rh.conanthewarrior-第2章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　〃A　stallion　could　have　made　it　no　plainer；〃　she　answered　disdainfully。　〃But　I　never　expected　to　encounter　you　so　far　from　the　ale　barrels　and　meatpots　of　Sukhmet。　Did　you　really　follow　me　from　Zarallo's　camp；　or　were　you　whipped　forth　for　a　rogue？〃
　　He　laughed　at　her　insolence　and　flexed　his　mighty　biceps。
　　〃You　know　Zarallo　didn't　have　enough　knaves　to　whip　me　out　of　camp；〃　he　grinned。　〃Of　course　I　followed　you。　Lucky　thing　for　you；　too；　wench！　When　you　knifed　that　Stygian　officer；　you　forfeited　Zarallo's　favor；　and　protection；　and　you　outlawed　yourself　with　the　Stygians。〃
　　〃I　know　it；〃　she　replied　sullenly。　〃But　what　else　could　I　do？　You　know　what　my　provocation　was。〃
　　〃Sure；〃　he　agreed。　〃If　I'd　been　there；　I'd　have　knifed　him　myself。　But　if　a　woman　must　live　in　the　war　camps　of　men；　she　can　expect　such　things。〃
　　Valeria　stamped　her　booted　foot　and　swore。
　　〃Why　won't　men　let　me　life　a　man's　life？〃
　　〃That's　obvious！〃　Again　his　eager　eyes　devoured　her。　〃But　you　were　wise　to　run　away。　The　Stygians　would　have　had　you　skinned。　That　officer's　brother　followed　you；　faster　than　you　thought；　I　don't　doubt。　He　wasn't　far　behind　you　when　I　caught　up　with　him。　His　horse　was　better　than　yours。　He'd　have　caught　you　and　cut　your　throat　within　a　few　more　miles。〃
　　〃Well？〃　she　demanded。
　　〃Well　what？〃　He　seemed　puzzled。
　　〃What　of　the　Stygian？〃
　　〃Why；　what　do　you　suppose？〃　he　returned　impatiently。　〃I　killed　him；　of　course；　and　left　his　carcass　for　the　vultures。　That　delayed　me；　though；　and　I　almost　lost　your　trail　when　you　crossed　the　rocky　spurs　of　the　hills。　Otherwise　I'd　have　caught　up　with　you　long　ago。〃
　　〃And　now　you　think　you'll　drag　me　back　to　Zarallo's　camp？〃　she　sneered。
　　〃Don't　talk　like　a　fool；〃　he　grunted。　〃e；　girl；　don't　be　such　a　spitfire。　I'm　not　like　that　Stygian　you　knifed；　and　you　know　it。〃
　　〃A　penniless　vagabond；〃　she　taunted。
　　He　laughed　at　her。
　　〃What　do　you　call　yourself？　You　haven't　enough　money　to　buy　a　new　seat　for　your　breeches。　Your　disdain　doesn't　deceive　me。　You　know　I've　manded　bigger　ships　and　more　men　than　you　ever　did　in　your　life。　As　for　being　penniless…what　rover　isn't；　most　of　the　time？　I've　squandered　enough　gold　in　the　seaports　of　the　world　to　fill　a　galeon。　You　know　that；　too。〃
　　〃Where　are　the　fine　ships　and　the　bold　lads　you　manded　now？〃　she　sneered。
　　〃At　the　bottom　of　the　sea；　mostly；〃　he　replied　cheerfully。　〃The　Zingarans　sank　my　last　ship　off　the　Shemite　shore…that's　why　I　joined　Zarallo's　Free　panions。　But　I　saw　I'd　been　stung　when　we　marched　to　the　Darfar　border。　The　pay　was　poor　and　the　wine　was　sour；　and　I　don't　like　black　women。　And　that's　the　only　kind　that　came　to　our　camp　at　Sukhmet…rings　in　their　noses　and　their　teeth　filed…bah！　Why　did　you　join　Zarallo？　Sukhmet's　a　long　way　from　salt　water。〃
　　〃Red　Ortho　wanted　to　make　me　his　mistress；〃　she　answered　sullenly。　〃I　jumped　overboard　one　night　and　swam　ashore　when　we　were　anchored　off　the　Kushite　coast。　Off　Zabhela；　it　was。　There　was　a　Shemite　trader　told　me　that　Zarallo　had　brought　his　Free　panies　south　to　guard　the　Darfar　border。　No　better　employment　offered。　I　joined　an　east…bound　caravan　and　eventually　came　to　Sukhmet。〃
　　〃It　was　madness　to　plunge　southward　as　you　did；〃　mented　Conan；　〃but　it　was　wise；　too；　for　Zarallo's　patrols　never　thought　to　look　for　you　in　this　direction。　Only　the　brother　of　the　man　you　killed　happened　to　strike　your　trail。〃
　　〃And　now　what　do　you　intend　doing？〃　she　demanded。
　　〃Turn　west；〃　he　answered。　〃I've　been　this　far　south；　but　not　this　far　east。　Many　days'　traveling　to　the　west　will　bring　us　to　the　open　savannas；　where　the　black　tribes　graze　their　cattle。　I　have　friends　among　them。　We'll　get　to　the　coast　and　find　a　ship。　I'm　sick　of　the　jungle。〃
　　〃Then　be　on　your　way；〃　she　advised。　〃I　have　other　plans。〃
　　〃Don't　be　a　fool！〃　He　showed　irritation　for　the　first　time。　〃You　can't　keep　on　wandering　through　this　forest。〃
　　〃I　can　if　I　choose。〃
　　〃But　what　do　you　intend　doing？〃
　　〃That's　none　of　your　affair；〃　she　snapped。
