贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > a princess of mars >

第42章

a princess of mars-第42章

小说: a princess of mars 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




Neither side asked or gave quarter; nor did they attempt

to take prisoners。



On our return to the city after the battle we had gone

directly to Tars Tarkas' quarters; where I was left alone

while the chieftain attended the customary council which

immediately follows an engagement。



As I sat awaiting the return of the green warrior I heard

something move in an adjoining apartment; and as I glanced

up there rushed suddenly upon me a huge and hideous

creature which bore me backward upon the pile of silks and

furs upon which I had been reclining。  It was Woolafaithful;

loving Woola。  He had found his way back to Thark and;

as Tars Tarkas later told me; had gone immediately to my

former quarters where he had taken up his pathetic and

seemingly hopeless watch for my return。



〃Tal Hajus knows that you are here; John Carter;〃 said

Tars Tarkas; on his return from the jeddak's quarters;

〃Sarkoja saw and recognized you as we were returning。  Tal

Hajus has ordered me to bring you before him tonight。  I

have ten thoats; John Carter; you may take your choice

from among them; and I will accompany you to the nearest

waterway that leads to Helium。  Tars Tarkas may be a cruel

green warrior; but he can be a friend as well。  Come; we

must start。〃



〃And when you return; Tars Tarkas?〃 I asked。



〃The wild calots; possibly; or worse;〃 he replied。  〃Unless

I should chance to have the opportunity I have so long

waited of battling with Tal Hajus。〃



〃We will stay; Tars Tarkas; and see Tal Hajus tonight。

You shall not sacrifice yourself; and it may be that tonight

you can have the chance you wait。〃



He objected strenuously; saying that Tal Hajus often flew

into wild fits of passion at the mere thought of the blow I

had dealt him; and that if ever he laid his hands upon me

I would be subjected to the most horrible tortures。



While we were eating I repeated to Tars Tarkas the story

which Sola had told me that night upon the sea bottom

during the march to Thark。



He said but little; but the great muscles of his face

worked in passion and in agony at recollection of the

horrors which had been heaped upon the only thing he had

ever loved in all his cold; cruel; terrible existence。



He no longer demurred when I suggested that we go before

Tal Hajus; only saying that he would like to speak to

Sarkoja first。  At his request I accompanied him to her

quarters; and the look of venomous hatred she cast upon

me was almost adequate recompense for any future misfortunes

this accidental return to Thark might bring me。



〃Sarkoja;〃 said Tars Tarkas; 〃forty years ago you were

instrumental in bringing about the torture and death of a

woman named Gozava。  I have just discovered that the warrior

who loved that woman has learned of your part in the transaction。

He may not kill you; Sarkoja; it is not our custom; but there is

nothing to prevent him tying one end of a strap about your neck

and the other end to a wild thoat; merely to test your fitness

to survive and help perpetuate our race。  Having heard that he

would do this on the morrow; I thought it only right to warn you;

for I am a just man。  The river Iss is but a short pilgrimage;

Sarkoja。  Come; John Carter。〃



The next morning Sarkoja was gone; nor was she ever seen after。



In silence we hastened to the jeddak's palace; where we were

immediately admitted to his presence; in fact; he could

scarcely wait to see me and was standing erect upon his

platform glowering at the entrance as I came in。



〃Strap him to that pillar;〃 he shrieked。  〃We shall see who

it is dares strike the mighty Tal Hajus。  Heat the irons; with

my own hands I shall burn the eyes from his head that he

may not pollute my person with his vile gaze。〃



〃Chieftains of Thark;〃 I cried; turning to the assembled

council and ignoring Tal Hajus; 〃I have been a chief among

you; and today I have fought for Thark shoulder to shoulder

with her greatest warrior。  You owe me; at least; a hearing。

I have won that much today。  You claim to be just people〃



〃Silence;〃 roared Tal Hajus。  〃Gag the creature and bind

him as I command。〃



〃Justice; Tal Hajus;〃 exclaimed Lorquas Ptomel。  〃Who are

you to set aside the customs of ages among the Tharks。〃



〃Yes; justice!〃 echoed a dozen voices; and so; while Tal

Hajus fumed and frothed; I continued。



〃You are a brave people and you love bravery; but where

was your mighty jeddak during the fighting today?  I did

not see him in the thick of battle; he was not there。  He

rends defenseless women and little children in his lair; but

how recently has one of you seen him fight with men?  Why;

even I; a midget beside him; felled him with a single blow

of my fist。  Is it of such that the Tharks fashion their jeddaks?

There stands beside me now a great Thark; a mighty warrior

and a noble man。  Chieftains; how sounds; Tars Tarkas;

Jeddak of Thark?〃



A roar of deep…toned applause greeted this suggestion。



〃It but remains for this council to command; and Tal Hajus

must prove his fitness to rule。  Were he a brave man he would

invite Tars Tarkas to combat; for he does not love him;

but Tal Hajus is afraid; Tal Hajus; your jeddak; is a coward。

With my bare hands I could kill him; and he knows it。〃



After I ceased there was tense silence; as all eyes were

riveted upon Tal Hajus。  He did not speak or move; but the

blotchy green of his countenance turned livid; and the froth

froze upon his lips。



〃Tal Hajus;〃 said Lorquas Ptomel in a cold; hard voice;

〃never in my long life have I seen a jeddak of the Tharks

so humiliated。  There could be but one answer to this arraignment。

We wait it。〃  And still Tal Hajus stood as though electrified。



〃Chieftains;〃 continued Lorquas Ptomel; 〃shall the jeddak;

Tal Hajus; prove his fitness to rule over Tars Tarkas?〃



There were twenty chieftains about the rostrum; and

twenty swords flashed high in assent。



There was no alternative。  That decree was final; and so

Tal Hajus drew his long…sword and advanced to meet Tars Tarkas。



The combat was soon over; and; with his foot upon the neck of

the dead monster; Tars Tarkas became jeddak among the Tharks。



His first act was to make me a full…fledged chieftain with

the rank I had won by my combats the first few weeks

of my captivity among them。



Seeing the favorable disposition of the warriors toward

Tars Tarkas; as well as toward me; I grasped the opportunity

to enlist them in my cause against Zodanga。  I told Tars Tarkas

the story of my adventures; and in a few words had explained

to him the thought I had in mind。



〃John Carter has made a proposal;〃 he said; addressing

the council; 〃which meets with my sanction。  I shall put it

to you briefly。  Dejah Thoris; the Princess of Helium; who

was our prisoner; is now held by the jeddak of Zodanga;

whose son she must wed to save her country from devastation

at the hands of the Zodangan forces。



〃John Carter suggests that we rescue her and return her

to Helium。  The loot of Zodanga would be magnificent; and

I have often thought that had we an alliance with the people

of Helium we could obtain sufficient assurance of sustenance

to permit us to increase the size and frequency of our hatchings;

and thus become unquestionably supreme among the green men of

all Barsoom。  What say you?〃



It was a chance to fight; an opportunity to loot; and they

rose to the bait as a speckled trout to a fly。



For Tharks they were wildly enthusiastic; and before another half

hour had passed twenty mounted messengers were speeding across

dead sea bottoms to call the hordes together for the expedition。



In three days we were on the march toward Zodanga;

one hundred thousand strong; as Tars Tarkas had been able

to enlist the services of three smaller hordes on the promise

of the great loot of Zodanga。



At the head of the column I rode beside the g

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 2 2

你可能喜欢的