rh.conanthewarrior-第6部分

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ned　upon　a　balustraded　gallery　that　overhung　a　hall　much　smaller　than　the　one　they　had　recently　explored　on　the　lower　floor。
　　〃Hell！〃　Valeria　sat　down　disgustedly　on　a　jade　bench。　〃The　people　who　deserted　this　city　must　have　taken　all　their　treasures　with　them。　I'm　tired　of　wandering　through　these　bare　rooms　at　random。〃
　　〃All　these　upper　chambers　seem　to　be　lighted；〃　said　Conan。　〃I　wish　we　could　find　a　window　that　overlooked　the　city。　Let's　have　a　look　through　that　door　over　there。〃
　　〃You　have　a　look；〃　advised　Valeria。　〃I'm　going　to　sit　here　and　rest　my　feet。〃
　　Conan　disappeared　through　the　door　opposite　that　one　opening　upon　the　gallery；　and　Valeria　leaned　back　with　her　hands　clasped　behind　her　head；　and　thrust　her　booted　legs　out　in　front　of　her。　These　silent　rooms　and　halls　with　their　gleaming　green　clusters　of　ornaments　and　burning　crimson　floors　were　beginning　to　depress　her。　She　wished　they　could　find　their　way　out　of　the　maze　into　which　they　had　wandered　and　emerge　into　a　street。　She　wondered　idly　what　furtive；　dark　feet　had　glided　over　those　flaming　floors　in　past　centuries；　how　many　deeds　of　cruelty　and　mystery　those　wrinking　ceiling…gems　had　blazed　down　upon。
　　It　was　a　faint　noise　that　brought　her　out　of　her　reflections。　She　was　on　her　feet　with　her　sword　in　her　hand　before　she　realized　what　had　disturbed　her。　Conan　had　not　returned；　and　she　knew　it　was　not　he　that　she　had　heard。
　　The　sound　had　e　from　somewhere　beyond　the　door　that　opened　on　to　the　gallery。　Soundlessly　in　her　soft　leather　boots　she　glided　through　it；　crept　across　the　balcony　and　peered　down　between　the　heavy　balustrades。
　　A　man　was　stealing　along　the　hall。
　　The　sight　of　a　human　being　in　this　supposedly　deserted　city　was　a　startling　shock。　Crouching　down　behind　the　stone　balusters；　with　every　nerve　tingling；　Valeria　glared　down　at　the　stealthy　figure。
　　The　man　in　no　way　resembled　the　figures　depicted　on　the　friezes。　He　was　slightly　above　middle　height；　very　dark；　though　not　Negroid。　He　was　naked　but　for　a　scanty　silk　clout　that　only　partly　covered　his　muscular　hips；　and　a　leather　girdle；　a　hand's　breadth　broad；　about　his　lean　waist。　His　long　black　hair　hung　in　lank　strands　about　his　shoulders；　giving　him　a　wild　appearance。　He　was　gaunt；　but　knots　and　cords　of　muscles　stood　out　on　his　arms　and　legs；　without　that　fleshy　padding　that　presents　a　pleasing　symmetry　of　contour。　He　was　built　with　an　economy　that　was　almost　repellent。
　　Yet　it　was　not　so　much　his　physical　appearance　as　his　attitude　that　impressed　the　woman　who　watched　him。　He　slunk　along；　stooped　in　a　semi…crouch；　his　head　turning　from　side　to　side。　He　grasped　a　wide…tipped　blade　in　his　right　hand　and　she　saw　it　shake　with　the　intensity　of　the　emotion　that　gripped　him。　He　was　afraid；　trembling　in　the　grip　of　some　dire　terror。　When　he　turned　his　head　she　caught　the　blaze　of　wild　eyes　among　the　lank　strands　of　black　hair。
　　He　did　not　see　her。　On　tiptoe　he　glided　across　the　hall　and　vanished　through　an　open　door。　A　moment　later　she　heard　a　choking　cry；　and　then　silence　fell　again。
　　Consumed　with　curiosity；　Valeria　glided　along　the　gallery　until　she　came　to　a　door　above　the　one　through　which　the　man　had　passed。　It　opened　into　another；　smaller　gallery　that　encircled　a　large　chamber。
