thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第3节
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will remain constantly fixed thereon； making it only necessary to keep a
vessel's prow always in the direction of the compass needle to reach any
given point upon Barsoom by the shortest route。
Carthoris' improvement upon this consisted of an auxiliary device
which steered the craft mechanically in the direction of the compass； and
upon arrival directly over the point for which the compass was set；
brought the craft to a standstill and lowered it； also automatically； to the
ground。
〃You readily discern the advantages of this invention；〃 he was saying
to Thuvan Dihn； who had accompanied him to the landing…stage upon the
palace roof to inspect the compass and bid his young friend farewell。
A dozen officers of the court with several body servants were grouped
behind the jeddak and his guest； eager listeners to the conversationso
eager on the part of one of the servants that he was twice rebuked by a
noble for his forwardness in pushing himself ahead of his betters to view
the intricate mechanism of the wonderful 〃controlling destination
compass；〃 as the thing was called。
〃For example；〃 continued Carthoris； 〃I have an all… night trip before
me； as to…night。 I set the pointer here upon the right…hand dial which
represents the eastern hemisphere of Barsoom； so that the point rests upon
the exact latitude and longitude of Helium。 Then I start the engine； roll
up in my sleeping silks and furs； and with lights burning； race through the
air toward Helium； confident that at the appointed hour I shall drop gently
toward the landing…stage upon my own palace； whether I am still asleep or
no。〃
〃Provided；〃 suggested Thuvan Dihn； 〃you do not chance to collide
with some other night wanderer in the meanwhile。〃
Carthoris smiled。 〃No danger of that；〃 he replied。 〃See here；〃 and he
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
indicated a device at the right of the destination compass。 〃This is my
‘obstruction evader；' as I call it。 This visible device is the switch which
throws the mechanism on or off。 The instrument itself is below deck；
geared both to the steering apparatus and the control levers。
〃It is quite simple； being nothing more than a radium generator
diffusing radio…activity in all directions to a distance of a hundred yards or
so from the flier。 Should this enveloping force be interrupted in any
direction a delicate instrument immediately apprehends the irregularity； at
the same time imparting an impulse to a magnetic device which in turn
actuates the steering mechanism； diverting the bow of the flier away from
the obstacle until the craft's radio…activity sphere is no longer in contact
with the obstruction； then she falls once more into her normal course。
Should the disturbance approach from the rear； as in case of a faster…
moving craft overhauling me； the mechanism actuates the speed control as
well as the steering gear； and the flier shoots ahead and either up or down；
as the oncoming vessel is upon a lower or higher plane than herself。
〃In aggravated cases； that is when the obstructions are many； or of
such a nature as to deflect the bow more than forty…five degrees in any
direction； or when the craft has reached its destination and dropped to
within a hundred yards of the ground； the mechanism brings her to a full
stop； at the same time sounding a loud alarm which will instantly awaken
the pilot。 You see I have anticipated almost every contingency。〃
Thuvan Dihn smiled his appreciation of the marvellous device。 The
forward servant pushed almost to the flier's side。 His eyes were narrowed
to slits。
〃All but one；〃 he said。
The nobles looked at him in astonishment； and one of them grasped
the fellow none too gently by the shoulder to push him back to his proper
place。 Carthoris raised his hand。
〃Wait；〃 he urged。 〃Let us hear what the man has to sayno creation
of mortal mind is perfect。 Perchance he has detected a weakness that it
will be well to know at once。 Come； my good fellow； and what may be
the one contingency I have overlooked？〃
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
As he spoke Carthoris observed the servant closely for the first time。
He saw a man of giant stature and handsome； as are all those of the race of
Martian red men； but the fellow's lips were thin and cruel； and across one
cheek was the faint； white line of a sword…cut from the right temple to the
corner of the mouth。
〃Come；〃 urged the Prince of Helium。 〃Speak！〃
The man hesitated。 It was evident that he regretted the temerity that
had made him the centre of interested observation。 But at last； seeing no
alternative； he spoke。
〃It might be tampered with；〃 he said； 〃by an enemy。〃
Carthoris drew a small key from his leathern pocket…pouch。
〃Look at this；〃 he said； handing it to the man。 〃If you know aught of
locks； you will know that the mechanism which this unlooses is beyond
the cunning of a picker of locks。 It guards the vitals of the instrument from
crafty tampering。 Without it an enemy must half wreck the device to reach
its heart； leaving his handiwork apparent to the most casual observer。〃
The servant took the key； glanced at it shrewdly； and then as he made
to return it to Carthoris dropped it upon the marble flagging。 Turning to
look for it he planted the sole of his sandal full upon the glittering object。
For an instant he bore all his weight upon the foot that covered the key；
then he stepped back and with an exclamation as of pleasure that he had
found it； stooped； recovered it； and returned it to the Heliumite。 Then he
dropped back to his station behind the nobles and was forgotten。
A moment later Carthoris had made his adieux to Thuvan Dihn and his
nobles； and with lights twinkling had risen into the star…shot void of the
Martian night。
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
CHAPTER II
SLAVERY
As the ruler of Ptarth； followed by his courtiers； descended from the
landing…stage above the palace； the servants dropped into their places in
the rear of their royal or noble masters； and behind the others one lingered
to the last。 Then quickly stooping he snatched the sandal from his right
foot； slipping it into his pocket…pouch。
When the party had come to the lower levels； and the jeddak had
dispersed them by a sign； none noticed that the forward fellow who had
drawn so much attention to himself before the Prince of Helium departed；
was no longer among the other servants。
To whose retinue he had been attached none had thought to inquire； for
the followers of a Martian noble are many； coming and going at the whim
of their master； so that a new face is scarcely ever questioned； as the fact
that a man has passed within the palace walls is considered proof positive
that his loyalty to the jeddak is beyond question； so rigid is the
examination of each who seeks service with the nobles of the court。
A good rule that； and only relaxed by courtesy in favour of the retinue
of visiting royalty from a friendly foreign power。
It was late in the morning of the next day that a giant serving man in
the harness of the house of a great Ptarth noble passed out into the city
from the palace gates。 Along one broad avenue and then another he strode
briskly until he had passed beyond the district of the nobles and had come
to the place of shops。 Here he sought a pretentious building that rose
spire…like toward the heavens； its outer walls elaborately wrought with
delicate carvings and intricate mosaics。
It was the Palace of Peace in which were housed the representatives of
the foreign powers； or rather in which were located their embassies； for
the ministers themselves dwelt in gorgeous palaces within the district
occupied by the nobles。
Here the man sought the embassy of
