tarzan the terrible-第22章

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the　strength　of　many　men　so　that　it　required　twenty　of　us　to　subdue　him。　But　he　did　not　fight　as　a　god　fights；　and　when　a　club　struck　him　upon　the　head　he　sank　unconscious　as　might　an　ordinary　mortal。

〃We　carried　him　with　us　to　our　village　as　a　prisoner　but　he　escaped　after　cutting　off　the　head　of　the　warrior　we　left　to　guard　him　and　carrying　it　down　into　the　gorge　and　tying　it　to　the　branch　of　a　tree　upon　the　opposite　side。〃

〃The　word　of　a　slave　against　that　of　a　god！〃　cried　Ja…don；　who　had　shown　previously　a　friendly　interest　in　the　pseudo　godling。

〃It　is　only　a　step　in　the　progress　toward　truth；〃　interjected　Lu…don。　〃Possibly　the　evidence　of　the　only　princess　of　the　house　of　Ko…tan　will　have　greater　weight　with　the　great　chief　from　the　north；　though　the　father　of　a　son　who　fled　the　holy　offer　of　the　priesthood　may　not　receive　with　willing　ears　any　testimony　against　another　blasphemer。〃

Ja…don's　hand　leaped　to　his　knife；　but　the　warriors　next　him　laid　detaining　fingers　upon　his　arms。　〃You　are　in　the　temple　of　Jad…ben…Otho；　Ja…don；〃　they　cautioned　and　the　great　chief　was　forced　to　swallow　Lu…don's　affront　though　it　left　in　his　heart　bitter　hatred　of　the　high　priest。

And　now　Ko…tan　turned　toward　Lu…don。　〃What　knoweth　my　daughter　of　this　matter？〃　he　asked。　〃You　would　not　bring　a　princess　of　my　house　to　testify　thus　publicly？〃

〃No；〃　replied　Lu…don；　〃not　in　person；　but　I　have　here　one　who　will　testify　for　her。〃　He　beckoned　to　an　under　priest。　〃Fetch　the　slave　of　the　princess；〃　he　said。

His　grotesque　headdress　adding　a　touch　of　the　hideous　to　the　scene；　the　priest　stepped　forward　dragging　the　reluctant　Pan…at…lee　by　the　wrist。

〃The　Princess　O…lo…a　was　alone　in　the　Forbidden　Garden　with　but　this　one　slave；〃　explained　the　priest；　〃when　there　suddenly　appeared　from　the　foliage　nearby　this　creature　who　claims　to　be　the　Dor…ul…Otho。　When　the　slave　saw　him　the　princess　says　that　she　cried　aloud　in　startled　recognition　and　called　the　creature　by　nameTarzan…jad…guruthe　same　name　that　the　slave　from　Kor…ul…lul　gave　him。　This　woman　is　not　from　Kor…ul…lul　but　from　Kor…ul…ja；　the　very　tribe　with　which　the　Kor…ul…lul　says　the　creature　was　associating　when　he　first　saw　him。　And　further　the　princess　said　that　when　this　woman；　whose　name　is　Pan…at…lee；　was　brought　to　her　yesterday　she　told　a　strange　story　of　having　been　rescued　from　a　Tor…o…don　in　the　Kor…ul…gryf　by　a　creature　such　as　this；　whom　she　spoke　of　then　as　Tarzan…jad…guru；　and　of　how　the　two　were　pursued　in　the　bottom　of　the　gorge　by　two　monster　gryfs；　and　of　how　the　man　led　them　away　while　Pan…at…lee　escaped；　only　to　be　taken　prisoner　in　the　Kor…ul…lul　as　she　was　seeking　to　return　to　her　own　tribe。

〃Is　it　not　plain　now；〃　cried　Lu…don；　〃that　this　creature　is　no　god。　Did　he　tell　you　that　he　was　the　son　of　god？〃　he　almost　shouted；　turning　suddenly　upon　Pan…at…lee。

The　girl　shrank　back　terrified。　〃Answer　me；　slave！〃　cried　the　high　priest。

〃He　seemed　more　than　mortal；〃　parried　Pan…at…lee。

〃Did　he　tell　you　that　he　was　the　son　of　god？　Answer　my　question；〃　insisted　Lu…don。

〃No；〃　she　admitted　in　a　low　voice；　casting　an　appealing　look　of　forgiveness　at　Tarzan　who　returned　a　smile　of　encouragement　and　friendship。

〃That　is　no　proof　that　he　is　not　the　son　of　god；〃　cried　Ja…don。　〃Dost　think　Jad…ben…Otho　goes　about　crying　'I　am　god！　I　am　god！'　Hast　ever　heard　him　Lu…don？　No；　you　have　not。　Why　should　his　son　do　that　which　the　father　does　not　do？〃

