thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第16章
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The wall behind the dais was pierced by two small doorways； hidden
by heavy hangings。 Thuvia was running quickly towards one of these
when she heard the clank of a warrior's metal at the end of the apartment
behind her。
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Ah； if she had but an instant more of time she could have reached that
screening arras and； perchance； have found some avenue of escape behind
it； but now it was too lateshe had been discovered！
With a feeling that was akin to apathy she turned to meet her fate； and
there； before her； running swiftly across the broad chamber to her side；
was Carthoris； his naked long…sword gleaming in his hand。
For days she had doubted his intentions of the Heliumite。 She had
thought him a party to her abduction。 Since Fate had thrown them
together she had scarce favoured him with more than the most perfunctory
replies to his remarks； unless at such times as the weird and uncanny
happenings at Lothar had surprised her out of her reserve。
She knew that Carthoris of Helium would fight for her； but whether to
save her for himself or another； she was in doubt。
He knew that she was promised to Kulan Tith； Jeddak of Kaol； but if
he had been instrumental in her abduction； his motives could not be
prompted by loyalty to his friend； or regard for her honour。
And yet； as she saw him coming across the marble floor of the
audience chamber of Tario of Lothar； his fine eyes filled with
apprehension for her safety； his splendid figure personifying all that is
finest in the fighting men of martial Mars； she could not believe that any
faintest trace of perfidy lurked beneath so glorious an exterior。
Never； she thought； in all her life had the sight of any man been so
welcome to her。 It was with difficulty that she refrained from rushing
forward to meet him。
She knew that he loved her； but； in time； she recalled that she was
promised to Kulan Tith。 Not even might she trust herself to show too
great gratitude to the Heliumite； lest he misunderstand。
Carthoris was by her side now。 His quick glance had taken in the
scene within the roomthe still figure of the jeddak sprawled upon the
floorthe girl hastening toward a shrouded exit。
〃Did he harm you； Thuvia？〃 he asked。
She held up her crimsoned blade that he might see it。
〃No；〃 she said； 〃he did not harm me。〃
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A grim smile lighted Carthoris' face。
〃Praised be our first ancestor！〃 he murmured。 〃And now let us see if
we may not make good our escape from this accursed city before the
Lotharians discover that their jeddak is no more。〃
With the firm authority that sat so well upon him in whose veins
flowed the blood of John Carter of Virginia and Dejah Thoris of Helium；
he grasped her hand and； turning back across the hall； strode toward the
great doorway through which Jav had brought them into the presence of
the jeddak earlier in the day。
They had almost reached the threshold when a figure sprang into the
apartment through another entrance。 It was Jav。 He； too； took in the
scene within at a glance。
Carthoris turned to face him； his sword ready in his hand； and his great
body shielding the slender figure of the girl。
〃Come； Jav of Lothar！〃 he cried。 〃Let us face the issue at once； for
only one of us may leave this chamber alive with Thuvia of Ptarth。〃
Then； seeing that the man wore no sword； he exclaimed： 〃Bring on your
bowmen； then； or come with us as my prisoner until we have safely passed
the outer portals of thy ghostly city。〃
〃You have killed Tario！〃 exclaimed Jav； ignoring the other's challenge。
〃You have killed Tario！ I see his blood upon the floorreal bloodreal
death。 Tario was； after all； as real as I。 Yet he was an etherealist。 He
would not materialize his sustenance。 Can it be that they are right？
Well； we； too； are right。 And all these ages we have been quarrelling
each saying that the other was wrong！
〃However； he is dead now。 Of that I am glad。 Now shall Jav come
into his own。 Now shall Jav be Jeddak of Lothar！〃
As he finished； Tario opened his eyes and then quickly sat up。
〃Traitor！ Assassin！〃 he screamed； and then： 〃Kadar！ Kadar！〃 which
is the Barsoomian for guard。
Jav went sickly white。 He fell upon his belly； wriggling toward
Tario。
〃Oh； my Jeddak； my Jeddak！〃 he whimpered。 〃Jav had no hand in
