[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
strange tribe into the very heart of their beloved city.
With a short, fierce ejaculation, Victo sprang to her feet, right hand once
again grasping shaft of javelin, its copper point gleaming ruddily in the rays
of lamp as though already moistened by the heart-
blood of yonder villain.
-252-
Far differently acted the maiden, her figure trembling with fear and wonder
commingled, her lips slightly blanched as she clung closer to her mother. Yet
through all ran a touch of girlish curiosity which helped shape the words now
crossing her lips.
"Who was it, mother? Who could the stranger be? And whither has he gone?"
"With Ixtli, my child, and may the good God of our own people grant them both
life and liberty! If I
thought -- your father, Gladys! Alive and looking for his beloved ones! See!
from his own dear hand, and he says -- Hold! who comes there?"
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ity.htm (137 of 177) [12/28/2004 12:39:16 AM]
The Lost City
But the alarm appeared to be without actual foundation, for the sounds came no
closer, remaining beyond the drapery past which Lord Hua had staggered only a
few brief seconds before.
Gladys rallied more speedily than one might have expected, and she spoke with
even greater interest than at first.
"My dear father, and alive? Oh, mother, why is he not here to -- why should he
send another? And that one -- he spoke our dear language, mother; surely he is
not -- not as Ixtli?"
Page 87
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"No; he was of our own people, child, and I can hardly conceive how he came
hither, save that Ixtli must have acted as guide."
-253-
"And those awful warriors!" shivering as the war-cries followed the muffled
roar of the great drum. "If found, he will be slain! Do you think there is any
hope for him, mother? And he seemed so -- so -- "
"He is gone with Ixtli, and Ixtli is true to the very core," Victo hastened to
give assurance. "I would rather trust him than many another of thrice his
years and warlike experience. Ixtli is true; ay, as true and tried as his
father, Aztotl!"
"Who loves you, mother, and would win -- "
"Hush, child!" just a bit sharply interposed the elder woman, yet at the same
time tightening that loving clasp. "Merely as the daughter of his Sun God,
Quetzalcoatl, and -- ha!"
Once again there came the echoes of rapid foot-falls beyond the heavy
draperies, and again this
Amazonian mother drew her superb form in front of her shrinking child, poising
the javelin in readiness for stroke or casting, as might serve best.
A strong arm brushed the curtains aside sufficiently to admit its owner's
passage, but the armed warrior stopped short at sighting the Sun Children, his
proud head lowering, hands crossing over his broad bosom in token of
adoration, -- for it surely was more than mere submission to one held his
superior.
-254-
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ity.htm (138 of 177) [12/28/2004 12:39:16 AM]
The Lost City
With a low cry, Victo drew back a bit, weapon lowering as she recognised
friend in place of enemy.
"It is you, Aztotl?" she spoke, in mellow tones. "I thought -- did you remove
the usual guards, this evening?"
"The blame falls to my share, Sun Child," the Red Heron made answer, with a
meekness strange in one of his build and general appearance, that of a king
among ordinary warriors.
"Not justly, nor through fault of your own, my good and true friend," the
elder woman made haste to give assurance. "Not even thy lips shall speak
slander of Aztotl the True-heart, my brother."
With a swift advance the Red Heron caught the unarmed hand, to bend over it
until his lips barely brushed the soft, perfumed skin. Then he sank to one
knee, bowing his head until his brow touched the floor beneath her sandalled
feet.
Swiftly, gracefully, these movements were made, and where they would have
appeared fulsome or degraded in some, with this warrior the effect was far
from disagreeable to see or to experience.
Victo flushed warmly and drew back a little farther, for the memory of those
words let fall by Gladys came back with unpleasant distinctness. And was
-255-
she so certain that Aztotl looked upon her as merely a god-descended
priestess?
The Red Heron arose easily, head rising proudly above his shapely shoulders as
he met those great blue eyes, -- eyes as pure and as fathomless as the
cloudless sky in midsummer.
And then, more like one giving a bare statement of facts than one offering a
defence for himself, Aztotl spoke of a faithless subordinate, who was guilty
of either careless neglect, or worse.
"It may be that Tezcatl lost his wits through strong waters, Sun Child, or
even that he took evil pay from still more vile hands. You have seen the last
of him, though, Child of Quetzal'l."
Page 88
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"You surely do not mean that -- "
Aztotl lightly tapped the knife-hilt showing above his maxtlatl
, coldly adding words to that significant gesture:
"There is no place for fool or traitor upon the body-guard of the Sun
Children. Tezcatl sinned; he has
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ity.htm (139 of 177) [12/28/2004 12:39:16 AM]
The Lost City paid full forfeit. And just so shall all others perish who dare
cast an evil glance towards -- ha!"
Another outcry arose from the other side of the curtained recess, and the Red
Heron instantly sprang away in that direction, hands gripping weapons in
readiness for instant use in case of need.
-256-
Almost as swiftly, Victo and the maiden followed, one through fear, the other
through utter lack of fear, for herself.
Those savage cries came from the lips of none other than the chieftain whose
now bare head bore significant traces of Bruno Gillespie's handiwork, and he
seemed bent on rushing directly into the presence of the Sun Children, until
Red Heron interposed, stern and icy-toned:
"Stand back, my Lord Hua!" he ordered, left hand advanced with open palm, but
its dexter mate armed and ready for hot work if that must come. "Venture no
closer, on thy peril, chief!"
Huatzin recoiled a bit, though that might have been more through surprise than [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl szamanka888.keep.pl
strange tribe into the very heart of their beloved city.
With a short, fierce ejaculation, Victo sprang to her feet, right hand once
again grasping shaft of javelin, its copper point gleaming ruddily in the rays
of lamp as though already moistened by the heart-
blood of yonder villain.
