tarzan the terrible-第21章

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terior　of　which　Ko…tan　led　him；　and　down　a　rocky　stairway　to　a　gloomy　corridor　the　opposite　end　of　which　opened　into　the　palace　proper。　Two　armed　warriors　stood　at　this　entrance　to　the　Forbidden　Garden；　evidencing　how　jealously　were　the　sacred　precincts　of　the　place　guarded。

In　silence　Ko…tan　led　the　way　back　to　his　own　quarters　in　the　palace。　A　large　chamber　just　outside　the　room　toward　which　Ko…tan　was　leading　his　guest　was　filled　with　chiefs　and　warriors　awaiting　the　pleasure　of　their　ruler。　As　the　two　entered；　an　aisle　was　formed　for　them　the　length　of　the　chamber；　down　which　they　passed　in　silence。

Close　to　the　farther　door　and　half　hidden　by　the　warriors　who　stood　before　him　was　Lu…don；　the　high　priest。　Tarzan　glimpsed　him　but　briefly　but　in　that　short　period　he　was　aware　of　a　cunning　and　malevolent　expression　upon　the　cruel　countenance　that　he　was　subconsciously　aware　boded　him　no　good；　and　then　with　Ko…tan　he　passed　into　the　adjoining　room　and　the　hangings　dropped。

At　the　same　moment　the　hideous　headdress　of　an　under　priest　appeared　in　the　entrance　of　the　outer　chamber。　Its　owner；　pausing　for　a　moment；　glanced　quickly　around　the　interior　and　then　having　located　him　whom　he　sought　moved　rapidly　in　the　direction　of　Lu…don。　There　was　a　whispered　conversation　which　was　terminated　by　the　high　priest。

〃Return　immediately　to　the　quarters　of　the　princess；〃　he　said；　〃and　see　that　the　slave　is　sent　to　me　at　the　temple　at　once。〃　The　under　priest　turned　and　departed　upon　his　mission　while　Lu…don　also　left　the　apartment　and　directed　his　footsteps　toward　the　sacred　enclosure　over　which　he　ruled。

A　half…hour　later　a　warrior　was　ushered　into　the　presence　of　Ko…tan。　〃Lu…don；　the　high　priest；　desires　the　presence　of　Ko…tan；　the　king；　in　the　temple；〃　he　announced；　〃and　it　is　his　wish　that　he　come　alone。〃

Ko…tan　nodded　to　indicate　that　he　accepted　the　command　which　even　the　king　must　obey。　〃I　will　return　presently；　Dor…ul…Otho；〃　he　said　to　Tarzan；　〃and　in　the　meantime　my　warriors　and　my　slaves　are　yours　to　command。〃



11

The　Sentence　of　Death

BUT　it　was　an　hour　before　the　king　re…entered　the　apartment　and　in　the　meantime　the　ape…man　had　occupied　himself　in　examining　the　carvings　upon　the　walls　and　the　numerous　specimens　of　the　handicraft　of　Pal…ul…donian　artisans　which　combined　to　impart　an　atmosphere　of　richness　and　luxury　to　the　apartment。

The　limestone　of　the　country；　close…grained　and　of　marble　whiteness　yet　worked　with　comparative　ease　with　crude　implements；　had　been　wrought　by　cunning　craftsmen　into　bowls　and　urns　and　vases　of　considerable　grace　and　beauty。　Into　the　carved　designs　of　many　of　these　virgin　gold　had　been　hammered；　presenting　the　effect　of　a　rich　and　magnificent　cloisonne。　A　barbarian　himself　the　art　of　barbarians　had　always　appealed　to　the　ape…man　to　whom　they　represented　a　natural　expression　of　man's　love　of　the　beautiful　to　even　a　greater　extent　than　the　studied　and　artificial　efforts　of　civilization。　Here　was　the　real　art　of　old　masters；　the　other　the　cheap　imitation　of　the　chromo。

It　was　while　he　was　thus　pleasurably　engaged　that　Ko…tan　returned。　As　Tarzan；　attracted　by　the　movement　of　the　hangings　through　which　the　king　entered；　turned　and　faced　him　he　was　almost　shocked　by　the　remarkable　alteration　of　the　king's　appearance。　His　face　was　livid；　his　hands　trembled　as　with　palsy；　and　his　eyes　were　wide　as　with　fright。　His　appearance　was　one　apparently　of　a　combination　of　consuming　anger　and　withering　fear。　Tarzan　looked　at　him　questioningly。

〃You　have　had　bad　news；　Ko…tan？〃　he　asked。

The　king　mumbled　an　unintelligible　reply。　Behind　there　thronged　into　the　apartment　so　great　a　number　of　warriors　that　they　choked　the　entrance…way。　The　king　looked　apprehensively　to　right　and　left。　He　cast　terrified　glances　at　the　ape…man　and　then　raising　his　face　and　turning　his　eyes　upward　he　cried：　〃Jad…ben…Otho　be　my　witness　that　I　do　not　this　thing　of　my　own　accord。〃　There　was　a　moment's　silence　which　was　again　broken　by　Ko…tan。　〃Seize　him；〃　he　cried　to　the　warriors　about　him；　〃for　Lu…don；　the　high　priest；　swears　that　he　is　an　impostor。〃

