rh.conanthewarrior-第35章

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　　〃Have　you　got　a　horse？〃
　　〃In　the　stable；〃　she　groaned。　〃Oh；　hurry！〃
　　He　pushed　her　aside　as　she　fumbled　with　shaking　hands　at　the　bars。　He　led　the　horse　out　and　lifted　the　children　on　its　back；　telling　them　to　hold　to　its　mane　and　to　one　another。　They　stared　at　him　seriously；　making　no　outcry。　The　woman　took　the　horse's　halter　and　set　out　up　the　road。　She　still　gripped　her　ax　and　Balthus　knew　that　if　cornered　she　would　fight　with　the　desperate　courage　of　a　she…panther。
　　He　held　behind；　listening。　He　was　oppressed　by　the　belief　that　the　fort　had　been　stormed　and　taken；　that　the　dark…skinned　hordes　were　already　streaming　up　the　road　toward　Velitrium；　drunken　on　slaughter　and　mad　for　blood。　They　would　e　with　the　speed　of　starving　wolves。
　　Presently　they　saw　another　cabin　looming　ahead。　The　woman　started　to　shriek　a　warning；　but　Balthus　stopped　her。　He　hurried　to　the　door　and　knocked。　A　woman's　voice　answered　him。　He　repeated　his　warning；　and　soon　the　cabin　disgorged　its　occupants…an　old　woman；　two　young　women；　and　four　children。　Like　the　other　woman's　husband；　their　men　had　gone　to　the　salt　licks　the　day　before；　unsuspecting　of　any　danger。　One　of　the　young　women　seemed　dazed；　the　other　prone　to　hysteria。　But　the　old　woman；　a　stern　old　veteran　of　the　frontier；　quieted　them　harshly；　she　helped　Balthus　get　out　the　two　horses　that　were　stabled　in　a　pen　behind　the　cabin　and　put　the　children　on　them。　Balthus　urged　that　she　herself　mount　with　them；　but　she　shook　her　head　and　made　one　of　the　younger　women　ride。
　　〃She's　with　child；〃　grunted　the　old　woman。　〃I　can　walk…and　fight；　too；　if　it　es　to　that。〃
　　As　they　set　out；　one　of　the　young　women　said：　〃A　young　couple　passed　along　the　road　about　dusk；　we　advised　them　to　spend　the　night　at　our　cabin；　but　they　were　anxious　to　make　the　fort　tonight。　Did…did…〃
　　〃They　met　the　Picts；〃　answered　Balthus　briefly；　and　the　woman　sobbed　in　horror。
　　They　were　scarcely　out　of　sight　of　the　cabin　when　some　distance　behind　them　quavered　a　long　high…pitched　yell。
　　〃A　wolf！〃　exclaimed　one　of　the　women。
　　〃A　painted　wolf　with　an　ax　in　his　hand；〃　muttered　Balthus。　〃Go！　Rouse　the　other　settlers　along　the　road　and　take　them　with　you。　I'll　scout　along　behind。〃
　　Without　a　word　the　old　woman　herded　her　charges　ahead　of　her。　As　they　faded　into　the　darkness；　Balthus　could　see　the　pale…ovals　that　were　the　faces　of　the　children　twisted　back　over　their　shoulders　to　stare　toward　him。　He　remembered　his　own　people　on　the　Tauran　and　a　moment's　giddy　sickness　swam　over　him。　With　momentary　weakness　he　groaned　and　sank　down　in　the　road；　his　muscular　arm　fell　over　Slasher's　massive　neck　and　he　felt　the　dog's　warm　moist　tongue　touch　his　face。
　　He　lifted　his　head　and　grinned　with　a　painful　effort。
　　〃e　on；　boy；〃　he　mumbled；　rising。　〃We've　got　work　to　do。〃
　　A　red　glow　suddenly　became　evident　through　the　trees。　The　Picts　had　fired　the　last　hut。　He　grinned。　How　Zogar　Sag　would　froth　if　he　knew　his　warriors　had　let　their　destructive　natures　get　the　better　of　them。　The　fire　would　warn　the　people　farther　up　the　road。　They　would　be　awake　and　alert　when　the　fugitives　reached　them。　But　his　face　grew　grim。　The　women　were　traveling　slowly；　on　foot　and　on　the　overloaded　horses。　The　swift…footed　Picts　would　run　them　down　within　a　mile；　unless…he　took　his　position　behind　a　tangle　of　fallen　logs　beside　the　trail。　The　road　west　of　him　was　lighted　by　the　burning　cabin；　and　when　the　Picts　came　he　saw　them　first…black　furtive　figures　etched　against　the　distant　glare。
