the moon pool-第18章
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corner； faced the end of one of the slender bridges。 From this
vantage point the oddly shaped vehicles were plain； and we
could see they were； indeed； like the shell of the Nautilus and
elfinly beautiful。 Their drivers sat high upon the forward
whorl。 Their bodies were piled high with cushions； upon
which lay women half…swathed in gay silken webs。 From
the pavilioned gardens smaller channels of glistening green
ran into the broad way； much as automobile runways do on
earth； and in and out of them flashed the fairy shells。
There came a shout from one。 Its occupants had glimpsed
us。 They pointed； others stopped and stared； one shell turned
and sped up a runwayand quickly over the other side of
the bridge came a score of men。 They were dwarfednone
of them more than five feet high； prodigiously broad of
shoulder； clearly enormously powerful。
〃Trolde！〃 muttered Olaf； stepping beside O'Keefe； pistol
swinging free in his hand。
But at the middle of the bridge the leader stopped； waved
back his men； and came toward us alone； palms outstretched
in the immemorial； universal gesture of truce。 He paused；
scanning us with manifest wonder； we returned the scrutiny
with interest。 The dwarf's face was as white as Olaf'sfar
whiter than those of the other three of us； the features clean…
cut and noble； almost classical； the wide set eyes of a curious
greenish grey and the black hair curling over his head like
that on some old Greek statue。
Dwarfed though he was； there was no suggestion of de…
formity about him。 The gigantic shoulders were covered with
a loose green tunic that looked like fine linen。 It was caught
in at the waist by a broad girdle studded with what seemed
to be amazonites。 In it was thrust a long curved poniard
resembling the Malaysian kris。 His legs were swathed in the
same green cloth as the upper garment。 His feet were
sandalled。
My gaze returned to his face； and in it I found something
subtly disturbing； an expression of half…malicious gaiety that
underlay the wholly prepossessing features like a vague
threat； a mocking deviltry that hinted at entire callousness
to suffering or sorrow； something of the spirit that was
vaguely alien and disquieting。
He spokeand； to my surprise； enough of the words were
familiar to enable me clearly to catch the meaning of the
whole。 They were Polynesian； the Polynesian of the Samoans
which is its most ancient form； but in some indefinable way
archaic。 Later I was to know that the tongue bore the same
relation to the Polynesian of today as does NOT that of
Chaucer； but of the Venerable Bede； to modern English。 Nor
was this to be so astonishing； when with the knowledge came
the certainty that it was from it the language we call Poly…
nesian sprang。
〃From whence do you come； strangersand how found
you your way here？〃 said the green dwarf。
I waved my hand toward the cliff behind us。 His eyes nar…
rowed incredulously； he glanced at its drop； upon which
even a mountain goat could not have made its way； and
laughed。
〃We came through the rock；〃 I answered his thought。
〃And we come in peace；〃 I added。
〃And may peace walk with you；〃 he said half…derisively
〃if the Shining One wills it！〃
He considered us again。
〃Show me； strangers； where you came through the rock；〃
he commanded。 We led the way to where we had emerged
from the well of the stairway。
〃It was here；〃 I said； tapping the cliff。
〃But I see no opening；〃 he said suavely。
〃It closed behind us；〃 I answered； and then； for the first
time； realized how incredible the explanation sounded。 The
derisive gleam passed through his eyes again。 But he drew
his poniard and gravely sounded the rock。
〃You give a strange turn to our speech；〃 he said。 〃It
sounds strangely； indeedas strange as your answers。〃 He
looked at us quizzically。 〃I wonder where you learned it！
Well； all that you can explain to the Afyo Maie。〃 His head
bowed and his arms swept out in a wide salaam。 〃Be pleased
to come with me！〃 he ended abruptly。
〃In peace？〃 I asked。
〃In peace；〃 he repliedthen slowly〃with me at least。〃
〃Oh； come on； Doc！〃 cried Larry。 〃As long as we're here
let's see the sights。 Allons mon vieux！〃 he called gaily to the
green dwarf。 The latter； understanding the spirit； if not the
words； looked at O'Keefe with a twinkle of approval； turned
then to the great Norseman and scanned him with admira…
tion； reached out and squeezed one of the immense biceps。
〃Lugur will welcome you； at least；〃 he murmured as
though to himself。 He stood aside and waved a hand courte…
ously； inviting us to pass。 We crossed。 At the base of the
span one of the elfin shells was waiting。
Beyond； scores had gathered； their occupants evidently
discussing us in much excitement。 The green dwarf waved
us to the piles of cushions and then threw himself beside us。
The vehicle started off smoothly； the now silent throng mak…
ing way； and swept down the green roadway at a terrific pace
and wholly without vibration； toward the seven…terraced
tower。
As we flew along I tried to discover the source of the
power； but I could notthen。 There was no sign of mechan…
ism； but that the shell responded to some form of energy was
certainthe driver grasping a small lever which seemed to
