the metal monster-第42节

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Into　their　places　sprang　and　knelt　a　dozen　archers。　They　ringed　in　the　two；　bows　drawn　taut；　arrows　in　place　and　pointing　straight　to　their　hearts。

Out　of　the　litter　rolled　a　giant　of　a　man。　Seven　feet　he　must　have　been　in　height；　over　the　huge　shoulders；　the　barreled　chest　and　the　bloated　abdomen　hung　a　purple　cloak　glittering　with　gems；　through　the　thick　and　grizzled　hair　passed　a　flashing　circlet　of　jewels。

The　scarlet　armored　Kulun　beside　him；　swordsmen　guarding　them；　he　walked　to　the　verge　of　the　torn　gap　in　the　wall。　He　peered　down　it；　glancing　imperturbably　at　the　upraised；　hammer…banded　arms　still　threatening；　examined　again　the　breach。　Then　still　with　Kulun　he　strode　over　to　the　very　edge　of　the　broken　battlement　and　stood；　head　thrust　a　little　forward；　studying　us　in　silence。


〃Cherkis！〃　whispered　Norhalathe　whisper　was　a　hymn　to　Nemesis。　I　felt　her　body　quiver　from　head　to　foot。

A　wave　of　hatred；　a　hot　desire　to　kill；　passed　through　me　as　I　scanned　the　face　staring　at　us。　It　was　a　great　gross　mask　of　evil；　of　cold　cruelty　and　callous　lusts。　Unwinking；　icily　malignant；　black　slits　of　eyes　glared　at　us　between　pouches　that　held　them　half　closed。　Heavy　jowls　hung　pendulous；　dragging　down　the　corners　of　the　thick　lipped；　brutal　mouth　into　a　deep　graven；　unchanging　sneer。

As　he　gazed　at　Norhala　a　flicker　of　lust　shot　like　a　licking　tongue　through　his　eyes。

Yet　from　him　pulsed　power；　sinister；　instinct　with　evil；　concentrate　with　crueltybut　power　indomitable。　Such　was　Cherkis；　descendant　perhaps　of　that　Xerxes　the　Conqueror　who　three　millenniums　gone　ruled　most　of　the　known　world。

It　was　Norhala　who　broke　the　silence。

〃Tcherak！　GreetingCherkis！〃　There　was　merciless　mirth　in　the　buglings　of　her　voice。　〃Lo；　I　did　but　knock　so　gently　at　your　gates　and　you　hastened　to　welcome　me。　Greetingsgross　swine；　spittle　of　the　toads；　fat　slug　beneath　my　sandals。〃

He　passed　the　insults　by；　unmovedalthough　I　heard　a　murmuring　go　up　from　those　near　and　Kulun's　hard　eyes　blazed。

〃We　will　bargain；　Norhala；〃　he　answered　calmly；　the　voice　was　deep；　filled　with　sinister　strength。

〃Bargain？〃　she　laughed。　〃What　have　you　with　which　to　bargain；　Cherkis？　Does　the　rat　bargain　with　the　tigress？　And　you；　toad；　have　nothing。〃

He　shook　his　head。

〃I　have　these；〃　he　waved　a　hand　toward　Ruth　and　her　brother。　〃Me　you　may　slayand　mayhap　many　of　mine。　But　before　you　can　move　my　archers　will　feather　their　hearts。〃

She　considered　him；　no　longer　mocking。

〃Two　of　mine　you　slew　long　since；　Cherkis；〃　she　said；　slowly。　〃Therefore　it　is　I　am　here。〃

〃I　know；〃　he　nodded　heavily。　〃Yet　now　that　is　neither　here　nor　there；　Norhala。　It　was　long　since；　and　I　have　learned　much　during　the　years。　I　would　have　killed　you　too；　Norhala；　could　I　have　found　you。　But　now　I　would　not　do　as　thenquite　differently　would　I　do；　Norhala；　for　I　have　learned　much。　I　am　sorry　that　those　that　you　loved　died　as　they　did。　I　am　in　truth　sorry！〃

