rh.conanthewarrior-第22部分

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　hysteria。
　　〃Oh；　please　don't　hurt　me！　Don't！　I　had　to　do　it！　Zargheba　brought　me　here　to　act　as　the　oracle！〃
　　〃Why；　you　sacrilegious　little　hussy！〃　rumbled　Conan。　〃Do　you　not　fear　the　gods？　Crom！　Is　there　no　honesty　anywhere？〃
　　〃Oh；　please！〃　she　begged；　quivering　with　abject　fright。　〃I　couldn't　disobey　Zargheba。　Oh；　what　shall　I　do？　I　shall　be　cursed　by　these　heathen　gods！〃
　　〃What　do　you　think　the　priests　will　do　to　you　if　they　find　out　you're　an　imposter？〃　he　demanded。
　　At　the　thought　her　legs　refused　to　support　her；　and　she　collapsed　in　a　shuddering　heap；　clasping　Conan's　knees　and　mingling　incoherent　pleas　for　mercy　and　protection　with　piteous　protestations　of　her　innocence　of　any　malign　intention。　It　was　a　vivid　change　from　her　pose　as　the　ancient　princess；　but　not　surprising。　The　fear　that　had　nerved　her　then　was　now　her　undoing。
　　〃Where　is　Zargheba？〃　he　demanded。　〃Stop　yammering；　damn　it；　and　answer　me。〃
　　〃Outside　the　palace；〃　she　whimpered；　〃watching　for　the　priests。〃
　　〃How　many　men　with　him？〃
　　〃None。　We　came　alone。〃
　　〃Ha！〃　It　was　much　like　the　satisfied　grunt　of　a　hunting　lion。　〃You　must　have　left　Keshia　a　few　hours　after　I　did。　Did　you　climb　the　cliffs？〃
　　She　shook　her　head；　too　choked　with　tears　to　speak　coherently。　With　an　impatient　imprecation　he　seized　her　slim　shoulders　and　shook　her　until　she　gasped　for　breath。
　　〃Will　you　quit　that　blubbering　and　answer　me？　How　did　you　get　into　the　valley？〃
　　〃Zargheba　knew　the　secret　way；〃　she　gasped。　〃The　priest　Gwarunga　told　him；　and　Thutmekri。　On　the　south　side　of　the　valley　there　is　a　broad　pool　lying　at　the　foot　of　the　cliffs。　There　is　a　cave…mouth　under　the　surface　of　the　water　that　is　not　visible　to　the　casual　glance。　We　ducked　under　the　water　and　entered　it。　The　cave　slopes　up　out　of　the　water　swiftly　and　leads　through　the　cliffs。　The　opening　on　the　side　of　the　valley　is　masked　by　heavy　thickets。〃
　　〃I　climbed　the　cliffs　on　the　east　side；〃　he　muttered。　〃Well；　what　then？〃
　　〃We　came　to　the　palace　and　Zargheba　hid　me　among　the　trees　while　he　went　to　look　for　the　chamber　of　the　oracle。　I　do　not　think　he　fully　trusted　Gwarunga。　While　he　was　gone　I　thought　I　heard　a　gong　sound；　but　I　was　not　sure。　Presently　Zargheba　came　and　took　me　into　the　palace　and　brought　me　to　this　chamber；　where　the　goddess　Yelaya　lay　upon　the　dais。　He　stripped　the　body　and　clothed　me　in　the　garments　and　ornaments。　Then　he　went　forth　to　hide　the　body　and　watch　for　the　priests。　I　have　been　afraid。　When　you　entered　I　wanted　to　leap　up　and　beg　you　to　take　me　away　from　this　place；　but　I　feared　Zargheba。　When　you　discovered　I　was　alive；　I　thought　I　could　frighten　you　away。〃
　　〃What　were　you　to　say　as　the　oracle？〃　he　asked。
　　〃I　was　to　bid　the　priests　to　take　the　Teeth　of　Gwahlur　and　give　some　of　them　to　Thutmekri　as　a　pledge；　as　he　desired；　and　place　the　rest　in　the　palace　at　Keshia。　I　was　to　tell　them　that　an　awful　doom　threatened　Keshan　if　they　did　not　agree　to　Thutmekri's　proposals。　And；　oh；　yes；　I　was　to　tell　them　that　you　were　to　be　skinned　alive　immediately。〃
　　〃Thutmekri　wanted　the　treasure　where　he…or　the　Zembabwans…could　lay　hand　on　it　easily；〃　muttered　Conan；　disregarding　the　remark　concerning　himself。　〃I'll　carve　his　liver　yet…Gorulga　is　a　party　to　this　swindle；　of　course？〃
