rh.conanthewarrior-第3章

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to　find　food　and　water。
　　〃We　need　not　starve；〃　she　said。　〃There　is　fruit　we　can　reach。〃
　　Conan　glanced　where　she　pointed。
　　〃If　we　ate　that　we　wouldn't　need　the　bite　of　a　dragon；〃　he　grunted。　〃That's　what　the　black　people　of　Kush　call　the　Apples　of　Derketa。　Derketa　is　the　Queen　of　the　Dead。　Drink　a　little　of　that　juice；　or　spill　it　on　your　flesh；　and　you'd　be　dead　before　you　could　tumble　to　the　foot　of　this　crag。〃
　　〃Oh！〃
　　She　lapsed　into　dismayed　silence。　There　seemed　no　way　out　of　their　predicament；　she　reflected　gloomily。　She　saw　no　way　of　escape；　and　Conan　seemed　to　be　concerned　only　with　her　supple　waist　and　curly　tresses。　If　he　was　trying　to　formulate　a　plan　of　escape　he　did　not　show　it。
　　〃If　you'll　take　your　hands　off　me　long　enough　to　climb　up　on　that　peak；〃　she　said　presently；　〃you'll　see　something　that　will　surprise　you。〃
　　He　cast　her　a　questioning　glance；　then　obeyed　with　a　shrug　of　his　massive　shoulders。　Clinging　to　the　spirelike　pinnacle；　he　stared　out　over　the　forest　roof。
　　He　stood　a　long　moment　in　silence；　posed　like　a　bronze　statue　on　the　rock。
　　〃It's　a　walled　city；　right　enough；〃　he　muttered　presently。　〃Was　that　where　you　were　going；　when　you　tried　to　send　me　off　alone　to　the　coast？〃
　　〃I　saw　it　before　you　came。　I　knew　nothing　of　it　when　I　left　Sukhmet。〃
　　〃Who'd　have　thought　to　find　a　city　here？　I　don't　believe　the　Stygians　ever　penetrated　this　far。　Could　black　people　build　a　city　like　that？　I　see　no　herds　on　the　plain；　no　signs　of　cultivation；　or　people　moving　about。〃
　　〃How　can　you　hope　to　see　all　that；　at　this　distance？〃　she　demanded。
　　He　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　dropped　down　on　the　shelf。
　　〃Well；　the　folk　of　the　city　can't　help　us　just　now。　And　they　might　not；　if　they　could。　The　people　of　the　Black　Countries　are　generally　hostile　to　strangers。　Probably　stick　us　full　of　spears…〃
　　He　stopped　short　and　stood　silent；　as　if　he　had　forgotten　what　he　was　saying；　frowning　down　at　the　crimson　spheres　gleaming　among　the　leaves。
　　〃Spears！〃　he　muttered。　〃What　a　blasted　fool　I　am　not　to　have　thought　of　that　before！　That　shows　what　a　pretty　woman　does　to　a　man's　mind。〃
　　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃　she　inquired。
　　Without　answering　her　question；　he　descended　to　the　belt　of　leaves　and　looked　down　through　them。　The　great　brute　squatted　below；　watching　the　crag　with　the　frightful　patience　of　the　reptile　folk。　So　might　one　of　his　breed　have　glared　up　at　their　troglodyte　ancestors；　treed　on　a　high…flung　rock；　in　the　dim　dawn　ages。　Conan　cursed　him　without　heat；　and　began　cutting　branches；　reaching　out　and　severing　them　as　far　from　the　end　as　he　could　reach。　The　agitation　of　the　leaves　made　the　monster　restless。　He　rose　from　his　haunches　and　lashed　his　hideous　tail；　snapping　off　saplings　as　if　they　had　been　toothpicks。　Conan　watched　him　warily　from　the　corner　of　his　eye；　and　just　as　Valeria　believed　the　dragon　was　about　to　hurl　himself　up　the　crag　again；　the　Cimmerian　drew　back　and　climbed　up　to　the　ledge　with　the　branches　he　had　cut。　There　were　three　of　these；　slender　shafts　about　seven　feet　long；　but　not　larger　than　his　thumb。　He　had　also　cut　several　strands　of　tough；　thin　vine。
　　〃Branches　too　light　for　spear…hafts；　and　creepers　no　thicker　than　cords；〃　he　remarked；　indicating　the　foliage　about　the　crag。　〃It　won't　hold　our　weight…but　there's　strength　in　union。　That's　what　the　Aquilonian　renegades　used　to　tell　us　Cimmerians　when　they　came　into　the　hills　to　raise　an　army　to　invade　their　own　country。　But　we　always　fight　by　clans　and　tribes。〃
　　〃What　the　devil　has　that　got　to　do　with　those　sticks？〃　she　demanded。
　　〃You　wait　and　see。〃
