Skadhs in mekhtab

SKADHS IN MEKHTAB
ab Robert Erwin Howard
Sambahsa tarjem
I
Id oku galopp ekwen bayna mier neds. Un gwaur pehden, un desperat crie. Se fortragend ex sien agonisend okwekwem, els reider stahsit tsay titubend-ye : una smiegd meirka vehsend samdals ed un ghiton nodet ye ays lendv. Ays sword kaysar covohr ays kwit omsa, ays okwi eent ta uns kapanen animal. Ia ne spohcit kyid nedenjungle kernend id smulko lawc ni kyid moder wedor qua gwohm ad linges id ripa apter iam. Samt pfwehngend okwi, ia stier beangsten ei reider qui fiss id vegetationschirm ed trohd ghom ant iam. 
Is wir eet buland ed minc, bet stalkaurd. Ex cap do sperens vohs is un legv argwrntzirah quod ambhriss eys urand corpos kam un guant. Ex sub sien tholskeip ed goldsmilt helm, eys brun okwi spohc iam kam goilend-ye. 
- Retro ! (Id voc ias gwenak vibrit ob terror). Mae touche me, Schah Amurath, sons’ me xeubho do wed kay kharke !
Eys ilay spru, lik uni einsi snehgend ex idso silken kardkasch. 
- No, nies kharke, Olivia, dugter os confusion, wed ghi est plask prokwem id ripa ed proe-te-navaxsiem pre ghehds apo. O Deiwes, retrehve te ne buit aisic ; mien quant yeudmi sont dalg apter nos, bet nel ekwis wester quem Vilayet ghehdt uddistance Irem meg diu. (Is dik glanez-ye iom desertaygur, samt long ed teun jambs, apter iom).
- Sine me gwahe ! Iltijit ia meirka, menxu desperationsdakrus oistohrk ays lige. Ne ho io kafi paytten ? Est ter un humiliation, un paytten au un vileihsa quod ne has me bad infligen ? Kamdiu dehlct dure mien aziyat ?
- Tem diu quem spreufsiem plaisure dank tien schikays, iltijas ed payttens, antwohrd is samt uno smeih quod habiet kwohcto dabron uni tarnien. Es staunos-ye nert, Olivia. Daumo an aiwo me malalsies, kam me hant aiwo malalt ias gwens pre te. Remans fresch ed pur speit me. Cada dien spens nieb te bringh’ nov wohns. Gwehm taiper ! Smad rikes Akif, quer id popule nafest iom victor im miser Kosaks, menxu so es’ besic med apterrides un jalnic fugitive, un stupid, beghsaum… ed charman’ feugnica !
- No ! Ia retrogwahsit kyid blou wedor quod prilig ia neds.
- Oh si !
Eys grassabo sprohng, samlik uni bliute gwehlend ex flint. Samt un okutat quei ia teuneg memsa ias gwenak khiek egalasce, is siz ays runc ed vrohnk id ob puro crueltat hin ia emiss un crie ed fiell ep sien genus. 
- Pacharva ! Dehlgiem te bringhes tsay do Akif diehn ei swayp miens ekwios ; yed bevidsiem mildet ed te ghendsiem ep mien seddel. Pro tod favor, dehlcsies me danke humil-ye, menxu…
Is oislu iam samt un surprise rughat ed klieup retro ; eyso saber gwohl ex eys kardkasch kun un terrible apparition rusch ex id nedenjungle emittend-ye un inarticulet haines crie. 
Olivia, zaspehcend id grund, dyohrcit quo ia iey un yeamban au un foll drahe perodh kye Schah Amurath in un attitude os katel menace. Is eet staur-ye strugen ed nogwo, ploisko un lendvkatan quod king eys nugvers. Eys corpos eet covohrt med tursen cruor ed slamm. Eyso swordo crinar eet oistohrct med ill ed dedhen sehrg ; eent sohlks ex turst aserng ep eysa xiongbu, memsa ed id long eins is sohr in sien dexter hand. Ex sub eys raufen kays, sehrgstriht okwi flamboyeer, kam moderinikas geuls. 
- Hyrkani kwaun ! Kriegh is apparition samt un barbar accent. I demons os vengence te han’ brigh’ hetro !
- Un kosak ! Scricit Schah Amurath oistieupend-ye retro. Ne gnohsim od oin tom kwauns hieb antsalgen id massacre ! Io mohn od quan’ vies stehvus cadavers lyohg ep id steppe ana id sreumen Ilbars.
- Quanta ploisko ego, sdi balstohmen ! Mlusit alter. Oh, kam maung ho io sohgnen de solg incontren, menxu io me sohlk brous bayna brimbels, kun io hudel sub perwnts menxu murms praess mien krewos we kun hockim samt mudh tiel mien dents. Sohgnim de, bet habiem naiwo sohgnet od to wakyiet. Hayddeiwes, kam yalos-ye ho io wohnt tod incontren !
Id cruorlasni joy ios tarnien eet terrible dyeitu. Eysa ghyanus oisroht spasmodic-ye, ed bava covohr eysa kyohrnen lipps. 
- Retro ! Iom wohl Schah Amurath observend-ye iom attentive-ye.
- Ha ! (To swohn kam id heul ios forestwolf). Schah Amurath, is staur poti os Akif ! Oh, sdi balstohmen, kam vide te me daht plaisure… tu qui has daht mien driugs ka fodder im gwulturs, has kwetwerdilihn iens, dieht ad wild ekwens, has pungen ir okwi, has klombhiht, torturet iens… Ha ! Es neid meis quem un kwaun, un pamenwen’ kwaun ! (Eys voc mutaswohn do un crie os furieus follia, ed is attaquit).
Speit id terror inspiren ab eys wild apparence, Olivia eet persuaden is succumbhiet yant ia presta secundes ios duel. Kweter foll au wild, quod ghehdiet is kwehre, aun protection, face iom dorakwent poti os Akif ? 
Unte uno mic, ia miecha flamboyeer ed tus protie mutu, kwecto payn touchend mutu pre abvices fauran ; dind id eins gwohl kam un blix, vergihsit id saber ed hih samt terrifianto nerce id oms os Schah Amurath. Olivia emiss un crie ant id furor tos cutt. Uper id cracken ios transbaurn zirah, ia ieur distinct-ye id miech behnge id omsost. Is Hyrkani vienk retro, sien lige bihvso stayg burlik. Cruor gwohl ed srusit ex ia schaks os eys halsbehrg ; eyso saber snohg ud eys aunnerce finghers. 
- Aman ! Kwohs is.
- Aman ? (Is voc ios tzrnien vibrit ob furor). Id sam aman quem quod nos has ijapt, tu genis pork !
Olivia clusit sien okwi. To neti eet un katu, sontern un isgur, cruoric halak suwt af hysteric rage ed haines, quer culmineer ia payttens om boi, massacre, torture, dind fug samt obseddant paur, teurst ed hungher. 
Olivia wois od Schah Amurath oistahiel neter amano ni mildet ud quelkwe gwiv ; yed, ia pressit sien hands protie sien aurs ed clusit sien okwi kay neti vide tod cruorwent eins wipes ub ed ghom samt id blosk uns kassabsater, ed neti aure ia gneurs qua minc jaldi pre bad chwoye. 
Ia ghyienit sien okwi ed vis iom negnohn disvolge ud id krewent parodia quod samkwohk tik vagh-ye uno mensc. Id xiongbu ios wir bohlgh staur-ye, ob exhaustion au passion ; eyso chol eet swoidlaht ; eys dexter hand eet cruorcovohrt. 
Is ne wohkwit iam ed ne hatta glaz kyam. Ia vis iom gredde unte ia neds crehscend ana id wed, se clihnes ed protietrage semject. Un bark prohp tanghend, ex un kulko gadabihn bayna id yonkrull. Ia gvaess tun quo so iskw ed sielg sien torpor. 
- Oh, skehpt ! Stun ia (Ia vienk ub ed drahsit kyom). Mae me linkwas ! Duc me con te.
Is vols ed oistier ad iam. Is kwohk different taiper. Eysa sehrgstrihn okwi hieb lust ir folliadiutis. Eet kamsei id cruor is hieb just ghun iti hieb kharct id jar siens furor. 
- Qua es tu ? Sprohg is.
- Mien nam est Olivia. Eem eys kapta. Ho mwaungsoun. Is hat apterruschen me. Itak hat is gwohmt hetro. Oh, mae me linkwas her ! Eys soldats ne son’ meg dalg. Vahnt aunstehge eys cadaver… me trehve nieb id… oh !
Ia stun ob terror ed vrohnk sien kwit hands. Is protiokwit iam perplex-ye. 
- Esiet tien fat seller con me ? Suwiel is iam. Som un barbar ed woidim yeji tien spect od me bays.
- Yaghi, te baym, antwohrd ia, pior dwal pro pretende. Tien vid me kreuseiht. Bet dar meis redwoim i Hyrkanis. Oh, lass me hamrahe te ! Sient torture me sei me trehfsient nieb ir mortu poti.
- Tun, gwehm.
Is oistiup gontro, ed ia stigh oku abord id nauk, vergeihnd cada contacto con iom. Ia sess ye id bug, ed is oistigh ye sien roig, puscend id bark apo med un erm ; dind, folossiend-ye id kam un paddel, is dribh id nauk perodh inter ia puk neds. Pos un sinueus andwrnt, i bad slid ep id wed, apo id vegetation ios ripa. Is bier tunkye neudend-ye bo erms, med mier, urand ed regular movs ; ia staur muscles eysen brakhs, omsen ed regv stohlb ye id rythme eysen efforts. 
Silence regnit unte un khvil ; iamen meirka hudel ye id bug, is de wiro protietrieg ia erms. Ia observit iom, samt un bayasen fascination. Okwivid-ye, is ne eet hyrkani, ni bieygh un hyborian race. Emanit ex eys firasat un wolfkieurde revelend iom barbar. Eys traits reflegeer tod samo nedomiht wildet, kyunggiawn av ia lesions ed tensions ios boi ed eys mukam in id selos ; yed eent neter khiter ni degener. 
- Quis es tu ? Sprohg ia. Schah Amurath hat saygen kozak ; bieyghst tu tod bande ?
- Som Conan, ex Kimria, brohm is. Eem con i kozaks, kam toy Hyrkani kwauns nos kale.
Ia vagh-ye wois id land is hieb namen wohs meg dalgi nordwesti, trans ia piernsta grances iom different rigs os ays race. 
