Burroughs, Edgar Rice Caspak 2 The People That Time Forgot

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aim; it was as though my subconscious mind, impelled by a stronger power even than that of
self-preservation, directed my hand. Ajor was in danger! Simultaneously with the thought my pistol flew
to position, a streak of incandescent powder marked the path of the bullet from its muzzle; and the spear,
its point shattered, was deflected from its path. With a howl of dismay the six Band-lu rose from their
shelter and raced away toward the south.
I turned toward Ajor. She was very white and wide-eyed, for the clutching fingers of death had all but
seized her; but a little smile came to her lips and an expression of great pride to her eyes. "My Tom!" she
said, and took my hand in hers. That was all--"My Tom!" and a pressure of the hand. Her Tom!
Something stirred within my bosom. Was it exaltation or was it consternation? Impossible! I turned away
almost brusquely.
"Come!" I said, and strode off toward the Kro-lu prisoner.
The Kro-lu stood watching us with stolid indifference. I presume that he expected to be killed; but if he
did, he showed no outward sign of fear. His eyes, indicating his greatest interest, were fixed upon my
pistol or the rifle which Ajor still carried. I cut his bonds with my knife. As I did so, an expression of
surprise tinged and animated the haughty reserve of his countenance. He eyed me quizzically.
"What are you going to do with me?" he asked.
"You are free," I replied. "Go home, if you wish."
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"Why don't you kill me?" he inquired. "I am defenseless."
"Why should I kill you? I have risked my life and that of this young lady to save your life. Why, therefore
should I now take it?" Of course, I didn't say "young lady" as there is no Caspakian equivalent for that
term; but I have to allow myself considerable latitude in the translation of Caspakian conversations. To
speak always of a beautiful young girl as a "she" may be literal; but it seems far from gallant.
The Kro-lu concentrated his steady, level gaze upon me for at least a full minute. Then he spoke again.
"Who are you, man of strange skins?" he asked. "Your she is Galu; but you are neither Galu nor Krolu
nor Band-lu, nor any other sort of man which I have seen before. Tell me from whence comes so mighty
a warrior and so generous a foe."
"It is a long story," I replied, "but suffice it to say that I am not of Caspak. I am a stranger here, and--let
this sink in--I am not a foe. I have no wish to be an enemy of any man in Caspak, with the possible
exception of the Galu warrior Du-seen."
"Du-seen!" he exclaimed. "You are an enemy of Du-seen? And why?"
"Because he would harm Ajor," I replied. "You know him?"
"He cannot know him," said Ajor. "Du-seen rose from the Kro-lu long ago, taking a new name, as all do
when they enter a new sphere. He cannot know him, as there is no intercourse between the Kro-lu and
the Galu."
The warrior smiled. "Du-seen rose not so long ago," he said, "that I do not recall him well, and recently
he has taken it upon himself to abrogate the ancient laws of Caspak; he had had intercourse with the
Kro-lu. Du-seen would be chief of the Galus, and he has come to the Kro-lu for help.
Ajor was aghast. The thing was incredible. Never had Kro-lu and Galu had friendly relations; by the
savage laws of Caspak they were deadly enemies, for only so can the several races maintain their
individuality.
"Will the Kro-lu join him?" asked Ajor. "Will they invade the country of Jor my father?"
"The younger Kro-lu favor the plan," replied the warrior, "since they believe they will thus become Galus
immediately. They hope to span the long years of change through which they must pass in the ordinary
course of events and at a single stride become Galus. We of the older Kro-lu tell them that though they
occupy the land of the Galu and wear the skins and ornaments of the golden people, still they will not be
Galus till the time arrives that they are ripe to rise. We also tell them that even then they will never
become a true Galu race, since there will still be those among them who can never rise. It is all right to
raid the Galu country occasionally for plunder, as our people do; but to attempt to conquer it and hold it
is madness. For my part, I have been content to wait until the call came to me. I feel that it cannot now
be long."
"What is your name?" asked Ajor.
"Chal-az, " replied the man.
"You are chief of the Kro-lu?" Ajor continued.
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"No, it is Al-tan who is chief of the Kro-lu of the east," answered Chal-az.
"And he is against this plan to invade my father's country?"
"Unfortunately he is rather in favor of it," replied the man, "since he has about come to the conclusion
that he is batu. He has been chief ever since, before I came up from the Band-lu, and I can see no
change in him in all those years. In fact, he still appears to be more Band-lu than Kro-lu. However, he is
a good chief and a mighty warrior, and if Du-seen persuades him to his cause, the Galus may find
themselves under a Kro-lu chieftain before long--Du-seen as well as the others, for Al-tan would never [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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