　　Gathering　the　sticks　in　a　pact　bundle；　he　wedged　his　poniard　hilt　between　them　at　one　end。　Then　with　the　vines　he　bound　them　together　and；　when　he　had　pleted　his　task；　he　had　a　spear　of　no　small　strength；　with　a　sturdy　shaft　seven　feet　in　length。
　　〃What　good　will　that　do？〃　she　demanded。　〃You　told　me　that　a　blade　couldn't　pierce　his　scales…〃
　　〃He　hasn't　got　scales　all　over　him；〃　answered　Conan。　〃There's　more　than　one　way　of　skinning　a　panther。〃
　　Moving　down　to　the　edge　of　the　leaves；　he　reached　the　spear　up　and　carefully　thrust　the　blade　through　one　of　the　Apples　of　Derketa；　drawing　aside　to　avoid　the　darkly　purple　drops　that　dripped　from　the　pierced　fruit。　Presently　he　withdrew　the　blade　and　showed　her　the　blue　steel　stained　a　dull　purplish　crimson。
　　〃I　don't　know　whether　it　will　do　the　job　or　not；〃　quoth　he。　〃There's　enough　poison　there　to　kill　an　elephant；　but…well；　we'll　see。〃
　　Valeria　was　close　behind　him　as　he　let　himself　down　among　the　leaves。　Cautiously　holding　the　poisoned　pike　away　from　him；　he　thrust　his　head　through　the　branches　and　addressed　the　monster。
　　〃What　are　you　waiting　down　there　for；　you　misbegotten　offspring　of　questionable　parents？〃　was　one　of　his　more　printable　queries。　〃Stick　your　ugly　head　up　here　again；　you　long…necked　brute…or　do　you　want　me　to　e　down　there　and　kick　you　loose　from　your　illegitimate　spine？〃
　　There　was　more　of　it…some　of　it　crouched　in　eloquence　that　made　Valeria　stare；　in　spite　of　her　profane　education　among　the　seafarers。　And　it　had　its　effect　on　the　monster。　Just　as　the　incessant　yapping　of　a　dog　worries　and　enrages　more　constitutionally　silent　animals；　so　the　clamorous　voice　of　a　man　rouses　fear　in　some　bestial　bosoms　and　insane　rage　in　others。　Suddenly　and　with　appalling　quickness；　the　mastodonic　brute　reared　up　on　its　mighty　hindlegs　and　elongated　its　neck　and　body　in　a　furious　effort　to　reach　this　vociferous　pigmy　whose　clamor　was　disturbing　the　primeval　silence　of　its　ancient　realm。
　　But　Conan　had　judged　his　distance　with　precision。　Some　five　feet　below　him　the　mighty　head　crashed　terribly　but　futilely　through　the　leaves。　And　as　the　monstrous　mouth　gaped　like　that　of　a　great　snake；　Conan　drove　his　spear　into　the　red　angle　of　the　jawbone　hinge。　He　struck　downward　with　all　the　strength　of　both　arms；　driving　the　long　poniard　blade　to　the　hilt　in　flesh；　sinew　and　bone。
　　Instantly　the　jaws　clashed　convulsively　together；　severing　the　triple…pieced　shaft　and　almost　precipitating　Conan　from　his　perch。　He　would　have　fallen　but　for　the　girl　behind　him；　who　caught　his　sword…belt　in　a　desperate　grasp。　He　clutched　at　a　rocky　projection；　and　grinned　his　thanks　back　at　her。
　　Down　on　the　ground　the　monster　was　wallowing　like　a　dog　with　pepper　in　its　eyes。　He　shook　his　head　from　side　to　side；　pawed　at　it；　and　opened　his　mouth　repeatedly　to　its　widest　extent。　Presently　he　got　a　huge　front　foot　on　the　stump　of　the　shaft　and　managed　to　tear　the　blade　out。　Then　he　threw　up　his　head；　jaws　wide　and　spouting　blood；　and　glared　up　at　the　crag　with　such　concentrated　and　intelligent　fury　that　Valeria　trembled　and　drew　her　sword。　The　scales　along　his　back　and　flanks　turned　from　rusty　brown　to　a　dull　lurid　red。　Most　horribly　the　monster's　silence　was　broken。　The　sounds　that　issued　from　his　blood…streaming　jaws　did　not　sound　like　anything　that　could　have　been　produced　by　an　earthly　creation。
　　With　harsh；　grating　roars；　the　dragon　hurled　himself　at　the　crag　that　was　the　citadel　of　his　enemies。　Again　and　again　his　mighty　head　crashed　upward　through　the　branches；　snapping　vainly　on　empty　air。　He　hurled　his　full　ponderous　weight　against　the　rock　until　it　vibrated　from　base　to　crest。　And　rearing　upright　he　gripped　it　with　his　front　legs　like　a　man　and　tried　to　tear　it　up　by　the　roots；　as　if　it　had　been　a　tree。
