thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第11章
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was rising and falling as though to some resistless emotion。 She half
took a step toward him。 Her lips parted as though to speakswiftly and
impetuously。
And then she conquered whatever had moved her。
〃The future acts of the Prince of Helium；〃 she said coldly； 〃must
constitute the proof of his past honesty of purpose。〃
Carthoris was hurt by the girl's tone； as much as by the doubt as to his
integrity which her words implied。
He had half hoped that she might hint that his love would be
acceptablecertainly there was due him at least a little gratitude for his
recent acts in her behalf； but the best he received was cold scepticism。
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The Prince of Helium shrugged his broad shoulders。 The girl noted it；
and the little smile that touched his lips； so that it became her turn to be
hurt。
Of course she had not meant to hurt him。 He might have known that
after what he had said she could not do anything to encourage him！ But
he need not have made his indifference quite so palpable。 The men of
Helium were noted for their gallantrynot for boorishness。 Possibly it was
the Earth blood that flowed in his veins。
How could she know that the shrug was but Carthoris' way of
attempting； by physical effort； to cast blighting sorrow from his heart； or
that the smile upon his lips was the fighting smile of his father with which
the son gave outward evidence of the determination he had reached to
submerge his own great love in his efforts to save Thuvia of Ptarth for
another； because he believed that she loved this other！
He reverted to his original question。
〃Where are we？〃 he asked。 〃I do not know。〃
〃Nor I；〃 replied the girl。 〃Those who stole me from Ptarth spoke
among themselves of Aaanthor； so that I thought it possible that the
ancient city to which they took me was that famous ruin； but where we
may be now I have no idea。〃
〃When the bowmen return we shall doubtless learn all that there is to
know；〃 said Carthoris。 〃Let us hope that they prove friendly。 What race
may they be？ Only in the most ancient of our legends and in the mural
paintings of the deserted cities of the dead sea…bottoms are depicted such a
race of auburn…haired； fair…skinned people。 Can it be that we have
stumbled upon a surviving city of the past which all Barsoom believes
buried beneath the ages？〃
Thuvia was looking toward the forest into which the green men and
the pursuing bowmen had disappeared。 From a great distance came the
hideous cries of banths； and an occasional shot。
〃It is strange that they do not return；〃 said the girl。
〃One would expect to see the wounded limping or being carried back
to the city；〃 replied Carthoris； with a puzzled frown。 〃But how about the
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wounded nearer the city？ Have they carried them within？〃
Both turned their eyes toward the field between them and the walled
city； where the fighting had been most furious。
There were the banths； still growling about their hideous feast。
Carthoris looked at Thuvia in astonishment。 Then he pointed toward
the field。
〃Where are they？〃 he whispered。 〃WHAT HAS BECOME OF
THEIR DEAD AND WOUNDED？〃
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
CHAPTER VI
THE JEDDAK OF LOTHAR
The girl looked her incredulity。
〃They lay in piles；〃 she murmured。 〃There were thousands of them
but a minute ago。〃
〃And now；〃 continued Carthoris； 〃there remain but the banths and the
carcasses of the green men。〃
〃They must have sent forth and carried the dead bowmen away while
we were talking；〃 said the girl。
〃It is impossible！〃 replied Carthoris。 〃Thousands of dead lay there
upon the field but a moment since。 It would have required many hours to
have removed them。 The thing is uncanny。〃
〃I had hoped；〃 said Thuvia； 〃that we might find an asylum with these
fair…skinned people。 Notwithstanding their valour upon the field of battle；
they did not strike me as a ferocious or warlike people。 I had been about
to suggest that we seek entrance to the city； but now I scarce know if I care
to venture among people whose dead vanish into thin air。〃
〃Let us chance it；〃 replied Carthoris。 〃We can be no worse off within
their walls than without。 Here we may fall prey to the banths or the no
less fierce Torquasians。 There； at least； we shall find beings moulded after
our own images。
〃All that causes me to hesitate；〃 he added； 〃is the danger of taking you
