rh.conanthewarrior-第27章

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s　beyond　the　borders　of　light。　The　mortal　in　me　died；　the　goddess　in　me　could　never　die。　Here　I　have　lain　for　so　many　centuries；　to　awaken　each　night　at　sunset　and　hold　my　court　as　of　yore；　with　specters　drawn　from　the　shadows　of　the　past。　Man；　if　you　would　not　view　that　which　will　blast　your　soul　for　ever；　ge　hence　quickly！　I　mand　you！　Go！〃　The　voice　became　imperious；　and　her　slender　arm　lifted　and　pointed。
　　Conan；　his　eyes　burning　slits；　slowly　sheathed　his　sword；　but　he　did　not　obey　her　order。　He　stepped　closer；　as　if　impelled　by　a　powerful　fascination…without　the　slightest　warning　he　grabbed　her　up　in　a　bear…like　grasp。　She　screamed　a　very　ungoddess…like　scream；　and　there　was　a　sound　of　ripping　silk；　as　with　one　ruthless　wrench　he　tore　off　her　skirt。
　　〃Goddess！　Ha！〃　His　bark　was　full　of　angry　contempt。　He　ignored　the　frantic　writhings　of　his　captive。　〃I　thought　it　was　strange　that　a　princess　of　Alkmeenon　would　speak　with　a　Corinthian　accent！　As　soon　as　I'd　gathered　my　wits　I　knew　I'd　seen　you　somewhere。　You're　Muriela；　Zargheba's　Corinthian　dancing　girl。　This　crescent…shaped　birthmark　on　your　hip　proves　it。　I　saw　it　once　when　Zargheba　was　whipping　you。　Goddess！　Bah！〃　He　smacked　the　betraying　hip　contemptuously　and　resoundingly　with　his　open　hand；　and　the　girl　yelped　piteously。
　　All　her　imperiousness　had　gone　out　of　her。　She　was　no　longer　a　mystical　figure　of　antiquity；　but　a　terrified　and　humiliated　dancing　girl；　such　as　can　be　bought　at　almost　any　Shemitish　market　place。　She　lifted　up　her　voice　and　wept　unashamedly。　Her　captor　glared　down　at　her　with　angry　triumph。
　　〃Goddess！　Ha！　So　you　were　one　of　the　veiled　women　Zargheba　brought　to　Keshia　with　him。　Did　you　think　you　could　fool　me；　you　little　idiot？　A　year　ago　I　saw　you　in　Akbitana　with　that　swine；　Zargheba；　and　I　don't　forget　faces…or　women's　figures。　I　think　I'll…〃
　　Squirming　about　in　his　grasp　she　threw　her　slender　arms　about　his　massive　neck　in　an　abandon　of　terror；　tears　coursed　down　her　cheeks；　and　her　sobs　quivered　with　a　note　of　hysteria。
　　〃Oh；　please　don't　hurt　me！　Don't！　I　had　to　do　it！　Zargheba　brought　me　here　to　act　as　the　oracle！〃
　　〃Why；　you　sacrilegious　little　hussy！〃　rumbled　Conan。　〃Do　you　not　fear　the　gods？　Crom！　Is　there　no　honesty　anywhere？〃
　　〃Oh；　please！〃　she　begged；　quivering　with　abject　fright。　〃I　couldn't　disobey　Zargheba。　Oh；　what　shall　I　do？　I　shall　be　cursed　by　these　heathen　gods！〃
　　〃What　do　you　think　the　priests　will　do　to　you　if　they　find　out　you're　an　imposter？〃　he　demanded。
　　At　the　thought　her　legs　refused　to　support　her；　and　she　collapsed　in　a　shuddering　heap；　clasping　Conan's　knees　and　mingling　incoherent　pleas　for　mercy　and　protection　with　piteous　protestations　of　her　innocence　of　any　malign　intention。　It　was　a　vivid　change　from　her　pose　as　the　ancient　princess；　but　not　surprising。　The　fear　that　had　nerved　her　then　was　now　her　undoing。
　　〃Where　is　Zargheba？〃　he　demanded。　〃Stop　yammering；　damn　it；　and　answer　me。〃
　　〃Outside　the　palace；〃　she　whimpered；　〃watching　for　the　priests。〃
　　〃How　many　men　with　him？〃
　　〃None。　We　came　alone。〃
　　〃Ha！〃　It　was　much　like　the　satisfied　grunt　of　a　hunting　lion。　〃You　must　have　left　Keshia　a　few　hours　after　I　did。　Did　you　climb　the　cliffs？〃
　　She　shook　her　head；　too　choked　with　tears　to　speak　coherently。　With　an　impatient　imprecation　he　seized　her　slim　shoulders　and　shook　her　until　she　gasped　for　breath。
　　〃Will　you　quit　that　blubbering　and　answer　me？　How　did　you　get　into　the　valley？〃
　　〃Zargheba　knew　the　secret　way；〃　she　gasped。　〃The　priest　Gwarunga　told　him；　and　Thutmekri。　On　the　south　side　of　the　valley　there　is　a　broad　pool　lying　at　the　foot　of　the　cliffs。　There　is　a　cave…mouth　under　the　surface　of　the　water　that　is　not　visible　to　the　casual　glance。　We　ducked　under　the　water　and　entered　it。　The　cave　slopes　up　out　of　the　water　swiftly　and　leads　through　the　cliffs。　The　opening　on　the　side　of　the　valley　is　masked　by　heavy　thickets。〃
　　〃I　climbed　the　cliffs　on　the　east　side；〃　he　muttered。　〃Well；　what　then？〃
