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肩書を与える: The 血 of Belshazzar Author: Robert E. Howard * A 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg of Australia eBook * eBook No.: 0608061h.html Language: English Date first 地位，任命するd: Nov 2006 Most 最近の update: Dec 2019 This eBook was produced by Richard Scott and updated by Roy Glashan. 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg of Australia eBooks are created from printed 版s which are in the public domain in Australia, unless a copyright notice is 含むd. We do NOT keep any eBooks in 同意／服従 with a particular paper 版. Copyright 法律s are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the copyright 法律s for your country before downloading or redistributing this とじ込み／提出する. This eBook is made 利用できる at no cost and with almost no 制限s どれでも. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the 条件 of the 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg of Australia License which may be 見解（をとる）d online at http://gutenberg.逮捕する.au/licence.html To 接触する 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg of Australia go to http://gutenberg.逮捕する.au
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It shone on the breast of
the Persian king.
It lighted Iskander's road;
It 炎d where the spears were 後援ing.
A 誘惑する and a maddening goad.
And 負かす／撃墜する through the crimson, changing years
It draws men, soul and brain;
They 溺死する their lives in 血 and 涙／ほころびs.
And they break their hearts in vain.
Oh, it 炎上s with the 血 of strong men's hearts
Whose 団体／死体s are clay again.
—The Song of the Red 石／投石する
Oriental Stories, 落ちる 1931
ONCE it was called Eski-Hissar, the Old 城, for it was very 古代の even when the first Seljuks swept out of the east, and not even the Arabs, who rebuilt that 崩壊するing pile in the days of Abu Bekr, knew what 手渡すs 後部d those 大規模な bastions の中で the frowning 山のふもとの丘s of the Taurus. Now, since the old keep had become a 強盗's 持つ／拘留する, men called it Bab-el-Shaitan, the Gate of the Devil, and with good 推論する／理由.
That night there was feasting in the 広大な／多数の／重要な hall. 激しい （米）棚上げする／（英）提議するs 負担d with ワイン 投手s and jugs, and 抱擁する platters of food, stood 側面に位置するd by 天然のまま （法廷の）裁判s for such as ate in that manner, while on the 床に打ち倒す large cushions received the reclining forms of others. Trembling slaves 急いでd about, filling goblets from wineskins and 耐えるing 広大な／多数の／重要な 共同のs of roasted meat and loaves of bread.
Here 高級な and nakedness met, the riches of degenerate civilizations and the stark savagery of utter 野蛮／未開. Men 覆う？ in stenching sheepskins lolled on silken cushions, exquisitely brocaded, and guzzled from solid golden goblets, 壊れやすい as the 茎・取り除く of a 砂漠 flower. They wiped their bearded lips and hairy 手渡すs on velvet tapestries worthy of a shah's palace.
All the races of western Asia met here. Here were わずかな／ほっそりした, lethal Persians, dangerous-注目する，もくろむd Turks in mail shirts, lean Arabs, tall ragged Kurds, Lurs and Armenians in sweaty sheepskins, ひどく mustached Circassians, even a few Georgians, with 強硬派-直面するs and devilish tempers.
の中で them was one who stood out boldly from all the 残り／休憩（する）. He sat at a （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する drinking ワイン from a 抱擁する goblet, and the 注目する，もくろむs of the others 逸脱するd to him continually. の中で these tall sons of the 砂漠 and mountains his 高さ did not seem 特に 広大な／多数の／重要な, though it was above six feet. But the breadth and thickness of him were gigantic. His shoulders were broader, his 四肢s more 大規模な than any other 軍人 there.
His mail coif was thrown 支援する, 明らかにする／漏らすing a lion-like 長，率いる and a 広大な／多数の／重要な corded throat. Though browned by the sun, his 直面する was not as dark as those about him and his 注目する，もくろむs were a 火山の blue, which smoldered continually as if from inner 解雇する／砲火／射撃s of wrath. Square-削減（する） 黒人／ボイコット hair like a lion's mane 栄冠を与えるd a low, 幅の広い forehead.
He ate and drank 明らかに oblivious to the 尋問 ちらりと見ることs flung toward him. Not that any had as yet challenged his 権利 to feast in Bab-el- Shaitan, for this was a lair open to all 難民s and 無法者s. And this Frank was Cormac FitzGeoffrey, 無法者d and 追跡（する）d by his own race. The ex-改革運動家 was 武装した in の近くに-meshed chain mail from 長，率いる to foot. A 激しい sword hung at his hip, and his 道具-形態／調整d 保護物，者 with the grinning skull wrought in the 中心 lay with his 激しい vizorless helmet, on the （法廷の）裁判 beside him. There was no hypocrisy of etiquette in Bab-el-Shaitan. Its occupants went 武装した to the teeth at all times and no one questioned another's 権利 to sit 負かす／撃墜する to meat with his sword at 手渡す.
Cormac, as he ate, scanned his fellow-feasters 率直に. Truly Bab-el- Shaitan was a lair of the spawn of Hell, the last 退却／保養地 of men so desperate and bestial that the 残り／休憩（する） of the world had cast them out in horror. Cormac was no stranger to savage men; in his native Ireland he had sat の中で 野蛮な 人物／姿／数字s in the 集会s of 長，指導者s and reavers in the hills. But the wild- beast 外見 and utter inhumanness of some of these men impressed even the 猛烈な／残忍な Irish 軍人.
There, for instance, was a Lur, hairy as an ape, 涙／ほころびing at a half-raw 共同の of meat with yellow fangs like a wolf's. Kadra Muhammad, the fellow's 指名する was, and Cormac wondered 簡潔に if such a creature could have a human soul. Or that shaggy Kurd beside him, whose lip, 新たな展開d 支援する by a sword scar into a 永久の snarl, 明らかにするd a tooth like a boar's tusk. Surely no divine 誘発する of soul-dust animated these men, but the merciless and soulless spirit of the grim land that bred them. 注目する，もくろむs, wild and cruel as the 注目する，もくろむs of wolves, glared through lank 立ち往生させるs of 絡まるd hair, hairy 手渡すs unconsciously gripped the hilts of knives even while the owners gorged and guzzled.
Cormac ちらりと見ることd from the 階級 and とじ込み／提出する to scrutinize the leaders of the 禁止（する）d—those whom superior wit or war-技術 had placed high in the 信用／信任 of their terrible 長，指導者, Skol Abdhur, the Butcher. Not one but had a whole 容積／容量 of 黒人／ボイコット and 血まみれの history behind him. There was that わずかな／ほっそりした Persian, whose トン was so silky, whose 注目する，もくろむs were so deadly, and whose small, shapely 長，率いる was that of a human panther—Nadir Tous, once an 首長 high in the 好意 of the Shah of Kharesmia. And that Seljuk Turk, with his silvered mail shirt, 頂点（に達する）d helmet and jewel-hilted scimitar—Kai Shah; he had ridden at Saladin's 味方する in high 栄誉（を受ける） once, and it was said that the scar which showed white in the angle of his jaw had been made by the sword of Richard the Lion-hearted in that 広大な／多数の／重要な 戦う／戦い before the 塀で囲むs of Joppa. And that wiry, tall, eagle-直面するd Arab, Yussef el Mekru—he had been a 広大な／多数の／重要な sheikh once in Yemen and had even led a 反乱 against the 暴君 himself.
But at the 長，率いる of the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する at which Cormac sat was one whose history for strangeness and vivid fantasy dimmed them all. Tisolino di Strozza, 仲買人, captain of Venice's 軍艦s, 改革運動家, 著作権侵害者, 無法者—what a red 追跡する the man had followed to his 現在の casteless 条件! Di Strozza was tall and thin and saturnine in 外見, with a hook-nosed, thin-nostriled 直面する of distinctly predatory 面. His armor, now worn and （名声などを）汚すd, was of 高くつく／犠牲の大きい Venetian make, and the hilt of his long 狭くする sword had once been 始める，決める with gems. He was a man of restless soul, thought Cormac, as he watched the Venetian's dark 注目する，もくろむs dart continually from point to point, and the lean 手渡す 繰り返して 解除するd to 新たな展開 the ends of the thin mustache.
Cormac's gaze wandered to the other 長，指導者s—wild reavers, born to the red 貿易（する） of 略奪する and 殺人, whose pasts were 黒人／ボイコット enough, but 欠如（する）d the 変化させるd flavor of the other four. He knew these by sight or 評判—Kojar Mirza, a brawny Kurd; Shalmar Khor, a tall swaggering Circassian; and Jusus Zehor, a renegade Georgian who wore half a dozen knifes in his girdle.
There was one not known to him, a 軍人 who 明らかに had no standing の中で the 強盗団の一味, yet who carried himself with the 保証／確信 born of prowess. He was of a type rare in the Taurus—a stocky, 堅固に built man whose 長，率いる would come no higher than Cormac's shoulder. Even as he ate, he wore a helmet with a lacquered leather 減少（する）, and Cormac caught the glint of mail beneath his sheepskins; through his girdle was thrust a short wide-bladed sword, not curved as much as the Moslem scimitars. His powerful 屈服するd 脚s, 同様に as the slanting 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむs 始める，決める in an inscrutable brown 直面する, betrayed the Mongol.
