thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第4节
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occupied by the nobles。
Here the man sought the embassy of Dusar。 A clerk arose
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questioningly as he entered； and at his request to have a word with the
minister asked his credentials。 The visitor slipped a plain metal armlet
from above his elbow； and pointing to an inscription upon its inner surface；
whispered a word or two to the clerk。
The latter's eyes went wide； and his attitude turned at once to one of
deference。 He bowed the stranger to a seat； and hastened to an inner
room with the armlet in his hand。 A moment later he reappeared and
conducted the caller into the presence of the minister。
For a long time the two were closeted together； and when at last the
giant serving man emerged from the inner office his expression was cast in
a smile of sinister satisfaction。 From the Palace of Peace he hurried
directly to the palace of the Dusarian minister。
That night two swift fliers left the same palace top。 One sped its
rapid course toward Helium； the other
Thuvia of Ptarth strolled in the gardens of her father's palace； as was
her nightly custom before retiring。 Her silks and furs were drawn about
her； for the air of Mars is chill after the sun has taken his quick plunge
beneath the planet's western verge。
The girl's thoughts wandered from her impending nuptials； that would
make her empress of Kaol； to the person of the trim young Heliumite who
had laid his heart at her feet the preceding day。
Whether it was pity or regret that saddened her expression as she
gazed toward the southern heavens where she had watched the lights of his
flier disappear the previous night； it would be difficult to say。
So； too； is it impossible to conjecture just what her emotions may have
been as she discerned the lights of a flier speeding rapidly out of the
distance from that very direction； as though impelled toward her garden by
the very intensity of the princess' thoughts。
She saw it circle lower above the palace until she was positive that it
but hovered in preparation for a landing。
Presently the powerful rays of its searchlight shot downward from the
bow。 They fell upon the landing…stage for a brief instant； revealing the
figures of the Ptarthian guard； picking into brilliant points of fire the gems
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upon their gorgeous harnesses。
Then the blazing eye swept onward across the burnished domes and
graceful minarets； down into court and park and garden to pause at last
upon the ersite bench and the girl standing there beside it； her face
upturned full toward the flier。
For but an instant the searchlight halted upon Thuvia of Ptarth； then it
was extinguished as suddenly as it had come to life。 The flier passed on
above her to disappear beyond a grove of lofty skeel trees that grew within
the palace grounds。
The girl stood for some time as it had left her； except that her head was
bent and her eyes downcast in thought。
Who but Carthoris could it have been？ She tried to feel anger that he
should have returned thus； spying upon her； but she found it difficult to be
angry with the young prince of Helium。
What mad caprice could have induced him so to transgress the
etiquette of nations？ For lesser things great powers had gone to war。
The princess in her was shocked and angeredbut what of the girl！
And the guardwhat of them？ Evidently they； too； had been so much
surprised by the unprecedented action of the stranger that they had not
even challenged； but that they had no thought to let the thing go unnoticed
was quickly evidenced by the skirring of motors upon the landing…stage
and the quick shooting airward of a long…lined patrol boat。
Thuvia watched it dart swiftly eastward。 So； too； did other eyes
watch。
Within the dense shadows of the skeel grove； in a wide avenue beneath
o'erspreading foliage； a flier hung a dozen feet above the ground。 From
its deck keen eyes watched the far…fanning searchlight of the patrol boat。
No light shone from the enshadowed craft。 Upon its deck was the silence
of the tomb。 Its crew of a half…dozen red warriors watched the lights of
the patrol boat diminishing in the distance。
〃The intellects of our ancestors are with us to…night；〃 said one in a low
tone。
〃No plan ever carried better；〃 returned another。 〃They did precisely
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as the prince foretold。〃
He who had first spoken turned toward the man who squatted before
the control board。
〃Now！〃 he whispered。 There was no other order given。 Every man
upon the craft had evidently been well schooled in each detail of that
night's work。 Silently the dark hull crept beneath the cathedral arches of
the dark and silent grove。
Thuvia of Ptarth； gazing toward the east； saw the blacker blot against
the blackness of the trees as the craft topped the buttressed garden wall。
She saw the dim bulk incline gently downward toward the scarlet sward of
the garden。
She knew that men came not thus with honourable intent。 Yet she did
not cry aloud to alarm the near…by guardsmen； nor did she flee to the
safety of the palace。
Why？
I can see her shrug her shapely shoulders in reply as she voices the
age…old； universal answer of the woman： Because！
Scarce had the flier touched the ground when four men leaped from its
deck。 They ran forward toward the girl。
Still she made no sign of alarm； standing as though hypnotized。 Or
could it have been as one who awaited a welcome visitor？
Not until they were quite close to her did she move。 Then the nearer
moon； rising above the surrounding foliage； touched their faces； lighting
all with the brilliancy of her silver rays。
Thuvia of Ptarth saw only strangerswarriors in the harness of Dusar。
Now she took fright； but too late！
Before she could voice but a single cry； rough hands seized her。 A
heavy silken scarf was wound about her head。 She was lifted in strong
arms and borne to the deck of the flier。 There was the sudden whirl of
propellers； the rushing of air against her body； and； from far beneath the
shouting and the challenge from the guard。
Racing toward the south another flier sped toward Helium。 In its cabin
a tall red man bent over the soft sole of an upturned sandal。 With delicate
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instruments he measured the faint imprint of a small object which
appeared there。 Upon a pad beside him was the outline of a key； and here
he noted the results of his measurements。
A smile played upon his lips as he completed his task and turned to
one who waited at the opposite side of the table。
〃The man is a genius；〃 he remarked。
〃Only a genius could have evolved such a lock as this is designed to
spring。 Here； take the sketch； Larok； and give all thine own genius full
and unfettered freedom in reproducing it in metal。〃
The warrior…artificer bowed。 〃Man builds naught；〃 he said； 〃that man
may not destroy。〃 Then he left the cabin with the sketch。
As dawn broke upon the lofty towers which mark the twin cities of
Heliumthe scarlet tower of one and the yellow tower of its sistera flier
floated lazily out of the north。
Upon its bow was emblazoned the signia of a lesser noble of a far city
of the empire of Helium。 Its leisurely approach and the evident
confidence with which it moved across the city aroused no suspicion in the
minds of the sleepy guard。 Their round of duty nearly done； they had
little thought beyond the coming of those who were to relieve them。