　　〃We　came　to　the　palace　and　Zargheba　hid　me　among　the　trees　while　he　went　to　look　for　the　chamber　of　the　oracle。　I　do　not　think　he　fully　trusted　Gwarunga。　While　he　was　gone　I　thought　I　heard　a　gong　sound；　but　I　was　not　sure。　Presently　Zargheba　came　and　took　me　into　the　palace　and　brought　me　to　this　chamber；　where　the　goddess　Yelaya　lay　upon　the　dais。　He　stripped　the　body　and　clothed　me　in　the　garments　and　ornaments。　Then　he　went　forth　to　hide　the　body　and　watch　for　the　priests。　I　have　been　afraid。　When　you　entered　I　wanted　to　leap　up　and　beg　you　to　take　me　away　from　this　place；　but　I　feared　Zargheba。　When　you　discovered　I　was　alive；　I　thought　I　could　frighten　you　away。〃
　　〃What　were　you　to　say　as　the　oracle？〃　he　asked。
　　〃I　was　to　bid　the　priests　to　take　the　Teeth　of　Gwahlur　and　give　some　of　them　to　Thutmekri　as　a　pledge；　as　he　desired；　and　place　the　rest　in　the　palace　at　Keshia。　I　was　to　tell　them　that　an　awful　doom　threatened　Keshan　if　they　did　not　agree　to　Thutmekri's　proposals。　And；　oh；　yes；　I　was　to　tell　them　that　you　were　to　be　skinned　alive　immediately。〃
　　〃Thutmekri　wanted　the　treasure　where　he…or　the　Zembabwans…could　lay　hand　on　it　easily；〃　muttered　Conan；　disregarding　the　remark　concerning　himself。　〃I'll　carve　his　liver　yet…Gorulga　is　a　party　to　this　swindle；　of　course？〃
　　〃No。　He　believes　in　his　gods；　and　is　incorruptible。　He　knows　nothing　about　this。　He　will　obey　the　oracle。　It　was　all　Thutmekri's　plan。　Knowing　the　Keshani　would　consult　the　oracle；　he　had　Zargheba　bring　me　with　the　embassy　from　Zembabwei；　closely　veiled　and　secluded。〃
　　〃Well；　I'm　damned！〃　muttered　Conan。　〃A　priest　who　honestly　believes　in　his　oracle；　and　can　not　be　bribed。　Crom！　I　wonder　if　it　was　Zargheba　who　banged　that　gong。　Did　he　know　I　was　here？　Could　he　have　known　about　that　rotten　flagging？　Where　is　he　now；　girl？〃
　　〃Hiding　in　a　thicket　of　lotus　trees；　near　the　ancient　avenue　that　leads　from　the　south　wall　of　the　cliffs　to　the　palace；〃　she　answered。　Then　she　renewed　her　importunities。　〃Oh；　Conan；　have　pity　on　me！　I　am　afraid　of　this　evil；　ancient　place。　I　know　I　have　heard　stealthy　footfalls　padding　about　me…oh；　Conan；　take　me　away　with　you！　Zargheba　will　kill　me　when　I　have　served　his　purpose　here…I　know　it！　The　priests；　too；　will　kill　me　if　they　discover　my　deceit。
　　〃He　is　a　devil…he　bought　me　from　a　slave…trader　who　stole　me　out　of　a　caravan　bound　through　southern　Koth；　and　has　made　me　the　tool　of　his　intrigues　ever　since。　Take　me　away　from　him！　You　can　not　be　as　cruel　as　he。　Don't　leave　me　to　be　slain　here！　Please！　Please！〃
　　She　was　on　her　knees；　clutching　at　Conan　hysterically；　her　beautiful　tear…stained　face　upturned　to　him；　her　dark　silken　hair　flowing　in　disorder　over　her　white　shoulders。　Conan　picked　her　up　and　set　her　on　his　knee。
　　〃Listen　to　me。　I'll　protect　you　from　Zargheba。　The　priests　shall　not　know　of　your　perfidy。　But　you've　got　to　do　as　I　tell　you。〃
　　She　faltered　promises　of　explicit　obedience；　clasping　his　corded　neck　as　if　seeking　security　from　the　contact。
　　〃Good。　When　the　priests　e；　you'll　act　the　part　of　Yelaya；　as　Zargheba　planned…it'll　be　dark；　and　in　the　torchlight　they'll　never　know　the　difference。　But　you'll　say　this　to　them：　'It　is　the　will　of　the　gods　that　the　Stygian　and　his　Shemitish　dogs　be　driven　from　Keshan。　They　are　thieves　and　tratiors　who　plot　to　rob　the　gods。　Let　the　Teeth　of　Gwahlur　be　placed　in　the　care　of　the　general　Conan。　Let　him　lead　the　armies　of　Keshan。　He　is　beloved　of　the　gods。'〃
　　She　shivered；　with　an　expression　of　desperation；　but　acquiesced。
　　〃But　Zargheba？〃　she　cried。　〃He'll　kill　me！〃
　　〃Don't　worry　about　Zargheba；〃　he　grunted。　〃I'll　take　care　of　that　dog。　You　do　as　I　say。　Here；　put　up　your　hair　again。　It's　fallen　all　over　your　shoulders。　And　the　gem's　fallen　out　of　it。〃
　　He　replaced　the　great　glowing　gem　himself；　nodding　approval。
　　〃It's　worth　a　roomful　of　slaves；　itself　alone。　Here；　put　your　skirt　back　on。　It's　torn　down　the　side；　but　the　priests　will　never　notice　it。　Wipe　your　face。　A　goddess　doesn't　cry　like　a　whipped　schoolgirl。　By　Crom；　you　do　look　like　Yelaya；　face　hair；　figure；　and　all！　If　you　act　the　goddess　with　the　priests　as　well　as　you　d