The Complete Space Adventure Books of Otis Adelbert Kline – All 8 Novels in One Edition. Otis Adelbert Kline
The circular chamber was evidently a sort of hub from which these passageways radiated as spokes in all directions.
The rodent had disappeared, but its trail was not hard to follow, for it had left thousands of muddy footprints during its many excursions to the fountain. The trail terminated at a gaping black hole in the wall where a portion of the sculptured stone had broken away. Drawing his sword and pointing the light before him, he entered the dark, winding burrow, crawling on knees and elbows. It led upward in a slanting, irregular spiral which he thought would never come to an end.
At length the welcome scent of fresh air came to his nostrils and he emerged from the burrow at the base of a huge tree. He shut off his light. As he paused there in the darkness, Grandon fancied he heard the distant murmur of human voices. He listened intently for a moment, then clambered up on a large surface root. Several hundred yards distant he saw two torches flickering before the gateway of a circular wall about ten feet high which surrounded a tall, conical structure.
Leaping down from the root he approached the place cautiously. As he drew nearer the sounds grew more plain, and he could distinguish the voices of men raised in altercation. He also heard the sound of blows, and thought he detected the faint cry of a woman.
The torch-lit gateway was guarded by two powerful soldier sabits with brown forceps, so he circled, keeping well out of sight, and brought up at the base of the wall at a point that was not visible from the gate. He leaped, hooked his fingers over the edge of the wall, and drew himself up on its broad top. Then flattening his body on its surface, he peered cautiously within.
The space inside the wall was illuminated by four torches, the sharpened butts of which had been driven in the ground. Some twenty-odd slaves, all big strapping fellows, were ranged in an irregular circle about two of their comrades who were engaged in primitive combat.
Beneath one of the torches lay two other hairy men, stone dead— one with his throat torn out and the other with his head twisted and bent back in such a fashion as to indicate a broken neck.
Suddenly the taller of the two combatants leaped forward and locked his arms about the head of the other, bearing him to the ground just as they struck the earth he whirled, twisting the tightly gripped head—there was a sickening snap, and the duel was ended.
The big fellow arose, panting heavily from his exertions, and faced the others. “You have seen the fate of those three fools,” he growled. “Are there any others, who would match their strength with Tholto for this slave woman?”
There was no response. Evidently his comrades were convinced of Tholto’s prowess.
“Bring me the woman, Oro,” continued the victor. “Many precious moments have I wasted in silencing these braggarts.”
A great, hairy man, larger even than Tholto and superbly muscled, went into a low door at his back, and emerged a moment later dragging Vernia by the wrist. He pushed her toward Tholto, who seized her roughly and drew her to his side.
The slaves were startled by a clanking noise behind them, and upon looking around beheld a man clad from head to foot in brown armor on which many jewels glistened, his terrifying appearance enhanced by a spine-crested helmet in which two emerald eyes sparkled, and by the businesslike weapons that dangled from his belt.
Straight for the startled Tholto he rushed, and there were none to block his path, for though no living marsh-man had ever seen an Albine, they had been described in detail to all through the familiar legends which held them to be a race of supermen.
“Release the girl,” said a clear, commanding voice.
Tholto, though startled, was apparently unafraid. “She belongs to me,” he replied. “I will not release her, nor lives there man or demon who can force me to do so.”
“Release the girl or take the consequences, slave! I would not harm you, for your actions are only what might be expected of one with your intelligence and training.”
For answer Tholto laughed. His mirth was suddenly cut short by the impact of a mailed fist with the point of his jaw. A look of surprise came to his face; his arms dropped, his knees sagged, and he sank limply to the ground.
Vernia reeled, and would have fallen had not Grandon caught her in his arms. He raised his visor and, looking into the melting depths of twin pools of flame, saw the soul of a woman.
“How I wished that you would come,” she whispered, her arms about his neck, her upturned face so close that the fragrance of her breath intoxicated him, “wished without hope.”
For answer he bent low over the yielding, tremulous lips, but their moment of rapture was rudely broken into by a shout from one of the slaves. “The sabits! Run for your lives! The sabits come!”
Grandon wheeled and beheld two soldier sabits rushing toward them. The slaves scattered, diving into the various doorways at the base of the conelike structure. He pushed the girl into one of these and, lowering his visor, tore the heavy spiked club from his belt.
As the first soldier sabit opened its huge forceps to encircle Grandon’s waist, he raised his spiked club and crashed it down with all his might between the two enormous eyes.
The creature paused, its head drooped, and it began walking aimlessly in a circle. Not so its mate, however, which leaped forward and swept Grandon from his feet before he could swing the club a second time. It shook him and crunched him with its powerful mandibles, but the armor-plates held, and though giddy from the shaking, he was unhurt.
Grandon lost his spiked club, but his sword and axe remained in his belt. He drew the latter and struck at the creature’s foreleg. To his surprise the weapon severed it completely. Where an axe of steel would have failed to make an impression, the razorlike edge of this marvelous metal cut cleanly. Though the axe-head, like the club, was weighted with a ball of black metal, probably lead, the blade itself as well as the handle were of the wondrously hard brown metal.
Encouraged by his success with the axe, Grandon hacked desperately at the ugly head. At length the powerful forceps released their grip and the sabit followed the staggering tactics of its companion, walking about on its five good legs and moving the stump of the sixth as though the member were still there.
The Earthman rose to his feet and struck off the heads of the two creatures with his axe. To his surprise and horror, the bodies continued their purposeless wandering!
Vernia came forth from the but as he was recovering his club, and one by one the marsh-men appeared, astonishment and awe written on their faces. They seemed ready to fall down and worship the hero who had, singlehanded, overcome two ferocious soldier sabits.
Tholto, who had lain like a log where Grandon felled him, now sat up and gazed on the proceedings in blank amazement, tenderly feeling his injured jaw, as if fearful that it would come off completely.
“Slaves,” said Grandon suddenly, taking the hand of Vernia. “you have offered unspeakable insult to the greatest, the noblest and the most beautiful princess in all Zarovia. Ask her pardon now, for your lives are in her hands.”
To a man they groveled before her.
Vernia looked up into the flashing eyes of her champion.
“I would pardon them all, Robert Grandon,” she said, “for they know nothing of the ethics of men, but have rather been bred and trained like domestic animals.”
“You have heard her generous verdict, slaves,” said Grandon. “Rise, now, and attend what I have to say to you. I take it that you would prefer freedom to slavery.”
“We desire freedom above all things, mighty Albine,” replied Oro, who had taken a place at the head of the men, “but the sabits are all-powerful and may not be overcome by ordinary mortals.”
“I am no Albine,” continued the Earthman. “Call me Grandon of Terra. What I have done to yonder sabits, you can do to others of their kind. All you need is weapons and armor. These I will provide if you will follow me and acknowledge my leadership.”
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