按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
things with good grace； and had sworn fealty to Xodar； his new ruler；
but I knew that he hated me； and I was sure that in his heart he envied
and hated Xodar； so I had kept a watch upon his comings and goings；
to the end that of late I had become convinced that he was occupied
with some manner of intrigue。
Several times I had observed him leaving the walled city of
the First Born after dark； taking his way out into the cruel and
horrible Valley Dor； where no honest business could lead any man。
Tonight he moved quickly along the edge of the forest until
well beyond sight or sound of the city； then he turned across the
crimson sward toward the shore of the Lost Sea of Korus。
The rays of the nearer moon； swinging low across the valley；
touched his jewel…incrusted harness with a thousand changing lights
and glanced from the glossy ebony of his smooth hide。 Twice he
turned his head back toward the forest； after the manner of one who is
upon an evil errand； though he must have felt quite safe from pursuit。
I did not dare follow him there beneath the moonlight； since
it best suited my plans not to interrupt hisI wished him to reach
his destination unsuspecting； that I might learn just where that
destination lay and the business that awaited the night prowler there。
So it was that I remained hidden until after Thurid had
disappeared over the edge of the steep bank beside the sea a
quarter of a mile away。 Then； with Woola following； I hastened
across the open after the black dator。
The quiet of the tomb lay upon the mysterious valley of death；
crouching deep in its warm nest within the sunken area at the south
pole of the dying planet。 In the far distance the Golden Cliffs
raised their mighty barrier faces far into the starlit heavens；
the precious metals and scintillating jewels that composed them
sparkling in the brilliant light of Mars's two gorgeous moons。
At my back was the forest； pruned and trimmed like the sward
to parklike symmetry by the browsing of the ghoulish plant men。
Before me lay the Lost Sea of Korus； while farther on I caught
the shimmering ribbon of Iss； the River of Mystery； where it wound
out from beneath the Golden Cliffs to empty into Korus； to which
for countless ages had been borne the deluded and unhappy Martians
of the outer world upon the voluntary pilgrimage to this false heaven。
The plant men； with their blood…sucking hands； and the monstrous
white apes that make Dor hideous by day； were hidden in their
lairs for the night。
There was no longer a Holy Thern upon the balcony in the Golden
Cliffs above the Iss to summon them with weird cry to the victims
floating down to their maws upon the cold； broad bosom of ancient Iss。
The navies of Helium and the First Born had cleared the
fortresses and the temples of the therns when they had refused to
surrender and accept the new order of things that had swept their
false religion from long…suffering Mars。
In a few isolated countries they still retained their age…old
power； but Matai Shang； their hekkador； Father of Therns； had been
driven from his temple。 Strenuous had been our endeavors to
capture him； but with a few of the faithful he had escaped； and was
in hidingwhere we knew not。
As I came cautiously to the edge of the low cliff overlooking
the Lost Sea of Korus I saw Thurid pushing out upon the bosom of
the shimmering water in a small skiffone of those strangely
wrought craft of unthinkable age which the Holy Therns； with their
organization of priests and lesser therns； were wont to distribute
along the banks of the Iss； that the long journey of their victims
might be facilitated。
Drawn up on the beach below me were a score of similar boats；
each with its long pole； at one end of which was a pike； at the
other a paddle。 Thurid was hugging the shore； and as he passed out
of sight round a near…by promontory I shoved one of the boats into
the water and； calling Woola into it； pushed out from shore。
The pursuit of Thurid carried me along the edge of the sea
toward the mouth of the Iss。 The farther moon lay close to the
horizon； casting a dense shadow beneath the cliffs that fringed the
water。 Thuria； the nearer moon； had set； nor would it rise again
for near four hours； so that I was ensured concealing darkness for
that length of time at least。
On and on went the black warrior。 Now he was opposite the
mouth of the Iss。 Without an instant's hesitation he turned up the
grim river； paddling hard against the strong current。
After him came Woola and I； closer now； for the man was too
intent upon forcing his craft up the river to have any eyes for
what might be transpiring behind him。 He hugged the shore where
the current was less strong。
Presently he came to the dark cavernous portal in the face of
the Golden Cliffs； through which the river poured。 On into the
Stygian darkness beyond he urged his craft。
It seemed hopeless to attempt to follow him here where I could
not see my hand before my face； and I was almost on the point of
giving up the pursuit and drifting back to the mouth of the river；
there to await his return； when a sudden bend showed a faint
luminosity ahead。
My quarry was plainly visible again； and in the increasing
light from the phosphorescent rock that lay embedded in great
patches in the roughly arched roof of the cavern I had no
difficulty in following him。
It was my first trip upon the bosom of Iss； and the things
I saw there will live forever in my memory。
Terrible as they were； they could not have commenced to
approximate the horrible conditions which must have obtained before
Tars Tarkas； the great green warrior； Xodar； the black dator； and
I brought the light of truth to the outer world and stopped the mad
rush of millions upon the voluntary pilgrimage to what they believed
would end in a beautiful valley of peace and happiness and love。
Even now the low islands which dotted the broad stream were choked
with the skeletons and half devoured carcasses of those who；
through fear or a sudden awakening to the truth； had halted almost
at the completion of their journey。
In the awful stench of these frightful charnel isles haggard
maniacs screamed and gibbered and fought among the torn remnants of
their grisly feasts； while on those which contained but clean…
picked bones they battled with one another； the weaker furnishing
sustenance for the stronger； or with clawlike hands clutched at the
bloated bodies that drifted down with the current。
Thurid paid not the slightest attention to the screaming things
that either menaced or pleaded with him as the mood directed
themevidently he was familiar with the horrid sights that
surrounded him。 He continued up the river for perhaps a mile；
and then； crossing over to the left bank； drew his craft up on
a low ledge that lay almost on a level with the