the moon pool-第50章
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captains of the Shining One could wield the _Keth_ and their
other uncanny weapons freely。 We had learned； too； that
every forge and artisan had been put to work to make an
armour Marakinoff had devised to withstand the natural
battle equipment of the frog…peopleand both Larry and I
had a disquieting faith in the Russian's ingenuity。
At any rate the numbers against us would be lessened。
Next； under the direction of the frog…king； levies com…
manded by subsidiary chieftains had completed rows of
rough walls along the probable route of the Murians through
the cavern。 These afforded the _Akka_ a fair protection behind
which they could hurl their darts and spearscuriously
enough they had never developed the bow as a weapon。
At the opening of the cavern a strong barricade stretched
almost to the two ends of the crescent strand； almost； I say；
because there had not been time to build it entirely across
the mouth。
And from edge to edge of the titanic bridge； from where
it sprang outward at the shore of the Crimson Sea to a
hundred feet away from the golden door of the abode； bar…
rier after barrier was piled。
Behind the wall defending the mouth of the cavern； waited
other thousands of the _Akka_。 At each end of the unfinished
barricade they were mustered thickly； and at right and left
of the crescent where their forest began； more legions were
assembled to make way up to the ledge as opportunity of…
fered。
Rank upon rank they manned the bridge barriers； they
swarmed over the pinnacles and in the hollows of the
island's ragged outer lip； the domed castle was a hive of
them； if I may mix my metaphorsand the rocks and
gardens that surrounded the abode glittered with them。
〃Now；〃 said the handmaiden； 〃there's nothing else we can
dosave wait。〃
She led us out through her bower and up the little path
that ran to the embrasure。
Through the quiet came a sound； a sighing； a half…mourn…
ful whispering that beat about us and fled away。
〃They come！〃 cried Lakla； the light of battle in her eyes。
Larry drew her to him； raised her in his arms； kissed her。
〃A woman！〃 acclaimed the O'Keefe。 〃A real woman
and mine！〃
With the cry of the Portal there was movement among
the _Akka_； the glint of moving spears； flash of metal…tipped
clubs； rattle of horny spurs； rumblings of battle…cries。
And we waitedwaited it seemed interminably； gaze fas…
tened upon the low wall across the cavern mouth。 Suddenly
I remembered the crystal through which I had peered when
the hidden assassins had crept upon us。 Mentioning it to
Lakla； she gave a little cry of vexation； a command to her
attendant； and not long that faithful if unusual lady had
returned with a tray of the glasses。 Raising mine； I saw the
lines furthest away leap into sudden activity。 Spurred war…
rior after warrior leaped upon the barricade and over it。
Flashes of intense； green light； mingled with gleams like
lightning strokes of concentrated moon rays； sprang from
behind the wallsprang and struck and burned upon the
scales of the batrachians。
〃They come！〃 whispered Lakla。
At the far ends of the crescent a terrific milling had begun。
Here it was plain the _Akka_ were holding。 Faintly； for the
distance was great； I could see fresh force upon force rush up
and take the places of those who had fallen。
Over each of these ends； and along the whole line of the
barricade a mist of dancing； diamonded atoms began to rise；
sparking； coruscating points of diamond dust that darted
and danced。
What had once been Lakla's guardiansdancing now in
the nothingness！
〃God； but it's hard to stay here like this！〃 groaned the
O'Keefe； Olaf's teeth were bared； the lips drawn back in
such a fighting grin as his ancestors berserk on their raven
ships must have borne； Rador was livid with rage； the hand…
maiden's nostrils flaring wide； all her wrathful soul in her
eyes。
Suddenly； while we looked； the rocky wall which the _Akka_
had built at the cavern mouthwas not！ It vanished； as
though an unseen； unbelievably gigantic hand had with the
lightning's speed swept it away。 And with it vanished； too；
long lines of the great amphibians close behind it。
Then down upon the ledge； dropping into the Crimson
Sea； sending up geysers of ruby spray； dashing on the bridge；
crushing the frog…men； fell a shower of stone； mingled with
distorted shapes and fragments whose scales still flashed
meteoric as they hurled from above。
〃That which makes things fall upward；〃 hissed Olaf。
〃That which I saw in the garden of Lugur！〃
The fiendish agency of destruction which Marakinoff had
revealed to Larry； the force that cut off gravitation and sent
all things within its range racing outward into space！
And now over the debris upon the ledge； striking with long
sword and daggers； here and there a captain flashing the
green ray； moving on in ordered squares； came the soldiers
of the Shining One。 Nearer and nearer the verge of the ledge
they pushed Nak's warriors。 Leaping upon the dwarfs； smit…
ing them with spear and club； with teeth and spur； the _Akka_
fought like devils。 Quivering under the ray； they leaped and
dragged down and slew。
Now there was but one long line of the frog…men at the
very edge of the cliff。
And ever the clouds of dancing； diamonded atoms grew
