a princess of mars-第27章

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foot　which　seemed　to　be　trying　to　reach　the　confines　of　one

of　the　walled　fields。



Dropping　my　machine　rapidly　toward　them；　and　circling

to　the　rear　of　the　warriors；　I　soon　saw　that　the　object　of

their　pursuit　was　a　red　Martian　wearing　the　metal　of　the

scout　squadron　to　which　I　was　attached。　　A　short　distance

away　lay　his　tiny　flier；　surrounded　by　the　tools　with　which

he　had　evidently　been　occupied　in　repairing　some　damage

when　surprised　by　the　green　warriors。



They　were　now　almost　upon　him；　their　flying　mounts

charging　down　on　the　relatively　puny　figure　at　terrific　speed；

while　the　warriors　leaned　low　to　the　right；　with　their　great

metal…shod　spears。　　Each　seemed　striving　to　be　the　first　to

impale　the　poor　Zodangan　and　in　another　moment　his　fate

would　have　been　sealed　had　it　not　been　for　my　timely　arrival。



Driving　my　fleet　air　craft　at　high　speed　directly　behind

the　warriors　I　soon　overtook　them　and　without　diminishing

my　speed　I　rammed　the　prow　of　my　little　flier　between　the

shoulders　of　the　nearest。　　The　impact　sufficient　to　have　torn

through　inches　of　solid　steel；　hurled　the　fellow's　headless　body

into　the　air　over　the　head　of　his　thoat；　where　it　fell　sprawling

upon　the　moss。　　The　mounts　of　the　other　two　warriors

turned　squealing　in　terror；　and　bolted　in　opposite　directions。



Reducing　my　speed　I　circled　and　came　to　the　ground

at　the　feet　of　the　astonished　Zodangan。　　He　was　warm　in

his　thanks　for　my　timely　aid　and　promised　that　my　day's

work　would　bring　the　reward　it　merited；　for　it　was　none

other　than　a　cousin　of　the　jeddak　of　Zodanga　whose　life　I

had　saved。



We　wasted　no　time　in　talk　as　we　knew　that　the　warriors

would　surely　return　as　soon　as　they　had　gained　control　of

their　mounts。　　Hastening　to　his　damaged　machine　we　were

bending　every　effort　to　finish　the　needed　repairs　and　had

almost　completed　them　when　we　saw　the　two　green　monsters

returning　at　top　speed　from　opposite　sides　of　us。　　When

they　had　approached　within　a　hundred　yards　their　thoats

again　became　unmanageable　and　absolutely　refused　to　advance

further　toward　the　air　craft　which　had　frightened　them。



The　warriors　finally　dismounted　and　hobbling　their　animals

advanced　toward　us　on　foot　with　drawn　long…swords。



I　advanced　to　meet　the　larger；　telling　the　Zodangan　to　do

the　best　he　could　with　the　other。　　Finishing　my　man　with

almost　no　effort；　as　had　now　from　much　practice　become

habitual　with　me；　I　hastened　to　return　to　my　new　acquaintance

whom　I　found　indeed　in　desperate　straits。



He　was　wounded　and　down　with　the　huge　foot　of　his

antagonist　upon　his　throat　and　the　great　long…sword　raised

to　deal　the　final　thrust。　　With　a　bound　I　cleared　the　fifty

feet　intervening　between　us；　and　with　outstretched　point

drove　my　sword　completely　through　the　body　of　the　green

warrior。　　His　sword　fell；　harmless；　to　the　ground　and　he　sank

limply　upon　the　prostrate　form　of　the　Zodangan。



A　cursory　examination　of　the　latter　revealed　no　mortal

injuries　and　after　a　brief　rest　he　asserted　that　he　felt　fit　to

attempt　the　return　voyage。　　He　would　have　to　pilot　his

own　craft；　however；　as　these　frail　vessels　are　not　intended

to　convey　but　a　single　person。



Quickly　completing　the　repairs　we　rose　together　into　the

still；　cloudless　Martian　sky；　and　at　great　speed　and　without

further　mishap　returned　to　Zodanga。



As　we　neared　the　city　we　discovered　a　mighty　concourse

of　civilians　and　troops　assembled　upon　the　plain　before　the

city。　　The　sky　was　black　with　naval　vessels　and　private　and

