thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第15章
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etherealist of her。〃
〃But I must go to her；〃 insisted Carthoris。 〃You say that there are no
women in Lothar。 Then she must be among men； and if this be so I
intend to be near where I may defend her if the need arises。〃
〃Tario will have his way；〃 insisted Jav。 〃He sent you away and you
may not return until he sends for you。〃
〃Then I shall go without waiting to be sent for。〃
〃Do not forget the bowmen；〃 cautioned Jav。
〃I do not forget them；〃 replied Carthoris； but he did not tell Jav that he
remembered something else that the Lotharian had let dropsomething
that was but a conjecture； possibly； and yet one well worth pinning a
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
forlorn hope to； should necessity arise。
Carthoris started to leave the room。 Jav stepped before him； barring
his way。
〃I have learned to like you； red man；〃 he said； 〃but do not forget that
Tario is still my jeddak； and that Tario has commanded that you remain
here。〃
Carthoris was about to reply； when there came faintly to the ears of
both a woman's cry for help。
With a sweep of his arm the Prince of Helium brushed the Lotharian
aside； and with drawn sword sprang into the corridor without。
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
CHAPTER VIII
THE HALL OF DOOM
As Thuvia of Ptarth saw Carthoris depart from the presence of Tario；
leaving her alone with the man； a sudden qualm of terror seized her。
There was an air of mystery pervading the stately chamber。 Its
furnishings and appointments bespoke wealth and culture； and carried the
suggestion that the room was often the scene of royal functions which
filled it to its capacity。
And yet nowhere about her； in antechamber or corridor； was there sign
of any other being than herself and the recumbent figure of Tario； the
jeddak； who watched her through half…closed eyes from the gorgeous
trappings of his regal couch。
For a time after the departure of Jav and Carthoris the man eyed her
intently。 Then he spoke。
〃Come nearer；〃 he said； and； as she approached： 〃Whose creature are
you？ Who has dared materialize his imaginings of woman？ It is
contrary to the customs and the royal edicts of Lothar。 Tell me； woman；
from whose brain have you sprung？ Jav's？ No； do not deny it。 I know
that it could be no other than that envious realist。 He seeks to tempt me。
He would see me fall beneath the spell of your charms； and then he； your
master； would direct my destiny andmy end。 I see it all！ I see it all！〃
The blood of indignation and anger had been rising to Thuvia's face。
Her chin was up； a haughty curve upon her perfect lips。
〃I know naught；〃 she cried； 〃of what you are prating！ I am Thuvia；
Princess of Ptarth。 I am no man's ‘creature。' Never before to…day did I
lay eyes upon him you call Jav； nor upon your ridiculous city； of which
even the greatest nations of Barsoom have never dreamed。
〃My charms are not for you； nor such as you。 They are not for sale or
barter； even though the price were a real throne。 And as for using them to
win your worse than futile power〃 She ended her sentence with a shrug
of her shapely shoulders； and a little scornful laugh。
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
When she had finished Tario was sitting upon the edge of his couch；
his feet upon the floor。 He was leaning forward with eyes no longer half
closed； but wide with a startled expression in them。
He did not seem to note the LESE MAJESTE of her words and
manner。 There was evidently something more startling and compelling
about her speech than that。
Slowly he came to his feet。
〃By the fangs of Komal！〃 he muttered。 〃But you are REAL！ A
REAL woman！ No dream！ No vain and foolish figment of the mind！〃
He took a step toward her； with hands outstretched。
〃Come！〃 he whispered。 〃Come； woman！ For countless ages have I
dreamed that some day you would come。 And now that you are here I can
scarce believe the testimony of my eyes。 Even now； knowing that you
are real； I still half dread that you may be a lie。〃
Thuvia shrank back。 She thought the man mad。 Her hand stole to the
jewelled hilt of her dagger。 The man saw the move； and stopped。 A
cunning expression entered his eyes。 Then they became at once dreamy
and penetrating as they fairly bored into the girl's brain。
Thuvia suddenly felt a change coming over her。 What the cause of it
she did not guess； but somehow the man before her began to assume a new