thicker over them all！
That last thin line of the _Akka_ was going； yet they fought
to the last； and none toppled over the lip without at least
one of the armoured Murians in his arms。
My gaze dropped to the foot of the cliffs。 Stretched along
their length was a wide ribbon of beautya shimmering
multitude of gleaming； pulsing； prismatic moons； glowing；
glowing ever brighter； ever more wondrousthe gigantic
Medusae globes feasting on dwarf and frog…man alike！
Across the waters； faintly； came a triumphant shouting
from Lugur's and Yolara's men！
Was the ruddy light of the place lessening； growing paler；
changing to a faint rose？ There was an exclamation from
Larry； something like hope relaxed the drawn muscles of
his face。 He pointed to the aureate dome wherein sat the
Threeand then I saw！
Out of it； through the long transverse slit through which
the Silent Ones kept their watch on cavern； bridge； and
abyss； a torrent of the opalescent light was pouring。 It cas…
caded like a waterfall； and as it flowed it spread whirling
out； in columns and eddies； clouds and wisps of misty；
curdled coruscations。 It hung like a veil over all the islands；
filtering everywhere； driving back the crimson light as though
possessed of impenetrable substanceand still it cast not the
faintest shadowing upon our vision。
〃Good God！〃 breathed Larry。 〃Look！〃
The radiance was marchingMARCHINGdown the colossal bridge。
It moved swiftly； in some unthinkable way INTELLIGENTLY。
It swathed the _Akka_； and closer； ever closer it
swept toward the approach upon which Yolara's men had
now gained foothold。
From their ranks came flash after flash of the green ray
aimed at the abode！ But as the light sped and struck the
opalescence it was blotted out！ The shimmering mists seemed
to enfold； to dissipate it。
Lakla drew a deep breath。
〃The Silent Ones forgive me for doubting them；〃 she
whispered； and again hope blossomed on her face even as it
did on Larry's。
The frog…men were gaining。 Clothed in the armour of that
mist； they pressed back from the bridge…head the invaders。
There was another prodigious movement at the ends of the
crescent； and racing up； pressing against the dwarfs； came
other legions of Nak's warriors。 And re…enforcing those out
on the prodigious arch； the frog…men stationed in the gard…
ens below us poured back to the castle and out through the
open Portal。
〃They're licked！〃 shouted Larry。 〃They're〃
So quickly I could not follow the movement his automatic
leaped to his handspoke； once and again and again。 Rador
leaped to the head of the little path； sword in hand； Olaf；
shouting and whirling his mace； followed。 I strove to get my
own gun quickly。
For up that path were running twoscore of Lugur's men；
while from below Lugur's own voice roared。
〃Quick！ Slay not the handmaiden or her lover！ Carry them
down。 Quick！ But slay the others！〃
The handmaiden raced toward Larry； stopped； whistled
shrillyagain and again。 Larry's pistol was empty； but as
the dwarfs rushed upon him I dropped two of them with
mine。 It jammedI could not use it； I sprang to his side。
Rador was down； struggling in a heap of Lugur's men。 Olaf；
a Viking of old； was whirling his great hammer； and strik…
ing； striking through armour； flesh； and bone。
Larry was down； Lakla flew to him。 But the Norseman；
now streaming blood from a dozen wounds； caught a glimpse
of her coming； turned； thrust out a mighty hand； sent her
reeling back； and then with his hammer cracked the skulls
of those trying to drag the O'Keefe down the path。
A cry from Laklathe dwarfs had seized her； had lifted
her despite her struggles； were carrying her away。 One I
dropped with the butt of my useless pistol； and then went
down myself under the rush of another。
Through the clamour I heard a booming of the _Akka_；
closer； closer； then through it the bellow of Lugur。 I made
a mighty effort； swung a hand up； and sunk my fingers in
the throat of the soldier striving to kill me。 Writhing over
him； my fingers touched a poniard； I thrust it deep； stag…
gered to my feet。
The O'Keefe； shielding Lakla； was battling with a long
sword against a half dozen of the soldiers。 I started toward
him； was struck； and under the impact hurled to the ground。
Dizzily I raised myselfand leaning upon my elbow； stared
and moved no more。 For the dwarfs lay dead； and Larry；
holding Lakla tightly； was staring even as I； and ranged at
the head of the path were the _Akka_； whose booming advance
in obedience to the handmaiden's call I had heard。
And at what we all stared was Olaf； crimson with his
wounds； and Lugur； in blood…red armour； locked in each
other's grip； struggling； smiting； tearing； kicking； and sway…
ing about the little space before the embrasure。 I crawled
over toward the O'Keefe。 He raised his pistol； dropped it。
〃Can't hit him without hitting Olaf；〃 he whispered。 Lakla
signalled the frog…men； they advanced toward the twobut
Olaf saw them； broke the red dwarf's hold； sent Lugur reel…
ing a dozen feet away。
〃No！〃 shouted the Norseman； the ice of his pale…blue eyes
glinting like frozen flames； blood streaming down his face
and dripping from his hands。 〃No！ Lugur is mine！ None but
me slays him！ Ho； you Lugur〃 and cursed him and Yo…
lara and the Dweller hideouslyI cannot set those curses
down here。
They spurred
