Chapter 2 Tarzan met Olga for the first time

Because he likes to be upright by nature, Taishan got involved in the disputes of those passengers.However, he did not see Zhukov and Balvich again until the next afternoon.It was completely unexpected to meet these two guys, and they hated seeing him at this moment the most. They stood in a secluded corner of the deck.They were having a heated argument with a woman when Tai Shan walked over.Taishan noticed that this woman was dressed luxuriously, with a slender figure, slim and graceful, and she was recognizable at a glance that she was still young.But because of the thick veil.Can't see what she looks like.

Zhukov and Balvich stood next to her, their backs to Tarzan. Therefore, although he had come very close, they did not notice him.He saw that Rukov was threatening the woman, who was begging.He couldn't understand anything they were saying, and he could only see the fear in the woman's eyes. Zhukov's attitude clearly contained a threat of violence. Taishan was instinctively aware of a dangerous atmosphere, so he couldn't help but stop behind these three people, hesitating.Rukov grabbed the woman's wrist roughly and twisted it back, as if to force her to make some kind of promise.If Zhukov's plot succeeds, what will happen next can only be speculated.Because he hadn't succeeded yet, an iron palm had already tightly grasped his shoulder.He was very rudely turned a "giant U-turn", and saw again the stranger who had exposed his plot the previous afternoon, and his cold gray eyes.

"Bastard!" Zhukov shouted angrily. "What do you mean? Are you a fool to insult Nicholas Zhukov again and again?" "Here is my answer to your note, sir," whispered Tarzan.Then suddenly pushed him away from him, and Zhukov staggered a few steps and bumped into the railing. "Grandma's!" Zhukov screamed, "Stupid pig, you want to die." He jumped up and rushed towards Tarzan, taking a pistol from his hip pocket.The young woman backed away in horror. "Nicholas!" she shouted, "don't, oh, don't! Run, sir, or he'll kill you!" Instead of running, Tarzan took a few steps to meet Zhukov. "Stop pretending, sir!" he said.

Confused by the stranger's contempt and humiliation, Zhukov finally drew his pistol.The hesitation just now no longer existed, he unhurriedly raised the pistol, pointed it at Taishan's chest, and pulled the trigger.The hammer of the pistol hit the firing pin, but there was no friendly fire.It turned out that there was no bullet in the chamber, and Tarzan's fist shot out like the head of an angry giant snake, and the pistol flew over the railing of the ship and fell into the Atlantic Ocean. The two men stared at each other and stood facing each other.After a while, Zhukov calmed down and broke the silence first.

"Sir, you have twice interfered in matters that did not concern you, and twice insulted Nicholas Zhukov. The first time we thought you had forgiven you out of ignorance. But this time, never forgive.If you still don't know who Nicholas Zhukov was, your audacity just now will give you good reason to keep him in your mind later on. " "I only know you are a coward and a scoundrel, sir," said Tarzan.He turned around and wanted to ask the woman if she had been hurt by Rukov, but she was gone.Then, without even looking at Zhukov and his companions, he Go straight to the deck.

Taishan didn't know what conspiracy these two people were doing, what kind of plan they had.He always felt that the veiled woman he rescued just now looked familiar.But since I didn't see a face, I couldn't be sure if I had seen her before. The only thing about her that left a special impression on him was the finely crafted ring on the hand held by Rukov.So he made up his mind to pay attention to the rings on the fingers of all the female passengers in the future, find out the woman who was persecuted by Zhukov, and find out if that guy is still looking for trouble for her. Tarzan found his deck chair again, and sat on the deck calmly recalling the countless examples of people's cruelty, selfishness, and viciousness.Four years ago, when he first saw a human being in the African jungle——the strong black Kulonga, he experienced this kind of selfishness and cruelty.That day, the spear flying from Kulonga's hand killed the mother ape Kara, leaving young Tarzan without the only mother he had ever known.

