warlord 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£¡
that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡gained¡¡would¡¡be¡¡lostthen¡¡my¡¡fingers¡¡reached¡¡a¡¡knot
at¡¡the¡¡very¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rope¡¡and¡¡slipped¡¡no¡¡more¡£
¡¡
With¡¡a¡¡prayer¡¡of¡¡gratitude¡¡upon¡¡my¡¡lips¡¡I¡¡scrambled¡¡upward¡¡toward
the¡¡boat's¡¡deck¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡see¡¡Thurid¡¡and¡¡Matai¡¡Shang¡¡now£»
but¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡sounds¡¡of¡¡conflict¡¡and¡¡thus¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡they
still¡¡foughtthe¡¡thern¡¡for¡¡his¡¡life¡¡and¡¡the¡¡black¡¡for¡¡the
increased¡¡buoyancy¡¡that¡¡relief¡¡from¡¡the¡¡weight¡¡of¡¡even¡¡a¡¡single
body¡¡would¡¡give¡¡the¡¡craft¡£
¡¡
Should¡¡Matai¡¡Shang¡¡die¡¡before¡¡I¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡deck¡¡my¡¡chances¡¡of
ever¡¡reaching¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡slender¡¡indeed£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡black¡¡dator¡¡need
but¡¡cut¡¡the¡¡rope¡¡above¡¡me¡¡to¡¡be¡¡freed¡¡from¡¡me¡¡forever£»¡¡for¡¡the
vessel¡¡had¡¡drifted¡¡across¡¡the¡¡brink¡¡of¡¡a¡¡chasm¡¡into¡¡whose¡¡yawning
depths¡¡my¡¡body¡¡would¡¡drop¡¡to¡¡be¡¡crushed¡¡to¡¡a¡¡shapeless¡¡pulp¡¡should
Thurid¡¡reach¡¡the¡¡rope¡¡now¡£
¡¡
At¡¡last¡¡my¡¡hand¡¡closed¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡ship's¡¡rail¡¡and¡¡that¡¡very
instant¡¡a¡¡horrid¡¡shriek¡¡rang¡¡out¡¡below¡¡me¡¡that¡¡sent¡¡my¡¡blood¡¡cold
and¡¡turned¡¡my¡¡horrified¡¡eyes¡¡downward¡¡to¡¡a¡¡shrieking£»¡¡hurtling£»
twisting¡¡thing¡¡that¡¡shot¡¡downward¡¡into¡¡the¡¡awful¡¡chasm¡¡beneath¡¡me¡£
¡¡
It¡¡was¡¡Matai¡¡Shang£»¡¡Holy¡¡Hekkador£»¡¡Father¡¡of¡¡Therns£»¡¡gone¡¡to
his¡¡last¡¡accounting¡£
¡¡
Then¡¡my¡¡head¡¡came¡¡above¡¡the¡¡deck¡¡and¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡Thurid£»¡¡dagger¡¡in¡¡hand£»
leaping¡¡toward¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡opposite¡¡the¡¡forward¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cabin£»
while¡¡I¡¡was¡¡attempting¡¡to¡¡clamber¡¡aboard¡¡near¡¡the¡¡vessel's¡¡stern¡£
But¡¡a¡¡few¡¡paces¡¡lay¡¡between¡¡us¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡power¡¡on¡¡earth¡¡could¡¡raise¡¡me
to¡¡that¡¡deck¡¡before¡¡the¡¡infuriated¡¡black¡¡would¡¡be¡¡upon¡¡me¡£
¡¡
My¡¡end¡¡had¡¡come¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡it£»¡¡but¡¡had¡¡there¡¡been¡¡a¡¡doubt¡¡in¡¡my
