thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第32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！
trying to tell。 It should have been for ever the secret of Nutus and Astok；
for upon it rested the safety of a throne。 With that knowledge any man
could wrest from the Jeddak of Dusar whatever he listed。
But Astok was afraid； and he wanted from this older man the
suggestion of an alternative。 He went on。
〃I am to kill her；〃 he whispered； looking fearfully around。 〃Nutus
merely wishes to see the body that he may know his commands have been
executed。 I am now supposed to be gone to the spot where we have her
hidden that I may fetch her in secrecy to Dusar。 None is to know that she
has ever been in the keeping of a Dusarian。 I do not need to tell you what
would befall Dusar should Ptarth and Helium and Kaol ever learn the
truth。〃
The jaws of the listener at the ventilator clicked together with a vicious
snap。 Before he had but guessed at the identity of the subject of this
conversation。 Now he knew。 And they were to kill her！ His muscular
fingers clenched until the nails bit into the palms。
〃And you wish me to go with you while you fetch her to Dusar；〃 Vas
Kor was saying。 〃Where is she？〃
Astok bent close and whispered into the other's ear。 The suggestion of
a smile crossed the cruel features of Vas Kor。 He realized the power that
lay within his grasp。 He should be a jed at least。
〃And how may I help you； my Prince？〃 asked the older man suavely。
〃I cannot kill her；〃 said Astok。 〃Issus！ I cannot do it！ When she
turns those eyes upon me my heart becomes water。〃
Vas Kor's eyes narrowed。
119
… Page 120…
THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
〃And you wish〃 He paused； the interrogation unfinished； yet
complete。
Astok nodded。
〃YOU do not love her；〃 he said。
〃But I love my lifethough I am only a lesser noble；〃 he concluded
meaningly。
〃You shall be a greater noblea noble of the first rank！〃 exclaimed
Astok。
〃I would be a jed；〃 said Vas Kor bluntly。
Astok hesitated。
〃A jed must die before there can be another jed；〃 he pleaded。
〃Jeds have died before；〃 snapped Vas Kor。 〃It would doubtless be not
difficult for you to find a jed you do not love； Astokthere are many who
do not love you。〃
Already Vas Kor was commencing to presume upon his power over
the young prince。 Astok was quick to note and appreciate the subtle
change in his lieutenant。 A cunning scheme entered his weak and wicked
brain。
〃As you say； Vas Kor！〃 he exclaimed。 〃You shall be a jed when the
thing is done；〃 and then； to himself： 〃Nor will it then be difficult for me
to find a jed I do not love。〃
〃When shall we return to Dusar？〃 asked the noble。
〃At once；〃 replied Astok。 〃Let us get under way now there is
naught to keep you here？〃
〃I had intended sailing on the morrow； picking up such recruits as the
various Dwars of the Roads might have collected for me； as we returned to
Dusar。〃
〃Let the recruits wait；〃 said Astok。 〃Or； better still； come you to
Dusar upon the Thuria； leaving the Kalksus to follow and pick up the
recruits。〃
〃Yes；〃 acquiesced Vas Kor； 〃that is the better plan。 Come； I am ready；〃
and he rose to accompany Astok to the latter's flier。
The listener at the ventilator came to his feet slowly； like an old man。
120
… Page 121…
THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
His face was drawn and pinched and very white beneath the light copper
of his skin。 She was to die！ And he helpless to avert the tragedy。 He did
not even know where she was imprisoned。
The two men were ascending from the cabin to the deck。 Turjun； the
panthan； crept close to the companionway； his sinuous fingers closing
tightly upon the hilt of his dagger。 Could he despatch them both before
he was overpowered？ He smiled。 He could slay an entire utan of her
enemies in his present state of mind。
They were almost abreast of him now。 Astok was speaking。
〃Bring a couple of your men along； Vas Kor；〃 he said。 〃We are short…
handed upon the Thuria； so quickly did we depart。〃
The panthan's fingers dropped from the dagger's hilt。 His quick mind
had grasped here a chance for succouring Thuvia of Ptarth。 He might be
chosen as one to accompany the assassins； and once he had learned where
the captive lay he could dispatch Astok and Vas Kor as well as now。 To kill
them before he knew where Thuvia was hid was simply to leave her to
death at the hands of others； for sooner or later Nutus would learn her
whereabouts； and Nutus； Jeddak of Dusar； could not afford to let her live。
Turjun put himself in the path of Vas Kor that he might not be
overlooked。 The noble aroused the men sleeping upon the deck； but
always before him the strange panthan whom he had recruited that same
day found means for keeping himself to the fore。
Vas Kor turned to his lieutenant； giving instruction for the bringing of
the Kalksus to Dusar； and the gathering up of the recruits； then he signed
to two warriors who stood close behind the padwar。
〃You two accompany us to the Thuria；〃 he said； 〃and put yourselves at
the disposal of her dwar。〃
It was dark upon the deck of the Kalksus； so Vas Kor had not a good
look at the faces of the two he chose； but that was of no moment； for they
were but common warriors to assist with the ordinary duties upon a flier；
and to fight if need be。
One of the two was Kar Komak； the bowman。 The other was not
Carthoris。
121
… Page 122…
THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
The Heliumite was mad with disappointment。 He snatched his
dagger from his harness； but already Astok had left the deck of the
Kalksus； and he knew that before he could overtake him； should he
dispatch Vas Kor； he would be killed by the Dusarian warriors； who now
were thick upon the deck。 With either one of the two alive Thuvia was in
as great danger as though both livedit must be both！
As Vas Kor descended to the ground Carthoris boldly followed him；
nor did any attempt to halt him； thinking； doubtless； that he was one of the
party。
After him came Kar Komak and the Dusarian warrior who had been
detailed to duty upon the Thuria。 Carthoris walked close to the left side
of the latter。 Now they came to the dense shadow under the side of the
Thuria。 It was very dark there； so that they had to grope for the ladder。
Kar Komak preceded the Dusarian。 The latter reached upward for the
swinging rounds； and as he did so steel fingers closed upon his windpipe
and a steel blade pierced the very centre of his heart。
Turjun； the panthan； was the last to clamber over the rail of the Thuria；
drawing the rope ladder in after him。
A moment later the flier was rising rapidly； headed for the north。
At the rail Kar Komak turned to speak to the warrior who had been
detailed to accompany him。 His eyes went wide as they rested upon the
face of the young man whom he had met beside the granite cliffs that
guard mysterious Lothar。 How had he come in place of the Dusarian？
A quick sign； and Kar Komak turned once more to find the Thuria's
dwar that he might report himself for duty。 Behind him followed the
panthan。
Carthoris blessed the chance that had caused Vas Kor to choose the
bowman of all others； for had it been another Dusarian there would have
been questions to answer as to the whereabouts of the warrior who lay so
quietly in the field beyond the residence of Hal Vas； Dwar of the Southern
Road； and Carthoris had no answer to that question other than his sword
point； which alone was scarce adequate to convince the entire crew of the
Thuria。
122
… Page 123…
THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
The journey to Dusar seemed interminable t
