Part 54 (1/2)
300Fortified, because of some ancient ruins upon it There is a peculiarity about it which makes it perfect for our purpose It has no shore-line, but rises sheer out of the sea in cliffs a hundred and fifty feet tall Not even an ape could negotiate theo up or down is a narrow path on the western side that has the appearance of a worn stair, carved into the solid rock of the cliffs
”If we could trap Conan on that island, alone, we could hunt him down at our leisure, with bows, as men hunt a lion”
”As ish for the er, bidding hi?”
”In effect, yes!” Seeing Jehungir's look of amazement, Ghaznavi continued: ”We will ask for a parley with the kozaks in regard to prisoners, at the edge of the steppes by Fort Ghori As usual, ill go with a force and encamp outside the castle They will coo forith the usual distrust and suspicion But this time ill take with us, as if by casual chance, your beautiful captive” Octavia changed color and listened with intensified interest as the counsellor nodded toward her ”She will use all her wiles to attract Conan's attention That should not be difficult To that wild reaver she should appear a dazzling vision of loveliness Her vitality and substantial figure should appeal to him more vividly than would one of the doll-like beauties of your seraglio”
Octavia sprang up, her white fists clenched, her eyes blazing and her figure quivering with outraged anger
”You would force me to play the trollop with this barbarian?” she exclaile at a steppes-robber I ahter of a Nemedian lord ”
”You were of the Nemedian nobility before ir cynically ”Now you are merely a slave ill do as she is bid”
”I will not!” she raged
”On the contrary,” rejoined Jehungir with studied cruelty, ”you will I like Ghaznavi's plan
Continue, prince a counsellors”
”Conan will probably wish to buy her You will refuse to sell her, of course, or to exchange her for Hyrkanian prisoners He h I do not
301think even he would break the parley-truce Anye ht attempt
”Then, shortly after the parley, before he has tier to hiirl, and deer, but at least he will think that she has escaped
”Then ill send a spy a Yuetshi+ fisherman will do to the kozak ca on Xapur If I know ht to that place”
”But we do not know that he will go alone,” Jehungir argued
”Does ato a rendezvous with a woman he desires?” retorted Ghaznavi ”The chances are all that he will go alone But ill take care of the other alternative We will not await hiht be trapped ourselves, but a the reeds of a marshy point which juts out to within a thousand yards of Xapur If he brings a large force, we'll beat a retreat and think up another plot If he comes alone or with a small party, ill have hi slave's slances”
”I will never descend to such shame!” Octavia ith fury and humiliation ”I will die first!”
”You will not die, ir, ”but you will be subjected to a very painful and hu experience”
He clapped his hands, and Octavia paled This time it was not the Kushi+te who entered, but a Sheht with a short, curled, blue-black beard
”Here is work for you, Gilzan,” said Jehungir ”Take this fool, and play with her awhile Yet be careful not to spoil her beauty”
With an inarticulate grunt the Sheers, all the defiance went out of her With a piteous cry she tore away and threw herself on her knees before her iir disesture, and said to Ghaznavi: ”If your plan succeeds, I will fill your lap with gold”
302
In the darkness before dawn an unaccustomed sound disturbed the solitude that slumbered over the reedy marshes and the misty waters of the coast It was not a droater-fowl nor a waking beast It was a huh the thick reeds, which were taller than a man's head
It was a woman, had there been anyone to see, tall, and yellow-haired, her splendid liood earnest, every outraged fiber of her still tingling from her experience in a captivity that had becoir's h; but with deliberate fiendishness Jehungir had given her to a nobleeneracy even in Khawarizm