There　was　a　curious　lurking　sardonicism　in　the　words；　an　undertone　of　mockery。　Was　what　he　really　meant　that　in　those　years　he　had　learned　to　inflict　greater　agonies；　more　exquisite　tortures？　If　so；　Norhala　apparently　did　not　sense　that　interpretation。　Indeed；　she　seemed　to　be　interested；　her　wrath　abating。

〃No；〃　the　hoarse　voice　rumbled　dispassionately。　〃None　of　that　is　importantnow。　YOU　would　have　this　man　and　girl。　I　hold　them。　They　die　if　you　stir　a　hand's　breadth　toward　me。　If　they　die；　I　prevail　against　youfor　I　have　cheated　you　of　what　you　desire。　I　win；　Norhala；　even　though　you　slay　me。　That　is　all　that　is　now　important。〃

There　was　doubt　upon　Norhala's　face　and　I　caught　a　quick　gleam　of　contemptuous　triumph　glint　through　the　depths　of　the　evil　eyes。

〃Empty　will　be　your　victory　over　me；　Norhala；〃　he　said；　then　waited。

〃What　is　your　bargain？〃　she　spoke　hesitatingly；　with　a　sinking　of　my　heart　I　heard　the　doubt　tremble　in　her　throat。

〃If　you　will　go　without　further　knocking　upon　my　gates〃there　was　a　satiric　grimness　in　the　phrase〃go　when　you　have　been　given　them；　and　pledge　yourself　never　to　returnyou　shall　have　them。　If　you　will　not；　then　they　die。〃

〃But　what　security；　what　hostages；　do　you　ask？〃　Her　eyes　were　troubled。　〃I　cannot　swear　by　your　gods；　Cherkis；　for　they　are　not　my　godsin　truth　I；　Norhala；　have　no　gods。　Why　should　I　not　say　yes　and　take　the　two；　then　fall　upon　you　and　destroyas　you　would　do　in　my　place；　old　wolf？〃

〃Norhala；〃　he　answered；　〃I　ask　nothing　but　your　word。　Do　I　not　know　those　who　bore　you　and　the　line　from　which　they　sprung？　Was　not　always　the　word　they　gave　kept　till　deathunbroken；　inviolable？　No　need　for　vows　to　gods　between　you　and　me。　Your　word　is　holier　than　they　O　glorious　daughter　of　kings；　princess　royal！〃


The　great　voice　was　harshly　caressing；　not　obsequious；　but　as　though　he　gave　her　as　an　equal　her　rightful　honor。　Her　face　softened；　she　considered　him　from　eyes　far　less　hostile。

A　wholesome　respect　for　this　gross　tyrant's　mentality　came　to　me；　it　did　not　temper；　it　heightened；　the　hatred　I　felt　for　him。　But　now　I　recognized　the　subtlety　of　his　attack；　realized　that　unerringly　he　had　taken　the　only　means　by　which　he　could　have　gained　a　hearing；　have　temporized。　Could　he　win　her　with　his　guile？

〃Is　it　not　true？〃　There　was　a　leonine　purring　in　the　question。

〃It　IS　true！〃　she　answered　proudly。　〃Though　why　YOU　should　dwell　upon　this；　Cherkis；　whose　word　is　steadfast　as　the　running　stream　and　whose　promises　are　as　lasting　as　its　bubbleswhy　YOU　should　dwell　on　this　I　do　not　know。〃

〃I　have　changed　greatly；　Princess；　in　the　years　since　my　great　wickedness；　I　have　learned　much。　He　who　speaks　to　you　now　is　not　he　you　were　taughtand　taught　justly　thento　hate。〃

〃You　may　speak　truth！　Certainly　you　are　not　as　I　have　pictured　you。〃　It　was　as　though　she　were　more　than　half　convinced。　〃In　this　at　least　you　do　speak　truththat　IF　I　promise　I　will　go　and　molest　you　no　more。〃

〃Why　go　at　all；　Princess？〃　Quietly　he　asked　the　amazing　questionthen　drew　himself　to　his　full　height；　threw　wide　his　arms。

