rh.conanthewarrior-第42章

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　　〃e　on！　Before　they　get　over　their　panic！〃
　　Balthus　felt　the　haft　of　an　ax　shoved　into　his　hand。　Zogar　Sag　had　disappeared。　Conan　dragged　Balthus　after　him　until　the　youth's　numb　brain　awoke；　and　his　legs　began　to　move　of　their　own　accord。　Then　Conan　released　him　and　ran　into　the　building　where　the　skulls　hung。　Balthus　followed　him。　He　got　a　glimpse　of　a　grim　stone　altar；　faintly　lighted　by　the　glow　outside；　five　human　heads　grinned　on　that　altar；　and　there　was　a　grisly　familiarity　about　the　features　of　the　freshest；　it　was　the　head　of　the　merchant　Tiberias。　Behind　the　altar　was　an　idol；　dim；　indistinct；　bestial；　yet　vaguely　man…like　in　outline。　Then　fresh　horror　choked　Balthus　as　the　shape　heaved　up　suddenly　with　a　rattle　of　chains；　lifting　long　misshapen　arms　in　the　gloom。
　　Conan's　sword　flailed　down；　crunching　through　flesh　and　bone；　and　then　the　Cimmerian　was　dragging　Balthus　around　the　altar；　past　a　huddled　shaggy　bulk　on　the　floor；　to　a　door　at　the　back　of　the　long　hut。　Through　this　they　burst；　out　into　the　enclosure　again。　But　a　few　yards　beyond　them　loomed　the　stockade。
　　It　was　dark　behind　the　altar…hut。　The　mad　stampede　of　the　Picts　had　not　carried　them　in　that　direction。　At　the　wall　Conan　halted；　gripped　Balthus；　and　heaved　him　at　arm's　length　into　the　air　as　he　might　have　lifted　a　child。　Balthus　grasped　the　points　of　the　upright　logs　set　in　the　sun…dried　mud　and　scrambled　up　on　them；　ignoring　the　havoc　done　his　skin。　He　lowered　a　hand　to　the　Cimmerian；　when　around　a　corner　of　the　altar…hut　sprang　a　fleeing　Pict。　He　halted　short；　glimpsing　the　man　on　the　wall　in　the　faint　glow　of　the　fires。　Conan　hurled　his　ax　with　deadly　aim；　but　the　warrior's　mouth　was　already　open　for　a　yell　of　warning；　and　it　rang　loud　above　the　din；　cut　short　as　he　dropped　with　a　shattered　skull。
　　Blinding　terror　had　not　submerged　all　ingrained　instincts。　As　that　wild　yell　rose　above　the　clamor；　there　was　an　instant's　lull；　and　then　a　hundred　throats　bayed　ferocious　answer　and　warriors　came　leaping　to　repel　the　attack　presaged　by　the　warning。
　　Conan　leaped　high；　caught；　not　Balthus'　hand　but　his　arm　near　the　shoulder；　and　swung　himself　up。　Balthus　set　his　teeth　against　the　strain；　and　then　the　Cimmerian　was　on　the　wall　beside　him；　and　the　fugitives　dropped　down　on　the　other　side。
　　
　　
　　　5。　　The　Children　of　Jhebbal　Sag
　　
　　〃Which　way　is　the　river？〃　Balthus　was　confused。
　　〃We　don't　dare　try　for　the　river　now；〃　grunted　Conan。　〃The　woods　between　the　village　and　the　river　are　swarming　with　warriors。　e　on！　We'll　head　in　the　last　direction　they'll　expect　us　to　go…west！〃
　　Looking　back　as　they　entered　the　thick　growth；　Balthus　beheld　the　wall　dotted　with　black　heads　as　the　savages　peered　over。　The　Picts　were　bewildered。　They　had　not　gained　the　wall　in　time　to　see　the　fugitives　take　cover。　They　had　rushed　to　the　wall　expecting　to　repel　an　attack　in　force。　They　had　seen　the　body　of　the　dead　warrior。　But　no　enemy　was　in　sight。
　　Balthus　realized　that　they　did　not　yet　know　their　prisoner　had　escaped。　From　other　sounds　he　believed　that　the　warriors；　directed　by　the　shrill　voice　of　Zogar　Sag；　were　destroying　the　wounded　serpent　with　arrows。　The　monster　was　out　of　the　shaman's　control。　A　moment　later　the　quality　of　the　yells　was　altered。　Screeches　of　rage　rose　in　the　night。
　　Conan　laughed　grimly。　He　was　leading　Balthus　along　a　narrow　trail　that　ran　west　under　the　black　branches；　stepping　as　swiftly　and　surely　as　if　he　trod　a　well…lighted　thoroughfare。　Balthus　stumbled　after　him；　guiding　himself　by　feeling　the　dense　wall　on　either　hand。
　　〃They'll　be　after　us　now。　Zogar's　discovered　you're　gone；　and　he　knows　my　head　wasn't　in　the　pile　before　the　altar…hut。　The　dog！　If　I'd　had　another　spear　I'd　have　thrown　it　through　him　before　I　struck　the　snake。　Keep　to　the　trail。　They　can't　track　us　by　torchlight；　and　there　are　a　score　of　paths　leading　from　the　village。　They'll　follow　those　leading　to　the　river　first…throw　a　cordon　of　warriors　for　miles　along　the　bank；　expecting　us　to　try　to　break　through。　We　won't　take　to　the　woods　until　we　have　to。　We　can　make　better　time　on　this　trail。　Now　buckle　down　to　it　and　run　was　you　never　ran　before。〃
