the gods of mars-第37部分

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John　Carter；　Jeddak　of　Helium。〃　　As　I　heard　that　and　saw　the

ugly　attitude　of　the　men　of　Helium　toward　the　soldiers　of

Zat　Arras；　I　knew　that　only　a　miracle　could　avert　a　clash

that　would　end　in　civil　war。



〃Hold！〃　I　cried；　leaping　to　the　Pedestal　of　Truth　once

more。　　〃Let　no　man　move　till　I　am　done。　　A　single　sword

thrust　here　to…day　may　plunge　Helium　into　a　bitter　and

bloody　war　the　results　of　which　none　can　foresee。　　It

will　turn　brother　against　brother　and　father　against　son。

No　man's　life　is　worth　that　sacrifice。　　Rather　would　I

submit　to　the　biased　judgment　of　Zat　Arras　than　be　the

cause　of　civil　strife　in　Helium。



〃Let　us　each　give　in　a　point　to　the　other；　and　let　this　entire

matter　rest　until　Tardos　Mors　returns；　or　Mors　Kajak；　his　son。

If　neither　be　back　at　the　end　of　a　year　a　second　trial

may　be　heldthe　thing　has　a　precedent。〃　　And　then　turning

to　Zat　Arras；　I　said　in　a　low　voice：　〃Unless　you　be　a　bigger

fool　than　I　take　you　to　be；　you　will　grasp　the　chance　I　am

offering　you　ere　it　is　too　late。　　Once　that　multitude　of　swords

below　is　drawn　against　your　soldiery　no　man　upon　Barsoom

not　even　Tardos　Mors　himselfcan　avert　the　consequences。

What　say　you？　　Speak　quickly。〃



The　Jed　of　Zodangan　Helium　raised　his　voice　to　the　angry

sea　beneath　us。



〃Stay　your　hands；　men　of　Helium；〃　he　shouted；　his　voice

trembling　with　rage。　　〃The　sentence　of　the　court　is　passed；

but　the　day　of　retribution　has　not　been　set。　　I；　Zat　Arras；

Jed　of　Zodanga；　appreciating　the　royal　connections　of　the

prisoner　and　his　past　services　to　Helium　and　Barsoom；　grant　a

respite　of　one　year；　or　until　the　return　of　Mors　Kajak；　or

Tardos　Mors　to　Helium。　　Disperse　quietly　to　your　houses。　　Go。〃



No　one　moved。　　Instead；　they　stood　in　tense　silence　with　their

eyes　fastened　upon　me；　as　though　waiting　for　a　signal　to　attack。



〃Clear　the　temple；〃　commanded　Zat　Arras；　in　a　low　tone　to　one

of　his　officers。



Fearing　the　result　of　an　attempt　to　carry　out　this　order　by

force；　I　stepped　to　the　edge　of　the　platform　and；　pointing

toward　the　main　entrance；　bid　them　pass　out。　　As　one　man

they　turned　at　my　request　and　filed；　silent　and　threatening；

past　the　soldiers　of　Zat　Arras；　Jed　of　Zodanga；　who　stood

scowling　in　impotent　rage。



Kantos　Kan　with　the　others　who　had　sworn　allegiance　to　me

still　stood　upon　the　Throne　of　Righteousness　with　me。



〃Come；〃　said　Kantos　Kan　to　me；　〃we　will　escort　you　to

your　palace；　my　Prince。　　Come；　Carthoris　and　Xodar。　　Come；

Tars　Tarkas。〃　　And　with　a　haughty　sneer　for　Zat　Arras　upon

his　handsome　lips；　he　turned　and　strode　to　the　throne　steps

and　up　the　Aisle　of　Hope。　　We　four　and　the　hundred　loyal

ones　followed　behind　him；　nor　was　a　hand　raised　to　stay　us；

though　glowering　eyes　followed　our　triumphal　march

through　the　temple。



In　the　avenues　we　found　a　press　of　people；　but　they

opened　a　pathway　for　us；　and　many　were　the　swords　that

were　flung　at　my　feet　as　I　passed　through　the　city　of　Helium

toward　my　palace　upon　the　outskirts。　　Here　my　old　slaves　fell

upon　their　knees　and　kissed　my　hands　as　I　greeted　them。

They　cared　not　where　I　had　been。　　It　was　enough　that　I

had　returned　to　them。



〃Ah；　master；〃　cried　one；　〃if　our　divine　Princess　were　but