〃Princess？〃　the　great　voice　rumbled　forth。　〃Nay　Queen！　Why　leave　us　againNorhala　the　Queen？　Are　we　not　of　your　people？　Am　I　not　of　your　kin？　Join　your　power　with　ours。　What　that　war　engine　you　ride　may　be；　how　built；　I　know　not。　But　this　I　do　knowthat　with　our　strengths　joined　we　two　can　go　forth　from　where　I　have　dwelt　so　long；　go　forth　into　the　forgotten　world；　eat　its　cities　and　rule。

〃You　shall　teach　our　people　to　make　these　engines；　Norhala；　and　we　will　make　many　of　them。　Queen　Norhalayou　shall　wed　my　son　Kulun；　he　who　stands　beside　me。　And　while　I　live　you　shall　rule　with　me；　rule　equally。　And　when　I　die　you　and　Kulun　shall　rule。

〃Thus　shall　our　two　royal　lines　be　made　one；　the　old　feud　wiped　out；　the　long　score　be　settled。　Queenwherever　it　is　you　dwell　it　comes　to　me　that　you　have　few　men。　Queenyou　need　men；　many　men　and　strong　to　follow　you；　men　to　gather　the　harvests　of　your　power；　men　to　bring　to　you　the　fruit　of　your　smallest　wishyoung　men　and　vigorous　to　amuse　you。

〃Let　the　past　be　forgottenI　too　have　wrongs　to　forget；　O　Queen。　Come　to　us；　Great　One；　with　your　power　and　your　beauty。　Teach　us。　Lead　us。　Return；　and　throned　above　your　people　rule　the　world！〃

He　ceased。　Over　the　battlements；　over　the　city；　dropped　a　vast　expectant　silenceas　though　the　city　knew　its　fate　was　hanging　upon　the　balance。

〃No！　No！〃　It　was　Ruth　crying。　〃Do　not　trust　him；　Norhala！　It's　a　trap！　He　shamed　mehe　tortured〃

Cherkis　half　turned；　before　he　swung　about　I　saw　a　hell　shadow　darken　his　face。　Ventnor's　hand　thrust　out；　covered　Ruth's　mouth；　choking　her　crying。

〃Your　son〃Norhala　spoke　swiftly；　and　back　flashed　the　cruel　face　of　Cherkis；　devouring　her　with　his　eyes。　〃Your　sonand　Queenship　hereand　Empire　of　the　World。〃　Her　voice　was　rapt；　thrilled。　〃All　this　you　offer？　MeNorhala？〃

〃This　and　more！〃　The　huge　bulk　of　his　body　quivered　with　eagerness。　〃If　it　be　your　wish；　O　Queen；　I；　Cherkis；　will　step　down　from　the　throne　for　you　and　sit　beneath　your　right　hand；　eager　to　do　your　bidding。〃

A　moment　she　studied　him。

〃Norhala；〃　I　whispered；　〃do　not　do　this　thing。　He　thinks　to　gain　your　secrets。〃

〃Let　my　bridegroom　stand　forth　that　I　may　look　upon　him；〃　called　Norhala。

Visibly　Cherkis　relaxed；　as　though　a　strain　had　been　withdrawn。　Between　him　and　his　crimson…clad　son　flashed　a　glance；　it　was　as　though　a　triumphant　devil　sped　from　them　into　each　other's　eyes。

I　saw　Ruth　shrink　into　Ventnor's　arms。　Up　from　the　wall　rose　a　jubilant　shouting；　was　caught　by　the　inner　battlements；　passed　on　to　the　crowded　terraces。

〃Take　Kulun；〃　it　was　Drake；　pistol　drawn　and　whispering　across　to　me。　〃I'll　handle　Cherkis。　And　shoot　straight。〃





CHAPTER　XXVI

THE　VENGEANCE　OF　NORHALA

Norhala's　hand　that　had　gone　from　my　wrist　dropped　down　again；　the　other　fell　upon　Drake's。

Kulun　loosed　his　hood；　let　it　fall　about　his　shoulders。

He　stepped　forward；　held　out　his　arms　to　Norhala。

〃A　strong　man！〃　she　cried　approvingly。　〃Hailmy　bridegroom！　But　staystand　back　a　moment。　Stand　beside　that　man　for　whom　I　came　to　Ruszark。　I　would　see　you　together！〃

Kulun's　face　darkened。　But　Cherkis　smiled　with　evil　understanding；　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　whispe