RUDH GWOZDA

ab R.E.Howard

Sambahsa tarjem

I
Id ghalv ep id perwnt

Ia gwen pit trehtihes sien exhaust reidbiest. El ekwis ne movit, sien jambs mulayim-ye ghohnct, cap
clihn perodh, kamsei hatta id ansia ex rudh lieter ornet med golden piskyols al kwehkiet pior gwaur.
Ia fortr axit uter bautvehsend ped ex id argwrnto striepmen ed skans kata id goldkmeht seddel. Ia
dieh ia oulers ei ghabel uns brouteck ed vols, sien hands ep sien hanks, kay chehxe id decor ambh
iam.

Eet pau jazib. Giganta drus king id smulk bassin quetos ays ekwis hiebit just poht. Teguts ay stabh
vide correct-ye do id xep ios hog akmen om interplohcen ozda. Un spasmodic kreus iendhays omsa
ed ia rughiet.

Ia eet buland, platupizdan, hieb longa memsa ed robust omsa. Ays hol silhouette bevis un pau
communo nerce, aun yed giowe ject ex id stero grace quod lud ex ays apparence. Speit ays gwayt ed
vesters, hol in iam wehsit magoti. Ays povestis kwohk exterdohbra, dat id perambhend decor. Ia
vohs neid fustan, sontern un silken sarvari stopend ye oin handwure uper aysa genus, protiedarn ab
un weur silkstrei vulbhen ambh ays lendv kam un yeusmen. Ays plohdert bauts ex urand lieter
niekeer quasi aysa genus ed ayso silken decolletee camiss, samt plaut armels ed colnier, completit
ays trakh. Un seido doublekhar einso hiengit kata uter aysen graciu hanks ed un long daga kata
alter. Ays blond ed rauft kays, quadrathajamat ye id hoge iom omsen, eent protiedarn ab un rika ex
scarlat satin.

Aun eiskwus to, ia wierdh pictoresk-ye in tod immemorial forest in-yod ia kwohk curieus-ye
misplacet. Ia habiet sollen stahe ant un aptergrund em marnebhs, pigen masta ed mevs twehrnd in id
hava. Eet marcolor in id bund aysen mier okwi. To eet alnos normal, litghi de Valeria ios Rudh
Keiwia, quos megil wehrgs sonti celebret med chantes ed doinas querkwe i marscursors wehse.

Ia se strohng ad transspehce id maurglend akmen iom interplohct ozden ed dyehrce id waurn quod
sollit spande hoger, bet ia vityohgvit katathematisend-ye.

Linkwnd sien dieht ekwem, ia gress eustworts, glanzend-ye ex tid do tid kyid bassin apter se kay
memorise sien itner. Id silence ios forestios depress iam. Nel av kien ep ia hog ozda, neid streip in ia
buska kay dikes id presence smelen. Ia hieb andht leuks in un rig os profund silence, quod tik
hiebeer gwohmen ad brehge ia bloska os ays wi fug.

Ia hieb stillen sien teurst ex id bassin, bet ia khiss id biaur os hungher ed bipieursk ta fruits ep-ya ia
hieb wuxen pos exhausus ia meriends ia hieb tobohrn in ia holks os sien seddel.

Dind ia dyohrc ant se un tehngos ex maur ghianshiek, kwehkend kam flint, quod lud kye quo
tengicit ses un karwent promontur, tarcto trans ia drus. Kad id akrum eet meis alen quem id drucim,
ed kad kata tod hoge ia ghehdiet tun vide quo eet dalger... seighi esiet alyo jecto quem tod kwecto
aunlimite forest unte-yod ia eegwahsit deub pon tanta diens.

Un angho cornice skip uno natural rampe quod duxit kyid topp tos skarp. Pos oisteighus unte
penkgimtia peden, ia ghohd tiel id bremzone quod begir id karwent piton. Drus crohsc ye sem
distance tetos, bet id niter bors iren ozden strip id ghianshiek ed ia covohr id pitono med ir glendia.
Ia stohmbh kam blind in id temos tom brems, khakend vide quodkwe ender au uper se, pre
vidyehrce un schtuk os blou waurn. Oik secundes serter emers ia ex teni ed wohsit sub akster warm
diewo. Id forestakmen lyohg pod iam.

Ia stahsit ep un weru promontur quod niek takriban id drucim. Un perwntak lud ex tod promontur,
quos akrum eet id ubsell ios karwent block ia hieb just udstighen. Nu-bud iam alyo ject. Ays ped
hieb hurten semquod in id khiyaaban tursen waraks quod covohr id promontur. Ia ierk ia bolis med
sien doiks ed aunstohg uno mensco skeletum. Ia chohx med sien pepermen ok id blaycht nugwrnt,
yed aunkohlder neid trace om brohgen osta ni sem signe os violence. El mensc sollit mehrus ob
natural mohrt, lakin ia khiekit ghabe ma is hieb udglohmen un tem alt karwent promontur pre mehre
ter.

Ia glohmber atopp id perwntak ed spohc id horizont. Ex ays uperkeihsa, id forestakmen samkwohk

un vegetal parterre, tem impenetrable vis hetos quem nitos. Ia ne hatta ghohdit dyehrce id bassin
prokwem-yod ia hieb likwn sien reidbiest. Ia glaz nordtro, do id direction quetos ia hieb gwohmen.
Ia vis tik id glend ocean quod wans tiel vidleus ed tierk uno mulayim blou ligne dalgi, quod mierk
id tolp ios coteau ia tohrn diens prever, pre trehce deub do tod glendiaykwos.

Id prospect eet id sam eusti ed westi, ploisko id moder ligne iom clins. Men kun ia wohrt sien okwi
sudtro ia stohv ed enderwaursit sien annem. Ye oino milio dalgtro, id foresto skideriesc pre
zastrehce brutal-ye, linkwnd place uni cactuscomspergen plain. Ed medsu tod aykwos oistieur ia
walls ed tors uns urb. Valeria rughiet ob surprise.

To udlit aum. Ne habiet esto surprindant vide menscwoikias, ia alveyskeip hyts uns aydokw irk au
ia troglodytic habitations ios mysterieus bruncuit race quod gwivit, sekwent ia legends, semloc in
tod inexploret region. Bet eet meis quem staunend incontre un citad samt petrawalls, her, ye tant
long ghanghevds ud ia prokwst prodwalsa os cada forme os civilisation.

Sien hands gvolend ob id udsteighen ios perwntak, ia se sisit slides ep id karwent promontur,
perplex de kam age. Ia gwohm dalgtos, ex id mercenarenlagher medsu ia miera prairies ambh id
grance urb Sukhmet. Ti aunpaur aventurers ois mult races protexeer ter id stygian hadh ud ia raids
qua lahr kam un scarlat voln pon Darfar. Ia hieb fugen blind-ye deub do un gaivia de-yod ia wois
neid. Ed taiper, ia eet dilt inter id irresistible wehnos os galoppe seid-ye do tod citad medsu id plain
ed sien instinctive prudence quod isnahsit iam ad kwehre un vasto detour in sien khalwani fug.

Ays brens buir chassen ab id sosule quod sroht ia waraks niter. Ia pivotit ep sien persnas med un
alnos felin uriende ed ays hand grip akster-ye ays eins... ed tun, ia stahsit still ed distier ei wir qui
wohs ant iam.

Is eet quasi un olbjim ob buliende ; eys muscles oistohlb nett-ye sub eys solburst cuit. Eys vehsmen
eet samlik aysi, sonst od eys weur yeusmen eet ex lieter ed ne ex wehbh. Un weurmiech eins ed un
khandjar hiengeer kata id.

– Conan is Kimri ! Exclamit ia. Ma tar me apterpersnes tu  ?

Un omoedd smeih fiss id lige ios Kimri quos lyut blou okwi, embraden ab un flamme ghohd-yod
nia gwena misaye, se forglexeer ep id schungjin silhouette, id kehmb ios splendid pizdan sub id
legvo camiss ed ep ia parts os blanko cuit qua prohp inter id sarvari ed id topp iom bauts.

– Kwe ne woidst tu to ? Cakhinit is. Ne tib ho kafi diken mien admiration pro te yant te ho vis
pro id prest ker ?
– Un loschak ne habiet deidikie to clarer, antwohrd ia med un honnprotiokwo. Bet habiem
naiwo mohnt wassale tem dalg ud ia alubutts ed ia tencheres os Sukhmet. Me has tu druve-
ye sohkwt pon Zarallos lagher we buist tu chassen tetos med bich-cutts kam un fur ?

Is glihsit ant ays insolence ed rollih sien staur biceps.

– Sua woidst od Zarallo ne hat kafi hoyert gredins pro chasse me ex id lagher med bich-cutts,
fried is. Yaghi te ho sohkwn. Eti to buit tib un nassib, bent ! Quando has dyohgwn tom
stygian officier, has lusen id maund ed id protection os Zarallo ed te has oisloyn in id regard
im Stygians.
– Woidim, antwohrd ia med un skeudo ton. Bet quod als miegh io kwehre ? Suawoids' kam is
hat me provoquet.
– Weidwos, acquiescit is. Sei habiem est ter, ioswo habiem dyohgwt iom. Bet quan un gwen
ghyeir' gwive perambhen ab wirs in un militar waun, ia solliet exspecte solg jects.

Valeria stiemp id grundo med id takoun siens baut ed rughiet.

– Ma wirs ne me sine me gwive un wirgwit ?

– Id antwehrd est evident ! (Is glexit iam iter las-ye). Yed buis' meg clever de mwaungsoue. I
Stygians te habient skehniht. Is brater tos officier te hat sohkwn... ed meis jaldi quem quo
fikrist, ne bedwoim to. Ne eet meg dalg apter te quando ho joinen iom. Eys ekw eet gohder
 quem tienis. Is te habiet udriden ed segen tien gurgule oik milia dalger.
– Ed tun ? Sprohg ia.
– Tun quod ? Antwohrd is, kam pribuden.
– Is Stygian...
– Bet, quod credeihs tu ? Antwohrd is med un impatient ton. Ho nicen iom, weidwos, ed likwn
eys carcasse im gwulturs. Lakin, to me hat chitayn, ed ho quasi lust tien ighnos quando has
uperriden id crest iom clins. Sonst, te habiem navax' diutos.
– Ed nun credeihs vahs bringhes me tsay jabran do Zarallos lagher ? Goilit ia.
– Mae bah kam un idiotin, brohm is. Hay, bent, mae leik iam tigrika. Ne som kam so Stygian
has dyohgwt, ed to woidst tu...
– Un aundenar vagabond..., goilit ia.

Is iam spohc ed iliey.

– Ed qua credeihs tu ses ? Ne has hatta kafi denars kay tib payghe nov sarvaripans. Tien honn
ne me impremt. Suawoidst od ho ammert navs meg mierer ed swoins ed meg kathirer quem
has aiwo kwohrt. Ses orm... Qualg errant aventurer ne est orm, pleistens ? Ho spens tan' gold
in vasya ports tienxia quem ghehdiem plehe un galeon iosmed ! Ed toschi woids'.
– Ed quer sont ia bell navs ed i courageus navs tu immerst ? Goilit ia.
– Pleisti in id budmen iom oceans, antwohrd is elangver-ye. I Zingarians hant sinc' mien akhir
nav apo ia schemi causta... Itak ho rallien Zarallos Leudhersokwis. Ho vighaben io hieb esen
dohlen kun habmos marchet ep id grance os Daftar. Id paygh eet maigher, id vin sour, ed
Aydokwas ne me attrage. Ed ias eent ias sauls quas gwohm do nies lagher in Sukhmet, samt
ir nasrings ed ir slim' dents, fu ! Ma has tu joinen Zarallo ? Sukhmet est meg dalg ud
saldwedor.
– Ortho is Rudh me buwskwit sien parika, antwohrd ia sombre-ye. Ho kammert uperbord ed
snaht kyid ripa ; id nav plu prokwem ia kushi causta, apo Zabhela. Ter, un schemi tajir mi
hat saygen od Zarallo hieb ducen sien Leudhersokwias do id Sud kay protege id grance con
Darfar. Io hieb neid gohder behd. Ho kwohrt itner con un caravan quod trohc eusttro ed
viarrivim do Sukhmet.
– Eet follia gwahe deub do id Sud kam has kwohrn, kieu Conan, betschi un hakime decision,
ar Zarallos patrols habien' naiwo mohnrn de te paurske in tod direction. Tik is brater ios wir
has nicen hat retrohf' kjiawxieng tien ighnos.
– Ed quod kwehrskws tu taiper ? Sprohg ia.
– Tournes westtro, antwohrd is. Ho ja wohst tem dalg sudi, bet naiwo tem dalg eusti. Mult
westwor' ghangdiens nos bringhsient kyid mier savana quer ia aydokwa teuts paske ir peku.
Ho prients in ta teuts. Nacsiemos id caust ed trehfsiemos un nav. Io bactisse jungle.
– Tun, bikwehr itner, ei riedh ia. Ego de ho alya projects.
– Mae sdi stupid ! (Is bevis erghia ye id prest ker) Khacs nawander unte tod forest.
– To ghehdo sei to decido.
– Bet quod kwehrskws tu ?
– To ne te betrehft, antwohrd ia med un aggressive ton.
– Yed si, jawieb is sakwn-ye. Kwe credeihs te ho sohkwt tem dalgtro tik kay abgires samt
tuich hands ? Hab ghi aum, bent. Ne te harmskwo.

Is oistiup kyam ed ia klieup retro gwehleihnd-ye sien eins.

– Retro, tu kwaun barbar ! Vahm te becepe kam un rosten swin !

Is oistahsit still protievol ed sprohg iam :

 – Kwe vols ke ghendo tod leuyk ex tien hands ed folossiem id kay spanke te ?
– Werds ! Tik werds ! Goilit ia.

Diutis samlik ad solarg ep bou wedor diens in id budmen aysen aunpaur okwi. Is wois to eet druve.
Neis wir ghohdit desarme Valeria ios Sokwia ni gwive kay jimane de. Is brovit, praedd om
contradictor emotions. Is eet sammel grasban ed kathalika zalisset ed pleno med admiration face id
pinseing ias gwenak. Is ghid sizes tod splendid corpos ed sehre id gvalt-ye in sien stalen brakhs,
yedschi ne hurtskwit iam. Is eet dohrn inter sien wehnos os violent-ye scutte iam ed tod os caresse
iam.

Is wois od sei is gwehmiet lyt pior prosch iam, ia sehiet sieno miecho do eys kerd. Is hieb vis
Valeria nices pior wirs unte raids ep id grance ed creschmadraugs pro misaytum iam. Is woisit ia eet
tem oku ed gver quem un tighrin. Is ghohd weidwos exkardkasche sien eins ed desarme iam
skandeihnd-ye aysum ex ays hand, bet id menos de fehkhte protiev un gwen, esdi is ne vurnskwit
iam, ei eet besonters kados.

– Sdi balstohmt, pacharva ! Exclamit is in sien exasperation. Vahm rehve tien...

Is oistiup kyam, todribhen ab sien bolt passion, ed ia se preparit ad bires un katel cutt. Tun gwohm
un stayg ed surprindant wakya ad interrumpes tod sammel perileus ed kwalisk intertolk.

– Quod est ?

Nu-hieb Valeria just emitten tod taajub, bet ambo sprud gvalt-ye ed Conan pivotit kam un simbva,
gwehleihndo sieno mier eins in sien hand. In id forest hieb udclanghen un horrible concert om
hingols... ekwi praedd uns abjectios terror ed iom khiterst payttens. Id stumpo blosk om brohgen
osta gwohm ad se blande tei clamor.

– Lions attaque i ekwens ! Scricit Valeria.

– Quer has tu vis lions ? Stris Conan, samt argu okwi. Has tu aurn un lion baube ? Neschi
ego ! Aur ta crackend osta, un lion ne kwehriet solg blosk neicend-ye un ekwem.

Is precipitit-se ghom id natural rampe ed ia sohkwit iom. I primyohrs ir faydh, mot ab id natural
instinct im aventurern ad unie-se face un commun danger. Ia hingols hieb chwoyt kun i vighohd
ghom id perwnt, se sehndend per id glendiakehlder quod king tod.

– Ho trohven tien ekwo dieht prokwem id bassin ter, murmurit is, stehmbhend-ye tem silent-
ye quem ia neti dieum kam is hieb kwohrt kay surprindes iam ep id perwnt. Ho dieht mien
reidbies' nieb tienem ed ho sohkwt ia prints tienen bauts. Nun spehc !

I hieb emers ex id bremzone ed chohx nitro, do id anun ios forest. Uper i hieb id subglend akmen
tenden sien deusk baldaquin. Ender id, id diewo filtrit just kafi pro skipes un jaden regwos. Ye oik
decens om stieups tetos, ia gigantesk stamms eent temost ed kam guway.

– I ekwi sollient wehse just apter id tegut ter, murmurit Conan tem mliak-ye quem eys voc
habiet ghohdt ses un brise blahnd per ia ozda. Kleu !

Valeria hieb ja aurn. Un glehdjic kreus iendh ays veines ed ia pos inconscient-ye sien pall hand ep
id muscleus ed brunen brakh os sien sokwi. Ex trans id tegut, i ieur id stump cracken osten ed id
dehren krewsen, blans ibs echos om gieusa ed pieusa uns horrible dapan.

– Lions ne deughient solg bolsk, murmurit Conan. Semject es' praeddend nies ekwens, bet ne
 est un lion... Crom  !

Id blosko chwoyit stayg ed Conan exbohr un pwolstupen rughat. Un stayg brise hieb just luden
apter i ed blahsit seid kye quer el invisible assassin eet perbohrgen ud ir vid.

– Her el gwehmt ! Murmurit Conan leivend-ye sien einso ye pwolhoge.

Id tegut sroht gvalt-ye ed Valeria antgrip Conans darmo brakh. Quayque ia wois neid de id jungle,
ia gnohsit lakin od nel animal ia kohgn iti habiet ghohden scutte ia buska ye tod weidos.

– Sollt ses tem iblis taungh quem un elephant, murmurit Conan, in echo ei men ias gwenak.

Eys voc se fortieyc do un sassar silence.

Un cap om coschmar ed demence hieb just prohpen per ia khaluza. Fradghyanus aunstohg roigs om
cruorsmeu gohlben fildisches ; uper id ghyahndo muk wohs uno naster samlik tei es unem nakwr.
Enormn okwi, samkwehkend ta uns python, yed tusents taungher, stier aun palpeber im dwo
petrifiet menscims qui antgrip id perwnt uper el. Cruoro srusit ex els muk, poikeihnd elsa squamic
ed slemb lipps.

Els cap, taungher quem tod uns crocodile, eet geibho ye id bors uns long squamwent coll ep-yod
ghohrs un roig srakuten aks. Apter tod coll, treudend ia vreiks ed yun drus, stohmbh un titancorpos
samt kowk torso, dehn ep absurd-ye cort jambs. Elso subalbh gventer quasi firschit id grund ed id
akzannt coll eet pior hog mae Conan nakiet id ep pedbors. Un long acut swayp, lik tei es un
scorpion samt gigantesk proportions, se sohlk sekwos id.

– Steigh tsay ep id perwnt, oku ! Bieu Conan repulgend-ye iam kweil apter se. Ne mehno el
ghehdt glehme hetro, bet el ghehdt stahe ep sien cloinpodia ed nake nos.

Trahnend ia arbusta ed rehvend ia buska, el monster stohmbh unte ia khaluza ed i ieg kyid topp ios
perwnt kam windchassen waraks. Kun Valeria mers do id verdure ecran, un retroglanez ay dik el
titan quel stieu terrible-ye ep sien cloinpodia kam Conan hiebit presaygen. Vidend to, panique
lambh iam : stahnd it, el ubsell gver kwohk dar mei gigantesk, ed elso plattnaster cap stohlb ud ia
drus. Dind Conans isern hando zaghyahsit ep Valerias runc ed ia buit gvalt-ye tract perodh-ye do id
glendblindend ocean. Ia wohs iter sub id warm diewo just kun el monster hih med sien propodia id
piton samt un impacto quod vibrihsit id perwnt.

Za bi fugitives, id gigantesk cap fiss ia ozda ed pung id drucim ed, unte un dekhschatic instant,
Conan ed Valeria vis tod coschmarcap wardhe medsu ia glend waraks, samt flamboyant okwi ed
ghyahnda ghyanus. Poskwo ia gigantedonta clieck ed zaghyahr ep kenos, ed id cap recess,
disprehpend ud ir vid kamsei id habiet just duben ender wed.

Spehcend per ia brohgen ozda qua strahr ep id perwnt, Conan ed Valeria vis el creature, hocken ep
elso cloinpodia pod id karwent promontur, uperwakhe i med sien aunmic okwi.

Valeria krus.

– Kamdiu mehns tu el vaht nahocke katha ?

Conan kielc id ghalv quod lyohg ep id warakencovehr.

– Tel soll' glehmus hetro kay skape ud el, we skape ud oin elsen congenern. Els osta ne son'
 brohct. Tod ject sollt ses un dragon, lik tim de qui ia legends im Aydokwen bahnt.Sei ya, el
niet move hetos pre wey bo habsiemos mohrt.

Valeria iam spohc med un absent protiokwo, myehrsend sien ressentiment. Ia enderwieurg id
panique voln quod menacit uperlahe iam. Ia hiebit beviden sien bolt courage tusents unte gver bois
mari ed landi, ep ia cruorsmeu decks om weirnavs praess ab flammes, unte ia hajoums om fortifieta
citads ed ep ia strands quer i aunpaur yeudmi ios Rudh Keiwia trahr sand ed nic mutu med
khandjarcutts unte ir katus po magh. Bet id beurt quod apterskohpt iam tuntos glohdj id sehrg in ays
veines. Un boijar kardicutt eet neid, bet na-sedde achiz ep tod pusten perwnt hina nehce ob hungher,
belaghetn ab un mustring survivence uns esont era... Tod enfall yis panique wands deub do ays
atmen.

– El sollsiet abgwahe kay pohe ed praedde, ieyit ia samt un achiz protiokwo.

– El niet tehrbe gwahe meg dalgtro kay kwehre uter, kauih Conan. El hat jus' uperpohldt med
ekwenmiems ed, alnos kam un serpent, el ghehdt mane diu pre naudhe preadde we pohe iter.
Lakin, mi ya kwehct el ne narc' pos praeddus, kam kwehriet un druv serpent. Zowngschie, el
khac' bestighes tod perwnt.

Conan bahsit med un sakwn ton. Is eet un barbar, ed id athime patience iom immense wakhschats
ed iren purts eent tant integral part os eys personalitat quem eys nafsanias ed eys rages. Is ghohd
endure un situation kam cid med un stoicisme rhayrfikret ab un bfuyeamban.

– Kwe ne ghehdiemos mwaungsoue per ia drus, glehmber ex ozd do ozd kam kieps ? Sprohg
Valeria med un desperatum ton.

Is oiscussit sien cap.

– Ho mohn' de to. Ia ozda qua touche id perwnt ender nos son' pior teun. Brehgien' sub nies
vyige. Eti, mi enfallt tel demon ghehdiet exraudhe vasya drus ios atraf.
– Tun ghi, vahmos wey na-sedde her ep nies noits hina mehriemos ob hungher katha ? Scricit
ia, furieus, kalcend-ye gwis-ye id ghalv ed yeisend-ye id rolle ocolo id perwnt. Io refuse !
Vahm stighes ghom ed tehme els iblis cap...

Conan hieb sess ghom ep un salswrnt ios ghianshiek, pod id petrak. Is oispohc admirative-ye do ia
enflammen okwi ias meirka ed ays tenden ed kreusplen silhouette. Bet, ghabend ia eet parat ad
quodkwe in sien follia, is sis transprehpe neid ex sien admiration quan is wohkwit :

– Sedd ghom, brohm is, kapend ays runc ed attragend iam ep sien grem (Ia buit pior surpris
pro resiste menxu is siz id einso ias gwenak ed renkardkiesch id.) Na-sedd. Mae mov
sontern sakwnasc. Kamyabies tik brehge tien miech ep els squams. Te guraghiet unte oin
schtoss we behngiet tien corpos kam un oivkiaut med sien squamic swayp. Siemos nehse ex
tod gandighi semkam, bet khacsiemos sei bihmos phact.

Ia antwohrd neideti nischi repulcskwit id brakh quod rig ays lendv. Ia eet dekhschat ed to eet un nov
sensation pro Valeria ios Rudh Keiwia. Iaghi na-sess ep id grem os sien sokwi, wa raptor, samt un
docilitat quod habiet oistaunihn Zarallo, iom qui hieb reject iam kweitend-ye iam « un diablin
antsalgus id saray os hayd ».

Conan lik aun mehne med ia blond ghayts ias meirka, kwecto wahid-ye kaurndo de sien lwon. Neter
id skeleto pod iom, ni el monster hockt niter troubleer eys mento ni stup id interesse is ay dahsit.

Ia bfuyi movend okwi ias meirka, chehxend ia brems niter, aunstohgeer colorglois medsu id glend.
Lit de fruits, taungh maurrudh globes hangend kata ia ozda uns dru quos plaut waraks hieb un
besonters intense ed argwent glend spalv. Ia conscicit sien hungher ed sien teurst quayque senter ne
hieb enfallt ay pre ia ghieb ia neti ghohd oistighes ghom id karwent promontur kay trehve jlampohn
ed pitu.

– Niemos nehce ob hungher, ieyit ia. Maghmos ghende ta fruits.

Conan spohcit quetro ia dik.

– Sei eddiemos sems, neti tehrbiemos id dehnken al dragon, brohm is. Lit de quo i Kush
Aydokwi kale « Derketas Apels ». Derketa est ia Rayn im Mortus. Poh lyt ex id juce tos
fruit, we vehrs lyt ex id ep tien cuit, ed habsies mohrn pre fineihvs nisturdes tod perwnt.
– Oh !

