by Rex Stout
Chapter XVIII.
A VICTORY AND A CONVERSATION.
We stood for a long moment rooted to the spot, unable to move. Then,calling to Harry and grasping Desiree by the arm, I started to turn.
But too late. For Desiree, inspired by a boundless terror, suddenlyraised her spear high above her head and hurled it straight at theglowing, flashing eyes.
The point struck squarely between them with such force that it musthave sunk clear to the shaft. The head of the monster rolled for aninstant from side to side, and then, before I was aware of what hadhappened, so rapid was the movement, a long, snakelike coil had reachedout through the air and twisted itself about Desiree's body.
As she felt the thing tighten about her waist and legs she gave ascream of terror and twisted her face round toward me. The nextinstant the snaky tentacle had dragged her along the ground and liftedher to the head of the monster, where her white body could be seen insharp outline sprawling over its black form, between the terrible eyes.
Harry and I sprang forward.
As we did so the eyes closed and the reptile began to move backwardwith incredible swiftness, lashing about on the ground before us withother tentacles similar to the one that had captured Desiree.
I cried out to Harry to avoid them. He did not answer, but rushedblindly forward.
Desiree's agonized shrieks rose to the pitch of madness.
The eyes were closed, leaving but a vague mark for our spears, andbesides, there was the danger of striking Desiree. We were barely ableto keep pace with the thing as it receded swiftly down the broadpassage. Desiree had twisted her body half round, and her face wasturned toward us, shadowy as a ghost. Then her head fell forward andhung loosely and her lips were silent. She had fainted.
The thing moved swifter than ever; we were barely able to keep up withit. Harry made a desperate leap forward.
I cried out a warning, but one of the writhing tentacles swept againsthim and knocked him to the ground. He was up again on the instant andcame rushing up from behind.
Suddenly the passage broadened until the walls were no longer visible;we had entered another cavern. I heard the sound of running watersomewhere ahead of us. The pace of the reptile had not slackened foran instant.
Harry had again caught up with us, and as he ran at my side I saw himraise his spear aloft; but I caught his arm and held it.
"Desiree!" I panted.
Her body covered the only part of the thing that presented a fair mark.Harry swore, but his arm fell.
"To the side!" he gasped. "We can't get at it here!"
I saw his meaning and followed at his heels as he swerved suddenly tothe right and sprang forward in an attempt to get past the reptile'shead.
But in our eagerness we forgot caution and went too close. I felt oneof the snaky tentacles wrap itself round my legs and body, and raisedmy voice in a warning to Harry, but too late. He, too, was ensnared,and a moment later we had both been lifted bodily from the ground andswung through the air to the side of Desiree. She was stillunconscious.
I writhed and twisted desperately, but that muscular coil held mefirmly as a band of steel, tight against the huge and hideous head.
Harry was on the other side of Desiree, not three feet from me. Icould see his muscles strain and pull in his violent efforts to tearhimself free. I had given it up.
But suddenly, quite near my shoulder, I saw the lid suddenly begin toraise itself from one of the terrible eyes. I was almost on top of thething and a little above it. I turned my head aside and called toHarry.
"The eye!" I gasped. "To your right! The spear! Are your arms free?"
Then as I saw he understood, I turned a quarter of the way round--asfar as I could get--and raised my spear the full extent of my arm, andbrought it down with every ounce of my strength into the very center ofthe glowing eye beneath me.
At the same moment I saw Harry's arm descend and the flash of hisspear. The point of my own had sunk until the copper head wascompletely buried.
I grasped the shaft and pulled and twisted it about until it finallywas jerked forth. From the opening it had made there issued a blackstream.
Suddenly the body of the reptile quivered convulsively. The headrolled from side to side. There was a quick tightening of the tentacleround my body until my bones felt as though they were being crushedinto shapelessness; and as suddenly it loosened.
