the metal monster-第24章

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canned　her　covertly；　there　fell　upon　her　face　that　shadow　of　inhuman　tranquillity；　of　unearthly　withdrawal　which；　I　guessed；　had　more　than　anything　else　maddened　Ventnor　into　his　attack　upon　the　Disk。

I　watched　her　fight　against　it；　drive　it　back。　White　lipped；　she　raised　her　head　and　met　my　gaze。　And　in　her　eyes　I　read　both　terror　andshame。

It　came　to　me　that　painful　as　it　might　be　for　her　the　time　for　questioning　had　come。

〃Ruth；〃　I　said；　〃I　know　it's　not　necessary　to　remind　you　that　we're　in　a　tight　place。　Every　fact　and　every　scrap　of　knowledge　that　we　can　lay　hold　of　is　of　the　utmost　importance　in　enabling　us　to　determine　our　course。

〃I'm　going　to　repeat　your　brother's　questionwhat　did　Norhala　do　to　you？　And　what　happened　when　you　were　floating　before　the　Disk？〃

The　blaze　of　interest　in　Drake's　eyes　at　these　questions　changed　to　amazement　at　her　stricken　recoil　from　them。

〃There　was　nothing；〃　she　whisperedthen　defiantly　〃nothing。　I　don't　know　what　you　mean。〃

〃Ruth！〃　I　spoke　sharply　now；　in　my　own　perplexity。　〃You　do　know。　You　must　tell　usfor　his　sake。〃　I　pointed　toward　Ventnor。


She　drew　a　long　breath。

〃You're　rightof　course；〃　she　said　unsteadily。　〃Only　II　thought　maybe　I　could　fight　it　out　myself。　But　you'll　have　to　know　itthere's　a　taint　upon　me。〃

I　caught　in　Drake's　swift　glance　the　echo　of　my　own　thrill　of　apprehension　for　her　sanity。

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　now　quietly。　〃Some　new　and　alien　thing　within　my　heart；　my　brain；　my　soul。　It　came　to　me　from　Norhala　when　we　rode　the　flying　block；　andhe　sealed　upon　me　when　I　was　inhis〃again　she　crimsoned；　〃embrace。〃

And　as　we　gazed　at　her；　incredulously：

〃A　thing　that　urges　me　to　forget　you　twoand　Martin　and　all　the　world　I've　known。　That　tries　to　pull　me　from　youfrom　allto　drift　untroubled　in　some　vast　calm　filled　with　an　ordered　ecstasy　of　peace。　And　whose　calling　I　want；　God　help　me；　oh；　so　desperately　to　heed！

〃It　whispered　to　me　first；〃　she　said；　〃from　Norhala　when　she　put　her　arm　around　me。　It　whispered　and　then　seemed　to　float　from　her　and　cover　me　likelike　a　veil；　and　from　head　to　foot。　It　was　a　quietness　and　peace　that　held　within　it　a　happiness　at　one　and　the　same　time　utterly　tranquil　and　utterly　free。

〃I　seemed　to　be　at　the　doorway　to　unknown　ecstasies　and　the　life　I　had　known　only　a　dreamand　you；　all　of　youeven　Martin；　dreams　within　a　dream。　You　weren't　realand　you　did　notmatter。〃

〃Hypnotism；〃　muttered　Drake；　as　she　paused。

〃No。〃　She　shook　her　head。　〃Nomore　than　that。　The　wonder　of　it　grewand　grew。　I　thrilled　with　it。　I　remember　nothing　of　that　ride；　saw　nothingexcept　that　once　through　the　peace　enfolding　me　pierced　warning　that　Martin　was　in　peril；　and　I　broke　through　to　see　him　clutching　Norhala　and　to　see　floating　up　in　her　eyes　death　for　him。

〃And　I　saved　himand　again　forgot。　Then；　when　I　saw　that　beautiful；　flaming　ShapeI　felt　no　terror；　no　fear　only　a　tremendousjoyousanticipation；　as　thoughas　though〃　She　faltered；　hung　her　head；　then　leaving　that　sentence　unfinished；　whispered：　〃and　whenitlifted　me　it　was　as　though　I　had　come　at　last　out　of　some　endless　black　ocean　of　despair　into　the　full　sun　of　paradise。〃

〃Ruth！〃　cried　Drake；　and　at　the　pain　in　his　cry　she　winced。

〃Wait；〃　she　said；　and　held　up　a　little；　tremulous　hand。　〃You　askedand　now　you　must　listen。〃

She　was　silent；　and　when　once　more　she　spoke　her　voice　was　low；　curiously　rhythmic；　her　eyes　rapt：

〃I　was　freefree　from　every　human　fetter　of　fear　or　sorrow　or　love　or　hate；　free　even　of　hopefor　what　was　there　to　hope　for　when　everything　desirable　was　mine？　And　I　was　elemental；　one　with　the　eternal　things　yet　fully　conscious　that　I　wasI。

〃It　was　as　though　I　were　the　shining　shadow　of　a　star　afloat　upon　the　breast　of　some　still　and　hidden　woodland　pool；　as　though　I　were　a　little　wind　dancing　among　the　mountain　tops；　a　mist　whirling　down　a　quiet　glen；　a　shimmering　lance　of　the　aurora　pulsing　in　the　high　solitudes。

〃And　there　was　musicstrange　and　wondrous　music　and　terrible；　but　not　terrible　to　mewho　was　part　of　it。　Vast　chords　and　singing　themes　that　rang　like　clusters　of　little　swinging　stars　and　harmonies　that　were　like　the　very　voice　of　infinite　law　resolving　within　itself　all　discords。　And　allallpassionless；　yetrapturous。

