the moon pool-第33章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



hideous；　unearthly　life…in…death　which　I　had　seen　enfold　the

sacrificesof　armies　trembling　into　dancing　atoms　of　dia…

mond　dust　beneath　the　green　ray's　rhythmic　deathof　cities

rushing　out　into　space　upon　the　wings　of　that　other　demoniac

force　which　Olaf　had　watched　at　workof　a　haunted　world

through　which　the　assassins　of　the　Dweller's　court　stole　in…

visible；　carrying　with　them　every　passion　of　hellof　the

rallying　to　the　Thing　of　every　sinister　soul　and　of　the　weak

and　the　unbalanced；　mystics　and　carnivores　of　humanity

alike；　for　well　I　knew　that；　once　loosed；　not　any　nation　could

hold　this　devil…god　for　long　and　that　swiftly　its　blight　would

spread！



And　then　a　world　that　was　all　colossal　reek　of　cruelty　and

terror；　a　welter　of　lusts；　of　hatreds　and　of　torment；　a　chaos

of　horror　in　which　the　Dweller　waxing　ever　stronger；　the

ghastly　hordes　of　those　it　had　consumed　growing　ever

greater；　wreaked　its　inhuman　will！



At　the　last　a　ruined　planet；　a　cosmic　plague；　spinning

through　the　shuddering　heavens；　its　verdant　plains；　its　mur…

muring　forests；　its　meadows　and　its　mountains　manned　only

by　a　countless　crew　of　soulless；　mindless　dead…alive；　their

shells　illumined　with　the　Dweller's　infernal　gloryand　flam…

ing　over　this　vampirized　earth　like　a　flare　from　some　hell

far；　infinitely　far；　beyond　the　reach　of　man's　farthest　flung

imaginingthe　Dweller！



Rador　jumped　to　his　feet；　walked　to　the　whispering　globe。

He　bent　over　its　base；　did　something　with　its　mechanism；

beckoned　to　us。　　The　globe　swam　rapidly；　faster　than　ever　I

had　seen　it　before。　　A　low　humming　arose；　changed　into　a

murmur；　and　then　from　it　I　heard　Lugur's　voice　clearly。



〃It　is　to　be　war　then？〃



There　was　a　chorus　of　assentfrom　the　Council；　I

thought。



〃I　will　take　the　tall　one　named_Larree_。〃　It　was　the　priest…

ess's　voice。　　〃After　the　three　_tal_；　you　may　have　him；　Lugur；

to　do　with　as　you　will。〃



〃No！〃　it　was　Lugur's　voice　again；　but　with　a　rasp　of　anger。

〃All　must　die。〃



〃He　shall　die；〃　again　Yolara。　　〃But　I　would　that　first　he

see　Lakla　passand　that　she　know　what　is　to　happen　to

him。〃



〃No！〃　I　startedfor　this　was　Marakinoff。　　〃Now　is　no

time；　Yolara；　for　one's　own　desires。　　This　is　my　counsel。　　At

the　end　of　the　three　_tal_　Lakla　will　come　for　our　answer。　　Your

men　will　be　in　ambush　and　they　will　slay　her　and　her　escort

quickly　with　the　_Keth_。　　But　not　till　that　is　done　must　the

three　be　slainand　then　quickly。　　With　Lakla　dead　we　shall

go　forth　to　the　Silent　Onesand　I　promise　you　that　I　will

find　the　way　to　destroy　them！〃



〃It　is　well！〃　It　was　Lugur。



〃It　IS　well；　Yolara。〃　It　was　a　woman's　voice；　and　I　knew

it　for　that　old　one　of　ravaged　beauty。　　〃Cast　from　your　mind

whatever　is　in　it　for　this　strangereither　of　love　or　hatred。

In　this　the　Council　is　with　Lugur　and　the　man　of　wisdom。〃



There　was　a　silence。　　Then　came　the　priestess's　voice；　sul…

len　butbeaten。



〃It　is　well！〃



〃Let　the　three　be　taken　now　by　Rador　to　the　temple　and

given　to　the　High　Priest　Sator〃thus　Lugur〃until　what

we　have　planned　comes　to　pass。〃



Rador　gripped　the　base　of　the　globe；　abruptly　it　ceased

its　spinning。　　He　turned　to　us　as　though　to　speak　and　even　as

he　did　so　its　bell　note　sounded　peremptorily　and　on　it　the

colour　films　began　to　creep　at　their　accustomed　pace。



〃I　hear；〃　the　green　dwarf　whispered。　　〃They　shall　be　taken

there　at　once。〃　The　globe　grew　silent。　　He　stepped　toward

us。



〃You　have　heard；〃　he　turned　to　us。



〃Not　on　your　life；　Rador；〃　said　Larry。　　〃Nothing　doing！〃