Other tentacles lashed and beat on the ground furiously. The reptile'sswift backward movement halted jerkily. I made a desperate effort totear myself free. The tentacle quivered and throbbed violently, andsuddenly flew apart like a released spring, and I fell to the ground.
In an instant Harry was at my side, and we both leaped forward with ourspears, slashing at the tentacle which still held Desiree in its grasp.Others writhed on the ground about our feet, but feebly. There came asudden cry from Harry, and his spear clattered on the ground as heopened his arms to receive Desiree's unconscious body, which cametumbling down with the severed coil still wrapped about it.
But there was life in the reptile's immense body. It staggered andswayed from side to side in drunken agony. Its monstrous head rolledabout, sweeping the air in a prodigious circle. The poison of itsbreath came to us in great puffs. There was something supremelyhorrible about the thing in its very helplessness, and I was shudderingviolently as I stooped to help Harry lift Desiree from the ground andcarry her away.
We did not go far, for we were barely able to carry her. We laid heron the hard rock with her head in Harry's lap. Her body was limp as arag.
For many minutes we worked over her, rubbing her temples and wrists,and pressing the nerve centers at the back of the neck, but withouteffect.
"She is dead," said Harry with a curious calm.
I shook my head.
"She has a pulse--see! But we must find that water. I think she isn'tinjured; it is her weakened condition from the lack of food that keepsher so. Wait for me."
I started out across the cavern in the direction from which the soundof the water appeared to come, bearing off to the right from the huge,quivering form of the monster whose gigantic body rose and fell on theground with a force that seemed to shake the very walls of the cavern.
I found the stream with little difficulty, not far away, and returnedto Harry. Together we carried Desiree to its edge. The blood wasstubborn, and for a long time refused to move, but the cold water atlength revived her; her eyes slowly opened, and she raised her hand toher head with a faltering gesture.
But she was extremely weak, and we saw that the end was near unlessnourishment could be found for her.
I stayed by her side, with my arms round her shoulders, and Harry setout with one of the spears. He bore off to the left, toward the spotwhere the body of the immense reptile lay; I was too far away to see itin the darkness.
"It isn't possible that the thing is fit to eat," I had objected, andhe had answered me with a look which I understood, and was silenced.
Soon a sound as of a scuffle on the rocks came through the darknessfrom the direction he had taken. I called out to ask if he needed me,but there was no answer. Ten minutes longer I waited, while the soundcontinued unabated. Once I heard the clatter of his spear on the rock.
I was just rising to my feet to run to the scene when suddenly heappeared in the semidarkness. He was coming slowly, and was draggingalong the ground what appeared to be the form of some animal. Anotherminute and he stood at my side as I sat holding Desiree.
"A peccary!" I cried, bending over the body of the four-footed creaturethat lay at his feet. "How the deuce did it ever get down here?"
"Peccary--my aunt!" observed Harry, bending down to look at Desiree."Do peccaries live in the water? Do they have snouts like catfish?This animal is my own invention. There's about ten million more of 'emover there making a gorgeous banquet off our late lamented friend. Andnow, let's see."
He knelt down by the still warm body and with t
he point of his spearripped it open from neck to rump. Desiree stirred about in my arms.
"Gad, that smells good!" cried Harry.
I shuddered.
He dragged the thing a few feet away, and I heard him slashing away atit with his spear. A minute later he came running over to us with hishands full of something.
That was not exactly a pretty meal. How Desiree, in her frightfullyweakened condition, ever managed to get the stuff down and keep itthere is beyond me. But she did, and I was not behind her. And, afterall, it was fresh. Harry said it was "sweet." Well, perhaps it was.
We bathed Desiree's hands and face and gave her water to drink, andsoon after she passed into a seemingly healthy sleep. There was aboutten pounds of meat left. Harry washed it in the stream and stowed itaway on a rock beneath the surface of the water. Then he announced hisintention of going back for more.
"I'm going with you," I declared. "Here--help me fix Desiree."