mind¡¡the¡¡nasty¡¡leer¡¡of¡¡triumph¡¡upon¡¡that¡¡wicked¡¡face¡¡would¡¡have
convinced¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡Beyond¡¡Thurid¡¡I¡¡could¡¡see¡¡my¡¡Dejah¡¡Thoris£»¡¡wide¡eyed
and¡¡horrified£»¡¡struggling¡¡at¡¡her¡¡bonds¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡she¡¡should¡¡be¡¡forced
to¡¡witness¡¡my¡¡awful¡¡death¡¡made¡¡my¡¡bitter¡¡fate¡¡seem¡¡doubly¡¡cruel¡£
¡¡
I¡¡ceased¡¡my¡¡efforts¡¡to¡¡climb¡¡across¡¡the¡¡gunwale¡£¡¡¡¡Instead¡¡I¡¡took
a¡¡firm¡¡grasp¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡rail¡¡with¡¡my¡¡left¡¡hand¡¡and¡¡drew¡¡my¡¡dagger¡£
¡¡
I¡¡should¡¡at¡¡least¡¡die¡¡as¡¡I¡¡had¡¡livedfighting¡£
¡¡
As¡¡Thurid¡¡came¡¡opposite¡¡the¡¡cabin's¡¡doorway¡¡a¡¡new¡¡element
projected¡¡itself¡¡into¡¡the¡¡grim¡¡tragedy¡¡of¡¡the¡¡air¡¡that¡¡was
being¡¡enacted¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡deck¡¡of¡¡Matai¡¡Shang's¡¡disabled¡¡flier¡£
¡¡
It¡¡was¡¡Phaidor¡£
¡¡
With¡¡flushed¡¡face¡¡and¡¡disheveled¡¡hair£»¡¡and¡¡eyes¡¡that¡¡betrayed
the¡¡recent¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡mortal¡¡tearsabove¡¡which¡¡this¡¡proud¡¡goddess
had¡¡always¡¡held¡¡herselfshe¡¡leaped¡¡to¡¡the¡¡deck¡¡directly¡¡before¡¡me¡£
¡¡
In¡¡her¡¡hand¡¡was¡¡a¡¡long£»¡¡slim¡¡dagger¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡cast¡¡a¡¡last¡¡look¡¡upon
my¡¡beloved¡¡princess£»¡¡smiling£»¡¡as¡¡men¡¡should¡¡who¡¡are¡¡about¡¡to¡¡die¡£
Then¡¡I¡¡turned¡¡my¡¡face¡¡up¡¡toward¡¡Phaidorwaiting¡¡for¡¡the¡¡blow¡£
¡¡
Never¡¡have¡¡I¡¡seen¡¡that¡¡beautiful¡¡face¡¡more¡¡beautiful¡¡than¡¡it
was¡¡at¡¡that¡¡moment¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡incredible¡¡that¡¡one¡¡so¡¡lovely¡¡could
yet¡¡harbor¡¡within¡¡her¡¡fair¡¡bosom¡¡a¡¡heart¡¡so¡¡cruel¡¡and¡¡relentless£»
and¡¡today¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡new¡¡expression¡¡in¡¡her¡¡wondrous¡¡eyes¡¡that¡¡I¡¡never
before¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡therean¡¡unfamiliar¡¡softness£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡look¡¡of¡¡suffering¡£
¡¡
Thurid¡¡was¡¡beside¡¡her¡¡nowpushing¡¡past¡¡to¡¡reach¡¡me¡¡first£»¡¡and¡¡then
what¡¡happened¡¡happened¡¡so¡¡quickly¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡all¡¡over¡¡before¡¡I¡¡could
realize¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡of¡¡it¡£
¡¡
Phaidor's¡¡slim¡¡hand¡¡shot¡¡out¡¡to¡¡close¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡black's¡¡dagger¡¡wrist¡£
Her¡¡right¡¡hand¡¡went¡¡high¡¡with¡¡its¡¡gleaming¡¡blade¡£
¡¡
