Chapter 32 Fire King Kong

"Clayton's gone, too?" Kanler exclaimed, annoyed. "Why didn't you tell me? I'd love to go and see if everything has been arranged for you." "Jenny thinks we owe you too much, Mr. Canler," said Professor Porter. Kanler was about to say something when there was a sound of footsteps outside the study, and Jenny pushed the door and walked in. "Oh, excuse me!" she cried, stopping at the door. "I thought you were the only one in the room, papa." "It's me, Jenny!" Kanler said and stood up, "Aren't you coming to sit with the family? We're talking about you!"

"Thank you." Jenny walked in and sat on a chair Kanler had set up for her, "I just wanted to tell Dad that Toby is coming back from college tomorrow to pack his books. I wish you could tell us, Papa, which books you won't be using until autumn.You don't want to move your entire library to Wisconsin.Didn't you almost take all the books on board the last time you were in Africa, if I hadn't been firmly against it? " "Is Toby coming?" asked Professor Potter. "Come on. I just came from him. Now he's talking religion with Esmeralda behind the porch!"

"Tsk tsk! I must see him at once!" said the professor. "Excuse me, boys, but I'll be right back." The old man hurried out. Kanler waited until the old man could no longer hear his voice, and immediately turned to Jenny. "Listen, Jenny!" he said straight to the point. "How long are you going to delay this? You didn't refuse to marry me, but you didn't settle it either. I will get my marriage certificate tomorrow.That way, we can quietly get married before you move to Wisconsin.I don't like fanfare about this kind of thing.I don't think you will like it either. "

The girl suddenly became cold all over, but she still held her head up bravely. "You should understand that this is your father's wish," Kanler added. "Yes, I understand." she said in a whisper. "Don't you think you're paying for me, Mr. Canner," she said finally, coldly and calmly, "for some filthy money. Of course you are, Robert Canner. You're in my My father had rashly decided to lend him money for this purpose when he went hunting for treasure in Africa, and our expedition would have been a wonderful success had it not been for some very subtle and accidental reasons!

"That's when you—Mr. Canler—would be amazed. Because you never imagined that this venture would be a success. You're such a shrewd businessman in that! You lend money to mine inexplicable underground treasures; With special goals and special plans, you can lend usury without a guarantor.Oh!What a kind-hearted businessman! "You know, it's easier to blackmail the Potters without a guarantor than with a surety. You know it's the best way to force me to marry you. Because you can do it seamlessly, and outsiders don't seem to have any intention of forcing the marriage.

"You have never mentioned the money we owe you. In another person, I might have thought it a noble, generous act. But you are too inscrutable, Mr. Robert Canner. I understand you , much deeper than you might imagine. "If there is no way out, of course I will marry you. But let us get to know each other thoroughly." When Jenny said this, Robert Canner's face turned red and white.After she finished speaking, he stood up, with a mocking smile on his tough face, and said: "You astonish me, Jenny! You're so proud, I see. Of course you're right. I paid you. I know that, and you know it.

But I thought you'd rather put on a different coloring of the matter than pretend; that your pride and your Potter pride would prevent you from acknowledging the fact that you were a betrayed woman.Now, dear girl, do as you please. He added lightly, "I must marry you as my wife." I'm only interested in that. " The girl turned and left the study without saying a word. Jenny, her father, and Esmeralda did not marry Robert Canner until they arrived at the small farm in Wisconsin.The train pulled out of the platform slowly. She said goodbye to Robert Canner coldly.He yelled, and in a week or two, he was on their way.

When they arrived at their destination, Clayton and Mr. Philander drove a large tour bus that Clayton had bought to pick them up.The car sped toward the small farm through the dense forest to the north.Miss Jenny has never been here since she was a child. The farm housing was built on an elevated field a few hundred yards from the sharecroppers' houses. During the past three weeks, Clayton and Mr. Philander have completely renovated the houses. Clayton hired carpenters, plasterers, plumbers, and painters from a city quite far away.So, when they arrived, the formerly bare, dilapidated house had been renovated into a comfortable two-story house, complete with every modernity that could have been installed in such a short time. facility.

