thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第36节
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their own deck。
Kar Komak stood behind the gun he had been operating； staring with
wide eyes at the onrushing hideous green warriors。 Carthoris； seeing him
thus； felt a pang of regret that； after all； this man that he had thought so
valorous should prove； in the hour of need； as spineless as Jav or Tario。
〃Kar Komakthe man！〃 he shouted。 〃Grip yourself！ Remember the
days of the glory of the seafarers of Lothar。 Fight！ Fight； man！ Fight
as never man fought before。 All that remains to us is to die fighting。〃
Kar Komak turned toward the Heliumite； a grim smile upon his lips。
〃Why should we fight；〃 he asked。 〃Against such fearful odds？ There
is another waya better way。 Look！〃 He pointed toward the
companion…way that led below deck。
The green men； a handful of them； had already reached the Thuria's
deck； as Carthoris glanced in the direction the Lotharian had indicated。
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The sight that met his eyes set his heart to thumping in joy and relief
Thuvia of Ptarth might yet be saved？ For from below there poured a
stream of giant bowmen； grim and terrible。 Not the bowmen of Tario or
Jav； but the bowmen of an odwar of bowmensavage fighting men； eager
for the fray。
The green warriors paused in momentary surprise and consternation；
but only for a moment。 Then with horrid war…cries they leaped forward
to meet these strange； new foemen。
A volley of arrows stopped them in their tracks。 In a moment the only
green warriors upon the deck of the Thuria were dead warriors； and the
bowmen of Kar Komak were leaping over the vessel's sides to charge the
hordesmen upon the ground。
Utan after utan tumbled from the bowels of the Thuria to launch
themselves upon the unfortunate green men。 Kulan Tith and his Kaolians
stood wide…eyed and speechless with amazement as they saw thousands of
these strange； fierce warriors emerge from the companion…way of the
small craft that could not comfortably have accomodated more than fifty。
At last the green men could withstand the onslaught of overwhelming
numbers no longer。 Slowly； at first； they fell back across the ochre plain。
The bowmen pursued them。 Kar Komak； standing upon the deck of the
Thuria； trembled with excitement。
At the top of his lungs he voiced the savage war…cry of his forgotten
day。 He roared encouragement and commands at his battling utans； and
then； as they charged further and further from the Thuria； he could no
longer withstand the lure of battle。
Leaping over the ship's side to the ground； he joined the last of his
bowmen as they raced off over the dead sea…bottom in pursuit of the
fleeing green horde。
Beyond a low promontory of what once had been an island the green
men were disappearing toward the west。 Close upon their heels raced the
fleet bowmen of a bygone day； and forging steadily ahead among them
Carthoris and Thuvia could see the mighty figure of Kar Komak；
brandishing aloft the Torquasian short…sword with which he was armed； as
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he urged his creatures after the retreating enemy。
As the last of them disappeared behind the promontory； Carthoris
turned toward Thuvia of Ptarth。
〃They have taught me a lesson； these vanishing bowmen of Lothar；〃 he
said。 〃When they have served their purpose they remain not to embarrass
their masters by their presence。 Kulan Tith and his warriors are here to
protect you。 My acts have constituted the proof of my honesty of
purpose。 Good…bye；〃 and he knelt at her feet； raising a bit of her harness
to his lips。
The girl reached out a hand and laid it upon the thick black hair of the
head bent before her。 Softly she asked：
〃Where are you going； Carthoris？〃
〃With Kar Komak； the bowman；〃 he replied。 〃There will be fighting
and forgetfulness。〃
The girl put her hands before her eyes； as though to shut out some
mighty temptation from her sight。
〃May my ancestors have mercy upon me；〃 she cried； 〃if I say the thing
I have no right to say； but I cannot see you cast your life away； Carthoris；
Prince of Helium！ Stay； my chieftain。 StayI love you！〃
A cough behind them brought both about； and there they saw standing；
not two paces from them Kulan Tith； Jeddak of Kaol。
For a long moment none spoke。 Then Kulan Tith cleared his throat。
〃I could not help hearing all that passed；〃 he said。 〃I am no fool； to be
blind to the love that lies between you。 Nor am I blind to the lofty honour
that has caused you； Carthoris； to risk your life and hers to save mine；
though you thought that that very act would rob you of the chance to keep
her for your own。
〃Nor can I fail to appreciate the virtue that has kept your lips sealed
against words of love for this Heliumite； Thuvia； for I know that I have but
just heard the first declaration of your passion for him。 I do not condemn
you。 Rather should I have condemned you had you entered a loveless
marriage with me。
〃Take back your liberty； Thuvia of Ptarth；〃 he cried； 〃and bestow it
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where your heart already lies enchained； and when the golden collars are
clasped about your necks you will see that Kulan Tith's is the first sword
to be raised in declaration of eternal friendship for the new Princess of
Helium and her royal mate！〃
A GLOSSARY OF NAMES AND TERMS USED
IN THE MARTIAN BOOKS
Aaanthor。 A dead city of ancient Mars。 Aisle of Hope。 An aisle
leading to the court…room in Helium。 Apt。 An Arctic monster。 A huge；
white…furred creature with six limbs； four of which； short and
heavy； carry it over the snow and ice； the other two； which grow
forward from its shoulders on either side of its long； powerful
neck； terminate in white； hairless hands with which it seizes and
holds its prey。 Its head and mouth are similar in appearance to
those of a hippopotamus； except that from the sides of the lower
jawbone two mighty horns curve slightly downward toward the
front。 Its two huge eyes extend in two vast oval patches from
the centre of the top of the cranium down either side of the head to
below the roots of the horns； so that these weapons really grow out
from the lower part of the eyes； which are composed of several
thousand ocelli each。 Each ocellus is furnished with its own lid；
and the apt can； at will； close as many of the facets of his
huge eyes as he chooses。 （See THE WARLORD OF MARS。） Astok。
Prince of Dusar。 Avenue of Ancestors。 A street in Helium。 Banth。
Barsoomian lion。 A fierce beast of prey that roams the low hills
surrounding the dead seas of ancient Mars。 It is almost hairless；
having only a great； bristly mane about its thick neck。 Its long；
lithe body is supported by ten powerful legs； its enormous jaws
are equipped with several rows of long needle…like fangs； and its
mouth reaches to a point far back of its tiny ears。 It has
enormous protruding eyes of green。 （See THE GODS OF
MARS。） Bar Comas。 Jeddak of Warhoon。 （See A PRINCESS OF
MARS。） Barsoom。 MARS Black pirates of Barsoom。 Men six feet and
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over in he
