warlord of mars-第4部分

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As　the　lazy　current　of　the　eddy　carried　me　slowly　about　the

periphery　of　the　watery　circle　my　boat　twice　touched　the　rocky　side

of　the　river　in　the　dark　recess　beneath　the　cliff。　　A　third　time　it

struck；　gently　as　it　had　before；　but　the　contact　resulted　in　a

different　soundthe　sound　of　wood　scraping　upon　wood。

　

In　an　instant　I　was　on　the　alert；　for　there　could　be　no　wood

within　that　buried　river　that　had　not　been　man　brought。　　Almost

coincidentally　with　my　first　apprehension　of　the　noise；　my　hand

shot　out　across　the　boat's　side；　and　a　second　later　I　felt　my

fingers　gripping　the　gunwale　of　another　craft。

　

As　though　turned　to　stone　I　sat　in　tense　and　rigid　silence；

straining　my　eyes　into　the　utter　darkness　before　me　in　an　effort　to

discover　if　the　boat　were　occupied。

　

It　was　entirely　possible　that　there　might　be　men　on　board　it

who　were　still　ignorant　of　my　presence；　for　the　boat　was　scraping

gently　against　the　rocks　upon　one　side；　so　that　the　gentle　touch　of

my　boat　upon　the　other　easily　could　have　gone　unnoticed。

　

Peer　as　I　would　I　could　not　penetrate　the　darkness；　and　then

I　listened　intently　for　the　sound　of　breathing　near　me；　but　except

for　the　noise　of　the　rapids；　the　soft　scraping　of　the　boats；　and

the　lapping　of　the　water　at　their　sides　I　could　distinguish　no

sound。　　As　usual；　I　thought　rapidly。

　

A　rope　lay　coiled　in　the　bottom　of　my　own　craft。　　Very　softly

I　gathered　it　up；　and　making　one　end　fast　to　the　bronze　ring　in　the

prow　I　stepped　gingerly　into　the　boat　beside　me。　　In　one　hand　I

grasped　the　rope；　in　the　other　my　keen　long…sword。

　

For　a　full　minute；　perhaps；　I　stood　motionless　after　entering

the　strange　craft。　　It　had　rocked　a　trifle　beneath　my　weight；　but

it　had　been　the　scraping　of　its　side　against　the　side　of　my　own

boat　that　had　seemed　most　likely　to　alarm　its　occupants；　if　there

were　any。

　

But　there　was　no　answering　sound；　and　a　moment　later　I　had

felt　from　stem　to　stern　and　found　the　boat　deserted。

　

Groping　with　my　hands　along　the　face　of　the　rocks　to　which　the

craft　was　moored；　I　discovered　a　narrow　ledge　which　I　knew　must　be

the　avenue　taken　by　those　who　had　come　before　me。　　That　they　could

be　none　other　than　Thurid　and　his　party　I　was　convinced　by　the　size

and　build　of　the　boat　I　had　found。

　

Calling　to　Woola　to　follow　me　I　stepped　out　upon　the　ledge。

The　great；　savage　brute；　agile　as　a　cat；　crept　after　me。

　

As　he　passed　through　the　boat　that　had　been　occupied　by　Thurid

and　the　therns　he　emitted　a　single　low　growl；　and　when　he　came

beside　me　upon　the　ledge　and　my　hand　rested　upon　his　neck　I　felt

his　short　mane　bristling　with　anger。　　I　think　he　sensed

telepathically　the　recent　presence　of　an　enemy；　for　I　had　made　no

effort　to　impart　to　him　the　nature　of　our　quest　or　the　status　of

those　we　tracked。

　

This　omission　I　now　made　haste　to　correct；　and；　after　the

manner　of　green　Martians　with　their　beasts；　I　let　him　know

partially　by　the　weird　and　uncanny　telepathy　of　Barsoom　and　partly

by　word　of　mouth　that　we　were　upon　the　trail　of　those　who　had

recently　occupied　the　boat　through　which　we　had　just　passed。

　

A　soft　purr；　like　that　of　a　great　cat；　indicated　that　Woola

understood；　and　then；　with　a　word　to　him　to　follow；　I　turned　to　the

right　along　the　ledge；　but　scarcely　had　I　done　so　than　I　felt　his

mighty　fangs　tugging　at　my　leathern　harness。

　

