thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第13节
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recovery。 Before I left Helium some one tampered with my compass； so
that it bore me to Aaanthor instead of to Ptarth。 That is all。 You believe
me？〃
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〃But the warriors who stole me from the garden！〃 she exclaimed。
〃After we arrived at Aaanthor they wore the metal of the Prince of Helium。
When they took me they were trapped in Dusarian harness。 There
seemed but a single explanation。 Whoever dared the outrage wished to
put the onus upon another； should he be detected in the act； but once safely
away from Ptarth he felt safe in having his minions return to their own
harness。〃
〃You believe that I did this thing； Thuvia？〃 he asked。
〃Ah； Carthoris；〃 she replied sadly； 〃I did not wish to believe it； but
when everything pointed to youeven then I would not believe it。〃
〃I did not do it； Thuvia；〃 he said。 〃But let me be entirely honest with
you。 As much as I love your father； as much as I respect Kulan Tith； to
whom you are betrothed； as well as I know the frightful consequences that
must have followed such an act of mine； hurling into war； as it would；
three of the greatest nations of Barsoomyet； notwithstanding all this； I
should not have hesitated to take you thus； Thuvia of Ptarth； had you even
hinted that it would not have displeased YOU。
〃But you did nothing of the kind； and so I am here； not in my own
service； but in yours； and in the service of the man to whom you are
promised； to save you for him； if it lies within the power of man to do so；〃
he concluded； almost bitterly。
Thuvia of Ptarth looked into his face for several moments。 Her breast
was rising and falling as though to some resistless emotion。 She half
took a step toward him。 Her lips parted as though to speakswiftly and
impetuously。
And then she conquered whatever had moved her。
〃The future acts of the Prince of Helium；〃 she said coldly； 〃must
constitute the proof of his past honesty of purpose。〃
Carthoris was hurt by the girl's tone； as much as by the doubt as to his
integrity which her words implied。
He had half hoped that she might hint that his love would be
acceptablecertainly there was due him at least a little gratitude for his
recent acts in her behalf； but the best he received was cold scepticism。
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The Prince of Helium shrugged his broad shoulders。 The girl noted it；
and the little smile that touched his lips； so that it became her turn to be
hurt。
Of course she had not meant to hurt him。 He might have known that
after what he had said she could not do anything to encourage him！ But
he need not have made his indifference quite so palpable。 The men of
Helium were noted for their gallantrynot for boorishness。 Possibly it was
the Earth blood that flowed in his veins。
How could she know that the shrug was but Carthoris' way of
attempting； by physical effort； to cast blighting sorrow from his heart； or
that the smile upon his lips was the fighting smile of his father with which
the son gave outward evidence of the determination he had reached to
submerge his own great love in his efforts to save Thuvia of Ptarth for
another； because he believed that she loved this other！
He reverted to his original question。
〃Where are we？〃 he asked。 〃I do not know。〃
〃Nor I；〃 replied the girl。 〃Those who stole me from Ptarth spoke
among themselves of Aaanthor； so that I thought it possible that the
ancient city to which they took me was that famous ruin； but where we
may be now I have no idea。〃
〃When the bowmen return we shall doubtless learn all that there is to
know；〃 said Carthoris。 〃Let us hope that they prove friendly。 What race
may they be？ Only in the most ancient of our legends and in the mural
paintings of the deserted cities of the dead sea…bottoms are depicted such a
race of auburn…haired； fair…skinned people。 Can it be that we have
stumbled upon a surviving city of the past which all Barsoom believes
buried beneath the ages？〃
Thuvia was looking toward the forest into which the green men and
the pursuing bowmen had disappeared。 From a great distance came the
hideous cries of banths； and an occasional shot。
〃It is strange that they do not return；〃 said the girl。
〃One would expect to see the wounded limping or being carried back
to the city；〃 replied Carthoris； with a puzzled frown。 〃But how about the
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wounded nearer the city？ Have they carried them within？〃
Both turned their eyes toward the field between them and the walled
city； where the fighting had been most furious。
There were the banths； still growling about their hideous feast。
Carthoris looked at Thuvia in astonishment。 Then he pointed toward
the field。
〃Where are they？〃 he whispered。 〃WHAT HAS BECOME OF
THEIR DEAD AND WOUNDED？〃
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
CHAPTER VI
THE JEDDAK OF LOTHAR
The girl looked her incredulity。
〃They lay in piles；〃 she murmured。 〃There were thousands of them
but a minute ago。〃
〃And now；〃 continued Carthoris； 〃there remain but the banths and the
carcasses of the green men。〃
〃They must have sent forth and carried the dead bowmen away while
we were talking；〃 said the girl。
〃It is impossible！〃 replied Carthoris。 〃Thousands of dead lay there
upon the field but a moment since。 It would have required many hours to
have removed them。 The thing is uncanny。〃
〃I had hoped；〃 said Thuvia； 〃that we might find an asylum with these
fair…skinned people。 Notwithstanding their valour upon the field of battle；
they did not strike me as a ferocious or warlike people。 I had been about
to suggest that we seek entrance to the city； but now I scarce know if I care
to venture among people whose dead vanish into thin air。〃
〃Let us chance it；〃 replied Carthoris。 〃We can be no worse off within
their walls than without。 Here we may fall prey to the banths or the no
less fierce Torquasians。 There； at least； we shall find beings moulded after
our own images。
〃All that causes me to hesitate；〃 he added； 〃is the danger of taking you
past so many banths。 A single sword would scarce prevail were even a
couple of them to charge simultaneously。〃
〃Do not fear on that score；〃 replied the girl； smiling。 〃The banths will
not harm us。〃
As she spoke she descended from the platform； and with Carthoris at
her side stepped fearlessly out upon the bloody field in the direction of the
walled city of mystery。
They had advanced but a short distance when a banth； looking up from
its gory feast； descried them。 With an angry roar the beast walked
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quickly in their direction； and at the sound of its voice a score of others
followed its example。
Carthoris drew his long…sword。 The girl stole a quick glance at his
face。 She saw the smile upon his lips； and it was as wine to sick nerves；
for even upon warlike Barsoom where all men are brave； woman reacts
quickly to quiet indifference to dangerto dare…deviltry that is without
bombast。
〃You may return your sword；〃 she said。 〃I told you that the banths
would not harm us。 Look！〃 and as she spoke she stepped quickly toward
the nearest animal。
Carthoris would have leaped after her to protect her； but with a gesture
she motioned him back。 He heard her calling to the ban