　　Drawing　a　shaft　to　the　head；　he　loosed　and　one　of　the　figures　crumpled。　The　rest　melted　into　the　woods　on　either　side　of　the　road。　Slasher　whimpered　with　the　killing　lust　beside　him。　Suddenly　a　figure　appeared　on　the　fringe　of　the　trail；　under　the　trees；　and　began　gliding　toward　the　fallen　timbers。　Balthus'　bow…string　twanged　and　the　Pict　yelped；　staggered　and　fell　into　the　shadows　with　the　arrow　through　his　thigh。　Slasher　cleared　the　timbers　with　a　bound　and　leaped　into　the　bushes。　They　were　violently　shaken　and　then　the　dog　slunk　back　to　Balthus'　side；　his　jaws　crimson。
　　No　more　appeared　in　the　trail；　Balthus　began　to　fear　they　were　stealing　past　his　position　through　the　woods；　and　when　he　heard　a　faint　sound　to　his　left　he　loosed　blindly。　He　cursed　as　he　heard　the　shaft　splinter　against　a　tree；　but　Slasher　glided　away　as　silently　as　a　phantom；　and　presently　Balthus　heard　a　thrashing　and　a　gurgling；　then　Slasher　came　like　a　ghost　through　the　bushes；　snuggling　his　great；　crimson…stained　head　against　Balthus'　arm。　Blood　oozed　from　a　gash　in　his　shoulder；　but　the　sounds　in　the　wood　had　ceased　for　ever。
　　The　men　lurking　on　the　edges　of　the　road　evidently　sensed　the　fate　of　their　panion；　and　decided　that　an　open　charge　was　preferable　to　being　dragged　down　in　the　dark　by　a　devil…beast　they　could　neither　see　nor　hear。　Perhaps　they　realized　that　only　one　man　lay　behind　the　logs。　They　came　with　a　sudden　rush；　breaking　cover　from　both　sides　of　the　trail。　Three　dropped　with　arrows　through　them…and　the　remaining　pair　hesitated。　One　turned　and　ran　back　down　the　road；　but　the　other　lunged　over　the　breastwork；　his　eyes　and　teeth　gleaming　in　the　dim　light；　his　ax　lifted。　Balthus'　foot　slipped　as　he　sprang　up；　but　the　slip　saved　his　life。　The　descending　ax　shaved　a　lock　of　hair　from　his　head；　and　the　Pict　rolled　down　the　logs　from　the　force　of　his　wasted　blow。　Before　he　could　regain　his　feet　Slasher　tore　his　throat　out。
　　Then　followed　a　tense　period　of　waiting；　in　which　time　Balthus　wondered　if　the　man　who　had　fled　had　been　the　only　survivor　of　the　party。　Obviously　it　had　been　a　small　band　that　had　either　left　the　fighting　at　the　fort；　or　was　scouting　ahead　of　the　main　body。　Each　moment　that　passed　increased　the　chances　for　safety　of　the　women　and　children　hurrying　toward　Velithum。
　　Then　without　warning　a　shower　of　arrows　whistled　over　his　retreat。　A　wild　howling　rose　from　the　woods　along　the　trail。　Either　the　survivor　had　gone　after　aid；　or　another　party　had　joined　the　first。　The　burning　cabin　still　smoldered；　lending　a　little　light。　Then　they　were　after　him；　gliding　through　the　trees　beside　the　trail。　He　shot　three　arrows　and　threw　the　bow　away。　As　if　sensing　his　plight；　they　came　on；　not　yelling　now；　but　in　deadly　silence　except　for　a　swift　pad　of　many　feet。
　　He　fiercely　hugged　the　head　of　the　great　dog　growling　at　his　side；　muttered：　〃All　right；　boy；　give　'em　hell！〃　and　sprang　to　his　feet；　drawing　his　ax。　Then　the　dark　figures　flooded　over　the　breastworks　and　closed　in　a　storm　of　flailing　axes；　stabbing　knives　and　ripping　fangs。
　　
　　
　　　7。　　The　Devil　in　the　Fire
　　
　　When　Conan　turned　from　the　Velitrium　road；　he　expected　a　run　of　some　nine　miles　and　set　himself　to　the　task。　But　he　had　not　gone　four　when　he　heard　the　sounds　of　a　party　of　men　ahead　of　him。　From　the　noise　they　were　making　in　their　progress　he　knew　they　were　not　Picts。　He　hailed　them。
　　〃Who's　there？〃　challenged　a　harsh　voice。　〃Stand　where　you　are　until　we　know　you；　or　you'll　get　an　arrow　through　you。〃
　　〃You　couldn't　hit　an　elephant　in　this　darkness；〃　answered　Conan　impatiently。　〃e　on；　fool；　it's　I…Conan。　The　Picts　are　over　the　river。〃
　　〃We　suspected　as　much；〃　answered　the　leader　of　the　men；　as　they　strode　forward…tall；　rangy　men；　stern…faced；　with　bows　in　their　hands。　〃One　of　our　party　wounded　an　antelope　and　tracked　it　nearly　to　Black　River。　He　heard　them　yelling　down　the　river　and　ran　back　to　our　camp。　We　left　the　salt　and　the　wagons；　turned　the　oxen　loose；　and　came　as　swiftly　as　we　could。　If　the　Picts　are　besieging　the　fort；　war…parties　will　be　ranging　up　the　road　toward　our　cabins。〃
