Man made god

A rendsz’ world storyIn tribute to the legendary jungleman

Man made god.......................................................................................................1Book One...............................................................................................................3

ONE What’s in a name?.........................................................................6TWO Exchanging titles.........................................................................17THREE Impulse........................................................................................26End of Book One...............................................................................................39

Book One

Calling

Called to rule

ONE What’s in a name?

Rivals meet

The piece of mortal scum fought to break free. At the sight of the instrument of his doom, he struggled. Let the prick struggle as much as he wanted. Understandable .. to feel daunted .. coming into the presence of an immortal .. the sensation had to overwhelm him. Fearful of the might that was to crush him, he was fighting to break free.. Fighting to run. The fool.

His men knew to show the idiot otherwise. The clubs fell. The fists flew. Trapped inside his restraints, ropes pinning down his arms, imprisoning any movement … the dumb fool had left himself open to attack. And there was going to be no way he could fight himself free .. not before he had bent the knee. His legs gave way under the fury of attack .. but still the blows descended like sacred rain. Until the piece of mortal shit gave up the fight .. half-stunned. At his signal, his men stopped immediately, the fury of the attack abated. His men dragged this unworthy one back to his feet.

“You have refused to hear their call .. you had to be dragged here like some animal.”Tarzan saw he was glaring into the conceited face of a powerfully built man. But his head was reeling from the beating he’d just had. Not in the mood for any self-important fool, though.“What the hell are you talking about?” Tarzan snapped back.The man appeared not to hear.“Their summons is not to be ignored,” the man frowned in irritation.Tarzan snarled back.“What you on about? There was no summons ..”Tarzan drew himself up to his full height.

“And what gives you the right?”Tarzan shook restraining hands off his shoulders. He shook with his arm brace. To express his annoyance.“Summons? I heard no summons.”His jaw jutted out. Telling this fool he was not daunted by ropes and bonds. Or the clubs his thugs had used on him.“Because you are not worthy to hear,” this hugely powerful man sneered back.Tarzan scoffed.“You’re out of your mind.”

Tarzan felt the man’s gaze descend from the tip of Tarzan’s head down to his feet. Slowly scrutinising him. As the eyes lowered, the look of contempt on his lips became more pronounced. Play-acting .. Tarzan had seen this all before.Undeterred Tarzan growled back, threat in his tone. He had been pushed around and beaten for hours, he was in no mood for messing around with some arrogant

fool.“That’s enough,” he snapped. “Let me go. You have no right …”Tarzan observed that this man took no notice.“They summoned you,” he carried on as if Tarzan had not opened his mouth. “You could not hear. Deaf to their will. You had to be fetched. Dragged in like some captured beast ..”

This man had sent men after him .. Tarzan had been confronted by a dozen men. Tracking him down, attacking him. Going for him with fists and clubs. He hadn’t stood a chance.“Who the hell are you? Never seen you .. never heard of you ..” Tarzan growled back. “What you want?” he spat out. “Set me free.”Tarzan’s arms were trapped in the metal bar across the back of his shoulders. He wriggled with the bar to show his anger. On the journey here he’d made several attempts to wriggle some room from the coarse rope biting into his flesh. But he’d made no headway. And the pair of club-wielding henchman who’d been at his side every moment since this capture .. they had made sure he was not getting his own way. Even now they were close by his side, a powerful grip on each upper arm .. to make it clear that Tarzan shouldn’t get it into his head to rush forward and crush this fool of a man to the ground. Kick his head in .. which was just how Tarzan was beginning to feel.

Annoyingly, as if knowing just how to get right under Tarzan’s skin, the man shrugged. Like he had no interest in what Tarzan had to say for himself. “What you want with Tarzan?” Tarzan was not in the mood for his temper to be ignored.The man was powerfully built, very. He stood a good head above Tarzan. Shoulders that could move mountains. A chest that belonged on a rhino. But it was all muscle .. bulky, brawny .. but all muscular power. Still, given half a chance, Tarzan would go for him.

He ignored Tarzan’s question. As if he could never have anything worth saying. Which just angered Tarzan more.“I’ve waited long for this meeting,” he pronounced. Tarzan heard no pleasure in his tone at the long-awaited event finally taking place.“You’ve a funny wait of showing it,” Tarzan sneered back. He was not going to show any signs of feeling intimidated. Even though this man had sent a dozen warriors after him. A gang of muscular men armed with arm-length clubs and a dogged determination to match.“Strange way of welcoming a guest.”Added to his gang of thugs, the bulk he was faced with was no factor to be ignored. This man was huge. And behaved like he thought he was really something special.

The grin that greeted Tarzan’s scorn was not marked with pleasure. Or surprise .. like he had anticipated every word of this confrontation. His mouth was cold .. a grin that said he knew more about this than Tarzan did.

“Welcome? Guest?”The big muscle-head simply shook his head slowly .. Again his gaze travelled the length of Tarzan’s muscular frame. As if in response, Tarzan hauled himself up straight, squared off his shoulders. Then he realised he had been manipulated into doing just that .. standing up to him .. yet Tarzan’s fight-back was trapped in this brace. When their eyes met again, Tarzan read disdain. Contempt for some moron who could not read the signs. Had yet to catch on. He was trapped, a prisoner .. no getting away.

His eyes scoured the rival. This ape-man was strong, muscular, tall. Powerfully built. He gave off a conceit, a self-belief. A belief in himself that belied the position he was in, helplessly tied-up as he was. The jungle-lord? More like a piece of game hunted down and brought back for the feast. Yet despite being their prisoner for hours .. this ape-head still wanted to ignore the beatings and intimidation to behave himself .. His rival to that desired name, he was no weakling, he was not going to step aside willingly. This jungle-lord. But clearly a fool, unmistakably unworthy.“No guest,” he asserted strongly.

