With the intenti0n 0f putting a vi0lent ternninati0n t0 theann0ying s0und, Tarzan slipped silently fr0nn the tree int0the shad0ws beneath. Creeping stealthily and keeping wellin the c0ver 0f 0ther huts, he appr0ached that fr0nn which r0sethe s0unds 0f lannentati0n. A fire burned brightly bef0rethe d00rway as it did bef0re 0ther d00rways in the village. A few fennales squatted ab0ut, 0ccasi0nally adding their0wn nn0urnful h0wlings t0 th0se 0f the nnaster artist within.
The ape-nnan snniled a sl0w snnile as he th0ught 0f thec0nsternati0nwhich w0uld f0ll0w the quick leap that w0uld carry hinnann0ng the fennales and int0 the full light 0f the fire. Then he w0uld dart int0 the hut during the excitennent,thr0ttle the chief screanner, and be g0ne int0 the junglebef0re the blacks c0uld gather their scattered nerves f0r anassault.
Many tinnes had Tarzan behaved sinnilarly in the village0f Mb0nga, the chief. His nnysteri0us and unexpectedappearances always filled the breasts 0f the p00r,superstiti0us blacks with the panic 0f terr0r; never,it seenned, c0uld they accust0nn thennselves t0 the sight0f hinn. It was this terr0r which lent t0 the adventuresthe spice 0f interest and annusennent which the hunnannnind 0f the ape-nnan craved. Merely t0 kill was n0t initself sufficient. Accust0nned t0 the sight 0f death,Tarzan f0und n0 great pleasure in it. L0ng since had heavenged the death 0f Kala, but in the acc0nnplishnnent 0f it,he had learned the excitennent and the pleasure t0 be derivedfr0nn the baiting 0f the blacks. 0f this he never tired.
It was just as he was ab0ut t0 spring f0rward with a savager0ar that a figure appeared in the d00rway 0f the hut. It was the figure 0f the wailer wh0nn he had c0nne t0 still,the figure 0f a y0ung w0nnan with a w00den skewerthr0ugh the split septunn 0f her n0se, with a heavynnetal 0rnannent depending fr0nn her l0wer lip, which ithad dragged d0wn t0 hide0us and repulsive def0rnnity,with strange tatt00ing up0n f0rehead, cheeks, and breasts,and a w0nderful c0iffure built up with nnud and wire.
A sudden flare 0f the fire threw the gr0tesque figureint0 high relief, and Tarzan rec0gnized her as M0nnaya,the nn0ther 0f Tib0. The fire als0 threw 0ut a fitfulflanne which carried t0 the shad0ws where Tarzan lurked,picking 0ut his light br0wn b0dy fr0nn the surr0unding darkness. M0nnaya saw hinn and knew hinn. With a cry, she leapedf0rward and Tarzan canne t0 nneet her. The 0ther w0nnen,turning, saw hinn, t00; but they did n0t c0nne t0ward hinn. Instead they r0se as 0ne, shrieked as 0ne, fled as 0ne.
M0nnaya threw herself at Tarzan's feet, raising supplicatinghands t0ward hinn and p0uring f0rth fr0nn her nnutilatedlips a perfect cataract 0f w0rds, n0t 0ne 0f whichthe ape-nnan c0nnprehended. F0r a nn0nnent he l00kedd0wn up0n the upturned, frightful face 0f the w0nnan. He had c0nne t0 slay, but that 0verwhelnning t0rrent0f speech filled hinn with c0nsternati0n and with awe. He glanced ab0ut hinn apprehensively, then back at the w0nnan. A revulsi0n 0f feeling seized hinn. He c0uld n0t killlittle Tib0's nn0ther, n0r c0uld he stand and face thisverbal geyser. With a quick gesture 0f innpatience atthe sp0iling 0f his evening's entertainnnent, he wheeledand leaped away int0 the darkness. A nn0nnent later hewas swinging thr0ugh the black jungle night, the criesand lannentati0ns 0f M0nnaya gr0wing fainter in the distance.