BADMASCHI IN ID DOM

ab R.E.Howard

Sambahsa Tarjem

Unte un royal fest, Nabonidus, is Rudh Sakerdot, is druv poti ios urb, tip delicate-ye Mutilos brakh,
ios yun aristocrat. Volgus, Murilo incontrit id enigmatic spect ios sakerdot ed dieum qua secret
eiskwens oiskulk ter. Exchangeer neid werd, bet Nabonidus dientowit ed pors ad Murilo un golden
schaffel. Is yun aristocrat, woidend od Nabonidus kwohr neid aun sabab, ouzrit ye id prest waurmen
ed rik hast-ye sien baytel. Ter, is ghyien id schaffel, in-yod is trohv uno menscaur, quos suter is
recognih bi-sabab un besonters-ye rekehgnet schram. Is biswid unte vasya pores os sien cuit, ed neti
bedwoyit id expression is hieb skwiten in id spect ios Rudh Sakerdot.

Nespekent sien profumet sword ghayts ed sien dienghia vesdets, Murilo eet neis couard ed ne vahsit
porge sien coll ei palach aun katue. Is ne wois kweter Nabonidus eelileict med iom we ei schohnk
un chance os ghehde se exile, bet id mer fact od is eet dar gwiv ed trehcleur ei dixit clar-ye ei
etilikw oik hors, aundwoi kafi wakt pro mimehne de eys beurt. Bet is nel-ye tohrb mimehne kay
eme sien decision ; quo is wien iti eet un instrument. Ed menxu is yun noble ee-kreust ed mimehnt
in tod weiko quer stahr ia marmortors samt purpwr spices ed ia ivorpalats ios aristocratia, Meinyun
ei diedwit tom instrument, besic ye todpet moment in ia makahs ed bordells iom insaluber quartiers
tos sam urb.

Ye ia leizda iom khusen ios pauper weik stahsit un temple os Anu quod eet loc om meis quem mer
devotions. Eyso sakerdot, piwon ed gwiwotic, eet sammel perkehler om klohpten tovars ed spion
servicend id police. Eys commerce meg mwanienit bachimien idghi wohs prokwem id Meirong, it
namen todghi quartier eet un implohca om kriv ed najis gatvas punctuena med sordid antra
perikwohlen ab i deursicst furs ios rig. Ies dwo meist bogaturics tim furs eet un Gunderman,
deserteur om mercenar trupps, ed un kimri barbar. Ob iom sakerdot os Anu, is Gunderman buit kapt
ed hanct ep id rineg. Bet is Kimri fug, ed, manthus per abwohndt weidsa id khianat ios sakerdot, is
introduxit-se nocts-ye do id temple os Anu ed zanchousit tom med oin einscutt. Sohkwit pelu
srohtos unte id hol urb, bet ia soks lancen kay retrehve iom Kimri remien vain, hin eys hakhna iom
prodahsit ei waldh ed duxit un hetman ios guardia ed eyso squade do id secret kamer quer is barbar
swohp, alnos besupt.

Kun ies lambh iom, is Kimri sbud, hayran, bet eys hol barbar gvertat ghuss con iom ; is exgventrit
iom hetman, se sohnd per sien hajoumers ed habiet ghohdt mwaungsoue sei eys dar medven senses
ne habient khanyet iom. Desconcerten ed pwolblind, is lips id werughyanen dwer feucskwnd-ye ed
hurt id stena med sien capo perodh ; id gvalt ios schock buit talgo quem is fiell niterplact. Kun is
disbayaldissit, is wohs in id salvsto dunjon ios urb, diehn ei mur med zangirs qua resistient hatta eys
muscles os barbar.

Do tod cell gwahsit Murilo, masken ed vulbhen in un ample sword cappa. Is Kimri chohx iom med
interesse, credeihndo diles con iom palach maimour med iom. Murilo iom rassurit, spehcend iom ye
sien roig med un tem megil interesse. Hatta in id xep ios dunjon ed samt sien zangirgwaur memsa,
id primitive augos ios wir eet evident. Eyso staur corpos ed eys memsa quom muscles eent
oistehlbend combineer id nerce al grizzly ed id okutat al panther. Sub eyso swordo zazzer eys vblou
okwi glimmereer med uno nesatible wildet.

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- Remanskws tu gwiv ? Sprohg Murilo.

Is barbaro brohm, ed un udnot interesse illuminit eyso spect.

- Sei io me arrange kay te evadihes, mi meiteries tu ? Sprohg is aristocrat.

Is Kimri buit mut, bet id intensitat os eyso spect eet un kafi eloquent response.

- Volo ke neics un wir pro me.

- Quom ?

Murilos voc transformit-se do murmure.

- Nabonidus, iom sakerdot ios roy.

Is Kimri kwohk neter surpriden ni troublen. Is eet aun tod baysa au respecto dia autoritat quod
civilisation inculquet im menscims. Roy au taskar, eet neid difference pro iom. Is neschi sprohg
Murilo ma is hieb chusen iomsmee menxu ia pauper quartiers pohld med hurr kenksegs.

- Quando maghsiem io me evade ? Sprohg is.

- In un hor. Est tik oin guarde in tod part ios dunjon, nocts, ed is magh’ bihe udkaupt. Estghi ja
udkaupt. Kap, en ia cleicha tienen zangirs. Vahm giowe ia ; oin hor pos mien asimat, is guarde,
Athicus, gwehmsiet ad experchine id dwer os tien cell. Diemmensies iom med wehbhstreis tiens
ghiton ; ye tod weidos niet bihe suspecen quando bihsiet aunstohct, ed ia autoritats sessient
persuaden has bruct un extos hehlp. Gwah unte tod hor id baytel ios Rudh Sakerdot ed neic iom.
Dind, gwahsies id Creschma’l Rat ; un wir te trehfsiet ed tib dahsiet un oyrenbeurs ed un ekwem. It
schowbeyt, ghehdsies mwaunsoue ex tod urb ed linkwes id land.
- Giow ghi ta balstohm’ zangirs, bud is Kimri, ed sayg ei guarde ke mi bringhs chifan. Per Crom.
Ho wuxen ep bayat dvan ed stehnkwed unte un hol dien, ed io parheungher.
- To bihsiet kwohrt ; bet mehm : ne poitts antsalge pre ghehdo hem.

Lurn ud sien zangirs, is barbaro restahsit ed oistrohc sien staura brakhs, qua kwohk enorm in id xep
ios dunjon. Murilo prekhiss iter od seighi eet tienxia un wir ghehdend parkwehre id task is
demandit, is Kimri eet so. Is likw id cell pos repeteihvs oiks om sien bereulens ed wehlus Athicus
behre un pliat beuf ed alu ei prisoner. Is wois is miegh truses iom guarde, ne tik bi-sabab ia denars is
hieb ei vohrst, sontern obschi is xih certain informations de iom.

Kun is arrivit hem, Murilo wieldh sien paurs. Nabonidus plagiet per iom roy, de to is eet yakin. Ed
chunke id royal guardia ne eet ter titundend protiev eys dwer, is eet kathalika yakin is sakerdot hieb
saygen neid ei roy… bariem taiptro. Aundwoi tolkiet is ei cras… sei gwiviet tuntro…

Murilo eet convict is Kimri respectiet sien parole. An is wir ghohd parkwehre sien task, to tehrbiet
bihe vichohxen. Alyi quem is hiebeer piten attentate iom Rudh Sakerdot previ, ed ir nehcs hieb
quanta esen hideus ed nesayget. Bet toy wirs eent products os civilisation, aun ia wolfinstincts ios
Kimri. Kunkye Murilo, scuttend id golden schaffel samt id segen aur inter sien hands, hieb mathen
per sien secret arcanes is Kimri hieb est kapt, is hieb vis un solution sienims problemes.

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Tsay in id kamer, is bohd un toast in id honor tos wir, quos nam eet Conan, ed eysi success. Ed
menxu is drohnk, oin eysen spions hieb gwohmt ad informe iom od Athicus hieb est arrest ed
xubhto do prison. Is Kimri ne se hieb evaden.

