the gods of mars-µÚ31²¿·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¡¡do£»¡¡I¡¡must¡¡needs¡¡traverse¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡length¡¡of¡¡one¡¡square
and¡¡cross¡¡a¡¡broad¡¡avenue¡¡and¡¡a¡¡portion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡plaza¡£¡¡¡¡From
the¡¡noises¡¡of¡¡the¡¡animals¡¡which¡¡came¡¡from¡¡every¡¡courtyard
about¡¡me£»¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡there¡¡were¡¡many¡¡people¡¡in¡¡the
surrounding¡¡buildingsprobably¡¡several¡¡communities¡¡of
the¡¡great¡¡horde¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Warhoons¡¡of¡¡the¡¡South¡£
To¡¡pass¡¡undetected¡¡among¡¡all¡¡these¡¡people¡¡was¡¡in¡¡itself
a¡¡difficult¡¡task£»¡¡but¡¡if¡¡I¡¡was¡¡to¡¡find¡¡and¡¡rescue¡¡the¡¡great
Thark¡¡I¡¡must¡¡expect¡¡even¡¡more¡¡formidable¡¡obstacles¡¡before
success¡¡could¡¡be¡¡mine¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡city¡¡from¡¡the¡¡south
and¡¡now¡¡stood¡¡on¡¡the¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡the¡¡avenue¡¡through¡¡which
I¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡and¡¡the¡¡first¡¡intersecting¡¡avenue¡¡south¡¡of¡¡the
plaza¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡buildings¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡south¡¡side¡¡of¡¡this¡¡square¡¡did
not¡¡appear¡¡to¡¡be¡¡inhabited£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡could¡¡see¡¡no¡¡lights£»¡¡and¡¡so
I¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡gain¡¡the¡¡inner¡¡courtyard¡¡through¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡£
Nothing¡¡occurred¡¡to¡¡interrupt¡¡my¡¡progress¡¡through¡¡the
deserted¡¡pile¡¡I¡¡chose£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡came¡¡into¡¡the¡¡inner¡¡court¡¡close
to¡¡the¡¡rear¡¡walls¡¡of¡¡the¡¡east¡¡buildings¡¡without¡¡detection¡£¡¡
Within¡¡the¡¡court¡¡a¡¡great¡¡herd¡¡of¡¡thoats¡¡and¡¡zitidars¡¡moved
restlessly¡¡about£»¡¡cropping¡¡the¡¡moss¡like¡¡ochre¡¡vegetation¡¡which
overgrows¡¡practically¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡uncultivated¡¡area¡¡of¡¡Mars¡£
What¡¡breeze¡¡there¡¡was¡¡came¡¡from¡¡the¡¡north¡west£»¡¡so¡¡there
was¡¡little¡¡danger¡¡that¡¡the¡¡beasts¡¡would¡¡scent¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡Had¡¡they£»
their¡¡squealing¡¡and¡¡grunting¡¡would¡¡have¡¡grown¡¡to¡¡such¡¡a
volume¡¡as¡¡to¡¡attract¡¡the¡¡attention¡¡of¡¡the¡¡warriors¡¡within
the¡¡buildings¡£
Close¡¡to¡¡the¡¡east¡¡wall£»¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡overhanging¡¡balconies
of¡¡the¡¡second¡¡floors£»¡¡I¡¡crept¡¡in¡¡dense¡¡shadows¡¡the¡¡full¡¡length
of¡¡the¡¡courtyard£»¡¡until¡¡I¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡buildings¡¡at¡¡the¡¡north
end¡£¡¡¡¡These¡¡were¡¡lighted¡¡for¡¡about¡¡three¡¡floors¡¡up£»¡¡but¡¡above
the¡¡third¡¡floor¡¡all¡¡was¡¡dark¡£
To¡¡pass¡¡through¡¡the¡¡lighted¡¡rooms¡¡was£»¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¡out¡¡of
the¡¡question£»¡¡since¡¡they¡¡swarmed¡¡with¡¡green¡¡Martian¡¡men
and¡¡women¡£¡¡¡¡My¡¡only¡¡path¡¡lay¡¡through¡¡the¡¡upper¡¡floors£»¡¡and
to¡¡gain¡¡these¡¡it¡¡was¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡scale¡¡the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wall¡£
