rh.conanthewarrior-第27部分

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riests　who　stood　like　horror…blasted　images。
　　Then　there　was　slaughter；　grim　and　appalling。
　　Conan　saw　black　bodies　tossed　like　chaff　in　the　inhuman　hands　of　the　slayers；　against　whose　horrible　strength　and　agility　the　daggers　and　swords　of　the　priests　were　ineffective。　He　saw　men　lifted　bodily　and　their　heads　cracked　open　against　the　stone　altar。　He　saw　a　flaming　torch；　grasped　in　a　monstrous　hand；　thrust　inexorably　down　the　gullet　of　an　agonized　wretch　who　writhed　in　vain　against　the　arms　that　pinioned　him。　He　saw　a　man　torn　in　two　pieces；　as　one　might　tear　a　chicken；　and　the　bloody　fragments　hurled　clear　across　the　cavern。　The　massacre　was　as　short　and　devastating　as　the　rush　of　a　hurricane。　In　a　burst　of　red　abysmal　ferocity　it　was　over；　except　for　one　wretch　who　fled　screaming　back　the　way　the　priests　had　e；　pursued　by　a　swarm　of　blood…dabbled　shapes　of　horror　which　reached　out　their　red…smeared　hands　for　him。　Fugitive　and　pursuers　vanished　down　the　black　tunnel；　and　the　screams　of　the　human　came　back　dwindling　and　confused　by　the　distance。
　　Muriela　was　on　her　knees　clutching　Conan's　legs；　her　face　pressed　against　his　knee　and　her　eyes　tightly　shut。　She　was　a　quaking；　quivering　mold　of　abject　terror。　But　Conan　was　galvanized。　A　quick　glance　across　at　the　aperture　where　the　stars　shone；　a　glance　down　at　the　chest　that　still　blazed　open　on　the　blood…smeared　altar；　and　he　saw　and　seized　the　desperate　gamble。
　　〃I'm　going　after　that　chest！〃　he　grated。　〃Stay　here！〃
　　〃Oh；　Mitra；　no！〃　In　an　agony　of　fright　she　fell　to　the　floor　and　caught　at　his　sandals。　〃Don't！　Don't！　Don't　leave　me！〃
　　〃Lie　still　and　keep　your　mouth　shut！〃　he　snapped；　disengaging　himself　from　her　frantic　clasp。
　　He　disregarded　the　tortuous　stair。　He　dropped　from　ledge　to　ledge　with　reckless　haste。　There　was　no　sign　of　the　monsters　as　his　feet　hit　the　floor。　A　few　of　the　torches　still　flared　in　their　sockets；　the　phosphorescent　glow　throbbed　and　quivered；　and　the　river　flowed　with　an　almost　articulate　muttering；　scintillant　with　undreamed　radiances。　The　glow　that　had　heralded　the　appearance　of　the　servants　had　vanished　with　them。　Only　the　light　of　the　jewels　in　the　brass　chest　shimmered　and　quivered。
　　He　snatched　the　chest；　noting　its　contents　in　one　lustful　glance…strange；　curiously　shapen　stones　that　burned　with　an　icy；　non…terrestrial　fire。　He　slammed　the　lid；　thrust　the　chest　under　his　arm；　and　ran　back　up　the　steps。　He　had　no　desire　to　encounter　the　hellish　servants　of　Bit…Yakin。　His　glimpse　of　them　in　action　had　dispelled　any　ilusion　concerning　their　fighting　ability。　Why　they　had　waited　so　long　before　striking　at　the　invaders　he　was　unable　to　say。　What　human　could　guess　the　motives　or　thoughts　of　these　monstrosities？　That　they　were　possessed　of　craft　and　intelligence　equal　to　humanity　had　been　demonstrated。　And　there　on　the　cavern　floor　lay　crimson　proof　of　their　bestial　ferocity。
　　The　Corinthian　girl　still　cowered　on　the　gallery　where　he　had　left　her。　He　caught　her　wrist　and　yanked　her　to　her　feet；　grunting：　〃I　guess　it's　time　to　go！〃
