tarzan the terrible-第18章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃Ko…tan；〃　he　cried；　〃it　must　be　even　as　Dak…lot　says；　for　I　am　sure　now　that　I　have　seen　Dor…ul…Otho　before。　Yesterday　as　we　were　returning　with　the　Kor…ul…lul　prisoners　we　beheld　him　seated　upon　the　back　of　a　great　gryf。　We　hid　in　the　woods　before　he　came　too　near；　but　I　saw　enough　to　make　sure　that　he　who　rode　upon　the　great　beast　was　none　other　than　the　messenger　who　stands　here　now。〃

This　evidence　seemed　to　be　quite　enough　to　convince　the　majority　of　the　warriors　that　they　indeed　stood　in　the　presence　of　deitytheir　faces　showed　it　only　too　plainly；　and　a　sudden　modesty　that　caused　them　to　shrink　behind　their　neighbors。　As　their　neighbors　were　attempting　to　do　the　same　thing；　the　result　was　a　sudden　melting　away　of　those　who　stood　nearest　the　ape…man；　until　the　steps　of　the　pyramid　directly　before　him　lay　vacant　to　the　very　apex　and　to　Ko…tan。　The　latter；　possibly　influenced　as　much　by　the　fearful　attitude　of　his　followers　as　by　the　evidence　adduced；　now　altered　his　tone　and　his　manner　in　such　a　degree　as　might　comport　with　the　requirements　if　the　stranger　was　indeed　the　Dor…ul…Otho　while　leaving　his　dignity　a　loophole　of　escape　should　it　appear　that　he　had　entertained　an　impostor。

〃If　indeed　you　are　the　Dor…ul…Otho；〃　he　said；　addressing　Tarzan；　〃you　will　know　that　our　doubts　were　but　natural　since　we　have　received　no　sign　from　Jad…ben…Otho　that　he　intended　honoring　us　so　greatly；　nor　how　could　we　know；　even；　that　the　Great　God　had　a　son？　If　you　are　he；　all　Pal…ul…don　rejoices　to　honor　you；　if　you　are　not　he；　swift　and　terrible　shall　be　the　punishment　of　your　temerity。　I；　Ko…tan；　King　of　Pal…ul…don；　have　spoken。〃

〃And　spoken　well；　as　a　king　should　speak；〃　said　Tarzan；　breaking　his　long　silence；　〃who　fears　and　honors　the　god　of　his　people。　It　is　well　that　you　insist　that　I　indeed　be　the　Dor…ul…Otho　before　you　accord　me　the　homage　that　is　my　due。　Jad…ben…Otho　charged　me　specially　to　ascertain　if　you　were　fit　to　rule　his　people。　My　first　experience　of　you　indicates　that　Jad…ben…Otho　chose　well　when　he　breathed　the　spirit　of　a　king　into　the　babe　at　your　mother's　breast。〃

The　effect　of　this　statement；　made　so　casually；　was　marked　in　the　expressions　and　excited　whispers　of　the　now　awe…struck　assemblage。　At　last　they　knew　how　kings　were　made！　It　was　decided　by　Jad…ben…Otho　while　the　candidate　was　still　a　suckling　babe！　Wonderful！　A　miracle！　and　this　divine　creature　in　whose　presence　they　stood　knew　all　about　it。　Doubtless　he　even　discussed　such　matters　with　their　god　daily。　If　there　had　been　an　atheist　among　them　before；　or　an　agnostic；　there　was　none　now；　for　had　they　not　looked　with　their　own　eyes　upon　the　son　of　god？

〃It　is　well　then；〃　continued　the　ape…man；　〃that　you　should　assure　yourself　that　I　am　no　impostor。　Come　closer　that　you　may　see　that　I　am　not　as　are　men。　Furthermore　it　is　not　meet　that　you　stand　upon　a　higher　level　than　the　son　of　your　god。〃　There　was　a　sudden　scramble　to　reach　the　floor　of　the　throne…room；　nor　was　Ko…tan　far　behind　his　warriors；　though　he　managed　to　maintain　a　certain　majestic　dignity　as　he　descended　the　broad　stairs　that　countless　naked　feet　had　polished　to　a　gleaming　smoothness　through　the　ages。　〃And　now；〃　said　Tarzan　as　the　king　stood　before　him；　〃you　can　have　no　doubt　that　I　am　not　of　the　same　race　as　you。　Your　priests　have　told　you　that　Jad…ben…Otho　is　tailless。　Tailless；　therefore；　must　be　the　race　of　gods　that　spring　from　his　loins。　But　enough　of　such　proofs　as　these！　You　know　the　power　of　Jad…ben…Otho；　how　his　lightnings　gleaming　out　of　the　sky　carry　death　as　he　wills　it；　how　the　rains　come　at　his　bidding；　and　the　fruits　and　the　berries　and　the　grains；　the　grasses；　the　trees　and　the　flowers　spring　to　life　at　his　divine　direction；　you　have　witnessed　birth　and　death；　and　those　who　honor　their　god　honor　him　because　he　controls　these　things。　How　would　it　fare　then　with　an　impostor　who　claimed　to　be　the　son　of　this　all…powerful　god？　This　then　is　all　the　proof　that　you　require；　for　as　he　would　strike　you　down　should　you　deny　me；　so　would　he　strike　down　one　who　wrongfully　claimed　kinship　with　him。〃

