the gods of mars-第19部分
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windows。 They bore the earmarks of prisons； which were
further accentuated by the armed guards who squatted on
low benches without； or patrolled the short beach lines。
Few of these islets contained over an acre of ground； but
presently we sighted a much larger one directly ahead。 This
proved to be our destination； and the great ship was soon
made fast against the steep shore。
Xodar signalled us to follow him and with a half…dozen
officers and men we left the battleship and approached a
large oval structure a couple of hundred yards from the shore。
〃You shall soon see Issus；〃 said Xodar to Phaidor。 〃The
few prisoners we take are presented to her。 Occasionally she
selects slaves from among them to replenish the ranks of her
handmaidens。 None serves Issus above a single year；〃 and
there was a grim smile on the black's lips that lent a cruel
and sinister meaning to his simple statement。
Phaidor； though loath to believe that Issus was allied to
such as these； had commenced to entertain doubts and
fears。 She clung very closely to me； no longer the proud
daughter of the Master of Life and Death upon Barsoom； but a
young and frightened girl in the power of relentless enemies。
The building which we now entered was entirely roofless。
In its centre was a long tank of water； set below the level of
the floor like the swimming pool of a natatorium。 Near one
side of the pool floated an odd…looking black object。 Whether
it were some strange monster of these buried waters； or a
queer raft； I could not at once perceive。
We were soon to know； however； for as we reached the
edge of the pool directly above the thing； Xodar cried out a
few words in a strange tongue。 Immediately a hatch cover
was raised from the surface of the object； and a black
seaman sprang from the bowels of the strange craft。
Xodar addressed the seaman。
〃Transmit to your officer；〃 he said； 〃the commands of
Dator Xodar。 Say to him that Dator Xodar； with officers
and men； escorting two prisoners； would be transported to
the gardens of Issus beside the Golden Temple。〃
〃Blessed be the shell of thy first ancestor； most noble Dator；〃
replied the man。 〃It shall be done even as thou sayest；〃 and
raising both hands； palms backward； above his head after the
manner of salute which is common to all races of Barsoom；
he disappeared once more into the entrails of his ship。
A moment later an officer resplendent in the gorgeous trappings
of his rank appeared on deck and welcomed Xodar to the vessel；
and in the latter's wake we filed aboard and below。
The cabin in which we found ourselves extended entirely
across the ship； having port…holes on either side below the
water line。 No sooner were all below than a number of
commands were given； in accordance with which the hatch
was closed and secured； and the vessel commenced to vibrate
to the rhythmic purr of its machinery。
〃Where can we be going in such a tiny pool of water？〃 asked Phaidor。
〃Not up；〃 I replied； 〃for I noticed particularly that while the
building is roofless it is covered with a strong metal grating。〃
〃Then where？〃 she asked again。
〃From the appearance of the craft I judge we are going down；〃 I replied。
Phaidor shuddered。 For such long ages have the waters
of Barsoom's seas been a thing of tradition only that even
this daughter of the therns； born as she had been within
sight of Mars' only remaining sea； had the same terror of
deep water as is a common attribute of all Martians。
Presently the sensation of sinking became very apparent。
We were going down swiftly。 Now we could hear the water rushing
past the port…holes； and in the dim light that filtered through
them to the water beyond the swirling eddies were plainly visible。
Phaidor grasped my arm。
〃Save me！〃 she whispered。 〃Save me and your every
wish shall be granted。 Anything within the power of the Holy
Therns to give will be yours。 Phaidor〃 she stumbled a little
here； and then in a very low voice； 〃Phaidor already is yours。〃
I felt very sorry for the poor child； and placed my hand
over hers where it rested on my arm。 I presume my motive
was misunderstood； for with a swift glance about the apartment
to assure herself that we were alone； she threw both her arms
about my neck and dragged my face down to hers。
CHAPTER IX
ISSUS； GODDESS OF LIFE ETERNAL
The confession of love which the girl's fright had wrung
from her touched me deeply； but it humiliated me as well；
since I felt that in some thoughtless word or act I had given
her reason to believe that I reciprocated her affection。
Never have I been much of a ladies' man； being more
concerned with fighting and kindred arts which have ever
seemed to me more befitting a man than mooning over a
scented glove four sizes too small for him； or kissing a dead