The¡¡reaching¡¡of¡¡the¡¡balcony¡¡of¡¡the¡¡second¡¡floor¡¡was¡¡a¡¡matter
of¡¡easy¡¡accomplishmentan¡¡agile¡¡leap¡¡gave¡¡my¡¡hands¡¡a¡¡grasp
upon¡¡the¡¡stone¡¡hand¡rail¡¡above¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡another¡¡instant¡¡I¡¡had
drawn¡¡myself¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡balcony¡£
Here¡¡through¡¡the¡¡open¡¡windows¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡green¡¡folk¡¡squatting
upon¡¡their¡¡sleeping¡¡silks¡¡and¡¡furs£»¡¡grunting¡¡an¡¡occasional
monosyllable£»¡¡which£»¡¡in¡¡connection¡¡with¡¡their¡¡wondrous¡¡telepathic
powers£»¡¡is¡¡ample¡¡for¡¡their¡¡conversational¡¡requirements¡£¡¡
As¡¡I¡¡drew¡¡closer¡¡to¡¡listen¡¡to¡¡their¡¡words¡¡a¡¡warrior
entered¡¡the¡¡room¡¡from¡¡the¡¡hall¡¡beyond¡£
¡¨Come£»¡¡Tan¡¡Gama£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡cried£»¡¡¡¨we¡¡are¡¡to¡¡take¡¡the¡¡Thark¡¡before
Kab¡¡Kadja¡£¡¡¡¡Bring¡¡another¡¡with¡¡you¡£¡¨
The¡¡warrior¡¡addressed¡¡arose¡¡and£»¡¡beckoning¡¡to¡¡a¡¡fellow
squatting¡¡near£»¡¡the¡¡three¡¡turned¡¡and¡¡left¡¡the¡¡apartment¡£
If¡¡I¡¡could¡¡but¡¡follow¡¡them¡¡the¡¡chance¡¡might¡¡come¡¡to¡¡free
Tars¡¡Tarkas¡¡at¡¡once¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡least¡¡I¡¡would¡¡learn¡¡the¡¡location
of¡¡his¡¡prison¡£
At¡¡my¡¡right¡¡was¡¡a¡¡door¡¡leading¡¡from¡¡the¡¡balcony¡¡into¡¡the¡¡building¡£
It¡¡was¡¡at¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡an¡¡unlighted¡¡hall£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡the¡¡impulse¡¡of¡¡the
moment¡¡I¡¡stepped¡¡within¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡hall¡¡was¡¡broad¡¡and¡¡led¡¡straight
through¡¡to¡¡the¡¡front¡¡of¡¡the¡¡building¡£¡¡¡¡On¡¡either¡¡side¡¡were¡¡the
doorways¡¡of¡¡the¡¡various¡¡apartments¡¡which¡¡lined¡¡it¡£
I¡¡had¡¡no¡¡more¡¡than¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡corridor¡¡than¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡the
three¡¡warriors¡¡at¡¡the¡¡other¡¡endthose¡¡whom¡¡I¡¡had¡¡just¡¡seen
leaving¡¡the¡¡apartment¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡a¡¡turn¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right¡¡took¡¡them
from¡¡my¡¡sight¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¡Quickly¡¡I¡¡hastened¡¡along¡¡the¡¡hallway
in¡¡pursuit¡£¡¡¡¡My¡¡gait¡¡was¡¡reckless£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡Fate¡¡had¡¡been
kind¡¡indeed¡¡to¡¡throw¡¡such¡¡an¡¡opportunity¡¡within¡¡my¡¡grasp£»
and¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡afford¡¡to¡¡allow¡¡it¡¡to¡¡elude¡¡me¡¡now¡£
At¡¡the¡¡far¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡corridor¡¡I¡¡found¡¡a¡¡spiral¡¡stairway
leading¡¡to¡¡the¡¡floors¡¡above¡¡and¡¡below¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡three¡¡had¡¡evidently
left¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡by¡¡this¡¡avenue¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡they¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡down¡¡and
not¡¡up¡¡I¡¡was¡¡sure¡¡from¡¡my¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡these¡¡ancient
buildings¡¡and¡¡the¡¡methods¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Warhoons¡£