- Som oin iam dugter ios roy os Ophir, iom manthih ia. Mien pater me hat sohlt uni schemi chef ob io ne snupskwit un prince ex Koth (Is Kimri emiss un surprise brohm. Ia lipps ias Ophirian vrink do un bitter smeih). Ya, wakyet od civilisen wirs pehrne ir purts ad yeambans ka sclavs. Ed tien race biht traiten ka barbar, Conan ex Kimria.
- Ne pehrnmos nies purts, grohm is, leivend sieno mant samt un lyut protiokwo.
- Buimghi…. Pohrnen ! Yed, is desert wir ne me abusit. Is sib attriecskwit id prientia os Schah Amurath, ed buim part iom presents is brigh do Akif, id urb samt purpwr gardens. Dind… (Ia krus ed kohl sien lige do sien hands) Solliem leusus quodkwe scham, lohgyit ia mox. Yed, cada mehmen me stehnc’ kam id bich uns sclaventajir. Io mien in id palat os Schah Amurath ; oik hevds prever toduxit is sien heir kay combate un lahtorentrupp quod hierb Turans grances. Ghes hat is rict triumphal-ye, ed un mier fest buit organisen in eys honor. Medsu medvia ed giumbusch, id waurmen mi buit bohden torides ep un klohpt ekwem. Ne eet id prest ker od sohngim de mwaungsoue…, bet is apterrusch me ed me naviex circum schawngwo. Io hieb uddistancet eys vassals, bet ho khaken antslage iom. Tun has tu arrivet.
- Eem kohlen bayna ia neds, brohm is barbar. Yaghi, eem oin tom karls om dissolut gwits, iom Asadh Dusten, quoy fwenschiew ed plunder engwn ia grances. Eem penk mil, bayghend vasya races ed teuts. Hams est part iom mercenar trupps gastallt ab un rebell peurst os Eustkoth, ed kun is conclus pace con sien balstohm’ souverain, hams viwohst aun employ. Tun, hams biplundert aundifference ia isolen prodwalsa om Koth, Zamora ed Turan. Oin hevd prever, Schah Amurath nos hat attrac’ do un kapan, nieb ia krants ios Ilbars quer is nos skohpt med penkdem mil yeudmens. Mitra ! I gwulturs skip un swergos. Id boi durit unte un hol dien ; kun nies lignes cess, oiks ex nos pit skape nordworts, alyi westworts. Dwoim an oin nohs. Ia steppes een’ covohrn med cavaliers apterreidend iens feugnics. Ho iskwt eustworts, pre vinake id selos ios part os Vilayet. Tuntos ho io remanen kohlt in ia baltas. Bad preghes hant ies cavaliers zavene ia neds po feugnics kam me. Ho repen, teupend ed dehlvend do torms kam un serpent, smagend muskrats qui io kiep ed ess om chunke mi eet impossible pehkwe i. Hoyd, ye octent, ho trohft tod bark perbohrgen bayna ia neds. Io ne iskwim venture mari pre noct, bet, pos neicus Schah Amurath, ho ghaben eys dorakvehsend kwauns ne solleer ses dalg.
- Ed nun ?
- Vahnt apterrusches nos, aundwoi. Esdi ne trehvent ia traces likwn ab id nauk, qua ho schiawkien’ bilkull beirst, aumsient od smos mari, pos paurskus in vain in id selos. Lakin, hams perodhia binisbat iens ed vahm ermes hina hams naken un salv stet.
- Quer siems wey trehve to ? Sprohg ia samt desperation. Vilayet est hyrkani ex uter ripa do alter.
- Sems ne mayne to, jawieb Conan samt un severe rictus, besonters i sclavs qui hant fuct ex ia galeras kay bihe pirates.
- Bet qua sont tien plans ?
- Sudwesti, id caust est guarden af Hyrkanis unte centens milyen. Hams dar un long itner kwehrtu pre upergwahe ir nordgrances. Trehcskwim nordworts, hina kehnso upersafervs tod grance. Dind, tournsiemos westworts ed peitsiemos id caust lizden ab ia desertic steppes.
- Ed sei incontrems pirates… au un storm ? Sprohg ia. Ed in ia steppes, nehcsiemos ob hungher !
- Tege ne ho prohgen ke gwehms con me.
- Afsos. (Ia clih sien swordghayt cap). Pirates, storms, hungher… Dar meis tehlim quem i Turanis !
- Yaghi. (Eys sombre lige dar skeuderiesc). Ne ho finihn con i. Rassure teswo, meirka. Ye tod yarstid, storms sont rar ep id mar os Vilayet. Sei nakmos ia steppes, niems mehre ob hungher. Ho crohsct in un arid land. Tod balstohmt selos, con sien thamf ed insectennebsa, me hat quasi nict. Som hemi in ia hoglands. Dayir i pirates…
Is hieb un enigmatic rictus ed kohmb ep sien erms. 
Id sol disprohp ye horizon, kam un deuskargo glaughkyom sehnkend do un ogwnlac. Id blou ios mar se confus con id azur ed bo mutaspielv delicate-ye do maurzamt, nuktet med aunnumer stars ed ir inikas. Olivia se ster ye id front ios nauk ; sieno ment alyer ed khayal-ye, yaut ab id slingher ios bark, ia hieb id khisses os oiswehbhe in hava, stars uper ed ender iam. Eyso silent sokwi ambhriss vagh-ye protie mliaker temos. Ia erms tus id wed samt regular ed aunmukhlato tempo ; is habiet maghen ses un kabuslik erter wehghend iam ep id egher ios enderbund. Yed, ays paur hieb milderascen ; yaun ab id monotono mov, ia sohnk do un enpace swehpen. 
Ia buit sellgwohmt ab octent kun ia ghyienit sien okwi ed conscicit un vorace hungher. Ia hieb est protiebudt ab un change in id mov ios nauk. Conano knigv ep sien erms, spehcend apter iam. Ia vighieb is hieb ern unte id hol noct aun rahatus ed khiss mirveylment ant eyso stalen endurance. Ia vols bigon kay sehkwe eyso spect ed dyohrc un glend wall ex drus ed teguts quod lud pon id ouper ed oistrohc unte un weur kehmb, ringend uno smulk bukht quos azur ed sakwn wedor samkwohkit glas. 
- Est oin iom kathire insules qua comsperge tod egher, iam manthih Conan. Daydey son’ newiken. Ho klut i Hyrkanis visiteer ia rar-ye. Eti, ir galeras ne swehde fanzowe apo ia ripas, ed hams andht uno mier distance. Pre soleurehp, eems exter vid ios continents.
Med oik ermcutts brigh is id nauk tiel id ouper ed amier id solid-ye ei skamb raudh uns dru crehscend ana id wed. Skandus ep land, is rexit sien hand kay hehlpe Olivia. Ia ghens id ed krus mulayim-ye dyehrcend-ye ia cruorglois ep eys cuit, tarkend id mahibe nerce ia muscles ios barbar perkohl. 
Un khayalquiettia regnit uper ia drus leizdend id azurwedor bukht. Dind, semloc bayna ia schajras, un av aurih sien aghyernkan. Uno mulayim brise sosulit bayna ia brems qua sroht samt uno mliak blosk. Olivia vighieb ia akowsicit… kay klues quod, ia ne habiet sagven sayge id. Quod tar miegheer schalasche ta aunnam foresta ? 
Kun ia jvieyer timid-ye kya skadhs inter ia drus, semject passit jaldi in id solluce, samt un oku ptergendewer : unis mier papagall. El parinda nisess ep un bremic ozd ed wip, tweiser statuette ex jade ed scarlat. El wohrt bigon sien epopwent cap ed oistier im intrusims med lamper kyehrsen okwi. 
- Crom ! Murmurit is Kimri. Is est is ewo vasyen papagalls. Est minst-ye tusentat ! Spehc id malefic weida mathmount in eys okwi. Qua mysteirs arehcs tu, savan’ demin ?
Brusk-ye is av wohng sien flamboyanta ptergs ed topluk ud sien kurni, mleund-ye med un branghu voc : Yagkoolan yok tha, xuthalla ! Ed, samt un wild, horrible mensco gleimen topoht is bayna ia drus ed disprohp endo ia opalin skadhs. 
Olivia apterspohc iom, kheissend bedebah glehdjgwistis oistrifes ayso spina. 
- Quod hat is sayct ? Susurit ia.
- Menscwekwos, kassamiem, antwohrd Conan, bet in quod bahsa, ne woidim.
- Neschi ego, jawieb ia meirka. Yed hat is sollt uces id ud mensclipps. Menscen au….
Ia scrutit id brempoli ed krus nekwahim-ye, aun woide ma. 
- Crom ! Io heungher ! Brohm is Kimri. Ghehdiem edde un hol jamus. Smad vane fruits, bet vahm preter me lave ed spules ta hol turs’ cruor ed slamm. Tupes in selos es’ druve-ye un murdar besoyn !
Pos ta werds, is lyig sien eins ghom, ghieng perodh-ye do id moder wed tiel omsenhoge ed se nigvit. Kun is sielg tsay, eys brunen ed sunder memsa luc possowel ; eys sword, wedrehnic crinar neti eet straugh. In id budmen eysen blou okwi dar gluhsit uno nesgwenim flamme, bet neti eent sombre ni sehrgstrihn. Id felin uriende eysen memsen ed id mahibe aspect os eys firasat hieb lakin pau changen. 
Pangend iter sien eins ambh sien lendv, is znieyc ay gwenaki ke sohkwit iom ed bo likw id ripa, bighangend sub ia bremic arches iom mier ozden. Un glend ed bengu graso stexit id swol, skeipend un bloghi sub ir peds. Inter ia drumstamms dyohrc i enchantant panoramas. 
Mox emiss Conan un plaisure brohm vidend-ye goldruoss globes, hangend in grwozdus bayna ia waraks. Is prohg iam meirka ke sess ep un fallto dru ed plehsit ays gremo med ia exotic fruits ; dind is ess ye sien roig samt uno nekulken appetitt. 
- Ishtar ! Exclamit is inter dwo bukats. Pon Ilbars ho io me piuten med rats ed raudhs io trohv in id stehnkend slamm. To est lecker bet ne meg pituv. Lakin, sei eddmos kafi ex ia, to siet baste pro id moment.
