Page:Weird Tales Volume 4 Number 4 (1924-12).djvu/30

Rh silent again as the girl stood before them at a sign from Gra. Her voice was musical and clear as a bell, and her words were simple and free from all pomp and ceremony. She looked across to where Gra, son of Gra, stood with his eyes fastened intently upon her, before she spoke:

"Zo-na waits the voice of her people."

A lone figure detached himself from the crowd and, crossing the open space to Gra, prostrated himself before the throne of stone. Gra rose, and again his thunderous tones rang forth:

"Arise, Ra-nor, stalwart son of the people of Gra, and state vour mission."

Ra-nor arose and drew himself erect.

“For many moons, O Gra, has Zo-na found favor in the eyes of Ra-nor. And has not Zo-na smiled upon him in return? So Ra-nor would seek the girl, Zo-na, to mate with him, to keep his watch-fires bright, to care for the trophies he brings from the hunt, and to be the mother of his children."

An intense hush fell upon the assembled throng. Ra-nor was entirely within his rights, according to the tribal customs of the people of Gra. But to think that he dared defy the wishes of Gra, son of Gra, was in effect a daring challenge. The girl must choose, and her choice must be confirmed by the council congregated there. If their verdict did not concur with her own, she must remain a virgin until another should find favor in her eyes, or else flee with the man of her choice and become ostracized forever from the people of Gra. So far had men progressed from the days when the male, by sheer brute force, took the eémale of his choice to his cave.

Again the girl took her place before the multitude. Every eye was focused upon her, every ear intent on the words she might have to say. Gra, son of Gra, moved uneasily, but his face remained as emotionless as the pictures graven on the walls of his cave.

"Zo-na needs must find it hard to make a choice, for Gra, son of Gra, and Ra-nor both find favor in her eves. But this is the answer of Zo-na to Ra-nor, and to Gra, son of Gra. Many times of late has the voice of Aa, the saber-tooth tiger, been heard in the mighty. forest. Already have some of the brave hunters of the people of Gra fallen prey to the great beast. More dangerous is he than Brahg, the woolly mammoth, or even Gur, the shaggy cave bear. To him who will lay before her cave the head of Aa, with this one shall Zo-na mate. Zo-na has spoken."

Now the silent throng found voice and raised a mighty shout of approval at the decision the girl had made. Gra lifted his hand once more for silence.

"Words of wisdom has the fair Zo-na spoken. It is well. Tonight the full moon shines upon the people of Gra. It is a good sign. Tomorrow shall Ra-nor and Gra, son of Gra, set out upon the trail of the great beast, Aa. And until one returns, Zo-na shall wait in the cave of her father, Dur. If neither should return from the great forest"

Gra’s massive shoulders moved in a suggestive gesture. With a wave of his huge staff he dismissed the throng.

That night Zo-na’s sleep was troubled. She dreamed that she was alone in the great forest and Aa, the saber-tooth tiger, sprang upon her from the underbrush. But instead of the head of a tiger, the monster in her dreams bore the head of Gra, son of Gra. She woke with a startled cry, the name of Ra-nor on her lips, and in her heart a fear that harm might befall this brave lad who dared defy the mighty son of Gra.

Ra-nor, too, dreamed, but his dreams were all of a glorious girl with