There was a humming as of a disturbed gigantic hive beyond Sirk’s gap. Trumpet1 blasts and the roll of drums. Clang of brazen2 gongs answering that lonely one which beat from the secret heart of the raped3 fortress4. And ever Karak’s women-warriors5 poured over the bridge until the space behind the fortress filled with them.
The Smith wheeled his steed — faced me. “Gods — Tibur! But that was well done!” “Never done but for you, Dwayanu! You saw, you knew — you did. Ours the least part.”
Well, that was true. But I was close to liking6 Tibur then. Life of my blood! It had been no play to lead that charge against the bridge end. The Smith was a soldier! Let him be only half loyal to me — and Khalk’ru take the Witch-woman!
“Sweep the fortress clean, Anvil-smiter. We want no arrows at our backs.”
“It is being swept, Dwayanu.”
By brooms of sword and spear, by javelin8 and arrow, the fortress was swept dean.
The clamour of the brazen gong died on a part stroke.
My stallion rested his nose on my shoulder, blew softly against my ear.
“You did not forget my horse! My hand to you, Tibur!”
“You lead the charge, Dwayanu!” I leaped upon the stallion. Battleaxe held high I wheeled and galloped10 toward the gap. Like the point of a spear I sped, Tibur at my left, the Witch-woman at my right, the nobles behind us, the soldiers sweeping11 after us.
We hurled12 ourselves through the cliffed portal of Sirk.
A living wave lifted itself to throw us back. Hammers flew, axes hewed14, javelins15 and spears and feathered shafts16 sleeted17 us. My horse tottered18 and dropped, screaming, his hinder hocks cut through. I felt a hand upon my shoulder, dragging me to my feet. The Witch-woman smiled at me. She sliced with her sword the arm drawing me down among the dead. With axe9 and sword we cleared a ring around us. I threw myself on the back of a grey from which a noble had fallen, bristling19 with arrows.
We thrust forward against the living wave. It gave, curling round us.
On and on! Cut sword and hew13 axe! Cut and slash20 and batter21 through!
The curling wave that tore at us was beaten down. We were through the gap. Sirk lay before us.
I reined22 in my horse. Sirk lay before us — but too invitingly23!
The city nestled in a hollow between sheer, unscalable black walls. The lip of the gap was higher than the roof of the houses. They began an arrow flight away. It was a fair city. There was no citadel24 nor forts; there were no temples nor palaces. Only houses of stone, perhaps a thousand of them, flat roofed, set wide apart, gardens around them, a wide street straying among them, tree-bordered. There were many lanes. Beyond the city fertile field upon field, and flowering orchards25.
And no battle ranks arrayed against us. The way open.
Too open!
I caught the glint of arms on the housetops. There was the noise of axes above the blaring of trumpets26 and the roll of the kettle-drums.
Hail They were barricading27 the wide street with their trees, preparing a hundred ambushes28 for us, expecting us to roll down in force.
Spreading the net in the sight of Dwayanu!
Yet they were good tactics. The best defence. I had met with it in many a war against the barbarians29. It meant we must fight for every step, with every house a fort, with arrows searching for us from every window and roof. They had a leader here in Sirk, to arrange such reception on such brief notice! I had respect for that leader, whoever he might be. He had picked the only possible way to victory — unless those against whom he fought knew the countermove.
And that, hard earned, I did know.
How long could this leader keep Sirk within its thousand forts? There, always, lay the danger in this defence. The overpowering impulse of a pierced city is to swarm30 out upon its invaders31 as ants and bees do from their hills and nests. Not often is there a leader strong enough to hold them back. If each house of Sirk could remain linked to the other, each ever an active part of the whole — then Sirk might be unconquerable. But how, when they began to be cut off, one by one? Isolated32? The leader’s will severed33?
Hail Then it is that despair creeps through every chink! They are drawn34 out by fury and despair as though by ropes. They pour out — to kill or to be killed. The cliff crumbles36, stone by stone. The cake is eaten by the attackers, crumb35 by crumb.
I divided our soldiers, and sent the first part against Sirk in small squads37, with orders to spread and to take advantage of all cover. They were to take the outer fringe of houses, at all costs, shooting their arrows up in the high curved flight against the defenders38 while others hammered their way into those houses. Still others were to attack farther on. but never getting too far from their comrades nor from the broad way running through the city.
I was casting a net over Sirk and did not want its meshes39 broken.
By now it was broad daylight.