　　〃No。　He　believes　in　his　gods；　and　is　incorruptible。　He　knows　nothing　about　this。　He　will　obey　the　oracle。　It　was　all　Thutmekri's　plan。　Knowing　the　Keshani　would　consult　the　oracle；　he　had　Zargheba　bring　me　with　the　embassy　from　Zembabwei；　closely　veiled　and　secluded。〃
　　〃Well；　I'm　damned！〃　muttered　Conan。　〃A　priest　who　honestly　believes　in　his　oracle；　and　can　not　be　bribed。　Crom！　I　wonder　if　it　was　Zargheba　who　banged　that　gong。　Did　he　know　I　was　here？　Could　he　have　known　about　that　rotten　flagging？　Where　is　he　now；　girl？〃
　　〃Hiding　in　a　thicket　of　lotus　trees；　near　the　ancient　avenue　that　leads　from　the　south　wall　of　the　cliffs　to　the　palace；〃　she　answered。　Then　she　renewed　her　importunities。　〃Oh；　Conan；　have　pity　on　me！　I　am　afraid　of　this　evil；　ancient　place。　I　know　I　have　heard　stealthy　footfalls　padding　about　me…oh；　Conan；　take　me　away　with　you！　Zargheba　will　kill　me　when　I　have　served　his　purpose　here…I　know　it！　The　priests；　too；　will　kill　me　if　they　discover　my　deceit。
　　〃He　is　a　devil…he　bought　me　from　a　slave…trader　who　stole　me　out　of　a　caravan　bound　through　southern　Koth；　and　has　made　me　the　tool　of　his　intrigues　ever　since。　Take　me　away　from　him！　You　can　not　be　as　cruel　as　he。　Don't　leave　me　to　be　slain　here！　Please！　Please！〃
　　She　was　on　her　knees；　clutching　at　Conan　hysterically；　her　beautiful　tear…stained　face　upturned　to　him；　her　dark　silken　hair　flowing　in　disorder　over　her　white　shoulders。　Conan　picked　her　up　and　set　her　on　his　knee。
　　〃Listen　to　me。　I'll　protect　you　from　Zargheba。　The　priests　shall　not　know　of　your　perfidy。　But　you've　got　to　do　as　I　tell　you。〃
　　She　faltered　promises　of　explicit　obedience；　clasping　his　corded　neck　as　if　seeking　security　from　the　contact。
　　〃Good。　When　the　priests　e；　you'll　act　the　part　of　Yelaya；　as　Zargheba　planned…it'll　be　dark；　and　in　the　torchlight　they'll　never　know　the　difference。　But　you'll　say　this　to　them：　'It　is　the　will　of　the　gods　that　the　Stygian　and　his　Shemitish　dogs　be　driven　from　Keshan。　They　are　thieves　and　tratiors　who　plot　to　rob　the　gods。　Let　the　Teeth　of　Gwahlur　be　placed　in　the　care　of　the　general　Conan。　Let　him　lead　the　armies　of　Keshan。　He　is　beloved　of　the　gods。'〃
　　She　shivered；　with　an　expression　of　desperation；　but　acquiesced。
　　〃But　Zargheba？〃　she　cried。　〃He'll　kill　me！〃
　　〃Don't　worry　about　Zargheba；〃　he　grunted。　〃I'll　take　care　of　that　dog。　You　do　as　I　say。　Here；　put　up　your　hair　again。　It's　fallen　all　over　your　shoulders。　And　the　gem's　fallen　out　of　it。〃
　　He　replaced　the　great　glowing　gem　himself；　nodding　approval。
　　〃It's　worth　a　roomful　of　slaves；　itself　alone。　Here；　put　your　skirt　back　on。　It's　torn　down　the　side；　but　the　priests　will　never　notice　it。　Wipe　your　face。　A　goddess　doesn't　cry　like　a　whipped　schoolgirl。　By　Crom；　you　do　look　like　Yelaya；　face　hair；　figure；　and　all！　If　you　act　the　goddess　with　the　priests　as　well　as　you　did　with　me；　you'll　fool　them　easily。〃
　　〃I'll　try；〃　she　shivered。
　　〃Good；　I'm　going　to　find　Zargheba。〃
　　At　that　she　became　panicky　again。
　　〃No！　Don't　leave　me　alone！　This　place　is　haunted！〃
　　〃There's　nothing　here　to　harm　you；〃　he　assured　her　impatiently。　〃Nothing　but　Zargheba；　and　I'm　going　to　look　after　him。　I'll　be　back　shortly。　I'll　be　watching　from　close　by　in　case　anything　goes　wrong　during　the　ceremony；　but　if　you　play　your　part　properly；　nothing　will　go　wrong。〃
　　And　turning；　he　hastened　out　of　the　oracle　chamber；　behind　him　Muriela　squeaked　wretchedly　at　his　going。
