按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
she would； in all likelihood； have done it with a sword
thrust or a movement of her trigger finger； but as their
sentiments are mostly atrophied it would have required a
serious injury to have aroused such passions in them。 Sola；
let me add； was an exception； I never saw her perform a cruel
or uncouth act； or fail in uniform kindliness and good
nature。 She was indeed； as her fellow Martian had said of her；
an atavism； a dear and precious reversion to a former type
of loved and loving ancestor。
Seeing that the prisoner seemed the center of attraction I
halted to view the proceedings。 I had not long to wait
for presently Lorquas Ptomel and his retinue of chieftains
approached the building and； signing the guards to follow with
the prisoner entered the audience chamber。 Realizing that I
was a somewhat favored character； and also convinced that
the warriors did not know of my proficiency in their language；
as I had pleaded with Sola to keep this a secret on the
grounds that I did not wish to be forced to talk with the
men until I had perfectly mastered the Martian tongue； I
chanced an attempt to enter the audience chamber and listen
to the proceedings。
The council squatted upon the steps of the rostrum； while
below them stood the prisoner and her two guards。 I saw
that one of the women was Sarkoja； and thus understood
how she had been present at the hearing of the preceding
day； the results of which she had reported to the occupants
of our dormitory last night。 Her attitude toward the captive
was most harsh and brutal。 When she held her； she sunk her
rudimentary nails into the poor girl's flesh； or twisted her
arm in a most painful manner。 When it was necessary to
move from one spot to another she either jerked her roughly；
or pushed her headlong before her。 She seemed to be venting
upon this poor defenseless creature all the hatred； cruelty；
ferocity； and spite of her nine hundred years； backed by
unguessable ages of fierce and brutal ancestors。
The other woman was less cruel because she was entirely
indifferent； if the prisoner had been left to her alone； and
fortunately she was at night； she would have received no
harsh treatment； nor； by the same token would she have
received any attention at all。
As Lorquas Ptomel raised his eyes to address the prisoner
they fell on me and he turned to Tars Tarkas with a word；
and gesture of impatience。 Tars Tarkas made some reply
which I could not catch； but which caused Lorquas Ptomel to
smile； after which they paid no further attention to me。
〃What is your name？〃 asked Lorquas Ptomel； addressing
the prisoner。
〃Dejah Thoris； daughter of Mors Kajak of Helium。〃
〃And the nature of your expedition？〃 he continued。
〃It was a purely scientific research party sent out by my
father's father； the Jeddak of Helium； to rechart the air
currents； and to take atmospheric density tests；〃 replied
the fair prisoner； in a low； well…modulated voice。
〃We were unprepared for battle；〃 she continued； 〃as we
were on a peaceful mission； as our banners and the colors of
our craft denoted。 The work we were doing was as much in
your interests as in ours； for you know full well that were it
not for our labors and the fruits of our scientific operations
there would not be enough air or water on Mars to support
a single human life。 For ages we have maintained the air and
water supply at practically the same point without an
appreciable loss； and we have done this in the face of
the brutal and ignorant interference of your green men。
〃Why； oh； why will you not learn to live in amity with
your fellows； must you ever go on down the ages to your
final extinction but little above the plane of the dumb brutes
that serve you！ A people without written language； without
art； without homes； without love； the victim of eons of the
horrible community idea。 Owning everything in common；
even to your women and children； has resulted in your
owning nothing in common。 You hate each other as you hate
all else except yourselves。 Come back to the ways of our
common ancestors； come back to the light of kindliness
and fellowship。 The way is open to you； you will find the
hands of the red men stretched out to aid you。 Together we
may do still more to regenerate our dying planet。 The grand…
daughter of the greatest and mightiest of the red jeddaks has
asked you。 Will you come？〃
Lorquas Ptomel and the warriors sat looking silently and
intently at the young woman for several moments after she
had ceased speaking。 What was passing in their minds no
man may know； but that they were moved I truly believe；
and if one man high among them had been strong enough
to rise above custom； that moment would have marked a
new and mighty era for Mars。
I saw Tars Tarkas rise to speak； and on his face was such
an expression as I had never seen upon the countenance of a
green Martian warrior。 It bespoke an inward and mighty
battle with self； with heredity； with age…old custom； and
as he opened his mouth to speak； a look almost of benignity；
of kindliness； momentarily lighted up his fierce and terrible
countenance。
What words of moment were to have fallen from his lips
were never spoken； as just then a young warrior； evidently
sensing the trend of thought among the older men； leaped
down from the steps of the rostrum； and striking the frail
captive a powerful blow across the face； which felled her to
the floor； placed his foot upon her prostrate form and turning
toward the assembled council broke into peals of horrid；
mirthless laughter。
For an instant I thought Tars Tarkas would strike him
dead； nor did the aspect of Lorquas Ptomel augur any too
favorably for the brute； but the mood passed； their old selves
reasserted their ascendency； and they smiled。 It was portentous
however that they did not laugh aloud； for the brute's act
constituted a side…splitting witticism according to the
ethics which rule green Martian humor。
That I have taken moments to write down a part of what
occurred as that blow fell does not signify that I remained
inactive for any such length of time。 I think I must have
sensed something of what was coming； for I realize now that
I was crouched as for a spring as I saw the blow aimed at
her beautiful； upturned； pleading face； and ere the hand
descended I was halfway across the hall。
Scarcely had his hideous laugh rang out but once； when
I was upon him。 The brute was twelve feet in height and
armed to the teeth； but I believe that I could have accounted
for the whole roomful in the terrific intensity of my rage。
Springing upward； I struck him full in the face as he turned
at my warning cry and then as he drew his short…sword I
drew mine and sprang up again upon his breast； hooking one
leg over the butt of his pistol and grasping one of his huge
tusks with my left hand while I delivered blow after blow
upon his enormous chest。
He could not use his short…sword to advantage because I
was too close to him； nor could he draw his pistol； which
he attempted to do in direct opposition to Martian custom
which says that you may not fight a fellow warrior in
private combat with any other than the weapon with which you
are attacked。 In fact he could do nothing but make a wild
and futile attempt to dislodge me。 With all his immense bulk
he was little if any stronger than I； and it was but the matter
of a moment or two before he sank； bleeding and lifeless；
to the floor。
Dejah Thoris had raised herself upon one elbow and was
watching the battle with wide； staring eyes。 When I had
regained my feet I raised her in my arms and bore her to
one of the benches at the side of the room。
Again no Martian interfered with me； and tearing a piece
of silk from my cape I endeavored to staunch the flow of
blood from her nostrils。 I was soon successful as her
injuries amounted to little more than an ordinary nosebleed；
and when she could speak she placed her hand upon my
arm and looking up into my eyes； said：
〃Why did you do it？ You who refused me even friendly recognition
in the first hour of my peril！ And now you risk your life and
kill one of your companions for my sake。 I cannot understand。
What strange manner of man are you； that you consort with the
green men； though your form is that of my race； while your color
is little darker than that of the white ape？ Tell me； are you
human； or are you more than human？〃
〃It is a strange tale；〃 I replied； 〃too long to attempt to tell
you now； and one which I so much doubt the credibility of myself
that I fear to hope that others will believe it。 Suffice it；
for the present； that I am your friend； and； so far as our
captors will permit； your protector and your servant。〃
〃Then you too are a prisoner？ But why； then； those arms
and the regalia of a Tharkian chief