tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第25章
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that 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
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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
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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 me
and 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
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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；
