thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第33节
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
The journey to Dusar seemed interminable to the impatient Carthoris；
though as a matter of fact it was quickly accomplished。 Some time
before they reached their destination they met and spoke with another
Dusarian war flier。 From it they learned that a great battle was soon to be
fought south…east of Dusar。
The combined navies of Dusar； Ptarth and Kaol had been intercepted
in their advance toward Helium by the mighty Heliumitic navythe most
formidable upon Barsoom； not alone in numbers and armament； but in the
training and courage of its officers and warriors； and the zitidaric
proportions of many of its monster battleships。
Not for many a day had there been the promise of such a battle。 Four
jeddaks were in direct command of their own fleetsKulan Tith of Kaol；
Thuvan Dihn of Ptarth； and Nutus of Dusar upon one side； while upon the
other was Tardos Mors； Jeddak of Helium。 With the latter was John
Carter； Warlord of Mars。
From the far north another force was moving south across the barrier
cliffsthe new navy of Talu； Jeddak of Okar； coming in response to the
call from the warlord。 Upon the decks of the sullen ships of war black…
bearded yellow men looked over eagerly toward the south。 Gorgeous
were they in their splendid cloaks of orluk and apt。 Fierce； formidable
fighters from the hothouse cities of the frozen north。
And from the distant south； from the sea of Omean and the cliffs of
gold； from the temples of the therns and the garden of Issus； other
thousands sailed into the north at the call of the great man they all had
learned to respect； and； respecting； love。 Pacing the flagship of this
mighty fleet； second only to the navy of Helium； was the ebon godar；
Jeddak of the First Born； his heart beating strong in anticipation of the
coming moment when he should hurl his savage crews and the weight of
his mighty ships upon the enemies of the warlord。
But would these allies reach the theatre of war in time to be of avail to
Helium？ Or； would Helium need them？
Carthoris； with the other members of the crew of the Thuria； heard the
gossip and the rumours。 None knew of the two fleets； the one from the
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
south and the other from the north； that were coming to support the ships
of Helium； and all of Dusar were convinced that nothing now could save
the ancient power of Helium from being wiped for ever from the upper air
of Barsoom。
Carthoris； too； loyal son of Helium that he was； felt that even his
beloved navy might not be able to cope successfully with the combined
forces of three great powers。
Now the Thuria touched the landing…stage above the palace of Astok。
Hurriedly the prince and Vas Kor disembarked and entered the drop that
would carry them to the lower levels of the palace。
Close beside it was another drop that was utilized by common warriors。
Carthoris touched Kar Komak upon the arm。
〃Come！〃 he whispered。 〃You are my only friend among a nation of
enemies。 Will you stand by me？〃
〃To the death；〃 replied Kar Komak。
The two approached the drop。 A slave operated it。
〃Where are your passes？〃 he asked。
Carthoris fumbled in his pocket pouch as though in search of them； at
the same time entering the cage。 Kar Komak followed him； closing the
door。 The slave did not start the cage downward。 Every second
counted。 They must reach the lower level as soon as possible after Astok
and Vas Kor if they would know whither the two went。
Carthoris turned suddenly upon the slave； hurling him to the opposite
side of the cage。
〃Bind and gag him； Kar Komak！〃 he cried。
Then he grasped the control lever； and as the cage shot downward at
sickening speed； the bowman grappled with the slave。 Carthoris could
not leave the control to assist his companion； for should they touch the
lowest level at the speed at which they were going； all would be dashed to
instant death。
Below him he could now see the top of Astok's cage in the parallel
shaft； and he reduced the speed of his to that of the other。 The slave
commenced to scream。
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
〃Silence him！〃 cried Carthoris。
A moment later a limp form crumpled to the floor of the cage。
〃He is silenced；〃 said Kar Komak。
Carthoris brought the cage to a sudden stop at one of the higher levels
of the palace。 Opening the door； he grasped the still form of the slave
and pushed it out upon the floor。 Then he banged the gate and resumed
the downward drop。
Once more he sighted the top of the cage that held Astok and Vas Kor。
An instant later it had stopped； and as he brought his car to a halt； he saw
the two men disappear through one of the exits of the corridor beyond。
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
CHAPTER XIV
KULAN TITH'S SACRIFICE
The morning of the second day of her incarceration in the east tower of
the palace of Astok； Prince of Dusar； found Thuvia of Ptarth waiting in
dull apathy the coming of the assassin。
She had exhausted every possibility of escape； going over and over
again the door and the windows； the floor and the walls。
The solid ersite slabs she could not even scratch； the tough
Barsoomian glass of the windows would have shattered to nothing less
than a heavy sledge in the hands of a strong man。 The door and the lock
were impregnable。 There was no escape。 And they had stripped her of
her weapons so that she could not even anticipate the hour of her doom；
thus robbing them of the satisfaction of witnessing her last moments。
When would they come？ Would Astok do the deed with his own
hands？ She doubted that he had the courage for it。 At heart he was a
cowardshe had known it since first she had heard him brag as； a visitor at
the court of her father； he had sought to impress her with his valour。
She could not help but compare him with another。 And with whom
would an affianced bride compare an unsuccessful suitor？ With her
betrothed？ And did Thuvia of Ptarth now measure Astok of Dusar by the
standards of Kulan Tith； Jeddak of Kaol？
She was about to die； her thoughts were her own to do with as she
pleased； yet furthest from them was Kulan Tith。 Instead the figure of the
tall and comely Heliumite filled her mind； crowding therefrom all other
images。
She dreamed of his noble face； the quiet dignity of his bearing； the
smile that lit his eyes as he conversed with his friends； and the smile that
touched his lips as he fought with his enemies the fighting smile of his
Virginian sire。
And Thuvia of Ptarth； true daughter of Barsoom； found her breath
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quickening and heart leaping to the memory of this other smilethe smile
that she would never see again。 With a little half…sob the girl sank to the
pile of silks and furs that were tumbled in confusion beneath the east
windows； burying her face in her arms。
In the corridor outside her prison…room two men had paused in heated
argument。
〃I tell you again； Astok；〃 one was saying； 〃that I shall not do this thing
unless you be present in the room。〃
There was little of the respect due royalty in the tone of the speaker's
voice。 The other； noting it； flushed。
〃Do not impose too far upon my friendship for you； Vas Kor；〃 he
snapped。 〃There is a limit to my patience。〃
〃There is no q
