thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第26章
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distant motor。 He scanned the heavens。
Yes； there it was far in the north； dimly outlined against the dark void
of space that stretched illimitably beyond it； the faint suggestion of a flier
passing； unlighted； through the Barsoomian night。
Carthoris； knowing not whether the craft might be friend or foe of
Dusar； gave no sign that he had seen； but turned his eyes in another
direction； leaving the matter to the Dusarian who stood watch with him。
Presently the fellow discovered the oncoming craft； and sounded the
low alarm which brought the balance of the watch and an officer from
their sleeping silks and furs upon the deck near by。
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The cruiser…transport lay without lights； and； resting as she was upon
the ground； must have been entirely invisible to the oncoming flier； which
all presently recognized as a small craft。
It soon became evident that the stranger intended making a landing；
for she was now spiraling slowly above them； dropping lower and lower in
each graceful curve。
〃It is the Thuria；〃 whispered one of the Dusarian warriors。 〃I would
know her in the blackness of the pits among ten thousand other craft。〃
〃Right you are！〃 exclaimed Vas Kor； who had come on deck。 And
then he hailed：
〃Kaor； Thuria！〃
〃Kaor！〃 came presently from above after a brief silence。 Then：
〃What ship？〃
〃Cruiser…transport Kalksus； Vas Kor of Dusar。〃
〃Good！〃 came from above。 〃Is there safe landing alongside？〃
〃Yes； close in to starboard。 Wait； we will show our lights；〃 and a
moment later the smaller craft settled close beside the Kalksus； and the
lights of the latter were immediately extinguished once more。
Several figures could be seen slipping over the side of the Thuria and
advancing toward the Kalksus。 Ever suspicious； the Dusarians stood
ready to receive the visitors as friends or foes as closer inspection might
prove them。 Carthoris stood quite near the rail； ready to take sides with the
new…comers should chance have it that they were Heliumites playing a
bold stroke of strategy upon this lone Dusarian ship。 He had led like
parties himself； and knew that such a contingency was quite possible。
But the face of the first man to cross the rail undeceived him with a
shock that was not at all unpleasurableit was the face of Astok； Prince of
Dusar。
Scarce noticing the others upon the deck of the Kalksus； Astok strode
forward to accept Vas Kor's greeting； then he summoned the noble below。
The warriors and officers returned to their sleeping silks and furs； and
once more the deck was deserted except for the Dusarian warrior and
Turjun； the panthan； who stood guard。
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The latter walked quietly to and fro。 The former leaned across the
rail； wishing for the hour that would bring him relief。 He did not see his
companion approach the lights of the cabin of Vas Kor。 He did not see
him stoop with ear close pressed to a tiny ventilator。
〃May the white apes take us all；〃 cried Astok ruefully； 〃if we are not in
as ugly a snarl as you have ever seen！ Nutus thinks that we have her in
hiding far away from Dusar。 He has bidden me bring her here。〃
He paused。 No man should have heard from his lips the thing he was
trying to tell。 It should have been for ever the secret of Nutus and Astok；
for upon it rested the safety of a throne。 With that knowledge any man
could wrest from the Jeddak of Dusar whatever he listed。
But Astok was afraid； and he wanted from this older man the
suggestion of an alternative。 He went on。
〃I am to kill her；〃 he whispered； looking fearfully around。 〃Nutus
merely wishes to see the body that he may know his commands have been
executed。 I am now supposed to be gone to the spot where we have her
hidden that I may fetch her in secrecy to Dusar。 None is to know that she
has ever been in the keeping of a Dusarian。 I do not need to tell you what
would befall Dusar should Ptarth and Helium and Kaol ever learn the
truth。〃
The jaws of the listener at the ventilator clicked together with a vicious
snap。 Before he had but guessed at the identity of the subject of this
conversation。 Now he knew。 And they were to kill her！ His muscular
fingers clenched until the nails bit into the palms。
〃And you wish me to go with you while you fetch her to Dusar；〃 Vas
Kor was saying。 〃Where is she？〃
Astok bent close and whispered into the other's ear。 The suggestion of