Murilo khissit sien sehrgo glehdje iter in sien veines. Is ghohd vide in tod renk tik id buxianxu
ghesor os Nabonidus, ed un dekhschatend sensation ieusk in iom : is Rudh Sakerdot eet meis quem
mensc, is eet un brukh qui ghohd lises id ment sienen victims ed trage ia viels ye-yom buds ti diens
kam marionettes. Pos desperation gwohm id energia os desperation. Hangus un einso sub sien
sword cappa, is likwit sien dom unte un secret passage ed enghulf do ia deserta strads. Eet just
midnocto kun is ghohd ant id dom os Nabonidus, quod wierdhit deusk-ye inter ia walls qua separeer
id ud ia nieber baytels.

Id mur eet alt bet ne impossible ad udglehme. Nabonidus ne trusit simple petrawalls kay swekwehre
sien protection. Nu-tohrbit bihe bayt quo wohs eni. Qua eent ta baytu jects, Murilo ne wois precis-
ye. Is gnohsit eet lytst-ye oin wild enorm molosser qui aluit in id garden ed od so hieb sem dien
dischtukelt un intrus kamsei habiet litto de un cuincule. Quo exspectit iom trans to, Murilo ne kohns
util os kaure de. Wirs quoy hieb est autoriset ad penetre id loc unte bragv legitim visites hieb lohct
od Nabonidus gwivit simple-ye, bet od eys baytel eet riche-ye decoret ed, tem stauneihnd quem to
miegh swehne, od is hiebit pauk khadims. Eti ies hieb vis tik oin, un silent olbjim namt Joka. Ies
hieb aurn yaschi alyanghen trehce in ia piern kantuns ios dom, bet nimen hieb vis tel. Id megst
mysteir tos rounawent baytel eet isswo Nabonidus, quos intriga makdour ed eys maestria in ia
arcanes os international politique hieb iom buwen iom staurst wir ios roydem. Id popule, os
cancelar ed is roy eent tanti marionettes kata eys viels.

Murilo udglohm id mur ed se sis falle do ia gardens, sehkw om skadhglois qua teguts samt
weundelnd ozda deuskihr. Neid luce blig ye ia fensters tos dom quod wierdh tem sombre-ye bayna
ia drus. Is yun aristocrato stohmb jaldi quayque tadbir-ye per ia teguts. Is exspectit aure ye cada
instant iom mier molosser baue ed rusches ex temos samt eys hol imposanto masse. Is bedwoyit id
efficience os sien eins face talg attaque, yed ne kung. Kreins eet nehce ob ia edonts uns gver quem
ob id pelk ios palach.

Is oistus protiev un volumineus ed moll masse. Is clih-se ed, med id muzlim diutis iom stars,
discernit un inert forme ep id grund. Eet is kwaun qui guardit ta gardens, ed is eet mortu. Eys coll
eet brohct ed gwup id trace os quo samkwohk gigantesk edonts. Murilo prekhiss nel mensc hieb
ghohden parkwehre to. Is gver hieb incontren un monster wilder quem is. Samt sem apprehension,
Murilo chohx ia masses om buska ed deusk teguts dind, plectus, trohc proscher id silent dom.

Id presto dwer is testit ne eet andamt. Is entrit tadbir-ye, einsghesor, ed wohs in uno mier deusk
dikhliz, muzlim-ye belucen ab id gwaydert quod filtrit per ia behangs ye alter bud. Un complete
silence regnit in id hol baytel. Murilo snohg unte id dikhliz ed oistopit kay glanzes apter id behang.
Eyso spect incontrit un belucto kyal ; ia fensters eent samt zamtcortins tem tens quem neid luce
ghohd skape extro. Nel gwiv in id kyal, bet id hieb uno meg buxianxu weiker : medsu ia brohgen
meubles ed ia rohven behangs, niem weitwodds unios mahibe vreikst, lyohg id nayv uns wir. Eys
cap eet vrohnken yoitkwe eys mantu kihsit ep uter oms. Ia traits, dusformet do un buxianxu frad,
kwecto stier ei engargen yun aristocrat.

Ye id prest ker unte tod noct, Murilos gwaukania vienk. Is glaz rhayr-yakin kye quetos is hieb
gwohmen. Dind id mehmen ios palach ed os eyso scafold iom rekierdwn, ed is tohr id kyal,
detournend kay vergihes iom fradend horror oistrahndo medsu id. Quayque is hieb naiwo viden iom
wir, is wois, yeji ia descriptions is hieb aurn, od lit de Joka, iom taciturn khadim os Nabonidus.

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Apter ia behangs uns dwer, is dyohrc un circular kielken. Ye midhoge inter id poliht demped ed id
uperalen tavan, un galerie begir tod kielken, meublet kam tod uns roy. Medsu id wohs un imposanto
mahagony table, ep-yod eent post vinbardaks ed succulent mets. Ed Murilo stohv. In uno miero
stron quos weur clintor facit iom, is vis un gastalt quos vesters ei eent familiar. Is enderdyohrc un
brakh in un rudh armel, post ep un bagukneigvtel ; id cap, perbohrgen sub id capchen tos tem
familiar cappa, eet clihn perodh, kam mergen do meditation. Murilo hieb vis Nabonidus seddend in
tod position centens in id royal curt.

Balstehmend sien kerd quod biet wild-ye, is yun aristocrato stohmbit perodh in id kielken med
wolfstieups, sien eins rect front-ye, sien hol corpos parat ad lever id fatal cutt. Eys praedd ne movit,
ni kwecto hieb aurn eys proschstehmben. Kweghi swohp is Rudh Sakerdot, we eet un cadaver
fallsist in tod miero stron ? Murilo eet kongcio ye tik oin jambghehngen ud sien peind kun stayg is
wir in id foteuyl stahsit ub ed facit iom.

Murilos lige blieych. Eys einso slub ud eys finghers ed fiell udclanghend-ye ep id poliht demped.
Un terrible crie uperswohn eys kenaserng lipps, sohkwn ab id gwaur fall uns corpos. Ed iter silence
regnit ep id baytel ios Rudh Sakerdot.

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 II

Pau pos Murilo hieb likwt id dunjon quer Conan is Kimri eet karcerbohnden, Athicus brigh ei
prisoner un tepji quod compris, inter alya, un enorm beufcarn ed un bock alu. Conan rusch ep id
samt un gver appetitt, menxu Athicus chohx inspece ia cells kay chehxe od hol eet in aurdhen… ed
kay nimen bihiet weitwodd ios pretenden evasion. Menxu is eet it besic irrup un soldatensquade do
id prison ed iom arrestit. Murilo rhielt mehnend od tod arrest mieyn od Conans evasionsproject hieb

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est aunstohct. To concernit un alnos alyo ject ; Athicus hiebit bevis neglegence in sien besoyn con id
endermund, ed is hieb esen navaxt ab oin om sien prev synts.

Alyo cipire emsit eys place, un phlegmatic yed amin individu, quom neid denarsumm habiet
ghohdto diswehrte ud eys dohlg. Is ne eet imaginative, bet hieb un exaltet dayi ios importance siens
amt.

Oins kun Athicus buit abduct ant iom magistrat kay bihe formell-ye inculpen ter, so nov cipire
parchohx ia cells ob puro routine. Dat is dejourit pri tod os Conan, eyso sense ios debos buit hurten
ed outragen ab vide iom zangirleuro prisoner besic med ghyanue ia sensta miemsschtuks dar
gleibhend ep un enorm auxost. Is cipire buit tem schockto quem is commiss id rhalt os entre mon id
cell, aun tamhide-ye kalus iens paleks in wals alyer in id prison. Buit eys prest professional fault,
edschi eyso senst. Conan bohng eys ghalv med id auxost, lambh eys daga ed eys cleicha, ed likw id
cell aun spehde. Kam Murilo hieb saygen, tik oin guarde stahsit wakht in tod prisonsdeil nocts. Is
Kimri gwahsit ocolo ia murs med ia cleicha is hieb lambhen ed wohsit jaldi dworis, tem leur kamsei
Murilos plan habiet wohrgen.