As　I　turned　to　discover　the　cause　of　his　act　he　continued　to　pull

me　steadily　in　the　opposite　direction；　nor　would　he　desist　until　I

had　turned　about　and　indicated　that　I　would　follow　him　voluntarily。

　

Never　had　I　known　him　to　be　in　error　in　a　matter　of　tracking；

so　it　was　with　a　feeling　of　entire　security　that　I　moved　cautiously

in　the　huge　beast's　wake。　　Through　Cimmerian　darkness　he　moved

along　the　narrow　ledge　beside　the　boiling　rapids。

　

As　we　advanced；　the　way　led　from　beneath　the　overhanging

cliffs　out　into　a　dim　light；　and　then　it　was　that　I　saw　that　the

trail　had　been　cut　from　the　living　rock；　and　that　it　ran　up　along

the　river's　side　beyond　the　rapids。

　

For　hours　we　followed　the　dark　and　gloomy　river　farther　and

farther　into　the　bowels　of　Mars。　　From　the　direction　and

distance　I　knew　that　we　must　be　well　beneath　the　Valley　Dor；

and　possibly　beneath　the　Sea　of　Omean　as　wellit　could　not

be　much　farther　now　to　the　Temple　of　the　Sun。

　

Even　as　my　mind　framed　the　thought；　Woola　halted　suddenly

before　a　narrow；　arched　doorway　in　the　cliff　by　the　trail's　side。

Quickly　he　crouched　back　away　from　the　entrance；　at　the　same　time

turning　his　eyes　toward　me。

　

Words　could　not　have　more　plainly　told　me　that　danger　of　some

sort　lay　near　by；　and　so　I　pressed　quietly　forward　to　his　side；

and　passing　him　looked　into　the　aperture　at　our　right。

　

Before　me　was　a　fair…sized　chamber　that；　from　its　appointments；

I　knew　must　have　at　one　time　been　a　guardroom。　　There　were　racks

for　weapons；　and　slightly　raised　platforms　for　the　sleeping　silks

and　furs　of　the　warriors；　but　now　its　only　occupants　were　two　of

the　therns　who　had　been　of　the　party　with　Thurid　and　Matai　Shang。

　

The　men　were　in　earnest　conversation；　and　from　their　tones　it　was

apparent　that　they　were　entirely　unaware　that　they　had　listeners。

　

〃I　tell　you；〃　one　of　them　was　saying；　〃I　do　not　trust　the　black　one。

There　was　no　necessity　for　leaving　us　here　to　guard　the　way。

Against　what；　pray；　should　we　guard　this　long…forgotten；

abysmal　path？　　It　was　but　a　ruse　to　divide　our　numbers。

　

〃He　will　have　Matai　Shang　leave　others　elsewhere　on　some

pretext　or　other；　and　then　at　last　he　will　fall　upon　us　with　his

confederates　and　slay　us　all。〃

　

〃I　believe　you；　Lakor；〃　replied　the　other；　〃there　can　never　be

aught　else　than　deadly　hatred　between　thern　and　First　Born。　　And

what　think　you　of　the　ridiculous　matter　of　the　light？　　‘Let　the

light　shine　with　the　intensity　of　three　radium　units　for　fifty

tals；　and　for　one　xat　let　it　shine　with　the　intensity　of　one　radium

unit；　and　then　for　twenty…five　tals　with　nine　units。'　　Those　were

his　very　words；　and　to　think　that　wise　old　Matai　Shang　should

listen　to　such　foolishness。〃

　

〃Indeed；　it　is　silly；〃　replied　Lakor。　　〃It　will　open　nothing

other　than　the　way　to　a　quick　death　for　us　all。　　He　had　to　make

some　answer　when　Matai　Shang　asked　him　flatly　what　he　should　do

when　he　came　to　the　Temple　of　the　Sun；　and　so　he　made　his　answer

quickly　from　his　imaginationI　would　wager　a　hekkador's　diadem

that　he　could　not　now　repeat　it　himself。〃

　

〃Let　us　not　remain　here　longer；　Lakor；〃　spoke　the　other　thern。

〃Perchance　if　we　hasten　after　them　we　may　come　in　time　to　rescue

Matai　Shang；　and　wreak　our　own　vengeance　upon　the　black　dator。

What　say　you？〃

　

