Elak of Atlantis by Kuttner Henry

Author:Kuttner, Henry [Kuttner, Henry]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3
Tags: Science Fiction
ISBN: 9780575128989
Publisher: Orion
Published: 2013-03-17T18:30:00+00:00

Elak’s guide gestured him on. Slowly the two men walked toward the dais. As they paused before it Elak caught a flash of movement from the corner of his eye; he turned to see Esarra hurrying toward them, while another of the slim, yellow-haired men stood watchfully beside an open door.

“Elak!” The girl’s face was white against the clustering chestnut curls; she clung to Elak, trembling a little. A silver gown had replaced the shredded nightdress, and there were silver slippers on the princess’s small feet.

“Elak!” she said breathlessly. “I was afraid—”

Now Esarra saw the two upon the thrones. She swung to face them, shrinking against Elak’s protective arm about her waist.

The red-clad woman, Tyrala, glanced aside at her companion. She spoke in an undertone. The man nodded. He leaned forward.

“Have no fear,” he said. “You have suffered no injury as yet—is that not so?”

Now Elak remembered his vision. He said, “Perhaps we have you to thank for that—Ithron.”

The woman caught her breath. Ithron’s eyebrows lifted.

“Perhaps,” was his only comment. “However, strangers come to Nyrvana seldom. The Kings of Sarhaddon—yes. They are of the Phoenix blood. But they come only after death, and not for many ages—aye, longer than you think!—have living men come from above.”

“I don’t understand you,” Elak said. “Where are we? Last I remember was falling down a hole in some damned cavern—are we underground?”

“Aye,” Ithron nodded. “You are in Nyrvana. Far and far is this land from the world above; Nyrvana is within a cave, but a cave so vast you could not span its breadth or height with your eyes.”

Esarra whispered, “The land of the gods! Where Assurah dwells—” She looked up at the sculptured phoenix.

“And we rule under Assurah,” Ithron said, “Tyrala and I. Before the phoenix slept, he gave us this charge: to rule Nyrvana and to guard—guard—” He hesitated, glanced at Tyrala. The woman’s baleful gaze dwelt on Elak.

“They are here for judgment,” she said. “Well? Let us judge!”

“Why are you here?” Ithron asked.

Esarra pulled free from Elak. Standing erect before the dais, regal head raised proudly, she told her story. And as she spoke, Tyrala’s gaze grew darker and more ominous, while startled amazement crept into Ithron’s eyes.

“So Xandar rules Sarhaddon,” the girl finished. “And he has slain my father. The law of the Phoenix has been broken. Baal-Yagoth has been freed from his chains—”

“Now by Assurah!” Ithron whispered—and his pale eyes were wide now, and blazing as he glared at the enthroned woman beside him. “By Assurah and Iod! This is your work, Tyrala!”

Tyrala sprang up, her slim fingers flexing into claws. She spat words at the man.

“Aye—my work! And what of that? It has been long since Assurah ruled, and he has no power now. Shall I rule over this land of shadows for ever, with these pallid slaves of yours to serve me—to drink my wine—”

Elak saw a touch of horror in Ithron’s face as he glanced at the chalice beside Tyrala’s throne. The woman went on bitterly.

“And

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