the moon pool-第35节
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by an atomic 〃motor〃 within their base； similar to that which activated
the merely illuminating globes。 The composition of the phonic spheres
gave their surfaces an acute sensitivity and resonance。 In conjunction
with its energizing power； the metal set up what is called a 〃field of
force；〃 which linked it with every particle of its kind no matter how
distant。 When vibrations of speech impinged upon the resonant surface
its rhythmic light…vibrations were broken； just as a telephone trans…
mitter breaks an electric current。 Simultaneously these light…vibrations
were changed into soundon the surfaces of all spheres tuned to that
particular instrument。 The 〃crawling〃 colours which showed them…
selves at these times were literally the voice of the speaker in its spec…
trum equivalent。 While usually the sounds produced required consider…
able familiarity with the apparatus to be understood quickly； they
could； on occasion； be made startlingly loud and clearas I was soon
to realizeW。 T。 G。
〃The _Afyo Maie_ has sent me to watch over you till she
summons you；〃 he announced clearly。 〃There is to be a
feast。 You； _Larree_； you Goodwin； are to come。 I remain here
withOlaf。〃
〃No harm to him！〃 broke in O'Keefe sharply。 Rador
touched his heart； his eyes。
〃By the Ancient Ones； and by my love for you； and by
what you twain did before the Shining OneI swear it！〃 he
whispered。
Rador clapped palms； a soldier came round the path； in his
grip a long flat box of polished wood。 The green dwarf took
it； dismissed him； threw open the lid。
〃Here is your apparel for the feast； _Larree_；〃 he said； point…
ing to the contents。
O'Keefe stared； reached down and drew out a white； shim…
mering； softly metallic； long…sleeved tunic； a broad； silvery
girdle； leg swathings of the same argent material； and san…
dals that seemed to be cut out from silver。 He made a quick
gesture of angry dissent。
〃Nay； _Larree_！〃 muttered the dwarf。 〃Wear themI coun…
sel itI pray itask me not why；〃 he went on swiftly； look…
ing again at the globe。
O'Keefe； as I； was impressed by his earnestness。 The
dwarf made a curiously expressive pleading gesture。 O'Keefe
abruptly took the garments； passed into the room of the foun…
tain。
〃The Shining One dances not again？〃 I asked。
〃No；〃 he said。 〃No〃he hesitate〃it is the usual feast
that follows the sacrament！ Lugurand Double Tongue；
who came with you； will be there；〃 he added slowly。
〃Lugur〃 I gasped in astonishment。 〃After what hap…
penedhe will be there？〃
〃Perhaps because of what happened； Goodwin； my
friend；〃 he answeredhis eyes again full of malice； 〃and
there will be othersfriends of Yolarafriends of Lugur
and perhaps another〃his voice was almost inaudible
〃one whom they have not called〃 He halted； half…fear…
fully； glancing at the globe； put finger to lips and spread
himself out upon one of the couches。
〃Strike up the band〃came O'Keefe's voice〃here
comes the hero！〃
He strode into the room。 I am bound to say that the ad…
miration in Rador's eyes was reflected in my own； and even；
if involuntarily； in Olaf's。
〃A son of Siyana！〃 whispered Rador。
He knelt； took from his girdle…pouch a silk…wrapped
something； unwound itand； still kneeling； drew out a slen…
der poniard of gleaming white metal； hilted with the blue
stones； he thrust it into O'Keefe's girdle； then gave him
again the rare salute。
〃Come；〃 he ordered and took us to the head of the path…
way。
〃Now；〃 he said grimly； 〃let the Silent Ones show their
powerif they still have it！〃
And with this strange benediction； be turned back。
〃For God's sake； Larry；〃 I urged as we approached the
house of the priestess； 〃you'll be careful！〃
He noddedbut I saw with a little deadly pang of ap…
prehension in my heart a puzzled； lurking doubt within his
eyes。
As we ascended the serpent steps Marakinoff appeared。
He gave a signal to our guardsand I wondered what in…
fluence the Russian had attained； for promptly； without
question； they drew aside。 At me he smiled amiably。
〃Have you found your friends yet？〃 he went onand now
I sensed something deeply sinister in him。 〃No！ It is too
bad！ Well； don't give up hope。〃 He turned to O'Keefe。
〃Lieutenant； I would like to speak to youalone！〃
〃I've no secrets from Goodwin；〃 answered O'Keefe。