〃Never　in　a　long　life；〃　answered　Lakor；　〃have　I　disobeyed　a

single　command　of　the　Father　of　Therns。　　I　shall　stay　here

until　I　rot　if　he　does　not　return　to　bid　me　elsewhere。〃

　

Lakor's　companion　shook　his　head。

　

〃You　are　my　superior；〃　he　said；　〃I　cannot　do　other　than　you

sanction；　though　I　still　believe　that　we　are　foolish　to　remain。〃

　

I；　too；　thought　that　they　were　foolish　to　remain；　for　I　saw

from　Woola's　actions　that　the　trail　led　through　the　room　where　the

two　therns　held　guard。　　I　had　no　reason　to　harbor　any　considerable

love　for　this　race　of　self…deified　demons；　yet　I　would　have　passed

them　by　were　it　possible　without　molesting　them。

　

It　was　worth　trying　anyway；　for　a　fight　might　delay　us　considerably；

or　even　put　an　end　entirely　to　my　searchbetter　men　than　I　have

gone　down　before　fighters　of　meaner　ability　than　that　possessed

by　the　fierce　thern　warriors。

　

Signaling　Woola　to　heel　I　stepped　suddenly　into　the　room　before　the

two　men。　　At　sight　of　me　their　long…swords　flashed　from　the　harness

at　their　sides；　but　I　raised　my　hand　in　a　gesture　of　restraint。

　

〃I　seek　Thurid；　the　black　dator；〃　I　said。　　〃My　quarrel　is　with　him；

not　with　you。　　Let　me　pass　then　in　peace；　for　if　I　mistake　not　he　is

as　much　your　enemy　as　mine；　and　you　can　have　no　cause　to　protect　him。〃

　

They　lowered　their　swords　and　Lakor　spoke。

　

〃I　know　not　whom　you　may　be；　with　the　white　skin　of　a　thern

and　the　black　hair　of　a　red　man；　but　were　it　only　Thurid　whose

safety　were　at　stake　you　might　pass；　and　welcome；　in　so　far　as　we

be　concerned。

　

〃Tell　us　who　you　be；　and　what　mission　calls　you　to　this　unknown

world　beneath　the　Valley　Dor；　then　maybe　we　can　see　our　way　to

let　you　pass　upon　the　errand　which　we　should　like　to　undertake

would　our　orders　permit。〃

　

I　was　surprised　that　neither　of　them　had　recognized　me；　for　I

thought　that　I　was　quite　sufficiently　well　known　either　by

personal　experience　or　reputation　to　every　thern　upon　Barsoom　as

to　make　my　identity　immediately　apparent　in　any　part　of　the　planet。

In　fact；　I　was　the　only　white　man　upon　Mars　whose　hair　was　black

and　whose　eyes　were　gray；　with　the　exception　of　my　son；　Carthoris。

　

To　reveal　my　identity　might　be　to　precipitate　an　attack；　for　every

thern　upon　Barsoom　knew　that　to　me　they　owed　the　fall　of　their

age…old　spiritual　supremacy。　　On　the　other　hand　my　reputation　as　a

fighting　man　might　be　sufficient　to　pass　me　by　these　two　were　their

livers　not　of　the　right　complexion　to　welcome　a　battle　to　the　death。

　

To　be　quite　candid　I　did　not　attempt　to　delude　myself　with　any

such　sophistry；　since　I　knew　well　that　upon　war…like　Mars　there

are　few　cowards；　and　that　every　man；　whether　prince；　priest；

or　peasant；　glories　in　deadly　strife。　　And　so　I　gripped　my

long…sword　the　tighter　as　I　replied　to　Lakor。

　

〃I　believe　that　you　will　see　the　wisdom　of　permitting　me　to

pass　unmolested；〃　I　said；　〃for　it　would　avail　you　nothing　to　die

uselessly　in　the　rocky　bowels　of　Barsoom　merely　to　protect　a

hereditary　enemy；　such　as　Thurid；　Dator　of　the　First　Born。

　

〃That　you　shall　die　should　you　elect　to　oppose　me　is　evidenced　by

the　moldering　corpses　of　all　the