wilbursmith_warlock-第116部分

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e　of　the　goddess　Lostris；　and　you　cannot　stand　against　it。'
　　
　　He　lifted　the　skirt　of　his　chiton。　'I　quench　your　fires；　Marduk；'　he　said；　and　squatting　like　a　woman；　he　urinated　on　the　rock。　It　sizzled　and　steamed　like　a　bar　of　metal　from　the　forge　of　the　coppersmith　drenched　in　the　trough。　'In　the　name　of　the　goddess　Lostris；　Marduk　the　Devourer；　stand　aside　and　let　me　pass。'
　　
　　The　rock　cooled　quickly；　and　as　the　steam　dispersed　he　could　make　out　once　more　the　shadowy　traces　of　the　Mede　beyond　as　they　turned　off　the　track　towards　the　north。　The　veil　that　Ishtar　had　laid　was　pierced　and　torn。　Taita　stepped　through　it　and　set　off　again　after　him。
　　
　　The　horizon　paled　and　the　light　increased　to　a　golden　radiance　in　the　east。　Taita　knew　that　he　was　gaining　steadily；　and　he　strained　his　eyes　ahead　in　the　gathering　light　for　the　first　glimpse　of　his　quarry。　Instead　he　came　to　an　abrupt　halt。　At　his　feet　gaped　a　terrible　abyss；　whose　sheer　sides　dropped　into　darkness　far　below。　No　man　could　scale　those　depths；　and　there　was　no　way　around　this　obstacle。
　　
　　Taita　looked　across　at　the　far　side。　It　was　at　the　very　least　a　thousand　paces　across；　and　the　precipice　was　even　more　daunting　when　seen　from　this　angle。　There　were　vultures　soaring　over　the　bottomless　gulf。　One　of　the　grotesque　birds　circled　in　to　alight　on　its　shaggy　nest　of　sticks　and　twigs　built　on　a　ledge　high　in　the　opposite　cliff　face。
　　
　　Taita　shook　his　head　with　admiration。　'Wonderful；　Ishtar！'　he　murmured。　'Even　the　vultures。　That　was　a　masterful　touch。　I　could　not　have　improved　upon　it；　but　such　an　effort　called　for　a　great　expenditure　of　strength。　It　must　have　cost　you　dearly。'
　　
　　Taita　stepped　out　over　the　edge　of　the　cliff；　and　instead　of　plunging　down　into　airy　space；　there　was　firm　ground　under　his　feet。　The　vista　of　cliffs　and　gorges；　even　the　circling　vultures；　wavered　and　broke　up　as　a　mirage　does　when　you　walk　towards　it。
　　
　　The　abyss　was　gone　and　in　its　place　was　a　gentle　plain　of　stony　ground；　with　low　hills　still　blue　with　shadows　at　the　far　end。　In　the　middle　of　this　plain；　not　five　hundred　paces　away；　stood　Ishtar　the　Mede。　He　was　facing　Taita　with　both　arms　held　above　his　head；　trying　desperately　to　preserve　the　illusion　that　he　had　created。　When　he　saw　that　he　had　failed　and　that　Taita　was　striding　towards　him　like　an　avenging　djinn；　he　dropped　his　arms　with　a　hopeless；　resigned　gesture　and　turned　towards　the　limestone　hills　at　the　far　end　of　the　stony　plain。　He　broke　into　a　shambling　run；　his　black　robes　swirling　around　his　legs。
　　
　　Taita　followed　him　with　his　long　indefatigable　strides；　and　when　Ishtar　looked　back　there　was　desperation　on　his　blue…whorled　face。　For　a　moment　he　stared　in　terror　at　the　tall　silver…haired　figure；　then　he　turned　and　ran　faster。　For　a　while　he　pulled　away；　opening　the　gap；　then　his　run　faltered；　and　Taita　gained　upon　him　inexorably。
　　
　　Ishtar　dropped　the　waterskin　from　his　shoulder；　and　ran　with　a　lighter　step；　but　he　was　only　a　few　hundred　paces　ahead　of　Taita　when　he　reached　the　low　hills　that　were　grey　blue　with　limestone　outcrops　in　the　early　light。　He　disappeared　into　one　of　the　gullies。
　　