To　have　offered　armed　resistance　to　this　great　concourse　of　warriors　in　the　very　heart　of　the　palace　of　their　king　would　have　been　worse　than　fatal。　Already　Tarzan　had　come　far　by　his　wits　and　now　that　within　a　few　hours　he　had　had　his　hopes　and　his　suspicions　partially　verified　by　the　vague　admissions　of　O…lo…a　he　was　impressed　with　the　necessity　of　inviting　no　mortal　risk　that　he　could　avoid。

〃Stop！〃　he　cried；　raising　his　palm　against　them。　〃What　is　the　meaning　of　this？〃

〃Lu…don　claims　he　has　proof　that　you　are　not　the　son　of　Jad…ben…Otho；〃　replied　Ko…tan。　〃He　demands　that　you　be　brought　to　the　throneroom　to　face　your　accusers。　If　you　are　what　you　claim　to　be　none　knows　better　than　you　that　you　need　have　no　fear　in　acquiescing　to　his　demands；　but　remember　always　that　in　such　matters　the　high　priest　commands　the　king　and　that　I　am　only　the　bearer　of　these　commands；　not　their　author。〃

Tarzan　saw　that　Ko…tan　was　not　entirely　convinced　of　his　duplicity　as　was　evidenced　by　his　palpable　design　to　play　safe。

〃Let　not　your　warriors　seize　me；〃　he　said　to　Ko…tan；　〃lest　Jad…ben…Otho；　mistaking　their　intention；　strike　them　dead。〃　The　effect　of　his　words　was　immediate　upon　the　men　in　the　front　rank　of　those　who　faced　him；　each　seeming　suddenly　to　acquire　a　new　modesty　that　compelled　him　to　self…effacement　behind　those　directly　in　his　reara　modesty　that　became　rapidly　contagious。

The　ape…man　smiled。　〃Fear　not；〃　he　said；　〃I　will　go　willingly　to　the　audience　chamber　to　face　the　blasphemers　who　accuse　me。〃

Arrived　at　the　great　throneroom　a　new　complication　arose。　Ko…tan　would　not　acknowledge　the　right　of　Lu…don　to　occupy　the　apex　of　the　pyramid　and　Lu…don　would　not　consent　to　occupying　an　inferior　position　while　Tarzan；　to　remain　consistent　with　his　high　claims；　insisted　that　no　one　should　stand　above　him；　but　only　to　the　ape…man　was　the　humor　of　the　situation　apparent。

To　relieve　the　situation　Ja…don　suggested　that　all　three　of　them　occupy　the　throne；　but　this　suggestion　was　repudiated　by　Ko…tan　who　argued　that　no　mortal　other　than　a　king　of　Pal…ul…don　had　ever　sat　upon　the　high　eminence；　and　that　furthermore　there　was　not　room　for　three　there。

〃But　who；〃　said　Tarzan；　〃is　my　accuser　and　who　is　my　judge？〃

〃Lu…don　is　your　accuser；〃　explained　Ko…tan。

〃And　Lu…don　is　your　judge；〃　cried　the　high　priest。

〃I　am　to　be　judged　by　him　who　accuses　me　then；〃　said　Tarzan。　〃It　were　better　to　dispense　then　with　any　formalities　and　ask　Lu…don　to　sentence　me。〃　His　tone　was　ironical　and　his　sneering　face；　looking　straight　into　that　of　the　high　priest；　but　caused　the　latter's　hatred　to　rise　to　still　greater　proportions。

It　was　evident　that　Ko…tan　and　his　warriors　saw　the　justice　of　Tarzan's　implied　objection　to　this　unfair　method　of　dispensing　justice。　〃Only　Ko…tan　can　judge　in　the　throneroom　of　his　palace；〃　said　Ja…don；　〃let　him　hear　Lu…don's　charges　and　the　testimony　of　his　witnesses；　and　then　let　Ko…tan's　judgment　be　final。〃

Ko…tan；　however；　was　not　particularly　enthusiastic　over　the　prospect　of　sitting　in　trial　upon　one　who　might　after　all　very　possibly　be　the　son　of　his　god；　and　so　he　temporized；　seeking　for　an　avenue　of　escape。　〃It　is　purely　a　religious　matter；〃　he　said；　〃and　it　is　traditional　that　the　kings　of　Pal…ul…don　interfere　not　in　questions　of　the　church。〃