The soldiers moved forward. I saw the arrows stream up and down, twisting among each other like serpents. . . . I heard the axe-blows on the doors. . . . By Luka! There floats a banner of Karak from one of the roofs! And another.
The hum of Sirk shot higher, became louder, in it a note of madness. Hai! I knew they could not long stand this nibbling40! And I knew that sound! Soon it would rise to frenzy41. Drone from that into despair!
Hai! Not long now before they came tumbling out . . . .
Tibur was cursing at my elbow. I looked at Lur, and she was trembling. The soldiers were murmuring, straining at the leash42, mad to join battle. I looked at their blue eyes, hard and cold; their faces beneath the helmet-caps were not those of women but of young warriors . . . those who sought in them for woman’s mercy would have rude awakening43!
“By Zarda! But the fight will be done before we can dip blade!” I laughed.
“Patience, Tibur! Patience is our strong weapon. Sirk’s strongest — if they but knew it. Let them be first to lose that weapon.”
The turmoil44 grew louder. At the head of the street appeared half a hundred of Karak’s soldiers, struggling against more than equal number which steadily45, swiftly, was swelled46 by others of Sirk pouring from side lanes and dropping from roofs and windows of the beleaguered47 houses.
It was the moment for which I had waited!
I gave the command. I raised the battle-cry. We drove down upon them. Our skirmishers opened to let us through, melting into the shouting ranks behind. We ripped into the defenders of Sirk. Down they went, but as they fell they fought, and many a saddle of the nobles was empty, and many were the steeds lost before we won to the first barricade48.
Hai! But how they fought us there from behind the hastily felled trees — women and men and children hardly big enough to bend the bow or wield49 the knife!
Now the soldiers of Karak began to harry50 them from the sides; the soldiers of Karak shot into them from the tops of the houses they had abandoned; we fought Sirk as it had planned to fight us. And those who fought against us soon broke and fled, and we were over the barricade. Battling, we reached the heart of Sirk, a great and lovely square in which fountains played and flowers blossomed. The spray of the fountains was crimson51 and there were no flowers when we left that square.
We paid heavy toll52 there. Full half of the nobles were slain53. A spear had struck my helmet and well-nigh dropped me. Bare-headed, blood-flecked I rode, shouting, sword dripping red. Naral and Dara both bore wounds, but still guarded my back. The Witch-woman, and the Smith and his scarred familiar fought on, untouched.
There was a thunder of hoofs54. Down upon us swept a wave of horsemen. We raced toward them. We struck like two combers. Surged up. Mingled55. Flash swords! Hammers smite7! Axes cleave56! Hai! But now it was hand-to-hand in the way I knew best and best loved!
We swirled57 in a mad whirlpool. I glanced at right and saw the Witch-woman had been separated from me. Tibur, too, was gone. Well, they were giving good account of themselves no doubt — wherever they were.
I swung to right and to left with my sword. In the front of those who fought us, over the caps of Karak which had swirled between us, was a dark face . . . a dark face whose black eyes looked steadily into mine — steadily . . . steadily. At the shoulder of that man was a slighter figure whose clear, brown eyes stared at me . . . steadily . . . steadily. In the black eyes was understanding and sorrow. The brown eyes were filled with hate.
Black eyes and brown eyes touched something deep and deep within me. . . . They were rousing that something . . . calling to it . . . something that had been sleeping.
I heard my own voice shouting command to cease fighting, and at that shout abruptly58 all sound of battle close by was stilled. Sirk and Karak alike stood silent, amazed, staring at me. I thrust my horse through the press of bodies, looked deep into the black eyes.
And wondered why I had dropped my sword . . . why I stood thus . . . and why the sorrow in those eyes racked my heart. . . . The dark-faced man spoke59 — two words —
“Leif! . . . Degataga!”
That something which had been asleep was wide awake, rushing up through me . . . rocking my brain . . . tearing at it . . . shaking every nerve . . . .
I heard a cry — the voice of the Witch-woman.
A horse burst through the ring of the soldiers. Upon it was Rascha, lips drawn back over his teeth, cold eyes glaring into mine. His arm came up. His dagger60 gleamed, and was hidden in the back of the man who had called me — Degataga!
Had called me —
God — but I knew him I
Tsantawu! Jim!
The sleeping thing that had awakened61 was all awake . . . it had my brain . . . it was myself . . . Dwayanu forgotten!
I threw my horse forward.
