thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第21章
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were down…bent toward hers。 She looked up into his face。 His gaze
seemed to bore straight through her to some hidden spring of sentiment
within her。
Her lips parted in sudden awe and wonder at the strange revealment of
her inner self that was being laid bare before her consciousness。 She had
known Tario for ever。 He was more than friend to her。 She moved a little
closer to him。 In one swift flood of light she knew the truth。 She loved
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
Tario； Jeddak of Lothar！ She had always loved him。
The man； seeing the success of his strategy； could not restrain a faint
smile of satisfaction。 Whether there was something in the expression of
his face； or whether from Carthoris of Helium in a far chamber of the
palace came a more powerful suggestion； who may say？ But something
there was that suddenly dispelled the strange； hypnotic influence of the
man。
As though a mask had been torn from her eyes； Thuvia suddenly saw
Tario as she had formerly seen him； and； accustomed as she was to the
strange manifestations of highly developed mentality which are common
upon Barsoom； she quickly guessed enough of the truth to know that she
was in grave danger。
Quickly she took a step backward； tearing herself from his grasp。
But the momentary contact had aroused within Tario all the long…buried
passions of his loveless existence。
With a muffled cry he sprang upon her； throwing his arms about her
and attempting to drag her lips to his。
〃Woman！〃 he cried。 〃Lovely woman！ Tario would make you queen
of Lothar。 Listen to me！ Listen to the love of the last jeddaks of
Barsoom。〃
Thuvia struggled to free herself from his embrace。
〃Stop； creature！〃 she cried。 〃Stop！ I do not love you。 Stop； or I
shall scream for help！〃
Tario laughed in her face。
〃‘Scream for help；'〃 he mimicked。 〃And who within the halls of
Lothar is there who might come in answer to your call？ Who would dare
enter the presence of Tario； unsummoned？〃
〃There is one；〃 she replied； 〃who would come； and； coming； dare to
cut you down upon your own throne； if he thought that you had offered
affront to Thuvia of Ptarth！〃
〃Who； Jav？〃 asked Tario。
〃Not Jav； nor any other soft…skinned Lotharian；〃 she replied； 〃but a
real man； a real warriorCarthoris of Helium！〃
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
Again the man laughed at her。
〃You forget the bowmen；〃 he reminded her。 〃What could your red
warrior accomplish against my fearless legions？〃
Again he caught her roughly to him； dragging her towards his couch。
〃If you will not be my queen；〃 he said； 〃you shall be my slave。〃
〃Neither！〃 cried the girl。
As she spoke the single word there was a quick move of her right hand；
Tario； releasing her； staggered back； both hands pressed to his side。 At
the same instant the room filled with bowmen； and then the jeddak of
Lothar sank senseless to the marble floor。
At the instant that he lost consciousness the bowmen were about to
release their arrows into Thuvia's heart。 Involuntarily she gave a single cry
for help； though she knew that not even Carthoris of Helium could save
her now。
Then she closed her eyes and waited for the end。 No slender shafts
pierced her tender side。 She raised her lids to see what stayed the hand of
her executioners。
The room was empty save for herself and the still form of the jeddak
of Lothar lying at her feet； a little pool of crimson staining the white
marble of the floor beside him。 Tario was unconscious。
Thuvia was amazed。 Where were the bowmen？ Why had they not
loosed their shafts？ What could it all mean？
An instant before the room had been mysteriously filled with armed
men； evidently called to protect their jeddak； yet now； with the evidence of
her deed plain before them； they had vanished as mysteriously as they had
come； leaving her alone with the body of their ruler； into whose side she
had slipped her long； keen blade。
The girl glanced apprehensively about； first for signs of the return of
the bowmen； and then for some means of escape。
The wall behind the dais was pierced by two small doorways； hidden
by heavy hangings。 Thuvia was running quickly towards one of these
when she heard the clank of a warrior's metal at the end of the apartment
behind her。
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
Ah； if she had but an instant more of time she could have reached that
screening arras and； perchance； have found some avenue of escape behind
it； but now it was too lateshe had been discovered！
With a feeling that was akin to apathy she turned to meet her fate； and
there； before her； running swiftly across the broad chamber to her side；
was Carthoris； his naked long…sword gleaming in his hand。
For days she had doubted his intentions of the Heliumite。 She had
thought him a party to her abduction。 Since Fate had thrown them
together she had scarce favoured him with more than the most perfunctory
replies to his remarks； unless at such times as the weird and uncanny
happenings at Lothar had surprised her out of her reserve。
She knew that Carthoris of Helium would fight for her； but whether to
save her for himself or another； she was in doubt。
He knew that she was promised to Kulan Tith； Jeddak of Kaol； but if
he had been instrumental in her abduction； his motives could not be
prompted by loyalty to his friend； or regard for her honour。
And yet； as she saw him coming across the marble floor of the
audience chamber of Tario of Lothar； his fine eyes filled with
apprehension for her safety； his splendid figure personifying all that is
finest in the fighting men of martial Mars； she could not believe that any
faintest trace of perfidy lurked beneath so glorious an exterior。
Never； she thought； in all her life had the sight of any man been so
welcome to her。 It was with difficulty that she refrained from rushing
forward to meet him。
She knew that he loved her； but； in time； she recalled that she was
promised to Kulan Tith。 Not even might she trust herself to show too
great gratitude to the Heliumite； lest he misunderstand。
Carthoris was by her side now。 His quick glance had taken in the
scene within the roomthe still figure of the jeddak sprawled upon the
floorthe girl hastening toward a shrouded exit。
〃Did he harm you； Thuvia？〃 he asked。
She held up her crimsoned blade that he might see it。
〃No；〃 she said； 〃he did not harm me。〃
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
A grim smile lighted C
