hh.thessrat.sings.the.blues-第26部分

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　〃Save　the　discussion。　Explanations　will　be　useful　after　we　make　sure　Steengo　is　all　right。　But　Floyd…stop　me　if　I　am　wrong…did　I　see　you　take　five　guys　out　while　I　was　just　about　managing　two？〃
　〃You　didn't　see　it。　It　was　over　before　you　turned　to　look。〃　He　was　the　same　old　laid…back　Floyd…but　was　that　a　new　touch　of　firmness　to　his　words？　It　was　a　day　of　surprises。　And　he　was　right…I　had　not　seen　him　at　work；　just　the　results。
　The　brick　palace　jogged　into　view　ahead。　Apparently　not　all　of　the　troops　had　been　told　that　we　were　no　longer　heroes；　for　the　guards　at　the　entrance　did　a　snappy　jump　to　attention　and　salute　as　we　trotted　past。
　〃Halt！〃　our　newfound　friend　（girl　。　。　。　？）　called　out　and　we　stopped　before　the　guards　at　the　door。　〃Orders　to　bring　these　two　to　Iron　John。　Permission　to　enter？〃
　〃Enter！〃　the　officer　in　charge　called　out。　The　doors　opened　and　closed　behind　us　as　we　trotted　by。　There　was　the　large　room　ahead　and　inside　it　was　Iron　John。　And　just　one　other　person。
　Steengo。　Collapsed　against　the　wall；　covered　in　bruises　and　blood。　One　eye　swollen　shut。　He　started　to　speak　but　could　only　rasp　out　something　inprehensible。
　〃You　are　all　here　now；〃　Iron　John　said。　〃Soldier…guard　the　entrance。　No　one　to　enter　or　leave。　I　have　a　score　to　settle　with　these　interlopers。　Because　I　have　changed　my　mind　about　keeping　this　thing　quiet。　I　listened　to　my　advisers　and　I　am　sorry　that　I　did。　Secrecy　is　at　an　end　and　justice　will　be　done　to　the　blasphemers。　Here　is　what　will　happen。　First　I　will　kill　this　aged　devil　who　spoke　such　filth。　You　two　will　watch。
　〃Then　I　will　kill　you　as　well。〃
　He　started　towards　Steengo；　a　red　giant　of　unleashed　power。　Hands　extended　to　kill。
　
　CHAPTER　19
　Let　me　have　your　spear。〃　I　called　out　to　the　soldier　at　the　door。　She　shook　her　head　in　a　silent　no；　then　said；　〃I　have　my　orders。〃　No　help　from　this　source。
　Iron　John　had　turned　and　was　walking　towards　Steengo。　I　ran　two　silent　steps　in　his　direction　and　launched　myself　into　a　flying　kick　to　his　back。　Heel　punching　out；　a　killing　blow。
　Then　I　was　batted　from　the　air。　As　big　as　he　was…Iron　John　was　just　as　fast。　He　had　turned　while　I　was　in　the　air　and　had　swung　one　。hand。　Knocking　me　aside；　sprawling　me　onto　the　floor。　His　voice　was　as　deep　and　ominous　as　a　distant　volcano。
　〃Do　you　want　to　be　first；　little　man？　You　wish　the　others　to　watch　your　destruction？　Perhaps　that　is　only　fair　since　you　are　their　leader。〃
　He　came　slowly　towards　me　and　I　found　myself　trembling　with　fear。　Fear？　Yes；　because　he　was　not　human；　more　than　human。　He　was　Iron　John　a　part　of　the　legend　of　life；　I　could　not　hurt　him。
　He　wasn't。　I　scrabbled　to　my　feet；　my　leg　ached；　moved　away。　He　was　much　bigger；　wider；　stronger　than　I　was。　But　no；　he　wasn't　a　legend。　He　was　a　man。
　〃A　big　fat　red　slob！〃　I　shouted。　〃A　hairy　conman！〃
　His　eyes　were　wide；　red；　angry。　His　arched　fingers　reached　for　me。　I　feinted　a　fist　at　his　jaw；　saw　him　move　to　block　it。　Kept　turning　in　an　unstoppable　kick　to　his　knee。