　　This　exhibition　of　primordial　fury　chilled　the　blood　in　Valeria's　veins；　but　Conan　was　too　close　to　the　primitive　himself　to　feel　anything　but　a　prehending　interest。　To　the　barbarian；　no　such　gulf　existed　between　himself　and　other　men；　and　the　animals；　as　existed　in　the　conception　of　Valeria。　The　monster　below　them；　to　Conan；　was　merely　a　form　of　life　differing　from　himself　mainly　in　physical　shape。　He　attributed　to　it　characteristics　similar　to　his　own；　and　saw　in　its　wrath　a　counterpart　of　his　rages；　in　its　roars　and　bellowings　merely　reptilian　equivalents　to　the　curses　he　had　bestowed　upon　it。　Feeling　a　kinship　with　all　wild　things；　even　dragons；　it　was　impossible　for　him　to　experience　the　sick　horror　which　assailed　Valeria　at　the　sight　of　the　brute's　ferocity。
　　He　sat　watching　it　tranquilly；　and　pointed　out　the　various　changes　that　were　taking　place　in　its　voice　and　actions。
　　〃The　poison's　taking　hold；〃　he　said　with　conviction。
　　〃I　don't　believe　it。〃　To　Valeria　it　seemed　preposterous　to　suppose　that　anything；　however　lethal；　could　have　any　effect　on　that　mountain　of　muscle　and　fury。
　　〃There's　pain　in　his　voice；〃　declared　Conan。　〃First　he　was　merely　angry　because　of　the　stinging　in　his　jaw。　Now　he　feels　the　bite　of　the　poison。　Look！　He's　staggering。　He'll　be　blind　in　a　few　more　minutes。　What　did　I　tell　you？〃
　　For　suddenly　the　dragon　had　lurched　about　and　went　crashing　off　through　the　bushes。
　　〃Is　he　running　away？〃　inquired　Valeria　uneasily。
　　〃He's　making　for　the　pool！〃　Conan　sprang　up；　galvanized　into　swift　activity。　〃The　poison　makes　him　thirsty。　e　on！　He'll　be　blind　in　a　few　moments；　but　he　can　smell　his　way　back　to　the　foot　of　the　crag；　and　if　our　scent's　here　still；　he'll　sit　there　until　he　dies。　And　others　of　his　kind　may　e　at　his　cries。　Let's　go！〃
　　〃Down　there？〃　Valeria　was　aghast。
　　〃Sure！　We'll　make　for　the　city！　They　may　cut　our　heads　off　there；　but　it's　our　only　chance。　We　may　run　into　a　thousand　more　dragons　on　the　way；　but　it's　sure　death　to　stay　here。　If　we　wait　until　he　dies；　we　may　have　a　dozen　more　to　deal　with。　After　me；　in　a　hurry！〃
　　He　went　down　the　ramp　as　swiftly　as　an　ape；　pausing　only　to　aid　his　less　agile　panion；　who；　until　she　saw　the　Cimmerian　climb；　had　fancied　herself　the　equal　of　any　man　in　the　rigging　of　a　ship　or　on　the　sheer　face　of　a　cliff。
　　They　descended　into　the　gloom　below　the　branches　and　slid　to　the　ground　silently；　though　Valeria　felt　as　if　the　pounding　of　her　heart　must　surely　be　heard　from　far　away。　A　noisy　gurgling　and　lapping　beyond　the　dense　thicket　indicated　that　the　dragon　was　drinking　at　the　pool。
　　〃As　soon　as　his　belly　is　full　he'll　be　back；〃　muttered　Conan。　〃It　may　take　hours　for　the　poison　to　kill　him…if　it　does　at　all。〃
　　Somewhere　beyond　the　forest　the　sun　was　sinking　to　the　horizon。　The　forest　was　a　misty　twilight　place　of　black　shadows　and　dim　vistas。　Conan　gripped　Valeria's　wrist　and　glided　away　from　the　foot　of　the　crag。　He　made　less　noise　than　a　breeze　blowing　among　the　tree　trunks；　but　Valeria　felt　as　if　her　soft　boots　were　betraying　their　flight　to　all　the　forest。
　　〃I　don't　think　he　can　follow　a　trail；〃　muttered　Conan。　〃But　if　a　wind　blew　our　body　scent　to　him；　he　could　smell　us　out。〃
　　〃Mitra；　grant　that　the　wind　blow　not！〃　Valeria　breathed。
　　Her　face　was　a　pallid　oval　in　the　gloom。　She　gripped　her　sword　in　her　free　hand；　but　the　feel　of　the　shagreen…bound　hilt　inspired　only　a　feeling　of　helplessness　in　her。
　　They　were　still　some　distance　from　the　edge　of　the　forest　when　they　heard　a　snapping　and　crashing　behind　them。　Valeria　bit　her　lip　to　check　a　cry。
　　〃He's　on　our　trail！〃　she　whispered　fiercely。
　　Conan　shook　his　head。
　　〃He　didn't　smell　us　at　the　rock；　and　he's　blundering　about　through　the　forest　trying　to　pick　up　our　scent。