Conan the Freebooter by Robert E. Howard; L. Sprague De Camp

Author:Robert E. Howard; L. Sprague De Camp
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, General
ISBN: 9780441118632
Publisher: Ace Books
Published: 1968-11-01T05:00:00+00:00

living screamed and hacked.The square lay in the Kushite quarter, into which the Anakim had come ravening while the bulk of the Negroes hadbeen fighting the mob elsewhere. Now withdrawn in haste to their own quarter, the ebony swordsmen wereoverwhelming the Anakian infantry by sheer numbers, while the mob threatened to engulf both bodies. Under theircaptain, Bombaata, the Kushites retained a sem-blance of order that gave them an advantage over theunorganized Anakim and the leaderless mob. Their squadrons clattered back and forth across the square, charging tokeep a space clear in the midst of he swarm-ing thousands, so that they could use their horses to ad-vantage.Meanwhile the maddened Asgalunim were smashing and plundering the houses of the blacks, dragging forthhowling women. The blaze of burning buildings made the square swim in an ocean of fire, while the shrieks of theirwomen and children as they were torn to pieces by the Shemites made the Negroes fight with even more than theirusual ferocity.Somewhere arose the whir of Hyrkanian kettledrums above the throb of many hooves.'The Hyrkanians at last!" panted Bombaata. "They've loitered long enough. And where in Derketa's name isImbalayo?"Into the square raced a frantic, horse, foam flying from its bit rings. The rider, reeling in the saddle, screamed:"Bombaata! Bombaata!" as he clung to the mane with bloody hands."Here, fool!" roared the Kushite, catching the other's bridle."Imbalayo is dead!" shrieked the man above the roar of the flames and the rising thunder of the kettledrums.50

"The Hyrkanians have turned against us! They have slain our brothers in the palaces! Here they come!"

With a deafening thunder of hooves and drums, the squadrons of mailed lancers burst upon the square, ridingdown friend and foe. Bombaata saw the lean, exultant face of Mazdak beneath the blazing arc of his scimitar, and thena sword fell and the Kushite with it.On the rocky spurs of Libnun the herdsmen watched and shivered, and the clangor of swords was heard miles upthe river, where pallid nobles trembled in their gar-dens. Hemmed in by mailed Hyrkanians, furious Anakim, andshrieking Asgalunim, the Kushites died fighting to a man.It was the mob that first turned its attention to Akhl-rom. They rushed through the unguarded gates into the innercity, and through the great bronze doors of the East Palace. Ragged hordes streamed yelling down the corri-dorsthrough the Golden Gates into the great Golden Hall, tearing aside the curtain of cloth-of-gold to reveal an emptythrone. Silken tapestries were ripped from the walls by grimed and bloody fingers. Sardonyx tables were overthrownwith a clatter of golden vessels. Eunuchs in crimson robes fled squeaking, and slave-girls shrieked in the hands ofravishers.In the Great Emerald Hall, King Akhirom stood like a statue on a fur-strewn dais, his white hands twitching. At theentrance to the hall clustered a handful of his faithful servants, beating back the mob with swords. A band of Anakimplowed through the throng and burst the barrier of black slaves. As the wedge of swarthy Shemitish sol-diersclattered forward, Akhirom seemed to come to him-self. He dashed to an exit in the rear.

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