The Love of Lady Rakshasi
In the period that ensued, Ramey had reason to be glad that Lake
O'Brien _had_ insisted on accompanying him.
True, the Lord Vibhishana had given him instructions for finding
Ravana's chambers. Had Lanka been other than in a state of siege, Ramey
could have reached his objective in simple fashion. But it had been
impossible to take into account the constant stream of Videlians racing
hither and thither through the corridors of the citadel ... the
guards ... the messengers ... the armed companies marching to take
their emergency battle-posts.
More than once, Ramey and Lake were forced to take refuge in whatever
places of concealment offered. More than once they were forced to
desert entirely the path they had been following, choose a new route
altogether toward their objective. And with each devious turning,
Vibhishana's directions became more obscure and confused, until Ramey,
at last, knew neither where Ravana's chambers lay nor, indeed, where he
himself was!
It was then that Lake O'Brien proved himself an indispensable ally.
Educated in architecture, trained in the hard and practical school of
active archeology, he displayed an almost psychic sense of location.
With fine discernment he _reasoned_ his way through the tumultuous
labyrinth which was Lanka. Up two levels--"_The Regent's quarters are
always in mid-palace, Ramey_"--to a series of marble halls, left to
that side of the citadel facing the ferry-ports--"_stands to reason his
apartment would face the docks, you know_"--and finally, justifying the
precepts of pure logic, into chambers more sumptuous than any Ramey had
laid eyes on since he confronted Ravana in the throne-room.
The passage was swift, but not entirely unimpeded. It was their
good fortune, though, that such Videlians as they met along the way
were either traveling in groups--in which case the clank of their
accoutrement served as noisy warning, sending the two to cover--or were
single guards, set to watch over a strategic doorway. And as is ever
the case where strong walls lend a sense of false security, the guards
had grown careless. This was an error for which two who fought paid
with their lives. Three more were left gagged and bound in places where
they would not easily be discovered.
* * * * *
So, at last, came Ramey and Lake to their destination. And reaching
there, they experienced the greatest surprise of their entire,
hazardous journey. For the doors of Ravana's quarters, which they had
fully expected would be guarded by not one man but a whole detachment,
were not only without guard--but half ajar!
Ramey said exultantly, "Our army must have him in a dither! He's gone
out to supervise the fight and left home-plate unguarded!"
Lake said, "It looks that way, but--it's not logical. Ravana's the
kind of guy who looks after his own skin when the going gets tough. If
the battle were going against him, he'd be locked in here with a whole
damned army at the doors to protect his precious hide. I don't like it!"
Ramey chuckled. "Well, I'll be dog-goned! And all this time I thought
you were Lake. Hyah, Syd!"
Lake grinned. "Okay. I guess I do sound like the old gloom-monger at
that. Well--let's get moving!"
And cautiously they crept through the doorway into the first of a
series of connecting chambers which comprised the inner sanctum of
Lanka's regent.
All the great courts lay silent. From afar, as if muted by granite
blankets, still fitfully came to them the sound of distant fighting.
But no footstep, no voice, marred the quiet of this refuge--No!--There
_was_ the murmur of voices! Ramey gripped his comrade's arm, whispered:
"In there! It sounds like--"
Lake nodded, eyes glinting. "Yes! Sheila!"
Feverishly, they crossed the last open space to the doorway beyond
which they had heard the girl's voice. Revolvers drawn and ready, they
inched open this ultimate barrier. As they did so, the faintly-heard
drone turned into speech. Ringing defiance in Sheila's sweet, familiar
tones.
"No! If I were the last Earth woman left alive and your brother the
last male of a thousand worlds, still would my answer be the same! I
want no part of Lord Ravana!"
Came the voice of another, a slow, throbbing voice Ramey Winters knew
only too well. It was a voice which at once cajoled and taunted.
"Because there is--another, O Lady Sheilacita?"
"Perhaps."
"But if this one were to turn away from thee, and seek his pleasure
in another? Say, for example--" In his mind's eye Ramey, though those
who spoke were still invisible to him because of a heavy arras veiling
the half-open doorway, could envision the languorous lids of the Lady
Rakshasi drooping with heavy suggestion--"for example, myself? Then
would your faithfulness waver?"
Sheila's answer was steadfast, unshaken, scornful.
"You speak of impossibilities, woman of Videlia."