　　When　Taita　reached　the　mouth　of　the　gully　he　saw　Ishtar's　footprints　strung　along　the　sandy　floor　ahead　of　him；　but　they　disappeared　round　the　corner　where　the　gully　turned　sharply　to　the　right。　Taita　followed　him；　but　as　he　reached　the　corner　of　pale　limestone　pillars；　he　heard　the　thunderous　grunting　and　roaring　of　a　wild　beast。　As　he　stepped　round　he　saw　that　the　gully　narrowed　ahead　of　him；　and　standing　foursquare　in　the　way；　its　tail　lashing　from　side　to　side；　was　a　huge　male　lion。
　　
　　The　lion's　black　mane　was　erect；　a　great　bush　that　shook　like　grass　in　a　high　wind　at　each　roar　that　erupted　from　the　gaping　jaws。　Its　eyes　were　golden　and　the　pupils　were　implacable　black　slits。　The　rank；　bestial　scent　of　the　animal　was　thick　in　the　hot　air；　the　stench　of　the　rotting　carcasses　on　which　it　had　feasted　with　those　long　yellow　fangs。
　　
　　Taita　looked　down　at　the　sandy　earth　on　which　the　massive　paws　were　planted　with　all　the　claws　unsheathed。　He　could　still　see　Ishtar's　footprints　in　the　sand；　but　the　paws　of　the　lion　had　left　no　mark。
　　
　　Taita　never　broke　his　stride。　He　raised　the　Periapt　on　its　chain；　and　walked　straight　at　the　slavering　animal。　Instead　of　rising　in　pitch　the　roaring　became　muted；　the　outline　of　its　head　turned　transparent　so　that　he　could　see　the　rock　walls　of　the　gully　through　it。　Then；　like　river　mist；　the　animal　faded　and　was　gone。
　　
　　Taita　walked　through　the　space　where　it　had　stood　and　rounded　the　corner。　Ahead　of　him　the　gully　became　narrower　still　and　the　sides　were　steeper。　It　ended　abruptly　against　a　wall　of　rock。
　　
　　Ishtar　stood　with　his　back　against　the　rock；　staring　at　Taita　with　mad　eyes。　The　whites　were　yellowed　and　bloodshot；　the　pupils　black　and　dilated。　The　smell　of　his　terror　was　more　rank　than　the　odour　of　the　phantom　lion　had　been。　He　raised　his　right　hand　and　pointed　a　long　bony　finger　at　Taita。　'Back；　Warlock！'　he　screamed。　'I　warn　you！'
　　
　　Taita　walked　towards　him　and　he　screamed　again；　this　time　in　a　guttural　language；　and　made　the　gesture　of　hurling　some　unseen　missile　at　Taita's　head。　Quickly　Taita　held　the　Periapt　of　Lostris　before　his　eyes；　and　felt　something　fly　close　past　his　head；　with　the　sound　of　a　flighting　arrow。
　　
　　Ishtar　turned　and　bolted　into　a　narrow　opening　in　the　rock　wall　behind　him；　that　had　been　screened　from　Taita　by　his　body。　Taita　paused　before　the　entrance；　and　tapped　the　stony　portals　with　his　staff。　The　rock　rang　true；　and　he　heard　Ishtar's　blundering　footsteps　echoing　out　of　the　dark　entrance。　Taita　was　almost　certain　that　this　was　no　illusion；　but　the　real　entrance　to　a　cavern　in　the　limestone　cliff。
　　
　　Taita　stepped　through　after　him；　and　found　that　he　was　in　a　low；　rocky　passage；　dimly　lit　by　the　sunlight　through　the　entrance　behind　him。　The　floor　of　the　cave　sloped　away　in　front　of　him；　and　he　went　on；　stepping　more　cautiously。　Now　he　was　certain　that　the　passage　was　real　in　time　and　dimension；　not　something　conjured　up　by　the　Mede　to　thwart　him　and　turn　him　aside。
　　
　　He　could　hear　the　echoes　of　Ishtar's　footsteps；　distorted　and　magnified　in　the　tunnel　ahead。　Taita　counted　his　paces　as　he　went　forward　into　darkness。　After　a　hundred　and　twenty　the　light　strengthened　again；　a　strong　emanation　from　some　source　deeper　in　the　hillside。
　　
　　Suddenly　the　tunnel　took　a　sharp　bend；　and　as　he　stepped　round　it　Taita　found　himself　in　a　large　cavern　with　a　high　roof。　In　the　centre　of　the　roof　was　an　aperture　which　must　lead　to　the　outside　world　and　open　air　for　a　beam　of　bright　sunlight　fell　from　it　to　the　floor　of　the　cavern。