¡¨That¡¡for¡¡Matai¡¡Shang£¡¡¨¡¡she¡¡cried£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡buried¡¡her¡¡blade
deep¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dator's¡¡breast¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨That¡¡for¡¡the¡¡wrong¡¡you¡¡would¡¡have¡¡done
Dejah¡¡Thoris£¡¡¨¡¡and¡¡again¡¡the¡¡sharp¡¡steel¡¡sank¡¡into¡¡the¡¡bloody¡¡flesh¡£
¡¡
¡¨And¡¡that£»¡¡and¡¡that£»¡¡and¡¡that£¡¡¨¡¡she¡¡shrieked£»¡¡¡¨for¡¡John¡¡Carter£»
Prince¡¡of¡¡Helium£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡with¡¡each¡¡word¡¡her¡¡sharp¡¡point¡¡pierced
the¡¡vile¡¡heart¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡villain¡£¡¡¡¡Then£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡vindictive
shove¡¡she¡¡cast¡¡the¡¡carcass¡¡of¡¡the¡¡First¡¡Born¡¡from¡¡the¡¡deck¡¡to
fall¡¡in¡¡awful¡¡silence¡¡after¡¡the¡¡body¡¡of¡¡his¡¡victim¡£
¡¡
I¡¡had¡¡been¡¡so¡¡paralyzed¡¡by¡¡surprise¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡made¡¡no¡¡move¡¡to¡¡reach
the¡¡deck¡¡during¡¡the¡¡awe¡inspiring¡¡scene¡¡which¡¡I¡¡had¡¡just¡¡witnessed£»
and¡¡now¡¡I¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡still¡¡further¡¡amazed¡¡by¡¡her¡¡next¡¡act£»¡¡for¡¡Phaidor
extended¡¡her¡¡hand¡¡to¡¡me¡¡and¡¡assisted¡¡me¡¡to¡¡the¡¡deck£»¡¡where¡¡I¡¡stood
gazing¡¡at¡¡her¡¡in¡¡unconcealed¡¡and¡¡stupefied¡¡wonderment¡£
¡¡
A¡¡wan¡¡smile¡¡touched¡¡her¡¡lipsit¡¡was¡¡not¡¡the¡¡cruel¡¡and¡¡haughty
smile¡¡of¡¡the¡¡goddess¡¡with¡¡which¡¡I¡¡was¡¡familiar¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡wonder£»
John¡¡Carter£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨what¡¡strange¡¡thing¡¡has¡¡wrought¡¡this
change¡¡in¡¡me£¿¡¡¡¡I¡¡will¡¡tell¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡lovelove¡¡of¡¡you£»¡¨
and¡¡when¡¡I¡¡darkened¡¡my¡¡brows¡¡in¡¡disapproval¡¡of¡¡her¡¡words
she¡¡raised¡¡an¡¡appealing¡¡hand¡£
¡¡
¡¨Wait£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡is¡¡a¡¡different¡¡love¡¡from¡¡mineit¡¡is
the¡¡love¡¡of¡¡your¡¡princess£»¡¡Dejah¡¡Thoris£»¡¡for¡¡you¡¡that¡¡has¡¡taught
me¡¡what¡¡true¡¡love¡¡may¡¡bewhat¡¡it¡¡should¡¡be£»¡¡and¡¡how¡¡far¡¡from
real¡¡love¡¡was¡¡my¡¡selfish¡¡and¡¡jealous¡¡passion¡¡for¡¡you¡£
¡¡
¡¨Now¡¡I¡¡am¡¡different¡£¡¡¡¡Now¡¡could¡¡I¡¡love¡¡as¡¡Dejah¡¡Thoris¡¡loves£»
and¡¡so¡¡my¡¡only¡¡happiness¡¡can¡¡be¡¡to¡¡know¡¡that¡¡you¡¡and¡¡she¡¡are¡¡once
more¡¡united£»¡¡for¡¡in¡¡her¡¡alone¡¡can¡¡you¡¡find¡¡true¡¡happiness¡£
¡¡
