 Tarzan and the Diamond of Arshair. Tarzan and the Diamond of Arshair. In the great temple of Maachu, in the forbidden city of Arshair, Tarzan secures the golden disc containing the Father of Dunst. And with Tom, Darno and Larson, carries it to Tirah, Queen of the Hesseher. Tirah has agreed to free the eight men and his friends in exchange for the huge Tasman. Tarzan and Tom demand to be home the secret passage leading to the quarters of King Suten, where Magra is held. Tom remains behind long enough to learn where Tirah conceals the golden disc. In the secret passageway, a hinged block of stones swings down from the ceiling, blocking the progress of Tarzan, Darno and Larson. Roaring and hissing, great clouds of live yellow steam pour into the narrow tunnel from the opening. It, it is steam. For near, it will strangle us. It means steam, all right. What it means, case just like so. It is sulfur. Oh, Lebonju, it will burn as well as suffocate us. On the floor, Darno. Larson, keep down. Where you been going? I've got to try to shut off that steam. Oh, dear. This is Karib. My lungs are bursting. They're close to the floor. This road is hinged. If I get it back in place. Tarzan calls along the tunnel floor to the great hanging stone. The steam clouds envelop him as in a thick, yellow mist veil. The sulfur feels burn and seary throat and lungs as he crouches low under the granite trap. His mighty shoulders press upward against the slab. His bare feet grip the floor. His muscles of his powerful legs bulge and crawl as he rises slowly, sadly lifting the great stone. Higher, higher. Arms like columns of wet, glistening bronze reach up. Great hands with fingers splayed wide press against the huge slab, forcing it upward. For the last tremendous effort, Tarzan's body stiffens. A muffled clang and the massive granite trap is closed. The suffocating sulfur cloud shut off. The steam is shut off. Tarzan did it. Stay close to the floor until the passage clears. The steam is rolling back the way we came, lifting. That woman, Zira, must have done it. I told you she is not to be trusted. Too late to worry about that. Are you two all right? We, we, but my lungs feel as if they were on fire. Mine, too, put the steam and gradually thinning out. It's been dropped somewhere through the roof. Yes. The passage must have ventilation. You're so boondool for that. I'm about giving up ever-seeing daylight again. Those little blue lamps. Funny, the steam didn't put them out. And I probably burned some sort of natural gas, though where it comes from or what it is I do not know. Are you ready to go on? Sulfur fumes seem pretty well gone. I've been ready. Memoom, dear Tarzan, your hands and shoulders, they are like, like raw meat that live steams. No, it's nothing. Come on. Careful here. If the passage goes up steep, the stairs are cut right into the floor. What is there ahead of you, Tarzan? A door, bronze, way up there. Did you see what he did, Lieutenant? He bend, lift that strong trap rope on his shoulders. I could not see well. I sent through the steam clouds. But he pushed the stone back in place and scalded his hands and back terrible more while doing it. If it ain't pain for him, we've been boiled like a couple of shellfish. How does he do it, Lieutenant? He never sees such a fowl before. Nor will you ever see another like him, Monami. Tarzan is a Lord. He is Tarzan. Yeah, sure. Are you two coming? We're near the top of these steps. The bronze door is at the end of the passage on a small landing. Then we shall be out of this death trap in a few moments. I only hope that I may have the opportunity to speak a few words with that queen. Any older time she'd been ever surprised or personally for us. That woman has got a bad eye. Here we are. The only door in the passage, way in along the stairs, other than the one we came through. It must be the one Tiraumet. Sure, but I'd like to see her been on the other side before we open it. Tarzan. Tarzan, can you find the stone which opens it? Yes, I think so. This one probably. It's a shade lighter in color than the other wall stones. Then we go in. Listen. I don't hear a thing. Quiet. Someone's moving up those stairs toward us. Meanwhile, Helen and Magra in the quarters in the upper part of the temple are trying to hit upon some plan which will postpone the evil day of the double marriage