He, like Cormac, was a newcomer; riding from the east he had arrived at Bab-el-Shaitan that night at the same time that the Irish 軍人 had ridden in from the south. His 指名する, as given in guttural Turki, was Toghrul 旅宿泊所.
A slave whose scarred 直面する and 恐れる-dulled 注目する，もくろむs told of the brutality of his masters, tremblingly filled Cormac's goblet. He started and flinched as a sudden 叫び声をあげる faintly knifed the din; it （機の）カム from somewhere above, and 非，不，無 of the feasters paid any attention. The Norman-Gael wondered at the absence of women-slaves. Skol Abdhur's 指名する was a terror in that part of Asia and many caravans felt the 負わせる of his fury. Many women had been stolen from （警察の）手入れ，急襲d villages and camel-trains, yet now there were 明らかに only men in Bab-el- Shaitan. This, to Cormac, held a 悪意のある 関わりあい／含蓄. He 解任するd dark tales, whispered under the breath, relating to the cryptic inhumanness of the robber 長，指導者—mysterious hints of foul 儀式s in 黒人／ボイコット caverns, of naked white 犠牲者s writhing on hideously 古代の altars, of 血-冷気／寒がらせるing sacrifices beneath the midnight moon. But that cry had been no woman's 叫び声をあげる.
Kai Shah was の近くに to di Strozza's shoulder, talking very 速く in a guarded トン. Cormac saw that Nadir Tous was only pretending to be 吸収するd in his ワイン cup; the Persian's 注目する，もくろむs, 燃やすing with intensity, were 直す／買収する，八百長をするd on the two who whispered at the 長，率いる of the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. Cormac, 警報 to intrigue and 反対する- 陰謀（を企てる）, had already decided that there were 派閥s in Bab-el-Shaitan. He had noticed that di Strozza, Kai Shah, a lean Syrian scribe 指名するd Musa 貯蔵所 Daoud, and the wolfish Lur, Kadra Muhammad, stayed の近くに to each other, while Nadir Tous had his own に引き続いて の中で the lesser 強盗団の一味, wild ruffians, mostly Persians and Armenians, and Kojar Mirza was surrounded by a number of even wilder mountain Kurds. The manner of the Venetian and Nadir Tous toward each other was of a 用心深い 儀礼 that seemed to mask 疑惑, while the Kurdish 長，指導者 wore an 面 of truculent 反抗 toward both.
As these thoughts passed through Cormac's mind, an incongruous 人物／姿／数字 appeared on the 上陸 of the 幅の広い stairs. It was Jacob, Skol Abdhur's majordomo—a short, very fat Jew attired in gaudy and 高くつく／犠牲の大きい 式服s which had once decked a Syrian harem master. All 注目する，もくろむs turned toward him, for it was evident he had brought word from his master—not often did Skol Abdhur, 用心深い as a 追跡（する）d wolf, join his pack at their feasts.
"The 広大な／多数の／重要な prince, Skol Abdhur," 発表するd Jacob in pompous and sonorous accents, "would 認める audience to the Nazarene who 棒 in at dusk—the lord Cormac FitzGeoffrey."
The Norman finished his goblet at 草案 and rose deliberately, taking up his 保護物，者 and helmet.
"And what of me, Yahouda?" It was the guttural 発言する／表明する of the Mongol. "Has the 広大な／多数の／重要な prince no word for Toghrul 旅宿泊所, who has ridden far and hard to join his horde? Has he said naught of an audience with me?"
The Jew scowled. "Lord Skol said naught of any Tartar," he answered すぐに. "Wait until he sends for you, as he will do—if it so pleases him."
The answer was as much an 侮辱 to the haughty pagan as would have been a 非難する in the 直面する. He half-made to rise then sank 支援する, his 直面する, schooled to アイロンをかける 支配（する）／統制する, showing little of his 激怒（する）. But his serpent-like 注目する，もくろむs glittering devilishly, took in not only the Jew but Cormac 同様に, and the Norman knew that he himself was 含むd in Toghrul 旅宿泊所's 黒人／ボイコット 怒り／怒る. Mongol pride and Mongol wrath are beyond the ken of the Western mind, but Cormac knew that in his humiliation, the nomad hated him as much as he hated Jacob.
But Cormac could count his friends on his fingers and his personal enemies by the 得点する／非難する／２０s. A few more 敵s made little difference and he paid no 注意する to Toghrul 旅宿泊所 as he followed the Jew up the 幅の広い stairs, and along a winding 回廊（地帯） to a 激しい, metal-を締めるd door before which stood, like an image carven of 黒人／ボイコット basalt, a 抱擁する naked Nubian who held a two-手渡すd scimitar whose five-foot blade was a foot wide at the tip.
Jacob made a 調印する to the Nubian, but Cormac saw that the Jew was trembling and apprehensive.
"In God's 指名する," Jacob whispered to the Norman, "speak him softly; Skol is in a devilish temper tonight. Only a little while ago he tore out the eyeball of a slave with his 手渡すs."
"That was that 叫び声をあげる I heard then," grunted Cormac. "井戸／弁護士席, don't stand there chattering; tell that 黒人／ボイコット beast to open the door before I knock it 負かす／撃墜する."
Jacob blenched; but it was no idle 脅し. It was not the Norman-Gael's nature to wait meekly at the door of any man—he who had been cup- companion to King Richard. The majordomo spoke 速く to the mute, who swung the door open. Cormac 押し進めるd past his guide and strode across the threshold.
And for the first time he looked on Skol Abdhur the Butcher, whose 行為s of 血 had already made him a 半分-mythical 人物／姿／数字. The Norman saw a bizarre 巨大（な） reclining on a silken divan, in the 中央 of a room hung and furnished like a king's. 築く, Skol would have towered half a 長，率いる taller than Cormac, and though a 抱擁する belly marred the symmetry of his 人物／姿／数字, he was still an image of physical prowess. His short, 自然に 黒人／ボイコット 耐えるd had been stained to a bluish 色合い; his wide 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむs 炎d with a curious wayward look not altogether sane at times.
He was 覆う？ in cloth-of-gold slippers whose toes turned up extravagantly, in voluminous Persian trousers of rare silk, and a wide green silken sash, 激しい with golden 規模s, was wrapt about his waist. Above this he wore a sleeveless jacket, richly brocaded, open in 前線, but beneath this his 抱擁する torso was naked. His blue-黒人／ボイコット hair, held by a gemmed circlet of gold, fell to his shoulders, and his fingers were gleaming with jewels, while his 明らかにする 武器 were 負わせるd with 激しい gem-crusted armlets. Women's earrings adorned his ears.
Altogether his 外見 was of such fantastic 野蛮／未開 as to 奮起させる in Cormac an amazement which in an ordinary man would have been a feeling of 最大の horror. The 明らかな savagery of the 巨大（な）, together with his fantastic finery which 高くする，増すd rather than 少なくなるd the terror of his 外見, lent Skol Abdhur an 面 which 始める，決める him outside the pale of ordinary humanity. The 影響 of an ordinary man, so garbed, would have been 単に ludicrous; in the robber chieftain it was one of horror.
Yet as Jacob salaamed to the 床に打ち倒す in a very frenzy of obeisance, he was not sure that Skol looked any more formidable than the mail-覆う？ Frank with his 面 of dynamic and terrible strength directed by a tigerish nature.
"The lord Cormac FitzGeoffrey, oh mighty prince," 布告するd Jacob, while Cormac stood like an アイロンをかける image not deigning even to incline his lion-like 長，率いる.
"Yes, fool, I can see that," Skol's 発言する／表明する was 深い and resonant. "Take yourself hence before I 刈る your ears. And see that those fools downstairs have plenty of ワイン."
From the つまずくing haste with which Jacob obeyed, Cormac knew the 脅し of cropping ears was no empty one. Now his 注目する，もくろむs wandered to a shocking and pitiful 人物／姿／数字—the slave standing behind Skol's divan ready to 注ぐ ワイン for his grim master. The wretch was trembling in every 四肢 as a 負傷させるd horse quivers, and the 推論する／理由 was 明らかな—a 恐ろしい gaping socket from which the 注目する，もくろむ had been ruthlessly ripped. 血 still oozed from the 縁 to join the stains which blotched the 新たな展開d 直面する and spotted the silken 衣料品s. Pitiful finery! Skol dressed his 哀れな slaves in apparel rich merchants might envy. And the wretch stood shivering in agony, yet not daring to move from his 跡をつけるs, though with the 苦痛-もやd half-sight remaining him, he could scarcely see to fill the gem-crusted goblet Skol 解除するd.
"Come and sit on the divan with me, Cormac," あられ／賞賛するd Skol. "I would speak to you. Dog! Fill the lord Frank's goblet, and haste, lest I take your other 注目する，もくろむ."
"I drink no more this night," growled Cormac, thrusting aside the goblet Skol held out to him. "And send that slave away. He'll 流出／こぼす ワイン on you in his blindness."
