the moon pool-第23节
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looked at Olaf〃to find a wife and child。〃
The grey…blue eyes had been regarding O'Keefe steadily
and with plainly increasing interest。
〃And why did YOU come？〃 she asked him。 〃NayI would
have him speak for himself； if he can；〃 she stilled Marakinoff
peremptorily。
When Larry spoke it was haltingly； in the tongue that was
strange to him； searching for the proper words。
〃I came to help these menand because something I
could not then understand called me； O lady； whose eyes are
like forest pools at dawn；〃 he answered； and even in the un…
familiar words there was a touch of the Irish brogue； and
little merry lights danced in the eyes Larry had so apostro…
phized。
〃I could find fault with your speech； but none with its
burden；〃 she said。 〃What forest pools are I know not； and the
dawn has not shone upon the people of Lora these many
sais of laya。1 But I sense what you mean！〃
*1 Later I was to find that Murian reckoning rested upon the ex…
traordinary increased luminosity of the cliffs at the time of full moon
on earththis action； to my mind； being linked either with the effect
of the light streaming globes upon the Moon Pool； whose source was
in the shining cliffs； or else upon some mysterious affinity of their
radiant element with the flood of moonlight on earththe latter； most
probably； because even when the moon must have been clouded above；
it made no difference in the phenomenon。 Thirteen of these shinings
forth constituted a laya； one of them a lat。 Ten was sa； ten times ten
times ten a said； or thousand； ten times a thousand was a sais。 A sais
of laya was then literally ten thousand years。 What we would call an
hour was by them called a va。 The whole time system was； of course；
a mingling of time as it had been known to their remote； surface…
dwelling ancestors； and the peculiar determining factors in the vast cavern。
The eyes deepened to blue as she regarded him。 She smiled。
〃Are there many like you in the world from which you come？〃
she asked softly。 〃Well； we soon shall〃
Lugur interrupted her almost rudely and glowering。
〃Best we should know how they came hence；〃 he growled。
She darted a quick look at him； and again the little devils
danced in her wondrous eyes。
Unquestionably there is a subtle difference between time as we know
it and time in this subterranean landits progress there being slower。
This； however； is only in accord with the well…known doctrine of rela…
tivity； which predicates both space and time as necessary inventions of
the human mind to orient itself to the conditions under which it finds
itself。 I tried often to measure this difference； but could never do so
to my entire satisfaction。 The closest I can come to it is to say that
an hour of our time is the equivalent of an hour and five…eighths in
Muria。 For further information upon this matter of relativity the
reader may consult any of the numerous books upon the subject。
W。 T。 G。
〃Yes； that is true；〃 she said。 〃How came you here？〃
Again it was Marakinoff who answeredslowly； consider…
ing every word。
〃In the world above；〃 he said； 〃there are ruins of cities
not built by any of those who now dwell there。 To us these
places called； and we sought for knowledge of the wise ones
who made them。 We found a passageway。 The way led us
downward to a door in yonder cliff； and through it we came
here。〃
〃Then have you found what you sought？〃 spoke she。 〃For
we are of those who built the cities。 But this gateway in the
rockwhere is it？〃
〃After we passed； it closed upon us； nor could we after
find trace of it；〃 answered Marakinoff。
The incredulity that had shown upon the face of the green
dwarf fell upon theirs； on Lugur's it was clouded with furious
anger。
He turned to Rador。
〃I could find no opening； lord；〃 said the green dwarf
quickly。
And there was so fierce a fire in the eyes of Lugur as he
swung back upon us that O'Keefe's hand slipped stealthily
down toward his pistol。
〃Best it is to speak truth to Yolara； priestess of the Shining
One； and to Lugur； the Voice；〃 he cried menacingly。
〃It is the truth；〃 I interposed。 〃We came down the pass…
age。 At its end was a carved vine； a vine of five flowers〃the
fire died from the red dwarf's eyes； and I could have sworn
to a swift pallor。 〃I rested a hand upon these flowers； and a
