the gods of mars-µÚ16²¿·Ö
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
I¡¡dropped¡¡the¡¡vessel¡¡quickly¡¡to¡¡a¡¡lower¡¡level¡£¡¡¡¡Nor¡¡was¡¡I¡¡a
moment¡¡too¡¡soon¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡girl¡¡had¡¡swooned¡£
The¡¡black£»¡¡too£»¡¡was¡¡unconscious£»¡¡while¡¡I£»¡¡myself£»¡¡retained
my¡¡senses£»¡¡I¡¡think£»¡¡only¡¡by¡¡sheer¡¡will¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡one¡¡on¡¡whom¡¡all
responsibility¡¡rests¡¡is¡¡apt¡¡to¡¡endure¡¡the¡¡most¡£
We¡¡were¡¡swinging¡¡along¡¡low¡¡above¡¡the¡¡foothills¡¡of¡¡the
Otz¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡comparatively¡¡warm¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡plenty¡¡of¡¡air
for¡¡our¡¡starved¡¡lungs£»¡¡so¡¡I¡¡was¡¡not¡¡surprised¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the
black¡¡open¡¡his¡¡eyes£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡later¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡also¡£
¡¨It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡close¡¡call£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£
¡¨It¡¡has¡¡taught¡¡me¡¡two¡¡things¡¡though£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡replied¡£
¡¨What£¿¡¨
¡¨That¡¡even¡¡Phaidor£»¡¡daughter¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Master¡¡of¡¡Life¡¡and
Death£»¡¡is¡¡mortal£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡¡smiling¡£
¡¨There¡¡is¡¡immortality¡¡only¡¡in¡¡Issus£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡replied¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡Issus
is¡¡for¡¡the¡¡race¡¡of¡¡therns¡¡alone¡£¡¡¡¡Thus¡¡am¡¡I¡¡immortal¡£¡¨
I¡¡caught¡¡a¡¡fleeting¡¡grin¡¡passing¡¡across¡¡the¡¡features¡¡of¡¡the
black¡¡as¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡her¡¡words¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡then¡¡understand¡¡why
he¡¡smiled¡£¡¡¡¡Later¡¡I¡¡was¡¡to¡¡learn£»¡¡and¡¡she£»¡¡too£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡most
horrible¡¡manner¡£
¡¨If¡¡the¡¡other¡¡thing¡¡you¡¡have¡¡just¡¡learned£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡continued£»
¡¨has¡¡led¡¡to¡¡as¡¡erroneous¡¡deductions¡¡as¡¡the¡¡first¡¡you¡¡are¡¡little
richer¡¡in¡¡knowledge¡¡than¡¡you¡¡were¡¡before¡£¡¨
¡¨The¡¡other£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡replied£»¡¡¡¨is¡¡that¡¡our¡¡dusky¡¡friend¡¡here¡¡does
not¡¡hail¡¡from¡¡the¡¡nearer¡¡moonhe¡¡was¡¡like¡¡to¡¡have¡¡died¡¡at
a¡¡few¡¡thousand¡¡feet¡¡above¡¡Barsoom¡£¡¡¡¡Had¡¡we¡¡continued¡¡the
five¡¡thousand¡¡miles¡¡that¡¡lie¡¡between¡¡Thuria¡¡and¡¡the¡¡planet
he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡but¡¡the¡¡frozen¡¡memory¡¡of¡¡a¡¡man¡£¡¨
Phaidor¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡black¡¡in¡¡evident¡¡astonishment¡£
¡¨If¡¡you¡¡are¡¡not¡¡of¡¡Thuria£»¡¡then¡¡where£¿¡¨¡¡she¡¡asked¡£
He¡¡shrugged¡¡his¡¡shoulders¡¡and¡¡turned¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡elsewhere£»
but¡¡did¡¡not¡¡reply¡£
The¡¡girl¡¡stamped¡¡her¡¡little¡¡foot¡¡in¡¡a¡¡peremptory¡¡manner¡£
¡¨The¡¡daughter¡¡of¡¡Matai¡¡Shang¡¡is¡¡not¡¡accustomed¡¡to¡¡having¡¡her