Skol 星／主役にするd at Cormac a moment and then with a sudden laugh waved the 苦痛-sick slave toward the door. The man went あわてて, whimpering in agony.
"See," said Skol, "I humor your whim. But it was not necessary. I would have wrung his neck after we had talked, so he could not repeat our words."
Cormac shrugged his shoulders. Little use to try to explain to Skol that it was pity for the slave and not 願望（する） for secrecy that 誘発するd him to have the man 解任するd.
"What think you of my kingdom, Bab-el-Shaitan?" asked Skol suddenly.
"It would be hard to take," answered the Norman.
Skol laughed wildly and emptied his goblet.
"So the Seljuks have 設立する," he hiccupped. "I took it years ago by a trick from the Turk who held it. Before the Turks （機の）カム the Arabs held it and before them—the devil knows. It is old—the 創立／基礎s were built in the long ago by Iskander Akbar—Alexander the 広大な／多数の／重要な. Then centuries later （機の）カム the Roumi—the Romans—who 追加するd to it. Parthians, Persians, Kurds, Arabs, Turks—all have shed 血 on its 塀で囲むs. Now it is 地雷, and while I live, 地雷 it shall remain! I know its secrets—and its secrets," he cast the Frank a sly and wicked ちらりと見ること 十分な of 悪意のある meaning, "are more than most men reckon—even those fools Nadir Tous and di Strozza, who would 削減（する） my throat if they dared."
"How do you 持つ／拘留する 最高位 over these wolves?" asked Cormac bluntly.
Skol laughed and drank once more.
"I have something each wishes. They hate each other; I play them against one another. I 持つ／拘留する the 重要な to the 陰謀（を企てる）. They do not 信用 each other enough to move against me. I am Skol Abdhur! Men are puppets to dance on my strings. And women"—a 浮浪者 and curious glint stole into his 注目する，もくろむs—"women are food for the gods," he said strangely.
"Many men serve me," said Skol Abdhur, "首長s and generals and 長，指導者s, as you saw. How （機の）カム they here to Bab-el-Shaitan where the world ends? Ambition—intrigues—women—jealousy—憎悪—now they serve the Butcher. And what brought you here, my brother? That you are an 無法者 I know—that your life is 没収される to your people because you slew a 確かな 首長 of the Franks, one Count Conrad 出身の Gonler. But only when hope is dead do men ride to Bab-el-Shaitan. There are cycles within cycles, 無法者s beyond the pale of outlawry, and Bab-el-Shaitan is the end of the world."
"井戸／弁護士席," growled Cormac, "one man can not （警察の）手入れ，急襲 the caravans. My friend Sir Rupert de Vaile, Seneschal of Antioch, is 捕虜 to the Turkish 長，指導者 Ali Bahadur, and the Turk 辞退するs to 身代金 him for the gold that has been 申し込む／申し出d. You ride far, and 落ちる on the caravans that bring the treasures of Hind and Cathay. With you I may find some treasure so rare that the Turk will 受託する it as a 身代金. If not, with my 株 of the 略奪する I will 雇う enough bold rogues to 救助（する） Sir Rupert."
Skol shrugged his shoulders. "Franks are mad," said he, "but whatever the 推論する／理由, I am glad you 棒 hither. I have heard you are faithful to the lord you follow, and I need such a man. Just now I 信用 no one but Abdullah, the 黒人／ボイコット mute that guards my 議会."
It was evident to Cormac that Skol was 急速な／放蕩な becoming drunk. Suddenly he laughed wildly.
"You asked me how I 持つ／拘留する my wolves in leash? Not one but would slit my throat. But look—so far I 信用 you I will show you why they do not!"
He reached into his girdle and drew 前へ／外へ a 抱擁する jewel which sparkled like a tiny lake of 血 in his 広大な／多数の／重要な palm. Even Cormac's 注目する，もくろむs 狭くするd at the sight.
"Satan!" he muttered. "That can be naught but the ruby called—"
"The 血 of Belshazzar!" exclaimed Skol Abdhur. "Aye, the gem Cyrus the Persian ripped from the sword-gashed bosom of the 広大な／多数の／重要な king on that red night when Babylon fell! It is the most 古代の and 高くつく／犠牲の大きい gem in the world. Ten thousand pieces of 激しい gold could not buy it.
"Hark, Frank," again Skol drained a goblet, "I will tell you the tale of the 血 of Belshazzar. See you how strangely it is carved?"
He held it up and the light flashed redly from its many facets. Cormac shook his 長，率いる, puzzled.
The carving was strange indeed, corresponding to nothing he had ever seen, east or west. It seemed that the 古代の carver had followed some 計画（する） 完全に unknown and apart from that of modern lapidary art. It was 基本的に different with a difference Cormac could not define.
"No mortal 削減（する） that 石／投石する!" said Skol, "but the djinn of the sea! For once in the long, long ago, in the very 夜明け of happenings, the 広大な／多数の／重要な king, even Belshazzar, went from his palace on 楽しみ bent and coming to the Green Sea—the Persian 湾—went thereon in a 王室の galley, golden- prowed and 列／漕ぐ／騒動d by a hundred slaves. Now there was one Naka, a diver of pearls, who 願望（する）ing 大いに to 栄誉（を受ける） his king, begged the 王室の 許可 to 捜し出す the ocean 底（に届く） for rare pearls for the king, and Belshazzar 認めるing his wish, Naka dived. 奮起させるd by the glory of the king, he went far beyond the depth of divers, and after a time floated to the surface, しっかり掴むing in his 手渡す a ruby of rare beauty—aye, this very gem.
"Then the king and his lords, gazing on its strange carvings, were amazed, and Naka, nigh to death because of the 広大な／多数の／重要な depth to which he had gone, gasped out a strange tale of a silent, 海草-festooned city of marble and lapis lazuli far below the surface of the sea, and of a monstrous mummied king on a jade 王位 from whose dead taloned 手渡す Naka had ひったくるd the ruby. And then the 血 burst from the diver's mouth and ears and he died.
"Then Belshazzar's lords entreated him to throw the gem 支援する into the sea, for it was evident that it was the treasure of the djinn of the sea, but the king was as one mad, gazing into the crimson 深いs of the ruby, and he shook his 長，率いる.
"And lo, soon evil （機の）カム upon him, for the Persians broke his kingdom, and Cyrus, 略奪するing the dying 君主, ひったくるd from his bosom the 広大な／多数の／重要な ruby which seemed so gory in the light of the 燃やすing palace that the 兵士s shouted: 'Lo, it is the heart's 血 of Belshazzar!' And so men （機の）カム to call the gem the 血 of Belshazzar.
"血 followed its course. When Cyrus fell on the Jaxartes, Queen Tomyris 掴むd the jewel and for a time it gleamed on the naked bosom of the Scythian queen. But she was despoiled of it by a 反逆者／反逆する general; in a 戦う／戦い against the Persians he fell and it went into the 手渡すs of Cambyses, who carried it with him into Egypt, where a priest of Bast stole it. A Numidian mercenary 殺人d him for it, and by devious ways it （機の）カム 支援する to Persia once more. It gleamed on Xerxes' 栄冠を与える when he watched his army destroyed at Salamis.
"Alexander took it from the 死体 of Darius and on the Macedonian's corselet its gleams lighted the road to India. A chance sword blow struck it from his breastplate in a 戦う／戦い on the Indus and for centuries the 血 of Belshazzar was lost to sight. Somewhere far to the east, we know, its gleams shone on a road of 血 and rapine, and men slew men and dishonored women for it. For it, as of old, women gave up their virtue, men their lives and kings their 栄冠を与えるs.
"But at last its road turned to the west once more, and I took it from the 団体／死体 of a Turkoman 長，指導者 I slew in a （警察の）手入れ，急襲 far to the east. How he （機の）カム by it, I do not know. But now it is 地雷!"
Skol was drunk; his 注目する，もくろむs 炎d with 残忍な passion; more and more he seemed like some foul bird of prey.
"It is my 勢力均衡! Men come to me from palace and hovel, each hoping to have the 血 of Belshazzar for his own. I play them against each other. If one should 殺す me for it, the others would 即時に 削減（する） him to pieces to 伸び（る） it. They 不信 each other too much to 連合させる against me. And who would 株 the gem with another?"
He 注ぐd himself ワイン with an unsteady 手渡す.
"I am Skol the Butcher!" he 誇るd, "a prince in my own 権利! I am powerful and crafty beyond the knowledge of ありふれた men. For I am the most 恐れるd chieftain in all the Taurus, I who was dirt beneath men's feet, the disowned and despised son of a renegade Persian noble and a Circassian slave- girl.
"Bah—these fools who 陰謀（を企てる） against me—the Venetian, Kai Shah, Musa 貯蔵所 Daoud and Kadra Muhammad—over against them I play Nadir Tous, that polished cutthroat, and Kojar Mirza. The Persian and the Kurd hate me and they hate di Strozza, but they hate each other even more. And Shalmar Khor hates them all."
"And what of Seosamh el Mekru?" Cormac could not 新たな展開 his Norman-Celtic tongue to the Arabic of Joseph.