Ia pohd tsay do un consternat silence. Eet kwecto neid skapvia ex ir situation, mohn ia matam-ye. Ia
ne vis quosmed ghehdient nehse menxu Conan tengicit interessen tik ab ays urand lendv ed ays
ghaytplextis. Su-pit is mehne de un evasionsplan, is de sis transprehpe neid de to.

– Sei giows tien hands kafi diu ud me kay glehme alnos atopp tod perwnt, ieyit ia tun, vidsies
semjec' quo siet surprindes te.

Ia glaz iam daumwent-ye, dind obedih samt un plecten med sien staur omsa. Pos glehmus alnos
atopp id karwento nadh, is oispohc dalgtro, epter id druakmen.

Is natieyc unte un khvil, still kam un bronzen statue ep un petra sockel.

– Est un fortifiet citad struct ex petra, neid dwoi de to, murmurit is tun. Gwahsta tu tetro
quando has piten expedihes me kyid ripa ?
– Ho viden id jus' pre arrivist. Ne gnohsim ids existence quando ho likwt Sukhmet.
– Quel habiet mohnt trehve un urb her ? Ne kehnso i Stygians hant aiwo venturen tem dalgtro.
Kwe habient aydokwa teuts eregen un solg citad ? Dyehrco neid churd ep id plain, neid trace
os culture ed vido nimen move.
– Quosmed ghehdies tu vide to hol, ye tod distance ? Sprohg ia.

Is plex ed se sis falle tsay ep id promontur.

– Ighi leuds qui weike in tod urb khakent zowngschie nos khalasse taiper. Ed kad ne hehlpient
nos esdi ghehdient. I weikers iom aydokwen gaivias son' daydey hostile dia tarniens. Shayad
nos transbaurien' med ir lances...

Is interrup stayg ed natieyc, kamsei is habiet myohrst quo is eet saygend, ed brovit spehcend-ye ia
scarlat globes argu bayna ia waraks.

– Med lancencutts ! Murmurit is. Kam imbecile som io de ne mehnus de to auser ! To preuf'
quo effect un jamile gwen ep id intelligence uns wir.
– De quo tolcs tu ? Sprohg ia iom.

Aun antwehrde aysi question, is oistighit ghom tiel id warakzone ed spohc trans id. El ubsell
monster eet hockt ender id, spehcend ub kyid karwent promontur samt id hol terrible patience im
reptils. Kad oin elsen congenern hiebit spohcen oin eysen balmink atavs ye id sam weidos, iomschi
nisedden atopp un perwntak, ye id mysterieus octent os menscgenos. Conan balstohm el aun yed se
forirasce ed enderghensit sege ozda, regend sien brakhs kay kehrze ia bilkull prokwst id stamm. Ia
srehtend ozda beswurgh el monster. El stieusit ep sien cloinpodia ed fiss id hava med sien hideuso
swayp, behngend ia broutecks kamsei habiet liten de cians. Conan spohc el tadbir-ye ex id wangwl
siens ok ed kun Valeria mohn el ogvi vahsit rusches iter protiev id perwnt, is Kimri stiup retro ed
glohmber atopp id promontur med ia ozda is hieb just kohrzt. Eent tri, circa septa peds long stebs,
payn teuger quem eys pallex. Is hieb kathalika sect plur longes os teun ed resistant wild vinyek.

– Ozda pior teun pro buwes ia do lancenstolgs ed vinyeks ne teuger quem stranghs, kauihsit is
deikend-ye id brem ambh id karwent promontur. Naiwo ghehdient tehle nies vyige... bet
« unie nerteiht ». To ee-saygent i aquilonian renegads ad nossmee Kimris, quan eegwehment
do ia clins kay lives un heir pro invade ir vatan. Bet eekatuemos per clans ed teuts.
– Quod iblis to hol deil' con ta klaers ? Sprohg ia.
– Intizar ed ghapsies.

Is samdehsit ia klaers ed wogwnit id miech os sien khandjar ye oiter bors. Poskwo is periembh id
hol med ia filises ed kun is hieb finihn, is behand un staur lance samt un solid septa peds long stolg.

– Kaytar ? Sprohg Valeria. Mi has saygen un lance naiwo ghehdiet baure els squams...
– Els hol corpos ne es' squamcovohrn, antwohrd Conan. Est meis quem oin weidos kay
skehne un panther.

Pos dostighes ghom tiel id bors ios brem, is liv id lance ed sehsit delicate-ye id miecho do oin om
Derketas Apels, ia maurrudh ghutts fallend ex id transbaurno fruit vers ab iom. Dind is oiswetraxit
id miech ed dik ad Valeria id moder stal poik med maurrudh glois.

– Ne woidim an to sessiet sat, iey is. Es' kafi poison ep tod kay gvehne un elephant, bet...
Zowngschie vidsiemos !
Valeria stahsit za iom quan is sisit se stighes ghom inter ia ozda.Dehrjend id poidonen lance dalg ud
se, is xyieng trans ia ozda ed prokielit el monster.

– Ma keuncs tu niter, tu melez bastard ex dubieus parents ? Buit oin eysen decentsten
questionen. Skau ghi tien hideus muk iter, tu genis longcoll brute... nibo vols ke steigho
ghom kay kalce id ex tien illegitim spina ?

To ne stopit ter ed sems eysen interjections ghyanihr Valeria ays okwi plaut-ye, speit id profan
education ia hiebit bruct bim marscursors. Ed to effexit kam wohlpt ep el monster. Kam ia aunstop
gyaps uns kwaun irrite ed erghe sem ordinar-ye meis silent animals, id swehner voc uns mensc
oisleurt un paurkhisses bi certain biestens ed un demential rage bi alyens. Stayg, samt un terrifiant
syrat, el titanesk brute stieusit ep sien staur cloinpod, regend sien coll ed id reste siens corpos in un
frenetic effort kay hihes tom kraghend pygmay quos cries oisturb id auwal silence os els awo rigo.

Yed Conan hieb vohrtto precision-ye id distance. Ye takriban penk peds ender iom, id staur cap
gwohl stayg per ia waraks samt un terrifiant blosk, bet in vain. Ed menxu els mustring muko
ghyahsit tem plaut quem habiet kwohrtum tod uns mier serpent, Conan sehsit sien lance do id rudh
wangwl skipt ab id apos ios ghyanu. Is plieg med id hol nerce om sien brakhs, dyehgwnd id krewos
med id longo miech ios khandjar, tehrndo muscles ed osta.

Ia ghyanus zaghyahr instantan-ye clackend-ye, segend id triple doru ed quasi volveihnd Conan ud
eys kurni. Is habiet fallen sei ia meirka apter iom ne habiet kapt iom per eyso yeusmen med un
desperato geste. Is antgrip un karwent salswrnto trans ia waraks ed fried un dank ay gwenak.

Ye id nivell ios swol, el monster ambisroht kam un kwaun dakus piper do sien okwi. El eewiweipt
sien capo bachimien ed eegighyant plaut sieno muk. Dind el pos oin om sien propods ep id stolg ios
lance ed ghohd rehve id miech. El liv tsay sien cap med un gvaltic geste, samt meg platughyanen
cruorspieund ghyanus, ed spohcit kyid topp ios perwnt samt un tem intense furor pleno med
intelligence quem Valeria tremblit ob to ed exkardkieschit sien eins. Ia squams os els regv ed elsa
flanks vireer ex un tarno brun do un aksterrudh. Bet horriblest buit od el monster rup sien silence. Ia
cries qua sielg ta cruorsmeu ghyanus kwohkeer kam ta nal alyes terran creature.

Samt braungh ed knarnd baubs, el ogvi rusch protiev id karwent promontur quod eet id citadell
elsen peinds. Iter ed iter elso staur cap fiss ia ozda bet els ghyanus incontreer tik-ye kenos. El
creature xubh-se protiev id perwnt samt tanto nerce quem id vibrit bundtos topptro. Staund ep sien
cloinpodia, el siz id med sien propodia kam kwehriet unis mensc ed attaquit id base kamsei habiet
liten de un dru.

Tod demonstration os auwal furor glohdj id sehrg in Valerias veines, bet isswo Conan eet pior
prokwem id primitive pro khisses alyo quem un comprehensive interesse. Pro iom barbar, eet neid
aungrund inter menscens kam iom ed animals, nekam Valerias ghabens. Pro Conan, el monster niter
eet nel meis quem un gwitsforme quod differit ud eyso pre quant in eys physic forme. Al tribuit
kweits samlik sienims ed vis in els furor tik un contrapart sienen wi grassabs, ed in els baubs ed
mugeihsas id equivalent os quo is hieb katathematiset contra el. Ob is khiss un forme os gendeltat
con vasyens gvers, pati ogvis, ei eet impossible kwahe id horror ed id disgust qua hieb hajoumen
Valeria quando ia hieb viden id sieyve al creature.

Is na-sess, spehcend-ye el sakwn-ye, pfehrstend kya different changes qua eent tyehcend in els
baubs ed movs.

– Id poison nawehrct, iey is med un assuret voc.

– Ne es mien mayn.
Pro Valeria, kwohk joking mehne od quodkwe substance, kamkwe katel, ghohd semkam effece ep
tel ghyor ex muscles ed rage.

– Es' gvol in els voc, declarit Conan. In-kap eet mer-ye erghen ob id acut edwoln in sien
ghyanu. Nunkye kheisst el id bittert os poison. Spehc ghi ! El vanct. Bihsiet blind pos oik
minutes. Quod tar hieb io sayct tib ?

El ogvi hieb just tituben ed kyopev-ye stohmben pre crasche do ia buska samt mier behngos.

– Est el mwaungsound ? Sprohg Valeria, bfuyow.

– El trehc' kyid bassin ! Iey Conan klaupend-ye, samt iser menos ed parat ad age fauran. Id
poison pohskweiht el. Gwehm ! Bihsiet blind pos oin instants, yed dar ghehdsiet retrehve
sien itner tiel pod id perwn' dank sien odorat ed sei el neus' nos ter ub, el na-seddsiet ter hina
mehrt. Ed els congeners ghehdient bihe attragen ab eld cries. Perodh !
– Nitro ? Sprohg Valeria, terrorisen.
– Weidwos ! Vahmos ghehde do id urb ! Kad nos zanchousient ter, bet to es' nies saul chance.
Kad incontresiemos tusent alyen ogwis untitner, bet nehc nos es' garantiet sei manmos her.
Sei intizarmos hina mehrt, riskmos dehlge udwighes douzen elsen congeners. Sehkwe me
oku !

Is oistighit ghom id rampe tem jaldi quem un kiep, stopend tik-ye kay hehlpe sien sokwnia minter
agil quem iom ed qua, hina ia vis iom Kimri drahe ghom, hieb fikern ses egal queikwe wir kay
glehmber atopp ia takelages unios nav au un behrgsten.

Stigheer ghom do id temos sub ia ozda ed slid ghomtro silent, esdi Valeria eet convicen od ays
kerdbats eent aurna meg dalgtos. Un swehner blosk om lameps ed gneurs ocolo id taungh teguto dik
el ogvi pohsit ex id bassin.

– Yant els gwiwot bihsiet plen, el abgeirsiet, murmurit Conan. Kad hors bihsient tohrpta pre id
poison neict el... sei el neict id.

Semloc trans id forest, id sol hiebit bi-sohncto kyid horizont. Id lays eet un mighelwent ed regwosto
zone om kyehrsen skadhs ed deusk landspects. Conan grip Valerias runc ed slid apo id perwnt. Is
kwohr minter blosko quem un brise blahnd inter ia drustamms, bet Valeria hieb id sentiment od ays
urand bauts revelient ir fug vasyims forestweikers.

– Ne mehno el ghehdt sehkwe prints, muticit Conan. Bet sei wind al bringh' nies odor, el
ghehdiet tun depulge nos.
– Mitra kwehrtu mae tod wind biblahe, kwohster Valeria.

Ays lige eet neid meis quem un pall oval in xep. Ia dier sien eins in sien leur hand, bet id contact ios
hamand covohrnios med glend lieter ghohd tik khissihes iam sem achizia.

Eent dar ye sem distance ud id forestleizd kun i ieur cracks ed trahens apter i. Valeria dohnk sien
lipps kay enderwaurge un crie.

– Nos ighnuet ! Murmurit ia med un lyut ton.

Conan scussit sien cap.

– Ne nos hat nust ep id perwnt ed nos paursc' kjiawxieng in id forest, peitend repere nies odor.
Gwehm ghi ! Es' nuntos id urb au neid ! El ghehdiet exraudhe quodlib' dru quod
udsteighiemos. Eid wind mae biblaht...

Gwahr perodh silent hina ia drus inkiep skiderasce ant i. Za i, id forest eet un ocean ex impenetrable
temos. Id titanesk cracken nabiht aurn, dat el ogvi stohmbh kyopev-ye in sien erratic paursken.

– En id plain face nos, kwohster Valeria. Dar lyt ed wey...

– Crom ! Rughiet Conan.
– Mitra ! Murmurit Valeria.

Wind hieb just biblahn sudtos, udswehbhend i ed nakend id kyehrsen forest apter i. Un terrible baub
tariegh instantan-ye id shienrlin. Ia aunaurdhen crackens ed ia trahens likw id place uni regular
behngos dat el monster surrexit kam un hurcan, reuschend kyid stet quetos ghohd al id odor elsen
peinds.

– Curr ! Mlu Conan med un brisant ton, sien okwi flamboyant kam ta uns kapanen wolf. To es'
quanto nos etileikwt kwehre !

Nautbauts ne sont kwohrta pro un okudrahsa ed un pirate gwit ne est un gohdo training pro pedcurs.
Pos begwahvs oik centens om stieups, Valeria kwohs ed ays gwayto hiebit bihn rhayr-yakin. Apter i,
id trahen likwit place uni grohm dat el monster surrexit ex id enderbosc ed rusch ep id ouvert
terrain.

Conans isern brakh king id lendv ias gwenak, ed is pwolieyrit iam. Ays peds toucheer payn id
grundo menxu ia curs, pwolbohrt, ye un syrat ia habiet naiwo ghohden nake mon. Sei kwahient se
behrge ud el monster unte sem wakt, kad tod gaddar wind vitourniet... bet id windo ne mutatrohc ed
un oku glanez epter eys oms dik ad Conan od el monster hieb quasi navaxt i, reuschend kyi kam un
galera puscen ab un hurcan. Is oismiss Valeria gontro, arkend-ye iam med uno nerce quod yis iam
rolle ye decen stieupen kam un aunmov masse pod id prokwsto dru. Is Kimri abgir kay face el titan
quel arrivit kyom samt grohmblosk.

Convicen od eys ajal hieb gwohmt, Conan ieg sekwent sien instinct ed se xubh seid kyid horrible
muko quod gwohm prosch iom. Is klieup, plagend kam un beliwk, ed khissit sieno miecho dyehgwe
deub ia squams qua protexeer id athime naster, dind un terrifiant impact yises iom ghomtro. Is rollit
unte penkgimtia peden, fineihnd samt sect annem ed pwolmohrt.

Quosmed is Kimri, extus, ghohd restahe, hatta is ne habiet sagven sayge. Yed eyso saul men eet pro
iam gwenaku qua lyohg, storgnet ed aundefense, amalan ep id agmo tal demon se elanus ye akster
gwayt. Hatta pre recuperevs sien annem, is ja stahsit uper iam, einsghesor.

Ia lyohg quer is hieb smitten iam, se strehngend ad sedde ub. Ia dents al creature ne hieb raght iam
ed ia ne hieb esto traht. Nu-hieb un oms au un propod hurten Conan ed el blindis monster hieb
nadrahn, myehrsend i praedds quim odor el hieb sohkwn in id staygo gvol siens agonia. Continuit
curre samt un stohnterbehngos hin els cap criesch protiev un gigantesk stamm quod oistahsit in els
agmo. Id impact exrieudh id dru ed sigwra etiwieurg id mazgh in tod dusformen muk. Dru ed
monster fiell ghom sammel ed i dwo abstaunihn mensci vis ia ozda ed waraks bihe scutten ab ia
convulsions al animal quel ia perbohrg ud ir vid... dind ia movs alnos chwoyeer.

Conan hohlp Valeria ad restahe ed bo apodrahr vankend-ye. Oik secundes sertes, i emers ep id
plain, silent ed desert in id regwos.

Conan hielt unte un khvil ed glaz retro, kyid kyehrsen lays quod oistieu apter i. Neid warak movit,
nel av pipit. Id forest hieb rebihn tem silent quem tienjien-ye.

– Gwehm, murmurit Conan ghendend-ye id hand as sien sokwnia. Nunkye vaht to bihe riscat.
Sei aiw alyi ogvis surrege ex id shienrlin kay charge...

Ne buit necessar od is akapiet sien jumla.

Id urb kwohk meg piern, ye alter bors ios plain, dalger quem im hieb kwohken kun stahr ep id
karwent promontur. Valerias tem eebeibat quem ay eekwehct pnehge. Ye cada aysen stieups, ia
exspectit aure ia teguts cracke ed vide alyem coschmarcreature samt titanesk proportions surrege
kay rusches kyi. Yed neid gwohm ad sturbes id silence iom teguts.

Pos id prest milium inter i ed id forest, biann Valeria kreins. Ayso joyeus natural swekwria lent-ye
uperghohld. Id sol hieb eurohpen ed temos kowpit ep id plain, mulayim-ye beluct ab ia stars qua
transformeer ia cactus do specters.

– Neid peku, nia aghers, muticit Conan. Ep quod weuxe ti leuds ?

– Kad parkent ir peku do stryngs nocts, suggestit Valeria, ed kad ia aghers ed breds lyehge
ocolo id urb.
– Possible, brohm is, bet ho viden nei pon id promontur.

Id meun wus apter id urb. Id kyehrsen masse iom walls ed tors wierdh in ids golden diutis. Valeria
krus. Ambhreissend-se tem sombre-ye ender id meun, id mysterieuso citad anac un buxianxu ed
rhayr-jasib aspect.

Kad Conan hieb id sam sensation ob id oistahsit still, ambhspohc ed brohm :

 – Haltmos her. Est inutil arrive ant ia dwors nocts. Shayad ne nos sinent endo. Eti,tehrbmos
rahate ed ne woidam kam nos vahn' primes. Pos oik hors swehpen, sessiemos fiter sei
dehlgmos katue we mwaungsoue.

Trohcit kyun bunge om cactus qua crohsc in circule, destull frequent phenomen in id suddesert, ed
Valeria sohkwit iom. Is glub un ghyahsa med sien eins ed znyiec ad Valeria kem entrit.

– Her, sessiemos bohrct ud serpents, in quant fall.

Ia glaz beghspace-ye kyid kyehrsen ligne ios forest, ye takriban six milia.

– Ed sei un ogvi surregiet ex id shienrlin ?

– Vahmos stahe wakht, antwohrd is, aun lakin suggeste quo kwehrient in un solg eventualitat.

Is nastier ei citad, ye oik milia tetos. Neid luce blig ep ia tors ed spices. Mysterieus, kyehrsen ed
titanesk masse, id stragn urb wierdh ant id mekhtabwaurn.

– Lyehg ghom ed swehp. Vahm stahe preter wakht.

Ia kung, spehcend iom med un rhayr-yakin protiokwo, yed is khayatsess unte id ghyahsa, facend id
plain, sien eins posen ep sien grem, ed disvolgus ud iam. Aun nacommente, ia lyohgit ghom ep id
sand eni id cactusghirsen circule.

– Protiebeud me quan id meun sessiet ye sien apogee, iom sprohg ia.

Is neter spohc iam, ni antwohrd ay. Id sensto ject ia vis, menxu ia sohnk do swehpen, buit eys
muscleus gastalt, still kam un bronzen statue, quos ambhriss wierdh ant ia stars hangend ghem in id
waurn.

II

In id arg iom ogwnjoyels

Valeria gohrit spreudend-ye, vighabend od un greis octent oisnohg ep id plain. Ia sess ghneihnd-ye
sien okwi. Conan eet hockt nieb ia cactus ; is segit ir teug pirs quom gloghs is wul dexios.

– Ne me has protiebuden, accusit ia iom. Me has sisen swehpe unte id hol noct !
– Ees strak, antwohrd is. Ed tien cloins solleer ses gvolend, pos tod long reiden. Yusmee
pirates ne swehde mane ep seddel.
– Ed tu ? Jawieb ia.
– Ho es' kosak pre ses pirate, antwohrd is. Gwivent ep ir seddel. Ho cort swehpens, kam un
panther quel intizar' prokwem id drayl kem un lopatar pridraht. Mien aurs stahnt wakh'
menxu mien okwi swehpe.

Effective-ye kwohk is buland barbar tem rahatus quem sei is habiet swohpt unte un hol noct ep un
deluxe crovat. Giowus ia gloghs ed leupus id rug rind, is schohnk ay gwenak un teug fel ex meg
swekwost cactuspir.

– Pardehnk tod pir. Est id scharab ed id pitu uns desertweiker. Eem prevs' member im
Zuagirs... desertmenscen qui weuxe ep id plunder om caravans.
– Kwe est semjec' has naiw est ? Sprohg ia bent, pwolgoilisk pwolfascinet.
– Ho naiw esen roy uns hyborian rig, fras is ghendend-ye un enorm bukat cactus, bet hatta tod
mi hat wakyen drehme bihe. Kad sessiem tod semdien. Ma ne ?

Ia scussit sien cap, hayran ant eyso sakwn boltia, ed enderghens praedde sien pir. Ia ne pohnd id
fruito desamat in sien geusmen ed id pohld med un fresch ed teustgwenend juce. Pos zachifanus,
Conan tiersit sien hands in id sand, stieu tsay, passit sien finghers do sien teug sword kaysar, adjustit
sien belt ed declarit bad :

– Gohd, smad gwahe. Su-solle i weikers tos urb tehme nies gurgules, ke de kwehrnt to nun,
pre id gvrens auct.

Eys macabre humor ne eet iskwt, bet Valeria sieyg sib kad eys lafza vahr obkwehke prophetic.
Iaschi adjustit sien yeusmen, pos oistahvs ub. Ia terrors qua hieb hajoumt iam perncti hieb
disprohpen. Ia ghieng perodh nieb iom Kimri destull mokan-ye. Quakwe bih ia periles qua waiteer
i, protie menscens katuient. Ed Valeria ios Rudh Keiwia hieb naiw incontret oin wir qui bayiet iam.

Conan prichohx iam menxu ia ghiengit nieb iom ed rul sien ample greddstieups ep eysa.

– Ghancs meis ye id weidos uns clinmensc quem uns naut, iey is. Solls ses aquilonian. Ia sols
os Darfar han' naiwo brunen tien blank cuit. Mult princesses te jalousient.
– Gwehmo ex Aquilonia.

Eys compliments neti irriteer iam. Id evident admiration is khiss dia iam plaisit iam. Sei alyo wir
quem is habiet oistahn wakht menxu ia swohp, ia habiet esen furieus ob to ; ia hieb reagen semper
ye meg violent weidos ielgs kun un wir pit protege we defende iam tik ob ia eet un gwen. Bet ia
pohnd un secret plaisure in id fact od so wir kwohr to. Ed is ne hiebit brugen ays terror ni id stand
os sliebe quod hieb resulten ex id. Final-ye, iey-sib ia, ays sokwi ne eet un wir kam alters.

Id sol wus apter id urb, spalvend ia tors med un buxianxu rudh.

– Sword in mekhtab perncti, brohm Conan, sien okwi sombrihn ab ia abyssal superstitions im
barbars, cruorrudh kam ka signe os tehrgen sub id octentsol. Ne kam tod urb.

I gwohm dar proscher ed Conan kauih pau pos od neid strad lit nordtos kyid citad.

– Buit naiwo peku cid-mo, iey is. Plughs ne hant aren id ardh pon yars, hatta maghses secules.
Yed spehc : prevst, tod plain eet cultiven.

Valeria dyohrc ia prever yavias is ay dik, pwolstuppen stet-ye ed lahn ab cactus. Ia brovit, perplex,
ed sammel ambhspohc id plain quod oistrohc hol perambh id citad tiel id leizdo ios deusk forest
quod king id ed oistabh visum dalger.

Ia spohc id urb, bfuyi. Neid helm, neid lancepuladho twis ep ia walls. Neid trompette swohn, nel
straj emiss warnen. Un silence tem absolut quem quo regnit in id forest covohr ia murs ed minaras.

Id sol eet hog uper id horizont kun i niek id mier portal ios nordmur, in id skadh uns alt wall. Rust
lahsit id isern aneta ios colossal aysen dwor. Teug arankia luc ep ia mifussals, plabs ed perchint
panells.

– Tod portal ne hat es' ghyan' pon yars ! Exclamit Valeria.

– Un mortu wastu, brohm Conan. Itak ia yavias eent brohct ed id plain squalid.
– Bet quel hat construct id ? Quel wik her ? Quetro ed ma hant i likwn id ?
– Quel woid ? Kad un grupp em exilen Stygians hat construgen id. Lakin no ; to ne kwehc'
kam stygian architecture. We kad buir exterminen ab peinds, we nicen ab un epidemia ?
– In tod fall, kad ir kleis nakwahn' duil ed arankia, suggestit Valeria (Ia rapace instincts os ays
profession sbud in iam bet ia eetschi isnahn ab sien ster curiositat). Kwe ghehdmos ghyane
tod portal ? Smad entre ed lyt explore.
Conan chohx id gwaur portal med uno maschkouk protiokwo, lakin posit siena massive omsa protie
tod ed puscit med id hol nerce om sien saurs ed sien staur bemerns. Samt cracks ed knars om
berusten mifussals, ghyahsit id portalo lent-ye intro. Conan stieusit ub ed exkardkieschit sien eins.
Valeria spohc epter id oms os sieno sokwi ed mlusit un taajub.

Nu-ananc-se im neter un strad ni un dworisghehrd, kam habiet maghen bihe exspectet. Id portal,
yed lit in cid fall anter de un dwer, eet id waust uns long ed vast galeria quod se forlit tiel vidleus,
bihnd indistincto dalgi. Ids proportions eent titanesk. Id swol eet ex un curieus rudh petra, glupto do
quadrat flises, ed quod rudher kamsei id reflegiet id diutis uns ogwn. Ia murs eent composen ex un
glend ed argu substance.

