the moon pool-第29章
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〃Nay； _Larree_！〃 muttered the dwarf。 〃Wear themI coun…
sel itI pray itask me not why；〃 he went on swiftly； look…
ing again at the globe。
O'Keefe； as I； was impressed by his earnestness。 The
dwarf made a curiously expressive pleading gesture。 O'Keefe
abruptly took the garments； passed into the room of the foun…
tain。
〃The Shining One dances not again？〃 I asked。
〃No；〃 he said。 〃No〃he hesitate〃it is the usual feast
that follows the sacrament！ Lugurand Double Tongue；
who came with you； will be there；〃 he added slowly。
〃Lugur〃 I gasped in astonishment。 〃After what hap…
penedhe will be there？〃
〃Perhaps because of what happened； Goodwin； my
friend；〃 he answeredhis eyes again full of malice； 〃and
there will be othersfriends of Yolarafriends of Lugur
and perhaps another〃his voice was almost inaudible
〃one whom they have not called〃 He halted； half…fear…
fully； glancing at the globe； put finger to lips and spread
himself out upon one of the couches。
〃Strike up the band〃came O'Keefe's voice〃here
comes the hero！〃
He strode into the room。 I am bound to say that the ad…
miration in Rador's eyes was reflected in my own； and even；
if involuntarily； in Olaf's。
〃A son of Siyana！〃 whispered Rador。
He knelt； took from his girdle…pouch a silk…wrapped
something； unwound itand； still kneeling； drew out a slen…
der poniard of gleaming white metal； hilted with the blue
stones； he thrust it into O'Keefe's girdle； then gave him
again the rare salute。
〃Come；〃 he ordered and took us to the head of the path…
way。
〃Now；〃 he said grimly； 〃let the Silent Ones show their
powerif they still have it！〃
And with this strange benediction； be turned back。
〃For God's sake； Larry；〃 I urged as we approached the
house of the priestess； 〃you'll be careful！〃
He noddedbut I saw with a little deadly pang of ap…
prehension in my heart a puzzled； lurking doubt within his
eyes。
As we ascended the serpent steps Marakinoff appeared。
He gave a signal to our guardsand I wondered what in…
fluence the Russian had attained； for promptly； without
question； they drew aside。 At me he smiled amiably。
〃Have you found your friends yet？〃 he went onand now
I sensed something deeply sinister in him。 〃No！ It is too
bad！ Well； don't give up hope。〃 He turned to O'Keefe。
〃Lieutenant； I would like to speak to youalone！〃
〃I've no secrets from Goodwin；〃 answered O'Keefe。
〃So？〃 queried Marakinoff； suavely。 He bent； whispered to
Larry。
The Irishman started； eyed him with a certain shocked in…
credulity； then turned to me。
〃Just a minute； Doc！〃 he said； and I caught the suspicion
of a wink。 They drew aside； out of ear…shot。 The Russian
talked rapidly。 Larry was all attention。 Marakinoff's earnest…
ness became intense； O'Keefe interruptedappeared to
question。 Marakinoff glanced at me and as his gaze shifted
from O'Keefe； I saw a flame of rage and horror blaze up in
the latter's eyes。 At last the Irishman appeared to consider
gravely； nodded as though he had arrived at some decision；
and Marakinoff thrust his hand to him。
And only I could have noticed Larry's shrinking； his
microscopic hesitation before he took it； and his involuntary
movement； as though to shake off something unclean； when
the clasp had ended。
Marakinoff； without another look at me； turned and went
quickly within。 The guards took their places。 I looked at
Larry inquiringly。
〃Don't ask a thing now； Doc！〃 he said tensely。 〃Wait till
we get home。 But we've got to get damned busy and quick
I'll tell you that now〃
CHAPTER XX
The Tempting of Larry
WE PAUSED before thick curtains； through which came the
faint murmur of many voices。 They parted； out came two
ushers； I suppose； they werein cuirasses and kilts that re…
minded me somewhat of chain…mailthe first armour of
any kind here that I had seen。 They held open the folds。
The chamber； on whose threshold we stood； was far larger
than either anteroom or hall of audience。 Not less than three
hundred feet long and half that in depth； from end to end of
it ran two huge semi…circular tables； paralleling each other；
divided by a wide aisle； and heaped with flowers； with fruits；
with viands unknown to me； and glittering with crystal
flagons； beakers； goblets of as many hues as the blooms。 On
the gay…cushioned couches that flanked the tables； lounging
luxuriously； were scores of the fair…haired ruling class and
there rose a little buzz of admiration； oddly mixed with a
half…startled amaze； as their gaze fell upon O'Keefe in all
his silvery magnificence。 Everywhere the light…giving globes
sent their roseate radiance。
The cuirassed dwarfs led us through the aisle。 Within the
arc of the inner halfcircle was another glittering board； an
oval。 But of those seated there； facing usI had eyes for
only oneYolara！ She swayed up to greet O'Keefeand
she was like one of those white lily maids； whose beauty
Hoang…Ku； the sage； says made the Gobi first a paradise；
and whose lusts later the burned…out desert that it is。 She held
out hands to Larry； and on her face was passionuna…
shamed； unhiding。
She was Circebut Circe conquered。 Webs of filmiest
white clung to the rose…leaf body。 Twisted through the corn…
silk hair a threaded circlet of pale sapphires shone； but they
