rh.conanthewarrior-第14部分

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　　His　brain　reeling　from　the　shock　of　it　all；　the　remaining　guard　leaped　to　meet　them　with　goring　spear。　The　horror　of　the　sorcery　he　had　just　witnessed　was　submerged　in　the　stunning　realization　that　the　enemy　were　in　Tecuhltli。　And　as　his　spearhead　ripped　through　a　dark…skinned　belly　he　knew　no　more；　for　a　swinging　sword　crushed　his　skull；　even　as　wild…eyed　warriors　came　pouring　in　from　the　chambers　behind　the　guardroom。
　　It　was　the　yelling　of　men　and　the　clanging　of　steel　that　brought　Conan　bounding　from　his　couch；　wide　awake　and　broadsword　in　hand。　In　an　instant　he　had　reached　the　door　and　flung　it　open；　and　was　glaring　out　into　the　corridor　just　as　Techotl　rushed　up　it；　eyes　blazing　madly。
　　〃The　Xotalancas！〃　he　screamed；　in　a　voice　hardly　human。　〃They　are　within　the　door！〃
　　Conan　ran　down　the　corridor；　even　as　Valeria　emerged　from　her　chamber。
　　〃What　the　devil　is　it？〃　she　called。
　　〃Techotl　says　the　Xotalancas　are　in；〃　he　answered　hurriedly。　〃That　racket　sounds　like　it。〃
　　With　the　Tecuhltli　on　their　heels　they　burst　into　the　throne　room　and　were　confronted　by　a　scene　beyond　the　most　frantic　dream　of　blood　and　fury。　Twenty　men　and　women；　their　black　hair　streaming；　and　the　white　skulls　gleaming　on　their　breasts；　were　locked　in　bat　with　the　people　of　Tecuhltli。　The　women　on　both　sides　fought　as　madly　as　the　men；　and　already　the　room　and　the　hall　beyond　were　strewn　with　corpses。
　　Olmec；　naked　but　for　a　breech…clout；　was　fighting　before　his　throne；　and　as　the　adventurers　entered；　Tascela　ran　from　an　inner　chamber　with　a　sword　in　her　hand。
　　Xatmec　and　his　mate　were　dead；　so　there　was　none　to　tell　the　Tecuhltli　how　their　foes　had　found　their　way　into　their　citadel。　Nor　was　there　any　to　say　what　had　prompted　that　mad　attempt。　But　the　losses　of　the　Xotalancas　had　been　greater；　their　position　more　desperate；　than　the　Tecuhltli　had　known。　The　maiming　of　their　scaly　ally；　the　destruction　of　the　Burning　Skull；　and　the　news；　gasped　by　a　dying　man；　that　mysterious　white…skin　allies　had　joined　their　enemies；　had　driven　them　to　the　frenzy　of　desperation　and　the　wild　determination　to　die　dealing　death　to　their　ancient　foes。
　　The　Tecuhltli；　recovering　from　the　first　stunning　shock　of　the　surprise　that　had　swept　them　back　into　the　throne　room　and　littered　the　floor　with　their　corpses；　fought　back　with　an　equally　desperate　fury；　while　the　doorguards　from　the　lower　floors　came　racing　to　hurl　themselves　into　the　fray。　It　was　the　deathfight　of　rabid　wolves；　blind；　panting；　merciless。　Back　and　forth　it　surged；　from　door　to　dais；　blades　whickering　and　striking　into　flesh；　blood　spurting；　feet　stamping　the　crimson　floor　where　redder　pools　were　forming。　Ivory　tables　crashed　over；　seats　were　splintered；　velvet　hangings　torn　down　were　stained　red。　It　was　the　bloody　climax　of　a　bloody　half…century；　and　every　man　there　sensed　it。
　　But　the　conclusion　was　inevitable。　The　Tecuhltli　outnumbered　the　invaders　almost　two　to　one；　and　they　were　heartened　by　that　fact　and　by　the　entrance　into　the　melee　of　their　light…skinned　allies。