– Jade, sons' som Schemi ! Rughiet Conan.

– Ne in solg wakel ! Protestit Valeria.
– Ho plundert kafi caravans gwohmt ex Khitay kay woide de quo tolko, sigwrit is. Toghi est
jade !

Id wonk tect eet ex lazuward ed gjiaungsianen samt mier glend petras qua luc samt un iadic arg.

– Glend ogwnpetras, brohm Conan. I Puntweikers kale ia katha. Leitwer' de ia petrifiet okwi
tim prehistoric serpents i awi kiel « Golden Serpents ». Bleigent in temos kam catokwi. In
plen noct, beleucient tod galerie, bet id luce esiet iblis stragn. Smad gwahe glanzes. Kad
vahmos incontre un cache plen med joyels.
– Zaghyan id dwor, ei riedh Valeria. Detestiem tehrbe uddistance un ogvi unte tod galerie.

Conano smihsit ed antwohrd :

– Ne credeihm ogvis aiwo salge id forest.

Is kwohr lakin quo ia sib hieb udprohct ud iom ed is ay dik id brohct perchin ep id intropan.

– Mighi hieb kwohct aurus semjec' cracke quando ho protiepuscen id dwor. Tod perchin hat
jus' brohgen. Sei i weikers han' mwaungsoun, tun quosmed hat id esen possible od id dwor
buit perchint intos ?
– Hant aundwoi likwn unte alyo dwer, suggestit Valeria.

Ia dieum quayt secules eededohneer pon diewo hiebit penetren ye id senst ker id mier galerie ex id
ghyanen portal. Diewo filtrit semkam do id galeria ed i aunstohg jaldi quosmed. Alnos atopp id
wonk tavan eent dyohrct sortes om luckerns, quom schibs eent compost ex sem cristallin substance.
In ia skadhglois qua separeer ia luckerns, ia glend joyels twis kam ia okwi em grasban cats. Sub ia
peds em bo intrus, id swol kwecto se gwenmien samt un tarn ed sombre arg, ed bfuyi changend
colors ed nuances. Eet kamsei trehdient haydswol sub id tweisen om malefic stars.

Tri superpost galeries lit ambi id mier central galerie.

– Un trietage dom, brohm Conan, ed tod galerie leit tiel id tavan. Estschi tem long quem un
strad. Ho id pondos os vide un portal ye alter bors.

Valeria plex med sien kwit omsa.

– Tun has gohder okwi quem ego, yed sayge i marscursors od ho un nafiz vid.

I ghyien un dwer kjiawxieng ed tohr un succession tuichen kyals, quom swol eet identic tei ios
central galerie, ed ia murs eent auter ex id sam glend jade, au ex marmor, ivor au khalcedon, ed
ornen med frises ex bronze, gold au argwrnt. Ia glend ogwnpetras eent gjiaungsiant in ia tavans ed
ir luce eet tem spectral ed stragno quem Conan hiebit presaygen. I intrus ghieng perodh kam kabus,
madhen in tod guway diutis.

Sems iom kyals ne eent beluct ed ir soyl kwohk tem kyehrsen quem id entrat uns haydtehom.Conan
ed Valeria vergihr ia ed begranceer ir exploration ibs belucen kyals.

Arankia covohr ia cotlans vasyen kyals, bet id swol ne eet besonters duilic, ne meis quem ia tables
ed ia stols ex marmor, jade au carniolin samt qua eent meublen. I trohv cer ed ter kelims ex tod
Khitay silko quod est amalan inalterable. I vis fensters ye neid moment, ni hatta dwers ducend uni
strad au uni ghehrd. Lit systematic-ye de alyo kyal au alyo dikhliz.

– Quosmed tar ne incontrems un strad ? Brohm Valeria. Tod stet, quodkwe bih tod loc quer
wehsmos, sollt ses dar mierer quem id saray ios roy os Turan.
– Sigwra ne nohceer ob un epidemia, iey Conan, mimehnend de id mysteir tos desert citad.
Sonst habiemos trohven skeleta. Kad hat id biht hantet ed quanti hant gohrn semaghyern ed
diswarpen. Maghses...
– Do hayd tien maghses, iom interrup aun manier Valeria. Naiwo woidsiemos. Spehc ta frises.
Skaun' menscens. Bayghen' qualg race ?

Conan chohx i prokwtos ed scussit sien cap.

– Ho naiwo viden leuds qui samkwehke exact-ye to, bet est semject oriental in i... Vendhya
maghses au tun Kosala.
– Has tu esen roy os Kosala ? Sprohg ia iom, maskend sien akster curiositat med derision.
– No, bet ho est korion im Afghulis qui gwive in ia himelian ghors qua uperhange Vendhyas
grances ed qui service i Kosalans. Bet ma gwahient Kosalans construge un urb tem dalg
westi ?

I kipti persons eent minc wirs ed gwens, samt esmer cuit, exotic ed fayn-ye ambhrissta traits. I vohs
legv rogvs ed multa tesedins. Ia scenes oiskieur i ye pleist kers drehnkend ed mejend, dansend we
habend sexe.

– Tighi son' druve-ye Orientals ! Brohm Conan, bet ne woidim quetos exact-ye. In quant fall
solleer age un gwit uns abject sakwnia, sonst habiemos viden scenes om weir ed katu. Smad
stighes ub tod drab.

Un ivoren spiraldrab lit ub, ducend ibs etages uper id kyal in-yod i wohs. I bestigh tri successive
gastieups ed arriveer do un kielken ios trit etage, quod kwecto eet id altst nivell ios imara. Luckerns
in id tavan beluc id kyal, ed ia ogwngemmes twiseer samt pall inikas in tod luce. Glanzend apter ia
dwers, i dyohrc wisu ploisko oin gon un serie om kyals beluct ye id sam weidos. Id sensto dwer
duxit uni balustrade galerie quod uperkihsit un dikhliz om dimensions meg modester quem id
central galerie ios grundetage.

– Hayd ! Rughiet Valeria seddend-ye ghom ep un jaden benk. I leuds qui hant likwn id urb
hant sollen todribhes ir quan' kuzda con se. Io bactisse passe ex uter tuich kyal do alyo
kjiawxieng.
– Vasya kyals ios uber nivell kwehke beluct, iey Conan. Kamiem druve-ye ke maghmos
trehve un fenster quod uperkeiht id urb. Smad glanzes apter tod dwer, ter ub.
– Tu, gwah tetro. Ego vahm mane her ed lyt rahate.
Conan disprohp apter id dwer quod facit quod duxit ei galerie. Valeria supih-se ep id benk, samt
hands crucen apter sien cap, ed rexit sien bauten jambs ant se. Ta silent kyals ed ta dikhliz samt ira
grwozdus om lamper glenda gemmes ed ir kirmiz demped inkiep depremes iam. Ia spehsit vahr
mox-ye salge tod meirong eni-yod i hieb-se forghangen kay bad incontre un strad. Ia dieum vagh-ye
qualg maur ninpeds hieb aiwo trohden tod flamboyant swol, quayt crueltatagsa ed mysteirs ta
tweiser gemmes pact ei tavan hieb prispohct.

Nu-iam-rohv uno mulayim blosk ex ays reflexions. Ia stahsit, einsghesor, hatta pre ghabus quo hieb
sturpt iam. Conano ne hieb riken ed ia wois ne eet is quom ia hieb aurt.

Id swon hieb gwohmt semtos trans id dwer quod duxit ei galerie. Ia snohg do tod direction,
kwehrnda neid blosk in sien bauts ex urand lieter, arrivit ep id balcon ed glaz niter inter ia gwaur
balustrades.

Un wir ninstohmbh unte id dikhliz.

Id fact os vide uno mensc in tod urb ia credih desert buit un druv schock. Hocken apter ia
petralankans, sien quanta muscles tenden, Valeria luurit id ninsilhouette.

Is wir nel-ye samkwohk i persons kipt ep ia frises. Is eet mulayim-ye bulander quem id mutawassit
ed eys cuit eet meg maur aun yed ses aydowko. Is eet nogwo ploisko uno legv silken lendvkatan
quod perbohrg in part eys robust hinks ed un lietern yeusmen tem weur quem un hand, kingend eys
teun lendv. Eys sword ed longo kayso hiengit ka platt fitils ep eysa omsa, ei confernd un wild
aspect. Is eet lagar. Ia gneubhs ed snayus os eys muscles oistohlb ud eys brakhs ed jambs, bet aun
tod krewospehlden quod daht un harmonieuso symmetria ei silhouette. Is eet construct samt un
sparmenos quod bihsit quasi repulsive.

Ne tant eys physic apparence quem eys attitude impress iam gwen qua observit iom. Is ghieng
perodh ye uno ningwayt, pwolendersess ghom, wehrtend sie, cap kyuter gon dind kyalter. Is dier un
weurak miech in sien dexter hand, ed ia vis iom trehse sub id cutt uns intense emotion. Is hiebit
paur ed tremblit, praedd unios nesayget terror. Kun is wohrt sien cap, ia dyohrc id flamme eysen
gver okwi inter ia sword viels os eys kayso stern ep eys cap.

Is ne vis iam. Is oisnohg ep pedak ocolo id dikhliz ed disprohp unte un ghyanen dwer. Oin instant
serter, ia ieur un stump crie, dind silence regwohm.

Praedden ab curiositat, Valeria snohg engwn id galerie hina ia ghohd face un dwer stahnd exact-ye
uper tod unte-yod is wir hieb just gwahn. Tod duxit alyi galerie, minter vast, quod begir un vast
kyal.

Id kyal lyohg ye id senst etage, bet idso tavano ne eet tem alt quem in id uder dikhliz. Id eet belucto
tik ab ia ogwnpetras, ed id subglend ed guway arg likw in temos ia rewsa sub id circular balcon.

Valerias okwi pfwohng. Is wir ia hieb dyohrcto dar wohs in id kyal.

Is lyohg, face protie swol, ep uno mier purpwr kelim medsu id kyal. Eys corpos eet inert, eys brakhs
ghongen platu. Eyso skambmiech einso lyohg nieb iom.

Ia dieumit ma is remien ithan still. Dind ays okwi schrohnkeer kun ia spohc id kelim ep-yod is wir
lyohg. Sub eys corpos ed hol perambh iom, id kelim hieb un different spalv, un richer ed profunder
rudh.
Kreusend mulayim-ye, ia se ahockit lyt meis apter id balustrade, scrutend med megst attention ia
skadhs sub id circular galerie. Reveleer neid secret.

Stayg, un nov silhouette prohp do tod buxianxu drame. Un wir, qui samkwohk in mult points preter,
entrit unte un dwer quod facit quod duxit ei dikhliz.

Eys okwi illumineer-se kun is vis iom wir lyehge ep id swol, ed is sieyg semject ye un saccadat ton,
quod swohn kam « Chicmec ! ». Alter ne movit.

Is wir stiupit perodh in id kyal, siz id corpos per ids omsa ed periwohrt id. Is sis uno pnicto crie
skape kun id cap retrofiell moll-ye, revelend id gurgule tohmt ex uter aur do alter.

Is wir sis id nayv nifalle ep id cruorpoiko kelim ed klieup ep sien peds, peritremblend. Eys lige eet
praedd os terror. Bet menxu is flex uter genu ed se pariet ad mwaungsoue, is oistohv stayg, bihndo
tem still quem un statue, scrutend alter bors ios kyal med distarnd okwi.

In ia skadhs qua regneer ender id circular balcon, un spectralo luce biluc ed bicrohsc, un luce quod
ne emanit ex ia ogwnpetras. Valeria khissit sien kays ghehrse ep sien cap menxu ia spohc ; ar,
muzlim-ye visible in tod palpitant diutis, eet dyohrcen uno menscghalv ed nu-emanit id spectralo
luce ex tod mensc, yed horrible-ye dusformet, ghalv. Id hieng in id hava kam un desincarnen cap,
kyuken ex noct ed temos, bihndo stets-ye distincter... mensclik, ed quod ne bieygh lakin id
menscgenos kam Valeria gnohsit id.

Is wir stahsit still, incarnation ios paralysant horror, starnd ei apparition. Id ject swohbh dalger ud id
mur ed un grotesk skadh hamrahsit id. Lent-ye, tod skadh bihsit visible, wardhend do un silhouette
samt menscambhrissa, quos bare torso ed brakhs luc med id subalbh arg idsen blaychen osten. Id
lagar ghalv ep ids omsa fras med sien tuich oktorms, perambhen ab un kafir halo. Is wir face id
kwohk achiz os zaspehce id. Is remien still, sien eins hangend moll-ye inter sien inert finghers, ed is
hieb wajkh eet tod uns wir lambht ab ia nets uns hypnotiser.

Valeria ghieb ne eet tik paur quod paralysit iom wir. Sem diabolic suedos tos palpitantios diutis
hiebit beghsiht iom eys imkan om aume ed age. Iaswo, in salvtat ed spehcend id scene ubtos, khiss
id subtile impact unios nenamim emanation quod tohrg ays raison.

Id horror stohmbh kye sien victim. Is wir bad movit, bet to buit kay sines oiskape eys eins ed falle
ep eysa genus, tegend eys okwi med eys hands. Aun sayge werd, is exspectit od plagiet id miech
quod blig tuntos uper iom in id hand ios apparition, kam id Mohrto triumphend uper menscgenos.

Valeria ieg sekwent id prest impulse os sien rebell buhsa. Med un tighrinsmov klieup ia epter id
balustrade ed se sis falle ep id grund apter id buxianxu apparition. Tod pivotit epstet aurnd-ye id
stump schock iom bauts qua hurt id swol, bet kun id vols, id srakut miech ias gwenak plieg, ed un
gver exaltation lahsit Valeria kun ia khiss id khar siens weben tehme mensckrewos ed solid osta.

Id apparition emiss uno pnigen crie ed collapsit ghomi, samt segen oms, sternum ed weragmen. Ed
kun id pohd ghom, id ogwnghalv rollit gontro, revelend un zazzer os oisternen kays ed uno
maurcuit lige dusformen ob nehcpaytten. Sub tod horrible mascarade tup un ensan, un wir qui
samkwohk tom nagenuend, prostren.

So hiebit spohct ub aurnd-ye id cutt ed id crie quod hieb sohkwt, ed is distier tuntos incredule-ye ay
blanki gwenaki qua stahsit uper id cadaver, dehrjend un cruorsmeu eins.
Is difficultat-ye stieusit ub ed bisnietter kamsei quo is hieb just viden habiet quasi kwehlpihn eys
aum. Ia stieun de constate ia pretit iom, isghi wohkw in stygian, esdi tod dialect ne ay eet familiar.

– Qua ste ? Quetos yu ? Quod kwehrte yu in Xuchotl ? (dind, unte id sam elan, aun hatta ay
linkwes wakto kay antwehrde:) Bet ste un prientin... diva au diablun, to changet neid ! Yu
habte nict id Ardent Ghalv ! Eet tik un wir apter id mask, final-ye ! Wey mohn od lit de un
demon i kyuk ex ia catacombes ! Kleute !

Is interrup in sien deliria ed oistohv, akowsiend samt un quasi gvolic intensitat. Ia meirka ieur quasi
neid.

– Dehlgmos spehde ! Murmurit is. Sont wester quem id Mier Dikhliz ! Kad nos kernent ! Kad
hatta nos perambhent proscher pre rusches ep nos nunkye !
Is siz ays runco med un gvaltic fangho quetos ay molicit se fortrage.

– Qui « i » ? sprohg ia.

Is iam spohc aun ghabe unte oik secundes, kamsei is pehndiet ays ignorance rhayr-fahamim.

– I ? Balbiel is vagh-ye. Bet, vedim, ti os Xotalanc ! Id clan ios wir yu habte nict. Qui weike
prokwem id Eustdwor.
– Mayns tod urb est habitet ? Exclamit ia.
– Ya, ya ! (Is kriemp ob impatience, lambhen ab paur) Smad abgwahe hetos ! Gwehmte !
Oku ! Dehlgmos rikes Tecuhltli !
– Ed quer est tod ? Sprohg ia.
– Id quartier prokwem id Westdwor !

Is hieb iter sizen aysc runc ed traxit kyid dwer unte-yod is hieb entren. Taungh swoidghutts perleer
ep eys maur chol ed eys okwi blig ob terror.

– Skehpt oin minute ! Brohm ia, arkend brusk-ye eys hand. Giowte tien hands ex me, sons'
findo tien ghalv. Quod est tod storia ? Quis es tu ? Ed quetro me ducskws ?

Is kwohr uno mier effort ed rewieldh-se, glanzend-ye bachimien sokar-ye, dind is bitolkit tem jaldi
quem eys werds oistus protie mutu.

– Mien nam est Techotl. Som ex Tecuhltli. Ego ed is wir qui lyehc' samt tohm' gurgule hams
gwohmen do ia Dikhliz os Silence kay pites embuskes oik Xotalancas. Bet hams lusen mutu
ud vid ed quando ho riken hetro, ho trohven iom samt tohm' gurgule. Id Ardent Ghalv est
massoul, to woidim, ed id me habiet nicen sei yu ne habiete nigvohnen id. Bet kad id ne eet
alnos saul. Kad hant alyi snohgen pon Xotalanc ! Iswo divs bleide ant id beurt i assigne tim
qui i kapen' gwiv !

Mehnend de to, is krus kamsei bihiet lambhen ab feber ed eys maur cuit emsit un aschlik spalv.
Valeria brovit ed spohc iom, protiebudt. Ia prekhiss eet semjecto ghabtu in tod hol rabiabahsa, betye
tod moment, to ay ne enfiell.

Ia vols kyid ghalv, quod blig ed pulsiet dar ep id swol. Ia vahsit touche id tadbir-ye med id borso
siens baut kun so Techotlo klieupit perodh emittend-ye un crie.

– Mae touchet id ! Mae hatta spehcte id ! Follia ed nehc weike id. I brukhs os Xotalanc gnohnt
 eys secret... Hant trohft id in ia catacombes, quer lyehge ia osta iom terrible roys quoy hant
regnet ep Xuchotl in id druna iom kyehrsen secules os prev. Dyies id glehdjt id sehrg ed
gveiht id kers es quel ne ghapt id mysteir id arehct. Touche id seuwt follia ed perneicen.

Ia brovit ed spohc iom med uno maschkouk protiokwo. Is wir ne eet besonters rassurant, samt sien
gneubhic ed lagar carcasse, ed sien stip ed oistert kays. In id budmen eysen okwi, apter id terror
diutis, blig un stragno luce ia hieb naiwo bad vis in ia okwi unios mentsaun wir. Yed, is kwohk
sincere in sien protesta.

– Gwehmte ! Iam implorit is, peitend sizes ays hand, poskwo mutamaynend kun is mohm sien
warnen. Ste un gospotnia. Quosmed yu habte arrivet hetro, ne sagviem sayge, bet sei yu
esiete un diva au un demon gwohm' hetro kay hehlpe Tecuhltli, yu gnohiete ja ta quan' jects
de qua yu me habte sprohgen. Yu sollte arrive ud trans id mier forest, quetos nies atavia
gwohm. Bet yu ste nies prientin, sonst yu ne habiete gvohnen mien peind. Gwehmte ! Oku,
pre i Xotalancas nos trehve her ed nos neice !

Diswehrtend sien okwi ud eys repulsive ed fervordribht lige, ia spohc id buxianxu ghalv quod dum
ed luc ep id grund, prokwem id cadaver alyios wir. To samkwohk un ghalvo viden in drehm,
indenegable-ye mensclik, yed anancend subtile dusformations in ids ambhriss. Unte sien jumiung,
quel hieb haben solgo ghalv sollit habe un stragn ed mustring aspect. Gwiv ? Id kwecto xihsit un
sorte os gwit quod ei eet wi. Ids ghyanus ghyahr ye id sam moment, dind zaghyahr clackend-ye. Ids
arg bihsit meis akster, meis bleigu, yed id sensation os coschmaro crohscit kathalika ; eet un sogn ;
hol gwit eet neid meis quem un sogn... Nu-rohv id hirsic voc os Techotl Valeria ex ia temosta
tehoms kye-ya sa driv.

– Mae spehcte id ghalv ! Mae spehcte id ghalv !

Id voc ay ghohdit dalgtos, ex trans aunpotem tehoms.

Valeria se scuss kam un lion quel scutt sien griva. Ays vision kwiter. Techotl eet snatternd :

– Ye sien jumiung, tod ghalv arohg id terrible kers uns roy im magicians ! Naarehct id gwit ed
id ogwn os magia, rohven ex ia uder rewsa !

Valeria emiss un rughat ed klieup med id agilitat uns panther, ed id ghalv buit tun bohngen do
flamboyant fragments kun ays miech plieg samt nerce. Ex semloc in id kyal, au in id kenos, autah in
id deusk anun os ays conscience, uno nemensc voc emiss un crie om rage ed gvol.

Id hand os Techotlo traxit ays brakh ed is oisnietter iter :

– Yu habte brohct id ! Yu habte destruct id ! Hatta vasya kyehrsen arts os Xotalanc ne sagvient
reconstitue id ! Smad abgwahe ! Smad abgwahe oku nun !
– Bet ne magho abgwahe, protestit ia. Ho un prien' qui wehst semloc nedalg hetos...

Id flamme quod gwohl ex id budmen iom okwi os Techotl interrupit brusk-ye Valeria : is oispohc
apter iam, fujatan horrifien. Ia pivotit epstet ed vis quar wirs rusches, ielg entrend unte ein different
dwer, convergend kyi, medsu id kyal.

Eent identic tibs quens ia hieb ja viden, samt ia sama gneubhic muscles stehlbend ep sonst lagar
memsa, id sam blousword kayso stern ep ir cap, id sam diutis os dementia in id budmen iren mier
okwi. Eent armet ed dun kam Techotl, bet un albh ghalv eet pict ep ielgs torso.
Buit neid endemeur ni ensein. Kam cruorlasni tighers, Xotalancs wirs klieup kya gurgules iren
peinds. Techotl rusch kyens samt desperationsfuror, exclihnend id treiccruce uns weurmiech eins,
ed siz id corpos os sien hajoumer ; is supih iom ghomtro, quer rolleer ed katuer in un silence os
mohrt.

Ia nic iom prest qui arrivit ye ays prayghest pre is ghehdiet plage, id miech os ays long eins findend
eys ghalv menxu is sa-plieg med sieno. Ia skiend gontro kay vergihes un estocade ed sammel parit
un cutt. Ays okwi diens ed ays lipps kohmb do uno mildetmaflouk smeih. Ia hieb rebihn Valeria ios
Rudh Keiwia, ed id drohn os ays miech eet kam uno nuptial songv aysims aurs.

Ays eins uddohl id lambhel unios miech quod tentit pare ays attaque ed dub unte six incha do id
literprotegen gventer tos qui ghesorit id. Is wir emiss un gvolcrie ed fiell ep sien genus, bet eys
buland sokwi se interposit samt un lyut silence, beibeirnd cutt pos cutt samt solg furor Valeria quem
nel-ye ghohd contre ia attaques. Ia stiup retro tawrlien-ye, parend ia cutts, waitend id waurmen os
dyehgwe id corpos os sien peindo med sieno miech. Is khakiet seuyihes med diu sien staldewer. Eys
brakho strakasciet, viauiet annem ; is oislaberiet, committiet un fault, ed tun Valerias miecho
deubiet mon do eys kerd. Glanzend gontro, ia dyohrc Techotl, genuend ep id torso os eys peind, se
strehngend ad lures eys runc ex id fangh senters ed ad dyehgwe eys corpos med sien khandjar.

Swoid perlit ep id chol ios hajoumer ias pirate ed eys okwi samkwohk geuls. Makar is plieg med
sien hol force, is neter ghohdit drughes ni uddehle id exclihen ias gwenak. Eys annem bikwohs, eys
cutts biluseer sem precision. Ia stiup retro kay attrage iom kye se... ed khissit sien bemerns sohrt
kam in uno mengain. Ia hieb myohrsen iom wir qui lyohg vurnt ep id swol.

Ia eet genuend ed hiebit passe sien dwo brakhs ambh aysa jambs in un stalen fangh ; eyso driugo
grokit ob triumph ed bimaneuvrit kay attaque iam gwenak levtos. Valeria kriemp ed se strubh, in
vain. Ia proe-ghehdiet se lures ex tod mengain beirnd-ye med sieno miech, bet ye tod instant id
simitar ios buland jenchi behngiet ays ghalv. Is vurnt bidohnk ays nogwod bemern kam un gver. Ia
clin sien levter hand ed siz id longo crinar ios wir, tragend eys cap retro hin eys albh dents ed
forstehlbend okwi buir lift kyam. Ia parit kyopev-ye id cutt ed id denwrnt aysios miech gwohm ad
hurtes ays wi cap, gwehlihes bliutes ant ays okwi. Ia vienk. Id eins os ays duschman lud iter, ed is
emiss un stump ed bestial triumph crie... ed ye tod moment wierdh un gigantesk gastalt apter iom
Xotalanca ed stal spru kam uno moder arg. Id crie ios jenchi brohg nett ed is collapsit ghomtro,
nigvohnen kam un auxan sub id pelk, sieno mazgho gwehlend ex sien ghalvo fisden tiel gurgule.

– Conan ! Kwohs Valeria (Samt un torrent os rage ia vols kyom Xotalanca quos long kayso ia
dar dohrj in sien levter hand) Haydkwaun !

Ayso miecho stris per id air, unte un arco quod pohd ye midpleuk, ed id zanchout cadaver collapsit
moll-ye samt cruorgheuss. Ia xubh id tohmt cap ocolo id kyal.

– Quod iblis jinkdout her ? Iey Conan jambend-ye id cadaver ios wir is hieb just nicen,
einsghesor, ed ambhspehcend samt un staunend protiokwo.

Techotl restieusit uper id convuls forme ios senstios Xotalanca, chassend ia cruorghutts ex sien
daga. Id vurnos ep eys bemern sohrg. Is oispohcit Conan med pfwohnct okwi.