〃Then　let　the　trial　be　held　in　the　temple；〃　cried　one　of　the　chiefs；　for　the　warriors　were　as　anxious　as　their　king　to　be　relieved　of　all　responsibility　in　the　matter。　This　suggestion　was　more　than　satisfactory　to　the　high　priest　who　inwardly　condemned　himself　for　not　having　thought　of　it　before。

〃It　is　true；〃　he　said；　〃this　man's　sin　is　against　the　temple。　Let　him　be　dragged　thither　then　for　trial。〃

〃The　son　of　Jad…ben…Otho　will　be　dragged　nowhere；〃　cried　Tarzan。　〃But　when　this　trial　is　over　it　is　possible　that　the　corpse　of　Lu…don；　the　high　priest；　will　be　dragged　from　the　temple　of　the　god　he　would　desecrate。　Think　well；　then；　Lu…don　before　you　commit　this　folly。〃

His　words；　intended　to　frighten　the　high　priest　from　his　position　failed　utterly　in　consummating　their　purpose。　Lu…don　showed　no　terror　at　the　suggestion　the　ape…man's　words　implied。

〃Here　is　one；〃　thought　Tarzan；　〃who；　knowing　more　of　his　religion　than　any　of　his　fellows；　realizes　fully　the　falsity　of　my　claims　as　he　does　the　falsity　of　the　faith　he　preaches。〃

He　realized；　however；　that　his　only　hope　lay　in　seeming　indifference　to　the　charges。　Ko…tan　and　the　warriors　were　still　under　the　spell　of　their　belief　in　him　and　upon　this　fact　must　he　depend　in　the　final　act　of　the　drama　that　Lu…don　was　staging　for　his　rescue　from　the　jealous　priest　whom　he　knew　had　already　passed　sentence　upon　him　in　his　own　heart。

With　a　shrug　he　descended　the　steps　of　the　pyramid。　〃It　matters　not　to　Dor…ul…Otho；〃　he　said；　〃where　Lu…don　enrages　his　god；　for　Jad…ben…Otho　can　reach　as　easily　into　the　chambers　of　the　temple　as　into　the　throneroom　of　Ko…tan。〃

Immeasurably　relieved　by　this　easy　solution　of　their　problem　the　king　and　the　warriors　thronged　from　the　throneroom　toward　the　temple　grounds；　their　faith　in　Tarzan　increased　by　his　apparent　indifference　to　the　charges　against　him。　Lu…don　led　them　to　the　largest　of　the　altar　courts。

Taking　his　place　behind　the　western　altar　he　motioned　Ko…tan　to　a　place　upon　the　platform　at　the　left　hand　of　the　altar　and　directed　Tarzan　to　a　similar　place　at　the　right。

As　Tarzan　ascended　the　platform　his　eyes　narrowed　angrily　at　the　sight　which　met　them。　The　basin　hollowed　in　the　top　of　the　altar　was　filled　with　water　in　which　floated　the　naked　corpse　of　a　new…born　babe。　〃What　means　this？〃　he　cried　angrily；　turning　upon　Lu…don。

The　latter　smiled　malevolently。　〃That　you　do　not　know；〃　he　replied；　〃is　but　added　evidence　of　the　falsity　of　your　claim。　He　who　poses　as　the　son　of　god　did　not　know　that　as　the　last　rays　of　the　setting　sun　flood　the　eastern　altar　of　the　temple　the　lifeblood　of　an　adult　reddens　the　white　stone　for　the　edification　of　Jad…ben…Otho；　and　that　when　the　sun　rises　again　from　the　body　of　its　maker　it　looks　first　upon　this　western　altar　and　rejoices　in　the　death　of　a　new…born　babe　each　day；　the　ghost　of　which　accompanies　it　across　the　heavens　by　day　as　the　ghost　of　the　adult　returns　with　it　to　Jad…ben…Otho　at　night。

〃Even　the　little　children　of　the　Ho…don　know　these　things；　while　he　who　claims　to　be　the　son　of　Jad…ben…Otho　knows　them　not；　and　if　this　proof　be　not　enough；　there　is　more。　Come；　Waz…don；〃　he　cried；　pointing　to　a　tall　slave　who　stood　with　a　group　of　other　blacks　and　priests　on　the　temple　floor　at　the　left　of　the　altar。

The　fellow　came　forward　fearfully。　〃Tell　us　what　you　know　of　this　creature；〃　cried　Lu…don；　pointing　to　Tarzan。

〃I　have　seen　him　before；〃　said　the　Waz…don。　〃I　am　of　the　tribe　of　Kor…ul…lul；　and　one　day　recently　a　party　of　which　I　was　one　encountered　a　few　of　the　warriors　of　the　Kor…ul…ja　upon　the　ridge　which　separates　our　villages。　Among　the　enemy　was　this　strange　creature　whom　they　called　Tarzan…jad…guru；　and　terrible　indeed　was　he　for　he　fought　with　the　strength　of　many　men　so　that　it　required　twenty　of　us　to　subdue　him。　But　he　did　not　fight　as　a　g