　　These　crashed　into　the　fray　with　the　devastating　effect　of　a　hurricane　plowing　through　a　grove　of　saplings。　In　sheer　strength　no　three　Tlazitlans　were　a　match　for　Conan；　and　in　spite　of　his　weight　he　was　quicker　on　his　feet　than　any　of　them。　He　moved　through　the　whirling；　eddying　mass　with　the　surety　and　destructiveness　of　a　gray　wolf　amidst　a　pack　of　alley　curs；　and　he　strode　over　a　wake　of　crumpled　figures。
　　Valeria　fought　beside　him；　her　lips　smiling　and　her　eyes　blazing。　She　was　stronger　than　the　average　man；　and　far　quicker　and　more　ferocious。　Her　sword　was　like　a　living　thing　in　her　hand。　Where　Conan　beat　down　opposition　by　the　sheer　weight　and　power　of　his　blows；　breaking　spears；　splitting　skulls　and　cleaving　bosoms　to　the　breastbone；　Valeria　brought　into　action　a　finesse　of　swordplay　that　dazzled　and　bewildered　her　antagonists　before　it　slew　them。　Again　and　again　a　warrior；　heaving　high　his　heavy　blade；　found　her　point　in　his　jugular　before　he　could　strike。　Conan；　towering　above　the　field；　strode　through　the　welter　smiting　right　and　left；　but　Valeria　moved　like　an　illusive　phantom；　constantly　shifting；　and　thrusting　and　slashing　as　she　shifted。　Swords　missed　her　again　and　again　as　the　wielders　flailed　the　empty　air　and　died　with　her　point　in　their　hearts　or　throats；　and　her　mocking　laughter　in　their　ears。
　　Neither　sex　nor　condition　was　considered　by　the　maddened　batants。　The　five　women　of　the　Xotalancas　were　down　with　thir　throats　cut　before　Conan　and　Valeria　entered　the　fray；　and　when　a　man　or　woman　went　down　under　the　stamping　feet；　there　was　always　a　knife　ready　for　the　helpless　throat；　or　a　sandaled　foot　eager　to　crush　the　prostrate　skull。
　　From　wall　to　wall；　from　door　to　door　rolled　the　waves　of　bat；　spilling　over　into　adjoining　chambers。　And　presently　only　Tecuhltli　and　their　white…skinned　allies　stood　upright　in　the　great　throne　room。　The　survivors　stared　bleakly　and　blankly　at　each　other；　like　survivors　after　Judgement　Day　or　the　destruction　of　the　world。　On　legs　wide…braced；　hands　gripping　notched　and　dripping　swords；　blood　trickling　down　their　arms；　they　stared　at　one　another　across　the　mangled　corpses　of　friends　and　foes。　They　had　no　breath　left　to　shout；　but　a　bestial　mad　howling　rose　from　their　lips。　It　was　not　a　human　cry　of　triumph。　It　was　the　howling　of　a　rabid　wolf…pack　stalking　among　the　bodies　of　its　victims。
　　Conan　caught　Valeria's　arm　and　turned　her　about。
　　〃You've　got　a　stab　in　the　calf　of　your　leg；〃　he　growled。
　　She　glanced　down；　for　the　first　time　aware　of　a　stinging　in　the　muscles　of　her　leg。　Some　dying　man　on　the　floor　had　fleshed　his　dagger　with　his　last　effort。
　　〃You　look　like　a　butcher　yourself；〃　she　laughed。
　　He　shook　a　red　shower　from　his　hands。
　　〃Not　mine。　Oh；　a　scratch　here　and　there。　Nothing　to　bother　about。　But　that　calf　ought　to　be　bandaged。〃
　　Olmec　came　through　the　litter；　looking　like　a　ghoul　with　his　naked　massive　shoulders　splashed　with　blood；　and　his　black　beard　dabbled　in　crimson。　His　eyes　were　red；　like　the　reflection　of　flame　on　black　water。
