The Time Trap by Henry Kuttner Read Free Book Online

In the darkness Mason fumbled for a latch. There was none.
    The steps grew louder, hesitated, and faded in the distance. Mason could feel Alasa’s warm breath on his check. He said quietly, “We can’t get out. We’re locked in.”
    The girl said nothing for a moment, and then came into his arms, shuddering with cold and fear, clinging to him. The touch of her cool flesh dried Mason’s throat. He resisted briefly—and then a flame of passion swept away his caution. His hands touched silken curves; he felt Alasa’s soft lips. Their touch was like fire.
    He drew the girl close. With a little sob she put slim arms about Mason’s neck. Their lips merged, and a trembling shudder shook Alasa’s body as she strained toward him.
    The footsteps came again—and another sound that electrified Mason. Soft, furious oaths—in a voice he knew.
    The voice of Erech!
    The girl had heard it too. She drew away, unseen in the darkness. Mason called with quiet urgency:
    “Erech! Erech! ”
    Silence. Then the Sumerian’s low tones.
    “Eh? Who’s that?”
    “Mason. And Alasa. In here—”
    The door swung open. Erech stood wide-eyed, his mouth open. His cloak was ribboned, his swarthy chest bleeding in a dozen places.
    “I’ve found you—El-lil be praised! I’ve been searching all Al Bekr—”
    He whipped off his cloak, gave it to the girl. She nodded gratefully, wrapping it around her nude form.
    “I’ve no cloak for you, Ma-zhon—but you’ll be back in your apartment in a moment. What happened to you?”
    Mason told him. The Sumerian whispered an oath. “That she-devil—Nirvor! You saved my life, Ma-zhon, when you cried out for me to use Murdach’s weapon. It gave me enough light to beat off the leopard. I didn’t kill it but I gave the beast some wounds to lick.” He grinned unpleasantly.
    “Now listen, Ma-zhon—and you, Alasa. I went to Murdach. I told him what had happened. He said there would be no time for him to talk to you now. Al Bekr will awaken soon. If you lived—he said—give you this message. Alasa I will hide safely. You, Ma-zhon, must pretend to obey the Master. Work with him as he wishes. Try to learn his secrets. Murdach knows something of them, but not enough. Later Murdach will join his knowledge to yours, and the two of you—with my aid—may defeat Greddar Klon.”
    Mason nodded. “Okay. I mean—it is well, Erech. You say Alasa will be safe?”
    “For a time. I know the hidden places of Al Bekr. We must hurry. Ma-zhon—” The Sumerian gave Mason explicit directions for returning to his apartment. “Go now. Swiftly. Obey the Master till you hear from me.”
    Alasa ran to the archeologist, her golden eyes anxious. “And you will guard yourself—for my sake?” She lifted her pale face, and Mason kissed her again. He heard the Sumerian whistle, shrill with astonishment. The girl turned to Erech, said imperiously, “Let us go. Now!”
    Shrugging, Erech led Alasa along the corridor. His lips still fragrant with the honey-musk of the girl’s kiss, Mason went in the opposite direction, smiling a little.
    And soon he found his apartment. The robot guard still stood before the door, unmoving as Mason slipped within. He cleansed and bathed his wounds as well as he could, donned a cloak that would hide them from the Master’s suspicious eyes. Then he relaxed on the mound of furs.
    He slept, but not for long. The robot was beside him, gently gripping his arm, urging him to his feet. A little thrill of fear shook Mason. Had the Master discovered what had happened? Had Nirvor spoken?
    No—the Silver Priestess would be silent, for her own sake. Reason told Mason that the Master would be merciless if he knew Nirvor had tried to kill the man Greddar Klon needed to aid him. With an assumption of nonchalance the archeologist accompanied the robot to the room of the green monoliths.
    The Master was reclining on furs. He thrust a flask at Mason. “Drink,” the shrill voice piped. “It is not a drug.