queries¡¡remain¡¡unanswered£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨One¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lesser¡¡breed
should¡¡feel¡¡honoured¡¡that¡¡a¡¡member¡¡of¡¡the¡¡holy¡¡race¡¡that¡¡was¡¡born
to¡¡inherit¡¡life¡¡eternal¡¡should¡¡deign¡¡even¡¡to¡¡notice¡¡him¡£¡¨
Again¡¡the¡¡black¡¡smiled¡¡that¡¡wicked£»¡¡knowing¡¡smile¡£
¡¨Xodar£»¡¡Dator¡¡of¡¡the¡¡First¡¡Born¡¡of¡¡Barsoom£»¡¡is¡¡accustomed¡¡to
give¡¡commands£»¡¡not¡¡to¡¡receive¡¡them£»¡¨¡¡replied¡¡the¡¡black¡¡pirate¡£
Then£»¡¡turning¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡¡¨What¡¡are¡¡your¡¡intentions¡¡concerning¡¡me£¿¡¨
¡¨I¡¡intend¡¡taking¡¡you¡¡both¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Helium£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£
¡¨No¡¡harm¡¡will¡¡come¡¡to¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡will¡¡find¡¡the¡¡red¡¡men¡¡of
Helium¡¡a¡¡kindly¡¡and¡¡magnanimous¡¡race£»¡¡but¡¡if¡¡they¡¡listen¡¡to
me¡¡there¡¡will¡¡be¡¡no¡¡more¡¡voluntary¡¡pilgrimages¡¡down¡¡the
river¡¡Iss£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡impossible¡¡belief¡¡that¡¡they¡¡have¡¡cherished
for¡¡ages¡¡will¡¡be¡¡shattered¡¡into¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡pieces¡£¡¨
¡¨Are¡¡you¡¡of¡¡Helium£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡asked¡£
¡¨I¡¡am¡¡a¡¡Prince¡¡of¡¡the¡¡House¡¡of¡¡Tardos¡¡Mors£»¡¡Jeddak¡¡of¡¡Helium£»¡¨
I¡¡replied£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡of¡¡Barsoom¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡of¡¡another¡¡world¡£¡¨
Xodar¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡me¡¡intently¡¡for¡¡a¡¡few¡¡moments¡£
¡¨I¡¡can¡¡well¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡you¡¡are¡¡not¡¡of¡¡Barsoom£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said
at¡¡length¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨None¡¡of¡¡this¡¡world¡¡could¡¡have¡¡bested¡¡eight¡¡of¡¡the
First¡¡Born¡¡single¡handed¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡how¡¡is¡¡it¡¡that¡¡you¡¡wear¡¡the
golden¡¡hair¡¡and¡¡the¡¡jewelled¡¡circlet¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Holy¡¡Thern£¿¡¨¡¡¡¡He
emphasized¡¡the¡¡word¡¡holy¡¡with¡¡a¡¡touch¡¡of¡¡irony¡£
¡¨I¡¡had¡¡forgotten¡¡them£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨They¡¡are¡¡the¡¡spoils¡¡of
conquest£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡with¡¡a¡¡sweep¡¡of¡¡my¡¡hand¡¡I¡¡removed¡¡the
disguise¡¡from¡¡my¡¡head¡£
When¡¡the¡¡black's¡¡eyes¡¡fell¡¡on¡¡my¡¡close¡cropped¡¡black¡¡hair
they¡¡opened¡¡in¡¡astonishment¡£¡¡¡¡Evidently¡¡he¡¡had¡¡looked¡¡for
the¡¡bald¡¡pate¡¡of¡¡a¡¡thern¡£
¡¨You¡¡are¡¡indeed¡¡of¡¡another¡¡world£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡a¡¡touch¡¡of
awe¡¡in¡¡his¡¡voice¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨With¡¡the¡¡skin¡¡of¡¡a¡¡thern£»¡¡the¡¡black¡¡hair¡¡of
a¡¡First¡¡Born¡¡and¡¡the¡¡muscles¡¡of¡¡a¡¡dozen¡¡Dators¡¡it¡¡was¡¡no
disgrace¡¡even¡¡for¡¡Xodar¡¡to¡¡acknowledge¡¡your¡¡supremacy¡£
A¡¡thing¡¡he¡¡could¡¡never¡¡do¡¡were¡¡you¡¡a¡¡Barsoomian£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡added¡£