Rascha’s arm was up for second stroke — the brown-eyed rider was swinging at him with sword, and Jim was falling, settling over his horse’s mane.
I caught Rascha’s arm before the dagger could descend62 again. I caught his arm, bent63 it back, and heard the bone snap. He howled — like a wolf.
A hammer hummed by my head, missing it by a hair. I saw Tibur drawing it back by its thong64.
I leaned and lifted Rascha from his saddle. His sound arm swept up, hand clutching at my throat. I caught the wrist and twisted that arm back. I snapped it as I had the other.
My horse swerved65. With one hand at Rascha’s throat, the other arm holding him, I toppled from the saddle bearing him down with me. I fell upon him. I twisted, and threw him over the bar of my knee. My hand slipped from his throat to his chest. My right leg locked over his.
A swift downward thrust — a sound like the breaking of a faggot. The Back-breaker would break no more backs. His own was broken.
I leaped to my feet. Looked up into the face of the brown-eyed rider. . . . Evalie! . . .
I cried out to her —“Evalie!”
Abruptly, all about me the battle broke out afresh. Evalie turned to meet the charge. I saw Tibur’s great shoulders rise behind her . . . saw him snatch her from her horse . . . saw from his left hand a flash of light. . . . It sped toward me. . . . I was hurled aside. None too soon — not soon enough —
Something caught me a glancing blow upon the side of my head. I went down upon my knees and hands, blind and dizzy. I heard Tibur laughing; I strove to conquer blind dizziness and nausea66, felt blood streaming down my face.
And crouching67, swaying on knees and hands, heard the tide of battle sweep around and over and past me.
My head steadied. The blindness was passing. I was still on my hands and knees. Under me was the body of a man — a man whose black eyes were fixed68 on mine with understanding — with love!
I felt a touch on my shoulder; with difficulty I looked up. It was Dara.
“A hair between life and death. Lord. Drink this.”
She put a phial to my lips. The bitter, fiery69 liquid coursed through me, brought steadiness, brought strength. I could see there was a ring of soldier-women around me, guarding me — beyond them a ring of others, on horses.
“Can you hear me, Leif? . . . I haven’t much time . . . .”
I lurched aside and knelt.
“Jim! Jim! Oh, God — why did you come here? Take this sword and kill me!”
He reached for my hand, held it tight.
“Don’t be a damned fool, Leif! You couldn’t help it . . . but you’ve got to save Evalie!”
“I’ve got to save you, Tsantawu — get you out of here —”
“Shut up and listen. I’ve got mine, Leif, and I know it. That blade went through the mail right into the lungs . . . I’m trickling70 out — inside . . . hell, Leif — don’t take it so hard. . . . It might have been in the war. . . . It might have been any time. . . . It’s not your fault . . . .”
A sob71 shook me, tears mingled with the blood upon my face.
“But I killed him, Jim — I killed him!”
“I know, Leif . . . a neat job. . . . I saw you . . . but there’s something I’ve got to tell you . . .” his voice faltered72.
I put the phial to his lips — it brought him back.
“Just now . . . Evalie . . . hates you! You have to save her . . . Leif . . . whether she does or not. Listen. Word came to us from Sirk through the Little People that you wanted us to meet you there. You were pretending to be Dwayanu . . . pretending to remember nothing but Dwayanu . . . to allay73 suspicion and to gain power. You were going to slip away . . . come to Sirk, and lead it against Karak. You needed me to stand beside you . . . needed Evalie to persuade the pygmies . . .”
“I sent you no message, Jim!” I groaned74.
“I know you didn’t — now. . . . But we believed it. . . . You saved Sri from the wolves and defied the Witch-woman —”
“Jim — how long was it after Sri’s escape that the lying message came?”
“Two days. . . . What does it matter? I’d told Evalie what was — wrong — with you . . . gone over your story again and again. She didn’t understand . . . but she took me on faith. . . . Some more of that stuff, Leif. . . . I’m going . . . .”
Again the fiery draught75 revived him.
“We reached Sirk . . . two days ago . . . across the river with Sri and twenty pygmies . . . it was easy . . . too easy . . . not a wolf howled, although I knew the beasts were watching us . . . stalking us . . . and the others did, too. We waited . . . then came the attack . . . and then I knew we had been trapped. . . . How did you get over those geysers . . . Big Fellow . . . never mind . . . but . . . Evalie believes you sent the message . . . you . . . black treachery . . .”
His eyes closed. Cold, cold were his hands.