control not only our speed； but our direction。
We turned abruptly and swept up a runway through one
of the gardens； and stopped softly before a pillared pavilion。
I saw now that these were much larger than I had thought。
The structure to which we had been carried covered； I esti…
mated； fully an acre。 Oblong； with its slender； vari…coloured
columns spaced regularly； its walls were like the sliding
screens of the Japaneseshoji。
The green dwarf hurried us up a flight of broad steps
flanked by great carved serpents； winged and scaled。 He
stamped twice upon mosaicked stones between two of the
pillars； and a screen rolled aside； revealing an immense hall
scattered about with low divans on which lolled a dozen or
more of the dwarfish men； dressed identically as he。
They sauntered up to us leisurely； the surprised interest
in their faces tempered by the same inhumanly gay malice
that seemed to be characteristic of all these people we had
as yet seen。
〃The Afyo Maie awaits them； Rador；〃 said one。
The green dwarf nodded； beckoned us； and led the way
through the great hall and into a smaller chamber whose far
side was covered with the opacity I had noted from the aerie
of the cliff。 I examined theblacknesswith lively interest。
It had neither substance nor texture； it was not matter
and yet it suggested solidity； an entire cessation； a complete
absorption of light； an ebon veil at once immaterial and pal…
pable。 I stretched； involuntarily； my hand out toward it； and
felt it quickly drawn back。
〃Do you seek your end so soon？〃 whispered Rador。 〃But
I forgetyou do not know；〃 he added。 〃On your life touch
not the blackness； ever。 It〃
He stopped； for abruptly in the density a portal appeared；
swinging out of the shadow like a picture thrown by a lan…
tern upon a screen。 Through it was revealed a chamber filled
with a soft rosy glow。 Rising from cushioned couches； a
woman and a man regarded us； half leaning over a long；
low table of what seemed polished jet； laden with flowers
and unfamiliar fruits。
About the roomthat part of it； at least； that I could see
were a few oddly shaped chairs of the same substance。 On
high； silvery tripods three immense globes stood； and it was
from them that the rose glow emanated。 At the side of the
woman was a smaller globe whose roseate gleam was tem…
pered by quivering waves of blue。
〃Enter Rador with the strangers！〃 a clear； sweet voice
called。
Rador bowed deeply and stood aside； motioning us to
pass。 We entered； the green dwarf behind us； and out of the
corner of my eye I saw the doorway fade as abruptly as it
had appeared and again the dense shadow fill its place。
〃Come closer； strangers。 Be not afraid！〃 commanded the
bell…toned voice。
We approached。
The woman； sober scientist that I am； made the breath
catch in my throat。 Never had I seen a woman so beautiful
as was Yolara of the Dweller's cityand none of so perilous
a beauty。 Her hair was of the colour of the young tassels of
the corn and coiled in a regal crown above her broad； white
brows； her wide eyes were of grey that could change to a
cornflower blue and in anger deepen to purple； grey or blue；
they had little laughing devils within them； but when the
storm of anger darkened themthey were not laughing； no！
The silken webs that half covered； half revealed her did not
hide the ivory whiteness of her flesh nor the sweet curve of
shoulders and breasts。 But for all her amazing beauty； she
wassinister！ There was cruelty about the curving mouth；
and in the music of her voicenot conscious cruelty； but
the more terrifying； careless cruelty of nature itself。
The girl of the rose wall had been beautiful； yes！ But her
beauty was human； understandable。 You could imagine her
with a babe in her armsbut you could not so imagine this
woman。 About her loveliness hovered something unearthly。
A sweet feminine echo of the Dweller was Yolara； the Dwell…
er's priestessand as gloriously； terrifyingly evil！
CHAPTER XIV
The Justice of Lora
AS I LOOKED at her the man arose and made his way round
the table toward us。 For the first time my eyes took in
Lugur。 A few inches taller than the green dwarf； he was far
broader； more filled with the suggestion of appalling strength。
The tremendous shoulders were four feet wide if an inch；
tapering down to mighty thewed thighs。 The muscles of his
chest stood out beneath his tunic of red。 Around his forehead
shone a chaplet of bright…blue stones； sparkling among the
thick curls of his silver…ash hair。
Upon his face pride and ambition were written large
and power still larger。 All the mockery； the malice； the hint
of callous indifference that I had noted in the other dwarfish
men were there； toobut intensified； touched with the
satanic。
The woman spoke again。
〃Who are you strangers； and how came you here？〃 She
turned to Rador。 〃Or is it that they do not understand our
tongue？〃
〃One understands and speaks itbut very badly； O
Yolara；〃 answered the green dwarf。
〃Speak； then； that one of you；〃 she commanded。
But it was Marakinoff who found his voice first； and I
marvelled at the fluency； so much greater than mine； with
which he spoke。
〃We came for different purposes。 I to seek knowledge of a
kind； he〃pointing to me 〃of another。 This man〃he
looked at Olaf〃to find a wife and child。〃
The grey…blue eyes had been regarding
