the lost continent(消失的大陆)-第31章
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shortly thereafter the earth shook to the explosion of a shell within the city；
and from time to time thereafter other shells burst at no great distance
from the palace。 The yellow men were bombarding New Gondar again。
Presently officers and slaves commenced to traverse the corridor on
matters pertaining to their duties； and then came the emperor； scowling
and wrathful。 He was followed by a few personal attendants； whom he
dismissed at the doorway to his apartmentsthe same doorway through
which Victory had been taken。 I chafed to follow him； but the corridor
was filled with people。 At last they betook themselves to their own
apartments； which lay upon either side of the corridor。
An officer and a slave entered the very room in which I hid； forcing
me to flatten myself to one side in the darkness until they had passed。
Then the slave made a light； and I knew that I must find another hiding
place。
Stepping boldly into the corridor； I saw that it was now empty save for
the single sentry before the emperor's door。 He glanced up as I emerged
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from the room； the occupants of which had not seen me。 I walked
straight toward the soldier； my mind made up in an instant。 I tried to
simulate an expression of cringing servility； and I must have succeeded；
for I entirely threw the man off his guard； so that he permitted me to
approach within reach of his rifle before stopping me。 Then it was too
latefor him。
Without a word or a warning； I snatched the piece from his grasp； and；
at the same time struck him a terrific blow between the eyes with my
clenched fist。 He staggered back in surprise； too dumbfounded even to
cry out； and then I clubbed his rifle and felled him with a single mighty
blow。
A moment later； I had burst into the room beyond。 It was empty！
I gazed about； mad with disappointment。 Two doors opened from
this to other rooms。 I ran to the nearer and listened。 Yes； voices were
coming from beyond and one was a woman's； level and cold and filled
with scorn。 There was no terror in it。 It was Victory's。
I turned the knob and pushed the door inward just in time to see
Menelek seize the girl and drag her toward the far end of the apartment。
At the same instant there was a deafening roar just outside the palacea
shell had struck much nearer than any of its predecessors。 The noise of it
drowned my rapid rush across the room。
But in her struggles； Victory turned Menelek about so that he saw me。
She was striking him in the face with her clenched fist； and now he was
choking her。
At sight of me； he gave voice to a roar of anger。
〃What means this； slave？〃 he cried。 〃Out of here！ Out of here！
Quick； before I kill you！〃
But for answer I rushed upon him； striking him with the butt of the
rifle。 He staggered back； dropping Victory to the floor； and then he cried
aloud for the guard； and came at me。 Again and again I struck him； but
his thick skull might have been armor plate； for all the damage I did it。
He tried to close with me； seizing the rifle； but I was stronger than he；
and； wrenching the weapon from his grasp； tossed it aside and made for
his throat with my bare hands。 I had not dared fire the weapon for fear that
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its report would bring the larger guard stationed at the farther end of the
corridor。
We struggled about the room； striking one another； knocking over
furniture； and rolling upon the floor。 Menelek was a powerful man； and
he was fighting for his life。 Continually he kept calling for the guard；
until I succeeded in getting a grip upon his throat； but it was too late。 His
cries had been heard； and suddenly the door burst open； and a score of
armed guardsmen rushed into the apartment。
Victory seized the rifle from the floor and leaped between me and
them。 I had the black emperor upon his back； and both my hands were at
his throat； choking the life from him。
The rest happened in the fraction of a second。 There was a rending
crash above us； then a deafening explosion within the chamber。 Smoke
and powder fumes filled the room。 Half stunned； I rose from the lifeless
body of my antagonist just in time to see Victory stagger to her feet and
turn toward me。 Slowly the smoke cleared to reveal the shattered
remnants of the guard。 A shell had fallen through the palace roof and
exploded just in the rear of the detachment of guardsmen who were
coming to the rescue of their emperor。 Why neither Victory nor I were
struck is a miracle。 The room was a wreck。 A great； jagged hole was
torn in the ceiling； and the wall toward the corridor had been blown
entirely out。
As I rose； Victory had risen； too； and started toward me。 But when she
saw that I was uninjured she stopped； and stood there in the center of the
demolished apartment looking at me。 Her expression was inscrutableI
could not guess whether she was glad to see me； or not。
〃Victory！〃 I cried。 〃Thank God that you are safe！〃 And I approached
her； a greater gladness in my heart than I had felt since the moment that I
knew the Coldwater must be swept beyond thirty。
There was no answering gladness in her eyes。 Instead； she stamped
her little foot in anger。
〃Why did it have to be you who saved me！〃 she exclaimed。 〃I hate
you！〃
〃Hate me？〃 I asked。 〃Why should you hate me； Victory？ I do not
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hate you。 II〃 What was I about to say？ I was very close to her as a
great light broke over me。 Why had I never realized it before？ The
truth accounted for a great many hitherto inexplicable moods that had
claimed me from time to time since first I had seen Victory。
〃Why should I hate you？〃 she repeated。 〃Because Snider told mehe
told me that you had promised me to him； but he did not get me。 I killed
him； as I should like to kill you！〃
〃Snider lied！〃 I cried。 And then I seized her and held her in my arms；
and made her listen to me； though she struggled and fought like a young
lioness。 〃I love you； Victory。 You must know that I love youthat I
have always loved you； and that I never could have made so base a
promise。〃
She ceased her struggles； just a trifle； but still tried to push me from
her。 〃You called me a barbarian！〃 she said。
Ah； so that was it！ That still rankled。 I crushed her to me。
〃You could not love a barbarian；〃 she went on； but she had ceased to
struggle。
〃But I do love a barbarian； Victory！〃 I cried； 〃the dearest barbarian in
the world。〃
