rh.conanthewarrior-第38部分

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iting　the　earth。
　　〃Some　young　couple　just　hitting　out　on　their　own；〃　Conan　was　saying　as　he　wiped　his　sword　unemotionally。　〃On　their　way　to　the　fort　when　the　Picts　met　them。　Maybe　the　boy　was　going　to　enter　the　service；　maybe　take　up　land　on　the　river。　Well；　that's　what　will　happen　to　every　man；　woman；　and　child　this　side　of　Thunder　River　if　we　don't　get　them　into　Velitrium　in　a　hurry。〃
　　Balthus'　knees　trembled　as　he　followed　Conan。　But　there　was　no　hint　of　weakness　in　the　long　easy　stride　of　the　Cimmerian。　There　was　a　kinship　between　him　and　the　great　gaunt　brute　that　glided　beside　him。　Slasher　no　longer　growled　with　his　head　to　the　trail。　The　way　was　clear　before　them。　The　yelling　on　the　river　came　faintly　to　them；　but　Balthus　believed　the　fort　was　still　holding。　Conan　halted　suddenly；　with　an　oath。
　　He　showed　Balthus　a　trail　that　led　north　from　the　road。　It　was　an　old　trail；　partly　grown　with　new　young　growth；　and　this　growth　had　recently　been　broken　down。　Balthus　realized　this　fact　more　by　feel　than　sight；　though　Conan　seemed　to　see　like　a　cat　in　the　dark。　The　Cimmerian　showed　him　where　broad　wagon　tracks　turned　off　the　main　trail；　deeply　indented　in　the　forest　mold。
　　〃Settlers　going　to　the　licks　after　salt；〃　he　grunted。　〃They're　at　the　edges　of　the　marsh；　about　nine　miles　from　here。　Blast　it！　They'll　be　cut　off　and　butchered　to　a　man！　Listen！　One　man　can　warn　the　people　on　the　road。　Go　ahead　and　wake　them　up　and　herd　them　into　Velitrium。　I'll　go　and　get　the　men　gathering　the　salt。　They'll　be　camped　by　the　licks。　We　won't　e　back　to　the　road。　We'll　head　straight　through　the　woods。〃
　　With　no　further　ment　Conan　turned　off　the　trail　and　hurried　down　the　dim　path；　and　Balthus；　after　staring　after　him　for　a　few　moments；　set　out　along　the　road。　The　dog　had　remained　with　him；　and　glided　softly　at　his　heels。　When　Balthus　had　gone　a　few　rods　he　heard　the　animal　growl。　Whirling；　he　glared　back　the　way　he　had　e；　and　was　startled　to　see　a　vague　ghostly　glow　vanishing　into　the　forest　in　the　direction　Conan　had　taken。　Slasher　rumbled　deep　in　his　throat；　his　hackles　stiff　and　his　eyes　balls　of　green　fire。　Balthus　remembered　the　grim　apparition　that　had　taken　the　head　of　the　merchant　Tiberias　not　far　from　that　spot；　and　he　hesitated。　The　thing　must　be　following　Conan。　But　the　giant　Cimmerian　had　repeatedly　demonstrated　his　ability　to　take　care　of　himself；　and　Balthus　felt　his　duty　lay　toward　the　helpless　settlers　who　slumbered　in　the　path　of　the　red　hurricane。　The　horror　of　the　fiery　phantom　was　overshadowed　by　the　horror　of　those　limp；　violated　bodies　beside　the　burning　ox…wain。
　　He　hurried　down　the　road；　crossed　Scalp　Creek　and　came　in　sight　of　the　first　settler's　cabin…a；　long；　low　structure　of　ax…hewn　logs。　In　an　instant　he　was　pounding　on　the　door。　A　sleepy　voice　inquired　his　pleasure。
　　〃Get　up！　The　Picts　are　over　the　river！〃
　　That　brought　instant　response。　A　low　cry　echoed　his　words　and　then　the　door　was　thrown　open　by　a　woman　in　a　scanty　shift。　Her　hair　hung　over　her　bare　shoulders　in　disorder；　she　held　a　candle　in　one　hand　and　an　ax　in　the　other。　Her　face　was　colorless；　her　eyes　wide　with　terror。
　　〃e　in！〃　she　begged。　〃We'll　hold　the　cabin。〃
　　〃No。　We　must　make　for　Velitrium。　The　fort　can't　hold　them　back。　It　may　have　fallen　already。　Don't　stop　to　dress。　Get　your　children　and　e　on。〃
