the metal monster-第4章

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A　stream　of　utter　hopelessness　was　racing　upon　us；　swirling　and　eddying　around　us；　reaching　to　our　hearts　with　ghostly　fingers　dripping　with　despair。　From　every　shattered　heap　it　seemed　to　pour；　rushing　down　the　road　upon　us　like　a　torrent；　engulfing　us；　submerging；　drowning。

Unseen　it　wasyet　tangible　as　water；　it　sapped　the　life　from　every　nerve。　Weariness　filled　me；　a　desire　to　drop　upon　the　stones；　to　be　rolled　away。　To　die。　I　felt　Drake's　body　quivering　even　as　mine；　knew　that　he　was　drawing　upon　every　reserve　of　strength。

〃Steady；〃　he　muttered。　〃Steady〃

The　Tibetan　shrieked　and　fled；　the　ponies　scrambling　after　him。　Dimly　I　remembered　that　mine　carried　precious　specimens；　a　surge　of　anger　passed；　beating　back　the　anguish。　I　heard　a　sob　from　Chiu…Ming；　saw　him　drop。

Drake　stopped；　drew　him　to　his　feet。　We　placed　him　between　us；　thrust　each　an　arm　through　his　own。　Then；　like　swimmers；　heads　bent；　we　pushed　on；　buffeting　that　inexplicable　invisible　flood。

As　the　path　rose；　its　force　lessened；　my　vitality　grew；　and　the　terrible　desire　to　yield　and　be　swept　away　waned。　Now　we　had　reached　the　foot　of　the　cyclopean　stairs；　now　we　were　half　up　themand　now　as　we　struggled　out　upon　the　ledge　on　which　the　watching　fortress　stood；　the　clutching　stream　shoaled　swiftly；　the　shoal　became　safe；　dry　land　and　the　cheated；　unseen　maelstrom　swirled　harmlessly　beneath　us。

We　stood　erect；　gasping　for　breath；　again　like　swimmers　who　have　fought　their　utmost　and　barely；　so　barely；　won。

There　was　an　almost　imperceptible　movement　at　the　side　of　the　ruined　portal。

Out　darted　a　girl。　A　rifle　dropped　from　her　hands。　Straight　she　sped　toward　me。

And　as　she　ran　I　recognized　her。

Ruth　Ventnor！

The　flying　figure　reached　me；　threw　soft　arms　around　my　neck；　was　weeping　in　relieved　gladness　on　my　shoulder。

〃Ruth！〃　I　cried。　〃What　on　earth　are　YOU　doing　here？〃

〃Walter！〃　she　sobbed。　〃Walter　GoodwinOh；　thank　God！　Thank　God！〃

She　drew　herself　from　my　arms；　catching　her　breath；　laughed　shakily。

I　took　swift　stock　of　her。　Save　for　fear　upon　her；　she　was　the　same　Ruth　I　had　known　three　years　before；　wide；　deep　blue　eyes　that　were　now　all　seriousness；　now　sparkling　wells　of　mischief；　petite；　rounded　and　tender；　the　fairest　skin；　an　impudent　little　nose；　shining　clusters　of　intractable　curls；　all　human；　sparkling　and　sweet。

Drake　coughed；　insinuatingly。　I　introduced　him。

〃II　watched　you　struggling　through　that　dreadful　pit。〃　She　shuddered。　〃I　could　not　see　who　you　were；　did　not　know　whether　friend　or　enemybut　oh；　my　heart　almost　died　in　pity　for　you；　Walter；〃　she　breathed。　〃What　can　it　beTHERE？〃

I　shook　my　head。

〃Martin　could　not　see　you；〃　she　went　on。　〃He　was　watching　the　road　that　leads　above。　But　I　ran　downto　help。〃

〃Mart　watching？〃　I　asked。　〃Watching　for　what？〃

〃I〃　she　hesitated　oddly。　〃I　think　I'd　rather　tell　you　before　him。　It's　so　strangeso　incredible。〃

She　led　us　through　the　broken　portal　and　into　the　fortress。　It　was　more　gigantic　even　than　I　had　thought。　The　floor　of　the　vast　chamber　we　had　entered　was　strewn　with　fragments　fallen　from　the　crackling；　stone…vaulted　ceiling。　Through　the　breaks　light　streamed　from　the　level　above　us。

We　picked　our　way　among　the　debris　to　a　wide　crumbling　stairway；　crept　up　it；　Ruth　flitting　ahead。　We　came　out　opposite　one　of　the　eye…like　apertures。　Black　against　it；　perched　high　upon　a　pile　of　blocks；　I　recognized　the　long；　lean　outline　of　Ventnor；　rifle　in　hand；　gazing　intently　up　the　ancient　road　whose　windings　were　plain　through　the　opening。　He　had　not　heard　us。

〃Martin；〃　called　Ruth　softly。

He　turned。　A　shaft　of　light　from　a　crevice　in　the　gap's　edge　struck　his　face；　flashing　it　out　from　the　semidarkness　of　the　corner　in　which　he　crouched。　I　looked　into　the　quiet　gray　eyes；　upon　the　keen　face。

