the moon pool-第34章

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

return　unless　I　carry　to　her　these　men　as　evidence　of　our

good　faith。　　Comewe　will　speak　to　Yolara　and　she　shall

judge　you〃　He　started　awaybut　Serku　caught　his　arm。



〃No；　Rador；　no！〃　he　whispered；　again　panic…stricken。　　〃Go

youas　you　will。　　But　bring　her　back！　　Speed；　Rador！〃　He

sprang　toward　the　entrance。　　〃I　lift　the　Shadow〃



Into　the　green　dwarf's　poise　crept　a　curious；　almost　a

listening；　alertness。　　He　leaped　to　Serku's　side。



〃I　go　with　you；〃　I　heard。　　〃Some　little　I　can　tell　you〃

They　were　gone。



〃Fine　work！〃　muttered　Larry。　　〃Nominated　for　a　citizen　of

Ireland　when　we　get　out　of　this；　one　Rador　of〃



The　Shadow　trembledshuddered　into　nothingness；　the

obelisked　outposts　that　had　held　it　framed　a　ribbon　of　road…

way；　high　banked　with　verdure；　vanishing　in　green　distances。



And　then　from　the　portal　sped　a　shriek；　a　death　cry！　　It　cut

through　the　silence　of　the　ebon　pit　like　a　whimpering　arrow。

Before　it　had　died；　down　the　stairways　came　pouring　the

guards。　　Those　at　the　threshold　raised　their　swords　and　peered

within。　　Abruptly　Rador　was　between　them。　　One　dropped　his

hilt　and　gripped　himthe　green　dwarf's　poniard　flashed

and　was　buried　in　his　throat。　　Down　upon　Rador's　head

swept　the　second　blade。　　A　flame　leaped　from　O'Keefe's　hand

and　the　sword　seemed　to　fling　itself　from　its　wielder's　grasp

another　flash　and　the　soldier　crumpled。　　Rador　threw　him…

self　into　the　shell；　darted　to　the　high　seatand　straight　be…

tween　the　pillars　of　the　Shadow　we　flew！



There　came　a　crackling；　a　darkness　of　vast　wings　flinging

down　upon　us。　　The　_corial's_　flight　was　checked　as　by　a　giant's

hand。　　The　shell　swerved　sickeningly；　there　was　an　oddly

metallic　splintering；　it　quivered；　shot　ahead。　　Dizzily　I　picked

myself　up　and　looked　behind。



The　Shadow　had　fallenbut　too　late；　a　bare　instant　too

late。　　And　shrinking　as　we　fled　from　it；　still　it　seemed　to

strain　like　some　fettered　Afrit　from　Eblis；　throbbing　with

wrath；　seeking　with　every　malign　power　it　possessed　to　break

its　bonds　and　pursue。　　Not　until　long　after　were　we　to　know

that　it　had　been　the　dying　hand　of　Serku；　groping　out　of

oblivion；　that　had　cast　it　after　us　as　a　fowler　upon　an　escap…

ing　bird。



〃Snappy　work；　Rador！〃　It　was　Larry　speaking。　　〃But　they

cut　the　end　off　your　bus　all　right！〃



A　full　quarter　of　the　hindward　whorl　was　gone；　sliced　off

cleanly。　　Rador　noted　it　with　anxious　eyes。



〃That　is　bad；〃　he　said；　〃but　not　too　bad　perhaps。　　All

depends　upon　how　closely　Lugur　and　his　men　can　follow

us。〃



He　raised　a　hand　to　O'Keefe　in　salute。



〃But　to　you；　_Larree_；　I　owe　my　lifenot　even　the　_Keth_

could　have　been　as　swift　to　save　me　as　that　death　flame　of

yoursfriend！〃



The　Irishman　waved　an　airy　hand。



〃Serku〃the　green　dwarf　drew　from　his　girdle　the　blood…

stained　poniard〃Serku　I　was　forced　to　slay。　　Even　as　he

raised　the　Shadow　the　globe　gave　the　alarm。　　Lugur　follows

with　twice　ten　times　ten　of　his　best〃　He　hesitated。　　〃Though

we　have　escaped　the　Shadow　it　has　taken　toll　of　our　swift…

ness。　　May　we　reach　the　Portal　before　it　closes　upon　Lakla

but　if　we　do　not〃　He　paused　again。　　〃WellI　know　a　way

but　it　is　not　one　I　am　gay　to　followno！〃



He　snapped　open　the　aperture　that　held　the　ball　flaming

within　the　dark　crystal；　peered　at　it　anxiously。　　I　crept　to　the

torn　end　of　the　_corial_。　　The　edges　were　crumbling；　disinte…

grated。　　They　powdered　in　my　fingers　like　dust。　　Mystified

still；　I　crept　back　where　Larry；　sheer　happiness　pouring　from

him；　was　whistling　softly　and　polishing　up　his　automatic。