– Quod jinkdout ? Sprohg iter Conan, dar surpriden de trehvus Valeria in un gver boi protie
tens fantastic creatures in un citad is hieb credihn abandont ed desert.

Reikend ex sien exploration pos venturevs towsraen do ia kyals ios uber etage, is hieb constaten
Valeria neti eet in id sall quer is hieb likwn iam ed is hieb trohcto kyid surce iom katublosken is
hieb staunen de aure.

– Penk mortu kwauns ! Exclamit Techotl, un terrible exaltation schimmernd in id budmen

sienen flamboyant okwi. Penk nicens ! Penk scarlat gwozda pro id sword colunn ! I
cruordivs bihntu danct !

Is liv meg hog sien kreusend hands dind, samt un demoniak lige, spiusit ep ia cadavers ed kielc ir
liges, pleinsend in sien repugnant joy. Eys nov allieits oispohc iom samt staunos ed Conan sprohg in
aquilonian :

– Quis est so foll ?

Valeria plex.
– Is sayct eys nam est Techotl. Sei credeihm eys deliran' lafza, eys folk gwivit ye uter bors tos
demential urb ed toy ye alter bors. Kad nos esiet sislew abgwahe con iom. Is kwehc'
prientlik ed es' facil vide to ne est id fall alters clan.

Techotl hieb interrupen sien dans ed ieur iter, sien cap cliht gontro kam un kwaun, id medvia os
triumph katuend protie paur ep sien repugnant lige.

– Smad abgwahe nun ! Murmurit is. Hams kwohrn kafi ! Penk mortu kwauns ! Mien folk vos
kwehrsiet un megil preimen ! Vos honoresient ! Bet gwehmte ! Tecuhtli es' dalg hetos. I
Xotalancas maghien' nos attaque ye cada moment in numer pior important hatta pro vies
einsa.
– Te sehkwmos, brohm Conan.

Techotl bestigh fauran un drab quod duxit ei galerie, znieyc im ke iom sehkwient, quo i kwohr,
apterpersnend iom perodh jaldi. Ghohdt do id galerie, is elien-se unte un dwer quod ghyahsit
westtro ed spohd, passend ex kyal do kyal, quanta belucen ab luckerns au glend ogwnpetras.

– Bet quod tar est tod stet ? Murmurit Valeria ye khafi voc.
– Tik Crom woid ! Antwohrd Conan. Ho ja viden menscens qui samkwohk iom, punor.
Gwivent ana lac Zuad, prokwem id grance os Kush. Leitti de un irk em mestissaget
Stygians, qui hant-se mixen alyi race quod hieb venturen do Stygia, gwehmend eusttos, oik
secules prever, ed quod buit absorben ab i. Son' kalt « Tlazitlans ».
Lakin, som parat ad vate od ne son' qui han' construct id urb.

Id paur os Techotl ne kwecto discrohsc ye dalger i ghieng ud id kyal quer ia cadavers lyohg.
Eevivrehct sien cap epter sien oms, surprindskwnd eventuala bloska os apterchasse, ed scrutit med
un febreuso spect quodkwe dwer pri-yod gwahr.

Valeria khiek sib stambhes kruses. Ia biey nel ensan. Bet tod stragno swolo sub ays peds ed ta
curieusa joyels uper ays cap, isolend ia skadhs qua tup hol perambh i, ia ninmovs ed id terror irs
guide, to holo plehsit iam med uno nenamim mistrust, id sensation od uno nemensc perile aluit
ambh i.

– Kad sont inter nos ed Tecuhtli ! Murmurit Techotl ye sem moment. Dehlgmos ses nastraj,
ibo nos embeuskent !
– Ma iblis ne salgmos tod palat kay gwahe ep ia strads ? Sprohg Valeria.
– Ne son' strads in Xuchotl, antwohrd is. Nia places ni dworisghehrds. Id hol citad es'
construgen kam un immense palat sun oin tect. Quo meis kwehc' kam un strad ed id Mier
 Dikhliz quod tehrt id hol urb, ex id Norddwor do id Suddwor. Ia saul dwors qua duce ei uder
mund sont ta ios urb, qua nel mensc hat uperghangen pon penkgim yars.
– Pon kamdiu weics tu her ? Sprohgit Conan.
– Gnahsim in Tecuhtli castell trigim penk yars prever.
Ho naiwo stiupt ex id urb. Bihakkillah, smad gwahe perodh in silence ! Kad ta dikhliz
pehlde med luurnd demons. Olmec expliesiet vos hol quando habsiemos ghohd' do Tecuhtli.

Ighi nakwohr ir itner in silence, ia glend ogwnpetras tweisend uper i ed id flamboyant kirmiz grund
sub ir peds. Valeria hieb id pondos od mwaungsour per ia haydiklimes, guidet ab un goblin samt
maur cuit nistern kays.

Lakin buit Conan qui stopihsit i menxu i tohr un kyal vaster quem alters. Eys auri os barbar eet
acuter quem tod os Techotl, yed exercet unte un jumiung spens katuend-ye in ta silent dikhliz.
– Mehns tu kad peinds sal-embeuske nos ?
– Aluent unte ta kyals ye cada yawmsaat, antwohrd Techotl, kam weyswo kwehrmos. Ia
dikhliz ed kyals inter Tecuhltli ed Xotalanc sont un disputen zone, quod nimen controlt. Ia
kalmos « ia Salls os Silences ». Ma eiskwte yu mi tod werd ?
– Ob son' mensci in ia kyals ant nos, antwohrd Conan. Ho aurn id clicken os stal ep petra.

Techotl krousyit ed iengh sien dents mae clackient.

– Kad sont tien prients, suggestit Valeria.

– Ne maghmos incurre tod risk, kwohs is, ghangend perodh samt un febreus agitation.

Is tour levtro ed snohg unte un dwer quod ghyahsit uni kyal pon-yod un drab dub do temos.

– Tod drab duct uni dikhliz quod ne es' beluct, ender nos ! Strisit is, taungh swoidghutts
perlend ep eyso chol. Kad teupent ter, kathalika. Kad to hol est tik un hila kay attrage nos
tetro. Bet dehlgmos tente noster chance ed spehe hant embusct in ia kyals ender. Oku,
sehkwte me !

Tem silent quem kabus, stigheer ghom ia stieupens ed ghohd ye id bors uns dikhliz tem kyehrsen
quem noct. I natup her unte un khvil, akowsiend, poskwo dub endo. Menxu i stohmbh, Valeria khiss
un kreus andhe sien omsa, kamsei exspectiet an ay bihiet birt un einscutt ye cada moment. Ploisko
ia stalen finghers os Conan qua sohr ays brakh, ia hieb neid physic perception sienen sokwis. Ies
kwohr ne meis blosko quem un cat. Id temos eet absolut. Ays hand recto gontro pritouchit id sten
ed, ex tid do tid, ia khiss un dwer sub sien finghers. Id dikhliz kwohk aunfin.

Stayg un blosk ex apter i sromihsit i. Valerias krewos krus iter iaghi ghieb tod blosk eet tod uns
dwer quod ghyahsit. Mensci hieb entret id dikhliz apter i. Kun ia fahiem to, ia stus protie semjecto
kam uno menscghalv. Tod rollit ep id grund samt un udclanghend behngos.

– Currte ! Crisch Techotl, samt un note os hysteria in sien voc, ed is elien-se in id dikhliz kam
un pleukend kabus.

Valeria khiss iter Conans hando stehme iam ed toduce iam kun se precipiteer sekwos ir guide.
Conan ne vis meis quem ia in id deusk, bet is xihsit un sorte os instincto quod infalliblihsit eys
drahsa. Aun eysa stehmen ed ducen habiet ia hurt uno mur. Se precipiteer unte id dikhliz, menxu ia
bloska os okudrahsa eegigwehme proscher i, poskwo stayg Techotl exclamit in un annem :

– En id drab ! Sehkwte me, oku ! Oku !

Conans hand gwohl ex temos, seizend Valerias runco menxu sa kwohlpit blind ep ia stieupens. Ia
khiss ia eet pwoltragen, pwolayren ub id spiraldrab, dind is Kimri slu iam ed vols ep ia stieupens,
sien aurs ed instincts maunend iom ir peinds hieb quasi navaxt i. Ed ia bloska i kwohr ne eent
quanta cia om menscpeds.

Semject bistigh ia stieupens krampend-ye, ghneihnd protie ta stieupens, bringhend un glehdjic

kreus. Conan fiss id air med un cutt sienios mier eins ed khissit sieno miecho sege semquod,
maghses krewos ed osta, pre dubes do un stieupen. Semjecto touchit eys ped, glehdjend id kamsei
habiet liten de pruswa, dind bich ed fiss id air in id temos ant iom, ed un wir emiss un gvolheul.

Ye id instant poskwo, Conan se precipitit ub id spiraldrab ed uperdrahsit un ghyanto dwer.

Valeria ed Techotl hieb udcurs iom, ed Techotlo slahsit id dwer ed puscit un perchin... id prest quod
Conan vis pon tod ios dwor quod duxit extro. Techotl vols ed drahsit unte id suabelucen dikhliz do-
yod i hieb just ghohden. Kun i upercurs id dwer quod eet ye alter bors, Conan glaz retro ed vis id
dwer stunes ed plehce sub id athime waurg ex ocolo.

Quayque Techotl remien dar tem oku ed prudent, is kwohk taiper meis confident. Is dahsit id
pondos uns wir qui hieb just arriven do un familiar stet, ye vocschaecheing em sien prients. Bet
Conan protiebud eys terror eiskwnd-ye un werd :

– Quod tar eet tod jec' contra quod ho katuet ep id drab ?

– Ies wirs os Xotalanc, antwohrd Techotl aun volge. Vos ho sayct ia dikhliz pehldent tommed.
– Ne eet un wir, brohm Conan. Eet semjec' quod rep ed eet tem srig tem glehdj quando anghen
touchet id. Mehno ho dwifisden id. El creature hat fallen retro ep iens wirs quoy
persohkweer nos, ed el soll' neicus oin unte ia spasmes os sien agonia.

Techotl oislah sien cap retro ed eys lige hieb rebihn aschlik. Is ieugit convulsive-ye sien gwayt.

– Eet el Rempend Ses ! Un monster han' bright ex ia catacombes kay el hehlpt iens ! Quel el
est exact-ye, ne gnohms, bet kathire sont i mensci el hat nict ye un hideus weidos. In id nam
os Set, spehdte ! Sei lancent el ep nies traces, nos sehkwsiet tiel ia dwors os Tecuhltli !
– To me stauneihiet, brohm Conan. Ne ho lipsen el ep ia stieupens.
– Acte oku ! Acte oku ! Brohm Techotl.

I tohr drahnd-ye un succession kyalen madhend in un glend luce, curs engwn uno mier dikhliz
poskwo bad oistahr still ant un gigantesk bronzen portal.

Techotl sieyg :

– Hams arrive' do Tecuhltli !

 III

Id folk ios cruoric weir

Techotl oistus id bronzen portal med sien peungst, dind vols yoitkwe is ghohd vide id bors ios
dikhliz.

– Hat wakyet od mensci buir gvohnen ant tod dwer, menxu i mohn ses in salvtat, iey is.
– Ma ne ghyanent id dwer ? Sprohgit Conan.
– Nos spehcent per id Ok, antwohrd Techotl. Yu pribeudte i (Is bahsit jaharer ed kiel:) Ghyan
id dwer, Xecelan ! Som ego, Techotl, con prients gwohmen ex id platu dighom trans id
forest ! Vahn' ghyane, sigwrit is ad sien allieits.
– Ke kwehrnt to oku, tun, iey Conan samt un buxianxu ton. Auro semject remples ep id dwol,
ocolo id dikhliz.

Id lige os Techotl iter spielv kam bur ed is hiemmer id dwor med staur choyks, ed sammel hul :

– Ghyante, bande imbecilen, ghyante ! El Rempend Ses apterpersnet nos !

Menxu is eetitundt ed eekikraght med plen pulmons, id miero bronzen portal ghyahsit intos aun
blosk, revelend un gwaur eko skeir unte id entrat, apter-yod eent dyohrct un roig om ghehrsznd
lances ed gver liges qua spohc i attentive-ye unte oik secundes. Dind id ek buit lift ed Techotl siz id
brakh sienen prients med un frenitic geste ed upernihsit i ocolo id soyl. Un glanez epter sien oms
just kun id dwor zaghyahsit iti revelit ad Conan id long prospect ios dikhliz ed, wardhend mulayim-
ye ep alter bors tos, un ogviskeip qual molicit salge un kyal ed quel, krampend-ye, snohg unte sien
hol longe in id dikhliz. Els hideus ed cruorpoiko cap oscillix levtro dextro. Dind id portal buit
zaghyant, perbehrgend el creature ud eys vid.

Gwaur perchins buir tracta skeir id dwor ios quadrat kyal hieb-yod i just penetren, ed id ek buit
renplacen. Id dwor hieb est concept kay resiste un siege. Quar wirs, samt long platt kays ed maur
cuit, ios sam race quem Techotl, stahr ter wakht, dorughesor ed eins kata ir hink. Embaudht in id
muro prokwem id dwor wohs un complexe ijadh speculen ed Conan tierk lit ter de id Oko quod
Techotl hieb udwekwnt. Eet concept yoitkwe ghohd bihe spohcen extro aun bihe vis per un angho
cristallsteno masgal. Ies quar guardes chohx i gospotis samt stauneihnd protiokwa, yed iskweer neid
werd, ne meis quem Techotl iens etiwohkwit de. Senter trohc tuntos samt un sakwn gwayt, kamsei
ud iom habiet est abdeht eys onos om bfugwaukania ed paur kun is hieb uperghangen id soyl.

– Gwehmte ! Spud is sienens nov prients, bet Conan spohc id dwor.

– Ed toy types quoy sohkweer nos ? Ne vahnt ies pites udschturmes id dwor ?

Techotl oiscussit sieno capo.

– Ies woid khakent nibrehge id Ornddwor. Vahn' mwaungsoue do Xotalanc, con ir rempend
demon. Gwehmte ! Vahm vos duce ant i potis os Tecuhltli.

Oino iom quar guardes ghyien id dwer witerom tod unte-yod i hieb entren, arriveer ep un dikhliz
quod, kam pleista kyals tos etage, eet belucen sammel ab ia angh luckerns ed ia gwrozdus om
tweiser ogwnpetras.

Bet nekam alter kyals i hieb ja tohrn, tod dikhliz bevisit signes os occupation. Zamtbehangs covohr
ia murs ex lamper jade, tegu kelims lyohg ep ia kirmiz dempeds, ed ia strons, benks ed coucha,
quanta ex ivor, eent bestert med satinbolghis.

Id dikhliz ensit med uno kmehto dwer, ant-yod nel straj eet walst. Aun alyo manier, Techotl ghyien
id ed penetrih sien prients un vasto sall quer trigimtia em maurcuit individus, wirs ed gwens, lyohg
nonchalant-ye ep satincovohrt cubhs. Quanti klieup ed sammel emisseer stauncries.

Vasyi wirs, ploisko oin, eent ios sam type quem Techotl. Ias gwens hieb id samo maur cuit ed ia
sam stragn okwi, bet ye un obscure ed curieus weidos, ne eent tem repulsive. Ias vohseer sandals,
golden pizdanplacks, ed cort silken ghitons protiedarn ye lendvo med jauhargjiaungsiant yeusmens.
Ir sword kays, quadrathajamat ye omshoge, eent protiedart med un argwrnten ring.

Ep uno mier ivorsedd post ep un jaden sockel throneer un wir ed un gwen qui eent subtile-ye
different ud alters. Is wir eet un olbjim, hieb un torso samt colossal dimensions ed tauromsa. Nekam
alters, is eet barbut, ed tod teug blousword berd quasi niek eys weur yeusmen. Is vohs un purpwr
silken robe quod reflegit colorschimmers ye cada eysen movs. Oiter eysen ample armeln eet
mutastrohcto tiel olan, revelend uno massive bagu samt gneubhic muscles. Id ringo quod protiedier
ia blousword fitils os eys kays eet gjiaungsiant samt tweiser joyels.

Ia gwen seddend nieb iom klieup ep sien peds ed emiss un taajub kun i gospotis entreer id kyal. Ays
okwi, passend jaldi ep Conan, stier samt chald intensitat ep Valeria. Ia eet buland ed urand, ed
dalgtos ia bellst gwen ios kyal. Ia eet dun ye dar legver weidos quem alters, vice ghi un fustan, ia
vohs un simple rectangle ex purpwr goldkmehn godwehb, pagen medsu sien yeusmen, ed quod
hieng lyt niter quem aysa genus. Un dwoter godwehb rectangle pagen za ayso yeusmen completit
tod part os ays trakh, quod ia vohsit samt un cynic indifference. Ays pizdanplacks ed id rika
keingend ays cap eent gjiaungsiant samt gemmes. Ia eet ia saul tim quant leuds quim okwi ne blig
med tod diutis os dementia. Ia sieyg neid werd pos tod presto taajub ; ia nastahsit, tenden, samt
zaghyanen hands, starnd ad Valeria.
Is wir seddend ep id ivorthron ne hieb stahn ub.

– Peurst Olmec, iey Techotlo dientownd-ye meg-ye ghem, samt ghohngen brakhs ed pams
wohrten ub, bringho allieits gwohmen ex id mund trans id forest. In id kyal os Tzecoti, id
Ardent Ghalv hat nict Chicmec, mien sokwi...
– Id Ardent Ghalv ! Murmureer samt un paurkreus i weikers os Tecuhltli.
– Yaghi ! Tun ho arriven ed trohven Chicmec lyehgend ghomi samt tohmen gurgule. Pre
ghehdiem mwaungsoue, id Ardent Ghalv hat ruschen ant me ed kun ho spohcen id, mien
sehrg hat-se transformen do glehdj ed id mozg mienen osten liquefien. Io khiek katue we
mwaungsoue, kwehre quodkwe ploisko skehpte id fatal cutt. Tun hat prohpen sa blankcuit
gwen qua hat nigvohnt id med un einscutt ; ed tun, ho viden od lit tik de oin tom kwauns os
Xotalanc, samt corpos pigen do albh ed eys cap kufyen med id druv ghalv uns brukh ios
prev ! Tod ghalv est tuntos brohc' do plur schtuks, ed is kwaun qui vohs id es' mortu !

Un indescriptible lyuto taajub ieusk in tod akhir jumla, kwohr-yei echo id wild ed stump clamor
quod lud ex ia rangs im kleustrern qui hieb gwohmt proscher iom.

– Bet skehptte ! Exclamit Techotl. Es' gohder ! Menxu tolkim con iam gwen, quar Xotalancas
hant ruscht ep nos ! Ho nicen oin... Tod vurnos ep mien bemern bevidt kam isgur buit id
katu. Ia gwen hat nicen dwo tom. Bet eems in khak stand kun so wir hat joinen id combat ed
hat fisden id ghalv ios quart ! Yaghi ! Penk kirmiz gwozda tehrbmos sehe do id
kwoinastolb !

Is kyus un ebonstolb quod stahsit apter id thron. Centens om rudh points ghohrs ep ids glat
surface... Ia aliw caps om tanghu glaughen gwozda sehta do kyehrsen dreu.

– Penk rudh gwozda po penk gwit om Xotalancas ! Exultit Techotl, ed id horrible lengvos
quod lahsit id lige im kleustrern ia buwit nemensc.
– Qui sont ti leuds ? Sprohg Olmec.

Eys voc swohn kam id stump grohm uns taurios aurn dalgtos. Nel alyis weiker os Xuchotl bahsit
honar-ye. Eet kamsei habient absorpto do id budmen iren atmens id silence tom tuichen dikhliz ed
tom desert kyals.

– Som Conan, un Kimri, antwohrd laconic-ye is barbar. Ena gwen est Valeria ios Rudh
Keiwia, un aquilonian pirate gwen. Hams desertiren un armee ep id grance os Darfar, nord
in id nord, ed peitmos nake id caust.

Ia gwen ep id takhta bahsit med un akster voc ed, in ays hast, ia werds oistus protie mutu in ayso
stohm.

– Yu naiwo ghehdsiete nake id caust ! Nimen ghehdt skape Xuchotl ! Yu mansiete unte id
reste os voster jumiung in tod urb !
– Quod mayns tu ? Brohm Conan, bringhend lengver-ye sien hand ep id hamand siens eins ed
mutastahnd yoitkwe wehse sammel face id podium ed id reste ios sall. Es tu saygend nos od
smos prisoners ?
– Ia ne hat maynen to, interposit-se Olmec. Smos vies prients. Ne darskwmos vos her
protievol. Bet baym an alya circumstances beuwnt od vos sia impossible linkwes Xuchotl.

Is glaz nin-ye Valeria ed spohc oku ghom.

– Id nam tas gwen est Tascela, iey is. Est un peurstin os Tecuhltli. Bet bihntu brighen scharab
ed mets niesims gostims. Sont aundwoi heunghernd ed strak ob id long itner han' kwohrn.

Is kyus un ivoren meja ed pos oispehcus mutu, bo aventurers sess ghom. Is Kimri eet mistreusend.
Eys gver blou okwi parchohx id kyal ed eis eins eet dayim ye prayghest. Bet is naiwo refusit Iun
invitation ad pohe ed meje. Eys okwi eerireikent kye Tascela, bet ia peurstin eegiglect sien blankcuit
sokwnia.

Techotl, qui hiebit plohcen un kumasch ambh sien vurnen bemern, se placit prokwem id meja kay
satisface ia desires em sien prients, kwecto aynd un privilege ed un honor id fact os poitte subvene
ir wans. Is inspexit id pitu ed ia scharabs bright in golden vescell, ed gus ielgo platt ed ielg scharabo
pre dehe ia ant sien gostens. Menxu mejeer, Olmec remien seddend silent-ye ep sien filkursiy,
spehcend i ex sub sien sword ed teug brovs. Tascela sess nieb iom, sieno manto dehn ep id pam
sienen hands, ed sien olans ep sien genus. Eys deusk ed enigmatic okwi blig med uno mysterieus
flamme ed naiwo likw id slanc corpos as Valeria. Apter iam, una meg bell meirka samt skeud
protiokwo wipih lent-ye un schaenziu ex strausptors.
Id pitu khaliban composeer exotic fruits negnoht ab bo mussafers, yed meg amat ei geusmen ; id
drehnk eet un rubincolor vin quod eet besonters capic.

– Yu habte gwohm' dalgos, visieyg Olmec. Ho list ia buks niesen paters. Aquilonia lyehct
trans ia gaivias im Stygians ed im Schemis, trans Argos ed Zingara ; ed Kimria lyehct trans
Aquilonia.
– Wey bo hams un vagabond temperament, antwohrd Conano neglegend-ye.
– Druve-ye daumo quosmed yu habte ghohdt uperghange id forest, declarit Olmec. In awa
diens, meg molicit ad tusent wighen se sehnde per quanta periles id perkehlt.
– Hams albatt incontren un genis cortjamb monster tem buland quem un mastodon, iey Conan
indolent-ye, regend sien bicair ad Techotl qui plehsit id med vin samt un evident plaisure,
bet pos neicus el, neti buam enwoghlet.

Id vinflasken slid ex id hand os Techotl ed criesch protiev id swol. Eys maur cuit spielv do bur.
Olmec klieup ep sien peds, keipend perfect-ye hayriene, ed un stump taajub, os yazgos au
dekhschat, lud ex ia rangs altern Tecuhltlis. Oiks fiell ep ir genus kamsei ir jambs neti ghehdient
oistehme i. Tik Tascela kwohk aurus neid. Conan spohc ambh se med un abstauniht protiokwo.

– Quod est id probleme ? Ma mante yu ter, samt hangend ghyanu ?

– Tu... has gvohnt el ogvidiv ?
– El div ? Ho gvohnt un ogvi. Ed ma ne ? Is pit guraghe nos.
– Bet ogvis son' nemerti ! Exclamit Olmec. Gvehnen' mutu, bet nel mensc hat aiwo gvohnen
un ogvi ! Id tusentwighia in ia rangs nosters atavia quod hat-se sohndt tiel Xuchotl ghohd
kwehre neid protiev i ! Ir einsa hant brohc' kam uradels ep ir squams !
– Sei tien atavs habien' mohnen de merge ir lances do ia poisonswekwsa iom Apels as
Derketa, declarit Conan, samt plen stohm, ed de dyehgwe tommed ia okwi, id muk au
qualglib' mems tos genos, habien' viden od ogvis ne son' meis nemerti quem quellibt
krewoskowp. Els carcasse lyehct in id shienrlin, meg prokwem id leizd ios forest. Sei ne me
credeihs, tuswo maghs gwahe chehxe.

Olmec oiscussit sien cap, ne ob incredulitat, sontern ob staunos.

