the metal monster-第52章
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The speeding shape halted； hesitated； it seemed about to return。 Crashed down upon us an abrupt crescendo of the distant drumming； peremptory； commanding。 The shape darted forward； raced away crushing to straw the trees beneath it in a full quarter…mile…wide swath。
Great gray eyes wide； filled with incredulous wonder； stunned disbelief； Norhala for an instant faltered。 Then out of her white throat； through her red lips pelted a tempest of staccato buglings。
Under them what was left of the Thing leaped； tore on。 Norhala's flaming hair crackled and streamed； about her body of milk and pearlabout Ruth's creamy skina radiant nimbus began to glow。
In the distance I saw a sapphire spark； knew it for Norhala's home。 Not far from it now was the rushing pyramidand it came to me that within that shape was strangely neither globe nor pyramid。 Nor except for the trembling cubes that made the platform on which we stood； did the shrunken Thing carrying us hold any unit of the Metal Monster except its spheres and tetrahedrons at least within its visible bulk。
The sapphire spark had grown to a glimmering azure marble。 Steadily we gained upon the pyramid。 Never for an instant ceased that scourging hail of notes from Norhala never for an instant lessened the drumming clamor that seemed to try to smother them。
The sapphire marble became a sapphire ball； a great globe。 I saw the Thing we sought to join lift itself into a prodigious pillar； the pillar's base thrust forth stilts； upon them the Thing stepped over the blue dome of Norhala's house。
The blue bubble was close； now it curved below us。 Gently we were lifted down； were set before its portal。 I looked up at the bulk that had carried us。
I had been rightbuilt it was only of globe and pyramid； an inconceivably grotesque shape； it hung over us。
Throughout the towering Shape was awful movement； its units writhed within it。 Then it was lost to sight in the mists through which the Thing we had pursued had gone。
In Norhala's face as she watched it go was a dismay； a poignant uncertainty； that held in it something indescribably pitiful。
〃I am afraid！〃 I heard her whisper。
She tightened her grasp upon dreaming Ruth； motioned us to go within。 We passed； silently； behind us she came； followed by three of the great globes； by a pair of her tetrahedrons。
Beside a pile of the silken stuffs she halted。 The girl's eyes dwelt upon hers trustingly。
〃I am afraid！〃 whispered Norhala again。 〃Afraidfor you！〃
Tenderly she looked down upon her； the galaxies of stars in her eyes soft and tremulous。
〃I am afraid； little sister；〃 she whispered for the third time。 〃Not yet can you go as I doamong the fires。〃 She hesitated。 〃Rest here until I return。 I shall leave these to guard you and obey you。〃
She motioned to the five shapes。 They ranged themselves about Ruth。 Norhala kissed her upon both brown eyes。
〃Sleep till I return；〃 she murmured。
She swept from the chamberwith never a glance for us three。 I heard a little wailing chorus without； fast dying into silence。
Spheres and pyramids twinkled at us； guarding the silken pile whereon Ruth lay asleeplike some enchanted princess。
Beat down upon the blue globe like hollow metal worlds； beaten and shrieking。
The drums of Destiny！
The drums of Doom！
Beating taps for the world of men？
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE FRENZY OF RUTH
For many minutes we stood silent； in the shadowy chamber； listening； each absorbed in his own thoughts。 The thunderous drumming was continuous； sometimes it faded into a background for clattering storms as of thousands of machine guns； thousands of riveters at work at once upon a thousand metal frameworks； sometimes it was nearly submerged beneath splitting crashes as of meeting meteors of hollow steel。
But always the drumming persisted； rhythmic； thunderous。 Through it all Ruth slept； undisturbed； cheek pillowed in one rounded arm； the two great pyramids erect behind her； watchful； a globe at her feet； a globe at her head； the third sphere poised between her and us； and； like the pyramidswatchful。
What was happening out thereover the edge of the canyon； beyond the portal of the cliffs； behind the veils； in the Pit of the Metal Monster？ What was the message of the roaring drums？ What the rede of their clamorous runes？
Ventnor stepped by the sentinel globe； bent over the tranced girl。 Sphere nor pointed pair stirred； only they watched himlike a palpable thing one felt their watchfulness。 He listened to her heart； caught up a wrist； took note of her pulse of life。 He drew a deep breath； stood upright； nodded reassuringly。
Abruptly Drake turned； walked out through the open portal； his strain and a very deep anxiety written plainly in deep lines that ran from nostrils to firm young mouth。
〃Just went out to look for the pony；〃 he muttered when he returned。 〃It's safe。 I was afraid it had been stepped on。 It's getting dusk。 There's a big light down the canyon over in the valley。〃
Ventnor drew back past the globe； rejoined us。
The blue bower trembled under a gust of sound。 Ruth stirred； her brows knitted； her hands clenched。 The sphere that stood before her spun on its axis； swept up to the globe at her head； glided from it to the globe at her feetas though whispering。 Ruth moanedher body bent upright； swayed rigidly。 Her eyes opened； they stared through us as though upon some dreadful vision； and strangely was it as though she were seeing with another's eyes； were reflecting another's sufferings。
The globes at her feet and at her head swirled out； clustering against the third spherethree weird shapes in silent consultation。 On Ventnor's face I saw pity and a vast relief。 With shocked amaze I realized that Ruth's agonyfor in agony she clearly waswas calling forth in him elation。 He spokeand I knew why。
〃Norhala！〃 he whispered。 〃She is seeing with Norhala's eyesfeeling what Norhala feels。 It's not going well with Thatout there。 If we dared leave Ruthcould only； see〃
Ruth leaped to her feet； cried outa golden bugling that might have been Norhala's own wrathful trumpet notes。 Instantly the two pyramids flamed open； became two gleaming stars that bathed her in violet radiance。 Beneath their upper tips I saw the blasting ovals glitter menacingly。
The girl glared at usmore brilliant grew the glittering ovals as though their lightnings trembled on their lips。
〃Ruth！〃 called Ventnor softly。
A shadow softened the intolerable； hard brilliancy of the brown eyes。 In them something struggled to arise； fighting its way to the surface like some drowning human thing。
It sank backupon her face dropped a cloud of heartbreak； appalling woe； the despair of a soul that； having withdrawn all faith in its own kind to rest all faith； as it thought； on angelssees that faith betrayed。
There stared upon us a stripped spirit； naked and hopeless and terrible。
Despairing； raging； she screamed once more。 The central globe swam to her； it raised her upon its back； glided to the doorway。 Upon it she stood poised like some youthful； anguished Victorya Victory who faced and knew she faced destroying defeat； poised upon that enigmatic orb on bare slender feet； one sweet breast bare； hands upraised； virginally archaic； nothing about her of the Ruth we knew。
〃Ruth！〃 cried Drake； despair as great as that upon her face was in his voice。 He sprang before the globe that held her； barred its way。
For an instant the Thing pausedand in that instant the human soul of the girl rushed back。
〃No！〃 she cried。 〃No！〃
A weird call issued from the white lipsstumbling； uncertain； as though she who sent it forth herself wondered whence it sprang。 Abruptly the angry stars closed。 The three globes spundoubting； puzzled！ Again she called now a tremulous； halting cadence。 She was lifted； dropped gently to her feet。
For an instant the globes and pyramids whirled and danced before herthen sped away through the portal。
Ruth swayed； sobbing。 Then as though drawn； she ran to the doorway； fled through it。 As one we sprang after her。 Rods ahead her white body flashed； speeding toward the Pit。 Like fleet…footed Atalanta she fledand far； far behind us was the blue bower； the misty barrier of t
