 Tarzan and the Diamond of Arshere. While in camp near Tuenbaca, the mountain of sunrise, Tarzan and his friends are captured by a band of Hesseharians and proceed toward the forbidden city of Arshere under their escort. Arriving at the foot of Tuenbaca, Hakeiru, the leader of the Hesseharians, is rescued from the coils of a huge prehistoric python by Tarzan. In the Senut, or car, which is to convey the party over the volcano's fin and down into Arshere, the Hesseharians remove their skeleton masks. As the captives enter the city and approach the great pyramidal temple of Maachu, they hear voices raised in weird chant. As he listens, the blood drains from Hakeiru's face. He turns to meet the cool, questioning gaze of Tarzan. What is it, Hakeiru? A chant of devil, Tarzan. It is sung for thee and thy companions. He will be offered to Maachu at the beginning of the moon. But because my life is thine, I shall intercede for thee and thy friends with the Artef Suten. Come, follow me into the temple of Maachu. What is the matter with Wolf, Tarzan? He stares into space as though watching something. Wolf? Huh? Oh, oh, yeah, yeah, Tarzan. I, I am coming. Look, Tarzan, how those great doors open before us. It must be done by machinery, I don't know. Wait, oh, you hear that dull, ratchet sound? No ten men could move those massive doors. It's been spooky in here. Those little blue lamps don't give much light, even if there've been plenty of them. We are approaching another great door, Tarzan. I am... Hold ye here, strangers. Ye stand before the portal of the chamber of the temple and the throne of the Artef Suten. She knew that I shema tabu te senetem. Ah, Artef. Strangers from the outer world await thy pleasure. Oh, Artef. You hear, Tom. He repeats in English what he says in his own tongue. He'd been talking to someone behind that door. Steady, all of you. This is no worse than Opaardana. Enter the chamber of the Council of Thirteen. No Tarzan, any other. As the ponderous bronze barrier slowly opens, the little party left by Hakeru crosses the threshold. Before them spreads a vast chamber, illuminated by countless small golden lamps giving out a blue, eerie light. A forest of mighty stone columns support a high, deeply shadowed ceiling. In the center of this immense chamber, at the edge of a deep pit, a large casket of white marble rests upon the stone floor. Beyond the great pit is a great black marble altar supporting upon its top a glittering copper knife. On a raised platform against the far wall, and declining upon a hide-backed stone seat, a man, tall, black-haired, handsome, watches the approach of Tarzan and his friends with sinister, unwinking eyes. Beside him sits a woman, cold, hearty, cruelly beautiful. At a sign from Hakeru, the young man and his companions halt at the foot of the dais. Waki ka-are-katan-hakeru. Ka-are-k-shem-et-waki-ah-ate. Because this man who calls himself Tarzan of the Apes, and these others speak only the language of Anglo-Land, I address thee, Osuten, and I, Queen Tirah, daughter of the son, in their tongue. As well, Hakeru, whence come these strangers? What seek they here? Let him who is their leader speak. Speak, O Tarzan, we come from the jungles in search of friends whom we believe were held captive in our share. We come here for the same purpose that others have come. He covet my shoe, the father of diamonds. Keep your father of diamonds? You're not interested in it? No. You think he shall be permitted to go hence from our share as he came? Of course. Why not? May have the Council of Thirteen have other plans for you. If Brian Gregory and his sister Alan are not here, then we'll go back to our own country. Outen, a-tep of the Hesseher alone commands in our share. If it be decreed that you return to the outer world, so ye shall take them away. They ought to be treated as prisoners, Outen. Say, rather, as our guests, go away with them. Thy word, Outen, is law. Come, O Tarzan. Lead on, Hakeru. We'll follow. Well, Lieutenant, we've been in the bad fix this time. Things don't look so good, eh? But we are still alive and together. Yes, sir. But for how long? I think even we are almost out of this terrible place. Did you see the eyes of that woman at town? They made my blood run cold. In that chamber across the corridor, ye shall await the decree of Outen and his council. I shall intercede for thee and thy friends, O Tarzan. I am not worrying about that. I'm thinking of our lost friends. I cannot help thee with them. But here is thy chamber. Enter. Come in soon and bring ye word from the council. Peace to thee, O Tarzan. Appear. At