"Who knows what is in an Arab's mind?" growled Skol. "But you may be 確かな he is a jackal for 略奪する, like all his 肉親，親類d, and will watch which way the feather 落ちるs, to join the stronger 味方する—and then betray the 勝利者s.
"But I care not!" the robber roared suddenly. "I am Skol the Butcher! 深い in the 深いs of the 血 have I seen misty, monstrous 形態／調整s and read dark secrets! Aye—in my sleep I hear the whispers of that dead, half- human king from whom Naka the diver tore the jewel so long ago. 血! That is a drink the ruby craves! 血 follows it; 血 is drawn to it! Not the 長，率いる of Cyrus did Queen Tomyris 急落（する），激減（する） into a 大型船 of warm 血 as the legends say, but the gem she took from the dead king! He who wears it must quench its かわき or it will drink his own 血! Aye, the heart's flow of kings and queens have gone into its crimson 影をつくる／尾行する!
"And I have quenched its かわき! There are secrets of Bab-el-Shaitan 非，不，無 knows but I—and Abdullah whose withered tongue can never speak of the sights he has looked upon, the shrieks his ears have heard in the blackness below the 城 when midnight 持つ／拘留するs the mountains breathless. For I have broken into secret 回廊（地帯）s, 調印（する）d up by the Arabs who rebuilt the 持つ／拘留する, and unknown to the Turks who followed them."
He checked himself as if he had said too much. But the crimson dreams began to weave again their pattern of insanity.
"You have wondered why you see no women here? Yet hundreds of fair girls have passed through the portals of Bab-el-Shaitan. Where are they now? Ha ha ha!" the 巨大（な）'s sudden roar of 恐ろしい laughter 雷鳴d in the room.
"Many went to quench the ruby's かわき," said Skol, reaching for the ワイン jug, "or to become the brides of the Dead, the concubines of 古代の demons of the mountains and 砂漠s, who take fair girls only in death throes. Some I or my 軍人s 単に 疲れた／うんざりしたd of, and they were flung to the vultures."
Cormac sat, chin on mailed 握りこぶし, his dark brows lowering in disgust.
"Ha!" laughed the robber. "You do not laugh—are you thin-skinned, lord Frank? I have heard you spoken of as a desperate man. Wait until you have ridden with me for a few moons! Not for nothing am I 指名するd the Butcher! I have built a pyramid of skulls in my day! I have 厳しいd the necks of old men and old women, I have dashed out the brains of babes, I have ripped up women, I have 燃やすd children alive and sat them by 得点する／非難する／２０s on pointed 火刑／賭けるs! 注ぐ me ワイン, Frank."
"注ぐ your own damned ワイン," growled Cormac, his lip writhing 支援する 危険に.
"That would cost another man his 長，率いる," said Skol, reaching for his goblet. "You are rude of speech to your host and the man you have ridden so far to serve. Take care—rouse me not." Again he laughed his horrible laughter.
"These 塀で囲むs have re-echoed to 叫び声をあげるs of direst agony!" his 注目する，もくろむs began to 燃やす with a 無謀な and maddened light. "With these 手渡すs have I disemboweled men, torn out the tongues of children and ripped out the eyeballs of girls—thus!"
With a shriek of crazed laughter his 抱擁する 手渡す 発射 at Cormac's 直面する. With an 誓い the Norman caught the 巨大（な）'s wrist and bones creaked in that アイロンをかける 支配する. 新たな展開ing the arm viciously 負かす／撃墜する and aside with a 軍隊 that nearly tore it from its socket, Cormac flung Skol 支援する on the divan.
"Save your whims for your slaves, you drunken fool," the Norman rasped.
Skol sprawled on the divan, grinning like an idiotic ogre and trying to work his fingers which Cormac's savage しっかり掴む had numbed. The Norman rose and strode from the 議会 in 猛烈な／残忍な disgust; his last backward ちらりと見ること showed Skol fumbling with the ワイン jug, with one 手渡す still しっかり掴むing the 血 of Belshazzar, which cast a 悪意のある light all over the room.
The door shut behind Cormac and the Nubian cast him a sidelong, 怪しげな ちらりと見ること. The Norman shouted impatiently for Jacob, and the Jew bobbed up suddenly and apprehensively. His 直面する （疑いを）晴らすd when Cormac brusquely 需要・要求するd to be shown his 議会. As he tramped along the 明らかにする, たいまつ-lighted 回廊（地帯）s, Cormac heard sounds of revelry still going on below. Knives would be going before morning, 反映するd Cormac, and some would not see the rising of the sun. Yet the noises were neither as loud nor as 変化させるd as they had been when he left the 祝宴 hall; no 疑問 many were already senseless from strong drink.
Jacob turned aside and opened a 激しい door, his たいまつ 明らかにする／漏らすing a small 独房-like room, 明らかにする of hangings, with a sort of bunk on one 味方する; there was a 選び出す／独身 window, ひどく 閉めだした, and but one door. The Jew thrust the たいまつ into a niche of the 塀で囲む.
"Was the lord Skol pleased with you, my lord?" he asked nervously.
Cormac 悪口を言う／悪態d. "I 棒 over a hundred miles to join the most powerful raider in the Taurus, and I find only a ワイン-bibbing, drunken fool, fit only to howl 血まみれの 誇るs and blasphemies to the roof."
"Be careful, for God's sake, sir," Jacob shook from 長，率いる to foot. "These 塀で囲むs have ears! The 広大な／多数の／重要な prince has these strange moods, but he is a mighty 闘士，戦闘機 and a crafty man for all that. Do not 裁判官 him in his drunkenness. Did—did—did he speak aught of me?"
"Aye," answered Cormac at 無作為の, a whimsical grim humor striking him. "He said you only served him in hopes of stealing his ruby some day."
Jacob gasped as if Cormac had 攻撃する，衝突する him in the belly and the sudden pallor of his 直面する told the Norman his chance 発射 had gone home. The majordomo ducked out of the room like a 脅すd rabbit and it was in somewhat better humor that his tormentor turned to retire.
Looking out the window, Cormac ちらりと見ることd 負かす／撃墜する into the 中庭 where the animals were kept, at the stables wherein he had seen that his 広大な／多数の／重要な 黒人／ボイコット stallion had been placed. 満足させるd that the steed was 井戸／弁護士席 避難所d for the night, he lay 負かす／撃墜する on the bunk in 十分な armor, with his 保護物，者, helmet and sword beside him, as he was wont to sleep in strange 持つ／拘留するs. He had 閉めだした the door from within, but he put little 信用 in bolts and 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業s.
CORMAC had been asleep いっそう少なく than an hour when a sudden sound brought him wide awake and 警報. It was utterly dark in the 議会; even his keen 注目する，もくろむs could make out nothing, but someone or something was moving on him in the 不明瞭. He thought of the evil 評判 of Bab-el-Shaitan and a momentary shiver shook him—not of 恐れる but of superstitious revulsion.
Then his practical mind 主張するd itself. It was that fool Toghrul 旅宿泊所 who had slipped into his 議会 to 洗浄する his strange nomadic 栄誉（を受ける） by 殺人ing the man who had been given 優先 over him. Cormac 慎重に drew his 脚s about and 解除するd his 団体／死体 until he was sitting on the 味方する of the bunk. At the 動揺させる of his mail, the stealthy sounds 中止するd, but the Norman could visualize Toghrul 旅宿泊所's slant 注目する，もくろむs glittering snake-like in the dark. Doubtless he had already slit the throat of Jacob the Jew.
As 静かに as possible, Cormac 緩和するd the 激しい sword from its scabbard. Then as the 悪意のある sounds recommenced, he 緊張したd himself, made a swift 見積（る） of 場所, and leaped like a 抱擁する tiger, smiting blindly and terribly in the dark. He had 裁判官d 正確に. He felt the sword strike solidly, crunching through flesh and bone, and a 団体／死体 fell ひどく in the 不明瞭.
Feeling for flint and steel, he struck 解雇する／砲火／射撃 to tinder and lighted the たいまつ, then turning to the crumpled 形態／調整 in the 中心 of the room, he 停止（させる）d in amazement. The man who lay there in a 広げるing pool of crimson was tall, powerfully built and hairy as an ape—Kadra Muhammad. The Lur's scimitar was in his scabbard, but a wicked dagger lay by his 権利 手渡す.
"He had no quarrel with me," growled Cormac, puzzled. "What—" He stopped again. The door was still bolted from within, but in what had been a blank 塀で囲む to the casual gaze, a 黒人／ボイコット 開始 gaped—a secret doorway through which Kadra Muhammad had come. Cormac の近くにd it and with sudden 目的 pulled his coif in place and donned his helmet. Then taking up his 保護物，者, he opened the door and strode 前へ／外へ into the たいまつ-lighted 回廊（地帯）. All was silence, broken only by the tramp of his アイロンをかける-覆う？ feet on the 明らかにする 旗s. The sounds of revelry had 中止するd and a ghostly stillness hung over Bab-el- Shaitan.
