Norhala　kissed　her　upon　both　brown　eyes。

〃Sleep　till　I　return；〃　she　murmured。

She　swept　from　the　chamberwith　never　a　glance　for　us　three。　I　heard　a　little　wailing　chorus　without；　fast　dying　into　silence。

Spheres　and　pyramids　twinkled　at　us；　guarding　the　silken　pile　whereon　Ruth　lay　asleeplike　some　enchanted　princess。

Beat　down　upon　the　blue　globe　like　hollow　metal　worlds；　beaten　and　shrieking。

The　drums　of　Destiny！

The　drums　of　Doom！

Beating　taps　for　the　world　of　men？





CHAPTER　XXVIII

THE　FRENZY　OF　RUTH

For　many　minutes　we　stood　silent；　in　the　shadowy　chamber；　listening；　each　absorbed　in　his　own　thoughts。　The　thunderous　drumming　was　continuous；　sometimes　it　faded　into　a　background　for　clattering　storms　as　of　thousands　of　machine　guns；　thousands　of　riveters　at　work　at　once　upon　a　thousand　metal　frameworks；　sometimes　it　was　nearly　submerged　beneath　splitting　crashes　as　of　meeting　meteors　of　hollow　steel。

But　always　the　drumming　persisted；　rhythmic；　thunderous。　Through　it　all　Ruth　slept；　undisturbed；　cheek　pillowed　in　one　rounded　arm；　the　two　great　pyramids　erect　behind　her；　watchful；　a　globe　at　her　feet；　a　globe　at　her　head；　the　third　sphere　poised　between　her　and　us；　and；　like　the　pyramidswatchful。

What　was　happening　out　thereover　the　edge　of　the　canyon；　beyond　the　portal　of　the　cliffs；　behind　the　veils；　in　the　Pit　of　the　Metal　Monster？　What　was　the　message　of　the　roaring　drums？　What　the　rede　of　their　clamorous　runes？

Ventnor　stepped　by　the　sentinel　globe；　bent　over　the　tranced　girl。　Sphere　nor　pointed　pair　stirred；　only　they　watched　himlike　a　palpable　thing　one　felt　their　watchfulness。　He　listened　to　her　heart；　caught　up　a　wrist；　took　note　of　her　pulse　of　life。　He　drew　a　deep　breath；　stood　upright；　nodded　reassuringly。

Abruptly　Drake　turned；　walked　out　through　the　open　portal；　his　strain　and　a　very　deep　anxiety　written　plainly　in　deep　lines　that　ran　from　nostrils　to　firm　young　mouth。

〃Just　went　out　to　look　for　the　pony；〃　he　muttered　when　he　returned。　〃It's　safe。　I　was　afraid　it　had　been　stepped　on。　It's　getting　dusk。　There's　a　big　light　down　the　canyon　over　in　the　valley。〃

Ventnor　drew　back　past　the　globe；　rejoined　us。

The　blue　bower　trembled　under　a　gust　of　sound。　Ruth　stirred；　her　brows　knitted；　her　hands　clenched。　The　sphere　that　stood　before　her　spun　on　its　axis；　swept　up　to　the　globe　at　her　head；　glided　from　it　to　the　globe　at　her　feetas　though　whispering。　Ruth　moanedher　body　bent　upright；　swayed　rigidly。　Her　eyes　opened；　they　stared　through　us　as　though　upon　some　dreadful　vision；　and　strangely　was　it　as　though　she　were　seeing　with　another's　eyes；　were　reflecting　another's　sufferings。

The　globes　at　her　feet　and　at　her　head　swirled　out；　clustering　against　the　third　spherethree　weird　shapes　in　silent　consultation。　On　Ventnor's　face　I　saw　pity　and　a　vast　relief。　With　shocked　amaze　I　realized　that　Ruth's　agonyfor　in　agony　she　clearly　waswas　calling　forth　in　him　elation。　He　spokeand　I　knew　why。

〃Norhala！〃　he　whispered。　〃She　is　seeing　with　Norhala's　eyesfeeling　what　Norhala　feels。　It's　not　going　well　with　Thatout　there。　If　we　dared　leave　Ruthcould　only；　see〃

Ruth　leaped　to　her　feet；　cried　outa　golden　bugling　that　might　have　been　Norhala's　own　wrathful　trumpet　notes。　Instantly　the　two　pyramids　flamed　open；　became　two　gleaming　stars　that　bathed　her　in　violet　radiance。　Beneath　their　upper　tips　I　saw　the　blasting　ovals　glitter　menacingly。

The　girl　glared　at　usmore　brilliant　grew　the　glittering　ovals　as　though　their　lightnings　trembled　on　their　lips。

〃Ruth！〃　called　Ventnor　softly。

A　shadow　softened　the　intolerable；　hard　brilliancy　of　the　brown　eyes。　In　them　something　struggled　to　arise；　fighting　its　way　to　the　surface　like　some　drowning　human　thing。

