tarzan the terrible-第50章
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Briefly she told him and all the while she was wondering what she might do to rid herself of him。 She could not conceive of a prolonged existence with him as her sole companion。 Better； a thousand times better； to be alone。 Never had her hatred and contempt for him lessened through the long weeks and months of their constant companionship； and now that he could be of no service in returning her to civilization； she shrank from the thought of seeing him daily。 And； too； she feared him。 Never had she trusted him； but now there was a strange light in his eye that had not been there when last she saw him。 She could not interpret itall she knew was that it gave her a feeling of apprehensiona nameless dread。
〃You lived long then in the city of A…lur？〃 he said； speaking in the language of Pal…ul…don。
〃You have learned this tongue？〃 she asked。 〃How？〃
〃I fell in with a band of half…breeds；〃 he replied； 〃members of a proscribed race that dwells in the rock…bound gut through which the principal river of the valley empties into the morass。 They are called Waz…ho…don and their village is partly made up of cave dwellings and partly of houses carved from the soft rock at the foot of the cliff。 They are very ignorant and superstitious and when they first saw me and realized that I had no tail and that my hands and feet were not like theirs they were afraid of me。 They thought that I was either god or demon。 Being in a position where I could neither escape them nor defend myself； I made a bold front and succeeded in impressing them to such an extent that they conducted me to their city； which they call Bu…lur； and there they fed me and treated me with kindness。 As I learned their language I sought to impress them more and more with the idea that I was a god； and I succeeded； too； until an old fellow who was something of a priest among them； or medicine…man； became jealous of my growing power。 That was the beginning of the end and came near to being the end in fact。 He told them that if I was a god I would not bleed if a knife was stuck into meif I did bleed it would prove conclusively that I was not a god。 Without my knowledge he arranged to stage the ordeal before the whole village upon a certain nightit was upon one of those numerous occasions when they eat and drink to Jad…ben…Otho； their pagan deity。 Under the influence of their vile liquor they would be ripe for any bloodthirsty scheme the medicine…man might evolve。 One of the women told me about the plannot with any intent to warn me of danger； but prompted merely by feminine curiosity as to whether or not I would bleed if stuck with a dagger。 She could not wait； it seemed； for the orderly procedure of the ordealshe wanted to know at once； and when I caught her trying to slip a knife into my side and questioned her she explained the whole thing with the utmost naivete。 The warriors already had commenced drinkingit would have been futile to make any sort of appeal either to their intellects or their superstitions。 There was but one alternative to death and that was flight。 I told the woman that I was very much outraged and offended at this reflection upon my godhood and that as a mark of my disfavor I should abandon them to their fate。
〃'I shall return to heaven at once！' I exclaimed。
〃She wanted to hang around and see me go； but I told her that her eyes would be blasted by the fire surrounding my departure and that she must leave at once and not return to the spot for at least an hour。 I also impressed upon her the fact that should any other approach this part of the village within that time not only they； but she as well； would burst into flames and be consumed。
〃She was very much impressed and lost no time in leaving； calling back as she departed that if I were indeed gone in an hour she and all the village would know that I was no less than Jad…ben…Otho himself； and so they must thank me； for I can assure you that I was gone in much less than an hour； nor have I ventured close to the neighborhood of the city of Bu…lur since；〃 and he fell to laughing in harsh； cackling notes that sent a shiver through the woman's frame。
As Obergatz talked Jane had recovered her spear from the carcass of the antelope and commenced busying herself with the removal of the hide。 The man made no attempt to assist her； but stood by talking and watching her； the while he continually ran his filthy fingers through his matted hair and beard。 His face and body were caked with dirt and he was naked except for a torn greasy hide about his loins。 His weapons consisted of a club and knife of Waz…don pattern； that he had stolen from the city of Bu…lur； but what more greatly concerned the woman than his filth or his armament were his cackling laughter and the strange expression in his eyes。
She went on with her work； however； removing those parts of the buck she wanted； taking only as much meat as she might consume before it spoiled； as she was not sufficiently a true jungle creature to relish it beyond that stage； and then she straightened up and faced the man。
〃Lieutenant Obergatz；〃 she said； 〃by a chance of accident we have met again。 Certainly you would not have sought the meeting any more than I。 We have nothing in common other than those sentiments which may have been engendered by my natural dislike and suspicion of you； one of the authors of all the misery and sorrow that I have endured for endless months。 This little corner of the world is mine by right of discovery and occupation。 Go away and leave me to enjoy here what peace I may。 It is the least that you can do to amend the wrong that you have done me and mine。〃
The man stared at her through his fishy eyes for a moment in silence； then there broke from his lips a peal of mirthless； uncanny laughter。
〃Go away！ Leave you alone！〃 he cried。 〃I have found you。 We are going to be good friends。 There is no one else in the world but us。 No one will ever know what we do or what becomes of us and now you ask me to go away and live alone in this hellish solitude。〃 Again he laughed； though neither the muscles of his eyes or his mouth reflected any mirthit was just a hollow sound that imitated laughter。
〃Remember your promise；〃 she said。
〃Promise！ Promise！ What are promises？ They are made to be brokenwe taught the world that at Liege and Louvain。 No； no！ I will not go away。 I shall stay and protect you。〃
〃I do not need your protection；〃 she insisted。 〃You have already seen that I can use a spear。〃
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃but it would not be right to leave you here aloneyou are but a woman。 No； no； I am an officer of the Kaiser and I cannot abandon you。〃
Once more he laughed。 〃We could be very happy here together；〃 he added。
The woman could not repress a shudder； nor； in fact； did she attempt to hide her aversion。
〃You do not like me？〃 he asked。 〃Ah； well； it is too sad。 But some day you will love me；〃 and again the hideous laughter。
The woman had wrapped the pieces of the buck in the hide and this she now raised and threw across her shoulder。 In her other hand she held her spear and faced the German。
〃Go！〃 she commanded。 〃We have wasted enough words。 This is my country and I shall defend it。 If I see you about again I shall kill you。 Do you understand？〃
An expression of rage contorted Obergatz' features。 He raised his club and started toward her。
〃Stop！〃 she commanded； throwing her spear…hand backward for a cast。 〃You saw me kill this buck and you have said truthfully that no one will ever know what we do here。 Put these two facts together； German； and draw your own conclusions before you take another step in my direction。〃
The man halted and his club…hand dropped to his side。 〃Come；〃 he begged in what he intended as a conciliatory tone。 〃Let us be friends； Lady Greystoke。 We can be of great assistance to each other and I promise not to harm you。〃
〃Remember Liege and Louvain；〃 she reminded him with a sneer。 〃I am going nowbe sure that you do not follow me。 As far as you can walk in a day from this spot in any direction you may consider the limits of my domain。 If ever again I see you within these limits I shall kill you。〃
There could be no question that she meant what she said and the man seemed convinced f
