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第37节

the moon pool-第37节

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And ever despair grew deeper in my soul!



What was that!  I started to my feet; and all around me in

the darkness I heard startled motion。  From without came a

blaring of trumpets; the sound of running men; loud mur…

murings。  The tumult drew closer。  I heard cries of 〃Lakla!

Lakla!〃  Now it was at the very threshold and within it;

oddly; as thoughpunctuatingthe clamour; a deep…toned;

almost abysmal; booming soundthunderously bass and re…

verberant。



Abruptly the harpings ceased; the moon fires shuddered;

fell; and began to sweep back into the crystal globes; Yo…

lara's swaying form grew rigid; every atom of it listening。

She threw aside the veiling cloud of hair; and in the gleam

of the last retreating spirals her face glared out like some

old Greek mask of tragedy。



The sweet lips that even at their sweetest could never lose

their delicate cruelty; had no sweetness now。  They were

drawn into a squareinhuman as that of the Medusa; in her

eyes were the fires of the pit; and her hair seemed to writhe

like the serpent locks of that Gorgon whose mouth she had

borrowed; all her beauty was transformed into a nameless

thinghideous; inhuman; blasting!  If this was the true soul

of Yolara springing to her face; then; I thought; God help

us in very deed!



I wrested my gaze away to O'Keefe。  All drunkenness gone;

himself again; he was staring down at her; and in his eyes

were loathing and horror unutterable。  So they stoodand

the light fled。



Only for a moment did the darkness hold。  With lightning

swiftness the blackness that was the chamber's other wall

vanished。  Through a portal open between grey screens; the

silver sparkling radiance poured。



And through the portal marched; two by two; incredible;

nightmare figuresfrog…men; giants; taller by nearly a yard

than even tall O'Keefe!  Their enormous saucer eyes were

irised by wide bands of green…flecked red; in which the

phosphorescence flickered。  Their long muzzles; lips half…

open in monstrous grin; held rows of glistening; slender;

lancet sharp fangs。  Over the glaring eyes arose a horny hel…

met; a carapace of black and orange scales; studded with

foot…long lance…headed horns。



They lined themselves like soldiers on each side of the

wide table aisle; and now I could see that their horny armour

covered shoulders and backs; ran across the chest in a

knobbed cuirass; and at wrists and heels jutted out into

curved; murderous spurs。  The webbed hands and feet ended

in yellow; spade…shaped claws。



They carried spears; ten feet; at least; in length; the heads

of which were pointed cones; glistening with that same cov…

ering; from whose touch of swift decay I had so narrowly

saved Rador。



They were grotesque; yesmore grotesque than anything

I had ever seen or dreamed; and they wereterrible!



And then; quietly; through their ranks camea girl!  Be…

hind her; enormous pouch at his throat swelling in and out

menacingly; in one paw a treelike; spike…studded mace; a

frog…man; huger than any of the others; guarding。  But of

him I caught but a fleeting; involuntary impressionall my

gaze was for her。



For it was she who had pointed out to us the way from

the peril of the Dweller's lair on Nan…Tauach。  And as I

looked at her; I marvelled that ever could I have thought the

priestess more beautiful。  Into the eyes of O'Keefe rushed joy

and an utter abasement of shame。



And from all about came murmursedged with anger;

half…incredulous; tinged with fear:



〃Lakla!〃



〃Lakla!〃



〃The handmaiden!〃



She halted close beside me。  From firm little chin to dainty

buskined feet she was swathed in the soft robes of dull;