Olivia eet pior besic pro antwehrde. Stumpus sien hungher, is Kimri bichohxit sien bell sokwnia samt meis interesse quem prever, kaund ia teug ed lamper ghayts os ayso sword kays, ays persicspalv delicate cuit ed id schakhwani ambhriss os ayso slanc silhouette, quod id foscisdenst silken ghiton aunkohlder ye ays megst vantage. 
Khatem sien chifan, ia subject os eys perichehxen spohc ub ed, incontrend eyso jarwento staren, eys okwi schrincta do bidna, Olivia mith color ed ays finghers sis falle id reste ios fruit. 
Aun commente, is motionit od dehlgient sume ir exploration ed, stahvs ub, ia sohkwit iom. Likweer ia drus ed arriveer do un lawc, quos witer leizd eet cluden ab meg dens teguts. Kun i stohmbh aun steg, un honaro cracken udcliengh in ia teguts. Conan klieup gontro, dreibhend iam meirka con se, vergeihnd it gnebh un forme quod oistris per id hava pri i ed hurt un drustamm samt un terrifiant impact. 
Exkardkaschend jaldi sien eins, Conan klieup unte id lawc ed disprohp do id bunge. Un long silence sohkwit ; Olivia hudel ep id gras, terrifien ed abstaunihn. Moxu Conan sielg tsay ex id glendiacortin ; eys mukadar wajkh eet okwivid-ye perplex. 
- Neid ib ta teguts, grumel is. Yed eet semject…
Is chohx id xeudil quod hieb lipsen i tem gnebh ed emiss un surprise brohm, kamsei is khakiet credihes sien wi senses. Eet un enorm block ex glend petra ; id lyohg ep id gras, pod id dru quos stamm hieb est fisso sub id schock. 
- Talg petra ep un newict insule… destull stragn ! Grohm Conan.
Olivias adorable okwi distier. Id petra formit un symmetric block, indiscussible-ye gluben ed dighen ab menscenghesors. Eet staunos-ye gwaur. Is Kimri siz id med bo hands ; darmeihndo sien peds ep id swol, is ieyr id uper sien cap ed toxubh id, neudend ielg energiaparticule om siena muscles. Id petra fiell ye oika stieups ant iom. Conan rughiet.
- Nel mensc ghehdiet lehnce tod perwnt kyocolo id lawc. Est pro un siege machine. Yed son’ neter mangonels ni balistas her.
- Kad buit lohnct ab talg jihase ud dalger ? Suggestit is.
Scussit sien cap. 
- Ne hat fallt ubtos. Id gwohm ex tod bunge ter dalg. Vids kam brohct sont ta ozdias ? Buit xubh’ kam un mensc xeubhiet un kaghel. Bet quel ? Gwehm ghi.
Ia sohkwit iom hesitation-ye endo id bunge. Upergwahvs id uder leizdo iom teguts, id enderbosc eet minter dens. Un absolut silence regnit uper quanto. Id urand gras revelit neid pedprint. Yed ex todpet mysterieus bosc hieb gwohlt id rock, oku ed katel. Conan clih-se kyid swol, quer id gras hieb plattihn ed truden her ed cer. Is oiscussit sien cap irritation-ye. Hatta eys obischnuet okwi khiek tarctum quo hieb trohct ed tupt todih. Eyso spect wiender tiel id glend akmen uper ir caps, skeipend un compacto tavan ex teug waraks ed interplohct arches. Brusk-ye, is oistahsit still. 
Trohcyend, einsghesor, is bidrahsit aretraite, puscend Olivia apter se. 
- Exter hetos, oku ! Urs is iam med un susur quod glohdj id sehrg ias meirka.
- Quod est ter ? Quod has tu vis ?
- Khich, antwohrd is remanend-ye nastraj, aun interrumpes sien prudent retraite.
- Quod est ter tun ? Quod aluet in ta teguts ?
- Nehc ! Jawieb is.
Is nastier ibs arches ex sombre jade qua occulteer id waurn. 
Salgus ia teguts, is ghens ays hand ed nih iam jaldi inter ia skiderascend drus. Mox, i glohm ep un travost kleitu, muzlim-ye bebosct, ed emers ep un pau alto plateau quer gras crohsc, hog ed bengu, ed quer schajras eent rar ed diaspohrn. Medsu tod plateau stieusit un long ed vast, gadrabhend, structure ex subglend petras. 
I spohc staunos-ye. Neid legend narrit de talg imara ep quodkwe Vilayet insule. I stohmb proscher, observend ia petras covohrna med moss ed lichen ed id collapto tegos quod ghyahsit waurntro. Bachimien eent fragments ed blocks ex muraria, pwolkohlt ab ia weundelnd grasa, dahnd id pondos od prevst multa trebs hieb staut ye tod stet, maghses hatta un hol urb. Taiper, tik etilikwit tod dleghskeip structure, samkwehkend uno mier vestibule ; ids murs inclineer-se dangereus, shienciu med virgenvinyek. 
Ia dwers qua xiawngja hieb guardet ids inghang hieb saupen ed disparihn diutos. Conan ed eys compagne stahr ep id weur soyl ed spohc intro. Ia solbams rohn per ia breches in ia murs ed id akmen, ambhreissend in id sall un vagh plohcta ex skadh ed luce. Darnd sien eins, Conan entrit, med id urand gwayt uns lyoghernd panther, endersess ghom, aun kwehre blosk. Olivia sohkwit iom, ep pedak. 
Oins eni, Conan brohm ob surprise, ed Olivia enderwaurs un crie. 
- Spehc ! Oh, spehc !
- Vido, antwohrd is. Est neid baytu. Son’ statues.
- Ya, bet kwehkent gwiv… ed malefic ! Susurit ia proscher iom.
I wohs in un dakhel quos demped eet ex poliht petra, covohrt med duil ed petras fallen ud id krov. Lianes ed wild vinyek, crehscend inter ia petras, miesk ia ghyahsas. Id hog tavan, platt ed aunthol, eent oistohmen ab teug colunns, ardeht engwn ia stens. In ielg rewos inter ta colunns oistahsit ein stragno gastalto. 
Eent statues, kwecto isern, sword ed lampers kamsei esient permanence-ye polihn. Nature-plaut, ia kip buland, urand ed pletwost wirs, samt cruel doganlik traits. Eent nogwi, ed ielg bhehlgh, dener ed ambhriss iom apsen ed snayus hieb un incredible realisme. Yed, id gwitapparence eet meis akster ep ir gururic ed intolerant lige. Ies ne hieb est ghut ex id sam kalab. Ielgo lige hieb sien wi kweits, esdi eet un teutisk samkwehkia ep cada ex ia. Id monoton uniformitat uns pur-ye decorative art eet absent ud ta statues, bariem ud ir liges. 
- Kwecto aurnt… ed skehpte ! Susurit ia meirka anxieus-ye.
Conan kovihsit id hamand siens eins protiev oin ex ia. 
- Sider, declarit is. Bet, per Crom ! Med quod kalab buir ia ghun ?
Is oiscussit sien cap ed plex med sien staur omsa, pribuden. 
Olivia ambiglaz timid-ye id mier silent vestibule. Ia vis tik ia ghedipcront petras, ia lianeshienciu stuts, ed ia sombre gastalts meditend in ir firidas. Ia sroht, bfuyow, ed habiet gairnsgwahn ; yed ia statues gohn un stragno fascination ep ays sokwi. Is perichohx ia ed, suloukend kam un barbar, pit brehge ir memsa. Resisteer eys krepticst efforts. Ei buit impossible desfigure we desloge ud ids tolp oin tom isern kips. Is vityohgv, katathemisend in sien staunos. 
- Ep qualg genos menscen buir ia copiet ? Sprohg is id hol universe. Ta statues sont sword, yed ne samkwehkent Aydokwens. Ho naiwo viden lik.
- Smad retrehve diewo, iom urs Olivia.
Is acquiescit, glanzend desconcertet-ye kya meditative formes stahnd engwn ia stens. 
I likw id temost vestible pre gwahe perodh kyid ardent luce ios lientsol. Ia buit surpriden ab kaue ids position waurni ; hiebeer passen meis wakt in ia ruines quem ia hieb supposen. 
-Smad rikes id nauk ed fortrehce hetos, suggestit ia. Ho paur todih. Est un stragn ed malefic stet. Quo hat xubhen id perwn’ maghiet attaque nos quanlibt. 
- Mehno smos salv esta wehsmos sub ia drus, antwohrd is. Gwehm ghi !
Id plateau, quosmen gons oistigheer ghom in beboscta kleitus kya bebosct oupers, eusti, westi ed sud, lud de nordworts ed adduxit uni compact menghia om karwent behrgs, ei hogst pointi ios insule. Conan trohc tetro, adjustend sien gression ei kadam as sienu sokwnia. Ex tid do tid, eys impenetrable specto kung ep iam, ed Olivia conscicit to. 
I niek id nordbors ios plateau ed hielt kay observe kyub ia skarpwns. Drus crohsceer kathire engwn id gombh ios plateau, ep ia eust ed west varsas, ed prigrip id sehnkseido sten. Conan spohc ta schajrus samt mistrust, yed is biglohm, hehlpend sien sokwnia ad udstighes. Id kleitu ne eet pior brenk, intersegen med sanghie tehngsa ed perwnts. Is Kimri, gnahn in un clinland, habiet ghohdt udglehme id drahnd-ye, samt id agilitat uns felid, bet Olivia pohnd tod tadribe delicater. Pelus khiss ia bihe ayrna swoltos ed hissen uper uno natural obstacle quos upergumt habiet naudht ud iam un pior mier physic effort. Ayso staunos crohsc vidend-ye id physic stieure tos wir. Ia neti pohnd eys contacto kados ed khiss protegen ab eyso stalen ghend. 
Vistahr ep id hogst behrg ; id wind blahndo martos oisroht ir kaysars. Sub i, id sten sohnk seid unte meis quem tricent au quarcent peds ; niter, un angh strei ex puk shienrlin lizd id ripa. Spehcend sudworts, i perivis id insule. Id hieb id forme unios mier oval specule, quos skeir gons oistigh brusk-ye kyun vegetationsleizd, ploisko ye ia stets quer id interrup nett ana ia skarpa behrgs. Tem dalgtro quem i ghohd vide, id moder wedor se forstrohc bachimien, placid, still, tiel ia khayal mighels ye horizont. 
- Id mar es’ still, kwohster Olivia. Ma ne persehkwe nies voyage ?
Conan, samlik uni bronzen statue wardhend ant id waurn, kyus id nord. Scrutend intensitat(ye, Olivia dyohrc un kwit gloi quod kwecto swohbh, med dalgi in ia mulayim mighels. 