　　Too　bemused　with　terror　to　be　fully　aware　of　what　was　going　on；　the　girl　suffered　herself　to　be　led　across　the　dizzy　span。　It　was　not　until　they　were　poised　over　the　rushing　water　that　she　looked　down；　voiced　a　startled　yelp　and　would　have　fallen　but　for　Conan's　massive　arm　about　her。　Growling　an　objurgation　in　her　ear；　he　snatched　her　up　under　his　free　arm　and　swept　her；　in　a　flutter　of　limply　waving　arms　and　legs；　across　the　arch　and　into　the　aperture　that　opened　at　the　other　end。　Without　bothering　to　set　her　on　her　feet；　he　hurried　through　the　short　tunnel　into　which　this　aperture　opened。　An　instant　later　they　emerged　upon　a　narrow　ledge　on　the　outer　side　of　the　cliffs　that　circled　the　valley。　Less　than　a　hundred　feet　below　them　the　jungle　waved　in　the　starlight。
　　Looking　down；　Conan　vented　a　gusty　sigh　of　relief。　He　believed　he　could　negotiate　the　descent；　even　though　burdened　with　the　jewels　and　the　girl；　although　he　doubted　if　even　he；　unburdened；　could　have　ascended　at　that　spot。　He　set　the　chest；　still　smeared　with　Gorulga's　blood　and　clotted　with　his　brains；　on　the　ledge；　and　was　about　to　remove　his　girdle　in　order　to　tie　the　box　to　his　back；　when　he　was　galvanized　by　a　sound　behind　him；　a　sound　sinister　and　unmistakable。
　　〃Stay　here！〃　he　snapped　at　the　bewildered　Corinthian　girl。　〃Don't　move！〃　And　drawing　his　sword；　he　glided　into　the　tunnel；　glaring　back　into　the　cavern。
　　Half…way　across　the　upper　span　he　saw　a　gray　deformed　shape。　One　of　the　servants　of　Bit…Yakin　was　on　his　trail。　There　was　no　doubt　that　the　brute　had　seen　them　and　was　following　them。　Conan　did　not　hesitate。　It　might　be　easier　to　defend　the　mouth　of　the　tunnel…but　this　fight　must　be　finished　quickly；　before　the　other　servants　could　return。
　　He　ran　out　on　the　span；　straight　toward　the　oning　monster。　It　was　no　ape；　neither　was　it　a　man。　It　was　some　shambling　horror　spawned　in　the　mysterious；　nameless　jungles　of　the　south；　where　strange　life　teemed　in　the　reeking　rot　without　the　dominance　of　man；　and　drums　thundered　in　temples　that　had　never　known　the　tread　of　a　human　foot。　How　the　ancient　Pelishti　had　gained　lordship　over　them…and　with　it　eternal　exile　from　humanity…was　a　foul　riddle　about　which　Conan　did　not　care　to　speculate；　even　if　he　had　had　opportunity。
　　Man　and　monster；　they　met　at　the　highest　arch　of　the　span；　where；　a　hundred　feet　below；　rushed　the　furious　black　water。　As　the　monstrous　shape　with　it　leprous　gray　body　and　the　features　of　a　carven；　unhuman　idol　loomed　over　him；　Conan　struck　as　a　wounded　tiger　strikes；　with　every　ounce　of　thew　and　fury　behind　the　blow。　That　stroke　would　have　sheared　a　human　body　asunder；　but　the　bones　of　the　servant　of　Bit…Yakin　were　like　tempered　steel。　Yet　even　tempered　steel　could　not　wholly　have　withstood　that　furious　stroke。　Ribs　and　shoulder…bone　parted　and　blood　spouted　from　the　great　gash。
　　There　was　no　time　for　a　second　stroke。　Before　the　Cimmerian　could　lift　his　blade　again　or　spring　clear；　the　sweep　of　a　giant　arm　knocked　him　from　the　span　as　a　fly　is　flicked　from　a　wall。　As　he　plunged　downward　the　rush　of　the　river　was　like　a　knell　in　his　ears；　but　his　twisting　body　fell　half…way　across　the　lower　arch。　He　wavered　there　precariously　for　one　blood…chilling　instant；　then　his　clutching　fingers　hooked　over　the　farther　edge；　and　he　scrambled　to　safety；　his　sword　still　in　his　other　hand。
　　As　he　sprang　up；　he　saw　the　monster；　spurting　blood　hideously；　rush　toward　the　cliff…end　of　the　bridge；　obviously　intending　to　descend　the　stair　that　connected　the　arches　and　renew　the　feud。　At　the　very　ledge　the　brute　paused　in　mid…flight…and　Conan　saw　it　too…Muriela；　with　the　jewel　chest　under　her　arm；　stood　staring　wilding　in　the　mouth　of　the　tunnel。