here　this　would　be　a　day　indeed。〃



Tears　came　to　my　eyes；　so　that　I　was　forced　to　turn

away　that　I　might　hide　my　emotions。　　Carthoris　wept　openly

as　the　slaves　pressed　about　him　with　expressions　of　affection；

and　words　of　sorrow　for　our　common　loss。　　It　was　now　that

Tars　Tarkas　for　the　first　time　learned　that　his　daughter；　Sola；

had　accompanied　Dejah　Thoris　upon　the　last　long　pilgrimage。

I　had　not　had　the　heart　to　tell　him　what　Kantos　Kan　had

told　me。　　With　the　stoicism　of　the　green　Martian　he　showed

no　sign　of　suffering；　yet　I　knew　that　his　grief　was　as

poignant　as　my　own。　　In　marked　contrast　to　his　kind；　he　had

in　well…developed　form　the　kindlier　human　characteristics

of　love；　friendship；　and　charity。



It　was　a　sad　and　sombre　party　that　sat　at　the　feast　of　welcome

in　the　great　dining　hall　of　the　palace　of　the　Prince　of　Helium

that　day。　　We　were　over　a　hundred　strong；　not　counting　the

members　of　my　little　court；　for　Dejah　Thoris　and　I　had

maintained　a　household　consistent　with　our　royal　rank。



The　board；　according　to　red　Martian　custom；　was　triangular；

for　there　were　three　in　our　family。　　Carthoris　and　I　presided

in　the　centre　of　our　sides　of　the　tablemidway　of　the

third　side　Dejah　Thoris'　high…backed；　carven　chair　stood

vacant　except　for　her　gorgeous　wedding　trappings　and　jewels

which　were　draped　upon　it。　　Behind　stood　a　slave　as　in　the

days　when　his　mistress　had　occupied　her　place　at　the　board；

ready　to　do　her　bidding。　　It　was　the　way　upon　Barsoom；　so　I

endured　the　anguish　of　it；　though　it　wrung　my　heart　to　see

that　silent　chair　where　should　have　been　my　laughing　and　vivacious

Princess　keeping　the　great　hall　ringing　with　her　merry　gaiety。



At　my　right　sat　Kantos　Kan；　while　to　the　right　of　Dejah

Thoris'　empty　place　Tars　Tarkas　sat　in　a　huge　chair　before

a　raised　section　of　the　board　which　years　ago　I　had　had

constructed　to　meet　the　requirements　of　his　mighty　bulk。

The　place　of　honour　at　a　Martian　hoard　is　always　at　the

hostess's　right；　and　this　place　was　ever　reserved　by

Dejah　Thoris　for　the　great　Thark　upon　the　occasions

that　he　was　in　Helium。



Hor　Vastus　sat　in　the　seat　of　honour　upon　Carthoris'　side

of　the　table。　　There　was　little　general　conversation。　　It　was　a

quiet　and　saddened　party。　　The　loss　of　Dejah　Thoris　was

still　fresh　in　the　minds　of　all；　and　to　this　was　added　fear

for　the　safety　of　Tardos　Mors　and　Mors　Kajak；　as　well

as　doubt　and　uncertainty　as　to　the　fate　of　Helium；　should　it

prove　true　that　she　was　permanently　deprived　of　her　great　Jeddak。



Suddenly　our　attention　was　attracted　by　the　sound　of　distant

shouting；　as　of　many　people　raising　their　voices　at　once；

but　whether　in　anger　or　rejoicing；　we　could　not　tell。

Nearer　and　nearer　came　the　tumult。　　A　slave　rushed　into　the

dining　hall　to　cry　that　a　great　concourse　of　people　was　swarming

through　the　palace　gates。　　A　second　burst　upon　the　heels　of　the

first　alternately　laughing　and　shrieking　as　a　madman。



〃Dejah　Thoris　is　found！〃　he　cried。　　〃A　messenger　from　Dejah　Thoris！〃



I　waited　to　hear　no　more。　　The　great　windows　of　the

dining　hall　overlooked　the　avenue　leading　to　the　main　gates

they　were　upon　the　opposite　side　of　the　hall　from　me　with

the　table　intervening。　　I　did　not　waste　time　in　circling　the　great

boardwith　a　single　leap　I　cleared　table　and　diners　and