Pod ia prisonswalls, Conan stopit unte un khvil kay decide quo is vahsit kwehre. Is sib sieyg is
obohl neid ad Murilo chunke is hieb antsals med sien wi wassilas ; nu-hieb is yun aristocrat lurt iom
ex eys kaydani ed qui hiebit bringhihn ei sem pitu, dwo elementsaun-ya eys evasion habiet esen
impossible. Conan conclus is eet tong dia Murilo ed, chunke is eet un wir qui semper virespectit
sien obligations, is tohm de age kemti id promiss quod is hieb kwohrn ei yun aristocrat. Bet
quantenprest, is hieb semject ad panges.

Is abdehsit ud se sien ghiton in kentha ed gress deub do id noct vehsend-ye tik un lendvkatan, ed
sammel, bruk med sien fingher id daga is hieb lambhen…. Un katel weben samt un nevdem incha
long doublekhar miech. Aun kwehre blosk, is tohr allees ed temost places hin is ghohd do sien
destination : id quartier ios Meirong. Is gress gwaukan-ye deub do tod labyrinth aun tehrbe paurske
sien itner, isghi gnohsit cada cotlan tos. Lit druve-ye de uno meirong om deusk ed kriv allees ed
aulas, samt ninbloska ed nauseabund odors. Gatvas eent aun adoquins ter ; slamm se mixit ad zibel
hina skipes repugnant kowps. Wedevacuation eet negnohto ter ed scomber xubht ep ia-pet allees,
stehnkend magurs inter ia mudhpadwls. Sei anghen ne wier, riskit meg slubres ed pwolsehnke do un
dusodor hawz. Neschi eet rar stundes protiev un cadaver, samt tohmt gurgule we bohncto cap,
lyehgend ep idpet borbmayu. Prabh-ye vergihr i prabh leuds id Meirong.

Conano niek sien destination aun esus vis, just kun ia person is retrohfskwit iti eet salgend id. Quan
is Kimri snohg nin-ye do id ghehrd niter, ia kweil qua hieb iom prodaht ei police sriensit sien nov
maaschouk in un kamer ios prest etage. Oins kun id dwer buit cluden apter iom, so yun brigando
stighit ghom ambhtastend-ye id drab quod crieck sub eyso vyige, formohnen do brens qua, kam ta
vasyen Meirongweikers, concerneer auwal-ye id illegal acquisition om alyanghens wesus. Ye
midvia in id drab, is oistopit stayg ed eys kays ghohrs. Un indistinct forme tup in id temos ant iom,
ed un pair om okwi lucit kam ta os un saydend simbva. Un brohm os gver buit id sensto ject is sollit
aure, isghi monster se xubh ep iom ed un srakut miecho dohr eys inster. Is emiss un senst
agoniasleuct ed collapsit moll-ye ep ia stieupens.

Is barbar mien unte un khvil uper eys nayv, kam un goul, sien okwi bleigend in temos. Is wois id
blosk hieb est aurt, bet Meirongleuds kieur mae se immixe do quo ne betrohv i. Un agoniacrie ep
deuska stieupens ne eet exteradet. Serter, semanghen deursiet venture kay woide meis… bet ne pre
sem raisonable sunyin.

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Conan glohm ia stieupens ed oistopit ant tod dwer quod ei eet tem familiar. Eet andamen intos, yed
is oisnig sieno miech inter id plab ed id chambranle ed liv ithan id perchin. Is entrit, clus id dwer
apter se, ed facit iam kweil qua hieb iom prodahn ei police.

Ia meirka khayatsess ep sien dissterto crovat, in camiss. Ia blid ed spohc iom kamsei esiet un
yowrleing. Ia hieb aurt id crie in id drab, ed ia vis id rudh gloi ep id daga is dohrj in hand. Bet ia eet
pior engargen de sien wi beurto pro riudes sieno maaschouk. Ia biiltijit ke iam linkwiet gwiv, in
lafza quasi-auncoherencihn ab terror. Conano ne antwohrd ; is mer-ye naspohc iam med sien
jarwent okwi, tastend id khar sienios miech med sien callosic pallex.

Is vitohr id kamer menxu ia se ahockit protiev id mur, demandend aman inter dwo sleucts.
Empungend iam aun kaur per ays blond ghayts, is sohlk iam ghom id crovat. Renkardkaschend
sieno miech, is lambh sien victim sub sien levter brakh ed gress kyid fenster. Kam pleista doms tos
type, ielg etage eet perambhen ab un gombh skipen ab id forstehlben iom fensters. Conan ghyien id
fenster unte oin schtoss ed oistohmb ep id angh gombh. Sei anghen habiet gohrt ye tod moment we
wohst prokwem, uno meg stragno skau habiet bihe porgen al : un wiro trehcend tadbir-ye engwn id
gombh, samt un gesticulant pwolnogwu kweil sub eys brakh. El ne habiet bihe meis pribuden quem
ia bent.

Nakend bad sien ziel, Conan stopit ed antgrip id mur med sien leur hand. Eni id treb udcliengh
stayg un clamor, deikend od id cadaver vibihsit aunstohgen. Eys kapta stun ed kriemp, iter
katathematisend. Conan glaz kyid mergis ed id panko iom allees niter. Is dahsit attention unte uno
mic ibs iltijas ias kweil ed ibs clamors in id bin, dind, zielend kaur-ye, is sis iam falle do un
sruskwrntdubro. Is mien unte oik secundes oismagend id skau ias piegias qua sroht ed se kiw,
kleusternd ays furieus rughats, eti sib autorisit un stump cakhin. Dind is oispohc ub, klusit id tumult
quod amplificit-se in id treb, ed decis eet tid os gwahe neictum Nabonidus.

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8
 III

Nu-udcliengh uno metallic blosko quod protiebud Murilo. Is brohm, desorientet, ed se strohng ad
sedde ub. Silence ed temos regneer hol perambh iom ed uno miv iom lambh id horrorbaysa de bihvs
blind. Dind is mohm quo hieb wakyet, ed is hieb anateina. Ambhtastend, is vighieb is lyohg ep un
swol ex glat ed regular petraflises. Venturend dalger, is aunstohg uno mur ex id samo material. Is
oistahsit ub ed knigv regv-ye protie tod, tentend in vain se oriente. Is wohs in un genis karcer, de to
eet is yakin, bet quodih ed kam diutos hieb is neid lytsto dayi. Is mohm vagh-ye sem udclangh, ed
dieum kweter zaghyahsit apter iom id isern dwer os eyso cell, we an entrit un palach.

Is krus deub kun to ei enfiell ed bistohmb engwn id mur. Is exspectit trehve id bors os sien cell
quankwe, bet pos un khvil is conclus is eet trehcend in druve unte un dikhliz. Is mien prokwem id
mur, redwoind ghyamens ed alya samgenos kapans, ed ghieb mox is ne eet saul in temos. Is khiek
vide ject, bet auter hieb eys aurs kwaht uno ninblosk, we hieb eyso supowiss maunt iom. Is hielt,
sien kays ghehrsend ep sien cap ; tem yakin quem is eet gwiv, is wois od alyis gwiv eet ter, ant iom,
teupend in skadh.

Is mohn eys kerd sa-zabiet kun un voc strisit med un barbar accent :

- Murilo ! Es tu ?
- Conan !

Submers ab emotion, is yun aristocrat ambhtastit in temos hin eys hands trohv dwo massive ed bare
omsa.

- Noroc-ye te ho recognihn, brohm Conan. Sal-athicatim te kam un piwonen pork.

- Quer smos wey, in Mitras nam ?
- In ia ghyamens lyehgend sub id dom ios Rudh Sakerdot ; bet ma…
- Quod est id saat ?
- Pau serter quem midnoct.

Murilo scussit sien cap, tentend aurdhnes sieno ment.

- Quod kwehrs tu ter ? Sprohg is Kimri.

- Ho gwohmt ad nices Nabonidus. Ho klut is guarde os tien cell hieb esen changen…
- Yaghi, brohm Conan. Ho bohnct id ghalv ios nov cipire ed ho mwaungsout. Habiem sollen arrive
hetro hors prever, bet io hieb preter oik personal res ad panges. Gohd, kwe smad traque
Nabonidus ?

