A Priestess But Yet a Woman
At first La closed her eyes and clung to Tarzan in terror, though she made no outcry; but presently she gained sufficient courage to look about her, to look down at the ground beneath and even to keep her eyes open during the wide, perilous swings from tree to tree, and then there came over her a sense of safety because of her confidence in the perfect physical creature in whose strength and nerve and agility her fate lay.Once she raised her eyes to the burning sun and murmured a prayer of thanks to her pagan god that she had not been permitted to destroy this godlike man, and her long lashes were wet with tears.A strange anomaly was La of Opar--a creature of circumstance torn by conflicting emotions.Now the cruel and bloodthirsty creature of a heartless god and again a melting woman filled with compassion and tenderness.
Sometimes the incarnation of jealousy and revenge and sometimes a sobbing maiden, generous and forgiving; at once a virgin and a wanton; but always--a woman.
Such was La.
She pressed her cheek close to Tarzan's shoulder.
Slowly she turned her head until her hot lips were pressed against his flesh.She loved him and would gladly have died for him; yet within an hour she had been ready to plunge a knife into his heart and might again within the coming hour.
A hapless priest seeking shelter in the jungle chanced to show himself to enraged Tantor.The great beast turned to one side, bore down upon the crooked, little man, snuffed him out and then, diverted from his course, blundered away toward the south.In a few minutes even the noise of his trumpeting was lost in the distance.
Tarzan dropped to the ground and La slipped to her feet from his back."Call your people together," said Tarzan.
"They will kill me," replied La.
"They will not kill you," contradicted the ape-man.
"No one will kill you while Tarzan of the Apes is here.
Call them and we will talk with them."
La raised her voice in a weird, flutelike call that carried far into the jungle on every side.From near and far came answering shouts in the barking tones of the Oparian priests: "We come! We come!" Again and again, La repeated her summons until singly and in pairs the greater portion of her following approached and halted a short distance away from the High Priestess and her savior.They came with scowling brows and threatening mien.When all had come Tarzan addressed them.
"Your La is safe," said the ape-man."Had she slain me she would now herself be dead and many more of you; but she spared me that I might save her.Go your way with her back to Opar, and Tarzan will go his way into the jungle.Let there be peace always between Tarzan and La.What is your answer?"
The priests grumbled and shook their heads.They spoke together and La and Tarzan could see that they were not favorably inclined toward the proposition.They did not wish to take La back and they did wish to complete the sacrifice of Tarzan to the Flaming God.At last the ape-man became impatient.
"You will obey the commands of your queen," he said, "and go back to Opar with her or Tarzan of the Apes will call together the other creatures of the jungle and slay you all.La saved me that I might save you and her.I have served you better alive than I could have dead.If you are not all fools you will let me go my way in peace and you will return to Opar with La.
I know not where the sacred knife is; but you can fashion another.Had I not taken it from La you would have slain me and now your god must be glad that I took it since I have saved his priestess from love-mad Tantor.
Will you go back to Opar with La, promising that no harm shall befall her?"
The priests gathered together in a little knot arguing and discussing.They pounded upon their breasts with their fists; they raised their hands and eyes to their fiery god; they growled and barked among themselves until it became evident to Tarzan that one of their number was preventing the acceptance of his proposal.
This was the High Priest whose heart was filled with jealous rage because La openly acknowledged her love for the stranger, when by the worldly customs of their cult she should have belonged to him.Seemingly there was to be no solution of the problem until another priest stepped forth and, raising his hand, addressed La.
"Cadj, the High Priest," he announced, "would sacrifice you both to the Flaming God; but all of us except Cadj would gladly return to Opar with our queen."
"You are many against one," spoke up Tarzan.
"Why should you not have your will? Go your way with La to Opar and if Cadj interferes slay him."
The priests of Opar welcomed this suggestion with loud cries of approval.To them it appeared nothing short of divine inspiration.The influence of ages of unquestioning obedience to high priests had made it seem impossible to them to question his authority; but when they realized that they could force him to their will they were as happy as children with new toys.
They rushed forward and seized Cadj.They talked in loud menacing tones into his ear.They threatened him with bludgeon and knife until at last he acquiesced in their demands, though sullenly, and then Tarzan stepped close before Cadj.
"Priest," he said, "La goes back to her temple under the protection of her priests and the threat of Tarzan of the Apes that whoever harms her shall die.Tarzan will go again to Opar before the next rains and if harm has befallen La, woe betide Cadj, the High Priest."
Sullenly Cadj promised not to harm his queen.
"Protect her," cried Tarzan to the other Oparians.
"Protect her so that when Tarzan comes again he will find La there to greet him."
"La will be there to greet thee," exclaimed the High Priestess, "and La will wait, longing, always longing, until you come again.Oh, tell me that you will come!"
"Who knows?" asked the ape-man as he swung quickly into the trees and raced off toward the east.
For a moment La stood looking after him, then her head drooped, a sigh escaped her lips and like an old woman she took up the march toward distant Opar.