It　sank　backupon　her　face　dropped　a　cloud　of　heartbreak；　appalling　woe；　the　despair　of　a　soul　that；　having　withdrawn　all　faith　in　its　own　kind　to　rest　all　faith；　as　it　thought；　on　angelssees　that　faith　betrayed。

There　stared　upon　us　a　stripped　spirit；　naked　and　hopeless　and　terrible。

Despairing；　raging；　she　screamed　once　more。　The　central　globe　swam　to　her；　it　raised　her　upon　its　back；　glided　to　the　doorway。　Upon　it　she　stood　poised　like　some　youthful；　anguished　Victorya　Victory　who　faced　and　knew　she　faced　destroying　defeat；　poised　upon　that　enigmatic　orb　on　bare　slender　feet；　one　sweet　breast　bare；　hands　upraised；　virginally　archaic；　nothing　about　her　of　the　Ruth　we　knew。

〃Ruth！〃　cried　Drake；　despair　as　great　as　that　upon　her　face　was　in　his　voice。　He　sprang　before　the　globe　that　held　her；　barred　its　way。

For　an　instant　the　Thing　pausedand　in　that　instant　the　human　soul　of　the　girl　rushed　back。

〃No！〃　she　cried。　〃No！〃

A　weird　call　issued　from　the　white　lipsstumbling；　uncertain；　as　though　she　who　sent　it　forth　herself　wondered　whence　it　sprang。　Abruptly　the　angry　stars　closed。　The　three　globes　spundoubting；　puzzled！　Again　she　called　now　a　tremulous；　halting　cadence。　She　was　lifted；　dropped　gently　to　her　feet。

For　an　instant　the　globes　and　pyramids　whirled　and　danced　before　herthen　sped　away　through　the　portal。

Ruth　swayed；　sobbing。　Then　as　though　drawn；　she　ran　to　the　doorway；　fled　through　it。　As　one　we　sprang　after　her。　Rods　ahead　her　white　body　flashed；　speeding　toward　the　Pit。　Like　fleet…footed　Atalanta　she　fledand　far；　far　behind　us　was　the　blue　bower；　the　misty　barrier　of　the　veils　close；　when　Drake　with　a　last　desperate　burst　reached　her　side；　gripped　her。　Down　the　two　fell；　rolling　upon　the　smooth　roadway。　Silently　she　fought；　biting；　tearing　at　Drake；　struggling　to　escape。

〃Quick！〃　gasped　Ventnor；　stretching　out　to　me　an　arm。　〃Cut　off　the　sleeve。　Quick！〃

Unquestioningly；　I　drew　my　knife；　ripped　the　garment　at　the　shoulder。　He　snatched　the　sleeve；　knelt　at　Ruth's　head；　rapidly　he　crumpled　an　end；　thrust　it　roughly　into　her　mouth；　tied　it　fast；　gagging　her。

〃Hold　her！〃　he　ordered　Drake；　and　with　a　sob　of　relief　sprang　up。　The　girl's　eyes　blazed　at　him；　filled　with　hate。

〃Cut　that　other　sleeve；〃　he　said；　and　when　I　had　done　so；　he　knelt　again；　pinned　Ruth　down　with　a　knee　at　her　throat；　turned　her　over　and　knotted　her　hands　behind　her。　She　ceased　struggling；　gently　now　he　drew　up　the　curly　head；　swung　her　upon　her　back。

〃Hold　her　feet。〃　He　nodded　to　Drake；　who　caught　the　slender　bare　ankles　in　his　hands。


She　lay　there；　helpless；　being　unable　to　use　her　hands　or　feet。

〃Too　little　Ruth；　and　too　much　Norhala；〃　said　Ventnor；　looking　up　at　me。　〃If　she'd　only　thought　to　cry　out！　She　could　have　brought　a　regiment　of　those　Things　down　to　blast　us。　And　wouldif　she　HAD　thought。　You　don't　think　THAT　is　Ruth；　do　you？〃

He　pointed　to　the　pallid　face　glaring　at　him；　the　eyes　from　which　cold　fires　flamed。

〃No；　you　don't！〃　He　caught　Drake　by　the　shoulder；　sent　him　spinning　a　dozen　feet　away。　〃Damn　it；　Drake　don't　you　understand！〃

For　suddenly　Ruth's　eyes　softened；　she　had　turned　them　on　Dick　pitifully；　appealinglyand　he　had　loosed　her　ankles；　had　leaned　forward　as　though　to　draw　away　the　band　that　covered　her　lips。

〃Your　gun；〃　whispered　Ventnor　to　me；　before　I　had　moved　he　had　snatched　the　automatic　from　my　holster；　had　covered　Drake　with　it。

〃Drake；〃　he　said；　〃stand　where　you　are。　If　you　take　another　step　toward　this　girl　I'll　shoot　youby　God；　I　will！〃

Drake　halted；　shocked　amazement　in　his　face；　I　myself　felt　resentful；　wondering　at　his　outburst。