the metal monster-第15章

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rough　her　thin　robes　as　though　bathed　in　soft　flames　of　rosy　pearl。

Higher　she　floated；　and　toward　the　right　of　the　zodiac。　From　the　edges　of　three　of　the　ovoids　swirled　a　little　cloud　of　tentacles；　gossamer　filaments　of　opal。　They　whipped　out　a　full　yard　from　the　Disk's　surface；　touching　her；　caressing　her。

For　a　moment　she　hung　there；　her　face　hidden　from　us；　then　was　dropped　softly　to　her　feet　and　stood；　arms　stretched　wide；　her　copper　hair　streaming　cloudily　about　her　regal　head。

And　up　past　her　floated　Ruth；　levitated　as　had　been　she　and　her　face；　ecstatic　as　though　she　were　gazing　into　Paradise；　yet　drenched　with　the　tranquillity　of　the　infinite。　Her　wide　eyes　stared　up　toward　that　rose　of　splendors　through　which　the　pulsing　colors　now　raced　more　swiftly。　She　hung　poised　before　it　while　around　her　head　a　faint　aureole　began　to　form。

Again　the　gossamer　threads　thrust　forth；　searched　her。　They　ran　over　her　rough　clothingperplexedly。　They　coiled　about　her　neck；　stole　through　her　hair；　brushed　shut　her　eyes；　circled　her　brow；　her　breasts；　girdled　her。

Weirdly　was　it　like　some　intelligence　observing；　studying；　some　creature　of　another　speciespuzzled　by　its　similarity　and　unsimilarity　with　the　one　other　creature　of　its　kind　it　knew；　and　striving　to　reconcile　those　differences。　And　like　such　a　questioning　brain　calling　upon　others　for　counsel；　it　swung　Ruth　upward　to　the　watching　star　at　the　right。

A　rifle　shot　rang　out。

Anotherthe　reports　breaking　the　silence　like　a　profanation。　Unseen　by　either　of　us；　Ventnor　had　slipped　to　one　side　where　he　could　cover　the　core　of　ruby　flame　that　must　have　seemed　to　him　the　heart　of　the　Disk's　rose　of　fire。　He　knelt　a　few　yards　away；　white　lipped；　eyes　cold　gray　ice；　sighting　carefully　for　a　third　shot。

〃Don't！　Martindon't　fire！〃　I　shouted；　leaping　toward　him。

〃Stop！　Ventnor〃　Drake's　panic　cry　mingled　with　my　own。

But　before　we　could　reach　him；　Norhala　flew　to　him；　like　a　darting　swallow。　Down　the　face　of　the　Disk　glided　the　upright　body　of　Ruth；　struck　softly；　stood　swaying。

And　out　of　the　blue…black　convexity　within　a　star　point　of　one　of　the　opened　pyramids　a　lance　of　intense　green　flame　darted；　a　lightning　bolt　as　real　as　any　hurled　by　tempest；　upon　Ventnor。

The　shattered　air　closed　behind　the　streaming　spark　with　the　sound　of　breaking　glass。

It　struckNorhala。

It　struck　her。　It　seemed　to　splash　upon　her；　to　run　down　her　like　water。　One　curling　tongue　writhed　over　her　bare　shoulder　and　leaped　to　the　barrel　of　the　rifle　in　Ventnor's　hands。　It　flashed　up　it　and　licked　him。　The　gun　was　torn　from　his　grip；　hurled　high　in　air；　exploding　as　it　went。　He　leaped　convulsively　from　his　knees　and　dropped。

I　heard　a　wailing；　low；　bitter　and　heartbroken。　Past　us　ran　Ruth；　all　dream；　all　unearthliness　gone　from　a　face　now　a　tragic　mask　of　human　woe　and　terror。　She　threw　herself　down　beside　her　brother；　felt　of　his　heart；　then　raised　herself　upon　her　knees　and　thrust　out　supplicating　hands　to　the　shapes。

〃Don't　hurt　him　any　more！　He　didn't　mean　it！〃　she　cried　out　to　them　piteouslylike　a　child。　She　reached　up；　caught　one　of　Norhala's　hands。　〃Norhaladon't　let　them　kill　him。　Don't　let　them　hurt　him　any　more。　Please！〃　she　sobbed。

Beside　me　I　heard　Drake　cursing。

〃If　they　touch　her　I'll　kill　the　woman！　I　will；　by　God　I　will！〃　He　strode　to　Norhala's　side。

〃If　you　want　to　live；　call　off　these　devils　of　yours。〃　His　voice　was　strangled。

She　looked　at　him；　wonder　deepening　on　the　tranquil　brow；　in　the　clear；　untroubled　gaze。　Of　course　she　could　not　understand　his　wordsbut　it　was　not　that　which　made　my　own　sick　apprehension　grow。

It　was　that　she　did　not　understand　what　called　them　forth。　Did　not　even　understand　what　reason　lay　behind　Ruth's　sorrow；　Ruth's　prayer。