　　〃Your　families　are　safe；〃　grunted　Conan。　〃My　panion　went　ahead　to　take　them　to　Velitrium。　If　we　go　back　to　the　main　road　we　may　run　into　the　whole　horde。　We'll　strike　southeast；　through　the　timber。　Go　ahead。　I'll　scout　behind。〃
　　A　few　moments　later　the　whole　band　was　hurrying　southeastward。　Conan　followed　more　slowly；　keeping　just　within　ear…shot。　He　cursed　the　noise　they　were　making；　that　many　Picts　or　Cimmerians　would　have　moved　through　the　woods　with　no　more　noise　than　the　wind　makes　as　it　blows　through　the　black　branches。　He　had　just　crossed　a　small　glade　when　he　wheeled；　answering　the　conviction　of　his　primitive　instincts　that　he　was　being　followed。　Standing　motionless　among　the　bushes　he　heard　the　sounds　of　the　retreating　settlers　fade　away。　Then　a　voice　called　faintly　back　along　the　way　he　had　e：　〃Conan！　Conan！　Wait　for　me；　Conan！〃
　　〃Balthus！〃　he　swore　bewilderedly。　Cautiously　he　called：　〃Here　I　am！〃
　　〃Wait　for　me；　Conan！〃　the　voice　came　more　distinctly。　
　　Conan　moved　out　of　the　shadows；　scowling。　〃What　the　devil　are　you　doing　here？…Crom！〃
　　He　half　crouched；　the　flesh　prickling　along　his　spine。　It　was　not　Balthus　who　was　emerging　from　the　other　side　of　the　glade。　A　weird　glow　burned　through　the　trees。　It　moved　toward　him；　shimmering　weirdly…a　green　witchfire　that　moved　with　purpose　and　intent。
　　It　halted　some　feet　away　and　Conan　glared　at　it；　trying　to　distinguish　its　fire…misted　outlines。　The　quivering　flame　had　a　solid　core；　the　flame　was　but　a　green　garment　that　masked　some　animate　and　evil　entity；　but　the　Cimmerian　was　unable　to　make　out　its　shape　or　likeness。　Then；　shockingly；　a　voice　spoke　to　him　from　amidst　the　fiery　column。
　　〃Why　do　you　stand　like　a　sheep　waiting　for　the　butcher；　Conan？〃
　　The　voice　was　human　but　carried　strange　vibrations　that　were　not　human。
　　〃Sheep？〃　Conan's　wrath　got　the　best　of　his　momentary　awe。　〃Do　you　think　I'm　afraid　of　a　damned　Pictish　swamp　devil？　A　friend　called　me。〃
　　〃I　called　in　his　voice；〃　answered　the　other。　〃The　men　you　follow　belong　to　my　brother；　I　would　not　rob　his　knife　of　their　blood。　But　you　are　mine。　O　fool；　you　have　e　from　the　far　gray　hills　of　Cimmeria　to　meet　your　doom　in　the　forests　of　Conajohara。〃
　　〃You've　had　your　chance　at　me　before　now；〃　snorted　Conan。　〃Why　didn't　you　kill　me　then；　if　you　could？〃
　　〃My　brother　had　not　painted　a　skull　black　for　you　and　hurled　it　into　the　fire　that　burns　for　ever　on　Gullah's　black　altar。　He　had　not　whispered　your　name　to　the　black　ghosts　that　haunt　the　uplands　of　the　Dark　Land。　But　a　bat　has　flown　over　the　Mountains　of　the　Dead　and　drawn　your　image　in　blood　on　the　white　tiger's　hide　that　hangs　before　the　long　hut　where　sleep　the　Four　Brothers　of　the　Night。　The　great　serpents　coil　about　their　feet　and　the　stars　burn　like　fireflies　in　their　hair。〃
　　〃Why　have　the　gods　of　darkness　doomed　me　to　death？〃　growled　Conan。
　　Something…a　hand；　foot　or　talon；　he　could　not　tell　which；　thrust　out　from　the　fire　and　marked　swiftly　on　the　mold。　A　symbol　blazed　there；　marked　with　fire；　and　faded；　but　not　before　he　recognized　it。
　　〃You　dared　make　the　sign　which　only　a　priest　of　Jhebbal　Sag　dare　make。　Thunder　rumbled　through　the　black　Mountain　of　the　Dead　and　the　altar…hut　of　Gullah　was　thrown　down　by　a　wind　from　the　Gulf　of　Ghosts。　The　loon　which　is　messenger　to　the　Four　Brothers　of　the　Night　flew　swiftly　and　whispered　your　name　in　my　ear。　Your　race　is　run。　You　are　a　dead　man　already。　Your　head　will　hang　in　the　altar…hut　of　my　brother。　Your　body　will　be　eaten　by　the　black…winged；　sharp…beaked　Children　of　Jhil。〃
　　〃Who　the　devil　i