Part 5 (2/2)
Then after a long while Enkidu said, as once he had said long ago, ”Ah, Gilgames.h.!.+
There is not another one like you in all the world! Glory to the mother who bore you!”
It was like the breaking of a dam, and a rush of life-giving waters tumbling out over the summer-parched fields of the Land.
And from Gilgamesh in that moment of release and relief came twice-spoken words also: ”There is one other who is like me. But only one.”
”No, for Enlil has given you the kings.h.i.+p.”
”But you are my brother,” said Gilgamesh, and they laughed and let go of each other and stepped back, as if seeing each other for the first time, and laughed again.
”This is great foolishness, this fighting between us,” Enkidu cried.
”Very great foolishness indeed, brother.”
”What need have you of shotguns and disruptors?”
”And what do I care if you choose to play with such toys?”
”Indeed, brother.”
”Indeed!”
Gilgamesh looked away. They were all staring-the four party men, Lovecraft, Howard, the Hairy Man, Kublai Khan, Hemingway-all astonished, mouths drooping open. Only Schweitzer was beaming. The doctor came up to them and said quietly, ”You have not injured each other? No.Gut. Gut. Then leave here, the two of you, together. Now. What do you care for Prester John and his wars, or for Mao and his?
This is no business of yours. Go. Now.”
Enkidu grinned. ”What do you say, brother? Shall we go off hunting together?” ”To the end of the Outback, and back again. You and I, and no one else.”
”And we will hunt only with our bows and spears?”
Gilgamesh shrugged. ”With disruptors, if that is how you would have it. With cannons. With nuke grenades. Ah, Enkidu, Enkidu-!”
”Gilgames.h.!.+”
”Go,” Schweitzer whispered. ”Now. Leave this place and never look back.Auf Wiedersehen! Gluckliche Reise! Gottes Name , go now!”
Watching them take their leave, seeing them trudge off together into the swirling winds of the Outback, Robert Howard felt a sudden sharp pang of regret and loss.
How beautiful they had been, those two heroes, those two giants, as they strained and struggled! And then that sudden magic moment when the folly of their quarrel came home to them, when they were enemies no longer and brothers once more- And now they were gone, and here he stood amidst these others, these strangers- Hehad wanted to be Gilgamesh's brother, or perhaps-he barely comprehended it- something more than a brother. But that could never have been. And, knowing that it could never have been, knowing that that man who seemed so much like his Conan was lost to him forever, Howard felt tears beginning to surge within him.
”Bob?” Lovecraft said. ”Bob, are you all right?”
She-it,Howard thought.A man don't cry. Especially in front of other men.
He turned away, into the wind, so Lovecraft could not see his face.
”Bob? Bob?”
She-it, Howard thought again. And he let the tears come.
end.
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