rh.conanthewarrior-第2章

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loyment　offered。　I　joined　an　east…bound　caravan　and　eventually　came　to　Sukhmet。〃
　　〃It　was　madness　to　plunge　southward　as　you　did；〃　mented　Conan；　〃but　it　was　wise；　too；　for　Zarallo's　patrols　never　thought　to　look　for　you　in　this　direction。　Only　the　brother　of　the　man　you　killed　happened　to　strike　your　trail。〃
　　〃And　now　what　do　you　intend　doing？〃　she　demanded。
　　〃Turn　west；〃　he　answered。　〃I've　been　this　far　south；　but　not　this　far　east。　Many　days'　traveling　to　the　west　will　bring　us　to　the　open　savannas；　where　the　black　tribes　graze　their　cattle。　I　have　friends　among　them。　We'll　get　to　the　coast　and　find　a　ship。　I'm　sick　of　the　jungle。〃
　　〃Then　be　on　your　way；〃　she　advised。　〃I　have　other　plans。〃
　　〃Don't　be　a　fool！〃　He　showed　irritation　for　the　first　time。　〃You　can't　keep　on　wandering　through　this　forest。〃
　　〃I　can　if　I　choose。〃
　　〃But　what　do　you　intend　doing？〃
　　〃That's　none　of　your　affair；〃　she　snapped。
　　〃Yes；　it　is；〃　he　answered　calmly。　〃Do　you　think　I've　followed　you　this　far；　to　turn　around　and　ride　off　empty…handed？　Be　sensible；　wench。　I'm　not　going　to　harm　you。〃
　　He　stepped　toward　her；　and　she　sprang　back；　whipping　out　her　sword。
　　〃Keep　back；　you　barbarian　dog！　I'll　spit　you　like　a　roast　pig！〃
　　He　halted；　reluctantly；　and　demanded：　〃Do　you　want　me　to　take　that　toy　away　from　you　and　spank　you　with　it？〃
　　〃Words！　Nothing　but　words！〃　she　mocked；　lights　like　the　gleam　of　the　sun　on　blue　water　dancing　in　her　reckless　eyes。
　　He　knew　it　was　the　truth。　No　living　man　could　disarm　Valeria　of　the　Brotherhood　with　his　bare　hands。　He　scowled；　his　sensations　a　tangle　of　conflicting　emotions。　He　was　angry；　yet　he　was　amused　and　filled　with　admiration　for　her　spirit。　He　burned　with　eagerness　to　seize　that　splendid　figure　and　crush　it　in　his　iron　arms；　yet　he　greatly　desired　not　to　hurt　the　girl。　He　was　torn　between　a　desire　to　shake　her　soundly；　and　a　desire　to　caress　her。　He　knew　if　he　came　any　nearer　her　sword　would　be　sheathed　in　his　heart。　He　had　seen　Valeria　kill　too　many　men　in　border　forays　and　tavern　brawls　to　have　any　illusions　about　her。　He　knew　she　was　as　quick　and　ferocious　as　a　tigress。　He　could　draw　his　broadsword　and　disarm　her；　beat　the　blade　out　of　her　hand；　but　the　thought　of　drawing　a　sword　on　a　woman；　even　without　intent　of　injury；　was　extremely　repugnant　to　him。
　　〃Blast　your　soul；　you　hussy！〃　he　exclaimed　in　exasperation。　〃I'm　going　to　take　off　your…〃
　　He　started　toward　her；　his　angry　passion　making　him　reckless；　and　she　poised　herself　for　a　deadly　thrust。　Then　came　a　startling　interruption　to　a　scene　at　once　ludicrous　and　perilous。
　　〃What's　that？〃
　　It　was　Valeria　who　exclaimed；　but　they　both　started　violently；　and　Conan　wheeled　like　a　cat；　his　great　sword　flashing　into　his　hand。　Back　in　the　forest　had　burst　forth　an　appalling　medly　of　screams…the　screams　of　horses　in　terror　and　agony。　Mingled　with　their　screams　there　came　the　snap　of　splintering　bones。
　　〃Lions　are　slaying　the　horses！〃　cried　Valeria。
　　〃Lions；　nothing！〃　snorted　Conan；　his　eyes　blazing。　〃Did　you　hear　a　lion　roar？　Neither　did　I！　Listen　to　those　bones　snap…not　even　a　lion　could　make　that　much　noise　killing　a　horse。〃
　　He　hurried　down　the　natural　ramp　and　she　followed；　their　personal　feud　forgotten　in　the　adventurers'　instinct　to　unite　against　mon　peril。　The　screams　had　ceased　when　they　worked　their　way　downward　through　the　green　veil　of　leaves　that　brushed　the　rock。
　　〃I　found　your　horse　tied　by　the　pool　back　there；〃　he　muttered；　treading　so　noiselessly　that　she　no　longer　wondered　how　he　had　surprised　her　on　the　crag。　〃I　tied　mine　beside　it　and　followed　the　tracks　of　your　boots。　Watch；　now！〃
