New Tarzan - Tarzan And The Abominable Snowmen Part 4

The mechanic was carefully examining the radiator. Other hands had taken the driver from the lorry and laid him under the scant shade afforded by a thorn tree, where they were bathing his brow with wet cloths. The mechanic straightened after completing his examination, stared thoughtfully off at the horizon, shaking his head. Jane spoke to him, and he answered in a few swift words.

"What's the beggar say?" Burke asked, bluntly. He was far too hot, too angry for the niceties.

"He will have to get it back to the garage for repairs. He figures he can drive a few miles at a time, then he will have to stop to let it cool off, and then go on again. It will probably take him the rest of the day and well into the night. He asks for a pair of guards, as he must go through lion country after nightfall. He will rejoin us, if all goes well, sometime tomorrow."

Burke slapped himself on the forehead, groaning. "We'll have to move some of the load, then. My generator and my wireless are on that lorry. Lady Greystoke, I think perhaps this safari is doomed to failure. Preordained, one might say. Have you ever heard of a thing called, G.o.d save the mark, 'Burke's Law'?"

Jane Clayton shook her head.

"It goes like this: 'Whatever can go wrong, will go wrongs I never really gave it much thought until now. Well, I must get cracking. There surely," he said, bitterly, "must be something else to go wrong before nightfall!"

However, after moving part of the load so that the wireless would be available, the balance of the day was uneventful, aside from one rather sticky incident when the Land Rover in which the women were riding bogged down in an "easy" river crossing shortly before dusk. Fortunately, the winch was working, and it took only a moment to run a cable to a tree on the far bank, while Burke waded in midstream, shouting and giving orders to a completely uncomprehending group of natives. Eventually, the Land Rover was hauled out, and a mile or so along the trace the safari made camp for the night.

That evening, after dinner. Lady Greystoke touched Arthur Burke on the arm. "You were very brave," she told him.

"Brave? A strange choice of words. Lady Greystoke. Forbearing, perhaps, but hardly brave."

"No, no," and she was mpst insistent. "Brave. Even Lord Greystoke wouldn't have waded about in that river the way you did. lt's positively crawling with crocodiles, you know!"

"Good Lord," Burke groaned, and went into his tent. He uncorked a bottle of Scotch, and poured five fingers into a tumbler, draining it at a gulp.

Tarzan and Jedak, the great .ape, followed at a distance, both considerably winded by the high alt.i.tude. Teemu, the Sherpa guide, on the contrary, fairly romped up the (to him) easy slope. Jedak had long since stifled his rage, and was no longer waving his arms. He plodded along behind Tarzan, little puffs of vapor coming from his nostrils. It was turning into something of a nightmare when the Sherpa suddenly stopped, looked over his shoulder at the trailing pair and, with hand signals, ordered them to halt and wait for his return. Gratefully, Tarzan and Jedak sank to their haunches. "I will never think again," Jedak said.

Tarzan looked at him curiously. "What?"

Jedak regarded the snowy slopes with disgust, shivered. "I will never think again. To think is to do wrong. Look at me. I had one thought. It was needful to see you in order to have this thought explained to me. Now, here I crouch, shivering in this white stuff, shivering like a dik- dik hiding under a small bush. One is better off to feel, to act, but not to think. Also, I am hungry."

"Do not dwell upon it, old friend. Soon, we will find this creature we are tracking. Then our blood will warm from combat!"

Jedak looked away, which was an expression of indifference. "Such a creature is welcome to his land, if this is his land. I have never before seen anything such as this. Nor do I wish to see more of it."

"But you learn. Now you have seen what you did not know of. So you learn. Which is how both mangani and tarmangani acquire wisdom."

"Perhaps. I would speak with you of something, if you will not think me stupid, or boastful. Truthfully, I do not know the meaning of it, yet I think it has a meaning. My cub."

"Yes?"

