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！
〃Then you too are a prisoner？ But why； then； those arms
and the regalia of a Tharkian chieftain？ What is your name？
Where your country？〃
〃Yes； Dejah Thoris； I too am a prisoner； my name is John
Carter； and I claim Virginia； one of the United States of
America； Earth； as my home； but why I am permitted to
wear arms I do not know； nor was I aware that my regalia
was that of a chieftain。〃
We were interrupted at this juncture by the approach of one
of the warriors； bearing arms； accouterments and ornaments；
and in a flash one of her questions was answered and a
puzzle cleared up for me。 I saw that the body of my dead
antagonist had been stripped； and I read in the menacing
yet respectful attitude of the warrior who had brought me
these trophies of the kill the same demeanor as that evinced
by the other who had brought me my original equipment； and now
for the first time I realized that my blow； on the occasion of
my first battle in the audience chamber had resulted in the
death of my adversary。
The reason for the whole attitude displayed toward me was
now apparent； I had won my spurs； so to speak； and in the
crude justice； which always marks Martian dealings； and which；
among other things； has caused me to call her the planet of
paradoxes； I was accorded the honors due a conqueror；
the trappings and the position of the man I killed。
In truth； I was a Martian chieftain； and this I learned later
was the cause of my great freedom and my toleration in the
audience chamber。
As I had turned to receive the dead warrior's chattels I
had noticed that Tars Tarkas and several others had pushed
forward toward us； and the eyes of the former rested upon
me in a most quizzical manner。 Finally he addressed me：
〃You speak the tongue of Barsoom quite readily for one
who was deaf and dumb to us a few short days ago。 Where
did you learn it； John Carter？〃
〃You； yourself； are responsible； Tars Tarkas；〃 I replied； 〃in
that you furnished me with an instructress of remarkable
ability； I have to thank Sola for my learning。〃
〃She has done well；〃 he answered； 〃but your education in
other respects needs considerable polish。 Do you know what
your unprecedented temerity would have cost you had you
failed to kill either of the two chieftains whose metal you
now wear？〃
〃I presume that that one whom I had failed to kill； would
have killed me；〃 I answered； smiling。
〃No； you are wrong。 Only in the last extremity of self…defense
would a Martian warrior kill a prisoner； we like to save them
for other purposes；〃 and his face bespoke possibilities that
were not pleasant to dwell upon。
〃But one thing can save you now；〃 he continued。 〃Should
you； in recognition of your remarkable valor； ferocity；
and prowess； be considered by Tal Hajus as worthy of his
service you may be taken into the community and become a
full…fledged Tharkian。 Until we reach the headquarters of Tal
Hajus it is the will of Lorquas Ptomel that you be accorded
the respect your acts have earned you。 You will be treated by
us as a Tharkian chieftain； but you must not forget that every
chief who ranks you is responsible for your safe delivery to
our mighty and most ferocious ruler。 I am done。〃
〃I hear you； Tars Tarkas；〃 I answered。 〃As you know I
am not of Barsoom； your ways are not my ways； and I can
only act in the future as I have in the past； in accordance
with the dictates of my conscience and guided by the standards
of mine own people。 If you will leave me alone I will go
in peace； but if not； let the individual Barsoomians with
whom I must deal either respect my rights as a stranger
among you； or take whatever consequences may befall。 Of
one thing let us be sure； whatever may be your ultimate
intentions toward this unfortunate young woman； whoever
would offer her injury or insult in the future must figure on
making a full accounting to me。 I understand that you belittle
all sentiments of generosity and kindliness； but I do not；
and I can convince your most doughty warrior that these
characteristics are not incompatible with an ability to fight。〃
Ordinarily I am not given to long speeches； nor ever before
had I descended to bombast； but I had guessed at the keynote
which would strike an answering chord in the breasts of the
green Martians； nor was I wrong； for my harangue evidently