I¡¡myself¡¡had¡¡once¡¡been¡¡a¡¡prisoner¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cruel¡¡hordes¡¡of
northern¡¡Warhoon£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡memory¡¡of¡¡the¡¡underground
dungeon¡¡in¡¡which¡¡I¡¡lay¡¡still¡¡is¡¡vivid¡¡in¡¡my¡¡memory¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡so
I¡¡felt¡¡certain¡¡that¡¡Tars¡¡Tarkas¡¡lay¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡pits¡¡beneath
some¡¡nearby¡¡building£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡in¡¡that¡¡direction¡¡I¡¡should¡¡find
the¡¡trail¡¡of¡¡the¡¡three¡¡warriors¡¡leading¡¡to¡¡his¡¡cell¡£
Nor¡¡was¡¡I¡¡wrong¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡runway£»¡¡or¡¡rather
at¡¡the¡¡landing¡¡on¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡below£»¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡the¡¡shaft
descended¡¡into¡¡the¡¡pits¡¡beneath£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡I¡¡glanced¡¡down¡¡the
flickering¡¡light¡¡of¡¡a¡¡torch¡¡revealed¡¡the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡the
three¡¡I¡¡was¡¡trailing¡£
Down¡¡they¡¡went¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡pits¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡structure£»¡¡and
at¡¡a¡¡safe¡¡distance¡¡behind¡¡I¡¡followed¡¡the¡¡flicker¡¡of¡¡their¡¡torch¡£
The¡¡way¡¡led¡¡through¡¡a¡¡maze¡¡of¡¡tortuous¡¡corridors£»¡¡unlighted
save¡¡for¡¡the¡¡wavering¡¡light¡¡they¡¡carried¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡had¡¡gone
perhaps¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡yards¡¡when¡¡the¡¡party¡¡turned¡¡abruptly
through¡¡a¡¡doorway¡¡at¡¡their¡¡right¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡hastened¡¡on¡¡as¡¡rapidly¡¡as
I¡¡dared¡¡through¡¡the¡¡darkness¡¡until¡¡I¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡point¡¡at
which¡¡they¡¡had¡¡left¡¡the¡¡corridor¡£¡¡¡¡There£»¡¡through¡¡an¡¡open
door£»¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡them¡¡removing¡¡the¡¡chains¡¡that¡¡secured¡¡the¡¡great
Thark£»¡¡Tars¡¡Tarkas£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡wall¡£
Hustling¡¡him¡¡roughly¡¡between¡¡them£»¡¡they¡¡came¡¡immediately
from¡¡the¡¡chamber£»¡¡so¡¡quickly¡¡in¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡I¡¡was¡¡near¡¡to
being¡¡apprehended¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡I¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡run¡¡along¡¡the¡¡corridor
in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡I¡¡had¡¡been¡¡going¡¡in¡¡my¡¡pursuit¡¡of¡¡them
far¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡be¡¡without¡¡the¡¡radius¡¡of¡¡their¡¡meagre¡¡light
as¡¡they¡¡emerged¡¡from¡¡the¡¡cell¡£
I¡¡had¡¡naturally¡¡assumed¡¡that¡¡they¡¡would¡¡return¡¡with
Tars¡¡Tarkas¡¡the¡¡same¡¡way¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡come£»¡¡which¡¡would
have¡¡carried¡¡them¡¡away¡¡from¡¡me£»¡¡but£»¡¡to¡¡my¡¡chagrin£»¡¡they
wheeled¡¡directly¡¡in¡¡my¡¡direction¡¡as¡¡they¡¡left¡¡the¡¡room¡£¡¡¡¡There
was¡¡nothing¡¡for¡¡me¡¡but¡¡to¡¡hasten¡¡on¡¡in¡¡advance¡¡and¡¡keep
out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡light¡¡of¡¡their¡¡torch¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡dared¡¡not¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡halt¡¡in
the¡¡darkness¡¡of¡¡any¡¡of¡¡the¡¡many¡¡intersecting¡¡corridors£»¡¡for
I¡¡knew¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡they¡¡might¡¡take¡£¡¡¡¡Chance¡¡was
as¡¡likely¡¡as¡¡not¡¡to¡¡carry¡¡me¡¡into¡¡the¡¡very¡¡corridor¡¡they¡¡might
choose¡¡to¡¡enter¡£
The¡¡sensation¡¡of¡¡moving¡¡rapidly¡¡through¡¡these¡¡dark¡¡passages
was¡¡far¡¡from¡¡reassuring¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡not¡¡at¡¡what¡¡moment¡¡I¡¡might
plunge¡¡headlong¡¡into¡¡some¡¡terrible¡¡pit¡¡or¡¡meet¡¡with¡¡some
of¡¡the¡¡ghoulish¡¡creatures¡¡that¡¡inhabit¡¡these¡¡lower¡¡worlds
beneath¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡cities¡¡of¡¡dying¡¡Mars¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡filtered¡¡to¡¡me
a¡¡faint¡¡radiance¡¡from¡¡the¡¡torch¡¡of¡¡the¡¡men¡¡behindjust
enough¡¡to¡¡permit¡¡me¡¡to¡¡trace¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡winding
passageways¡¡directly¡¡before¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡keep¡¡me¡¡from
dashing¡¡myself¡¡against¡¡the¡¡walls¡¡at¡¡the¡¡turns¡£
Presently¡¡I¡¡came¡¡to¡¡a¡¡place¡¡where¡¡five¡¡corridors¡¡diverged
from¡¡a¡¡common¡¡point¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡hastened¡¡along¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡¡for
some¡¡little¡¡distance¡¡when¡¡suddenly¡¡the¡¡faint¡¡light¡¡of¡¡the¡¡torch
disappeared¡¡from¡¡behind¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡paused¡¡to¡¡listen¡¡for¡¡sounds¡¡of
the¡¡party¡¡behind¡¡me£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡silence¡¡was¡¡as¡¡utter¡¡as¡¡the
silence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tomb¡£
Quickly¡¡I¡¡realized¡¡that¡¡the¡¡warriors¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the
other¡¡corridors¡¡with¡¡their¡¡prisoner£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡I¡¡hastened¡¡back¡¡with
a¡¡feeling¡¡of¡¡considerable¡¡relief¡¡to¡¡take¡¡up¡¡a¡¡much¡¡safer¡¡and
more¡¡desirable¡¡position¡¡behind¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡much¡¡slower
work¡¡returning£»¡¡however£»¡¡than¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡coming£»¡¡for¡¡now
the¡¡darkness¡¡was¡¡as¡¡utter¡¡as¡¡the¡¡silence¡£
It¡¡was¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡feel¡¡every¡¡foot¡¡of¡¡the¡¡way¡¡back¡¡with
my¡¡hand¡¡against¡¡the¡¡side¡¡wall£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡might¡¡not¡¡pass¡¡the¡¡spot
where¡¡the¡¡five¡¡roads¡¡radiated¡£¡¡¡¡After¡¡what¡¡seemed¡¡an¡¡eternity¡¡to
me£»¡¡I¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡place¡¡and¡¡recognized¡¡it¡¡by¡¡groping¡¡across
the¡¡entrances¡¡to¡¡the¡¡several¡¡corridors¡¡until¡¡I¡¡had¡¡counted¡¡five
of¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡not¡¡one£»¡¡however£»¡¡showed¡¡the¡¡faintest¡¡sign¡¡of¡¡light¡£
I¡¡listened¡¡intently£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡naked¡¡feet¡¡of¡¡the¡¡green¡¡men¡¡sent
back¡¡no¡¡guiding¡¡echoes£»¡¡though¡¡presently¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡I¡¡detected
the¡¡clank¡¡of¡¡side¡¡arms¡¡in¡¡the¡¡far¡¡distance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡corridor¡£
Up¡¡this£»¡¡then£»¡¡I¡¡hastened£»¡¡searching¡¡for¡¡the¡¡light£»¡¡and¡¡stopping
