rh.conanthewarrior-第15部分

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ss。　It　was　Tolkemec；　I　saw　him　living　when　I　was　a　child　and　he　was　being　tortured。〃
　　Her　voice　sank　to　a　fearful　whisper：　〃Olmec　laughs；　but　I　know　Tolkemec's　ghost　dwells　in　the　catabs！　They　say　it　is　rats　whch　gnaw　the　flesh　from　the　bones　of　the　newly　dead…but　ghosts　eat　flesh。　Who　knows　but　that…〃
　　She　glanced　up　quickly　as　a　shadow　fell　across　the　couch。　Valeria　looked　up　to　see　Olmec　gazing　down　at　her。　The　prince　had　cleansed　his　hands；　torso；　and　beard　of　the　blood　that　had　splashed　them；　but　he　had　not　donned　his　robe；　and　his　great　dark…skinned　hairless　body　and　limbs　renewed　the　impression　of　strength　bestial　in　its　nature。　His　deep　black　eyes　burned　with　a　more　elemental　light；　and　there　was　the　suggestion　of　a　twitching　in　the　fingers　that　tugged　at　his　thick　blue…black　beard。
　　He　stared　fixedly　at　the　woman；　and　she　rose　and　glided　from　the　chamber。　As　she　passed　through　the　door　she　cast　a　look　over　her　shoulder　at　Valeria；　a　glance　full　of　cynical　derision　and　obscene　mockery。
　　〃She　has　done　a　clumsy　job；〃　criticized　the　prince；　ing　to　the　divan　and　bending　over　the　bandage。　〃Let　me　see…〃
　　With　a　quickness　amazing　in　one　of　his　bulk　he　snatched　her　sword　and　threw　it　across　the　chamber。　His　next　move　was　to　catch　her　in　his　giant　arms。
　　Quick　and　unexpected　as　the　move　was；　she　almost　matched　it；　for　even　as　he　grabbed　her；　her　dirk　was　in　her　hand　and　she　stabbed　murderously　at　his　throat。　More　by　luck　than　skill　he　caught　her　wrist；　and　then　began　a　savage　wrestling…match。　She　fought　him　with　fists；　feet；　knees；　teeth；　and　nails；　with　all　the　strength　of　her　magnificent　body　and　all　the　knowledge　of　hand…to…hand　fighting　she　had　acquired　in　her　years　of　roving　and　fighting　on　sea　and　land。　It　availed　her　nothing　against　his　brute　strength。　She　lost　her　dirk　in　the　first　moment　of　contact；　and　thereafter　found　herself　powerless　to　inflict　any　appreciable　pain　on　her　giant　attacker。
　　The　blaze　in　his　weird　black　eyes　did　not　alter；　and　their　expression　filled　her　with　fury；　fanned　by　the　sardonic　smile　that　seemed　carved　upon　his　bearded　lips。　Those　eyes　and　that　smile　contained　all　the　cruel　cynicism　that　seethes　below　the　surface　of　a　sophisticated　and　degenerate　race；　and　for　the　first　time　in　her　life　Valeria　experienced　fear　of　a　man。　It　was　like　struggling　against　some　huge　elemental　force；　his　iron　arms　thwarted　her　efforts　with　an　ease　that　sent　panic　racing　through　her　limbs。　He　seemed　impervious　to　any　pain　she　could　inflict。　Only　once；　when　she　sank　her　white　teeth　savagely　into　his　wrist　so　that　the　blood　started；　did　he　react。　And　that　was　to　buffet　her　brutally　upon　the　side　of　the　head　with　his　open　hand；　so　that　stars　flashed　before　her　eyes　and　her　head　rolled　on　her　shoulders。
　　Her　shirt　had　been　torn　open　in　the　struggle；　and　with　cynical　cruelty　he　rasped　his　thick　beard　across　her　bare　breasts；　bringing　the　blood　to　suffuse　the　fair　skin；　and　fetching　a　cry　of　pain　and　outraged　fury　from　her。　Her　convulsive　resistance　was　useless；　she　was　crushed　down　on　a　couch；　disarmed　and　panting；　her　eyes　blazing　up　at　him　like　the　eyes　of　a　trapped　tigress。
