tarzan the terrible-第5章

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〃Jad　Pele　ul　Jad…ben…Otho；〃　murmured　Tarzan　in　the　tongue　of　the　pithecanthropi；　〃The　Valley　of　the　Great　Godit　is　beautiful！〃

〃Here；　in　A…lur；　lives　Ko…tan；　the　king；　ruler　over　all　Pal…ul…don；〃　said　Ta…den。

〃And　here　in　these　gorges　live　the　Waz…don；〃　exclaimed　Om…at；　〃who　do　not　acknowledge　that　Ko…tan　is　the　ruler　over　all　the　Land…of…man。〃

Ta…den　smiled　and　shrugged。　〃We　will　not　quarrel；　you　and　I；〃　he　said　to　Om…at；　〃over　that　which　all　the　ages　have　not　proved　sufficient　time　in　which　to　reconcile　the　Ho…don　and　Waz…don；　but　let　me　whisper　to　you　a　secret；　Om…at。　The　Ho…don　live　together　in　greater　or　less　peace　under　one　ruler　so　that　when　danger　threatens　them　they　face　the　enemy　with　many　warriors；　for　every　fighting　Ho…don　of　Pal…ul…don　is　there。　But　you　Waz…don；　how　is　it　with　you？　You　have　a　dozen　kings　who　fight　not　only　with　the　Ho…don　but　with　one　another。　When　one　of　your　tribes　goes　forth　upon　the　fighting　trail；　even　against　the　Ho…don；　it　must　leave　behind　sufficient　warriors　to　protect　its　women　and　its　children　from　the　neighbors　upon　either　hand。　When　we　want　eunuchs　for　the　temples　or　servants　for　the　fields　or　the　homes　we　march　forth　in　great　numbers　upon　one　of　your　villages。　You　cannot　even　flee；　for　upon　either　side　of　you　are　enemies　and　though　you　fight　bravely　we　come　back　with　those　who　will　presently　be　eunuchs　in　the　temples　and　servants　in　our　fields　and　homes。　So　long　as　the　Waz…don　are　thus　foolish　the　Ho…don　will　dominate　and　their　king　will　be　king　of　Pal…ul…don。〃

〃Perhaps　you　are　right；〃　admitted　Om…at。　〃It　is　because　our　neighbors　are　fools；　each　thinking　that　his　tribe　is　the　greatest　and　should　rule　among　the　Waz…don。　They　will　not　admit　that　the　warriors　of　my　tribe　are　the　bravest　and　our　shes　the　most　beautiful。〃

Ta…den　grinned。　〃Each　of　the　others　presents　precisely　the　same　arguments　that　you　present；　Om…at；〃　he　said；　〃which；　my　friend；　is　the　strongest　bulwark　of　defense　possessed　by　the　Ho…don。〃

〃Come！〃　exclaimed　Tarzan；　〃such　discussions　often　lead　to　quarrels　and　we　three　must　have　no　quarrels。　I；　of　course；　am　interested　in　learning　what　I　can　of　the　political　and　economic　conditions　of　your　land；　I　should　like　to　know　something　of　your　religion；　but　not　at　the　expense　of　bitterness　between　my　only　friends　in　Pal…ul…don。　Possibly；　however；　you　hold　to　the　same　god？〃

〃There　indeed　we　do　differ；〃　cried　Om…at；　somewhat　bitterly　and　with　a　trace　of　excitement　in　his　voice。

〃Differ！〃　almost　shouted　Ta…den；　〃and　why　should　we　not　differ？　Who　could　agree　with　the　preposterous〃

〃Stop！〃　cried　Tarzan。　〃Now；　indeed；　have　I　stirred　up　a　hornets'　nest。　Let　us　speak　no　more　of　matters　political　or　religious。〃

〃That　is　wiser；〃　agreed　Om…at；　〃but　I　might　mention；　for　your　information；　that　the　one　and　only　god　has　a　long　tail。〃

〃It　is　sacrilege；〃　cried　Ta…den；　laying　his　hand　upon　his　knife；　〃Jad…ben…Otho　has　no　tail！〃

〃Stop！〃　shrieked　Om…at；　springing　forward；　but　instantly　Tarzan　interposed　himself　between　them。

〃Enough！〃　he　snapped。　〃Let　us　be　true　to　our　oaths　of　friendship　that　we　may　be　honorable　in　the　sight　of　God　in　whatever　form　we　conceive　Him。〃

〃You　are　right；　Tailless　One；〃　said　Ta…den。　〃Come；　Om…at；　let　us　look　after　our　friendship　and　ourselves；　secure　in　the　conviction　that　Jad…ben…Otho　is　sufficiently　powerful　to　look　after　himself。〃