were pale beside Yolara's eyes。 O'Keefe bent； kissed her
hands； something more than mere admiration flaming from
him。 She sawand； smiling； drew him down beside her。
It came to me that of all； only these two； Yolara and
O'Keefe； were in whiteand I wondered； then with a tight…
ening of nerves ceased to wonder as there enteredLugur！
He was all in scarlet； and as he strode forward a silence fell
a tense； strained silence。
His gaze turned upon Yolara； rested upon O'Keefe； and
instantly his face grewdreadfulthere is no other word
than that for it。 Marakinoff leaned forward from the centre
of the table； near whose end I sat； touched and whispered to
him swiftly。 With appalling effort the red dwarf controlled
himself； he saluted the priestess ironically； I thought； took his
place at the further end of the oval。 And now I noted that the
figures between were the seven of that Council of which the
Shining One's priestess and Voice were the heads。 The ten…
sion relaxed； but did not passas though a storm…cloud
should turn away； but still lurk； threatening。
My gaze ran back。 This end of the room was draped with
the exquisitely coloured； graceful curtains looped with gor…
geous garlands。 Between curtains and table； where sat Larry
and the nine； a circular platform； perhaps ten yards in diam…
eter； raised itself a few feet above the floor； its gleaming sur…
face half…covered with the luminous petals； fragrant； delicate。
On each side below it； were low carven stools。 The cur…
tains parted and softly entered girls bearing their flutes； their
harps； the curiously emotion…exciting； octaved drums。 They
sank into their places。 They touched their instruments； a
faint； languorous measure throbbed through the rosy air。
The stage was set！ What was to be the play？
Now about the tables passed other dusky…haired maids；
fair bosoms bare； their scanty kirtles looped high； pouring
out the wines for the feasters。
My eyes sought O'Keefe。 Whatever it had been that Mara…
kinoff had said； clearly it now filled his mindeven to the
exclusion of the wondrous woman beside him。 His eyes were
stern； coldand now and then； as be turned them toward
the Russian； filled with a curious speculation。 Yolara
watched him； frowned； gave a low order to the Hebe behind
her。
The girl disappeared； entered again with a ewer that
seemed cut of amber。 The priestess poured from it into
Larry's glass a clear liquid that shook with tiny sparkles of
light。 She raised the glass to her lips； handed it to him。 Half…
smiling； half…abstractedly； he took it； touched his own lips
where hers had kissed； drained it。 A nod from Yolara and
the maid refilled his goblet。
At once there was a swift transformation in the Irishman。
His abstraction vanished； the sternness fled； his eyes spar…
kled。 He leaned caressingly toward Yolara； whispered。 Her
blue eyes flashed triumphantly； her chiming laughter rang。
She raised her own glassbut within it was not that clear
drink that filled Larry's！ And again he drained his own； and；
lifting it； full once more； caught the baleful eyes of Lugur；
and held it toward him mockingly。 Yolara swayed close
alluring； tempting。 He arose； face all reckless gaiety； rollick…
ing deviltry。
〃A toast！〃 he cried in English； 〃to the Shining Oneand
may the hell where it belongs soon claim it！〃
He had used their own word for their godall else had
been in his own tongue； and so； fortunately； they did not
understand。 But the contempt in his action they did recog…
nizeand a dead； a fearful silence fell upon them all。 Lu…
gur's eyes blazed； little sparks of crimson in their green。 The
priestess reached up； caught at O'Keefe。 He seized the soft
hand； caressed it； his gaze grew far away； sombre。
〃The Shining One。〃 He spoke low。 〃An' now again I see
the faces of those who dance with it。 It is the Fires of Mora
come； God alone knows howfrom Erinto this place。
The Fires of Mora！〃 He contemplated the hushed folk be…
fore him； and then from his lips came that weirdest； most
haunting of the lyric legends of Erinthe Curse of Mora：
〃The fretted fires of Mora blew o'er him in the night；
He thrills no more to loving； nor weeps for past delight。
For when those flames have bitten； both grief and joy take flight〃
Again Yolara tried to draw him down beside her； and
once more he gripped her hand。 His eyes grew fixedhe
crooned：
〃And through the sleeping silence his feet must track the tune；
When the world is barred and speckled with silver of the moon〃
He stood； swaying； for a moment； and then； laughing； let
the priestess have her way； drained again the glass。
And now my heart was cold； indeedfor what hope
was there left with Larry mad； wild drunk！
The silence was unbrokenelfin women and dwarfs
glancing furtively at each other。 But now Yolara arose； face
set； eyes flashing grey。
〃Hear you； the Council； and you； Lugurand all who are
here！〃 she cried。 〃Now I； the priestess of the Shining One；
take； as is my right； my mate。 And this is he！〃 She pointed
down upon Larry。 He glanced up at her。
〃Can't quite make out what you say； Yolara；〃 he mut…
tered thickly。 〃But say anythingyou likeI love your
voice！〃
I turned sick with dread。 Yolara's hand stole softly upon
the Irishman's curls caressingly。
〃You know the law； Yolara。〃 Lugur's voice was flat；
deadly