　　A　moment　later　he　was　hurrying　from　the　chamber；　carrying　her　in　his　arms。　She　made　no　resistance；　but　the　smoldering　of　her　eyes　showed　that　she　was　unconquered　in　spirit；　at　least。　She　had　not　cried　out。　She　knew　that　Conan　was　not　within　call；　and　it　did　not　occur　to　her　that　any　in　Tecuhltli　would　oppose　their　prince。　But　she　noticed　that　Olmec　went　stealthily；　with　his　head　on　one　side　as　if　listening　for　sounds　of　pursuit；　and　he　did　not　return　to　the　throne　chamber。　He　carried　her　through　a　door　that　stood　opposite　that　through　which　he　had　entered；　crossed　another　room　and　began　stealing　down　a　hall。　As　she　became　convinced　that　he　feared　some　opposition　to　the　abduction；　she　threw　back　her　head　and　screamed　at　the　top　of　her　lusty　voice。
　　She　was　rewarded　by　a　slap　that　half…stunned　her；　and　Olmec　quickened　his　pace　to　a　shambling　run。
　　But　her　cry　had　been　echoed　and；　twisting　her　head　about；　Valeria；　through　the　tears　and　stars　that　partly　blinded　her；　saw　Techotl　limping　after　them。
　　Olmec　turned　with　a　snarl；　shifting　the　woman　to　an　unfortable　and　certainly　undignified　position　under　one　huge　arm；　where　he　held　her　writhing　and　kicking　vainly；　like　a　child。
　　〃Olmec！〃　protested　Techotl。　〃You　cannot　be　such　a　dog　as　to　do　this　thing！　She　is　Conan's　woman！　She　helped　us　slay　the　Xotalancas；　and…〃
　　Without　a　word　Olmec　balled　his　free　hand　into　a　huge　fist　and　stretched　the　wounded　warrior　senseless　at　his　feet。　Stooping；　and　hindered　not　at　all　by　the　struggles　and　imprecations　of　his　captive；　he　drew　Techotl's　sword　from　its　sheath　and　stabbed　the　warrior　in　the　breast。　Then　casting　aside　the　weapon；　he　fled　on　along　the　corridor。　He　did　not　see　a　woman's　dark　face　peer　cautiously　after　him　from　behind　a　hanging。　It　vanished；　and　presenly　Techotl　groaned　and　stirred；　rose　dazedly　and　staggered　drunkenly　away；　calling　Conan's　name。
　　Olmec　hurried　on　down　the　corridor；　and　descended　a　winding　ivory　staircase。　He　crossed　several　corridors　and　halted　at　last　in　a　broad　chamber　whose　doors　were　veiled　with　heavy　tapestries；　with　one　exception…a　heavy　bronze　door　similar　to　the　Door　of　the　Eagle　on　the　upper　floor。
　　He　was　moved　to　rumble；　pointing　to　it：　〃That　is　one　of　the　outer　doors　of　Tecuhltli。　For　the　first　time　in　fifty　years　it　is　unguarded。　We　need　not　guard　it　now；　for　Xotalanc　is　no　more。〃
　　〃Thanks　to　Conan　and　me；　you　bloody　rogue！〃　sneered　Valeria；　trembling　with　fury　and　the　shame　of　physical　coercion。　〃You　trecherous　dog！　Conan　will　cut　your　throat　for　this！〃
　　Olmec　did　not　bother　to　voice　his　belief　that　Conan's　own　gullet　had　already　been　severed　according　to　his　whispered　mand。　He　was　too　utterly　cynical　to　be　at　all　interested　in　her　thoughts　or　opinions。　His　flame…lit　eyes　devoured　her；　dwelling　burningly　on　the　generous　expanses　of　clear　white　flesh　exposed　where　her　shirt　and　breeches　had　been　torn　in　the　struggle。
　　〃Forget　Conan；〃　he　said　thickly。　〃Olmec　is　lord　of　Xuchotl。　Xotalanc　is　no　more。　There　will　be　no　more　fighting。　We　shall　spend　our　lives　in　drinking　and　love…making。　First　let　us　drink！〃
　　He　seated　himself　on　an　ivory　table　and　pulled　her　down　on　his　knees；　like　a　dark…skinned　satyr　with　a　white　nymph　in　his　arms。　Ignoring　her　un…nymphlike　profanity；　he　held　her　helpless　with　one　great　arm　about　her　waist　while　the　other　reached　across　the　table　and　secured　a　vessel　of　wine。
　　〃Drink！〃　he　manded；　forcing　it　to　her　lips；　as　she　writhered　her　head　away。
　　The　liquor　slopped　over；　stinging　her　lips；　splashing　down　on　her　naked　breasts。
　　〃Your　guest　does　not　like　your　wine；　Olmec；〃　spoke　a　cool；　sardonic　voice。