"Okay!" Ramey nudged Lake. "_Now!_" And he brushed aside the drape,
slipped forward into the retiring chamber where conversed the two
women. "Well spoken, Sheila! Maybe her Ladyship will wise up to the
fact that Earthmen aren't bought and sold with promises--after a while!
Don't move!"
* * * * *
He rapped this last to the Lady Rakshasi as, amber cheeks crimsoning
she stirred to rise.
"Stay where you are!" he commanded. "Sheila, come over here. That's
right. Now, Rakshasi--where is the Bow your brother stole from me?
Speak up! Or by the gods--"
But his answer did not come from the half-open lips of the Videlian
princess. It came from a double source; the eyes of Sheila Aiken
leaping open in sudden alarm, her cry, "_Ramey! Behind you! Look
out!_"--and from a mocking voice accosting him from the chambers
through which he had lately come.
"You want the Bow, Lord Ramaíya? It is right here in my hands--charged
and eager to speak! Would you care to hear its message?"
Ramey whirled. Smiling mirthlessly, the Bow drawn to his shoulder,
advancing toward him was Lord Ravana!
Ramey cried, "He's bluffing, Lake! That Bow's not fueled! Rush him!"
And he ducked into a crouch, leaped a step toward the overlord of
Lanka. But Ravana's sharp command was not delivered in the voice of one
who tries a ruse. It stopped him short, because it was strident and
heavy with assurance.
"_Hold!_ Another step and you die! Not only you but your companions,
also!"
Indecision trembled through Ramey. Then, measuring his chances, he took
the path of caution. There was still a chance Ravana was pulling a fast
one, but--Sheila! He must not needlessly imperil her life, or that of
Lake. He stood still. But he said,
"The Bow is not munitioned, Ravana. If it were you would long since
have turned it against those who storm your citadel. You would not
waste it upon three individuals."
The grim lord of Lanka smiled at him sourly.
"I have said before, Earthmen, you are clever. You are half right
in your conjecture. I cannot use the Bow on those who vainly attack
Lanka--and for a reason not hard to explain. So far I have been able
to obtain but a minute particle of the precious element. Such a scrap
would not hinder an army. But mark me well! It is more than enough to
dispose of you and those others who lead the uprising. So dare not my
patience! _Seshana!_" He called the name, and at the farther end of the
chamber whence he had come appeared that captain whom Ramey had once
met on the mainland shore.
"Yes, my Lord?"
"Have a crier call word to my brother, Vibhishana, and to the
Gaanelian, Sugriva, skulking off Lanka's shores in a draggle-tailed
navy of rafts, that I hold as prisoners not only the Lady Sheilacita
but also Lord Ramaíya and the laughing one, Lakshmana. If they bring
not an end to these mad hostilities within the hour, warn them these
hostages die!"
"Yes, Sire!" Seshana vanished.
* * * * *
Comprehension overwhelmed Ramey Winters, leaving a bitterness on his
palate.
"Then it was a trap. The unguarded doors ... the open way to these
chambers...."
Ravana laughed. "Aye, a trap, dog of Earth. Sometimes I fear you
children of the green planet are all fools! Imagine a warrior idiot
enough to leave in his wake an enemy unslain, merely bound! Long since
we discovered one you had tied and hidden, learned your intention. The
pathway was cleared that you might readier walk into our midst. And
now--stand aside, Rakshasi! I will dispose of these creatures who have
thrice pitted themselves against me."
Sheila sprang forward with a little cry.
"Dispose! You--you mean you're going to kill them? After having named
them hostages against the surrender of our forces?"
"Even so, my Lady," replied Ravana mockingly. "It is not _my_ folly to
leave unharmed those who have proven dangerous to me."
"But your word, Lord Ravana! Your word of honor!"
"What Ravana does is to be judged by no man," said the Videlian
haughtily.
"You dirty rat!" rasped Lake savagely. "Trick our friends into
surrendering to save us, then shoot us anyway. Well--"
His sidelong glance at Ramey was sign enough. It meant what Ramey had
been thinking. That if they separated, rushed Ravana simultaneously,
one of them might reach him. Ramey's muscles tensed, his lips framed
the starting word. But even as he would have cried it, a warmth brushed
by him. The Lady Rakshasi, a great, golden panther of a woman, strode
past him to confront her brother boldly.