relationship within her heart。
No longer was he a strange and mysterious enemy； but an old and
trusted friend。 Her hand slipped from the dagger's hilt。 Tario came
closer。 He spoke gentle； friendly words； and she answered him in a voice
that seemed hers and yet another's。
He was beside her now。 His hand was up her shoulder。 His eyes
were down…bent toward hers。 She looked up into his face。 His gaze
seemed to bore straight through her to some hidden spring of sentiment
within her。
Her lips parted in sudden awe and wonder at the strange revealment of
her inner self that was being laid bare before her consciousness。 She had
known Tario for ever。 He was more than friend to her。 She moved a little
closer to him。 In one swift flood of light she knew the truth。 She loved
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Tario； Jeddak of Lothar！ She had always loved him。
The man； seeing the success of his strategy； could not restrain a faint
smile of satisfaction。 Whether there was something in the expression of
his face； or whether from Carthoris of Helium in a far chamber of the
palace came a more powerful suggestion； who may say？ But something
there was that suddenly dispelled the strange； hypnotic influence of the
man。
As though a mask had been torn from her eyes； Thuvia suddenly saw
Tario as she had formerly seen him； and； accustomed as she was to the
strange manifestations of highly developed mentality which are common
upon Barsoom； she quickly guessed enough of the truth to know that she
was in grave danger。
Quickly she took a step backward； tearing herself from his grasp。
But the momentary contact had aroused within Tario all the long…buried
passions of his loveless existence。
With a muffled cry he sprang upon her； throwing his arms about her
and attempting to drag her lips to his。
〃Woman！〃 he cried。 〃Lovely woman！ Tario would make you queen
of Lothar。 Listen to me！ Listen to the love of the last jeddaks of
Barsoom。〃
Thuvia struggled to free herself from his embrace。
〃Stop； creature！〃 she cried。 〃Stop！ I do not love you。 Stop； or I
shall scream for help！〃
Tario laughed in her face。
〃‘Scream for help；'〃 he mimicked。 〃And who within the halls of
Lothar is there who might come in answer to your call？ Who would dare
enter the presence of Tario； unsummoned？〃
〃There is one；〃 she replied； 〃who would come； and； coming； dare to
cut you down upon your own throne； if he thought that you had offered
affront to Thuvia of Ptarth！〃
〃Who； Jav？〃 asked Tario。
〃Not Jav； nor any other soft…skinned Lotharian；〃 she replied； 〃but a
real man； a real warriorCarthoris of Helium！〃
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Again the man laughed at her。
〃You forget the bowmen；〃 he reminded her。 〃What could your red
warrior accomplish against my fearless legions？〃
Again he caught her roughly to him； dragging her towards his couch。
〃If you will not be my queen；〃 he said； 〃you shall be my slave。〃
〃Neither！〃 cried the girl。
As she spoke the single word there was a quick move of her right hand；
Tario； releasing her； staggered back； both hands pressed to his side。 At
the same instant the room filled with bowmen； and then the jeddak of
Lothar sank senseless to the marble floor。
At the instant that he lost consciousness the bowmen were about to
release their arrows into Thuvia's heart。 Involuntarily she gave a single cry
for help； though she knew that not even Carthoris of Helium could save
her now。
Then she closed her eyes and waited for the end。 No slender shafts
pierced her tender side。 She raised her lids to see what stayed the hand of
her executioners。
The room was empty save for herself and the still form of the jeddak
of Lothar lying at her feet； a little pool of crimson staining the white
marble of the floor beside him。 Tario was unconscious。
Thuvia was amazed。 Where were the bowmen？ Why had they not
loosed their shafts？ What could it all mean？
An instant before the room had been mysteriously filled with armed
men； evidently called to protect their jeddak； yet now； with the evidence of
her deed plain before them； they had vanished as mysteriously as they had
come； leaving her alone with the body of their ruler； into whose side she
had slipped her long； keen blade。
The girl glanced apprehensively about； first for signs of the return of
the bowmen； and then for some means of escape。
The wall behind the dais was pierced by two small doorways； hidden
by heavy hangings。 Thuvia was running quickly to
