the metal monster-第8章

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

The　Smiting　Thing　rocked　toward　us；　the　metal　tentacle　straining　out　like　a　rigid；　racing　serpent；　flying　to　cut　between　its　weird　mistress　and　those　who　menaced　her。

I　heard　Chiu…Ming　scream；　saw　him　throw　up　his　hands；　cover　his　eyesrun　straight　upon　the　pikes！

〃Chiu…Ming！〃　I　shouted。　〃Chiu…Ming！　This　way！〃

I　ran　toward　him。　Before　I　had　gone　five　paces　Ventnor　flashed　by　me；　revolver　spitting。　I　saw　a　spear　thrown。　It　struck　the　Chinaman　squarely　in　the　breast。　He　tottered　fell　upon　his　knees。

Even　as　he　dropped；　the　giant　flail　swept　down　upon　the　soldiers。　It　swept　through　them　like　a　scythe　through　ripe　grain。　It　threw　them；　broken　and　torn；　far　toward　the　valley's　sloping　sides。　It　left　only　fragments　that　bore　no　semblance　to　men。

Ventnor　was　at　Chiu…Ming's　head；　I　dropped　beside　him。　There　was　a　crimson　froth　upon　his　lips。

〃I　thought　that　Shin…Je　was　about　to　slay　us；〃　he　whispered。　〃Fear　blinded　me。〃

His　head　dropped；　his　body　quivered；　lay　still。

We　arose；　looked　about　us　dazedly。　At　the　side　of　the　crevice　stood　the　woman；　her　gaze　resting　upon　Drake；　his　arms　about　Ruth；　her　head　hidden　on　his　breast。

The　valley　was　emptysave　for　the　huddled　heaps　that　dotted　it。

High　up　on　the　mountain　path　a　score　of　figures　crept；　all　that　were　left　of　those　who　but　a　little　before　had　streamed　down　to　take　us　captive　or　to　slay。　High　up　in　the　darkening　heavens　the　lammergeiers；　the　winged　scavengers　of　the　Himalayas；　were　gathering。

The　woman　lifted　her　hand；　beckoned　us　once　more。　Slowly　we　walked　toward　her；　stood　before　her。　The　great　clear　eyes　searched　usbut　no　more　intently　than　our　own　wondering　eyes　did　her。





CHAPTER　VI

NORHALA　OF　THE　LIGHTNINGS

We　looked　upon　a　vision　of　loveliness　such；　I　think；　as　none　has　beheld　since　Trojan　Helen　was　a　maid。　At　first　all　I　could　note　were　the　eyes；　clear　as　rain…washed　April　skies；　crystal　clear　as　some　secret　spring　sacred　to　crescented　Diana。　Their　wide　gray　irises　were　flecked　with　golden　amber　and　sapphireflecks　that　shone　like　clusters　of　little　aureate　and　azure　stars。

Then　with　a　strange　thrill　of　wonder　I　saw　that　these　tiny　constellations　were　not　in　the　irises　alone；　that　they　clustered　even　within　the　pupilsdeep　within　them；　like　far…flung　stars　in　the　depths　of　velvety；　midnight　heavens。

Whence　had　come　those　cold　fires　that　had　flared　from　them；　I　wonderedmore　menacing；　far　more　menacing；　in　their　cold　tranquillity　than　the　hot　flames　of　wrath？　These　eyes　were　not　perilousno。　Calm　they　were　and　stillyet　in　them　a　shadow　of　interest　flickered；　a　ghost　of　friendliness　smiled。

Above　them　were　level；　delicately　penciled　brows　of　bronze。　The　lips　were　coral　crimson　andasleep。　Sweet　were　those　lips　as　ever　master　painter；　dreaming　his　dream　of　the　very　soul　of　woman's　sweetness；　saw　in　vision　and　limned　upon　his　canvasand　asleep；　nor　wistful　for　awakening。

A　proud；　straight　nose；　a　broad　low　brow；　and　over　it　the　masses　of　the　tendriling　tressestawny；　lustrous　topaz；　cloudy；　METALLIC。　Like　spun　silk　of　ruddy　copper；　and　misty　as　the　wisps　of　cloud　that　Soul'tze；　Goddess　of　Sleep；　sets　in　the　skies　of　dawn　to　catch　the　wandering　dreams　of　lovers。

Down　from　the　wondrous　face　melted　the　rounded　column　of　her　throat　to　merge　into　exquisite　curves　of　shoulders　and　breasts；　half　revealed　beneath　the　swathing　veils。

But　upon　that　face；　within　her　eyes；　kissing　her　red　lips　and　clothing　her　breasts；　was　something　unearthly。

Something　that　came　straight　out　of　the　still　mysteries　of　the　star…filled　spaces；　out　of　the　ordered；　the　untroubled；　the　illimitable　void。

A　passionless　spirit　that　watched　over　the　human　passion　in　the　scarlet　mouth；　in　every　slumbering；　sculptured　line　of　herguarding　her　against　its　awakening。