〃So？〃 queried Marakinoff； suavely。 He bent； whispered to
Larry。
The Irishman started； eyed him with a certain shocked in…
credulity； then turned to me。
〃Just a minute； Doc！〃 he said； and I caught the suspicion
of a wink。 They drew aside； out of ear…shot。 The Russian
talked rapidly。 Larry was all attention。 Marakinoff's earnest…
ness became intense； O'Keefe interruptedappeared to
question。 Marakinoff glanced at me and as his gaze shifted
from O'Keefe； I saw a flame of rage and horror blaze up in
the latter's eyes。 At last the Irishman appeared to consider
gravely； nodded as though he had arrived at some decision；
and Marakinoff thrust his hand to him。
And only I could have noticed Larry's shrinking； his
microscopic hesitation before he took it； and his involuntary
movement； as though to shake off something unclean； when
the clasp had ended。
Marakinoff； without another look at me； turned and went
quickly within。 The guards took their places。 I looked at
Larry inquiringly。
〃Don't ask a thing now； Doc！〃 he said tensely。 〃Wait till
we get home。 But we've got to get damned busy and quick
I'll tell you that now〃
CHAPTER XX
The Tempting of Larry
WE PAUSED before thick curtains； through which came the
faint murmur of many voices。 They parted； out came two
ushers； I suppose； they werein cuirasses and kilts that re…
minded me somewhat of chain…mailthe first armour of
any kind here that I had seen。 They held open the folds。
The chamber； on whose threshold we stood； was far larger
than either anteroom or hall of audience。 Not less than three
hundred feet long and half that in depth； from end to end of
it ran two huge semi…circular tables； paralleling each other；
divided by a wide aisle； and heaped with flowers； with fruits；
with viands unknown to me； and glittering with crystal
flagons； beakers； goblets of as many hues as the blooms。 On
the gay…cushioned couches that flanked the tables； lounging
luxuriously； were scores of the fair…haired ruling class and
there rose a little buzz of admiration； oddly mixed with a
half…startled amaze； as their gaze fell upon O'Keefe in all
his silvery magnificence。 Everywhere the light…giving globes
sent their roseate radiance。
The cuirassed dwarfs led us through the aisle。 Within the
arc of the inner halfcircle was another glittering board； an
oval。 But of those seated there； facing usI had eyes for
only oneYolara！ She swayed up to greet O'Keefeand
she was like one of those white lily maids； whose beauty
Hoang…Ku； the sage； says made the Gobi first a paradise；
and whose lusts later the burned…out desert that it is。 She held
out hands to Larry； and on her face was passionuna…
shamed； unhiding。
She was Circebut Circe conquered。 Webs of filmiest
white clung to the rose…leaf body。 Twisted through the corn…
silk hair a threaded circlet of pale sapphires shone； but they
were pale beside Yolara's eyes。 O'Keefe bent； kissed her
hands； something more than mere admiration flaming from
him。 She sawand； smiling； drew him down beside her。
It came to me that of all； only these two； Yolara and
O'Keefe； were in whiteand I wondered； then with a tight…
ening of nerves ceased to wonder as there enteredLugur！
He was all in scarlet； and as he strode forward a silence fell
a tense； strained silence。
His gaze turned upon Yolara； rested upon O'Keefe； and
instantly his face grewdreadfulthere is no other word
than that for it。 Marakinoff leaned forward from the centre
of the table； near whose end I sat； touched and whispered to
him swiftly。 With appalling effort the red dwarf controlled
himself； he saluted the priestess ironically； I thought； took his
place at the further end of the oval。 And now I noted that the
figures between were the seven of that Council of which the
Shining One's priestess and Voice were the heads。 The ten…
sion relaxed； but did not passas though a storm…cloud
should turn away； but still lurk； threatening。
My gaze ran back。 This end of the room was draped with
the exquisitely coloured； graceful curtains looped with gor…
geous garlands。 Between curtains and table； where sat Larry
and the nine； a circular platform； perhaps ten yards in diam…
eter； raised itself a few feet above the floor； its gleaming sur…
face half…covered with the luminous petals； fragrant； delicate。
On each side below it； were low carven stools。 The cur…
tains parted and softly en