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this。 Jav； your faithful Jav； but just this instant entered the apartment to
find you lying prone upon the floor and these two strangers about to leave。
How it happened I know not。 Believe me； most glorious Jeddak！〃
〃Cease； knave！〃 cried Tario。 〃I heard your words： ‘However； he is
dead now。 Of that I am glad。 Now shall Jav come into his own。 Now
shall Jav be Jeddak of Lothar。'
〃At last； traitor； I have found you out。 Your own words have
condemned you as surely as the acts of these red creatures have sealed
their fatesunless〃 He paused。 〃Unless the woman〃
But he got no further。 Carthoris guessed what he would have said；
and before the words could be uttered he had sprung forward and struck
the man across the mouth with his open palm。
Tario frothed in rage and mortification。 〃And should you again
affront the Princess of Ptarth；〃 warned the Heliumite； 〃I shall forget that
you wear no swordnot for ever may I control my itching sword hand。〃
Tario shrank back toward the little doorways behind the dais。 He was
trying to speak； but so hideously were the muscles of his face working that
he could utter no word for several minutes。 At last he managed to
articulate intelligibly。
〃Die！〃 he shrieked。 〃Die！〃 and then he turned toward the exit at his
back。
Jav leaped forward； screaming in terror。
〃Have pity； Tario！ Have pity！ Remember the long ages that I have
served you faithfully。 Remember all that I have done for Lothar。 Do
not condemn me now to the death hideous。 Save me！ Save me！〃
But Tario only laughed a mocking laugh and continued to back toward
the hangings that hid the little doorway。
Jav turned toward Carthoris。
〃Stop him！〃 he screamed。 〃Stop him！ If you love life； let him not
leave this room；〃 and as he spoke he leaped in pursuit of his jeddak。
Carthoris followed Jav's example； but the 〃last of the jeddaks of
Barsoom〃 was too quick for them。 By the time they reached the arras
behind which he had disappeared； they found a heavy stone door blocking
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their further progress。
Jav sank to the floor in a spasm of terror。
〃Come； man！〃 cried Carthoris。 〃We are not dead yet。 Let us hasten to
the avenues and make an attempt to leave the city。 We are still alive； and
while we live we may yet endeavour to direct our own destinies。 Of
what avail； to sink spineless to the floor？ Come； be a man！〃
Jav but shook his head。
〃Did you not hear him call the guards？〃 he moaned。 〃Ah； if we could
have but intercepted him！ Then there might have been hope； but； alas； he
was too quick for us。〃
〃Well； well；〃 exclaimed Carthoris impatiently。 〃What if he did call
the guards？ There will be time enough to worry about that after they
comeat present I see no indication that they have any idea of over…
exerting themselves to obey their jeddak's summons。〃
Jav shook his head mournfully。
〃You do not understand；〃 he said。 〃The guards have already come
and gone。 They have done their work and we are lost。 Look to the
various exits。〃
Carthoris and Thuvia turned their eyes in the direction of the several
doorways which pierced the walls of the great chamber。 Each was tightly
closed by huge stone doors。
〃Well？〃 asked Carthoris。
〃We are to die the death；〃 whispered Jav faintly。
Further than that he would not say。 He just sat upon the edge of the
jeddak's couch and waited。
Carthoris moved to Thuvia's side； and； standing there with naked
sword； he let his brave eyes roam ceaselessly about the great chamber； that
no foe might spring upon them unseen。
For what seemed hours no sound broke the silence of their living tomb。
No sign gave their executioners of the time or manner of their death。 The
suspense was terrible。 Even Carthoris of Helium began to feel the
terrible strain upon his nerves。 If he could but know how and whence the
hand of death was to strike； he could meet it unafraid； but to suffer longer
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the hideous tension of this blighting ignorance of the plans of their
assassins was telling upon him grievously。
Thuvia of Ptarth drew quite close to him。 She felt safer with the feel
of his arm against hers； and with the contact of her the man took a new
grip upon himself。 With his old…time smile he turned toward her。
〃It would seem that they are trying to frighten us to death；〃 he said；
laughing； 〃and； shame be upon me that I should confess it； I think they
wer
