Adventure stories; Fantasy fiction; Tarzan (Fictitious character) -- Fiction
Caraftap made a noise in his throat that sounded much like the squeal
of an angry pig and once again he rushed upon the ape-man. Behind them
some slaves were being let into the corridor and as the aperture was
open one of the warriors beyond it, who chanced to be stooping down
at the time, could see within. He saw but little, though what he saw
was enough--a large slave with a shock of black hair raising another
large slave high above his head and dashing him to the hard floor. The
warrior, pushing the slaves aside, scrambled through into the corridor
and ran forward toward the center. Before they were aware of his
presence he stood facing Tarzan and Talaskar. It was Kalfastoban.
"What is the meaning of this?" he cried in a loud voice, and then:
"Ah, ha! I see. It is The Giant. He would show the other slaves how
strong he is, would he?" He glanced at Caraftap, struggling to rise
from the floor, and his face grew very dark--Caraftap was a favorite of
his. "Such things are not permitted here, fellow!" he cried, shaking
his fist in the ape-man's face, and forgetting in his anger that the
new slave neither spoke nor understood. But presently he recollected
and motioned Tarzan to follow him. "A hundred lashes will explain to
him that he must not quarrel," he said aloud to no one in particular,
but he was looking at Talaskar.
"Do not punish him," cried the girl, still forgetful of herself. "It
was all Caraftap's fault, Zuanthrol but acted in self-defense."
Kalfastoban could not take his eyes from the girl's face and presently
she sensed her danger and flushed, but still she stood her ground,
interceding for the ape-man. A crooked smile twisted Kalfastoban's
mouth as he laid a familiar hand upon her shoulder.
"How old are you?" he asked.
She told him, shuddering.
"I shall see your master and purchase you," he announced. "Take no
mate."
Tarzan was looking at Talaskar and it seemed that he could see her
wilt, as a flower wilts in noxious air, and then Kalfastoban turned
upon him.
"You cannot understand me, you stupid beast," he said; "but I can
tell you, and those around you may listen and, perhaps, guide you from
danger. This time I shall let you off, but let it happen again and you
shall have a hundred lashes, or worse, maybe; and if I hear that you
have had aught to do with this girl, whom I intend to purchase and take
to the surface, it will go still harder with you," with which he strode
to the entrance and passed through into the corridor beyond.
After the Vental had departed and the door of the chamber been closed
a hand was laid upon Tarzan's shoulder from behind and a man's voice
called him by name: "Tarzan!" It sounded strange in his ears, far down
in this buried chamber beneath the ground, in an alien city and among
an alien people, not one of whom ever had heard his name, but as he
turned to face the man who had greeted him a look of recognition and a
smile of pleasure overspread his features.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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