thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第8节
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did not shun； for without exception they stood amidst vast； waterless tracts；
unsuited for the continued sustenance of the dominant race of Martians。
Why； then； should they be bringing her to such a place？ There was but
a single answer。 Such was the nature of their work that they must needs
seek the seclusion that a dead city afforded。 The girl trembled at thought
of her plight。
For two days her captors kept her within a huge palace that even in
decay reflected the splendour of the age which its youth had known。
Just before dawn on the third day she had been aroused by the voices
of two of her abductors。
〃He should be here by dawn；〃 one was saying。 〃Have her in
readiness upon the plazaelse he will never land。 The moment he finds
that he is in a strange country he will turn aboutmethinks the prince's
plan is weak in this one spot。〃
〃There was no other way；〃 replied the other。 〃It is wondrous work to
get them both here at all； and even if we do not succeed in luring him to
the ground； we shall have accomplished much。〃
Just then the speaker caught the eyes of Thuvia upon him； revealed by
the quick…moving patch of light cast by Thuria in her mad race through the
heavens。
With a quick sign to the other； he ceased speaking； and advancing
toward the girl； motioned her to rise。 Then he led her out into the night
toward the centre of the great plaza。
〃Stand here；〃 he commanded； 〃until we come for you。 We shall be
watching； and should you attempt to escape it will go ill with youmuch
worse than death。 Such are the prince's orders。〃
Then he turned and retraced his steps toward the palace； leaving her
alone in the midst of the unseen terrors of the haunted city； for in truth
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these places are haunted in the belief of many Martians who still cling to
an ancient superstition which teaches that the spirits of Holy Therns who
die before their allotted one thousand years； pass； on occasions； into the
bodies of the great white apes。
To Thuvia； however； the real danger of attack by one of these ferocious；
manlike beasts was quite sufficient。 She no longer believed in the weird
soul transmigration that the therns had taught her before she was rescued
from their clutches by John Carter； but she well knew the horrid fate that
awaited her should one of the terrible beasts chance to spy her during its
nocturnal prowlings。
What was that？
Surely she could not be mistaken。 Something had moved； stealthily；
in the shadow of one of the great monoliths that line the avenue where it
entered the plaza opposite her！
Thar Ban； jed among the hordes of Torquas； rode swiftly across the
ochre vegetation of the dead sea… bottom toward the ruins of ancient
Aaanthor。
He had ridden far that night； and fast； for he had but come from the
despoiling of the incubator of a neighbouring green horde with which the
hordes of Torquas were perpetually warring。
His giant thoat was far from jaded； yet it would be well； thought Thar
Ban； to permit him to graze upon the ochre moss which grows to greater
height within the protected courtyards of deserted cities； where the soil is
richer than on the sea…bottoms； and the plants partly shaded from the sun
during the cloudless Martian day。
Within the tiny stems of this dry…seeming plant is sufficient moisture
for the needs of the huge bodies of the mighty thoats； which can exist for
months without water； and for days without even the slight moisture which
the ochre moss contains。
As Thar Ban rode noiselessly up the broad avenue which leads from
the quays of Aaanthor to the great central plaza； he and his mount might
have been mistaken for spectres from a world of dreams； so grotesque the
man and beast； so soundless the great thoat's padded； nailless feet upon the
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
moss…grown flagging of the ancient pavement。
The man was a splendid specimen of his race。 Fully fifteen feet
towered his great height from sole to pate。 The moonlight glistened against
his glossy green hide； sparkling the jewels of his heavy harness and the
ornaments that weighted his four muscular arms； while the upcurving
tusks that protruded from his lower jaw gleamed white and terrible。
At the side of his thoat were slung his long radium rifle and his great；
forty…foot； metal…shod spear； while from his own harness depended his
long…sword and his short…sword； as well as his lesser weapons。
His protruding eyes and antennae…like ears were turning constantly
hither and thither； for Thar Ban was yet in the country of the enemy； and；
too； there was always the menace of the great white apes； which； John
Carter was wont to say； are the only creatures that can arouse in the breasts
of these fierce denizens of the dead sea…bottoms even the remotest
semblance of fear。
As the rider neared the plaza； he reined suddenly in。 His slender；
tubular ears pointed rigidly forward。 An unwonted sound had reached
them。 Voices！ And where there were voices； outside of Torquas； there；
too； were enemies。 All the world of wide Barsoom contained naught but
enemies for the fierce Torquasians。
Thar Ban dismounted。 Keeping in the shadows of the great
monoliths that line the Avenue of Quays of sleeping Aaanthor； he
approached the plaza。 Directly behind him； as a hound at heel； came the
slate…grey thoat； his white belly shadowed by his barrel； his vivid yellow
feet merging into the yellow of the moss beneath them。
In the centre of the plaza Thar Ban saw the figure of a red woman。 A
red warrior was conversing with her。 Now the man turned and retraced
his steps toward the palace at the opposite side of the plaza。
Thar Ban watched until he had disappeared within the yawning portal。
Here was a captive worth having！ Seldom did a female of their hereditary
enemies fall to the lot of a green man。 Thar Ban licked his thin lips。
Thuvia of Ptarth watched the shadow behind the monolith at the
opening to the avenue opposite her。 She hoped that it might be but the
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figment of an overwrought imagination。
But no！ Now； clearly and distinctly； she saw it move。 It came from
behind the screening shelter of the ersite shaft。
The sudden light of the rising sun fell upon it。 The girl trembled。 The
THING was a huge green warrior！
Swiftly it sprang toward her。 She screamed and tried to flee； but she
had scarce turned toward the palace when a giant hand fell upon her arm；
she was whirled about； and half dragged； half carried toward a huge thoat
that was slowly grazing out of the avenue's mouth on to the ochre moss of
the plaza。
At the same instant she turned her face upward toward the whirring
sound of something above her； and there she saw a swift flier dropping
toward her； the head and shoulders of a man leaning far over the side； but
the man's features were deeply shadowed； so that she did not recognize
them。
Now from behind her came the shouts of her red abductors。 They were
racing madly after him who dared to steal what they already had stolen。
As Thar Ban reached the side of his mount he snatched his long
radium rifle from its boot； and； wheeling； poured three shots into the
oncoming red men。
Such is the uncanny marksmanship of these Martian savages that three
red warriors dropped in their tracks as three projectiles exploded in their
vitals。
The others halted； nor did they dare return the fire for fear of
wounding the girl。
Then Thar Ban vaulted to the back of his thoat； Thuvia of Ptarth still in
his arms； and with a savage cry of triumph disappeared down the black
canyon of the Avenue of Quays