And　more　and　more　wondering　grew　in　her　eyes　as　she　looked　from　the　threatening　Drake　to　the　supplicating　Ruth；　and　from　them　to　the　still　body　of　Ventnor。

〃Tell　her　what　I　say；　Goodwin。　I　mean　it。〃

I　shook　my　head。　That　was　not　the　way；　I　knew。　I　looked　toward　the　Disk；　still　flanked　with　its　sextette　of　spheres；　still　guarded　by　the　flaming　blue　stars。　They　were　motionless；　calm；　watching。　I　sensed　no　hostility；　no　anger；　it　was　as　though　they　were　waiting　for　us　toto　waiting　for　us　to　do　what？

It　came　to　methey　were　indifferent。　That　was　itas　indifferent　as　we　could　be　to　the　struggle　of　an　ephemera；　and　as　mildly　curious。

〃Norhala；〃　I　turned　to　the　woman；　〃she　would　not　have　him　suffer；　she　would　not　have　him　die。　She　loves　him。〃

〃Love？〃　she　repeated；　and　all　of　her　wonderment　seemed　crystallized　in　the　word。　〃Love？〃　she　asked。

〃She　loves　him；〃　I　said；　and　then；　why　I　did　not　know；　but　I　added；　pointing　to　Drake：　〃and　he　loves　her。〃

There　was　a　tiny；　astonished　sob　from　Ruth。　Again　Norhala　brooded　over　her。　Then　with　a　little　despairing　shake　of　her　head；　she　paced　over　and　faced　the　great　Disk。


Tensely　we　waited。　Communication　there　was　between　them；　interchange　ofthought；　how　carried　out　I　would　not　hazard　even　to　myself。

But　of　a　surety　these　twothe　goddess　woman；　the　wholly　unhuman　shape　of　metal；　of　jeweled　fires　and　conscious　forceunderstood　each　other。

For　she　turned；　stood　asideand　the　body　of　Ventnor　quivered；　arose　from　the　floor；　stood　upright　and　with　closed　eyes；　head　dropping　upon　one　shoulder；　glided　toward　the　Disk　like　a　dead　man　carried　by　those　messengers　never　seen　by　man　who；　the　Arabs　believe；　bear　the　death　drugged　souls　before　Allah　for　their　awakening。

Ruth　moaned　and　hid　her　eyes；　Drake　reached　down；　gathered　her　up　in　his　arms；　held　her　close。

Ventnor's　body　stood　before　the　Disk；　then　swam　up　along　its　face。　The　tendrils　waved　out；　felt　of　it；　thrust　themselves　down　through　the　wide　collar　of　the　shirt。　The　floating　form　passed　higher；　over　the　edge　of　the　Disk；　lay　high　beside　the　right　star　point　of　the　rayed　shape　to　which　Ruth　had　been　passing　when　Ventnor's　shot　brought　the　tragedy　upon　us。　I　saw　other　tentacles　whip　forth；　examine；　caress。

Then　down　the　body　swung；　was　borne　through　air；　laid　gently　at　our　feet。

〃He　is　notdead；〃　it　was　Norhala　beside　me；　she　lifted　Ruth's　face　from　Drake's　breast。　〃He　will　not　die。　It　may　be　he　will　walk　again。　They　can　not　help；〃　there　was　a　shadow　of　apology　in　her　tones。　〃They　did　not　know。　They　thought　it　was　the〃she　hesitated　as　though　at　loss　for　words〃thethe　Fire　Play。〃

〃The　Fire　Play？〃　I　gasped。

〃Yes；〃　she　nodded。　〃You　shall　see　it。　And　now　I　will　take　him　to　my　house。　You　are　safenow；　nor　need　you　trouble。　For　he　has　given　you　to　me。〃

〃Who　has　given　us　to　youNorhala？〃　I　asked；　as　calmly　as　I　could。

〃He〃she　nodded　to　the　Disk；　then　spoke　the　phrase　that　was　both　ancient　Assyria's　and　ancient　Persia's　title　for　their　all…conquering　rulers；　and　that　meant〃the　King　of　Kings。　The　Great　King；　Master　of　Life　and　Death。〃

She　took　Ruth　from　Drake's　arms；　pointing　to　Ventnor。

〃Bear　him；〃　she　commanded；　and　led　the　way　back　through　the　walls　of　light。

As　we　lifted　the　body；　I　slipped　my　hand　through　the　shirt；　felt　at　the　heart。　Faint　was　the　pulsation　and　slow；　but　regular。

Close　to　the　encircling　vapors　I　cast　one　look　behind　me。　The　shapes　stood　immobile；　flashing　disks；　gigantic　radiant　stars　and　the　six　great　spheres　beneath　their　geometric　super…Euclidean　god　or　shrine　or　machine　of　interwoven　threads　of　luminous　force　and　metalstill　motionless；　still　watching。