In a few minutes he stood before the door of Skol Abdhur's 議会 and saw there what he had half-推定する／予想するd. The Nubian Abdullah lay before the threshold, disemboweled, and his woolly 長，率いる half 厳しいd from his 団体／死体. Cormac thrust open the door; the candles still 燃やすd. On the 床に打ち倒す, in the 血- soaked 廃虚s of the torn divan lay the gashed and naked 団体／死体 of Skol Abdhur the Butcher. The 死体 was 削除するd and 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセスd horribly, but it was evident to Cormac that Skol had died in drunken sleep with no chance to fight for his life. It was some obscure hysteria or frantic 憎悪 that had led his slayer or slayers to so disfigure his dead 団体／死体. His 衣料品s lay 近づく him; they had been ripped to shreds. The Norman-Celt smiled grimply to himself, nodding. smiled grimly, nodding.
"So the 血 of Belshazzar drank your life at last, Skol," said he.
Turning toward the doorway he again scanned the 団体／死体 of the Nubian.
"More than one slew these men," he muttered, "and the Nubian gave scathe to one, at least."
The 黒人／ボイコット still gripped his 広大な／多数の／重要な scimitar, and the 辛勝する／優位 was nicked and bloodstained.
At that moment a quick 動揺させる of steps sounded on the 旗s and the affrighted 直面する of Jacob peered in at the door. His 注目する，もくろむs ゆらめくd wide and he opened his mouth to the widest extent to give vent to an ear-piercing screech.
"Shut up, you fool," snarled Cormac disgusted, but Jacob gibbered wildly.
"Spare my life, most noble lord! I will not tell anyone that you slew Skol—I 断言する—"
"Be 静かな, Jew," growled Cormac. "I did not 殺す Skol and I will not 害（を与える） you."
This somewhat 安心させるd Jacob, whose 注目する，もくろむs 狭くするd with sudden avarice.
"Have you 設立する the gem?" he chattered, running into the 議会. "Swift, let us search for it and begone—I should not have shrieked but I 恐れるd the noble lord would 殺す me—yet perchance it was not heard—"
"It was heard," growled the Norman. "And here are the 軍人s."
The tramp of many hurried feet was heard and a second later the door was thronged with bearded 直面するs. Cormac 公式文書，認めるd the men blinked and gaped like フクロウs, more like men roused from 深い sleep than drunken men. Bleary-注目する，もくろむd, they gripped their 武器s and ogled, a ragged, bemused horde. Jacob shrank 支援する, trying to flatten himself against the 塀で囲む, while Cormac 直面するd them, bloodstained sword still in his 手渡す.
"Allah!" ejaculated a Kurd, rubbing his 注目する，もくろむs. "The Frank and the Jew have 殺人d Skol!"
"A 嘘（をつく）," growled Cormac menacingly. "I know not who slew this drunkard."
Tisolino di Strozza （機の）カム into the 議会, followed by the other 長，指導者s. Cormac saw Nadir Tous, Kojar Mirza, Shalmar Khor, Yussef el Mekru and Justus Zenor. Toghrul 旅宿泊所, Kai Shah and Musa 貯蔵所 Daoud were nowhere in 証拠, and where Kadra Muhammad was, the Norman 井戸／弁護士席 knew.
"The jewel!" exclaimed an Armenian excitedly. "Let us look for the gem!"
"Be 静かな, fool," snapped Nadir Tous, a light of baffled fury growing in his 注目する，もくろむs. "Skol has been stripped; be sure who slew him took the gem."
All 注目する，もくろむs turned toward Cormac.
"Skol was a hard master," said Tisolino. "Give us the jewel, lord Cormac, and you may go your way in peace."
Cormac swore 怒って; had not, he thought, even as he replied, the Venetian's 注目する，もくろむs 広げるd when they first fell on him?
"I have not your 悪口を言う／悪態d jewel; Skol was dead when I （機の）カム to his room."
"Aye," jeered Kojar Mirza, "and 血 still wet on your blade." He pointed accusingly at the 武器 in Cormac's 手渡す, whose blue steel, traced with Norse runes, was stained a dull red.
"That is the 血 of Kadra Muhammad," growled Cormac, "who stole into my 独房 to 殺す me and whose 死体 now lies there."
His 注目する，もくろむs were 直す／買収する，八百長をするd with 猛烈な／残忍な intensity on di Strozza's 直面する but the Venetian's 表現 altered not a whit.
"I will go to the 議会 and see if he speaks truth," said di Strozza, and Nadir Tous smiled a deadly smile.
"You will remain here," said the Persian, and his ruffians の近くにd menacingly around the tall Venetian. "Go you, Selim." And one of his men went 不平（をいう）ing. Di Strozza 発射 a swift ちらりと見ること of terrible 憎悪 and 抑えるd wrath at Nadir Tous, then stood imperturbably; but Cormac knew that the Venetian was wild to escape from that room.
"There have been strange things done tonight in Bab-el-Shaitan," growled Shalmar Khor. "Where are Kai Shah and the Syrian—and that pagan from Tartary? And who drugged the ワイン?"
"Aye!" exclaimed Nadir Tous, "who drugged the ワイン which sent us all into the sleep from which we but a few moments ago awakened? And how is it that you, di Strozza, were awake when the 残り／休憩（する） of us slept?"
"I have told you, I drank the ワイン and fell asleep like the 残り／休憩（する） of you," answered the Venetian coldly. "I awoke a few moments earlier, that is all, and was going to my 議会 when the horde of you （機の）カム along."
"Mayhap," answered Nadir Tous, "but we had to put a scimitar 辛勝する／優位 to your throat before you would come with us."
"Why did you wish to come to Skol's 議会 anyway?" 反対するd di Strozza.
"Why," answered the Persian, "when we awoke and realized we had been drugged, Shalmar Khor 示唆するd that we go to Skol's 議会 and see if he had flown with the jewel—"
"You 嘘（をつく）!" exclaimed the Circassian. "That was Kojar Mirza who said that—"
"Why this 延期する and argument!" cried Kojar Mirza. "We know this Frank was the last to be 認める to Skol this night. There is 血 on his blade—we 設立する him standing above the 殺害された! 削減（する） him 負かす／撃墜する!"
And 製図／抽選 his scimitar he stepped 今後, his 軍人s 殺到するing in behind him. Cormac placed his 支援する to the 塀で囲む and を締めるd his feet to 会合，会う the 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金. But it did not come; the 緊張した 人物／姿／数字 of the 巨大（な） Norman-Gael was so fraught with brooding menace, the 注目する，もくろむs glaring so terribly above the skull- adorned 保護物，者, that even the wild Kurd 滞るd and hesitated, though a 得点する／非難する／２０ of men thronged the room and many more than that number 群れているd in the 回廊（地帯） outside. And as he wavered the Persian Selim 肘d his way through the 禁止（する）d, shouting: "The Frank spoke truth! Kadra Muhammad lies dead in the lord Cormac's 議会!"
"That 証明するs nothing," said the Venetian 静かに. "He might have 殺害された Skol after he slew the Lur."
An uneasy and bristling silence 統治するd for an instant. Cormac 公式文書，認めるd that now Skol lay dead, the different 派閥s made no 試みる／企てる to 隠す their differences. Nadir Tous, Kojar Mirza and Shalmar Khor stood apart from each other and their 信奉者s bunched behind them in glaring, 武器-thumbing groups. Yussef el Mekru and Justus Zehor stood aside, looking 決めかねて; only di Strozza seemed oblivious to this cleavage of the robber 禁止（する）d.
The Venetian was about to say more, when another 人物／姿／数字 shouldered men aside and strode in. It was the Seljuk, Kai Shah, and Cormac 公式文書，認めるd that he 欠如（する）d his mail shirt and that his 衣料品s were different from those he had worn earlier in the night. More, his left arm was 包帯d and bound の近くに to his chest and his dark 直面する was somewhat pale.
At the sight of him di Strozza's 静める for the first time 砂漠d him; he started violently.
"Where is Musa 貯蔵所 Daoud?" he exclaimed, and the Turk echoed him 怒って.
"Aye! Where is Musa 貯蔵所 Daoud?"
"I left him with you!" cried di Strozza ひどく, while the others gaped, not understanding this byplay.
"But you planned with him to elude me," （刑事）被告 the Seljuk.
"You are mad!" shouted di Strozza, losing his self-支配（する）／統制する 完全に.
"Mad?" snarled the Turk. "I have been searching for the dog through the dark 回廊（地帯）s. If you and he are 事実上の／代理 in good 約束, why did you not return to the 議会, when you went 前へ／外へ to 会合，会う Kadra Muhammad whom we heard coming along the 回廊（地帯）? When you （機の）カム not 支援する I stepped to the door to peer out for you, and when I turned 支援する, Musa had darted through some secret 開始 like a ネズミ—"
Di Strozza almost frothed at the mouth. "You fool!" he 叫び声をあげるd, "keep silent!"
"I will see you in Gehennum and all our throats 削減（する） before I let you cozen me!" roared the Turk, ripping out his scimitar. "What have you done with Musa?"
"You fool of Hell," raved di Strozza, "I have been in this 議会 ever since I left you! You knew that Syrian dog would play us 誤った if he got the 適切な時期 and—"
And at that instant when the 空気／公表する was already supercharged with 緊張, a terrified slave 急ぐd in at a blind, つまずくing run, to 落ちる gibbering at di Strozza's feet.