almost coppery hue。  The left arm was hidden; the right free

and gloved。  Wound tight about it was one of the vines of the

sculptured wall and of Lugur's circled signet…ring。  Thick; a

vivid green; its five tendrils ran between her fingers; stretch…

ing out five flowered heads that gleamed like blossoms cut

from gigantic; glowing rubies。



So she stood contemplating Yolara。  Then drawn perhaps

by my gaze; she dropped her eyes upon me; golden; translu…

cent; with tiny flecks of amber in their aureate irises; the

soul that looked through them was as far removed from that

flaming out of the priestess as zenith is above nadir。



I noted the low; broad brow; the proud little nose; the

tender mouth; and the softsunlightglow that seemed to

transfuse the delicate skin。  And suddenly in the eyes dawned

a smilesweet; friendly; a touch of roguishness; profoundly

reassuring in its all humanness。  I felt my heart expand as

though freed from fetters; a recrudescence of confidence in

the essential reality of thingsas though in nightmare the

struggling consciousness should glimpse some familiar face

and know the terrors with which it strove were but dreams。

And involuntarily I smiled back at her。



She raised her head and looked again at Yolara; contempt

and a certain curiosity in her gaze; at O'Keefeand through

the softened eyes drifted swiftly a shadow of sorrow; and on

its fleeting wings deepest interest; and hovering over that a

naive approval as reassuringly human as had been her smile。



She spoke; and her voice; deep…timbred; liquid gold as

was Yolara's all silver; was subtly the synthesis of all the

golden glowing beauty of her。



〃The Silent Ones have sent me; O Yolara;〃 she said。  〃And

this is their command to youthat you deliver to me to

bring before them three of the four strangers who have

found their way here。  For him there who plots with Lugur〃

she pointed at Marakinoff; and I saw Yolara start〃they

have no need。  Into his heart the Silent Ones have looked;

and Lugur and you may keep him; Yolara!〃



There was honeyed venom in the last words。



Yolara was herself now; only the edge of shrillness on her

voice revealed her wrath as she answered。



〃And whence have the Silent Ones gained power to com…

mand; _choya_?〃



This last; I knew; was a very vulgar word; I had heard

Rador use it in a moment of anger to one of the serving

maids; and it meant; approximately; 〃kitchen girl;〃 〃scul…

lion。〃 Beneath the insult and the acid disdain; the blood

rushed up under Lakla's ambered ivory skin。



〃Yolara〃her voice was low〃of no use is it to question

me。 I am but the messenger of the Silent Ones。  And one

thing only am I bidden to ask youdo you deliver to me

the three strangers?〃



Lugur was on his feet; eagerness; sardonic delight; sinister

anticipation thrilling from himand my same glance

showed Marakinoff; crouched; biting his finger…nails; glaring

at the Golden Girl。



〃No!〃 Yolara spat the word。  〃No!  Now by Thanaroa and

by the Shining One; no!〃 Her eyes blazed; her nostrils were

wide; in her fair throat a little pulse beat angrily。  〃You;

Laklatake you my message to the Silent Ones。  Say to them

that I keep this man〃she pointed to Larry〃because he

is mine。  Say to them that I keep the yellow…haired one and

him〃she pointed to me〃because it pleases me。



〃Tell them that upon their mouths I place my foot; so!〃

she stamped upon the dais viciously〃and that in their

faces I spit!〃and her action was hideously snakelike。  〃And

say last to them; you handmaiden; that if YOU they dare send

to Yolara again; she will feed YOU to the Shining One!  Now

go!〃



The handmaiden's face was white。



〃Not unforeseen by the three was this; Yolara;〃 she re…

plied。  〃And did you speak as you have spoken then was I

bidden to say this to you。〃 Her voice deepened。  〃Three _tal_

have you to take counsel; Yolara。  And at the end of that

time these things must you have determinedeither to do

or not to do: first; send the strangers to the Silent Ones;

second; give up; you and Lugur and all of you; that dream

you have of conquest of the world without; and; third; for…

swear the Shining One!  And if you do not one and all these

things; then are you done; your cup of life broken; your

wine of life spilled。  Yea; Yolara; for you and the Shining

One; Lugur and the Nine and all those here and their kind

shall pass!  This say the Silent Ones; 'Surely shall all of ye

pass and be as though never had ye been!' 〃



Now a gasp of rage and fear arose from all those around

mebut the priestess threw back her head and laughed loud

and long。  Into the silver sweet chiming of her laughter

clashed that of Lugurand after a little the nobles took it

up; till the whole chamber echoed with their mirth。  O'Keefe;

lips tightening; moved toward the Handmaiden; and almost

imperceptibly; but peremptorily; she waved him back。



〃Those ARE great wordsgreat words indeed; _choya_;〃

shrilled Yolara at last; and again Lakla winced beneath the

word。  〃Lo; for _laya_ upon _laya_; the Shining One has been

freed from the Three; and for _laya_ upon _laya_ they have sat

helpless; rotting。  Now I ask you againwhence come

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