〃Goodwin！〃　he　shouted；　tumbling　down　from　his　perch；　shaking　me　by　the　shoulders。　〃If　I　had　been　in　the　way　of　prayingyou're　the　man　I'd　have　prayed　for。　How　did　you　get　here？〃

〃Just　wandering；　Mart；〃　I　answered。　〃But　Lord！　I'm　sure　GLAD　to　see　you。〃

〃Which　way　did　you　come？〃　he　asked；　keenly。　I　threw　my　hand　toward　the　south。

〃Not　through　that　hollow？〃　he　asked　incredulously。

〃And　some　hell　of　a　place　to　get　through；〃　Drake　broke　in。　〃It　cost　us　our　ponies　and　all　my　ammunition。〃

〃Richard　Drake；〃　I　said。　〃Son　of　old　Alvinyou　knew　him；　Mart。〃

〃Knew　him　well；〃　cried　Ventnor；　seizing　Dick's　hand。　〃Wanted　me　to　go　to　Kamchatka　to　get　some　confounded　sort　of　stuff　for　one　of　his　devilish　experiments。　Is　he　well？〃

〃He's　dead；〃　replied　Dick　soberly。

〃Oh！〃　said　Ventnor。　〃OhI'm　sorry。　He　was　a　great　man。〃

Briefly　I　acquainted　him　with　my　wanderings；　my　encounter　with　Drake。

〃That　place　out　there〃　he　considered　us　thoughtfully。　〃Damned　if　I　know　what　it　is。　Thought　maybe　it's　gas　of　a　sort。　If　it　hadn't　been　for　it　we'd　have　been　out　of　this　hole　two　days　ago。　I'm　pretty　sure　it　must　be　gas。　And　it　must　be　much　less　than　it　was　this　morning；　for　then　we　made　an　attempt　to　get　through　againand　couldn't。〃

I　was　hardly　listening。　Ventnor　had　certainly　advanced　a　theory　of　our　unusual　symptoms　that　had　not　occurred　to　me。　That　hollow　might　indeed　be　a　pocket　into　which　a　gas　flowed；　just　as　in　the　mines　the　deadly　coal　damp　collects　in　pits；　flows　like　a　stream　along　the　passages。　It　might　be　thatsome　odorless；　colorless　gas　of　unknown　qualities；　and　yet

〃Did　you　try　respirators？〃　asked　Dick。

〃Surely；〃　said　Ventnor。　〃First　off　the　go。　But　they　weren't　of　any　use。　The　gas；　if　it　is　gas；　seems　to　operate　as　well　through　the　skin　as　through　the　nose　and　mouth。　We　just　couldn't　make　itand　that's　all　there　is　to　it。　But　if　you　made　itcould　we　try　it　now；　do　you　think？〃　he　asked　eagerly。

I　felt　myself　go　white。

〃Notnot　for　a　little　while；〃　I　stammered。

He　nodded；　understandingly。

〃I　see；〃　he　said。　〃Well；　we'll　wait　a　bit；　then。〃

〃But　why　are　you　staying　here？　Why　didn't　you　make　for　the　road　up　the　mountain？　What　are　you　watching　for；　anyway？〃　asked　Drake。

〃Go　to　it；　Ruth；〃　Ventnor　grinned。　〃Tell　'em。　After　all　it　was　YOUR　party　you　know。〃

〃Mart！〃　she　cried；　blushing。

〃Wellit　wasn't　ME　they　admired；〃　he　laughed。

〃Martin！〃　she　cried　again；　and　stamped　her　foot。

〃Shoot；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　busy。　I've　got　to　watch。〃

〃Well〃Ruth's　voice　was　uncertain〃we'd　been　hunting　up　in　Kashmir。　Martin　wanted　to　come　over　somewhere　here。　So　we　crossed　the　passes。　That　was　about　a　month　ago。　The　fourth　day　out　we　ran　across　what　looked　like　a　road　running　south。

〃We　thought　we'd　take　it。　It　looked　sort　of　old　and　lost　but　it　was　going　the　way　we　wanted　to　go。　It　took　us　first　into　a　country　of　little　hills；　then　to　the　very　base　of　the　great　range　itself；　finally　into　the　mountainsand　then　it　ran　blank。〃

〃Bing！〃　interjected　Ventnor；　looking　around　for　a　moment。　〃Bingjust　like　that。　Slap　dash　against　a　prodigious　fall　of　rock。　We　couldn't　get　over　it。〃

〃So　we　cast　about　to　find　another　road；〃　went　on　Ruth。　〃All　we　could　strike　werejust　strikes。〃

〃No　fish　on　the　end　of　'em；〃　said　Ventnor。　〃God！　But　I'm　glad　to　see　you；　Walter　Goodwin。　Believe　me；　I　am。　Howevergo　on；　Ruth。〃

〃At　the　end　of　the　second　week；〃　she　said；　〃we　knew　we　were　lost。　We　were　deep　in　the　heart　of　the　range。　All　around　us　was　a　forest　of　enormous；　snow…topped　peaks。　The　gorges；　the　canyons；　the　valleys　that　we　tried　led　us　east　and　west；　north　and　south。