Murilo krus.

- Conan, smos in id baytel ios archidemon ! Ho gwohmt ad vane un menscpeind ; ho trohft un

weulos’ demon antsalgus endrois !

Conan brohm, rhayr-yakin. Tem aunpaur quem un vurnen tigher quando lit de menscpeinds, is lakin
behemit vasya superstitieus terrors im primtive sesen.

- Ho ghohden me introduce do id dom, susurit Murilo kamsei temos habiet aurs kay klues. Ho
incontren iom kwaun os Nabonidus gvohnen, in id garden. Eni, ho incontren Joka, iom khadim. Eys
coll hieb esen brohgen. Dind ho viden Nabonidus in person, seddend in sien stron, in sien adic

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vesdets. Quantenprest, ho credihn isschi eet mortu. Ho stohmben proscher in silence kay dyehgwe
iom. Tun is hat staht ub ed facet me. O Deiwes !

Id mehmen tos horror oisromih iom yun aristocrat unte uno mic, ed is wohs khakend bahe menxu is
regwivit tod keapay instant.

- Conan, murmurit is, ne un mensc hat facet me ! Is samkwohk un mensc corpos-ye ed darmen-ye,
bet buit un lige om dementia ed coschmar quod ho vis sub id scarlat capchen ios Rudh Sakerdot.
Tod protiokw eet stegen med sword drighs inter-ya rudher smulk porkin okwi ; eys nas eet plattihn
samt enorm plohdern nastorms ; eys wadwon lipps eent slahn ub, revelend immense gohlben
edonts, kam ta uns kwaun. Ia hands qua stohlb ex ia scarlat armels eent miskwohrt ed stec’ med id
sam sword terkat. Ho viden to hol unte un mic, ed unte id instant poskwo, submers ab tod
horrorvision, mien senses se forkhiss ed ho bayaldisset.
- Ed poskwo ? Sprohg is Kimri, bfuyow.
- Ho disbayaldissen bad nuper ; is monster soll’ xeubhus me do tod endergrundghyamen. Conan, ho
semper suspecen Nabonidus de ne ses alnos mensc ! Est un demon, un jec’ quel ghehdt mithes
aspect ! Diens movt el bayna menscens ed nocts emt el tsay sien druv aspect.
- To kwehct evident, antwohrd Conan. Ielganghen existe mensci qui ghehde se transforme do wolf
per ir saul vol. Bet ma hat is nic’ sien khadims ?
- Quel ghehdt jimane kwahe sonde id ment uns demon ? Ei antwohrd Murilo. Nies prest task est
salge tod stet. Menscarmes ghehde neid protiev un ses quel sagv’ mutawardhe. Quosmed has tu
viwohst her ?
- Per ia cloaks. Mi ho saygen ia gardens esient guardet. Ia cloaks duce uni tunnel quod leit tiel ta
ghyamens. Io mohn ghehde trehve un neperchin’ dwer kya uber etages.
- Tun smad antsalge unte quer has gwohmt ! Exclamit Murilo. Iblis ! Oins kun habsiemos salgen
tod serpent antro, tentesiemos noster chance contra id royal guardia ed peitsiemos mwaungsoue ex
tod urb. Gwah, te sehkwo !
- Inutil, brohm is Kimri. Id via quod duct ibs cloaks est blocken. Kun ho entret id tunnel, un isern
kankel hat sturden ex id tavan. Sei ne habiem esen meis oku quem blix, ia aks ios kankel me habien’
gwohzdt do id grund kam un vehrm. Kun ho tentet ayre id, id ne hat moven unte oin inch. Un
elephant khakiet move id. Ni semjec’ piwoner quem un cuincule snehge inter ia isern stanghs.

Murilo rughiet, ed un glehdjkreus iendh eyso spina. Is habiet sollen aume od Nabonidus linkwiet
neid accessvia sieni baytel aun surveillance. Sei Conano ne habiet haben tod syrat wi ad gvers, tod
ek habiet athicaten iom. Is hieb aundwoi slurn un kohlen mecanisme trehcend-ye in id tunnel,
falleihnd id kankel. Ed nun eent bo gwiv, bet kapen.

- Etileikwt tik oin kwehrtu, iey Murilo, sweidend per vasya pores os sien cuit, est tente trehve alyum
udghang ; vasya sont aundwioi kapant, bet hams neid cheus.

Is barbaro brohm ka samstehmen, ed ies sokwis inkiep ambhtaste towsraen engwn tod dikhliz. Ye
tod moment, Murilo sohgnit de semjecto.

- Quosmed has tu ghohden recognihes me in tod temos ? Sprohg is.

- Quando has gwohmen ad trehve me in mien cell, ho nust id odor ios profume tu dehs do tien kays,
antwohrd Conan. Ho nust id iter ne meg diuper, kun io tup in temos, me preparend ad exgventer te.

Murilo brigh un sword ghayt prosch siena nastorms ; hatta it eet id xiaunki payn kwahim pro eys
odorat os civiliseit, ed is vighieb od ia senses ios Kimri solleer ses besonters acut.

10
Menxu is oistohmbit muschkil-ye, eys hand se pos ep sien kardkasch, ed is rughiet ob trehve id eet
tuich. Ye tod moment, uno muzlim diutis prohp ant iens, ed ies ghohd jaldi do un skamb in id
dikhliz, quetos filtrit un barth luce. Arrivevs ei angule, bo spohc tadbir-ye, ed Murilo, cliht ep sien
sokwi, khissit senters imposant carcasse stehve. Isschi yuwen hieb viden iom : un wir, lyehgend
inert ed pwolnogw in id dikhliz, just pos id skamb, vagh-ye beluct ab un diutis quod kwecto emanit
ex un disk ficten in id mur face iom. Lud ex tod silhouette, qui lyohg lige protie ghom, un stragno
familiaritato ; ia inexplicable ed monstrueus implications qua orier tois trehsihr Murilos atmen.
Znaycend ei Kimri sehkwe iom, is oistohmb silent-ye ed se clihsit ep id corpos. Uperwehndend sem
repugnance, is empug id ed volvihsit id ep ids regv. Is sis tun skape un incredulitatsrughat ed is
Kimri un staur surprise brohm.

- Nabonidus ! Is Rudh Sakerdot ! Exclamit Murilo, sien kerso stayg lambht ab un aunnam vertigo.
Bet tun, quis… quod ?

Is sakerdot muticit oik werds ed bisroht muzlim-ye. Med uno meg felin syrat, Conan se clihsit ep
iom wir ed trohp sien daga just uper tos kerd. Murilo siz eys runc.

- Skehpt ! Mae neic iom fauran….

- Ma ne ? Sprohg is Kimri. Is est sub sien menscforme ed swehpend. Kwe vols ke gehrt ed nos
kaydt ?
- No, skehpt ! Urs Murilo, tentend uperwehnde sien confusion. Skehpt ! Is ne swehpt.. Vids tod
contusion ep eys xurt skolfa ? Buit niterplagen. Maght hatta lyehgus her pon hors.
- Io mohn tu hiebs’ kassamen vidus iom sub eys bestial forme, ter ub in id dom, iey Conan.
- Ho vis iom ! Autah… Gehrt ! Protiedar tien miech, Conan ; est ter un mysteir profunder quem
habiem crediht. Dehlgo tolke con tom sakerdot, pre iom neicmos.

Nabonidus brigh un hesitanto hand sieni lumatayt skolfa, grumel semject, ed ghyienit sien okwi.
Unte oin instant, ia remien tuich, aun intelligence ; dind is gwohm tsay do gwit unte oin schtoss, ed
is sess ub, spehcend bo wirs. Quodkwe bih id terrifiant schocko quod hieb karakhen eyso skarp
ment, is wir hieb kongcio recupern sien hol adic makdours. Is ambiglaz, dind stier ad Murilo.