〃Done！〃　agreed　Om…at；　〃but〃

〃No　'buts；'　Om…at；〃　admonished　Tarzan。

The　shaggy　black　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　smiled。　〃Shall　we　make　our　way　down　toward　the　valley？〃　he　asked。　〃The　gorge　below　us　is　uninhabited；　that　to　the　left　contains　the　caves　of　my　people。　I　would　see　Pan…at…lee　once　more。　Ta…den　would　visit　his　father　in　the　valley　below　and　Tarzan　seeks　entrance　to　A…lur　in　search　of　the　mate　that　would　be　better　dead　than　in　the　clutches　of　the　Ho…don　priests　of　Jad…ben…Otho。　How　shall　we　proceed？〃

〃Let　us　remain　together　as　long　as　possible；〃　urged　Ta…den。　〃You；　Om…at；　must　seek　Pan…at…lee　by　night　and　by　stealth；　for　three；　even　we　three；　may　not　hope　to　overcome　Es…sat　and　all　his　warriors。　At　any　time　may　we　go　to　the　village　where　my　father　is　chief；　for　Ja…don　always　will　welcome　the　friends　of　his　son。　But　for　Tarzan　to　enter　A…lur　is　another　matter；　though　there　is　a　way　and　he　has　the　courage　to　put　it　to　the　testlisten；　come　close　for　Jad…ben…Otho　has　keen　ears　and　this　he　must　not　hear；〃　and　with　his　lips　close　to　the　ears　of　his　companions　Ta…den；　the　Tall…tree；　son　of　Ja…don；　the　Lion…man；　unfolded　his　daring　plan。

And　at　the　same　moment；　a　hundred　miles　away；　a　lithe　figure；　naked　but　for　a　loin　cloth　and　weapons；　moved　silently　across　a　thorn…covered；　waterless　steppe；　searching　always　along　the　ground　before　him　with　keen　eyes　and　sensitive　nostrils。



3

Pan…at…lee

NIGHT　had　fallen　upon　unchartered　Pal…ul…don。　A　slender　moon；　low　in　the　west；　bathed　the　white　faces　of　the　chalk　cliffs　presented　to　her；　in　a　mellow；　unearthly　glow。　Black　were　the　shadows　in　Kor…ul…ja；　Gorge…of…lions；　where　dwelt　the　tribe　of　the　same　name　under　Es…sat；　their　chief。　From　an　aperture　near　the　summit　of　the　lofty　escarpment　a　hairy　figure　emergedthe　head　and　shoulders　firstand　fierce　eyes　scanned　the　cliff　side　in　every　direction。

It　was　Es…sat；　the　chief。　To　right　and　left　and　below　he　looked　as　though　to　assure　himself　that　he　was　unobserved；　but　no　other　figure　moved　upon　the　cliff　face；　nor　did　another　hairy　body　protrude　from　any　of　the　numerous　cave　mouths　from　the　high…flung　abode　of　the　chief　to　the　habitations　of　the　more　lowly　members　of　the　tribe　nearer　the　cliff's　base。　Then　he　moved　outward　upon　the　sheer　face　of　the　white　chalk　wall。　In　the　half…light　of　the　baby　moon　it　appeared　that　the　heavy；　shaggy　black　figure　moved　across　the　face　of　the　perpendicular　wall　in　some　miraculous　manner；　but　closer　examination　would　have　revealed　stout　pegs；　as　large　around　as　a　man's　wrist　protruding　from　holes　in　the　cliff　into　which　they　were　driven。　Es…sat's　four　handlike　members　and　his　long；　sinuous　tail　permitted　him　to　move　with　consummate　ease　whither　he　chosea　gigantic　rat　upon　a　mighty　wall。　As　he　progressed　upon　his　way　he　avoided　the　cave　mouths；　passing　either　above　or　below　those　that　lay　in　his　path。

The　outward　appearance　of　these　caves　was　similar。　An　opening　from　eight　to　as　much　as　twenty　feet　long　by　eight　high　and　four　to　six　feet　deep　was　cut　into　the　chalklike　rock　of　the　cliff；　in　the　back　of　this　large　opening；　which　formed　what　might　be　described　as　the　front　veranda　of　the　home；　was　an　opening　about　three　feet　wide　and　six　feet　high；　evidently　forming　the　doorway　to　the　interior　apartment　or　apartments。　On　either　side　of　this　doorway　were　smaller　openings　which　it　were　easy　to　assume　were　windows　through　which　light　and　air　might　find　their　way　to　the　inhabitants。　Similar　windows　were　also　dotted　over　the　cliff　face　between　the　entrance　porches；　suggesting　that　the　entire　face　of　the　cliff　was　honeycombed　with　apartments。　From　many　of　these　smaller　apertures　small　streams　of　water　trickled　down　the　escarpment；　and　the　walls　above　others　was　blackened　as　by　smoke。　Where　the　water　ran　the　wall　was　eroded　to　a　depth　of　from　a　few　inches　to　as　much　as　a　foot；　suggesting　that　some　of　the　tiny　streams　had　been　trickling　downward　to　the　green　carpet　of　vegetation　below　for　ages。

In　this　primeval　setting　the　great　pithecanthropus　aroused　no　jarring　discord　for　he　was　as　much　a　part　of　it　as　the　trees　that　grew　upon　the　summit　of　the　cliff　or　those　that　hid　their　feet　among　the　dank　ferns　in　the　bottom　of　the　gorge。

