The Lost Race by Robert E. Howard

Author:Robert E. Howard
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Fiction, General
ISBN: 9781406572766
Publisher: Dodo Press
Published: 2008-02-15T17:06:30+00:00

The ancient was clothed in some kind of a single, flowing garment. One claw-like hand rested on theseat near him, skinny, crooked fingers, with talons like a hawk's. The other hand was hidden among hisgarments.

The firelight danced and flickered; now the old man stood out clearly, his hooked, beak-like nose andlong beard thrown into bold relief; now he seemed to recede until he was invisible to the gaze of theBriton, except for his glittering eyes.

"Speak, Briton!" The words came suddenly, strong, clear, without a hint of age. "Speak, what would yesay?"

Cororuc, taken aback, stammered and said, "Why, why--what manner people are you? Why have youtaken me prisoner? Are you elves?"

"We are Picts," was the stern reply.

"Picts!" Cororuc had heard tales of those ancient people from the Gaelic Britons; some said that they stilllurked in the hills of Siluria, but--

"I have fought Picts in Caledonia," the Briton protested; "they are short but massive and misshapen; notat all like you!"

"They are not true Picts," came the stern retort. "Look about you, Briton," with a wave of an arm, "yousee the remnants of a vanishing race; a race that once ruled Britain from sea to sea."

The Briton stared, bewildered.

"Harken, Briton," the voice continued; "harken, barbarian, while I tell to you the tale of the lost race."

The firelight flickered and danced, throwing vague reflections on the towering walls and on the rushing,silent current.

The ancient's voice echoed through the mighty cavern.

"Our people came from the south. Over the islands, over the Inland Sea. Over the snow-toppedmountains, where some remained, to slay any enemies who might follow. Down into the fertile plains wecame. Over all the land we spread. We became wealthy and prosperous. Then two kings arose in theland, and he who conquered, drove out the conquered. So many of us made boats and set sail for thefar-off cliffs that gleamed white in the sunlight. We found a fair land with fertile plains. We found a race ofred-haired barbarians, who dwelt in caves. Mighty giants, of great bodies and small minds.

"We built our huts of wattle. We tilled the soil. We cleared the forest. We drove the red-haired giantsback into the forest. Farther we drove them back until at last they fled to the mountains of the west andthe mountains of the north. We were rich. We were prosperous.

"Then," and his voice thrilled with rage and hate, until it seemed to reverberate through the cavern, "thenthe Celts came. From the isles of the west, in their rude coracles they came. In the west they landed, butthey were not satisfied with the west. They marched eastward and seized the fertile plains. We fought.They were stronger. They were fierce fighters and they were armed with weapons of bronze, whereaswe had only weapons of flint.

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