And　then　in　the　Murian's　own　tongue。　　〃We　follow　Lakla；

Rador。　　And　YOU　lead　the　way。〃　He　thrust　the　pistol　close

to　the　green　dwarf's　side。



Rador　did　not　move。



〃Of　what　use；　_Larree_？〃　he　said；　quietly。　　〃Me　you　can　slay

but　in　the　end　you　will　be　taken。　　Life　is　not　held　so　dear

in　Muria　that　my　men　out　there　or　those　others　who　can

come　quickly　will　let　you　byeven　though　you　slay　many。

And　in　the　end　they　will　overpower　you。〃



There　was　a　trace　of　irresolution　in　O'Keefe's　face。



〃And；〃　added　Rador；　〃if　I　let　you　go　I　dance　with　the

Shining　Oneor　worse！〃



O'Keefe's　pistol　hand　dropped。



〃You're　a　good　sport；　Rador；　and　far　be　it　from　me　to　get

you　in　bad；〃　he　said。　　〃Take　us　to　the　templewhen　we　get

therewell；　your　responsibility　ends；　doesn't　it？〃



The　green　dwarf　nodded；　on　his　face　a　curious　expres…

sionwas　it　relief？　　Or　was　it　emotion　higher　than　this？



He　turned　curtly。



〃Follow；〃　he　said。　　We　passed　out　of　that　gay　little　pavilion

that　had　come　to　be　home　to　us　even　in　this　alien　place。　　The

guards　stood　at　attention。



〃You；　Sattoya；　stand　by　the　globe；〃　he　ordered　one　of

them。　　〃Should　the　_Afyo　Maie_　ask；　say　that　I　am　on　my　way

with　the　strangers　even　as　she　has　commanded。〃



We　passed　through　the　lines　to　the　_corial_　standing　like　a

great　shell　at　the　end　of　the　runway　leading　into　the　green

road。



〃Wait　you　here；〃　he　said　curtly　to　the　driver。　　The　green

dwarf　ascended　to　his　seat；　sought　the　lever　and　we　swept

onon　and　out　upon　the　glistening　obsidian。



Then　Rador　faced　us　and　laughed。



〃_Larree_；〃　he　cried；　〃I　love　you　for　that　spirit　of　yours！

And　did　you　think　that　Rador　would　carry　to　the　temple

prison　a　man　who　would　take　the　chances　of　torment　upon

his　own　shoulders　to　save　him？　　Or　you；　Goodwin；　who　saved

him　from　the　rotting　death？　　For　what　did　I　take　the　_corial_

or　lift　the　veil　of　silence　that　I　might　hear　what　threatened

you〃



He　swept　the　_corial_　to　the　left；　away　from　the　temple　ap…

proach。



〃I　am　done　with　Lugur　and　with　Yolara　and　the　Shining

One！〃　cried　Rador。　　〃My　hand　is　for　you　three　and　for　Lakla

and　those　to　whom　she　is　handmaiden！〃



The　shell　leaped　forward；　seemed　to　fly。











CHAPTER　XXII



The　Casting　of　the　Shadow



NOW　we　were　racing　down　toward　that　last　span　whose

ancientness　had　set　it　apart　from　all　the　other　soaring　arches。

The　shell's　speed　slackened；　we　approached　warily。



〃We　pass　there？〃　asked　O'Keefe。



The　green　dwarf　nodded；　pointing　to　the　right　where　the

bridge　ended　in　a　broad　platform　held　high　upon　two　gigantic

piers；　between　which　ran　a　spur　from　the　glistening　road。

Platform　and　bridge　were　swarming　with　men…at…arms；　they

crowded　the　parapets；　looking　down　upon　us　curiously　but

with　no　evidence　of　hostility。　　Rador　drew　a　deep　breath　of

relief。



〃We　don't　have　to　break　our　way　through；　then？〃　There

was　disappointment　in　the　Irishman's　voice。



〃No　use；　_Larree_！〃　Smiling；　Rador　stopped　the　_corial_　just

beneath　the　arch　and　beside　one　of　the　piers。　　〃Now；　listen

well。　　They　have　had　no　warning；　hence　does　Yolara　still

think　us　on　the　way　to　the　temple。　　This　is　the　gateway　of　the

Portaland　the　gateway　is　closed　by　the　Shadow。　　Once　I

commanded　here　and　I　know　its　laws。　　This　must　I　do

by　craft　persuade　Serku；　the　keeper　of　the　gateway；　to　lift　the

Shadow；　or　raise　it　myself。　　And　that　will　be　hard　and　it　may

well　be　that　in　the　struggle　life　will　be　stripped　of　us　all。

Yet　is　it　better　to　die　fighting　than　to　dance　with　the　Shining

One！〃



He　swept　the　shell　around　the　pier。　　Opened　a　wide　plaza

