thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第31节
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Dusar。
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed Hal Vas。 〃Here is my father now。 Kaor！ Vas Kor。
Here is one you will be glad to meet a doughty panthan〃 He
hesitated。
〃Turjun；〃 interjected Carthoris； seizing upon the first appellation that
occurred to him。
As he spoke his eyes crossed quickly to the tall warrior who was
entering the room。 Where before had he seen that giant figure； that
taciturn countenance； and the livid sword…cut from temple to mouth？
〃Vas Kor；〃 repeated Carthoris mentally。 〃Vas Kor！〃 Where had he
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seen the man before？
And then the noble spoke； and like a flash it all came back to
Carthoristhe forward servant upon the landing… stage at Ptarth that time
that he had been explaining the intricacies of his new compass to Thuvan
Dihn； the lone slave that had guarded his own hangar that night he had left
upon his ill…fated journey for Ptarththe journey that had brought him so
mysteriously to far Aaanthor。
〃Vas Kor；〃 he repeated aloud； 〃blessed be your ancestors for this
meeting；〃 nor did the Dusarian guess the wealth of meaning that lay
beneath that hackneyed phrase with which a Barsoomian acknowledges an
introduction。
〃And blessed be yours； Turjun；〃 replied Vas Kor。
Now came the introduction of Kar Komak to Vas Kor； and as Carthoris
went through the little ceremony there came to him the only explanation
he might make to account for the white skin and auburn hair of the
bowman； for he feared that the truth might not be believed and thus
suspicion be cast upon them both from the beginning。
〃Kar Komak；〃 he explained； 〃is； as you can see； a thern。 He has
wandered far from his icebound southern temples in search of adventure。
I came upon him in the pits of Aaanthor； but though I have known him so
short a time； I can vouch for his bravery and loyalty。〃
Since the destruction of the fabric of their false religion by John Carter；
the majority of the therns had gladly accepted the new order of things； so
that it was now no longer uncommon to see them mingling with the
multitudes of red men in any of the great cities of the outer world； so Vas
Kor neither felt nor expressed any great astonishment。
All during the interview Carthoris watched； catlike； for some
indication that Vas Kor recognized in the battered panthan the erstwhile
gorgeous Prince of Helium； but the sleepless nights； the long days of
marching and fighting； the wounds and the dried blood had evidently
sufficed to obliterate the last remnant of his likeness to his former self； and
then Vas Kor had seen him but twice in all his life。 Little wonder that he
did not know him。
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During the evening Vas Kor announced that on the morrow they
should depart north toward Dusar； picking up recruits at various stations
along the way。
In a great field behind the house a flier laya fair… sized cruiser…
transport that would accommodate many men； yet swift and well armed
also。 Here Carthoris slept； and Kar Komak； too； with the other recruits；
under guard of the regular Dusarian warriors that manned the craft。
Toward midnight Vas Kor returned to the vessel from his son's house；
repairing at once to his cabin。 Carthoris； with one of the Dusarians； was
on watch。 It was with difficulty that the Heliumite repressed a cold smile
as the noble passed within a foot of himwithin a foot of the long； slim；
Heliumitic blade that swung in his harness。
How easy it would have been！ How easy to avenge the cowardly
trick that had been played upon himto avenge Helium and Ptarth and
Thuvia！
But his hand moved not toward the dagger's hilt； for first Vas Kor
must serve a better purpose he might know where Thuvia of Ptarth lay
hidden now； if it had truly been Dusarians that had spirited her away
during the fight before Aaanthor。
And then； too； there was the instigator of the entire foul plot。 HE
must pay the penalty； and who better than Vas Kor could lead the Prince of
Helium to Astok of Dusar？
Faintly out of the night there came to Carthoris's ears the purring of a
distant motor。 He scanned the heavens。
Yes； there it was far in the north； dimly outlined against the dark void
of space that stretched illimitably beyond it； the faint suggestion of a flier
passing； unlighted； through the Barsoomian night。
Carthoris； knowing not whether the craft might be friend or foe of
Dusar； gave no sign that he had seen； but turned his eyes in another
direction； leaving the matter to the Dusarian who stood watch with him。
Presently the fellow discovered the oncoming craft； and sounded the
low alarm which brought the balance of the watch and an officer from
their sleeping silks and furs upon the deck near by。
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The cruiser…transport lay without lights； and； resting as she was upon
the ground； must have been entirely invisible to the oncoming flier； which
all presently recognized as a small craft。
It soon became evident that the stranger intended making a landing；
for she was now spiraling slowly above them； dropping lower and lower in
each graceful curve。
〃It is the Thuria；〃 whispered one of the Dusarian warriors。 〃I would
know her in the blackness of the pits among ten thousand other craft。〃
〃Right you are！〃 exclaimed Vas Kor； who had come on deck。 And
then he hailed：
〃Kaor； Thuria！〃
〃Kaor！〃 came presently from above after a brief silence。 Then：
〃What ship？〃
〃Cruiser…transport Kalksus； Vas Kor of Dusar。〃
〃Good！〃 came from above。 〃Is there safe landing alongside？〃
〃Yes； close in to starboard。 Wait； we will show our lights；〃 and a
moment later the smaller craft settled close beside the Kalksus； and the
lights of the latter were immediately extinguished once more。
Several figures could be seen slipping over the side of the Thuria and
advancing toward the Kalksus。 Ever suspicious； the Dusarians stood
ready to receive the visitors as friends or foes as closer inspection might
prove them。 Carthoris stood quite near the rail； ready to take sides with the
new…comers should chance have it that they were Heliumites playing a
bold stroke of strategy upon this lone Dusarian ship。 He had led like
parties himself； and knew that such a contingency was quite possible。
But the face of the first man to cross the rail undeceived him with a
shock that was not at all unpleasurableit was the face of Astok； Prince of
Dusar。
Scarce noticing the others upon the deck of the Kalksus； Astok strode
forward to accept Vas Kor's greeting； then he summoned the noble below。
The warriors and officers returned to their sleeping silks and furs； and
once more the deck was deserted except for the Dusarian warrior and
Turjun； the panthan； who stood guard。
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The latter walked quietly to and fro。 The former leaned across the
rail； wishing for the hour that would bring him relief。 He did not see his
companion approach the lights of the cabin of Vas Kor。 He did not see
him stoop with ear close pressed to a tiny ventilator。
〃May the white apes take us all；〃 cried Astok ruefully； 〃if we are not in
as ugly a snarl as you have ever seen！ Nutus thinks that we have her in
hiding far away from Dusar。 He has bidden me bring her here。〃
He paused。 No man should have heard from his lips the thing he was
trying to tell。 It should have been for ever the secret of Nutus and