The spirits had called him. Warned him of one impediment to their will. A false claimant .. going about calling himself the jungle-lord. This one impediment that was to be pushed aside .. this man now tied into his restraints. To remove this impediment .. that was the first step on the path to his destiny .. to achieving his calling. Hailed as the Jungle-lord.“No welcome,” he growled back. His jaw set tight. Glaring at this insolence .. this man was a living insult. An affront to the grandeur of the spirits’ forest. This offence that dared call itself jungle-lord.Captured, slapped in a shoulder brace, forced through the jungle to this ancient citadel. Dragged here struggling like a hunted beast .. a goat to be slaughtered. And still the idiot had not caught on.“Welcome? Guest? Whoever spoke of anything pleasurable?”

Throw-back

The unspoken name

“What is it they call you?”He repeated the question. His men had released their grip on the apeman, after dragging him panting and sweating from the beating .. standing him on his own two feet. And like the fool again he was he started putting on a show .. Visibly pulling himself together after his guts had taken a clubbing for his disrespect. Posing .. sticking out his chest .. giving a show of a muscled belly .. squaring off his shoulders in a show of manly defiance …

This Tarzan still seemed to harbour the thought he could engineer some escape .. or at least in his stupidity he was going to show he was not someone who took lightly to being pushed around. Dutifully his men had shown the fool otherwise. Surrounded by loyal warriors .. armed with clubs and fists .. this abomination against nature had learned the risks of answering back. Taking the brunt of loyal warriors’ blows .. intent on showing this prisoner to learn respect.

A slap across the back of his head encouraged the captive to reply. “Answer!”He observed how unsurprisingly that slap only made the apeman glare back at the warrior who had dared lay hand on him. So predictable .. so pointless that posturing. Stood calmly watching this futile squabble, he felt rewarded .. sensing the spirits .. making their presence known to him by a rush of power to the loins. A sign of their accord. Applauding him in this task .. taking down an arrogance as big as this. In their blessed name. Destroying this abomination .. for them.

Tarzan had had enough.“Who’s asking?”Another club smacked across Tarzan’s shoulders .. given for the insolent tone of his retort. But he wasn’t taking any more. The grunt in his throat could not be stopped. He had felt the power of those clubs several times on this journey .. these henchmen had been free in their use. The length of a man’s arm, a gnarled life-sized fist carved into the end. It was all he could do not to stumble forward under the force.

Glaring back at this epitome of arrogance, staring down this hugely built chief who had sent out his band of thugs to capture him - Tarzan bore himself up as if nothing had just happened.But the muscle-head ignored Tarzan’s retort. The arrogant brute answered his own question.“Tarzan you call yourself ..”The man’s aura would tower over most men .. Tarzan could sense a strength of purpose billowing over him .. but he’d come across enough men who were too full of themselves .. and he’d beaten them before. This one, though, was not to be ignored. Tarzan’s captor dominated in more than spirit .. physically he was

huge. The muscles at the top of his chest were thick-crusted with daunting power. A glimpse at his belly showed row-upon-row of deep-etched strength .. ravines scratched out between mounds of muscle. Taking this man on .. going one-to-one in a fight with this muscular might .. even the experienced battler in Tarzan would think twice .. not sure he’d come off the better man.

The over-muscled brute continued.“And what is it others call you?”Tarzan scowled back. Uncertain where this was going .. not understanding what this fool was on about. But not under-estimating him. Everything he had gleaned so far about the authority figure, whoever he was .. Tarzan guessed that nothing was done or said by chance. He’d said he had waited a long time for this meeting. This conversation felt like he had thought things out .. this was leading somewhere.

The muscle-head again answered his own question.“Ape-man, they call you.”His lip curled. In disgust.“Brought up by the apes, they say .. schooled in life by dumb apes .. “Tone of contempt grew.“Apes .. animals .. dumb beasts .. must have taught you a lot …”

Tarzan’s arms were bound into the unyielding iron bar. In all his long struggles on the march here, still he had not been able to squeeze a single bit of give out of the bonds. Surrounded by his captors, hands tied to his shoulder yoke.“Well .. what is it they call YOU?” Tarzan answered back. With equal contempt in his voice. Risking another clubbing. Tarzan’s blood was up, he had had enough of playing games. “What do people call YOU?” Tarzan snarled back. But the man just pulled himself up to his full height .. staring back, ignoring Tarzan’s defiant attitude. His was a physique that would daunt most mortal men. But Tarzan was not going to show any concern .. not to a conceited idiot like this one.

Looking across at this mortal dung-heap who’d be forced to bend the knee to him, to the spirits’ chose one, he felt a surge of power in his loins. He thrilled at the sneer of disdain he got back from the challenge of this prisoner. Oh, the spirits were right .. this piece of mortal shit did think too much of himself .. an impediment to the fulfilment of their will. With every shameful utterance he condemned himself. This disgrace of a half-ape was showing himself unworthy. The spirits were right .. their choice was justified .. in naming HIM their champion .. Chosen HIM to take back that title.

And bidding him to achieve their ambition for him .. raised up above other men .. a god .. worshipped .. his rightful place, ordained by the spirits. Rise up over this half-human, bound, surrounded by implacable hostility. Since being taken captive, signs were he had invited plenty of beatings .. slow to learn .. disciplined for his insolence. But this meeting had only proven right .. the piece-of-shit was stubborn .. still his defiant spirit burned like fire. The spirits

had chosen well .. called HIM out .. called upon him to put out that fire. That was his destiny, his god-given right.Still this mortal scum glared, defiant. Time would come when he’d tremble in the glaring light of his unforgiveable sin. Kneeling .. bending his head .. unable to bear the light of the god that commanded over him.

Tarzan’s face showed only defiance and contempt. “Tarzan. People call me Tarzan.”Tarzan snarled. “And you? Who are you?”Tarzan scoffed. His eyes raged over at the powerful force ranged against him .. showing no sign of feeling afraid.“What do people call YOU? … Besides a fool who thinks too much of himself …?”