paved　with　the　volcanic　glass；　but　black　as　that　down　which

we　had　sped　from　the　chamber　of　the　Moon　Pool。　　It　shone

like　a　mirrored　lakelet　of　jet；　on　each　side　of　it　arose　what

at　first　glance　seemed　towering　bulwarks　of　the　same　ebon

obsidian；　at　second；　revealed　themselves　as　structures　hewn

and　set　in　place　by　men；　polished　faces　pierced　by　dozens

of　high；　narrow　windows。



Down　each　facade　a　stairway　fell；　broken　by　small　land…

ings　on　which　a　door　opened；　they　dropped　to　a　broad　ledge

of　greyish　stone　edging　the　lip　of　this　midnight　pool　and

upon　it　also　fell　two　wide　flights　from　either　side　of　the

bridge　platform。　　Along　all　four　stairways　the　guards　were

ranged；　and　here　and　there　against　the　ledge　stood　the　shells

in　a　curiously　comforting　resemblance　to　parked　motors　in

our　own　world。



The　sombre　walls　bulked　high；　curved　and　ended　in　two

obelisked　pillars　from　which；　like　a　tremendous　curtain；

stretched　a　barrier　of　that　tenebrous　gloom　which；　though

weightless　as　shadow　itself；　I　now　knew　to　be　as　impenetra…

ble　as　the　veil　between　life　and　death。　　In　this　murk；　unlike

all　others　I　had　seen；　I　sensed　movement；　a　quivering；　a

tremor　constant　and　rhythmic；　not　to　be　seen；　yet　caught　by

some　subtle　sense；　as　though　through　it　beat　a　swift　pulse　of

black　light。



The　green　dwarf　turned　the　_corial_　slowly　to　the　edge　at

the　right；　crept　cautiously　on　toward　where；　not　more　than

a　hundred　feet　from　the　barrier；　a　low；　wide　entrance　opened

in　the　fort。　　Guarding　its　threshold　stood　two　guards；　armed

with　broadswords；　double…handed；　terminating　in　a　wide

lunette　mouthed　with　murderous　fangs。　　These　they　raised　in

salute　and　through　the　portal　strode　a　dwarf　huge　as　Rador；

dressed　as　he　and　carrying　only　the　poniard　that　was　the

badge　of　office　of　Muria's　captainry。



The　green　dwarf　swept　the　shell　expertly　against　the

ledge；　leaped　out。



〃Greeting；　Serku！〃　he　answered。　　〃I　was　but　looking　for

the　_coria_　of　Lakla。〃



〃Lakla！〃　exclaimed　Serku。　　〃Why；　the　handmaiden　passed

with　her　_Akka_　nigh　a　_va_　ago！〃



〃Passed！〃　The　astonishment　of　the　green　dwarf　was　so　real

that　half　was　I　myself　deceived。　　〃You　let　her　PASS？〃



〃Certainly　I　let　her　pass〃　But　under　the　green　dwarf's

stern　gaze　the　truculence　of　the　guardian　faded。　　〃Why

should　I　not？〃　he　asked；　apprehensively。



〃Because　Yolara　commanded　otherwise；〃　answered

Rador；　coldly。



〃There　came　no　command　to　me。〃　　Little　beads　of　sweat

stood　out　on　Serku's　forehead。



〃Serku；〃　interrupted　the　green　dwarf　swiftly；　〃truly　is　my

heart　wrung　for　you。　　This　is　a　matter　of　Yolara　and　of　Lugur

and　the　Council；　yes；　even　of　the　Shining　One！　　And　the

message　was　sentand　the　fate；　mayhap；　of　all　Muria　rested

upon　your　obedience　and　the　return　of　Lakla　with　these

strangers　to　the　Council。　　Now　truly　is　my　heart　wrung；　for

there　are　few　I　would　less　like　to　see　dance　with　the　Shining

One　than　you；　Serku；〃　he　ended；　softly。



Livid　now　was　the　gateway's　guardian；　his　great　frame

shaking。



〃Come　with　me　and　speak　to　Yolara；〃　he　pleaded。　　〃There

came　no　messagetell　her〃



〃Wait；　Serku！〃　There　was　a　thrill　as　of　inspiration　in

Rador's　voice。　　〃This　_corial_　is　of　the　swiftestLakla's　are　of

the　slowest。　　With　Lakla　scarce　a　_va_　ahead　we　can　reach　her

before　she　enters　the　Portal。　　Lift　you　the　Shadowwe　will

bring　her　back；　and　this　will　I　do　for　you；　Serku。〃



Doubt　tempered　Serku's　panic。



〃Why　not　go　alone；　Rador；　leaving　the　strangers　here

with　me？〃　he　askedand　I　thought　not　unreasonably。



〃Nay；　then。〃　The　green　dwarf　was　brusk。　　〃Lakla　will　not

re