We　emerged　into　the　place　of　pillars。　There　stood　the　hooded　pony　and　its　patience；　its　uncomplaining　acceptance　of　its　place　as　servant　to　man　brought　a　lump　into　my　throat；　salved；　I　suppose；　my　human　vanity；　abased　as　it　had　been　by　the　colossal　indifference　of　those　things　to　which　we　were　but　playthings。

Again　Norhala　sent　forth　her　call。　Out　of　the　maze　glided　her　quintette　of　familiars；　again　the　four　clicked　into　one。　Upon　its　top　we　lifted；　Drake　ascending　first；　the　pony；　then　the　body　of　Ventnor。

I　saw　Norhala　lead　Ruth　to　the　remaining　cube；　saw　the　girl　break　away　from　her；　leap　beside　me；　and　kneeling　at　her　brother's　head；　cradle　it　against　her　soft　breast。　Then　as　I　found　in　the　medicine　case　the　hypodermic　needle　and　the　strychnine　for　which　I　had　been　searching；　I　began　my　examination　of　Ventnor。

The　cubes　quiveredswept　away　through　the　forest　of　columns。

We　crouched；　the　three　of　us；　blind　to　anything　that　lay　about　us；　heedless　of　whatever　road　of　wonders　we　were　on；　striving　to　strengthen　in　Ventnor　the　spark　of　life　so　near　extinction。





CHAPTER　XII

〃I　WILL　GIVE　YOU　PEACE〃

In　our　concentration　upon　Ventnor　none　of　us　had　given　thought　to　the　passing　of　time；　nor　where　we　were　going。　We　stripped　him　to　the　waist；　and　while　Ruth　massaged　head　and　neck；　Drake's　strong　fingers　kneaded　chest　and　abdomen。　I　had　used　to　the　utmost　my　somewhat　limited　medical　knowledge。

We　had　found　no　mark　nor　burn　upon　him；　not　even　upon　his　hands　over　which　had　run　the　licking　flame。　The　slightly　purplish；　cyanotic　tinge　of　his　skin　had　given　way　to　a　clear　pallor；　the　skin　was　itself　disquietingly　cold；　the　blood…pressure　only　slightly　subnormal。　The　pulse　was　more　rapid；　stronger；　the　breathing　faint　but　regular；　and　with　no　laboring。　The　pupils　of　his　eyes　were　contracted　almost　to　the　point　of　invisibility。

I　could　get　no　nervous　reactions　whatever。　I　am　familiar　with　the　effects　of　electric　shock　and　know　what　to　do　in　such　cases；　but　Ventnor's　symptoms；　while　similar　in　part；　presented　other　features　unknown　to　me　and　most　puzzling。　There　was　a　passive　automatism；　a　perplexing　muscular　rigidity　which　caused　arms　and　legs；　hands　and　head　to　remain；　doll…like；　in　any　position　placed。

Several　times　during　my　labors　I　had　been　aware　of　Norhala　gazing　down　upon　us；　but　she　made　no　effort　to　help；　nor　did　she　speak。

Now；　my　strained　attention　relaxing；　I　began　to　receive　and　note　impressions　from　without。　There　was　a　different　feeling　in　the　air；　a　diminution　of　the　magnetic　tension；　I　smelled　the　blessed　breath　of　trees　and　water。

The　light　about　us　was　clear　and　pearly；　about　the　intensity　of　the　moon　at　full。　Looking　back　along　the　way　we　had　been　traveling；　I　saw　a　half　mile　away　vertical；　knife…sharp　edges　of　two　facing　cliffs；　the　gap　between　them　a　mile　or　more　wide。

Through　them　we　must　have　passed；　for　beyond　them　were　the　radiant　mists　of　the　pit　of　the　city；　and　through　this　precipitous　gateway　filtered　the　enveloping　luminosity。　On　each　side　of　us　uprose　gradually　converging　and　perpendicular　scarps　along　whose　base　huddled　a　sparse　foliage。

There　came　a　low　whistle　of　astonishment　from　Drake；　I　turned。　We　were　slowly　gliding　toward　something　that　looked　like　nothing　so　much　as　a　huge　and　shimmering　bubble　of　mingled　sapphire　and　turquoise；　swimming　up　from　and　two…thirds　above　and　the　balance　still　hidden　within　earth。　It　seemed　to　draw　to　itself　the　light；　sending　it　back　with　gleamings　of　the　gray…blue　of　the　star　sapphire；　with　pellucid　azures　and　lazulis　like　clouded　jades；　with　glistening　peacock　iridescences　and　tender；　milky　greens　of　tropic　shallows。

Little　turrets　globular　and　topaz；　yellow　and　pierced　with　tiny　hexagonal　openings　clustered　about　it　like　baby　bubbles　just　nestling　down　to　rest。

Great　trees　shadowed　it；　unfamiliar　trees