rh.conanthewarrior-第4部分

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　impossible　for　him　to　experience　the　sick　horror　which　assailed　Valeria　at　the　sight　of　the　brute's　ferocity。
　　He　sat　watching　it　tranquilly；　and　pointed　out　the　various　changes　that　were　taking　place　in　its　voice　and　actions。
　　〃The　poison's　taking　hold；〃　he　said　with　conviction。
　　〃I　don't　believe　it。〃　To　Valeria　it　seemed　preposterous　to　suppose　that　anything；　however　lethal；　could　have　any　effect　on　that　mountain　of　muscle　and　fury。
　　〃There's　pain　in　his　voice；〃　declared　Conan。　〃First　he　was　merely　angry　because　of　the　stinging　in　his　jaw。　Now　he　feels　the　bite　of　the　poison。　Look！　He's　staggering。　He'll　be　blind　in　a　few　more　minutes。　What　did　I　tell　you？〃
　　For　suddenly　the　dragon　had　lurched　about　and　went　crashing　off　through　the　bushes。
　　〃Is　he　running　away？〃　inquired　Valeria　uneasily。
　　〃He's　making　for　the　pool！〃　Conan　sprang　up；　galvanized　into　swift　activity。　〃The　poison　makes　him　thirsty。　e　on！　He'll　be　blind　in　a　few　moments；　but　he　can　smell　his　way　back　to　the　foot　of　the　crag；　and　if　our　scent's　here　still；　he'll　sit　there　until　he　dies。　And　others　of　his　kind　may　e　at　his　cries。　Let's　go！〃
　　〃Down　there？〃　Valeria　was　aghast。
　　〃Sure！　We'll　make　for　the　city！　They　may　cut　our　heads　off　there；　but　it's　our　only　chance。　We　may　run　into　a　thousand　more　dragons　on　the　way；　but　it's　sure　death　to　stay　here。　If　we　wait　until　he　dies；　we　may　have　a　dozen　more　to　deal　with。　After　me；　in　a　hurry！〃
　　He　went　down　the　ramp　as　swiftly　as　an　ape；　pausing　only　to　aid　his　less　agile　panion；　who；　until　she　saw　the　Cimmerian　climb；　had　fancied　herself　the　equal　of　any　man　in　the　rigging　of　a　ship　or　on　the　sheer　face　of　a　cliff。
　　They　descended　into　the　gloom　below　the　branches　and　slid　to　the　ground　silently；　though　Valeria　felt　as　if　the　pounding　of　her　heart　must　surely　be　heard　from　far　away。　A　noisy　gurgling　and　lapping　beyond　the　dense　thicket　indicated　that　the　dragon　was　drinking　at　the　pool。
　　〃As　soon　as　his　belly　is　full　he'll　be　back；〃　muttered　Conan。　〃It　may　take　hours　for　the　poison　to　kill　him…if　it　does　at　all。〃
　　Somewhere　beyond　the　forest　the　sun　was　sinking　to　the　horizon。　The　forest　was　a　misty　twilight　place　of　black　shadows　and　dim　vistas。　Conan　gripped　Valeria's　wrist　and　glided　away　from　the　foot　of　the　crag。　He　made　less　noise　than　a　breeze　blowing　among　the　tree　trunks；　but　Valeria　felt　as　if　her　soft　boots　were　betraying　their　flight　to　all　the　forest。
　　〃I　don't　think　he　can　follow　a　trail；〃　muttered　Conan。　〃But　if　a　wind　blew　our　body　scent　to　him；　he　could　smell　us　out。〃
　　〃Mitra；　grant　that　the　wind　blow　not！〃　Valeria　breathed。
　　Her　face　was　a　pallid　oval　in　the　gloom。　She　gripped　her　sword　in　her　free　hand；　but　the　feel　of　the　shagreen…bound　hilt　inspired　only　a　feeling　of　helplessness　in　her。
　　They　were　still　some　distance　from　the　edge　of　the　forest　when　they　heard　a　snapping　and　crashing　behind　them。　Valeria　bit　her　lip　to　check　a　cry。
　　〃He's　on　our　trail！〃　she　whispered　fiercely。
　　Conan　shook　his　head。
　　〃He　didn't　smell　us　at　the　rock；　and　he's　blundering　about　through　the　forest　trying　to　pick　up　our　scent。　e　on！　It's　the　city　or　nothing　now！　He　could　tear　down　any　tree　we'd　climb。　If　only　the　wind　stays　down…〃
　　They　stole　on　until　the　trees　began　to　thin　out　ahead　of　them。　Behind　them　the　forest　was　a　black　impenetrable　ocean　of　shadows。　The　ominous　crackling　still　sounded　behind　them；　as　the　dragon　blundered　in　his　erratic　course。
