thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第28节
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a moment later the man and the two beasts were swinging silently down
the avenue to the edge of the plaza； where Kar Komak hid。
Here Carthoris found considerable difficulty in subduing the second
thoat； and as Kar Komak had never before ridden one of the beasts； it
seemed a most hopeless job； but at last the bowman managed to scramble
to the sleek back； and again the two beasts fled softly down the moss…
grown avenues toward the open sea… bottom beyond the city。
All that night and the following day and the second night they rode
toward the north…east。 No indication of pursuit developed； and at dawn
of the second day Carthoris saw in the distance the waving ribbon of great
trees that marked one of the long Barsoomian water…ways。
Immediately they abandoned their thoats and approached the
cultivated district on foot。 Carthoris also discarded the metal from his
harness； or such of it as might serve to identify him as a Heliumite； or of
royal blood； for he did not know to what nation belonged this waterway；
and upon Mars it is always well to assume every man and nation your
enemy until you have learned the contrary。
It was mid…forenoon when the two at last entered one of the roads that
cut through the cultivated districts at regular intervals； joining the arid
wastes on either side with the great； white； central highway that follows
through the centre from end to end of the far…reaching； threadlike farm
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lands。
The high wall surrounding the fields served as a protection against
surprise by raiding green hordes； as well as keeping the savage banths and
other carnivora from the domestic animals and the human beings upon the
farms。
Carthoris stopped before the first gate he came to； pounding for
admission。 The young man who answered his summons greeted the two
hospitably； though he looked with considerable wonder upon the white
skin and auburn hair of the bowman。
After he had listened for a moment to a partial narration of their escape
from the Torquasians； he invited them within； took them to his house and
bade the servants there prepare food for them。
As they waited in the low…ceiled； pleasant livingroom of the farmhouse
until the meal should be ready； Carthoris drew his host into conversation
that he might learn his nationality； and thus the nation under whose
dominion lay the waterway where circumstance had placed him。
〃I am Hal Vas；〃 said the young man； 〃son of Vas Kor； of Dusar； a noble
in the retinue of Astok； Prince of Dusar。 At present I am Dwar of the
Road for this district。〃
Carthoris was very glad that he had not disclosed his identity； for
though he had no idea of anything that had transpired since he had left
Helium； or that Astok was at the bottom of all his misfortunes； he well
knew that the Dusarian had no love for him； and that he could hope for no
assistance within the dominions of Dusar。
〃And who are you？〃 asked Hal Vas。 〃By your appearance I take you
for a fighting man； but I see no insignia upon your harness。 Can it be that
you are a panthan？〃
Now； these wandering soldiers of fortune are common upon Barsoom；
where most men love to fight。 They sell their services wherever war
exists； and in the occasional brief intervals when there is no organized
warfare between the red nations； they join one of the numerous
expeditions that are constantly being dispatched against the green men in
protection of the waterways that traverse the wilder portions of the globe。
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When their service is over they discard the metal of the nation they
have been serving until they shall have found a new master。 In the
intervals they wear no insignia； their war…worn harness and grim weapons
being sufficient to attest their calling。
The suggestion was a happy one； and Carthoris embraced the chance it
afforded to account satisfactorily for himself。 There was； however； a single
drawback。 In times of war such panthans as happened to be within the
domain of a belligerent nation were compelled to don the insignia of that
nation and fight with her warriors。
As far as Carthoris knew Dusar was not at war with any other nation；
but there was never any telling when one red nation would be flying at the
throat of a neighbour； even though the great and powerful alliance at the
head of which was his father； John Carter； had managed to maintain a long
peace upon the greater portion of Barsoom。
A pleasant smile lighted Hal Vas' face as Carthoris admitted his
vocation。
〃It is well；〃 exclaimed the young man； 〃that you chanced to come
hither； for here you will find the means of obtaining service in short order。
My father； Vas Kor； is even now with me； having come hither to recruit a
force for the new war against Helium。〃
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
CHAPTER XII
TO SAVE DUSAR
Thuvia of Ptarth； battling for more than life against the lust of Jav；
cast a quick glance over her shoulder toward the forest from which had
rumbled the fierce growl。 Jav looked； too。
What they saw filled each with apprehension。 It was Komal； the
banth…god； rushing wide…jawed upon them！
Which had he chosen for his prey？ Or was it to be both？
They had not long to wait； for though the Lotharian attempted to hold
the girl between himself and the terrible fangs； the great beast found him
at last。
Then； shrieking； he attempted to fly toward Lothar； after pushing
Thuvia bodily into the face of the man…eater。 But his flight was of short
duration。 In a moment Komal was upon him； rending his throat and
chest with demoniacal fury。
The girl reached their side a moment later； but it was with difficulty
that she tore the mad beast from its prey。 Still growling and casting hungry
glances back upon Jav； the banth at last permitted itself to be led away into
the wood。
With her giant protector by her side Thuvia set forth to find the
passage through the cliffs； that she might attempt the seemingly
impossible feat of reaching far… distant Ptarth across the more than
seventeen thousand haads of savage Barsoom。
She could not believe that Carthoris had deliberately deserted her； and
so she kept a constant watch for him； but as she bore too far to the north in
her search for the tunnel she passed the Heliumite as he was returning to
Lothar in search of her。
Thuvia of Ptarth was having difficulty in determining the exact status
of the Prince of Helium in her heart。 She could not admit even to herself
that she loved him； and yet she had permitted him to apply to her that term
of endearment and possession to which a Barsoomian maid should turn
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deaf ears when voiced by other lips than those of her husband or fiance
〃my princess。〃
Kulan Tith； Jeddak of Kaol； to whom she was affianced； commanded
her respect and admiration。 Had it been that she had surrendered to her
father's wishes because of pique that the handsome Heliumite had not
taken advantage of his visits to her father's court to push the suit for her
hand that she had been quite sure he had contemplated since that distant
day the two had sat together upon the carved seat within the gorgeous
Garden of the Jeddaks that graced the inner courtyard of the palace of
Salensus Oll at Kadabra？
Did she love Kulan Tith？ Bravely she tried to believe that she did；
but all the while her eyes wandered through the comin
