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第16章

a princess of mars-第16章

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Hajus it is the will of Lorquas Ptomel that you be accorded

the respect your acts have earned you。  You will be treated by

us as a Tharkian chieftain; but you must not forget that every

chief who ranks you is responsible for your safe delivery to

our mighty and most ferocious ruler。  I am done。〃



〃I hear you; Tars Tarkas;〃 I answered。  〃As you know I

am not of Barsoom; your ways are not my ways; and I can

only act in the future as I have in the past; in accordance

with the dictates of my conscience and guided by the standards

of mine own people。  If you will leave me alone I will go

in peace; but if not; let the individual Barsoomians with

whom I must deal either respect my rights as a stranger

among you; or take whatever consequences may befall。  Of

one thing let us be sure; whatever may be your ultimate

intentions toward this unfortunate young woman; whoever

would offer her injury or insult in the future must figure on

making a full accounting to me。  I understand that you belittle

all sentiments of generosity and kindliness; but I do not;

and I can convince your most doughty warrior that these

characteristics are not incompatible with an ability to fight。〃



Ordinarily I am not given to long speeches; nor ever before

had I descended to bombast; but I had guessed at the keynote

which would strike an answering chord in the breasts of the

green Martians; nor was I wrong; for my harangue evidently

deeply impressed them; and their attitude toward me

thereafter was still further respectful。



Tars Tarkas himself seemed pleased with my reply; but his

only comment was more or less enigmatical  〃And I think I

know Tal Hajus; Jeddak of Thark。〃



I now turned my attention to Dejah Thoris; and assisting

her to her feet I turned with her toward the exit; ignoring

her hovering guardian harpies as well as the inquiring

glances of the chieftains。  Was I not now a chieftain also!

Well; then; I would assume the responsibilities of one。

They did not molest us; and so Dejah Thoris; Princess of

Helium; and John Carter; gentleman of Virginia; followed

by the faithful Woola; passed through utter silence from the

audience chamber of Lorquas Ptomel; Jed among the Tharks

of Barsoom。









CHAPTER XI





WITH DEJAH THORIS





As we reached the open the two female guards who had

been detailed to watch over Dejah Thoris hurried up and

made as though to assume custody of her once more。  The

poor child shrank against me and I felt her two little hands

fold tightly over my arm。  Waving the women away; I informed

them that Sola would attend the captive hereafter; and I

further warned Sarkoja that any more of her cruel attentions

bestowed upon Dejah Thoris would result in Sarkoja's sudden

and painful demise。



My threat was unfortunate and resulted in more harm

than good to Dejah Thoris; for; as I learned later; men do

not kill women upon Mars; nor women; men。  So Sarkoja

merely gave us an ugly look and departed to hatch up

deviltries against us。



I soon found Sola and explained to her that I wished her

to guard Dejah Thoris as she had guarded me; that I wished

her to find other quarters where they would not be molested

by Sarkoja; and I finally informed her that I myself would

take up my quarters among the men。



Sola glanced at the accouterments which were carried in

my hand and slung across my shoulder。



〃You are a great chieftain now; John Carter;〃 she said;

〃and I must do your bidding; though indeed I am glad to do

it under any circumstances。  The man whose metal you carry

was young; but he was a great warrior; and had by his

promotions and kills won his way close to the rank of Tars

Tarkas; who; as you know; is second to Lorquas Ptomel only。

You are eleventh; there are but ten chieftains in this

community who rank you in prowess。〃



〃And if I should kill Lorquas Ptomel?〃 I asked。



〃You would be first; John Carter; but you may only win

that honor by the will of the entire council that Lorquas

Ptomel meet you in combat; or should he attack you; you

may kill him in self…defense; and thus win first place。〃



I laughed; and changed the subject。  I had no particular

desire to kill Lorquas Ptomel; and less to be a jed among

the Tharks。



I accompanied Sola and Dejah Thoris in a search for new

quarters; which we found in a building nearer the audience

chamber and of far more pretentious architecture than our

former habitation。  We also found in this building real

sleeping apartments with ancient beds of highly wrought

metal swinging from enormous gold chains depending from the

marble ceilings。  The decoration of the walls was most elaborate;

and; unlike the frescoes in the other buildings I had examined;

portrayed many human figures in the compositions。

These were of people like myself; and of a much lighter

color than Dejah Thoris。  They were clad in graceful;

flowing robes; highly ornamented with metal and jewels; and

their luxuriant hair was of a beautiful golden and reddish

bronze。  The men were beardless and only a few wore arms。

The scenes depicted for the most part; a fair…skinned;

fair…haired people at play。



Dejah Thoris clasped her hands with an exclamation of

rapture as she gazed upon these magnificent works of art;

wrought by a people long extinct; while Sola; on the other

hand; apparently did not see them。



We decided to use this room; on the second floor and

overlooking the plaza; for Dejah Thoris and Sola; and

another room adjoining and in the rear for the cooking and

supplies。  I then dispatched Sola to bring the bedding and

such food and utensils as she might need; telling her that

I would guard Dejah Thoris until her return。



As Sola departed Dejah Thoris turned to me with a faint smile。



〃And whereto; then; would your prisoner escape should

you leave her; unless it was to follow you and crave your

protection; and ask your pardon for the cruel thoughts she

has harbored against you these past few days?〃



〃You are right;〃 I answered; 〃there is no escape for either

of us unless we go together。〃



〃I heard your challenge to the creature you call Tars Tarkas;

and I think I understand your position among these people;

but what I cannot fathom is your statement that you are

not of Barsoom。〃



〃In the name of my first ancestor; then;〃 she continued;

〃where may you be from?  You are like unto my people;

and yet so unlike。  You speak my language; and yet I heard

you tell Tars Tarkas that you had but learned it recently。

All Barsoomians speak the same tongue from the ice…clad

south to the ice…clad north; though their written languages

differ。  Only in the valley Dor; where the river Iss empties

into the lost sea of Korus; is there supposed to

be a different language spoken; and; except in the legends of

our ancestors; there is no record of a Barsoomian returning

up the river Iss; from the shores of Korus in the valley of

Dor。  Do not tell me that you have thus returned!  They

would kill you horribly anywhere upon the surface of Barsoom

if that were true; tell me it is not!〃



Her eyes were filled with a strange; weird light; her voice

was pleading; and her little hands; reached up upon my

breast; were pressed against me as though to wring a denial

from my very heart。



〃I do not know your customs; Dejah Thoris; but in my

own Virginia a gentleman does not lie to save himself; I am

not of Dor; I have never seen the mysterious Iss; the lost

sea of Korus is still lost; so far as I am concerned。  Do you

believe me?〃



And then it struck me suddenly that I was very anxious that

she should believe me。  It was not that I feared the results

which would follow a general belief that I had returned

from the Barsoomian heaven or hell; or whatever it was。

Why was it; then!  Why should I care what she thought?

I looked down at her; her beautiful face upturned; and her

wonderful e

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