tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第14章
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understand such matters as souls and Flaming Gods。
〃Do you wish to die？〃 he asked Werper。
The Belgian assured him； with tears in his eyes； that he did not wish to
die。
〃Very well then； you shall not；〃 said Tarzan。 〃Come！ We will go。
This SHE would kill you and keep me for herself。 It is no place anyway
for a Mangani。 I should soon die； shut up behind these stone walls。〃
He turned toward La。 〃We are going now；〃 he said。
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The woman rushed forward and seized the ape…man's hands in hers。
〃Do not leave me！〃 she cried。 〃Stay； and you shall be High Priest。
La loves you。 All Opar shall be yours。 Slaves shall wait upon you。 Stay；
Tarzan of the Apes； and let love reward you。〃
The ape…man pushed the kneeling woman aside。 〃Tarzan does not
desire you；〃 he said； simply； and stepping to Werper's side he cut the
Belgian's bonds and motioned him to follow。
Pantingher face convulsed with rage； La sprang to her feet。
〃Stay； you shall！〃 she screamed。 〃La will have youif she cannot
have you alive； she will have you dead；〃 and raising her face to the sun she
gave voice to the same hideous shriek that Werper had heard once before
and Tarzan many times。
In answer to her cry a babel of voices broke from the surrounding
chambers and corridors。
〃Come； Guardian Priests！〃 she cried。 〃The infidels have profaned the
holiest of the holies。 Come！ Strike terror to their hearts； defend La and
her altar； wash clean the temple with the blood of the polluters。〃
Tarzan understood； though Werper did not。 The former glanced at the
Belgian and saw that he was unarmed。 Stepping quickly to La's side the
ape…man seized her in his strong arms and though she fought with all the
mad savagery of a demon； he soon disarmed her； handing her long；
sacrificial knife to Werper。
〃You will need this；〃 he said； and then from each doorway a horde of
the monstrous； little men of Opar streamed into the temple。
They were armed with bludgeons and knives； and fortified in their
courage by fanatical hate and frenzy。 Werper was terrified。 Tarzan
stood eyeing the foe in proud disdain。 Slowly he advanced toward the exit
he had chosen to utilize in making his way from the temple。 A burly
priest barred his way。 Behind the first was a score of others。 Tarzan
swung his heavy spear； clublike； down upon the skull of the priest。 The
fellow collapsed； his head crushed。
Again and again the weapon fell as Tarzan made his way slowly
toward the doorway。 Werper pressed close behind； casting backward
glances toward the shrieking； dancing mob menacing their rear。 He held
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the sacrificial knife ready to strike whoever might come within its reach；
but none came。 For a time he wondered that they should so bravely
battle with the giant ape…man； yet hesitate to rush upon him； who was
relatively so weak。 Had they done so he knew that he must have fallen at
the first charge。 Tarzan had reached the doorway over the corpses of all
that had stood to dispute his way； before Werper guessed at the reason for
his immunity。 The priests feared the sacrificial knife！ Willingly would
they face death and welcome it if it came while they defended their High
Priestess and her altar； but evidently there were deaths； and deaths。
Some strange superstition must surround that polished blade； that no
Oparian cared to chance a death thrust from it； yet gladly rushed to the
slaughter of the ape…man's flaying spear。
Once outside the temple court； Werper communicated his discovery to
Tarzan。 The ape…man grinned； and let Werper go before him； brandishing
the jeweled and holy weapon。 Like leaves before a gale； the Oparians
scattered in all directions and Tarzan and the Belgian found a clear
passage through the corridors and chambers of the ancient temple。
The Belgian's eyes went wide as they passed through the room of the
seven pillars of solid gold。 With ill…concealed avarice he looked upon the
age…old； golden tablets set in the walls of nearly every room and down the
sides of many of the corridors。 To the ape…man all this wealth appeared
to mean nothing。
On the two went； chance leading them toward the broad avenue which
lay between the stately piles of the half…ruined edifices and the inner wall
of the city。 Great apes jabbered at them and menaced them； but Tarzan
answered them after their own kind； giving back taunt for taunt； insult for
insult； challenge for challenge。
Werper saw a hairy bull swing down from a broken column and
advance； stiff…legged and bristling； toward the naked giant。 The yellow
fangs were bared； angry snarls and barkings rumbled threateningly
through the thick and hanging lips。
The Belgian watched his companion。 To his horror； he saw the man
stoop until his closed knuckles rested upon the ground as did those of the
anthropoid。 He saw him circle； stiff…legged about the circling ape。 He
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heard the same bestial barkings and growlings issue from the human throat
that were coming from the mouth of the brute。 Had his eyes been closed
he could not have known but that two giant apes were bridling for combat。
But there was no battle。 It ended as the majority of such jungle
encounters endone of the boasters loses his nerve； and becomes suddenly
interested in a blowing leaf； a beetle； or the lice upon his hairy stomach。
In this instance it was the anthropoid that retired in stiff dignity to
inspect an unhappy caterpillar； which he presently devoured。 For a
moment Tarzan seemed inclined to pursue the argument。 He swaggered
truculently； stuck out his chest； roared and advanced closer to the bull。 It
was with difficulty that Werper finally persuaded him to leave well enough
alone and continue his way from the ancient city of the Sun Worshipers。
The two searched for nearly an hour before they found the narrow exit
through the inner wall。 From there the well…worn trail led them beyond
the outer fortification to the desolate valley of Opar。
Tarzan had no idea； in so far as Werper could discover； as to where he
was or whence he came。 He wandered aimlessly about； searching for
food； which he discovered beneath small rocks； or hiding in the shade of
the scant brush which dotted the ground。
The Belgian was horrified by the hideous menu of his companion。
Beetles； rodents and caterpillars were devoured with seeming relish。
Tarzan was indeed an ape again。
At last Werper succeeded in leading his companion toward the distant
hills which ma
