rh.conanthewarrior-第7章

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n　split　to　the　throat。
　　〃Conan！〃　gasped　Valeria。　In　a　gust　of　passion　she　turned　on　the　Xotalanc　whose　long　hair　she　still　gripped　in　her　left　hand。　〃Dog　of　hell！〃　Her　blade　swished　as　it　cut　the　air　in　an　upswinging　arc　with　a　blur　in　the　middle；　and　the　headless　body　slumped　down；　spurting　blood。　She　hurled　the　severed　head　across　the　room。
　　〃What　the　devil's　going　on　here？〃　Conan　bestrode　the　corpse　of　the　man　he　had　killed；　broadsword　in　hand；　glaring　about　him　in　amazement。
　　Techotl　was　rising　from　the　twitching　figure　of　the　last　Xotalanc；　shaking　red　drops　from　his　dagger。　He　was　bleeding　from　the　stab　deep　in　the　thigh。　He　stared　at　Conan　with　dilated　eyes。
　　〃What　is　all　this？〃　Conan　demanded　again；　not　yet　recovered　from　the　stunning　surprise　of　finding　Valeria　engaged　in　a　savage　battle　with　this　fantastic　figures　in　a　city　he　had　thought　empty　and　uninhabited。　Returning　from　an　aimless　exploration　of　the　upper　chambers　to　find　Valeria　missing　from　the　room　where　he　had　left　her；　he　had　followed　the　sounds　of　strife　that　burst　on　his　dumfounded　ears。
　　〃Five　dead　dogs！〃　exclaimed　Techotl；　his　flaming　eyes　reflecting　a　ghastly　exultation。　〃Five　slain！　Five　crimson　nails　for　the　black　pillar！　The　gods　of　blood　be　thanked！〃
　　He　lifed　quivering　hands　on　high；　and　then；　with　the　face　of　a　fiend；　he　spat　on　the　corpses　and　stamped　on　their　faces；　dancing　in　his　ghoulish　glee。　His　recent　allies　eyed　him　in　amazement；　and　Conan　asked；　in　the　Aquilonian　tongue：　〃Who　is　this　madman？〃
　　Valeria　shrugged　her　shoulders。
　　〃He　says　his　name's　Techotl。　From　his　babblings　I　gather　that　his　people　live　at　one　end　of　this　crazy　city；　and　these　others　at　the　other　end。　Maybe　we'd　better　go　with　him。　He　seems　friendly；　and　it's　easy　to　see　that　the　other　clan　isn't。〃
　　Techotl　had　ceased　his　dancing　and　was　listening　again；　his　head　tilted　sidewise；　dog…like；　triumph　struggling　with　fear　in　his　repellent　countenance。
　　〃e　away；　now！〃　he　whispered。　〃We　have　done　enough！　Five　dead　dogs！　My　people　will　wele　you！　They　will　honor　you！　But　e！　It　is　far　to　Tecuhltli。　At　any　moment　the　Xotalancs　may　e　on　us　in　numbers　too　great　even　for　your　swords。〃
　　〃Lead　the　way；〃　grunted　Conan。
　　Techotl　instantly　mounted　a　stair　leading　up　to　the　gallery；　beckoning　them　to　follow　him；　which　they　did；　moving　rapidly　to　keep　on　his　heels。　Having　reached　the　gallery；　he　plunged　into　a　door　that　opened　toward　the　west；　and　hurried　through　chamber　after　chamber；　each　lighted　by　skylights　or　green　fire…jewels。
　　〃What　sort　of　place　can　this　be？〃　muttered　Valeria　under　her　breath。
　　〃Crom　knows！〃　answered　Conan。　〃I've　seen　his　kind　before；　though。　They　live　on　the　shores　of　Lake　Zuad；　near　the　border　of　Kush。　They're　a　sort　of　mongrel　Stygians；　mixed　with　another　race　that　wandered　into　Stygia　from　the　east　some　centuries　ago　and　were　absorbed　by　them。　They're　called　Tlazitlans。　I'm　willing　to　bet　it　wasn't　they　who　built　this　city；　though。〃
　　Techotl's　fear　did　not　sem　to　diminish　as　they　drew　away　from　the　chamber　where　the　dead　men　lay。　He　kept　twisting　his　head　on　his　shoulder　to　listen　for　sounds　of　pursuit；　and　stared　with　burning　intensity　into　every　doorway　they　passed。
　　Valeria　shivered　in　spite　of　herself。　She　feared　no　man。　But　the　weird　floor　beneath　her　feet；　the　uncanny　jewels　over　her　head；　dividing　the　lurking　shadows　among　them；　the　stealth　and　terror　of　their　guide；　impressed　her　with　a　nameless　apprehension；　a　sensation　of　lurking；　inhuman　peril。
　　〃They　may　be　between　us　and　Tecuhltli！〃　he　whispered　once。　〃We　must　beware　lest　they　be　lying　in　wait！〃
　　〃Why　don't　we　get　out　of　this　infernal　palace；　and　take　to　the　streets？〃　demanded　Valeria。