"A moment, my kinsman!" she pleaded. "You cannot do this thing! Have
you forgotten our agreement? You pledged me the life of this Earthman,
Ramaíya!"
"Stand aside, sister!" ordered Ravana curtly. "No longer do old pledges
obtain. Since we struck that pact much has happened. The man has roused
the rabble from my dungeons against me ... threatened my citadel ...
invaded my own private quarters. He must die!"
"He must live!" cried Rakshasi. "Even as you hunger for the Lady
Sheilacita, so do I demand this human for myself! For the other I care
not; wreak thy vengeance upon him if you will. But--"
And there would never, saw Ramey Winters suddenly, be a better
opportunity than this! For sultry-faced, angry, the Lord Ravana had let
the Bow slip from his shoulder. His eyes were upon his sister, his grip
on the weapon insecure. Ramey's voice was like the crashing of a cymbal.
"_Now_, Lake!"
* * * * *
With the word, he leaped forward, head low, shoulders driving for the
Videlian's legs as they had driven at the legs of opposing linesmen
years ago. Beside him he felt the reassuring bulk of Lake O'Brien.
Then everything happened at once! His hands met ... gripped ...
tightened about flesh. The body of the giant Martian seemed to totter
above him; a shod foot lashed viciously into his temple, and great
stars sprang from sudden darkness to whirl dazzingly before his eyes.
He was aware of his own harsh, grating breath sobbing through his
teeth ... a roar of rage strangely mingled with terror ... then a
violent blast of flame mushrooming before him. Hot, searing flame that
crisped the very perspiration from his brow, leaving his flesh baked
and raw.
Then the solid thud of a fist meeting flesh ... Lake O'Brien howling
desperately, "My eyes, Ramey! I can't see!" And another soul-sickening
sound. That of a woman's voice screaming in shrill, animal agony ...
dying abruptly in a low, choked, ominous gurgle.
Bruised and shaken, burned and dazed, Ramey staggered to his feet. All
before him was still a blazing sheen of light, but now this dulled,
and he saw that Ravana, still clutching a now-useless Bow, was fleeing
across the chamber.
Ramey's automatic was heavy in his blistered palm. He fired it once ...
twice ... after the rapidly disappearing figure. But in vain. Ravana
had scuttled through the door, clanging it closed behind him.
Then, and only then, had Ramey time to look at the others. Lake was
still beside him, was even now striving to rise, pawing before him as
one who stumbles through a mist. He was groaning, "My eyes, Ramey!
Sheila--I can't see!"
Ramey sprang to his side, lifted him.
"Easy, old boy! You'll be all right in a sec. The Bow going off in our
faces, that's what did it--" But as he stared into his companion's
face, saw that Lake's eyes were wide open, the entire cornea that
covered his eyeballs a fog of smoky-blue, he realized all too well
what had happened.
Lake had looked directly into the flame of the Bow when its charge was
released! And its incandescence flaming before him had blinded him as
surely as if his eyes had been gouged from his head. Perhaps soaked
up--as it had dried every ounce of moisture from Ramey's skin--the
aqueous humor of his eyes. Only Ravana's kick, flattening Ramey,
closing his eyes, had kept the young airman from sharing an identical
fate!
And--Rakshasi?
He glanced about him wildly ... found her ... and turned away,
shuddering. The Lady Rakshasi, great, golden panther whose every
movement had been a lure and a temptation, would move no more. For
upon her lithe and vital body had spent itself the full strength of
the discharging Bow. That which remained of her once breathtaking
loveliness was a blackened--_something_--not pleasant to look upon.
Nauseated, Ramey covered his eyes. Then Sheila was in his arms, crying,
"Ramey! Oh, Ramey, she--she saved your life! Tried to tear the Bow from
Ravana--_Lake!_"
Lake said dazedly, frightenedly, "Sheila--I can't see you! Where are
you? Everything is black!"
Then a new sound rang clear in the farther chamber; the scuff of
hurrying footsteps, the clank of mail. Winters spun to Sheila swiftly.
"Sheila, is there another way out of these chambers--a way leading down
to the waterfront? Yes? Good! We've got to get out of here--and quick.
Take Lake's other arm. All right, Lake, old boy, hold tight. We're
going to get you to Doc Aiken if it's humanly possible!"
And huddled together like three fleeing the storm god's wrath, they
raced in the direction that Sheila pointed.