rh.conanthewarrior-第31部分

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angled　bushes　that　showered　blooms　at　the　touch；　until　he　came　at　last　to　a　great　mass　of　rock　that　jutted　like　a　titan's　castle　out　from　the　cliffs　at　a　point　closest　to　the　palace；　which；　however；　was　almost　hidden　from　view　by　vine…interlaced　trees。　Evidently　that　babbling　priest　in　Keshia　had　been　mistaken　when　he　said　the　Teeth　were　hidden　in　the　palace。　This　trail　had　led　him　away　from　the　place　where　Muriela　had　disappeared；　but　a　belief　was　growing　in　Conan　that　each　part　of　the　valley　was　connected　with　that　palace　by　subterranean　passages。
　　Crouching　in　the　deep；　velvet…black　shadows　of　the　bushes；　he　scrutinized　the　great　jut　of　rock　which　stood　out　in　bold　relief　in　the　moonlight。　It　was　covered　with　strange；　grotesque　carvings；　depicting　men　and　animals；　and　half…bestial　creatures　that　might　have　been　gods　or　devils。　The　style　of　art　differed　so　strikingly　from　that　of　the　rest　of　the　valley；　that　Conan　wondered　if　it　did　not　represent　a　different　era　and　race；　and　was　itself　a　relic　of　an　age　lost　and　forgotten　at　whatever　immeasurably　distant　date　the　people　of　Alkmeenon　had　found　and　entered　the　haunted　valley。
　　A　great　door　stood　open　in　the　sheer　curtain　of　the　cliff；　and　a　gigantic　dragon's　head　was　carved　about　it　so　that　the　open　door　was　like　the　dragon's　gaping　mouth。　The　door　itself　was　of　carven　bronze　and　looked　to　weigh　several　tons。　There　was　no　lock　that　he　could　see；　but　a　series　of　bolts　showing　along　the　edge　of　the　massive　portal；　as　it　stood　open；　told　him　that　there　was　some　system　of　locking　and　unlocking…a　system　doubtless　known　only　to　the　priests　of　Keshan。
　　The　trail　showed　that　Gorulga　and　his　henchemen　had　gone　through　that　door。　But　Conan　hesitated。　To　wait　until　they　emerged　would　probably　mean　to　see　the　door　locked　in　his　face；　and　he　might　not　be　able　to　solve　the　mystery　of　its　unlocking。　On　the　other　hand；　if　he　followed　them　in；　they　might　emerge　and　lock　him　in　the　cavern。
　　Throwing　caution　to　the　winds；　he　glided　through　the　great　portal。　Somewhere　in　the　cavern　were　the　priests；　the　Teeth　of　Gwahlur；　and　perhaps　a　clue　to　the　fate　of　Muriela。　Personal　risks　had　never　yet　deterred　him　from　any　purpose。
　　Moonlight　illumined；　for　a　few　yards；　the　wide　tunnel　in　which　he　found　himself。　Somewhere　ahead　of　him　he　saw　a　faint　glow　and　heard　the　echo　of　a　weird　chanting。　The　priests　were　not　so　far　ahead　of　him　as　he　had　thought。　The　tunnel　debouched　into　a　wide　room　before　the　moonlight　played　out；　an　empty　cavern　of　no　great　dimensions；　but　with　a　lofty；　vaulted　roof；　glowing　with　a　phosphorescent　encrustation；　which；　as　Conan　knew；　was　a　mon　phenomenon　in　that　part　of　the　world。　It　made　a　ghostly　half…light；　in　which　he　was　able　to　see　a　bestial　image　squatting　on　a　shrine；　and　the　black　mouths　of　six　or　seven　tunnels　leading　off　from　the　chamber。　Down　the　widest　of　these…the　one　directly　behind　the　squat　image　which　looked　toward　the　outer　opening…he　caught　the　gleam　of　torches　wavering；　whereas　the　phosphorescent　glow　was　fixed；　and　heard　the　chanting　increase　in　volume。
　　Down　it　he　went　recklessly；　and　was　presently　peering　into　a　larger　cavern　than　the　one　he　had　just　left。　There　was　no　phosphorus　here；　but　the　light　of　the　torches　fell　on　a　larger　altar　and　a　more　obscene　and　repulsive　god　squatting　toad…like　upon　it。　Before　this　repugnant　deity　Gorulga　and　his　ten　acolytes　knelt　and　beat　their　heads　upon　the　ground；　while　chanting　monotonously。　Conan　realized　why　their　progress　had　been　so　slow。　Evidently　approaching　the　secret　crypt　of　the　Teeth　was　a　plicated　and　elaborate　ritual。
　　He　was　fidgeting　in　nervous　impatience　before　the　chanting　and　bowing　were　over；　but　presently　they　rose　and　passed　into　the　tunnel　which　opened　behind　the　idol。　Their　torches　bobbed　away　into　the　nighted　vault；　and　he　followed　swiftly。　Not　much　danger　of　being　discovered。　He　glided　along　the　shadows　like　a　creature　of　the　night；　and　the　black　priests　were　pletely　engrossed　in　their　ceremonial　mummery。　Apparently　they　had　not　even　noticed　the　absence　of　Gwarunga。