sprang　upon　the　balcony　beyond。　　Thirty　feet　below　lay　the

scarlet　sward　of　the　lawn　and　beyond　were　many　people

crowding　about　a　great　thoat　which　bore　a　rider　headed

toward　the　palace。　　I　vaulted　to　the　ground　below　and　ran

swiftly　toward　the　advancing　party。



As　I　came　near　to　them　I　saw　that　the　figure　on　the　thoat　was　Sola。



〃Where　is　the　Princess　of　Helium？〃　I　cried。



The　green　girl　slid　from　her　mighty　mount　and　ran　toward　me。



〃O　my　Prince！　　My　Prince！〃　she　cried。　　〃She　is　gone　for　ever。

Even　now　she　may　be　a　captive　upon　the　lesser　moon。

The　black　pirates　of　Barsoom　have　stolen　her。〃









CHAPTER　XVIII





SOLA'S　STORY





Once　within　the　palace；　I　drew　Sola　to　the　dining　hall；

and；　when　she　had　greeted　her　father　after　the　formal　manner

of　the　green　men；　she　told　the　story　of　the　pilgrimage　and

capture　of　Dejah　Thoris。



〃Seven　days　ago；　after　her　audience　with　Zat　Arras；　Dejah　Thoris

attempted　to　slip　from　the　palace　in　the　dead　of　night。

Although　I　had　not　heard　the　outcome　of　her　interview　with

Zat　Arras　I　knew　that　something　had　occurred　then　to　cause

her　the　keenest　mental　agony；　and　when　I　discovered　her　creeping

from　the　palace　I　did　not　need　to　be　told　her　destination。



〃Hastily　arousing　a　dozen　of　her　most　faithful　guards；　I

explained　my　fears　to　them；　and　as　one　they　enlisted　with　me

to　follow　our　beloved　Princess　in　her　wanderings；　even　to

the　Sacred　Iss　and　the　Valley　Dor。　　We　came　upon　her　but　a

short　distance　from　the　palace。　　With　her　was　faithful　Woola

the　hound；　but　none　other。　　When　we　overtook　her　she

feigned　anger；　and　ordered　us　back　to　the　palace；　but　for

once　we　disobeyed　her；　and　when　she　found　that　we　would

not　let　her　go　upon　the　last　long　pilgrimage　alone；　she　wept

and　embraced　us；　and　together　we　went　out　into　the　night

toward　the　south。



〃The　following　day　we　came　upon　a　herd　of　small　thoats；

and　thereafter　we　were　mounted　and　made　good　time。　　We

travelled　very　fast　and　very　far　due　south　until　the　morning

of　the　fifth　day　we　sighted　a　great　fleet　of　battleships　sailing

north。　　They　saw　us　before　we　could　seek　shelter；　and　soon

we　were　surrounded　by　a　horde　of　black　men。　　The　Princess's

guard　fought　nobly　to　the　end；　but　they　were　soon　overcome

and　slain。　　Only　Dejah　Thoris　and　I　were　spared。



When　she　realized　that　she　was　in　the　clutches　of　the

black　pirates；　she　attempted　to　take　her　own　life；　but　one

of　the　blacks　tore　her　dagger　from　her；　and　then　they　bound

us　both　so　that　we　could　not　use　our　hands。



〃The　fleet　continued　north　after　capturing　us。　　There　were

about　twenty　large　battleships　in　all；　besides　a　number　of

small　swift　cruisers。　　That　evening　one　of　the　smaller

cruisers　that　had　been　far　in　advance　of　the　fleet　returned

with　a　prisonera　young　red　woman　whom　they　had　picked　up　in

a　range　of　hills　under　the　very　noses；　they　said；　of　a　fleet　of

three　red　Martian　battleships。



〃From　scraps　of　conversation　which　we　overheard　it　was

evident　that　the　black　pirates　were　searching　for　a　party

of　fugitives　that　had　escaped　them　several　days　prior。　　That

they　considered　the　capture　of　the　young　woman　important

was　evident　from　the　long　and　earnest　interview　the

commander　of　the　fleet　held　with　her　when　she　was　brought

to　him。　　Later　she　was　bound