　　They　had　emerged　from　the　belt　of　leaves；　and　stared　down　into　the　lower　reaches　of　the　forest。　Above　them　the　green　roof　spread　its　dusky　canopy。　Below　them　the　sunlight　filtered　in　just　enough　to　make　a　jade…tinted　twilight。　The　giant　trunks　of　trees　less　than　a　hundred　yards　away　looked　dim　and　ghostly。
　　〃The　horses　should　be　beyond　that　thicket；　over　there；〃　whispered　Conan；　and　his　voice　might　have　been　a　breeze　moving　through　the　branches。　〃Listen！〃
　　Valeria　had　already　heard；　and　a　chill　crept　through　her　veins；　so　she　unconsciously　laid　her　white　hand　on　her　panion's　muscular　brown　arm。　From　beyond　the　thicket　came　the　noisy　crunching　of　bones　and　the　loud　rending　of　flesh；　together　with　the　grinding；　slobbering　sounds　of　a　horrible　feast。
　　〃Lions　wouldn't　make　that　noise；〃　whispered　Conan。　〃Something's　eating　our　horses；　but　it's　not　a　lion…Crom！〃
　　The　noise　stopped　suddenly；　and　Conan　swore　softly。　A　suddenly　risen　breeze　was　blowing　from　them　directly　toward　the　spot　where　the　unseen　slayer　was　hidden。
　　〃Here　it　es！〃　muttered　Conan；　half　lifting　his　sword。
　　The　thicket　was　violently　agitated；　and　Valeria　clutched　Conan's　arm　hard。　Ignorant　of　jungle　lore；　she　yet　knew　that　no　animal　she　had　ever　seen　could　have　shaken　the　tall　brush　like　that。
　　〃It　must　be　as　big　as　an　elephant；〃　muttered　Conan；　echoing　her　thought。　〃What　the　devil…〃　His　voice　trailed　away　in　stunned　silence。
　　Through　the　thicket　was　thrust　a　head　of　nightmare　and　lunacy。　Grinning　jaws　bared　rows　of　dripping　yellow　tusks；　above　the　yawning　mouth　wrinkled　a　saurian…like　snout。　Huge　eyes；　like　those　of　a　python　a　thousand　times　magnified；　stared　unwinkingly　at　the　petrified　humans　clinging　to　the　rock　above　it。　Blood　smeared　the　scaly；　flabby　lips　and　dripped　from　the　huge　mouth。
　　The　head；　bigger　than　that　of　a　crocodile；　was　further　extended　on　a　long　scaled　neck　on　which　stood　up　rows　of　serrated　spikes；　and　after　it；　crushing　down　the　briars　and　saplings；　waddled　the　body　of　a　titan；　a　gigantic；　barrel…bellied　torso　on　absurdly　short　legs。　The　whitish　belly　almost　raked　the　ground；　while　the　serrated　backbone　rose　higher　than　Conan　could　have　reached　on　tiptoe。　A　long　spiked　tail；　like　that　of　a　gargantuan　scorpion；　trailed　out　behind。
　　〃Back　up　the　crag；　quick！〃　snapped　Conan；　thrusting　the　girl　behind　him。　〃I　don't　think　he　can　climb；　but　he　can　stand　on　his　hind　legs　and　reach　us…〃
　　With　a　snapping　and　rending　of　bushes　and　saplings；　the　monster　came　hurtling　through　the　thickets；　and　they　fled　up　the　rock　before　him　like　leaves　blown　before　a　wind。　As　Valeria　plunged　into　the　leafy　screen　a　backward　glance　showed　her　the　titan　rearing　up　fearsomely　on　his　massive　hindlegs；　even　as　Conan　had　predicted。　The　sight　sent　panic　racing　through　her。　As　he　reared；　the　beast　seemed　more　gigantic　than　ever；　his　snouted　head　towered　among　the　trees。　Then　Conan's　iron　hand　closed　on　her　wrist　and　she　was　jerked　headlong　into　the　blinding　welter　of　the　leaves；　and　out　again　into　the　hot　sunshine　above；　just　as　the　monster　fell　forward　with　his　front　feet　on　the　crag　with　an　impact　that　made　the　rock　vibrate。
　　Behind　the　fugitives　the　huge　head　crashed　through　the　twigs；　and　they　looked　down　for　a　horrifying　instant　at　the　nightmare　visage　framed　among　the　green　leaves；　eyes　flaming；　jaws　gaping。　Then　the　giant　tusks　clashed　together　futilely；　and　after　that　the　head　was　withdrawn；　vanishing　from　their　sight　as　if　it　had　sunk　in　a　pool。
　　Peering　down　through　broken　branches　that　scraped　the　rock；　they　saw　it　squatting　on　its　haunches　at　the　foot　of　the　crag；　staring　unblinkingly　up　at　them。
　　Valeria　shuddered。
　　〃How　long　do　you　suppose　he'll　crouch　there？〃
　　Conan　kicked　the　skull　on　the　leaf…strewn　shelf。
