rh.conanthewarrior-第5节

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　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　refreshed　as　if　he　had　slept　the　whole　night　on　a　golden　bed。　Having　removed　the　thorns；　and　peeled　off　the　tough　skin；　he　handed　the　girl　a　thick；　juicy　cactus　leaf。
　　〃Skin　your　teeth　in　that　pear。　It's　food　and　drink　to　a　desert　man。　I　was　a　chief　of　the　Zuagirs　once…desert　men　who　live　by　plundering　the　caravans。〃
　　〃Is　there　anything　you　haven't　done？〃　inquired　the　girl；　half　in　derision　and　half　in　fascination。
　　〃I've　never　been　king　of　an　Hyborean　kingdom；〃　he　grinned；　taking　an　enormous　mouthful　of　cactus。　〃But　I've　dreamed　of　being　even　that。　I　may　be　too；　some　day。　Why　shouldn't　I？〃
　　She　shook　her　head　in　wonder　at　his　calm　audacity；　and　fell　to　devouring　her　pear。　She　found　it　not　unpleasing　to　the　palate；　and　full　of　cool　and　thirst…satisfying　juice。　Finishing　his　meal；　Conan　wiped　his　hands　in　the　sand；　rose；　ran　his　fingers　through　his　thick　black　mane；　hitched　up　his　sword　belt　and　said：
　　〃Well；　let's　go。　If　the　people　in　that　city　are　going　to　cut　our　throats　they　may　as　well　do　it　now；　before　the　heat　of　the　day　begins。〃
　　His　grim　humor　was　unconscious；　but　Valeria　reflected　that　it　might　be　prophetic。　She　too　hitched　her　sword　belt　as　she　rose。　Her　terrors　of　the　night　were　past。　The　roaring　dragons　of　the　distant　forest　were　like　a　dim　dream。　There　was　a　swagger　in　her　stride　as　she　moved　off　beside　the　Cimmerian。　Whatever　perils　lay　ahead　of　them；　their　foes　would　be　men。　And　Valeria　of　the　Red　Brotherhood　had　never　seen　the　face　of　the　man　she　feared。
　　Conan　glanced　down　at　her　as　she　strode　along　beside　him　with　her　swinging　stride　that　matched　his　own。
　　〃You　walk　more　like　a　hillman　than　a　sailor；〃　he　said。　〃You　must　be　an　Aquilonian。　The　suns　of　Darfar　never　burnt　your　white　skin　brown。　Many　a　princess　would　envy　you。〃
　　〃I　am　from　Aquilonia；〃　she　replied。　His　pliments　no　longer　irritated　her。　His　evident　admiration　pleased　her。　For　another　man　to　have　kept　her　watch　while　she　slept　would　have　angered　her；　she　had　always　fiercely　resented　any　man's　attempting　to　shield　or　protect　her　because　of　her　sex。　But　she　found　a　secret　pleasure　in　the　fact　that　this　man　had　done　so。　And　he　had　not　taken　advantage　of　her　fright　and　the　weakness　resulting　from　it。　After　all；　she　reflected；　her　panion　was　no　mon　man。
　　The　sun　rose　up　behind　the　city；　turning　the　towers　to　a　sinister　crimson。
　　〃Black　last　night　against　the　moon；〃　grunted　Conan；　his　eys　clouding　with　the　abysmal　superstition　of　the　barbarian。　〃Blood…red　as　a　threat　of　blood　against　the　sun　this　dawn。　I　do　not　like　this　city。〃
　　But　they　went　on；　and　as　they　went　Conan　pointed　out　the　fact　that　no　road　ran　to　the　city　from　the　north。
　　〃No　cattle　have　trampled　the　plain　on　this　side　of　the　city；〃　said　he。　〃No　plowshare　has　touched　the　earth　for　years；　maybe　centuries。　But　look：　once　this　plain　was　cultivated。〃
　　Valeria　saw　the　ancient　irrigation　ditches　he　indicated；　half　filled　in　places；　and　overgrown　with　cactus。　She　frowned　with　perplexity　as　her　eyes　swept　over　the　plain　that　stretched　on　all　sides　of　the　city　to　the　forest　edge；　which　marched　in　a　vast；　dim　ring。　Vision　did　not　extend　beyond　that　ring。
　　She　looked　uneasily　at　the　city。　No　helmets　or　spearheads　gleamed　on　battlements；　no　trumpets　sounded；　no　challenge　rang　from　the　towers。　A　silence　as　absolute　as　that　of　the　forest　brooded　over　the　walls　and　minarets。
　　The　sun　was　high　above　the　eastern　horizon　when　they　stood　before　the　great　gate　in　the　northern　wall；　in　the　shadown　of　the　lofty　rampart。　Rust　flecked　the　iron　bracings　of　the　mighty　bronze　portal。　Spiderwebs　glistened　thickly　on　hinge　and　sill　and　bolted　panel。
　　〃It　hasn't　been　opened　for　years！〃　exclaimed　Valeria。
　　〃A　dead　city；〃　grunted　Conan。　〃That's　why　the　ditches　were　broken　and　the　plain　untouched。〃
　　〃But　who　built　it？　Who　dwelt　here？　Where　did　they　go？　Why　did　they　abandon　it？〃
　　〃Who　can　say？　Maybe　an　exiled　clan　of　Stygians　built　it。　Maybe　not。　It　doesn't　look　like　Stygian　architecture。　Maybe　the　people　were　wiped　out　by　enemies；　or　a　plague　exterminated　them。〃
　　〃In　that　case　their　treasures　may　still　be　gathering　dust　and　cobwebs　in　there；〃　suggested　Valeria；　the　acquisitive　instincts　of　her　profession　waking　in　her；　prodded；　too；　by　feminine　curiosity。　〃Can　we　open　the　gate？　Let's　go　in　and　explore　a　bit。〃
　　Conan　eyed　the　heavy　portal　dubiously；　but　placed　his　massive　shoulder　against　it　and　thrust　with　all　the　power　of　his　muscular　calves　and　thighs。　With　a　rasping　screech　of　rusty　hinges　the　gate　moved　ponderously　inward；　and　Conan　straightened　and　drew　his　sword。　Valeria　stared　over　his　shoulder；　and　made　a　sound　indicative　of　surprise。
　　They　were　not　looking　into　an　open　street　or　court　as　one　would　have　expected。　The　opened　gate；　or　door；　gave　directly　into　a　long；　broad　hall　which　ran　away　and　away　until　its　vista　grew　indistinct　in　the　distance。　It　was　of　heroic　proportions；　and　the　floor　of　a　curious　red　stone；　cut　in　square　tiles；　that　seemed　to　smolder　as　if　with　the　reflection　of　flames。　The　walls　were　of　a　shiny　green　m