public　pleasure　craft；　flying　long　streamers　of　gay…colored

silks；　and　banners　and　flags　of　odd　and　picturesque　design。



My　companion　signaled　that　I　slow　down；　and　running

his　machine　close　beside　mine　suggested　that　we　approach

and　watch　the　ceremony；　which；　he　said；　was　for　the　purpose

of　conferring　honors　on　individual　officers　and　men　for

bravery　and　other　distinguished　service。　　He　then　unfurled

a　little　ensign　which　denoted　that　his　craft　bore　a　member

of　the　royal　family　of　Zodanga；　and　together　we　made　our

way　through　the　maze　of　low…lying　air　vessels　until　we　hung

directly　over　the　jeddak　of　Zodanga　and　his　staff。　　All　were

mounted　upon　the　small　domestic　bull　thoats　of　the　red

Martians；　and　their　trappings　and　ornamentation　bore　such

a　quantity　of　gorgeously　colored　feathers　that　I　could　not　but

be　struck　with　the　startling　resemblance　the　concourse　bore

to　a　band　of　the　red　Indians　of　my　own　Earth。



One　of　the　staff　called　the　attention　of　Than　Kosis　to　the

presence　of　my　companion　above　them　and　the　ruler　motioned

for　him　to　descend。　　As　they　waited　for　the　troops

to　move　into　position　facing　the　jeddak　the　two　talked

earnestly　together；　the　jeddak　and　his　staff　occasionally

glancing　up　at　me。　　I　could　not　hear　their　conversation　and

presently　it　ceased　and　all　dismounted；　as　the　last　body　of

troops　had　wheeled　into　position　before　their　emperor。　　A

member　of　the　staff　advanced　toward　the　troops；　and　calling

the　name　of　a　soldier　commanded　him　to　advance。　　The

officer　then　recited　the　nature　of　the　heroic　act　which　had

won　the　approval　of　the　jeddak；　and　the　latter　advanced

and　placed　a　metal　ornament　upon　the　left　arm　of　the

lucky　man。



Ten　men　had　been　so　decorated　when　the　aide　called　out；



〃John　Carter；　air　scout！〃



Never　in　my　life　had　I　been　so　surprised；　but　the　habit

of　military　discipline　is　strong　within　me；　and　I　dropped

my　little　machine　lightly　to　the　ground　and　advanced　on

foot　as　I　had　seen　the　others　do。　　As　I　halted　before　the

officer；　he　addressed　me　in　a　voice　audible　to　the　entire

assemblage　of　troops　and　spectators。



〃In　recognition；　John　Carter；〃　he　said；　〃of　your　remarkable

courage　and　skill　in　defending　the　person　of　the　cousin

of　the　jeddak　Than　Kosis　and；　singlehanded；　vanquishing

three　green　warriors；　it　is　the　pleasure　of　our　jeddak　to

confer　on　you　the　mark　of　his　esteem。〃



Than　Kosis　then　advanced　toward　me　and　placing　an

ornament　upon　me；　said：



〃My　cousin　has　narrated　the　details　of　your　wonderful

achievement；　which　seems　little　short　of　miraculous；　and　if

you　can　so　well　defend　a　cousin　of　the　jeddak　how　much

better　could　you　defend　the　person　of　the　jeddak　himself。

You　are　therefore　appointed　a　padwar　of　The　Guards　and

will　be　quartered　in　my　palace　hereafter。〃



I　thanked　him；　and　at　his　direction　joined　the　members

of　his　staff。　　After　the　ceremony　I　returned　my　machine　to

its　quarters　on　the　roof　of　the　barracks　of　the　air…scout

squadron；　and　with　an　orderly　from　the　palace　to　guide　me

I　reported　to　the　officer　in　charge　of　the　palace。











CHAPTER　XXII





I　FIND　DEJAH





The　major…domo　to　whom　I　reported　had　been　given　instructions

to　station　me　near　the　person　of　the　jeddak；　who；　in　time

of　war；　is　always　in　great　danger　of　assassination；　as　the

rule　that　all　is　fair　in　war　seems　to　constitute　the　entire

ethics　of　Martian　conflict。



He　therefore　escorted　me　immediately　to　the　apartment

in　which　Than　Kosis　then　was。　　The　ruler　was　engaged　in

conversation　with　his　son；　Sab　Than；　and　several　courtiers

of　his　household；　and　did　not　perceive　my　entrance。