¡¨But¡¡I¡¡am¡¡unhappy¡¡because¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wickedness¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡wrought¡£
I¡¡have¡¡many¡¡sins¡¡to¡¡expiate£»¡¡and¡¡though¡¡I¡¡be¡¡deathless£»¡¡life¡¡is
all¡¡too¡¡short¡¡for¡¡the¡¡atonement¡£
¡¡
¡¨But¡¡there¡¡is¡¡another¡¡way£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡Phaidor£»¡¡daughter¡¡of¡¡the
Holy¡¡Hekkador¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Holy¡¡Therns£»¡¡has¡¡sinned¡¡she¡¡has¡¡this¡¡day
already¡¡made¡¡partial¡¡reparation£»¡¡and¡¡lest¡¡you¡¡doubt¡¡the¡¡sincerity
of¡¡her¡¡protestations¡¡and¡¡her¡¡avowal¡¡of¡¡a¡¡new¡¡love¡¡that¡¡embraces
Dejah¡¡Thoris¡¡also£»¡¡she¡¡will¡¡prove¡¡her¡¡sincerity¡¡in¡¡the¡¡only¡¡way
that¡¡lies¡¡openhaving¡¡saved¡¡you¡¡for¡¡another£»¡¡Phaidor¡¡leaves¡¡you
to¡¡her¡¡embraces¡£¡¨
¡¡
With¡¡her¡¡last¡¡word¡¡she¡¡turned¡¡and¡¡leaped¡¡from¡¡the¡¡vessel's
deck¡¡into¡¡the¡¡abyss¡¡below¡£
¡¡
With¡¡a¡¡cry¡¡of¡¡horror¡¡I¡¡sprang¡¡forward¡¡in¡¡a¡¡vain¡¡attempt¡¡to
save¡¡the¡¡life¡¡that¡¡for¡¡two¡¡years¡¡I¡¡would¡¡so¡¡gladly¡¡have¡¡seen
extinguished¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡too¡¡late¡£
¡¡
With¡¡tear¡dimmed¡¡eyes¡¡I¡¡turned¡¡away¡¡that¡¡I¡¡might¡¡not¡¡see¡¡the
awful¡¡sight¡¡beneath¡£
¡¡
A¡¡moment¡¡later¡¡I¡¡had¡¡struck¡¡the¡¡bonds¡¡from¡¡Dejah¡¡Thoris£»¡¡and¡¡as
her¡¡dear¡¡arms¡¡went¡¡about¡¡my¡¡neck¡¡and¡¡her¡¡perfect¡¡lips¡¡pressed¡¡to
mine¡¡I¡¡forgot¡¡the¡¡horrors¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡witnessed¡¡and¡¡the¡¡suffering
that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡endured¡¡in¡¡the¡¡rapture¡¡of¡¡my¡¡reward¡£
¡¡
¡¡
¡¡
¡¡
THE¡¡NEW¡¡RULER
¡¡
¡¡
The¡¡flier¡¡upon¡¡whose¡¡deck¡¡Dejah¡¡Thoris¡¡and¡¡I¡¡found¡¡ourselves
after¡¡twelve¡¡long¡¡years¡¡of¡¡separation¡¡proved¡¡entirely¡¡useless¡£
Her¡¡buoyancy¡¡tanks¡¡leaked¡¡badly¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡engine¡¡would¡¡not¡¡start¡£
We¡¡were¡¡helpless¡¡there¡¡in¡¡mid¡¡air¡¡above¡¡the¡¡arctic¡¡ice¡£
¡¡
The¡¡craft¡¡had¡¡drifted¡¡across¡¡the¡¡chasm¡¡which¡¡held¡¡the¡¡corpses¡¡of
Matai¡¡Shang£»¡¡Thurid£»¡¡and¡¡Phaidor£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡hung¡¡above¡¡a¡¡low¡¡hill¡£
Opening¡¡the¡¡buoyancy¡¡escape¡¡valves¡¡I¡¡permitted¡¡her¡¡to¡¡come¡¡slowly
to¡¡the¡¡ground£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡she¡¡touched£»¡¡Dejah¡¡Thoris¡¡and¡¡I¡¡stepped¡¡from
her¡¡deck¡¡and£»¡¡hand¡¡in¡¡hand£»¡¡turned¡¡back¡¡across¡¡the¡¡frozen¡¡waste
toward¡¡the¡¡city¡¡of¡¡Kadabra¡£
¡¡
Through¡¡the¡¡tunnel¡¡that¡¡had¡¡led¡¡me¡¡in¡¡pursuit¡¡of¡¡them¡¡we¡¡passed£»