¡¨You¡¡are¡¡travelling¡¡several¡¡laps¡¡ahead¡¡of¡¡me£»¡¡my¡¡friend£»¡¨
I¡¡interrupted¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡glean¡¡that¡¡your¡¡name¡¡is¡¡Xodar£»¡¡but¡¡whom£»
pray£»¡¡are¡¡the¡¡First¡¡Born£»¡¡and¡¡what¡¡a¡¡Dator£»¡¡and¡¡why£»¡¡if¡¡you
were¡¡conquered¡¡by¡¡a¡¡Barsoomian£»¡¡could¡¡you¡¡not¡¡acknowledge¡¡it£¿¡¨
¡¨The¡¡First¡¡Born¡¡of¡¡Barsoom£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡explained£»¡¡¡¨are¡¡the¡¡race
of¡¡black¡¡men¡¡of¡¡which¡¡I¡¡am¡¡a¡¡Dator£»¡¡or£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡lesser
Barsoomians¡¡would¡¡say£»¡¡Prince¡£¡¡¡¡My¡¡race¡¡is¡¡the¡¡oldest
on¡¡the¡¡planet¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡trace¡¡our¡¡lineage£»¡¡unbroken£»¡¡direct¡¡to
the¡¡Tree¡¡of¡¡Life¡¡which¡¡flourished¡¡in¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡of¡¡the
Valley¡¡Dor¡¡twenty¡three¡¡million¡¡years¡¡ago¡£
¡¨For¡¡countless¡¡ages¡¡the¡¡fruit¡¡of¡¡this¡¡tree¡¡underwent¡¡the
gradual¡¡changes¡¡of¡¡evolution£»¡¡passing¡¡by¡¡degrees¡¡from¡¡true
plant¡¡life¡¡to¡¡a¡¡combination¡¡of¡¡plant¡¡and¡¡animal¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡first
stages¡¡the¡¡fruit¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tree¡¡possessed¡¡only¡¡the¡¡power¡¡of
independent¡¡muscular¡¡action£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡stem¡¡remained¡¡attached
to¡¡the¡¡parent¡¡plant£»¡¡later¡¡a¡¡brain¡¡developed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fruit£»¡¡so
that¡¡hanging¡¡there¡¡by¡¡their¡¡long¡¡stems¡¡they¡¡thought¡¡and
moved¡¡as¡¡individuals¡£
¡¨Then£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡development¡¡of¡¡perceptions¡¡came¡¡a¡¡comparison
of¡¡them£»¡¡judgments¡¡were¡¡reached¡¡and¡¡compared£»¡¡and¡¡thus¡¡reason
and¡¡the¡¡power¡¡to¡¡reason¡¡were¡¡born¡¡upon¡¡Barsoom¡£
¡¨Ages¡¡passed¡£¡¡¡¡Many¡¡forms¡¡of¡¡life¡¡came¡¡and¡¡went¡¡upon
the¡¡Tree¡¡of¡¡Life£»¡¡but¡¡still¡¡all¡¡were¡¡attached¡¡to¡¡the¡¡parent
plant¡¡by¡¡stems¡¡of¡¡varying¡¡lengths¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡length¡¡the¡¡fruit¡¡tree
consisted¡¡in¡¡tiny¡¡plant¡¡men£»¡¡such¡¡as¡¡we¡¡now¡¡see¡¡reproduced
in¡¡such¡¡huge¡¡dimensions¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Valley¡¡Dor£»¡¡but¡¡still¡¡hanging
to¡¡the¡¡limbs¡¡and¡¡branches¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tree¡¡by¡¡the¡¡stems¡¡which
grew¡¡from¡¡the¡¡tops¡¡of¡¡their¡¡heads¡£
¡¨The¡¡buds¡¡from¡¡which¡¡the¡¡plant¡¡men¡¡blossomed¡¡resembled
large¡¡nuts¡¡about¡¡a¡¡foot¡¡in¡¡diameter£»¡¡divided¡¡by¡¡double
partition¡¡walls¡¡into¡¡four¡¡sections¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡one¡¡section¡¡grew¡¡the¡¡plant
man£»¡¡in¡¡another¡¡a¡¡sixteen¡legged¡¡worm£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡third¡¡the
progenitor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡white¡¡ape¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fourth¡¡the¡¡primaeval
black¡¡man¡¡of¡¡Barsoom¡£
¡¨When¡¡the¡¡bud¡¡burst¡¡the¡¡plant¡¡man¡¡remained¡¡dangling¡¡at
