{"product_id":"2940013768741","title":"Bride of the Serpent God","description":"KI-GOR placed a plump, scarlet berry in his mouth, and munched slowly,\u003cbr\u003ewith much satisfaction. He lay in the cool shade of a flowering shrub,\u003cbr\u003ecompletely relaxed, obviously at peace with the world and pleased with\u003cbr\u003elife in general. The only sounds were the soft hum of insects drawn by\u003cbr\u003ethe heavy scent of flowers and the lulling murmur of the broad river\u003cbr\u003ewhich flowed a scant twenty paces from where Ki-Gor rested.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHelene, his mate, vibrantly young and alive, stood beside Ki-Gor. She\u003cbr\u003elooked down at her lounging husband and feigning disapproval, she\u003cbr\u003eplaced hands on hips and sighed with disgust.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"You lazy thing, Ki-Gor. Are you going to lie there all day eating\u003cbr\u003eberries?\" she asked, pouting lips as red and much more inviting than\u003cbr\u003ethe fruit which had occupied her Jungle Lord the past half hour.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe bronzed giant stirred only slightly, and without opening his eyes,\u003cbr\u003ehe plumped another luscious berry in his mouth, and began chewing\u003cbr\u003econtentedly. But a little boy's smile of guilt slowly edged his lips,\u003cbr\u003eas he opened one cautious eye to peer at the accusing figure of his\u003cbr\u003ewife.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"For two days, Mister Ki-Gor, you've been rushing me along like mad,\u003cbr\u003esaying you had an important meeting here with Tembu George,\" she said,\u003cbr\u003epointing a meaning finger at the Jungle Lord. \"Now that we are here, I\u003cbr\u003efind no Tembu George, no important meeting, nothing but a lot of fruit\u003cbr\u003eyou persist in stuffing yourself with because it is the nearest and\u003cbr\u003eeasiest thing at hand!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eKi-Gor's gray eyes opened wide in a great show of innocence. He made a\u003cbr\u003evaliant, though completely unsuccessful, effort to show hurt dismay\u003cbr\u003ethat Helene would doubt his motives for a moment.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Why, Helene, you know how healthful fruit is, and the fact it happens\u003cbr\u003eto be hanging right at arm's reach from me has nothing to do with my\u003cbr\u003eeating it,\" he righteously pointed out. \"And you know also how very\u003cbr\u003egood rest is to build a person up. That's the only reason I am lying\u003cbr\u003edown.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe red-haired girl looked at the superbly proportioned body of her\u003cbr\u003emate, and burst out laughing. \"You certainly look like you need to be\u003cbr\u003ebuilt up, you frail little mountain of a man!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Well, anyway,\" he grinned, \"it is only proper to show adequate\u003cbr\u003eappreciation of gifts so conveniently and lavishly provided for us by\u003cbr\u003enature.\" Stretching out his hand he urged, \"Here, try some of these\u003cbr\u003eberries you'll find them delicious.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHelene tossed her red hair in a definite negative reply, and nudged\u003cbr\u003eKi-Gor's ribs with one small foot.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I will not let you fill me up on those things,\" she declared. \"You\u003cbr\u003epromised to catch me some fish for lunch if I would hurry, and I want\u003cbr\u003emy fish!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eKi-Gor shook his head apologetically. \"Wrong time of day. Never catch\u003cbr\u003efish this time of day. Better wait until morning.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe watched the slim, briefly clad girl turn with a switch of her hips\u003cbr\u003eand walk to where his spear rested on the ground. She bent, picked it\u003cbr\u003eup, and returned to place it across his chest.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I want fish!\" she said.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe white man glanced from spear to river, and reflected sadly, \"Too\u003cbr\u003emuddy. I could never get anything in that muddy water. Besides, Tembu\u003cbr\u003eGeorge is due to arrive any minute, and there wouldn't be time to cook\u003cbr\u003efish even if we caught any.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Fish, Ki-Gor!\" Helene stated, catching the arm of the feebly\u003cbr\u003eprotesting Jungle Lord, tugging mightily. With much groaning he got to\u003cbr\u003ehis feet, and then abruptly he swept Helene up under one arm, and\u003cbr\u003egrasping the spear with the other, strode toward the river, humming\u003cbr\u003eloudly and tunelessly.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Put me down, Ki-Gor! Don't you dare throw me in that river!\" Helene\u003cbr\u003ecried, wriggling and kicking as she tried to escape. On he strode,\u003cbr\u003eunperturbed by the rising din of her cries. At the very edge of the\u003cbr\u003ebank, he halted, carefully putting his spear down. He appeared to\u003cbr\u003edebate as to where to throw the laughing, struggling girl, and then\u003cbr\u003ehis solemn face breaking into a smile, he carefully set her down on\u003cbr\u003ethe bank.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Now sit there, and don't go puddling around the river bank,\" he told\u003cbr\u003eher, \"because there are some very discerning crocodiles hereabouts who\u003cbr\u003ewould like nothing better than a red-haired, long-legged young lady\u003cbr\u003efor dessert today.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Yes, sir,\" she replied. \"Now you go to work.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHelene watched the agile grace with which the big man crouched and\u003cbr\u003epicked up the spear. He straightened, threw back his massive\u003cbr\u003eshoulders, and walked several steps away to where the bank overhung a\u003cbr\u003equiet, deep pool. He studied the spot, and then satisfied, he bent to\u003cbr\u003eone knee, holding the spear ready.","brand":"WDS Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47069025239280,"sku":"2940013768741","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940013768741_p0.jpg?v=1763598842","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940013768741","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}