THE CAVE OF WHISPERING MADNESS
Throughout the night Alan watched. Never did Kulmervan move from his place in the clearing—never did his close did he the to sleep. Towards Waiko himself from the ground. He was to look upon. Led on by a will the had come upon him also. But it was a than that which Kulmervan—it was a that and in the sun, that laughed and insanely—a that was to behold.
Alan through the branches, and as the rose, many times he met Chlorie’s with looks of and help. And she that when the time was ripe, this Lord from another world would save and deliver her.
As Kulmervan still no attempt to move, Alan it would be possible to him. He a movement and the was heard. Kulmervan to his and looked round, and Alan saw he was the of a tree—a in a madman’s hands. He was not satisfied, and the tree carefully. Quietly Alan a large bush, and on his he himself it until he was hidden.
The of a was by the madman, who, with his was a enemy. He spoke to Waiko. “What is that, my Waiko? Is it the that us?”
“I know not,” said Waiko shuddering. “Oh, 271Kulmervan, my friend, let us the Ipso-Rorka here, and from the of her father.”
“Nonsense, my Waiko! When the Rorka is told that his daughter, Chlorie the Fair, Chlorie the Pure, has and one nights with us in the darkness, he will be to give his into my for ever. Then in good time, I shall Rorka. Shall I not my Chlorie then, for her and insults?”
Waiko shuddered.
“My Chlorie,” Kulmervan suddenly, his manner changing. “Will you not promise me your hand? Oh, my darling, me—I love you so—I love you. Give me your hand—swear Waiko that you’ll take me for your mate. I’ll be so good to you—I’ll love you so” His voice was pleading. His not be doubted, yet Alan it was but a moment’s in the brain.
Chlorie answered a word, and her Kulmervan again to threats. Tearing a of from the of a brook, he the Princess across her with the rushes. With an Alan from his place, and was on the of his enemy, Kulmervan from his astonishment.
Then a fight. Alan with all his knowledge of the scientific sport was unable to in a blow. He and thrust, and Kulmervan a under his jaw. His for a moment, but the had no effect, and the Keemarnian still at his enemy. Waiko was demoralized. He the fight—his in gasps, his staring, his teeth chattering. As an ally, he was to Kulmervan; as an enemy he as to Alan.
Chlorie, to the tree, was unable to move. Her wide open the in an of spirit; but not a came from her lips. True to the of her land, the of the Rorka gave no of her terror. Alan he was weakening. Imperceptibly at he ground, 272but he that his had no upon the Keemarnian. His into the of was than useless—he no longer help his love. The Keemarnian gave him one in the stomach. His wind went—he gasped, for breath, up and to the ground.
Kulmervan left his enemy’s and to Waiko who had been the scene.
“Watch him,” he commanded. “If he any of awakening, give him a with this. It will be to put him to sleep again,” and he the the body.
Brutally he the that Chlorie. She was and weak, and the as the blood once more through her veins, was almost more than she bear. Still she silent, and with a of majesty, stooped, and her of about her body. Two other still on the ground—with a she one up, and it the of her cloak. She had a plan! Love had been to her, in that moment of when she saw Alan down. Her out her that here was her at last. Her of and trust told her that it was that he was sleeping the sleep of serquor. Sometime he would again—bruised, bleeding, torn, perhaps, but he would, and come to her aid.
Kulmervan took her by the arm. “Come,” said he. “Waiko wait until the Kymo is full in the Heavens—it is but a time. If Alan the Evil has not moved by then, me quickly. Always to the East, my friend. Always take the most path, and you will me.”
“Where are you going?” asked Waiko in horror.
“To the Cave of Whispering Madness,” said he, and Chlorie shuddered.
“Do you know where it is, my Kulmervan?” asked Waiko.
“Yes. Have I not been there often? Ah, my friend, I that the should fail. Ah, 273oft times should I have been in the Hall of Sorrows, but I came here instead, and of my own free will. I know the place I taking you to—I will you sights—sights I have seen—ha! ha! ha!” and with a wild of he his through the bushes, and his way Eastward.
Waiko silent, his friend. His mind was strangely. The had left a of in the of Waiko. The of Alan to point to his undoing. The blood slowly the man’s till there was a little red on the green grass. With a cry, Waiko up the and it once, twice his head. But as he would have it a third time, it out of his fingers, and a hundred away. With a at his loneliness, Waiko and after Kulmervan. In a space of time he had them up, and noticed with that Chlorie was walking almost with her captor. There was a rope passed her body, it was true, but it was in the centre, and although she behind, there was no need to her along.
“Alan?” questioned Kulmervan, as Waiko him.
“Is serquor.”
“Good.”
“I him, as he rose to me. With one I him to the ground. The you left with me I on his head.— Now he quiet, and cold and bloody.” Waiko almost his story, and as he it, he looked upon himself as a hero.
“’Tis well, my Waiko,” said Kulmervan. “What say you to that, my Chlorie? Alan is serquor—never more will Kymo upon his face. Never more will he his presence upon the people of Keemar. He is gone for from our sight.”
