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And again I say it they were no cowards, those men of Cherkis. From the inner battlements flew clouds of arrows, of huge stones as uselessly as before. Then out from the opened gates poured regiments of horsemen, brandishing javelins and great maces, and shouting fiercely as they drove down upon each end of the Metal Shape.
"Not by the gods of my mother who turned their strength against her do I promise this. I, Norhala, have no need for them I, Norhala, who have strength greater than they. And would I could crush those gods as I shall crush you, Cherkis and every living thing of yours! Yea and every UNLIVING thing as well!" Not halting now was Norhala's speech; it poured from the ruthless lips flamingly.
"Is Yuruk a fool not to know that in the world without, new things have arisen since long ago we fled from Iskander into the secret valley? What have you to beguile Cherkis beyond this woman flesh? Much, I think. Go then to him unafraid." Cherkis? There was a familiar sound to that. Cherkis? Of course it was the name of Xerxes, the Persian Conqueror, corrupted by time into this Cherkis.
Kulun who will cast your skin under my mares in stall for them to trample and thrust your red flayed body upon a pole in the grain fields to frighten away the crows! Does that answer you?" Her laughter ceased; her eyes dwelt upon him filled with an infernal joy. "The son of Cherkis!" I heard her murmur. "He has a son " There was a sneer on the cruel face; clearly he thought her awed.
As he gazed at Norhala a flicker of lust shot like a licking tongue through his eyes. Yet from him pulsed power; sinister, instinct with evil, concentrate with cruelty but power indomitable. Such was Cherkis, descendant perhaps of that Xerxes the Conqueror who three millenniums gone ruled most of the known world. It was Norhala who broke the silence. "Tcherak! Greeting Cherkis!"
Swiftly as it had swept forth it returned, coiled and dropped those two I loved at Norhala's feet. It flashed back on high with the scarlet length of Cherkis's son sprawled along its angled end. The great body of Cherkis seemed to wither. Up from all the wall went a tempestuous sigh of horror. Out rang the merciless chimes of Norhala's laughter. "Tchai!" she cried. "Tchai! Fat fool there.
And suddenly I saw that mount as Earth the city as Earth's cities its gardens and groves as Earth's fields and forests and the vanished people of Cherkis seemed to expand into all humanity. "But Martin," I stammered, fighting against choking, intolerable terror, "there was something else.
Afar away I saw the gleaming serpent still at play still writhing along, still obliterating the few score scattered fugitives that some way, somehow, had slipped by the Destroying Things. We halted. For one long moment Norhala looked upon the drooping body of him upon whom she had let fall this mighty vengeance. Then the metal arm that held Cherkis whirled.
Tchai you Cherkis! Toad whose wits have sickened with your years! "Did you think to catch me, Norhala, in your filthy web? Princess! Queen! Empress of Earth! Ho old fox I have outplayed and beaten, what now have you to trade with Norhala?" Mouth sagging open, eyes glaring, the tyrant slowly raised his arms a suppliant. "You would have back the bridegroom you gave me?" she laughed.
It was the sobbing of Cherkis! The gross face was shrunken, the cheeks sagging in folds of woe; cruelty and wickedness were wiped from it; the evil in the eyes had been washed out by tears. Eyes streaming, bull throat and barrel chest racked by his sobbing, he watched the passing of his people and his city.
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