- Quod est tod ?
- Un seghel.
- Hyrkanis ?
- Quel ghehdiet sayge, ye tod distance ?
- Vahn’ fundare her… obsoke id insule kay retrehve nos ! Scricit ia praedd uns akster panique.
- To stauneihiet me. Gwehment ex id nord ; estghi impossible od son’ paurskend nos. Kad sient accoste bi alyo sabab ; in tod fall, tehrpsiemos tupes bilkull beirst. Bet mehno leit auter de un piraten nav, au de un hyrkani galera tsay ex un razzia nordi. In senter fall, aundwoi nient fundare her. Lakin, dehlcsiemos intizare od linkwnt id insule pre reikmos mar, ar gwehment ex id direction quetro eiskwmos. Aundwoi to kwehrsient honoct ; maghsiemos kwehre nies itner ye octent.
- Tun, vahms upernocte her ? Krus ia.
- Es’ salvst.
- Tun, smad swehpe her, bayna ta perwnts, urs ia iom.
Is oiscussit sien cap, ambiglanzend ia skohrden drus ed id shienrlin strehcend niter ; ir subglendo masse kwecto rexit curpens engwn ia karwenta stens kay glehme tiel ub ia behrgs. 
- Son’ pior drus her. Swehpsiemos in ia ruines (Ia cricit ob protest). Niet tib wakye ter, rassurit is iam. Quodkwe bih id jec’ quod hat xubhen tod petra ep nos, ne nos hat sohkwn exter id shienrlin. Ho viden neid trace deikend an un gver habiet kwohrn sien laz in ta ruines. Eti, es delicate, swehds un facil gwit ed comfort. Ego men ghehdiem swehpe nogw in sneigv ed khisses neid desamatia ; sei de tu dehlgies swehpe dworis, ross tib dahiet cramps ed sieugascies.
Olivia acquiescit desperation-ye. I stigh tsay ghom ia behrgs, tohr id plateau ed gwohm iter prosch ia buxianxu ruines, hanten ab secules. Taiper, id swol descens ender id gombh ios plateau. I hieb trohfto fruits in ia drus prokwem ia behrgs, qua buir ir dinner, sammel piut ed scharab. 
Id sudnocto gwohm oku, comspergend mier kwita stars unte id maurblou waurn. Conan penetrit ia skadhbefolct ruines, tragend sekwos se un Olivia pau suamenos de imite iom. Ia tremblit vidend-ye ta fix ed oistifta statues in ir firidas. In id temos id starkweitos tik strif, ia ne enderkwit ir ambhriss ; ia kwahsit tik ir intizarattitude… ia intizier kamsei habient intizarn pon aunnumer secules. 
Conan hiebit bright uno mier potem om urand, suaboliwent ozda. Is udlyig ia kay buwes ia un cubho pro Olivia qua lyohgit ghom ep ta ozdias, samt id curieuso sensation semquas paratend-se ad upernoct in id ten uns ogvi. 
Conano ne smyohr quodkwe prekhisses ias Ophirian. Is Kimri sess ghom nieb iam, kneigvend regv-ye protiev un colunn, sien einso lyigen skeir ep sien grem. In xep, eys okwi bligeer kam ta uns panther. 
- Swehp, meirka, iey is. Mien swehpen est tem legv quem tod uns wolf. Neid ghehdiet entre tod stet aun protiebudes me fauran.
Olivia ne antwohrd. Ud sien warakenlict, ia observit id still gastalt, indistinct in id zamtlik temos. Kam stragn… ia wohs con un barbar qui wiekh uper iam ed protexit iam ; uno member uns race de-yod tanta narns hieb terrifien ial unte ayso miegve ! Is gwohm ex un lyut, cruorlasni ed cruel folk. Eys angh sibias con wakhschat eent evident in eys lytsta gestes ; flamboyeer in eys ardent okwi. Yed, is hieb nel-ye harmen iam ed ays khiterst waurger hieb esen un wir id mund iey civilisen. Menxu un wohnic languor lambh lent-ye ays relaxet memsa ed kun ia sohnk do ia mighlic volns os swehpen, ayso senst wakho bren buit id fugace mehmen om Conans finghers ponend-se darm-ye ep ays delicate cuit. 
II
Olivia drohm, ed ays drehms eent cienryoun ab id suggestion unios nebahim khitert, teupend kam un kyehrsen ogvi rempend in un florengarden. Ays onirs eent fragmentar ed akster-ye colorwent, stragna schtuks uns taiper negnoht menghia ; dind se cristalliseer ed skip un scene om horror ed dementia, wardhend ant un aptergrund ex cyclopean petras ed colunns. 
Ia vis uno mier vestibule ; ids alto tavan eet oistohmt ab petracolunns oistrehcend in egal roigs engwn ia teug murs. Inter ta pillars dwiej mier glend ed scarlat papagalls ; id sall pohld med kyehrsencuit ed rapacentrait jenchis. Ne eent Aydokwi. Ni samkwohkeer quikwe gnohn tienxia ab Olivia… ni ir povestis ni ir armes. 
Ies waurs ambh un wir diehn uni pillar : un slanccorpos ed albhcuito terwn ; blond ghayts tohg eys alabster chol. Eys beauteit eet meis quem mensclik… lik ei drehm uns div, cisellen ex gwiv marmor. 
Ies kyehrsen jenchis glihr ed goileer iom, invectiveer iom in uno negnohn bahsa. Is nogw ed slanc forme vrink sub ir cruel ghesors. Cruor rohn ep eys ivorbemerns, spreuzend id demped ex poliht petra. Ia heuls al victim cliengh unte id vestibule ; tun, spehcend ub kyid tavan, id warwn ed trans, is cricit uno namo med uno mahibe voc. Un daga dohrjt ab un ebonhand interrupit brusk-ye eys clamor, ed id goldenkays cap nislahsit ep id pall xiongbu. 
Kam ka response tei desperationscrie, buit un grohm kam tod dught ab ia rots uns Deiwios wogh. Un forme staut ant iens maurdhers ; id kwecto hieb-se materialisen ex kenos. Id gastalt eet mensclik, bet nel merti aiw enduit solg beauteit. El pors un evident samkwehkia con iom terwn qui myohg aungwit, protiedart ab sien zangirs ; yed, id humanitat quod mliakerihsit id divin kwekmor ios yuwen eet absent ud ia traits ios tarnien, terrible ed impassible in ir beauteit. 
Ies kyehrsen wirs oistiup retro paur-ye ant iom, ir okwi bihvs ogwnbidna. Leivend uter hand, is bahsit, ed ia accents os eys voc se repercuss unte ia silent salls in grave ed melodieusa swonvolns. Kam wirs in trances, ies kyehrsen jenchis oistiup retro hina buir ardeht in regulara roigs engwn ia murs. Tun, ex ia cisellta lipps ios tarnien udcliengh un invocation, uno mahibe wehlen : 
- Yagkolan yok tha, xuthalla !
Kun tod terrible crie sprohng, ies kyehrsen gastalts oistohv ed oistahr still. Ep ir memsa se dwigh un stragno rigiditato, un supernatural petrification. Is tarnien touchit mulayim-ye id slemb corpos ios terwn, ed eysa zangirs fiell. Is ghens id cadaver in sien brakhs ; dind, pre gwahe dalger, eyso serene spect iter passit ep ia silent roigs iom ebongastalts. Is dik id meun quod blig per ia pengerehs. Ed ia ghieb, ta craspend statues, qua intizier, ed qua hieb esen mensci…
Olivia gohrit brusk-ye ed sess ub ep sien ozdiakubh ; un glehdjic swoid covohr ays cuit. Eys kerd biet honar-ye in silence. Ia ambiglaz strehmghalv. 
Conan swohp, kneigvend regv-ye protiev id colunn ; eys cap eet inclinen ep eyso staur torso. Id argwrntlik diutis ios meun oisnohg id ghyahnd krov, projecend ep id duilic swol long albh sohlks. Ia dyohrc vagh-ye ia sword, craspend, tensa statues… intizarnd. Combatend id panic paur quod ieug in iam, ia vis ia meunbams lande mulayim-ye ep ia colunns ed ia formes inter ta. 
Quod eet ? Un kreus andhend ia skadhs quer fiell id meunkweitert. Ia buit paralysen af horror, querghi habiet sollen ses id immobilitat os mohrt, ter eet mov : un lent contraction, un flexion, un torsion iom ebonmemsen… Un horrible crie skiep ays lipps kun ia brohg ia diemmens qua iam dier niem ed petrifiet. Ob ir heul, Conan klieup ub, sien dents bleigend, sien einso swohngen. 
- Ia statues ! Ia statues !…. O Deiwes, ia statues reiken’ gwit ! Kun ia cricit, ia klieup ed se elien unte uno murbreche, se sehndend frenitic-ye per ia lianes qua hindreer ays progression, ed curs, curs, curs… blind-ye, aun mehne, heulend-ye… hin un kreptic ghend ep ays brakho protiedier iam. Ia cricit ed se strubh inter ia brakhs qua karcerbohnd iam hin un familiar voc penetrit ia mighels os ays terror… ia vis Conans lige, uno mask os perplexitat in meunkweitert.
- In id nam os Crom, quod wakyet, meirka ? Has tu coschmart ?
Eys voc ay swohn stragn ed piern. Samt un convulsive sleuct, ia smissit sien brakhs ambh id staur coll ios Kimri ed antgrip iom frenitic-ye, scutten ab plangs. 
- Quer sont ? Nos hant ia sohkwt ?
- Nimen hat sohkwt nos, antwohrd is.
Ia stieu tsay, dar antgreipend iom, ed ambiglaz pauric-ye. Ays blind fug hieb ducen iam tiel id sudgombh ios plateau. Id kleitu inkiepit podkyi ; niter eent viden tik ia tegu skadhs ios shienrlin. Apter i, ia dyohrc ia ruines wardhend in id meunkweitert in ids apogee. 
- Ne has vis ia ? Ia movend statues, liv ir hands, ir okwi qua luc in id temos ?
- Ne ho viden ject, antwohrd Conan samt semo malaise. Io swohp deuber quem biadet… tem diutos ne ho habt un pleno noct os swehpen ; yed som yakin od sei semject habiet entren id sall, tod habiet protiebuden me.
