tarzan the terrible-第40部分

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uickly　forward　toward　her　kill。

〃Bravo！〃　A　man's　voice　spoke　in　English　from　the　shrubbery　upon　the　opposite　side　of　the　stream。　Jane　Clayton　halted　in　her　tracksstunned；　almost；　by　surprise。　And　then　a　strange；　unkempt　figure　of　a　man　stepped　into　view。　At　first　she　did　not　recognize　him；　but　when　she　did；　instinctively　she　stepped　back。

〃Lieutenant　Obergatz！〃　she　cried。　〃Can　it　be　you？〃

〃It　can。　It　is；〃　replied　the　German。　〃I　am　a　strange　sight；　no　doubt；　but　still　it　is　I；　Erich　Obergatz。　And　you？　You　have　changed　too；　is　it　not？〃

He　was　looking　at　her　naked　limbs　and　her　golden　breastplates；　the　loin　cloth　of　jato…hide；　the　harness　and　ornaments　that　constitute　the　apparel　of　a　Ho…don　womanthe　things　that　Lu…don　had　dressed　her　in　as　his　passion　for　her　grew。　Not　Ko…tan's　daughter；　even；　had　finer　trappings。

〃But　why　are　you　here？〃　Jane　insisted。　〃I　had　thought　you　safely　among　civilized　men　by　this　time；　if　you　still　lived。〃

〃Gott！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃I　do　not　know　why　I　continue　to　live。　I　have　prayed　to　die　and　yet　I　cling　to　life。　There　is　no　hope。　We　are　doomed　to　remain　in　this　horrible　land　until　we　die。　The　bog！　The　frightful　bog！　I　have　searched　its　shores　for　a　place　to　cross　until　I　have　entirely　circled　the　hideous　country。　Easily　enough　we　entered；　but　the　rains　have　come　since　and　now　no　living　man　could　pass　that　slough　of　slimy　mud　and　hungry　reptiles。　Have　I　not　tried　it！　And　the　beasts　that　roam　this　accursed　land。　They　hunt　me　by　day　and　by　night。〃

〃But　how　have　you　escaped　them？〃　she　asked。

〃I　do　not　know；〃　he　replied　gloomily。　〃I　have　fled　and　fled　and　fled。　I　have　remained　hungry　and　thirsty　in　tree　tops　for　days　at　a　time。　I　have　fashioned　weaponsclubs　and　spearsand　I　have　learned　to　use　them。　I　have　slain　a　lion　with　my　club。　So　even　will　a　cornered　rat　fight。　And　we　are　no　better　than　rats　in　this　land　of　stupendous　dangers；　you　and　I。　But　tell　me　about　yourself。　If　it　is　surprising　that　I　live；　how　much　more　so　that　you　still　survive。〃

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　for　he　but　stood　sullenly　ey