Jedak gloomed for a second or so. "My cub. A few suns ago, he brought me a gift. A strange gift. A sharp-pointed rock stuck in the fork of a st.u.r.dy branch and wrapped firmly into place with stout vines." Jedak wiped his muzzle with a giant paw, looked cautiously at Tarzan. "He told me it was a 'hit-stick,' and that many of the other cubs had also made them. This is a strange thing. Do you think it is good?"

"It is a sign," Tarzan said, marveling. "Your people, Jedak, move forward. Always it is the cubs that move forward. It will be a good thing for bringing down small game and birds."

"That is another thing," Jedak said. "The mangani have always eaten fruits, yams, roots, vegetables, berries. Meat only when nothing else was at hand and our bellies growled from hunger. Yet I note that the cubs prefer meat above all else." He shook his head. "It is not a natural thing. Well, we talk no more of it now. My head hurts from so many thoughts. What has happened to The One Who Stinks?" He was referring to Teemu, the Sherpa, who just then popped back into sight, and waved them on forward.

Tarzan felt a distressing lack of communication here, but had forthwith to resign himself to the fact that aside from hand signals there could be no way of ascertaining what the Sherpa had in mind. For the first time, Tarzan felt a distinct sense of unease. Jedak, too, with the almost unerring instinct of the beast, was rolling his head from side to side as they crept slowly up the slope. They reached the shadow of a snow cliff, and Teemu beckoned them forward.

At that moment, before any of the trio could prepare for a defense, several enormous figures leaped upon them, bearing them to the ground. Jedak screamed in impotent rage. Tarzan fought silently, but futilely. Teemu was overwhelmed at once.

The ape-man's steely thighs and sinewy muscles were helpless against the superhuman strength.

The yeti had allowed their victims to come to them!

Chapter 9.

FORCES UNITED.

IT was sometime before dawn and sometime after mid- night when Jane became aware of a third presence in the tent she shared with Patricia Newhall. A leathery finger touched her, tentatively, and a tentative voice said "Whuff." Jane came immediately awake, senses alert. Without opening her eyes, she scented the presence of something other than a human in the tent. Instinctively, she knew it was not a completely alien or dangerous presence. She allowed herself a second or two, then said, questioningly, "Nendat?"

Now Jane opened her eyes, seeing in silhouette the giant, s.h.a.ggy figure of Jedak's mate squatting on the ground cloth beside Jane's cot. "What do you here?" Nendat snuffled again. "All night, last night, my mate, Jedak, was restless. He went to the compound of Tarzan, your mate."

Jane sat up, holding her blanket about her as a sort of protection against the cold night air. "And?" she prompted.

"Jedak and Tarzan flew away in the silver bird together. With others."

"Jedak? In the silver bird?"

So I have been told. By Chulk, who followed Jedak last night. Jedak is too---" the she-ape groped for a word -bold. Brave. Curious. He is my mate and the father of my pups. Leader of the tribe. I. . .I worry." The she-ape looked imploringly at Jane. Jane wrapped a companionable arm about Nendat's huge shoulders.

Your mate and mine," Jane said, comfortingly "are the two strongest in the forest. Tarzan looks to protect he safety of some tarmangani who seek a strange beast Undoubtedly, Jedak wished to accompany him. They are old friends, despite their growlings at each other. Nendat, how far is your tribe encamped from here? I have an idea."

The giant she-ape delicately rubbed a nostril with the tip of a huge finger. "I could go there and back, when Goro, the moon, reaches the top branches in the trees. A short time."

"Do you have an old she who can watch the pups? So that the rest of the tribe can come with us? I have a feeling we may need all the help we can get."

Nendat scratched energetically as she thought this out. There is Katala. She is old, very old, but still able to handle the pups."

Jane nodded. "Good. Bring four tribe to the clearing within a short time, the shortest possible. I will speak to them. Who is leader in Jedak's absence?"

"Chulk. Or Taglat. I will bring the tribe. You will meet us?"