But Chlorie no reply—only from her be a movement, 274and from came a of blue, that on a rose and in the breeze.
Birds singing—sweetly flowers—a of and thirst. These were the Alan had, as he opened his on the world once more. He rose from the ground. His was sore, but the had ceased. He some fruit that low to the ground. It him. Then he to think. Chlorie had been taken from him once more—but he would her yet. He touched the tree to which she had been bound—and and up the she had left behind. It was just a piece of soft, that into in his hand. He it reverently—it was part of his love.
He looked wearily—there, to a was a piece of something blue—he over it—it was part of her gown. Further down, in the very centre of the path was another piece, while in the he see yet a third. It was a sign. Chlorie was him the way she had gone. The was difficult to follow. The had many pieces away altogether—others it had away into a direction, but by watchfulness, he the right way, and there were always the little pieces of to him.
Then he the altogether. The last piece of was on a at the of a of rock. No where he looked, there was no of to him. He ran his hand over the surface of the rock, it was of a and smooth. All around was a low-lying with neither a a tree which any one hide. He see for about ten miles, and there was no of the fugitives. Backward and he walked by the of rock, and always his ended by the last little of blue. The rose three hundred feet, and the solid as as reach. It was that Kulmervan had the wall—yet had he gone?
Suddenly he a noise; the of 275a thousand people whispering, and in of him a of back, a within. The louder and louder. He looked for a place. There was none—so without a moment’s he the cavern. A narrow path downwards, and it was up this path the to be coming; that like a army speaking in tones. There was a piece of out—Alan into its shadows, and waited. The came nearer and nearer—then Kulmervan appeared with Waiko at his side. “The voices that a was coming. The voices are wrong. See, my Waiko, see if Alan the Evil is approaching.” The voice and rolled in the darkness. The whole place was and terrifying.
Kulmervan Waiko into the sunlight. Immediately they were out of sight, Alan from his place and ran the narrow passageway. The he ran, the he in his breath, and it as if a thousand men were him. He as his in his throat—immediately there were a thousand him. Quicker, he the passage, to where he hoped, he would his love hidden. The path was and narrow and was in total darkness, and he his life in his through the horrors. He the voices again! Kulmervan and Waiko had returned. Blindly he on—stumbling here, there, in his to the Ipso-Rorka.
The path took an turn—he over something. Putting his hands out him, he on the ground. Rough steps had been cut out of the rock. Steadily he upwards—upwards—the was intense—the terrifying; but he his pace, so was he to Chlorie.
Steadily he the stairs—they interminable. Then in the distance, he saw a spot of light. As he rose higher, it bigger, 276until it ended in a of brightness. He had the top and was in an by in all the walls. The of the place him. In the very centre was a figure, twenty high. It was seated on a and had its hands as if in benediction. It a terrible face, cruel, hard, sensual,—and the of the of the hands Alan at once. Round the cave, at equal distances, were other figures, all in stature, and in their the same and lust. Stalactites from the roof. Stalactites long—Stalactites fifty long. Stalactites glorious, yet like with to strike. In one of the place was a in stone. Once it had lived, no doubt, now it was and cold. It was to the of days—an evil-looking in its life, but more terrible in its period.
Every movement Alan was a thousand times in this Cave of Whispering Madness. He what the name meant. It indeed, drive the man mad. He that he had a start of the two Keemarnians, and for his love. Softly he called, but although her name from to roof, no took up his challenge. Then voices nearer. Silently he the that had once and mated. He was only just in time. Still louder the whisperings, and Kulmervan and Waiko appeared at the top of the stairway. With the Alan was able to their words. The were so loud, so sibilant, that the voices like one long hiss.
The two Keemarnians came close to the big in the centre of the cave. Kulmervan low on the figure. “Spirit of our Fathers,” he out. “Humbly I pray, take my into keeping. It is thine—thine for ever—but in return, I pray you, me Chlorie’s love. See, 277I with my blood in of my bond,” and with a knife he a in his arm and the with the warm, red fluid.
Waiko was whispering, “Mitzor the Mighty, have mercy! Have mercy!”
“Fool,” Kulmervan. “Why mention that name here? I have with Pirox the Killer—I to him. Chlorie shall be mine. You have come thus with me, my Waiko, but go. Down, on Pirox—admit that he is great—greater than Mitzor! Ask a favour—nay a favour—seal it with blood.”
Waiko on his knees. His was ashen—he was in every limb. Then came a duet, a thousand times by the whisperings. “Mitzor the Mighty.” “Pirox the Killer.” “Pirox.” “Mitzor.” “Mitzor.” “Pirox.”
In a Kulmervan arose, and Waiko, down. “Lie there, dog,” he cried. “May sleep for in serquor. I alone am mighty. Pirox alone is great.” Waiko moved, he no of breathing. Had he into the trance-like that the of Keemar so dreaded? It to Alan, that he would Chlorie in this of horror. He at last that Kulmervan was a degenerate. The entrance of Murdoch had not the madness. No he had as a good Keemarnian, but he from the madness, and in his the of Mitzor the Mighty, the Great White Glory, and in and honour. What this Cave of Whispering Madness was Alan not conjecture—perhaps in some gone age, Jovians had met here; the Temple for their worship, and a second life, by their friends.