A joke

They’d called him to be a god. As such, he would not bother to waste his words on this wretched dog .. the only reason he still lived, he laid claim to that blessed-name. But glowing down at this scum on his knees, he knew full well what he had been called to. He was the anointed one, chosen by the spirits. He towered over men. He looked over the weakling that falsely laid claim to the name the spirits had conferred on him .. as such, nominating HIM as jungle-lord.

The brute was smiling down at Tarzan. Forced down on his knees. The angle made Tarzan have to look up. Looking up into a smile. But not the kind smile of a friend. Not the kind look of a parent at a child .. an offspring who could do now wrong. It was the calculating look of an oppressor .. who got off on besting others .. bending them to his will. From down there the brute looked huge. Tarzan’s face pressed into that muscled belly could scarcely have drawn breath. Crushed by those arms against that chest there’d be no breaking that iron grip. Here was a man whose physique could wield immense power over another human being .. break bones, shatter wills .. and the brute knew it. It looked like he wielded power for the fear it brought. And Tarzan could sense that this monstrous bull-elephant had the look of a man who thought he was born to exercise that right.

“Lord of the jungle .. isn’t that what they say?”The muscle-head answering his own questions again. Tarzan noted the smile broaden. But it bore no pleasure. It was a smile that was coated with disdain.“King of the jungle. Tarzan.”His shoulders shuddered. A gesture of contempt.“What a joke.”

He grabbed Tarzan by the hair. Forced his head back. Yanked it to the left. Examined it. Yanked it savagely over to the right. Scrutinising Tarzan’s face. Then he tugged it back front. And slashed a stinging blow across Tarzan’s face. Force lifted him backwards. But the tight grip in his hair stopped him from falling. A tear of pain watered Tarzan’s eyes. His temper flared. But he was held fast on his knees.“YOU are a joke.”The brute laughed at Tarzan. But there was no merriment in that growl. Only contempt.

Suddenly Tarzan’s captor let him go and turned on his heels. Walking away. The man was near-naked, just the slightest of covering, it barely covered his backside. Fiercely muscled, ferociously built. Ancient tree-trunks of thick flowing muscle .. that was what his legs reminded Tarzan of as he strode away. The breadth of his back looked like a bull elephant flailing his ears in mating. Without stopping the muscle-beast glowered over his shoulder. Shoulders so thick with prodigious power that he had to lift his chin to look over them. In the

light the strength on them seemed to sparkle .. like caught in a mystical aura that radiated off his skull. Tarzan stared .. caught in the sight. Then he snapped out of his dream .. aware he’d let himself get mesmerised by the force this man gave out. Tarzan heard an order snapped out.“Get it out of my sight.”The muscle-brute glared over his shoulder with contempt.“Stick it in a hole . where it belongs. Let it rot in its own shit.”

Drawing himself up to his full height, he deigned to turn around completely. The power of that bull-elephant’s chest heaved with the fire of derision. His eyes took in this outrage against nature, this despicable captive. Trapped into a submissive captive by an iron bar holding down his puny strength. A pair of his best warriors holding him down .. jungle-lord? What a joke! His men’s clubs stood ever ready for any reason the slug gave. Glaring down at the muscled body forced into submission on its knees .. muscled but useless. His loins rewarded him .. flowing with this power he wielded over this abomination .. applauding this act with a rush of blood. He laughed back at the feeble show of spirit this worm was throwing back at him - this display of futility. But he appreciated a challenge when he saw one. And it was a challenge only one of them was destined to win. Only one of them had been called to be a god.

“Get that thing out of my sight. It offends.”Hands grabbed at Tarzan, pulled him to his feet. Annoyed Tarzan struggled against their hold, squirmed himself out of their grip. He was going to go for the brute .. whatever the consequences. But hands dug into his upper arms to stop any move. And every hand around had a tight grip on their monstrous clubs.

Disdainful, the muscle-head shook his head. Mocking another feeble show of spirit.“Get rid of it,” he growled.“I have things to determine. Better than wasting time on some ape.”

TWO Exchanging titles

An APE!

“Ape-man, they say? Reared as an ape?”Tarzan had no idea who this fool was. A conceited warrior-attitude, powerfully built, a monstrous physique .. and an ego to match. Tarzan sensed most men would quake in their shoes rather than face up to an aura like his. Like so many idiots Tarzan had had to put in their place - here was someone who thought himself above other men.

After they had captured him, Tarzan was astonished to be brought to some ancient citadel. Half-hidden by the encroaching jungle. It surprised him, he had never come across this place. Stone-built, obviously some ancient civilisation had resided here. A proud city out of stone. An ancient intelligent society that had constructed this ancient stronghold in the jungle.

Tarzan had spent several uncomfortable hours in the dark underground. Stuck in a hole as commanded. The citadel was now mainly in ruins. His hole was a cell strewn with rubble, it had had no door. But his pair of determined minders had been faithfully standing guard, their clubs forever by their sides .. Tarzan had been kept with his iron bar across his shoulders .. Door or not .. Tarzan had had no chance of getting himself free. Nor to rest properly .. that iron bar making every position uncomfortable.In the darkness he had plagued his head trying to work out who this captor was .. Did he know him from before? Had they crossed swords? Why had he had Tarzan ambushed? And what the hell this was about? But hours later .. when they had come for him again .. Tarzan was no better off.

Surprisingly they stripped him of his restraints. When they came for him and brought back out into the light .. roughly manhandled and brought back face-to-face with his captor .. waiting for him in some high-sided courtyard .. Tarzan’s spirits lifted when his iron bar was removed. Things were looking up .. he was free .. but there were still a dozen club-wielding warriors dotted around .. and only one gateway out.

