thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第25章
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battleneither； evidently； has power to harm the other。 They are like two
controversialists hurling words at one another。 While they are engaged
we may as well be devoting our energies to an attempt to find the passage
through the cliffs to the plain beyond。〃
As he spoke； Jav； turning from the battle for an instant； caught his
words。 He saw the girl move to accompany the Heliumite。 A cunning
look leaped to the Lotharian's eyes。
The thing that lay beyond that look had been deep in his heart since
first he had laid eyes upon Thuvia of Ptarth。 He had not recognized it；
however； until now that she seemed about to pass out of his existence。
He centred his mind upon the Heliumite and the girl for an instant。
Carthoris saw Thuvia of Ptarth step forward with outstretched hand。
He was surprised at this sudden softening toward him； and it was with a
full heart that he let his fingers close upon hers； as together they turned
away from forgotten Lothar； into the woods； and bent their steps toward
the distant mountains。
As the Lotharian had turned toward them； Thuvia had been surprised
to hear Carthoris suddenly voice a new plan。
〃Remain here with Jav；〃 she had heard him say； 〃while I go to search
for the passage through the cliffs。〃
She had dropped back in surprise and disappointment； for she knew
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that there was no reason why she should not have accompanied him。
Certainly she should have been safer with him than left here alone with the
Lotharian。
And Jav watched the two and smiled his cunning smile。
When Carthoris had disappeared within the wood； Thuvia seated
herself apathetically upon the scarlet sward to watch the seemingly
interminable struggles of the bowmen。
The long afternoon dragged its weary way toward darkness； and still
the imaginary legions charged and retreated。 The sun was about to set
when Tario commenced to withdraw his troops slowly toward the city。
His plan for cessation of hostilities through the night evidently met
with Jav's entire approval； for he caused his forces to form themselves in
orderly utans and march just within the edge of the wood； where they were
soon busily engaged in preparing their evening meal； and spreading down
their sleeping silks and furs for the night。
Thuvia could scarce repress a smile as she noted the scrupulous care
with which Jav's imaginary men attended to each tiny detail of deportment
as truly as if they had been real flesh and blood。
Sentries were posted between the camp and the city。 Officers clanked
hither and thither issuing commands and seeing to it that they were
properly carried out。
Thuvia turned toward Jav。
〃Why is it；〃 she asked； 〃that you observe such careful nicety in the
regulation of your creatures when Tario knows quite as well as you that
they are but figments of your brain？ Why not permit them simply to
dissolve into thin air until you again require their futile service？〃
〃You do not understand them；〃 replied Jav。 〃While they exist they
are real。 I do but call them into being now； and in a way direct their
general actions。 But thereafter； until I dissolve them； they are as actual as
you or I。 Their officers command them； under my guidance。 I am the
generalthat is all。 And the psychological effect upon the enemy is far
greater than were I to treat them merely as substanceless vagaries。
〃Then； too；〃 continued the Lotharian； 〃there is always the hope； which
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with us is little short of belief； that some day these materializations will
merge into the realthat they will remain； some of them； after we have
dissolved their fellows； and that thus we shall have discovered a means for
perpetuating our dying race。
〃Some there are who claim already to have accomplished the thing。
It is generally supposed that the etherealists have quite a few among their
number who are permanent materializations。 It is even said that such is
Tario； but that cannot be； for he existed before we had discovered the full
possibilities of suggestion。
〃There are others among us who insist that none of us is real。 That we
could not have existed all these ages without material food and water had
we ourselves been material。 Although I am a realist； I rather incline
toward this belief myself。
〃It seems well and sensibly based upon the belief that our ancient
forbears developed before their extinction such wondrous mentalities that
some of the stronger minds among them lived after the death of their
bodiesthat we are but the deathless minds of individuals long dead。
〃It would appear possible； and yet in so far as I am concerned I have
all the attributes of corporeal existence。 I eat； I sleep〃he paused； casting a
meaning look upon the girl〃I love！〃
Thuvia could not mistake the palpable meaning of his words and
expression。 She turned away with a little shrug of disgust that was not
lost upon the Lotharian。
He came close to her and seized her arm。
〃Why not Jav？〃 he cried。 〃Who more honourable than the second of
the world's most ancient race？ Your Heliumite？ He has gone。 He has
deserted you to your fate to save himself。 Come； be Jav's！〃
Thuvia of Ptarth rose to her full height； her lifted shoulder turned
toward the man； her haughty chin upraised； a scornful twist to her lips。
〃You lie！〃 she said quietly； 〃the Heliumite knows less of disloyalty
than he knows of fear； and of fear he is as ignorant as the unhatched
young。〃
〃Then where is he？〃 taunted the Lotharian。 〃I tell you he has fled the
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valley。 He has left you to your fate。 But Jav will see that it is a pleasant
one。 To…morrow we shall return into Lothar at the head of my victorious
army； and I shall be jeddak and you shall be my consort。 Come！〃 And he
attempted to crush her to his breast。
The girl struggled to free herself； striking at the man with her metal
armlets。 Yet still he drew her toward him； until both were suddenly
startled by a hideous growl that rumbled from the dark wood close behind
them。
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CHAPTER X
KAR KOMAK； THE BOWMAN
As Carthoris moved through the forest toward the distant cliffs with
Thuvia's hand still tight pressed in his； he wondered a little at the girl's
continued silence； yet the contact of her cool palm against his was so
pleasant that he feared to break the spell of her new…found reliance in him
by speaking。
Onward through the dim wood they passed until the shadows of the
quick coming M