He also thought of "Mouse Hope" Snappers killing King, of the rebels on the "Arrow" throwing Professor Porter and his party on the beach, and of how the black warriors and women of the Woodenga tribe treated the captives horribly. The heinous persecution, and the intolerance and jealousy of the civil servants and generals of the West Coast colonies, and it was these people who first introduced him to the civilized world. "My God!" he said to himself, "they're all the same, cheating, murdering. Lying, fighting each other for what the beasts of the jungle don't even bother to get - money for imbecile The sensual pleasures that people like. Those stupid rules and regulations and the force of habit make them slaves of unfortunate fate, but they still firmly believe that they are the creative ones who can appreciate the real joy of life. In the jungle, who Nor will I shrink back because of peace when my favorite 'person' is occupied by another 'person'.Oh, what a frightful, stupid world it is!A world of idiots!What a fool Tarzan was, leaving behind the freedom and joy of the jungle to come here! "

After a while, as he sat like this, he suddenly felt a pair of eyes watching him—the animal instinct cultivated in the jungle broke through the thin veil of civilization.Tai Shan turned around abruptly, and the woman who had been peeking at him didn't even have time to lower her gaze.Tarzan's gray, inquiring eyes were fixed on her.She flickered her eyelids, and two red clouds appeared on her slightly turned face. He smiled a little at the result of his very uncivil and inattentive behavior—he did not lower his eyes out of politeness when he saw the young woman.She was very young and very beautiful, besides, Taishan felt that she looked very familiar, as if he had seen her somewhere before.He sat down again as before, and presently felt her rise and leave the deck.Taishan turned his head to look at her, hoping to find some clues to satisfy his curiosity and figure out her identity.

He wasn't completely disappointed.Because when she walked over, she raised a hand to brush the shiny black hair behind her head.This delicate movement satisfied Taishan's eyes.On that hand he saw a finely crafted ring.Not long ago, he had seen this ring on the hand of that veiled woman. So she was the young woman whom Zhukov had been persecuting. Tai Shan thought lazily, who is she?What did such a sweet fellow have to do with that rough, bearded Russian? After supper that evening, Tarzan took a walk on the deck and remained there until the dusk deepened.He chatted with the second mate, and later, because the second mate had other things to do, Taishan lolled along the railing alone, watching the moonlight dancing on the soft water.He was concealed by a davit, so that two men, walking along the deck to meet him, did not see him.However, when they passed by, Taishan heard their conversation, although only a few words, it was enough to arouse his vigilance.He followed quietly behind, figuring out their evil plan.And he recognized Zhukov's voice and recognized Balvich walking with him.

All Tarzan heard was this: "If she yells, you strangle her until..." But that was enough to arouse the adventurous spirit in him.The two fellows walked on along the deck, lightening their steps.Tarzan watched, not letting them escape his sight.He followed them all the way to the smoking room, and saw that they only stopped at the door for a moment, obviously watching someone's whereabouts, and after seeing that person sitting in the smoking room, he went straight to the first-class cabin on the upper deck. Tarzan found it difficult to remain undetected by the two men there, but managed to conceal himself nonetheless.The two men stopped in front of a smooth hardwood-paneled door, and Tarzan took the opportunity to slip into the shadows of a passage not twenty feet away from them.