　　This　chamber　was　on　the　third　floor；　and　its　ceiling　was　not　so　high　as　that　of　the　hall。　It　was　lighted　only　by　the　fire…stones；　and　their　weird　green　glow　left　the　spaces　under　the　balcony　in　shadows。
　　Valeria's　eyes　widened。　The　man　she　had　seen　was　still　in　the　chamber。
　　He　lay　face　down　on　a　dark　crimson　carpet　in　the　middle　of　the　room。　His　body　was　limp；　his　arms　spread　wide。　His　curved　sword　lay　near　him。
　　She　wondered　why　he　should　lie　there　so　motionless。　Then　her　eyes　narrowed　as　she　stared　down　at　the　rug　on　which　he　lay。　Beneath　and　about　him　the　fabric　showed　a　slightly　different　color；　a　deeper；　brighter　crimson。
　　Shivering　slightly；　she　crouched　down　closer　behind　the　balustrade；　intently　scanning　the　shadows　under　the　overhanging　gallery。　They　gave　up　no　secret。
　　Suddenly　another　figure　entered　the　grim　drama。　He　was　a　man　similar　to　the　first；　and　he　came　in　by　a　door　opposite　that　which　gave　upon　the　hall。
　　His　eyes　glared　at　the　sight　of　the　man　on　the　floor；　and　he　spoke　something　in　a　staccato　voice　that　sounded　like　〃Chicmec！〃　The　other　did　not　move。
　　The　man　stepped　quickly　across　the　floor；　bent；　gripped　the　fallen　man's　shoulder　and　turned　him　over。　A　choking　cry　escaped　him　as　the　head　fell　back　limply；　disclosing　a　throat　that　had　been　severed　from　ear　to　ear。
　　The　man　let　the　corpse　fall　back　upon　the　blood…stained　carpet；　and　sprang　to　his　feet；　shaking　like　a　windblown　leaf。　His　face　was　an　ashy　mask　of　fear。　But　with　one　knee　flexed　for　flight；　he　froze　suddenly；　became　as　immobile　as　an　image；　staring　across　the　chamber　with　dilated　eyes。
　　In　the　shadows　beneath　the　balcony　a　ghostly　light　began　to　glow　and　grow；　a　light　that　was　not　part　of　the　fire…stone　gleam。　Valeria　felt　her　hair　stir　as　she　watched　it；　for；　dimly　visible　in　the　throbbing　radiance；　there　floated　a　human　skull；　and　it　was　from　this　skull…human　yet　appallingly　misshapen…that　the　spectral　light　seemed　to　emanate。　It　hung　there　like　a　disembodied　head；　conjured　out　of　night　and　the　shadows；　growing　more　and　more　distinct；　human；　and　yet　not　human　as　she　knew　humanity。
　　The　man　stood　motionless；　an　embodiment　of　paralyzed　horror；　staring　fixedly　at　the　apparition。　The　thing　moved　out　from　the　wall　and　a　grotesque　shadows　moved　with　it。　Slowly　the　shadow　became　visible　as　a　man…like　figure　whose　naked　torso　and　limbs　shone　whitely；　with　the　hue　of　bleached　bones。　The　bare　skull　on　its　shoulders　grinned　eyelessly；　in　the　midst　of　its　unholy　nimbus；　and　the　man　confronting　it　seemed　unable　to　take　his　eyes　from　it。　He　stood　still；　his　sword　dangling　from　nerveless　fingers；　on　his　face　the　expression　of　a　man　bound　by　the　spells　of　a　mesmerist。
　　Valeria　realized　that　it　was　not　fear　alone　that　paralyzed　him。　Some　hellish　quality　of　that　throbbing　glow　had　robbed　him　of　his　power　to　think　and　act。　She　herself；　safely　above　the　scene；　felt　the　subtle　impact　of　a　nameless　emanation　that　was　a　threat　to　sanity。
　　The　horror　swept　toward　its　victim　and　he　moved　at　last；　but　only　to　drop　his　sword　and　sink　to　his　knees；　covering　his　eyes　with　his　hands。　Dumbly　he　awaited　the　stroke　of　the　blade　that　now　gleamed　in　the　apparition's　hand　as　it　reared　above　him　like　Death　triumphant　over　mankind。
　　Valeria　acted　according　to　the　first　impulse　of　her　wayward　nature。　With　one　tigerish　movement　she　was　over　the　balustrade　and　dropping　to　the　floor　behind　the　awful　shape。　It　wheeled　at　the　thud　of　her　soft　boots　on　the　floor；　but　even　as　it　turned；　her　keen　blade　lashed　down　and　a　fierce　exultation　swept　her　as　she　felt　the　edge　cleave　solid　flesh　and　mortal　bone。