– Ob i ogvis han' nies atav endergwohm' do Xuchotl, iey is. Ne durs tehre id plain ni gwahe
deuber do id forest trans id. Decens buir kapen ed praedden ab i monsters pre nake id urb.
– Tun ne buit vies atavia quod hat construgen Xuchotl ? Sprohg Valeria.
– Eet ja awo quan id hat arrive' do id region. Pon kamdiu id exist, hatta ids degener weikers ne
wois.
– Vies atavia gwohm ex Lac Zuad ? Iom interrogit Conan.
– Ya. Lyt meis quem penkgim yars prever, un teut em Tlazitlans hat pamrlan' contra iom roy
os Stygia. Vict in un boi, han' mwaungsoun sudtro. Erreer unte mult hevds, per prairies,
desert ed clins, ed vighohdeer do id mier forest. Eet tusent wighen, hamraht ab ir gwens ed
magvens.
In id forest hant i ogvis uperfallen i, kaydend multens ex i ; nies atavs mwaungsour ud i,
pussiret ab un extercontrol paur. I vighohd ep id plain medsu quod i dyohrc id urb Xuchotl.
I wieun ant id urb, ne deursend linkwes id plain, nocts ghi udcliengh ia hideus bloska im
monsters katuend protie mutu unte id hol forest. Levereer ad mutu un aunstop weir. Yed,
ventureer naiw ep id plain.
I urbweikers clus ir dwors ed bestrohl nies atavs med isus pon ir murs. I Tlazitlans eent
prisoners ep id plain, kamsei id circule ios forest esiet un sorte os mier wall ; ar venture do
id shienrlin habiet es' follia.
Ye tod noct, un sclav ios citad snohg secret-ye do ir waun, un wir irs wi aserng. Is hieb esen
member os un soldatengrupp fortrehcus do aventure yars prever, ed is eet tik un meryo, ed i
hieb viwohsen in id forest. I ogvis hieb praess eys quant sokwis, bet is buit kapt ed abduc' do
id citad kay gwive ter ka sclav. Eys nam eet Tolkemec. (Un flamme passit ant eys deusk
okwi kun is pronuncit tod nam, ed oiks im Tecuhltlis mutier obscenitats ed spiur.) Is promiss
ibs jenchis kem ibs ghyaniet ia dwors ios urb. Po to, is prohg tik kem i prisoners ei bihient
uperdahn.
Ye octent, is ghyien ia dwors. Ies jenchis enghulf ed cruor sru in ia dikhliz os Xuchotl. Eent
tik oik centens weikern, senst vestigen uns prevs' jabbar race. Tolkemec expliet i hieb
gwohmt eusttos meg diuper, ex awo Kosala, kun id atavia im actual weikers os Kosala hieb
arrivet ex id Sud, chassend i tienjien habitants ex ir vatan. I hieb emigret dalgtro westro ed
hieb vitrohft tod plain perambht ab forest, quod eet tun wict ab un aydokwo teut.
I perscliev senters ed entrepris construge un wir. I dugh jade, marmor, lazuward, gold,
argwrnt ed cuper ex ia clins eusti. Elephantenchurds im diedw ivor. Akape ir urb, massacreer
vasyens aydokwens sclavs. Ed ir magicians prepareer un staur brukhti kay protege id urb :
dank ir gnohsas in necromantia, toy brigh tsay do gwit i ogvis qui populeer prevst tod lust
gaivia, ed quim mustring nugwrnts i hieb retrohven in id forest. I covohr ta nugwrnts med
krewos, ed tetro wehr gwit, ed i scriscen animals ieg iter ep id ghom, kam i hieb kwohrn
quando Wakt eet yun. Bet ies brukhs kyuk un soitos quod im stabh salge id forest ed itak i
ne gwohm do id plain.
Also gwiveer unte mult secules i weikers os Xuchotl in ir urb, keulend id fertil plain hin ir
mualims aunstohg id wassila os buwes fruits eni id gordos ios citad, fruits non-planten do
ardh, sontern qua weuxe ep id contact os air. I sis tun turses ia yavias ed gwiveer stets meis
do un luxe aylakia, hin inkiepeer bihe decadent. Eet un agonisant race kun nies atavia hat
uperact id forest ed arrive' do id plain. Ir brukhs hieb mohrt ed i leuds hieb myohrst id awo
necromantia. I khiek katue, kweter med vraj au weben.
Edghi nies paters nic i weikers os Xuchotl, ploisko centen ex i qui buir uperdaht inter ia
ghesors Tolkemecs qui hieb est ir sclav ; unte mult diens ed mul' nocts ia dikhliz repercuss ia
echos iren gvolcries menxu is torturit i.
I Tlazitlans mien in tod loc. Gwiveer in pace unte sem wakt, waldhen ab iens Tecuhltli
braters ed ab Tolkemec. So wohd un dugter ios teut ed chunke is hieb ghyanen ia dwors ios
urb, ed ob gnohr pelu weidas im Xuchotlans, is regnit ep id teut con iens dwo braters quoy
hieb duct id pamrlan ed id exodus.
Unte ghi oik yars, gwiveer in pace eni id urb, kwehrnd ne maung ploisko meje, drehnke,
yehbhe ed ale ir purts. Ne eet tohrp' kules id plain, ar Tolkemec im doxit quosmed buwes ia
fruits qua weuxe ep air. Eti, id massacre im Xuchotlans hieb brohct id charmen quod mantin
i ogvis in id forest, ed ti gwohm kongcio ad mugihes ambh id urb gwehmus id noct. Id plain
bihsit rudh ob id cruor irs aunstop weir, ed tun... (Is dohnk sien dingvo medsu sien jumla,
dind lohgyit, bet Valeria ed Conan khisseer is hieb-se enderwaurgen ud sayge semjecto quod
ne habiet esen hakime aunkehlder.) Gwiveer in pace unte penk yars. Dind.... (Olmecs okwi
stier bragv-ye ay silent gweni nieb iom). Xotalanc wohd un gwen quam Tecuhltli ed is veut
Tolkemec kathalika hiebskweer. In sien follia, Tecuhltli rapsit iam ud ays mann. In druve, ia
sohkwit iom destull khalal. Tolkemec, kay balahnes Xotalanc, hohlp Tecuhltli. Xotalanc
demandit kem ays gvibh ei esiet redahn, ed is teutconcil decis id cheus dohlg bihe likwn ay
gwen. Ia chus mane con Tecuhltli. Foll ob rage, Xotalanc rekiepskwit iam jabran, ed i
partisans iom dwo braters vikatuer in id Mier Dikhliz.
Buit maung bittermenos. Cruor ambisru. Id mer rivalitat se transformit do cruorfaydh, id
cruorfaydh do ouvert weir. Ex tod cruorpoik katu emers tri factions : Tecuhltli, Xotalanc ed
Tolkemec. Ja, unte ia pace diens, ies hieb dilt id urb inter se. Tecuhltli gwivit in id
westquartier ios urb, Xotalanc in id eustdeil, ed Tolkemec ed eys familia wik prokwem id
Suddwor.
Grassab, ressentiment ed jalousia dlehr ed se transformeer do cruorgheussa, dwinghyehbhs
 ed maurdhs. Oins kun id eins eet exkardkaschen, neti eet possible retrolites ; cruor ghi
appellet cruor, ed vengence sehkwt prokwtos ia atrocitats. Tecuhltli katuit protie Xotalanc,
ed Tolkemec hohlp preter uter, dind alter, khanyend ieter faction sekwent sien interesses.
Tecuhltli ed eysi sgwohm do id quartier ios Westdwor, quer wehsmos actual-ye. Xuchotl hat
un oval forme. Id quartier Tecuhltli, quod behrt id nam siens peurst, wehst ye id westbors tos
oval. I weikers periclus vasya dwers qua yug id quartier ei reste ios citad, ploisko ein dwer
pro etage, quod eet facil defensu. Stigheer ghom do ia ghyamens qua lyehge sub id urb ed
construxeer un mur quod isolit id hol westdeil iom catacombes, quer keihnt ia nayvs im
awen Xuchotlans ed ta im Tlazitlans nict unte tod swesgven weir. Gwiveer kam in un
belagher' castell, kwehrnd sorties ed lancend raids ep ir peinds.
I weikers os Xotalanc fortifier ep ir roig id eustquartier ios urb ed Tolkemec kwohr id sam
med id quartier ios Suddwor. Id central part ios urb buit abandont ed desert. Ta tuich dikhliz
ed kyals transformeer-se do walu, un stet os perpetual terror.
Tolkemec korelit protie dwo alter clans. Is eet un menscskeip demon, meis khiter quem
Xotalanc. Is gnohsit pelu rounas ios urb is hieb naiwo revelen altrims. In ia crypts iom
catacombes, is rohv ex i mortus ir buxianxu secrets... Ia secrets iom awen roys ed jenchis,
diutos myohrst ab i degener Xuchotlans qui nies atavia hieb massacren. Bet eys hol magia
khiek hehlpe iom unte id noc' kun wey, i Tecuhltlis, udschturm eys castell, kaydend eys hol
leuds. Tolkemec de torturam unte mul' diens.

Eys voc sohnk hina bihe un caressanto murmure, ed un piern spect prohp in id budmen eysen okwi,
kamsei is revidiet trans ta quant yars un scene qui ei suw un intense plaisure.

– Ya, hams tinen iom in gwit hin is hul ed kup nehc kam is habiet kupen sien futur gvibh. Fin-
ye, wey salgih iom id torturenchamber ed iom xubh gwiv do un bodroum kay i rats
ghyanuient eys corpos menxu esiet agonisend. Is kamyieb lakin skape semkam ed se sohlk
do ia catacombes. Aundwoi ter nohc is, idghi saul wassila os salge ia catacombes qua
lyehgent sub Tecuhltli es' passe per Tecuhltli, ed naiw is emers. Eys osta buir naiwo
retrohven, ed superstitieus leuds bayna nos sigwrnt eys kabus dar hantet ia crypts, steunend
inter ia nugwrnts. Dwodem yars prever hams wey massacret Tolkemecs leuds, bet id
cruorfaydh quod oppont Tecuhltli ed Xotalanc ne interrup yed, ed id swesgven weir siet
rarze hin is senst wir ed ia sens' gwen mehrnt.
Penkgim yars pre nun hat Tecuhltli rap' Xotalancs esor. Id katel haines duret pon un
pwolsecule. Gnahsim unte tod weir. Quanti in tod kyal, ploisko Tascela, gnahr unte tod weir.
Exspectems od mehrsiemos unte tod weir.
Smos un mehrnd race, alnos kam ti Xuchotlans qui nies atavia massacrit. Kun id swesgvonia
udbrohg, eems centens in ielg faction. Hoyd, vasyi Tecuhltlis sont in tod kyal, ploisko iens
wirs quoy guarde ia quar dwers : quargim in hol. Ne gnohmos quayt Xotalancas etileikwnt,
bet mehno ne son' meg kathirer quem wey. Nel purt hat gnahn bi nos pon penkdem yars, ed
hams dyohrc' nel bim Xotalancas.
Smos dispareihnd, bet pre mehre, neicsiemos tan' menscens os Xotalanc quem i Divs nos
permittsient.

Ed, samt sien stragna flamboyant okwi, Olmec lohg diu de tod swesgven weir act in silent kyals ed
deuska galeries sub id diutis iom glend ogwnpetras, ep swols kwehkend kirmiz ab ia flammes os
hayd ed spruzen ab id dar sombrer rudho dehnend ex sect veines. In id druna tos longios gvonia, un
hol generation hieb nohct. Xotalanc hieb mohrt meg diuper, gvohnen unte un buxianxu boi levert ep
un ivordrab. Tecuhltli hieb mohrt, skohnt gwiv ab iens furiafoll Xotalancas quoy hieb kapen iom.

Aun skaue id lytst emotion, Olmec bahsit de hideus bois levern in dikhliz mers in temos, de
embeuskens ep spiraldrabs, ed de cruorpoik massacres. Samt un dar-ye rudher ed abyssaler diutis in
id budmen eysen deusk okwi, bahsit dei wirs ed gwens qui hieb esen skohnen gwiv, klombhihn ed
desmembern, de prisoners heulend sub tortures tem abominable quem hatta is barbar Kimri brohm.
Ne eet oistauneihnd an Techotl hieb tremblen ibo bihe kapt. Yed hieb is venturen exter sien quartier
kay pites nices, pussiret ab un haines meis akster quem sien paur. Olmec nabahsit, udwekwnend
sombre ed mysterieusa jects, tolkend de kyehrsen magia ed vraj kyuct ex id teug noct iom
catacombes ; mentionit stragnens creaturens invoquet pon temos kay buwes i do horrible allieits. I
Xotalancas hieb id vantage in tod xeimen, ar in id eustdeilo iom catacombes wohs ia nugwrnts iom
megst brukhs im awen Xuchotlanen, ed ir extermemoria rounas.

Valeria klu samt uno morbid fascination. Tod swesgven weiro hiebit bihn un terrible elementar force
quod pussirit inexorablement i weikers os Xuchotlo kyir fat ed perneicen. Eet ir saul raison os
gwive. I hieb gnaht in tod weir ed exspecteer nehce in tod weir. Naiwo likweer ir barricaden castell
sonst kay venture do ia Dikhliz os Silence qua strohc inter bo polis in weir, kay nices ter ed bihe
nict. Yando rikeer ex un raid con terrorfoll prisoners, au con buxianxu pruvs os ir sigh in katu.
Yando, mer-ye ne rikeer, au sub id forme om sbohrdt memsa, xubht ant id miero bronzen portal. Id
gwito tim leuds eet un irreal ed horrible coschmar ; eent segen ex id reste ios mund, kapanbohnden
kam rabost rats, massacrend mutu in id druna iom yars, snehgend ed rempend in ta dikhliz qua
naiwo belucit diewo, kay dischtukles, torture ed assassine.

Menxu Olmec bahsit, Valeria khiss Tascelas aydhchalden staren ad iam. Ia peurstin kwecto ne ieur
quo Olmec lohg. Ays wajkho, menxu senter narrit sighs au marloubias, nel-ye reflegit id gvero rage
au id demoniak exaltation qua success mutu ep ia liges altern Tecuhltlis. Weir quod eet id obsession
tim os ays clan kwohk ne importe iam. Valeria pohnd ayso srig indifference dar-ye repugnanter
quem Olmecs bare gvertat.

– Ed naiwo ghehdsiemos linkwes id citad, conclus Olmec. Nimen eelelikwit id pon penkgim
yars ploisko ti... (Iter is interrup.) Eti aun id danger skipt ab i ogvis, gwut is, wey qui
gnahsam ed crohsc in id urb, ne deursiemos linkwes id. Habmos naiwo dursen stiupes
extro. Ne swehdmos dworis ed bare diewo. No, gnahsam in Xuchotl, ed in Xuchotl
mehrsiemos.
– Gohd, antwohrd Conan, con vies permission, vahmos tente noster chance con i ogvis. Tod
weir ne nos betrehft. Sei yu plais acceptet duce nos ei Westdwor, vahmos abgwahe.

Tascela iengh sien peungsta ; ia bitolcskwit, bet Olmec interrup iam :

– Id noc' vaht gwehme. Sei yu venturet in id plain nocts, yu sessiete meg sigwra el praedd im
ogvis.
– Hams tohrt id perncti ed swohp' dworis aun vide oin, jawieb Conan.

Tascela smihsit aun joy.

– Yu niete durses linkwes Xuchotl !

Conan spohc iam samt un instinctive antogonisme ; ne iom glexit ia, sontern iam gwenu nieb iom.

– Mehno vahn' durses, antwohrd Olmec. Bet, vidte yu, Conan ed Valeria, i divs solle yeisus
vos kye nos, kay bringhes it sigh im Tecuhltlis ! Ste mercenars... Ma ne katue pro nos ?
Hams opnos in pohltos... Jauhars sont tem current in Xuchotl quem adoquins in ia strads tos
mund. Sems buir bright ab i Xuchotlans unte ir safer pon Kosala. Alya, kam ia ogwnpetras,
buir trohft in ia Eustclins. Hehlpte nos ad pernices alnos i Xotalancas ed vos dahsiemos
quanta joyels yu ghehdsiete tobehre.
– Ed yu nos hehlpsiete ad nices i ogvis ? Sprohg Valeria. Med loncs ed poisonisus, trigim
yeudmi esien' kafi kay nices vasyens laysogvis.
 – Tamam ! Antwohrd jaldi Olmec. Habmos myohrst quosmed anghen folossiet un lonc, pos
yars om corps-ad-corps combat, bet ghehdmos iter uces.
– Quod mayns tu de ? Valeria sprohgit Conan.
– Smos dwo aungrosch vagabonds, fried is samt buxianxu protiokwo. Mi est egal nices
Xotalancas au alyens.
– Yughi acceptet ? Exclamit Olmec, menxu Techotl khiek comarke sien joy.
– Ya. Ed sei yu nos deikiete nies kamer, kay ghehdmos swehpe ed ses fit cras pro id inkapem
ios massacre ?

Olmec acquiescit ed znieyc med sien hand. Techotl ed un gwen duxeer i aventurers kyun dwer
levter quem id jaden takhta, quod ghyahsit kyun dikhliz.

Valeria glaz retro ed vis Olmec, seddend ep sien thron, sieno mant ep sien cluden peungst, spehcend
i. Eys okwi blig med un stragno flamme. Tascela se seddih deuber ep sien kursiy ed murmurit
semjecto do id aur as Yasala, iam skeudlige slougu, qua hieb just cliht-se ep ays oms.

Id dikhliz ne eet tem weur quem pleista qua i hiebeer begwaht, bet id eet long. Pau pos, ia gwen
stahsit still, ghyien un dwer ed abvicit kay sines Valeria entre.

– Skehpt un minute, brohm Conan. Quer swehpo io ?

Techotl ei dixit un kamer ocolo id dikhliz, oin dwer dalger. Conan kung ed kwecto sal-objexit kun
Valeria ei smih scharir-ye ed slahsit id dwer ant eys lige. Is grumel un remarke quod ne eet tender
dia gwens in general ed ghieng perodh ocolo sekwos Techotl.

Arriven do id riche-ye meublet kamer quer vahsit upernocte, is glaz ia luckerns. Sems eent kafi
weru pro permitte uni minc wir gwahe per, oin kun id glas habiet biht brohct.

– Ma ne passent i Xotalancas passe ep ia tects kay se introduce per ia luckerns ? Sprohg is.
– Son' nebrehget, antwohrd Techotl. Eti, moliciet progredde ep ia tects. Pleista consistent
spices, coupels ed skarp simans.

Is wir dahsit alya informations de id « castell » os Tecuhltli. Kam id reste ios urb, id compris quar
nivells, quar series om salls, ed tors lud uper ia tects. Ielg nivell bohr eino nam ed i weikers
Tecuhltlis hieb hatta daht uno nam ielgi kyal, dikhliz ed drab ios urb, kam i weikers om normaler
citads dahnt uno nam irims strads ed quartiers. In Tecuhltli, ia tri etages hieb kam nams ubtos nitro
id Ornd, id Maymoun ed id Tigher, ed i kiel Serpent id deilo ye grundnivell.

– Qua est Tascela ? Sprohgit Conan. Olmecs esor ?

Techotlo krus ed ambhglaz nin-ye pre antwehrde :

– No. Ia est... Tascela ! Eet Xotalancs esor... Ia gwen quam Tecuhltli hat rapt, ed qua buit ei
origin id cruoric weir.
– Quod lehcs tu mi ? Sprohgit Conan. Sa gwen est yun ed bell. Peits tu sayge mi ia eet ja
Xotalancs esor penkgim yars prever ?
– Ya ! Kassamo ! Ia hieb ja balirh oumer kun i Tlazitlans hant arrivet ex Lac Zuad. Est ob is
roy os Stygia iam buwskwit sien samlyogh od Xotalanc ed eys brater han' pamrlanen ed
mwaungsoun do id desert. Est un brukha, qua xeiht id secret os abadic yuwent.
– Ed quo est tod secret ? Sprohgit Conan.
Techotl iter krus.

– Mae sprehg me ! Ne deurso tolke de. Es' meg pior buxianxu, hatta pro Xuchotl !

Ed, ponus un fingher ep sien lipps, is oisnohg ex id kamer.

IV

Id profume ios kyehrsen lotus

Valeria disking sien yeusmen ed pos id, sien eins dar in ids kardkasch, ep id cubh quer ia
swohpskwit. Ia kieu ia dwers eent samt perchins ed sprohgit quetro duxeer.

– Ta duce ibs contigu kamers, antwohrd ia gwen kyeusend-ye ia dwers dexter ed levter. Tod
(pfehrstend id cuperchambranle dwer quod oistahsit face id entratsdwer) ghyaht kyun
dikhliz quod duct id drab kya catacombes. Mae bayas ; neid ghehdt tib wakye her.
– Qua tolc' de baye ? Iey brenk-ye Valeria. Kamo tik woide in quod genos os bender fundaro.
No, ne volo ke swehps pod mien crovat. Ne swehdo od mi serve... ne gwens in quan' fall.
Poitts oisgwehme.

Oins kun ia buit mon in sien kamer, ia pirate traxit ia perchins vasyen dwers, giowit sien bauts ed
lyohgit ghom strehcend-ye schakhwani-ye ep sien cubh. Ia fikrit Conan keihnd in samlik position
ocolo id dikhliz, bet ayso ster vanitat iam pussirit ad sib imagine iom, samt mukadaro protiokwo,
decept ed gomret, menxu is se xubh ep sieno mon lyegher, ed un scharir smeih ornit ays lige kun ia
se preparit ad swehpe.

Noct hieb gwohmt exo. In ia dikhliz os Xuchotl, ia glend ogwnpetras bligeer kam okwi em
prehistoric cats.

Semloc in ia tors mers do temos, un noctwindo stun kam un peinwent atmen. Ningastalts
biventureer unte ia obscure passages, kam aunkrewos skadhs.

Valeria gohr unte oin schtoss ep sien cubh. In id muzlim smaragddiutis oispens ab ia ogwnpetras, ia
dyohrc un silhouette cliht uper iam. Unte oin confus instant, buit kamsei id apparition eet part ios
drehm quetos ia hieb est rohft. Ay hieb kwohken ses oiswehpend in id kamer in-yod iaghi wohs,
menxu uper iam pulsiet ed vibrit un gigantesk swordo flor, tem enorm quem id occultit id tavan. Ids
exotic profume penetrit ays hol ses, seuwnd in iam un sensual ed delicieus narc, quod eet sammel
meis ed minter quem swehpen. Ia dub do ia profumet mighels uns aunkaur felicitat kun semject
hieb touchen ays lige. Id drogh hieb kwehto tem maung-ye aysa sensations quem tod muzlim
contact ay effexit kam un gvaltic schock, protiebeudend-ye iam unte oin schtoss, in plen xeihsa os
ays ment. Tun vis ia, ne un flor samt aunmeid proportions, sontern unu maurcuit gwen qua stahsit
uper iam.

Rage ed un fauric reaction sohkweer strax. Ia gwen volsit samt un urando mov, bet pre ia habiet
ghohden mwaungsoue, Valeria stahsit ed hieb kapen iam per ays brakh. Ia bent se strubh kam un
tighrin unte oik secundes, dind se resignit kun ia khiss truden ab id superior nerce as sien duschman.
Ia pirate vrohnk ays brakh yoitkwe sa viwohs face iam, siz iam per ays mantu med sien leur hand ed
dwigh sieni prisonerin ad incontre sien spect. Eet Yasala, ia skeud slouga Tascelas.
 – Quod iblis kwohrst tu clihn uper me ? Quod dehrjs tu in tien hand ?

Ia gwena ne antwohrd, yed tentit xubhes quo ia dohrj. Valeria vrohnk iter ays brakh ed Yasala sisit
skape... uno mier exotic swordo flor ye id bors os un jadeglendo steb. Ia eet tem tanghu quem id cap
uns gwen, albatta, yed micri comparen ei exageren vision ia hieb haben de.

– Un sword lotus ! Iey Valeria inter sien dents. Id flor quos profume gehnt un deub swehpen !
Tu pits' droghe me ! Sei ne habies accidental-ye touchet mien lige med oin iom petals,
habies... Ma has tu kwohrt ? Quod acs tu ?

Yasala persistit in sien skeud mu. Exbehrnd un rughat, Valeria periwohrt iam gvalt-ye, ay dwigh
genue ed vrohnk ays brakh do ays regv.

– Bah, sons' disapo tien brakh !

Yasala stun ob gvol kun ays brakh bihsit inexorable-ye retropuls inter ays pletias, bet ka saul
antwehrd ia se contentit med scutte gvalt-ye sien cap.

– Tu genis loktong ! Scricit Valeria, retrojecend-ye iam violent-ye.

Ia gwen collapsit ghomi. Ia pirate spohc id prostren silhouette med rageplen okwi. Ia baysa ed
mehmen om Tascelas aydhchald okwi sroht in iam, sbeudend ays hol gver conservationsinstincts. Ti
leuds eent decadent ; quodlibt forme os perversitat ud i miegh bihe exspectet. Bet Valeria khiss eet
alyo ject apter to hol, sem secreto terror dar impurer quem ia adic depravations. Ia buit guraghen ab
ia paur ed repulsion qua tod curieuso citad ay inspirit. Ti leuds eent neter saun ni normal ; ia hatta
bidwoyit an buir druve-ye mensc. Follia aluit in id budmen iom okwi vasyen Tecuhltlis, ploisko ia
cruel ed aunpotem okwi Tascelas, qua arohg secrets ed mysteirs dar abyssaler quem ta os follia.

Ia spohc ub ed akowsicit. Ia dikhliz os Xuchotl eent tem silent quem kamsei habiet druve-ye liten de
uno mortu wastu. Ia glend joyels miedh id kamer in un coschmar diutis, in-yod ia okwi ias gwen
lyehgend ghomi twis stragn-ye menxu ia spohc iam. Un panique kreus iendh Valeria, chassend ia
senst vestiges os mildet ex ays lyut atmen.

– Ma has tu pit droghe me ? Murmurit ia seizend-ye iam gwen per ayso sword kaysar,
retrojecend ays cap kay merge sien specto do ia trist longpecmen okwi. Est Tascela qua te
hat yisen ?

Neid antwehrd. Valeria rughiet bitter-ye ed schamier uter gian ias gwen, dind alter. Ia cutts cliengh
in id kamer, bet Yasala sisit skape neid schikay.

– Ma ne cries tu ? Sprohg wild-ye Valeria. Bays an semanghen te aurt ? Quel bays tu ?
Tascela ? Olmec ? Conan ?

Yasala iter ne antwohrd. Ia se ahockit, spehcend sien sokaru med okwi tem buxianxu quem ta uns
basiliskios. Ays inat silence tik ieug id grassab. Valeria vols ed wul un quato stranghen ex un
prokwem behang.

– Tu genis skeud loktong ! Ieyit ia inter sien dents. Vahm rehve tien quan' vesters, te diehnes
skeir ep tod crovat ed te biches hin mi saycs quo tu kwohrst her ed quel te hat yisen !

