thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第32章
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nation and fight with her warriors。
As far as Carthoris knew Dusar was not at war with any other nation；
but there was never any telling when one red nation would be flying at the
throat of a neighbour； even though the great and powerful alliance at the
head of which was his father； John Carter； had managed to maintain a long
peace upon the greater portion of Barsoom。
A pleasant smile lighted Hal Vas' face as Carthoris admitted his
vocation。
〃It is well；〃 exclaimed the young man； 〃that you chanced to come
hither； for here you will find the means of obtaining service in short order。
My father； Vas Kor； is even now with me； having come hither to recruit a
force for the new war against Helium。〃
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
CHAPTER XII
TO SAVE DUSAR
Thuvia of Ptarth； battling for more than life against the lust of Jav；
cast a quick glance over her shoulder toward the forest from which had
rumbled the fierce growl。 Jav looked； too。
What they saw filled each with apprehension。 It was Komal； the
banth…god； rushing wide…jawed upon them！
Which had he chosen for his prey？ Or was it to be both？
They had not long to wait； for though the Lotharian attempted to hold
the girl between himself and the terrible fangs； the great beast found him
at last。
Then； shrieking； he attempted to fly toward Lothar； after pushing
Thuvia bodily into the face of the man…eater。 But his flight was of short
duration。 In a moment Komal was upon him； rending his throat and
chest with demoniacal fury。
The girl reached their side a moment later； but it was with difficulty
that she tore the mad beast from its prey。 Still growling and casting hungry
glances back upon Jav； the banth at last permitted itself to be led away into
the wood。
With her giant protector by her side Thuvia set forth to find the
passage through the cliffs； that she might attempt the seemingly
impossible feat of reaching far… distant Ptarth across the more than
seventeen thousand haads of savage Barsoom。
She could not believe that Carthoris had deliberately deserted her； and
so she kept a constant watch for him； but as she bore too far to the north in
her search for the tunnel she passed the Heliumite as he was returning to
Lothar in search of her。
Thuvia of Ptarth was having difficulty in determining the exact status
of the Prince of Helium in her heart。 She could not admit even to herself
that she loved him； and yet she had permitted him to apply to her that term
of endearment and possession to which a Barsoomian maid should turn
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
deaf ears when voiced by other lips than those of her husband or fiance
〃my princess。〃
Kulan Tith； Jeddak of Kaol； to whom she was affianced； commanded
her respect and admiration。 Had it been that she had surrendered to her
father's wishes because of pique that the handsome Heliumite had not
taken advantage of his visits to her father's court to push the suit for her
hand that she had been quite sure he had contemplated since that distant
day the two had sat together upon the carved seat within the gorgeous
Garden of the Jeddaks that graced the inner courtyard of the palace of
Salensus Oll at Kadabra？
Did she love Kulan Tith？ Bravely she tried to believe that she did；
but all the while her eyes wandered through the coming darkness for the
figure of a clean… limbed fighting manblack…haired and grey…eyed。
Black was the hair of Kulan Tith； but his eyes were brown。
It was almost dark when she found the entrance to the tunnel。 Safely
she passed through to the hills beyond； and here； under the bright light of
Mars' two moons； she halted to plan her future action。
Should she wait here in the hope that Carthoris would return in search
of her？ Or should she continue her way north…east toward Ptarth？
Where； first； would Carthoris have gone after leaving the valley of Lothar？
Her parched throat and dry tongue gave her the answer toward
Aaanthor and water。 Well； she； too； would go first to Aaanthor； where
she might find more than the water she needed。
With Komal by her side she felt little fear； for he would protect her
from all other savage beasts。 Even the great white apes would flee the
mighty banth in terror。 Men only need she fear； but she must take this
and many other chances before she could hope to reach her father's court
again。
When at last Carthoris found her； only to be struck down by the long…
sword of a green man； Thuvia prayed that the same fate might overtake
her。
The sight of the red warriors leaping from their fliers had； for a
moment； filled her with renewed hopehope that Carthoris of Helium
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
might be only stunned and that they would rescue him； but when she saw
the Dusarian metal upon their harness； and that they sought only to escape
with her alone from the charging Torquasians； she gave up。
Komal； too； was deaddead across the body of the Heliumite。 She was；
indeed； alone now。 There was none to protect her。
The Dusarian warriors dragged her to the deck of the nearest flier。
All about them the green warriors surged in an attempt to wrest her from
the red。
At last those who had not died in the conflict gained the decks of the
two craft。 The engines throbbed and purredthe propellers whirred。
Quickly the swift boats shot heavenward。
Thuvia of Ptarth glanced about her。 A man stood near； smiling down
into her face。 With a gasp of recognition she looked full into his eyes；
and then with a little moan of terror and understanding she buried her face
in her hands and sank to the polished skeel…wood deck。 It was Astok；
Prince of Dusar； who bent above her。
Swift were the fliers of Astok of Dusar； and great the need for reaching
his father's court as quickly as possible； for the fleets of war of Helium and
Ptarth and Kaol were scattered far and wide above Barsoom。 Nor would
it go well with Astok or Dusar should any one of them discover Thuvia of
Ptarth a prisoner upon his own vessel。
Aaanthor lies in fifty south latitude； and forty east of Horz； the
deserted seat of ancient Barsoomian culture and learning； while Dusar lies
fifteen degrees north of the equator and twenty degrees east from Horz。
Great though the distance is； the fliers covered it without a stop。
Long before they had reached their destination Thuvia of Ptarth had
learned several things that cleared up the doubts that had assailed her mind
for many days。 Scarce had they risen above Aaanthor than she
recognized one of the crew as a member of the crew of that other flier that
had borne her from her father's gardens to Aaanthor。 The presence of
Astok upon the cra