a smile crossed the cruel features of Vas Kor。 He realized the power that
lay within his grasp。 He should be a jed at least。
〃And how may I help you； my Prince？〃 asked the older man suavely。
〃I cannot kill her；〃 said Astok。 〃Issus！ I cannot do it！ When she
turns those eyes upon me my heart becomes water。〃
Vas Kor's eyes narrowed。
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〃And you wish〃 He paused； the interrogation unfinished； yet
complete。
Astok nodded。
〃YOU do not love her；〃 he said。
〃But I love my lifethough I am only a lesser noble；〃 he concluded
meaningly。
〃You shall be a greater noblea noble of the first rank！〃 exclaimed
Astok。
〃I would be a jed；〃 said Vas Kor bluntly。
Astok hesitated。
〃A jed must die before there can be another jed；〃 he pleaded。
〃Jeds have died before；〃 snapped Vas Kor。 〃It would doubtless be not
difficult for you to find a jed you do not love； Astokthere are many who
do not love you。〃
Already Vas Kor was commencing to presume upon his power over
the young prince。 Astok was quick to note and appreciate the subtle
change in his lieutenant。 A cunning scheme entered his weak and wicked
brain。
〃As you say； Vas Kor！〃 he exclaimed。 〃You shall be a jed when the
thing is done；〃 and then； to himself： 〃Nor will it then be difficult for me
to find a jed I do not love。〃
〃When shall we return to Dusar？〃 asked the noble。
〃At once；〃 replied Astok。 〃Let us get under way now there is
naught to keep you here？〃
〃I had intended sailing on the morrow； picking up such recruits as the
various Dwars of the Roads might have collected for me； as we returned to
Dusar。〃
〃Let the recruits wait；〃 said Astok。 〃Or； better still； come you to
Dusar upon the Thuria； leaving the Kalksus to follow and pick up the
recruits。〃
〃Yes；〃 acquiesced Vas Kor； 〃that is the better plan。 Come； I am ready；〃
and he rose to accompany Astok to the latter's flier。
The listener at the ventilator came to his feet slowly； like an old man。
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
His face was drawn and pinched and very white beneath the light copper
of his skin。 She was to die！ And he helpless to avert the tragedy。 He did
not even know where she was imprisoned。
The two men were ascending from the cabin to the deck。 Turjun； the
panthan； crept close to the companionway； his sinuous fingers closing
tightly upon the hilt of his dagger。 Could he despatch them both before
he was overpowered？ He smiled。 He could slay an entire utan of her
enemies in his present state of mind。
They were almost abreast of him now。 Astok was speaking。
〃Bring a couple of your men along； Vas Kor；〃 he said。 〃We are short…
handed upon the Thuria； so quickly did we depart。〃
The panthan's fingers dropped from the dagger's hilt。 His quick mind
had grasped here a chance for succouring Thuvia of Ptarth。 He might be
chosen as one to accompany the assassins； and once he had learned where
the captive lay he could dispatch Astok and Vas Kor as well as now。 To kill
them before he knew where Thuvia was hid was simply to leave her to
death at the hands of others； for sooner or later Nutus would learn her
whereabouts； and Nutus； Jeddak of Dusar； could not afford to let her live。
Turjun put himself in the path of Vas Kor that he might not be
overlooked。 The noble aroused the men sleeping upon the deck； but
always before him the strange panthan whom he had recruited that same
day found means for keeping himself to the fore。
Vas Kor turned to his lieutenant； giving instruction for the bringing of
the Kalksus to Dusar； and the gathering up of the recruits； then he signed
to two warriors who stood close behind the padwar。
〃You two accompany us to the Thuria；〃 he said； 〃and put yourselves at
the disposal of her dwar。〃
It was dark upon the deck of the Kalksus； so Vas Kor had not a good
look at the faces of the two he chose； but that was of no moment； for they
were but common warriors to assist with the ordinary duties upon a flier；
and to fight if need be。
One of the two was Kar Komak； the bowman。 The other was not
Carthoris。
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The Heliumite was mad with disappointment。 He snatched his
dagger from his harness； but already Astok had left the deck of the
Kalksus； and he knew that before he could overtake him； should he
dispatch Vas Kor； he would be killed by the Dusarian warriors； who now
were thick upon the deck。 With either one of the two alive Thuvia was in
as great danger as though both livedit must be both！
As Vas Kor descended to the ground Carthoris boldly followed him；
no