This　line　of　argument　being　unanswerable　must　needs　be　convincing。　There　could　be　no　questioning　of　this　creature's　statements　without　the　tacit　admission　of　lack　of　faith　in　the　omnipotence　of　Jad…ben…Otho。　Ko…tan　was　satisfied　that　he　was　entertaining　deity；　but　as　to　just　what　form　his　entertainment　should　take　he　was　rather　at　a　loss　to　know。　His　conception　of　god　had　been　rather　a　vague　and　hazy　affair；　though　in　common　with　all　primitive　people　his　god　was　a　personal　one　as　were　his　devils　and　demons。　The　pleasures　of　Jad…ben…Otho　he　had　assumed　to　be　the　excesses　which　he　himself　enjoyed；　but　devoid　of　any　unpleasant　reaction。　It　therefore　occurred　to　him　that　the　Dor…ul…Otho　would　be　greatly　entertained　by　eatingeating　large　quantities　of　everything　that　Ko…tan　liked　best　and　that　he　had　found　most　injurious；　and　there　was　also　a　drink　that　the　women　of　the　Ho…don　made　by　allowing　corn　to　soak　in　the　juices　of　succulent　fruits；　to　which　they　had　added　certain　other　ingredients　best　known　to　themselves。　Ko…tan　knew　by　experience　that　a　single　draught　of　this　potent　liquor　would　bring　happiness　and　surcease　from　worry；　while　several　would　cause　even　a　king　to　do　things　and　enjoy　things　that　he　would　never　even　think　of　doing　or　enjoying　while　not　under　the　magical　influence　of　the　potion；　but　unfortunately　the　next　morning　brought　suffering　in　direct　ratio　to　the　joy　of　the　preceding　day。　A　god；　Ko…tan　reasoned；　could　experience　all　the　pleasure　without　the　headache；　but　for　the　immediate　present　he　must　think　of　the　necessary　dignities　and　honors　to　be　accorded　his　immortal　guest。

No　foot　other　than　a　king's　had　touched　the　surface　of　the　apex　of　the　pyramid　in　the　throneroom　at　A…lur　during　all　the　forgotten　ages　through　which　the　kings　of　Pal…ul…don　had　ruled　from　its　high　eminence。　So　what　higher　honor　could　Ko…tan　offer　than　to　give　place　beside　him　to　the　Dor…ul…Otho？　And　so　he　invited　Tarzan　to　ascend　the　pyramid　and　take　his　place　upon　the　stone　bench　that　topped　it。　As　they　reached　the　step　below　the　sacred　pinnacle　Ko…tan　continued　as　though　to　mount　to　his　throne；　but　Tarzan　laid　a　detaining　hand　upon　his　arm。

〃None　may　sit　upon　a　level　with　the　gods；〃　he　admonished；　stepping　confidently　up　and　seating　himself　upon　the　throne。　The　abashed　Ko…tan　showed　his　embarrassment；　an　embarrassment　he　feared　to　voice　lest　he　incur　the　wrath　of　the　king　of　kings。

〃But；〃　added　Tarzan；　〃a　god　may　honor　his　faithful　servant　by　inviting　him　to　a　place　at　his　side。　Come；　Ko…tan；　thus　would　I　honor　you　in　the　name　of　Jad…ben…Otho。〃

The　ape…man's　policy　had　for　its　basis　an　attempt　not　only　to　arouse　the　fearful　respect　of　Ko…tan　but　to　do　it　without　making　of　him　an　enemy　at　heart；　for　he　did　not　know　how　strong　a　hold　the　religion　of　the　Ho…don　had　upon　them；　for　since　the　time　that　he　had　prevented　Ta…den　and　Om…at　from　quarreling　over　a　religious　difference　the　subject　had　been　utterly　taboo　among　them。　He　was　therefore　quick　to　note　the　evident　though　wordless　resentment　of　Ko…tan　at　the　suggestion　that　he　entirely　relinquish　his　throne　to　his　guest。　On　the　whole；　however；　the　effect　had　been　satisfactory　as　he　could　see　from　the　renewed　evidence　of　awe　upon　the　faces　of　the　warriors。

