thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第34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！
snapped。 〃There is a limit to my patience。〃
〃There is no question of royal prerogative here；〃 returned Vas Kor。
〃You ask me to become an assassin in your stead； and against your
jeddak's strict injunctions。 You are in no position； Astok； to dictate to me；
but rather should you be glad to accede to my reasonable request that you
be present； thus sharing the guilt with me。 Why should I bear it all？〃
The younger man scowled； but he advanced toward the locked door；
and as it swung in upon its hinges； he entered the room beyond at the side
of Vas Kor。
Across the chamber the girl； hearing them enter； rose to her feet and
faced them。 Under the soft copper of her skin she blanched just a trifle；
but her eyes were brave and level； and the haughty tilt of her firm little
chin was eloquent of loathing and contempt。
〃You still prefer death？〃 asked Astok。
〃To YOU； yes；〃 replied the girl coldly。
The Prince of Dusar turned to Vas Kor and nodded。 The noble drew his
short…sword and crossed the room toward Thuvia。
〃Kneel！〃 he commanded。
〃I prefer to die standing；〃 she replied。
〃As you will；〃 said Vas Kor； feeling the point of his blade with his left
thumb。 〃In the name of Nutus； Jeddak of Dusar！〃 he cried； and ran
quickly toward her。
127
… Page 128…
THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
〃In the name of Carthoris； Prince of Helium！〃 came in low tones from
the doorway。
Vas Kor turned to see the panthan he had recruited at his son's house
leaping across the floor toward him。 The fellow brushed past Astok with
an： 〃After him； youcalot！〃
Vas Kor wheeled to meet the charging man。
〃What means this treason？〃 he cried。
Astok； with bared sword； leaped to Vas Kor's assistance。 The panthan's
sword clashed against that of the noble； and in the first encounter Vas Kor
knew that he faced a master swordsman。
Before he half realized the stranger's purpose he found the man
between himself and Thuvia of Ptarth； at bay facing the two swords of the
Dusarians。 But he fought not like a man at bay。 Ever was he the
aggressor； and though always he kept his flashing blade between the girl
and her enemies； yet he managed to force them hither and thither about the
room； calling to the girl to follow close behind him。
Until it was too late neither Vas Kor nor Astok dreamed of that which
lay in the panthan's mind； but at last as the fellow stood with his back
toward the door； both understoodthey were penned in their own prison；
and now the intruder could slay them at his will； for Thuvia of Ptarth was
bolting the door at the man's direction； first taking the key from the
opposite side； where Astok had left it when they had entered。
Astok； as was his way； finding that the enemy did not fall immediately
before their swords； was leaving the brunt of the fighting to Vas Kor； and
now as his eyes appraised the panthan carefully they presently went wider
and wider； for slowly he had come to recognize the features of the Prince
of Helium。
The Heliumite was pressing close upon Vas Kor。 The noble was
bleeding from a dozen wounds。 Astok saw that he could not for long
withstand the cunning craft of that terrible sword hand。
〃Courage； Vas Kor！〃 he whispered in the other's ear。 〃I have a plan。
Hold him but a moment longer and all will be well；〃 but the balance of the
sentence； 〃with Astok； Prince of Dusar；〃 he did not voice aloud。
128
… Page 129…
THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
Vas Kor； dreaming no treachery； nodded his head； and for a moment
succeeded in holding Carthoris at bay。 Then the Heliumite and the girl saw
the Dusarian prince run swiftly to the opposite side of the chamber； touch
something in the wall that sent a great panel swinging inward； and
disappear into the black vault beyond。
It was done so quickly that by no possibility could they have
intercepted him。 Carthoris； fearful lest Vas Kor might similarly elude
him； or Astok return immediately with reinforcements； sprang viciously in
upon his antagonist； and a moment later the headless body of the Dusarian
noble rolled upon the ersite floor。
〃Come！〃 cried Carthoris。 〃There is no time to be lost。 Astok will be
back in a moment with enough warriors to overpower me。〃
But Astok had no such plan in mind； for such a move would have
meant the spreading of the fact among the palace gossips that the Ptarthian
princess was a prisoner in the east tower。 Quickly would the word have
come to his father； and no amount of falsifying could have explained away
the facts that the jeddak's investigation would have brought to light。
Instead Astok was racing madly through a long corridor to reach the
door of the tower…room before Carthoris and Thuvia left the apartment。
He had seen the girl remove the key and place it in her pocket…pouch； and
he knew that a dagger point driven into the keyhole from the opposite side
would imprison them in the secret chamber till eight dead worlds circled a
cold； dead sun。
As fast as he could run Astok entered the main corridor that led to the
tower chamber。 Would he reach the door in time？ What if the
Heliumite should have already emerged and he should run upon him in the
passageway？ Astok felt a cold chill run up his spine。 He had no
stomach to face that uncanny blade。
He was almost at the door。 Around the next turn of the corridor it
stood。 No； they had not left the apartment。 Evidently Vas Kor was still
holding the Heliumite！
Astok could scarce repress a grin at the clever manner in which he had
outwitted the noble and disposed of him at the same time。 And then he
129
… Page 130…
THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
rounded the turn and came face to face with an auburn…haired； white giant。
The fellow did not wait to ask the reason for his coming； instead he
leaped upon him with a long…sword； so that Astok had to parry a dozen
vicious cuts before he could disengage himself and flee back down the
runway。
A moment later Carthoris and Thuvia entered the corridor from the
secret chamber。
〃Well； Kar Komak？〃 asked the Heliumite。
〃It is fortunate that you left me here； red man；〃 said the bowman。 〃I
but just now intercepted one who seemed over…anxious to reach this door
it was he whom they call Astok； Prince of Dusar。〃
Carthoris smiled。
〃Where is he now？〃 he asked。
〃He escaped my blade； and ran down this corridor；〃 replied Kar
Komak。
〃We must lose no time； then！〃 exclaimed Carthoris。 〃He will have the
guard upon us yet！〃
Together the three hastened along the winding passages through which
Carthoris and Kar Komak had tracked the Dusarians by the marks of the
latter's sandals in the thin dust that overspread the floors of these seldom…
used passage…ways。
They had come to the chamber at the entrances to the lifts before they
met with opposition。 Here they found a handful of guardsmen； and an
officer； who； seeing that they were strangers； questioned their presence in
the palace of Astok。
Once more Carthoris and Kar Komak had recourse to their blades； and
before they had won their way to one of the lifts the noise of the conflict
must have aroused the entire palace； for they heard men shouting； and as
they passed the many levels on their quick passage to the landing…stage
they saw armed men running hither and thither in search of the cause of
the commotion。
Beside the stage lay the Thuria； with three warriors on guard。 Again
the Heliumite and the Lotharian fought shoulder to shoulder； but the battle
130
… Page 131…
THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
was soon over； for the Prince of Helium alone would have been a match
for any three that Dusar could produce。
Scarce had the Thuria risen from the ways ere a hundred or more
fighting men leaped to view up
