tarzan the terrible- 第19部分

The　leader　of　the　party　halted　before　the　ape…man。　〃Who　are　you？〃　he　asked；　〃and　what　do　you　want　of　Ko…tan；　the　king？〃

〃I　am　a　friend；〃　replied　the　ape…man；　〃and　I　have　come　from　the　country　of　Jad…ben…Otho　to　visit　Ko…tan　of　Pal…ul…don。〃

The　warrior　and　his　followers　seemed　impressed。　Tarzan　could　see　the　latter　whispering　among　themselves。

〃How　come　you　here；〃　asked　the　spokesman；　〃and　what　do　you　want　of　Ko…tan？〃

Tarzan　drew　himself　to　his　full　height。　〃Enough！〃　he　cried。　〃Must　the　messenger　of　Jad…ben…Otho　be　subjected　to　the　treatment　that　might　be　accorded　to　a　wandering　Waz…don？　Take　me　to　the　king　at　once　lest　the　wrath　of　Jad…ben…Otho　fall　upon　you。〃

There　was　some　question　in　the　mind　of　the　ape…man　as　to　how　far　he　might　carry　his　unwarranted　show　of　assurance；　and　he　waited　therefore　with　amused　interest　the　result　of　his　demand。　He　did　not；　however；　have　long　to　wait　for　almost　immediately　the　attitude　of　his　questioner　changed。　He　whitened；　cast　an　apprehensive　glance　toward　the　eastern　sky　and　then　extended　his　right　palm　toward　Tarzan；　placing　his　left　over　his　own　heart　in　the　sign　of　amity　that　was　common　among　the　peoples　of　Pal…ul…don。

Tarzan　stepped　quickly　back　as　though　from　a　profaning　hand；　a　feigned　expression　of　horror　and　disgust　upon　his　face。

〃Stop！〃　he　cried；　〃who　would　dare　touch　the　sacred　person　of　the　messenger　of　Jad…ben…Otho？　Only　as　a　special　mark　of　favor　from　Jad…ben…Otho　may　even　Ko…tan　himself　receive　this　honor　from　me。　Hasten！　Already　now　have　I　waited　too　long！　What　manner　of　reception　the　Ho…don　of　A…lur　would　extend　to　the　son　of　my　father！〃

At　first　Tarzan　had　been　inclined　to　adopt　the　role　of　Jad…ben…Otho　himself　but　it　occurred　to　him　that　it　might　prove　embarrassing　and　considerable　of　a　bore　to　be　compelled　constantly　to　portray　the　character　of　a　god；　but　with　the　growing　success　of　his　scheme　it　had　suddenly　occurred　to　him　that　the　authority　of　the　son　of　Jad…ben…Otho　would　be　far　greater　than　that　of　an　ordinary　messenger　of　a　god；　while　at　the　same　time　giving　him　some　leeway　in　the　matter　of　his　acts　and　demeanor；　the　ape…man　reasoning　that　a　young　god　would　not　be　held　so　strictly　accountable　in　the　matter　of　his　dignity　and　bearing　as　an　older　and　greater　god。

This　time　the　effect　of　his　words　was　immediately　and　painfully　noticeable　upon　all　those　near　him。　With　one　accord　they　shrank　back；　the　spokesman　almost　collapsing　in　evident　terror。　His　apologies；　when　finally　the　paralysis　of　his　fear　would　permit　him　to　voice　them；　were　so　abject　that　the　ape…man　could　scarce　repress　a　smile　of　amused　contempt。

〃Have　mercy；　O　Dor…ul…Otho；〃　he　pleaded；　〃on　poor　old　Dak…lot。　Precede　me　and　I　will　show　you　to　where　Ko…tan；　the　king；　awaits　you；　trembling。　Aside；　snakes　and　vermin；〃　he　cried　pushing　his　warriors　to　right　and　left　for　the　purpose　of　forming　an　avenue　for　Tarzan。

〃Come！〃　cried　the　ape…man　peremptorily；　〃lead　the　way；　and　let　these　others　follow。〃

The　now　thoroughly　frightened　Dak…lot　did　as　he　was　bid；　and　Tarzan　of　the　Apes　was　ushered　into　the　palace　of　Kotan；　King　of　Pal…ul…don。



