Part 37 (2/2)
shook with fear.
”Oh, Conan, will the people of the city not kill us, because of this?
”Well,” he growled, ”this creature would have killed us if I hadn't lopped off his head.
He glanced at the archways that gaped blankly from the green walls above them. He saw nohint of movement, heard no sound.
”I don't think any one saw us,” he muttered. ”I'll hide the evidence ”.
He lifted the limp carca.s.s by its swordbelt with one hand, and grasping the head by its long hairin the other, he half carried, half dragged the ghastly remnants over to the well.
”Since we can't drink this water,” he gritted vindictively, ”I'll see that n.o.body else enjoysdrinking it. Curse such a well, anyway!” He heaved the body over the curb and let it drop, tossing the head after it. A dull splash sounded far beneath.
”There's blood on the stones,” whispered Natala.
”There'll be more unless I find water soon,” growled the Cimmerian, his short store of patienceabout exhausted. The girl had almost forgotten her thirst and hunger in her fear, but not Conan.
”We'll go into one of these doors,” he said. ”Surely we'll find people after awhile.
”Oh, Conan!” she wailed, snuggling up as close to him as she could. ”I'm afraid! This is a cityof ghosts and dead men! Let us go back into the desert! Better to die there, than to face theseterrors!
”We'll go into the desert when they throw us off the walls,” he snarled. ”There's water somewhere in this city, and I'll find it, if I have to kill every man in it.
”.”But what if they come to life again?” she whispered.
”Then I'll keep killing them until they stay dead!” he snapped. ”Come on! That doorway is as good as another! Stay behind me, but don't run unless I tell you to.
”.She murmured a faint a.s.sent and followed him so closely that she stepped on his heels, to his irritation. Dusk had fallen, filling the strange city with purple shadows. They entered the open
212.doorway, and found themselves in a wide chamber, the walls of which were hung with velvet tapestries, worked in curious designs. Floor, walls and ceiling were of the green gla.s.sy stone, the walls decorated with gold frieze-work. Furs and satin cus.h.i.+ons littered the floor. Several doorways let into other rooms. They pa.s.sed through, and traversed several chambers, counterparts of the first. They saw no one, but the Cimmerian grunted suspiciously.
”Some one was here not long ago. This couch is still warm from contact with a human body.
That silk cus.h.i.+on bears the imprint of some one's hips. Then there's a faint scent of perfume lingering in the air.”
A weird unreal atmosphere hung over all. Traversing this dim silent palace was like an opium dream. Some of the chambers were unlighted, and these they avoided. Others were bathed in a soft weird light that seemed to emanate from jewels set in the walls in fantastic designs.
Suddenly, as they pa.s.sed into one of these illumined chambers, Natala cried out and clutched her companion's arm. With a curse he wheeled, glaring for an enemy, bewildered because he saw none.
”What's the matter?” he snarled. ”If you ever grab my sword-arm again, I'll skin you. Do you want me to get my throat cut? What were you yelling about?”
”Look there,” she quavered, pointing.
Conan grunted. On a table of polished ebony stood golden vessels, apparently containing food and drink. The room was unoccupied.
”Well, whoever this feast is prepared for,” he growled, ”he'll have to look elsewhere tonight.”
”Dare we eat it, Conan?” ventured the girl nervously. ”The people might come upon us, and ”
”Lir an mannanan mac lir!” he swore, grabbing her by the nape of her neck and thrusting her into a gilded chair at the end of the table with no great ceremony. ”We starve and you make objections! Eat!”
He took the chair at the other end, and seizing a jade goblet, emptied it at a gulp. It contained a crimson wine-like liquor of a peculiar tang, unfamiliar to him, but it was like nectar to his parched gullet. His thirst allayed, he attacked the food before him with rare gusto. It too was strange to him: exotic fruits and unknown meats. The vessels were of exquisite workmans.h.i.+p, and there were golden knives and forks as well. These Conan ignored, grasping the meat-joints in his fingers and tearing them with his strong teeth. The Cimmerian's table manners were rather wolfish at any time. His civilized companion ate more daintily, but just as ravenously. It occurred to Conan that the food might be poisoned, but the thought did not lessen his appet.i.te;
213.he preferred to die of poisoning rather than starvation.
His hunger satisfied, he leaned back with a deep sigh of relief. That there were humans in that silent city was evidenced by the fresh food, and perhaps every dark corner concealed a lurking enemy. But he felt no apprehension on that score, having a large confidence in his own fighting ability. He began to feel sleepy, and considered the idea of stretching himself on a nearby couch for a nap.
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