past so many banths。 A single sword would scarce prevail were even a
couple of them to charge simultaneously。〃
〃Do not fear on that score；〃 replied the girl； smiling。 〃The banths will
not harm us。〃
As she spoke she descended from the platform； and with Carthoris at
her side stepped fearlessly out upon the bloody field in the direction of the
walled city of mystery。
They had advanced but a short distance when a banth； looking up from
its gory feast； descried them。 With an angry roar the beast walked
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quickly in their direction； and at the sound of its voice a score of others
followed its example。
Carthoris drew his long…sword。 The girl stole a quick glance at his
face。 She saw the smile upon his lips； and it was as wine to sick nerves；
for even upon warlike Barsoom where all men are brave； woman reacts
quickly to quiet indifference to dangerto dare…deviltry that is without
bombast。
〃You may return your sword；〃 she said。 〃I told you that the banths
would not harm us。 Look！〃 and as she spoke she stepped quickly toward
the nearest animal。
Carthoris would have leaped after her to protect her； but with a gesture
she motioned him back。 He heard her calling to the banths in a low；
singsong voice that was half purr。
Instantly the great heads went up and all the wicked eyes were riveted
upon the figure of the girl。 Then； stealthily； they commenced moving
toward her。 She had stopped now and was standing waiting them。
One； closer to her than the others； hesitated。 She spoke to him
imperiously； as a master might speak to a refractory hound。
The great carnivore let its head droop； and with tail between its legs
came slinking to the girl's feet； and after it came the others until she was
entirely surrounded by the savage maneaters。
Turning she led them to where Carthoris stood。 They growled a little
as they neared the man； but a few sharp words of command put them in
their places。
〃How do you do it？〃 exclaimed Carthoris。
〃Your father once asked me that same question in the galleries of the
Golden Cliffs within the Otz Mountains； beneath the temples of the therns。
I could not answer him； nor can I answer you。 I do not know whence
comes my power over them； but ever since the day that Sator Throg threw
me among them in the banth pit of the Holy Therns； and the great
creatures fawned upon instead of devouring me； I ever have had the same
strange power over them。 They come at my call and do my bidding； even
as the faithful Woola does the bidding of your mighty sire。〃
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With a word the girl dispersed the fierce pack。 Roaring； they
returned to their interrupted feast； while Carthoris and Thuvia passed
among them toward the walled city。
As they advanced the man looked with wonder upon the dead bodies
of those of the green men that had not been devoured or mauled by the
banths。
He called the girl's attention to them。 No arrows protruded from the
great carcasses。 Nowhere upon any of them was the sign of mortal
wound； nor even slightest scratch or abrasion。
Before the bowmen's dead had disappeared the corpses of the
Torquasians had bristled with the deadly arrows of their foes。 Where had
the slender messengers of death departed？ What unseen hand had
plucked them from the bodies of the slain？
Despite himself Carthoris could scarce repress a shudder of
apprehension as he glanced toward the silent city before them。 No longer
was sign of life visible upon wall or roof top。 All was quietbrooding；
ominous quiet。
Yet he was sure that eyes watched them from somewhere behind that
blank wall。
He glanced at Thuvia。 She was advancing with wide eyes fixed upon
the city gate。 He looked in the direction of her gaze； but saw nothing。
His gaze upon her seemed to arouse her as from a lethargy。 She
glanced up at him； a quick； brave smile touching her lips； and then； as
though the act was involuntary； she came close to his side and placed one
of her hands in his。
He guessed that something within her that was beyond her conscious
control was appealing to him for protection。 He threw an arm about her；
and thus they crossed the field。 She did not draw away from him。 It is
doubtful that she realized that his arm was there； so engrossed was she in
the mystery of the strange city before them。
They stopped before the gate。 It was a mighty thing。 From its
construction Carthoris could but dimly speculate upon its unthinkable
antiquity。
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