"Oh, Mr. Clayton, what have you done!" exclaimed Jenny in surprise.After a rough calculation, she realized that Clayton spent a small amount of money for this, and her heart sank. "Hush," said Clayton quickly, "don't let your father figure out what's the matter. He'll never notice the change unless you tell him. When Mr. Philander and I first came here , the house is dirty and run down, I can't even imagine him making a home here, so I spent a few bucks and renovated it. Jenny, this is one of the few things I want to do for you Mao. For his sake, please never bring this up."

"But you know we can't pay you back," cried the girl; "why do you put me in such a dreadful favored position?" "Don't say that, Jenny," said Clayton sadly. "If you were the only one who came to live here, please believe me, I would not do it. Because I knew from the beginning that it could only be done by others." It hurts my image in your mind, but I can't let this poor old man live in such a shabby place. Can't you believe that I'm renovating this house just for him? Can't you give me some happiness?" "I trust you, Mr. Clayton," said the girl, "because I know that you are noble and generous enough to do these things for him. Oh, Cecil, I wish I could repay your generosity... As you wish."

"Why not, Jenny." "Because I love someone else." "Kanler?" "no." "But you're marrying him. That's what he told me before I left Baltimore." The girl couldn't help but took a few steps back. "I don't love him at all," she said almost proudly. "Because of the money owed to him, Jenny?" She nodded. "So, am I not as good as Kanler? I have plenty of money and plenty! I can meet all your needs." He said sadly. "I don't love you, Cecil," she said, "but I respect you. If I had to suffer disgrace, and make such a deal with a man, I'd rather choose the man who already turned his nose up at him. I hate the man who doesn't Whoever gets my love and buys me. You should be happier," she concluded, "to be alone with my respect and friendship than to get me and to get me too. contempt." He didn't say anything more.But a week later, when Robert Canquin came proudly in front of the small building in that rather luxurious car, William Cecil Clayton, Lord Greystoke, Can't help but raise the murderous intent. A week passed.It's been a tense, uneventful, and extremely difficult week for everyone on the small Wisconsin farm. Kanler insisted that Jenny marry him right away. Because she hated his hateful and endless pestering, she finally gave in. It was finally settled, and the next day Kanler drove into town to pick up the certificate and a priest who officiated the wedding. Once the plan was announced, Clayton planned to leave Wisconsin. But the girl's weary and desperate eyes made him dismiss the idea.He couldn't leave her alone. Maybe something else would happen; he tried to reassure himself, but deep down he knew that if there was one spark, he would have a bloody battle with Kanler and vent his hatred. Early the next morning, Kanler drove into town. To the east of the farm, the misty blue smoke could be seen lowly covering the forest. It had been a week since the fire had started there, and although it was not far from the farm, the fire had not yet reached them because of the constant westerly wind. About noon, Jenny went out for a walk.She wouldn't let Clayton go with her.She was willing to walk alone, and Clayton had to respect her wish. In that house, Professor Porter and Mr. Philander were discussing some important scientific issues enthusiastically, and Esmeralda was dozing off in the kitchen.Clayton hadn't slept all night, his eyelids were heavy, he lay down on the couch in the living room, and soon fell asleep. In the east, clouds of black smoke rose to the sky, suddenly swirled, and flew towards the west at high speed. The smoke is getting closer.It was the day of the market, and the tenant farmers had all gone to the city, but no one saw that the vicious Vulcan was approaching. Soon, the fire burned the road leading to the south, cutting off Kanler's return.A gust of wind brought the forest fire to the north, and then it turned around and burned in place, as if a mysterious big hand had used the "fixation method" to fix it here. Suddenly, a black car sped crookedly from the northeast road. The car braked suddenly in front of the door of the small building, and a big man with black hair got out of the car, ran quickly to the porch, and then rushed straight into the living room.Clayton was still lying on the couch.The dark-haired man seemed startled, but rushed to his side, shook Clayton's shoulder vigorously, and shouted: "My God! Clayton, are you all crazy? Don't you know that the fire is about to surround you! Where is Miss Potter?" Clayton jumped up.He didn't recognize who this person was, but he understood what he said, and rushed out of the corridor with a stride. "Scout!" he cried; and rushing back into the house, shouted: "Jenny, Jenny! Where are you?" In the blink of an eye, Esmeralda, Professor Porter and Mr. Philander all ran to the two men. "Where