- Yu honoret mien dom, yuwen, iey is gleihnd-ye med un swekwro protiokwo, spehcend iom buland
gastalt qui wierdh apter id oms ios yun aristocrat. Tib has schohnct ia services uns corsan, vido.
Kwe tien eins ne eet kafi kay bringhes do ajal mien humil person ?
- Basta, jawieb Murilo impatient-ye. Kamdiu has tu lyohgen her ?
- En un meg stragno werd ad iskwes uni wir qui hat jus’ disbayaldisset, antwohrd is sakerdot. Ne
woidim quod saat est taiper, bet buim attaquen circum oin hor prfe midnoct.
- Bet tun quis se sameiht tib in tien wi vesters, ter ub, in id dom ? Sprohg Murilo.
- Thak, aundwoi, antwohrd Nabonidus, breukend sien arus samt bittert. Ya, to maght tik ses Thak.
Ed in mien wi robe ? Quod un kwaun !

Conan qui ghieb neid de tod scene, sroht, impatient, ed muticit semject in sieno materbahsa.
Nabonidus iom spohc samt un bizarre protiokwo.

- Id daga tiens gamayd kwecto trehfskwt id itner kye mien kerd, Murilo, iey is. Io mohm habies es’
kafi hakime pro klues mien warnen ed linkwes id urb.
- Quosmed ghohd io woide quo me exspectit ? Ei antwohrd Murilo. In quant fall, her defendo mien
interesses.
- Es in sell hamrahsa con tom kenkseg, murmurit Nabonidus. Te suspexim pon sem wakt. Itak me
ho arrangen kay elimine tom curt secretar samt tem pall teint. Pre is mohr, mi hat revelen pelu jects

11
bayna-ya id nam cios yun aristocrat qui hieb corrupen iom, kay is diedw ei statsecrets, qua cis yun
aristocrat repohrn dind ad gospoti augsa. Kwe ne aygves te, Murilo, fur samt immaculat ghesors ?
- Ne ho meis sababs quem tu os aygve, murdar gwulturkerd plundrer ! Antwohrdit strax Murilo.
Exploites un hol roydem pro tien wi conto ed, sub id steg os tien swoleus statsamt, swindels iom
roy, spolyes i rich, waurcs i paupers ed sacrifies id future ios hol land kay satisface tien aunlimite
ambition. Ne ghehlds kreins quem un piwon pork quos srugh es’ mers do eys ald. Es un meg miere
fur quem ego ! Ex nos tri, est is Kimri is meist honeste isghi bariem neict ed klehpt in diewo.
- Weyghi smos quanti bandits, samstohmit Nabonidus med un aykwost ton. Ed nun, quod vols tu ?
Mien gwit ?
- Quando ho viden id aur ios missend secretar, io wois eem lust, iey Murilo brusk-ye, ed mi ho
saygen invoquies id autoritat ios roy. Mohn io prabh ?
- Yaghi, antwohrd is sakerdot. Est facil elimine un curt secretar, bet tu es un lyt pior important
person. Lohcskwim ei roy un scherz dayir te, todeghern.
- Un scherz quod habiet cos’ mien cap, murmurit Murilo. Tun is roy dar ne woid de mien exactions
in kharij ?
- Pro nun, kwohster Nabonidus. Ed taiper, chunke vido tien sokwi es’ knivghesor, meg baym tod
scherz naiwo bihsiet narren.
- Solls woide quosmed tod ratentorm ghehdt bihe skapt, declarit Murilo. Suppose tib linkwo tien
gwit. Es tu parat ad hehlpe nos ad antsalge ed kassame de natayce dayir mien illegal activitats ?
- Ed pon quan un sakerdot respectiet tien parole ? Schikiey Conan, ghabend id general maynen ios
conversation. Sine me tehme eys gurgule ; vidskwo id color os eys cruor. Est saygen in id Meirong
od eys kerd est kyehrsen ; eysghi cruor soltwert ses kyehrsen…
- Reman sakwn, sursurit Murilo. Sei ne nos guidet ex ta dubes, riskmos ya saupe her. Tun,
Nabonidus, quod saycs tu de mien suggestion ?
- Quod sayct un wolf quos pod est kapant ? Cakhinit is sakerdot. Som in vies fangh ed, sei
skapskwmos, dehlgmos unie nies efforts. Kassamo myehrse tien quan’ malversations sei io survive
tod aventure. To kassamo ep Mitras atmen !
- Som satisfacen, murmurit Murilo. Hatta is Rudh Sakerdot ne deursiet brehge solg oit. Nun,
dehlgmos salge tetos. Mien prient cer hat-se introduc’ per id tunnel, bet un kankel hat fallen apter
iom, blockend id perigumt. Ghehds tu ayrihes id ?
- Ne pon tod ghyamen, antwohrd is sakerdot. Id controldrangh wehst in id kyal uper id tunnel. Exist
tik alyum udghang ex tod gixia, ed vahm vos dikes id. Bet sayg mi, quosmed has tu arrivet hetro ?

Murilo ei explicit med oik werds ; Nabonidus nuk poskwo stahsit ub stip-ye. Is oiskimblit perodh
unte id dikhliz, quod weuriesc tetos hina skipes un sorte os kielken, ed gwohm prosch id
argwrntdisk ye alter bud. Gwaydert bihsit stets intenser ye perodher ies gwahr, yed id remien dar
muzlim ed diffus. Prokwem id disk ies vis un angh drabh quod oistighit ub.

- En alter udghang, ed ne mehno od id dwer ye alter bud sia andamen. Bet credeihm od quelgvonc
upergwahskwiet id dwer dehlgiet anter tehme sien gurgule. Spehcte do id disk.

Quo samkwohk un genis argwrntic disk eet in druve uno mier specule fix in id mur. Un complexe
systeme om kwecto cupern tubes, stohlb ex id mur just herender ; ta tubes kohmb kay joine direct-
ye id specule. Spehcend endo ta tubes, Murilo vis ter un pondost numer om smulker specules. Is tun
stier tei ios mur, ei largest, ed exclamit. Glegend epter eys oms, Conan brohm.

Eet kamsei spehcient per uno plaut fenster ghyanen kyun suabelucto kyal. Mier specules hiengeer
kata ia murs ed inter ta sem platu zamtbehangs ; wohseer semschi silken coucha, stols ex ebon ed
ivor ; plur dwers samt cortins wieust in tod kyal. Ant un dwer aun cortin sess un kyehrsen ed
imposanto masse qui contrastit akster-ye con id opnos ios decor.

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Murilo khiss iter sien sehrgo glehdje in sien veines kun is contemplit iom horror qui kwecto stier ei.
Is oistiup retro involuntar-ye ; Conan xyieng proscher bayasen-ye hin eyso ghyanu quasi touchit id
grund ; is brohm kam ob menace au challenge in sieno materbahsa.

- In id nam os Mitra, Nabonidus, exclamit Murilo, deubst-ye scutten, quod est tod ?
- Est Thak, antwohrd is sakerdot qui massagit sien skolfa. Sems saygient est un kiep, bet is est quasi
tem different ud un maymoun quem ud un mensc. Eys folk weic’ meg euster, in ia ghyors qua
leizden’ Zamoras eustgrance. Ne son’ kathire, bet sei ne bihnt exterminet, mehno od pre centen om
tusents yaren, bihsient mensci. Ir evolution sistart ; ne son’ maymouns, kam ir aw ajdadh, ni mensc,
kam maghses sessient ir piern descendants. Weiken’ quasi inaccessible bergwntias, gnohnd neter
ogwn, ni armes, ni id construction om schalascha au id tyeicen om vesters. Yed hant un forme os
bahmen, khaliban ex brohms ed clackens.
Ho kwahn Thak kun is eet baby, ed is hat uc’ quo ho docen ei meg meis jaldi ed samt baygh meis
attention quem ceter animal. Is eet sammel mien jiwey ed mien khadim. Bet ho myohrst od, esend
part-ye un mensc, is khiek bihe un mer skadh os meswo, kam habiet bihn alyis animal. Okwivid-ye
eys semibestial kers hat conserve’ vestiges om haines, waenkhoen ed un certain forme os gver
ambition.
Quodkwe bih to, is hat plagen kun exspectim to minst-ye. Perncti mi hat kwohc’ stayg lambhen ab
dementia. Eys actions eent prect ab animal follia, yed woidim nun od to hol sollit ses product uns
diutos exmohnen ed planen act.
Ho aurt un katublosk in id garden ed gwaht tetro kay vide quo wakyit ter… eemghi persuaden od
ees tu, ed od mien molosser hieb jus’ nigvohnt te. Ho tun viden Thak emerge ex ia teguts, cruorpoik.
Pre io ghieb eys intentions, is hat klaupt ep me emittend-ye un terrifian’ crie ed me hat niterplact.
Ne mehmo id sehkwo, bet tarko od, sehkwnd sem duskwol instinct os sien semimensc kers, is hat
raubhen mien robe ed, kun dar gwivim, me hat xubhen do tod ghyamen… po quod ziel, tik i divs
ghehdient woide id. Is soll’ gvehnus iom kwaun kun is rik ex id garden, ed pos vincus me, is hat
okwivid-ye nict Juba, chunke has viden eys cadaver in id dom. Joka habiet gwohmt ad hehlpe me,
hatta contra Thak, quom is hat semper haissen.

