rh.conanthewarrior-第7部分

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　forward　with　a　cry。
　　〃Do　not　touch　it！　Do　not　even　look　at　it！　Madness　and　death　lurk　in　it。　The　wizards　of　Xotalanc　understand　its　secret…they　found　it　in　the　catabs；　where　lie　the　bones　of　terrible　kings　who　ruled　in　Xuchotl　in　the　black　centuries　of　the　past。　To　gaze　upon　it　freezes　the　blood　and　withers　the　brain　of　a　man　who　understands　not　its　mystery。　To　touch　it　causes　madness　and　destruction。〃
　　She　scowled　at　him　uncertainly。　He　was　not　a　reassuring　figure；　with　his　lean；　muscle…knotted　frame；　and　snaky　locks。　In　his　eyes；　behind　the　glow　of　terror；　lurked　a　weird　light　she　had　never　seen　in　the　eyes　of　a　man　wholly　sane。　Yet　he　seemed　sincere　in　his　protestations。
　　〃e！〃　he　begged；　reaching　for　her　hand；　and　then　recoiling　as　he　remembered　her　warning。　〃You　are　a　stranger。　How　you　came　here　I　do　not　know；　but　if　you　were　a　goddess　or　a　demon；　e　to　aid　Tecuhltli；　you　would　know　all　the　things　you　have　asked　me。　You　must　be　from　beyond　the　great　forest；　whence　our　ancestors　came。　But　you　are　our　friend；　or　you　would　not　have　slain　my　enemy。　e　quickly；　before　the　Xotalancas　find　us　and　slay　us！〃
　　From　his　repellent；　impassioned　face　she　glanced　to　the　sinister　skull；　smoldering　and　glowing　on　the　floor　near　the　dead　man。　It　was　like　a　skull　seen　in　a　dream；　undeniably　human；　yet　with　disturbing　distortions　and　malformations　of　contour　and　outline。　In　life　the　wearer　of　that　skull　must　have　presented　an　alien　and　monstrous　aspect。　Life？　It　seemed　to　possess　some　sort　of　life　of　its　own。　Its　jaws　yawned　at　her　and　snapped　together。　Its　radiance　grew　brighter；　more　vivid；　yet　the　impression　of　nightmare　grew　too；　it　was　a　dream；　all　life　was　a　dream…it　was　Techotl's　urgent　voice　which　snapped　Valeria　back　from　the　dim　gulfs　whither　she　was　drifting。
　　〃Do　not　look　at　the　skull！　Do　not　look　at　the　skull！〃　It　was　a　far　cry　from　across　unreckoned　voids。
　　Valeria　shook　herself　like　a　lion　shaking　his　mane。　Her　vision　cleared。　Techotl　was　chattering：　〃In　life　it　housed　the　awful　brain　of　a　king　of　magicians！　It　holds　still　the　life　and　fire　of　magic　drawn　from　outer　spaces！〃
　　With　a　curse　Valeria　leaped；　lithe　as　a　panther；　and　the　skull　crashed　to　flaming　bits　under　her　swinging　sword。　Somewhere　in　the　room；　or　in　the　void；　or　in　the　dim　reaches　of　her　consciousness；　an　inhuman　voice　cried　out　in　pain　and　rage。
　　Techotl's　hand　was　plucking　at　her　arm　and　he　was　gibbering：　〃You　have　broken　it！　You　have　destroyed　it！　Not　all　the　black　arts　of　Xotalanc　can　rebuild　it！　e　away！　e　away　quickly；　now！〃
　　〃But　I　can't　go；〃　she　protested。　〃I　have　a　friend　somewhere　near　by…〃
　　The　flare　of　his　eyes　cut　her　short　as　he　stared　past　her　with　an　expression　grown　ghastly。　She　wheeled　just　as　four　men　rushed　through　as　many　doors；　converging　on　the　pair　in　the　center　of　the　chamber。
　　They　were　like　the　others　she　had　seen；　the　same　knotted　muscles　bulging　on　otherwise　gaunt　limbs；　the　same　lank　blue…black　hair；　the　same　mad　glare　in　their　wild　eyes。　They　were　armed　and　clad　like　Techotl；　but　on　the　breast　of　each　was　painted　a　white　skull。
　　There　were　no　challenges　or　war　cries。　Like　blood…mad　tigers　the　men　of　Xotalanc　sprang　at　the　throats　of　their　enemies。　Techotl　met　them　with　the　fury　of　desperation；　ducked　the　swipe　of　a　wide…headed　blade；　and　grappled　with　the　wielder；　and　bore　him　to　the　floor　where　they　rolled　and　wrestled　in　murderous　silence。