Your turn first, thought Tarzan. As a sign that he was not giving in to intimidation.“You know my name …”Tarzan was easing the strain out of his shoulders, freeing his muscles of the stiffness brought on by his hours in restraint. But his posture was immediately back on the offensive. A man who had had enough of being pushed around.“And you are …?”

Studiously his captor ignored Tarzan’s question. But Tarzan noticed that his eyes followed every movement of his body. As Tarzan was stretching the stiffness out of his neck. The gyrations of flowing muscle as Tarzan eased strain out of his back. He was being sized up.

Ignoring Tarzan’s question, the huge muscle-beast had approached. “I am curious …”He stood musing, scratching his chin. Boldly he was stood within an arm’s length .. it would be the easiest thing for Tarzan to launch an attack. Although it did not pay to be too hasty. This brute was hugely muscled, heftily built. He was meatier than Tarzan .. much weightier. In a fight, if that brawny mass could throw its weight around .. if this captor knew the first thing about fighting, he could give Tarzan some trouble. Besides, there were those warriors stood around .. his armed back-up. Tarzan had felt the thud of those clubs .. the length of a man’s arm. Topped by a gnarled fist carved into the top. He couldn’t afford to take too many blows from those .. and still hope to fight himself free.

Tarzan momentarily resisted the temptation to go for him. He let the man get close. Keeping his options open. And yet he sensed this muscle-beast had no fear of him either .. too arrogant for that. Too conceited to believe another man would be foolish enough to mount an attack. Take on that solid brute force.“Curious .. what make some ape think it had the right ..?”His finger jabbed into the top of Tarzan’s chest. Meeting muscled resistance. Digging at hard flesh. Then circling its fingertip over Tarzan’s skin. A winsome doodle drawn on the flesh of a captive. It was deliberately patronising .. a put-down. Like this man had no fear of the power of this man’s strength. Or any flash of anger Tarzan might show.

“I ask you ..?”He was shaking his head in disbelief. “An ape?”His tone was mocking.“Calling itself lord of the jungle ..?He had started to move to Tarzan’s side. But still the finger lingered on the skin. Moving, tracing a path over Tarzan’s chest .. as he passed around his prisoner, tauntingly straying his condescending touch over his shoulder. Goading Tarzan. Pawing him .. as if feeling the latent fighting power in the muscle .. and finding nothing there that should make him worry. Mocking .. mauling the captive strength of his prisoner. He was trying to get Tarzan riled.

He sniggered down the back of Tarzan’s neck.“An insult? Is it not?”The man had moved behind Tarzan. In a calculated move Tarzan decided not to indulge this fool. He’d not turn .. he refused to be manipulated .. made to turn round and defiantly look at the idiot. He’d ignore him .. like this fool was not worth wasting his time on.“To pass itself off as lord of the jungle .. a thing brought up by apes?”Tarzan persisted in looking straight ahead .. resisting the temptation to answer back. Suppressing the urge to snap back a snarl into his face. Let the prick play the deluded fool .. Tarzan was not playing along. He continued to ignore him.

“The jungle .. this holy sanctuary .. blessed home of the spirits of the forest. An ape dares to claim? Presumes to rule the jungle? An APE?”

The finger traced its mocking path across the solid muscle of Tarzan’s back .. lightly .. almost ticklish. “An APE!”He hissed the word as contempt down Tarzan’s ear.

“Can the offence get any worse?”He was circling Tarzan .. back at his other shoulder .. like he was stalking helpless prey. But steadfastly Tarzan stared ahead. Playing undaunted .. unintimidated .. unconcerned. Letting this fool play his games. Feeling that finger tracing its conceited path across his back, trailing around the hard globe of strength on his shoulder. Tarzan was promising himself he would have this idiot soon enough. This toying with him had been annoying. Tarzan could feel the irritation building in his blood. Frustrated by this goading .. struggling to resist this attempt to get him worked up. But he was making himself breath slowly .. keeping himself calm. Time enough to show this idiot that Tarzan was not some toy .. Tarzan was not easily played with.

Renamed

“I know what I shall call you …”Still this hugely built fool was goading Tarzan. His finger was resting on Tarzan’s upper chest. The fingertip drawing circles lightly on the skin. The eyes were on Tarzan’s flesh .. as if his fingering was belittling the power trapped in the hard muscle .. his proximity indicating that such strength could hold no threat for a man like him. His body relaxed, his attitude mocking .. aroused by the thrill of taunting this prisoner .. who was going to have to put up with this .. unless he snapped. Shamed by taking this goading, Tarzan could feel his temper rising .. despite himself .. feeling provoked .. by something intensely irritating .. by this conceited fool.“Not Tarzan. No longer. Jungle-lord .. worthy of that title? Don’t make me laugh.”

His eyes flashed at Tarzan. Looking intently into Tarzan’s stern gaze. But returning it with a firmness of expression that would brook no answering.“I’m going to call you .. slave …”Immediately Tarzan scoffed. He smirked back into this arrogant man’s face. Shaking his head .. bemused.“Tarzan is no man’s slave …”

He ignored Tarzan’s answering-back. “That name Tarzan - no need for it anymore. A slave has no need for a name.”His eyes burned into Tarzan’s defiant gaze.“Slave. Slave. SLAVE,” he hissed. “That is your name from now on ..”The man’s eyes radiated certainty.“And you ARE, you are .. you are my slave …”Tarzan did not bother to disguise his sneer. “Slave” - many had tried that on before, all had failed.

He stared long and hard into his prisoner’s scornful glare. This slave giving him a look of disdain. He felt a rush of blood .. the fight was on. Getting back contempt .. this prisoner answering back, not something this slave could accept .. that change of position. Chains or no chains, guards with their clubs . he was not being any man’s slave. As if the fool was going to be given any choice!

