the return of tarzan-第45节
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With foam…flecked lips and bared fangs the mad sun…worshiper
battled with the tenfold power of the maniac。 In the
blood lust of his fury the creature had undergone a sudden
reversion to type； which left him a wild beast； forgetful of
the dagger that projected from his beltthinking only of
nature's weapons with which his brute prototype had battled。
But if he could use his teeth and hands to advantage； he
found one even better versed in the school of savage warfare
to which he had reverted； for Tarzan of the Apes closed
with him； and they fell to the floor tearing and rending at one
another like two bull apes； while the primitive priestess
stood flattened against the wall； watching with wide； fear…
fascinated eyes the growing； snapping beasts at her feet。
At last she saw the stranger close one mighty hand upon
the throat of his antagonist； and as he forced the bruteman's
head far back rain blow after blow upon the upturned face。
A moment later he threw the still thing from him； and；
arising； shook himself like a lion。 He placed a foot
upon the carcass before him； and raised his head to give the
victory cry of his kind； but as his eyes fell upon the opening
above him leading into the temple of human sacrifice he
thought better of his intended act。
The girl； who had been half paralyzed by fear as the two
men fought； had just commenced to give thought to her
probable fate now that； though released from the clutches of
a madman； she had fallen into the hands of one whom but a
moment before she had been upon the point of killing。
She looked about for some means of escape。 The black mouth
of a diverging corridor was near at hand； but as she
turned to dart into it the ape…man's eyes fell upon her； and
with a quick leap he was at her side； and a restraining hand
was laid upon her arm。
〃Wait！〃 said Tarzan of the Apes； in the language of the
tribe of Kerchak。
The girl looked at him in astonishment。
〃Who are you；〃 she whispered； 〃who speaks the language
of the first man？〃
〃I am Tarzan of the Apes；〃 he answered in the vernacular
of the anthropoids。
〃What do you want of me？〃 she continued。 〃For what
purpose did you save me from Tha？〃
〃I could not see a woman murdered？〃 It was a half question
that answered her。
〃But what do you intend to do with me now？〃 she continued。
〃Nothing；〃 he replied； 〃but you can do something for meyou
can lead me out of this place to freedom。〃 He made the
suggestion without the slightest thought that she would accede。
He felt quite sure that the sacrifice would go on from the
point where it had been interrupted if the high priestess
had her way； though he was equally positive that they would
find Tarzan of the Apes unbound and with a long dagger
in his hand a much less tractable victim than Tarzan
disarmed and bound。
The girl stood looking at him for a long moment before
she spoke。
〃You are a very wonderful man；〃 she said。 〃You are
such a man as I have seen in my daydreams ever since I
was a little girl。 You are such a man as I imagine the
forbears of my people must have beenthe great race of people
who built this mighty city in the heart of a savage world that
they might wrest from the bowels of the earth the fabulous
wealth for which they had sacrificed their far…distant civilization。
〃I cannot understand why you came to my rescue in the
first place； and now I cannot understand why； having me
within your power； you do not wish to be revenged upon
me for having sentenced you to deathfor having almost
put you to death with my own hand。〃
〃I presume；〃 replied the ape…man； 〃that you but followed
the teachings of your religion。 I cannot blame YOU for that；
no matter what I may think of your creed。 But who are you
what people have I fallen among？〃
〃I am La； high priestess of the Temple of the Sun； in the
city of Opar。 We are descendants of a people who came to
this savage world more than ten thousand years ago in search
of gold。 Their cities stretched from a great sea under the
rising sun to a great sea into which the sun descends at night
to cool his flaming brow。 They were very rich and very
powerful； but they lived only a few months of the year in
their magnificent palaces here； the rest of the time they
spent in their native land； far； far to the north。
〃Many ships went back and forth between this new world
and the old。 During the rainy season there were but few
of the inhabitants remained here； only those who
superintended the working of the mines by the black slaves；
and the merchants who had to stay to supply their wants；
and the soldiers who guarded the cities and the mines。
〃It was at one of these times that the great calamity occurred。
When the time came for the teeming thousands to return none came。
For weeks the people waited。 Then they sent out a great galley
to learn why no one came from the mother country； but though
they sailed about for many months； they were unable to find
any trace of the mighty land that had for countless ages
borne their ancient civilizationit had sunk into the sea。
〃From that day dated the downfall of my people。
Disheartened and unhappy； they soon became a prey to the
black hordes of the north and the black hordes of the south。
One by one the cities were deserted or overcome。 The last
remnant was finally forced to take shelter within this mighty
mountain fortress。 Slowly we have dwindled in power； in
civilization； in intellect； in numbers； until now we are no
more than a small tribe of savage apes。
〃In fact； the apes live with us； and have for many ages。
We call them the first menwe speak their language quite
as much as we do our own； only in the rituals of the temple
do we make any attempt to retain our mother tongue。 In time
it will be forgotten； and we will speak only the language
of the apes； in time we will no longer banish those of our
people who mate with apes； and so in time we shall descend
to the very beasts from which ages ago our progenitors may
have sprung。〃
〃But why are you more human than the others？〃 asked
the man。
〃For some reason the women have not reverted to savagery
so rapidly as the men。 It may be because only the
lower types of men remained here at the time of the great
catastrophe； while the temples were filled with the noblest
daughters of the race。 My strain has remained clearer
than the rest because for countless ages my foremothers were
high priestessesthe sacred office descends from mother
to daughter。 Our husbands are chosen for us from the noblest
in the land。 The most perfect man； mentally and physically；
is selected to be the husband of the high priestess。〃
〃From what I saw of the gentlemen above；〃 said Tarzan；
with a grin； 〃there should be little trouble in choosing from
among them。〃
The girl looked at him quizzically for a moment。
〃Do not be sacrilegious；〃 she said。 〃They are very holy
menthey are priests。〃
〃Then there are others who are better to look upon？〃 he asked。
〃The others are all more ugly than the priests；〃 she replied。
Tarzan shuddered at her fate； for even in the dim light of
the vault he was impressed by her beauty。
〃But how about myself？〃 he asked suddenly。 〃Are you
going to lead me to liberty？〃
〃You have been chosen by The Flaming God as his own；〃
she answered solemnly。 〃Not even I have the power to
save youshould they find you again。 But I do not intend
that they shall find you。 You risked your life to save mine。
I may do no less for you。 It will be no easy matterit may
require days； but in the end I think that I can lead you beyond
the walls。 Come； they will look here for me presently； and
if they find us together we shall both be lostthey would
kill me did they think that I had proved false to my god。〃
〃You must not take the risk； then；〃 he said quickly。 〃I will
return to the temple； and if I can fight my way to freedom
there will be no suspicion thrown upon you。〃
But she would not have it so； and finally persuaded him
to follow her； saying that they had already remained in the
vault too long to prevent suspicion from falling upon her
even if they returned to the temple。
〃I will hide you； and then return alone；〃 she said； 〃telling
them that I was long unconscious after you killed Tha； and
that I do not know whither you escaped。〃
And so she led him through winding corridors of gloom；
until finally they came to a small chamber into which a little
light filtered through a stone grating in the ceiling。
〃This is the Chamber of the Dead；〃 she said。 〃None will
think of searching here for youthey would not dare。 I will
return after it is dark。 By that time I may have found a
plan to effect your escape。〃
She was gone； and Tarzan of the Apes was left alone in
the Chamber of the Dead； beneath the long…de