His　gaze　fell　upon　Olaf's　grim；　sad　face　and　softened。



〃Buck　up；　Olaf！〃　he　said。　　〃We've　got　a　good　fighting

chance。　　Once　we　link　up　with　Lakla　and　her　crowd　I'm

betting　that　we　get　your　wifenever　doubt　it！　　The　baby〃

he　hesitated　awkwardly。　　The　Norseman's　eyes　filled；　he

stretched　a　hand　to　the　O'Keefe。



〃The　_Yndling_she　is　of　the　_de　Dode_；〃　he　half　whispered；

〃of　the　blessed　dead。　　For　her　I　have　no　fear　and　for　her

vengeance　will　be　given　me。　_Ja！_　　But　my　Helmashe　is　of

the　dead…alivelike　those　we　saw　whirling　like　leaves　in　the

light　of　the　Shining　Deviland　I　would　that　she　too　were

of　_de　Dode_and　at　rest。　　I　do　not　know　how　to　fight　the

Shining　Devilno！〃



His　bitter　despair　welled　up　in　his　voice。



〃Olaf；〃　Larry's　voice　was　gentle。　　〃We'll　come　out　on　top

I　know　it。　　Remember　one　thing。　　All　this　stuff　that　seems　so

strange　andand；　well；　sort　of　supernatural；　is　just　a　lot　of

tricks　we're　not　hep　to　as　yet。　　Why；　Olaf；　suppose　you　took

a　Fijian　when　the　war　was　on　and　set　him　suddenly　down　in

London　with　autos　rushing　past；　sirens　blowing；　Archies

popping；　a　dozen　enemy　planes　dropping　bombs；　and　the

searchlights　shooting　all　over　the　skywouldn't　he　think　he

was　among　thirty…third　degree　devils　in　some　exclusive　circle

of　hell？　　Sure　he　would！　　And　yet　everything　he　saw　would

be　naturaljust　as　natural　as　all　this　is；　once　we　get　the

answer　to　it。　　Not　that　we're　Fijians；　of　course；　but　the　prin…

ciple　is　the　same。〃



The　Norseman　considered　this；　nodded　gravely。



〃_Ja！_〃　he　answered　at　last。　　〃And　at　least　we　can　fight。　　That

is　why　I　have　turned　to　Thor　of　the　battles；　_Ja！_　　And　ONE

have　I　hope　in　for　mine　Helmathe　white　maiden。　　Since　I

have　turned　to　the　old　gods　it　has　been　made　clear　to　me　that

I　shall　slay　Lugur　and　that　the　_Heks_；　the　evil　witch　Yolara；

shall　also　die。　　But　I　would　talk　with　the　white　maiden。〃



〃All　right；〃　said　Larry；　〃but　just　don't　be　afraid　of　what

you　don't　understand。　　There's　another　thing〃he　hesitated；

nervously〃there's　another　thing　that　may　startle　you　a　bit

when　we　meet　up　with　Laklahererfrogs！〃



〃Like　the　frog…woman　we　saw　on　the　wall？〃　asked　Olaf。



〃Yes；〃　went　on　Larry；　rapidly。　　〃It's　this　wayI　figure　that

the　frogs　grow　rather　large　where　she　lives；　and　they're　a　bit

different　too。　　Well；　Lakla's　got　a　lot　of　'em　trained。　　Carry

spears　and　clubs　and　all　that　junkjust　like　trained　seals　or

monkeys　or　so　on　in　the　circus。　　Probably　a　custom　of　the

place。　　Nothing　queer　about　that；　Olaf。　　Why　people　have　all

kinds　of　petsarmadillos　and　snakes　and　rabbits；　kangaroos

and　elephants　and　tigers。〃



Remembering　how　the　frog…woman　had　stuck　in　Larry's

mind　from　the　outset；　I　wondered　whether　all　this　was　not

more　to　convince　himself　than　Olaf。



〃Why；　I　remember　a　nice　girl　in　Paris　who　had　four　pet

pythons〃　he　went　on。



But　I　listened　no　more；　for　now　I　was　sure　of　my　surmise。

The　road　had　　begun　　to　　thrust　　itself　　through　　high…flung；

sharply　pinnacled　　masses　　and　　rounded　　outcroppings　　of　　rock

on　which　clung　patches　of　the　amber　moss。



The　trees　had　utterly　vanished；　and　studding　the　moss…

carpeted　plains　were　only　clumps　of　a　willowy　shrub　from

which　hung；　like　grapes；　clusters　of　white　waxen　blooms。

The　light　too　had　changed；　gone　were　the　dancing；　sparkling

atoms　and　the　silver　had　faded　to　a　soft；　almost　ashen　grey…

ness。　　Ahead　of　us　marched　a　rampart　of　coppery　cliffs　rising；

like　all　these　mountainous　walls　we　had　seen；　into　the　im…

mensities　of　haze。　　Something　long　drifting　in　my　subcon…

sciousness　turned　to　startled　realization。　　The　speed　of　the