"Hardly," said Harry. "Didn't I say there are millions of those thingsover there? Anyway, there are hundreds. If they should happen toscatter in this direction and find her, she wouldn't stand a chance.You take the other spear and stay here."
So I sat still, with Desiree's body in my arms, and waited for him. Mysensations were not unpleasant. I could actually feel the bloodquicken in my veins.
Civilization places the temple of life in the soul or the heart, as shespeaks through the mouth of the preacher or the poet; but letcivilization go for four or five days without anything to eat and seewhat happens. The organ is vulgar, but its voice is loud. I need notname it.
In five minutes Harry returned, dragging two more of the creatures athis heels. In half an hour there were a dozen of them lying in a heapat the edge of the water.
"That's all," he announced, panting heavily from his exertions. "Therest have taken to the woods, which, I imagine, is quite a journey fromhere. You ought to see our friend--the one who couldn't make his eyesbehave. They've eaten him full of holes. He's the most awfulmess--sickening beast. He didn't have a bone in him--all crumpled uplike an accordion. Utterly spineless."
"And who, in the name of goodness, do you think is going to eat allthat?" I demanded, pointing to the heap of bodies.
Harry grinned.
"I don't know. I was so excited at the very idea of a square meal thatI didn't know when to stop. I'd give five fingers for a fire and somesalt. Just a nickel's worth of salt. Now, you lie down and sleepwhile I cut these things up, and then I'll take a turn at it myself?"
He brought me one of the hides for a pillow, and I lay back as gentlyas possible that I might not awaken Desiree. Her head and shouldersrested against my body as she lay peacefully sleeping.
I was awakened by Harry's hand tugging at my arm. Rising on my elbows,I demanded to know how long I had slept.
"Six or seven hours," said Harry. "I waited as long as I could. Keepa lookout."
Desiree stirred uneasily, but seemed to be still asleep. I sat up,rubbing my eyes. The heap of bodies had disappeared; no wonder Harrywas tired! I reproached myself for having slept so long.
Harry had arranged himself a bed that was really comfortable with theskins of his kill.
"That is great stuff," I heard him murmur wearily; then all was still.
I sat motionless, stiff and numb, but afraid to move for fear ofdisturbing Desiree.
Presently she stirred again, and, bending over her, I saw her eyesslowly open. They met my own with a curious, steadfast gaze--she wasstill half asleep.
"Is that you, Paul?" she murmured.
"Yes."
"I am glad. I seem to feel--what is it?"
"I don't know, Desiree. What do you mean?"
"Nothing--nothing. Oh. it feels so good--good--to have you hold melike this."
"Yes?" I smiled.
"But, yes. Where is Harry?"
"Asleep. Are you hungry?"
"Yes--no. Not now. I don't know why. I want to talk. What hashappened?"
I told her of everything that had occurred since she had swooned; sheshuddered as memory returned, but forgot herself in my attempt at ahumorous description of Harry's valor as a hunter of food.
"You don't need to turn up your nose," I retorted to her expressivegrimace; "you ate some of the stuff yourself."
There was a silence; then suddenly Desiree's voice came:
"Paul--" She hesitated and stopped.
"Yes."
"What do you think of me?"
"Do you want a lengthy review?" I smiled.
What a woman she was! Under those circumstances, and amid thosesurroundings, she was still Desiree Le Mire.
"Don't laugh at me," she said. "I want to know. I have never spokenof what I did that time in the cavern--you know what I mean. I amsorry now. I suppose you despise me."
"But you did nothing," I objected. "And you wouldn't. You were merelyamusing yourself."
She turned on me quickly with a flash of her old fire.
"Don't play with me!" she burst out. "My friend, you have never yetgiven me a serious word."
"Nor any one else," I answered. "My dear Desiree, do you not know thatI am incapable of seriousness? Nothing in the world is worth it."