- Neid hat entren. (Un hysteric ilay lud ex Olivias lipps). Eet semjec’ quod ja wohs ter. Ah, Mitra, hams lyohc’ ghom kay swehpe medsu ia, kam owikas endergwehmend do un mazbakh !
- De quod tolcs tu ? Sprohg is. Tien crie hat me protiebudt ed spreudiht, bet hatta pre habus id wakt os amvbhspehec, te ho vis curre kam un foll ed disprehpe per un murbreche. Te ho apterdrahn, ibo te veurnies. Ho crediht od hiebs’ coschmart.
- Toghi hat wakyen ! Ieyit ia kreusend-ye. Bet realitat es’ dar meis buxianxu quem drehm. Kleu !
Ed ia ei narrit quanto ia hieb drohmen ed credihn vide. 
Conan klusit attentive-ye. Id natural skepticisme os un sophistiquet wir eet ei rhayir. In eys mythologia eent gouls, goblins ed necromants. Pos ia hieb zalyohct, is natieyc, finghernd machinal-ye sien eins. 
- Kwe samkwohk is terwn ies tortureer iom buland wir qui hat gwohm’ poskwo ? Visprohg is.
- Kam un son samkwehkend sien pater, antwohrd ia. (dind, samt hesitation). Sei sem ment ghehdiet concepe id fruit ios conjugia inter un div ed un mensc, id portraitiet tom terwn. Ies divs ios awios tid yando se enpairiesc con mertnias, saygen’ nies legends.
- Quoy divs ? Murmurit is.
- Ies aunnam divs, myohrst ab quantens. Quel woid ? Hant riken id sakwn wedor iom lacs, id enpace inster iom clins, ia tehoms trans ia stars. Divs dure tem bragv-ye quem mensci.
- Bet sei ta formes esient mensci, keraunen ed changen do isern statues ab un div au demon, quosmed ghehde ia rikes gwit ?
- Est vraj in id meun, krus ia. Is hat diken id meun ; kun id meun bleict ep ia, regwivent. Es’ quo credeihm.
- Lakin, ne buam persohkwt, murmurit Conan spehcend-ye kya silent ruines. Kad has drohmen od moveer. Mayno ke reikmos tetro ed yakinascmos de.
- No, no ! Scricit ia, iom antgreipend desperation-ye. Kad id soitos kast ep ia ibs stambht salge id sall. Mae reikas tetro ! Rehfsient tien memsa ein pos ein ! Oh, Conan, smad ghehde do nies nauk ed fuges ex tod keapay insule ! Id hyrkani nav hat sigwra uperhaul’ nos taiper ! Smad abgwahe !
Ays haja eet tem strehmghalv quem is Kimri buit impressen. Eys curiositato de ia statues eet contrablancen ab eysa superstitions. Is biey nel duschman ex krewos ed aserng, esdi ia chances eent contra iom, bet cada manifestation os supernatural sbud in iom ia instinctive, vagh ed monstrueus paurs, qua sont id heritage im barbars. 
Is ghens id hand ias meirka, ed bo stigheer ghom id kleitu pre penetre id puk bosco quer waraks sosuleer ed aunnami nocpters murmureer mliak-ye. Sub ia drus, skadhs kowpeer-se, ed Conan detour kay vergihes ia compactsta teniblocks. Eys okwi eegiglanzent ambi, ops kya ozda uper i. Is ghieng jaldi quayque tadbir-ye, sien brakh slohnct ambh id lendv ias gwenak samt tanti nerce quem ia hieb id pondos os bihe bohrt meis quem niht. Neuter bahsit. Id saulo blosk eet id saccadat ed nerveus annem ias gwenak ed id mulayim sosule aysen minu peds ep id gras. It upergwahr id druligne ed arriveer ana id wed, quod luc argwrntlika in mekhtabkweitert. 
- Habiems dohlgen bringhes fruirs kay ghehde edde, murmurit Conan, yed sigwra siemos incontre alya insules. Smadghi fortrehce nun, aun kunges ; pos oik hors siet octen’ gwehme ed…
Eys voc hesitit ed zabahsit. Id palamar eet dar solid-ye dieht ei druraudh. Bet ye alter bors, id bark hieb esen kayden ed bohngen, semimmergen do id plask wed. 
Olivia emiss un stupen crie. Conan pivotit jaldi ep sien persnas ed facit ia densa skadhs, statuelika, tehrgend ed parat ad klaupe. Id dweitsker im nocpters hiebit brusk-ye taycen. Uno menacegwaur silence regnit in id shienrlin. Neid brise sroht ia ozdias ; yed, semloc, ia waraks moveer mulayim-ye. 
Tem oku quem un simbva ghens Conan Olivia in sien brakhs ed curs. Samkwehkend un kabus, is tohr jaldi ia skadhs menxu, semloc uper ed apter i, lud id curieus blosk uns precipiten drahsa in ia brems ; semject, inexorable-ye, gwohm stets proscher. Dind ir liges buir beluct ab id meunkweitert, ed i curs ub strehmghalv-ye id kleitu ios plateau. 
Ep id crest, Conan dehsit Olivia ghom ed vols kay spehce kyid skadhentehom i hieb just likwn. Ia waraks oisroht sub id effect os un stayg brise ; eet hol. Is oiscussit sien crinar samt un furieus brohm. Olivia se sohlk tiel pod iom kam un pauric magva. Ays okwi spohc ub kyom, kam dwo deusk horrorpleht puts. 
- Oh, quod vahms wey kwehre, Conan ? Susurit ia.
Is oispohcit kya ruines, iter oiscrutit id shienrlino niter. 
- Upernoctsiemos ep ia behrgs, decisit is hehlpend-ye iam ad restahe. Cras, strucsiem un plott, ed retentesiemos fanzowe.
- Kwe ne… ia han’ destrugen nies nauk .
Eet tem un question quem un ischbat. Is nuk, lyut-ye taciturn. 
Menxu i tohr id meunkweitertmadhen plateau, ielg stieup horrorplehsit Olivia ; yed, nel kyehrsen skeip snohg nin-ye ex ia ruines. Viarriveer pod ia perwnts qua stieur ant i, pregen ab un sombre majesteit. Conan stopit ye tod stey, dar bfugwaukan, dind vichus un anfractuositat, schalasct ab un weur karwento stehlben, ye wassime distance ud ia drus. 
- Lyehg ghom ed swehp sei ghehds, Olivia, iey is. Stahsiem wakht.
Bet Olivia khiek narce ed nalyohg, observend ia pierna ruines ed id shienrlinleizd hina ia stars palliesc, id eust blieych ed octent embras ia rossmadha travskirps med sien pemb ed golden diutis. 
Ia stahsit ub stip-ye, ed ia wakyas ios prev noct occupeer iter eys ment. In id aghyernluce, sems aysen terroren samkwohk ia products uns etikmehn imagination. Conan gwohm kyam, ed eys wekwos rassurit iam. 
- Pau pre octent ho io aurt id cracken uns mastos, id knar rezgen ed id clacken ermen. Un nav hat plut ed fundart ant id strand, ne meg dalg… shayad id nav quos seghel wey hieb dyohrcen ghes. Vahms stighes atopp ia behrgs ed luure id.
I kwohr to ed, brous bayna ia perwnts, i dyohrc un pigen mast udhogend id drughebel westi. 
- Un hyrkani nav, yeji ids takelage, murmurit Conan. Daumo an id nieute…
Un concert piernen vocs niek ir aurs ; rempus kyid subgombh iom behrgs, i vis un raym horde emerge ex id leizdo iom drus covehrnd id westpart ios plateau ed halte kay bitolke. Buir maung brakhenmovs, swohnct einsa ed jahar expost arguments. Dind id hol bande trohcyit unte id plateau kya ruines, sehkwnd un itner quod passeihiet id pod ia behrgs. 
- Pirates ! Susurit Conan samt un strehngo smeih ep sien teun lipps. Han’ kapen un hyrkani galera. Oku… teup bayna ta perwnts. Mae te skau ploisko te kalo, ay recommandit is pos hehlpus iam ad skulkes un rockenkowp, ep id crest iom behrgs. Gwahm kyant tens kwauns. Sei mien plan kamyapt, hol suawakyesiet, ed linkwsiemos id insule con iens. Sei dyeuso… tunghi reman suakohlt inter ia perwnts hina fortrehcent, ar vasyi demons tos insule ne sagvient ses tem cruel quem toy khaluschis.
Se rehvend ud ays hands qua protiedier iom, is oistigh jaldi ghom ia behrgs. 
Spehcend samt dekhschat pon sien didbani, Olivia vis id grupp hieb agen prosch id perwntskarpwn. Kam ia hieb exspectet, Conan surrexit ant iens ed facit iens, einsghesor. Ies curs aretraite, criend pro tehrg au ob surprise, dind hielt rhayr-yakin kay chehxe kreins tom gastalt qui hiebit prohpto tem stayg ud ia perwnts. Eent circa septgim, un wild horde ex wirs multen nations : Kothians, Zamorians, Brythunians, Corinthians, Schemis. Ira traits reflegeer id gvertat om ir mores. Maungs bohr id mark ios bich au ios tavrios. Eent sect aurs, dwifiss nasa, ghyahnd oktorms, runckundas… vurnsa infligen ab iom palach we schrams ex cruoric bois. Pleisti eent pwolnogwi, bet ir pauk vesters eent kimatih ed elegant : jaquets samt golden soutaches, satin ghehrdels, silken bruks in lumps, poik med cruor ed katran, malssortien irims dorakplacks ex cisellt argwrnt. Gemmes schimereer ep nasrings ed aurrings, ep ia pomels iren dagas. 
Staund face tod stragno menegh, is gigantesk Kimri contrastit staun-ye, ob sien staur ed brunta memsa, sien sunder ed energic traits. 
- Quis es tu ? Bieub ies.
- Conan is Kimri ! (Eys voco cliengh, lik ei braungh challenge uns lion.) Eem member iom Asadh Dusten. Peitskwo mien chance in id Rudh Fraternitat. Quis es’ voster chef ?
- Ego, Per Ishtar ! Mugihsit un taurvoc.
Un pondost gastalt gwohm perodh samt molan protiokwo : eet un olbjim, nogwo tiel lendv ; eys rundic gwiwot eet kingen med un weur stoffyeusmen protiedarnd ample silken bruks. Eys cap eet alnos-ye xurt, ploisko oin kaysfitil atopp id ghalv ; eys moustaches nislahr ep un buxianxu stohm. Eys peds eent beschouna med schemi babuscha ex glend lieter samt kehmba borsa ; is dohrj in sien hand un long seid eins. 