〃Enough；〃　cried　Lu…don。　〃The　evidence　is　clear。　The　creature　is　an　impostor　and　I；　the　head　priest　of　Jad…ben…Otho　in　the　city　of　A…lur；　do　condemn　him　to　die。〃　There　was　a　moment's　silence　during　which　Lu…don　evidently　paused　for　the　dramatic　effect　of　his　climax。　〃And　if　I　am　wrong　may　Jad…ben…Otho　pierce　my　heart　with　his　lightnings　as　I　stand　here　before　you　all。〃

The　lapping　of　the　wavelets　of　the　lake　against　the　foot　of　the　palace　wall　was　distinctly　audible　in　the　utter　and　almost　breathless　silence　which　ensued。　Lu…don　stood　with　his　face　turned　toward　the　heavens　and　his　arms　outstretched　in　the　attitude　of　one　who　bares　his　breast　to　the　dagger　of　an　executioner。　The　warriors　and　the　priests　and　the　slaves　gathered　in　the　sacred　court　awaited　the　consuming　vengeance　of　their　god。

It　was　Tarzan　who　broke　the　silence。　〃Your　god　ignores　you　Lu…don；〃　he　taunted；　with　a　sneer　that　he　meant　to　still　further　anger　the　high　priest；　〃he　ignores　you　and　I　can　prove　it　before　the　eyes　of　your　priests　and　your　people。〃

〃Prove　it；　blasphemer！　How　can　you　prove　it？〃

〃You　have　called　me　a　blasphemer；〃　replied　Tarzan；　〃you　have　proved　to　your　own　satisfaction　that　I　am　an　impostor；　that　I；　an　ordinary　mortal；　have　posed　as　the　son　of　god。　Demand　then　that　Jad…ben…Otho　uphold　his　godship　and　the　dignity　of　his　priesthood　by　directing　his　consuming　fires　through　my　own　bosom。〃

Again　there　ensued　a　brief　silence　while　the　onlookers　waited　for　Lu…don　to　thus　consummate　the　destruction　of　this　presumptuous　impostor。

〃You　dare　not；〃　taunted　Tarzan；　〃for　you　know　that　I　would　be　struck　dead　no　quicker　than　were　you。〃

〃You　lie；〃　cried　Lu…don；　〃and　I　would　do　it　had　I　not　but　just　received　a　message　from　Jad…ben…Otho　directing　that　your　fate　be　different。〃

A　chorus　of　admiring　and　reverential　〃Ahs〃　arose　from　the　priesthood。　Ko…tan　and　his　warriors　were　in　a　state　of　mental　confusion。　Secretly　they　hated　and　feared　Lu…don；　but　so　ingrained　was　their　sense　of　reverence　for　the　office　of　the　high　priest　that　none　dared　raise　a　voice　against　him。

None？　Well；　there　was　Ja…don；　fearless　old　Lion…man　of　the　north。　〃The　proposition　was　a　fair　one；〃　he　cried。　〃Invoke　the　lightnings　of　Jad…ben…Otho　upon　this　man　if　you　would　ever　convince　us　of　his　guilt。〃

〃Enough　of　this；〃　snapped　Lu…don。　〃Since　when　was　Ja…don　created　high　priest？　Seize　the　prisoner；〃　he　cried　to　the　priests　and　warriors；　〃and　on　the　morrow　he　shall　die　in　the　manner　that　Jad…ben…Otho　has　willed。〃

There　was　no　immediate　movement　on　the　part　of　any　of　the　warriors　to　obey　the　high　priest's　command；　but　the　lesser　priests　on　the　other　hand；　imbued　with　the　courage　of　fanaticism　leaped　eagerly　forward　like　a　flock　of　hideous　harpies　to　seize　upon　their　prey。

The　game　was　up。　That　Tarzan　knew。　No　longer　could　cunning　and　diplomacy　usurp　the　functions　of　the　weapons　of　defense　he　best　loved。　And　so　the　first　hideous　priest　who　leaped　to　the　platform　was　confronted　by　no　suave　ambassador　from　heaven；　but　rather　a　grim　and　ferocious　beast　whose　temper　savored　more　of　hell。

The　altar　stood　close　to　the　western　wall　of　the　enclosure。　There　was　just　room　between　the　two　for　the　high　priest　to　stand　during　the　performance　of　the　sacrificial　ceremonies　and　only　Lu…don　stood　there　now　behind　Tarzan；　while　before　him　were　perhaps　two　hundred　warriors　and　priests。

The　presumptuous　one　who　would　have　had　the　glory　of　first　laying　arresting　hands　upon　the　blasphemous　impersonator　rushed　forward　with　outstretched　hand　to　seize　the　ape…man。　Instead　it　was　he　who　was　seized；　seized　by　steel　fingers　that　snapped　him　up　as　though　he　had　been　a　dummy　of　straw；　grasped　him　by　one　leg　and　the　harness　at　his　back　and　raised　him　with　giant　arms　high　above　the　altar。　Close　at　his　heels　were　others　ready　to　seize　the　ape…man　and　drag　him　down；　and　beyond　the　altar　was　Lu…don　with　drawn　knife　advancing　toward　him。