Twilight　calm　dropping　down　from　the　sun　sleep　to　still　the　restless　mountain　tarn。　Ishtar　dreamlessly　asleep　within　Nirvana。

Something　not　of　this　world　we　knowand　yet　of　it　as　the　winds　of　the　Cosmos　are　to　the　summer　breeze；　the　ocean　to　the　wave；　the　lightnings　to　the　glowworm。

〃She　isn'thuman；〃　I　heard　Ventnor　whispering　at　my　ear。　〃Look　at　her　eyes；　look　at　the　skin　of　her〃

Her　skin　was　white　as　milk　of　pearls；　gossamer　fine；　silken　and　creamy；　translucent　as　though　a　soft　brilliancy　dwelt　within　it。　Beside　it　Ruth's　fair　skin　was　like　some　sun…and…wind…roughened　country　lass's　to　Titania's。

She　studied　us　as　though　she　were　seeing　for　the　first　time　beings　of　her　own　kind。　She　spokeand　her　voice　was　elfin　distant；　chimingly　sweet　like　hidden　little　golden　bells；　filled　with　that　tranquil；　far　off　spirit　that　was　part　of　her　as　though　indeed　a　tiny　golden　chime　should　ring　out　from　the　silences；　speak　for　them；　find　tongues　for　them。　The　words　were　hesitating；　halting　as　though　the　lips　that　uttered　them　found　speech　strangeas　strange　as　the　clear　eyes　found　our　images。

And　the　words　were　Persianpurest；　most　ancient　Persian。

〃I　am　Norhala；〃　the　golden　voice　chimed　forth；　whispered　down　into　silence。　〃I　am　Norhala。〃

She　shook　her　head　impatiently。　A　hand　stole　forth　from　beneath　her　veils；　slender；　long…fingered　with　nails　like　rosy　pearls；　above　the　wrist　was　coiled　a　golden　dragon　with　wicked　little　crimson　eyes。　The　slender　white　hand　touched　Ruth's　head；　turned　it　until　the　strange；　flecked　orbs　looked　directly　into　the　misty　ones　of　blue。

Long　they　gazedand　deep。　Then　she　who　had　named　herself　Norhala　thrust　out　a　finger；　touched　the　tear　that　hung　upon　Ruth's　curled　lashes；　regarded　it　wonderingly。

Something　of　recognition；　of　memory；　seemed　to　awaken　within　her。

〃You　aretroubled？〃　she　asked　with　that　halting　effort。

Ruth　shook　her　head。

〃THEYdo　not　trouble　you？〃

She　pointed　to　the　huddled　heaps　strewing　the　hollow。　And　then　I　saw　whence　the　light　which　had　streamed　from　her　great　eyes　came。　For　the　little　azure　and　golden　stars　paled；　trembled；　then　flashed　out　like　galaxies　of　tiny；　clustered　silver　suns。

From　that　weird　radiance　Ruth　shrank；　affrighted。

〃Nono；〃　she　gasped。　〃I　weep　forHIM。〃

She　pointed　where　Chiu…Ming　lay；　a　brown　blotch　at　the　edge　of　the　shattered　men。

〃Forhim？〃　There　was　puzzlement　in　the　faint　voice。　〃Forthat？　But　why？〃

She　looked　at　Chiu…Mingand　I　knew　that　to　her　the　sight　of　the　crumpled　form　carried　no　recognition　of　the　human；　nothing　of　kin　to　her。　There　was　a　faint　wonder　in　her　eyes；　no　longer　light…filled；　when　at　last　she　turned　back　to　us。　Long　she　considered　us。

〃Now；〃　she　broke　the　silence；　〃now　something　stirs　within　me　that　it　seems　has　long　been　sleeping。　It　bids　me　take　you　with　me。　Come！〃

Abruptly　she　turned　from　us；　glided　to　the　crevice。　We　looked　at　each　other；　seeking　council；　decision。

〃Chiu…Ming；〃　Drake　spoke。　〃We　can't　leave　him　like　that。　At　least　let's　cover　him　from　the　vultures。〃

〃Come。〃　The　woman　had　reached　the　mouth　of　the　fissure。

〃I'm　afraid！　Oh；　MartinI'm　afraid。〃　Ruth　reached　little　trembling　hands　to　her　tall　brother。

〃Come！〃　Norhala　called　again。　There　was　an　echo　of　harshness；　a　clanging；　peremptory　and　inexorable；　in　the　chiming。

Ventnor　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃Come；　then；〃　he　said。

With　one　last　look　at　the　Chinese；　the　lammergeiers　already　circling　about　him；　we　walked　to　the　crevice。　Norhala　waited；　silent；　brooding　until　we　passed　her；　then　glided　behind　us。

Before　we　had　gone　ten　paces　I　saw　that　the　place　was　no　fissure。　It　was　a　tunnel；　a　passage　hewn　by　human　hands；　its　walls　covered　with　the　writhing　dragon　lines；　its　roof　the　mountain。

