tarzan the terrible-第46章

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ually　needed　for　the　defense　of　the　gate　within　the　temple；　and　these　he　sent；　under　the　leadership　of　Pan…sat；　out　into　the　city　through　the　secret　passageway　and　there　they　fell　upon　Ja…don's　forces　from　the　rear　while　those　at　the　gate　hammered　them　in　front。

Attacked　on　two　sides　by　a　vastly　superior　force　the　result　was　inevitable　and　finally　the　last　remnant　of　Ja…don's　little　army　capitulated　and　the　old　chief　was　taken　a　prisoner　before　Lu…don。　〃Take　him　to　the　temple　court；〃　cried　the　high　priest。　〃He　shall　witness　the　death　of　his　accomplice　and　perhaps　Jad…ben…Otho　shall　pass　a　similar　sentence　upon　him　as　well。〃

The　inner　temple　court　was　packed　with　humanity。　At　either　end　of　the　western　altar　stood　Tarzan　and　his　mate；　bound　and　helpless。　The　sounds　of　battle　had　ceased　and　presently　the　ape…man　saw　Ja…don　being　led　into　the　inner　court；　his　wrists　bound　tightly　together　before　him。　Tarzan　turned　his　eyes　toward　Jane　and　nodded　in　the　direction　of　Ja…don。　〃This　looks　like　the　end；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃He　was　our　last　and　only　hope。〃

〃We　have　at　least　found　each　other；　John；〃　she　replied；　〃and　our　last　days　have　been　spent　together。　My　only　prayer　now　is　that　if　they　take　you　they　do　not　leave　me。〃

Tarzan　made　no　reply　for　in　his　heart　was　the　same　bitter　thought　that　her　own　containednot　the　fear　that　they　would　kill　him　but　the　fear　that　they　would　not　kill　her。　The　ape…man　strained　at　his　bonds　but　they　were　too　many　and　too　strong。　A　priest　near　him　saw　and　with　a　jeering　laugh　struck　the　defenseless　ape…man　in　the　face。

〃The　brute！〃　cried　Jane　Clayton。

Tarzan　smiled。　〃I　have　been　struck　thus　before；　Jane；〃　he　said；　〃and　always　has　the　striker　died。〃

〃You　still　have　hope？〃　she　asked。

〃I　am　still　alive；〃　he　said　as　though　that　were　sufficient　answer。　She　was　a　woman　and　she　did　not　have　the　courage　of　this　man　who　knew　no　fear。　In　her　heart　of　hearts　she　knew　that　he　would　die　upon　the　altar　at　high　noon　for　he　had　told　her；　after　he　had　been　brought　to　the　inner　court；　of　the　sentence　of　death　that　Obergatz　had　pronounced　upon　him；　and　she　knew　too　that　Tarzan　knew　that　he　would　die；　but　that　he　was　too　courageous　to　admit　it　even　to　himself。

As　she　looked　upon　him　standing　there　so　straight　and　wonderful　and　brave　among　his　savage　captors　her　heart　cried　out　against　the　cruelty　of　the　fate　that　had　overtaken　him。　It　seemed　a　gross　and　hideous　wrong　that　that　wonderful　creature；　now　so　quick　with　exuberant　life　and　strength　and　purpose　should　be　presently　naught　but　a　bleeding　lump　of　clayand　all　so　uselessly　and　wantonly。　Gladly　would　she　have　offered　her　life　for　his　but　she　knew　that　it　was　a　waste　of　words　since　their　captors　would　work　upon　them　whatever　it　was　their　will　to　dofor　him；　death；　for　hershe　shuddered　at　the　thought。

And　now　came　Lu…don　and　the　naked　Obergatz；　and　the　high　priest　led　the　German　to　his　place　behind　the　altar；　himself　standing　upon　the　other's　left。　Lu…don　whispered　a　word　to　Obergatz；　at　the　same　time　nodding　in　the　direction　of　Ja…don。　The　Hun　cast　a　scowling　look　upon　the　old　warrior。

〃And　after　the　false　god；〃　he　cried；　〃the　false　prophet；〃　and　he　pointed　an　accusing　finger　at　Ja…don。　Then　his　eyes　wandered　to　the　form　of　Jane　Clayton。

〃And　the　woman；　too？〃　asked　Lu…don。

〃The　case　of　the　woman　I　will　attend　to　later；〃　replied　Obergatz。　〃I　will　talk　with　her　tonight　after　she　has　had　a　chance　to　meditate　upon　the　consequences　of　arousing　the　wrath　of　Jad…ben…Otho。〃

He　cast　his　eyes　upward　at　the　sun。　〃The　time　approaches；〃　he　said　to　Lu…don。　〃Prepare　the　sacrifice。〃