The　walls　of　the　apartment　were　completely　hung　with

splendid　tapestries　which　hid　any　windows　or　doors　which

may　have　pierced　them。　　The　room　was　lighted　by　imprisoned

rays　of　sunshine　held　between　the　ceiling　proper　and　what

appeared　to　be　a　ground…glass　false　ceiling　a　few　inches

below。



My　guide　drew　aside　one　of　the　tapestries；　disclosing　a

passage　which　encircled　the　room；　between　the　hangings　and

the　walls　of　the　chamber。　　Within　this　passage　I　was　to

remain；　he　said；　so　long　as　Than　Kosis　was　in　the　apartment。

When　he　left　I　was　to　follow。　　My　only　duty　was　to　guard

the　ruler　and　keep　out　of　sight　as　much　as　possible。　　I

would　be　relieved　after　a　period　of　four　hours。　　The　major…

domo　then　left　me。



The　tapestries　were　of　a　strange　weaving　which　gave　the

appearance　of　heavy　solidity　from　one　side；　but　from　my　hiding

place　I　could　perceive　all　that　took　place　within　the　room　as

readily　as　though　there　had　been　no　curtain　intervening。



Scarcely　had　I　gained　my　post　than　the　tapestry　at　the

opposite　end　of　the　chamber　separated　and　four　soldiers　of

The　Guard　entered；　surrounding　a　female　figure。　　As　they

approached　Than　Kosis　the　soldiers　fell　to　either　side　and

there　standing　before　the　jeddak　and　not　ten　feet　from　me；

her　beautiful　face　radiant　with　smiles；　was　Dejah　Thoris。



Sab　Than；　Prince　of　Zodanga；　advanced　to　meet　her；　and

hand　in　hand　they　approached　close　to　the　jeddak。　　Than

Kosis　looked　up　in　surprise；　and；　rising；　saluted　her。



〃To　what　strange　freak　do　I　owe　this　visit　from　the　Princess

of　Helium；　who；　two　days　ago；　with　rare　consideration

for　my　pride；　assured　me　that　she　would　prefer　Tal　Hajus；

the　green　Thark；　to　my　son？〃



Dejah　Thoris　only　smiled　the　more　and　with　the　roguish　dimples

playing　at　the　corners　of　her　mouth　she　made　answer：



〃From　the　beginning　of　time　upon　Barsoom　it　has　been

the　prerogative　of　woman　to　change　her　mind　as　she　listed

and　to　dissemble　in　matters　concerning　her　heart。　　That　you

will　forgive；　Than　Kosis；　as　has　your　son。　　Two　days　ago　I

was　not　sure　of　his　love　for　me；　but　now　I　am；　and　I　have

come　to　beg　of　you　to　forget　my　rash　words　and　to　accept

the　assurance　of　the　Princess　of　Helium　that　when　the　time

comes　she　will　wed　Sab　Than；　Prince　of　Zodanga。〃



〃I　am　glad　that　you　have　so　decided；〃　replied　Than　Kosis。

〃It　is　far　from　my　desire　to　push　war　further　against　the

people　of　Helium；　and；　your　promise　shall　be　recorded　and

a　proclamation　to　my　people　issued　forthwith。〃



〃It　were　better；　Than　Kosis；〃　interrupted　Dejah　Thoris；

〃that　the　proclamation　wait　the　ending　of　this　war。　　It　would

look　strange　indeed　to　my　people　and　to　yours　were　the

Princess　of　Helium　to　give　herself　to　her　country's　enemy

in　the　midst　of　hostilities。〃



〃Cannot　the　war　be　ended　at　once？〃　spoke　Sab　Than。

〃It　requires　but　the　word　of　Than　Kosis　to　bring　peace。

Say　it；　my　father；　say　the　word　that　will　hasten　my

happiness；　and　end　this　unpopular　strife。〃



〃We　shall　see；〃　replied　Than　Kosis；　〃how　the　people　of

Helium　take　to　peace。　　I　shall　at　least　offer　it　to　them。〃



Dejah　Thoris；　after　a　few　words；　turned　and　left　the

apartment；　still　followed　by　her　guards。



Thus　was　the　edifice　of　my　brief　dream　of　happiness

dashed；　broken；　to　the　ground　of　reality。　　The　woman　for

whom　I　had　offered　my　life；　and　from　whose　lips　I　had　so

recently　heard　a　declaration　of　love　for　me；　had　lightly

forgotten　my　very　existence　and　smilingly　given　herself　to

the　son　of　her　people's　most　hated　enemy。



Although　I　had　heard　it　with　my　own　ears　I　could　not

believe　it。　　I　must　search　out　her　apartments　and　force　her

to　repeat　the　cr