Yasala emiss neid protest ed nel-ye resistit menxu Valeria dostrig id prest part ios tehrgen samt un
furia quod id inatia aysias kaptias eekikwehnt. Unte un khvil buit neid alyo blosk in id kamer quem
id striden ed id clacken iom tricen silken stranghs qua plieg id bare krewos. Yasala khiek move sien
solid-ye kyimen hands ed peds. Ays corpos kriemp ed krusit sub tod kyasen, ays cap wip dextro
levtro ye id tempo iom cutts. Ia dub sien dents do sien enderlipp ed un sayeto cruor bisru chunke id
kyasen ne stopit. Yed ia ne emiss oin crie.

Ia uranda stranghs ne meg bloskeer plangend-ye id kreusend corpos ias kaptias ; eet aurto tik un
stump clacken, yed cada iom stranghs likw un rudh sohlk ep id maur cuit as Yasala. Valeria inflixit
id kyasen med id hol nerce os sien brakh sakhtiht ab weirs, samt id total absence os mildet hassilen
in id druna uns gwit quer gvol ed aziyats eent cadadien, ed samt id hol cynic dayia quod tik un
gwen ghehdt bevide dia alyu gwen. Yasala payss dar meis, tant mental-ye quem physic-ye quem ia
habiet paytten sei habiet esen un wir qui habiet ghesort id bich, med quodkwe nerce.

Nu-vigih tod ster cynisme Yasalas resistence.

Un stump steun skiep ays lipps ed Valeria interrup, samt nalift brakh, chassend retro un swoidsmeu
blond fitil.

– Vahs tu ghi bahe ? Sprohg ia. Ghehdo continue ye tod tempo unte id hol noct, sei tohrpt !
– Rahimat ! Murmurit ia gwen. Vahm bahe.

Valeria segit ia stranghs qua rig ia runcs ed glesens ias gwen, ed hohlp iam ad restahe. Yasala se sis
falle ep id cubh, pwollyehgend ep un nogwo cloino, kneigvend ep uter brakh, krampend ob gvol
kun ays lumatayn cuit entrit contacto con id matrass. Ia tremblit unte sien quanta memsa.

– Vin ! Implorit ia, samt turst lipps, deikend med un rhayr-yakin hand un golden chascha post
ep un ivortable. Sine me pohe. Tib saycsiem quanto gnohskws dind.

Valeria ghens id chascha ed Yasala stieusit ub kyopev-ye kay sizes id. Ia ghens id, bohr id kye sien
lipps... dind xubh ids mathmoun do id face ias Aquilonian. Valeria vienk retro, chassend ed tiergend
id pickant liquid ex sien okwi. Per un gvolic mighel, ia vis Yasala se precipite ocolo id kyal, ayre un
perchinum in plen hast, ghyane id cuperchambranle dwer ed mwaungsoue do id bud ios dikhliz. Ia
pirate apterpersnit iam unte id sehkwnd instant, einsghesor ed gvonmenos.

Bet Yasala uddrahsit samt id nerveus agilitat uns gwen qua hat just bihn bichen ed pussiren do id
leizd ios hysteria crise. Ia disprohp apter un wangwl ios dikhliz, suaudcurrus Valeria. Kun ia pirate
tour ep sien roig, ia vis tik un tuicho dikhliz ed, ye alter bud, un dwer ghyanen kye temos. Uno
madh moff exhalit-se tetos, ed Valeria krus. Tod sollit ses id dwer quod duxit do ia catacombes.
Yasala hieb endergwohmt bayna i mortus.

Valeria stiupit perodh-ye tiel id soylo ios dwer ed dyohrc un petradrab quod dub dind jaldi enghulf
do absoluto temos. Eet okwivid-ye un perigumt quod duxit direct-ye ibs gixiaghyamens ios urb, aun
access ibs enderetages.

Ia krus mulayim-ye sehgnend-ye de ia tusents cadavern lyehgend terender in ir petracrypt, vulbht in

ir saupend kafan. Ia nel-ye iskwit ambhtaste ghom ta petrastieupens. Yasala gnohsit aundwoi ia lytst
cotlans ed kantuns tom tunnels.

Ia abgirit frustret ed furieus, kun un stupen sleuct lud ex id tenischakht. Id kwecto orgwohm ex meg
deub, yed oik werds ghohd bihe skwit, ed id voco quod swohr ia eet tod uns gwen :

– Oh, maideh ! Maideh, in id nam os Set ! Ahh !

Id voc se forswohn ed kwohk ad Valeria aure id echo os un spectral cakhin. Ia hieb anateina. Quod
hieb wakyet ad Yasala in id budmen tos teug temos ? Eet neid dwoi od iage hieb emitten tod crie.
Bet quod tar miegh ubgwehmus ay ? Kweghi aluit un Xotalanca niter ? Olmec im hieb sigwrn id
part iom catacombes quod lyohg sub Tecuhltli eet isolen ud id reste, ed od id mur eet maung pior
solid mae ir peinds ghehdient vrehne id. Eti, tod cakhin hieb druve-ye neid mensclik.

Valeria drahsit tsay ocolo id dikhliz, aun se strehnge ad zaghyane id dwer apter se. Ia ghohd tsay do
sien kamer ed puscit id perchin apter se. Ia uwit sien bauts ed comiep id yeusmen siens eins. Ia eet
suagwaukan de trehve Conan ed de urge iom, sei is eet dar gwiv, ad joine iam kay se sehnde med
einscutts ex tod demonencitad.

Bet kun ia niek id dwer quod duxit ei dikhliz, un long agoniaheul udcliengh unte ia corridors,
sohkwt ab id blosk uns effrenatios drahsa, ed id swehner behngos iom einsen.

Dwogim rudh gwozda

Dwo jenchis kihr nonchalant-ye in id sall iom guardes ios Orndetage. Ir attitude eet relaxen, menxu
eent biadet vigilant. Un attaque contra id aysen dworo remien possible, bet pon yars neuter faction
eelelancit sem protiev id duschman camp.

– I gospotis son' staur allieits, iey uter. Olmec siet marche contra i peinds cras, mehno.

Is tolkit kam un korelnd soldat habiet ghohden kwehre to. In id miniature mund os Xuchotl, ielgo
quat em jenchis eet un heir ed ia tuicha dikhliz inter ia castells eent id land ep-yod maneuvreer ia
armees in weir.

Alter mohn de tod wekwos unte un khvil.

– Suppose destrugmos Xotalanc dank ir hehlp, quod tar jinkdousiet, Xatmec ?

– Tunghi, antwohrd so, sehsiemos ein rudh gwozd pro ielg tim qui habsien' nohcen. I de
bardachens aydhsiemos gwiv, skehnsiemos ed kwetwerdeilsiemos.
– Bet poskwo ? Nabahsit alter. Oins kun habsiemos nic' vasyens ? Niet ses stragno viwehse
aun piends weightu ? Unte mien hol jumiung ho io katuet protiev i Xotalancas ed ho haisst i.
Oins kun id cruoric weir sessiet khatem, quod siet etilikwes nos ?

Xatmec plex. Eys men hieb naiwo litto trans id perneicen iren peinds. Ia khiek lites trans.

Stayg, bo wirs oistohv aurnd-ye un blosk ocolo id dwor.

– Ei dwor, Xatmec ! Stris quoter hieb wohkwn ka senter. Vahm spehce per id Ok...

Xatmec, einsghesor, glehmerih sien auro protiev id bronzen portal, se strehngend ad akowsie per id
metall. Eyso driug spohc do id specule. Is convulsive-ye sprud. Wirs waurs ocolo id dwor ;
buxianxu individus, samt sombre lige, sehrnd ir eins inter ir dents... samt finghers sehta do ir aurs.
Oin ex iens, qui vohs un ptorcovohrn kufya, hieb un assortiment om chalumeaus is enderghens
behre do sien lipps, ed menxu ies Tecuhltlis sa-crier id alerte, ia chalumeaus dugh ira strident
swons.
Id crie mohr in id gurgule ios guarde kun id stragn ed tenu motive tohr id metallic dwor ed gwohm
ad hihes eys aurs. Xatvmec knigv protiev id sten, kam petrifiet ed khakend mithes position. Eys lige
eet tod uns dreun statue, eys wajkho tod uns wir qui aurt un nukwt swon. Alter guarde, pierner,
khiss yed id horror os quo eet jinkdound, id sombre menace skipen ab id demoniak motive quod
sielgit tod chalumeau. Is kwahsit ia curieus notes dehre kam invisible finghers ia tissues os sien
kers, submergend iom med negnohn sensations ed dementia impulses. Bet unte un atmenrehftil
effort is ghohd se substrage ex id charmen quod paralysit id ed emiss un alarme crie med un voc is
ne recognih ka sieno.

Kun is oiswohr tod heul, id music se transformit do un dusbohr superacut swon quod bieur eys
aurtavans kam un khandjar. Xatmec oiscricit sub id cutt os un staygo gvol, ed raison disprohp ex
eys lige kam un kier biht blahn sgwesen ab id wind. Kam un dement, is liv akster-ye id ek, ghyien
gvalt-ye id dwor ed se precipitit do id dikhliz, swehngend sien eins pre eyso driugo ghehdiet ei
stambhes. Decen miechen iom nigvohn. Jambend eys cadaver, tem maungi Xotalancas enghulf do
id guardensall, emittend un cruorlasni heulen quod ne stopit ed se repercussit samt stragn echos.

Sien kers vankend sub id schock os quo is hieb just viden, senter guarde klieupit perodh kyant sien
hajoumers, swehngend sien weirlance. Id horror ios vraj quos weitwodd is hieb just esen eet
submergen ab id insaf od i peinds hieb just penetret Tecuhltli. Ed kun eys lance dyohgw id gventer
uns duschman, is wois neideti unghi einso skrit in un treiccruce ed bohng eys ghalv menxu follokwi
jenchis rusch ex ia nieber kyals do id guardensall.

Buir id heul iom wirs ed id behngos os stal qua klaupihr Conan ex eys cubh, perfect-ye protiebuden
ed einsghesor. Unte oin instant hieb is naken id dwer, quod id niek unte oin schtoss. Is oispohc extro
kun is vis Techotl accurre, eys okwi bleigend med un dussaun diutis.

– I Xotalancas ! Hul is med un voco quod ne hoeb maungo mensclik. Hant upermarchen id
dwor !

Conan elien-se do id dikhliz kun Valeria sielg sien kamer.

– Quod iblis wakyet ? Prokiel ia iom.

– Techotl sayct i Xotalancas hant enbrohgen, antwohrd is in plen hast. Tod kwalay kwecto
confirmet to.

Apterpersnet ab iom Tecuhltli, irrupeer do id thronsall ed wohs confronten uni scene quos horror
udgierg id delirantsto drehm om cruor ed follia. Dwogim wirs ed gwens, sword kays in id hava,
samt un albh ghalv pigen ep ir torso, comwigh i weikers Tecuhltlis. Ias gwens om bo factions katuer
tem gver-ye quem ies wirs, ed in id sall ed id dikhliz apter i strahr cadavers.

Olmec, nogwo ploisko un lendvkatan, wigh ant sien thron, ed kun bo aventurers entreer, Tascela
addrahsit ex un inner kamer, einsghesor.

Xatmec ed eyso driug hieb nohcen ; eetghi nimen kay sayge im Tecuhltlims quosmed ir peinds hieb
kamyapt entre ir citadell. Ne meis quem i ghohd woide quo hiebit pussiren ir ghieters tei demential
hajoum. Bet ia leusa im Xotalancas hieb esen importanter, ir situation desperater quem quo i
Tecuhltlis fikreer. Id mohrt es ir squamtwac allieit, id destruction ios Ardent Ghalv ed id khabar,
mohlden in eys ramak ab uno mehrnd, od mysterieus blankcuit allieits hieb joint ir peind, hieb
trohngen i do id anun om aunspehia ed gver gwaukania os nehce gvehnend-ye ir awens ghieters.

Ies Tecuhltlis, prev id inkapemschock os surprise, quod hieb swaurgen i do id thronsall, linkwnd ir
cadavers oistrahe id swol, riposteer med un tem katel furor, menxu ies guardes ex ia niter etages
arriveer heulend-ye kay rusches do id melee. Eet id katu tiel nehc em rarzend wolfs, blind,
kwehswent, zalim combat. Id schiau ios boi strohm in ed ex id dwer do id podium, miecha sciss ed
dyohgweer krewos, cruor gwohl, peds impresseer-se do id kirmiz swol quer wierdheer dar-ye
rudher padwls. Ivortables buir supiht, sedds fiss, zamtbehangs rohft ed cruorpoik. Eet id culminanto
moment uns cruorlasni pwolsecule, ed ielg present anghen khiss to.

Bet id conclusion eet nevergible. I Tecuhltlis eent amalan dwis kathirer quem ir invasors, ed tod fact
im dahsit courage, tem quem id arriven do id boi iren blankcuit allieits.

Ti se precipiteer do id melee samt id harbeffect uns hurkan mettend un brouteckenbunge. In brutto

nerce, i Tlazitlans eent nakis face iom saul Conan, ed speit sien vyige, is eet meg meis agil quem
quelkwe ex i. Is trohc per id strehtum tos oiswehrbhend masse med id swekwria ed id katel
efficience uns greis wolf medsu un meute em melez, linkwnd apter se un sohlko gastalten qui
kriemp ghomi.

Valeria katuit nieb iom, samt smeih ep sien lipps ed flamboyant okwi. Ia eet nerter quem uno
mutawassit wir, ed meg meis oku ed gver. In ays hand, ays eins bihsit un gwiv ject. Quer Conan
criesch cada oppositiono med pur nerce ed id stieure sienen cutts, brehgend ia lances, findend ia
ghalvs ed dvehrnd ia xiongbus tiel id sternum, Valeria enovrit un fehkhtfieyne quod blins ed
desconcertit ays duschmans pre ia nic i. Pelus, un jenchi qui swohng ub sien gwaur eins trohv id ak
ios miech ias pirate dyehgwnd sien collveine pre is ghehdiet plage. Conan, udbulandend id walu,
gress eni id confus masse, heihnd levtro dextro, bet Valeria trohcit kam una neseizet specter, bfuyi
mutapositionend, plagend med naked ed khar twehrelnd-ye. Einsa eelileipsent iam ; ia miecha aysen
hajoumers fiss kenos ed ies nohc, ays miecho dyehgwnd ir kerd au gurgule ed ays derisionsgleimen
do ir aurs.

I ziyan wighs enderkwit neter sexe ni condition. Ias penkwe gwens im Xotalancas lyohgeer ghom,
samt tohmt gurgule, pre Conan entrit id melee, ed kun un wir au un gwen collieb medsu i wighs, eet
semper uno kniv parat pro els aundefense coll au un sandaluwen ped kay trudes tod ghalv still ep id
swol.

Ex uter mur do alter, ex uter dwer do alter, schieusit id katuvoln, quod upertrohd tiel do ia adjacent
kyals. Mox tik i Tecuhltlis ed ir blankcuit allieits oistahr in id thronkielken. I survivers oispohc
mutu, pall ed sliep, kam bohrgen ex id Sensto Judcement au id fin ios mund. Samt mulayim-ye
ghohngen jambs, hands greipend srakut ed cruorsmeu einsa, aserng sreund ghom ira brakhs, i spohc
mutu inter ia kowps iom cadavers iren peinds ed prients. I neti hieb kafi annem pro crie, bet un
bestial ed demential heul gwohl ex ir lipps. Ne eet uno mensc triumph crie. Eet id heul unios meute
em rarzend wolfs quod oistohmbh inter ia cadavers iren victims.

Conan kiep Valerias brakhs ed volgih iam.

– Has un vurnos ep tien saur, brohm is.

Ia spohcit ghom, insafend ye id prest ker un edel gvol in ia muscles os ayso jamb. Semis mehrnd
hieb dyohgwt med id miecho sienios khandjar ka sensto geste os agonia.

– Ed tu samkwehcs un kassab, ieyit ia gleihnd-ye.

Is oiscussit sien hands, aumbernd cruor ambh se.

– Ne mieno. Oh, un grobos her ed cer. Neid besweurghend. Bet tod saur dehlc' bihe bandagen.
Olmec tohr id kelim em mortus, kwehkend kam un goul samt sien cruorpoik massive omsa ed sien
kirmizkerber sword berd. Eys okwi eent rudh, kam id inikas uns flamme ep kyehrsen flutts.

– Hams vicen ! Grokit is in un vertigo. Id cruoric weir est khatem ! I kwauns os Xotalanc han'
nohct ! Oh, quod ne dahiem kay habe un prisoner ad skehne gwiv ! Lakin est sell dyies ir
mortu liges. Dwogim mortu kwauns ! Dwogim rudh gwozda pro id sword stolb !
– Kaur petis de tien vurn' driugs, brohm Conan disvolgend-ye ud iom. Skehpt, bent, sine me
vide tod jamb.
– - Minute ! (Ia repuls iom med un impatiento geste. Id jar os combato dar blig samt id sam
intensitat in id budmen os ays atmen.) Quosmed ghehdmos wey ses yakin od hams nicen
vasyens ? Kad ti han' lancet un raid ex ir wi initiative.
– - Ne habien' divis ir forces pro talg raid, declarit Olmec oiscuttend-ye sien cap, retrehvend
lyt ex sien normal intelligence. (Aun sien purpwr robe, is kwohk minter kam un peurst quem
kam sem repugnant predator.) Enpandiem mien cap ad zanchoue od hams nicen vasyens.
Eent minter kathirer quem quo fikrim, ed solleer khissen trohngen do ir sens' limite. Bet
quosmed hant i kwohrn kay upermarche ia murs os Tecuhltli ?

Tascela stohmbh, tiergend sien eins ep sien nogwod bemern ; ia dohrj in sien alter hand un oblect ia
hieb lwon ex id cadaver ios ptorvehsend poti'm Xotalancas.

– Ia chalumeaus os follia, ieyit ia. Un jenchi mi hat sayct od Xatmec hat ghyanen ia dwers
dind bihsit nic' menxu i enghulf do id guardensall. So jenchi hieb arriven do tod sall jus'
barwak' kay vide quo jinkdousit ed aure ia sens' notes uns music qua han' glohdjt eys-pet
atmen. Mehmo od Tolkemec tolkit de ta chalumeaus, ed i Xuchotlans kassiem een'
perbohrgen semloc in ia catacombes, medsu id nugwrnt iom brukhs quoy kien ia unte ir
jumiung. Semkam hant ti kwauns ex Xotalanc trohven ia ed ucen ir secret.
– Semanghen dehlgiet gwahe Xotalanc ed vide an sont survivers, iey Conan. Gairn gwahsiem
sei semanghen acceptet guide me.

Olmec spohc jaldi i survivers os sien folk. Eent ne meis quem dwogimtia ed plurs lyohgeer ghomi
steunend-ye. Tascela eet ia saul im Tecuhltlis qua hieb nohsen aunvurnos. Ia peurstin eet aundamn
esdi ia hieb katueto tem gver-ye quem alters.

– Quel hamraht Conan tiel Xotalanc ? Sprohg Olmec.

Techotl skibhit perodh. Eys vurnos ep eys bemern hieb sohrgyen ed is hieb alyo tohma skeir ep sien
reibs.

– Ego !
– Io refuse, ei bien Conan. Nischi tu, Valeria. Tien jamb vaht mox karakhe.
– Ego gwahsiem, propos un jenchi qui zabandagit sien sciss bagu.
– Meg gohd, Yanath. Abgwah con iom Kimri. Ed tuschi Topay. (Olmec dik alyo wir quos
vurnsa eent superficial) Bet preter, hehlpte me ad ayre ti vurnens kay ghehdmos lyiges i ep
ta cubhs kay ilaje ir vurnsa.

To buit kwohrn jaldi. Menxu se clihr kay ayre un gwen qua hieb est niterplact med un wagher,
Olmecs berdo strip Topays aur. Kwohk ad Conan od is peurst murmurit semject ei jenchi, bet is
khiek ses yakin de. Oik instants serter, Topay nih sien sokwis do id bud ios dikhliz.

Conan glaz retro kun is uperghieng id soyl, spehcend tod mazbakh ed tod flamboyant swol stern
samt cadavers, ia maura cruorpoik memsa ed, creispus unte un lyut effort, ia sombre liges pact in
maska os haines, glasic okwi qua spohc ia glend ogwnpetras qua miedh id horrible scene do un
spectral ed regwosto subglendo diutis. Ies gwivs moveer inter i mortus, stehmbhend aunziel, kam in
trance. Conan ieur Olmec kale un gwenak ed wehle iam bandage Valerias jamb. Ia pirate sohkwit
iam bentu do uno nieber kyal. Ia hieb ja biskibht.

Samt megsta tadbirs, bo Tecuhltlis duxeer Conan unte id dikhliz trans id bronzen portal, tehrnd un
succession kyalen qua luc sub id glend luce. Ies vis nimen, ieur neid blosk. Pos tehrus id Mier
Galerie quod separit id norddeil ud id suddeil, buir dar meis prudent, dat ies gwohm proscher id
peindo territorium. Bet kyals ed dikhliz obkwohk tuich iri spect, ed vighohdeer do uno muzlim-ye
beluct mier galerie ; stahr still ant un bronzen portal samlik ei Ornddwor im Tecuhltlis. Pusceer
delicate-ye ia plabs, qua ghyahr aunblosko sub id pressem iren finghern. Impresst, spohceer ia
kielkens qua stahr apter, madhend in id glend luce. Nel Tecuhltli hieb entren hetro pon penkgim
yars, ploisko i prisoners qui vahr incontre ir horrible fat. Gwahe do Xotalanc eet id ultim coschmar
quod ghohd menace un mensc ios westcastell. Id terror tos eventualitat eehanteneut ira drehms pon
ir yunsto miegve. Pro Yanath et Topay, tod portal samkwohk id kankel os hayd.

Ies oistiup retro bayasen-ye, un aunnam terror in id budmen iren okwi, Conan udgress iens in id
gordos os Xotalanc.

Iom sohkweer timid-ye. Menxu bo wirs trohd uter pos alter id soyl, is ambhspohc, chehxend id
decor. Bet tik ir kwehsend ed oistridend respirations gwohm ad perturbe id silence.

Ies wohs in un vast guardensall, samkwehkend quod lyohg apter id Ornddwor Tecuhltlis. Ye id sam
weidos, un dikhliz ablit tetos, ducend uni kielken quod eet id replic ios thronsall os Olmec.

Conan glaz do id sall, ids kelims, ids coucha ed ids behangs, still, akowsiend. Is ieur neid blosk ed
ia kyals kwohk desert. Is ne mohn od etilikw un gwiv Xotalanca in Xuchotl.

– Gwehmte, muticit is elanend-ye se kyid dikhliz.

Is ne hieb ghangen meg perodh kun is vighieb od tik Yanath iom sohkwit. Is pivotit ed dyohrc
Topay qui stahsit in un horrifiet attitude, un brakho rect perodh kam kay pare sem tehrgen quod
vahsit rusches ep iom, sien okwi forstehlbend oistarnd in un hypnotic intensitat ad semjecto quod
stahsit apter un couch.

– Quod iblis... ?

Dind Conan vis tod ad quod Topay oistier ed is khiss un kreus andhe eys olbjimomsa. Uno mustring
cap forstohlb ex apter id couch, un reptilcap, tem weur quem tod uns crocodile, samt kehmb edonts
qua niek els niter ghyanu. Bet id hieng ye un abnormal weidos ed ia hideus okwi eent glasic.

Conan spohc apter id couch. Ter lyohg unis mier serpent, pact in nehc, bet un serpent kam naiwo
hieb is viden sem in id druna sienen wandern. Id thampf ed id srigos ios kyehrsen anun os ghom
emaneer ex el, ed id spalv os els twac eet indefinible, se modifiend sekwent id vidangule. Uno mier
vurnos in els coll dixit quo hieb suwen els nehc.

– Est el Rempend Ses ! Murmurit Yanath.

– Est id ject ho hacken in id drab, brohm Conan. Pos el nos hat sohkwn tiel id Ornddwor, el
hat-se sohlken hetro kay mehre. Quosmed ghohd i Xotalancas controle solg creature ?

Ies Tecuhltlis krus ed scuss ir caps.

 – Han' dughen el ex ia kyehrsen tunnels qua lyehge ender ia catacombes. Hant aunstohc'
secrets negnohn ab i Tecuhltlis.
– Zowngschie es' mortu, ed sei esient alyi, habient bright i con se kun hant attaquen Tecuhltli.
Gwehmte !

Iom apterpersneer menxu is gress unte id dikhliz ed puscit id argwrntsmilen dwer ye alter bors.

– Sei trehvmos nimen ye tod etage, iey is, steighsiemos ghom do ia niter etages. Siemos
explore Xotalanc ex krov do catacombes. Sei Xotalanc samkwehct Tecuhltli, vasya kyals ed
dikhliz tos nivell sessien' belucen... Iblis !

Ies hieb just penetren id vasto thronkielken, quod eet amalan id replic tos os Tecuhltli. Id sam
aschabak podium, ia sam filkursiys, ia sam coucha, kelims ed behangs ep ia murs. Ye, eet neid neid
rudhghirsto swordo stolb apter id uperalen thron, yed ne mienk ia pruvs ios longios cruoric katu.

Ardeht engwn ia murs apter id takhta, lyohg roigs om gjias protegen med schibs. Ed ep ta, centens
om menscencaps, perfect-ye conservet, spohc iens abstaunihn visitors med ir aunwajkha liges, ed
tik i divs wois pon kamdiu eespehcneunt it.

Topay emiss un stupt rughat, bet Yanath remien silent ed id dementia diutis in id budmen eysen
okwi. Conan brovit, woidend od id raison iom Tlazitlans sa-brohg.

Stayg, Yanath pfohrst med un tremblant fingher ia buxianxu reliquia.

– Est id cap miens brater ! Murmurit is. Ed ter, tod ios yuner brater miens pater ! Ed ter, tod
ios veuter brater as mien swester !

Is tun bisluct, plangend aun dakrus ; kaurd ed swehner sleucts qua scuss eys hol carcasse. Is ne lu
sien okwi ud ia caps. Eysa sleucts bihr superacut ed se transformeer do un terrifiant gleimen, quod
ep sien roig bihsit un dusbohr heul. Yanath hiebit bihn alnos foll.