At　Tarzan's　direction　the　business　of　the　court　continued　where　it　had　been　interrupted　by　his　advent。　It　consisted　principally　in　the　settling　of　disputes　between　warriors。　There　was　present　one　who　stood　upon　the　step　just　below　the　throne　and　which　Tarzan　was　to　learn　was　the　place　reserved　for　the　higher　chiefs　of　the　allied　tribes　which　made　up　Ko…tan's　kingdom。　The　one　who　attracted　Tarzan's　attention　was　a　stalwart　warrior　of　powerful　physique　and　massive；　lion…like　features。　He　was　addressing　Ko…tan　on　a　question　that　is　as　old　as　government　and　that　will　continue　in　unabated　importance　until　man　ceases　to　exist。　It　had　to　do　with　a　boundary　dispute　with　one　of　his　neighbors。

The　matter　itself　held　little　or　no　interest　for　Tarzan；　but　he　was　impressed　by　the　appearance　of　the　speaker　and　when　Ko…tan　addressed　him　as　Ja…don　the　ape…man's　interest　was　permanently　crystallized；　for　Ja…don　was　the　father　of　Ta…den。　That　the　knowledge　would　benefit　him　in　any　way　seemed　rather　a　remote　possibility　since　he　could　not　reveal　to　Ja…don　his　friendly　relations　with　his　son　without　admitting　the　falsity　of　his　claims　to　godship。

When　the　affairs　of　the　audience　were　concluded　Ko…tan　suggested　that　the　son　of　Jad…ben…Otho　might　wish　to　visit　the　temple　in　which　were　performed　the　religious　rites　coincident　to　the　worship　of　the　Great　God。　And　so　the　ape…man　was　conducted　by　the　king　himself；　followed　by　the　warriors　of　his　court；　through　the　corridors　of　the　palace　toward　the　northern　end　of　the　group　of　buildings　within　the　royal　enclosure。

The　temple　itself　was　really　a　part　of　the　palace　and　similar　in　architecture。　There　were　several　ceremonial　places　of　varying　sizes；　the　purposes　of　which　Tarzan　could　only　conjecture。　Each　had　an　altar　in　the　west　end　and　another　in　the　east　and　were　oval　in　shape；　their　longest　diameter　lying　due　east　and　west。　Each　was　excavated　from　the　summit　of　a　small　hillock　and　all　were　without　roofs。　The　western　altars　invariably　were　a　single　block　of　stone　the　top　of　which　was　hollowed　into　an　oblong　basin。　Those　at　the　eastern　ends　were　similar　blocks　of　stone　with　flat　tops　and　these　latter；　unlike　those　at　the　opposite　ends　of　the　ovals　were　invariably　stained　or　painted　a　reddish　brown；　nor　did　Tarzan　need　to　examine　them　closely　to　be　assured　of　what　his　keen　nostrils　already　had　told　himthat　the　brown　stains　were　dried　and　drying　human　blood。

Below　these　temple　courts　were　corridors　and　apartments　reaching　far　into　the　bowels　of　the　hills；　dim；　gloomy　passages　that　Tarzan　glimpsed　as　he　was　led　from　place　to　place　on　his　tour　of　inspection　of　the　temple。　A　messenger　had　been　dispatched　by　Ko…tan　to　announce　the　coming　visit　of　the　son　of　Jad…ben…Otho　with　the　result　that　they　were　accompanied　through　the　temple　by　a　considerable　procession　of　priests　whose　distinguishing　mark　of　profession　seemed　to　consist　in　grotesque　headdresses；　sometimes　hideous　faces　carved　from　wood　and　entirely　concealing　the　countenances　of　their　wearers；　or　again；　the　head　of　a　wild　beast　cunningly　fitted　over　the　head　of　a　man。　The　high　priest　alone　wore　no　such　head…dress。　He　was　an　old　man　with　close…set；　cunning　eyes　and　a　cruel；　thin…lipped　mouth。

At　first　sight　of　him　Tarzan　realized　that　here　lay　the　greatest　danger　to　his　ruse；　for　he　saw　at　a　glance　that　the　man　was　antagonistic　toward　him　and　his　pretensions；　and　he　knew　too　that　doubtless　of　all　the　people　of　Pal…ul…don　the　high　priest　was　most　likely　to　harbor　the　truest　estimate　of　Jad…ben…Otho；　and；　therefore；　would　look　with　suspicion　on　one　who　claimed　to　be　the　son　of　a　fabulous　god。

No　matter　what　suspicion　lurked　within　his　crafty　mind；　Lu…don；　the　high　priest　of　A…lur；　did　not　openly　question　Tarzan's　right　to　the　title　of　Dor…ul…Otho；　and　it　may　be　that　he　was　restrained　by　the　same　doubts　which　had　originally　restrained　Ko…tan　and　his　warriorsthe　doubt　that　is　at　the　bottom　of　the　minds　of　all　blasphem