　　〃They　got　over　their　panic　cursed　quick！〃　panted　Balthus；　plying　with　a　fresh　burst　of　speed。
　　〃They're　not　afraid　of　anything；　very　long；〃　grunted　Conan。
　　For　a　space　nothing　was　said　between　them。　The　fugitives　devoted　all　their　attention　to　covering　distance。　They　were　plunging　deeper　and　deeper　into　the　wilderness　and　getting　farther　away　from　civilization　at　every　step；　but　Balthus　did　not　question　Conan〃s　wisdom。　The　Cimmerian　presently　took　time　to　grunt：　〃When　we're　far　enough　away　from　the　village　we'll　swing　back　to　the　river　in　a　big　circle。　No　other　village　within　miles　of　Gwawela。　All　the　Picts　are　gathered　in　that　vicinity。　We'll　circle　wide　around　them。　They　can't　track　us　until　daylight。　They'll　pick　up　our　path　then；　but　before　dawn　we'll　leave　the　trail　and　take　to　the　woods。〃
　　They　plunged　on。　The　yells　died　out　behind　them。　Balthus'　breath　was　whistling　through　his　teeth。　He　felt　a　pain　in　his　side；　and　running　became　torture。　He　blundered　against　the　bushes　on　each　side　of　the　trail。　Conan　pulled　up　suddenly；　turned　and　stared　back　down　the　dim　path。
　　Somewhere　the　moon　was　rising；　a　dim　white　glow　amidst　a　tangle　of　branches。
　　〃Shall　we　take　to　the　woods？〃　panted　Balthus。
　　〃Give　me　your　ax；〃　murmured　Conan　softly。　〃Something　is　close　behind　us。〃
　　〃Then　we'd　better　leave　the　trail！〃　exclaimed　Balthus。　Conan　shook　his　head　and　drew　his　panion　into　a　dense　thicket。　The　moon　rose　higher；　making　a　dim　light　in　the　path。
　　〃We　can't　fight　the　whole　tribe！〃　whispered　Balthus。　
　　〃No　human　being　could　have　found　our　trail　so　quickly；　or　followed　us　so　swiftly；〃　muttered　Conan。　〃Keep　silent。〃
　　There　followed　a　tense　silence　in　which　Balthus　felt　that　his　heart　could　be　heard　pounding　for　miles　away。　Then　abruptly；　without　a　sound　to　announce　its　ing；　a　savage　head　appeared　in　the　dim　path。　Balthus'　heart　jumped　into　his　throat；　at　first　glance　he　feared　to　look　upon　the　awful　head　of　the　saber…tooth。　But　this　head　was　smaller；　more　narrow；　it　was　a　leopard　which　stood　there；　snarling　silently　and　glaring　down　the　trail。　What　wind　there　was　was　blowing　toward　the　hiding　men；　concealing　their　scent。　The　beast　lowered　his　head　and　snuffed　the　trail；　then　moved　forward　uncertainly。　A　chill　played　down　Balthus'　spine。　The　brute　was　undoubtedly　trailing　them。
　　And　it　was　suspicious。　It　lifted　its　head；　its　eyes　glowing　like　balls　of　fire；　and　growled　low　in　its　throat。　And　at　that　instant　Conan　hurled　the　ax。
　　All　the　weight　of　arm　and　shoulder　was　behind　the　throw；　and　the　ax　was　a　streak　of　silver　in　the　dim　moon。　Almost　before　he　realized　what　had　happened；　Balthus　saw　the　leopard　rolling　on　the　ground　in　its　death…throes；　the　handle　of　the　ax　standing　up　from　its　head。　The　head　of　the　weapon　had　split　its　narrow　skull。
　　Conan　bounded　from　the　bushes；　wrenched　his　ax　free　and　dragged　the　limp　body　in　among　the　trees；　concealing　it　from　the　casual　glance。
　　〃Now　let's　go；　and　go　fast！〃　he　grunted；　leading　the　way　southward；　away　from　the　trail。　〃There'll　be　warriors　ing　after　that　cat。　As　soon　as　he　got　his　wits　back　Zogar　sent　him　after　us。　The　Picts　would　follow　him；　but　he'd　leave　them　far　behind。　He'd　circle　the　village　until　he　hit　our　trail　and　then　e　after　us　like　a　streak。　They　couldn't　keep　up　with　him；　but　they'll　have　an　idea　as　to　our　general　direction。　They'd　follow；　listening　for　his　cry。　Well；　they　won't　hear　that；　but　they'll　find　the　blood　on　the　trail；　and　look　around　and　find　the　body　in　the　brush。　They'll　pick　up　our　spoor　there；　if　they　can。　Walk　with　care。〃
　　He　avoided　clinging　briars　and　low…hanging　branches　effortlessly；　gliding　between　trees　without　touching　the　stems　and　always　planting　his　feet　in　the　places　calculated　to　show　least　evidence　of　his　passing；　but　with　Balthus　it　was　slower；　more　laborious　work。
　　No　sound　came　from　behind　them。　They　had　covered　more　than　a　mile　when　Balthus　said：　〃Does　Zogar　Sag　catch　leopard…cubs　and　train　them　for　bloodhounds？〃
　　Conan　shook　his　head。　〃