Murilo spohc iom creature per id specule ; is sess ant id cluden dwer, intizarnd samt mustring
patience. Is krus vidend-ye ta mier kyehrsen hands covohrt med drighs qua samkwohk un sorte os
terkat. Eys corpos eet massive, plaut ed wonk. Eys abnormal-ye plaut omsa hieb dohrt id scarlat
robe ed, dyehrcend-ye ia, Murilo vis ia eent covohrt med id sam sword ed teug terkat. Id lige quod
oistohlb ex subter id rudh capchen eet uns aunnam bestialitat, yed Murilo vighieb Nabonidus sieyg
prabh quan is bahsit od Thak ne eet druve-ye un gver. Eet semject in id budmen tom maurrudh
okwi, in id kyopev darmen ios creature, semject in eys general apparence quod enderkwit iom ud id
animal regne. Tod mustring corpos schaliesch un kers ed atmen qua just bipieydrwn-se in un dar
vagh humanitat. Murilo remien petrifien ed affligen kun is recognihsit uno mulayim ed hideuso
gendeltat inter rjienrlwey ed tom seddend horror, ed iom lambhit nausea kun is vighieb fugitive-ye
ia aungrunds os heulend bestialitat per-ya menscgenos hieb dohlgen muschkil-ye uperlites.

- Nos vidt, ne dwoim, murmurit Conan. Matar ne nos charget ? Is ghehdiet brehge tod fenster aun
difficultat.

Murilo ghieb od Conano mohn id specule eet un sorte os fenster.

- Ne nos vidt, antwohrd is sakerdot. Smauterms ghi id kyal lyehgend ter uper nos. Tod dwer quod
Thak uperwakht est tod quod staht pos ta stieupens. Est tik un speculenassemblage. Vids tu ta

13
specules ep ia murs ? Reflegent id kwiter ios kyal do ta tubes, unte-ya biht reflect iter ed miereriht
hina se projec’ do tod mier specule.

Murilo men ghieb is sakerdot hieb secules perodh binisbat sien zaman ghehdus-ye instehle solg
invention ; Conan de vis ter tik vraj ed ne etikieur de.

- Ho concept tod ghyamen kay ses auter un endergumt, au un prison, declarit is sakerdot. Mi hat
wakyet endergwehme hetro ed, dank ta specules, ho ghohden vide nehc gvehne qui hiermskweer
mesmee.
- Bet ma Thak uperwakht tod dwer ? Sprohg Murilo.
- Sollt aurus id fall ios kankel in id tunnel. Tod est yugen ad clocks hangend in id uber kyals. Is
woid est semanghen in id gixia ed intizar’ kem el intrus steight ub. Oh, is hat sua-ucen ia lections ho
doct ei. Is hat vis quo hat wakyen im menscims qui upergwahr tod dwer, kun io trieg id seil kata tod
mur ter, ed is intizar’ ghehde imite me.
- Ed quod vahms wey kwehre menxu intizart ? Sprohg Murilo.
- Neid ghehdmos kwehre, ploisko smauter iom. Tan sessiet in tod kyal, ne maghmos riske stighes
ub. Is hat id nerce uns druv gorilla ed ghehdiet meg facil-ye nos kayde. Bet is ne tehrpt use sien
muscles ; sei ghyanmos tod dwer, is tehrpt tik trage tod seil ed nos yeissiet quantens do Akhira.
- Quosmed tar ?
- Nies boidos stipulet od vos hehlpo ad antsalge, antwohrd is sakerdot, ne od io vos revele mien
secrets.

Murilo jawiepskwit, poskwo stohv stayg. Un ninhand hieb just arken ia cortins oins dwer. Inter ta
prohp un sombre lige quos tehrgwent okwi stier kyom forme endersedden ghom in eyso scarlat
robe.

- Petreus ! Stris Nabonidus. Mitra ! Quod-sim gwulturen assemblee tod noc’ proe-vidt !
Id lige dar wardht inter ia arken cortins. Epter id oms ios intrus alya protiokwa scruteer…. Sombre,
emaciat protiokwa, qua un buxianxu impatience illuminit.

- Quod kwehrnt ter ? Murmurit Murilo, vibahndo machinal-ye ye khafi voc, quayque is alnos wois
od ne khiekeer aure iom.
- Bet vedim, quod tar ghehde kwehre Petreus ed eys yun ed arden’ nationalistes in id baytel ios
Rudh Sakerdot ? Cakhinit Nabonidus. Vid kam attentive-ye starnt ei gastalt quom misaynt ir khiters’
peind. Han’ committen id sam error quem tu ; sollsiet ses glewost vide ir wajkh quando vighapsient
kam maung ies hant rhalt.

Murilo natieyc. Tod hol besoyn kwohk baygh irreal. Is hieb id pondos os prispehce uno
marionettenskau, we ses un aunkrewos specter oismauternd malamant-ye ia wehrgs im gwivs, sien
presence ignoren ed invisible ab quantens.

Is vis Petrus znayce ad sien sokwis ed bringhes un fingher prosch sien lipps. Is yun aristocrat khiek
woide an Thak eet hushyar de id presence iom intrusen. Id stand ios mensckiep ne hieb changen, ed
za iom eet dar id dwer ies wirs eent uperstehmbend silent-ye.

- Hant id sam idee quem tu, susurit Nabonidus do eys aur. Bet ir wastahs son’ patriotic ed ne
egoiste. Hat bihn facil penetre mien hem, nun ob is kwaun est mortu. Oh, kam noroct esiem de
ghehde gvehne i oins proaiwo ! Sei seddiem vice Thak… un klaup tiel id mur… protietrage tod
seil…

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Petreus hieb just uperstohmpt id soylo ios dwer, apterpersnet ab sien sokwis, ir miecha glimmernd
sombre-ye. Stayg Thak stahsit tsay ed pivotit ep seswo. Id inexspecten horror tos apparition, quer
ies hieb mohnt contemple id honniset yed familiar os Nabonidus, vankihsit ir nerves, kam id hieb
vankihn ta Murilos. Petreus oistiup retro heulend-ye, dreibhend caudtro sien sokwis in sieno mov.
Volveer ed fiell ep mutu ; ye tod instant Thak uperklieup kyudos-ye ed grotesk-ye tiel id soylo ios
dwer, lambh un teug zamtseil quod hieng ter, ed traxit id nerce-ye.

Ia cortins tun abvic ambi fauran, aunstehgend id dwer, engwn-yod slid semject argwrntic.

- Is hat mohmen ! Exultit Nabonidus. Is biest es’ druve-ye pwolmensc ! Is hieb ja vis tod nehcgeste,
ed is hat mohmen id ! Spehcte nun ! Spehcte ! Spehcte !

Murilo vis nu-hieb un glaspanell slidt skeir per id dwersoyl. Apter tod is ghohdit dyehrce ia bleid
liges iom conspirators. Ia hands os Petreus, regen perodh kam kay contre un charge os Thak, hieb
just entret contact con id transparent barrier ed, yeji sien gestes, is sieyg semject sienims sokwims.
Taiper ob ia cortins eent tracta ghyanen, ies wirs in id gixia ghohd vide quanto wakyit in id kyal
quer wohs ies nationalistes. Alnos desorientet, toy drahr unte id kyal tiel id dwer quetos ies hieb
arrivet, ed oistahr still, kamsei un invisible mur habiet oistopen iens.