flower that has begun to smell like a cabbage。 So I was quite
at a loss as to what to do or say。 A thousand times rather face
the wild hordes of the dead sea bottoms than meet the eyes of this
beautiful young girl and tell her the thing that I must tell her。
But there was nothing else to be done； and so I did it。
Very clumsily too； I fear。
Gently I unclasped her hands from about my neck； and still
holding them in mine I told her the story of my love for
Dejah Thoris。 That of all the women of two worlds that I had
known and admired during my long life she alone had I loved。
The tale did not seem to please her。 Like a tigress she sprang；
panting； to her feet。 Her beautiful face was distorted in an
expression of horrible malevolence。 Her eyes fairly blazed into mine。
〃Dog；〃 she hissed。 〃Dog of a blasphemer！ Think you that
Phaidor； daughter of Matai Shang； supplicates？ She commands。
What to her is your puny outer world passion for the vile
creature you chose in your other life？
〃Phaidor has glorified you with her love； and you have
spurned her。 Ten thousand unthinkably atrocious deaths
could not atone for the affront that you have put upon me。
The thing that you call Dejah Thoris shall die the most
horrible of them all。 You have sealed the warrant for her doom。
〃And you！ You shall be the meanest slave in the service
of the goddess you have attempted to humiliate。 Tortures
and ignominies shall be heaped upon you until you grovel
at my feet asking the boon of death。
〃In my gracious generosity I shall at length grant your
prayer； and from the high balcony of the Golden Cliffs
I shall watch the great white apes tear you asunder。〃
She had it all fixed up。 The whole lovely programme from
start to finish。 It amazed me to think that one so divinely
beautiful could at the same time be so fiendishly vindictive。
It occurred to me； however； that she had overlooked one little
factor in her revenge； and so； without any intent to add to her
discomfiture； but rather to permit her to rearrange her plans
along more practical lines； I pointed to the nearest port…hole。
Evidently she had entirely forgotten her surroundings and
her present circumstances； for a single glance at the dark；
swirling waters without sent her crumpled upon a low bench；
where with her face buried in her arms she sobbed more like a
very unhappy little girl than a proud and all…powerful goddess。
Down； down we continued to sink until the heavy glass of
the port…holes became noticeably warm from the heat of
the water without。 Evidently we were very far beneath
the surface crust of Mars。
Presently our downward motion ceased； and I could hear
the propellers swirling through the water at our stern and
forcing us ahead at high speed。 It was very dark down there；
but the light from our port…holes； and the reflection from
what must have been a powerful searchlight on the submarine's
nose showed that we were forging through a narrow passage；
rock…lined； and tube…like。
After a few minutes the propellers ceased their whirring。
We came to a full stop； and then commenced to rise swiftly
toward the surface。 Soon the light from without increased
and we came to a stop。
Xodar entered the cabin with his men。
〃Come；〃 he said； and we followed him through the hatchway
which had been opened by one of the seamen。
We found ourselves in a small subterranean vault； in the
centre of which was the pool in which lay our submarine；
floating as we had first seen her with only her black back showing。
Around the edge of the pool was a level platform； and then
the walls of the cave rose perpendicularly for a few feet
to arch toward the centre of the low roof。 The walls
about the ledge were pierced with a number of entrances to
dimly lighted passageways。
Toward one of these our captors led us； and after a short
walk halted before a steel cage which lay at the bottom of a
shaft rising above us as far as one could see。
The cage proved to be one of the common types of elevator
cars that I had seen in other parts of Barsoom。 They are
operated by means of enormous magnets which are suspended
at the top of the shaft。 By an electrical device the volume of
magnetism generated is regulated and the speed of the car varied。
In long stretches they move at a sickening speed； especially on
the upward trip； since the small force of gravity inherent to Mars
results in very little opposition to the powerful force above。
Scarcely had the door of the car closed behind us than
we were slowing up to stop at the landing above； so rapid
was our ascent of the long shaft。
When we emerged from the little building which houses
the upper terminus of the elevator； we found ourselves
in the midst of a veritable fairyland of beauty。
The combined languages of Earth men hold no words to
convey to the mind the gorgeous beauties of the scene。
One may speak of scarlet sward and i