　　〃But　my　man's　gone　with　the　others　after　salt！〃　she　wailed；　wringing　her　hands。　Behind　her　peered　three　tousled　youngsters；　blinking　and　bewildered。
　　〃Conan's　gone　after　them。　He'll　fetch　them　through　safe。　We　must　hurry　up　the　road　to　warn　the　other　cabins。〃
　　Relief　flooded　her　countenance。
　　〃Mitra　be　thanked！〃　she　cried。　〃If　the　Cimmerian's　gone　after　them；　they're　safe　if　mortal　man　can　save　them！〃
　　In　a　whirlwind　of　activity　she　snatched　up　the　smallest　child　and　herded　the　others　through　the　door　ahead　of　her。　Balthus　took　the　candle　and　ground　it　out　under　his　heel。　He　listened　an　instant。　No　sound　came　up　the　dark　road。
　　〃Have　you　got　a　horse？〃
　　〃In　the　stable；〃　she　groaned。　〃Oh；　hurry！〃
　　He　pushed　her　aside　as　she　fumbled　with　shaking　hands　at　the　bars。　He　led　the　horse　out　and　lifted　the　children　on　its　back；　telling　them　to　hold　to　its　mane　and　to　one　another。　They　stared　at　him　seriously；　making　no　outcry。　The　woman　took　the　horse's　halter　and　set　out　up　the　road。　She　still　gripped　her　ax　and　Balthus　knew　that　if　cornered　she　would　fight　with　the　desperate　courage　of　a　she…panther。
　　He　held　behind；　listening。　He　was　oppressed　by　the　belief　that　the　fort　had　been　stormed　and　taken；　that　the　dark…skinned　hordes　were　already　streaming　up　the　road　toward　Velitrium；　drunken　on　slaughter　and　mad　for　blood。　They　would　e　with　the　speed　of　starving　wolves。
　　Presently　they　saw　another　cabin　looming　ahead。　The　woman　started　to　shriek　a　warning；　but　Balthus　stopped　her。　He　hurried　to　the　door　and　knocked。　A　woman's　voice　answered　him。　He　repeated　his　warning；　and　soon　the　cabin　disgorged　its　occupants…an　old　woman；　two　young　women；　and　four　children。　Like　the　other　woman's　husband；　their　men　had　gone　to　the　salt　licks　the　day　before；　unsuspecting　of　any　danger。　One　of　the　young　women　seemed　dazed；　the　other　prone　to　hysteria。　But　the　old　woman；　a　stern　old　veteran　of　the　frontier；　quieted　them　harshly；　she　helped　Balthus　get　out　the　two　horses　that　were　stabled　in　a　pen　behind　the　cabin　and　put　the　children　on　them。　Balthus　urged　that　she　herself　mount　with　them；　but　she　shook　her　head　and　made　one　of　the　younger　women　ride。
　　〃She's　with　child；〃　grunted　the　old　woman。　〃I　can　walk…and　fight；　too；　if　it　es　to　that。〃
　　As　they　set　out；　one　of　the　young　women　said：　〃A　young　couple　passed　along　the　road　about　dusk；　we　advised　them　to　spend　the　night　at　our　cabin；　but　they　were　anxious　to　make　the　fort　tonight。　Did…did…〃
　　〃They　met　the　Picts；〃　answered　Balthus　briefly；　and　the　woman　sobbed　in　horror。
　　They　were　scarcely　out　of　sight　of　the　cabin　when　some　distance　behind　them　quavered　a　long　high…pitched　yell。
　　〃A　wolf！〃　exclaimed　one　of　the　women。
　　〃A　painted　wolf　with　an　ax　in　his　hand；〃　muttered　Balthus。　〃Go！　Rouse　the　other　settlers　along　the　road　and　take　them　with　you。　I'll　scout　along　behind。〃
　　Without　a　word　the　old　woman　herded　her　charges　ahead　of　her。　As　they　faded　into　the　darkness；　Balthus　could　see　the　pale…ovals　that　were　the　faces　of　the　children　twisted　back　over　their　shoulders　to　stare　toward　him。　He　remembered　his　own　people　on　the　Tauran　and　a　moment's　giddy　sickness　swam　over　him。　With　momentary　weakness　he　groaned　and　sank　down　in　the　road；　his　muscular　arm　fell　over　Slasher's　massive　neck　and　he　felt　the　dog's　warm　moist　tongue　touch　his　face。
　　He　lifted　his　head　and　grinned　with　a　painful　effort。
　　〃e　on；　boy；〃　he　mumbled；　rising。　〃We've　got　work　to　do。〃
