thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第31章
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knew that in the pleasure of killing they might fight on long after they had
discovered their mistake； unless their attention was distracted by sight of
the real cause of the altercation； and so he lost no time in continuing
across the room to the doorway upon the opposite side； which opened into
the inner court； where the savage thoats were squealing and fighting
among themselves。
Once here he had no easy task before him。 To catch and mount one
of these habitually rageful and intractable beasts was no child's play under
the best of conditions； but now； when silence and time were such
important considerations； it might well have seemed quite hopeless to a
less resourceful and optimistic man than the son of the great warlord。
From his father he had learned much concerning the traits of these
mighty beasts； and from Tars Tarkas； also； when he had visited that great
green jeddak among his horde at Thark。 So now he centred upon the
work in hand all that he had ever learned about them from others and from
his own experience； for he； too； had ridden and handled them many times。
The temper of the thoats of Torquas appeared even shorter than their
vicious cousins among the Tharks and Warhoons； and for a time it seemed
unlikely that he should escape a savage charge on the part of a couple of
old bulls that circled； squealing； about him； but at last he managed to get
close enough to one of them to touch the beast。 With the feel of his hand
upon the sleek hide the creature quieted； and in answer to the telepathic
command of the red man sank to its knees。
In a moment Carthoris was upon its back； guiding it toward the great
gate that leads from the courtyard through a large building at one end into
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an avenue beyond。
The other bull； still squealing and enraged； followed after his fellow。
There was no bridle upon either； for these strange creatures are controlled
entirely by suggestionwhen they are controlled at all。
Even in the hands of the giant green men bridle reins would be
hopelessly futile against the mad savagery and mastodonic strength of the
thoat； and so they are guided by that strange telepathic power with which
the men of Mars have learned to communicate in a crude way with the
lower orders of their planet。
With difficulty Carthoris urged the two beasts to the gate； where；
leaning down； he raised the latch。 Then the thoat that he was riding
placed his great shoulder to the skeel…wood planking； pushed through； and
a moment later the man and the two beasts were swinging silently down
the avenue to the edge of the plaza； where Kar Komak hid。
Here Carthoris found considerable difficulty in subduing the second
thoat； and as Kar Komak had never before ridden one of the beasts； it
seemed a most hopeless job； but at last the bowman managed to scramble
to the sleek back； and again the two beasts fled softly down the moss…
grown avenues toward the open sea… bottom beyond the city。
All that night and the following day and the second night they rode
toward the north…east。 No indication of pursuit developed； and at dawn
of the second day Carthoris saw in the distance the waving ribbon of great
trees that marked one of the long Barsoomian water…ways。
Immediately they abandoned their thoats and approached the
cultivated district on foot。 Carthoris also discarded the metal from his
harness； or such of it as might serve to identify him as a Heliumite； or of
royal blood； for he did not know to what nation belonged this waterway；
and upon Mars it is always well to assume every man and nation your
enemy until you have learned the contrary。
It was mid…forenoon when the two at last entered one of the roads that
cut through the cultivated districts at regular intervals； joining the arid
wastes on either side with the great； white； central highway that follows
through the centre from end to end of the far…reaching； threadlike farm
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lands。
The high wall surrounding the fields served as a protection against
surprise by raiding green hordes； as well as keeping the savage banths and
other carnivora from the domestic animals and the human beings upon the
farms。
Carthoris stopped before the first gate he came to； pounding for
admission。 The young man who answered his summons greeted the two
hospitably； though he looked with considerable wonder upon the white
skin and auburn hair of the bowman。
After he had listened for a moment to a partial narration of their escape
from the Torquasians； he invited them within； took them to his house and
bade the servants there prepare food for them。
As they waited in the low…ceiled； pleasant livingroom of the farmhouse
until the meal should be ready； Carthoris drew his host into conversation
that he might learn his nationality； and thus the nation under whose
dominion lay the waterway where circumstance had placed him。
〃I am Hal Vas；〃 said the young man； 〃son of Vas Kor； of Dusar； a noble
in the retinue of Astok； Prince of Dusar。 At present I am Dwar of the
Road for this district。〃
Carthoris was very glad that he had not disclosed his identity； for
though he had no idea of anything that had transpired since he had left
Helium； or that Astok was at the bottom of all his misfortunes； he well
knew that the Dusarian had no love for him； and that he could hope for no
assistance within the dominions of Dusar。
〃And who are you？〃 asked Hal Vas。 〃By your appearance I take you
for a fighting man； but I see no insignia upon your harness。 Can it be that
you are a panthan？〃
Now； these wandering soldiers of fortune are common upon Barsoom；
where most men love to fight。 They sell their services wherever war
exists； and in the occasional brief intervals when there is no organized
warfare between the red nations； they join one of the numerous
expeditions that are constantly being dispatched against the green men in
protection of the waterways that traverse the wilder portions of the globe。
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When their service is over they discard the metal of the nation they
have been serving until they shall have found a new master。 In the
intervals they wear no insignia； their war…worn harness and grim weapons
being sufficient to attest their calling。
The suggestion was a happy one； and Carthoris embraced the chance it
afforded to account satisfactorily for himself。 There was； however； a single
drawback。 In times of war such panthans as happened to be within the
domain of a belligerent nation were compelled to don the insignia of that
nation and fight with her warriors。
As far as Carthoris knew Dusar was not at war with any
