rh.conanthewarrior-第28节

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ing　increase　in　volume。
　　Down　it　he　went　recklessly；　and　was　presently　peering　into　a　larger　cavern　than　the　one　he　had　just　left。　There　was　no　phosphorus　here；　but　the　light　of　the　torches　fell　on　a　larger　altar　and　a　more　obscene　and　repulsive　god　squatting　toad…like　upon　it。　Before　this　repugnant　deity　Gorulga　and　his　ten　acolytes　knelt　and　beat　their　heads　upon　the　ground；　while　chanting　monotonously。　Conan　realized　why　their　progress　had　been　so　slow。　Evidently　approaching　the　secret　crypt　of　the　Teeth　was　a　plicated　and　elaborate　ritual。
　　He　was　fidgeting　in　nervous　impatience　before　the　chanting　and　bowing　were　over；　but　presently　they　rose　and　passed　into　the　tunnel　which　opened　behind　the　idol。　Their　torches　bobbed　away　into　the　nighted　vault；　and　he　followed　swiftly。　Not　much　danger　of　being　discovered。　He　glided　along　the　shadows　like　a　creature　of　the　night；　and　the　black　priests　were　pletely　engrossed　in　their　ceremonial　mummery。　Apparently　they　had　not　even　noticed　the　absence　of　Gwarunga。
　　Emerging　into　a　cavern　of　huge　proportions；　about　whose　upward　curving　walls　gallery…like　ledges　marched　in　tiers；　they　began　their　worship　anew　before　an　altar　which　was　larger；　and　a　god　which　was　more　disgusting；　than　any　encountered　thus　far。
　　Conan　crouched　in　the　black　mouth　of　the　tunnel；　staring　at　the　walls　reflecting　the　lurid　glow　of　the　torches。　He　saw　a　carven　stone　stair　winding　up　from　tier　to　tier　of　the　galleries；　the　roof　was　lost　in　darkness。
　　He　started　violently　and　the　chanting　broke　off　as　the　kneeling　blacks　flung　up　their　heads。　An　inhuman　voice　boomed　out　high　above　them。　They　froze　on　their　knees；　their　faces　turned　upward　with　a　ghastly　blue　hue　in　the　sudden　glare　of　a　weird　light　that　burst　blindingly　up　near　the　lofty　roof　and　then　burned　with　a　throbbing　glow。　That　glare　lighted　a　gallery　and　a　cry　went　up　from　the　high　priest；　echoed　shudderingly　by　his　acolytes。　In　the　flash　there　had　been　briefly　disclosed　to　them　a　slim　white　figure　standing　upright　in　a　sheen　of　silk　and　a　glint　of　jewel…crusted　gold。　Then　the　blaze　smoldered　to　a　throbbing；　pulsing　luminosity　in　which　nothing　was　distinct；　and　that　slim　shape　was　but　a　shimmering　blur　of　ivory。
　　〃Yelaya！〃　screamed　Gorulga；　his　brown　features　ashen。　〃Why　have　you　followed　us？　What　is　your　pleasure？〃
　　That　weird　unhuman　voice　rolled　down　from　the　roof；　reechoing　under　that　arching　vault　that　magnified　and　altered　it　beyond　recognition。
　　〃Woe　to　the　unbelievers！　Woe　to　the　false　children　of　Keshia！　Doom　to　them　which　deny　their　deity！〃
　　A　cry　of　horror　went　up　from　the　priests。　Gorulga　looked　like　a　shocked　vulture　in　the　glare　of　the　torches。
　　〃I　do　not　understand！〃　he　stammered。　〃We　are　faithful。　In　the　chamber　of　the　oracle　you　told　us…〃
　　〃Do　not　heed　what　you　heard　in　the　chamber　of　the　oracle！〃　rolled　that　terrible　voice；　multiplied　until　it　was　as　though　a　myriad　voices　thundered　and　muttered　the　same　warning。　〃Beware　of　false　prophets　and　false　gods！　A　demon　in　my　guise　spoke　to　you　in　the　palace；　giving　false　prophecy。　Now　harken　and　obey；　for　only　I　am　the　true　goddess；　and　I　give　you　one　chance　to　save　yourselves　from　doom！