　　〃There's　the　plain　ahead；〃　breathed　Valeria。　〃A　little　more　and　we'll…〃
　　〃Crom！〃　swore　Conan。
　　〃Mitra！〃　whispered　Valeria。
　　Out　of　the　south　a　wind　had　sprung　up。
　　It　blew　over　them　directly　into　the　black　forest　behind　them。　Instantly　a　horrible　roar　shook　the　woods。　The　aimless　snapping　and　crackling　of　the　bushes　changed　to　a　sustained　crashing　as　the　dragon　came　like　a　hurricane　straight　toward　the　spot　from　which　the　scent　of　his　enemies　was　wafted。
　　〃Run！〃　snarled　Conan；　his　eyes　blazing　like　those　of　a　trapped　wolf。　〃It's　all　we　can　do！〃
　　Sailor's　boots　are　not　made　for　sprinting；　and　the　life　of　a　pirate　does　not　train　one　for　a　runner。　Within　a　hundred　yards　Valeria　was　panting　and　reeling　in　her　gait；　and　behind　them　the　crashing　gave　way　to　a　rolling　thunder　as　the　monster　broke　out　of　the　thickets　and　into　the　more　open　ground。
　　Conan's　iron　arm　about　the　woman's　waist　half　lifted　her；　her　feet　scarcely　touched　the　earth　as　she　was　borne　along　at　a　speed　she　could　never　have　attained　herself。　If　he　could　keep　out　of　the　beast's　way　for　a　bit；　perhaps　that　betraying　wind　would　shift…but　the　wind　held；　and　a　quick　glance　over　his　shoulder　showed　Conan　that　the　monster　was　almost　upon　them；　ing　like　a　war…galley　in　front　of　a　hurricane。　He　thrust　Valeria　from　him　with　a　force　that　sent　her　reeling　a　dozen　feet　to　fall　in　a　crumpled　heap　at　the　foot　of　the　nearest　tree；　and　the　Cimmerian　wheeled　in　the　path　of　the　thundering　titan。
　　Convinced　that　his　death　was　upon　him；　the　Cimmerian　acted　according　to　his　instinct；　and　hurled　himself　full　at　the　awful　face　that　was　bearing　down　on　him。　He　leaped；　slashing　like　a　wildcat；　felt　his　sword　cut　deep　into　the　scales　that　sheathed　the　mighty　snout…and　then　a　terrific　impact　knocked　him　rolling　and　tumbling　for　fifty　feet　with　all　the　wind　and　half　the　life　battered　out　of　him。
　　How　the　stunned　Cimmerian　regained　his　feet；　not　even　he　could　have　ever　told。　But　the　only　thought　that　filled　his　brain　was　of　the　woman　lying　dazed　and　helpless　almost　in　the　path　of　the　hurtling　fiend；　and　before　the　breath　came　whistling　back　into　his　gullet　he　was　standing　over　her　with　his　sword　in　his　hand。
　　She　lay　where　he　had　thrown　her；　but　she　was　struggling　to　a　sitting　posture。　Neither　tearing　tusks　nor　trampling　feet　had　touched　her。　It　had　been　a　shoulder　or　front　leg　that　struck　Conan；　and　blind　monster　rushed　on；　forgetting　the　victims　whose　scent　it　had　been　following；　in　the　sudden　agony　of　its　death　throes。　Headlong　on　its　course　it　thundered　until　its　low…hung　head　crashed　into　a　gigantic　tree　in　its　path。　The　impact　tore　the　tree　up　by　the　roots　and　must　have　dashed　the　brains　from　the　misshapen　skull。　Tree　and　monster　fell　together；　and　the　dazed　humans　saw　the　branches　and　leaves　shaken　by　the　convulsions　of　the　creature　they　covered…and　then　grow　quiet。
　　Conan　lifted　Valeria　to　her　feet　and　together　they　started　away　at　a　reeling　run。　A　few　moments　later　they　emerged　into　the　still　twilight　of　the　treeless　plain。
　　Conan　paused　an　instant　and　glanced　back　at　the　ebon　fastness　behind　them。　Not　a　leaf　stirred；　nor　a　bird　chirped。　It　stood　as　silent　as　it　must　have　stood　before　Man　was　created。
　　〃e　on；〃　muttered　Conan；　taking　his　panion's　hand。　〃It's　touch　and　go　now。　If　more　dragons　e　out　of　the　woods　after　us…〃
