thuvia, maid of mars(火星姑娘)-第6章
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merchants of the more prosperous sort。 Everywhere were evidences of
luxury and wealth。 Slaves appeared upon every housetop with gorgeous
silks and costly furs； laying them in the sun for airing。 Jewel…encrusted
women lolled even thus early upon the carven balconies before their
sleeping apartments。 Later in the day they would repair to the roofs
when the slaves had arranged couches and pitched silken canopies to
shade them from the sun。
Strains of inspiring music broke pleasantly from open windows； for
the Martians have solved the problem of attuning the nerves pleasantly to
the sudden transition from sleep to waking that proves so difficult a thing
for most Earth folk。
Above him raced the long； light passenger fliers； plying； each in its
proper plane； between the numerous landing… stages for internal passenger
traffic。 Landing…stages that tower high into the heavens are for the great
international passenger liners。 Freighters have other landing…stages at
various lower levels； to within a couple of hundred feet of the ground； nor
dare any flier rise or drop from one plane to another except in certain
restricted districts where horizontal traffic is forbidden。
Along the close…cropped sward which paves the avenue ground fliers
were moving in continuous lines in opposite directions。 For the greater
part they skimmed along the surface of the sward； soaring gracefully into
the air at times to pass over a slower…going driver ahead； or at intersections；
where the north and south traffic has the right of way and the east and
west must rise above it。
From private hangars upon many a roof top fliers were darting into the
line of traffic。 Gay farewells and parting admonitions mingled with the
whirring of motors and the subdued noises of the city。
Yet with all the swift movement and the countless thousands rushing
hither and thither； the predominant suggestion was that of luxurious ease
and soft noiselessness。
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
Martians dislike harsh； discordant clamour。 The only loud noises
they can abide are the martial sounds of war； the clash of arms； the
collision of two mighty dreadnoughts of the air。 To them there is no
sweeter music than this。
At the intersection of two broad avenues Vas Kor descended from the
street level to one of the great pneumatic stations of the city。 Here he
paid before a little wicket the fare to his destination with a couple of the
dull； oval coins of Helium。
Beyond the gatekeeper he came to a slowly moving line of what to
Earthly eyes would have appeared to be conical…nosed； eight…foot
projectiles for some giant gun。 In slow procession the things moved in
single file along a grooved track。 A half dozen attendants assisted
passengers to enter； or directed these carriers to their proper destination。
Vas Kor approached one that was empty。 Upon its nose was a dial
and a pointer。 He set the pointer for a certain station in Greater Helium；
raised the arched lid of the thing； stepped in and lay down upon the
upholstered bottom。 An attendant closed the lid； which locked with a
little click； and the carrier continued its slow way。
Presently it switched itself automatically to another track； to enter； a
moment later； one of the series of dark… mouthed tubes。
The instant that its entire length was within the black aperture it sprang
forward with the speed of a rifle ball。 There was an instant of whizzing
a soft； though sudden； stop； and slowly the carrier emerged upon another
platform； another attendant raised the lid and Vas Kor stepped out at the
station beneath the centre of Greater Helium； seventy…five miles from the
point at which he had embarked。
Here he sought the street level； stepping immediately into a waiting
ground flier。 He spoke no word to the slave sitting in the driver's seat。
It was evident that he had been expected； and that the fellow had received
his instructions before his coming。
Scarcely had Vas Kor taken his seat when the flier went quickly into
the fast…moving procession； turning presently from the broad and crowded
avenue into a less congested street。 Presently it left the thronged district
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
behind to enter a section of small shops； where it stopped before the
entrance to one which bore the sign of a dealer in foreign silks。
Vas Kor entered the low…ceiling room。 A man at the far end motioned
him toward an inner apartment； giving no further sign of recognition until
he had passed in after the caller and closed the door。
Then he faced his visitor； saluting deferentially。
〃Most noble〃 he commenced； but Vas Kor silenced him with a
gesture。
〃No formalities；〃 he said。 〃We must forget that I am aught other than
your slave。 If all has been as carefully carried out as it has been planned；
we have no time to waste。 Instead we should be upon our way to the
slave market。 Are you ready？〃
The merchant nodded； and； turning to a great chest； produced the
unemblazoned trappings of a slave。 These Vas Kor immediately donned。
Then the two passed from the shop through a rear door； traversed a
winding alley to an avenue beyond； where they entered a flier which
awaited them。
Five minutes later the merchant was leading his slave to the public
market； where a great concourse of people filled the great open space in
the centre of which stood the slave block。
The crowds were enormous to…day； for Carthoris； Prince of Helium；
was to be the principal bidder。
One by one the masters mounted the rostrum beside the slave block
upon which stood their chattels。 Briefly and clearly each recounted the
virtues of his particular offering。
When all were done； the major…domo of the Prince of Helium recalled
to the block such as had favourably impressed him。 For such he had made
a fair offer。
There was little haggling as to price； and none at all when Vas Kor was
placed upon the block。 His merchant… master accepted the first offer that
was made for him； and thus a Dusarian noble entered the household of
Carthoris。
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
CHAPTER III
TREACHERY
The day following the coming of Vas Kor to the palace of the Prince
of Helium great excitement reigned throughout the twin cities； reaching its
climax in the palace of Carthoris。 Word had come of the abduction of
Thuvia of Ptarth from her father's court； and with it the veiled hint that the
Prince of Helium might be suspected of considerable knowledge of the act
and the whereabouts of the princess。
