thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第17章
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laughing； 〃and； shame be upon me that I should confess it； I think they
were close to accomplishing their designs upon me。〃
She was about to make some reply when a fearful shriek broke from
the lips of the Lotharian。
〃The end is coming！〃 he cried。 〃The end is coming！ The floor！ The
floor！ Oh； Komal； be merciful！〃
Thuvia and Carthoris did not need to look at the floor to be aware of
the strange movement that was taking place。
Slowly the marble flagging was sinking in all directions toward the
centre。 At first the movement； being gradual； was scarce noticeable； but
presently the angle of the floor became such that one might stand easily
only by bending one knee considerably。
Jav was shrieking still； and clawing at the royal couch that had already
commenced to slide toward the centre of the room； where both Thuvia and
Carthoris suddenly noted a small orifice which grew in diameter as the
floor assumed more closely a funnel…like contour。
Now it became more and more difficult to cling to the dizzy
inclination of the smooth and polished marble。
Carthoris tried to support Thuvia； but himself commenced to slide and
slip toward the ever…enlarging aperture。
Better to cling to the smooth stone he kicked off his sandals of zitidar
hide and with his bare feet braced himself against the sickening tilt； at the
same time throwing his arms supportingly about the girl。
In her terror her own hands clasped about the man's neck。 Her cheek
was close to his。 Death； unseen and of unknown form； seemed close
upon them； and because unseen and unknowable infinitely more terrifying。
〃Courage； my princess；〃 he whispered。
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She looked up into his face to see smiling lips above hers and brave
eyes； untouched by terror； drinking deeply of her own。
Then the floor sagged and tilted more swiftly。 There was a sudden
slipping rush as they were precipitated toward the aperture。
Jav's screams rose weird and horrible in their ears； and then the three
found themselves piled upon the royal couch of Tario； which had stuck
within the aperture at the base of the marble funnel。
For a moment they breathed more freely； but presently they discovered
that the aperture was continuing to enlarge。 The couch slipped
downward。 Jav shrieked again。 There was a sickening sensation as
they felt all let go beneath them； as they fell through darkness to an
unknown death。
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
CHAPTER IX
THE BATTLE IN THE PLAIN
The distance from the bottom of the funnel to the floor of the
chamber beneath it could not have been great； for all three of the victims
of Tario's wrath alighted unscathed。
Carthoris； still clasping Thuvia tightly to his breast； came to the
ground catlike； upon his feet； breaking the shock for the girl。 Scarce had
his feet touched the rough stone flagging of this new chamber than his
sword flashed out ready for instant use。 But though the room was lighted；
there was no sign of enemy about。
Carthoris looked toward Jav。 The man was pasty white with fear。
〃What is to be our fate？〃 asked the Heliumite。 〃Tell me； man！
Shake off your terror long enough to tell me； so I may be prepared to sell
my life and that of the Princess of Ptarth as dearly as possible。〃
〃Komal！〃 whispered Jav。 〃We are to be devoured by Komal！〃
〃Your deity？〃 asked Carthoris。
The Lotharian nodded his head。 Then he pointed toward a low
doorway at one end of the chamber。
〃From thence will he come upon us。 Lay aside your puny sword；
fool。 It will but enrage him the more and make our sufferings the worse。〃
Carthoris smiled； gripping his long…sword the more firmly。
Presently Jav gave a horrified moan； at the same time pointing toward
the door。
〃He has come；〃 he whimpered。
Carthoris and Thuvia looked in the direction the Lotharian had
indicated； expecting to see some strange and fearful creature in human
form； but to their astonishment they saw the broad head and great…maned
shoulders of a huge banth； the largest that either ever had seen。
Slowly and with dignity the mighty beast advanced into the room。
Jav had fallen to the floor； and was wriggling his body in the same servile
manner that he had adopted toward Tario。 He spoke to the fierce beast as
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
he would have spoken to a human being； pleading with it for mercy。
Carthoris stepped between Thuvia and the banth； his sword ready to