But he WOULD accept that title .. from jungle-lord to worshipping slave. That was his downfall. He would be made to .. that was his destiny .. serving as slavering slave to his new Lord of the Jungle. He would accept it .. of that there could be no doubt .. it was written in the air. He would object, resist. And he would pay for resistance .. pay with pain .. pay with humiliation. With his tears of shame. And his cries of pain. His new reality would be forced on him. He’d accept it. The spirits had willed it so. The voices had decreed it.

“LORD OF THE JUNGLE.”With a smirk on his face, feeling a wash of domination glow in his lower half, he made it simple for an ape to understand.“THAT’S how they used to see you. These pitiful people of the jungle used to call you that. Jungle-lord. Wasn’t it?”He was choosing his words carefully. Talking about the apeman in the past. Something that was no more.With an amused sensation he saw how Tarzan fixed him with a frown. Had the ape-brain caught on? Had this abomination realised? Had it understood the life he had known was no more? The look answered him back. Defiant .. slow to catch on ..“TARZAN,” his prisoner snapped back. “That is what they call me …”No, the dumb fool was going to need some persuading. But a god had anticipated that.

He would no longer deny the sweet radiance of pleasure that invaded his loins. He’d known he’d have to apply force. He had the calling, he had the means. He’d planned for that. Why would this dumb ape surrender so easily?For a change, as an exception, he allowed himself to get his hands dirty. A god had others to force his will. But this time … it seemed right - in order to make it clear - to get it through this thick ape-brain skull .. He let this slave know the force of the god he was destined to serve ….

He let this piece of half-human dung understand better .. he lashed out .. he slapped his slave. A sudden flash of a move. A blur of an arm that took everything by surprise. A stinging slap about his slave face. A blow so hard it toppled the slave off its feet. A stinging slap that had it stumbling backwards .. tripping up .. landing on his ape-arse. The might of a god sent the dumb-brain sprawling. Sprawling in the dust.. in deference to the might of his jungle-lord.

That was the message. No longer lord of the jungle. Not this piece-of-ape-shit. Not more Tarzan. SLAVE. A stinging blow. That made the slave stumble back under the force of a god. A bitter strike across his cheek. Threw the puny fool on his arse.SLAVE!

Time …

Regrets

He came to .. hurting. His head was pounding .. a metallic taste strong in his mouth .. it felt like he’d throw up his guts if he as much as moved. It took some time before his thumping head could remember .. had he really been that dumb? Had he thought he could get away with it? Attacking that muscle-head? He’d gone and fought a mountain .. he’d done battle with a rhino. Had Tarzan really thought he’d be allowed to win?

Without having to touch himself, his knew his guts were on fire. Muscles burned .. his innards ached from the vicious beating. He could tell his arms were bound, he was trapped in some confined space .. but he was hurting so much Tarzan just lay still .. still half-stunned. Lay panting slowly .. lay still and moaned.

Thinking it over later .. when body and mind had come to some state of thinking things through, .. it was stupid. He shouldn’t have reacted like that. Goaded .. riled .. giving in to his temper. Stupid to take the muscle-beast on. He’d been winding him up .. and Tarzan had known that full-well. For a long time he’d put up with it .. the mockery, the name-calling, treating him like nothing, a repulsive piece of shit you’d trodden in with bare feet. But finally things had snapped.

It was that pawing that had got his blood racing. Something distinctly disgusting in that touching. The way the fingers had lingered on Tarzan’s chest, the gentle stroking .. like an enrapt lover’s touch. Almost obscene. .. Tarzan could almost believe the bastard was getting aroused. The way the man bore himself .. taking his time .. all the time in the world .. and all the right. Like this male gave himself every right to maul another male’s flesh .. And expect Tarzan to put up with it .. because he had no choice. Or he’d get goaded into making a wrong move. And Tarzan had …

He could feel his pulse lifting .. as the brawny beast traced his fingers across the breadth of Tarzan’s strong back. The temperature seemed to lift .. like this was some sexual encounter. Circling his fingertips in the rounded muscle of Tarzan’s shoulder as he came back around the front .. goading him into hitting out. Tarzan thought he could hear the pervert’s breathing deepen .. getting aroused. The thought flashed through Tarzan’s head .. Was this fool getting off on this? Was he getting hard?

He was angry .. already feeling disgusted. Then that slap was the last straw .. that finally did it. Suddenly something snap .. Tarzan had had enough .. his blood was boiling .. he was furious. He hadn’t really got uptight about those disparaging remarks about Tarzan being reared as an ape. Or what an insult that was for the jungle .. But the more it went on, the more it had been getting to him .. Tarzan was

already angry. That slap did it .. the last straw.Tarzan .. in a rage .. he lashed out.

THREE Impulse

After-effectsTarzan had come-to .. aching, hurting like crazy, found himself stuck in a cage. A rusty metal cage .. the kind which hunters would use to keep a leopard. Too small for a man to stand up .. even sitting Tarzan had to bow his head, the back of his skull still pressed tight against the bars overhead. Caged like an animal.

At the end of the fight, the whirlwind in his head had drowned out the order.“Finish the dog off.”Tarzan had been too exhausted, too broken from the fighting. The life nearly beaten out of him, half-passing-out. His confused spirit had not reacted to the threat. But his opponent’s warriors had. Tarzan, already bruised and battered, was roughly dragged to his feet, run backwards until his back slammed against a stone wall .. his whole body jarring. Then powerful blows fell on him . cripplingly hard .. like a tree hit by lightning. Broken about the back. Smashed ruthlessly in the gut. Hands were holding him upright .. his arms held out to the side, pinned back against the wall. Fists smashed up his belly. Slowly .. painfully hard .. one blow, breath-takingly hard .. letting the full agony ricochet in his innards .. then another vicious thud smacked the wind out of his guts. Blow after blow .. Tarzan heard himself cry out .. his body exhausted from the exertions of the fight .. his resilience weakened by punches to his head .. his legs giving way under the onslaught. Punch after punch .. thud followed by thud. Tarzan had passed out.