- Oins kun id seil buit tragen, tod kyal hat viwohsen sgill’ cluden, cakhinit Nabonidus. Est simple ;
ia glaspanells son’ snict do un interstice ye id nivell ios soyl iom dwers. Id fact os trage id seil
sleimbert id per quod dart ia in place. Tun, sleident engwn id dwer ed se perchine. Tod per ghehdt
bihe activen tik extos. Id glas est nebrehget ; un wir armen med un tokmak khakiet upertrehnes id.
ah !

Ies kapanen wirs eent lambhen ab id hysteria os terror ; ies curs ex oin dwer do alyo kam dements,
tundend in vain ia cristallin stens, swehngend ir peungsta kyom kyehrsen ed implacable forme qui
eet hocken ocolo. Stayg, oin ex iens oislahsit sien cap retro, spohc ubtro, ed bicricit, yeji ia movs
sienen lipps, ed sammel pfohrst id tavan.

- Id fall iom glaspanells hat lurt id nehcnebh, iey is Rudh Sakerdot, scuss ab un dementialo gleimen.
Id duil ios greis lotus ios Muraisch im Mortus, quod lyehct trans Khitay.

In id centre ios tavan hieng un grwozdu om golden phylis ; toy hieb ghyaht kam ia petals unios mier
gjiaungsiant rose, ed tois fiell un sorte os barth nebule quod plehsit jaldi id kyal. Id hysteria quod
regnit in id kyal transformit-se tun do un scene om follia ed horror. Ies kapanen wirs inkiep titube
ed revolve drahnd-ye, kam makhmour. Spoimo maculit ir lipps dusformet ab un keapay rictus.
Uperlaht ab rage, ies rusch ep mutu med ira khandjars ed dents, sciddend, dehnkend ed neicend in
un holocauste os follia. Tod spectacle sieugih Murilo, ed is wohs norocto de khake aure ia cries ed
heuls qua solleer clanghe in tod nehckyal. Kam kwiters projecta kyep un ecran, id spectacle eet
silent.

Exter tod horror chamber, Thako klieup epstet, fradend med un gverjoy ed smittend sien long
weulost brakhs hog do hava. Apter Murilos oms glih Nabonidus kam un demon.

- Ha, jamile cutt, Petreus ! Has exgventern iom bell-ye ! Ed nun, un cutt pro te mien kyar patriote !
Eni quanti lyehge ghomi, ed ies gwivs rehve ia krewsa iom mortus ex ir spoimic dents.

Murilo krus. Apter iom is Kimri rughiet khafi-ye in sien safi bahsa. Nehc eet kongcio saul weiker
ios kyalios lahn ab greis vapors ; disschtukelt, sciss ed klombh, ies conspirators lyohgeer ghomi in

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un cruoric magur, gheisdend, ira cruorpoik liges oispehcend aun vide ia iti ia greis vapors qua
sayetiesc lent-ye in id air.

Thak, wonko kam uno gnome os colossal buliende, gwohm prosch id mur quod hieng id seil, ed
press id med un stragno gonmovo.

- Is ghyant id witer dwer, iey Nabonidus. Per Mitra, is es’ dar menscer quem quo io hieb suppost !
Vidte, id mighel skapt id kyal ed swehndt. Is skehpt, kay ses kheptenn yakin. Ed nun is leift alyo
panell. Is es’ prudent. Is woid od greis lotus reservet tik follia ed nehc. Per Mitra !

Murilo trohs aurnd-ye tod electriset taajub.

- En nies saul chance ! Exclamit Nabonidus. Sei is linkwt id uber kyal unte oik minutes, tentems
nies chance ed steighmos ta stieupens in hol hast !

Tens ab angst, ies vis iomn monster uperwadel id soylo ios dwer ed disprehpe ud ir vid. Ia cortins
hieb nifallen kun id glaspanell hieb retrohven sien orstand, perbehrgend id katelkyal ud ir spect.

- Dehlgmos tente nies chance ! Exclamit Nabonidus, ed Murilo visit swoid perle ep eys lige. Kad
vaht is abdehe ia nayvs kam is me hat viden kwehre to. Oku ! Sehkwte me ub ta stieupens !

Is curs ub ia samt un agilitat quod oistaunih Murilo. Is yun aristocrat ed is barbar apterpersneer io,
ed ies ieur eys deub rehmkwehster kun is ghyien id dwer ub id drab. Precipiteer-se do id kielken
quos reflect ies hieb contemplen ye niter etage. Thak ne eet in vid.

- Est in alter kyal con ia cadavers ! Exclamit Murilo. Ma ne kapane iom ter kam is hat kwohrn con
iens ?
- No, no ! Kwohs Nabonidus, sien traits lambht ab un exteradet pallor. Ne smos sure is wehst in tod
kyal. Zowngschie, is maghiet rusches pre hams id wakt os protietrage id seil ! Sehkwte me do tod
dikhliz ; dehlgo ghehde do mien kamer kay mi procure ter armes qua ei sessien’ fatal. Tod dikhliz
est id saul quanten qua wausten’ do tod kyal aun ses kapan’ semkam.

Iom sohkweer in hol hast, tehrnd un cortincluden dwer face id nehckyal ; ghohdeer do un dikhliz
quetro duxeer mult kyals. Nabonidus tentit febrile-ye ghyane ia gondwers. Quanta eent andamen,
tem quem tod ios bud.

- Yallah ! (Is Rudh Sakerdot knigvit protiev id mur, samt decomposen traits). Ia dwers son’ clus, ed
Thak hat ghens mien cleicha. Smos dar kapanbohnden !

Murilo buit consternato de vide iom wir in talg stand os mental khasaan, ed Nabonidus se strohng
ad recuper sieno ment.

- So biest me paniqueiht, iey is. Sei kam ego yu habiete vis iom kayde menscens… Mitra gwehmtu
ad hehlpe nos, vahmsghi dehlge wighes iom med quo i divs nos han’ dahn. Gwehmte !

Is duxit iens ant id cortincluden dwer, ed glaz do id kyal just kun Thak entrit ex ocolo. Okwivid-ye
hieb is menscbiesto suspecens. Eysa smulk aurs, glehmernd eysi ghalv, krus ed is ambiglaz haineus-
ye ; proscher id prokwsto dwer, is rohv tos cortins kay vide quo eet apter.

Nabonidus oistiup retro, tremblend kam un warak. Is grip Conans oms.

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- Deursies tu oppones tien kniv eysims edonts, prient ?

Ka response, ia okwi ios Kimri enflammeer-se.

- Oku ! Murmurit is Rudh Sakerdot, puscend iom apter ia cortins, prosch id mur. Chunke vaht nos
trehve meg destull oku, es’ gohder attrage iom do nos. Dyehgw eys regv kun gwahsiet pri te, sei
ghehds. Tu, Murilo, deik te ei, dind drah unte id dikhliz. Mitra woid hams neid chance contra iom in
un duel, bet zowngschie, smos lust sei nos vidt.

Murilo khissit sehrg se ficte in sien veines, bet is pliohg mudhes ub ed oistiup ep id soyl. Ye alter
bud ios kyal, Thak pivotit ep sien persnas, stier ei ed bichargit iom emittend-ye un gver heul. Eys
capchen hieb fallt ghom ep eys omsa, revelend eys kyehrsen ed dusformen cap. Eysa sword hands
ed eyso scarlat robe eent cruorpoik med un dar meis akster rudh. Buit un kyehrsen ed purpwr
coschmar qui tohr id kyal, samt aunstohct edonts, sien geibh jambs propulgend sien enormo masse
ye un kyudosto syrat.

Murilo abgir ed bidrahsit do witer direction. Speit sien okutat, is monster hieb ja quasi navaxt iom.
Tun, kun is monster upercurs ia cortins, uno mier forme rusch ex ta ed fiell direct-ye ep ia omsa ios
mensckiep, prisehnd sien daga do id bestial regv. Thak emiss un dekhschatend crie ed pohd supiht
sub id impact. Bo wighs hurt id demped sammel pre starte un gver katu, inextricable melee in-yod
bo duschmans riegh ed dohr mutu.

