tarzan the terrible-第25章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ves。 Ko…tan knew by experience that a single draught of this potent liquor would bring happiness and surcease from worry； while several would cause even a king to do things and enjoy things that he would never even think of doing or enjoying while not under the magical influence of the potion； but unfortunately the next morning brought suffering in direct ratio to the joy of the preceding day。 A god； Ko…tan reasoned； could experience all the pleasure without the headache； but for the immediate present he must think of the necessary dignities and honors to be accorded his immortal guest。
No foot other than a king's had touched the surface of the apex of the pyramid in the throneroom at A…lur during all the forgotten ages through which the kings of Pal…ul…don had ruled from its high eminence。 So what higher honor could Ko…tan offer than to give place beside him to the Dor…ul…Otho？ And so he invited Tarzan to ascend the pyramid and take his place upon the stone bench that topped it。 As they reached the step below the sacred pinnacle Ko…tan continued as though to mount to his throne； but Tarzan laid a detaining hand upon his arm。
〃None may sit upon a level with the gods；〃 he admonished； stepping confidently up and seating himself upon the throne。 The abashed Ko…tan showed his embarrassment； an embarrassment he feared to voice lest he incur the wrath of the king of kings。
〃But；〃 added Tarzan； 〃a god may honor his faithful servant by inviting him to a place at his side。 Come； Ko…tan； thus would I honor you in the name of Jad…ben…Otho。〃
The ape…man's policy had for its basis an attempt not only to arouse the fearful respect of Ko…tan but to do it without making of him an enemy at heart； for he did not know how strong a hold the religion of the Ho…don had upon them； for since the time that he had prevented Ta…den and Om…at from quarreling over a religious difference the subject had been utterly taboo among them。 He was therefore quick to note the evident though wordless resentment of Ko…tan at the suggestion that he entirely relinquish his throne to his guest。 On the whole； however； the effect had been satisfactory as he could see from the renewed evidence of awe upon the faces of the warriors。
At Tarzan's direction the business of the court continued where it had been interrupted by his advent。 It consisted principally in the settling of disputes between warriors。 There was present one who stood upon the step just below the throne and which Tarzan was to learn was the place reserved for the higher chiefs of the allied tribes which made up Ko…tan's kingdom。 The one who attracted Tarzan's attention was a stalwart warrior of powerful physique and massive； lion…like features。 He was addressing Ko…tan on a question that is as old as government and that will continue in unabated importance until man ceases to exist。 It had to do with a boundary dispute with one of his neighbors。
The matter itself held little or no interest for Tarzan； but he was impressed by the appearance of the speaker and when Ko…tan addressed him as Ja…don the ape…man's interest was permanently crystallized； for Ja…don was the father of Ta…den。 That the knowledge would benefit him in any way seemed rather a remote possibility since he could not reveal to Ja…don his friendly relations with his son without admitting the falsity of his claims to godship。
When the affairs of the audience were concluded Ko…tan suggested that the son of Jad…ben…Otho might wish to visit the temple in which were performed the religious rites coincident to the worship of the Great God。 And so the ape…man was conducted by the king himself； followed by the warriors of his court； through the corridors of the palace toward the northern end of the group of buildings within the royal enclosure。
The temple itself was really a part of the palace and similar in architecture。 There were several ceremonial places of varying sizes； the purposes of which Tarzan could only conjecture。 Each had an altar in the west end and another in the east and were oval in shape； their longest diameter lying due east and west。 Each was excavated from the summit of a small hillock and all were without roofs。 The western altars invariably were a single block of stone the top of which was hollowed into an oblong basin。 Those at the eastern ends were similar blocks of stone with flat tops and these latter； unlike those at the opposite ends of the ovals were invariably stained or painted a reddish brown； nor did Tarzan need to examine them closely to be assured of what his keen nostrils already had told himthat the brown stains were dried and drying human blood。
Below these temple courts were corridors and apartments reaching far into the bowels of the hills； dim； gloomy passages that Tarzan glimpsed as he was led from place to place on his tour of inspection of the temple。 A messenger had been dispatched by Ko…tan to announce the coming visit of the son of Jad…ben…Otho with the result that they were accompanied through the temple by a considerable procession of priests whose distinguishing mark of profession seemed to consist in grotesque headdresses； sometimes hideous faces carved from wood and entirely concealing the countenances of their wearers； or again； the head of a wild beast cunningly fitted over the head of a man。 The high priest alone wore no such head…dress。 He was an old man with close…set； cunning eyes and a cruel； thin…lipped mouth。
At first sight of him Tarzan realized that here lay the greatest danger to his ruse； for he saw at a glance that the man was antagonistic toward him and his pretensions； and he knew too that doubtless of all the people of Pal…ul…don the high priest was most likely to harbor the truest estimate of Jad…ben…Otho； and； therefore； would look with suspicion on one who claimed to be the son of a fabulous god。
No matter what suspicion lurked within his crafty mind； Lu…don； the high priest of A…lur； did not openly question Tarzan's right to the title of Dor…ul…Otho； and it may be that he was restrained by the same doubts which had originally restrained Ko…tan and his warriorsthe doubt that is at the bottom of the minds of all blasphemers even and which is based upon the fear that after all there may be a god。 So； for the time being at least Lu…don played safe。 Yet Tarzan knew as well as though the man had spoken aloud his inmost thoughts that it was in the heart of the high priest to tear the veil from his imposture。
At the entrance to the temple Ko…tan had relinquished the guidance of the guest to Lu…don and now the latter led Tarzan through those portions of the temple that he wished him to see。 He showed him the great room where the votive offerings were kept； gifts from the barbaric chiefs of Pal…ul…don and from their followers。 These things ranged in value from presents of dried fruits to massive vessels of beaten gold； so that in the great main storeroom and its connecting chambers and corridors was an accumulation of wealth that amazed even the eyes of the owner of the secret of the treasure vaults of Opar。
Moving to and fro throughout the temple were sleek black Waz…don slaves； fruits of the Ho…don raids upon the villages of their less civilized neighbors。 As they passed the barred entrance to a dim corridor； Tarzan saw within a great company of pithecanthropi of all ages and of both sexes； Ho…don as well as Waz…don； the majority of them squatted upon the stone floor in attitudes of utter dejection while some paced back and forth； their features stamped with the despair of utter hopelessness。
〃And who are these who lie here thus unhappily？〃 he asked of Lu…don。 It was the first question that he had put to the high priest since entering the temple； and instantly he regretted that he had asked it； for Lu…don turned upon him a face upon which the expression of suspicion was but thinly veiled。
〃Who should know better than the son of Jad…ben…Otho？〃 he retorted。
〃The questions of Dor…ul…Otho are not with impunity answered with other questions；〃 said the ape…man quietly； 〃and it may interest Lu…don； the high priest； to know that the blood of a false priest upon the altar of his temple is not displeasing in the eyes of Jad…ben…Otho。〃
Lu…don paled as h