They knocked on the door, and a woman asked in French, "Who is it?" "It's me, Olga Nicholas," Zhukov replied in a guttural voice, "may I come in?" "Why do you bother me so much, Nicholas?" said the woman through the thin partition. "I never hurt you." "Come on, come on, Olga," urged Zhukov in a persuasive tone, "I'm just asking you a few words, I won't hurt you, I won't even enter your house. Shout out loud." Taishan heard a click, and the door lock was opened from the inside.He hastened out of his hiding place, and slipped to where he could see the house, for at once he recalled the harsh words he had just heard on deck: "If she yells, strangle her..." Zhukov stood in the doorway, and Balvich stood beside him, leaning against the paneling of the corridor wall.The door opened, and Zhukov stepped into the hut, and standing with his back to the door, he spoke to the woman in a low voice.Although Taishan couldn't see the woman, he could hear her voice.She is calm, speaks methodically and hears clearly. "No, Nicholas," she said, "it's no use. You can threaten, but I'll never grant your request. Please get out. You have no right to be here. You said you would not come in." "Very well, Olga, I will not go in. But before I lay hands on you, you will be very sorry that you did not comply with my request. In any case, I will win you in the end. Therefore, your last So as to save me some trouble, save some time, and save yourself and your husband some embarrassment." "Never! Nicholas!" interrupted the woman.Tarzan saw Zhukov turn his face to Balvich and nod.Balvich immediately rushed to the cabin.Zhukov opened the door and let him in, and he quickly exited and closed the door. Taishan heard a click and the hut was locked by Balvich from the inside.Zhukov stood at the door with his head bowed, as if he was listening too much to the voices inside, a wicked smile appeared on his bearded lips. Tarzan heard the woman tell the guy to get out. "I will send for my husband," she cried, "and he will show no mercy!" There was a contemptuous laugh from Balvich across the smooth door. "The steamer's purser will call for your husband, ma'am," said Balwych, "in fact, the officer has been informed that you are entertaining a man who is not your husband in a locked cabin. .” "Bah!" cried the woman, "my husband will know all this!" " "Of course, your husband will know. But the purser will not know. Those journalists may have heard about it through some inexplicable channels after we landed, but they will not find out the truth. They will think it is a case." Very interesting story. All your friends will think the same when they have breakfast and read the newspaper. Come to think of it, today is Tuesday, yes, next Friday morning they will see the news report. Even Knowing that Madame was entertaining a Russian servant--her brother's valet, to be exact--their interest would not be lessened in the slightest." "Alexey Borvich!" said the woman coldly and without fear, "you are a coward, and if I whisper someone's name into your ear, you will think about you further." Are my demands and threats justified; you will immediately leave my room. And I think that you will at least not bother me from now on." Then there was silence in the hut.It must have been the woman, Tarzan imagined, leaning over the villain and whispering what she had just hinted at.There was only silence in the room for a moment, and then the man began to curse in surprise, followed by his shuffling, a woman's scream, and then silence again. No sooner had the cry landed than Tarzan jumped out from his hiding place.Zhukov ran away, but was dragged back by Taishan.Neither of them spoke, because they knew each other that a murder was going on in the cabin. Tarzan was convinced that Rukov did not want his accomplices to go too far. He felt that this guy's purpose was far more insidious and vicious than brutal and cold murder. Taishan didn't hesitate, and didn't ask questions to the people inside. Instead, he threw open the not-so-strong wooden door, and in the "drizzle" of wood chips, In the process, he broke into the hut, dragging Zhukov behind him.He saw the woman lying on a couch, with Balvich pressing on top of her, holding her thin white neck with both hands.Olga struggled to smack him in the face with her hands and yanked desperately at the murderous fingers that were trying to strangle her, but to no avail. Hearing the sound of Tarzan breaking in, Balvich quickly stood up and glared at Tarzan. Olga sat up tremblingly, touched her throat with one hand, and panted heavily.Despite Olga's disheveled hair and pale face, Tarzan recognized her as the young woman who had watched him from the deck earlier in the day. "What does this mean?" Tarzan turned to Rukov and asked Rukov. He had intuitively seen that he was the chief culprit of this persecution.Zhukov frowned and said nothing. "Ring the bell, please," continued Tarzan. "We must call one of the ship's captains here. This is serious enough." "No, no," cried Olga, standing up abruptly, "please