Murilo vis od ismen barbar hieb rigen med sien jambs id torso ios mensckiep ed od tentit se
mantines ep id regv ios monster menxu is eedidyehgwt iom med sieno kniv. Thak de tentit se
fortrage ex tod strineg kay attrage sien peind do schaecheing om sien ghyant edonts qua
eedideupskwnt do id krewos ios Kimri. In un dewer om cutts ed scarlat kentha, roleer ep id swol ye
solg syrat quem Murilo ne durs nudes id stol is oiswohng, ibo bires un cutt ei Kimri. Quayque
kyimtert ab id kjiboeno ios Kimri ed id ample robe quod slohnk ambh eys memsa ed impedihsit eys
movs, Thak eet jaldi uperwehndend dank sien kyudost nerce. Is attraxit ineluctable-ye iom Kimri
kye se, iom volveihnd lent-ye. Conan hieb inflict ei mensckiep kafi cutts pro nices douzen wiren ;
eys miech eededyohgwit eys torso, eys omsa ed eys taurcoll ; cruor rohn ex dwogimtia vurnsen, bet
tan is Kimri khiek hihes uno mutlak vital point, Thaks nemensc ayu proe-upertrehniet iom Kimri
preter, eys sokwis poskwo.
Conan isschi katuit kam un gver, in un silence punctuen tik ab oik branghu kwehsa. Ia sword
onoghs ios monster ed id terrible strineg om eys mier dusformen hands dohr ed riegh eys krewos, ed
eys fradend ghyanu ghyahsit kyeys gurgule. Murilo, dyehrcend un ghyahsa in id melee, klieup ed
bir med sien hol nerce un stolcutt kafi jabbaro pro behnge id ghalv uns wir. Id stol tik ricochetit
protiev id kyehrsen ed skengo ghalv os Thak, yed is monster slimber sien kjiboen unte oin instant
ed Conan, kwehsend ed cruorlahn, brug tod speitmico kay se xubhes perodh ed sehe sien khandjar
tiel lambhel do id kerd ios mensckiep.

Is menscbiesto sprud convulsive-ye dind collapsit ghom, inert. Eys gver specto stup ed se fix, eys
teug memsa buir andhen ab un sensto spasme ed bad oistohv.

Conan vienk ub, sliep, ed abscuss id cruor ed id dwoid qua obstruxeer eys vision. Aserng ghutt kata
eys daga ed eys finghers, rohn engwn eys bemerns, brakhs ed torso. Murilo grip iom kay stehme
iom, bet is barbaro repuls iom med un impatiento geste.

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- Ye id dien kun neti ghehdsiem stahe, sessiet tid ke mehro, muticit is per sien oid lipps. Punor gairn
drehnkiem un bardak vin.

Nabonidus contemplit id aunmovo forme ghomi kamsei is khakiet credihes sien okwi. Kyehrsen,
weulost, repulsive, is monster lyohg, grotesk in ia kentha ios scarlat robe ; hatta it, is remien yed
menscer quem animal, ed semject in iom gohnit mildet.

Hatta is Kimri khiss to, isghi sieyg kwehsend-ye :

- Ne un biest, sontern un mensc ho io nicen hovesper. Siem conte id in id numer iom potis quom
atmen ho yis’ do temos, ed mien esors gwehrdsient in eys honor.

Nabonidus clih-se ed ghens ub un cleichenassortiment, dieht ye id bud uns golden zangir. Ia hieb
fallen ud id yeusmen ios monster unte id katu. Znaycus ad sien sokwis ke sohkweer iom, is duxit
iens tiel id kyal quos dwer is ghyien ed precess iens tetro. Tod kyal eet belucen kam alters. Is Rudh
Sakerdot ghens un bardak vin ep un table ed plehsit cristallcoups. Menxu eysi sokwis gwes ir teurst,
is murmurit :

- Quod un noct ! Octent es’ quasi ter. Quod vahte yu kwehre, prients ?
- Vahm puwnes Conans vurnsa, sei mi bringhs bandages ed id hol necessar, iey Murilo.

Nabonidus acquiescit ed nukit kyid dwer quod duxit ei dikhliz. Semject in kam is clih sien cap
incitit Murilo mae zaspehce iom. Ghehdus ant id dwer, is Rudh Sakerdoto stayg parvols. Eys lige
eet transformen. Eys okwi hieb retrohven id jar quod behemeer prever, ed eys lipps eent animen
med un silent smeih.

- Quanti badmaschi ! Nieyd is samt sien adic goilisk ton, bet ne quanti imbeciles. Tu es is imbecile,
Murilo !
- Quod mayns tu ? Iey is yun aristocrato stahnd-ye tsay brusk-ye.
- Retro ! Scricit Nabonidus, sien voco clackend kam un bich. Oin meis stieup ed te yeiso do
Akhira !

Id sehrg os Murilo glohdj in eys veines quan is vis id hand ios Rudh Sakerdot siz un teug purpwr
seil quod hieng in id cortins just exter id dwer.

- Quod khaniat est ter ? Scricit Murilo. Has kassamen…

- Ho kassamen ne gwahiem lehctum ei roy un scherz dayir te ! Ne ho kassamen ne panges tod
besoyn ab meswo sei habiem id waurmen. Credihst tu druve-ye od vahsim lipses talg waurmen ?
Unte alya circumstances, ne deursiem nices te wighesor, aun id yahsa ios roy, bet quel siet manthes
to ? Joinsies Thak ed tens imbecile nationalistens do ia acid podins ed nimen woidsiet jec’ de. Quod
un noc’ proe-est tod pro me ! Ho lust unte id oik khadims, yed proe-gvehno plur dangereus peinds.
Gwah retro ! Som ep id soyl, ed has mutlak neid chance os nake me pre trago tod seil ed te yeiso do
hayd. Ne med greis lotus ye tod ker, sontern med semject tem efficient. Quasi vasya kyals miens
baytel son’ kapanen. Edghi Murilo, tem imbecile quem es…

Baygh pior oku pro bihe sohkwn ab okwi, Conan lambh un tabourett ed xubh id med sien hol nerce.
Nabonidus oismiss instinctive-ye sien brakhs ub criend-ye, bet is ne buit kafi kshiuu. Id xeudil
criesch protiev eys cap ed is Rudh Sakerdot vienk dind collapsit lige protie ghom in uno maurrudh
padwl quod plautiescit jaldi.

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- Eys cruor eet rudh, fin-ye, brohm Conan.

Med un tremblant hando Murilo slah retro sien swoidlahn kays, kneigvend ep un table, slabiht sub
id emotion tos fauric rehmen.

- Est octent, iey is. Smad salge hetos, pre incontrems alya katel menaces. Sei ghehdmos udglehme
id extermur aun bihe vis, niet ses wassila os panges sibia inter nos ed quo hat wakyen her honoct.
Smad sines id police redage ids report aun nies hehlp.

Is glaz kyid nayvo ios Rudh Sakerdot, madhend in un scarlat padwl, ed plex.

- Is eet is imbecile, definitive-ye ; sei is ne habiet stopen kay taane nos, is habiet aisic-ye ghohden
kapane nos.
- Yaghi, iey is Kimri med un malamant ton, is hat kwohrn id itner quod kwehrn’ sem dien vasyi
badmaschi. Gairn plunderiem id dom, bet suppono est salver ke abgwahms.

Kun ies bad emers in id xep ios garden quod octent biblieych, Murilo declarit :

- Iom Rudh Sakerdot forswohndt in temos, id itner mi es’ ghyant in tod urb, ed ho neid baytu. Bet
tu ? Es’ dar tod storia os sakerdot in id Meirong, ed…
- Me ho zowngschie forscurren in tod urb, fras is Kimri. Has sayct eet un ekwis pro me bei
Creschma’l Rat. Baygh daumo kam oku el ghehdiet bringhes me do alyo rig. Ho dar baygh itners
kwehrtu pre kwehre tod os Nabonidus honoct.

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