the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡his¡¡stem£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡three¡¡other¡¡sections¡¡fell¡¡to¡¡the
ground£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡efforts¡¡of¡¡their¡¡imprisoned¡¡occupants¡¡to
escape¡¡sent¡¡them¡¡hopping¡¡about¡¡in¡¡all¡¡directions¡£
¡¨Thus¡¡as¡¡time¡¡went¡¡on£»¡¡all¡¡Barsoom¡¡was¡¡covered¡¡with
these¡¡imprisoned¡¡creatures¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡countless¡¡ages¡¡they¡¡lived¡¡their
long¡¡lives¡¡within¡¡their¡¡hard¡¡shells£»¡¡hopping¡¡and¡¡skipping¡¡about
the¡¡broad¡¡planet£»¡¡falling¡¡into¡¡rivers£»¡¡lakes£»¡¡and¡¡seas£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡still
further¡¡spread¡¡about¡¡the¡¡surface¡¡of¡¡the¡¡new¡¡world¡£
¡¨Countless¡¡billions¡¡died¡¡before¡¡the¡¡first¡¡black¡¡man¡¡broke
through¡¡his¡¡prison¡¡walls¡¡into¡¡the¡¡light¡¡of¡¡day¡£¡¡¡¡Prompted¡¡by
curiosity£»¡¡he¡¡broke¡¡open¡¡other¡¡shells¡¡and¡¡the¡¡peopling¡¡of
Barsoom¡¡commenced¡£
¡¨The¡¡pure¡¡strain¡¡of¡¡the¡¡blood¡¡of¡¡this¡¡first¡¡black¡¡man¡¡has
remained¡¡untainted¡¡by¡¡admixture¡¡with¡¡other¡¡creatures¡¡in¡¡the
race¡¡of¡¡which¡¡I¡¡am¡¡a¡¡member£»¡¡but¡¡from¡¡the¡¡sixteen¡legged
worm£»¡¡the¡¡first¡¡ape¡¡and¡¡renegade¡¡black¡¡man¡¡has¡¡sprung¡¡every
other¡¡form¡¡of¡¡animal¡¡life¡¡upon¡¡Barsoom¡£
¡¨The¡¡therns£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡he¡¡smiled¡¡maliciously¡¡as¡¡he¡¡spoke£»¡¡¡¨are
but¡¡the¡¡result¡¡of¡¡ages¡¡of¡¡evolution¡¡from¡¡the¡¡pure¡¡white¡¡ape
of¡¡antiquity¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡are¡¡a¡¡lower¡¡order¡¡still¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡is¡¡but¡¡one
race¡¡of¡¡true¡¡and¡¡immortal¡¡humans¡¡on¡¡Barsoom¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡the
race¡¡of¡¡black¡¡men¡£
¡¨The¡¡Tree¡¡of¡¡Life¡¡is¡¡dead£»¡¡but¡¡before¡¡it¡¡died¡¡the¡¡plant
men¡¡learned¡¡to¡¡detach¡¡themselves¡¡from¡¡it¡¡and¡¡roam¡¡the¡¡face
of¡¡Barsoom¡¡with¡¡the¡¡other¡¡children¡¡of¡¡the¡¡First¡¡Parent¡£
¡¨Now¡¡their¡¡bisexuality¡¡permits¡¡them¡¡to¡¡reproduce¡¡themselves
after¡¡the¡¡manner¡¡of¡¡true¡¡plants£»¡¡but¡¡otherwise¡¡they¡¡have
progressed¡¡but¡¡little¡¡in¡¡all¡¡the¡¡ages¡¡of¡¡their¡¡existence¡£
Their¡¡actions¡¡and¡¡movements¡¡are¡¡largely¡¡matters¡¡of¡¡instinct
and¡¡not¡¡guided¡¡to¡¡any¡¡great¡¡extent¡¡by¡¡reason£»¡¡since¡¡the¡¡brain
of¡¡a¡¡plant¡¡man¡¡is¡¡but¡¡a¡¡trifle¡¡larger¡¡than¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡your
smallest¡¡finger¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡live¡¡upon¡¡vegetation¡¡and¡¡the¡¡blood¡¡of
animals£»¡¡and¡¡their¡¡brain¡¡is¡¡just¡¡large¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡direct¡¡their
movements¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡food£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡translate¡¡the¡¡food
sensations¡¡which¡¡are¡¡carried¡¡to¡¡it¡¡from¡¡their¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡ears¡£
They¡¡have¡¡no¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡self¡preservation¡¡and¡¡so¡¡are¡¡entirely
without¡¡fear¡¡in¡¡the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡danger¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡is¡¡why¡¡they¡¡are¡¡such