　　Olmec　stiffened；　fear　grew　in　his　flaming　eyes。　Slowly　he　swung　his　great　head　about　and　stared　at　Tascela　who　pased　negligently　in　the　curtained　doorway；　one　hand　on　her　smooth　hip。　Valeria　twisted　herself　about　in　his　iron　grip；　and　when　she　met　the　burning　eyes　of　Tascela；　a　chill　tingled　along　her　supple　spine。　New　experiences　were　flooding　Valeria's　proud　soul　that　night。　Recently　she　had　learned　to　fear　a　man；　now　she　knew　what　it　was　to　fear　a　woman。
　　Olmec　sat　motionless；　a　gray　pallor　growing　under　his　swarthy　skin。　Tascela　brought　her　other　hand　from　behind　her　and　displayed　a　small　gold　vessel。
　　〃I　feared　she　would　not　like　your　wine；　Olmec；〃　purred　the　princess；　〃so　I　brought　some　of　mine；　some　I　brought　with　me　long　ago　from　the　shores　of　Lake　Zuad…do　you　understand；　Olmec？〃
　　Beads　of　sweat　stood　out　suddenly　on　Olmec's　brow。　His　muscles　relaxed；　and　Valeria　broke　away　and　put　the　table　between　them。　But　though　reason　told　her　to　dart　from　the　room；　some　fascination　she　could　not　understand　held　her　rigid；　watching　the　scene。
　　Tascela　came　toward　the　seated　prince　with　a　swaying；　undulating　walk　that　was　mockery　in　itself。　Her　voice　was　soft；　slurringly　caressing；　but　he　eyes　gleamed。　Her　slim　fingers　stroked　his　beard　lightly。
　　〃You　are　selfish；　Olmec；〃　she　crooned；　smiling。　〃You　would　keep　our　handsome　guest　to　yourself；　though　you　knew　I　wished　to　entertain　her。　You　are　much　at　fault；　Olmec！〃
　　The　mask　dropped　for　an　instant；　he　eyes　flashed；　her　face　was　contorted　and　with　an　appalling　show　of　strength　her　hand　locked　convulsively　in　his　beard　and　tore　out　a　great　handful。　This　evidence　of　unnatural　strength　was　no　more　terrifying　than　the　momentary　baring　of　the　hellish　fury　that　raged　under　her　bland　exterior。
　　Olmec　lurched　up　with　a　roar；　and　stood　swaying　like　a　bear；　his　mighty　hands　clenching　and　unclenching。
　　〃Slut！〃　His　booming　voice　filled　the　room。　〃Witch！　She…devil！　Tecuhltli　should　have　slain　you　fifty　years　ago！　Begone！　I　have　endured　too　much　from　you！　This　white…skinned　wench　is　mine！　Get　hence　before　I　slay　you！〃
　　The　princess　laughed　and　dashed　the　blood…stained　strands　into　his　face。　Her　laughter　was　less　merciful　than　the　ring　of　flint　on　steel。
　　〃Once　you　spoke　otherwise；　Olmec；〃　she　taunted。　〃Once；　in　your　youth；　you　spoke　words　of　love。　Aye；　you　were　my　lover　once；　years　ago；　and　because　you　loved　me；　you　slept　in　my　arms　beneath　the　enchanted　lotus…and　thereby　put　into　my　hands　the　chains　that　enslaved　you。　You　know　you　cannot　withstand　me。　You　know　I　have　but　to　gaze　into　your　eyes；　with　the　mystic　power　a　priest　of　Stygia　taught　me；　long　ago；　and　you　are　powerless。　You　remember　the　night　beneath　the　black　lotus　that　waved　above　us；　stirred　by　no　worldly　breeze；　you　scent　again　the　unearthly　perfumes　that　stole　and　rose　like　a　cloud　about　you　to　enslave　you。　You　cannot　fight　against　me。　You　are　my　slave　as　you　were　that　night…as　you　shall　be　so　long　as　you　live；　Olmec　of　Xuchotl！〃
　　Her　voice　had　sunk　to　a　murmur　like　the　rippling　of　a　stream　running　through　starlit　darkness。　She　leaned　close　to　the　prince　and　spread　her　long　tapering　fingers　upon　his　giant　breast。　His　eyes　glared；　his　great　hands　fell　limply　to　his　sides。
　　With　a　smile　of　cruel　malice；　Tascela　liftd　the　vessel　and　placed　it　to　his　lips。
　　〃Drink！〃
　　Mechanically　the　prince　obeyed。　And　instantly　the　glaze　passed　from　his　eyes　and　they　were　flooded　with　fury；　prehen