9

Blood…Stained　Altars

THE　entrance　through　which　he　caught　his　first　glimpse　of　the　interior　was　rather　beautifully　carved　in　geometric　designs；　and　within　the　walls　were　similarly　treated；　though　as　he　proceeded　from　one　apartment　to　another　he　found　also　the　figures　of　animals；　birds；　and　men　taking　their　places　among　the　more　formal　figures　of　the　mural　decorator's　art。　Stone　vessels　were　much　in　evidence　as　well　as　ornaments　of　gold　and　the　skins　of　many　animals；　but　nowhere　did　he　see　an　indication　of　any　woven　fabric；　indicating　that　in　that　respect　at　least　the　Ho…don　were　still　low　in　the　scale　of　evolution；　and　yet　the　proportions　and　symmetry　of　the　corridors　and　apartments　bespoke　a　degree　of　civilization。

The　way　led　through　several　apartments　and　long　corridors；　up　at　least　three　flights　of　stone　stairs　and　finally　out　upon　a　ledge　upon　the　western　side　of　the　building　overlooking　the　blue　lake。　Along　this　ledge；　or　arcade；　his　guide　led　him　for　a　hundred　yards；　to　stop　at　last　before　a　wide　entrance…way　leading　into　another　apartment　of　the　palace。

Here　Tarzan　beheld　a　considerable　concourse　of　warriors　in　an　enormous　apartment；　the　domed　ceiling　of　which　was　fully　fifty　feet　above　the　floor。　Almost　filling　the　chamber　was　a　great　pyramid　ascending　in　broad　steps　well　up　under　the　dome　in　which　were　a　number　of　round　apertures　which　let　in　the　light。　The　steps　of　the　pyramid　were　occupied　by　warriors　to　the　very　pinnacle；　upon　which　sat　a　large；　imposing　figure　of　a　man　whose　golden　trappings　shone　brightly　in　the　light　of　the　afternoon　sun；　a　shaft　of　which　poured　through　one　of　the　tiny　apertures　of　the　dome。

〃Ko…tan！〃　cried　Dak…lot；　addressing　the　resplendent　figure　at　the　pinnacle　of　the　pyramid。　〃Ko…tan　and　warriors　of　Pal…ul…don！　Behold　the　honor　that　Jad…ben…Otho　has　done　you　in　sending　as　his　messenger　his　own　son；〃　and　Dak…lot；　stepping　aside；　indicated　Tarzan　with　a　dramatic　sweep　of　his　hand。

Ko…tan　rose　to　his　feet　and　every　warrior　within　sight　craned　his　neck　to　have　a　better　view　of　the　newcomer。　Those　upon　the　opposite　side　of　the　pyramid　crowded　to　the　front　as　the　words　of　the　old　warrior　reached　them。　Skeptical　were　the　expressions　on　most　of　the　faces；　but　theirs　was　a　skepticism　marked　with　caution。　No　matter　which　way　fortune　jumped　they　wished　to　be　upon　the　right　side　of　the　fence。　For　a　moment　all　eyes　were　centered　upon　Tarzan　and　then　gradually　they　drifted　to　Ko…tan；　for　from　his　attitude　would　they　receive　the　cue　that　would　determine　theirs。　But　Ko…tan　was　evidently　in　the　same　quandary　as　theythe　very　attitude　of　his　body　indicated　itit　was　one　of　indecision　and　of　doubt。

The　ape…man　stood　erect；　his　arms　folded　upon　his　broad　breast；　an　expression　of　haughty　disdain　upon　his　handsome　face；　but　to　Dak…lot　there　seemed　to　be　indications　also　of　growing　anger。　The　situation　was　becoming　strained。　Dak…lot　fidgeted；　casting　apprehensive　glances　at　Tarzan　and　appealing　ones　at　Ko…tan。　The　silence　of　the　tomb　wrapped　the　great　chamber　of　the　throneroom　of　Pal…ul…don。

At　last　Ko…tan　spoke。　〃Who　says　that　he　is　Dor…ul…Otho？〃　he　asked；　casting　a　terrible　look　at　Dak…lot。

〃He　does！〃　almost　shouted　that　terrified　noble。

〃And　so　it　must　be　true？〃　queried　Ko…tan。

Could　it　be　that　there　was　a　trace　of　irony　in　the　chief's　tone？　Otho　forbid！　Dak…lot　cast　a　side　glance　at　Tarzana　glance　that　he　intended　should　carry　the　assurance　of　his　own　faith；　but　that　succeeded　only　in　impressing　the　ape…man　with　the　other's　pitiable　terror。

〃O　Ko…tan！〃　pleaded　Dak…lot；　〃your　own　eyes　must　convince　you　that　indeed　he　is　the　son　of　Otho。　Behold　his　godlike　figure；　his　hands；　and　his　feet；　that　are　not　as　ours；　and　that　he　is　entirely　tailless　as　is　his　mighty　father。〃

