"A. E. Merritt - Dwellers in the mirage" - читать интересную книгу автора (Merritt A. E)

I walked to where Fairchild and the others awaited me.

As soon as I could arrange it, I was on my way back to America. I
wanted only one thing--to put as many miles as possible between myself
and Khalk'ru's temple.

I stopped. Involuntarily my hand sought the buckskin bag on my
breast.



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"But now," I said, "it appears that it is not so easy to escape him. By
anvil stroke, by chant and drums--Khalk'ru calls me '"




CHAPTER V.



THE MIRAGE


Jim had sat silent, watching me, but now and again I had seen the
Indian stoicism drop from his face. He leaned over and put a hand on my
shoulder.

"Leif," he said quietly, "how could I have known? For the first time, I
saw you afraid--it hurt me. I did not know. . . ."

From Tsantawu, the Cherokee, this was much. "It's all right, Indian.
Snap back," I said roughly. He sat for a while not speaking, throwing
little twigs on the fire.

"What did you friend Barr say about it?" he asked abruptly.

"He gave me hell," I said. "He gave me hell with the tears streaming
down his cheeks. He said that never had anyone betrayed science as I
had since Judas kissed Christ. He was keen on mixed metaphors that got
under your skin. That went deep under mine, for it was precisely what
I was thinking of myself--not as to science but as to the girl. I had
given her the kiss of Judas all right. Barr said that I had been handed
the finest opportunity man ever had given him. I could have solved the
whole mystery of the Gobi and its lost civilization. I had run away
like a child from a bugaboo. I was not only atavistic in body, I was