　　The　other　three　swarmed　on　Valeria；　their　weird　eyes　red　as　the　eyes　of　mad　dogs。
　　She　killed　the　first　who　came　within　reach　before　he　could　strike　a　blow；　her　long　straight　blade　splitting　his　skull　even　as　his　own　sword　lifted　for　a　stroke。　She　side…stepped　a　thrust；　even　as　she　parried　a　slash。　Her　eyes　danced　and　her　lips　smiled　without　mercy。　Again　she　was　Valeria　of　the　Red　Brotherhood；　and　the　hum　of　her　steel　was　like　a　bridal　song　in　her　ears。
　　Her　sword　darted　past　a　blade　that　sought　to　parry；　and　sheathed　six　inches　of　its　point　in　a　leather…guarded　midriff。　The　man　gasped　agonizedly　and　went　to　his　knees；　but　his　tall　mate　lunged　in；　in　ferocious　silence；　raining　blow　on　blow　so　furiously　that　Valeria　had　no　opportunity　to　counter。　She　stepped　back　coolly；　parrying　the　strokes　and　watching　for　her　chance　to　thrust　home。　He　could　not　long　keep　up　that　flailing　whirlwind。　His　arm　would　tire；　his　wind　would　fail；　he　would　weaken；　falter；　and　then　her　blade　would　slide　smoothly　into　his　heart。　A　sidelong　glance　showed　her　Techotl　kneeling　on　the　breast　of　his　antagonist　and　striving　to　break　the　other's　hold　on　his　wrist　and　to　drive　home　a　dagger。
　　Sweat　beaded　the　forehead　of　the　man　facing　her；　and　his　eyes　were　like　burning　coals。　Smite　as　he　would；　he　could　not　break　past　nor　beat　down　her　guard。　His　breath　came　in　gusty　gulps；　his　blows　began　to　fall　erratically。　She　stepped　back　to　draw　him　out…and　felt　her　thighs　locked　in　an　iron　grip。　She　had　forgotten　the　wounded　man　on　the　floor。
　　Crouching　on　his　knees；　he　held　her　with　both　arms　locked　about　her　legs；　and　his　mate　croaked　in　triumph　and　began　working　his　way　around　to　e　at　her　from　the　left　side。　Valeria　wrenched　and　tore　savagely；　but　in　vain。　She　could　free　herself　of　this　clinging　menace　with　a　downward　flick　of　her　sword；　but　in　that　instant　the　curved　blade　of　the　tall　warrior　would　crash　through　her　skull。　The　wounded　man　began　to　worry　at　her　bare　thigh　with　his　teeth　like　a　wild　beast。
　　She　reached　down　with　her　left　hand　and　gripped　his　long　hair；　forcing　his　head　back　so　that　his　white　teeth　and　rolling　eyes　gleamed　up　at　her。　The　tall　Xotalanc　cried　out　fiercely　and　leaped　in；　smiting　with　all　the　fury　of　his　arm。　Awkwardly　she　parried　the　stroke；　and　it　beat　the　flat　of　her　blade　down　on　her　head　so　that　she　saw　sparks　flash　before　her　eyes；　and　staggered。　Up　went　the　sword　again；　with　a　low；　beast…like　cry　of　triumph…and　then　a　giant　form　loomed　behind　the　Xotalanc　and　steel　flashed　like　a　jet　of　blue　lightning。　The　cry　of　the　warrior　broke　short　and　he　went　down　like　an　ox　beneath　the　pole…ax；　his　brains　gushing　from　his　skull　that　had　been　split　to　the　throat。
　　〃Conan！〃　gasped　Valeria。　In　a　gust　of　passion　she　turned　on　the　Xotalanc　whose　long　hair　she　still　gripped　in　her　left　hand。　〃Dog　of　hell！〃　Her　blade　swished　as　it　cut　the　air　in　an　upswinging　arc　with　a　blur　in　the　middle；　and　the　headless　body　slumped　down；　spurting　blood。　She　hurled　the　severed　head　across　the　room。
　　〃What　the　devil's　going　on　here？〃　Conan　bestrode　the　corpse　of　the　man　he　had　killed；　broadsword　in　hand；　glaring　about　him　in　amazement。
　　Techotl　was　rising　from　the　twitching　figure　of　the　last　Xotalanc；　shaking　red　drops　from　his　dagger。　He　was　bleeding　from　the　stab　deep　in　the　thigh。　He　stared　at　Conan　with　dilated　eyes。