to¡¡listen¡¡occasionally¡¡for¡¡a¡¡repetition¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sound£»¡¡but¡¡soon¡¡I
was¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡admit¡¡that¡¡I¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡following¡¡a¡¡blind¡¡lead£»
as¡¡only¡¡darkness¡¡and¡¡silence¡¡rewarded¡¡my¡¡efforts¡£
Again¡¡I¡¡retraced¡¡my¡¡steps¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡parting¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ways£»
when¡¡to¡¡my¡¡surprise¡¡I¡¡came¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡entrance¡¡to¡¡three
diverging¡¡corridors£»¡¡any¡¡one¡¡of¡¡which¡¡I¡¡might¡¡have¡¡traversed
in¡¡my¡¡hasty¡¡dash¡¡after¡¡the¡¡false¡¡clue¡¡I¡¡had¡¡been¡¡following¡£¡¡
Here¡¡was¡¡a¡¡pretty¡¡fix£»¡¡indeed£¡¡¡¡¡Once¡¡back¡¡at¡¡the¡¡point
where¡¡the¡¡five¡¡passageways¡¡met£»¡¡I¡¡might¡¡wait¡¡with¡¡some
assurance¡¡for¡¡the¡¡return¡¡of¡¡the¡¡warriors¡¡with¡¡Tars¡¡Tarkas¡£
My¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡their¡¡customs¡¡lent¡¡colour¡¡to¡¡the¡¡belief¡¡that
he¡¡was¡¡but¡¡being¡¡escorted¡¡to¡¡the¡¡audience¡¡chamber¡¡to¡¡have
sentence¡¡passed¡¡upon¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡not¡¡the¡¡slightest¡¡doubt¡¡but
that¡¡they¡¡would¡¡preserve¡¡so¡¡doughty¡¡a¡¡warrior¡¡as¡¡the¡¡great
Thark¡¡for¡¡the¡¡rare¡¡sport¡¡he¡¡would¡¡furnish¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Great¡¡Games¡£
But¡¡unless¡¡I¡¡could¡¡find¡¡my¡¡way¡¡back¡¡to¡¡that¡¡point¡¡the
chances¡¡were¡¡most¡¡excellent¡¡that¡¡I¡¡would¡¡wander¡¡for¡¡days
through¡¡the¡¡awful¡¡blackness£»¡¡until£»¡¡overcome¡¡by¡¡thirst¡¡and
hunger£»¡¡I¡¡lay¡¡down¡¡to¡¡die£»¡¡or¡¡¡¡What¡¡was¡¡that£¡
A¡¡faint¡¡shuffling¡¡sounded¡¡behind¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡I¡¡cast¡¡a¡¡hasty
glance¡¡over¡¡my¡¡shoulder¡¡my¡¡blood¡¡froze¡¡in¡¡my¡¡veins¡¡for¡¡the
thing¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡there¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡so¡¡much¡¡fear¡¡of¡¡the¡¡present
danger¡¡as¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡horrifying¡¡memories¡¡it¡¡recalled¡¡of¡¡that
time¡¡I¡¡near¡¡went¡¡mad¡¡over¡¡the¡¡corpse¡¡of¡¡the¡¡man¡¡I¡¡had¡¡killed
in¡¡the¡¡dungeons¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Warhoons£»¡¡when¡¡blazing¡¡eyes¡¡came
out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡recesses¡¡and¡¡dragged¡¡the¡¡thing¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been
a¡¡man¡¡from¡¡my¡¡clutches¡¡and¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡it¡¡scraping¡¡over¡¡the¡¡stone
of¡¡my¡¡prison¡¡as¡¡they¡¡bore¡¡it¡¡away¡¡to¡¡their¡¡terrible¡¡feast¡£
And¡¡now¡¡in¡¡these¡¡black¡¡pits¡¡of¡¡the¡¡other¡¡Warhoons¡¡I¡¡looked
into¡¡those¡¡same¡¡fiery¡¡eyes£»¡¡blazing¡¡at¡¡me¡¡through¡¡the
terrible¡¡darkness£»¡¡revealing¡¡no¡¡sign¡¡of¡¡the¡¡beast¡¡behind¡¡them¡£
I¡¡think¡¡that¡¡the¡¡most¡¡fearsome¡¡attribute¡¡of¡¡these¡¡awesome
creatures¡¡is¡¡their¡¡silence¡¡and¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡one¡¡never¡¡sees
themnothing¡¡but¡¡those¡¡baleful¡¡eyes¡¡glaring¡¡unblinkingly¡¡out
of¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡void¡¡behind¡£
Grasping¡¡my¡¡long¡sword¡¡