"At least, you need not pretend," she retorted. "I meant once for youto die. You know it. And since you pretend not to understand me, Iask you--these are strange words from my lips--will you forgive me?"
"There is nothing to forgive."
"My friend, you are becoming dull. An evasive answer should always bea witty one. Must I ask you again?"
"That--depends," I answered, hardly knowing what to say.
"On--"
"On whether or not you were serious, once upon a time, when you madea--shall we call it a confession? If you were, I offended you in myown conceit, but let us be frank. I thought you were acting, and Iplayed my role. I do not yet believe that you were; I am not conceitedenough to think it possible."
"I do not say," Desiree began; then she stopped and added hastily: "Butthat is past. I shall not tell you that again. Perhaps I forgotmyself. Perhaps it was a pretty play. You have not answered me."
I looked at her. Strange and terrible as her experiences andsufferings had been, she had lost little of her beauty. Her face wasrendered only the more delicate by its pallor. Her white and perfectbody, only half seen in the half-darkness, conveyed a sense of thepurest beauty with no hint of immodesty.
But I was moved not by what I saw, but by what I knew. I had admiredher always as Le Mire; but her bravery, her hardihood, her sympathy forothers under circumstances when any other woman would have beenthinking only of herself--had these awakened in my breast a feelingstronger than admiration?
I did not know. But my voice trembled a little as I said: "I need notanswer you, Desiree. I repeat that there is nothing to forgive. Yousought revenge, then sacrificed it; but still revenge is yours."
She looked at me for a moment in silence, then said slowly: "I do notunderstand you."
For reply I took her hand in my own from where it lay idly on my knee,and, carrying it to my lips, pressed a long kiss on the top of each ofthe slender white fingers. Then I held the hand tight between both ofmine as I asked simply, looking into her eyes:
"Do you understand me now?"
Another silence.
"My revenge," she breathed.
I nodded and again pressed her hand to my lips.
"Yes, Desiree. We are not children. I think we know what we mean.But you have not told me. Did you mean what you said that day on themountain?"
"Ah, I thought that was a play!" she murmured.
"Tell me! Did you mean it?"
"I never confess the same sin twice, my friend."
"Desiree, did you mean it?"
Then suddenly, with the rapidity of lightning, her manner changed. Shebent toward me with parted lips and looked straight into my eyes.There was passion in the gaze; but when she spoke her voice
was quiteeven and so low I scarcely heard.
"Paul," she said, "I shall not again say I love you. Such words shouldnot be wasted. Not now, perhaps; but that is because we are where weare. And if we should return?
"You have said that nothing is worth a serious word to you; and you areright. You are too cynical; things are bitter in your mouth, anddoubly so when they leave it. Just now you are amusing yourself bypretending to care for me. Perhaps you do not know it, but you are.Search your heart, my friend, and tell me--do you want my love?"
Well, there was no need to search my heart, she had laid it open. Ihated myself then; and I turned away, unable to meet her eyes, as Isaid:
"Bon Dieu!" she cried. "That is an ugly speech, monsieur!" And shelaughed aloud.
"But we must not awaken Harry," she continued with sudden softness."What a boy he is--and what a man! Ah, he knows what it is to love!"
That topic suited me little better, but I followed her. We talked ofHarry, Le Mire with an amount of enthusiasm that surprised me.Suddenly she stopped abruptly and announced that she was hungry.
I found Harry's pantry after a few minutes' search and took some of itscontents to Desiree. Then I returned to the edge of the water and atemy portion alone. That meal was one scarcely calculated for thepleasures of companionship or conviviality.
It was several hours after that before Harry awoke, the greater part ofwhich Desiree and I were silent.
I would have given something to have known her thoughts; my own werenot very pleasant. It is always a disagreeable thing to discover thatsome one else knows you better than you know yourself. And Desiree hadcut deep. At the time I thought her unjust; time alone could have toldwhich of us was right. If she were here with me now--but she is not.
