the metal monster-第7章

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　of　this　stony　dike　our　pursuers　were　held　like　rushing　waters　behind　a　sudden　fallen　tree。

〃Timed　to　a　second！〃　cried　Ventnor。　〃Hold　'em　for　a　while。　Fuses　and　dynamite。　Blew　out　the　whole　side；　right　on　'em；　by　the　Lord！〃

On　we　fled。　Chiu…Ming　was　now　well　in　advance；　Ruth　and　Dick　less　than　half　a　mile　from　the　opening　of　the　green　tunnel。　I　saw　Drake　stop；　raise　his　rifle；　empty　it　before　him；　and；　holding　Ruth　by　the　hand；　race　back　toward　us。

Even　as　he　turned；　the　vine…screened　entrance　through　which　we　had　come；　through　which　we　had　thought　lay　safety；　streamed　other　armored　men。　We　were　outflanked。

〃To　the　fissure！〃　shouted　Ventnor。　Drake　heard；　for　he　changed　his　course　to　the　crevice　at　whose　mouth　Ruth　had　said　theLittle　Thingshad　lain。

After　him　streaked　Chiu…Ming；　urging　on　the　pony。　Shouting　out　of　the　tunnel；　down　over　the　lip　of　the　bowl；　leaped　the　soldiers。　We　dropped　upon　our　knees；　sent　shot　after　shot　into　them。　They　fell　back；　hesitated。　We　sprang　up；　sped　on。

All　too　short　was　the　check；　but　once　more　we　held　themand　again。

Now　Ruth　and　Dick　were　a　scant　fifty　yards　from　the　crevice。　I　saw　him　stop；　push　her　from　him　toward　it。　She　shook　her　head。

Now　Chiu…Ming　was　with　them。　Ruth　sprang　to　the　pony；　lifted　from　its　back　a　rifle。　Then　into　the　mass　of　their　pursuers　Drake　and　she　poured　a　fusillade。　They　huddled；　wavered；　broke　for　cover。

〃A　chance！〃　gasped　Ventnor。

Behind　us　was　a　wolflike　yelping。　The　first　pack　had　re…formed；　had　crossed　the　barricade　the　dynamite　had　made；　was　rushing　upon　us。

I　ran　as　I　had　never　known　I　could。　Over　us　whined　the　bullets　from　the　covering　guns。　Close　were　we　now　to　the　mouth　of　the　fissure。　If　we　could　but　reach　it。　Close；　close　were　our　pursuers；　toothe　arrows　closer。

〃No　use！〃　said　Ventnor。　〃We　can't　make　it。　Meet　'em　from　the　front。　Dropand　shoot。〃

We　threw　ourselves　down；　facing　them。　There　came　a　triumphant　shouting。　And　in　that　strange　sharpening　of　the　senses　that　always　goes　hand　in　hand　with　deadly　peril；　that　is　indeed　nature's　summoning　of　every　reserve　to　meet　that　peril；　my　eyes　took　them　in　with　photographic　nicetythe　linked　mail；　lacquered　blue　and　scarlet；　of　the　horsemen；　brown；　padded　armor　of　the　footmen；　their　bows　and　javelins　and　short　bronze　swords；　their　pikes　and　shields；　and　under　their　round　helmets　their　cruel；　bearded　faceswhite　as　our　own　where　the　black　beards　did　not　cover　them；　their　fierce　and　mocking　eyes。

The　springs　of　ancient　Persia's　long　dead　power；　these。　Men　of　Xerxes's　ruthless；　world…conquering　hordes；　the　lustful；　ravening　wolves　of　Darius　whom　Alexander　scattered　in　this　world　of　ours　twenty　centuries　beyond　their　time！

Swiftly；　accurately；　even　as　I　scanned　them；　we　had　been　drilling　into　them。　They　advanced　deliberately；　heedless　of　their　fallen。　Their　arrows　had　ceased　to　fly。　I　wondered　why；　for　now　we　were　well　within　their　range。　Had　they　orders　to　take　us　aliveat　whatever　cost　to　themselves？

〃I've　got　only　about　ten　cartridges　left；　Martin；〃　I　told　him。

〃We've　saved　Ruth　anyway；〃　he　said。　〃Drake　ought　to　be　able　to　hold　that　hole　in　the　wall。　He's　got　lots　of　ammunition　on　the　pony。　But　they've　got　us。〃

Another　wild　shouting；　down　swept　the　pack。

We　leaped　to　our　feet；　sent　our　last　bullets　into　them；　stood　ready；　rifles　clubbed　to　meet　the　rush。　I　heard　Ruth　scream

What　was　the　matter　with　the　armored　men？　Why　had　they　halted？　What　was　it　at　which　they　were　glaring　over　our　heads？　And　why　had　the　rifle　fire　of　Ruth　and　Drake　ceased　so　abruptly？

