thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第7章
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entered the plaza opposite her！
Thar Ban； jed among the hordes of Torquas； rode swiftly across the
ochre vegetation of the dead sea… bottom toward the ruins of ancient
Aaanthor。
He had ridden far that night； and fast； for he had but come from the
despoiling of the incubator of a neighbouring green horde with which the
hordes of Torquas were perpetually warring。
His giant thoat was far from jaded； yet it would be well； thought Thar
Ban； to permit him to graze upon the ochre moss which grows to greater
height within the protected courtyards of deserted cities； where the soil is
richer than on the sea…bottoms； and the plants partly shaded from the sun
during the cloudless Martian day。
Within the tiny stems of this dry…seeming plant is sufficient moisture
for the needs of the huge bodies of the mighty thoats； which can exist for
months without water； and for days without even the slight moisture which
the ochre moss contains。
As Thar Ban rode noiselessly up the broad avenue which leads from
the quays of Aaanthor to the great central plaza； he and his mount might
have been mistaken for spectres from a world of dreams； so grotesque the
man and beast； so soundless the great thoat's padded； nailless feet upon the
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moss…grown flagging of the ancient pavement。
The man was a splendid specimen of his race。 Fully fifteen feet
towered his great height from sole to pate。 The moonlight glistened against
his glossy green hide； sparkling the jewels of his heavy harness and the
ornaments that weighted his four muscular arms； while the upcurving
tusks that protruded from his lower jaw gleamed white and terrible。
At the side of his thoat were slung his long radium rifle and his great；
forty…foot； metal…shod spear； while from his own harness depended his
long…sword and his short…sword； as well as his lesser weapons。
His protruding eyes and antennae…like ears were turning constantly
hither and thither； for Thar Ban was yet in the country of the enemy； and；
too； there was always the menace of the great white apes； which； John
Carter was wont to say； are the only creatures that can arouse in the breasts
of these fierce denizens of the dead sea…bottoms even the remotest
semblance of fear。
As the rider neared the plaza； he reined suddenly in。 His slender；
tubular ears pointed rigidly forward。 An unwonted sound had reached
them。 Voices！ And where there were voices； outside of Torquas； there；
too； were enemies。 All the world of wide Barsoom contained naught but
enemies for the fierce Torquasians。
Thar Ban dismounted。 Keeping in the shadows of the great
monoliths that line the Avenue of Quays of sleeping Aaanthor； he
approached the plaza。 Directly behind him； as a hound at heel； came the
slate…grey thoat； his white belly shadowed by his barrel； his vivid yellow
feet merging into the yellow of the moss beneath them。
In the centre of the plaza Thar Ban saw the figure of a red woman。 A
red warrior was conversing with her。 Now the man turned and retraced
his steps toward the palace at the opposite side of the plaza。
Thar Ban watched until he had disappeared within the yawning portal。
Here was a captive worth having！ Seldom did a female of their hereditary
enemies fall to the lot of a green man。 Thar Ban licked his thin lips。
Thuvia of Ptarth watched the shadow behind the monolith at the
opening to the avenue opposite her。 She hoped that it might be but the
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figment of an overwrought imagination。
But no！ Now； clearly and distinctly； she saw it move。 It came from
behind the screening shelter of the ersite shaft。
The sudden light of the rising sun fell upon it。 The girl trembled。 The
THING was a huge green warrior！
Swiftly it sprang toward her。 She screamed and tried to flee； but she
had scarce turned toward the palace when a giant hand fell upon her arm；
she was whirled about； and half dragged； half carried toward a huge thoat
that was slowly grazing out of the avenue's mouth on to the ochre moss of
the plaza。
At the same instant she turned her face upward toward the whirring
sound of something above her； and there she saw a swift flier dropping
toward her； the head and shoulders of a man leaning far over the side； but
the man's features were deeply shadowed； so that she did not recognize
them。
Now from behind her came the shouts of her red abductors。 They were
racing madly after him who dared to steal what they already had stolen。
As Thar Ban reached the side of his mount he snatched his long