contest the beast's victory over them。 Thuvia turned toward Jav。
〃Is this Komal； your god？〃 she asked。
Jav nodded affirmatively。 The girl smiled； and then； brushing past
Carthoris； she stepped swiftly toward the growling carnivore。
In low； firm tones she spoke to it as she had spoken to the banths of the
Golden Cliffs and the scavengers before the walls of Lothar。
The beast ceased its growling。 With lowered head and catlike purr； it
came slinking to the girl's feet。 Thuvia turned toward Carthoris。
〃It is but a banth；〃 she said。 〃We have nothing to fear from it。〃
Carthoris smiled。
〃I did not fear it；〃 he replied； 〃for I； too； believed it to be only a banth；
and I have my long…sword。〃
Jav sat up and gazed at the spectacle before himthe slender girl
weaving her fingers in the tawny mane of the huge creature that he had
thought divine； while Komal rubbed his hideous snout against her side。
〃So this is your god！〃 laughed Thuvia。
Jav looked bewildered。 He scarce knew whether he dare chance
offending Komal or not； for so strong is the power of superstition that
even though we know that we have been reverencing a sham； yet still we
hesitate to admit the validity of our new…found convictions。
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃this is Komal。 For ages the enemies of Tario have
been hurled to this pit to fill his maw； for Komal must be fed。〃
〃Is there any way out of this chamber to the avenues of the city？〃
asked Carthoris。
Jav shrugged。
〃I do not know；〃 he replied。 〃Never have I been here before； nor ever
have I cared to do so。〃
〃Come；〃 suggested Thuvia； 〃let us explore。 There must be a way out。〃
Together the three approached the doorway through which Komal had
entered the apartment that was to have witnessed their deaths。 Beyond
was a low…roofed lair； with a small door at the far end。
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This； to their delight； opened to the lifting of an ordinary latch； letting
them into a circular arena； surrounded by tiers of seats。
〃Here is where Komal is fed in public；〃 explained Jav。 〃Had Tario
dared it would have been here that our fates had been sealed； but he feared
too much thy keen blade； red man； and so he hurled us all downward to
the pit。 I did not know how closely connected were the two chambers。
Now we may easily reach the avenues and the city gates。 Only the
bowmen may dispute the right of way； and； knowing their secret； I doubt
that they have power to harm us。〃
Another door led to a flight of steps that rose from the arena level
upward through the seats to an exit at the back of the hall。 Beyond this
was a straight； broad corridor； running directly through the palace to the
gardens at the side。
No one appeared to question them as they advanced； mighty Komal
pacing by the girl's side。
〃Where are the people of the palacethe jeddak's retinue？〃 asked
Carthoris。 〃Even in the city streets as we came through I scarce saw sign
of a human being； yet all about are evidences of a mighty population。〃
Jav sighed。
〃Poor Lothar；〃 he said。 〃It is indeed a city of ghosts。 There are scarce
a thousand of us left； who once were numbered in the millions。 Our great
city is peopled by the creatures of our own imaginings。 For our own
needs we do not take the trouble to materialize these peoples of our brain；
yet they are apparent to us。
〃Even now I see great throngs lining the avenue； hastening to and fro
in the round of their duties。 I see women and children laughing on the
balconiesthese we are forbidden to materialize； but yet I see themthey
are here。 。 。 。 But why not？〃 he mused。 〃No longer need I fear Tariohe
has done his worst； and failed。 Why not indeed？
〃Stay； friends；〃 he continued。 〃Would you see Lothar in all her
glory？〃
Carthoris and Thuvia nodded their assent； more out of courtesy than
because they fully grasped the import of his mutterings。
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Jav gazed at them penetratingly for an instant； then； with a wave of his
hand； cried： 〃Look！〃
The sight that met them was awe…inspiring。 Where before there had
been naught but deserted pavements and scarlet swards； yawning windows
and tenantless doors； now swarmed a countless multitude of happy；
laughing people。
〃It is the past；〃 said Jav in a low voice。 〃They do not see usthey but
live the old dead past of ancient Lotharthe dead and crumbled Lothar of
antiquity； which stood upon the shore of Throxus； mightiest of the five
oceans。
〃See those fine； upstanding men swinging along the broad avenue？
See the young girls and the women smile upon them？ S