　　〃There　are　no　streets　in　Xuchotl；〃　he　answered。　〃No　squares　nor　open　courts。　The　whole　city　is　built　like　one　giant　palace　under　one　great　roof。　The　nearest　approach　to　a　street　is　the　Great　Hall　which　traverses　the　city　from　the　north　gate　to　the　south　gate。　The　only　doors　opening　into　the　outer　world　are　the　city　gates；　through　which　no　living　man　has　passed　for　fifty　years。〃
　　〃How　long　have　you　dwelt　here？〃　asked　Conan。
　　〃I　was　born　in　the　castle　of　Tecuhltli　thirty…five　years　ago。　I　have　never　set　foot　outside　the　city。　For　the　love　of　the　gods；　let　us　go　silently！　These　halls　may　be　full　of　lurking　devils。　Olmec　shall　tell　you　all　when　we　reach　Tecuhltli。〃
　　So　in　silence　they　glided　on　with　the　green　fire…stones　blinking　overhead　and　the　flaming　floors　smoldering　under　their　feet；　and　it　seemed　to　Valeria　as　if　they　fled　through　Hell；　guided　by　a　dark…faced　lank…haired　goblin。
　　Yet　it　was　Conan　who　halted　them　as　they　were　crossing　an　unusually　wide　chamber。　His　wilderness…bred　ears　were　keener　even　than　the　ears　of　Techotl；　whetted　though　these　were　by　a　lifetime　of　warfare　in　this　silent　corridors。
　　〃You　think　some　of　your　enemies　may　be　ahead　of　us；　lying　in　ambush？〃
　　〃They　prowl　through　these　rooms　at　all　hours；〃　answered　Techotl；　〃as　do　we。　The　halls　and　chambers　between　Tecuhltli　and　Xotalanc　are　a　disputed　region；　owned　by　no　man。　We　call　it　the　Halls　of　Silence。　Why　do　you　ask？〃
　　〃Because　men　are　in　the　chambers　ahead　of　us；〃　answered　Conan。　〃I　heard　steel　clink　against　stone。〃
　　Again　a　shaking　seized　Techotl；　and　he　clenched　his　teeth　to　keep　them　from　chattering。
　　〃Perhaps　they　are　your　friends；〃　suggested　Valeria。
　　〃We　dare　not　chance　it；〃　he　panted；　and　moved　with　frenzied　activity。　He　turned　aside　and　glided　through　a　doorway　on　the　left　which　led　into　a　chamber　from　which　an　ivory　staircase　wound　down　into　darkness。
　　〃This　leads　to　an　unlighted　corridor　below　us！〃　he　hissed；　great　beads　of　perspiration　standing　out　on　his　brow。　〃They　may　be　lurking　there；　too。　It　may　all　be　a　trick　to　draw　us　into　it。　But　we　must　take　the　chance　that　they　have　laid　their　ambush　in　the　rooms　above。　e　swiftly　now！〃
　　Softly　as　phantoms　they　descended　the　stair　and　came　to　the　mouth　of　a　corridor　black　as　night。　They　crouched　there　for　a　moment；　listening；　and　then　melted　into　it。　As　they　moved　along；　Valeria's　flesh　crawled　between　her　shoulders　in　momentary　expectation　of　a　sword…thrust　in　the　dark。　But　for　Conan's　iron　fingers　gripping　her　arm　she　had　no　physical　cognizance　of　her　panions。　Neither　made　as　much　noise　as　a　cat　would　have　made。　The　darkness　was　absolute。　One　hand；　outstretched；　touched　a　wall；　and　occasionally　she　felt　a　door　under　her　fingers。　The　hallway　seemed　interminable。
　　Suddenly　they　were　galvanized　by　a　sound　behind　them。　Valeria's　flesh　crawled　anew；　for　she　recognized　it　as　the　soft　opening　of　a　door。　Men　had　e　into　the　corridor　behind　them。　Even　with　the　thought　she　stumbled　over　something　that　felt　like　a　human　skull。　It　rolled　across　the　floor　with　an　appalling　clatter。
　　〃Run！〃　yelped　Techotl；　a　note　of　hysteria　in　his　voice；　and　was　away　down　the　corridor　like　a　flying　ghost。
　　Again　Valeria　felt　Conan's　hand　bearing　her　up　and　sweeping　her　along　as　they　raced　after　their　guide。　Conan　could　see　in　the　dark　no　better　than　she；　but　he　possessed　a　sort　of　instinct　that　made　his　course　unerring。　Without　his　support　and　guidance　she　would　have　fallen　or　stumbled　against　the　wall。　Down　the　corridor　they　sped；　while　the　swift　patter　of　flying　feet　drew　closer　and　closer；　and　then　suddenly　Techotl　panted：　〃Here　is　the　stair！　After　me；　quick！　Oh；　quick！〃