"The gods!" he howled. "The 黒人／ボイコット gods! Aie! The cavern under the 床に打ち倒すs and the djinn in the 激しく揺する!"
"What are you yammering about, dog?" roared the Venetian, knocking the slave to the 床に打ち倒す with an open-手渡すd blow.
"I 設立する the forbidden door open," screeched the fellow. "A stair goes 負かす／撃墜する—it leads into a fearful cavern with a terrible altar on which frown gigantic demons—and at the foot of the stairs—the lord Musa—"
"What!" di Strozza's 注目する，もくろむs 炎d and he shook the slave as a dog shakes a ネズミ.
"Dead!" gasped the wretch between chattering teeth.
悪口を言う／悪態ing terribly, di Strozza knocked men aside in his 急ぐ to the door; with a vengeful howl Kai Shah pelted after him, 削除するing 権利 and left to （疑いを）晴らす a way. Men gave 支援する from his flashing blade, howling as the keen 辛勝する／優位 slit their 肌s. The Venetian and his erstwhile comrade ran 負かす／撃墜する the 回廊（地帯）, di Strozza dragging the 叫び声をあげるing slave after him, and the 残り／休憩（する） of the pack gave tongue in 激怒（する） and bewilderment and took after them. Cormac swore in amazement and followed, 決定するd to see the mad game through.
負かす／撃墜する winding 回廊（地帯）s di Strozza led the pack, 負かす／撃墜する 幅の広い stairs, until he （機の）カム to a 抱擁する アイロンをかける door that now swung open. Here the horde hesitated.
"This is in truth the forbidden door," muttered an Armenian. "The brand is on my 支援する that Skol put there 単に because I ぐずぐず残るd too long before it once."
"Aye," agreed a Persian. "It leads into places once 調印（する）d up by the Arabs long ago. 非，不，無 but Skol ever passed through that door—he and the Nubian and the 捕虜s who （機の）カム not 前へ／外へ. It is a haunt of devils."
Di Strozza snarled in disgust and strode through the doorway. He had snatched a たいまつ as he ran and he held this high in one 手渡す. 幅の広い steps showed, 主要な downward, and 削減（する） out of solid 激しく揺する. They were on the lower 床に打ち倒す of the 城; these steps led into the bowels of the earth. As di Strozza strode 負かす／撃墜する, dragging the howling, naked slave, the high-held たいまつ lighting the 黒人／ボイコット 石／投石する steps and casting long 影をつくる／尾行するs into the 不明瞭 before them, the Venetian looked like a demon dragging a soul into Hell.
Kai Shah was の近くに behind him with his drawn scimitar, with Nadir Tous and Kojar Mirza （人が）群がるing him の近くに. The ragged 乗組員 had, with unaccustomed 儀礼, drawn 支援する to let the lord Cormac through and now they followed, uneasily and casting apprehensive ちらりと見ることs to all 味方するs.
Many carried たいまつs, and as their light flowed into the depths below a medley of affrighted yells went up. From the 不明瞭 抱擁する evil 注目する，もくろむs 微光d and titanic 形態／調整s ぼんやり現れるd ばく然と in the gloom. The 暴徒 wavered, ready to 殺到, but di Strozza strode stolidly downward and the pack called on Allah and followed. Now the light showed a 抱擁する cavern in the 中心 of which stood a 黒人／ボイコット and utterly abhorrent altar, hideously stained, and 側面に位置するd with grinning skulls laid out in strangely systematic lines. The horrific 人物／姿／数字s were 公表する／暴露するd to be 抱擁する images, carved from the solid 激しく揺する of the cavern 塀で囲むs, strange, bestial, gigantic gods, whose 抱擁する 注目する，もくろむs of some glassy 実体 caught the torchlight.
The Celtic 血 in Cormac sent a shiver 負かす／撃墜する his spine. Alexander built the 創立／基礎s of this 要塞? Bah—no Grecian ever carved such gods as these. No; an aura of unspeakable antiquity brooded over this grim cavern, as if the forbidden door were a mystic threshold over which the adventurer stepped into an 年上の world. No wonder mad dreams were here bred in the frenzied brain of Skol Abdhur. These gods were grim 痕跡s of an older, darker race than Roman or Hellene—a people long faded into the gloom of antiquity. Phrygians—Lydians—Hittites? Or some still more 古代の, more abysmal people?
The age of Alexander was as 夜明け before these 古代の 人物／姿／数字s, yet doubtless he 屈服するd to these gods, as he 屈服するd to many gods before his maddened brain made himself a deity.
At the foot of the stairs lay a crumpled 形態／調整—Musa 貯蔵所 Daoud. His 直面する was 新たな展開d in horror. A medley of shouts went up: "The djinn have taken the Syrian! Let us begone! This is an evil place!"
"Be silent, you fools!" roared Nadir Tous. "A mortal blade slew Musa—see, he has been 削除するd through the breast and his bones are broken. See how he lies. Someone slew him and flung him 負かす／撃墜する the stairs—"
The Persian's 発言する／表明する 追跡するd off, as his gaze followed his own pointing fingers. Musa's left arm was outstretched and his fingers had been 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセスd away.
"He held something in that 手渡す," whispered Nadir Tous. "So hard he gripped it that his slayer was 軍隊d to 削減（する） off his fingers to 得る it—"
Men thrust たいまつs into niches on the 塀で囲む and （人が）群がるd nearer, their superstitious 恐れるs forgotten.
"Aye!" exclaimed Cormac, having pieced together some of the bits of the puzzle in his mind. "It was the gem! Musa and Kai Shah and di Strozza killed Skol, and Musa had the gem. There was 血 on Abdullah's sword and Kai Shah has a broken arm—粉々にするd by the sweep of the Nubian's 広大な／多数の／重要な scimitar. Whoever slew Musa has the gem."
Di Strozza 叫び声をあげるd like a 負傷させるd panther. He shook the wretched slave.
"Dog, have you the gem?"
The slave began a frenzied 否定, but his 発言する／表明する broke in a 恐ろしい gurgle as di Strozza, in a very fit of madness, jerked his sword 辛勝する／優位 across the wretch's throat and flung the 血-spurting 団体／死体 from him. The Venetian whirled on Kai Shah.
"You slew Musa!" he 叫び声をあげるd. "He was with you last! You have the gem!"
"You 嘘（をつく）!" exclaimed the Turk, his dark 直面する an ashy pallor. "You slew him yourself—"
His words ended in a gasp as di Strozza, 泡，激怒することing at the mouth and all sanity gone from his 注目する，もくろむs, ran his sword straight through the Turk's 団体／死体. Kai Shah swayed like a sapling in the 勝利，勝つd; then as di Strozza withdrew the blade, the Seljuk 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセスd through the Venetian's 寺, and as Kai Shah reeled, dying on his feet but 粘着するing to life with the tenacity of the Turk, Nadir Tous leaped like a panther and beneath his flashing scimitar Kai Shah dropped dead across the dead Venetian.
Forgetting all else in his lust for the gem, Nadir Tous bent over his 犠牲者, 涙／ほころびing at his 衣料品s—bent その上の as if in a 深い salaam and sank 負かす／撃墜する on the dead men, his own skull 分裂（する） to the teeth by Kojar Mirza's 一打／打撃. The Kurd bent to search the Turk, but straightened 速く to 会合，会う the attack of Shalmar Khor. In an instant the scene was one of ravening madness, where men 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセスd and slew and died blindly. The flickering たいまつs lit the scene, and Cormac, 支援 away toward the stairs, swore amazedly. He had seen men go mad before, but this 越えるd anything he had ever 証言，証人／目撃するd.
Kojar Mirza slew Selim and 負傷させるd a Circassian, but Shalmar Khor 削除するd through his arm-muscles, Justus Zehor ran in and stabbed the Kurd in the ribs, and Kojar Mirza went 負かす／撃墜する, snapping like a dying wolf, to be 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセスd to pieces.
Justus Zehor and Yussef el Mekru seemed to have taken 味方するs at last; the Georgian had thrown in his lot with Shalmar Khor, while the Arab 決起大会／結集させるd to him the Kurds and Turks. But besides these loosely knit 禁止（する）d of 競争相手s, さまざまな 軍人s, おもに the Persians of Nadir Tous, 激怒（する）d through the 争い, 泡，激怒することing at the mouth and striking all impartially. In an instant a dozen men were 負かす／撃墜する, dying and trampled by the living. Justus Zehor fought with a long knife in each 手渡す and he wrought red havoc before he sank, skull cleft, throat 削除するd and belly ripped up.
Even while they fought, the 軍人s had managed to 涙／ほころび to shreds the 着せる／賦与するing of Kai Shah and di Strozza. Finding naught there, they howled like wolves and fell to their deadly work with new frenzy. A madness was on them; each time a man fell, others 掴むd him, ripping his 衣料品s apart in search for the gem, 削除するing at each other as they did so.