ceremony. Now, Magra, how can you be so calm with this awful marriage hanging over your head? I can't even bear to think about it. What can we do, Helen? Only wait and hope. There is only one way out for us. Tarzan. Oh, yes. The hope that he and Paul are trying to find us and will in time to save us from that. Oh, it's a mighty slim hope, Magra. If we only knew where they were. Yes, if we only knew. And the queen, his wife. The way he said she would not be his wife for long. Oh, the look in his eyes. Shh. Be quiet. Oh, it's that beast, Zutain. No, no. It is Hakeru. We're at known that I am here. My life would be forfeit. Keep thy voices low. I may stay only a moment. What is it, Hakeru? It is of Tarzan I have come to speak. His punishment has been decreed by the Council of Thirteen. It falleth on the day of the unveiling of the Father of Diamond. What? What is his punishment to be? I know not yet. But I who owe my life to the mighty Tarzan have not abandoned hope that I may yet save him from the jealous wrath of Zutain. And Paul Darno, Tom, Larsen. For them I know not, unless it be that they shall become slaves in the deep mines. I can do not for them now, perhaps later. But where are they, Hakeru? In the chamber where they were all placed at the order of Zutain. And if I, if I agree to this match with your king, will Brian be released from that terrible spell? Nay, Helen Gregory. Zutain himself would release him, were it not for the Council of Thirteen. But Zutain may not stand against their tree. Thy brother is doomed to everlasting sleep. Then I'll kill myself before I permit that savage to touch me. Keep thy voice down, woman. There is a way to release thy brother from the spell of the Father of Diamonds. Listen closely. I shall tell thee how it may be done. Back in the secret passage at the head of the stone stairway, Tarzan, Darno and Larsen stand motionless, tensely awaiting the other of the person whose cautious footfalls they hear advancing up the stairs toward them. Steps, careful, slow, continue to approach. They come nearer, nearer. Tarzan throws a quick glance over his shoulder at Darno and Larsen. They stand grimly alert, ready. As the stalker reaches the head of the stairway and pauses, Tarzan draws a deep, slow breath, steps swiftly, noiselessly out of the shadow of a projection in the wall. Tarzan, man, you gave me a fright. What kept you at home? We missed you back there shortly after we left Tira. My business in our share, Tarzan, is to get the Father of Diamonds. I could not leave Tira's quarters without it, or at least until I knew where it had been concealed. So that is where you were, eh? Mejdi Tom, you are persistent, and I suppose the lovely Tira informed you where she had secreted the gem. She did better, my friend. She showed me a tidying place, and there are no hideous prehistoric monsters guarding it now. You've been a lucky fellow at home. Lucky? How so, Larsen? They're staying back there to find out what Tira did with the diamond. You must be almost strangled to death, in the tunnel, if it wasn't for Tarzan. We would not be here now. They turned the cloud of sulfur steam into the passage. Yes, so that is where the order of sulfur comes from. I was wondering... We're wasting time here. I'm going to open this door. You don't know what we'll walk into, but we've got to take the chance. Are you ready? Wait, Tarzan, just we pray. It can't be more ready than it been now, Tarzan. Open the door. I am ready. No, no, no. Look, the Queen did tell the truth. Oh, oh, I knew you'd tell. Margaret, my dear, have you eyes only for Tarzan? Atan Tom is also here. Yeah, sure. And Lars, Larsen? I am sorry, Atan. I saw only Tarzan as he came through the door. The surprise of seeing him... I understand, Margaret. Oh, it is so wonderful. All together again. Yeah, sure. All but Wolf. Poor Wolf. The King told me. It was frantic, Atan, hoping and praying that you would come to us. And we found Brian. Your brother is here, then? Alive, Helen. Oh, alive, but he is helpless, Atan, in a state of suspended animation. Where is he? On this corridor. Just a few steps from this chamber. We were taken to him by the King and the Hero. Show me that, Helen. I'll bring him here. It is too late, Tarzan. Here they come. That's the Aryan Guard. Margaret, Helen, get out behind that stone bench. I don't know. Back to the wall here.