shell　was　slackening！　　The　aperture　containing　the　ionizing

mechanism　was　still　open；　I　glanced　within；　The　whirling　ball

of　fire　was　not　dimmed；　but　its　coruscations；　instead　of　pour…

ing　down　through　the　cylinder；　swirled　and　eddied　and　shot

back　as　though　trying　to　re…enter　their　source。　　Rador　nodded

grimly。



〃The　Shadow　takes　its　toll；〃　he　said。



We　topped　a　riseLarry　gripped　my　arm。



〃Look！〃　he　cried；　and　pointed。　　Far；　far　behind　us；　so　far

that　the　road　was　but　a　glistening　thread；　a　score　of　shining

points　came　speeding。



〃Lugur　and　his　men；〃　said　Rador。



〃Can't　you　step　on　her？〃　asked　Larry。



〃Step　on　her？〃　repeated　the　green　dwarf；　puzzled。



〃Give　her　more　speed；　push　her；〃　explained　O'Keefe。



Rador　looked　about　him。　　The　coppery　ramparts　were

close；　not　more　than　three　or　four　miles　distant；　in　front　of

us　the　plain　lifted　in　a　long　rolling　swell；　and　up　this　the

_corial_　essayed　to　gowith　a　terrifying　lessening　of　speed。

Faintly　behind　us　came　shootings；　and　we　knew　that　Lugur

drew　close。　　Nor　anywhere　was　there　sign　of　Lakla　nor　her

frogmen。



Now　we　were　half…way　to　the　crest；　the　shell　barely

crawled　and　from　beneath　it　came　a　faint　hissing；　it　quiv…

ered；　and　I　knew　that　its　base　was　no　longer　held　above　the

glassy　surface　but　rested　on　it。



〃One　last　chance！〃　exclaimed　Rador。　　He　pressed　upon　the

control　lever　and　wrenched　it　from　its　socket。　　Instantly　the

sparkling　ball　expanded；　whirling　with　prodigious　rapidity

and　sending　a　cascade　of　coruscations　into　the　cylinder。　　The

shell　rose；　leaped　through　the　air；　the　dark　crystal　split

into　fragments；　the　fiery　ball　dulled；　diedbut　upon　the

impetus　of　that　last　thrust　we　reached　the　crest。　　Poised　there

for　a　moment；　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　road　dropping　down

the　side　of　an　enormous　moss…covered；　bowl…shaped　valley

whose　sharply　curved　sides　ended　abruptly　at　the　base　of

the　towering　barrier。



Then　down　the　steep；　powerless　to　guide　or　to　check　the

shell；　we　plunged　in　a　meteor　rush　straight　for　the　annihilat…

ing　adamantine　breasts　of　the　cliffs！



Now　the　quick　thinking　of　Larry's　air　training　came　to　our

aid。　　As　the　rampart　reared　close　he　threw　himself　upon

Rador；　hurled　him　and　himself　against　the　side　of　the　flying

whorl。　　Under　the　shock　the　finely　balanced　machine　swerved

from　its　course。　　It　struck　the　soft；　low　bank　of　the　road；　shot

high　in　air；　bounded　on　through　the　thick　carpeting；　whirled

like　a　dervish　and　fell　upon　its　side。　　Shot　from　it；　we　rolled

for　yards；　but　the　moss　saved　broken　bones　or　serious　bruise。



〃Quick！〃　cried　the　green　dwarf。　　He　seized　an　arm；　dragged

me　to　my　feet；　began　running　to　the　cliff　base　not　a　hundred

feet　away。　　Beside　us　raced　O'Keefe　and　Olaf。　　At　our　left　was

the　black　road。　　It　stopped　abruptlywas　cut　off　by　a　slab

of　polished　crimson　stone　a　hundred　feet　high；　and　as　wide；

set　within　the　coppery　face　of　the　barrier。　　On　each　side　of　it

stood　pillars；　cut　from　the　living　rock　and　immense；　almost；

as　those　which　held　the　rainbow　veil　of　the　Dweller。　　Across

its　face　weaved　unnameable　carvingsbut　I　had　no　time　for

more　than　a　glance。　　The　green　dwarf　gripped　my　arm　again。



〃Quick！〃　he　cried　again。　　〃The　handmaiden　has　passed！〃



At　the　right　of　the　Portal　ran　a　low　wall　of　shattered　rock。

Over　this　we　raced　like　rabbits。　　Hidden　behind　it　was　a

narrow　path。　　Crouching；　Rador　in　the　lead；　we　sped　along

it；　three　hundred；　four　hundred　yards　we　racedand　the

path　ended　in　a　_cul　de　sac_！　　To　our　ears　was　borne　a　louder

shouting。