Ko…tan　appeared　to　be　perceiving　these　facts　for　the　first　time　and　there　was　an　indication　that　his　skepticism　was　faltering。　At　that　moment　a　young　warrior　who　had　pushed　his　way　forward　from　the　opposite　side　of　the　pyramid　to　where　he　could　obtain　a　good　look　at　Tarzan　raised　his　voice。

〃Ko…tan；〃　he　cried；　〃it　must　be　even　as　Dak…lot　says；　for　I　am　sure　now　that　I　have　seen　Dor…ul…Otho　before。　Yesterday　as　we　were　returning　with　the　Kor…ul…lul　prisoners　we　beheld　him　seated　upon　the　back　of　a　great　gryf。　We　hid　in　the　woods　before　he　came　too　near；　but　I　saw　enough　to　make　sure　that　he　who　rode　upon　the　great　beast　was　none　other　than　the　messenger　who　stands　here　now。〃

This　evidence　seemed　to　be　quite　enough　to　convince　the　majority　of　the　warriors　that　they　indeed　stood　in　the　presence　of　deitytheir　faces　showed　it　only　too　plainly；　and　a　sudden　modesty　that　caused　them　to　shrink　behind　their　neighbors。　As　their　neighbors　were　attempting　to　do　the　same　thing；　the　result　was　a　sudden　melting　away　of　those　who　stood　nearest　the　ape…man；　until　the　steps　of　the　pyramid　directly　before　him　lay　vacant　to　the　very　apex　and　to　Ko…tan。　The　latter；　possibly　influenced　as　much　by　the　fearful　attitude　of　his　followers　as　by　the　evidence　adduced；　now　altered　his　tone　and　his　manner　in　such　a　degree　as　might　comport　with　the　requirements　if　the　stranger　was　indeed　the　Dor…ul…Otho　while　leaving　his　dignity　a　loophole　of　escape　should　it　appear　that　he　had　entertained　an　impostor。

〃If　indeed　you　are　the　Dor…ul…Otho；〃　he　said；　addressing　Tarzan；　〃you　will　know　that　our　doubts　were　but　natural　since　we　have　received　no　sign　from　Jad…ben…Otho　that　he　intended　honoring　us　so　greatly；　nor　how　could　we　know；　even；　that　the　Great　God　had　a　son？　If　you　are　he；　all　Pal…ul…don　rejoices　to　honor　you；　if　you　are　not　he；　swift　and　terrible　shall　be　the　punishment　of　your　temerity。　I；　Ko…tan；　King　of　Pal…ul…don；　have　spoken。〃

〃And　spoken　well；　as　a　king　should　speak；〃　said　Tarzan；　breaking　his　long　silence；　〃who　fears　and　honors　the　god　of　his　people。　It　is　well　that　you　insist　that　I　indeed　be　the　Dor…ul…Otho　before　you　accord　me　the　homage　that　is　my　due。　Jad…ben…Otho　charged　me　specially　to　ascertain　if　you　were　fit　to　rule　his　people。　My　first　experience　of　you　indicates　that　Jad…ben…Otho　chose　well　when　he　breathed　the　spirit　of　a　king　into　the　babe　at　your　mother's　breast。〃

The　effect　of　this　statement；　made　so　casually；　was　marked　in　the　expressions　and　excited　whispers　of　the　now　awe…struck　assemblage。　At　last　they　knew　how　kings　were　made！　It　was　decided　by　Jad…ben…Otho　while　the　candidate　was　still　a　suckling　babe！　Wonderful！　A　miracle！　and　this　divine　creature　in　whose　presence　they　stood　knew　all　about　it。　Doubtless　he　even　discussed　such　matters　with　their　god　daily。　If　there　had　been　an　atheist　among　them　before；　or　an　agnostic；　there　was　none　now；　for　had　they　not　looked　with　their　own　eyes　upon　the　son　of　god？

〃It　is　well　then；〃　continued　the　ape…man；　〃that　you　should　assure　yourself　that　I　am　no　impostor。　Come　closer　that　you　may　see　that　I　am　not　as　are　men。　Furthermore　it　is　not　meet　that　you　stand　upon　a　higher　level　than　the　son　of　your　god。〃　There　was　a　sudden　scramble　to　reach　the　floor　of　the　throne…room；　nor　was　Ko…tan　far　behind　his　warriors；　though　he　managed　to　maintain　a　certain　majestic　dignity　as　he　descended　th