walking¡¡slowly£»¡¡for¡¡we¡¡had¡¡much¡¡to¡¡say¡¡to¡¡each¡¡other¡£
¡¡
She¡¡told¡¡me¡¡of¡¡that¡¡last¡¡terrible¡¡moment¡¡months¡¡before¡¡when¡¡the
door¡¡of¡¡her¡¡prison¡¡cell¡¡within¡¡the¡¡Temple¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Sun¡¡was¡¡slowly
closing¡¡between¡¡us¡£¡¡¡¡Of¡¡how¡¡Phaidor¡¡had¡¡sprung¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡with
uplifted¡¡dagger£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡Thuvia's¡¡shriek¡¡as¡¡she¡¡had¡¡realized¡¡the
foul¡¡intention¡¡of¡¡the¡¡thern¡¡goddess¡£
¡¡
It¡¡had¡¡been¡¡that¡¡cry¡¡that¡¡had¡¡rung¡¡in¡¡my¡¡ears¡¡all¡¡the¡¡long£»
weary¡¡months¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡been¡¡left¡¡in¡¡cruel¡¡doubt¡¡as¡¡to¡¡my
princess'¡¡fate£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡had¡¡not¡¡known¡¡that¡¡Thuvia¡¡had¡¡wrested
the¡¡blade¡¡from¡¡the¡¡daughter¡¡of¡¡Matai¡¡Shang¡¡before¡¡it¡¡had
touched¡¡either¡¡Dejah¡¡Thoris¡¡or¡¡herself¡£
¡¡
She¡¡told¡¡me£»¡¡too£»¡¡of¡¡the¡¡awful¡¡eternity¡¡of¡¡her¡¡imprisonment¡£
Of¡¡the¡¡cruel¡¡hatred¡¡of¡¡Phaidor£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡tender¡¡love¡¡of¡¡Thuvia£»
and¡¡of¡¡how¡¡even¡¡when¡¡despair¡¡was¡¡the¡¡darkest¡¡those¡¡two¡¡red¡¡girls
had¡¡clung¡¡to¡¡the¡¡same¡¡hope¡¡and¡¡beliefthat¡¡John¡¡Carter¡¡would
find¡¡a¡¡way¡¡to¡¡release¡¡them¡£
¡¡
Presently¡¡we¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡chamber¡¡of¡¡Solan¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡been¡¡proceeding
without¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡caution£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡was¡¡sure¡¡that¡¡the¡¡city¡¡and¡¡the
palace¡¡were¡¡both¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡of¡¡my¡¡friends¡¡by¡¡this¡¡time¡£
¡¡
And¡¡so¡¡it¡¡was¡¡that¡¡I¡¡bolted¡¡into¡¡the¡¡chamber¡¡full¡¡into
the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡a¡¡dozen¡¡nobles¡¡of¡¡the¡¡court¡¡of¡¡Salensus¡¡Oll¡£
They¡¡were¡¡passing¡¡through¡¡on¡¡their¡¡way¡¡to¡¡the¡¡outside¡¡world
along¡¡the¡¡corridors¡¡we¡¡had¡¡just¡¡traversed¡£
¡¡
At¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡us¡¡they¡¡halted¡¡in¡¡their¡¡tracks£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡an¡¡ugly
smile¡¡overspread¡¡the¡¡features¡¡of¡¡their¡¡leader¡£
¡¡
¡¨The¡¡author¡¡of¡¡all¡¡our¡¡misfortunes£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡cried£»¡¡pointing¡¡at¡¡me¡£
¡¨We¡¡shall¡¡have¡¡the¡¡satisfaction¡¡of¡¡a¡¡partial¡¡vengeance¡¡at¡¡least