Lu…don　nodded　to　the　priests　who　were　gathered　about　Tarzan。　They　seized　the　ape…man　and　lifted　him　bodily　to　the　altar　where　they　laid　him　upon　his　back　with　his　head　at　the　south　end　of　the　monolith；　but　a　few　feet　from　where　Jane　Clayton　stood。　Impulsively　and　before　they　could　restrain　her　the　woman　rushed　forward　and　bending　quickly　kissed　her　mate　upon　the　forehead。　〃Good…bye；　John；〃　she　whispered。

〃Good…bye；〃　he　answered；　smiling。

The　priests　seized　her　and　dragged　her　away。　Lu…don　handed　the　sacrificial　knife　to　Obergatz。　〃I　am　the　Great　God；〃　cried　the　German；　〃thus　falleth　the　divine　wrath　upon　all　my　enemies！〃　He　looked　up　at　the　sun　and　then　raised　the　knife　high　above　his　head。

〃Thus　die　the　blasphemers　of　God！〃　he　screamed；　and　at　the　same　instant　a　sharp　staccato　note　rang　out　above　the　silent；　spell…bound　multitude。　There　was　a　screaming　whistle　in　the　air　and　Jad…ben…Otho　crumpled　forward　across　the　body　of　his　intended　victim。　Again　the　same　alarming　noise　and　Lu…don　fell；　a　third　and　Mo…sar　crumpled　to　the　ground。　And　now　the　warriors　and　the　people；　locating　the　direction　of　this　new　and　unknown　sound　turned　toward　the　western　end　of　the　court。

Upon　the　summit　of　the　temple　wall　they　saw　two　figuresa　Ho…don　warrior　and　beside　him　an　almost　naked　creature　of　the　race　of　Tarzan…jad…guru；　across　his　shoulders　and　about　his　hips　were　strange　broad　belts　studded　with　beautiful　cylinders　that　glinted　in　the　mid…day　sun；　and　in　his　hands　a　shining　thing　of　wood　and　metal　from　the　end　of　which　rose　a　thin　wreath　of　blue…gray　smoke。

And　then　the　voice　of　the　Ho…don　warrior　rang　clear　upon　the　ears　of　the　silent　throng。　〃Thus　speaks　the　true　Jad…ben…Otho；〃　he　cried；　〃through　this　his　Messenger　of　Death。　Cut　the　bonds　of　the　prisoners。　Cut　the　bonds　of　the　Dor…ul…Otho　and　of　Ja…don；　King　of　Pal…ul…don；　and　of　the　woman　who　is　the　mate　of　the　son　of　god。〃

Pan…sat；　filled　with　the　frenzy　of　fanaticism　saw　the　power　and　the　glory　of　the　regime　he　had　served　crumpled　and　gone。　To　one　and　only　one　did　he　attribute　the　blame　for　the　disaster　that　had　but　just　overwhelmed　him。　It　was　the　creature　who　lay　upon　the　sacrificial　altar　who　had　brought　Lu…don　to　his　death　and　toppled　the　dreams　of　power　that　day　by　day　had　been　growing　in　the　brain　of　the　under　priest。

The　sacrificial　knife　lay　upon　the　altar　where　it　had　fallen　from　the　dead　fingers　of　Obergatz。　Pan…sat　crept　closer　and　then　with　a　sudden　lunge　he　reached　forth　to　seize　the　handle　of　the　blade；　and　even　as　his　clutching　fingers　were　poised　above　it；　the　strange　thing　in　the　hands　of　the　strange　creature　upon　the　temple　wall　cried　out　its　crashing　word　of　doom　and　Pan…sat　the　under　priest；　screaming；　fell　back　upon　the　dead　body　of　his　master。

〃Seize　all　the　priests；〃　cried　Ta…den　to　the　warriors；　〃and　let　none　hesitate　lest　Jad…ben…Otho's　messenger　send　forth　still　other　bolts　of　lightning。〃

The　warriors　and　the　people　had　now　witnessed　such　an　exhibition　of　divine　power　as　might　have　convinced　an　even　less　superstitious　and　more　enlightened　people；　and　since　many　of　them　had　but　lately　wavered　between　the　Jad…ben…Otho　of　Lu…don　and　the　Dor…ul…Otho　of　Ja…don　it　was　not　difficult　for　them　to　swing　quickly　back　to　the　latter；　especially　in　view　of　the　unanswerable　argument　in　the　hands　of　him　whom　Ta…den　had　described　as　the　Messenger　of　the　Great　God。

And　so　the　warriors　sprang　forward　now　with　alacrity　and　surrounded　the　priests；　and　when　they　looked　again　at　the　western　wall　of　the　temple　court　they　saw　pouring　over　it　a　great　force　of　warriors。　And　the　thing　that　startled　and　appalled　them　was　the　fact　that　many　of　these　were　black　and　hairy　Waz…don。

At　their　head　came　the　stranger　with　the　shiny　weapon　and　on　his　right　was　Ta…den；　the　Ho…don；　and　on　his　left　Om…at；　the　black　gund　of　Kor…ul…ja。