　　〃Take　the　Teeth　of　Gwahlur　from　the　crypt　where　they　were　placed　so　long　ago。　Alkmeenon　is　no　longer　holy；　because　it　has　been　desecrated　by　blasphemers。　Give　the　Teeth　of　Gwahlur　into　the　hands　of　Thutmekri；　the　Stygian；　to　place　in　the　sanctuary　of　Dagon　and　Derketo。　Only　this　can　save　Keshan　from　the　doom　the　demons　of　the　night　have　plotted。　Take　the　Teeth　of　Gwahlur　and　go；　return　instantly　to　Keshia；　there　give　the　jewels　to　Thutmekri；　and　seize　the　foreign　devil　Conan　and　flay　him　alive　in　the　great　square。〃
　　There　was　no　hesitation　in　obeying。　Chattering　with　fear　the　priests　scrambled　up　and　ran　for　the　door　that　opened　behind　the　bestial　god。　Gorulga　led　the　flight。　They　jammed　briefly　in　the　doorway；　yelping　as　wildly　waving　torches　touched　squirming　black　bodies；　they　plunged　through；　and　the　patter　of　their　speeding　feet　dwindled　down　the　tunnel。
　　Conan　did　not　follow。　He　was　consumed　with　a　furious　desire　to　learn　the　truth　of　this　fantastic　affair。　Was　that　indeed　Yelaya；　as　the　cold　sweat　on　the　backs　of　his　hands　told　him；　or　was　it　that　little　hussy　Muriela；　turned　traitress　after　all？　If　it　was…
　　Before　the　last　torch　had　vanished　down　the　black　tunnel　he　was　bounding　vengefully　up　the　stone　stair。　The　blue　glow　was　dying　down；　but　he　could　still　make　out　that　the　ivory　figure　stood　motionless　on　the　gallery。　His　blood　ran　cold　as　he　approached　it；　but　he　did　not　hesitate。　He　came　on　with　his　sword　lifted；　and　towered　like　a　threat　of　death　over　the　inscrutable　shape。
　　〃Yelaya！〃　he　snarled。　〃Dead　as　she's　been　for　a　thousand　years！　Ha！〃
　　From　the　dark　mouth　of　a　tunnel　behind　him　a　dark　form　lunged。　But　the　sudden；　deadly　rush　of　unshod　feet　had　reached　the　Cimmerian's　quick　ears。　He　whirled　like　a　cat　and　dodged　the　blow　aimed　murderously　at　his　back。　As　the　gleaming　steel　in　the　dark　hand　hissed　past　him；　he　struck　back　with　the　fury　of　a　roused　python；　and　the　long　straight　blade　impaled　his　assailant　and　stood　out　a　foot　and　a　half　between　his　shoulders。
　　〃So！〃　Conan　tore　his　sword　free　as　the　victim　sagged　to　the　floor；　gasping　and　gurgling。　The　man　writhed　briefly　and　stiffened。　In　the　dying　light　Conan　saw　a　black　body　and　ebon　countenance；　hideous　in　the　blue　glare。　He　had　killed　Gwarunga。
　　Conan　turned　from　the　corpse　to　the　goddess。　Thongs　about　her　knees　and　breast　held　her　upright　against　tha　stone　pillar；　and　her　thick　hair；　fastented　to　the　column；　held　her　head　up。　At　a　few　yards'　distance　these　bonds　were　not　visible　in　the　uncertain　light。
　　〃He　must　have　e　to　after　I　descended　into　the　tunnel；〃　muttered　Conan。　〃He　must　have　suspected　I　was　down　there。　So　he　pulled　out　the　dagger〃…Conan　stooped　and　wrenched　the　identical　weapon　from　the　stiffening　fingers；　glanced　at　it　and　replaced　it　in　his　own　girdle…〃and　shut　the　door。　Then　he　took　Yelaya　to　befool　his　brother　idiots。　That　was　he　shouting　a　while　ago。　You　couldn't　recognize　his　voice；　under　this　echoing　roof。　And　that　bursting　blue　flame…I　thought　it　looked　familiar。　It's　a　trick　of　the　Stygian　priests。　Thutmekri　must　have　given　some　of　it　to　Gwarunga。〃