Cormac saw Jacob trying to steal to the stairs, and even as the Norman decided to 身を引く himself, a thought （機の）カム to the brain of Yussef el Mekru. Arab-like, the Yemenite had fought more coolly than the others, and perhaps he had, even in the frenzy of 戦闘, decided on his own 利益／興味s. かもしれない, seeing that all the leaders were 負かす／撃墜する except Shalmar Khor, he decided it would be best to 再会させる the 禁止（する）d, if possible, and it could be best done by directing their attention against a ありふれた 敵. Perhaps he honestly thought that since the gem had not been 設立する, Cormac had it. At any 率, the Sheikh suddenly tore away and pointing a lean arm toward the 巨大（な） 人物／姿／数字 at the foot of the stairs, 叫び声をあげるd:
"Allahu akbar!"
It was good Moslem psychology. There was an instant of bewildered pause in the 戦う／戦い, then a bloodthirsty howl went up and from a 絡まるd 戦う／戦い of 競争相手 派閥s, the brawl became 即時に a 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of a solid compact 団体／死体 that 急ぐd wild-注目する，もくろむd on Cormac howling: "殺す the Caphar!"
Cormac snarled in disgusted irritation. He should have 心配するd that. No time to escape now; he を締めるd himself and met the 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金. A Kurd, 急ぐing in headlong, was impaled on the Norman's long blade, and a 巨大（な） Circassian, 投げつけるing his 十分な 負わせる on the 道具-形態／調整d 保護物，者, 回復するd as from an アイロンをかける tower. Cormac 雷鳴d his 戦う／戦い cry, "Cloigeand abu," (Gaelic: "The skull to victory.") in a 深い-トンd roar that 溺死するd the howls of the Moslems; he 解放する／自由なd his blade and swung the 激しい 武器 in a 衝突，墜落ing arc. Swords shivered to singing 誘発するs and the 軍人s gave 支援する. They 急落（する），激減（する）d on again as Yussef el Mekru 攻撃するd them with 燃やすing words. A big Armenian broke his sword on Cormac's helmet and went 負かす／撃墜する with his skull 分裂（する）. A Turk 削除するd at the Norman's 直面する and howled as his wrist was caught on the Norse sword, and the 手渡す flew from it.
Cormac's 弁護 was his armor, the unshakable immovability of his 姿勢, and his 衝突，墜落ing blows. 長，率いる bent, 注目する，もくろむs glaring above the 縁 of his 保護物，者, he made scant 成果／努力 to parry or 避ける blows. He took them on his helmet or his 保護物，者 and struck 支援する with thunderous 力／強力にする. Now Shalmar Khor smote 十分な on his helmet with every ounce of his 広大な／多数の／重要な rangy 団体／死体 behind the blow, and the scimitar bit through the steel cap, notching on the coif links beneath. It was a blow that might have felled an ox, yet Cormac, though half- stunned, stood like a man of アイロンをかける and struck 支援する with all the 力／強力にする of arm and shoulders. The Circassian flung up his 一連の会議、交渉／完成する buckler but it availed not. Cormac's 激しい sword sheared through the buckler, 厳しいd the arm that held it and 衝突，墜落d 十分な on the Circassian's helmet, 粉々にするing both steel cap and the skull beneath.
But 解雇する／砲火／射撃d by fanatical fury 同様に as greed, the Moslems 圧力（をかける）d in. They got behind him. Cormac staggered as a 激しい 負わせる landed 十分な on his shoulders. A Kurd had stolen up the stairs and leaped from them 十分な on to the Frank's 支援する. Now he clung like an ape, slavering 悪口を言う／悪態s and 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセスing wildly at Cormac's neck with his long knife.
The Norman's sword was wedged 深い in a 分裂（する） breastbone and he struggled ひどく to 解放する／自由な it. His hood was saving him so far from the knife 一打／打撃s of the man on his 支援する, but men were 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセスing at him from all 味方するs and Yussef el Mekru, 泡，激怒すること on his 耐えるd, was 急ぐing upon him. Cormac drove his 保護物，者 上向き, catching a frothing Moslem under the chin with the 縁 and 粉々にするing his jawbone, and almost at the same instant the Norman bent his helmeted 長，率いる 今後 and jerked it 支援する with all the strength of his mighty neck, and the 支援する of his helmet 鎮圧するd the 直面する of the Kurd on his 支援する. Cormac felt the clutching 武器 relax; his sword was 解放する／自由な, but a Lur was 粘着するing to his 権利 arm—they hemmed him in so he could not step 支援する, and Yussef el Mekru was 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセスing at his 直面する and throat. He 始める，決める his teeth and 解除するd his sword-arm, swinging the 粘着するing Lur （疑いを）晴らす of the 床に打ち倒す. Yussef's scimitar rasped on his bent helmet—his hauberk—his coif links—the Arab's swordplay was like the flickering of light and in a moment it was 必然的な that the 炎上ing blade would 沈む home. And still the Lur clung, ape-like, to Cormac's mighty arm.
Something whispered across the Norman's shoulder and thudded solidly. Yussef el Mekru gasped and swayed, clawing at the 厚い 軸 that protruded from his 激しい 耐えるd. 血 burst from his parted lips and he fell dying. The man 粘着するing to Cormac's arm jerked convulsively and fell away. The 圧力（をかける） slackened. Cormac, panting, stepped 支援する and 伸び（る）d the stairs. A ちらりと見ること 上向き showed him Toghrul 旅宿泊所 standing on the 上陸 bending a 激しい 屈服する. The Norman hesitated; at that 範囲 the Mongol could 運動 a 軸 through his mail.
"Haste, bogatyr," （機の）カム the nomad's gutturals. "Up the stairs!"
At that instant Jacob started running fleetly for the 不明瞭 beyond the flickering たいまつs; three steps he took before the 屈服する twanged. The Jew 叫び声をあげるd and went 負かす／撃墜する as though struck by a 巨大（な）'s 手渡す; the 軸 had struck between his fat shoulders and gone （疑いを）晴らす through him.
Cormac was 支援 warily up the stairs, 直面するing his 敵s who clustered at the foot of the steps, dazed and uncertain. Toghrul 旅宿泊所 crouched on the 上陸, beady 注目する，もくろむs a-glitter, 軸 on string, and men hesitated. But one dared—a tall Turkoman with the 注目する，もくろむs of a mad dog. Whether greed for the gem he thought Cormac carried, or fanatical hate sent him leaping into the teeth of sword and arrow, he sprang howling up the stairs, 解除するing high a 激しい アイロンをかける-を締めるd 保護物，者. Toghrul 旅宿泊所 loosed, but the 軸 ちらりと見ることd from the metal work, and Cormac, を締めるing his 脚s again, struck downward with all his 力／強力にする. 誘発するs flashed as the 負かす／撃墜する-衝突，墜落ing sword 粉々にするd the 保護物，者 and dashed the onrushing Turkoman headlong to 嘘（をつく） stunned and 血まみれのd at the foot of the stairs.
Then as the 軍人s fingered their 武器s undecidedly, Cormac 伸び（る）d the 上陸, and Norman and Mongol 支援するd together out of the door which Toghrul 旅宿泊所 slammed behind them. A wild medley of wolfish yells burst out from below and the Mongol, slamming a 激しい bolt in place, growled: "速く, bogatyr! It will be some minutes before those dog-brothers can 乱打する 負かす／撃墜する the door. Let us begone!"
He led the way at a swift run along a 回廊（地帯）, through a series of 議会s, and flung open a 閉めだした door. Cormac saw that they had come into the 中庭, flooded now by the gray light of 夜明け. A man stood 近づく, 持つ／拘留するing two horses—the 広大な／多数の／重要な 黒人／ボイコット stallion of Cormac's and the Mongol's wiry roan. Leaning の近くに Cormac saw that the man's 直面する was 包帯d so that only one 注目する，もくろむ showed.
"Haste," Toghrul 旅宿泊所 was 勧めるing. "The slave saddled my 開始する, but yours he could not saddle because of the savagery of the beast. The serf is to go with us."
Cormac made haste to 従う; then swinging into the saddle he gave the fellow a 手渡す and the slave sprang up behind him. The strangely assorted companions 雷鳴d across the 中庭 just as 激怒（する）ing 人物／姿／数字s burst through the doorway through which they had come.
"No 歩哨s at the gates this night," grunted the Mongol.
They pulled up at the wide gates and the slave sprang 負かす／撃墜する to open them. He swung the portals wide, took a 選び出す／独身 step toward the 黒人／ボイコット stallion and went 負かす／撃墜する, dead before he struck the ground. A crossbow bolt had 粉々にするd his skull, and Cormac, wheeling with a 悪口を言う／悪態, saw a Moslem ひさまづくing on one of the bastions, 目的（とする）ing his 武器. Even as he looked, Toghrul 旅宿泊所 rose in his stirrups, drew a 軸 to the 長，率いる and loosed. The Moslem dropped his arbalest and pitched headlong from the battlement.
With a 猛烈な／残忍な yell the Mongol wheeled away and 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d through the gates, Cormac の近くに at his heels. Behind them sounded a wild and wolfish babble as the 軍人s 急ぐd about the 中庭, 捜し出すing to find and saddle 開始するs.
