thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第26节
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darkness they chained him with rusty links to the solid masonry of the
wall。
〃To…morrow Thar Ban will speak with you；〃 they said。 〃Now he sleeps。
But great will be his pleasure when he learns who has wandered amongst
usand great will be the pleasure of Hortan Gur when Thar Ban drags
before him the mad fool who dared prick the great jeddak with his sword。〃
Then they left him to the silence and the darkness。
For what seemed hours Carthoris squatted upon the stone floor of his
prison； his back against the wall in which was sunk the heavy eye…bolt that
secured the chain which held him。
Then； from out of the mysterious blackness before him； there came to
his ears the sound of naked feet moving stealthily upon stone
approaching nearer and nearer to where he lay； unarmed and defenceless。
Minutes passedminutes that seemed hoursduring which time
periods of sepulchral silence would be followed by a repetition of the
uncanny scraping of naked feet slinking warily upon him。
At last he heard a sudden rush of unshod soles across the empty
blackness； and at a little distance a scuffling sound； heavy breathing； and
once what he thought the muttered imprecation of a man battling against
great odds。 Then the clanging of a chain； and a noise as of the snapping
back against stone of a broken link。
Again came silence。 But for a moment only。 Now he heard once
more the soft feet approaching him。 He thought that he discerned wicked
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eyes gleaming fearfully at him through the darkness。 He knew that he
could hear the heavy breathing of powerful lungs。
Then came the rush of many feet toward him； and the THINGS were
upon him。
Hands terminating in manlike fingers clutched at his throat and arms
and legs。 Hairy bodies strained and struggled against his own smooth
hide as he battled in grim silence against these horrid foemen in the
darkness of the pits of ancient Aaanthor。
Thewed like some giant god was Carthoris of Helium； yet in the
clutches of these unseen creatures of the pit's Stygian night he was
helpless as a frail woman。
Yet he battled on； striking futile blows against great； hispid breasts he
could not see； feeling thick； squat throats beneath his fingers； the drool of
saliva upon his cheek； and hot； foul breath in his nostrils。
Fangs； too； mighty fangs； he knew were close； and why they did not
sink into his flesh he could not guess。
At last he became aware of the mighty surging of a number of his
antagonists back and forth upon the great chain that held him； and
presently came the same sound that he had heard at a little distance from
him a short time before he had been attackedhis chain had parted and the
broken end snapped back against the stone wall。
Now he was seized upon either side and dragged at a rapid pace
through the dark corridorstoward what fate he could not even guess。
At first he had thought his foes might be of the tribe of Torquas； but
their hairy bodies belied that belief。 Now he was at last quite sure of their
identity； though why they had not killed and devoured him at once he
could not imagine。
After half an hour or more of rapid racing through the underground
passages that are a distinguishing feature of all Barsoomian cities； modern
as well as ancient； his captors suddenly emerged into the moonlight of a
courtyard； far from the central plaza。
Immediately Carthoris saw that he was in the power of a tribe of the
great white apes of Barsoom。 All that had caused him doubt before as to
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the identity of his attackers was the hairiness of their breasts； for the white
apes are entirely hairless except for a great shock bristling from their
heads。
Now he saw the cause of that which had deceived him across the
chest of each of them were strips of hairy hide； usually of banth； in
imitation of the harness of the green warriors who so often camped at their
deserted city。
Carthoris had read of the existence of tribes of apes that seemed to be
progressing slowly toward higher standards of intelligence。 Into the
hands of such； he realized； he had fallen； butwhat were their intentions
toward him？
As he glanced about the courtyard； he saw fully fifty of the hideous
beasts； squatting on their haunches； and at a little distance from him
another human being； closely guarded。
As his eyes met those of his fellow…captive a smile lit the other's face；
and： 〃Kaor； red man！〃 burst from his lips。 It was Kar Komak； the
bowman。
〃Kaor！〃 cried Carthoris； in response。 〃How came you here； and what
befell the princess？〃
〃Red men like yourself descended in mighty ships that sailed the air；
even as the great ships of my distant day sailed the five seas；〃 replied Kar
Komak。 〃They fought with the green men of Torquas。 They slew
Komal； god of Lothar。 I thought they were your friends； and I was glad
when finally those of them who survived the battle carried the red girl to
one of the ships and sailed away with her into the safety of the high air。
〃Then the green men seized me； and carried me to a great； empty city；
where they chained me to a wall in a black pit。 Afterward came these and
dragged me hither。 And what of you； red man？〃
Carthoris related all that had befallen him； and as the two men talked
the great apes squatted about them watching them intently。
〃What are we to do now？〃 asked the bowman。
〃Our case looks rather hopeless；〃 replied Carthoris ruefully。 〃These
creatures are born man…eaters。 Why they have not already devoured us I
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cannot imaginethere！〃 he whispered。 〃See？ The end is coming。〃
Kar Komak looked in the direction Carthoris indicated to see a huge
ape advancing with a mighty bludgeon。
〃It is thus they like best to kill their prey；〃 said Carthoris。
〃Must we die without a struggle？〃 asked Kar Komak。
〃Not I；〃 replied Carthoris； 〃though I know how futile our best defence
must be against these mighty brutes！ Oh； for a long…sword！〃
〃Or a good bow；〃 added Kar Komak； 〃and a utan of bowmen。〃
At the words Carthoris half sprang to his feet； only to be dragged
roughly down by his guard。
〃Kar Komak！〃 he cried。 〃Why cannot you do what Tario and Jav did？
They had no bowmen other than those of their own creation。 You must
know the secret of their power。 Call forth your own utan； Kar Komak！〃
The Lotharian looked at Carthoris in wide…eyed astonishment as the
full purport of the suggestion bore in upon his understanding。
〃Why not？〃 he murmured。
The savage ape bearing the mighty bludgeon was slinking toward
Carthoris。 The Heliumite's fingers were working as he kept his eyes
upon his executioner。 Kar Komak bent his gaze penetratingly upon the
apes。 The effort of his mind was evidenced in the sweat upon his
contracted brows。
The creature that was to slay the red man was almost within arm's
reach of his prey when Carthoris heard a hoarse shout from the opposite
side of the courtyard。 In common with the squatting apes and the demon
with the club he turned in the direction of the sound； to see a company of
sturdy bowmen rushing from the doorway of a near…by building。
With screams of rage the apes leaped to their feet to meet the charge。
A volley of arrows met them half…way； sending a dozen rolling lifeless to
the ground。 Then the apes closed with their adversaries。 All their
attention was occupied by the attackerseven the guard had deserted the
prisoners to join in the battle。
〃Come！〃 whispered Kar Komak。 〃Now may we escape while their
atte