There　was　no　instant　to　waste；　nor　was　it　the　way　of　the　ape…man　to　fritter　away　precious　moments　in　the　uncertainty　of　belated　decision。　Before　Lu…don　or　any　other　could　guess　what　was　in　the　mind　of　the　condemned；　Tarzan　with　all　the　force　of　his　great　muscles　dashed　the　screaming　hierophant　in　the　face　of　the　high　priest；　and；　as　though　the　two　actions　were　one；　so　quickly　did　he　move；　he　had　leaped　to　the　top　of　the　altar　and　from　there　to　a　handhold　upon　the　summit　of　the　temple　wall。　As　he　gained　a　footing　there　he　turned　and　looked　down　upon　those　beneath。　For　a　moment　he　stood　in　silence　and　then　he　spoke。

〃Who　dare　believe；〃　he　cried；　〃that　Jad…ben…Otho　would　forsake　his　son？〃　and　then　he　dropped　from　their　sight　upon　the　other　side。

There　were　two　at　least　left　within　the　enclosure　whose　hearts　leaped　with　involuntary　elation　at　the　success　of　the　ape…man's　maneuver；　and　one　of　them　smiled　openly。　This　was　Ja…don；　and　the　other；　Pan…at…lee。

The　brains　of　the　priest　that　Tarzan　had　thrown　at　the　head　of　Lu…don　had　been　dashed　out　against　the　temple　wall　while　the　high　priest　himself　had　escaped　with　only　a　few　bruises；　sustained　in　his　fall　to　the　hard　pavement。　Quickly　scrambling　to　his　feet　he　looked　around　in　fear；　in　terror　and　finally　in　bewilderment；　for　he　had　not　been　a　witness　to　the　ape…man's　escape。　〃Seize　him；〃　he　cried；　〃seize　the　blasphemer；〃　and　he　continued　to　look　around　in　search　of　his　victim　with　such　a　ridiculous　expression　of　bewilderment　that　more　than　a　single　warrior　was　compelled　to　hide　his　smiles　beneath　his　palm。

The　priests　were　rushing　around　wildly；　exhorting　the　warriors　to　pursue　the　fugitive　but　these　awaited　now　stolidly　the　command　of　their　king　or　high　priest。　Ko…tan；　more　or　less　secretly　pleased　by　the　discomfiture　of　Lu…don；　waited　for　that　worthy　to　give　the　necessary　directions　which　he　presently　did　when　one　of　his　acolytes　excitedly　explained　to　him　the　manner　of　Tarzan's　escape。

Instantly　the　necessary　orders　were　issued　and　priests　and　warriors　sought　the　temple　exit　in　pursuit　of　the　ape…man。　His　departing　words；　hurled　at　them　from　the　summit　of　the　temple　wall；　had　had　little　effect　in　impressing　the　majority　that　his　claims　had　not　been　disproven　by　Lu…don；　but　in　the　hearts　of　the　warriors　was　admiration　for　a　brave　man　and　in　many　the　same　unholy　gratification　that　had　risen　in　that　of　their　ruler　at　the　discomfiture　of　Lu…don。

A　careful　search　of　the　temple　grounds　revealed　no　trace　of　the　quarry。　The　secret　recesses　of　the　subterranean　chambers；　familiar　only　to　the　priesthood；　were　examined　by　these　while　the　warriors　scattered　through　the　palace　and　the　palace　grounds　without　the　temple。　Swift　runners　were　dispatched　to　the　city　to　arouse　the　people　there　that　all　might　be　upon　the　lookout　for　Tarzan　the　Terrible。　The　story　of　his　imposture　and　of　his　escape；　and　the　tales　that　the　Waz…don　slaves　had　brought　into　the　city　concerning　him　were　soon　spread　throughout　A…lur；　nor　did　they　lose　aught　in　the　spreading；　so　that　before　an　hour　had　passed　the　women　and　children　were　hiding　behind　barred　doorways　while　the　warriors　crept　apprehensively　through　the　streets　expecting　momentarily　to　be　pounced　upon　by　a　ferocious　demon　who；　bare…handed；　did　victorious　battle　with　huge　gryfs　and　whose　lightest　pastime　consisted　in　tearing　strong　men　limb　from　limb。



12

The　Giant　Stranger

AND　while　the　warriors　and　the　priests　of　A…lur　searched　the　temple　and　the　palace　and　the　city　for　the　vanished　ape…man　there　entered　the　head　of　Kor…ul…ja　down　the　precipitous　trail　from　the　mountains；　a　naked　stranger　bearing　an　Enfield　upon　his　back。　Silently　he　moved　downward　toward　the　bottom　of　the　gorge　and　there　where　the　ancient　trail　unfolded　more　levelly　before　him　he　swung　along　with　easy　strides；　though　always　with　the　utmost　alertness　against　possible　dangers。　A　gentle　breeze　came　down