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！
walled fields and low； rambling buildings； presenting much
the appearance of earthly farms。 There were many trees；
methodically arranged； and some of them were of enormous height；
there were animals in some of the enclosures； and they announced
their presence by terrified squealings and snortings as they
scented our queer； wild beasts and wilder human beings。
Only once did I perceive a human being； and that was
at the intersection of our crossroad with the wide； white
turnpike which cuts each cultivated district longitudinally
at its exact center。 The fellow must have been sleeping
beside the road； for； as I came abreast of him； he raised upon
one elbow and after a single glance at the approaching caravan
leaped shrieking to his feet and fled madly down the road；
scaling a nearby wall with the agility of a scared cat。
The Tharks paid him not the slightest attention； they were
not out upon the warpath； and the only sign that I had
that they had seen him was a quickening of the pace of the
caravan as we hastened toward the bordering desert which
marked our entrance into the realm of Tal Hajus。
Not once did I have speech with Dejah Thoris； as she
sent no word to me that I would be welcome at her chariot；
and my foolish pride kept me from making any advances。
I verily believe that a man's way with women is in inverse
ratio to his prowess among men。 The weakling and the saphead
have often great ability to charm the fair sex； while the
fighting man who can face a thousand real dangers unafraid；
sits hiding in the shadows like some frightened child。
Just thirty days after my advent upon Barsoom we entered
the ancient city of Thark； from whose long…forgotten
people this horde of green men have stolen even their name。
The hordes of Thark number some thirty thousand souls；
and are divided into twenty…five communities。 Each community
has its own jed and lesser chieftains； but all are under
the rule of Tal Hajus； Jeddak of Thark。 Five communities
make their headquarters at the city of Thark； and the
balance are scattered among other deserted cities of
ancient Mars throughout the district claimed by Tal Hajus。
We made our entry into the great central plaza early in
the afternoon。 There were no enthusiastic friendly greetings
for the returned expedition。 Those who chanced to be in
sight spoke the names of warriors or women with whom
they came in direct contact； in the formal greeting of their
kind； but when it was discovered that they brought two
captives a greater interest was aroused； and Dejah Thoris
and I were the centers of inquiring groups。
We were soon assigned to new quarters； and the balance
of the day was devoted to settling ourselves to the changed
conditions。 My home now was upon an avenue leading into
the plaza from the south； the main artery down which we
had marched from the gates of the city。 I was at the far
end of the square and had an entire building to myself。 The
same grandeur of architecture which was so noticeable
a characteristic of Korad was in evidence here； only； if
that were possible； on a larger and richer scale。 My quarters
would have been suitable for housing the greatest of earthly
emperors； but to these queer creatures nothing about a building
appealed to them but its size and the enormity of its chambers；
the larger the building； the more desirable； and so Tal Hajus
occupied what must have been an enormous public building； the
largest in the city； but entirely unfitted for residence purposes；
the next largest was reserved for Lorquas Ptomel； the next for the
jed of a lesser rank； and so on to the bottom of the list of five jeds。
The warriors occupied the buildings with the chieftains to whose
retinues they belonged； or； if they preferred； sought shelter
among any of the thousands of untenanted buildings in their own
quarter of town； each community being assigned a certain
section of the city。 The selection of building had to be made
in accordance with these divisions； except in so far as the
jeds were concerned； they all occupying edifices which
fronted upon the plaza。
When I had finally put my house in order； or rather seen
that it had been done； it was nearing sunset； and I hastened
out with the intention of locating Sola and her charges； as
I had determined upon having speech with Dejah Thoris
and trying to impress on her the necessity of our at least
patching up a truce until I could find some way of aiding
her to escape。 I searched in vain until the upper rim of the
great red sun was just disappearing behind the horizon and
then I spied the ugly head of Woola peering from a second…
story window on the opposite side of the very street where
I was quartered； but nearer the plaza。
Without waiting for a further invitation I bolted up the
winding runway which led to the second floor； and entering
a great chamber at the front of the building was greeted
by the frenzied Woola； who threw his great carcass upon
me； nearly hurling me to the floor； the poor old fellow was
so glad to see me that I thought he would devour me； his
head split from ear to ear； showing his three rows of tusks
in his hobgoblin smile。
Quieting him with a word of command and a caress； I
looked hurriedly through the approaching gloom for a sign
of Dejah Thoris； and then； not seeing her； I called her name。
There was an answering murmur from the far corner of the
apartment； and with a couple of quick strides I was standing
beside her where she crouched among the furs and silks
upon an ancient carved wooden seat。 As I waited she rose
to her full height and looking me straight in the eye said：
〃What would Dotar Sojat； Thark； of Dejah Thoris his captive？〃
〃Dejah Thoris； I do not know how I have angered you。
It was furtherest from my desire to hurt or offend you；
whom I had hoped to protect and comfort。 Have none of
me if it is your will； but that you must aid me in effecting
your escape； if such a thing be possible； is not my request；
but my command。 When you are safe once more at your
father's court you may do with me as you please； but from
now on until that day I am your master； and you must
obey and aid me。〃
She looked at me long and earnestly and I thought that
she was softening toward me。
〃I understand your words； Dotar Sojat；〃 she replied； 〃but
you I do not understand。 You are a queer mixture of child
and man； of brute and noble。 I only wish that I might read
your heart。〃
〃Look down at your feet； Dejah Thoris； it lies there now
where it has lain since that other night at Korad； and where
it will ever lie beating alone for you until death stills it
forever。〃
She took a little step toward me； her beautiful hands
outstretched in a strange； groping gesture。
〃What do you mean； John Carter？〃 she whispered。
〃What are you saying to me？〃
〃I am saying what I had promised myself that I would
not say to you； at least until you were no longer a captive
among the green men； what from your attitude toward me
for the past twenty days I had thought never to say to you；
I am saying； Dejah Thoris； that I am yours； body and soul；
to serve you； to fight for you； and to die for you。 Only
one thing I ask of you in return； and that is that you make
no sign； either of condemnation or of approbation of my
words until you are safe among your own people； and that
whatever sentiments you harbor toward me they be not
influenced or colored by gratitude； whatever I may do to
serve you will be prompted solely from selfish motives；
since it gives me more pleasure to serve you than not。〃
〃I will respect your wishes； John Carter； because I
understand the motives which prompt them； and I accept
your service no more willingly than I bow to your authority；
your word shall be my law。 I have twice wronged you
in my thoughts and again I ask your forgiveness。〃
Further conversation of a personal nature was prevented
by the entrance of Sola； who was much agitated and wholly
unlike her usual calm and possessed self。
〃That horrible Sarkoja has been before Tal Hajus；〃 she
cried； 〃and from what I heard upon the plaza there is
little hope for either of you。〃
〃What do they say？〃 inquired Dejah Thoris。
〃That you will be thrown to the wild calots ＇dogs＇ in
the great arena as soon as the hordes have assembled for
the yearly games。〃
〃Sola；〃 I said； 〃you are a Thark； but you hate and loathe
the customs of your people as much as we do。 Will you
not accompany us in one supreme effort to escape？ I am
sure that Dejah Thoris can offer you a home and protection
among her people； and your fate can be no worse among
them than it must ever be here。〃
〃Yes；〃 cried Dejah Thoris； 〃come with us； Sola； you will
be better off among the red men of Helium than you are
here； and I can promise you not only a home with us； but
the love and affect