-252-
Far differently acted the maiden, her figure trembling with fear and wonder
commingled, her lips slightly blanched as she clung closer to her mother. Yet
through all ran a touch of girlish curiosity which helped shape the words now
crossing her lips.
"Who was it, mother? Who could the stranger be? And whither has he gone?"
"With Ixtli, my child, and may the good God of our own people grant them both
life and liberty! If I
thought -- your father, Gladys! Alive and looking for his beloved ones! See!
from his own dear hand, and he says -- Hold! who comes there?"
file:///C|/2590%20Sci-Fi%20and%20Fantasy%...%20E%20Badger%20-%20The%20Lost%20C
ity.htm (137 of 177) [12/28/2004 12:39:16 AM]
The Lost City
But the alarm appeared to be without actual foundation, for the sounds came no
closer, remaining beyond the drapery past which Lord Hua had staggered only a
few brief seconds before.
Gladys rallied more speedily than one might have expected, and she spoke with
even greater interest than at first.
"My dear father, and alive? Oh, mother, why is he not here to -- why should he
send another? And that one -- he spoke our dear language, mother; surely he is
not -- not as Ixtli?"
Page 87
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"No; he was of our own people, child, and I can hardly conceive how he came
hither, save that Ixtli must have acted as guide."
-253-
"And those awful warriors!" shivering as the war-cries followed the muffled
roar of the great drum. "If found, he will be slain! Do you think there is any
hope for him, mother? And he seemed so -- so -- "
"He is gone with Ixtli, and Ixtli is true to the very core," Victo hastened to
give assurance. "I would rather trust him than many another of thrice his
years and warlike experience. Ixtli is true; ay, as true and tried as his
father, Aztotl!"
"Who loves you, mother, and would win -- "
"Hush, child!" just a bit sharply interposed the elder woman, yet at the same
time tightening that loving clasp. "Merely as the daughter of his Sun God,
Quetzalcoatl, and -- ha!"
Once again there came the echoes of rapid foot-falls beyond the heavy
draperies, and again this
Amazonian mother drew her superb form in front of her shrinking child, poising
the javelin in readiness for stroke or casting, as might serve best.
A strong arm brushed the curtains aside sufficiently to admit its owner's
passage, but the armed warrior stopped short at sighting the Sun Children, his
proud head lowering, hands crossing over his broad bosom in token of
adoration, -- for it surely was more than mere submission to one held his
superior.
-254-
file:///C|/2590%20Sci-Fi%20and%20Fantasy%...%20E%20Badger%20-%20The%20Lost%20C
ity.htm (138 of 177) [12/28/2004 12:39:16 AM]
The Lost City
With a low cry, Victo drew back a bit, weapon lowering as she recognised
friend in place of enemy.
"It is you, Aztotl?" she spoke, in mellow tones. "I thought -- did you remove
the usual guards, this evening?"
"The blame falls to my share, Sun Child," the Red Heron made answer, with a
meekness strange in one of his build and general appearance, that of a king
among ordinary warriors.
"Not justly, nor through fault of your own, my good and true friend," the
elder woman made haste to give assurance. "Not even thy lips shall speak
slander of Aztotl the True-heart, my brother."
With a swift advance the Red Heron caught the unarmed hand, to bend over it
until his lips barely brushed the soft, perfumed skin. Then he sank to one
knee, bowing his head until his brow touched the floor beneath her sandalled
feet.
Swiftly, gracefully, these movements were made, and where they would have
appeared fulsome or degraded in some, with this warrior the effect was far
from disagreeable to see or to experience.
Victo flushed warmly and drew back a little farther, for the memory of those
words let fall by Gladys came back with unpleasant distinctness. And was
-255-
she so certain that Aztotl looked upon her as merely a god-descended
priestess?
The Red Heron arose easily, head rising proudly above his shapely shoulders as
he met those great blue eyes, -- eyes as pure and as fathomless as the
cloudless sky in midsummer.
And then, more like one giving a bare statement of facts than one offering a
defence for himself, Aztotl spoke of a faithless subordinate, who was guilty
of either careless neglect, or worse.
"It may be that Tezcatl lost his wits through strong waters, Sun Child, or
even that he took evil pay from still more vile hands. You have seen the last
of him, though, Child of Quetzal'l."
Page 88
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"You surely do not mean that -- "
Aztotl lightly tapped the knife-hilt showing above his maxtlatl
, coldly adding words to that significant gesture:
"There is no place for fool or traitor upon the body-guard of the Sun
Children. Tezcatl sinned; he has
file:///C|/2590%20Sci-Fi%20and%20Fantasy%...%20E%20Badger%20-%20The%20Lost%20C
ity.htm (139 of 177) [12/28/2004 12:39:16 AM]
The Lost City paid full forfeit. And just so shall all others perish who dare
cast an evil glance towards -- ha!"
Another outcry arose from the other side of the curtained recess, and the Red
Heron instantly sprang away in that direction, hands gripping weapons in
readiness for instant use in case of need.
-256-
Almost as swiftly, Victo and the maiden followed, one through fear, the other
through utter lack of fear, for herself.
Those savage cries came from the lips of none other than the chieftain whose
now bare head bore significant traces of Bruno Gillespie's handiwork, and he
seemed bent on rushing directly into the presence of the Sun Children, until
Red Heron interposed, stern and icy-toned:
"Stand back, my Lord Hua!" he ordered, left hand advanced with open palm, but
its dexter mate armed and ready for hot work if that must come. "Venture no
closer, on thy peril, chief!"
Huatzin recoiled a bit, though that might have been more through surprise than [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]