the metal monster-第14章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
He turned to me； his face drawn with anxiety； his eyes feverish。
〃Can you see them； Walter？〃 His voice shook。 〃God why did I ever let her go like that？ Why did I let her go alone？〃
〃They'll be close ahead； Martin。〃 I spoke out of a conviction I could not explain。 〃Whatever it is we're bound for； wherever it is the woman's taking us； she means to keep us togetherfor a time at least。 I'm sure of it。〃
〃She saidfollow。〃 It was Drake beside us。 〃How the hell can we do anything else？ We haven't any control over this bird we're on。 But she has。 What she meant； Ventnor； is that it would follow her。〃
〃That's true〃new hope softened the haggard face 〃that's truebut is it？ We're reckoning with creatures that man's imagination never conceivednor could conceive。 And with thiswomanhuman in shape； yes； but human in thoughtnever。 How then can we tell〃
He turned once more； all his consciousness concentrated in his searching eyes。
Drake's rifle slipped from his hand。
He stooped to pick it up； then tugged with both hands。 The rifle lay immovable。
I bent and strove to aid him。 For all the pair of us could do； the rifle might have been a part of the gleaming surface on which it rested。 The tiny； deepset star points winked up
〃They'relaughing at us！〃 grunted Drake。
〃Nonsense；〃 I answered； and tried to check the involuntary shuddering that shook me； as I saw it shake him。 〃Nonsense。 These blocks are great magnetsthat's what holds the rifle； what holds us； too。〃
〃I don't mean the rifle；〃 he said； 〃I mean those points of lightsthe eyes〃
There came from Ventnor a cry of almost anguished relief。 We straightened。 Our head shot above the mists like those of swimmers from water。 Unnoticed； we had been climbing out of them。
And a hundred yards ahead of us； cleaving them； veiled in them almost to the shoulders； was Norhala； red…gold tresses steaming； and close beside her were the brown curls of Ruth。 At her brother's cry she turned and her arm flashed out of the veils with reassuring gesture。
A mile away was an opening in the valley's mountainous wall； toward it we were speeding。 It was no ragged crevice； no nature split fissure； it gave the impression of a gigantic doorway。
〃Look；〃 whispered Drake。
Between us and the vast gateway； gleaming triangles began to break through the vapors； like the cutting fins of sharks； glints of round bodies like gigantic porpoises the vapors seethed with them。 Quickly the fins and rolling curves were all about us。 They centered upon the portal； streamed througha horde of the metal things； leading us； guarding us； playing about us。
And weird； unutterably weird was that spectaclethe vast and silent vale with its still； smooth vapors like a coverlet of cloud； the regal head of Norhala sweeping over them； the dull glint and gleam of the metal paradoxes flowing； in ordered motion； all about us； the titanic gateway； glowing before us。
We were at its threshold； over it。
CHAPTER VIII
THE DRUMS OF THUNDER
Upon that threshold the mists foamed like breaking billows； then ceased abruptly to be。 Keeping exactly the distance I had noted when our gaze had risen above the fog； glided the block that bore Ruth and Norhala。 In the strange light of the place into which we had emergedand whether that place was canyon； corridor； or tunnel I could not then determineit stood out sharply。
One arm of Norhala held Ruthand in her attitude I sensed a shielding intent； guardianshipthe first really human impulse this shape of mystery and beauty had revealed。
In front of them swept score upon score of her familiars no longer dully lustrous； but shining as though cut from blue and polished steel。 Theymarchedin ordered rows； globes and cubes and pyramids； moving sedately now as units。
I looked behind me； out of the spume boiling at the portal； were pouring forth other scores of the Metal Things； darting through like divers through a wave。 And as they drew into our wake and swam into the light； their dim lustre vanished like a film； their surfaces grew almost radiant。
Whence came the light that set them gleaming？ Our pace had slackenedI looked about me。 The walls of the cleft or tunnel were perpendicular； smooth and shining with a cold； metallic； greenish glow。
Between the walls； like rhythmic flashing of fire…flies； pulsed soft and fugitive glimmerings that carried a sense of the infinitely minuteof electrons； it came to me； rather than atoms。 Their irradiance was greenish； like the walls； but I was certain that these corpuscles did not come from them。
They blinked and faded like motes within a shifting sunbeam； or； to use a more scientific comparison； like colloids within the illuminated field of the ultramicroscope； and like these latter it was as though the eyes took in not the minute particles themselves but their movement only。
Save for these gleamings the light of the place； although crepuscular； was crystalline clear。 High above us five hundred； a thousand feetthe walls merged into a haze of clouded beryl。
Rock certainly the cliffs werebut rock cut and planed； smoothed and polished and PLATED！
Yes； that was itplated。 Plated with some metallic substance that was itself a reservoir of luminosity and from which； it came to me； pulsed the force that lighted the winking ions。 But who could have done such a thing？ For what purpose？ How？
And the meticulousness； the perfection of these smoothed cliffs struck over my nerves as no rasp could； stirring a vague resentment； an irritated desire for human inharmonies； human disorder。
Absorbed in my examination I had forgotten those who must share with me my doubts and dangers。 I felt a grip on my arm。
〃If we get close enough and I can get my feet loose from this damned thing I'll jump；〃 Drake said。
〃What？〃 I gasped； blankly； startled out of my preoccupation。 〃Jump where？〃
I followed his pointing finger。 We were rapidly closing upon the other cube； it was now a scant twenty paces ahead； it seemed to be stopping。 Ventnor was leaning forward； quivering with eagerness。
〃Ruth！〃 he called。 〃Ruthare you all right？〃
Slowly she turned to usmy heart gave a great leap； then seemed to stop。 For her sweet face was touched with that same unearthly tranquillity which was Norhala's； in her brown eyes was a shadow of that passionless spirit brooding in Norhala's own； her voice as she answered held within it more than echo of Norhala's faint； far…off golden chiming。
〃Yes；〃 she sighed； 〃yes； Martinhave no fear for me〃
And turned from us； gazing forward once more with the woman and as silent as she。
I glanced covertly at Ventnor； at Drakehad I imagined； or had they too seen？ Then I knew they had seen； for Ventnor's face was white to the lips； and Drake's jaw was set； his teeth clenched； his eyes blazing with anger。
〃What's she doing to Ruthyou saw her face；〃 he gritted； half inarticulately。
〃Ruth！〃 There was anguish in Ventnor's cry。
She did not turn again。 It was as though she had not heard him。
The cubes were now not five yards apart。 Drake gathered himself； strained to loosen his feet from the shining surface； making ready to leap when they should draw close enough。 His great chest swelled with his effort； the muscles of his neck knotted； sweat steamed down his face。
〃No use；〃 he gasped； 〃no use； Goodwin。 It's like trying to lift yourself by your boot…strapslike a fly stuck in molasses。〃
〃Ruth；〃 cried Ventnor once more。
As though it had been a signal the block darted forward； resuming the distance it had formerly maintained between us。
The vanguard of the Metal Things began to race。 With an incredible speed they fled into； were lost in an instant within； the luminous distances。
The cube that bore the woman and girl accelerated； flew faster and faster onward。 And as swiftly our own followed it。 The lustrous walls flowed by； dizzily。
We had swept over toward the right wall of the cleft and were gliding over a broad ledge。 This ledge was； I judged； all of a hundred feet in width。 From it the floor of the place was dropping rapidly。
The opposite precipices were slowly drawing closer。 After us flowed the flanking host。
Steadily our ledge arose and the floor of the canyon dropped。 Now