His head reeled while he was coming-to. He felt sick to the pit of his stomach .. all of him ached .. like he had been hit by a rhino at full speed. For a seeming eternity, he could only lie still, eyes closed .. head sickeningly swirling .. couldn’t do anything else .. giddy .. half-stunned still. Sick to the pit of his stomach .. with exhaustion .. with hurt swamping all his body.

When slowly the pounding in his head subsided .. the stabbings in his guts helped him recover, the sharp pains jerking his awareness back to life .. Tarzan lay still, eyes half-open, he examined his situation. In a cage .. a hunter’s cage .. kept trapped like a wild beast. His arms were tied behind his back, wrist to elbow. He’d shuffled himself upright .. with difficulty. Every twitch of muscle groaning. But after all that painful effort, still it was torture to sit upright .. his guts wanted to thrown up .. better to lie down on his side. Lie down and let the ravages of exhaustion and pain subside further. A burning in his brutalised belly plaguing him like crazy. Still hurting. But another fury was raging in his guts .. he’d been robbed of that fight .. he could have beaten the bastard.

Breathing deep and hard, like a wounded animal on its last legs, Tarzan lay, hurting. It would be easy .. so easy .. to drift off .. give way to the tiredness .. Instinct said he shouldn’t .. had to fight it .. couldn’t afford to .. had to beat the exhaustion. But sleep would help, his body pleaded .. it craved sleep. Needed it to build his strength .. these pains only threatened to cripple his strength.

Unaware .. slipping away .. tiredness .. pain .. escaping the burning pains .. Tarzan passed out.

Enough!

Tarzan had snapped. His patience broke. That mauling .. the incessant conceitedness of this man who had captured him .. the haughtiness of his bearing .. his self-assured right to toy with Tarzan .. And then that slap .. knocking him off his feet. His patience had snapped. He’d torn himself to his feet, rushed forward. The look on his foe’s face said he hadn’t been expecting that. Tarzan launched himself up, he threw his head up. He lunged forward. His skull smacked the idiot hard on the middle of his forehead.

The shock of the unexpected attack .. the force of the head-butt .. the weight of the shock .. all combined .. the brawny brute tottered backwards. Tarzan had caught him unawares .. he’d not planned on a counter-attack. Ungainly, on wobbly legs, the monster stumbled backwards.Tarzan had to press his advantage. The difference in bulk was not on his side. Seeing his opponent shocked, caught off-guard, he leapt to the attack. Sprang up in the air .. hands clenched above his head .. ready to hammer his fists into the top of the prick’s skull.

This time it was Tarzan caught unprepared. Surprised when the brute reacted .. as fast as any python’s strike. His arms went up .. grabbed Tarzan by the wrists high above his head. Tarzan was now the one to be shocked .. astounded at the speed with which this bulk could move .. at how fast his fighting instincts had recovered. Like a rag doll Tarzan’s attack fizzled out. Held suspended in the air a few seconds, his front slapping limply against the solid wall of this monster’s bulk. Caught in his grip .. face-to-face .. fury exploding at Tarzan’s face.

The grip let Tarzan go. Dumbfounded Tarzan felt himself falling, his feet touched the earth. Then a blur distorted the air. A whirl as light was twisted before his face. Just in time Tarzan averted his head. The force of the blow took him on the side of his head. Force like a rhino’s kick smacked him on the head. He heard his bawl .. Tarzan felt the explosion burst in his brain.

He was flying. He hit the earth .. the hard earth smacked him like the fiercest club. Rolling over and over. Pain burrowed its claws into every muscle of his body. Sent sprawling .. landing on the earth .. rolled over and over by the force.. dust flying.

Pain ricocheted in every fibre of his body .. his guts burst to erupt .. stinging gorge in his throat .. his head in a whirl.He never noticed .. Tarzan did not see. The brawny brute’s men had clutched at their clubs .. they were breaking into attack .. to defend their leader .. a dozen men about to burst into attack.A strong gesture .. an arm raised .. the muscle-beast stopped them in their tracks .. a firm hand raised halted their response .. arrested the thugs’ move

mid-air. Frozen .. they stood .. they stopped .. every fibre in their bodies bursting to come to their leader’s defence.

He forbad them .. his hand gesture stopped them dead in their tracks. This slave .. this piece of shit .. HE’d settle this human dung-heap. He didn’t need help .. he denied their need .. aching to give their leader revenge.He was a god. This scumbag was HIS. This Tarzan was HIS .. he’d break the prick .. break it without breaking sweat.

Speed rulesObviously Tarzan wasn’t going to take this fool on hand-to-hand .. but there was no going back now. Those first few moments had convinced him .. the brute had the power .. he had the bulk .. he’d swatted Tarzan like a fly. Tarzan was also strong .. but above all he had the advantage of speed. No brute like this hulking rhino could match Tarzan’s explosive speed.

Tarzan had got himself to his feet .. wobbly on his legs .. getting his breath back .. shaking the blur out of his head. He’d got sent flying .. for a moment he hadn’t known where he was ,, his head spinning form the blow. If he’d thought .. if he’d had the capacity to think .. he’d have realised. The brute hadn’t pressed his advantage .. he could have taken Tarzan .. when Tarzan lay dazed and sprawling in the dirt .. but he hadn’t. He hadn’t leapt on his back and beaten the life out of him. He’d waited .. the muscle-head .. he’d given Tarzan a fighting chance. Because he was so confident? Or because he thought Tarzan hadn’t got a chance in hell?But such thoughts only hit Tarzan later .. much later .. after the damage had been done.