　It　connected…but　he　made　no　attempt　to　avoid　it。　My　foot　hurt。　His　knee；　his　kneecap；　looked　unhurt。
　〃I　am　Iron　John！〃　he　shouted。　〃Iron…iron！〃
　I　fell　back；　there　was　no　escape。　I　swung　a　twisting　punch　that　he　took　on　his　biceps。　It　felt　like　striking　stone。　Then　his　fist　to　my　ribs　sent　me　skidding　down　the　room。
　When　I　gasped　in　breath　it　hurt。　Felt　like　something　was　broken　there。　Stand　up；　Jim！　I　got　as　far　as　my　knees　and　he　came　on。
　I　blinked　as　I　saw　two　arms　encircle　his　legs；　send　him　staggering。　Kicking　out。　It　was　Steengo　who　had　crawled　behind　him；　tried　to　trip　him。　Who　was　now　sent　crashing　back　into　the　wall。　To　fall　and　not　move　again。
　I　was　barely　aware　of　this　because　the　instant　Iron　John's　attention　had　wandered　I　had　jumped。　Getting　an　arm　around　his　neck；　grappling　my　own　wrist。　Pulling　my　forearm　tight　against　his　throat　to　crush　his　larynx；　to　cut　off　blood　and　air。　The　armlock　that　kills　in　seconds。　My　face　was　buried　in　his　rank　red　fur　as　I　tightened　hard；　harder　than　I　ever　had　before。
　To　no　avail。　I　could　feel　the　tendons　in　his　neck　stiffen　like　steel　bars；　taking　the　pressure　that　should　have　been　on　his　throat。　He　lifted　one　hand　slowly；　then　sank　his　fingers　deep　into　my　flesh　…　hurled　me　across　the　room　to　crash　into　the　wall；　fall。
　I　realized　that　the　voice　wailing　in　agony　was　my　own。　I　could　not　move。　The　soldier　at　the　door　looked　at　me；　looked　away。　Steengo　had　lain；　motionless；　since　that　single；　terrible　blow。　Nor　could　I　do　much　better　myself；　just　able　to　crawl。
　At　least　Iron　John　had　felt　my　hold；　he　was　rubbing　at　his　neck。　The　smile　had　gone　and　frothed　saliva　now　coated　his　lips。　Death　would　be　a　single　blow　。　。　。
　〃Iron　John…you　have　forgotten　something。　You　have　forgotten　me。〃
　Floyd　was　speaking。　Thin；　black…bearded；　uninvolved。　He　must　have　stood　and　watched　while　Steengo　was　stricken；　I　was　felled。　Only　now　did　he　move。
　Quietly　forward。　Hands　extended；　fingers　lightly　bowed。　Iron　John　was　in　a　rage。　Leaped　and　lashed　out。
　And　missed　because　Floyd　was　not　there。　He　was　to　one　side；　kicking　the　red　giant　in　the　ribs　so　that　he　stumbled　and　almost　fell。
　〃e　here；〃　Floyd　said　in　a　voice　so　low　I　could　barely　hear　it。　〃e　and　be　destroyed。〃
　Iron　John　was　cautious　now；　knew　how　fast　his　new　opponent　could　react。　He　opened　his　arms　wide　and　came　slowly　forward。　A　force　of　nature。　Implacable　and　inescapable。
　Two　quick　thuds；。　two　blows　sounded　and　Iron　John　staggered。　Floyd　was　out　of　his　reach　again；　circling　him　slowly。　A　sudden　kick；　a　blow；　then　away　again。
　Nothing　Iron　John　did　seemed　to　affect　the　oute。　He　was　wary；　he　attacked　suddenly；　reached　out　and　struck。　Touched　only　air。　Floyd　was　before　him；　behind　him…striking　him。　Wearing　him　down。
　They　circled　for　minutes　this　way。　And　Floyd　was　still　just　as　fast；　striking　with　impunity。　But　the　red　monster　was　going　slower　and　slower；　arms　lower　and　lower　as　the　endless　blows　drove　the　strength　from　them。　He　must　have　realized　that　there　could　be　only　one　end　to　this　battle；　on　these　terms。　But　he　was　still　dangerous。　Almost　by　chance　the　struggle　moved　towards　me。