Finally Harry awoke. He was delighted to find Desiree awake andcomparatively well, and demonstrated the fact with a degree of effusionthat prompted me to leave them alone together. But I did not go far; ahundred paces made me sit down to rest before returning, so weak was Ifrom wounds and fasting.
Harry's spirits were high, for no apparent reason other than that wewere still alive, for that was the best that could be said for us. SoI told him; he retorted with a hearty clap on the back that sent mesprawling to the ground.
"What the deuce!" he exclaimed, stooping to help me up. "Are you asweak as that? Gad, I'm sorry!"
"That is the second fall he has had," said Desiree, with a meaningsmile.
Indeed, she was having her revenge!
But my strength was not long in returning. Over a long stretch ourdiet would hardly have been conducive to health, but it was exactlywhat I needed to put blood and strength in me. And Harry and Desiree,too, for that matter.
Again I had to withstand Harry's eager demands for action. He beganwithin two hours to insist on exploring the cave, and would hardly takea refusal.
"I won't stir a foot until I am able to knock you down," I declaredfinally and flatly. "Never again will I attempt to perform the featsof a Hercules when I am fit only for an invalid's chair." And he wasforced to wait.
As I say, however, my strength was not long in returning, and when itstarted it came with a rush. My wounds were healing perfectly; onlyone remained open. Harry, with his usual phenomenal luck, had gotnothing but the merest scratches.
Desiree improved very slowly. The strain of those four days in thecavern had been severe, and her nerves required more pleasantsurroundings than a dark and damp cavern and more agreeable diet thanraw meat, to adjust themselves.
Thus it was that when Harry and I found ourselves ready to start out toexplore the cavern and, if possible, find an exit on the opposite sidefrom the one where we had entered, we left Desiree behind, seated on apile of skins, with a spear on the ground at her side.
"We'll be back in an hour," said Harry, stooping to kiss her; and thephrase, which might have come from the lips of a worthy Harlem husbandleaving for a little sojourn with friends on the corner, brought asmile to my face.
We went first toward the spot where lay the remains of "our friend withthe eyes," as Harry called him, and we were guided straight by ournoses, for the odor of the thing was beginning to be--to use anotherphrase of Harry's--"most awful vile."
There was little to see except a massive pile of crumpled hide andsinking flesh. As we approached, several hundred of the animals withwhich Harry had filled our larder scampered away toward the water.
"They're not fighters," I observed, turning to watch them disappear inthe darkness.
"No," Harry agreed. "See here," he added suddenly, holding up a pieceof the hide of the reptile; "this stuff is an inch thick and tough asrats. It ought to be good for something."
But by that time I was pinching my nostrils with my fingers, and Ipulled him away.
Several hundred yards farther on we came to the wall of the cavern. Wefollowed it, turning to the right; but though it was uneven and markedby projecting boulders and deep crevices, we found no exit. We hadgone at least half a mile, I think, when we came to the end. There itturned in a wide circle to the right, and we took the new direction,which was toward the spot where we had left Desiree, only considerablyto the left.
Another five minutes found us at the edge of the stream, which at thatpoint was much swifter than it was farther up. We waded in anddiscovered that the cause was its extreme narrowness.
"But where does the thing go to?" asked Harry, taking the words from mymouth.
We soon found out. Proceeding along the bank to the left, within fiftyfeet we came to the wall. There the stream entered and disappeared.But, unlike the others we had seen, above this there was a wide andhigh arch, which made it appear as though the stream were passing undera massive bridge. The current was swift but not turbulent, and therewas something about the surface of that stream flowing straight throughthe mountain ahead of us--
Harry and I glanced at each other quickly, moved by the same thought.There was an electric thrill in that glance.
But we did not speak--then.
For suddenly, startlingly, a voice sounded throughout thecavern--Desiree's voice, raised in a shrill cry of terror.
It was repeated twice before our startled senses found themselves; thenwe turned with one impulse and raced into the darkness toward her.