　　〃Yes；　it　is；〃　he　answered　calmly。　〃Do　you　think　I've　followed　you　this　far；　to　turn　around　and　ride　off　empty…handed？　Be　sensible；　wench。　I'm　not　going　to　harm　you。〃
　　He　stepped　toward　her；　and　she　sprang　back；　whipping　out　her　sword。
　　〃Keep　back；　you　barbarian　dog！　I'll　spit　you　like　a　roast　pig！〃
　　He　halted；　reluctantly；　and　demanded：　〃Do　you　want　me　to　take　that　toy　away　from　you　and　spank　you　with　it？〃
　　〃Words！　Nothing　but　words！〃　she　mocked；　lights　like　the　gleam　of　the　sun　on　blue　water　dancing　in　her　reckless　eyes。
　　He　knew　it　was　the　truth。　No　living　man　could　disarm　Valeria　of　the　Brotherhood　with　his　bare　hands。　He　scowled；　his　sensations　a　tangle　of　conflicting　emotions。　He　was　angry；　yet　he　was　amused　and　filled　with　admiration　for　her　spirit。　He　burned　with　eagerness　to　seize　that　splendid　figure　and　crush　it　in　his　iron　arms；　yet　he　greatly　desired　not　to　hurt　the　girl。　He　was　torn　between　a　desire　to　shake　her　soundly；　and　a　desire　to　caress　her。　He　knew　if　he　came　any　nearer　her　sword　would　be　sheathed　in　his　heart。　He　had　seen　Valeria　kill　too　many　men　in　border　forays　and　tavern　brawls　to　have　any　illusions　about　her。　He　knew　she　was　as　quick　and　ferocious　as　a　tigress。　He　could　draw　his　broadsword　and　disarm　her；　beat　the　blade　out　of　her　hand；　but　the　thought　of　drawing　a　sword　on　a　woman；　even　without　intent　of　injury；　was　extremely　repugnant　to　him。
　　〃Blast　your　soul；　you　hussy！〃　he　exclaimed　in　exasperation。　〃I'm　going　to　take　off　your…〃
　　He　started　toward　her；　his　angry　passion　making　him　reckless；　and　she　poised　herself　for　a　deadly　thrust。　Then　came　a　startling　interruption　to　a　scene　at　once　ludicrous　and　perilous。
　　〃What's　that？〃
　　It　was　Valeria　who　exclaimed；　but　they　both　started　violently；　and　Conan　wheeled　like　a　cat；　his　great　sword　flashing　into　his　hand。　Back　in　the　forest　had　burst　forth　an　appalling　medly　of　screams…the　screams　of　horses　in　terror　and　agony。　Mingled　with　their　screams　there　came　the　snap　of　splintering　bones。
　　〃Lions　are　slaying　the　horses！〃　cried　Valeria。
　　〃Lions；　nothing！〃　snorted　Conan；　his　eyes　blazing。　〃Did　you　hear　a　lion　roar？　Neither　did　I！　Listen　to　those　bones　snap…not　even　a　lion　could　make　that　much　noise　killing　a　horse。〃
　　He　hurried　down　the　natural　ramp　and　she　followed；　their　personal　feud　forgotten　in　the　adventurers'　instinct　to　unite　against　mon　peril。　The　screams　had　ceased　when　they　worked　their　way　downward　through　the　green　veil　of　leaves　that　brushed　the　rock。
　　〃I　found　your　horse　tied　by　the　pool　back　there；〃　he　muttered；　treading　so　noiselessly　that　she　no　longer　wondered　how　he　had　surprised　her　on　the　crag。　〃I　tied　mine　beside　it　and　followed　the　tracks　of　your　boots。　Watch；　now！〃
　　They　had　emerged　from　the　belt　of　leaves；　and　stared　down　into　the　lower　reaches　of　the　forest。　Above　them　the　green　roof　spread　its　dusky　canopy。　Below　them　the　sunlight　filtered　in　just　enough　to　make　a　jade…tinted　twilight。　The　giant　trunks　of　trees　less　than　a　hundred　yards　away　looked　dim　and　ghostly。
　　〃The　horses　should　be　beyond　that　thicket；　over　there；〃　whispered　Conan；　and　his　voice　might　have　been　a　breeze　moving　through　the　branches。　〃Listen！〃
　　Valeria　had　already　heard；　and　a　chill　crept　through　her　veins；　so　she　unconsciously　laid　her　white　hand　on　her　panion's　muscular　brown　arm。　From　beyond　the　thicket　came　the　noisy　crunching　of　bones　and　the　loud　rending　of　flesh；　together　with　the　grinding；　slobbering　sounds　of　a　horrible　feast。
　　〃Lions　wouldn't　make　that　noise；〃　whispered　Conan。　〃Something's　eating　our　horses；　but　it's　not　a　lion…Crom！〃
　　The　noise　stopped　suddenly；　and　Conan　swore　softly。　A　suddenly　risen　breeze　was　blowing　from　them　directly　toward　the　spot　where　the　unseen　slayer　was　hidden。
　　〃Here　it　es！〃　muttered　Conan；　half　lifting　his　sword。
　　The　thicket　was　violently　agitated；　and　Valeria　clutched　Conan's　arm　hard。　Ignorant　of　jungle　lore；　she　yet　knew　that　no　animal　she　had　ever　seen　could　have　shaken　the　tall　brush　like　that。
　　〃It　must　be　as　big　as　an　elephant；〃　muttered　Conan；　echoing　her　thought。　〃What　the　devil…〃　His　voice　trailed　away