thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第14节
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she motioned him back。 He heard her calling to the banths in a low；
singsong voice that was half purr。
Instantly the great heads went up and all the wicked eyes were riveted
upon the figure of the girl。 Then； stealthily； they commenced moving
toward her。 She had stopped now and was standing waiting them。
One； closer to her than the others； hesitated。 She spoke to him
imperiously； as a master might speak to a refractory hound。
The great carnivore let its head droop； and with tail between its legs
came slinking to the girl's feet； and after it came the others until she was
entirely surrounded by the savage maneaters。
Turning she led them to where Carthoris stood。 They growled a little
as they neared the man； but a few sharp words of command put them in
their places。
〃How do you do it？〃 exclaimed Carthoris。
〃Your father once asked me that same question in the galleries of the
Golden Cliffs within the Otz Mountains； beneath the temples of the therns。
I could not answer him； nor can I answer you。 I do not know whence
comes my power over them； but ever since the day that Sator Throg threw
me among them in the banth pit of the Holy Therns； and the great
creatures fawned upon instead of devouring me； I ever have had the same
strange power over them。 They come at my call and do my bidding； even
as the faithful Woola does the bidding of your mighty sire。〃
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
With a word the girl dispersed the fierce pack。 Roaring； they
returned to their interrupted feast； while Carthoris and Thuvia passed
among them toward the walled city。
As they advanced the man looked with wonder upon the dead bodies
of those of the green men that had not been devoured or mauled by the
banths。
He called the girl's attention to them。 No arrows protruded from the
great carcasses。 Nowhere upon any of them was the sign of mortal
wound； nor even slightest scratch or abrasion。
Before the bowmen's dead had disappeared the corpses of the
Torquasians had bristled with the deadly arrows of their foes。 Where had
the slender messengers of death departed？ What unseen hand had
plucked them from the bodies of the slain？
Despite himself Carthoris could scarce repress a shudder of
apprehension as he glanced toward the silent city before them。 No longer
was sign of life visible upon wall or roof top。 All was quietbrooding；
ominous quiet。
Yet he was sure that eyes watched them from somewhere behind that
blank wall。
He glanced at Thuvia。 She was advancing with wide eyes fixed upon
the city gate。 He looked in the direction of her gaze； but saw nothing。
His gaze upon her seemed to arouse her as from a lethargy。 She
glanced up at him； a quick； brave smile touching her lips； and then； as
though the act was involuntary； she came close to his side and placed one
of her hands in his。
He guessed that something within her that was beyond her conscious
control was appealing to him for protection。 He threw an arm about her；
and thus they crossed the field。 She did not draw away from him。 It is
doubtful that she realized that his arm was there； so engrossed was she in
the mystery of the strange city before them。
They stopped before the gate。 It was a mighty thing。 From its
construction Carthoris could but dimly speculate upon its unthinkable
antiquity。
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
It was circular； closing a circular aperture； and the Heliumite knew
from his study of ancient Barsoomian architecture that it rolled to one side；
like a huge wheel； into an aperture in the wall。
Even such world…old cities as ancient Aaanthor were as yet undreamed
of when the races lived that built such gates as these。
As he stood speculating upon the identity of this forgotten city； a voice
spoke to them from above。 Both looked up。 There； leaning over the edge
of the high wall； was a man。
His hair was auburn； his skin fairfairer even than that of John Carter；
the Virginian。 His forehead was high； his eyes large and intelligent。
The language that he used was intelligible to the two below； yet there
was a marked difference between it and their Barsoomian tongue。
〃Who are you？〃 he asked。 〃And what do you here before the gate of
Lothar？〃
〃We are friends；〃 replied Carthoris。 〃This be the princess； Thuvia of
Ptarth； who was captured by the Torquasian horde。 I am Carthoris of
Helium； Prince of the house of Tardos Mors； Jeddak of Helium； and son of
John Carter； Warlord of Mars； and of his wife； Dejah Thoris。〃
〃‘Ptarth'？〃 repeated the man。 〃‘Helium'？〃 He shook his head。 〃I
never have heard of these places； nor did I know that there dwelt upon
Barsoom a race of thy strange colour。 Where may these cities lie； of
which you speak？ From our loftiest tower we have never seen another
city than Lothar。〃
Carthoris pointed toward the north…east。
〃In that direction lie Helium and Ptarth；〃 he said。 〃Helium is over eight
thousand haads from Lothar； while Ptarth lies nine thousand five hundred
haads north…east of Helium。〃