least we have not been separated. Nor have our weapons been taken from us. For a present, this ain't so bad. Those stone benches around the walls have been covered with soft-looking skins at first. And I suggest that we all lie down and rest while we can. Are you not worried, Tarzan? Worried? What about? About what will happen to us. There's no time to worry, Margaret. They'll have to take us out of here some time. When they do, we'll make a run for it. Wolf, you are still willing to share with me in the father of diamonds? That's what I'm here for. But there is it. You saw the white casket beside the pit in there? Yeah, yeah. What else could be in such a casket? It is their ceremonial chamber, that great hall. It must be in there. The casket is the logical place for it. And how do you propose to get out of here? And into that big hall? Leave that to me. I shall open the doors. Now lie down. But do not go to sleep. Don't know better. How do you know? Never mind how I know. I'm opening this door. We're probably waking the others. We must be outside with the door closed before they can follow. What are we waiting for? Look. Margaret, Tarzan, and Larsen are dead to the world already. I not get it over with. Tarzan? Hmm. He may be asleep, but not soundly enough. What about those apes that Kelo told us about? You know, the guardian apes. Do we mix with them? It is the chance we must take if we expect to get the diamond. They are probably kept in the pit beside the casket. We must stay clear of it. Well, let's get started then. If you know how to open the doors, we are wasting time. I think we could die now. No weapons other than our pistols. Rifles will be in the way. Come. Cautiously the two men leave their couches. They advance quickly, silently to the bronze door. Tom examines the granite blocks of the wall. Presses lightly against one. The low clicking sound which accompanies the movement of these strange barriers is heard throughout the silent chamber. Larsen grumbles in his slumber. Tom and Wolf stand tense, watching the apparently soundly sleeping ape man. As the heavy portal swings slowly open, they step quickly out into the dimly lit corridor. Tom presses another stone, and as the heavy barrier closes behind them with a soft metallic clang, Tarzan sits up, reaches over and lays a hand lightly on Darnold's shoulder. Shhh. Quiet. Come with me. Don't do, but I... No questions. No time now. Hurry. I am ready, but I do not see Tom or Wolf. You will in a moment. Stand away from the door. Shhh. Come move something. Not sound. Come on. They're ahead of us. Wait. There must be a stone out here to close. Ah. Here it is. But we are leaving Margren. They're all right. We'll be back before they wake up. Now hurry. We're following Tom and Wolf. Tom and Wolf? Tom must have known all the time how to open these doors. When they thought we were asleep, they went out. I watched Tom open the door. Now there's somewhere in the council room behind this big door. And what are you looking for? A wall stone, lighter in color than... Here it is. There they are. Yes. Making for the white gasket. Yes. Leave the door open. Now come here. Behind this pillar it's close enough. Oh. We have an understanding. We split 50-50. Come here, sir. No more. Magra, you and I. That's better. Now, lift up the lid on that box. The diamond is there. I get it. Help me. It is heavy. Together then. Now. Human. A disc of gold. But there is the diamond. Get the disc. The diamond is in the center under that lid. Lay it on the floor and pry it open with your gun barrel. With the golden disc on the floor between his knees, Wolf pries impatiently at the slot like opening in its center. Tom, contemplating the excited German's half-closed eyes, stands thoughtfully fingering the butt of the gun that is here. With a low, insane laugh, Wolf franchises savagely at the disc. abruptly it flies open. Instantly the vast chamber is flooded with an intense, blinding glare. The eyes of the four men are glued to the great glittering gem which lies embedded in the golden eye. Helpless beneath the sway of some superhuman power that holds them nerveless within its grip, they stand like graven images without power to speak or move. A huge, shaggy head appears above the rim of the pit behind the German. Small red, wicked eyes glitter evilly in the white glare of the diamond. A torso, huge, long-armed, short-legged and covered with thick red hair, clambers go testily over the rim of the pit. Jabbering gutterly through thick, slavering lips, the monstrous ape reaches out a hairy arm and paw and grasps Wolf for the back of the neck.