the moon pool-第31章
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through this〃 He made a wide gesture up toward the
nebulous haze above us。 He took a pencil and on a white
cloth made a hasty sketch of an airplane。 〃In aa corial
like this〃 She regarded the sketch gravely； thrust a hand
down into her girdle and brought forth a keen…bladed
poniard； cut Larry's markings out and placed the fragment
carefully aside。
〃That I can understand；〃 she said。
〃Remarkably intelligent young woman；〃 muttered
O'Keefe。 〃Hope I'm not giving anything awaybut she had
me。〃
〃But what are your women like； Larree？ Are they like
me？ And how many have loved you？〃 she whispered。
〃In all Ireland and America there is none like you； Yo…
lara；〃 he answered。 〃And take that any way you please；〃 he
muttered in English。 She took it； it was evident； as it most
pleased her。
〃Do you have goddesses？〃 she asked。
〃Every woman in Ireland and America； is a goddess〃；
thus Larry。
〃Now that I do not believe。〃 There was both anger and
mockery in her eyes。 〃I know women； Larreeand if that
were so there would be no peace for men。〃
〃There isn't！〃 replied he。 The anger died out and she
laughed； sweetly； understandingly。
〃And which goddess do you worship； Larree？〃
〃You！〃 said Larry O'Keefe boldly。
〃Larry！ Larry！〃 I whispered。 〃Be careful。 It's high explo…
sive。〃
But the priestess was laughinglittle trills of sweet bell
notes； and pleasure was in each note。
〃You are indeed bold； Larree；〃 she said； 〃to offer me your
worship。 Yet am I pleased by your boldness。 StillLugur is
strong； and you are not of those whowhat did you say
have tried。 And your wings are not hereLarree！〃
Again her laughter rang out。 The Irishman flushed； it was
touche for Yolara！
〃Fear not for me with Lugur；〃 he said； grimly。 〃Rather
fear for him！〃
The laughter died； she looked at him searchingly； a little
enigmatic smile about her mouthso sweet and so cruel。
〃Wellwe shall see；〃 she murmured。 〃You say you battle
in your world。 With what？〃
〃Oh； with this and with that；〃 answered Larry； airily。
〃We manage〃
〃Have you the KethI mean that with which I sent
Songar into the nothingness？〃 she asked swiftly。
〃See what she's driving at？〃 O'Keefe spoke to me； swiftly。
〃Well I do！ But here's where the O'Keefe lands。
〃I said；〃 he turned to her； 〃O voice of silver fire； that your
spirit is high even as your beautyand searches out men's
souls as does your loveliness their hearts。 And now listen；
Yolara； for what I speak is truth〃into his eyes came the
far…away gaze； into his voice the Irish softness〃Lo； in my
land of Ireland； this many of your life's length agonesee〃
he raised his ten fingers； clenched and unclenched them
times twenty〃the mighty men of my race； the Taitha…da…
Dainn； could send men out into the nothingness even as do
you with the Keth。 And this they did by their harpings； and
by words spokenwords of power； O Yolara； that have their
power stilland by pipings and by slaying sounds。
〃There was Cravetheen who played swift flames from his
harp； flying flames that ate those they were sent against。 And
there was Dalua； of Hy Brasil； whose pipes played away
from man and beast and all living things their shadows
and at last played them to shadows too； so that wherever
Dalua went his shadows that had been men and beast fol…
lowed like a storm of little rustling leaves； yea； and Bel the
Harper； who could make women's hearts run like wax and
men's hearts flame to ashes and whose harpings could shat…
ter strong cliffs and bow great trees to the sod〃
His eyes were bright； dream…filled； she shrank a little
from him； faint pallor under the perfect skin。
〃I say to you； Yolara； that these things were and are
in Ireland。〃 His voice rang strong。 〃And I have seen men as
many as those that are in your great chamber this many
times over〃he clenched his hands once more； perhaps a
dozen times〃blasted into nothingness before your Keth
could even have touched them。 Yeaand rocks as mighty
as those through which we came lifted up and shattered
before the lids could fall over your blue eyes。 And this is
truth； Yolaraall truth！ Stayhave you that little cone of
the Keth with which you destroyed Songar？〃
She nodded； gazing at him； fascinated； fear and puzzle…
ment contending。
〃Then use it。〃 He took a vase of crystal from the table；
placed it on the threshold that led into the garden。 〃Use it
on thisand I will show you。〃
〃I will use it upon one of the ladala〃 she began eagerly。
The exaltation dropped from him； there was a touch of
horror in the eyes he turned to her； her own dropped be…
fore it。
〃It shall be as you say；〃 she said hurriedly。 She drew the
shining cone from her breast； levelled it at the vase。 The
green ray leaped forth； spread over the crystal； but before
its action could even be begun； a flash of light shot from
O'Keefe's hand； his automatic spat and the trembling vase
flew into fragments。 As quickly as he had drawn it； he
thrust the pistol back into place and stood there empty
handed； looking at her sternly。 From the anteroom came
shouting； a rush of feet。
Yolara's face was white； her eyes strainedbut her voice
was unshaken as she called to the clamouring guards：
〃It is nothinggo to your places！〃
But when the sound of their return had ceased she stared
tensely at the Irishmanthen looked again at the shattered
vase。
〃It is true！〃 she cried； 〃but see； the Keth isalive！〃
I followed her pointing finger。 Each broken bit of the
crystal was vibrating； shaking its particles out into space。
Broken it the bullet of Larry's hadbut not released it from
the grip of the disintegrating force。 The priestess's face was
triumphant。
〃But what matters it； O shining urn of beautywhat mat…
ters it to the vase that is broken what happens to its frag…
ments？〃 asked Larry； gravelyand pointedly。
The triumph died from her face and for a space she was
silent； brooding。
〃Next；〃 whispered O'Keefe to me。 〃Lots of surprises in
the little box； keep your eye on the opening and see what
comes out。〃
We had not long to wait。 There was a sparkle of anger
about Yolara； something too of injured pride。 She clapped
her hands； whispered to the maid who answered her sum…
mons； and then sat back regarding us； maliciously。
〃You have answered me as to your strengthbut you
have not proved it； but the Keth you have answered。 Now
answer this！〃 she said。
She pointed out into the garden。 I saw a flowering branch
bend and snap as though a hand had broken itbut no hand
was there！ Saw then another and another bend and break；
a little tree sway and falland closer and closer to us came
the trail of snapping boughs while down into the garden
poured the silvery light revealingnothing！ Now a great
ewer beside a pillar rose swiftly in air and hurled itself
crashing at my feet。 Cushions close to us swirled about as
though in the vortex of a whirlwind。
And unseen hands held my arms in a mighty clutch fast
to my sides； another gripped my throat and I felt a needle…
sharp poniard point pierce my shirt； touch the skin just over
my heart！
〃Larry！〃 I cried； despairingly。 I twisted my head； saw that
he too was caught in this grip of the invisible。 But his face
was calm； even amused。
〃Keep cool； Doc！〃 he said。 〃Remembershe wants to
learn the language！〃
Now from Yolara burst chime upon chime of mocking
laughter。 She gave a commandthe hands loosened； the
poniard withdrew from my heart； suddenly as I had been
caught I was freeand unpleasantly weak and shaky。
〃Have you THAT in Ireland； Larree！〃 cried the priestess
and once more trembled with laughter。
〃A good play； Yolara。〃 His voice was as calm as his face。
〃But they did that in Ireland even before Dalua piped away
his first man's shadow。 And