don't do that. I'm sure they didn't really mean to do me any harm. I annoyed the man, he couldn't help himself, and sent Temper, that's all. I don't want to make a big deal out of it, please, sir." Her voice was full of pleading, and Tarzan couldn't hold his own anymore, but he was well aware that this matter should be let The authorities know. "So you want me to leave it alone?" he asked. "Yeah, never mind," she replied. "Are you willing to have these two hooligans continue to persecute you?" She looked sullen and worried, not knowing how to respond. Tarzan saw a smug, vicious smile on the corners of Rukov's mouth.This woman is obviously afraid of these two villains, and she dare not express her true thoughts in front of them. "In that case," said Tarzan, "I take responsibility for the matter myself." He turned to Zhukov and said, "I want to say to you, and to your accomplices, that from now until the end of this voyage I will keep a close eye on your actions. If I happen to see you two, whoever If you dare to touch this woman, I will settle the old and new scores with you. I am afraid that this kind of settlement will not be pleasant for both of you." "Now, get out of here." He grabbed Zhukov and Balvich by the necks, pushed them out of the door, and kicked each of them.The two guys rolled and crawled, and left in a hurry.Then he turned to the woman in the first-class cabin, who was looking at him with wide-eyed surprise. "Ma'am, when these two scoundrels trouble you again, I will be honored if you can tell me in time." "Ah, sir," she answered, "I hope you will not suffer for your kindness. You have made a feud with two of the most vicious and adaptable villains. They have no scruples in revenge. You must Be very careful, sir. Your surname..." "Excuse me, ma'am, my name is Tarzan." "Oh, Mr. Tarzan, don't think that I am not grateful to you for not agreeing to report to the captain and mate. On the contrary, I admire your brave and chivalrous actions, and I will never forget your life-saving grace. " She smiled, showing her beautiful teeth, and curtsied to Tarzan, who bade her good night, and made his way to the deck. Tarzan was bewildered that there should be two persons on board this ship—this woman and the Count de Cauder—who were insulted and tortured at the hands of Rukov and his associates, and who were unwilling to subject them to justice. ruling.Before going to bed that night, he kept thinking about the young and beautiful woman.Fate had thrust him so wonderfully into the apparently tangled web of her life.He remembered that he didn't know her name yet, and only the thin gold ring on the third finger of his left hand showed that she was married.Reluctantly, he imagined who that lucky man was. Taishan has never seen the "actor" in this "little play" he "glanced" for a moment.Until the afternoon of the last day of the voyage, I suddenly met the young woman and her husband-the two of them were walking towards each other dragging the deck chairs on the deck.She greeted him with a smile, and immediately began to talk about the incident in her cabin two days ago, as if believing that Tarzan must be underestimated because of her association with such villains as Zhukov and Balvich. She, and deeply disturbed by it. "I hope sir isn't judging me on the basis of that unpleasant incident on Tuesday night. I've been haunted by it, and it's the first time I've been out of my room since. I've been deeply ashamed." She said a few words Say it like a conclusion. "People don't say that the antelope is as evil as the lion just because the antelope is attacked by the lion." Taishan replied. "I've seen these two guys do it before, in the smoking room, the day before they hit you, if I remember correctly. So I've learned a little about their tricks. The kinder and more upright the person they hate to the bone.” "It's very kind of you to see it that way," she said, smiling. "I've heard about the poker table. My husband has told the story from beginning to end. He made special mention of Mr. Tarzan's strength." and bravery. He feels he owes you more than he can clear." "Your husband?" Taishan asked in surprise. "Yes, I am the Countess de Cauder." "Oh, I worked for the Earl de Cauder, which is very good, and this is the greatest reward for me. "Ah, sir, I already owe you so much, and I'm afraid it will be difficult to repay it in my lifetime. Therefore, please don't do me any favors." She smiled sweetly at him.Tarzan felt that he was willing to take even greater risks for her, even just for such a ravishing smile. He did not see her again that day.When they went ashore the next morning, there were so many passengers, they didn't even see her.But the look in her eyes, when they had parted on deck the first day, had never ceased to haunt him.It was a marvelous thing that they struck up a friendship in the course of a few days across the ocean, and perhaps not very often when they parted ways.In fact, their hearts are always full of longing. Taishan thought to himself, could he still meet her again?