　　He　did　not　have　to　finish　the　sentence。
　　The　city　looked　very　far　away　across　the　plain；　farther　than　it　had　looked　from　the　crag。　Valeria's　heart　hammered　until　she　felt　as　if　it　would　strangle　her。　At　every　step　she　expected　to　hear　the　crashing　of　the　bushes　and　see　another　colossal　nightmare　bearing　down　upon　them。　But　nothing　disturbed　the　silence　of　the　thickets。
　　With　the　first　mile　between　them　and　the　woods；　Valeria　breathed　more　easily。　Her　buoyant　self…confidence　began　to　thaw　out　again。　The　sun　had　set　and　darkness　was　gathering　over　the　plain；　lightened　a　little　by　the　stars　that　made　stunted　ghosts　out　of　the　cactus　growths。
　　〃No　cattle；　no　plowed　fields；〃　muttered　Conan。　〃How　do　these　people　live？〃
　　〃Perhaps　the　cattle　are　in　pens　for　the　night；〃　suggested　Valeria；　〃and　the　fields　and　grazing…pastures　are　on　the　other　side　of　the　city。〃
　　〃Maybe；〃　he　grunted。　〃I　didn't　see　any　from　the　crag；　though。〃
　　The　moon　came　up　behind　the　city；　etching　walls　and　towers　blackly　in　the　yellow　glow。　Valeria　shivered。　Black　against　the　moon　the　strange　city　had　a　somber；　sinister　look。
　　Perhaps　something　of　the　same　feeling　occurred　to　Conan；　for　he　stopped；　glanced　about　him；　and　grunted：　〃We'll　stop　here。　No　use　ing　to　their　gates　in　the　night。　They　probably　wouldn't　let　us　in。　Besides；　we　need　rest；　and　we　dont　know　how　they'll　receive　us。　A　few　hours'　sleep　will　put　us　in　better　shape　to　fight　or　run。〃
　　He　led　the　way　to　a　bed　of　cactus　which　grew　in　a　circle…a　phenomenon　mon　to　the　southern　desert。　With　his　sword　he　chopped　an　opening；　and　motioned　Valeria　to　enter。
　　〃We'll　be　safe　from　the　snakes　here；　anyhow。〃
　　She　glanced　fearfully　back　toward　the　black　line　that　indicated　the　forest　some　six　miles　away。
　　〃Suppose　a　dragon　es　out　of　the　woods？〃
　　〃We'll　keep　watch；〃　he　answered；　though　he　made　no　suggestion　as　to　what　they　would　do　in　such　an　event。　He　was　staring　at　the　city；　a　few　miles　away。　Not　a　light　shone　from　spire　or　tower。　A　great　black　mass　of　mystery；　it　reared　cryptically　against　the　moonlit　sky。
　　〃Lie　down　and　sleep。　I'll　keep　the　first　watch。〃
　　She　hesitated；　glancing　at　him　uncertainly；　but　he　sat　down　cross…legged　in　the　opening；　facing　toward　the　plain；　his　sword　across　his　knees；　his　back　to　her。　Without　further　ment　she　lay　down　on　the　sand　inside　the　spiky　circle。
　　〃Wake　me　when　the　moon　is　at　its　zenith；〃　she　directed。
　　He　did　not　reply　nor　look　toward　her。　Her　last　impression；　as　she　sank　into　slumber；　was　of　his　muscular　figure；　immobile　as　a　statue　hewn　out　of　bronze；　outlined　against　the　low…hanging　stars。
　　
　　
　　　2。　　By　the　Blaze　of　the　Fire　Jewels
　　
　　Valeria　awoke　with　a　start；　to　the　realization　that　a　grey　dawn　was　stealing　over　the　plain。
　　She　sat　up；　rubbing　her　eyes。　Conan　squatted　beside　the　cactus；　cutting　off　the　thick　pears　and　dexterously　twitching　out　the　spikes。
　　〃You　didn't　awake　me；〃　she　accused。　〃You　let　me　sleep　all　night！〃
　　〃You　were　tired；〃　he　answered。　〃Your　posterior　must　have　been　sore；　too；　after　that　long　ride。　You　pirates　aren't　used　to　horseback。〃
　　〃What　about　yourself？〃　she　retorted。
　　〃I　was　a　kozak　before　I　was　a　pirate；〃　he　answered。　〃They　live　in　the　saddle。　I　snatch　naps　like　a　panther　watching　beside　the　trail　for　a　deer　to　e　by。　My　ears　keep　watch　while　my　eyes　sleep。〃
　　And　indeed　the　giant　barbarian　seemed　as　much　r