Part 9 (1/2)
Queen of the Black Coast ------------------------
Conan returns to the Hyborian kingdoms, where he serves as a condottiere in Neos In the last-na with the law impels him to take the first shi+p outward bound He is about twenty-four years old now
1 Conan joins the Pirates
Believe green buds awaken in the spring, That autumn paints the leaves with somber fire; Believe I held my heart inviolate To lavish on oneof Belit
Hoofs drummed down the street that sloped to the wharfs The folk that yelled and scattered had only a fleeting gliure on a black stallion, a wide scarlet cloak flowing out on the wind Far up the street came the shout and clatter of pursuit, but the horseman did not look back He swept out onto the wharfs and jerked the plunging stallion back on its haunches at the very lip of the pier Seaaped up at hih-prowed, broad-waisted galley Theher away frorily as the horse- leap landed squarely on the mid-deck
”Who invited you aboard?”
”Get under way!” roared the intruder with a fierce gesture that spattered red drops from his broadsword
”But we're bound for the coasts of Kush!+” expostulated the master
”Then I'm for Kush!+ Push off, I tell you!” The other cast a quick glance up the street, along which a squad of horseroup of archers, crossbows on their shoulders
”Can you pay for your passage?” demanded the master
”I paythe great sword that glittered bluely in the sun ”By Croalley in the blood of its crew!”
The shi+plance at the dark, scarred face of the swordsman, hardened with passion, and he shouted a quick order, thrusting strongly against the piles The galley ed out into clear water, the oars began to clack rhyth sail The light shi+p heeled to the gust, then took her course like a swan, gathering headway as she ski their swords, shouting threats and co for the bowe
”Let therinned the swordsman hardily ”Do you keep her on her course, master steersman”
The master descended from the small deck between the bows, made his way between the rows of oarser stood there with his back to the mast, eyes narrowed alertly, sword ready The shi+pman eyed hi knife in his belt He saw a tall, powerfully built figure in a black scale-reaves, and a blue-steel helhly polished
Fro in the sea wind A broad shagreen belt with a golden buckle held the scabbard of the broadsword he bore Under the horned hel blue eyes
”If we ether,” said the master, ”we may as well be at peace with each other My naos I aar and brass-hilted swords to the black kings for ivory, copra, copper ore, slaves, and pearls”
The swordsures still gesticulated helplessly, evidently having trouble in finding a boat swift enough to overhaul the fast-sailing galley
”I a e to which I uardsmen pursue you?” asked tito ”Not that it's any ofto conceal,” replied the Ci you civilized peoples, your ways are still beyond ht in a tavern, a captain in the king's guard offered violence to the sweetheart of a young soldier, who naturally ran hiainst killing guardsirl fled away It was bruited about that I was seen with thee asked one I replied that since he was a friend of mine, I could not betray hireat deal about s I did not understand, and badewrathful myself, for I had explained my position
”But I choked e squalled that I had shown conteeon to rot until I betrayedthey were all e's skull; then I cut h constable's stallion tied near by, I rode for the wharfs, where I thought to find a shi+p bound for foreign parts”
”Well,” said tito hardily, ”the courts have fleeced me too often in suits with rich merchants for me to owe them any love I'll have questions to answer if I ever anchor in that port again, but I can prove I acted under compulsion You may as well put up your sword
We're peaceable sailors and have nothing against you Besides, it's as well to have a fighting man like yourself on board Come up to the poop deck and we'll have a tankard of ale”