〃It　was　a　maze；　and　in　it　we　seemed　to　be　going　ever　deeper。　There　was　not　the　SLIGHTEST　sign　of　human　life。　It　was　as　though　no　human　beings　except　ourselves　had　ever　been　there。　Game　was　plentiful。　We　had　no　trouble　in　getting　food。　And　sooner　or　later；　of　course；　we　were　bound　to　find　our　way　out。　We　didn't　worry。

〃It　was　five　nights　ago　that　we　camped　at　the　head　of　a　lovely　little　valley。　There　was　a　mound　that　stood　up　like　a　tiny　watch…tower；　looking　down　it。　The　trees　grew　round　like　tall　sentinels。

〃We　built　our　fire　in　that　mound；　and　after　we　had　eaten；　Martin　slept。　I　sat　watching　the　beauty　of　the　skies　and　of　the　shadowy　vale。　I　heard　no　one　approachbut　something　made　me　leap　to　my　feet；　look　behind　me。

〃A　man　was　standing　just　within　the　glow　of　firelight；　watching　me。〃

〃A　Tibetan？〃　I　asked。　She　shook　her　head；　trouble　in　her　eyes。

〃Not　at　all。〃　Ventnor　turned　his　head。　〃Ruth　screamed　and　awakened　me。　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　fellow　before　he　vanished。

〃A　short　purple　mantle　hung　from　his　shoulders。　His　chest　was　covered　with　fine　chain　mail。　His　legs　were　swathed　and　bound　by　the　thongs　of　his　high　buskins。　He　carried　a　small；　round；　hide…covered　shield　and　a　short　two…edged　sword。　His　head　was　helmeted。　He　belonged；　in　factoh；　at　least　twenty　centuries　back。〃

He　laughed　in　plain　enjoyment　of　our　amazement。

〃Go　on；　Ruth；〃　he　said；　and　took　up　his　watch。

〃But　Martin　did　not　see　his　face；〃　she　went　on。　〃And　oh；　but　I　wish　I　could　forget　it。　It　was　as　white　as　mine；　Walter；　and　cruel；　so　cruel；　the　eyes　glowed　and　they　looked　upon　me　like　alike　a　slave　dealer。　They　shamed　meI　wanted　to　hide　myself。

　　〃I　cried　out　and　Martin　awakened。　As　he　moved；　the　man　stepped　out　of　the　light　and　was　gone。　I　think　he　had　not　seen　Martin；　had　believed　that　I　was　alone。

〃We　put　out　the　fire；　moved　farther　into　the　shadow　of　the　trees。　But　I　could　not　sleepI　sat　hour　after　hour；　my　pistol　in　my　hand；〃　she　patted　the　automatic　in　her　belt；　〃my　rifle　close　beside　me。

〃The　hours　went　bydreadfully。　At　last　I　dozed。　When　I　awakened　again　it　was　dawnandand〃　she　covered　her　eyes；　then：　〃TWO　men　were　looking　down　on　me。　One　was　he　who　had　stood　in　the　firelight。〃

〃They　were　talking；〃　interrupted　Ventnor　again；　〃in　archaic　Persian。〃

〃Persian；〃　I　repeated　blankly；　〃archaic　Persian？〃

〃Very　much　so；〃　he　nodded。　〃I've　a　fair　knowledge　of　the　modern　tongue；　and　a　rather　unusual　command　of　Arabic。　The　modern　Persian；　as　you　know；　comes　straight　through　from　the　speech　of　Xerxes；　of　Cyrus；　of　Darius　whom　Alexander　of　Macedon　conquered。　It　has　been　changed　mainly　by　taking　on　a　load　of　Arabic　words。　Well　there　wasn't　a　trace　of　the　Arabic　in　the　tongue　they　were　speaking。

〃It　sounded　odd；　of　coursebut　I　could　understand　quite　easily。　They　were　talking　about　Ruth。　To　be　explicit；　they　were　discussing　her　with　exceeding　frankness〃

〃Martin！〃　she　cried　wrathfully。

〃Well；　all　right；〃　he　went　on；　half　repentantly。　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　had　seen　the　pair　steal　up。　My　rifle　was　under　my　hand。　So　I　lay　there　quietly；　listening。

〃You　can　realize；　Walter；　that　when　I　caught　sight　of　those　two；　looking　as　though　they　had　materialized　from　Darius's　ghostly　hordes；　my　scientific　curiosity　was　arousedprodigiously。　So　in　my　interest　I　passed　over　the　matter　of　their　speech；　not　alone　because　I　thought　Ruth　asleep　but　also　because　I　took　into　consideration　that　the　mode　of　polite　expression　changes　with　the　centuries　and　these　gentlemen　clearly　belonged　at　least　twenty　centuries　backthe　real　truth　is　I　was　consumed　with　curiosity。

〃They　had　got　to　a　point　where　they　were　detailing　with　what　pleasure　a　certain　mysterious　person　whom　they　seemed　to　regard　with　much　fear　and　respect　would　contemplate　her。　I　was　wondering　how　long　my　desire　to　observefor　to　the　anthropologist　they　were　most