Conan ghyien plaut okwi, ed eyso specto twis. 
- Sergius os Khrosha, per Crom !
- Ya, per Ishtar ! Stohn is olbjim (Eysa smulk sword okwi blig med haines). Kad credeihs io te hieb myohrsen ? Ha ! Sergius naiwo myehrst un peind. Vahm te hange per tien glesens ed te skehne gwiv. Seizte iom, dusti !
- Yaghi, yeis tien kwauns apter me, tu piwongwiwot ! Goilit Conan samt bitter honn. Has semper est un feig, bastard ex Koth !
- Feig, ego ? (Id weur lige erudh ob furor.). Engarde, nordkwaun ! Vahm rehve ed sbehrde tien kerd !
Unte oino mic, ies barbars hieb skipen un circule ambh iens dwo wirs ; ir okwi flamboyeer, ir annem stris inter ir dents in un cruorlasni joy. Ter ub, bayna ia perwnts, Olivia observit id scene ; in sien emotion ed gvol, ia hieb seht sien onkha do sien pams. 
Aun plus formalitats, id katu stiert. Sergius hajoumit, tem oku quem un felid, nespekent sien vyige. Katathematisit inter sien sohrn dents, ed sammel plieg ed parit gwis-ye. Conan wigh silent, sien okwi schrohnken do bidna quer ieydh un jar uns buxianxu blou. 
Is Kothian zarughiet kay spare sien annem. Ia saula bloska eent id oku sosule iom peds ep gras, id kwehs ios pirate, id kleuyt ed clicken os stal. Ia einsa twis kam kwit piurn in id aghyerndiewo, twehrnd ed skreitend. Ia kwecto fug alters contact, dind klieup fauran kay se kalaye iter con mutu. Sergius cess plor ; tik eys megil dexia hiebit bohrgen iom taiptro ud id blindend okutat ios Kimri. Un honarer metallic clicken, uno miechenknar, un stupt crie… Id piratenhorde emiss un heul kun Conans eins transbieur id massive corpos irs capitan. Id ak sielg pukukyahnd inter ia pletias os Sergius, un handweur kwit ogwn in diewo ; dind is Kimri fortraxit sieno miech med un torsion. Is piratenchefo fiell gwaur-ye, face protie ghom, lyehgend in un cruorpadwl quod crohscit jaldi ; eys weur hands nogheer id swol poskwo stahr still. 
Conan vols oku kyens hayran pirates. 
- Yaghi, kwauns ! Bieub is. Ho yisen voster chef do hayd…. Quod sayct id loy ios Rudh Fraternitat ?
Pre quiskwe ghehdiet antwehrde, un ratlige Brythunian qui stahsit apter sien sokwis twehrih jaldi un katel falakhwn. Kam un isu, id petra pluk seid tiel sien tarja ; Conan vienk ed fiell kam uno miero dru sub id pelk uns drutom. Atopp id behrg, Olivia dier ia perwnts mae falle. Id scene swohbh vertigineus-ye ant ays okwi ; quanto ia ghohd vide eet is Kimri, lyehgend ghom… cruoro srusit ex eys capvurnos. 
Is ratlige pirate criesch ob triumph ed rusch perodh kay dyehgwe iom wiro prostren ghomi, bet un turscorpos Corinthian ei stabh to. 
- Tughi, Aratus ! Genis kwaun, eiskws tu infranges id loy ios Fraternitat ?
- Neid loy buit infragen ! Brohm is Brythunian.
- Neid loy ? Bet, murdar kwaun, so wir quom has just slahn hieb biht dik-ye nies capitan !
- No ! Scricit Aratus. Ne eet member nosters grupp, is eet tarnien. Is ne hieb est admiss do id Fraternitat. Nices Sergius ne iom hat buwen nies capitan, kam wehliet id loy sei oin ex nos habiet nict iom.
- Bet is joinskwit nos, jawieb is Corinthian, is hat saygen id.
Pos ta werds, un honar clamor lud, sems gwahnd Aratus-mo, alyens cheusend id partise ios Corinthian, quom ies kiel Ivanos. Rughats oisprur plukwid, challenges buir exchangen, hands pieursk nin-ye einshamands. 
Fin-ye, un Schemi ghohd se aurihes uper id kwalay : 
- Ma kogchoune de un mortu wir ?
- Ne est mortu, antwohrd is Corinthian, staundo tsay nieb id stet quer lyohg is Kimri. Id petra hat tik strift iom ; est tik niterplagen.
Fauran, id taurlown sprohngyit dar meis kreptic-ye, Aratus peitend ghehde tiel iom bayaldisset wir ghomtro, Ivanos vireidend uper Conan, einsghesor, ed challengend id hol bande. Olivia khiss od is Corinthian defens Conano ne tant ob sympathia dia iom, sontern meg meis per opposition ad Aratus. Okwivid-ye, toy dwo wirs hieb est ies lieutenants os Sergius ed pau kiemeer mutu. Pos un nov tolk, ies pira	tes decis diehnes Conan ed tobehre iom con se. Eys beurt bihiet pact serter. 
Is Kimri, qui inkiep disbayaldisse, buit dieht med litern korigas ; dind quar pirates ieyreer iom ghomtos ed, maung invectivevs ed katathematisevs, tobohr iom, sehkwnd alters quoy hieb just kwohryen ir itner per id plateau. Id nayv os Sergius buit likwt quer id hieb fallen, negraciu skeip stert ep id diewolahn swol. 
Ter ub, bayna ia perwnts, Olivia eet sub id schock, pernicen ab tod desaster. Khakend bahe we age, ia remien still ed vis, horrifien, id brutal horde tosehlke iom wir qui hiebit protect iam. 
Kamdiu remien ia it prostret, to woidiet ia naiwo. Ies pirates tohr id plateau, niek ia ruines ed sohlk tetro ir kapt. Ia vis iens gigwahe unte ia dwers ed breches, paurske bayna ia debriskowps ed chehxe ia stens. Oik instants serter, dwogimtia wiren retohr id plateau ed disprohpeer bayna ia drus, kyid westleizd ; ies tobohr con se id nayv os Sergius, shayad kay xubhes id do mar. Hol perambh ia ruines, alters fieyl drus ed prepareer un ogwn. Olivia ieur ira cries qua piernia nepretablih, tem quem ia vocs tom togwahnden do id forest ed qua cliengh bayna ia drus. Mox, ies reprohp, behrnd alcoholschaffels ed litern sacks mathmounend pitu. Trohceer kya ruines, rughatend gwis-ye sub ir onos. 
Olivia tik vagh-ye conscicit ta quant agsa. Ays uperkwohlmto ment sa-kwohlp. Likwt mon ed aundefense, ia vighieb quantum id protection ios Kimri hieb skipen pro iom. Ia conscicit sem staunos ant meinyuns bawlawa jocs, qua ghohd buwes iam dugter uns roy iam sokwnia uns rudhghesor barbar. Ia spruv sammel un repulsion pro sien wi race. Ays pater ed Schah Amurath hieb est civilisen wirs. Lakin hieb ia gnohn tik paytten bi iens. Ia hieb naiw incontren sem civilisen wir qui hieb traitet iam samt dabronia, ploisko sei is ieg samt aptosmenos. Conan hieb defens, protect iam ed, taiptro, hieb naiwo naudht ke ia meiteriet. Ponend sien cap sien delicate brakhs, ia plieng… hina piern cries om ralisen giumbuscha conscicihr iam id danger iaswo incurs. 
Ia diswohrt sien spect ud ia sombre ruines quer ies fantastic silhouettes, skrept ob distance, moveer ed titubeer, kay scrute id buxianxu anun ios forest. Esdi aysmen perncti terrifiant onirs habient esen tik un khiter drehm, id de menace tupt eni ta subglend ed bremic recessa niter ne eet id product uns coschmar. Sei Conan bihiet executen we abducen kapt, ayso saul cheus esiet se prodahe voluntar-ye tibs khaluschims we mane mon ep tod insule hantet ab un demon. 
Kun id hol horror os ayso situation pohd ep iam, ia bayaldissit ed fiell ghomtro. 
III
Sol hieb descenden do horizont kun Olivia disbayaldissit. Uno mulayim wind brigh tiel ays aurs sem pierna cries ed reliques om schantis. Staunda tsay tadbir-ye, ia spohcit ocolo id plateau. Ia vis iens pirates sammeln uno mier koister exter ia ruines ; ays kerd klieup kun un grupp emers tois, tragend sekwos se semquom ia woisit ses Conan. Knigvihr iom regv-ye protiev id mur, okwivid-ye dar solid-ye diehn ; un long tolk sohkwit, ed maung armes buir swohnct. Fin-ye, ies brigh iom tsay do id mier vestibule ed drohnkyeer alu. Olivia emiss un kwehster ; bariem, ia wois od is Kimri dar gwivit. Un nov gwaukania lambh iam. Yant noct habiet gwohmt, ia snehgiet kye ta buxianxu ruines ed leuriet iom, we bihiet kapen unte tod peiten. Ed ia wois od ne tik un egoiste interesse iam pussirit tei decision. 
Samt tod plan in ment, ia incurs id risk os linkwes sien refuge kay karpe ed edde areisa, oika kosels crehscend hol prokwem. Ia hieb edden neid perdintos. Menxu ia eet besic it, ia hieb id desamat khisses os bihe luurt. Ia scrutit nerveus-ye ia perwnts, dind, lahn ab un horrible suspecen, rep tiel id nordsten ios behrg. Ia spohcit ghom kyid glend ed weudelnd masse quod ia regwosskadhs ja covohr. Ia vis neid ; eet impossible od semquel teupend in tod shienrlin dyehrciet iam, nibo wehse ana id behrg. Yed, ia khiss distinct-ye id spect invisiblen okwi starnd ad iam ed ia ghieb od semquel gwiv ed aumwent eet hushyar de ays presence ed gnohsit ays kulk. 
Ghehdus tsay do sien didbani bayna ia perwnts, ia mien in sien schalasch, uperwakhend ia pierna ruines hin ia noctskadhs miesk ia. Ia notit kaur-ye ir position yeji ia vankend flammes ambh-ya sombre gastalts klieup ed gesticuleer gwaur-ye. 