Simultaneously　we　turned。

Within　the　black　background　of　the　fissure　stood　a　shape；　an　apparition；　a　womanbeautiful；　awesome；　incredible！

She　was　tall；　standing　there　swathed　from　chin　to　feet　in　clinging　veils　of　pale　amber；　she　seemed　taller　even　than　tall　Drake。　Yet　it　was　not　her　height　that　sent　through　me　the　thrill　of　awe；　of　half　incredulous　terror　which；　relaxing　my　grip；　let　my　smoking　rifle　drop　to　earth；　nor　was　it　that　about　her　proud　head　a　cloud　of　shining　tresses　swirled　and　pennoned　like　a　misty　banner　of　woven　copper　flames　no；　nor　that　through　her　veils　her　body　gleamed　faint　radiance。

It　was　her　eyesher　great；　wide　eyes　whose　clear　depths　were　like　pools　of　living　star　fires。　They　shone　from　her　white　facenot　phosphorescent；　not　merely　lucent　and　light　reflecting；　but　as　though　they　themselves　were　SOURCES　of　the　cold　white　flames　of　far　starsand　as　calm　as　those　stars　themselves。

And　in　that　face；　although　as　yet　I　could　distinguish　nothing　but　the　eyes；　I　sensed　something　unearthly。

〃God！〃　whispered　Ventnor。　〃What　IS　she？〃

The　woman　stepped　from　the　crevice。　Not　fifty　feet　from　her　were　Ruth　and　Drake　and　Chiu…Ming；　their　rigid　attitudes　revealing　the　same　shock　of　awe　that　had　momentarily　paralyzed　me。

She　looked　at　them；　beckoned　them。　I　saw　the　two　walk　toward　her；　Chiu…Ming　hang　back。　The　great　eyes　fell　upon　Ventnor　and　myself。　She　raised　a　hand；　motioned　us　to　approach。

I　turned。　There　stood　the　host　that　had　poured　down　（he　mountain　road；　horsemen；　spearsmen；　pikemena　full　thousand　of　them。　At　my　right　were　the　scattered　company　that　had　come　from　the　tunnel　entrance；　threescore　or　more。

There　seemed　a　spell　upon　them。　They　stood　in　silence；　like　automatons；　only　their　fiercely　staring　eyes　showing　that　they　were　alive。

〃Quick；〃　breathed　Ventnor。

We　ran　toward　her　who　had　checked　death　even　while　its　jaws　were　closing　upon　us。

Before　we　had　gone　half…way；　as　though　our　flight　had　broken　whatever　bonds　had　bound　them；　a　clamor　arose　from　the　host；　a　wild　shouting；　a　clanging　of　swords　on　shields。　I　shot　a　glance　behind。　They　were　in　motion；　advancing　slowly；　hesitatingly　as　yetbut　I　knew　that　soon　that　hesitation　would　pass；　that　they　would　sweep　down　upon　us；　engulf　us。

〃To　the　crevice；〃　I　shouted　to　Drake。　He　paid　no　heed　to　me；　nor　did　Ruththeir　gaze　fastened　upon　the　swathed　woman。

Ventnor's　hand　shot　out；　gripped　my　shoulder；　halted　me。　She　had　thrown　up　her　head。　The　cloudy　METALLIC　hair　billowed　as　though　wind　had　blown　it。

From　the　lifted　throat　came　a　low；　a　vibrant　cry；　harmonious；　weirdly　disquieting；　golden　and　sweetand　laden　with　the　eery；　minor　wailings　of　the　blue　valley's　night；　the　dragoned　chamber。

Before　the　cry　had　ceased　there　poured　with　incredible　swiftness　out　of　the　crevice　score　upon　score　of　the　metal　things。　The　fissures　vomited　them！

Globes　and　cubes　and　pyramidsnot　small　like　those　of　the　ruins；　but　shapes　all　of　four　feet　high；　dully　lustrous；　and　deep　within　that　luster　the　myriads　of　tiny　points　of　light　like　unwinking；　staring　eyes。

They　swirled；　eddied　and　formed　a　barricade　between　us　and　the　armored　men。

Down　upon　them　poured　a　shower　of　arrows　from　the　soldiers。　I　heard　the　shouts　of　their　captains；　they　rushed。　They　had　couragethose　menyes！

Again　came　the　woman's　crygolden；　peremptory。

Sphere　and　block　and　pyramid　ran　together；　seemed　to　seethe。　I　had　again　that　sense　of　a　quicksilver　melting。　Up　from　them　thrust　a　thick　rectangular　column。　Eight　feet　in　width　and　twenty　feet　high；　it　shaped　itself。　Out　from　its　left　side；　from　right　side；　sprang　arms　fearful　arms　that　grew　and　grew　as　globe　and　cube　and　angle　raced　up　the　column's　side　and　clicked　into　place　each　upon；　each　after；　the　other。　With　magical　quickness　the　arms　lengthened。