That the image in the centre was their god, Alan was convinced. But how had Kulmervan it? Had it been to him from his childhood, or had he in some way it for himself? If was to see—a Keemarnian of lineage, 278saturated with and dogma. In truth he was a to his companions, a life of and sin. His was a character, for there was much that was sweet and about him, and he was much to be pitied, for when his was he would a and an outcast. At the moment he he was safe, and his “Black Sacrifice.”
For Chlorie’s sake, Alan was to in the that followed. At the of the was a of stone—raised ten from the ground. Upon it were red stains. Quickly Kulmervan set about his business. In one of the were of brushwood—these he high under the slab. With a he the Waiko upon it, and rested his in a at one end. Alan to see how it the neck. The use of the was plain to see. He set fire to the by one of the torches, and the up and the and sizzled.
When the fire was safely alight, Kulmervan to a of the cavern, and touched a spring. A door opened, and a of steps inside, leading below. As soon as he was out of sight, Alan from his place, Waiko from the and him the fossil.
But the noise of his movements was a thousandfold by the of the place. Waiko was still and quiet—he breathed, and Alan not try to him. Kulmervan returned in his arms a in blue. Alan started, and forward; his was not unconscious, but was to the put upon her with her patience. At the he stopped in amazement. The was to red,—the fire should have its work—but the was empty. He looked round—there was no one in sight. With a of he let go the rope to which Chlorie was fastened, put her to the ground, and to the 279of the leading to the cave’s entrance. And the of his and rose on the air, in of whisperings.
Alan was but six from his dear one. With a he from his place, and Chlorie in his arms. He for the door through which Kulmervan had her; Kulmervan the and was just in time to see two through the little door. With another he across the cave—but the had a big start. They had closed the door them, and his over the lock; so he was by his own and anger.
Chlorie had herself up for lost, and when she two arms her a terror came over her, but as she was up, a voice in her ear—“Have no fear. ’Tis I—Alan. Trust to me and I will save you.” Her was too great for her to speak, but she let herself in in the arms of the powerful stranger.
The door them—more stairs, very narrow. Down Alan went, and the gave place to a light.
“Where are we?” asked Alan.
“I don’t know—but there is a here which is padlocked—it was there I was imprisoned.”
Alan looked quickly; the passage had and openings off on either side. Immediately in of them to come the daylight.
“Can you run?” he asked tenderly.
“Yes—yes. Oh, to be free of Kulmervan!” Through the light they went. The were not as as in the upper cave, but still they were enough. They to people the place with men—men who laughed, and jeered, and pointed their at their victims. But upon the came a more sound—Kulmervan’s laughter!
“Hurry—hurry, my Princess.”
“I cannot,” she breathed. “My beats—it me to talk.” Without a word he the light 280burden again up in his arms and off at a still pace; she one arm his and to him confidingly. Nearer came the laughter. It was so close that it almost on the top of them. Alan that journey; with his in his arms he onward, always the light. And nearer and nearer came the of the madman. At last they a corner—the opened out and they saw Kymo, in all his glory; the sea was on the shore.
There was of near; and the was thick. Alan ran to where a dozen rocks, man high, rose from the seashore. There was in one a that was wide to admit Chlorie.
“Stay there,” he whispered.
“Oh, don’t me.”
“I won’t you for long I promise you—but I want to watch for Kulmervan.”
“Take of yourself,” she pleaded. “Oh, no risks, I pray.”
With a quick Alan left the of the rocks. No one was in sight—Kulmervan had not himself. Quickly Alan his way to the from which they had emerged. He entered it, and to his it had no exit. Solid his way—it was just a out on the sands, going inland, ten or twelve only. Alan was perplexed. He had marked it as he by a big at its entrance; but upon he there were and of such all over the beach. Stepping from his place he walked to the next cave; that upon proved to go into the earth, but it was not the from which they had into the open. Wildly he up and down. Twenty, thirty he all like, very like, the one he was seeking. Some had narrow passages that and and ended in a next door. Others further, and after many turnings, him to the place from which 281he had started. He he was in a position; any one of these might Kulmervan—an observer, but unobserved. Rapidly Alan up his mind. With Chlorie he would the altogether—they would inland. If they were still on the island, they would to their way to where the air bird had been anchored. That Waz-Y-Kjesta would return Alan was convinced—and when he did so, they would be saved.
Having up his mind, he to his footsteps—but a of him. He to the mouth of the cave. There, away to sea in a craft, was Kulmervan. It was just a he was on, with a sail. But it was not at Kulmervan that Alan was stricken—incredulous. But at a near the helm—a little that was to a post to which the main-sail was fastened; a little that out her arms to the shore. Alan only and stare, incredulous, unbelieving—but the little smaller and smaller as it was on the waves. Alan to the rocks—the was empty—Chlorie had once more been from his arms.
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