“Tsantawu — brother — you do not believe! Tsantawu — come back . . . speak to me . . .”
His eyes opened, but hardly could I hear him speak —
“You’re not Dwayanu — Leif? Not now — or ever again?”
“No, Tsantawu . . . don’t leave me!”
“Bend . . . your head . . . closer, Leif . . . keep fighting . . . save Evalie.”
Fainter grew his voice:
“Good-bye . . . Degataga . . . not your fault . . .”
A ghost of the old sardonic76 smile passed over the white face.
“You didn’t pick your . . . damned . . . ancestors! . . . Worse luck. . . . We’ve had . . . hell of good times . . . together. . . . Save . . . Evalie . . .”
There was a gush77 of blood from his mouth.
Jim was dead . . . was dead.
Tsantawu — no more I.
收听单词发音 |
1
trumpet
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| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
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brazen
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| adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的 | |
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raped
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| v.以暴力夺取，强夺( rape的过去式和过去分词 )；强奸 | |
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fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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smite
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| v.重击；彻底击败；n.打；尝试；一点儿 | |
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javelin
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| n.标枪，投枪 | |
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axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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hew
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| v.砍；伐；削 | |
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hewed
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| v.（用斧、刀等）砍、劈( hew的过去式和过去分词 )；砍成；劈出；开辟 | |
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javelins
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| n.标枪( javelin的名词复数 ) | |
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shafts
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| n.轴( shaft的名词复数 )；（箭、高尔夫球棒等的）杆；通风井；一阵（疼痛、害怕等） | |
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sleeted
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| 下雨夹雪，下冻雨( sleet的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tottered
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| v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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slash
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| vi.大幅度削减；vt.猛砍，尖锐抨击，大幅减少；n.猛砍，斜线，长切口，衣衩 | |
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batter
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| v.接连重击；磨损；n.牛奶面糊；击球员 | |
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reined
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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invitingly
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| adv. 动人地 | |
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citadel
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| n.城堡；堡垒；避难所 | |
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orchards
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| （通常指围起来的）果园( orchard的名词复数 ) | |
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trumpets
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| 喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 )； 小号； 喇叭形物； （尤指）绽开的水仙花 | |
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barricading
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| 设路障于，以障碍物阻塞( barricade的现在分词 )； 设路障[防御工事]保卫或固守 | |
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ambushes
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| n.埋伏( ambush的名词复数 )；伏击；埋伏着的人；设埋伏点v.埋伏( ambush的第三人称单数 )；埋伏着 | |
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barbarians
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| n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 )；外国人；粗野的人；无教养的人 | |
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swarm
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| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
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invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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crumb
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| n.饼屑，面包屑，小量 | |
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crumbles
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| 酥皮水果甜点( crumble的名词复数 ) | |
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squads
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| n.（军队中的）班( squad的名词复数 )；（暗杀）小组；体育运动的运动（代表）队；（对付某类犯罪活动的）警察队伍 | |
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defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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meshes
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| 网孔( mesh的名词复数 )； 网状物； 陷阱； 困境 | |
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nibbling
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| v.啃，一点一点地咬（吃）( nibble的现在分词 )；啃出（洞），一点一点咬出（洞）；慢慢减少；小口咬 | |
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41
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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leash
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| n.牵狗的皮带，束缚；v.用皮带系住 | |
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43
awakening
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| n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的 | |
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turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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46
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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47
beleaguered
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| adj.受到围困[围攻]的；包围的v.围攻( beleaguer的过去式和过去分词)；困扰；骚扰 | |
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48
barricade
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| n.路障，栅栏，障碍；vt.设路障挡住 | |
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49
wield
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| vt.行使，运用，支配；挥，使用(武器等) | |
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50
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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51
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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52
toll
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| n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟) | |
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53
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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54
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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cleave
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| v．(clave；cleaved)粘着，粘住；坚持；依恋 | |
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swirled
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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62
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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thong
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| n.皮带；皮鞭；v.装皮带 | |
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swerved
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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nausea
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| n.作呕，恶心；极端的憎恶(或厌恶) | |
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crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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68
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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trickling
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| n.油画底色含油太多而成泡沫状突起v.滴( trickle的现在分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
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71
sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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allay
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| v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等) | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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sardonic
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| adj.嘲笑的，冷笑的，讥讽的 | |
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gush
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| v.喷，涌；滔滔不绝(说话)；n.喷，涌流；迸发 | |
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