Conan dehsit uter hand ep eys oms ed, kamsei tod mer contact habiet lurn id hol furor arct eni eys
atmen, Yanath hul ed vols akster-ye, plagend iom Kimri med sien eins. Conan parit id cutt ed Topay
tentit immobilise id brakh os Yanath. Bet is dement vergihsit id ed, samt spoimend lipps, sehsit
sieno miecho deubsto do Topays corpos. Senter collapsit emittend-ye un steun, ed Yanath pivotit ep
seswo unte oik instants, kam un foll darwisch. Dind is precipitit-se kya gjias ed plieg ia schibs med
sieno miecho heulend-ye blasphemies.

Conan klieup kyom aptos, peitend-ye iom surprindes udstraj ed desarme iom, bet is dement vols ed
rusch kyom, heulend kam un azapt atmen. Ghabend is jenchi hiebit bihn alnos foll, is Kimri stiup
gontro ed menxu is dement rusch pri iom, is sehsit sieno miech per tos oms ed torso. Is wir collapsit
ghom, prokwem sien agonisant victim.

Conan se clihsit uper Topay, vidend is wir sal-ann sien ramak. Eet inutil pites oistankes id cruorflutt
quod dohn ex id horrible vurnos.

– Sa-nehcs, Topay, brohm Conan. Has tu un senstwerd ad transmitte tienims ?

– Clihne te lyt prokwem, kwohs Topay.

Conan dostrig tod vansch... ed oin instant serter siz is id runc ios wir menxu so tentit dyehgwe eyso
xiongbu med sien daga.
 – Crom ! Rughiet Conan. Has tuschi biht foll ?
– Olmec hat wohl' me to ! Kwohs is mehrnd. Ne woidim ma. Kun ieyram i vurnens kay lyiges
i ep ia cubhs, is mi hat murmuret ke te nehciem kun reikiemos kye Tecuhtli...

Ed samt id nam siens clan ep sien lipps nohc Topay.

Conan brovit kun is iom spohc, desconcerten. Tod hol storia ei kwohk delirant. Hieb isschi Olmec
follascen ? Eent i Tecuhltlis dar foller quem quo is mohn ? Plectus, is retohr id dikhliz ed trans id
bronzen dwor, linkwnd apter se ia cadavers iom Tecuhltlis quoy lyohg sub ia mortu okwi iren
nityen.

Conan wienit nel guide kay retrehve id itner unte id labyrinth quod ies hieb kwohrt kay gwehme.
Eyso yeamban instinct ei permiss oriente-se aun probleme. Is iendh ia dikhliz samt tem maung
tadbir, einsghesor, parchehxend lyut-ye ielg kantun ed cotlan, sienghi prever allieits mistrus is
tuntos, ne i kabus im mortu Xotalancas.

Is hieb just gwaht unte id Mier Galerie ed ghieng perodh in ia kyals ocolo tod kun is ieur id blosk os
semjecto quod trohc ant iom... Semjecto quod kwohs ed suffoquit, stehmbhend samt stragna bloska,
kamsei titubiet ed tundiet protie ia murs. Oin instant serter, Conan dyohrc un wir qui rep kyom ep id
flamboyant swol.... Un wir qui progress linkwnd apter se un weru cruoric sohlk ep id kirmiz grund.
Eet Techotl ed eys okwi inkiep ja bihe glasic ; ex un deub arus in eyso xiongbu dohn regular-ye un
cruorflutt inter eysa sohrt finghers. Is hohlp se med sien alter hand kay se sehlke perodh ep id swol.

– Conan, scricit is in un stupen sleuct. Conan ! Olmec hat kapen iam gehlbkays gwen !
– Itak hat is wohlen Topay nices me ! Muticit Conan, ponend uter genu nieb iom wir (Eys
experimenten ok manthih iom od is eet mehrnd.) Olmec ne eet tem foll quem io mohn.

Ia ambhtastend finghers os Techotl siz id brakh os Conan. In id druna ios srigios gwit, aun liubh ed
fin-ye alnos horrible ios Tecuhltli, eys admiration ed affection pro i intrusens ex id exomund hieb
skipt un oasis os menscwierme, hieb yuct iom uni naturaler menscgenos, quod eet complete-ye
absent ud eys samliks, quim emotions limiteer-se ad haines, envie ed uni sadiste crueltat.

– Ho stabhskwn iom, gnur Techotl, un cruorspoim salgend sien lipps. Bet is hat upergihn me.
Is mohn gvehnus me, bet ho abrept. Ah Set, kam dalgtro ho io repen in mien wi sehrg!War
Conan ! Kad Olmec volt embuskes te ep tien reiken ! Neic Olmec ! Est un gver. Ghend
Valeria con te ed feucte ! Mae bayte tehre id forest. Olmec ed Tascela han' lugh' dei ogvis.
Han' nicen mutu yars prever ed vasyi han' mohr' ploisko el nert ex i. Est ne meis quem oin
ogvi pon douzen yaren. Sei yu habte nicen el, yu neti habte semjec' baytu in id forest. El eet
el div quel Olmec dyin, qui al mieul menscsacrifices, i yunstens ed veutstens ex nos,
diemmen ed xubhen exter ia murs ios citad. Ag oku ! Olmec hat abduc' Valeria do id
kamer....

Eys cap sohnk ed is mohrit pre id touchit id swol.

Conan klieup ub ed eys okwi eent kam geuls. Eno-sim ieg Olmec, pos folossievs sien allieits kay
pernices sien peinds ! Is habiet tohrpt aume od solg ject bihsit spohnt in id budmen ios kers tos
swordberdios degener.

Is Kimri abspohd bogaturic-ye kye Tecuhltli. Is vohrt jaldi id numer sienen prever allieits. Eent tik
dwogimoin, pati Olmec, qui hieb surviven id terrible boi in id thronkielken. Tri alyi hieb nohct
entrim, quoghi likwit septdem ranwet ghieters. In sien rage, Conan khiss ghehdend drehde id holo
clan ed nices vasyens.

Bet id ignahn hila quod est id apanage im creatures gwivend exter civilisation uperwohnd eys blind
furor. Is mohm ia werds os Techotl qui mieun iom de un embusk. Meis quem shayad hieb is peurst
it prekaurt, agar Topay deuysiet dostringes eys wehlen. Olmec exspectit meg aweis is reikiet unte id
itner is hieb kwohrt kay gwahe Xotalanc.

Conan spohc ub kyun luckern sub-yod is prighieng ed dyohrc id kohldern tweisen iom stars. Ne
hiebeer bad bipallasct prosch id octent. Ia noctwakyas hieb jinkdoun unte uno nisbatan cort sunyin.
Is abvic ud id directst itner ed oistighit ghom un spiraldrab pre arrive ei niter nivell. Is ne wois quer
stahsit id portal quod permiss entre id castell ye tod etage, bet is gnohsit is ghehdiet trehve id.
Punor, is wois quosmed is ghehdiet dwinghes ia perchins ; is mohn vasya dwers Tecuhltlis esient
andamen, maghses tik oin pwolsecule om adets. Bet eet neid alyo kwehrtu quem tente sien chance.

Einsghesor, is meg spohd perodh ed aunblosk in uno meirong om kyals ed dikhliz, ein pos ein
belucen we mergen in temos. Is ghieb is eet meg perodh Tecuhltli, kun un blosk iom brigh stayg ad
oistahe still. Is recognihsit id pro quo id eet : unis mensc tentend emitte un crie menxu el eet
stohmstuppen. To gwohm ex semloc ant iom, levter quem is. In ia kyals mers in un silence os
mohrt, id lytst blosko ghohd bihe aurn dalgtos.

Conan tour ed gwahsit kyid blosk, quod continuit se repetihes. Pau pos, is oispohc per un dwer ed
aunstohg un curieuso spectacle. Medsu id kyal wohs un desbulando metallic structure, quod
samkwohk un strehcbenk. Un gigantesk gastalt eet immobilisen ep id. Els cap lyohg ep uno
menghia om isern aks quom borsa eent ja rudht quer ia hieb transbaurt id scalp. Un sorte os khath
rig els cap, yoitkwe id lietern koriga ne protexit id ud ia aks. Tod khath eet ye sien roigo yugen med
un catnel uni mecanisme quod oistohm un enorm isern ball quod hieng uper id weulost torso ios
prisoner. Tan is wir ghehdiet remane still, id isern ball ne moviet. Bet ielgs kun ia gvols infligen ab
ia isern aks livih iom eys cap, id enorm isern ball stighit ghom unte oik incha. Ia gvolend muscles
ios coll ios victim neti proe-tehlient eys cap in un tem abnormal position, ed is siniet id retrofalle id
ep ia aks. Okwivid-ye vitreudiet iom id isern ball, ed iom mehliet lent-ye, inexorable-ye. Is victim
eet stohmstuppen, uper tod stohmstupp eys mier gwowin okwi rolleer gver-ye kyom wir qui stahsit
ep id soylo ios kayl ed natieyc ob hayriene.

Is wir ep id strehcbenk eet Olmec, peurst os Tecuhltli.

 VI

Tascelas okwi

– Ma has tu brigh' me do tod kamer kay bandage mien jamb ? Sprohg Valeria. Kwe ne habies
maghen tem suakwehre to in id thronkielken ?

Ia sess ep un cubh, sien vurnen jamb regen perodh, ed Tecuhltli hieb just bandaget id med un
kumasch. Id cruorrudhen eins as Valeria lyohg nieb iam, ep id cubh.

Ia brovit kun ia bahsit. Ia gwen hieb tyict sien tasko silent-ye ed efficient-ye, bet Valeria kiemit
neter kam ays teuneg finghers kung ep ays corpos kam in un caresse, ni id wajkh in ays okwi.

– Hant tobohrt id reste im vurnens do alter kamers, antwohrd ia gwena med id tawrlien voc
iam tecuhltli stern, quod lakin reflegit neid swiedhe ni natural karam (pau wakt prever,
Valeria hieb viden tam sam gwen dyehgwe med sien khandjar id pizdan uns peindin ed
rehve ia okwi uns vurnt). Eti, gwut ia, vahnt tobehre ia cadavers do ia catacombes, ib ir
kabus antsalge ed mane kat hante ia kyals.
– Credeihs tu in kabus ? Iam sprohg Valeria.
– Woidim od is kabus os Tolkemec hantet ia catacombes, antwohrd ia kreusend-ye. Ho viden
iam, oins, menxu io skulk inter ia osta uns mortu rayn. Hant swohbhen pri me sub id forme
uns kwitberd geront, samt leikend kays ed gwayder okwi, bleigend in id temos. Eet druve-ye
Tolkemec : io hieb viden iom oins gwiv, quan eem magv, menxu is bihsit torturen. (Ays voc
schrohnk do uno mer pauric murmure) Olmec gleiht, bet woidim od is kabus os Tolkemec
hantet ia catacombes ! Saygent nu-ghyanuent i rats id krewos tim qui hant jus' mohrn... bet
kabus weuxe ep krewos. Quel woid od...

Ia spohc jaldi ub dat un skadh hieb fallt skeir ep id cubh. Valeria spohc ub ep sien roig ed vis Olmec
qui glexit iam. Is peurst hieb abdehn id cruor ud sien hands, berd ed torso ; bet is ne hieb endun sien
robe, ed eys buland corpos samt maur cuit ed memsa kyunggiiew id pondos os bestial nerce quod
emanit ex eys person. Eys sword ed deub okwi ieydh med un dar elementarer jar, ed eys finghers
trembleer menxu ia protietrieg eys teug swordblou berd.

Is oistier ay gwenak ed sa stahsit ub ed snohg ex id kamer. Kun ia uperghieng id soyl, ia glaz epter
sien oms kye Valeria med un spect pleno med cynic derision ed un obscene goilen.

– Ia ne hat suawohrgen, critiquit is peurst, gwehmend proscher id cubh ed se clihnend kyid

bandage. Sine me vide...

Samt un stauneihnd syrat pro un wir siens corpulence, is siz id einso ias gwenak ed xubh id ocolo id
kyal. Eyso sehkwndo geste buit ghende Valeria do sien olbjimbrakhs.

Tem oku ed staygo quem hieb esen eyso geste, ia buit quasi tem kshiuu ; menxu is lambh iam, ays
long khandjar eet in ays hand ed ei bir un katel cutt kyid gurgule. Meis per chance quem per dexia,
is kiep ays runc ed un terrible katu stiert. Ia wigh iom med sien peungsta, sien peds, sien genus, sien
dents ed sien onkha, med id hol nerce os sien schungjin corpos, ed med id hol kerdos ios corps-ad-
corps combat hassilen unte sien yars om wander ed bois landi kam mari. Bet to hol dieughit ka neid
face id brutal nerce os ays duschman.

Leusus sieno miech yant in-kap id katu, ia wohs khakend inflige quodgvonc apokwiti sieni
gigantesk ghieter.
Id flamme in id budmen iom stragn okwi Olmecs ne alterit-se ed ir wajkho, decuplen ab id spoctic
smeih quod kwohk ficten ep eys barbut lipps, plehsit Valeria med rage. Ta okwi ed smeih
mathmouneer id hol enderlyehgend cruel cynisme os un sophisticat ed degener race ed, ye id prest
ker siens gwit, Valeria wois quo eet baye un wir. Eet kam vrikstes protiev un irresistible elementar
force ; ia isern brakhs uperdohl ays quant efforts samt un facilitat quod yis panique wands per ays
quanta memsa. Is kwohk rhayr-kheissas quanta gvols ia ghohd ei inflige. Is reieg ye tik oino
moment, kun ia sehsit wild-ye sien kwita dents do eys runc, hina sreuihes cruor.

Ed eys reaction buit ay bires un staur schamar ep id gian, gwehlihes stars ant ays okwi ed yeisend
ays cap ad hurtes ays oms.

Ays camiss hieb esen dohrn unte id katu ed samt un cynic crueltat ghnihsit is sien teug berd ep ays
nogwo pizdano, prehpeihnd cruorsohlks ep ays clar cuit ed rehvend ex iam un crie om gvol ed
outragegrassab. Ays convulsive resistence eet inutil ; ia buit tackeln gvalt-ye ep id cubh, desarmen
ed kwehsend, ed ays okwi spohc ub kyom, aydhchald kam ta uns kapanen tighrin.

Oin instant serter sielg is precipitation-ye id kyal, behrnd iam in sien brakhs. Ia nel-ye resistit, bet id
diutis quod gluhsit in id budmen aysen okwi dik ia eet dar invicen, bariem moral-ye. Ia hieb emitten
neid crie. Ia wois od Conano ne eet ye kalschaecheing ed ay ne enfiell an quelgvonc in Tecuhltli
deursiet diwides sien peurst. Bet ia kieusit od Olmec stohmbhit nin-ye, clihnend sien cap kamsei is
akowsiciet ye id lyogher uns eventual signe os persehkwen, ed is ne gwahsit kyid thronkielken. Dar
dehrjend iam gwenak inter sien brakhs, is uperghieng id dwer witerom tod unte-yod is hieb arrivet,
tohr un dwot kyal dind perodh unte un dikhliz. Tuntos persuas is biey an semanghen diweidiet tod
rapt, ia slah sien cap retro ed hul honarst-ye.

Ia buit mizdt med un schamar quod pwol-niterplieg iam, ed Olmec spohd, pwoldrahnd-ye.

Bet ays crie hieb daken un echo ed, xyangend gontro, Valeria, in id seuy om dakrus ed stars quod
pwolblins iam, vis Techotl biskimbhes apter i.

Olmec abgir emittend-ye un brohm. Is passit iam gwenak sub uter brakh ed it dehsit iam in un tem
incomfortable quem indecent menxu ia kriemp ed se strubh in vain kam una magv.

– Olmec ! Protestit Techotl. Ne maghs ses talg kwaun hina durses kwehre to ! Est Conans
gwen ! Nos hat hohlpen ad nices i Xotalancas ed....

Aun werd, Olmec iengh sien dar leur hand ed plieg iom vurnt jenchi med sien gigantesk peungst,
yeisend iom rolle ghomtro, inconscient. Is clih-se, nel-ye impedihn ab ia rughats ed ia kaphkalcs
siens kaptias, exkardkiesch id miech os Techotl ed dyohgw id xiongbu ios jenchi med id khandjar.
Dind is toxubh id weben ed fougyit unte id dikhliz. Is ne dyohrc id maur lige uns gwen qua observit
iom discret-ye ex apter un behang. Id lige disprohp ed pau poskwo Techotl oistun ed sroht, pre stahe
ub confus-ye ed abtitube, kalend Conan.

Olmec gwahsit tiel id bors ios dikhliz ed oistighit ghom un ivoren spiraldrab. Is ih dind unte plur
dikhliz ed vistopit in un vast kyal quos quanta dwers ploisko oin eent perbohrgen apter gwaur
behangs : un gwaur aysen dwor samlik ei Ornddwor ios uber etage.

Pfehrstend id, is khiek sib stambhes sayge, in un stump grohm :

– Tod est oin iom dwors qua duce ex Tecuhltli. Ye id prest ker pon penkgim yars, ne es'
guarden. Neti tehrbmos guarde id taiper, ar Xotalanc bayght id prev.
– Dank Conan ed me, tu murdar cruorlasni brute ! Rughiet Valeria, tremblend ob rage ed
 scham de ses tem achiz. Lughav kwaun ! Conan tehmsiet tien gurgule ob to !

Olmec ne sib dahsit id difficultato de sayge ay is mohn od Conans wi gurgule hieb ja biht tohmt,
sekwent quo is hiebit berult ye khafi voc. Is eet pior meg cynic pro se interesse semquayt ad quo ia
mieyn we credih. Eys embras okwi periglexeer iam, keugend ardent-ye ep ia genereus plieutes os
blank ed darmo krewos quer ays camiss ed ghiton hieb esen rohven unte id katu.

– Myehrs Conan, iey is med un teug voc. Olmec est is swamen os Xuchotl. Xotalanc neti
exist. Neti sessient katus. Siemos passe id reste os nies gwit ad drehnke ed yehbhe. Smad
preter drehnke !

Is sess ghom ep un ivortable ed attraxit iam ep eys grem, kam uno maurcuit satyr dehrjend un
blanku nymphe in sien brakhs. Ignorend ays rughats qua nel-ye swohn kam ia lafza una nymphe
habiet maghen swehre, is reduxit iam do achizia passend-ye uter miero brakh ambh ays lendvo
menxu rexit alter kyid bors ios table ed lambh un flasken vin.

– Drehnk ! Iam wohl is, behrnd id flasken sienims lipps menxu ia kriemp ed diswohrt sien
cap.

Id liquid sikw, pickend ays lipps ed aspergend ays nogwo pizdano.

– Tien gosta ne kamt tien vin, Olmec, iey un srig ed sardonic voc.

Olmec stohv ed un paurdiutis gnahsit in id budmen eysen enflammen okwi. Is wohrt lent-ye sien
gwaur cap ed vispohc Tascela, qua stahsit neglegent-ye in id roup oinios iom behangdwers, uter
hand ep sien urand cloin. Valeria kriemp, se strehngend ad se rehve ex id stalen strineg ed, kun ayso
spect incontrit Tascelas aydhchald okwi, un kreus iendh ayso spina. Nov experiences submers
Valerias mynder atmen ye tod noct. Ia hieb meg nuper ucen baye un wir, ed ia wois tuntos quo eet
baye un gwen.

Olmec na-sess still, ed un aschlik palloro prohp ep eys maur cuit. Tascela salgih sien alter hand ex
apter se, deikend uno smulko golden flasken.

– Ioghi biey ia ne kamt tien vin, Olmec, snurd ia peurstin, itak ho brighen lyt ex mieno, tod io
hieb brighen meg diuper ex ia oupers os lac Zuad... Ghaps quo mayno, Olmec ?

Transpirationspaks prohp brusk-ye ep id chol os Olmec. Eys muscles distenseer-se. Valeria se rohv
ex sien strineg ed dehsit id table inter iom ed se. Bet esdi raison ay porunc se precipite ex tod kyal,
un fascination quod ia khiek sib explie manih iam, still, ad observe id scene.

Tascela gwohm perodh kyom peurst, qui hieb remant sess, med un urand ed weundelnd gwayt, quod
eet ja un goilen in se. Ays voc eet swadh, sneurdend, caressant, bet ays okwi twis. Ays teuneg
finghers lik mulayim-ye ep eys berd.

– Es egoiste, Olmec, ieyit ia med un langoreus voc, ed sammel smih. Gwupskwist tien bell
gostu pro te saul, hatta menxu tu suawwoisst od entretinskwim iam. Has grave-ye prilipst,
Olmec !

Id mask pohd unte oin schtoss ; ays okwi illumineer-se, ays lige kriemp ed, bevidend un incredible
nerce, ays hando zaghyahsit convulsive-ye ep id berd ios peurst ed rohv tetos un plen quat om
drighs. Tod demonstration os supernatural force ne eet terrifianter quem id fugitive revelation ios
demoniak furor quod gluhsit sub ays impassible apparence.
Olmec stahsit ub emittend-ye un baub ed biwip-se kam un urx, sien staur hands gneubhend ed
disgneubhend.

– Tu murdar pacharva ! Iey is med un balmlik voco quod plehsit id kyal. Brukha ! Diablin !
Tecuhltli habiet dohlgen nices te penkgim yars prever ! Abgwah tetos ! Ho tohl' pior jects ob
te ! Sa blankcuit kweil est miena ! Abgwah pre te neico !

Ia peurstin iliey ed xubh do eys lige eys cruorpoik berddrighs. Ays gleimen eet kaurder quem id
swon os silex plagend stal.

– Ne has semper saygen to, Olmec, nieydit ia iom. Prevst, quan ees yun, mi sieycs'
liubhwerds. Ya, me has liubhen prevst, yars prever, ed ob me liubhst, has swohpt in mien
brakhs sub id enchantet lotus... placend it inter mien hands ia zangirs qua te buw mien sclav.
Woidst od ghehds neid protie me. Woidst od tik tehrbo spehce do tien okwi, med id mystic
magh un stygian pryster mi docit meg diuper, ed tun bihsies reducen do achizia. Mehms tod
noct, menxu id sword lotus wundel uper nos aun od neid terran brise sreht id ; tu neus iter
exhale-se ed swehbhe hol perambh teia profumes qua ne sont tos terra ed qua te beuwnt un
sclav. Khacs diwides me.
Es mien sclav kam buist ye tod noct... ed kam sessies tando gwivsies, Olmec os Xuchotl !

Ays voc hieb minct hina bihe uno murmure samlik ibs wands qua rauge id surface os un sreumen in
id temos os un starbeluct noct. Ia se glehmerih protie iom peurst ed extensit sien long finghers ep id
gigant xiongbu. Senters okwi bihr glasic ed eys mier hands nifiell moll-ye engwn eys corpos.

Samt uno smeih os cruel malice, Tascela liv id flasken ed bohr id do Olmecs lipps.

– Pohdi !

Is peurst obedih machinal-ye. Eys okwi retrohv instantan-ye ir normal aspect ed buir submersa
sammel ab furor, id ghaben ios situation ed un terrible paur. Is ghyien plaut-ye sien stohm, bet neid
swon sielg id. Unte oik secundes, is vienk ep jambs qua neti stohm iom, dind collapsit ghomtro kam
uno masse.

Eys fall rohvit Valeria ex ays narc. Ia vols ed klieup kyid dwer, bet med uno mov newirtic uns
panther. Tascela se hieb interposen. Valeria plieg iam med sien clus peungst, dehnd sien hol nerce
do tod choyko quod habiet niterplagen un wir. Bet med un urando torsion siens torso, Tascela
exclihsit ed siz id runc ias pirate. Oin instant serter, Valerias levter hand bihsit kapt kathalika.
Dehrjend bo runcs med oiter hand, Tascela diemm ia sakwn-ye med un seilo ia traxit ex sien
yeusmen. Valeria mohn ia hieb ja subihn honoct vasya kwehndet humilations, bet id scham ia hiebit
spruven kun Olmec dusmuamalit iam eent neid comparen ibs sensations qua scuss ays hol corpos.
Valeria hieb esto semper pron ad honne tans os sien sexe ; ed iam uperkwohlm wehse confronten
uni gwen qua ghohd belikes iam kamsei ia habiet esen nia meis quem una magv. Ia amalan nel-ye
resistit kun Tascela ay dwigh sedde ep un stul dind, tragend ays bohndt runcs tiel inter ays genus,
dieh ia ei kursiy.

Jambend nonchalant-ye id corpos Olmecs, Tascela stiupit perodh-ye tiel id aysen dwer, liv id
perchin ed ghyien id unte oin schtoss, revelend id dikhliz trans id.

– Tod dikhliz, kauih ia, wehkwnd sien kaptu ye id prest ker, duxit uni kyal quod dieugh prevs'
ka torture sall. Kun hams oisgwohmen do Tecuhltli, hams tobohrn con nos pleist
instruments, bet eet un apparat quod eet pior gwaur pro bihe desplacen. Es' dar wehrgmon.
Mehno id vaht obkwehke meg util taiper.
Un flamme om terror ed ghaben lahsit Olmecs okwi. Tascela stiup iter perodh kyom, clih-se ed siz
eys kays.

– Is est tik zanchey-ye srom, kieusit ia aun emotion. Is ghehdt aure, mehne, khisses... Ya,
ghehdt eti meg suakhisses !

Ed pos tod buxianxu observation, ia stiup iter kyid dwer, tragend id gigant carcasse samt un facilitat
quod distarih iam pirate. Ia uperghieng id soylo ios dwer ed gwahsit do id kyal aun id lytst keungen,
disprehpend pau poskwo con sien prisoner do un dwoter sall, ed quer udcliengh dind un isern
clicken.

Valeria hieb uno pnigen rughat ed protietraxit in vain sien seils, ghehngend sien jambs ep id stul. Ia
seils qua bohnd iam eent meg pior resistant.

Pau pos, Tascela rik saul ; apter iam uno pnigen brohm lud ex id kyal ye alter bors. Ia clus id dwer
apter se aun perchine id. Tascela ne eet un creature om adets, tem quem ia eet meg dalg ud mensc
emotions ed instincts.