"Give me a call, and I will join you outside the boma. Hasten, then, Nendat. I await you. I think it would be good if we joined forces."

Nendat reached out and touched Jane's face, gently, then quietly, like a bulky ghost, went out from under the end of the tent. Jane, estimating that she had another hour before Nendat could possibly return, lay back down. Across the tent, Patricia Newhall murmured in her sleep. There should have been word from Tarzan by now. Jane was as worried as Nendat. She doubted, very seriously, if the she-ape would be able to round up the tribe of great apes and bring them within a reasonable distance of the camp. Even if this near-impossible feat could be accomplished, it was even more unlikely that Nendat's efforts would keep the apes together for a long trek into unfamiliar terrain. It was impossible, Jane knew, to keep the giant anthropoid's interest focused on any one thing for more than a short period of time. Still, Nendat was ent.i.tled to her try. Jane dosed her eyes, dozing off.

At almost the same instant, a runner came into camp, one of the Waziri scouts. He was living testimony to the iron discipline Basuli placed upon his warriors. No Waziri, except under the strictest orders, would think of racing through lion country at night. Intrepid though they were, they had a healthy regard for the beast that was the fiercest in the jungle. This messenger stood, flanks heaving and great streams of sweat coursing down his sides, as he told his tale to the men on the night guard. More than once, he had pa.s.sed within mere feet, inches, of the cough of a hungry, night-prowling carnivore. He regained his composure as he boasted of the mighty trip he had taken. The listening warriors gave the proper cries of adulation and respect. He was given a gourd of water from which he drank mightily, then he asked to speak to the mate of the great white-skinned ape. "It would also be needful," he added, important with the orders he had been given, "to rouse the warriors, and to pack the vehicles. We must move out at once."

"In the midst of the night?"

"Even so." The runner was scornful. "Do you fear the night? I came through many miles of it, alone. Please awaken Tarzan's mate. I must speak with her. Stand around, or start packing. It is all one with me."

Several oily branches were cast upon the campfire to brighten up the scene. The cook prepared coffee, laid out bread, jam and b.u.t.ter for the English, put on a pot of water to boil to make cous-cous for the Waziri, for it is well-known that one cannot travel well on an empty belly, and Jane came out of her tent, fully dressed. The runner, who had been waiting for her appearance, strode to her, gave his message. "Basuli sent me through the night, knowing that I am the bravest of his warriors, to bring this message-Tarzan, Jedak the ape, and 'He Who Stinks' jumped with the silken cloths from the silver bird, high on the side of the mountain. Basuli flew the bird back to the low ground, then sought me out. He believes you should come at once as there is evidence of great danger. Warriors and supplies are urgently needed. This is my message."

Jane's heart sank a little. "In moments we shall leave. Get yourself some food and rest. You are not to help with the loading. You have done enough. How far is the silver bird from here?"

"I ran five hours. It is," he added, honestly, "perhaps a six-hour run, but I heard Simba cough several times, which lent a certain speed to my feet."

Jane smiled. "Understandable. You have done well, and I shall see that Basuli hears of it. Now, rest while you may. There are many things to do."

After the boy left, Jane summoned another of the camp guards, sent him to wake Arthur Burke. She spent a few moments checking the preparations for loading the transport, then, taking a rifle, went outside the thorn boma, circling, searching for Nendat and the great apes. She heard a faint crackling of brush once, and turned, rifle at the ready. There was a silence, the flash of yellow- green eyes as a flicker of light danced through the thorn boma, then the eyes disappeared. Whatever it was had disappeared. She returned to camp, a bit disappointed. She joined Burke and Pat for coffee. Burke excused himself after a few bites of bread and jam, and, carrying his steaming mug of coffee, went to his generator and cranked it up, then turned on his transmitter and called London, giving the latest details. He took only a few moments, then snapped the switch shut, cut off the generator, and supervised the loading of the most important (to him) equipment. A half-hour after the runner had arrived in camp, the safari was pressing on again, southward, to search for Basuli and, presumably, Tarzan and the rest of the ill-fated yeti expedition.

