t tell. And after a
while forthwith those who still remained of hers stole out with my
mother to find him. They left me here with Yuruk. And Cherkis caught my
mother."

The proud breasts heaved, the eyes shot forth visible flames.

"My father was flayed alive and crucified," she said. "His skin they
nailed to the City's gates. And when Cherkis had had his will with my
mother he threw her to his soldiers for their sport.

"All of those who went with them he tortured and slew--and he and his
laughed at their torment. But one there was who escaped and told me--me
who was little more than a budding maid. He called on me to bring
vengeance--and he died. A year passed--and I am not like my mother and
my father--and I forgot--dwelling here in the great tranquillities,
barred from and having no thought for men and their way.

"AIE, AIE!" she cried; "woe to me that I could forget! But now I shall
take my vengeance--I, Norhala, will stamp them flat--Cherkis and his
city of Ruszark and everything it holds! I, Norhala, and my servants
shall stamp them into the rock of their valley so that none shall know
that they have been! And would that I could meet their gods with all
their powers that I might break them, too, and stamp them into the rock
under the feet of my servants!"

She threw out white arms.

Why had Yuruk lied to me? I wondered as I watched her. The Disk had not
slain her mother. Of course! He had lied to play upon our terrors; had
lied to frighten us away.

The wailings were rising in a sustained crescendo. One of the slaying
stars slipped over the chamber floor, folded its points and glided out
the door.

"Come!" commanded Norhala, and led the way. The second star closed,
followed us. We stepped over the threshold.

For one astounded, breathless moment we paused. In front of us reared a
monster--a colossal, headless Sphinx. Like forelegs and paws, a ridge of
pointed cubes, and globes thrust against each side of the canyon walls.
Between them for two hundred feet on high stretched the breast.

And this was a shifting, weaving mass of the Metal Things; they formed
into gigantic cuirasses, giant bucklers, corselets of living mail. From
them as they moved--nay, from all the monster--came the wailings. Like a
headless Sphinx it crouched--and as we stood it surged forward as though
it sprang a step to greet us.

"HAI!" shouted Norhala, battle buglings ringing through the golden
voice. "HAI! my companies!"

Out