when¡¡we¡¡leave¡¡behind¡¡us¡¡here¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡and¡¡mutilated¡¡corpses¡¡of¡¡the
Prince¡¡and¡¡Princess¡¡of¡¡Helium¡£
¡¡
¡¨When¡¡they¡¡find¡¡them£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡went¡¡on£»¡¡jerking¡¡his¡¡thumb¡¡upward¡¡toward
the¡¡palace¡¡above£»¡¡¡¨they¡¡will¡¡realize¡¡that¡¡the¡¡vengeance¡¡of¡¡the
yellow¡¡man¡¡costs¡¡his¡¡enemies¡¡dear¡£¡¡¡¡Prepare¡¡to¡¡die£»¡¡John¡¡Carter£»
but¡¡that¡¡your¡¡end¡¡may¡¡be¡¡the¡¡more¡¡bitter£»¡¡know¡¡that¡¡I¡¡may¡¡change
my¡¡intention¡¡as¡¡to¡¡meting¡¡a¡¡merciful¡¡death¡¡to¡¡your¡¡princess
possibly¡¡she¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡preserved¡¡as¡¡a¡¡plaything¡¡for¡¡my¡¡nobles¡£¡¨
¡¡
I¡¡stood¡¡close¡¡to¡¡the¡¡instrument¡covered¡¡wallDejah¡¡Thoris¡¡at¡¡my¡¡side¡£
She¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡at¡¡me¡¡wonderingly¡¡as¡¡the¡¡warriors¡¡advanced¡¡upon¡¡us¡¡with
drawn¡¡swords£»¡¡for¡¡mine¡¡still¡¡hung¡¡within¡¡its¡¡scabbard¡¡at¡¡my¡¡side£»
and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡smile¡¡upon¡¡my¡¡lips¡£
¡¡
The¡¡yellow¡¡nobles£»¡¡too£»¡¡looked¡¡in¡¡surprise£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡as¡¡I¡¡made
no¡¡move¡¡to¡¡draw¡¡they¡¡hesitated£»¡¡fearing¡¡a¡¡ruse£»¡¡but¡¡their¡¡leader
urged¡¡them¡¡on¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡they¡¡had¡¡come¡¡almost¡¡within¡¡sword's¡¡reach¡¡of
me¡¡I¡¡raised¡¡my¡¡hand¡¡and¡¡laid¡¡it¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡polished¡¡surface¡¡of¡¡a
great¡¡lever£»¡¡and¡¡then£»¡¡still¡¡smiling¡¡grimly£»¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡my¡¡enemies
full¡¡in¡¡the¡¡face¡£
¡¡
As¡¡one¡¡they¡¡came¡¡to¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡stop£»¡¡casting¡¡affrighted¡¡glances
at¡¡me¡¡and¡¡at¡¡one¡¡another¡£
¡¡
¡¨Stop£¡¡¨¡¡shrieked¡¡their¡¡leader¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡dream¡¡not¡¡what¡¡you¡¡do£¡¡¨
¡¡
¡¨Right¡¡you¡¡are£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡replied¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨John¡¡Carter¡¡does¡¡not¡¡dream¡£
He¡¡knowsknows¡¡that¡¡should¡¡one¡¡of¡¡you¡¡take¡¡another¡¡step¡¡toward
Dejah¡¡Thoris£»¡¡Princess¡¡of¡¡Helium£»¡¡I¡¡pull¡¡this¡¡lever¡¡wide£»
and¡¡she¡¡and¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡die¡¡together£»¡¡but¡¡we¡¡shall¡¡not¡¡die¡¡alone¡£¡¨
¡¡
The¡¡nobles¡¡shrank¡¡back£»¡¡whispering¡¡together¡¡for¡¡a¡¡few¡¡moments¡£
At¡¡last¡¡their¡¡lea