fs.thesecondbookofswords-第53部分
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hat say you to that idea？ Hey？ Answer me！〃
Hades at the doorway was bored by this distraction； and stood waiting for it to be over。
〃No…no； don't。 Spare me。。。 please。〃 Doon's voice was almost inaudible； and almost unrecognizable； too。
Hades in his impatience grumbled something； in a bass voice pitched too low for Mark to understand。 Hermes on hearing it forgot his human toy； and both gods went on out of the cave。 Just as they emerged into the corridor outside； Mark heard the sound of the demon out there again。 Hades spoke again； and then did something； and Dactylartha fled； yapping and bounding like a kicked cur。
And with that the gods were gone。 Inside the cave the humans were stirring； shakily； as if each and all of them were trying to recover from an illness。
Even as others were getting to their feet； Mark sat down； his knees suddenly shakier than before。 Why； he realized； I have just looked upon the face of Pluto himself。。。 and here I am。 Mitspieler； or Indosuaros； one of them； told us once that no man can do that and live。 And here I am。。。 Mechanically he picked up his quiver and slung it on his back。 He picked up his bow What was he going to do with it now？
When Doon sat up； the first thing he did was to look around him suspiciously； to see who might have been a witness to his weakness。 Mark noticed this vaguely but his own thoughts were elsewhere。 Dmitry had emerged from hiding； and was calling out all demons and gods to witness that Daghur was dead。
〃Look at that； a rock got him； it looks like。 Who uses a sling？〃 All Mark could see of Daghur was a limp arm as Dmitry raised it。
Ben was calling out too； calling for help； from where he stood bending over Ariane。 Mark rushed to them。 The girl was sitting up； but blood from a head injury was streaking down one side of her； face。 Either a stone from the other side had hit her； or she had fallen during the scrambling in the dark。
And now Mitspieler was on his feet。 He pointed； with a shaking arm； to where the doorway of the cave yawned unprotected。 〃The demon！〃 he choked out the words。 〃。。。 is stunned。 Run！ Run for it now！〃
Ben scooped up Ariane； disdaining any help from Mark。 With Mark running as a rear guard； the big man hurried out of the cave。 He moved quickly but the others were already gone ahead of him。 Outside； they could see headlamps bobbing on the downward path。 Doon's Sword might have been taken from him； but his determination was not yet dead。 And if he had had any thought of running back instead toward the upper levels of the cave； it had probably been squelched by the sound of human yells that now came drifting down from that direction。 The alarms were louder and closer than before。
The demon had retreated or fallen into the chasm of the ravine。 Mark could see multicolored lights flash up from those dark depths； and could feel the waves of hatred； as distinct as spoken curses。
Doon was running in the lead； gaining with every stride。 After him came Mitspieler； who looked back to find his son； then increased his pace again as both Dmitry and Willem rushed past him at top speed。 Radulescu； who supposedly knew better than anyone else the best place to seek safety； was running in the same direction。 Ben with Ariane in his arms pounded in the same direction with surprising fleetness； Mark keeping right behind them。
They passed the curve of the path where the demon had first sent them dashing back。 Mark had a quick look at the body of the first warbeast to die。 It was draped limply over the low wall beside the path； dropped there like a chewed fruit…rind； shrunken； still steaming or smoking。
Just as animals that were natural enemies might flee together from some disaster； so did the humans overtake and pass each other on the path； taking no more notice than did strangers in a crowded city。
Ariane had partially regained consciousness； and was struggling to get Ben to put her down。
And now the demon had recovered； from whatever the gods had done to it in passing。 The lights of it again spun and flickered in the air； the noise and sickness of it came trampling； hurtling in pursuit。
Mitspieler； now fallen to last place among the racing humans； unable to run faster； was now unable to run any more at all。 He turned and struck with desperate magic against the flying thing。 Mark； looking back with some remnant of a wish to help the man； saw bolts of fire shoot from the wizard's fingertips； to splash into the light that roiled in midair and represented Dactylartha。 And then Mark saw the stronger fire strike back； along the pathway of the first； and he saw what happened to Mitspieler when it engulfed him。
The demon now flashed throught the air； easily overtaking and passing Mark and Ben； and Ariane； who now moved on her own feet supported between them。 It was obviously trying to cut off the leaders of the human rout； who now fled down the last section of the path toward a dark doorway。 It failed。 The last man of the advanced group vanished into that portal just before it got there。
Balked； it turned back。 Three living victims yet remained to it。
It spewed its sickness at them。 Blue immaterial flames burst around Ben； and he fell； choking and gasping。 Mark felt the pain。。。
Ariane pushed herself erect against the wall of rock beside the path； and faced the thing directly。 Her girlish voice rang out； in what must have been the charm learned in her childhood：
〃In the Emperor's name； forsake this game； and let us pass！〃
There was a burbling and a shrieking in the air。 Dactylartha's substance boiled and spurted。 It struck at the three humans but it could no longer reach them。 A wall as of glass； invulnerable and invisible； was outlined along the path； imaged in midair by the demon's fire that splashed against it harmlessly。 The pathway； just to one side； was clear。
The flames had disappeared from Ben's body； leaving no signs of physical damage。 Mark with an effort got the big man back on his feet and shoved him forward。 Then Mark took Ariane by the arm and pulled her along； he realized that he was in better shape than either of the others； but at the same time he knew he was half…dazed himself。
Supporting themselves and each other as best they could； the three of them limped and hobbled forward； passing shielded just under the storm of the demon's wrath。 It deafened and blinded but could not touch them。 Now the dark doorway was close ahead； and now they were entering it； and now； with a shock of sudden silence； the domain of the demon had been left behind。
They stood in a quiet place； of stone and friendly darkness； a little light was ing from somewhere ahead of them and below。
〃This looks like a drainpipe；〃 Ben muttered dazedly。 〃Or a sewer。〃
Maybe it did； thought Mark。 But it was a passage to where they wanted to go； and even reasonably clean。 As they moved forward and the descent steepened； there were steps and grips to use。
Ben was starting to e out of his confusion。 〃What happened back there？〃 was the next thing he asked。 〃I thought it had us for a moment。 Did Mitspieler fight it off？〃
Ariane had nothing to say。 She kept moving along； putting down one foot after another； but she looked bad； her face stark white behind the bruise and the dried blood。
Mark made no answer either。 Not now。 Later； when he had had time to think； he would have questions of his own。
〃Look；〃 said Ben； and stopped momentarily； opening his hand； displaying a gold coin。〃 〃Yes；〃 said Mark。
They moved on。 The tunnel was bottoming out。 Mark could see that just ahead it widened into a level space； wide and open； extending farther than he could see from here。 Some Old World lights there appeared to be turning themselves on in wele。 And the light that shone up into the tunnel was yellow with the reflected burden of the gold。
Chapter 16
The ugly dazzle of the demon's influence faded quickly from Ben's mind as he moved on。 But his mind did not really clear。 Instead the more entrancing glamour of the gold came on to absorb his thoughts。
Down here long hallways were lined with shelv