　　His　hand　came　out　of　the　dark　and　caught　Valeria's　wrist　as　she　stumbled　blindly　on　the　steps。　She　felt　herself　half　dragged；　half　lifted　up　the　winding　stair；　while　Conan　released　her　and　turned　on　the　steps；　his　ears　and　instincts　telling　him　their　foes　were　hard　at　their　backs。　And　the　sounds　were　not　all　those　of　human　feet。
　　Something　came　writhing　up　the　steps；　something　that　slithered　and　rustled　and　brought　a　chill　in　the　air　with　it。　Conan　lashed　down　with　his　great　sword　and　felt　the　blade　shear　through　something　that　might　have　been　flesh　and　bone；　and　cut　deep　into　the　stair　beneath。　Something　touched　his　foot　that　chilled　like　the　touch　of　frost；　and　then　the　darkness　beneath　him　was　disturbed　by　a　frightful　thrashing　and　lashing；　and　a　man　cried　out　in　agony。
　　The　next　moment　Conan　was　racing　up　the　winding　staircase；　and　through　a　door　that　stood　open　at　the　head。
　　Valeria　and　Techotl　were　already　through；　and　Techotl　slammed　the　door　and　shot　a　bolt　across　it…the　first　Conan　had　seen　since　they　had　left　the　outer　gate。
　　Then　he　turned　and　ran　across　the　well…lighted　chamber　into　which　they　had　e；　and　as　they　passed　through　the　farther　door；　Conan　glanced　back　and　saw　the　door　groaning　and　straining　under　heavy　pressure　violently　applied　from　the　other　side。
　　Though　Techotl　did　not　abate　either　his　speed　or　his　caution；　he　seemed　more　confident　now。　He　had　the　air　of　a　man　who　had　e　into　familiar　territory；　within　call　of　friends。
　　But　Conan　renewed　his　terror　by　asking：　〃What　was　that　thing　I　fought　on　the　stairs？〃
　　〃The　men　of　Xotalanc；〃　answered　Techotl；　without　looking　back。　〃I　told　you　the　halls　were　full　of　them。〃
　　〃This　wasn't　a　man；〃　grunted　Conan。　〃It　was　something　that　crawled；　and　it　was　as　cold　as　ice　to　the　touch。　I　think　I　cut　it　asunder。　It　fell　back　on　the　men　who　were　following　us；　and　must　have　killed　one　of　them　in　its　death　throes。〃
　　Techotl's　head　jerked　back；　his　face　ashy　again。　Convulsively　he　quickened　his　pace。
　　〃It　was　the　Crawler！　A　monster　they　have　brought　out　of　the　catabs　to　aid　them！　What　it　is；　we　do　not　know；　but　we　have　found　our　people　hideously　slain　by　it。　In　Set's　name；　hasten！　If　they　put　it　on　our　trail；　it　will　follow　us　to　the　very　doors　of　Tecuhltli！〃
　　〃I　doubt　it；〃　grunted　Conan。　〃That　was　a　shrewd　cut　I　dealt　it　on　the　stair。〃
　　〃Hasten！　Hasten！〃　groaned　Techotl。
　　They　ran　through　a　series　of　green…lit　chambers；　traversed　a　broad　hall；　and　halted　before　a　giant　bronze　door。
　　Techotl　said：　〃This　is　Tecuhltli！〃
　　
　　
　　　3。　The　People　of　the　Feud
　　
　　Techotl　smote　on　the　bronze　door　with　his　clenched　hand；　and　then　turned　sidewise；　so　that　he　could　watch　back　along　the　hall。
　　〃Men　have　been　smitten　down　before　this　door；　when　they　thought　they　were　safe；〃　he　said。
　　〃Why　don't　they　open　the　door？〃　asked　Conan。
　　〃They　are　looking　at　us　through　the　Eye；〃　answered　Techotl。　〃They　are　puzzled　at　the　sight　of　you。〃　He　lifted　his　voice　and　called：　〃Open　the　door；　Excelan！　It　is　I；　Techotl；　with　friends　from　the　great　world　beyond　the　forest！…They　will　open；〃　he　assured　his　allies。
　　〃They'd　better　do　it　in　a　hurry；　then；〃　said　Conan　grimly。　〃I　hear　something　crawling　along　the　floor　beyond　the　hall。〃
　　Techotl　went　ashy　again　and　attacked　the　door　with　his　fists；　screaming：　〃Open；　you　fools；　open！　The　Crawler　is　at　our　heels！〃
　　Even　as　he　beat　and　shouted；　the　great　bronze　door　swung　noiselessly　back；　revealing　a　heavy　chain　across　the　entrance；　over　which　spearheads　bristled　and　fierce　countenances　regarded　them　intently　for　an　instant。　Then　the　chain　was　dropped　and　Techotl　grasped　the　arms　of　his　friends　in　a　nervous　frenzy　and　fairly　dragged　them　over　the　threshold。　A　glance　over　his　shoulder　just　as　the　door　was　closing　showed　Conan　the　long　dim　vista　of　the　hall；　and　dimly　framed　at