To taunt the brute’s speed of reaction, Tarzan rushed him head-on, head-down as if to head-butt the brute in the gut. He saw a hammered fist raised, to break it across Tarzan’s back .. a crushing blow Tarzan could not have resisted. But deftly, in the last moment, the apeman agilely rolled himself into a ball, flashed sideways past his leg. Passing, Tarzan hooked out an arm around the brute’s ankle. Yanking hard, he up-ended the monster .. sent him tottering and stumbling down on to one knee.Leaping to his feet, Tarzan was rushing back to leap on his opponent’s back. But a defensive elbow swung backwards, caught Tarzan on the thigh and sent him sprawling in the dirt again. The force of that swing into muscle was deadening .. Tarzan had to force himself to his feet with a dead leg. But still he was on his feet before the bulk could rise and go for him again.

The brute grinned. Laughed at Tarzan’s futile attack. And taunting, gesturing with inviting hands, challenged Tarzan to give it another try. When Tarzan did not, choosing instead to circle the brute, hands out-stretched, bent forward in attack mode, .. the monster brought the fight to his so-called slave. Trying to close on him .. but Tarzan chose athletically to side-step away. Daring to get the hulking brute riled. Again the rhino-gait plodded in Tarzan’s direction. Again Tarzan whisked himself out of danger. Taking satisfaction from the annoyance in the muscle-beast’s eyes .. frustrated that Tarzan would not lock in combat.

The brute lost patience. He rushed .. Tarzan backed away .. skipping off in the other direction. But he suddenly felt himself blocked by the wall of warriors. A momentary loss of focus .. fearing the brute’s warriors would go for him. The brute grabbed the chance, a hand seized Tarzan by the wrist and yanked him towards him. The chests collided. Suddenly a clawed hand had Tarzan by the skull. An enormous hand that almost enveloped his head. Another blurring

movement from the side. A fist cracked into Tarzan’s side .. a blow that nearly took his breath away.

Ignoring the explosion in his side, deftly Tarzan got his knee up. Driving all his strength into the beast’s gut. A rush of air splurted from the brute. Tarzan’s fist smashed upwards and caught the tottering beast in the throat. Thudded his clenched hand with all his ape-man anger into the beast’s windpipe.The giant hand let go and went to his throat .. his eyes popping out of his head .. unable to breathe.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Tarzan leapt in the air. Two-footed, his legs smacked into the muscled brute .. tottering .. gasping for air.. Tarzan’s feet landed smack on his opponent’s ribs. Kicking out with all he had, Tarzan shoved the massive bulk backwards.Stumbling backwards from the kick .. paralysed by the fist to his windpipe .. coughing, eyes streaming .. the hefty bulk stumbled backwards. Lost his footing. And landed with an earth-thudding thump .. landed on his arse in the dirt.

Life cut off

Tarzan lost no time in pressing his advantage. Climbing on the brute’s back in an instant, his arms around the tree-trunk of a neck. His forearms slicked in the brute’s sweat. His own hands were greasy with nerves from the fight. Digging his knees into the brute’s back for force, Tarzan quickly slid his oily forearm through the sweat of the beast’s massive throat. Jaw clenched tight in determination, he clasped his arm in the front of the brute’s neck .. crushing the crook of his elbow around the brute’s windpipe.. Adding to the leverage, Tarzan’s hand clenched like fury at the bicep on his other arm. Encircling the beast’s head on an iron lock of determined and bloody-minded muscle. Gritting his teeth together with superhuman and desperate effort, Tarzan’s chest pushed the brute’s head forwards .. he forced the neck inescapably into the steely grip around the front of the beast’s throat. And Tarzan squeezed. Enclosed the brute’s neck in a clasp of iron. Making it hard to breathe .. cutting off the blood to his head.

Brutish hands grasped at Tarzan’s stranglehold. The power of an alpha male animal shook with rage under his grip .. fighting to break himself free. Tarzan knew it would take only a brief while .. lack of blood and loss of air would send the brute to sleep .. rendering him helpless for a time. Then Tarzan could finish him off. But the brute was still growling back resistance .. a force like an awakening volcano was shuddering under Tarzan’s mere mortal pressure. Gripped by the fear of the brute getting free, strength sprang into Tarzan’s blood .. he could not afford to let the brute hit back. Digging his knees into the beast’s back, Tarzan leant backwards, squeezing the head still against his straining chest. His muscle flooded with the urge to win .. the life-and-death need to take this beast down. His whole being fought for supremacy. Squeezing together every muscle in his upper body, calling on the strength in every sinew, Tarzan hauled backwards .. cutting off the blood to that brutish brain. He had to succeed .. there’d be no second chance.

Tarzan felt the brute give an involuntary shudder .. Fear? Realisation? His system closing down? Encouraged Tarzan dug deeper. Grunting with all his might. Hoping-against-hope, he re-doubled his strength. Squeezing tighter .. squeezing every bit of power out of his body .. his biceps on fire with the strain .. teeth gritted .. grunts of effort broke loudly from his chest.

Another involuntary shudder .. Tarzan felt the brute go a bit limp .. Falling unconscious? But not yet .. the beast was not giving up that easily. Tarzan felt a resurgence of life beneath him. He squeezed with all his might, he tugged another savage yank out of this neck. Screwing every last piece of effort out of his muscled arms, Tarzan squueeeeeezed … Desperation and determination surging through every sweat-flowing pore.

“NOW!”The roar was inhuman. The force of the bawl made the air shudder. Underneath Tarzan he felt the earth move.

A whirlwind was unleashed. They leapt. They pounced. Slavering hunting dogs released from the leash. Baying for blood. Howling for the kill. A club swept over Tarzan’s head. Drove pain into his back .. punched that weakening blow from a gnarled club through every rib. Hands were tearing at his head. Hauling backwards .. tugging the slave off their Master. A kick in the side .. a blow to the head .. tugging .. punching .. dragging the stinking slave to the earth.

