The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-03-05
GODDESS

ing as bits of information were
passed between Its individuals.
She was aware that Langton was
talking to her-rapidly. incoherent-
ly. She lifted her head: her eyes
focused: from out Of that queer
state of unreality her mind began
to function normally.
The litter supporting the high
priest had been carried halfway up
the pyramids steepIy slanting
steps. The jaguar cage was being
slowly advanced up the slope.
She stumbled little as her feet
found the first step. The hum. she
realized was tangible. It wa. louder
"a deeply cadenced drone that was
curiously familiar.
Then quite suddenly she under
stood Iangton's shouted words.
"It's a plane! Janice. look up!"
She glanced skyward. Her glance
focused on a point above the east.
ern jungle almost in the eye of the
rising sun. She saw outspread sill
yer wings: topaz flashed upon the
fore-shortened body.
The dark Jumps of the three
radial motors were silhouetted
sharply. It was approaching with
amazing rapidity. slanting in a long
power glide toward the pyramid.
Above the growl Of its engines she
heard the .oice of the ahkin
screaming to his guards.
She saw the body Of the column
spread out. The armed guards were
racing in various; directions. They
appeared like tiny pawns on huge
chessbtard.
Some still ran: the nearer ones
knelt holding their rifles before
them pointing at the approaching
airplane.
The rifles began to crack sharply.
Suddenly the plane was over the
square. I. zoomed and lifted. She
saw q body hang out of one OF the
ports. pointing something that
looked like a rife downward, yet
was bulkier than a rife.
T ANGToN cried out hoarsely.
4 They have a machine gun!
Why don't they shoot? Don't they
realize" Then in the next breath
he shouted with despairing anxiety:
"They cart! They don't dare.
The ahkin knew! A fallen body in
their way would wreck a landing!"
The plane made a steep bank over
the western buildings. Back it
roared. the wheels OF the landing
gear scant inches above the heads
OF the soldiers staggered over the
square.
Langton made an inarticulate
sound. God. what flying! See. they
scatter. but they close up again.
They'll never give way long enough
to let the plane down.
Janice! We must do somethingl
Make : break. See. there's an open
space on the eastern side. II we
could run for It !. divert the guards
). =. ship can land"
He pIvoted on his sound leg.
There was dull smack as the near.
er guard Of the six went down.
Janice heard scream from the
ahkin drowned by a riot OF snarls
OF the iaguars as the bearers of the
Gagged dropped 1t.
She felt the hand of a guard
roughly grasp her arm.
She twisted away and flung her
self At man whose appraised rifle
was poised over the blond head OF
her companion. Again the motors
roared overhead. The sound Of rife
IRE grew.
The man she chung to went limp
under 4 slash from Langton's DIST
She saw knife appraised In a brown
fist
Langton's sinewy hand darted out
aud twisted Il away. A lunging ma
tive knocked her down TO the steps.
Her wildly rowing glance fell upon
discarded knife q foot from her
hand.
She snatched It up as Langton
burst through the twisting bodies
OF the guards toward her.
He gaspeo. 1--WE can't get awayi
Try 10 reach the ahkin and"
Ills sentence ended in a moan as
a dubbed rife hit him behind the
head. lie -stched toward Janice.
rhe guard who had struck him
turned bis eyes. crazed with excite
ment. toward Janice.
Siowly-it seemed almost slow
mction-he reversed his rife. The
girl anew In that instant he intend
ed to shoot her!
She struggled backward up the
steps. She was barely conscious
that she had backed against the
iaguar cage Her ears we're deaf TO
the savage growls behind her.
The rifie was raIsed-still with
that illusion Of retarded action. The
natives teeth barred. the muscles Of
his hand frightened over the trigger
guard.
A squirt OF fame darted from the
muxEle.
fcssy<ssIs. 1854. ., Essksv1 IsssssI
Monday, retribgtlsn desesnds