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第46章

a princess of mars-第46章

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mighty thoats bore their terrible riders against the ramparts

of the enemy。  At the same moment the battle line of Helium

surged over the opposite breastworks of the Zodangans and in

another moment they were being crushed as between two

millstones。  Nobly they fought; but in vain。



The plain before the city became a veritable shambles ere

the last Zodangan surrendered; but finally the carnage ceased;

the prisoners were marched back to Helium; and we entered

the greater city's gates; a huge triumphal procession of

conquering heroes。



The broad avenues were lined with women and children;

among which were the few men whose duties necessitated

that they remain within the city during the battle。  We were

greeted with an endless round of applause and showered with

ornaments of gold; platinum; silver; and precious jewels。

The city had gone mad with joy。



My fierce Tharks caused the wildest excitement and enthusiasm。

Never before had an armed body of green warriors entered the

gates of Helium; and that they came now as friends and allies

filled the red men with rejoicing。



That my poor services to Dejah Thoris had become known

to the Heliumites was evidenced by the loud crying of my

name; and by the loads of ornaments that were fastened upon

me and my huge thoat as we passed up the avenues to the

palace; for even in the face of the ferocious appearance of

Woola the populace pressed close about me。



As we approached this magnificent pile we were met by a

party of officers who greeted us warmly and requested that

Tars Tarkas and his jeds with the jeddaks and jeds of his

wild allies; together with myself; dismount and accompany

them to receive from Tardos Mors an expression of his

gratitude for our services。



At the top of the great steps leading up to the main

portals of the palace stood the royal party; and as we reached

the lower steps one of their number descended to meet us。



He was an almost perfect specimen of manhood; tall; straight

as an arrow; superbly muscled and with the carriage and

bearing of a ruler of men。  I did not need to be told that he

was Tardos Mors; Jeddak of Helium。



The first member of our party he met was Tars Tarkas

and his first words sealed forever the new friendship

between the races。



〃That Tardos Mors;〃 he said; earnestly; 〃may meet the

greatest living warrior of Barsoom is a priceless honor; but

that he may lay his hand on the shoulder of a friend and

ally is a far greater boon。〃



〃Jeddak of Helium;〃 returned Tars Tarkas; 〃it has remained

for a man of another world to teach the green warriors of

Barsoom the meaning of friendship; to him we owe the fact that

the hordes of Thark can understand you; that they can appreciate

and reciprocate the sentiments so graciously expressed。〃



Tardos Mors then greeted each of the green jeddaks and jeds;

and to each spoke words of friendship and appreciation



As he approached me he laid both hands upon my shoulders。



〃Welcome; my son;〃 he said; 〃that you are granted; gladly;

and without one word of opposition; the most precious

jewel in all Helium; yes; on all Barsoom; is sufficient

earnest of my esteem。〃



We were then presented to Mors Kajak; Jed of lesser Helium;

and father of Dejah Thoris。  He had followed close behind

Tardos Mors and seemed even more affected by the meeting

than had his father。



He tried a dozen times to express his gratitude to me; but

his voice choked with emotion and he could not speak; and

yet he had; as I was to later learn; a reputation for ferocity

and fearlessness as a fighter that was remarkable even upon

warlike Barsoom。  In common with all Helium he worshiped

his daughter; nor could he think of what she had escaped

without deep emotion。









CHAPTER XXVII





FROM JOY TO DEATH





For ten days the hordes of Thark and their wild allies were

feasted and entertained; and; then; loaded with costly

presents and escorted by ten thousand soldiers of Helium

commanded by Mors Kajak; they started on the return journey

to their own lands。  The jed of lesser Helium with a small

party of nobles accompanied them all the way to Thark to

cement more closely the new bonds of peace and friendship。



Sola also accompanied Tars Tarkas; her father; who before

all his chieftains had acknowledged her as his daughter。



Three weeks later; Mors Kajak and his officers; accompanied

by Tars Tarkas and Sola; returned upon a battleship that

had been dispatched to Thark to fetch them in time for

the ceremony which made Dejah Thoris and John Carter one。



For nine years I served in the councils and fought in the

armies of Helium as a prince of the house of Tardos Mors。

The people seemed never to tire of heaping honors upon me;

and no day passed that did not bring some new proof of

their love for my princess; the incomparable Dejah Thoris。



In a golden incubator upon the roof of our palace lay a

snow…white egg。  For nearly five years ten soldiers of the

jeddak's Guard had constantly stood over it; and not a day

passed when I was in the city that Dejah Thoris and I did

not stand hand in hand before our little shrine planning for

the future; when the delicate shell should break。



Vivid in my memory is the picture of the last night as we

sat there talking in low tones of the strange romance which

had woven our lives together and of this wonder which was

coming to augment our happiness and fulfill our hopes。



In the distance we saw the bright…white light of an

approaching airship; but we attached no special

significance to so common a sight。  Like a bolt of

lightning it raced toward Helium until its very speed

bespoke the unusual。



Flashing the signals which proclaimed it a dispatch bearer

for the jeddak; it circled impatiently awaiting the tardy

patrol boat which must convoy it to the palace docks。



Ten minutes after it touched at the palace a message

called me to the council chamber; which I found filling with

the members of that body。



On the raised platform of the throne was Tardos Mors;

pacing back and forth with tense…drawn face。  When all were

in their seats he turned toward us。



〃This morning;〃 he said; 〃word reached the several

governments of Barsoom that the keeper of the atmosphere

plant had made no wireless report for two days; nor had

almost ceaseless calls upon him from a score of capitals

elicited a sign of response。



〃The ambassadors of the other nations asked us to take

the matter in hand and hasten the assistant keeper to the

plant。  All day a thousand cruisers have been searching for

him until just now one of them returns bearing his dead

body; which was found in the pits beneath his house horribly

mutilated by some assassin。



〃I do not need to tell you what this means to Barsoom。  It

would take months to penetrate those mighty walls; in fact

the work has already commenced; and there would be little

to fear were the engine of the pumping plant to run as it

should and as they all have for hundreds of years now; but the

worst; we fear; has happened。  The instruments show a rapidly

decreasing air pressure on all parts of Barsoomthe engine has stopped。〃



〃My gentlemen;〃 he concluded; 〃we have at best three days to live。〃



There was absolute silence for several minutes; and then

a young noble arose; and with his drawn sword held high

above his head addressed Tardos Mors。



〃The men of Helium have prided themselves that they have

ever shown Barsoom how a nation of red men should live;

now is our opportunity to show them how they should die。

Let us go about our duties as though a thousand useful years

still lay before us。〃



The chamber rang with applause and as there was nothing

better to do than to allay the fears of the people by our

example we went our ways with smiles upon our faces and

sorrow gnawing at our hearts。



When I returned 

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