Part 38 (1/2)

Not so Natala She was no longer hungry and thirsty, but she felt no desire to sleep Her lovely eyes were very wide indeed as she tilanced at the doorways, boundaries of the unknown The silence and e place preyed on her The chaer than she had first noticed, and she realized that she was farther fro quickly, she went around the table and seated herself on his knee, glancing nervously at the arched doorways Sohted ones she gazed longest

”We have eaten, drunk and rested,” she urged ”Let us leave this place, Conan It's evil I can feel it”

”Well, we haven't been harht hiirl off his knee he rose with the quick ease of a panther, drawing his saber, facing the doorway from which the sound had seemed to come It was not repeated, and he stole forward noiselessly, Natala folloith her heart in her mouth She knew he suspected peril His outthrust head was sunk between his giant shoulders, he glided forward in a half crouch, like a stalking tiger He er would havefearfully froht in the room, but it was partially illuminated by the radiance behind them, which streamed across it into yet another chamber And in this chaht bathed him, and they saas a counterpart of the arments were richer, and ornaht Was he dead, or ain came that faint sinister sound, as if so the clinging Natala with him

He clapped his hand over her mouth just in time to check her shriek

Froer see the dais, but they could see the shadow it cast on the wall behind it And now another shadow e shapeless black blot Conan felt his hair prickle curiously as he watched Distorted though it ht be, he felt that he had never seen a man or beast which cast such a shadow He was consumed with curiosity, but some instinct held hi

214gasps as she stared with dilated eyes No other sound disturbed the tense stillness The great shadow engulfed that of the dais For a long instant only its black bulk was thrown on the smooth wall Then slowly it receded, and once ainst the wall But the sleeper was no longer upon it

An hysterical gurgle rose in Natala's throat, and Conan gave her an admonitory shake He are of an iciness in his own veins Hurisly, caused no tremors in his broad breast But this was beyond his ken

After awhile, however, his curiosity conquered his uneasiness, and heLooking into the other room, he saas empty The dais stood as he had first seen it, except that no bejeweled hule drop of blood, like a great cri cry, for which Conan did not punish her Again he felt the icy hand of fear

On that dais ahad crept into the cha was, Conan had no idea, but an aura of unnatural horror hung over those di Natala's hand, he turned back, then hesitated So the chambers they had traversed, he heard the sound of a footfall A human foot, bare or softly shod, had made that sound, and Conan, with the wariness of a wolf, turned quickly aside

He believed he could coain into the outer court, and yet avoid the room from which the sound had appeared to come

But they had not crossed the first cha brought the them intently

He was exactly like the others they had encountered: tall, well-irdle There was neither surprize nor hostility in his amber eyes They were dreamy as a lotus-eater's He did not draw the short sword at his side After a tense e his hearers did not understand

On a venture Conan replied in Stygian, and the stranger answered in the saue: ”Who are you?”

”I am Conan, a Cimmerian,” answered the barbarian ”This is Natala, of Brythunia What city is this?”

The aze rested on Natala, and he drawled, ”Of all olden locks, from what far

215dreamland do you coirdle?”

”What rowled the Ci the man's words or manner

The other did not heed hieous beauties,” he ht, and dark eyes of unfathomed mystery But your skin is white as milk, your eyes are clear as dawn, and there is about you a freshness and daintiness alluring as honey Coirl!”

He advanced and reached for her, and Conan struck aside his hand with a force thatthe nuhosts is this?” he one! Fade!

Dissipate! Fade! Vanish!+”

”I'll vanish your head from your shoulders!” snarled the infuriated Ci in his hand ”Is this the welcos in blood!”

The dreaminess had faded from the other's eyes, to be replaced by a look of bewilder!” he ejaculated ”You are real! Whence come you? Who are you? What do you in Xuthal?”

”We carowled ”We wandered into the city at dusk, fa

We found a feast set for some one, and we ate it I have noman is denied food, but you civilized people must have your recompense if you are like all I everBy Cro men vanish into the bellies of shadows!”