Feet kicked out .. heels stomped down on the dog. Hatred .. intense anger .. seething rage. Kicking at a contemptible human ball. Clubs slamming into its vile side. Not stopping when the hated torso ceased to fight back. Unable to stop themselves even when they had beaten every ounce of awareness out of the despicable dog. Sprawled unconscious in the dust. At the feet of a raging god.

Kick the dog

The henchmen had spotted their prisoner’s recovery. Bored with standing guard over the cage housing this half-dead fool .. they were glad of some sign of new activity. It was late afternoon now, the sunlight fading .. and since they’d beaten the crap out of the insolent dog, they’d sweated in the heat waiting for it to come round.

Tarzan saw them cast a look in his direction .. he could not suppress the groan when he’d rolled over on his back. He noticed them watching carefully and give each other a knowing look when he winced in pain as he tried to sit himself up in the cage. Tarzan tried to hide his pains but every movement was proof of the damage these thugs had done. They eyed each other, prisoner and captors, eyes slitted hostile through the bars. The pair of guards exchanged words, one of them got up. Tarzan assumed he was off to tell their chief that the apeman had woken up, gloat to him that the fool was in pain. The fool who thought it could attack a man built like a rhino and get away with it.

It was an animal’s cage, impossible to sit upright .. hard to sit up the way he felt .. hard with his hands tied behind his back, one wrist bound to the opposite elbow. And the crunched up sitting position in the low cage had only put on extra strain. Tarzan was back lying on his side in the cage, still focussing his efforts on recovering when the muscle-beast came back. Come to gloat at the fool who had been stupid enough to take him on.

Tarzan had taken on the treacherous monster .. and he would have won if the brute had not cheated in the fight. From Tarzan’s position down in the dirt, he looked even more massive. Despite how Tarzan was hurting like crazy from the ferocious beating this beast’s men had rained down on him, Tarzan refused to let himself feel overwhelmed. The brute’s bulk dominated over Tarzan’s cage .. a menacing giant standing next to it. His bulk again reminded Tarzan of a mean-minded male rhino with muscles. But Tarzan had been winning when the brute had called on his men. When Tarzan took him on next, he’d have to fight smarter. He couldn’t match that bulk. Or risk having this bunch of thugs get at him.

“Not slave .. I’ll not call you slave … ”The monster took up the conversation about names as if nothing had happened in-between. What was it he had about what people were called, Tarzan thought? He wasn’t even bothering to look Tarzan over. See how he was hurting. Seemingly he hadn’t noticed that his men had nearly beaten Tarzan half-to-death. It was like the fight had never taken place .. he was simply taking up where the conversation had ended. He was back to calling Tarzan names .. trying to belittle him .. goading him. As if Tarzan had not inflicted some pain on him .. hurt his conceited pride .. ignoring that Tarzan had nearly beaten him ..

managed to hold his own .. would have strangled him. If the cheat hadn’t resorted to tricks.

“A slave has some worth,” he continued. “Works for his food .. toils .. does something useful .. “He was stood right next to the cage, the top reached about to his thigh. The rest of that torso was a massive bulk of brawn and muscular power looming above Tarzan down in a cage in the dirt.“A slave has some worth ..”Tarzan was forced to crane his head up to engage him in a glare. He was not going to look intimidated or cowed .. despite the pains he could not disguise as he shuffled over on to his back. He was on his back in the cage. His arms tied together across his back lifted his torso, expanded the solid slabs of strength across his chest. The lift pulled the power in his stomach into full display. Conscious of the image of strength this gave him, Tarzan glowered up at the cheating brute. He had lost a fight .. he hadn’t given up the battle.

“A dog has none. No worth. A dog scavenges for scraps to eat.” More name-calling, Tarzan sneered. As if he cared what he was called .. whatever insults were thrown .. he had to get out of this cage .. somehow he had to trick them into freeing his arms …“When I kick a dog .. it howls .. it runs off and cowers. Then it comes back .. cringing .. licking its Master’s hand .. ingratiating itself with the Master who kicked it up the arse.”

Tarzan saw a bowl of water shoved by a guard into the bars. He hadn’t eaten for over a day .. a drop of water hadn’t passed his lips since the previous day. He felt the saliva run.“We have caught ourselves a dog, it seems.”The muscle-beast was snarling down through the bars at Tarzan. His hurt pride glowered back.“And a mad beast at that ..”

A chicken leg was thrown down by Tarzan’s face. Fresh roasted, smelling appetising.“A dog bites its Master .. it gets punished.”The tone from above had sharpened.“And .. DOG .. your Master WILL see you punished.”

Another chicken leg was thrown into the dirt by Tarzan’s front. The smell of fresh roasted meat nearly had Tarzan licking his lips. But he wasn’t giving into such tricks. And how was he supposed to eat? His arms were tied behind his back.“Eat. Like the dog you are .. eat.”

Tarzan had no choice. He was hungry, he was light-headed from the need to drink .. he had to re-build his strength. Crouched, hunched over like a dog, he lapped water out of the bowl. Like an animal, like a wild beast.

The huge brute had wasted no time watching Tarzan’s humiliation. He’d left .. probably congratulating himself on reducing the jungle-lord to the status of a mad dog. But the guards did watch, sniggering. They would report back, Tarzan knew they’d tell him how he’d had to pick up the chicken leg with his mouth. Tore off the flesh, letting the rest fall to the earth. Covered in dirt, the bone was attacked again. With difficulty, using his teeth to tear off more flesh. Scavenging for food .. going for dust-covered scraps thrown to him .. and grateful for it .. like a mangy dog. Eating it voraciously .. dirt-and-all .. swilling it down with water from the bowl. Lapped with his tongue. A dog. A grateful cur. Tarzan was being treated like dog. A filthy mongrel that had offended a harsh master. Tarzan had taken a bite out of the muscle-beast’s pride. He would get punished for that.

Insolence

End of Book One