　　Twilight　had　fallen。　The　great　rooms　and　halls　were　shadowy　and　indistinct；　copper　friezes　glinted　dully　through　the　dusk。　Conan　strode　like　a　silent　phantom　through　the　great　halls；　with　a　sensation　of　being　stared　at　from　the　shadowed　recesses　by　invisible　ghosts　of　the　past。　No　wonder　the　girl　was　nervous　amid　such　surroundings。
　　He　glided　down　the　marble　steps　like　a　slinking　panther；　sword　in　hand。　Silence　reigned　over　the　valley；　and　above　the　rim　of　the　cliffs；　stars　were　blinking　out。　If　the　priests　of　Keshia　had　entered　the　valley　there　was　not　a　sound；　not　a　movement　in　the　greenery　to　betray　them。　He　made　out　the　ancient　broken…paved　avenue；　wandering　away　to　the　south；　lost　amid　clustering　masses　of　fronds　and　thick…leaved　bushes。　He　followed　it　warily；　hugging　the　edge　of　the　paving　where　the　shrubs　massed　their　shadows　thickly；　until　he　saw　ahead　of　him；　dimly　in　the　dusk；　the　clump　of　lotus…trees；　the　strange　growth　peculiar　to　the　black　lands　of　Kush。　There；　according　to　the　girl；　Zargheba　should　be　lurking。　Conan　became　stealth　personified。　A　velvet…footed　shadow；　he　melted　into　the　thickets。
　　He　approached　the　lotus　grove　by　a　circuitous　movement；　and　scarcely　the　rustle　of　a　leaf　proclaimed　his　passing。　At　the　edge　of　the　trees　he　halted　suddenly；　crouched　like　a　suspicious　panther　among　the　deep　shrubs。　Ahead　of　him；　among　the　dense　leaves；　showed　a　pallid　oval；　dim　in　the　uncertain　light。　It　might　have　been　one　of　the　great　white　blossoms　which　shone　thickly　among　the　branches。　But　Conan　knew　that　it　was　a　man's　face。　And　it　was　turned　toward　him。　He　shrank　quickly　deeper　into　the　shadows。　Had　Zargheba　seen　him？　The　man　was　looking　directly　toward　him。　Seconds　passed。　The　dim　face　had　not　moved。　Conan　could　make　out　the　dark　tuft　below　that　was　the　short　black　beard。
　　And　suddenly　Conan　was　aware　of　something　unnatural。　Zargheba；　he　knew；　was　not　a　tall　man。　Standing　erect；　he　head　would　scarcely　top　the　Cimmerians　shoulders；　yet　that　face　was　on　a　level　with　Conan's　own。　Was　the　man　standing　on　something？　Conan　bent　and　peered　toward　the　ground　below　the　spot　where　the　face　showed；　but　his　vision　was　blocked　by　undergrowth　and　the　thick　boles　of　the　trees。　But　he　saw　something　else；　and　he　stiffened。　Through　a　slot　in　the　underbrush　he　glimpsed　the　stem　of　the　tree　under　which；　apparently；　Zargheba　was　standing。　The　face　was　directly　in　line　with　that　tree。　He　should　have　seen　below　that　face；　not　the　tree…trunk；　but　Zargheba's　body…but　there　was　no　body　there。
　　Suddenly　tenser　than　a　tiger　who　stalks　his　prey；　Conan　glided　deeper　into　the　thicket；　and　a　moment　later　drew　aside　a　leafy　branch　and　glared　at　the　face　that　had　not　moved。　Nor　would　it　ever　move　again；　of　its　own　volition。　He　looked　on　Zargheba's　severed　head；　suspended　from　the　branch　of　the　tree　by　its　own　long　black　hair。
　　
　　
　　　3。　　The　Return　of　the　Oracle
　　
　　Conan　wheeled　supplely；　sweeping　the　shadows　with　a　fiercely　questing　stare。　There　was　no　sign　of　the　murdered　man's　body；　only　yonder　the　tall　lush　grass　was　trampled　and　broken　down　and　the　sward　was　dabbled　darkly　and　wetly。　Conan　stood　scarcely　breathing　as　he　strained　his　ears　into　the　silence。　The　trees　and　bushes　with　their　great　pallid　blossoms　stood　dark；　still；　and　sinister；　etched　against　the　deepening　dusk。
　　Primitive　fears　whispered　at　the　back　of　Conan's　mind。　Was　this　the　work　of　the　priests　of　Keshan？　If　so；　where　were　they？　Was　it