Valeria na-sessit silent, spehcend iam gwen inter-yas ghesors, ia ghieb, ays meinyun kih.

Tascela siz aysa gehlb fitils ed ay dwigh slahmes ays cap retro, nispehcend ays lige impersonal-ye.
Bet id diutis in id budmen aysen okwi eet holo ploisko impersonal.

– Te ho chusen pro un megil honor, ieyit ia. Vahs restaure Tascelas yuwent. Oh, tod spehcs !
Mien physic apparence est tod os yuwent, bet kheisso ja id srigos os geros bisrues adriug-ye
in mien veines, kam ho ja khissen id tusents. Som veut, tem veut quem ne mehmo mien
miegve. Bet bium un gwenak prevst. Un peurst os Stygia se enliubh de me ed mi dahsit id
secret om nemerto ed aiwic yuwent. Is mohr pau pos... sems clameer is hieb es' poisont. Bet
io mien in mien palat ep ia krants os lac Zuad, ed ia passend yars ne me affeceer. Dind bad
un peurst os Stygia me wohn ed mien popule pamrlien ed me tonih do cid land. Olmec me
hat kalt « peurstin ». Ho neid royal aserng. Som meger quem un peurstin. Som Tascela, quas
yuwent vaht bihe restauret ab tien wi yuwent.

Valerias dingvo glohmer protiev ayso geusmen. Ia khiss eet ter un mysteir dar sombrer quem id
perversion quod ia hieb exspectet.

Ia buland gwen lu ia runcs ias Aquilonian ed iam stauih. Ne id paur ios uber physic nerce ias
peurstin reduxit Valeria do id stand as tremblant ed achiz kaptu inter ays ghesors. Nu-eent ia
aydhchald, magnetic ed terrifiant okwi as Tascela.
 VII

Is qui gwehmt ex temos

– Ke bihm changet do Kushi ! Exclamit Conan spehcend-ye iom wir ep id strehcbenk. Quod
iblis kwehrs tu ep tod jihase ?

Incoherent swons lud, pnict ab id stohmstupp. Conan clih-se ed rohv id, seuwnd un paurmugeihsa
ud iom prisoner, todghi geste hiebit brusk-ye stighihn ghom id isern ball, quod eet tuntos amalan ye
id nivell os eys weur xiongbu.

– War, pro Sets liubh ! Iom iltijit Olmec

– Ed ma to ? Credeihs kauro de quo maght tib wakye ? Habiem tik kam' habe id wakt os mane
her ed os vide tod metallkowp grehnde tien schkembeh. Bet dehlgo spehde. Quer es'
Valeria ?
– Leur me ! Iom urs Olmec. Tib saycsiem hol !
– Sayg mi preter.
– Naiwo ! Iey is peurst cludend-ye inat-ye sien ghyanus.
– Meg gohd, iey is Kimri seddend-ye ghom ep uno meg prokwem benk. Iam trehfsiem saul,
oins kun habsies bihe reduc' do gelee. Mehno dehlgo ghehde accelere id process sei wehrto
id ak miens miech do tien aur, gwut is, regend sien weben kay pites.
– Skehpt ! Exclamit is prisoner ed ia werds precipiteer-se ep eys kenaserng lipps : Tascela hat
raben iam ex me. Naiwo buim alyo quem un pupp srehtend ye id bors iom schnurs as
Tascela.
– Tascela ? Brohm is Kimri pre spiues. Quod, sa murdar...
– No, no ! Kwohs Olmec. Est meis khiter quem quo credeihs. Tascela es' plur... plur seculat. Ia
regeneret sien gwit ed yuwent maulend-ye bell gwenaks. Est oin iom factors qua hant reduct
id clan do ids presen' stand. Ia vaht draine id ayu as Valeria do sien wi corpos ed regnahe
samt udnoven gwis ed beauteit.
– Sont ia dwers perchinen ? Sprohgit Conan breukend id khar siens einsios med sien
fingherbors.
– Ya ! Bet gnohm un weidos kay entre Tecuhltli. Tik ia ed ego gnohms tod perigumt ed ia me
credeiht reduct ad achizia ed te, mortu. Leur me ed kassamo hehlpe te ad salve Valeria. Aun
mien hehlp, nies hatta ghehde entre Tecuhltli ; ar esdi me torturies hina io tib revele id
secret, ne ghehdies actione id mecanisme. Sine me gwehme con te ed surprindsiemos ed
neicsiemos Tascela pre ia ghehdt tyices sien magia... pre ia ghehdt trehpe sien spect ep nos.
Un kniv lohnc' do ays regv sessiet kafi. Habiem tohrben gvehne iam it meg diuper, bet io
biey od aun ays hehlp, i Xotalancas uperwehndien' nos. Iaschi tohrb mien hehlp ; est id saul
sabab bi quod ia me hat sisen gwuve tem diu. Taiper neti wanmos alter ed oiter em nos
dehlct mehre. Kassamo od kun habsiemos nict tam brukhu, tu ed Valeria sessiete leur de
abgwahe. Mien folk me obedeihsiet oins kun Tascela habsiet nohcen.

Conan se clihsit ed segit ia seils qua bohnd iom peurst. Olmec snohg tadbir-ye sub id taungh isern
ball ed oistahsit ub, scuttend sien cap kam un taur ed katathematisend kun is passih sien finghers ep
sien raghto scalp. Nieb mutu, bo wirs athime-ye skwiter sem auwal augos. Olmec eet tem buland
quem Conan, bet massiver ; eet lakin semject repugnant bei Tlazitlan, semject abyssal ed mustring
quod contrastit bfuryowkhow-ye con id compact rieuke ed id harmonieus corpos ios Kimri. Conan
hieb abdehn ud se ia etiloikwa siens lumpic ed cruorpoikios camiss, revelend id athime muscular
antslehnken siens pletwos. Eys mier omsa eent tem weur quem ta os Olmec, bet kreins rissen, ed id
curve os eys torso eet dar pondoster, enden ep un darm ed kaurd lendv quer id gventer os Olmec eet
gwiwotic. Ia habiet ghohdt ses un bronzen statue keipend id auwal force. Olmec hieb uno maurer
cuit, bet to ne eet sub id effect ios sol. Sei Conan eet un figure ex ciengow, Olmec de eet un sombre
ed gwaur masse ex id noct pre ciengow.

– Te sehkwo, declarit Conan. Ed wakh ke mans ant me. Mien trust in te ne leit dalger
quemm... just ant me !

Olmec vols ed gwahsit prod iom Kimri, sien hand srehtend nerveus-ye menxu is finghrit sien
implohcen berd.

– Tod secret buit gwupt unte oin pwolsecule, iey is. Hatta ti nosters clans ne sont hushyar ed i
Xotalancas han' naiw aunstohct i. Isswo Tecuhltli eregih tod secret passage, dind is
massacrit vasyens sclavs participevs ids construction. Is biey wehse sem dien chasset ex sien
wi rig, id passion as Tascela pro iom se changevs diutos do haines. Bet ia aunstohg eys
secret ed barricadit id passage menxu is rik ex un aunbrungos raid. I Xotalancas iom kiep ed
skohn gwiv. Bet sem dien, menxu spionim iam, ho viden Tascela penetre Tecuhltli unte tod
itner, ed it ho io aunstohct id secret.

Is press med sien fingher un golden ornament in id mur ed un panell pivotit intos, revelend un
ivordrab quod lit ubtro.

– Tod drab es' construgen in id mur, iey Olmec. Duct uni tor, ep id tect, ed tetos, alya drabs
permitte stighes ghom do alter kyals. Smad age oku !
– Pos te, camarade ! Jawieb Conan samt un sarcastic ton, deikend id itner med un treiccruce os
sien eins.

Olmec plex ed bistigh ia stieupens. Conan iom sohkwit fauran ed zaghyien id dwer apter se. Alnos
ubdrabs, un gwrozdu om ogwnjoyels transformit id nardban do un schakht muzlim-ye belucen ab
ogvioks.

Ies bestigh ia stieupens ed Conan kohns ies hieb arrivet uper id trit etage kun entreer un circular tor
quos coupel eet gjiaungsiant samt id gwrozdu om ogwnjoyels qua beluc id drab. Per fensters samt
golden stanghs ed quom schibs eent ex nebrehget cristallpanells, ia prest fensters is eedyehrcneut
pon is hieb gwohmto do Xuchotl, Conan glaz oik uperalt simans, thols ed alya tors, qua wierdheer
deusk-ye sub ia stars. Is vis ia tects os Xuchotl.

Olmec ne spohc per ia fensters. Is oispohd ghom oino iom multen drabs qua duxeer ibs niter etages.
Pos oika stieupens, id drab changit-se do angh dikhliz quod sohrp unte un wassime distance pre
stope ant un besonters bergwnt ghomwort gastieup. Ies hieb ghohdto do tod stet kun Olmec hielt
stayg.

Nitos, pnict, yed aisic-ye recognible, hat just ludt id crie uns gwen... un crie om dekhschat, rage ed
scham. Ed Conan rekohgn id voc as Valeria.

In id rage quod submers iom fauran kun is ieur tod crie, menxu is dieum qualg perile hieb ghohdt
rehve liko crie ex Valerias lipps, Conano myohrs Olmec. Is gwahsit prod iom peurst ed bistighit
ghom id drab. Eys instinct sbud ed volgih iom just kun Olmec plieg iom med sien peungst anghen
kam un tokmak. Id cutt, birt gver-ye ed silent-ye, zielit id base os eys neuk, bet is Kimri hiebit
pivoten just barwakt ed is buit hiht ep id gon ios coll. Id impact habiet brohct ia spindels alyios
quem ios, bet id tik vankih Conan. Is sis falle sien eins, inutil in solgo corps-ad-corps, ed siz Olmecs
regen brakh, dreibhend iom peurst con se do sien pehden. Ies comnisturd ghomdrabs, in un dewer
om memsa, caps ed corpsa. Ed kun ies fiell, Conans finghers trohv id coll os Olmec ed zaghyahr ep
id.

Id coll ed ia omsa ios barbar hieb esen karakhen sekwos id impact. Olmec hieb birt id cutt med id
hol nerce om sieno massive bagu, sien teug triceps ed sien weur oms. Bet to nel-ye affecit id gvertat
ios Kimri. Kam un bulldog, is antgrip lyut-ye, scutten, baten ed heurtend ia stieupens menxu ies
fiell, hina rolleer protiev un ivorpanell dwer ghomdrabs ed criesch per id samt tem force quem id
bohng-se unte sien hol longe. Passeer per id debris. Bet Olmec eet ja mortu, iaghi stalen finghers ios
Kimri hieb brohct eys coll, iom neicend kunkye ies fiell.

Conan stieusit ub, scuttend ia dreudreska ex sieno mier oms, ed chassend id cruor ed id duil qua
blins iom.

Is wohs in id thronkielken. Eent penkdem leuds in tod kyal exter iom-pet. Ia prest anghen is vis buit
Valeria. Un curieuso sword altar hieb esto dohmt ant id podium ios thron. Udstohlen ambh tod, sept
kyehrsen kiers in ir golden schamdans lur wandlik spirals uns teug subglendios dum kyid tavan,
sleund un capic odor. Ta spirals samghiet kay forme un dumarche uper id thron. Valeria lyohg ep id
altar, alnos nogwa, sien blank ed berto krewos constratend ubfallend-ye con id lamper eboncolor
petra. Ia ne eet dieht. Ia lyohg unte sien hol longe, sien brakhs tens apter sien cap. Pod id altar eet
genuet un yuwen, qui dier ays runcs. Un gwenak eet genuet ye alter bors, darnd ays glesens. It
uperwaldhen, ia ghohd neti stahe ub, ni hatta move.

Oindem wirs ed gwens os Tecuhltli eent genuet silent in pwolcircule, glegend id scene med ir
enflammen ed lubric okwi.
Tascela sess nonchalant-ye deub ep sien ivorthron. Kundur kans in aysen pialas ed ia twehrnd voluts
vrink ambh ays bare memsa, caressend iam kam finghers ; ia khiek remane still ; ia movit ed forkih-
se in un schakhwani tyehgven, kamsei ia spreuviet plaisure med id contact os polihn ivor ep sien
bare krewos.

Id kwalay ios dwer quod hieb just brohct sub id impact iom xubhen corpsen protiev id brigh neid
change do id scene. Ii genuet wirs ed gwens contenteer-se med glanzes indifferent-ye id cadaver irs
peurst ed iom wir qui stieusit ub medsu id debris ios dwer, dind i spohc tsay iam albh forme qua
lyohg ep id sword altar. Tascela protiokwit insolent-ye iom wir ed sess deuber do sien stron, ilaynd
goilisk-ye.

Is iengh sien hands kam tokmaks menxu is elien-se kyam. Menxu is bistiup, semjecto cliengh samt
uno metallic blosk ed stal dohnk wild-ye eyso jamb. Is kwohl ed sa-fiell, quasi dribhen ab sien elan.
Ia ghyanus uns kapan hieb zaghyahn ep eyso jamb ed ia stalen dents hieb duben aun slembhes ir
kapto. Tik ia stehlbend muscles os eyso saur stabh ei ost brehge. Id balstohmt jihase hieb surregen
ex id kirmiz swol aun warne. Is Kimri ghohd kongcio vide ia bidna qua hiebeer perfect-ye perbohrct
id kapan in id demped.

– Imbecile ! Glih Tascela. Mohns' nel-ye prekauriem de tien eventual reiken ? Ielg iom dwers
tos kyal es' protec' med solg kapans. Man quer es edghi smauter, menxu parduco id fat tiens
meg bell prientin ! Kaursiem de tien beurt poskwo.

Id hand os Conan trohc instinctive-ye kyeyso yeusmen, kay trehve ter tik un tuich kardkasch. Eys
eins lyohg ep id drab, apter iom. Eys khandjar eet in id forest, quer el ogvi hieb rohft id ex sien
ghyanu. Ia stalen dents do eyso jamb eent kam geuls, bet id gvol ia inflixeer ne eet tem gver quem
id kyehrsen grassab quod brohn deub in eys atmen. Is eet kapanen kam un wolf. Sei is habiet habt
sien jamb ye prayghest, is habiet sect sien jamb ed rept ep id swol kay gwahe neictum Tascela.
Valerias okwi rolleer kyom in uno niem appell ed ays wi achizia yis kirmiz follia wands per id kers
ios Kimri.

Se sinend falle ep sien leur genu, is tentit passe sien finghers inter ia ghyanus ios kapan kay tente
med sien hol nerce arke ia. Cruoro sru sub eys onkha, bet ia ghyanus eent meg pior dupta do eyso
jamb, skeipend un circule quos segments yug mutu perfect-ye, yoitkwe ne eet id lytst rewos inter
eys raghen krewos ed ia stalen edonts. Id vid ios nogwios corpsios Valerias gwutit olum ep ia
flammes os eys rage.

Tascela ignorit iom. Stahnd ub langoreus-ye ex sien sedd, ia perichohx ia rangs em sien subjects, ed
spohc :

– Quer son' Xamec, Zlanath ed Tachic ?

– Ne hant riken ex ia catacombes, peurstin, antwohrd sem wir. Kam wey, hant tobohrn ia
cadavers tim qui nohc in katu in ia crypts, bet ne hant riken. Kad hat is kabus os Tolkemec
lambhen iens ?
– Tayc, imbecile ! Wohl ia brisant-ye. Is kabus es' neis meis quem un mythos.

Ia stighit ghom id takhta, finghernd un teun daga samt golden hamand. Ays okwi ieydh samt un
intensitat quod ne hieb lik id-mo hayd. Ia stahsit still nieb id altar ed ays voco cliengh in id tenden
silence.

– Tien gwit me rebeuwsiet yun, blank gwen ! Ieyit ia. Vahm lyehge ep te ed place mien lipps
ep tiena, ed lent-ye... oh, ya lent-ye ! Dyehgwsiem tien kerd med tod miech, yoitkwe tien
 gwit linkwsiet tien stehvend corpos kay entre mieno ed redlehihes in me yuwent ed yugwit !

Lent-ye, kam un serpent slehnkend ambh els victim, ia clih-se per ia dumvoluts, stets lyt proscher
iam kongcio still gwenaku qua spohc ays deusk ed lamper okwi... okwi qua crohsc ed
profunderiesc, erkwnd kam kyehrsen meuns in id twehrndo dum.

Ti genuet ghenseer mutus hands ed enderwieurg ir annem, tens in id intizar ios cruoric paroxysme.
Id saul aurim swon eet Conans gver kwehs qui tentit lures sien jamb ex id kapan.

Vasya okwi eent trohpt kyid altar ed kyam blank silhouette qua lyohg ep id ; hatta un perkwndvohn
habiet duyst rumpes id charmen, yed buit uno mer stump schikay quod brohg id fixitat ios scene ed
volgih vasyens... Un stump schikay, yed quod ghirs id kays ep id cap. I spohc ed vis.

Wardhend in id dwer levter quem id podium stahsit un coschmar gastalt. Eet un wir, samt chapachul
albh kays ed un implohcen albho berd quod niek eyso xiongbu. Povestilumps covohr part-ye eys
maigher carcasse, revelend pwolnogwa memsa samt stragn-ye guway aspect. Eys cuit ne samkwohk
tod uns normal ensan. Id tengicit squamic, kamsei is wir qui hieb solg epidermis habiet gwiwt unte
conditions quasi contrar tibs unte-ya gwit antslehncti normal-ye. Ed eet khich adamlik in ia okwi
qua ieydh sub eyso zazzer os interplohct albh kays. Eent dwo mier lamper diska qua spohc aun
palpeber, gwayder, subalbh, aun id lytsto trace os menscemotiono ni raison. Eyso stohm eet
ghyanen, bet neid coherent swon sielg id... ploisko un superacut cakhin.

– Tolkemec ! Murmurit Tascela, livid, menxu alters ahockeer-se, niemihn ob hayriene. Toghi
eet neid mythos, neis kabus ! Set ! Has gwiwt unte dwodem yars in temos ! Dwodem yars
bayna nugwrnts ! Quod horrible pitu has tu trohven. Quod buxianxu parodia os gwit has tu
agen, in id absolut kyehros tos abadic noct ? Ghabo taiper ma Xamec, Zlanath ed Tachic ne
hant rict ex ia catacombes... ed naiwo reicsient tois. Bet ma has tu skohpten tem diu pre
plage ? Pieurskist semject in ia ghyamens ? Sem secret arme tu wois perbohrgen ter ? Ed has
tu bad trohft id ?
Id hideus cakhin buit id saul antwehrd os Tolkemec, qui klieup do id kyal med un skand qui
kammerih iom id secreto trapdwer quod lyohg ant id dwer... kjiawxieng, we tun ob is mohm vagh-
ye ia mores tim os Xuchotl. Is ne eet un dement ye id weidos quosmed unis mensc sehncti do
dementia. Is hieb gwiwt apo menscgenos tem diu quem is neti eet mensc. Tik un intact lump os
mehmen, transformet do enkrewb haines, ed un effrenat wan os vengence yug iom ei menscgenos
quetos is hieb esen excluden, ed to hieb dart iom prokwem qui is haiss. Tik tod teun sioul hieb ei
stabhen se xubhes proaiwo do ia temosta dikhliz ed ia endrenrigs is hieb aunstohgen meg diuper.

– Has paursc' semjec' kohlt ! Murmurit Tascela, stieupend retro, lambhen ab paur. Ed has
trohft id ! Mehms id cruoric swesgvonia ! Pos ta quant temosyars mehms id !

Idghi lagar hand os Tolkemec swohng taiper un curieus jadecolor specter, ye-yos bors luc un
liuuskeip scarlat globe. Tascela klieup gontro kun is ghesorit id kam un lance. Uno maurrudh
piurnbam gwohl ex id liuu. Id lips Tascela, bet ia gwen qua dier Valerias glesens eet ep ids agmo. Id
bam hihsit inter ays omsa. Buit un stump reus, ed id bam antskiend ex ays pizdan kay stundes id
sword altar, deughend uno moder gabliutos. Ia gwen collapsit gontro, skrehmbend ed teursend kam
una mumia menxu ia fiell.

Valeria rollit ed se sis pehde ocolo id altar. Dind ia kwetwerpohd kyid witer mur. Inferno ghi hieb
udbrohgen in id thronkielken ios defunct Olmec.

Is wir qui hieb dart ia hands as Valeria buit is niebst qui nohc. Is vols kay abdrahe, bet pre is habiet
andht six stieups, Tolkemec, samt un terrifiant agilitat pro solgo corpos, klieup yoitkwe is wir wohs
inter iom ed id altar. Iter id rudh bam gwohl ed is Tecuhltli rollit ep id grund, menxu id bam napluk
ed vihihsit id altar samt uno moder gabliutos.

Dind buit uno massacre. Heulend kam dements, quanti sroht in id kielken, waurgpuscend mutu,
kwehlpend ed fallend. Ed Tolkemec klieup ed gvohmbit medsu i, bringhend nehc. I Tecuhltlis khiek
antsalge unte ia dwers, ar okwivid-ye tom metall, tem quem id metall quod dierz id petraltar,
dieughit kay complete id circuit tos infernal energia quod gwohl ex id magic scepter is geronto
dohrj in sien hand. Kun is dyohrc un wir au un gwen pridrahe inter iom ed id altar au un dwer,
individu-onis nohc fauran. Is ne chusit sien victims. Is priwiel i. Ia lumps om eys vesters lik ep eys
memsa qua sroht bachimien ed ia swehner echos eysen cakhins plehr id kielken, uperstumpend ia
heuls. Corpsa fiell kam turs waraks ambh id altar ed ant ia dwers. Un desperat jenchi rusch kyom
swehngend-ye un khandjar, ed collapsit pre ghehdus plage. Alters samkwohk un follascus churd, ne
hatta sehgnend de resiste, aun chance de ghehde skape.

El senstis Tecuhltli ploisko Tascela hieb fallen kun ia peurstin arrivit pri iom Kimri ed iam bent qua
hieb endergwohmt bei. Tascela clih-se ed touchit id grund, premend oin om idsa motifs. Ia isern
ghyanus oislu fauran id crewent jamb ios Kimri ed disprohp iter do id demped.

– Neic iom sei ghehds ! Kwohs ia, placend un gwaru khandjar do eys hand. Ho neid magia
kay diwides iom !

Brehmend, Conan klieup inter bo gwens, aun kaure de sien raghen jamb, todribhen ab id rage os
katue. Tolkemec gwohm prosch iom. Eysa stragn okwi flamboyeer, bet is kung dyehrcend-ye id
inikas ios khandjar in id hand os Conan. Ed tun inkiep un buxianxu leik, dat Tolkemec iskwit
tournes ambh Conan yoitkwe place iom Kimri inter se ed id altar au uno metallic dwer, menxu
Conan iskwit contre eys maneuvres ed dyehgwe iom med sieno miech. Ias gwens oispohc id scene,
tens, enderwaurgend ir annem.

Eet neid blosk ploisko id tyehr-ed-kreus iom okutrehcend peds. Tolkemec hieb zaklaupen ed
zagvohmben. Is hieb ghaben is wedirn is eet confronten eet meg-ye gverer quem i preadds nehcus
heulend-ye ed mwaungsound-ye. In id auwalo flamme quod blig in id budmen iom okwi ios barbar
skwit is un gwaukania egal sieni. Ies trohc perodhtos retro ed, kun oiter movit, alter kwohr id sam,
kamsei esient yugen med invisible siouls. Bet Conan eegigwehmt proscher sien duschman. Ja biflex
ia gneubhic muscles eysen bemerns, se preparend pro id klaup, kun stayg Valeria emiss un crie.
Unte oin fugitive instant, un aysen dwer hieb stahn in id ardehsa ios movend corpos os Conan. Id
rudh bam gwohl, aydhend id flank ios Kimri menxu is clih-se gontro. Unte id sam mov, is lohnc
sien khandjar med sien hol nerce. Veut Tolkemec collapsit, druve-ye mortu ye tod ker, id hamand
ios miechios dar vibrend ep sien xiongbu.

Tascela klieup... ne kye Conan, sontern kyid scepter quod lucit kam un gwiv ject ep id swol. Bet
kun ia skiend, Valeria kwohr id sam, samt un khandjar ghens ex id cadaver uns Tecuhltli in sien
hand. Id miech, sehno med id hol nerce iom musclen ias pirate, becepit iam peurstin Tecuhltlis med
tant augos quem id ak sielg inter ays pizda. Tascela emiss oin crie ed collapsit, mortu. Valeria ierk
fauran id cadaver med sien persna.

– Io tohrb kwehre to, pro id respect as meswo ! Kwohs Valeria, facend Conan ud quom eet
separen ab id cadaver.
– Eno ghi fineiht ir faydh, brohm is. To buit un infernoct ! Quer tar conserve ti leuds ir pitu ?
Io heungher.
– Wans un bandage ambh tod jamb.
Valeria rohv un kumasch ex un behang ed nodit id ambh sien lendv, dind ia wul smulker streis qua
ia diehsit efficient-ye ambh id raght mems ios Kimri.

– Ghehdo ghange iosmed, sigwrit is ay. Smad abgwahe hetos. Est octent exter tod infernal urb.
Io bactisse Xuchotl. Est un gohd ject od tod race hat-se exterminet mon. Volo neid iren
balstohmen joyels. Kad sont hantet.
– Est kafi kiest lwon tienxia pro te ed me, iey Valeria staund-ye ub, megil ed splendid, ant
iom.

Id veut flamme reprohp in id budmen iom okwi ios Kimri ed ye tod ker ia ne resistit kun is dier iam
do sien brakhs.

– Hams maung itner kwehrtu pre joine id caust, ieyit ia pau pos, stragend sien lipps ud eysa.
– Ed tun ? Iey is. Est neid quod khakmos upertrehnes. Sessiemos ep id deck uns nav pre i
Stygians ghyane ir ports pro id tajirsaison. Tun deicsiemos ei mund quo plunder maynt !