radium rifle from its boot； and； wheeling； poured three shots into the
oncoming red men。
Such is the uncanny marksmanship of these Martian savages that three
red warriors dropped in their tracks as three projectiles exploded in their
vitals。
The others halted； nor did they dare return the fire for fear of
wounding the girl。
Then Thar Ban vaulted to the back of his thoat； Thuvia of Ptarth still in
his arms； and with a savage cry of triumph disappeared down the black
canyon of the Avenue of Quays between the sullen palaces of forgotten
Aaanthor。
Carthoris' flier had not touched the ground before he had sprung from
its deck to race after the swift thoat； whose eight long legs were sending it
down the avenue at the rate of an express train； but the men of Dusar who
still remained alive had no mind to permit so valuable a capture to escape
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them。
They had lost the girl。 That would be a difficult thing to explain to
Astok； but some leniency might be expected could they carry the Prince of
Helium to their master instead。
So the three who remained set upon Carthoris with their long…swords；
crying to him to surrender； but they might as successfully have cried aloud
to Thuria to cease her mad hurtling through the Barsoomian sky； for
Carthoris of Helium was a true son of the Warlord of Mars and his
incomparable Dejah Thoris。
Carthoris' long…sword had been already in his hand as he leaped from
the deck of the flier； so the instant that he realized the menace of the three
red warriors； he wheeled to face them； meeting their onslaught as only
John Carter himself might have done。
So swift his sword； so mighty and agile his half…earthly muscles； that
one of his opponents was down； crimsoning the ochre moss with his life…
blood； when he had scarce made a single pass at Carthoris。
Now the two remaining Dusarians rushed simultaneously upon the
Heliumite。 Three long…swords clashed and sparkled in the moonlight；
until the great white apes； roused from their slumbers； crept to the
lowering windows of the dead city to view the bloody scene beneath them。
Thrice was Carthoris touched； so that the red blood ran down his face；
blinding him and dyeing his broad chest。 With his free hand he wiped
the gore from his eyes； and with the fighting smile of his father touching
his lips； leaped upon his antagonists with renewed fury。
A single cut of his heavy sword severed the head of one of them； and
then the other； backing away clear of that point of death； turned and fled
toward the palace at his back。
Carthoris made no step to pursue。 He had other concern than the
meting of even well…deserved punishment to strange men who
masqueraded in the metal of his own house； for he had seen that these men
were tricked out in the insignia that marked his personal followers。
Turning quickly toward his flier； he was soon rising from the plaza in
pursuit of Thar Ban。
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The red warrior whom he had put to flight turned in the entrance to the
palace； and； seeing Carthoris' intent； snatched a rifle from those that he
and his fellows had left leaning against the wall as they had rushed out
with drawn swords to prevent the theft of their prisoner。
Few red men are good shots； for the sword is their chosen weapon； so
now as the Dusarian drew bead upon the rising flier； and touched the
button upon his rifle's stock； it was more to chance than proficiency that
he owed the partial success of his aim。
The projectile grazed the flier's side； the opaque coating breaking
sufficiently to permit daylight to strike in upon the powder phial within the
bullet's nose。 There was a sharp explosion。 Carthoris felt his craft reel
drunkenly beneath him； and the engine stopped。
The momentum the air boat had gained carried her on over the city
toward the sea…bottom beyond。
The red warrior in the plaza fired several more shots； none of which
scored。 Then a lofty minaret shut the drifting quarry from his view。
In the distance before him Carthoris could see the green warrior
bearing Thuvia of Ptarth away upon his mighty thoat。 The direction of
his flight was toward the north…west of Aaanthor； where lay a mountainous
country little known to red men。
The Heliumite now gave his attention to his injured craft。 A close
examination revealed the face that one of the buoyancy tanks had been
punctured； but the engine itself was uninjured。
A splinter from the projectile had damaged one of the control levers
beyond the possibility of repair outside a machine shop； but after
considerable tinkering； Carthoris was able to propel his wou
