thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第2节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Without another glance in the direction of Astok she turned； and taking
Carthoris' proffered hand； moved slowly toward the massive marble pile
that housed the ruler of Ptarth and his glittering court。 On either side
marched a file of guardsmen。 Thus Thuvia of Ptarth found a way out of a
dilemma； escaping the necessity of placing her father's royal guest under
forcible restraint； and at the same time separating the two princes； who
otherwise would have been at each other's throat the moment she and the
guard had departed。
Beside the pimalia stood Astok； his dark eyes narrowed to mere slits of
hate beneath his lowering brows as he watched the retreating forms of the
woman who had aroused the fiercest passions of his nature and the man
whom he now believed to be the one who stood between his love and its
consummation。
As they disappeared within the structure Astok shrugged his shoulders；
and with a murmured oath crossed the gardens toward another wing of the
building where he and his retinue were housed。
5
… Page 6…
THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
That night he took formal leave of Thuvan Dihn； and though no
mention was made of the happening within the garden； it was plain to see
through the cold mask of the jeddak's courtesy that only the customs of
royal hospitality restrained him from voicing the contempt he felt for the
Prince of Dusar。
Carthoris was not present at the leave…taking； nor was Thuvia。 The
ceremony was as stiff and formal as court etiquette could make it； and
when the last of the Dusarians clambered over the rail of the battleship
that had brought them upon this fateful visit to the court of Ptarth； and the
mighty engine of destruction had risen slowly from the ways of the
landing…stage； a note of relief was apparent in the voice of Thuvan Dihn as
he turned to one of his officers with a word of comment upon a subject
foreign to that which had been uppermost in the minds of all for hours。
But； after all； was it so foreign？
〃Inform Prince Sovan；〃 he directed； 〃that it is our wish that the fleet
which departed for Kaol this morning be recalled to cruise to the west of
Ptarth。〃
As the warship； bearing Astok back to the court of his father； turned
toward the west； Thuvia of Ptarth； sitting upon the same bench where the
Prince of Dusar had affronted her； watched the twinkling lights of the craft
growing smaller in the distance。 Beside her； in the brilliant light of the
nearer moon； sat Carthoris。 His eyes were not upon the dim bulk of the
battleship； but on the profile of the girl's upturned face。
〃Thuvia；〃 he whispered。
The girl turned her eyes toward his。 His hand stole out to find hers；
but she drew her own gently away。
〃Thuvia of Ptarth； I love you！〃 cried the young warrior。 〃Tell me that
it does not offend。〃
She shook her head sadly。 〃The love of Carthoris of Helium；〃 she
said simply； 〃could be naught but an honour to any woman； but you must
not speak； my friend； of bestowing upon me that which I may not
reciprocate。〃
The young man got slowly to his feet。 His eyes were wide in
6
… Page 7…
THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
astonishment。 It never had occurred to the Prince of Helium that Thuvia
of Ptarth might love another。
〃But at Kadabra！〃 he exclaimed。 〃And later here at your father's
court； what did you do； Thuvia of Ptarth； that might have warned me that
you could not return my love？〃
〃And what did I do； Carthoris of Helium；〃 she returned； 〃that might
lead you to believe that I DID return it？〃
He paused in thought； and then shook his head。 〃Nothing； Thuvia； that
is true； yet I could have sworn you loved me。 Indeed； you well knew
how near to worship has been my love for you。〃
〃And how might I know it； Carthoris？〃 she asked innocently。 〃Did
you ever tell me as much？ Ever before have words of love for me fallen
from your lips？〃
〃But you MUST have known it！〃 he exclaimed。 〃I am like my father…
…witless in matters of the heart； and of a poor way with women； yet the
jewels that strew these royal garden pathsthe trees； the flowers； the
sward all must have read the love that has filled my heart since first my
eyes were made new by imaging your perfect face and form； so how could
you alone have been blind to it？〃
〃Do the maids of Helium pay court to their men？〃 asked Thuvia。
〃You are playing with me！〃 exclaimed Carthoris。 〃Say that you are
but playing； and that after all you love me； Thuvia！〃
〃I cannot tell you that； Carthoris； for I am promised to another。〃
Her tone was level； but was there not within it the hint of an infinite
depth of sadness？ Who may say？
〃Promised to another？〃 Carthoris scarcely breathed the words。 His
face went almost white； and then his head came up as befitted him in
whose veins flowed the blood of the overlord of a world。
〃Carthoris of Helium wishes you every happiness with the man of
your choice；〃 he said。 〃With〃 and then he hesitated； waiting for her to
fill in the name。
〃Kulan Tith； Jeddak of Kaol；〃 she replied。 〃My father's friend and
Ptarth's most puissant ally。〃
7
… Page 8…
THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
The young man looked at her intently for a moment before he spoke
again。
〃You love him； Thuvia of Ptarth？〃 he asked。
〃I am promised to him；〃 she replied simply。
He did not press her。 〃He is of Barsoom's noblest blood and
mightiest fighters；〃 mused Carthoris。 〃My father's friend and mine
would that it might have been another！〃 he muttered almost savagely。
What the girl thought was hidden by the mask of her expression； which
was tinged only by a little shadow of sadness that might have been for
Carthoris； herself； or for them both。
Carthoris of Helium did not ask； though he noted it； for his loyalty to
Kulan Tith was the loyalty of the blood of John Carter of Virginia for a
friend； greater than which could be no loyalty。
He raised a jewel…encrusted bit of the girl's magnificent trappings to
his lips。
〃To the honour and happiness of Kulan Tith and the priceless jewel
that has been bestowed upon him；〃 he said； and though his voice was
husky there was the true ring of sincerity in it。 〃I told you that I loved
you； Thuvia； before I knew that you were promised to another。 I may not
tell you it again； but I am glad that you know it； for there is no dishonour
in it either to you or to Kulan Tith or to myself。 My love is such that it
may embrace as well Kulan Tithif you love him。〃 There was almost a
question in the statement。
〃I am promised to him；〃 she replied。
Carthoris backed slowly away。 He laid one hand upon his heart； the
other upon the pommel of his long…sword。
〃These are yoursalways；〃 he said。 A moment later he had entered
the palace； and was gone from the girl's sight。
Had he returned at once he would have found her prone upon the ersite
bench； her face buried in her arms。 Was she weeping？ There was none to
see。
Carthoris of Helium had come all unannounced to the court of his
father's friend that day。 He had come alone in a small flier； sure of the
8
… Page 9…
THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
same welcome that always awaited him at Ptarth。 As there had been no
formality in his coming there was no need of formality in his going。
To Thuvan Dihn he explained that he had been but testing an invention
of his own with which his flier was equippeda clever improvement of the
ordinary Martian air compass； which； when set for a certain destination；
will remain constantly fixed thereon； making it only necessary to keep a
vessel'