And after another half-hour had pa.s.sed, Nendat, in company with Chulk and Taglat and the rest of the great apes, arrived at the campsite. A smoldering bed of coals, not quite extinguished, told that a party had been here.

"Here are the tracks," Nendat said. "They have de- parted to the south. We shall follow."

"Foolish she," Chulk growled, stalking about the boma. He found a discarded bit of bread and jam, stuffed it into his maw. "What purpose would this serve?" He looked about for another bit of bread, hopefully.

"Then I go, alone if I must. Jedak is with Tarzan. Tarzan's mate has said it would be a good thing if we were all to go."

Taglat looked as embarra.s.sed as it is possible for a great ape to look. "I do not believe in this thing, Nendat," he said, looking away from her to signify indifference, "but I will go. No, I will lead the way. None is more skillful on the trail than Taglat."

Chulk dropped to all fours, neck bristling and yellowed fangs gloaming. He stomped his feet in a poor imitation of one of the famed rages indulged in from time to time by the missing Jedak. "I am most skillful on the trail. None can trail like Chulk!" he challenged.

The thoughtful Terkoz, always a balancing factor in these tribal disputes, remarked, "We shall see. Let us see which is the more skillful. Nendat, let us go. When these two finish arguing, perhaps they can follow in our path."

Nendat swung into the closest tree, rapidly climbing to the upper terrace where the boughs were thinner and travel was swifter. Terkoz followed, and, in a moment, so did the boastful Chulk, then Taglat, Kerchak and Tub- lat. Six apes in all, one of them a she, but a formidable fighting force. Few living creatures could stand against them or, standing, survive the battle. In a savage competi- tion, they tried to outdo each other in daring leaps, in sheer speed, so that, in moments only, they saw the headlights of the safari, and, moments later, were loping along in the middle terrace, keeping pace, none of them even so much as winded.

On the ground, the safari wasn't doing nearly as well. One of the Land Rovers had become stuck, and a grunt- ing cursing group of proud Waziri warriors was trying to get it unglued from an impossibly sticky mora.s.s which hadn't been apparent in the light from the headlamps. Jane was impatiently stalking about the small caravan, when she heard her name called in the language of the great apes. She moved into the shadows, and Nendat swung down beside her. "You got the tribe?" Jane asked, almost unbelieving.

"Five of them and myself. How long will the [there was no word for 'safari' in the language of the apes] tarmangani be here?"

Jane shook her head. Tears came to her eyes, unbidden. "I do not know. I know only that I belong at the side of my mate, Tarzan."

The she-ape reached out and stroked Jane's lovely hair. "Yes. Why not come with us?"

Jane bit her lip. It would have been criminal, she knew, to leave Burke and Patricia out here by themselves. Still there was the Waziri bodyguard. Surely, in three or four hours, the safari could reach the airplane, which was presumably going to be the site of the base camp. "Wait on me," she whispered to Nendat. "I'll be back in a moment."

Jane hastened to the Land Rover in which she and Patricia had been riding, reached into a hamper and took out her own jungle garb. Under the astonished eyes of the British girl, Jane changed, then slung a bow and a quiver of arrows on her shoulder. "Lady Greystoke, whatever are you doing?" cried Patricia, who'd never seen Jane dressed for jungle travel.

"I leave you here," Jane said. "I will meet you at the plane. Tell Arthur to head due south by compa.s.s. No time to explain."

Patricia Newhall looked on in utter astonishment as Jane swung into the nearest tree and disappeared from sight.

Suddenly, the British girl was frightened. More frightened than she'd ever been in her life.

Chapter 10.

TO THE ARENA.

"G.o.d! " Freddy Keys-Smythe said, at the sight of the broken body of the dancing girl tossed carelessly against the side of the arena, as the dance progressed. "These people are brutes!"