　　With　a　triumphant　bellow　the　monster　scooped　her　up　under　one　arm；　snatched　the　jewel　chest　with　the　other　hand　as　she　dropped　it；　and　turning；　lumbered　back　across　the　bridge。　Conan　cursed　with　passion　and　ran　for　the　other　side　also。　He　doubted　if　he　could　climb　the　stair　to　the　higher　arch　in　time　to　catch　the　brute　before　it　could　plunge　into　the　labyrinths　of　tunnels　on　the　other　side。
　　But　the　monster　was　slowing；　like　clockwork　running　down。　Blood　gushed　from　that　terrible　gash　in　his　breast；　and　he　lurched　drunkenly　from　side　to　side。　Suddenly　he　stumbled；　reeled　and　toppled　sidewise…pitched　headlong　from　the　arch　and　hurtled　downward。　Girl　and　jewel　chest　fell　from　his　nerveless　hands　and　Muriela's　scream　rang　terribly　above　the　snarl　of　the　water　below。
　　Conan　was　almost　under　the　spot　from　which　the　creature　had　fallen。　The　monster　struck　the　lower　arch　glancingly　and　shot　off；　but　the　writhing　figure　of　the　girl　struck　and　clung；　and　the　chest　hit　the　edge　of　the　span　near　her。　One　falling　object　struck　on　one　side　of　Conan　and　one　on　the　other。　Either　was　within　arm's　length；　for　the　fraction　of　a　split　second　the　chest　teetered　ont　he　edge　of　the　bridge；　and　Muriela　clung　by　one　arm；　her　face　turned　desperately　toward　Conan；　her　eyes　dilated　with　the　fear　of　death　and　her　lips　parted　in　a　haunting　cry　of　despair。
　　Conan　did　not　hesitate；　nor　did　he　even　glance　toward　the　chest　that　held　the　wealth　of　an　epoch。　With　a　quickness　that　would　have　shamed　the　spring　of　a　hungry　jaguar；　he　swooped；　grasped　the　girl's　arm　just　as　her　fingers　slipped　from　the　smooth　stone；　and　snatched　her　up　on　the　span　with　one　explosive　heave。　The　chest　toppled　on　over　and　struck　the　water　ninety　feet　below；　where　the　body　of　the　servant　of　Bit…Yakin　had　already　vanished。　A　splash；　a　jetting　flash　of　foam　marked　where　the　Teeth　of　Gwahlur　disappeared　for　ever　from　the　sight　of　man。
　　Conan　scarcely　wasted　a　downward　glance。　He　darted　across　the　span　and　ran　up　the　cliff　stair　like　a　cat；　carrying　the　limp　girl　as　if　she　had　been　an　infant。　A　hideous　ululation　caused　him　to　glance　over　his　shoulder　as　he　reached　the　higher　arch；　to　see　the　other　servants　streaming　back　into　the　cavern　below；　blood　dripping　from　their　bared　fangs。　They　raced　up　the　stair　that　wound　up　from　tier　to　tier；　roaring　vengefully；　but　he　slung　the　girl　unceremoniously　over　his　shoulder；　dashed　through　the　tunnel　and　went　down　the　cliffs　like　an　ape　himself；　dropping　and　springing　from　hold　to　hold　with　breakneck　recklessness。　When　the　fierce　countenances　looked　over　the　ledge　of　the　aperture；　it　was　to　see　the　Cimmerian　and　the　girl　disappearing　into　the　forest　that　surrounded　the　cliffs。
　　〃Well；〃　said　Conan；　setting　the　girl　on　her　feet　within　the　sheltering　screen　of　branches；　〃we　can　take　our　time　now。　I　don't　think　those　brutes　will　follow　us　outside　the　valley。　Anyway；　I've　got　a　horse　tied　at　a　water…hole　close　by；　if　the　lions　haven't　eaten　him。　Crom's　devils！　What　are　you　crying　about　now？〃
　　She　covered　her　tear…stained　face　with　her　hands；　and　her　slim　shoulders　shook　with　sobs。
　　〃I　lost　the　jewels　for　you；〃　she　wailed　miserably。　〃It　was　my　fault。　If　I'd　obeyed　you　and　stayed　out　on　the　ledge；　that　brute　would　never　have　seen　me。　You　should　have　caught　the　gems　and　let　me　drown！〃
　　〃Yes；　I　suppose　I　should；〃　he　agreed。　〃But　forget　it。　Never　worry　about　what's　past。　And　stop　crying；　will　you？　That's　better。　e　on