〃Out　of　the　Thing　that　held　me；　out　from　its　fires　pulsed　vitalitya　flood　of　inhuman　energy　in　which　I　was　bathed。　And　it　was　as　though　this　energy　werereassembling　me；　fitting　me　even　closer　to　the　elemental　things；　changing　me　fully　into　them。

〃I　felt　the　little　tendrils　touching；　caressingthen　came　the　shots。　Awakening　wasdreadful；　a　struggling　back　from　drowning。　I　saw　Martinblasted。　I　drove　thethe　spell　away　from　me；　tore　it　away。

〃And；　O　WalterDickit　hurtit　hurtand　for　a　breath　before　I　ran　to　him　it　was　likelike　coming　from　a　world　in　which　there　was　no　disorder；　no　sorrow；　no　doubts；　a　rhythmic；　harmonious　world　of　light　and　music；　intointo　a　world　that　was　like　a　black　and　dirty　kitchen。

〃And　it's　there；〃　her　voice　rose；　hysterically。　〃It's　still　within　mewhispering；　whispering；　urging　me　away　from　you；　from　Martin；　from　every　human　thing；　bidding　me　give　myself　up；　surrender　my　humanity。

〃Its　seal；〃　she　sobbed。　〃NoHIS　seal！　An　alien　consciousness　sealed　within　me；　that　tries　to　make　the　human　me　a　slavethat　waits　to　overcome　my　willand　if　I　surrender　gives　me　freedom；　an　incredible　freedombut　makes　me；　being　still　human；　amonster。〃

She　hid　her　face　in　her　hands；　quivering。

〃If　I　could　sleep；〃　she　wailed。　〃But　I'm　afraid　to　sleep。　I　think　I　shall　never　sleep　again。　For　sleeping　how　do　I　know　what　I　may　be　when　I　wake？〃

I　caught　Drake's　eye；　he　nodded。　I　slipped　my　hand　down　into　the　medicine…case；　brought　forth　a　certain　potent　and　tasteless　combination　of　drugs　which　I　carry　upon　explorations。

I　dropped　a　little　into　her　cup；　then　held　it　to　her　lips。　Like　a　child；　unthinking；　she　obeyed　and　drank。

〃But　I'll　not　surrender。〃　Her　eyes　were　tragic。　〃Never　think　it！　I　can　windon't　you　know　I　can？〃

〃Win？〃　Drake　dropped　down　beside　her；　drew　her　toward　him。　〃Bravest　girl　I've　knownof　course　you'll　win。　And　remember　thisnine…tenths　of　what　you're　thinking　now　is　purely　over…wrought　nerves　and　weariness。　You'll　winand　we'll　win；　never　doubt　it。〃

〃I　don't；〃　she　said。　〃I　know　itoh；　it　will　be　hardbut　I　willI　will〃





CHAPTER　XV

THE　HOUSE　OF　NORHALA

Her　eyes　closed；　her　body　relaxed；　the　potion　had　done　its　work　quickly。　We　laid　her　beside　Ventnor　on　the　pile　of　silken　stuffs；　covered　them　both　with　a　fold；　then　looked　at　each　other　long　and　silentlyand　I　wondered　whether　my　face　was　as　grim　and　drawn　as　his。

〃It　appears；〃　he　said　at　last；　curtly；　〃that　it's　up　to　you　and　me　for　powwow　quick。　I　hope　you're　not　sleepy。〃

〃I　am　not；〃　I　answered　as　curtly；　the　edge　of　nerves　in　his　manner　of　questioning　doing　nothing　to　soothe　my　own；　〃and　even　if　I　were　I　would　hardly　expect　to　put　all　the　burden　of　the　present　problem　upon　you　by　going　to　sleep。〃

〃For　God's　sake　don't　be　a　prima　donna；〃　he　flared　up。　〃I　meant　no　offense。〃

〃I'm　sorry；　Dick；〃　I　said。　〃We're　both　a　little　jumpy；　I　guess。〃　He　nodded；　gripped　my　hand。

〃It　wouldn't　be　so　bad；〃　he　muttered；　〃if　all　four　of　us　were　all　right。　But　Ventnor's　down　and　out；　and　God　alone　knows　for　how　long。　And　Ruthhas　all　the　trouble　we　have　and　some　special　ones　of　her　own。　I've　an　idea〃　he　hesitated〃an　idea　that　there　was　no　exaggeration　in　that　story　she　toldan　idea　that　if　anything　she　underplayed　it。〃

〃I；　too；〃　I　replied　somberly。　〃And　to　me　it　is　the　most　hideous　phase　of　this　whole　situationand　for　reasons　not　all　connected　with　Ruth；〃　I　added。

〃Hideous！〃　he　repeated。　〃Unthinkableyet　all　this　is　unthinkable。　And　stillit　is！　And　Ventnorcoming　back　that　way。　Like　a　lost　soul　finding　voice。

〃Was　it　raving；　Goodwin？　Or　could　he　have　beenhow　was　it　he　put　itin　touch　with　these　Things　and　their　purpose？　Was　that　messagetruth？〃

〃Ask　yourself　that　question；〃　I　said。　〃Manyou　know　it　was　truth。　Had　not　inklings　of　it　come　to　you　even　before　he　spoke？　They　had　to　me。　His　message　was　but　an　interpretation；　a　synthesis　of　facts　I；　for　one；　lacked　the　courage　to　admit。〃

〃I；　too；〃　he　nodded。　〃But　he　went　further　than　that。