　　The　man　could　easily　have　reached　this　cavern　ahead　of　his　panions。　Evidently　familiar　with　the　plan　of　the　caverns　by　hearsay　or　by　maps　handed　down　in　the　priestcraft；　he　had　entered　the　cave　after　the　others；　carrying　the　goddess；　followed　a　circuitous　route　through　the　tunnels　and　chambers；　and　ensconced　himself　and　his　burden　on　the　balcony　while　Gorulga　and　the　other　acolytes　were　engaged　in　their　endless　rituals。
　　The　blue　glare　had　faded；　but　now　Conan　was　aware　of　another　glow；　emanating　from　the　mouth　of　one　of　the　corridors　that　opened　on　the　ledge。　Somewhere　down　that　corridor　there　was　another　field　of　phosphorus；　for　he　recognized　the　faint　steady　radiance。　The　corridor　led　in　the　direction　the　priests　had　taken；　and　he　decided　to　follow　it；　rather　than　descend　into　the　darkness　of　the　great　cavern　below。　Doubtless　it　connected　with　another　gallery　in　some　other　chamber；　which　might　be　the　destination　of　the　priests。　He　hurried　down　it；　the　illumination　growing　stronger　as　he　advanced；　until　he　could　make　out　the　floor　and　the　walls　of　the　tunnel。　Ahead　of　him　and　below　he　could　hear　the　priests　chanting　again。
　　Abruptly　a　doorway　in　the　left…hand　wall　was　limned　in　the　phosphorous　glow；　and　to　his　ears　came　the　sound　of　soft；　hysterical　sobbing。　He　wheeled；　and　glared　through　the　door。
　　He　was　looking　again　into　a　chamber　hewn　out　of　solid　rock；　not　a　natural　cavern　like　the　others。　The　domed　roof　shone　with　the　phosphorous　light；　and　the　walls　were　almost　covered　with　arabesques　of　beaten　gold。
　　Near　the　farther　wall　on　a　granite　throne；　staring　for　ever　toward　the　arched　doorway；　sat　the　monstrous　and　obscene　Pteor；　the　god　of　the　Pelishti；　wrought　in　brass；　with　his　exaggerated　attributes　reflecting　the　grossness　of　his　cult。　And　in　his　lap　sprawled　a　limp　white　figure。
　　〃Well；　I'll　be　damned！〃　muttered　Conan。　He　glanced　suspiciously　about　the　chamber；　seeing　no　other　entrance　or　evidence　of　occupation；　and　then　advanced　noiselessly　and　looked　down　at　the　girl　whose　slim　shoulders　shook　with　sobs　of　abject　misery；　her　face　sunk　in　her　arms。　From　thick　bands　of　gold　on　the　idol's　arms　slim　gold　chains　ran　to　smaller　bands　on　her　wrists。　He　laid　a　hand　on　her　naked　shoulder　and　she　started　convulsively；　shrieked；　and　twisted　her　tear…stained　face　toward　him。
　　〃Conan！〃　She　made　a　spasmodic　effort　to　go　into　the　usual　clinch；　but　the　chains　hindered　her。　He　cut　through　the　soft　gold　as　close　to　her　wrists　as　he　could；　grunting：　〃You'll　have　to　wear　these　bracelets　until　I　can　find　a　chisel　or　a　file。　Let　go　of　me；　damn　it！　You　actresses　are　too　damned　emotional。　What　happened　to　you；　anyway？〃
　　〃When　I　went　back　into　the　oracle　chamber；〃　she　whimpered；　〃I　saw　the　goddess　lying　on　the　dais　as　I'd　first　seen　her。　I　called　out　to　you　and　started　to　run　to　the　door…then　something　grabbed　me　from　behind。　It　clapped　a　hand　over　my　mouth　and　carried　me　through　a　panel　i