　　A　red　glow　suddenly　became　evident　through　the　trees。　The　Picts　had　fired　the　last　hut。　He　grinned。　How　Zogar　Sag　would　froth　if　he　knew　his　warriors　had　let　their　destructive　natures　get　the　better　of　them。　The　fire　would　warn　the　people　farther　up　the　road。　They　would　be　awake　and　alert　when　the　fugitives　reached　them。　But　his　face　grew　grim。　The　women　were　traveling　slowly；　on　foot　and　on　the　overloaded　horses。　The　swift…footed　Picts　would　run　them　down　within　a　mile；　unless…he　took　his　position　behind　a　tangle　of　fallen　logs　beside　the　trail。　The　road　west　of　him　was　lighted　by　the　burning　cabin；　and　when　the　Picts　came　he　saw　them　first…black　furtive　figures　etched　against　the　distant　glare。
　　Drawing　a　shaft　to　the　head；　he　loosed　and　one　of　the　figures　crumpled。　The　rest　melted　into　the　woods　on　either　side　of　the　road。　Slasher　whimpered　with　the　killing　lust　beside　him。　Suddenly　a　figure　appeared　on　the　fringe　of　the　trail；　under　the　trees；　and　began　gliding　toward　the　fallen　timbers。　Balthus'　bow…string　twanged　and　the　Pict　yelped；　staggered　and　fell　into　the　shadows　with　the　arrow　through　his　thigh。　Slasher　cleared　the　timbers　with　a　bound　and　leaped　into　the　bushes。　They　were　violently　shaken　and　then　the　dog　slunk　back　to　Balthus'　side；　his　jaws　crimson。
　　No　more　appeared　in　the　trail；　Balthus　began　to　fear　they　were　stealing　past　his　position　through　the　woods；　and　when　he　heard　a　faint　sound　to　his　left　he　loosed　blindly。　He　cursed　as　he　heard　the　shaft　splinter　against　a　tree；　but　Slasher　glided　away　as　silently　as　a　phantom；　and　presently　Balthus　heard　a　thrashing　and　a　gurgling；　then　Slasher　came　like　a　ghost　through　the　bushes；　snuggling　his　great；　crimson…stained　head　against　Balthus'　arm。　Blood　oozed　from　a　gash　in　his　shoulder；　but　the　sounds　in　the　wood　had　ceased　for　ever。
　　The　men　lurking　on　the　edges　of　the　road　evidently　sensed　the　fate　of　their　panion；　and　decided　that　an　open　charge　was　preferable　to　being　dragged　down　in　the　dark　by　a　devil…beast　they　could　neither　see　nor　hear。　Perhaps　they　realized　that　only　one　man　lay　behind　the　logs。　They　came　with　a　sudden　rush；　breaking　cover　from　both　sides　of　the　trail。　Three　dropped　with　arrows　through　them…and　the　remaining　pair　hesitated。　One　turned　and　ran　back　down　the　road；　but　the　other　lunged　over　the　breastwork；　his　eyes　and　teeth　gleaming　in　the　dim　light；　his　ax　lifted。　Balthus'　foot　slipped　as　he　sprang　up；　but　the　slip　saved　his　life。　The　descending　ax　shaved　a　lock　of　hair　from　his　head；　and　the　Pict　rolled　down　the　logs　from　the　force　of　his　wasted　blow。　Before　he　could　regain　his　feet　Slasher　tore　his　throat　out。
　　Then　followed　a　tense　period　of　waiting；　in　which　time　Balthus　wondered　if　the　man　who　had　fled　had　been　the　only　survivor　of　the　party。　Obviously　it　had　been　a　small　band　that　had　either　left　the　fighting　at　the　fort；　or　was　scouting　ahead　of　the　main　body。　Each　moment　that　passed　increased　the　chances　for　safety　of　the　women　and　children　hurrying　toward　Velithum。
　　Then　without　warning　a　shower　of　arrows　whistled　over　his　retreat。　A　wild　howling　rose　from　the　woods　along　the　trail。　Either　the　survivor　had　gone　after　aid；　or　another　party　had　joined　the　first。　The　burning　cabin　still　smoldered；　lending　a　little　light。　Then　they　were　after　him；　gliding　through　the　trees　beside　the　trail。　He　shot　three　arrows　and　threw　the　bow　away。　As　if　sensing　his　plight；　they　came　on；