Before　us　stood　a　monstrous　shape；　a　geometric　prodigy。　A　shining　angled　pillar　that；　though　rigid；　immobile；　seemed　to　crouch；　be　instinct　with　living　force　striving　to　be　unleashed。

Two　great　globes　surmounted　itlike　the　heads　of　some　two…faced　Janus　of　an　alien　world。

At　the　left　and　right　the　knobbed　arms；　now　fully　fifty　feet　in　length；　writhed；　twisted；　straightened；　flexing　themselves　in　grotesque　imitation　of　a　boxer。　And　at　the　end　of　each　of　the　six　arms　the　spheres　were　clustered　thick；　studded　with　the　pyramidsagain　in　gigantic；　awful；　parody　of　the　spiked　gloves　of　those　ancient　gladiators　who　fought　for　imperial　Nero。

For　an　instant　it　stood　here；　preening；　testing　itself　like　an　athletea　chimera；　amorphous　yet　weirdly　symmetric　under　the　darkening　sky；　in　the　green　of　the　hollow；　the　armored　hosts　frozen　before　it

And　thenit　struck！

Out　flashed　two　of　the　arms；　with　a　glancing　motion；　with　appalling　force。　They　sliced　into　the　close…packed　forward　ranks　of　the　armored　men；　cut　out　of　them　two　great　gaps。

Sickened；　I　saw　fragments　of　man　and　horse　fly。　Another　arm　javelined　from　its　place　like　a　flying　snake；　clicked　at　the　end　of　another；　became　a　hundred…foot　chain　which　swirled　like　a　flail　through　the　huddling　mass。　Down　upon　a　knot　of　the　soldiers　with　a　straight…forward　blow　drove　a　third　arm；　driving　through　them　like　a　giant　punch。

All　that　host　which　had　driven　us　from　the　ruins　threw　down　sword；　spear；　and　pike；　fled　shrieking。　The　horsemen　spurred　their　mounts；　riding　heedless　over　the　footmen　who　fled　with　them。

The　Smiting　Thing　seemed　to　watch　them　go　with　AMUSEMENT！

Before　they　could　cover　a　hundred　yards　it　had　disintegrated。　I　heard　the　little　wailing　soundsthen　behind　the　fleeing　men；　close　behind　them；　rose　the　angled　pillar；　into　place　sprang　the　flexing　arms；　and　again　it　took　its　toll　of　them。

They　scattered；　running　singly；　by　twos；　in　little　groups；　for　the　sides　of　the　valley。　They　were　like　rats　scampering　in　panic　over　the　bottom　of　a　great　green　bowl。　And　like　a　monstrous　cat　the　shape　played　with　themyes；　PLAYED。

It　melted　once　moretook　new　form。　Where　had　been　pillar　and　flailing　arms　was　now　a　tripod　thirty　feet　high；　its　legs　alternate　globe　and　cube　and　upon　its　apex　a　wide　and　spinning　ring　of　sparkling　spheres。　Out　from　the　middle　of　this　ring　stretched　a　tentaclewrithing；　undulating　like　a　serpent　of　steel；　four　score　yards　at　least　in　length。

At　its　end　cube；　globe　and　pyramid　had　mingled　to　form　a　huge　trident。　With　the　three　long　prongs　of　this　trident　the　thing　struck；　swiftly；　with　fearful　precisionJOYOUSLY　tining　those　who　fled；　forking　them；　tossing　them　from　its　points　high　in　air。

It　was；　I　think；　that　last　touch　of　sheer　horror；　the　playfulness　of　the　Smiting　Thing；　that　sent　my　dry　tongue　to　the　roof　of　my　terror…parched　mouth；　and　held　open　with　monstrous　fascination　eyes　that　struggled　to　close。

Ever　the　armored　men　fled　from　it；　and　ever　was　it　swifter　than　they；　teetering　at　their　heels　on　its　tripod　legs。

From　half　its　length　the　darting　snake　streamed　red　rain。

I　heard　a　sigh　from　Ruth；　wrested　my　gaze　from　the　hollow；　turned。　She　lay　fainting　in　Drake's　arms。

Beside　the　two　the　swathed　woman　stood；　looking　out　upon　that　slaughter；　calm　and　still；　shrouded　with　an　unearthly　tranquillityviewing　it；　it　came　to　me；　with　eyes　impersonal；　cold；　indifferent　as　the　untroubled　stars　which　look　down　upon　hurricane　and　earthquake　in　this　world　of　ours。

There　was　a　rushing　of　many　feet　at　our　left；　a　wail　from　Chiu…Ming。　Were　they　maddened　by　fear；　driven　by　despair；　determined　to　slay　before　they　themselves　were　slain？　I　do　not　know。　But　those　who　still　lived　of　the　men　from　the　tunnel　mouth　were　charging　us。

They　clustered　close；　their　shields　held　before　them。　They　had　no　bows；　these　men。　They　moved　swiftly　down　upon　us　in　silenceswords　and　pikes　gleamin