is Miss Jenny?" Clayton asked loudly, shaking Esmeralda's shoulder vigorously. "Oh, dear! Mr. Clayton. Didn't she go for a walk?" "She hasn't come back yet?" Before Esmeralda could answer, Clayton rushed into the yard, and everyone else followed him. "Which way did she go?" the big dark-haired man called to Esmeralda. "That way," cried the terrified woman, pointing south. The roaring flames had built a wall of fire there, blocking people's view. "Get them all in that car," the stranger called to Clayton. "I saw another car there when I drove up. Send them out that road north." "Leave my car here. If Miss Potter is found, we'll need it. If not, no one will need it. Do as I tell you." While Clayton was still hesitating, everyone saw this big and agile man running across the open space in front of the building and entering the forest from the northwest.The fire hasn't spread there yet. With every step he took, the great sense of responsibility was lifted from everyone's shoulders.They tacitly believed in the strength of this stranger, and they all felt that as long as Jenny could be saved, he would be able to save her. "Who is he?" asked Professor Porter. "I don't know either," Clayton replied. "He calls my name, and knows Jenny, and asks her whereabouts as soon as he enters the house. He can also call Esmeralda." "There's something about him that strikes me as very familiar," exclaimed Mr. Philander, "but, my God! I've never seen him before." "Tsk tsk!" Professor Potter yelled again, "It's so strange! Who could it be? Why did I feel that my daughter was saved as soon as he went to Jenny?" "I can't tell you what it is, Professor," said Clayton gravely, "but I know I have the same strange premonition as you." "Get in the car!" he shouted, "we must get out quickly, or we will be trapped in this sea of ​​​​fire!" After hearing his words, everyone hurried to Clayton. car ran away. When Jenny was about to go home, she was horrified to find that the black smoke from the forest fire was very close to her.She couldn't help speeding up her pace, and found in a panic that the raging flames quickly cut off the path between her and the farm. She was forced to crawl into dense undergrowth in an attempt to bypass the blaze and return home from the west. It did not take long for her to see that the effort was clearly futile.The only hope is to retreat back to the main road, go south, and escape in the direction of the small town. It took her twenty minutes to reach the main road.Just like the fire had cut off her way forward, this period of time was enough to cut off her way of retreat. After running a few steps along the road, she stopped in horror.Another wall of fire appeared in front of my eyes!The fire had extended an "arm" southward a full half a mile from the source of the catastrophe, wrapping the Slender Road in its arms. Jenny knew that it was useless to try to escape through the bushes.She tried once and failed.Now she realized that the fires from the south and the north would soon converge and become one sea of ​​flames. The girl knelt down on the road with great composure, and begged God to give her strength to face this terrible fate bravely; and prayed for her father and friends to escape from death. Suddenly, she heard someone in the forest calling her name loudly: "Jenny! Jenny Porter! " It was an unfamiliar voice, but clear and powerful. "Here I am!" she cried. "Here, the High Road!" Then, she saw a figure scurrying over like a squirrel among the branches and leaves of the big tree. At this time, the wind direction changed, and a cloud of thick smoke blew them all inside, and the figure that "flew" towards her completely disappeared.Suddenly, she felt a strong arm around her waist, and in the blink of an eye, she had already soared into the air, only feeling the hot wind blowing against her face, and branches passing by from time to time. She opened her eyes. Underfoot are bushes and yellow earth. Surrounded by the undulating foliage of a great forest. The gigantic man swung her from tree to tree with her in his arms.Jenny felt like she was reliving that old dream in the African jungle. what!How wonderful it would be if he was the same person as the "Sydney God" who carried her as if flying through the tangled leaves and green forest that day!No, this is not possible.But in this world, besides him, who else can be so energetic and flexible to do what this man is doing now? She stole a glance at the face next to hers.what!It was him! Jenny was so surprised and delighted that she couldn't even breathe for a moment. "My 'sylvan'!" she murmured, "no, I must be in a coma." "No, I am your 'sylvan,' Jenny Potter. Your savage savage came all the way from the African jungle to meet his love, the woman who fled from him!" he said almost fiercely. "I didn't run away from you," she said softly. "They waited for you a whole week. At last I had to leave the jungle with them." Now that they were out of the flames, Tarzan took Jenny back to the clearing. They walked side by side to the farm.The wind changed direction