The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-03-01
GODDESS

SWooninS' Sne Ieli Dack upon the
cot.
JANICE stared dry-eyed over
- succession OF fiat roof tops to-
ward the great central pyramid.
From the platform surrounding
the vast edifice pufs of incense
smoke gathered and disappeared as
yagrant wind eddies blew about the
lofty corners of the head-priest's
house.
Soon, she realized, she and Billy
Langton YOU'D proceed slowly up
those dizzying steps. Then stretched
for agonizing moments on the sacri-
fetal stone, fiinching to the inexor-
able plunge Of the knife. they would
die. and their bodies be hurled into
the depths Of the rain choked
cenote.
A snarling and coughing sounded
from below the rim Of the parapet
that bounded the roof top that held
their prisoner. She shuddered but
stepped to the low wall and looked
downward.
She knew what she would see but
the seven jungle cats that roamed
In the surrounding enclosure fas.
cinated her.
They were jaguars. 1.-the muscles
punched and Writhed beneath their
5lack-dappled tawny skins. They
were restless--seemingIy forever In
motion. At night, as she lay In her
room below, she could hear them
above the drumming rain as they
whined and quarreled. or fought
over the scanty scraps of rood
thrown them by the guards.
They were given just enough to
keep them strong, and hungry and
ferocious. She rested her elbows on
the stone and observed them. AS If
by some uncanny instinct they lift
ed their heads and looked at her.
Their yellow eyes cleaned. q
whine OF craving sounded in their
Threats: almost as one beast they
fiattened to the ground-only the
tips OF their tails moved.
An involuntary trembling rippled
across her shoulders. Without locks
or bars she was constrained to he1
prison. Remindful Of a water moat
about a castle in the days of chival
~. this was moat OF living. hun.
cry jaguars.
It was nearly a week since she
had been placed here. The, soldiers
or the ahkin had hauled them by
means of ropes up the concave
walls OF the valley-cenote and had
carried them back to the city.
Since then 1t had rained incess
antly. She knew-the women de
tailed as her servants had told her
in pantomime-that when the rain
ceased she and Billy were to be
taken to the pyramid top. There
would be no escape this time.
Even could they get so far as the
underground river, that avenue was
closed by the rains that had charged
the cayerns with water. The Jungle
soaked from the continuous down
fall. was impossible.
Had Frank got to the sea through
the caVerns--and her faith had
rallied from the high-priest's ultima,
ton that he hadn't-it would take
weeks for him to travel through the
morass that lay between the coast
and this hidden city.
HoPELESSLY she walked about
- the roof. Today the rain had
ceased. The sky was clear except
for occasional sullen groups OF
clouds that hung in patches across
the blue.
She was grateful for this day In
the open. but prayed, nevertheless
for rain. She and Billy would not
be molested while Il rained.
The root was like q gardens
lovely. sinister. garden.
Rare tropic shrubbery was placed
cunningly about Fine fabrics were
draped over the simple furniture.
Upon Q central palm-shaded table .
huge bowl Of fruits and condiments
was SEE.
Her clothing, which had been
taken from her while she slept, had
been replaced with an ankle-length
robe Of finest linen adorned at the
throat and hem with the most ex-
Quisite eolored embroidery she had
even seen.
She had no cause to complain
about her comfort. She had been
given everything she might desire
except freedom.
Wearied with her pacing. she sat
finally upon q 1ivan and watched
the sun arc toward the west Il
painted the pyramid with q brush
danbed in gold.
As It sank lower the gold changed
TO rose. then deepened to red. The
red darkened to the yarnished
sheen OF fresh bloodl
fcstvixat. 1850, - Esasrt Es.as.J