terrible¡¡antagonists¡¡in¡¡combat¡£¡¨
I¡¡wondered¡¡why¡¡the¡¡black¡¡man¡¡took¡¡such¡¡pains¡¡to¡¡discourse
thus¡¡at¡¡length¡¡to¡¡enemies¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡genesis¡¡of¡¡life¡¡Barsoomian¡£
It¡¡seemed¡¡a¡¡strangely¡¡inopportune¡¡moment¡¡for¡¡a¡¡proud¡¡member
of¡¡a¡¡proud¡¡race¡¡to¡¡unbend¡¡in¡¡casual¡¡conversation¡¡with¡¡a¡¡captor¡£
Especially¡¡in¡¡view¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡the¡¡black¡¡still¡¡lay¡¡securely
bound¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡deck¡£
It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡faintest¡¡straying¡¡of¡¡his¡¡eye¡¡beyond¡¡me¡¡for¡¡the
barest¡¡fraction¡¡of¡¡a¡¡second¡¡that¡¡explained¡¡his¡¡motive¡¡for
thus¡¡dragging¡¡out¡¡my¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡his¡¡truly¡¡absorbing¡¡story¡£
He¡¡lay¡¡a¡¡little¡¡forward¡¡of¡¡where¡¡I¡¡stood¡¡at¡¡the¡¡levers£»¡¡and
thus¡¡he¡¡faced¡¡the¡¡stern¡¡of¡¡the¡¡vessel¡¡as¡¡he¡¡addressed¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡It
was¡¡at¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡his¡¡description¡¡of¡¡the¡¡plant¡¡men¡¡that¡¡I
caught¡¡his¡¡eye¡¡fixed¡¡momentarily¡¡upon¡¡something¡¡behind¡¡me¡£
Nor¡¡could¡¡I¡¡be¡¡mistaken¡¡in¡¡the¡¡swift¡¡gleam¡¡of¡¡triumph
that¡¡brightened¡¡those¡¡dark¡¡orbs¡¡for¡¡an¡¡instant¡£
Some¡¡time¡¡before¡¡I¡¡had¡¡reduced¡¡our¡¡speed£»¡¡for¡¡we¡¡had¡¡left¡¡the
Valley¡¡Dor¡¡many¡¡miles¡¡astern£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡comparatively¡¡safe¡£
I¡¡turned¡¡an¡¡apprehensive¡¡glance¡¡behind¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sight
that¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡froze¡¡the¡¡new¡born¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡freedom¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been
springing¡¡up¡¡within¡¡me¡£
A¡¡great¡¡battleship£»¡¡forging¡¡silent¡¡and¡¡unlighted¡¡through¡¡the
dark¡¡night£»¡¡loomed¡¡close¡¡astern¡£
CHAPTER¡¡VIII
THE¡¡DEPTHS¡¡OF¡¡OMEAN
Now¡¡I¡¡realized¡¡why¡¡the¡¡black¡¡pirate¡¡had¡¡kept¡¡me¡¡engrossed
with¡¡his¡¡strange¡¡tale¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡miles¡¡he¡¡had¡¡sensed¡¡the¡¡approach
of¡¡succour£»¡¡and¡¡but¡¡for¡¡that¡¡single¡¡tell¡tale¡¡glance¡¡the
battleship¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡directly¡¡above¡¡us¡¡in¡¡another¡¡moment£»
and¡¡the¡¡boarding¡¡party¡¡which¡¡was¡¡doubtless¡¡even¡¡now¡¡swinging
in¡¡their¡¡harness¡¡from¡¡the¡¡ship's¡¡keel£»¡¡would¡¡have¡¡swarmed¡¡our¡¡deck£»
placing¡¡my¡¡rising¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡escape¡¡in¡¡sudden¡¡and¡¡total¡¡eclipse¡£
I¡¡was¡¡too¡¡old¡¡a¡¡hand¡¡in¡¡aerial¡¡warfare¡¡to¡¡be¡¡at¡¡a¡¡loss
now¡¡for¡¡the¡¡right¡¡manoeuvre¡£¡¡¡¡Simultaneously¡¡I¡¡reversed¡¡the
engines¡¡and¡¡dropped¡¡the¡¡little¡¡vessel¡¡a¡¡sheer¡¡hundred¡¡feet¡£
Above¡¡my¡¡head¡¡I¡¡could¡¡see¡¡the¡¡dangling¡¡forms¡¡of¡¡the
boarding¡¡party¡¡as¡¡the¡¡battleship¡¡raced¡¡over¡¡us¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡I¡¡rose¡¡at
a¡¡sharp¡¡angle£»¡¡thro