A　warrior　near　the　altar　had　seized　the　sacrificial　knife　and　cut　Tarzan's　bonds　and　also　those　of　Ja…don　and　Jane　Clayton；　and　now　the　three　stood　together　beside　the　altar　and　as　the　newcomers　from　the　western　end　of　the　temple　court　pushed　their　way　toward　them　the　eyes　of　the　woman　went　wide　in　mingled　astonishment；　incredulity；　and　hope。　And　the　stranger；　slinging　his　weapon　across　his　back　by　a　leather　strap；　rushed　forward　and　took　her　in　his　arms。

〃Jack！〃　she　cried；　sobbing　on　his　shoulder。　〃Jack；　my　son！〃

And　Tarzan　of　the　Apes　came　then　and　put　his　arms　around　them　both；　and　the　King　of　Pal…ul…don　and　the　warriors　and　the　people　kneeled　in　the　temple　court　and　placed　their　foreheads　to　the　ground　before　the　altar　where　the　three　stood。



25

Home

WITHIN　an　hour　of　the　fall　of　Lu…don　and　Mo…sar；　the　chiefs　and　principal　warriors　of　Pal…ul…don　gathered　in　the　great　throneroom　of　the　palace　at　A…lur　upon　the　steps　of　the　lofty　pyramid　and　placing　Ja…don　at　the　apex　proclaimed　him　king。　Upon　one　side　of　the　old　chieftain　stood　Tarzan　of　the　Apes；　and　upon　the　other　Korak；　the　Killer；　worthy　son　of　the　mighty　ape…man。

And　when　the　brief　ceremony　was　over　and　the　warriors　with　upraised　clubs　had　sworn　fealty　to　their　new　ruler；　Ja…don　dispatched　a　trusted　company　to　fetch　O…lo…a　and　Pan…at…lee　and　the　women　of　his　own　household　from　Ja…lur。

And　then　the　warriors　discussed　the　future　of　Pal…ul…don　and　the　question　arose　as　to　the　administration　of　the　temples　and　the　fate　of　the　priests；　who　practically　without　exception　had　been　disloyal　to　the　government　of　the　king；　seeking　always　only　their　own　power　and　comfort　and　aggrandizement。　And　then　it　was　that　Ja…don　turned　to　Tarzan。　〃Let　the　Dor…ul…Otho　transmit　to　his　people　the　wishes　of　his　father；〃　he　said。

〃Your　problem　is　a　simple　one；〃　said　the　ape…man；　〃if　you　but　wish　to　do　that　which　shall　be　pleasing　in　the　eyes　of　God。　Your　priests；　to　increase　their　power；　have　taught　you　that　Jad…ben…Otho　is　a　cruel　god；　that　his　eyes　love　to　dwell　upon　blood　and　upon　suffering。　But　the　falsity　of　their　teachings　has　been　demonstrated　to　you　today　in　the　utter　defeat　of　the　priesthood。

〃Take　then　the　temples　from　the　men　and　give　them　instead　to　the　women　that　they　may　be　administered　in　kindness　and　charity　and　love。　Wash　the　blood　from　your　eastern　altar　and　drain　forever　the　water　from　the　western。

〃Once　I　gave　Lu…don　the　opportunity　to　do　these　things　but　he　ignored　my　commands；　and　again　is　the　corridor　of　sacrifice　filled　with　its　victims。　Liberate　these　from　every　temple　in　Pal…ul…don。　Bring　offerings　of　such　gifts　as　your　people　like　and　place　them　upon　the　altars　of　your　god。　And　there　he　will　bless　them　and　the　priestesses　of　Jad…ben…Otho　can　distribute　them　among　those　who　need　them　most。〃

As　he　ceased　speaking　a　murmur　of　evident　approval　ran　through　the　throng。　Long　had　they　been　weary　of　the　avarice　and　cruelty　of　the　priests　and　now　that　authority　had　come　from　a　high　source　with　a　feasible　plan　for　ridding　themselves　of　the　old　religious　order　without　necessitating　any　change　in　the　faith　of　the　people　they　welcomed　it。

〃And　the　priests；〃　cried　one。　〃We　shall　put　them　to　death　upon　their　own　altars　if　it　pleases　the　Dor…ul…Otho　to　give　the　word。〃

〃No；〃　cried　Tarzan。　〃Let　no　more　blood　be　spilled。　Give　them　their　freedom　and　the　right　to　take　up　such　occupations　as　they　choose。〃

That　night　a　great　feast　was　spread　in　the　pal…e…don…so　and　for　the　first　time　in　the　history　of　ancient　Pal…ul…don　black　warriors　sat　in　peace　and　friendship　with　white。　And　a　pact　was　sealed　between　Ja…don　and　Om…at　that　would　ever　make　his　tribe　and　the　Ho…don　allies　and　friends。

It　was　here　that　Tarzan　learned　the　cause　of　Ta…den's　failure　to　attack　at　the　stipulated　time。　A　messenger　had　come　from　Ja…don　carrying