Al took a deep breath. "Makes you wonder, doesn't it? Are we guests or are we the next order of sacrifice?"

Food and drink were brought to their box by slave girls, and they started to eat, sparingly. It might have been a bad thing to have any sort of appet.i.te, considering what they'd just seen, but hunger is a natural impulse, not to be denied by the niceties. All three were still famished from their exertions of the day and night. Charley picked up a bit of meat, dripping with sauce, took a bite, and mumbled acknowledgement of its tastiness. "What time is it, anyway?"

Al glanced at his wrist watch. "Just past six in the morning. I suppose time doesn't mean a great deal in this rather subterranean place. I say, the queen is looking this way!"

Indeed she was. She had pa.s.sed over Freddy and Al with a glance, but her eyes had settled on Charley. "You might be the new prince, or whatever, old man," Al rea.s.sured him. "Yon queen certainly is looking you over. Well, lad, you're a splendid physical specimen. I hope you'll do old England proud!"

Queen Ak-Ahmen, comfortably ensconced in her royal box, beckoned to her chamberlain, Ra-Man. She held a level gaze on Charley, as she whispered into Ra-Man's car. He nodded understanding, started to thread his way through the crowded arena towards the three Englishmen. With a clash of cymbals, the dance came to an end. The queen clapped her hands, as the arena cleared, and a yeti, possibly eight feet tall, emerged from a tunnel at one end of the stadium, and picked up the broken body of the dancer who had been killed at the queen's order. The yeti tucked the body carelessly over its shoulder and left the arena at a trot.

Al let out a long sigh. "Did you see the beggar," he implored. "Did you see it? Eight feet of muscle. Good Lord, nothing could stand against such a monstrosity!"

Charley had another bite of food, picked up a flagon of wine and drank heavily. "Well, lads, it's undoubtedly the custom of the country."

Al put down a piece of fruit, wiped his hands on his silken robe. "Here comes Ra-Man. He's looking right at you, Charley, old boot. You must be the most virile looking among us."

The Hon. Freddy was off on a tangent of his own. "The d.a.m.ned things are bears! They really are. Discount the human-type face on them. Take everything else into consideration. They're bears, by the Lord! As big or bigger than the Kodiak, off Kodiak island! Unbelievable. And with a considerably higher degree of intelligence. But they are bears, of a sort."

Freddy fell silent as Ra-Man bowed courteously. He turned his attention to the blushing Charley. "Congratulations, sir," he murmured. "Her Majesty, Ak-Ahmen, would have you by her side for the remainder of the games."

"Goodbye, good old Charley," Al said, unsympathetically. "Happy everything to you."

" 'And then there were two," " Freddy quoted somewhat haphazardly.

"Thanks, fellows. I don't know what I did to deserve this honor."

"Well," Al said, thoughtfully, "it's a curse to be beautiful, old man. We must carry our burdens." He held aloft another rib dripping with sauce. "By the way, Ra-Man, my congratulations. Excellent bit of meat. What is it? Mountain goat?"

Ra-Man, graciously indicating that Charley should lead the way, turned back with a smile. "Yeti," he said. "Quite young. It is excellent, isn't it?"

Al felt a knot in his stomach, and very narrowly escaped committing an outrageous social blunder. All about them the amphitheatre was filled with the same type of people as the queen and her suzerain. They were laughing, apparently placing wagers on whatever was to happen next, and feasting from apparently inexhaustible supplies of delicacies. "Look like Egyptians, by Georgel" Freddy Keys-Smythe said. "Amazing!"

Al took a drink of the liquor, coughed, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He'd only been half- listening. "What?"

"I do believe we've stumbled upon a lost tribe of Egyptians," Freddy breathed.

"Stumbled upon? We were b.l.o.o.d.y well had, old man!"

"No matter." Freddy was impatient of details. "That would explain so many things. Take a look at that golden headband of the queen's. See? A golden asp. Aha! Just what Cleopatra is reliably reported to have habitually worn. Note her costume-"