　　〃We　have　won！〃　he　croaked　dazedly。　〃The　feud　is　ended！　The　dogs　of　Xotalanc　lie　dead！　Oh；　for　a　captive　to　flay　alive！　Yet　it　is　good　to　look　upon　their　dead　faces。　Twenty　dead　dogs！　Twenty　red　nails　for　the　black　column！〃
　　〃You'd　best　see　to　your　wounded；〃　grunted　Conan；　turning　away　from　him。　〃Here；　girl；　let　me　see　that　leg。〃
　　〃Wait　a　minute！〃　she　shook　him　off　impatiently。　The　fire　of　fighting　still　burned　brightly　in　her　soul。　〃How　do　we　know　these　are　all　of　them？　These　might　have　e　on　a　raid　of　their　own。〃
　　〃They　would　not　split　the　clan　on　a　foray　like　this；〃　said　Olmec；　shaking　his　head；　and　regaining　some　of　his　ordinary　intelligence。　Without　his　purple　robe　the　man　seemed　less　like　a　prince　than　some　repellent　beast　of　prey。　〃I　will　stake　my　head　upon　it　that　we　have　slain　them　all。　There　were　less　of　them　than　I　dreamed；　and　they　must　have　been　desperate。　But　how　came　they　in　Tecuhltli？〃
　　Tascela　came　forward；　wiping　her　sword　on　her　naked　thigh；　and　holding　in　her　other　hand　an　object　she　had　taken　from　the　body　of　the　feathered　leader　of　the　Xotalancas。
　　〃The　pipes　of　madness；〃　she　said。　〃A　warrior　tells　me　that　Xatmec　opened　the　door　to　the　Xotalancas　and　was　cut　down　as　they　stormed　into　the　guardroom。　This　warrior　came　to　the　guardroom　from　the　inner　hall　just　in　time　to　see　it　happen　and　to　hear　the　last　of　a　weird　strain　of　music　which　froze　his　very　soul。　Tolkemec　used　to　talk　of　these　pipes；　which　the　Xuchotlans　swore　were　hidden　somewhere　in　the　catabs　with　the　bones　of　the　ancient　wizard　who　used　them　in　his　lifetime。　Somehow　the　dogs　of　Xotalanc　found　them　and　learned　their　secret。〃
　　〃Somebody　ought　to　go　to　Xotalanc　and　see　if　any　remain　alive；〃　said　Conan。　〃I'll　go　if　somebody　will　guide　me。〃
　　Olmec　glanced　at　the　remnants　of　his　people。　There　were　only　twenty　left　alive；　and　of　these　several　lay　groaning　on　the　floor。　Tascela　was　the　only　one　of　the　Tecuhltli　who　had　escaped　without　a　wound。　The　princess　was　untouched；　though　she　had　fought　as　savagely　as　any。
　　〃Who　will　go　with　Conan　to　Xotalanc？〃　asked　Olmec。
　　Techotl　limped　forward。　The　wound　in　his　thigh　had　started　bleeding　afresh；　and　he　had　another　gash　across　his　ribs。
　　〃I　will　go！〃
　　〃No；　you　won't；〃　vetoed　Conan。　〃And　you're　not　going　either；　Valeria。　In　a　little　while　that　leg　will　be　getting　stiff。〃
　　〃I　will　go；〃　volunteered　a　warrior；　who　was　knotting　a　bandage　about　a　slashed　forearm。
　　〃Very　well；　Yanath。　Go　with　the　Cimmerian。　And　you；　too；　Topal。〃　Olmec　indicated　another　man　whose　injuries　were　slight。　〃But　first　aid　to　lift　the　badly　wounded　on　these　couches　where　we　may　bandage　their　hurts。〃
　　This　was　done　quickly。　As　they　stooped　to　pick　up　a　woman　who　had　been　stunned　by　a　warclub；　Olmec's　beard　brushed　Topal's　ear。　Conan　thought　the　prince　muttered　something　to　the　warrior；　but　he　could　not　be　sure。　A　few　moments　later　he　was　leading　his　panions　down　the　hall。
　　Conan　glanced　back　as　he　went　out　the　door；　at　that　shambles　where　the　dead　lay　on　the　smoldering　floor；　blood…stained　dark　limbs　knotted　in　attitudes　of　f