"LOOK!" The companions had covered some miles of wild gorges and 背信の slopes, without 審理，公聴会 any sound of 追跡. Toghrul 旅宿泊所 pointed 支援する. The sun had risen in the east, but behind them a red glow 競争相手d the sun.
"The Gate of Erlik 燃やすs," said the Mongol. "They will not 追跡（する） us, those dog-brothers. They stopped to 略奪する the 城 and fight one another; some fool has 始める，決める the 持つ／拘留する on 解雇する／砲火／射撃."
"There is much I do not understand," said Cormac slowly. "Let us 精査する truth from lies. That di Strozza, Kai Shah and Musa killed Skol is evident, also that they sent Kadra Muhammad to 殺す me—why, I know not. But I do not understand what Kai Shah meant by 説 that they heard Kadra Muhammad coming 負かす／撃墜する the 回廊（地帯）, and that di Strozza went 前へ／外へ to 会合，会う him, for surely at that moment Kadra Muhammad lay dead on my 議会 床に打ち倒す. And I believe that both Kai Shah and the Venetian spoke truth when they 否定するd 殺すing Musa."
"Aye," 定評のある the Mongol. "Harken, lord Frank: scarcely had you gone up to Skol's 議会 last night, when Musa the scribe left the 祝宴 hall and soon returned with slaves who bore a 広大な／多数の／重要な bowl of spiced ワイン—用意が出来ている in the Syrian way, said the scribe, and the steaming scent of it was pleasant.
"But I 公式文書，認めるd that neither he nor Kadra Muhammad drank of it, and when Kai Shah and di Strozza 急落（する），激減（する）d in their goblets, they only pretended to drink. So when I raised my goblet to my lips, I 匂いをかぐd long and 内密に and smelled therein a very rare 麻薬—aye, one I had thought was known only to the magicians of Cathay. It makes 深い sleep and Musa must have 得るd a small 量 in some （警察の）手入れ，急襲 on a caravan from the East. So I did not drink of the ワイン, but all the others drank saving those I have について言及するd, and soon men began to grow drowsy, though the 麻薬 行為／法令／行動するd slowly, 存在 weak in that it was 分配するd の中で so many.
"Soon I went to my 議会 which a slave showed me, and squatting on my bunk, 工夫するd a 計画（する） of vengeance in my mind, for because that dog of a Jew put shame upon me before the lords, hot 怒り／怒る 燃やすd in my heart so that I could not sleep. Soon I heard one staggering past my door as a drunkard staggers, but this one whined like a dog in 苦痛. I went 前へ／外へ and 設立する a slave whose 注目する，もくろむ, he said, his master had torn out. I have some knowledge of 負傷させるs, so I 洗浄するd and 包帯d his empty socket, 緩和 his 苦痛, for which he would have kissed my feet.
"Then I bethought me of the 侮辱 which had been put upon me, and 願望（する）d the slave to show me where slept the fat hog, Jacob. He did so, and 場内取引員／株価 the 議会 in my mind, I turned again and went with the slave into the 中庭 where the beasts were kept. 非，不，無 妨げるd us, for all were in the feasting-hall and their din was growing lesser 速く. In the stables I 設立する four swift horses, ready saddled—the 開始するs of di Strozza and his comrades. And the slave told me, その上に, that there were no guards at the gates that night—di Strozza had bidden all to feast in the 広大な／多数の／重要な hall. So I bade the slave saddle my steed and have it ready, and also your 黒人／ボイコット stallion which I coveted.
"Then I returned into the 城 and heard no sound; all those who had drunk of the ワイン slept in the sleep of the 麻薬. I 機動力のある to the upper 回廊（地帯）s, even to Jacob's 議会, but when I entered to slit his fat throat, he was not sleeping there. I think he was guzzling ワイン with the slaves in some lower part of the 城.
"I went along the 回廊（地帯）s searching for him, and suddenly saw ahead of me a 議会 door partly open, through which shone light, and I heard the 発言する／表明する of the Venetian speak: 'Kadra Muhammad is approaching; I will 企て，努力，提案 him 急いで.'
"I did not 願望（する） to 会合，会う these men, so I turned quickly 負かす／撃墜する a 味方する 回廊（地帯）, 審理，公聴会 di Strozza call the 指名する of Kadra Muhammad softly and as if puzzled. Then he （機の）カム 速く 負かす／撃墜する the 回廊（地帯）, as if to see whose footfalls it was he heard, and I went hurriedly before him, crossing the 上陸 of a wide stair which led up from the feasting-hall, and entered another 回廊（地帯） where I 停止（させる）d in the 影をつくる／尾行するs and watched.
"Di Strozza （機の）カム to the 上陸 and paused, like a man bewildered, and at that moment an 激しい抗議 went up from below. The Venetian turned to escape but the waking drunkards had seen him. Just as I had thought, the 麻薬 was too weak to keep them sleeping long, and now they realized they had been drugged and 嵐／襲撃するd bewilderedly up the stairs and laid 持つ／拘留する on di Strozza, 告発する／非難するing him of many things and making him …を伴って them to Skol's 議会. Me they did not 秘かに調査する.
"Still 捜し出すing Jacob, I went 速く 負かす／撃墜する the 回廊（地帯） at 無作為の and coming の上に a 狭くする stairway, （機の）カム at last to the ground 床に打ち倒す and a dark tunnel-like 回廊（地帯） which ran past a most strange door. And then sounded quick footsteps and as I drew 支援する in the 影をつくる／尾行するs, there （機の）カム one in panting haste—the Syrian Musa, who gripped a scimitar in his 権利 手渡す and something hidden in his left.
"He fumbled with the door until it opened; then 解除するing his 長，率いる, he saw me and crying out wildly he 削除するd at me with his scimitar. Erlik! I had no quarrel with the man, but he was as one maddened by 恐れる. I struck with the naked steel, and he, 存在 の近くに to the 上陸 inside the door, pitched headlong 負かす／撃墜する the stairs.
"Then I was desirous of learning what he held so tightly in his left 手渡す, so I followed him 負かす／撃墜する the stairs. Erlik! That was an evil place, dark and 十分な of glaring 注目する，もくろむs and strange 影をつくる／尾行するs. The hair on my 長，率いる stood up but I gripped my steel, calling on the Lords of 不明瞭 and the high places. Musa's dead 手渡す still gripped what he held so 堅固に that I was 軍隊d to 削減（する） off the fingers. Then I went 支援する up the stairs and out the same way by which we later escaped from the 城, and 設立する the slave ready with my 開始する, but unable to saddle yours.
"I was loath to 出発／死 without avenging my 侮辱, and as I ぐずぐず残るd I heard the 衝突／不一致 of steel within the 持つ／拘留する. And I stole 支援する and （機の）カム to the forbidden stair again while the fighting was fiercest below. All were 攻撃する，非難するing you, and though my heart was hot against you, because you had been given preference over me, I warmed to your valor. Aye, you are a hero, bogatyr!"
"Then it was thus, 明らかに," mused the Frank, "di Strozza and his comrades had it 井戸／弁護士席 planned out—they drugged the ワイン, called the guards from the 塀で囲むs, and had their horses ready for swift flight. As I had not drunk the drugged ワイン, they sent the Lur to 殺す me. The other three killed Skol and in the fight Kai Shah was 負傷させるd—Musa took the gem doubtless because neither Kai Shah nor the Venetian would 信用 it to the other.
"After the 殺人, they must have retired into a 議会 to 包帯 Kai Shah's arm, and while there they heard you coming along the 回廊（地帯） and thought it the Lur. Then when di Strozza followed he was 掴むd by the waking 強盗団の一味, as you say—no wonder he was wild to be gone from Skol's 議会! And 一方／合間 Musa gave Kai Shah the slip somehow, meaning to have the gem for himself. But what of the gem?"
"Look!" the nomad held out his 手渡す in which a 悪意のある crimson glow throbbed and pulsed like a living thing in the 早期に sun.
"The 血 of Belshazzar," said Toghrul 旅宿泊所. "Greed for this slew Skol and 恐れる born of this evil thing slew Musa; for, escaping from his comrades, he thought the 手渡す of all men against him and attacked me, when he could have gone on unmolested. Did he think to remain hidden in the cavern until he could slip away, or does some tunnel 収容する／認める to outer 空気／公表する?
"井戸／弁護士席, this red 石／投石する is evil—one can not eat it or drink it or 着せる／賦与する himself with it, or use it as a 武器, yet many men have died for it. Look—I will cast it away." The Mongol turned to fling the gem over the 瀬戸際 of the dizzy precipice past which they were riding. Cormac caught his arm.
"Nay—if you do not want it, let me have it."
"Willingly," but the Mongol frowned. "My brother would wear the gaud?"
Cormac laughed すぐに and Toghrul 旅宿泊所 smiled.
"I understand; you will buy 好意 from your 暴君."
"Bah!" Cormac growled, "I buy 好意 with my sword. No." He grinned, 井戸／弁護士席 pleased. "This trinket will 支払う／賃金 the 身代金 of Sir Rupert de Vaile to the 長，指導者 who now 持つ／拘留するs him 捕虜."
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