Tun, ia stahsit ub. Id moment os age hieb gwohmen. Pre to, ia rik nin-ye id nordsten ios behrg ed spohcit ghom kyid shienrlin leizdend id ripa. Kun ia scrutit id temos, sub id muzlim starkweitert, ia stohv brusk-ye, ed un glehdjghesor touchit ays kerd. 
Dalg ender iam, semject movit. Un kyehrsen skadh kwecto sielg ed wierdh ant id tenitehomo niter. Tod trohc lent-ye, glehmend engwn id bare sten ios behrg…. Un indistincto masse, aun precis forme in id pwoltemos. Panique iengh Olivias gurgule, ed ia jidiel protiev id crie quod skiepskwit ays lipps. Disvolgus, ia mwaungsousit ghom id sudwort kleitu. 
Tod strehmghalvo fug eni temos kwohkit kam un coschmar in-yod ia snohg, kwohlp, fiell ed sizit tsay ia dischtukeln perwnts med crusten finghers. Kun ia dohr sieno mliako cuit ed lumatieyit sien delicate memsa protie ia karwent blocks samt cruel srakutias, quer Conan hiebit bohrn iam tem facil-ye, ia vighieb iter kam maung ia depens iom stalnerven barbar. Yed, tod bren se forlit medsu un furieus mehlstrohm os vertigineus terror. 
Id ghomsteighen kwohk aunfin ; lakin, ays peds vihihr id grasic grund ios plateau. Praedd uns druvo frenitis impatience, ia curs kyid ogwn quod ieydh, kam id rudh kerd ios noct. Kun ia fug, ia ieur apter se un seuy om petras qua rolleer honar-ye ghom id skarpwn kleitu. Tod blosk iam spehdih. Quel eet el dekhschatic glehhmer quel deslogit ithan ta petras… ia ne hatta durs mehne de. 
Tod violent physic effort contribuit lyt swindes ays blindo terror ed, pre ia hieb naken ia ruines, ays menos hieb rebihn clar, ays aummakdours intact, esdi ays memsa trembleer dar pos tod strehmghalv drahsa. 
Ia se sis falle ghomtro ed narep ed nasnohg perodh ; mox, kohlt apter un arbust quod ia pelks iom pirates hieb gahaben, ia luurit sien peinds. Ies hieb zadinnern bet nadrohnk, mergend stinpots au gemmenornen bicairs do instuden vinbutts. Sems ja snierc, alnos makhmour, lyehgend ep id gras, menxu alyi hieb titubet kya ruines. Conano ne eet visu. Ia nahudel apter id arbust, menxu ross covohr id gras ambh iam ed ia waraks uper ays cap. Ies wirs ambh koister rughiet, lik jwetengs we tolkeer. Eent ne meis quem uno smulk numer ambh id ogwn taiper ; pleisti pirates hieb gwahn swehptum do ia ruines. 
Ia observit iens, siena nerves craspend ob intizar ed tension, kreusend mehnend-ye de quo luurit iamswo maghses… del creature quel vahsit maghses rusches ep iam improvis. Wakto dohn samt desperant lentor. Ein pos ein, ies pirates sohnk do un deub swehpen, alcoholbolvan. Mox, quanti lyohg, inconscient, nieb id moribund koister. 
Olivia kung… dind mudh ub ob un piern diutis quod prohpit bayna ia drus. Id meun wus ! 
Samt un stump exclamation, ia stahsit ub ed trohc jaldi kya ruines. Ia hieb anateina menxu ia stohmb ep pedak, passend inter ia formes lyehgend prokwem id ghyahnd portal. Eni, ies pirates eent meg-ye kathirer ; moveer ed mutier in ir sassara drehms. Yed, nimen gohr menxu ia snohg mliak-ye bayna iens. Un joysleucto stighit kyays lipps kun ia dyohrcit Conan. Is Kimri, stahnd ed diehn uni pillar, eet perfect-ye wakh ; eys okwi blig, reflegend id ogwn quod declinit exo. 
Cheusend kaur-ye sien itner bayna iens swehpers, ia ghohd proscher iom. Ia hieb kwohrno neid blosk ; lakin, is hieb aurt iam gwehme, hieb iam vis kun ayso silhouette hieb wardhen in id roup ios dwer. Uno mulayim rictus prohp ep eys cruela lipps. 
Ia joinit iom ed glieb iom unte uno mic. Is khiss Olivias oku kerdbats protie sien xiongbu. Uno meunbamo snohng per un large breche in id mur ; id hava se klied fauran samt subtile tension. Conan khiss to ed oistohv. Olivia iaschi khiss to ed emiss un stupen exclamation. Ies swehpers nasnierc. Se clihnend jaldi, ia straxit un daga ex id ghehrdel os idswo swehpend suter ed bisegit Conans diemmens. Eent gwaur ed teug rezga, diehn samt id hol kerdos unios naut. Ia wohrg samt desperation energia, menxu mekhtab covohr lent-ye ia petraflises, proscher ia deusk formes teupend inter ia colunns. 
Olivias annem hiebit bihn cort ed braungh ; Conans runcs eent leur taiper, bet eys olans ed jambs eent dar solid-ye diehn. Ex tid do tid, ia glaz kya gastalts engwn ia stens… qua intizier. Ia kwecto uperwiekh samt id horrible patience im nemortus. Ies drehnknics pod iam bisroht ed bistun in ir swehpen. Id mekhtab niek id bund ios vestibule ed oistrif ia kyehrsen peds. Ia seils ringend ia brakhs al Kimri fiell ; giownd id daga ud Olivias finghers, is tohm ia diemmens qua immobiliseer eysa jambs med un brusko cutt. Se fortragend ex id pillar, is flexit siena memsa, endurend stoyic-ye id paytten quod iendh eys corpos kun id sehrgkwehlen rebihsit normal. Olivia hudel protie iom, tremblend kam un warak. Kwe mekhtab embras ia okwi iom deusk formes kay bligihes ia samt solg reudhos in temos ? 
Exchangeer neid werd. Behrnd-ye iam in sien brakhs, is todrahsit jaldi ep id meunmadhto travos. Glabend id staur coll os Conan, ia Ophirian clusit sien okwi ed nizdit sien swordghayt cap protiev id muscleus oms. Un wohnic securitatskhisses lahsit iam. 
Nespekent sien behrmen, is Kimri tohr jaldi id plateau. Olivia ghyienit sien okwi ed vis od i passeer sub id skadh iom behrgs. 
- Semject hat glohmen engwn id skarpwn, susurit ia. Ho aurt id sehkwe me menxu io stigh ghom kyid plateau.
- Dehlgmos incurre tod risk, brohm is.
- Nun… neti ho paur, kwohster ia.
- Neschi hiebs’ paur kun has gwohmen ad lures me, jawieb is. Crom, quod un dien ! Io ne hieb bad auren un tem sakht ed tawrlounic wesneihsa ! Som quasi boder ob to. Aratus rohfskwit mien kerd, ed Ivanos refusit, ob Aratus is detestet. Unte id hol dien hant ies skaut ir edonts ed spiut ad mutus lige, ed id nieute hat wohsen pior ops makhmour kay vote pro oiter…
Is oistahsit still brusk-ye, samkwehkend un bronzen statue in meunkweitert. Med un oku mov dehsit is mliak-ye iam gwenaku ghomtro, apter se. Ia genuit ep id tender gras ed emiss un crie kun ia vis quo surrexit ex ia skadhs ios behrg. 
Un enormo masse stieusit ed oistohmb… unis monster samt vagh-ye mensclik traits, un grotesk parodia os gena. 
Els gastalt ne eet meg different ud tod uns mensc. Bet els lige, kyunggiawn ab id bleigu mekhtab, eet bestial, samt oktorms nieb alter, sima nastorms ed un enorm stohm samt molla lipps, quer schimmereer subalbh edonts, tem mahibe quem eibers. Id corpos al creature eet covohrt med un barth terkat samt argwrntstriht ghehrsend drighs, lamper in mekhtab ; eys hands, teug ed dusformet, hiengeer quasi tiel dighom. Els masse eet kyudost ; menxu el stahsit ep cort ed vrohnken jambs, els akcap udbuliend tod ios facend mensc ; id longo kehmb ios weulostios torsios ed iom gigantesk omsen lwosit id annem ; ia enorma brakhs samkwohk gneubhic drustamms. 
Tod scene belucen ab id spectral meun tiengh sub Olivias okwi. It eet id fin ios safer… qualgghi menscis ghohd resiste id furor tos weulost ghyor, hol ex muscles ed gvertat ? Yed, kun ia spohc, med okwi pfwehngend ob horror, iom bronzen gastalt qui facit el monster, ia kwahsit un affinitat inter bo duschmans quod eet quasi terrifiant. Eet minter un jidal opponend iom mensc al biest quem un conflict inter dwo creatures bayghend id sam wild mund, tem zalim ed gver. Ia albh eibers twis, ed el monster chargit. 
Ia staura brakhs abviceer kun el biest ruschit samt hayraneihnd syrat, speit sien kyudost masse ed skohrdt jambs. 
Conan reieg… uno movend gloi, pior oku pro bihe sohkwt ab Olivias ok. Ia vis tik od is vergihsit id katel ghend ed od eys eins, bleigu kam un blix samt blindend diutis, dyohgw ed tohm oiter tom massive brakhs, inter oms ed olan. Un cruordeluge covohr id gras kun id segen mems fiell compagend-ye horrible-ye. Yed, menxu id einso plieg, alter protiegena hand zaghyahsit ep id swordo crinar os Conan. 
Tik ia stalen muscles os eys coll vergihr mae id neuk ios Kimri bihiet brohgen ye tod instant. Eys levter hand rusch kam un isu kay attaque id teugo gurgule al biest, menxu is pliegit gvalt-ye med sien levter genu id weulost gventer al brute. Tun inkiep un terrifiant katu, quod durit tik unte oik secundes, bet ta kwohkeer kam secules ay meirka paralysen af horror. 