again, and the fire took advantage of the situation to kill a "returning carbine".Another hour of burning like this, and the forest fire should be extinguished. "Why didn't you go back?" "I was serving Dianot. He was seriously injured." "Ah! I know that's what it is!" she exclaimed. "They said you went to the niggers, that you belonged to them." "You don't believe them, do you, Jenny." He laughed. "Of course not... Ah, what should I call you?" she asked. "What's your name?" "You should have known it when we first met, I'm Tarzan," he said. "Tarzan!" she exclaimed. "So you wrote the love letter I answered when I left the cabin?" "Yes. Who do you think wrote it?" "I don't know. But it never occurred to me that you wrote it. Because Tarzan can write English, but you don't know any language." He laughed again. "It's a long story. I can't speak, but I can express my thoughts in words." However, now D'Arnot made things worse.Instead of teaching me English, he taught me French. "Go!" he said again, "get in my car. We must catch up with your father. They are ahead, not too far from us. " They drove away in a car.He said: "You mentioned in the letter you wrote to Tarzan that you were in love with someone else. So that was me?" "It means you," she replied bluntly. "But in Baltimore—oh, you've been giving me such a hard time—people tell me you might be married by now. They say a man named Kanler has come to marry you. That's true. ?” "it is true." "Do you love him?" "do not love!" "Do you love me?" She put her face in her hands. "I've promised someone else. I can't answer your question, Tarzan," she cried. "You've already answered. Tell me, why are you marrying someone you don't even love?" "My father owes him money." Taishan suddenly remembered the letter he had read before.At that time, he could not understand this Robert Canner and the troubles implied in the letter. he laughed. "If your father hadn't lost the box of treasure, you wouldn't have to marry this man named Canle, would you?" "I can ask him to break off the engagement." "What if he refuses?" "That will be difficult. Because I promised people." He was silent for a while.The car drove fast, bumping on the rough road.The fire was burning again to their right.If the wind changes direction, it will pounce on it, cutting off even this escape route. They finally rushed out of the danger zone, and Tarzan slowed down. "What if I go to ask him?" Taishan asked boldly. "Of course he wouldn't accept a request from a stranger," said the girl, "especially a stranger who wants me for himself." "Teganz was not the same back then." Tarzan bared his teeth and grinned. Jenny shivered, raised her head in horror, and looked at the "giant" sitting beside her.She understood that he was referring to the great ape he had killed to protect her. "This is not the jungle of Africa," she said, "and you are no longer a savage. You are a civilized man, and a civilized man cannot kill with cruelty." "Deep down I'm still a savage," he whispered, as if to himself. They were silent for another moment. "Jenny," said Tarzan at last, "will you marry me if you are free?" She didn't answer right away.He waited patiently. The girl tried her best to sort out her disorganized thoughts. To this weirdo sitting next to her.What does she know?What does he know about himself?Who is he?Who are his parents? Ah, his name expresses his mysterious origin and savage life. He actually has no name or last name.Would she be happy living with such a tramp in the forest?He lived on the top of trees in the vast forests of Africa since he was a child, fighting and playing with fierce apes, tearing "food" from the quivering belly of the prey he had just killed, and chewing raw meat with his powerful teeth. While his companions are yelling at you for grabbing, he is holding his "delicious" It's almost like slipping away.Can you find any "common language" when you marry such a person? Can he improve her social status?Can she bear to follow him to "fall through the roof"?Could there be any happiness in such a terrible union? "You haven't answered my question yet," he said. "Are you afraid I'll be sad?" "I don't know how to answer you," said Jenny sadly. "I can't even understand my own thoughts." "So you don't love me?" he asked, his voice calm. "Don't ask. You will be happier without me. You will never adapt to the rules and customs of human society; civilization will make you unbearable, and before long, you will miss the free life in the past. And that I can't adapt to this kind of life, just like you can't adapt to my life." "I think I already understand what you mean." He said calmly, "I won't force you. Because I would rather see your happiness than my own. Now I understand that, with a... . . . you won't be happy living with apes." There was a faint sadness in his voice. "Don't say that," she objected, "you don't understand me yet. " Before she could finish her sentence, a sharp turn led them into a small village. Clayton's car was parked there, and several people who had escaped from the farm stood around it.