deeply impressed them； and their attitude toward me
thereafter was still further respectful。
Tars Tarkas himself seemed pleased with my reply； but his
only comment was more or less enigmatical 〃And I think I
know Tal Hajus； Jeddak of Thark。〃
I now turned my attention to Dejah Thoris； and assisting
her to her feet I turned with her toward the exit； ignoring
her hovering guardian harpies as well as the inquiring
glances of the chieftains。 Was I not now a chieftain also！
Well； then； I would assume the responsibilities of one。
They did not molest us； and so Dejah Thoris； Princess of
Helium； and John Carter； gentleman of Virginia； followed
by the faithful Woola； passed through utter silence from the
audience chamber of Lorquas Ptomel； Jed among the Tharks
of Barsoom。
CHAPTER XI
WITH DEJAH THORIS
As we reached the open the two female guards who had
been detailed to watch over Dejah Thoris hurried up and
made as though to assume custody of her once more。 The
poor child shrank against me and I felt her two little hands
fold tightly over my arm。 Waving the women away； I informed
them that Sola would attend the captive hereafter； and I
further warned Sarkoja that any more of her cruel attentions
bestowed upon Dejah Thoris would result in Sarkoja's sudden
and painful demise。
My threat was unfortunate and resulted in more harm
than good to Dejah Thoris； for； as I learned later； men do
not kill women upon Mars； nor women； men。 So Sarkoja
merely gave us an ugly look and departed to hatch up
deviltries against us。
I soon found Sola and explained to her that I wished her
to guard Dejah Thoris as she had guarded me； that I wished
her to find other quarters where they would not be molested
by Sarkoja； and I finally informed her that I myself would
take up my quarters among the men。
Sola glanced at the accouterments which were carried in
my hand and slung across my shoulder。
〃You are a great chieftain now； John Carter；〃 she said；
〃and I must do your bidding； though indeed I am glad to do
it under any circumstances。 The man whose metal you carry
was young； but he was a great warrior； and had by his
promotions and kills won his way close to the rank of Tars
Tarkas； who； as you know； is second to Lorquas Ptomel only。
You are eleventh； there are but ten chieftains in this
community who rank you in prowess。〃
〃And if I should kill Lorquas Ptomel？〃 I asked。
〃You would be first； John Carter； but you may only win
that honor by the will of the entire council that Lorquas
Ptomel meet you in combat； or should he attack you； you
may kill him in self…defense； and thus win first place。〃
I laughed； and changed the subject。 I had no particular
desire to kill Lorquas Ptomel； and less to be a jed among
the Tharks。
I accompanied Sola and Dejah Thoris in a search for new
quarters； which we found in a building nearer the audience
chamber and of far more pretentious architecture than our
former habitation。 We also found in this building real
sleeping apartments with ancient beds of highly wrought
metal swinging from enormous gold chains depending from the
marble ceilings。 The decoration of the walls was most elaborate；
and； unlike the frescoes in the other buildings I had examined；
portrayed many human figures in the compositions。
These were of people like myself； and of a much lighter
color than Dejah Thoris。 They were clad in graceful；
flowing robes； highly ornamented with metal and jewels； and
their luxuriant hair was of a beautiful golden and reddish
bronze。 The men were beardless and only a few wore arms。
The scenes depicted for the most part； a fair…skinned；
fair…haired people at play。
Dejah Thoris clasped her hands with an exclamation of
rapture as she gazed upon these magnificent works of art；
wrought by a people long extinct； while Sola； on the other
hand； apparently did not see them。
We decided to use this room； on the second floor and
overlooking the plaza； for Dejah Thoris and Sola； and
another room adjoining and in the rear for the cooking and
supplies。 I then dispatched Sola to bring the bedding and
such food and utensils as she might need； telling her that
I would guard Dejah Thoris until her return。
As Sola departed Dejah Thoris turned to me with a faint smile。
〃And whereto； then； would your prisoner escape should
you leave her； unless it was to follow you and crave your
protection； and ask your pardon for the cruel thoug