El kiep nasohr Conans kays kam in uno mengain, iom tragend kye sien eibers qua luc in mekhtab. Is Kimri resistit tod tractiono med sien levter brakh, rigid kam stal, menxu id eins, dohrjen in sien dexter eins kam un kassabkniv, eedidyehgwt id engwen, id torsum ed id gventer os eys hajoumer. El animal subih tod kyasen in un horrible silence ed, kwecto, eet nel-ye slabiht ab id leuso sienios cruor quod sru plukwid ex els dekhschatic vurnsa. Mox, id mahibe nerce al anthropoid upergih id resistence opposen ab id brakh ed id genu agend ka drangh. Conans brakh bugh inexorable-ye sub id pressem ; eys lige eet dribhen stets proscher ia ghyahnd ed bavamadh ghyanus, parat ad guraghe iom. Taiper, ia flamboyant okwi ios barbar stier tibs sehrgstriht al kiep. Stayg, kun Conan fortriecskwit in vain sien eins, sehn ed wogwnen in id weulost corpos, ia spoimcovohrt ghyanus clieck samt oin spasmodic mov ed zaghyahr brutal-ye ye oin inch ios lige ios Kimri. Ia senst convulsions al agonisant monster xubh iom barbar ghomtro. 
Olivia, quasi bayaldissevs, vis el kiep se ayre, plage id grund ed vrinkes, sehrnd kam un mensc id hamand quod oistohlb ex els corpos. Tod aghel spectacle buit bragv ; id gigantesk corpos krus, dind se immobilisit. 
Conan stahsit tsay ed skibhit prosch id cadaver. 
Is Kimri ann honar-ye ed ghiengit kam un wir quos snayus ed muscles buir oistrohct ed torturet quasi tiel id limite irs endurance. Is palpit sien cruorpoik scalp ed rughiet dyehrcend-ye ia long sword ed sehrglaht fitils id weulost hand al monster dar sohr. 
- Crom ! Exclamit is med un braungh voc. Ho id pondos os subeihvs id rotbrehgskorm ! Prefero katue contra dwodem wirs sammel ! Plus oin instant ed el habiet rohft mien cap. Estu balstohmt, el hat wulen ud me un plen kaysquat !
Seizend med bo hands sien eins, is traxit ed ghohd fortrage sien weben. Olivia snohg jaldi bei, dohrj eys brakh ed disstier samt terror al monster lyehgend ghom. 
- Quod…. Quod est ? Susurit ia.
- Un greis kiepmensc, brohm is. Niem ed praedder os mensckrewos. Gwivent in ia clins leizdend id eustcaust tos egher. Quosmed hat tel arriven ep tod insule, to khako sayge. Kad hat el drift hetro, greipend un exraudhen drustamm tobohrt ab un storm apo id dayluk.
- Elge hat xubht id perwnt ep nos ?
- Ya ; ho aum’ lit de oin tim creatures kun, in id bunge, ho vis ia druozda se clihnes uper nies caps. Ti creatures son’ semper nastraj in id deubst shienrlin i ghehde trehve ed salge id rar-ye. Bi quod sabab hat el venturet ep ta behrgs, ne woidim. To buit un chance pro nos ; medsu ia drus habiem naiwo ghohdt upertrehnes tel monster.
- El me sohkwit, krus ia, ho viden el glehme engwn id sten.
- Ed obedeihnd sien instinct hat el natupt in id skadh ios behrg, instet te sehkwe ep id plateau. I creatures os els spece gwive in silent stets, in temos ; detestent tant sol quem meun.
- Mehns tu an sont alyi ?
- No ! Sonst ies pirates habien’ bihn attaquen menxu hant tohrn id shienrlin. El greis kiep est un prudent animal, speit sien kyudos’ nerce, kam beviden ab sien keungen de rusches ep nos menxu wey wohs in id bunge. Id wehnos el hieb dia te sollit meg mier kay insnahe el ad nos attaque, aun steg….
Is oisprud ed pivotit jaldi ep sien persnas, scrutend id wegh i hieb just sohkwn. Un horrible crie hieb udclanght in id noct. Tod gwohm ex ia ruines. 
Id buit fauran sohkwn ab un demential concert om wild heuls, superacut gvolcries ed blasphem rughats. Nespekent id clicken os stal con id, tod clamor meis mehnih de uno massacre quem de un boi. 
Conan stahsit still menxu ia meirka antgrip iom, taraghmen ab id terror. Id tumult ois ed niek un horrorparoxysme. Is Kimri vols ed trohc jaldi kyid bors ios plateau, samt ids mekhtabkyunggiawn druleizd. Ia jambs as Olivia trembleer tant quem ia khiekit ghange ; is bohr iam, ed ia kerdbats ias Ophirian luseer sem frenitis kun ia hudel in eys muscleus brakhs. 
I tohr id skadhbefolct forest, bet ia tenimasses schaliesch neid horror, ed ia argwrntbreches ios meun reveleer neid buxianxu forme. I noctavs dwitsker mliak-ye. Id clamor ios halak minc za i pre bihe uno mix om confus bloska. Semloc, un papagallis mlusit un fantastic echo : 
- Yagkoolan yok tha, xuthalla !
I niek bad id drulizden ripa ed dyohrc id galera ankern in id smulk bukht ; ids albh seghel luc mliak-ye in meunkweitert. Ja, ia stars palliesc ob id gwehmend octent. 
IV
In id spectral kweitos ios octent, un quat om lumpen cruorpoik silhouettes rusch ex ia drus ed titubit kyid angh strand. Eent quargim quar ed skip un pauric ed alnos demoralisen bande. Samt strehmghalv hast, ies mers do wed. Trohceer kyid galera kun buir endemurn ab un gwaukan voc ed ies hielt. 
Dyohrceer Conan iom Kimri. Wardhend ant id waurno striht ab ia presta diutis os octent, stahsit ep id bug ios nav, einsghesor ; eyso swordo kaysar lik in id aghyernwind. 
- Halt ! Wohl is. Maeti proscher ! Quod volte yu, murdar kwauns ?
- Sine nos stighes abord ! Grokit un straughkays corsan, qui sammel bruk id cruoric vestige os oiter sienen aurs. Feucskwms jaldist ex tod demoninsule !
- Dwifindo id ghalv ios prest qui peit jambe id gunnel, promiss Conan.
Is eet saul protie quargim quar wirs ; yed eet is nertst, iesghi neti katueskweer. 
- Hay, sell Conan, sine nos stighes abord, flehsit un rudhyeusmen Zamorian, glanzend terrifiet-ye apter se kyid silent shienrlin. Buam tan’ plagelt, dohnct, raght ed kays… smos tem malal’ de katuevs ed tan’ currus… quem neis ex nos ghehdt ayre un eins.
- Quer est so kwaun Aratus ? Sprohgit Conan.
- Nohcen, con alters ! Ti demons hant uperfallen nos ! Nos han’ disschtukelt ed trudt pre habiems id wakt os gehre… douzen om excellen’ flibustiers nohc in ir swehpen. Ia ruines pohld med flammenokwi skadhs… Ir srakut noghs ed edonts nos dohr ed rohv krewoskentha !
- Ya ! Intervenit alyo pirate. Sont i demons ios insule ! I hieb wardhen do metallstatues kay drughes nos. Ishtar ! Hams lyohc’ ghom kay swehpe medsu i. Ne smos couards. Hams wight i temdiu quem un merti ghehdt katue protie ia teniaugsa. Dind, hams wighen aretraite, sinend i desmember ed disschtukles ia cadavers kam shagals. Sigwra, vahnt apterrrusch’ nos.
- Prehgo, sine nos stighes abord ! Sine nos stighes abord ! Mugihsit un isghen Schemi. Sine nos gwehme in pace, sons’ gwehmsiemos einsghesor. Albatta, smos exhaust, ed tib sessiet facil nices muchens ex nos ; yed, id hassile ios katu est exterdwoi.
- In tod fall, vahm baure un torm in id lastruym, ed tod ghawl sehncsiet ! Antwohrd lyut-ye Conan (Un strehmghalv concert om protests lud ex id piratengrupp, quod Conan taycih med un lionlik baub). Kwauns ! Dehlgiem io hehlpe mien peinds ? Vahm io vos permitte stighes abord ed rehve mien kerd ?
- No, no ! Scrier ies jahar. Prients… prients, Conan. Smos tien dusti ! Smad ses allieits ! Es kam wey, un druv bandit. Iom roy os Turan detestems, ne ti os noster genos.
Stiereer eysi brun ed mukadar lige. 
- Tun, sei som member ios Fraternitat, brohm is, ids loys ghehlde pro me ; ed chunke ho nicen vies chef in loyal combat, bihm schowi vies capitan !
Nimen discuss. Ies pirates eent pior ajiz ed exhausen ; ies hieb tik oin dayi in ment : linkwes argist-ye tod paurinsule. Conan ambhspohc po iom cruorpoik silhouette ios Corinthian. 
- Tughi, Ivanos ! Ei mlusit is samt chiaujaen. Tu qui me hiebs’ defens, sies tu stehme iter mien mutalbas ?
- Ya, per Mitra ! (Is pirate, kheissend id wehrtmen iom wakyas, eet impatiento de bepriente iom Kimri). Is sayc’ prabh, dusti ; sekwent id loy, is es’ nies capitan !
Un approbationenconcert lud ex id piratengrupp ; kad id ieu lyt enthusiasme, yed kwohk sincere… ed dar meis ob id silent shienrlin apter i perbohrg maghses proschgwehmend ebondemons samt rudhokwi ed cruormadh noghs. 
- Kassamte to ep vies einsa ! Demandit Conan. Quargim quar einshamands buir liven kyom, ed quargim quar vocs oiswohr id allegence oito iom pirates.
Conan fried ed renkardkieschit sien eins. 
- Steighte abord, courageus aventurers, ed ghendte ia erms !
Is vols ed hohlp Olivia ad oistahe tsay ; ia hieb nahudeln pod iom, kohlen apter id planken. 
- Ed ego, swamen ? Sprohg ia.
- Quod kamies tu kwehre ? Jawieb is observend-ye iam attentive-ye.
- Gwahe con te, ep quodkwe route ! Scricit ia, passend-ye sien kwit brakhs ambh eys brunt coll.
Ies pirates, glehmend ed jambend id galender, spohc i, hayran. 
- Esdi tod route est ex cruor ed massacre ? Suwiel is iam. Todghi kil khisapsiet do scarlat ia azurflutts, querkwe id gwahsiet !
- Yaghi, volo periseghel ia mars con te, kwter bou au rudh ! Antwohrd ia samt passion. Tu es un barbar ed ego som un surgoun, reneget ab mien wi folk. Wey bo smos parias, tienxiawandernd vagabonds. Oh, abduc me con te !
Samt un swehner gleimen, ghens is iam do sien brakhs, prosch sien ardent lipps. 
- Te beuwsiem iam rayn iom blou oceans ! Disfundarte, kwauns, biseghelms ! Vahms euse ia sarvaris os Roy Yildiz, per Crom !