The Reign of Wizardry by Jack Williamson Page B

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    Horns shrilled, and the herald stepped forward again. He was pale and perspiring. He tried thrice to speak, gulped thrice for his voice, croaked faintly at last:
    “Gothung the Northman has mounted the nine steps to the throne of Minos. In his three aspects, of bull and man and god, the Dark One has shown favor. The tests are done, and Gothung the Northman is chosen to ascend the throne!”
    Faintas that voice was, every word rang clear through the brittle tensity of silence that had fallen upon the vast arena, There was a long, intolerable moment of suspension. Swaying on his knees, Theseus watched the bland chubby face of Minos, and his heart was still with dread of another lightning bolt.
    But the pink baby-face of Minos dimpled again, his blue eyes shone merrily, and jovial laughtersparked beneath his silken voice:
    “Rise, Northman, and take the throne!”
    The rosy arm made a little gesture, and Theseus followed it toward the end of the arena. What he saw sent a swift cold tremor through every limb. The massive gate had opened again. Talos, the brazen giant, was striding toward him over the sand.

T WELVE

    T HESEUS DRAGGED himself once more to his feet, on the black spinning outline of the double ax. His quivering limbs were weak with apprehension of some new and treacherous attack.
    But there was nothing, he thought, that he could do against the brass might of Talos.
    He waited, feeling the quiver of the sand to the tread of Talos. The twelve-foot shining giant came up to him. The fieryeyes looked down, filled with simple cunning, and the hollow voice rumbled:
    “I remember you, Gothung the Northman. I spoke with you when you came ashore from the wrecked galley of the pirate Firebrand.” His chuckle was an immense deep reverberation. “And I know you still. For Talos is no fool!”
    Theseus felt that Captain Firebrand, just now, was a very dangerous subject. He contrived to standon the hot sand, swaying. He had no idea what to expect—except fresh peril! The hushed, startled crowd had no look of a people greeting a new ruler. It seemed insane to think that Minos would willingly surrender the throne.
    Anxiously, in quest of further aid, his eyes roved up across the tiers of seats, to where he had seen Snish. But the little wizard, as he half expected, had vanished again.If Snish indeed had taken a hand in the games, that was all he could expect. He looked back, with concealed apprehension, into the flame-yellow eyes of Talos.
    “Well?” His voice was faint and dry. “What do you want?”
    “Master, now you are going to be the new Minos.” The words of Talos were a throbbing roll of brazen sound. “And I shall be your slave. I have come to serve you.”
    “Then,” whisperedTheseus, “show me the way to the throne I have won.”
    “Wait, master,” rumbled Talos.
    A breathless quiet still filled the long bowl. There was not even a whisper, save from Minos and Daedalus and Ariadne. Those three had come together on the little platform from which they had launched arrow and boomerang and shot. They spoke together furtively in the secret language, and at last Minos calledsomething to the herald.
    The horns keened a last fanfare, and the herald shouted hoarsely:
    “Let Gothung the Northman come now to the palace of Knossos. Let him bathe, and rest from the ardor of the trials he has passed. At sunset, let him come to the sacred hall of the double ax.
    “There he will receive all that the favor of the Dark One has bestowed upon him. The robe of Minos will be placedupon his shoulders, and he will take his place among the gods. Cybele will be wed to him. And he will take up the double ax of war and peace that is the sign of the Dark One’s regency.”
    Theseus touched the hot, smooth brass thigh of Talos.
    “Tell them,” he whispered, “that I shall do that.”
    The great voice boomed out obediently.
    “Now,” breathed Theseus, “lead the way to Knossos! I shall followyou.”
    Talos stalked back