　　〃What　is　all　this？〃　Conan　demanded　again；　not　yet　recovered　from　the　stunning　surprise　of　finding　Valeria　engaged　in　a　savage　battle　with　this　fantastic　figures　in　a　city　he　had　thought　empty　and　uninhabited。　Returning　from　an　aimless　exploration　of　the　upper　chambers　to　find　Valeria　missing　from　the　room　where　he　had　left　her；　he　had　followed　the　sounds　of　strife　that　burst　on　his　dumfounded　ears。
　　〃Five　dead　dogs！〃　exclaimed　Techotl；　his　flaming　eyes　reflecting　a　ghastly　exultation。　〃Five　slain！　Five　crimson　nails　for　the　black　pillar！　The　gods　of　blood　be　thanked！〃
　　He　lifed　quivering　hands　on　high；　and　then；　with　the　face　of　a　fiend；　he　spat　on　the　corpses　and　stamped　on　their　faces；　dancing　in　his　ghoulish　glee。　His　recent　allies　eyed　him　in　amazement；　and　Conan　asked；　in　the　Aquilonian　tongue：　〃Who　is　this　madman？〃
　　Valeria　shrugged　her　shoulders。
　　〃He　says　his　name's　Techotl。　From　his　babblings　I　gather　that　his　people　live　at　one　end　of　this　crazy　city；　and　these　others　at　the　other　end。　Maybe　we'd　better　go　with　him。　He　seems　friendly；　and　it's　easy　to　see　that　the　other　clan　isn't。〃
　　Techotl　had　ceased　his　dancing　and　was　listening　again；　his　head　tilted　sidewise；　dog…like；　triumph　struggling　with　fear　in　his　repellent　countenance。
　　〃e　away；　now！〃　he　whispered。　〃We　have　done　enough！　Five　dead　dogs！　My　people　will　wele　you！　They　will　honor　you！　But　e！　It　is　far　to　Tecuhltli。　At　any　moment　the　Xotalancs　may　e　on　us　in　numbers　too　great　even　for　your　swords。〃
　　〃Lead　the　way；〃　grunted　Conan。
　　Techotl　instantly　mounted　a　stair　leading　up　to　the　gallery；　beckoning　them　to　follow　him；　which　they　did；　moving　rapidly　to　keep　on　his　heels。　Having　reached　the　gallery；　he　plunged　into　a　door　that　opened　toward　the　west；　and　hurried　through　chamber　after　chamber；　each　lighted　by　skylights　or　green　fire…jewels。
　　〃What　sort　of　place　can　this　be？〃　muttered　Valeria　under　her　breath。
　　〃Crom　knows！〃　answered　Conan。　〃I've　seen　his　kind　before；　though。　They　live　on　the　shores　of　Lake　Zuad；　near　the　border　of　Kush。　They're　a　sort　of　mongrel　Stygians；　mixed　with　another　race　that　wandered　into　Stygia　from　the　east　some　centuries　ago　and　were　absorbed　by　them。　They're　called　Tlazitlans。　I'm　willing　to　bet　it　wasn't　they　who　built　this　city；　though。〃
　　Techotl's　fear　did　not　sem　to　diminish　as　they　drew　away　from　the　chamber　where　the　dead　men　lay。　He　kept　twisting　his　head　on　his　shoulder　to　listen　for　sounds　of　pursuit；　and　stared　with　burning　intensity　into　every　doorway　they　passed。
　　Valeria　shivered　in　spite　of　herself。　She　feared　no　man。　But　the　weird　floor　beneath　her　feet；　the　uncanny　jewels　over　her　head；　dividing　the　lurking　shadows　among　them；　the　stealth　and　terror　of　their　guide；　impressed　her　with　a　nameless　apprehension；　a　sensation　of　lurking；　inhuman　peril。
　　〃They　may　be　between　us　and　Tecuhltli！〃　he　whispered　once。　〃We　must　beware　lest　they　be　lying　in　wait！〃
　　〃Why　don't　we　get　out　of　this　infernal　palace；　and　take　to　the　streets？〃　demanded　Valeria。
　　〃There　are　no　streets　in　Xuchotl；〃　he　answered。　〃No　squares　nor　open　courts。　The　whole　city　is　built　like　one　giant　palace　under　one　great　roof。　The　nearest　approach　to　a　street　is　the　Great　Hall　which　traverses　the　city　from　the　north　gate　to　the　south　gate。　The　only　doors　opening　into　the　outer　world　are　the　city　gates；　through　which　no　living　man　has　passed　for　fifty　years。〃
　　〃How　long　have　you　dwelt　here？〃　asked　Conan。
　　〃I