the moon pool-第68章
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and the O'Keefe； caressed them； drew them together； softly
stroked themlovingly； with more than a touch of bene…
diction。 And withdrew！
The sparkling mists rolled up once more； hiding the Silent
Ones。 As silently as once before we had gone we passed out
of the place of light； beyond the crimson stone； back to the
handmaiden's chamber。
Only once on our way did Larry speak。
〃Cheer up； darlin'；〃 he said to her； 〃it's a long way yet
before the finish。 An' are you thinking that Lugur and Yo…
lara are going to pull this thing off？ Are you？〃
The handmaiden only looked at him； eyes love and sorrow
filled。
〃They are！〃 said Larry。 〃They are！ Like HELL they are！〃
CHAPTER XXXIII
The Meeting of Titans
IT IS NOT my intention； nor is it possible no matter how in…
teresting to me； to set down _ad seriatim_ the happenings of
the next twelve hours。 But a few will not be denied recital。
O'Keefe regained cheerfulness。
〃After all； Doc；〃 be said to me； 〃it's a beautiful scrap
we're going to have。 At the worst the worst is no more than
the leprechaun warned about。 I would have told the Taitha
De about the banshee raid he promised me； but I was a bit
taken off my feet at the time。 The old girl an' all the clan'll
be along； said the little green man； an' I bet the Three will
be damned glad of it； take it from me。〃
Lakla； shining…eyed and half fearful too：
〃I have other tidings that I am afraid will please you little；
Larrydarlin'。 The Silent Ones say that you must not go
into battle yourself。 You must stay here with me； and with
Goodwinfor ififthe Shining One does come； then
must we be here to meet it。 And you might not be； you know；
Larry； if you fight；〃 she said； looking shyly up at him from
under the long lashes。
The O'Keefe's jaw dropped。
〃That's about the hardest yet；〃 he answered slowly。 〃Still
I see their point； the lamb corralled for the altar has no
right to stray out among the lions；〃 he added grimly。 〃Don't
worry； sweet；〃 he told her。 〃As long as I've sat in the game
I'll stick to the rules。〃
Olaf took fierce joy in the coming fray。
〃The Norns spin close to the end of this web；〃 he rum…
bled。 〃_Ja！_ And the threads of Lugur and the Heks woman
are between their fingers for the breaking！ Thor will be with
me； and I have fashioned me a hammer in glory of Thor。〃 In
his hand was an enormous mace of black metal； fully five
feet long； crowned with a massive head。
I pass to the twelve hours' closing。
At the end of the _coria_ road where the giant fernland met
the edge of the cavern's ruby floor； hundreds of the _Akka_
were stationed in ambush； armed with their spears tipped
with the rotting death and their nail…studded； metal…headed
clubs。 These were to attack when the Murians debauched
from the _corials_。 We had little hope of doing more here than
effect some attrition of Yolara's hosts； for at this place the
captains of the Shining One could wield the _Keth_ and their
other uncanny weapons freely。 We had learned； too； that
every forge and artisan had been put to work to make an
armour Marakinoff had devised to withstand the natural
battle equipment of the frog…peopleand both Larry and I
had a disquieting faith in the Russian's ingenuity。
At any rate the numbers against us would be lessened。
Next； under the direction of the frog…king； levies com…
manded by subsidiary chieftains had completed rows of
rough walls along the probable route of the Murians through
the cavern。 These afforded the _Akka_ a fair protection behind
which they could hurl their darts and spearscuriously
enough they had never developed the bow as a weapon。
At the opening of the cavern a strong barricade stretched
almost to the two ends of the crescent strand； almost； I say；
because there had not been time to build it entirely across
the mouth。
And from edge to edge of the titanic bridge； from where
it sprang outward at the shore of the Crimson Sea to a
hundred feet away from the golden door of the abode； bar…
rier after barrier was piled。
Behind the wall defending the mouth of the cavern； waited
other thousands of the _Akka_。 At each end of the unfinished
barricade they were mustered thickly； and at right and left
of the crescent where their forest began； more legions were
assembled to make way up to the ledge as opportunity of…
fered。
Rank upon rank they manned the bridge barriers； they
swarmed over the pinnacles and in the hollows of the
island's ragged outer lip； the domed castle was a hive of
them； if I may mix my metaphorsand the rocks and
gardens that surrounded the abode glittered with them。
〃Now；〃 said the handmaiden； 〃there's nothing else we can
dosave wait。〃
She led us out through her bower and up the little path
that ran to the embrasure。
Through the quiet came a sound； a sighing； a half…mourn…
ful whispering that beat about us and fled away。
〃They come！〃 cried Lakla； the light of battle in her eyes。
Larry drew her to him； raised her in his arms； kissed her。
〃A woman！〃 acclaimed the O'Keefe。 〃A real woman
and mine！〃
With the cry of the Portal there was movement among
the _Akka_； the glint of moving spears； flash of metal…tipped
clubs； rattle of horny spurs； rumblings of battle…cries。
And we waitedwaited it seemed interminably； gaze fas…
tened upon the low wall across the cavern mouth。 Suddenly
I remembered the crystal through which I had peered when
the hidden assassins had crept upon us。 Mentioning it to
Lakla； she gave a little cry of vexation； a command to her
attendant； and not long that faithful if unusual lady had
returned with a tray of the glasses。 Raising mine； I saw the
lines furthest away leap into sudden activity。 Spurred war…
rior after warrior leaped upon the barricade and over it。
Flashes of intense； green light； mingled with gleams like
lightning strokes of concentrated moon rays； sprang from
behind the wallsprang and struck and burned upon the
scales of the batrachians。
〃They come！〃 whispered Lakla。
At the far ends of the crescent a terrific milling had begun。
Here it was plain the _Akka_ were holding。 Faintly； for the
distance was great； I could see fresh force upon force rush up
and take the places of those who had fallen。
Over each of these ends； and along the whole line of the
barricade a mist of dancing； diamonded atoms began to rise；
sparking； coruscating points of diamond dust that darted
and danced。
What had once been Lakla's guardiansdancing now in
the nothingness！
〃God； but it's hard to stay here like this！〃 groaned the
O'Keefe； Olaf's teeth were bared； the lips drawn back in
such a fighting grin as his ancestors berserk on their raven
ships must have borne； Rador was livid with rage； the hand…
maiden's nostrils flaring wide； all her wrathful soul in her
eyes。
Suddenly； while we looked； the rocky wall which the _Akka_
had built at the cavern mouthwas not！ It vanished； as
though an unseen； unbelievably gigantic hand had with the
lightning's speed swept it away。 And with it vanished； too；
long lines of the great amphibians close behind it。
Then down upon the ledge； dropping into the Crimson
Sea； sending up geysers of ruby spray； dashing on the bridge；
crushing the frog…men； fell a shower of stone； mingled with
distorted shapes and fragments whose scales still flashed
meteoric as they hurled from above。
〃That which makes things fall upward；〃 hissed Olaf。
〃That which I saw in the garden of Lugur！〃
The fiendish agency of destruction which Marakinoff had
revealed to Larry； the force that cut off gravitation and sent
all things within its range racing outward into space！
And now over the debris upon the ledge； striking with long
sword and daggers； here and there a captain flashing the
green ray； moving on in ordered