　　Emerging　into　a　cavern　of　huge　proportions；　about　whose　upward　curving　walls　gallery…like　ledges　marched　in　tiers；　they　began　their　worship　anew　before　an　altar　which　was　larger；　and　a　god　which　was　more　disgusting；　than　any　encountered　thus　far。
　　Conan　crouched　in　the　black　mouth　of　the　tunnel；　staring　at　the　walls　reflecting　the　lurid　glow　of　the　torches。　He　saw　a　carven　stone　stair　winding　up　from　tier　to　tier　of　the　galleries；　the　roof　was　lost　in　darkness。
　　He　started　violently　and　the　chanting　broke　off　as　the　kneeling　blacks　flung　up　their　heads。　An　inhuman　voice　boomed　out　high　above　them。　They　froze　on　their　knees；　their　faces　turned　upward　with　a　ghastly　blue　hue　in　the　sudden　glare　of　a　weird　light　that　burst　blindingly　up　near　the　lofty　roof　and　then　burned　with　a　throbbing　glow。　That　glare　lighted　a　gallery　and　a　cry　went　up　from　the　high　priest；　echoed　shudderingly　by　his　acolytes。　In　the　flash　there　had　been　briefly　disclosed　to　them　a　slim　white　figure　standing　upright　in　a　sheen　of　silk　and　a　glint　of　jewel…crusted　gold。　Then　the　blaze　smoldered　to　a　throbbing；　pulsing　luminosity　in　which　nothing　was　distinct；　and　that　slim　shape　was　but　a　shimmering　blur　of　ivory。
　　〃Yelaya！〃　screamed　Gorulga；　his　brown　features　ashen。　〃Why　have　you　followed　us？　What　is　your　pleasure？〃
　　That　weird　unhuman　voice　rolled　down　from　the　roof；　reechoing　under　that　arching　vault　that　magnified　and　altered　it　beyond　recognition。
　　〃Woe　to　the　unbelievers！　Woe　to　the　false　children　of　Keshia！　Doom　to　them　which　deny　their　deity！〃
　　A　cry　of　horror　went　up　from　the　priests。　Gorulga　looked　like　a　shocked　vulture　in　the　glare　of　the　torches。
　　〃I　do　not　understand！〃　he　stammered。　〃We　are　faithful。　In　the　chamber　of　the　oracle　you　told　us…〃
　　〃Do　not　heed　what　you　heard　in　the　chamber　of　the　oracle！〃　rolled　that　terrible　voice；　multiplied　until　it　was　as　though　a　myriad　voices　thundered　and　muttered　the　same　warning。　〃Beware　of　false　prophets　and　false　gods！　A　demon　in　my　guise　spoke　to　you　in　the　palace；　giving　false　prophecy。　Now　harken　and　obey；　for　only　I　am　the　true　goddess；　and　I　give　you　one　chance　to　save　yourselves　from　doom！
　　〃Take　the　Teeth　of　Gwahlur　from　the　crypt　where　they　were　placed　so　long　ago。　Alkmeenon　is　no　longer　holy；　because　it　has　been　desecrated　by　blasphemers。　Give　the　Teeth　of　Gwahlur　into　the　hands　of　Thutmekri；　the　Stygian；　to　place　in　the　sanctuary　of　Dagon　and　Derketo。　Only　this　can　save　Keshan　from　the　doom　the　demons　of　the　night　have　plotted。　Take　the　Teeth　of　Gwahlur　and　go；　return　instantly　to　Keshia；　there　give　the　jewels　to　Thutmekri；　and　seize　the　foreign　devil　Conan　and　flay　him　alive　in　the　great　square。〃
　　There　was　no　hesitation　in　obeying。　Chattering　with　fear　the　priests　scrambled　up　and　ran　for　the　door　that　opened　behind　the　bestial　god。　Gorulga　led　the　flight。　They　jammed　briefly　in　the　doorway；　yelping　as　wildly　waving　torches　touched　squirming　black　bodies；　they　plunged　through；　and　the　patter　of　their　speeding　feet　dwindled　down　the　tunnel。
　　Conan　did　not　follow。　He　was　consumed　with　a　furious　desire　to　learn　the　truth　of　this　fantastic　affair。　Was　that　indeed　Yelaya；　as　the　cold　sweat　on　the　backs　of　his　hands　told　him；　or　was　it　that　little　hussy　Muriela；　turned　traitress　after　all？　If　it　was…
　　Before　the　last　torch　had　vanished　down　the　black　tunnel　he　was　bounding　vengefully　up　the　stone　stair。　The　blue　glow　was　dying　down；　but　he　could　still　make　out　that　the　ivory　figure　stood　motionless　on　the　gallery。　His　blood　ran　cold　as　he　approached　it；　but　he　did　not　hesitate。　He　came　on　with　his　sword　lifted；　and　towered　like　a　threat　of　death　over　the　inscrutable　shape。
　　〃Yelaya！〃　he　snarled。　〃Dead　as　she's　been　for　a　thousand　years！　Ha！〃
　　From　the　dark　mouth　of　a　tunnel　behind　him　a　dark　form　lunged。　But　the　sudden；　deadly　rush　of　unshod　feet　had　reached　the　Cimmerian's　quick　ears。　He　whirled　like　a　cat　and　dodged　the　blow　aimed　murderously　at　his　back。　As　the　gleaming　steel　in　the　dark　hand　hissed　past　him；　he　struck　back　with　the　fury　of　a　roused　python；　and　the　long　straight　blade　impaled　his　assailant　and　stood　out　a　fo