tarzan and the jewels of opar-第21章

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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

sealedthat　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　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　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。　　〃Tarzan；　my　Tarzan！〃　she　moaned；　〃tell　me　that

you　love　methat　you　will　return　to　Opar　with　meand

you　shall　live。　　Even　in　the　face　of　the　anger　of　my

people　I　will　save　you。　　This　last　chance　I　give　you。

What　is　your　answer？〃



At　the　last　moment　the　woman　in　La　had　triumphed　over

the　High　Priestess　of　a　cruel　cult。　　She　saw　upon　the

altar　the　only　creature　that　ever　had　aroused　the　fires

of　love　within　her　virgin　breast；　she　saw　the　beast…faced

fanatic　who　would　one　day　be　her　mate；　unless　she

found　another　less　repulsive；　standing　with　the　burning

torch　ready　to　ignite　the　pyre；　yet　with　all　her　mad

passion　for　the　ape…man　she　would　give　the　word　to

apply　the　flame　if　Tarzan's　final　answer　was

unsatisfactory。　　With　heaving　bosom　she　leaned　close

above　him。　　〃Yes　or　no？〃　she　whispered。



Through　the　jungle；　out　of　the　distance；　came　faintly　a

sound　that　brought　a　sudden　light　of　hope　to　Tarzan's

eyes。　　He　raised　his　voice　in　a　weird　scream　that　sent

La　back　from　him　a　step　or　two。　　The　impatient　priest

grumbled　and　switched　the　torch　from　one　hand　to　the

other　at　the　same　time　holding　it　closer　to　the　tinder

at　the　base　of　the　pyre。



〃Your　answer！〃　insisted　La。　　〃What　is　your　answer　to

the　love　of　La　of　Opar？〃



Closer　came　the　sound　that　had　attracted　Tarzan's

attention　and　now　the　others　heard　itthe　shrill

trumpeting　of　an　elephant。　　As　La　looked　wide…eyed　into

Tarzan's　face；　there　to　read　her　fate　for　happiness　or

heartbreak；　she　saw　an　expression　of　concern　shadow　his

features。　　Now；　for　the　first　time；　she　guessed　the

meaning　of　Tarzan's　shrill　screamhe　had　summoned

Tantor；　the　elephant；　to　his　rescue！　　La's　brows

contracted　in　a　savage　scowl。　　〃You　refuse　La！〃

she　cried。　　〃Then　die！　　The　torch！〃　she　commanded；

turning　toward　the　priest。



Tarzan　looked　up　into　her　face。　　〃Tantor　is　coming；〃

he　said。　　〃I　thought　that　he　would　rescue　me；　but　I　know

now　from　his　voice　that　he　will　slay　me　and　you　and　all

that　fall　in　his　path；　searching　out　with　the　cunning

of　Sheeta；　the　panther；　those　who　would　hide　from　him；

for　Tantor　is　mad　with　the　madness　of　love。〃



La　knew　only　too　well　the　insane　ferocity　of　a　bull

elephant　in　MUST。　　She　knew　that　Tarzan　had　not

exaggerated。　　She　knew　that　the　devil　in　the　cunning；

cruel　brain　of　the　great　beast　might　send　it　hither　and

thither　hunting　through　the　forest　for　those　who

escaped　its　first　charge；　or　the　beast　might　pass　on

without　returningno　one　might　guess　which。



〃I　cannot　love　you；　La；〃　said　Tarzan　in　a　low　voice。

〃I　do　not　know　why；　for　you　are　very　beautiful。

I　could　not　go　back　and　live　in　OparI　who　have　the

whole　broad　jungle　for　my　range。　　No；　I　cannot　love　you

but　I　cannot　see　you　die　beneath　the　goring　tusks　of