The　swathed　woman　swept　by　us。　Swiftly　we　followed　her。　Far；　far　ahead　was　a　wan　gleaming。　It　quivered；　a　faintly　shimmering；　ghostly　curtain；　a　full　mile　away。

Now　it　was　close；　we　passed　through　it　and　were　out　of　the　tunnel。　Before　us　stretched　a　narrow　gorge；　a　sword　slash　in　the　body　of　the　towering　giant　under　whose　feet　the　tunnel　crept。　High　above　was　the　ribbon　of　the　sky。

The　sides　were　dark；　but　it　came　to　me　that　here　were　no　trees；　no　verdure　of　any　kind。　Its　floor　was　strewn　with　boulders；　fantastically　shaped；　almost　indistinguishable　in　the　fast　closing　dark。

Twin　monoliths　bulwarked　the　passage　end；　the　gigantic　stones　were　leaning；　crumbling。　Fissures　radiated　from　the　opening；　like　deep　wrinkles　in　the　rock；　showing　where　earth　warping；　range　pressure；　had　long　been　working　to　close　this　hewn　way。

〃Stop；〃　Norhala's　abrupt；　golden　note　halted　us；　and　again　through　the　clear　eyes　I　saw　the　white　starshine　flash。

〃It　may　be　well〃　She　spoke　as　though　to　herself。　〃It　may　be　well　to　close　this　way。　It　is　not　needed〃

Her　voice　rang　out　again；　vibrant；　strangely　disquieting；　harmonious。　Murmurous　chanting　it　was　at　first；　rhythmic　and　low；　ripples　and　flutings；　tones　and　progressions　utterly　unknown　to　me；　unfamiliar；　abrupt；　and　alien　themes　that　kept　returning；　droppings　of　crystal…clear　jewels　of　sound；　golden　tollingsand　all　ordered；　mathematical；　GEOMETRIC；　even　as　had　been　the　gestures　of　the　shapes；　Lilliputians　of　the　ruins；　Brobdignagian　of　the　haunted　hollow。

What　was　it？　I　had　itIT　WAS　THOSE　GESTURES　TRANSFORMED　INTO　SOUND！

There　was　a　movement　down　by　the　tunnel　mouth。　It　grew　more　rapid；　seemed　to　vibrate　with　her　song。　Within　the　darkness　there　were　little　flashes；　glimmerings　of　light　began　to　come　and　golike　little　awakenings　of　eyes　of　soft；　jeweled　flames；　like　giant　gorgeous　fireflies；　flashes　of　cloudy　amber；　gleam　of　rose；　sparkles　of　diamonds　and　of　opals；　of　emeralds　and　of　rubiesblinking；　gleaming。

A　shimmering　mist　drew　down　around　thema　swift　and　swirling　mist。　It　thickened；　was　shot　with　slender　shuttled　threads　like　cobweb；　coruscating　strands　of　light。

The　shining　threads　grew　thicker；　pulsed；　were　spangled　with　tiny　vivid　sparklings。　They　ran　together；　condensed　and　all　this　in　an　instant；　in　a　tenth　of　the　time　it　takes　me　to　write　it。

From　fiery　mist　and　gemmed　flashes　came　bolt　upon　bolt　of　lightning。　The　cliff　face　leaped　out；　a　cataract　of　green　flame。　The　fissures　widened；　the　monoliths　trembled；　fell。

In　the　wake　of　that　dazzling　brilliancy　came　utter　blackness。　I　opened　my　blinded　eyes；　slowly　the　flecks　of　green　fire　cleared。　A　faint　lambency　still　clung　to　the　cliff。　By　it　I　saw　that　the　tunnel's　mouth　had　vanished；　had　been　sealedwhere　it　had　gaped　were　only　tons　of　shattered　rock。

Came　a　rushing　past　us　as　of　great　bodies；　something　grazed　my　hand；　something　whose　touch　was　like　that　of　warm　metalbut　metal　throbbing　with　life。　They　rushed　byand　whispered　down　into　silence。

〃Come！〃　Norhala　flitted　ahead　of　us；　a　faintly　luminous　shape　in　the　darkness。　Swiftly　we　followed。　I　found　Ruth　beside　me；　felt　her　hand　grip　my　wrist。

〃Walter；〃　she　whispered；　〃Waltershe　isn't　human！〃

〃Nonsense；〃　I　muttered。　〃Nonsense；　Ruth。　What　do　you　think　she　isa　goddess；　a　spirit　of　the　Himalayas？　She's　as　human　as　you　or　I。〃

〃No。〃　Even　in　the　darkness　I　could　sense　the　stubborn　shake　of　her　curly　head。　〃Not　all　human。　Or　how　could　she　have　commanded　those　things？　Or　have　summoned　the　lightnings　that　blasted　the　tunnel's　mouth？　And　her　skin　and　hairthey're　too　WONDERFUL；　Walter。