tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第22节
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through the dead black of the death sentence hanging over him。 He knew
that his giant muscles could not part the many strands that bound his
wrists and ankles； for he had strained often； but ineffectually for release。
He had no hope of outside help and only enemies surrounded him within
the camp； and yet he smiled at La as she paced nervously back and forth
the length of the shelter。
And La？ She fingered her knife and looked down upon her captive。
She glared and muttered but she did not strike。 〃Tonight！〃 she thought。
〃Tonight； when it is dark I will torture him。〃 She looked upon his perfect；
godlike figure and upon his handsome； smiling face and then she steeled
her heart again by thoughts of her love spurned； by religious thoughts that
damned the infidel who had desecrated the holy of holies； who had taken
from the blood…stained altar of Opar the offering to the Flaming Godand
not once but thrice。 Three times had Tarzan cheated the god of her fathers。
At the thought La paused and knelt at his side。 In her hand was a sharp
knife。 She placed its point against the ape…man's side and pressed upon
the hilt； but Tarzan only smiled and shrugged his shoulders。
How beautiful he was！ La bent low over him； looking into his eyes。
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How perfect was his figure。 She compared it with those of the knurled
and knotted men from whom she must choose a mate； and La shuddered at
the thought。 Dusk came and after dusk came night。 A great fire blazed
within the little thorn boma about the camp。 The flames played upon the
new altar erected in the center of the clearing； arousing in the mind of the
High Priestess of the Flaming God a picture of the event of the coming
dawn。 She saw this giant and perfect form writhing amid the flames of
the burning pyre。 She saw those smiling lips； burned and blackened；
falling away from the strong； white teeth。 She saw the shock of black hair
tousled upon Tarzan's well…shaped head disappear in a spurt of flame。
She saw these and many other frightful pictures as she stood with closed
eyes and clenched fists above the object of her hateah！ was it hate that
La of Opar felt？
The darkness of the jungle night had settled down upon the camp；
relieved only by the fitful flarings of the fire that was kept up to warn off
the man…eaters。 Tarzan lay quietly in his bonds。 He suffered from thirst
and from the cutting of the tight strands about his wrists and ankles； but he
made no complaint。 A jungle beast was Tarzan with the stoicism of the
beast and the intelligence of man。 He knew that his doom was sealed
that no supplications would avail to temper the severity of his end and so
he wasted no breath in pleadings； but waited patiently in the firm
conviction that his sufferings could not endure forever。
In the darkness La stooped above him。 In her hand was a sharp knife
and in her mind the determination to initiate his torture without further
delay。 The knife was pressed against his side and La's face was close to
his when a sudden burst of flame from new branches thrown upon the fire
without； lighted up the interior of the shelter。 Close beneath her lips La
saw the perfect features of the forest god and into her woman's heart
welled all the great love she had felt for Tarzan since first she had seen
him； and all the accumulated passion of the years that she had dreamed of
him。
Dagger in hand； La； the High Priestess； towered above the helpless
creature that had dared to violate the sanctuary of her deity。 There should
be no torture there should be instant death。 No longer should the defiler
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of the temple pollute the sight of the lord god almighty。 A single stroke
of the heavy blade and then the corpse to the flaming pyre without。 The
knife arm stiffened ready for the downward plunge； and then La； the
woman； collapsed weakly upon the body of the man she loved。
She ran her hands in mute caress over his naked flesh； she covered his
forehead； his eyes； his lips with hot kisses； she covered him with her body
as though to protect him from the hideous fate she had ordained for him；
and in trembling； piteous tones she begged him for his love。 For hours
the frenzy of her passion possessed the burning hand…maiden of the
Flaming God； until at last sleep overpowered her and she lapsed into
unconsciousness beside the man she had sworn to torture and to slay。
And Tarzan； untroubled by thoughts of the future； slept peacefully in La's
embrace。
At the first hint of dawn the chanting of the priests of Opar brought
Tarzan to wakefulness。 Initiated in low and subdued tones； the sound
soon rose in volume to the open diapason of barbaric blood lust。 La
stirred。 Her perfect arm pressed Tarzan closer to hera smile parted her
lips and then she awoke； and slowly the smile faded and her eyes went
wide in horror as the significance of the death chant impinged upon her
understanding。
〃Love me； Tarzan！〃 she cried。 〃Love me； and you shall be saved。〃
Tarzan's bonds hurt him。 He was suffering the tortures of long…
restricted circulation。 With an angry growl he rolled over with his back
toward La。 That was her answer！ The High Priestess leaped to her feet。
A hot flush of shame mantled her cheek and then she went dead white and
stepped to the shelter's entrance。
〃Come； Priests of the Flaming God！〃 she cried； 〃and make ready the
sacrifice。〃
The warped things advanced and entered the shelter。 They laid hands
upon Tarzan and bore him forth； and as they chanted they kept time with
their crooked bodies； swaying to and fro to the rhythm of their song of
blood and death。 Behind them came La； swaying too； but not in unison
with the chanted cadence。 White and drawn was the face of the High
Priestesswhite and drawn with unrequited love and hideous terror of the
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moments to come。 Yet stern in her resolve was La。 The infidel should
die！ The scorner of her love should pay the price upon the fiery altar。
She saw them lay the perfect body there upon the rough branches。 She
saw the High Priest； he to whom custom would unite her bent； crooked；
gnarled； stunted； hideousadvance with the flaming torch and stand
awaiting her command to apply it to the faggots surrounding the sacrificial
pyre。 His hairy； bestial face was distorted in a yellow…fanged grin of
anticipatory enjoyment。 His hands were cupped to receive the life blood
of the victimthe red nectar that at Opar would have filled the golden
sacrificial goblets。
La approached with upraised knife； her face turned toward the rising
sun and upon her lips a prayer to the burning deity of her people。 The
High Priest looked questioningly toward herthe brand was burning close
to his hand and the faggots lay temptingly near。 Tarzan closed his eyes and
awaited the end。 He knew that he would suffer； for he recalled the faint
memories of past burns。 He knew that he would suffer and die； but he
did not flinch。 Death is no great adventure to the jungle bred who walk
hand…in…hand with the grim specter by day and lie down at his side by
night through all the years of their lives。 It is doubtful that the ape…man
even speculated upon what came after death。 As a matter of fact as his
end approached； his mind was occupied by thoughts of the pretty pebbles
he had lost； yet his every faculty still was open to what passed around him。
He felt La lean over him and he opened his eyes。 He saw her white；
drawn face and he saw tears blinding her eyes。 〃Tarz