　　The　apparition　cried　out　gurglingly　and　went　down；　severed　through　the　shoulder；　breastbone　and　spine；　and　as　it　fell　the　burning　skull　rolled　clear；　revealing　a　lank　mop　of　black　hair　and　a　dark　face　twisted　in　the　convulsions　of　death。　Beneath　the　horrific　masquerade　there　was　a　human　being；　a　man　similar　to　the　one　kneeling　supinely　on　the　floor。
　　The　latter　looked　up　at　the　sound　of　the　blow　and　the　cry；　and　now　he　glared　in　wild…eyes　amazement　at　the　whiteskinned　woman　who　stood　over　the　corpse　with　a　dripping　sword　in　her　hand。
　　He　staggered　up；　yammering　as　if　the　sight　had　almost　unseated　his　reason。　She　was　amazed　to　realize　that　she　understood　him。　He　was　gibbering　in　the　Stygian　tongue；　though　in　a　dialect　unfamiliar　to　her。
　　〃Who　are　you？　Whence　e　you？　What　do　you　in　Xuchotl？〃　Then　rushing　on；　without　waiting　for　her　to　reply：　〃But　you　are　a　friend…goddess　or　devil；　it　makes　no　difference！　You　have　slain　the　Burning　Skull！　It　was　but　a　man　beneath　it；　after　all！　We　deemed　it　a　demon　they　conjured　up　out　of　the　catabs！　Listen！〃
　　He　stopped　short　in　his　ravings　and　stiffened；　straining　his　ears　with　painful　intensity。　The　girl　heard　nothing。
　　〃We　must　hasten！〃　he　whispered。　〃They　are　west　of　the　Great　Hall！　They　may　be　all　around　us　here！　They　may　be　creeping　upon　us　even　now！〃
　　He　seized　her　wrist　in　a　convulsive　grasp　she　found　hard　to　break。
　　〃Whom　do　you　mean　by　'they？'〃　she　demanded。
　　He　stared　at　her　unprehendingly　for　an　instant；　as　if　he　found　her　ignorance　hard　to　understand。
　　〃They？〃　he　stammered　vaguely。　〃Why…why；　the　people　of　Xotalanc！　The　clan　of　the　man　you　slew。　They　who　dwell　by　the　eastern　gate。〃
　　〃You　mean　to　say　this　city　is　inhabited？〃　she　exclaimed。
　　〃Aye！　Aye！〃　He　was　writhing　in　the　impatience　of　apprehension。　〃e　away！　e　quick！　We　must　return　to　Tecuhltli！〃
　　〃Where　is　that？〃　she　demanded。
　　〃The　quarter　by　the　western　gate！〃　He　had　her　wrist　again　and　was　pulling　her　toward　the　door　through　which　he　had　first　e。　Great　beads　of　perspiration　dripped　from　his　dark　forehead；　and　his　eyes　blazed　with　terror。
　　〃Wait　a　minute！〃　she　growled；　flinging　off　his　hand。　〃Keep　your　hands　off　me；　or　I'll　split　your　skull。　What's　all　this　about？　Who　are　you？　Where　would　you　take　me？〃
　　He　took　a　firm　grip　on　himself；　casting　glances　to　all　sides；　and　began　speaking　so　fast　his　words　tripped　over　each　other。
　　〃My　name　is　Techotl。　I　am　of　Techultli。　I　and　this　man　who　lies　with　his　throat　cut　came　into　the　Halls　of　Silence　to　try　and　ambush　some　of　the　Xotalancas。　But　we　became　separated　and　I　returned　here　to　find　him　with　his　gullet　slit。　The　Burning　Skull　did　it；　I　know；　just　as　he　would　have　slain　me　had　you　not　killed　him。　But　perhaps　he　was　not　alone。　Others　may　be　stealing　from　Xotalanc！　The　gods　themselves　blench　at　the　fate　of　those　they　take　alive！〃
　　At　the　thought　he　shook　as　with　a　ague　and　his　dark　skin　grew　ashy。　Valeria　frowned　puzzledly　at　him。　She　sensed　intelligence　behind　this　rigmarole；　but　it　was　meaningless　to　her。
　　She　turned　toward　the　skull；　which　still　glowed　and　pulsed　on　the　floor；　and　was　reaching　a　booted　toe　tentatively　toward　it；　when　the　man　who　called　himself　Techotl　sprang　forward　with　a　cry。
　　〃Do　not　touch　it！　Do　not　even　look　at　it！　Madness　and　death　lurk　in　it。　Th