　　〃That　fellow　must　have　climbed　up　here　to　escape　him；　or　one　like　him。　He　must　have　died　of　starvation。　There　are　no　bones　broken。　That　thing　must　be　a　dragon；　such　as　the　black　people　speak　of　in　their　legends。　If　so；　it　won't　leave　here　until　we're　both　dead。〃
　　Valeria　looked　at　him　blankly；　her　resentment　forgotten。　She　fought　down　a　surging　of　panic。　She　had　proved　her　reckless　courage　a　thousand　times　in　wild　battles　on　sea　and　land；　on　the　blood…slippery　decks　of　burning　war　ships；　in　the　storming　of　walled　cities；　and　on　the　trampled　sandy　beaches　where　the　desperate　men　of　the　Red　Brotherhood　bathed　their　knives　in　one　another's　blood　in　their　fights　for　leadership。　But　the　prospect　now　confronting　her　congealed　her　blood。　A　cutlass　stroke　in　the　heat　of　battle　was　nothing；　but　to　sit　idle　and　helpless　on　a　bare　rock　until　she　perished　of　starvation；　besieged　by　a　monstrous　survival　of　an　elder　age…the　thought　sent　panic　throbbing　through　her　brain。
　　〃He　must　leave　to　eat　and　drink；〃　she　said　helplessly。
　　〃He　won't　have　to　go　far　to　do　either；〃　Conan　pointed　out。　〃He's　just　gorged　on　horse　meat　and；　like　a　real　snake；　he　can　go　for　a　long　time　without　eating　or　drinking　again。　But　he　doesn't　sleep　after　eating；　like　a　real　snake；　it　seems。　Anyway；　he　can't　climb　this　crag。〃
　　Conan　spoke　imperturbably。　He　was　a　barbarian；　and　the　terrible　patience　of　the　wilderness　and　its　children　was　as　much　a　part　of　him　as　his　lusts　and　rages。　He　could　endure　a　situation　like　this　with　a　coolness　impossible　to　a　civilized　person。
　　〃Can't　we　get　into　the　trees　and　get　away；　traveling　like　apes　through　the　branches？〃　she　asked　desperately。
　　He　shook　his　head。　〃I　thought　of　that。　The　branches　that　touch　the　crag　down　there　are　too　light。　They'd　break　with　our　weight。　Besides；　I　have　an　idea　that　devil　could　tear　up　any　tree　around　here　by　its　roots。〃
　　〃Well；　are　we　going　to　sit　here　on　our　rumps　until　we　starve；　like　that？〃　she　cried　furiously；　kicking　the　skull　clattering　across　the　ledge。　〃I　won't　do　it！　I'll　go　down　there　and　cut　his　damned　head　off…〃
　　Conan　had　seated　himself　on　a　rocky　projection　at　the　foot　of　the　spire。　He　looked　up　with　a　glint　of　admiration　at　her　blazing　eyes　and　tense；　quivering　figure；　but；　realizing　that　she　was　in　just　the　mood　for　any　madness；　he　let　none　of　his　admiration　sound　in　his　voice。
　　〃Sit　down；〃　he　grunted；　catching　her　by　her　wrist　and　pulling　her　down　on　his　knee。　She　was　too　surprised　to　resist　as　he　took　her　sword　from　her　hand　and　shoved　it　back　in　its　sheath。　〃Sit　still　and　calm　down。　You'd　only　break　your　steel　on　his　scales。　He'd　gobble　you　up　at　one　gulp；　or　smash　you　like　an　egg　with　that　spiked　tail　of　his。　We'll　get　out　of　this　jam　some　way；　but　we　shan't　do　it　by　getting　chewed　up　and　swallowed。〃
　　She　made　no　reply；　nor　did　she　seek　to　repulse　his　arm　from　about　her　waist。　She　was　frightened；　and　the　sensation　was　new　to　Valeria　of　the　Red　Brotherhood。　So　she　sat　on　her　panion's…or　captor's…knee　with　a　docility　that　would　have　amazed　Zarallo；　who　had　anathematized　her　as　a　she…devil　out　of　Hell's　seraglio。
　　Conan　played　idly　with　her　curly　yellow　locks；　seemingly　intent　only　upon　his　conquest。　Neither　the　skeleton　at　his　feet　nor　the　monster　crouching　below　disturbed　his　mind　or　dulled　the　edge　of　his　interest。
　　The　girl's　restless　eyes；　roving　the　leaves　below　them；　discovered　splashes　of　color　among　the　green。　It　was　fruit；　large；　darkly　crimson　globes　suspended　from　the　boughs　of　a　tree　whose　broad　leaves　were　a　peculiarly　rich　and　vivid　green。　She　became　aware　of　both　thirst　and　hunger；　though　thirst　had　not　assailed　her　until　she　knew　she　could　not　descend　from　the　crag　to　find　food　and　water。
　　〃We　need　not　starve；〃　she　said。　〃There　is　fruit　we　can　reach。〃
　　Con