Quest of the Golden Ape Page 9

  CHAPTER IX

  _In Custody_

  Bram Forest regained consciousness upon a grassy slope across whichslanted the rays of a setting sun. The same sun that had warmed himupon the planet Tarth--of this he was certain.

  He arose and glanced about quickly, realizing--while he was sure hehad returned to Earth--that he could be many miles from the mysteriousmansion under which he had spent one hundred years.

  Screaming, Ylia offered her own body in defense of herloved one.]

  At first his heart sank because the terrain was not at all familiar.Then it rose again as he saw the tower of the gray mansion pushingsomberly above the line of the forest top. He stood for a moment,orienting himself with the tower the center of his calculations. Thenhe moved out of the glade toward his right.

  But he had gone scarcely ten feet into the wooded area when hissharpened instincts gave him quick warning and he dropped like a stoneand lay still.

  The sound of footsteps greatened until their echo came loud in hisears and a man passed not ten feet from his outstretched hands.

  The man wore the blue uniform and smart cap of a state trooper and hewas on the alert but not so much so as to detect the silent BramForest.

  The latter, with the first moment he had had to give thought tohimself since he had awakened in the cavern on the Plains of Ofrid,realized suddenly that he was no longer naked. He had of course beenvaguely aware of this before but now he gave it his attention andrealized what had happened. He focused on past events.

  * * * * *

  During his time of unconsciousness from the treacherous Abarian'sblade thrust, the beautiful Ylia had garbed him in the brilliantuniform of the slain Nadian, Jlomec. This uniform was both colorfuland practical but it did nothing to either hide or encumber the greatmuscles of his chest and arms, thighs.

  The State Trooper passed on his way and Bram Forest wondered what hewas doing about the old mansion. But this did not occupy his thoughtsfor long. As soon as the way was clear, he moved like a great catthrough the underbrush toward the spot from whence he had made hisexodus to the planet Tarth. As he skirted the last glade, he prayedthat the second article in the box containing the fabulous disc he hadnow switched to his right wrist, still lay where he had carelesslydropped it.

  He came to the edge of the open field and warily surveyed the terrain.No one was in sight. He strained his ears for the sound of anyapproaching footsteps and heard nothing. He sprang swiftly into theopen and ran across the field.

  It was there--the flat white package--exactly where he had dropped itthat first morning. He swept it up, intent upon returning to theshelter of the forest.

  But his interest in what lay beneath the white paper wrapping hadgrown to such a point of intensity that his footsteps lagged, hisattention riveted upon the tantalizing thing, and he came to a fullstop mid-field while his strong fingers tore at the wrappings.

  The white parchment came away and Bram Forest stared at what wasrevealed. Then a strange and terrifying change came over him. Hishandsome features contorted as every drop of blood was drained fromhis face. His great frame shook as with an illness and such ademoniacal rage came over him as few people in this or any other worldhave seen.

  Now a great and terrifying cry arose from his throat; a cry that makeeven the beasts of this forest freeze in their tracks and crouch lowerin their places of concealment. A cry of such rage and agony that eventhe trees of the forest seemed to pause and listen in mute wonder....

  * * * * *

  Mulcahey Davis, State Trooper, picked brambles from the legs of hisblue uniform and cursed his assignment in no uncertain terms.

  Why in the name of law and decency had he and Mowbray been ordered topatrol this tangled, deserted spook-hole? Sure--the body of some oldhobo had been found in a well with rocks thrown on it but what were heand Mowbray going to prove by tramping around through these brambles?

  Mulcahey Davis heard footsteps and looked up to see Mowbray laboringacross the last few yards of his beat. Mowbray broke from the lastclutching strands of thorn bush and began beating burrs from his legs."Find anything?" he asked.

  "Not a blasted thing. It's downright crazy, our clambering around thiswoods. What will we find? A couple of rabbits?"

  "That body in the well has to be investigated," Mowbray said,seriously. "Pretty odd deal."

  "What progress have they made?"

  "They've located the outfit that held this place in trust, but the guyin charge had a stroke or something. He can't be questioned. They maynever be able to question him. An old guy named Pride. He's in prettybad shape."

  "Chances are he wouldn't know anything about it even if they could askhim. What would he have been doing out here?"

  "There's that funny fire in the basement, too. Nothing routine aboutthat. Fire so hot it melted rock. A lot of unanswered questionshere."

  "If they'd ask me, I'd tell them--"

  Mulcahey Davis' throat froze as a terrible cry smote his ears. Mowbraypaled suddenly and the two men looked at each other in instinctivefear.

  But they were tried and tested law-enforcement officers and were notheld in the grip of terror for long. "Did you hear that?" MulcaheyDavis said.

  "Good lord, man! How could I help it!"

  "Where'd it come from?"

  "Over there."

  "Let's go."

  The two troopers plunged again into the undergrowth to emerge at theedge of an open field. And regardless of their personal courage andexperience in their line of effort, what they saw froze them anew.

  A giant of a man--a creature of godlike proportions stood in the openfield, washed by the rays of the setting sun. His great arms were heldaloft and he was looking up into the sky with a terrifying expressionthat was a mixture of pain and rage.

  He was speaking and his great voice echoed in what was remindful of athunderous prayer. "I know not the purpose for which I was created butwell do I now know my dedicated task. Vengeance! Vengeance such asthis world or any other has never seen!"

  With this the giant--clad in a strange colorful uniform of somesort--dropped to his knees and lowered his great head into his hands.

  Mowbray's face was grim and alert. "Come on," he whispered. "We'rebehind him so we get a break. Move in quietly. And let's get himbefore he sees us. I've got a hunch he could lick ten of us and wedon't want to use our guns."

  They crossed the field softly and moved in behind the kneeling man.They acted in concert with an expertness telling of lengthyexperience.

  Mowbray was thankful for the way it turned out. He knew not why thegiant put up no resistance. The man seemed stunned as from a greatblow and before he could recover, the troopers had him bound hand andfoot with their belts.

  Mulcahey Davis got to his feet and wiped the sweat from his face."There's one for the psychos and a padded cell afterwards."

  "You said it," Mowbray agreed heartily. "Let's take him in."