　He　was　after　me　I　realized！　I　had　only　the　shortest　instant　to　draw　my　leg　back　before　Iron　John　spun　about　and　dived　towards　me。
　And　caught　my　kick　full　in　his　face。　He　dropped…but　his　hands　closed　on　my　ankle；　pulled　me　towards　him。　Reached　up　。　。　。
　Then　Floyd　struck。　No　science　now…raw　power。　Pile　driver　blows　to　the　giant's　back　and　kidneys　that　opened　his　mouth　wide　with　pain；　forcing　him　to　release　me　as　he　struggled　to　get　away　from　his　tormentor。
　More　blows　to　his　head。　He　tried　to　rise；　his　legs　were　kicked　from　beneath　him。　The　thudding　of　quick　strikes　like　some　terrible　machine　at　work。　Then　a　sudden　silence。
　A　moment　for　balance；　no　expression　showing　on　his　face；　then　Floyd　swung　a　terrible　kick　that　terminated　on　the　side　of　the　giant's　head。　Who　fell　over　and　did　not　rise　nor　move　again。
　〃Dead？〃　I　croaked。　Floyd　knelt　and　felt　the　pulse　in　his　neck。
　〃No；　he　wasn't　supposed　to　be。　He'll　survive。　But　I　think　that　he　will　remember　he　has　been　in　a　fight。〃　He　flashed　a　quick　smile；　then　his　face　became　calm　again。　〃If　you're　all　right　I'll　look　at　Steengo。〃
　〃I'm　great。　Knocked　about　but　great；〃　I　croaked　as　I　climbed　painfully　to　my　feet。
　〃Pulse　good；〃　he　said；　kneeling　beside　our　friend。　〃He　has　taken　a　lot　of　punishment　but　nothing　seems　to　be　broken　that　I　can　find。　He　will　e　out　of　this　fine。〃
　I　was　groggy；　now　even　weaker　with　relief；　blurted　out　the　words　without　thinking。　
　〃He's　fine。　I'm　fine。　However　we　would　have　been　a　lot　better　if　you　had　waded　into　this　fracas　sooner。〃
　I　saw　him　wince　at　the　words；　wished　I　could　take　them　back。　You　never　can。
　〃I'm　sorry；　I　really　am。　I　had　to　wait；　see　what　he　could　do。　I　know　that　you're　good；　Jim。　I　knew　you　could　at　least　hold　him。　I'm　sorry　but　I　had　to　see　how　fast　he　could　move　before　I　took　him　on。　I　had　to　wear　him　down；　not　get　touched。　I　knew　I　could　do　it…and　I　moved　as　soon　as　I　knew。　Sorry　。　。　。〃
　〃Reporting；〃　our　guard…guy…girl　said。　〃The　Red　One　is　unconscious。〃
　She　lowered　the　small；　coin…sized　municator　as　I　stalked　towards　her；　hands　out　and　ready　to　strike。
　〃Who　were　you　talking　to？　Whose　side　are　you　on？　What's　happening　here？　Speak…or　get　demolished。〃
　The　guard；　spear　lowered　and　pointed　at　me；　stood　her　ground。　〃The　answer　to　your　questions　is　arriving　now。　There。〃　The　point　of　her　spear　moved　to　indicate　a　spot　behind　me。　A　ruse？　Who　knew；　who　cared。　I　turned　and　looked　at　Iron　John's　giant　throne。
　Which　was　slowly　turning　on　some　invisible　axis。　Floyd　and　I　both　faced　that　way；　hands　raised　automatically　on　the　defense。　A　black　opening　was　revealed　and；　as　the　throne　stopped　moving；　there　was　motion　in　the　darkness　beyond。　Two　figures　appeared；　walked　out　into　the　room。
　Both　women。
　One　of　them　was　Madonette。
　〃Hi；　guys；〃　she　said；　smiling　and　waving。　〃I'd　like　to　introduce　a　new　friend；　Mata。〃
　The　woman　was　about　my　height；　regal　of　bearing　in　her　dark　robe　touched　with　gold　embroidery。　Her　expression　was　posed；　peaceful；　small　wrinkles　at　the　corners　of　her　eyes；　a　touch　of　gray　to　her　hair；　were　t