Now　he　paused　before　an　entrance…way　and　listened　and　then；　noiselessly　as　the　moonlight　upon　the　trickling　waters；　he　merged　with　the　shadows　of　the　outer　porch。　At　the　doorway　leading　into　the　interior　he　paused　again；　listening；　and　then　quietly　pushing　aside　the　heavy　skin　that　covered　the　aperture　he　passed　within　a　large　chamber　hewn　from　the　living　rock。　From　the　far　end；　through　another　doorway；　shone　a　light；　dimly。　Toward　this　he　crept　with　utmost　stealth；　his　naked　feet　giving　forth　no　sound。　The　knotted　club　that　had　been　hanging　at　his　back　from　a　thong　about　his　neck　he　now　removed　and　carried　in　his　left　hand。

Beyond　the　second　doorway　was　a　corridor　running　parallel　with　the　cliff　face。　In　this　corridor　were　three　more　doorways；　one　at　each　end　and　a　third　almost　opposite　that　in　which　Es…sat　stood。　The　light　was　coming　from　an　apartment　at　the　end　of　the　corridor　at　his　left。　A　sputtering　flame　rose　and　fell　in　a　small　stone　receptacle　that　stood　upon　a　table　or　bench　of　the　same　material；　a　monolithic　bench　fashioned　at　the　time　the　room　was　excavated；　rising　massively　from　the　floor；　of　which　it　was　a　part。

In　one　corner　of　the　room　beyond　the　table　had　been　left　a　dais　of　stone　about　four　feet　wide　and　eight　feet　long。　Upon　this　were　piled　a　foot　or　so　of　softly　tanned　pelts　from　which　the　fur　had　not　been　removed。　Upon　the　edge　of　this　dais　sat　a　young　female　Waz…don。　In　one　hand　she　held　a　thin　piece　of　metal；　apparently　of　hammered　gold；　with　serrated　edges；　and　in　the　other　a　short；　stiff　brush。　With　these　she　was　occupied　in　going　over　her　smooth；　glossy　coat　which　bore　a　remarkable　resemblance　to　plucked　sealskin。　Her　loin　cloth　of　yellow　and　black　striped　jato…skin　lay　on　the　couch　beside　her　with　the　circular　breastplates　of　beaten　gold；　revealing　the　symmetrical　lines　of　her　nude　figure　in　all　its　beauty　and　harmony　of　contour；　for　even　though　the　creature　was　jet　black　and　entirely　covered　with　hair　yet　she　was　undeniably　beautiful。

That　she　was　beautiful　in　the　eyes　of　Es…sat；　the　chief；　was　evidenced　by　the　gloating　expression　upon　his　fierce　countenance　and　the　increased　rapidity　of　his　breathing。　Moving　quickly　forward　he　entered　the　room　and　as　he　did　so　the　young　she　looked　up。　Instantly　her　eyes　filled　with　terror　and　as　quickly　she　seized　the　loin　cloth　and　with　a　few　deft　movements　adjusted　it　about　her。　As　she　gathered　up　her　breastplates　Es…sat　rounded　the　table　and　moved　quickly　toward　her。

〃What　do　you　want？〃　she　whispered；　though　she　knew　full　well。

〃Pan…at…lee；〃　he　said；　〃your　chief　has　come　for　you。〃

〃It　was　for　this　that　you　sent　away　my　father　and　my　brothers　to　spy　upon　the　Kor…ul…lul？　I　will　not　have　you。　Leave　the　cave　of　my　ancestors！〃

Es…sat　smiled。　It　was　the　smile　of　a　strong　and　wicked　man　who　knows　his　powernot　a　pleasant　smile　at　all。　〃I　will　leave；　Pan…at…lee；〃　he　said；　〃but　you　shall　go　with　meto　the　cave　of　Es…sat；　the　chief；　to　be　the　envied　of　the　shes　of　Kor…ul…ja。　Come！〃

〃Never！〃　cried　Pan…at…lee。　〃I　hate　you。　Sooner　would　I　mate　with　a　Ho…don　than　with　you；　beater　of　women；　murderer　of　babes。〃

A　frightful　scowl　distorted　the　features　of　the　chief。　〃She…jato！〃　he　cried。　〃I　will　tame　you！　I　will　break　you！　Es…sat；　the　chief；　takes　what　he　will　and　who　dares　question　his　right；　or　combat　his　least　purpose；　will　first　serve　that　purpose　and　then　be　broken　as　I　break　this；〃　and　he　picked　a　stone　platter　from　the　table　and　broke　it　in　his　powerful　hands。　〃You　might　have　been　first　and　most　favored　in　the　cave　of　the　ancestors　of　Es…sat；　but　now　shall　you　be　last　and　least　and　when　I　am　done　with　you　you　shall　belong　to　all　of　the　men　of　Es…sat's　cave。　Thus　for　tho