thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第25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！
the men saw two tiny figures moving toward the city。 For a moment they
watched them intently。 Then Carthoris； convinced； leaped forward at a
rapid run； Kar Komak following as swiftly as he could。
The Heliumite shouted to attract the girl's attention； and presently he
was rewarded by seeing her turn and stand looking toward him。 At her
side the great banth stood with up…pricked ears； watching the approaching
man。
Not yet could Thuvia of Ptarth have recognized Carthoris； though that
it was he she must have been convinced； for she waited there for him
without sign of fear。
Presently he saw her point toward the northwest； beyond him。 Without
slackening his pace； he turned his eyes in the direction she indicated。
Racing silently over the thick vegetation； not half a mile behind； came
a score of fierce green warriors； charging him upon their mighty thoats。
93
… Page 94…
THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
To their right was Kar Komak； naked and unarmed； yet running
valiantly toward Carthoris and shouting warning as though he； too； had but
just discovered the silent； menacing company that moved so swiftly
forward with couched spears and ready long…swords。
Carthoris shouted to the Lotharian； warning him back； for he knew that
he could but uselessly sacrifice his life by placing himself； all unarmed； in
the path of the cruel and relentless savages。
But Kar Komak never hesitated。 With shouts of encouragement to
his new friend； he hurried onward toward the Prince of Helium。 The red
man's heart leaped in response to this exhibition of courage and self…
sacrifice。 He regretted now that he had not thought to give Kar Komak
one of his swords； but it was too late to attempt it； for should he wait for
the Lotharian to overtake him or return to meet him； the Torquasians
would reach Thuvia of Ptarth before he could do so。
Even as it was； it would be nip and tuck as to who came first to her
side。
Again he turned his face in her direction； and now； from Aaanthor way；
he saw a new force hastening toward themtwo medium…sized war craft
and even at the distance they still were from him he discerned the device
of Dusar upon their bows。
Now； indeed； seemed little hope for Thuvia of Ptarth。 With savage
warriors of the hordes of Torquas charging toward her from one direction；
and no less implacable enemies； in the form of the creatures of Astok；
Prince of Dusar； bearing down upon her from another； while only a banth；
a red warrior； and an unarmed bowman were near to defend her； her plight
was quite hopeless and her cause already lost ere ever it was contested。
As Thuvia saw Carthoris approaching； she felt again that
unaccountable sensation of entire relief from responsibility and fear that
she had experienced upon a former occasion。 Nor could she account for
it while her mind still tried to convince her heart that the Prince of Helium
had been instrumental in her abduction from her father's court。 She only
knew that she was glad when he was by her side； and that with him there
all things seemed possibleeven such impossible things as escape from
94
… Page 95…
THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
her present predicament。
Now had he stopped； panting； before her。 A brave smile of
encouragement lit his face。
〃Courage； my princess；〃 he whispered。
To the girl's memory flashed the occasion upon which he had used
those same wordsin the throne…room of Tario of Lothar as they had
commenced to slip down the sinking marble floor toward an unknown
fate。
Then she had not chidden him for the use of that familiar salutation；
nor did she chide him now； though she was promised to another。 She
wondered at herselfflushing at her own turpitude； for upon Barsoom it is
a shameful thing for a woman to listen to those two words from another
than her husband or her betrothed。
Carthoris saw her flush of mortification； and in an instant regretted his
words。 There was but a moment before the green warriors would be
upon them。
〃Forgive me！〃 said the man in a low voice。 〃Let my great love be my
excusethat； and the belief that I have but a moment more of life；〃 and
with the words he turned to meet the foremost of the green warriors。
The fellow was charging with couched spear； but Carthoris leaped to
one side； and as the great thoat and its rider hurtled harmlessly past him he
swung his long…sword in a mighty cut that clove the green carcass in
twain。
At the same moment Kar Komak leaped with bare hands clawing at
the leg of another of the huge riders； the balance of the horde raced in to
close quarters； dismounting the better to wield their favourite long…swords；
the Dusarian fliers touched the soft carpet of the ochre…clad sea…bottom；
disgorging fifty fighting men from their bowels； and into the swirling sea
of cutting； slashing swords sprang Komal； the great banth。
95
… Page 96…
THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
CHAPTER XI
GREEN MEN AND WHITE APES
A Torquasian sword smote a glancing blow across the forehead of
Carthoris。 He had a fleeting vision of soft arms about his neck； and
warm lips close to his before he lost consciousness。
How long he lay there senseless he could not guess； but when he
opened his eyes again he was alone； except for the bodies of the dead
green men and Dusarians； and the carcass of a great banth that lay half
across his own。
Thuvia was gone； nor was the body of Kar Komak among the dead。
Weak from loss of blood； Carthoris made his way slowly toward
Aaanthor； reaching its outskirts at dark。
He wanted water more than any other thing； and so he kept on up a
broad avenue toward the great central plaza； where he knew the precious
fluid was to be found in a half…ruined building opposite the great palace of
the ancient jeddak； who once had ruled this mighty city。
Disheartened and discouraged by the strange sequence of events that
seemed fore…ordained to thwart his every attempt to serve the Princess of
Ptarth； he paid little or no attention to his surroundings； moving through
the deserted city as though no great white apes lurked in the black
shadows of the mystery…haunted piles that flanked the broad avenues and
the great plaza。
But if Carthoris was careless of his surroundings； not so other eyes that
watched his entrance into the plaza； and followed his slow footsteps
toward the marble pile that housed the tiny； half…choked spring whose
water one might gain only by scratching a deep hole in the red sand that
covered it。
And as the Heliumite entered the small building a dozen mighty；
grotesque figures emerged from the doorway of the palace to speed
noiselessly across the plaza toward him。
For half an hour Carthoris remained in the building； digging for water
96
… Page 97…
THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
and gaining the few much…needed drops which were the fruits of his
labour。 Then he rose and slowly left the structure。 Scarce had he
stepped beyond the threshold than twelve Torquasian warriors leaped upon
him。
No time then to draw long…sword； but swift from his harness flew his
long； slim dagger； and as he went down beneath them more than a single
green heart ceased beating at the bite of that keen point。
Then they overpowered him and took his weapons away； but only nine
of the twelve warriors who had crossed the plaza returned with their prize。
They dragged their prisoner roughly to the palace pits； where in utter
darkness they chained him with rusty links to the solid masonry