　　
　　From　the　floor　rose　sharp…pointed　stalagmites；　the　crystals　glimmering　like　the　fangs　of　a　man…eating　shark。　From　the　high　roof　hung　down　matching　stalactites；　some　shaped　like　spearheads　and　others　like　the　shining　wings　of　the　gods。
　　
　　Across　the　cavern　Ishtar　crouched　against　the　far　wall。　There　was　no　escape　that　way。　When　he　saw　Taita　appear　in　the　mouth　of　the　tunnel　he　began　to　shriek　and　blubber。　'Mercy；　mighty　Magus！　There　is　a　bond　between　us。　We　are　brothers。　Spare　me　and　I　will　show　you　such　mysteries　as　even　you　have　never　dreamed　of。　I　will　place　all　my　powers　at　your　disposal。　I　will　be　your　faithful　dog。　I　will　devote　my　life　to　your　service。'
　　
　　So　abject　were　his　entreaties　and　his　promises　that；　despite　himself；　Taita　felt　his　resolve　waver。　It　was　just　the　mere　flicker　of　doubt　in　his　mind；　but　Ishtar　picked　up　the　tiny　chink　in　his　armour；　and　exploited　it　instantly。　He　flung　out　one　hand　with　the　thumb　and　forefinger　forming　a　circle；　the　sign　of　Marduk；　and　shouted　something　in　that　strange　guttural　tongue。
　　
　　From　behind　him　Taita　felt　an　insupportable　physical　weight　bear　down　upon　his　shoulder；　and　something　like　the　invisible　tentacles　of　a　giant　octopus　envelop　his　body；　trapping　his　arms　to　his　sides；　wrapping　around　his　throat　in　a　strangler's　grip。　He　smelt　scorching　human　flesh；　the　aura　of　the　Devourer；　suffocating　him。　He　could　not　move。
　　
　　On　the　far　side　of　the　cavern　Ishtar　danced　and　capered；　his　tattooed　face　contorted　in　a　grotesque　mask；　his　tongue　sticking　out　between　his　blue　lips　and　lapping　at　the　air　like　that　of　a　cat。　He　lifted　his　skirts　and　thrust　his　hips　out　at　Taita。　His　penis　was　in　full　erection；　the　skin　peeled　back　from　the　swollen　purple　head　like　an　obscene　fruit。　'Your　frail　goddess　cannot　protect　you　here　deep　in　the　earth；　Taita。　You　can　no　longer　prevail　against　Marduk　the　Devourer　and　Ishtar；　his　minion；'　he　shrieked。　'Our　contest　is　over。　I　have　defeated　you　and　all　your　wiles；　Warlock！　Now　you　will　die。'
　　
　　Taita　turned　his　eyes　up　towards　the　high　dim　roof　of　the　cavern　and　fixed　all　his　attention　on　one　of　the　long　gleaming　stalactites　that　hung　down　from　it　like　a　great　shimmering　dagger。　He　gathered　all　his　reserves；　lifted　the　staff　in　his　right　hand　and　pointed　it　upwards。　With　the　last　breath　in　his　lungs　he　shouted；　'Kydash！'　the　word　of　power。
　　
　　There　was　a　crack　like　the　ice　shattering　in　the　depths　of　a　glacier；　the　stalactite　broke　from　the　roof　and　plunged　downwards。　Driven　by　its　own　immense　weight；　the　point　struck　Ishtar　on　the　top　of　his　shoulder；　close　to　its　juncture　with　his　neck。　It　transfixed　him　through　chest　and　belly　and　tore　out　through　his　anus。　The　long　stone　spike　pegged　him　down　on　the　cavern　floor　like　a　gutted　fish　on　the　drying　rack。
　　
　　As　Ishtar　twitched　and　shuddered　and　kicked　convulsively　in　his　death　throes；　Taita　felt　the　weight　lifted　from　his　shoulders　and　the　pressure　on　his　throat　relax。　Marduk　had　retreated　and　Taita　could　breathe　again。　The　smell　of　burnt　flesh　was　gone。　The　air　was　ancient　and　sterile　once　again；　cool　and　tainted　only　with　the　faint　odour　of　fungus。
　　
　　He　picked　up　his　staff；　turned　and　walked　back　along　the　tunnel　into　the　open　air　and　the　sunlight。　At　the　entrance　he　turned　back　and　with　his　staff　struck　the　limestone　portals　of　the　tunnel；　once；　twice；　three　times。
　　
　　Deep　in　the　earth　there　was　a