door opened。 But when we had gone through it and turned；
behind us was nothing but unbroken cliff。 The door had
vanished。〃
I had taken my cue from Marakinoff。 If he had eliminated
the episode of car and Moon Pool； he had good reason； I had
no doubt； and I would be as cautious。 And deep within me
something cautioned me to say nothing of my quest； to stifle
all thought of Throckmartinsomething that warned； per…
emptorily； finally； as though it were a message from Throck…
martin himself！
〃A vine with five flowers！〃 exclaimed the red dwarf。 〃Was
it like this； say？〃
He thrust forward a long arm。 Upon the thumb of the
hand was an immense ring； set with a dull…blue stone。
Graven on the face of the jewel was the symbol of the rosy
walls of the Moon Chamber that had opened to us their two
portals。 But cut over the vine were seven circles； one about
each of the flowers and two larger ones covering； intersect…
ing them。
〃This is the same；〃 I said； 〃but these were not there〃
I indicated the circles。
The woman drew a deep breath and looked deep into
Lugur's eyes。
〃The sign of the Silent Ones！〃 he half whispered。
It was the woman who first recovered herself。
〃The strangers are weary； Lugur；〃 she said。 〃When they
are rested they shall show where the rocks opened。〃
I sensed a subtle change in their attitude toward us； a new
intentness； a doubt plainly tinged with apprehension。 What
was it they feared？ Why had the symbol of the vine wrought
the change？ And who or what were the Silent Ones？
Yolara's eyes turned to Olaf； hardened； and grew cold
grey。 Subconsciously I had noticed that from the first the
Norseman had been absorbed in his regard of the pair； had；
indeed； never taken his gaze from them； had noticed； too；
the priestess dart swift glances toward him。
He returned her scrutiny fearlessly； a touch of contempt in
the clear eyeslike a child watching a snake which he did
not dread； but whose danger be well knew。
Under that look Yolara stirred impatiently； sensing； I
know； its meaning。
〃Why do you look at me so？〃 she cried。
An expression of bewilderment passed over Olaf's face。
〃I do not understand；〃 he said in English。
I caught a quickly repressed gleam in O'Keefe's eyes。 He
knew； as I knew； that Olaf must have understood。 But did
Marakinoff？
Apparently he did not。 But why was Olaf feigning igno…
rance？
〃This man is a sailor from what we call the North；〃 thus
Larry haltingly。 〃He is crazed； I think。 He tells a strange tale
of a something of cold fire that took his wife and babe。
We found him wandering where we were。 And because he is
strong we brought him with us。 That is all； O lady； whose
voice is sweeter than the honey of the wild bees！〃
〃A shape of cold fire？〃 she repeated。
〃A shape of cold fire that whirled beneath the moon； with
the sound of little bells；〃 answered Larry； watching her in…
tently。
She looked at Lugur and laughed。
〃Then he； too； is fortunate；〃 she said。 〃For he has come
to the place of his something of cold fireand tell him that
he shall join his wife and child； in time； that I promise him。〃
Upon the Norseman's face there was no hint of compre…
hension； and at that moment I formed an entirely new opin…
ion of Olaf's intelligence； for certainly it must have been a
prodigious effort of the will； indeed； that enabled him； under…
standing； to control himself。
〃What does she say？〃 he asked。
Larry repeated。
〃Good！〃 said Olaf。 〃Good！〃
He looked at Yolara with well…assumed gratitude。 Lugur；
who had been scanning his bulk； drew close。 He felt the giant
muscles which Huldricksson accommodatingly flexed for
him。
〃But he shall meet Valdor and Tahola before he sees those
kin of his；〃 he laughed mockingly。 〃And if he bests them
for rewardhis wife and babe！〃
A shudder； quickly repressed； shook the seaman's frame。
The woman bent her supremely beautiful head。
〃These two；〃 she said； pointing to the Russian and to me；
〃seem to be men of learning。 They may be useful。 As for this
man；〃she smiled at Larry〃I would have him explain to
me some things。〃 She hesitated。 〃What 'hon…ey of 'e wild
bees…s' is。〃 Larry had spoken the words in English； and she
was trying to repeat them。 〃As for this man； the sailor； do
as you please with him； Lugur； always remembering that I
have given my word that he shall join that wif
