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！
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 affection your nature craves and which must
always be denied you by the customs of your own race。
Come with us； Sola； we might go without you； but your
fate would be terrible if they thought you had connived to
aid us。 I know that even that fear would not tempt you to
interfere in our escape； but we want you with us； we want
you to come to a land of sunshine and happiness； amongst
a people who know the meaning of love； of sympathy； and
of gratitude。 Say that you will； Sola； tell me that you will。〃
〃The great waterway which leads to Helium is but fifty
miles to the south；〃 murmured Sola； half to herself； 〃a
swift thoat might make it in three hours； and then to
Helium it is five hundred miles； most of the way through
thinly settled districts。 They would know and they would
follow us。 We might hide among the great trees for a time；
but the chances are small indeed for escape。 They would
follow us to the very gates of Helium； and they would take
toll of life at every step； you do not know them。〃
〃Is there no other way we might reach Helium？〃 I asked。
〃Can you not draw me a rough map of the country we
must traverse； Dejah Thoris？〃
〃Yes；〃 she replied； and taking a great diamond from
her hair she drew upon the marble floor the first map of
Barsoomian territory I had ever seen。 It was crisscrossed in
every direction with long straight lines； sometimes running
parallel and sometimes converging toward some great circle。
The lines； she said； were waterways； the circles； cities； and
one far to the northwest of us she pointed out as Helium。
There were other cities closer； but she said she feared to
enter many of them； as they were not all friendly toward Helium。
Finally； after studying the map carefully in the moonlight
which now flooded the room； I pointed out a waterway far
to the north of us which also seemed to lead to Helium。
〃Does not this pierce your grandfather's territory？〃 I
asked。
〃Yes；〃 she answered； 〃but it is two hundred miles north
of us； it is one of the waterways we crossed on the trip
to Thark。〃
〃They would never suspect that we would try for that
distant waterway；〃 I answered； 〃and that is why I think
that it is the best route for our escape。〃
Sola agreed with me； and it was decided that we should
leave Thark this same night； just as quickly； in fact； as I
could find and saddle my thoats。 Sola was to ride one and
Dejah Thoris and I the other； each of us carrying sufficient
food and drink to last us for two days； since the animals
could not be urged too rapidly for so long a distance。
I directed Sola to proceed with Dejah Thoris along one
of the less frequented avenues to the southern boundary of
the city； where I would overtake them with the thoats as
quickly as possible； then； leaving them to gather what food；
silks； and furs we were to need； I slipped quietly to the
rear of the first floor； and entered the courtyard； where
our animals were moving restlessly about； as was their habit；
before settling down for the night。
In the shadows of the buildings and out beneath the radiance
of the Martian moons moved the great herd of thoats and
zitidars； the latter grunting their low gutturals and
the former occasionally emitting the sharp squeal which
denotes the almost habitual state of rage in which these
creatures passed their existence。 They were quieter now；
owing to the absence of man； but as they scented me they became
more restless and their hideous noise increased。 It was risky
business； this entering a paddock of thoats alone and at night；
first； because their increasing noisiness might warn the nearby
warriors that something was amiss； and also because for the
slightest cause； or for no cause at all some great bull thoat
might take it upon himself to lead a charge upon me。
Having no desire to awaken their nasty tempers upon such
a night as this； where so much depended upon secrecy and
dispatch； I hugged the shadows of the buildings； ready at
an instant's warning to leap into the safety of a nearby
door or window。 Thus I moved silently to the great gates
which opened upon the street at the back of the court； and
as I neared the exit I called softly to my two animals。 How
I thanked the kind providence which had given me the foresight
to win the love and confidence of these wild dumb brutes； for
presently from the far side of the court I saw two huge bulks
forcing their way toward me through the surging mountains of flesh。
They came quite close to me； rubbing their muzzles
against my body and nosing for the bits of food it was
always my practice to reward them with。 Opening the gates
I ordered the two great beasts to pass out； and then
slipping quietly after them I closed the portals behind me。
I did not saddle or mount the animals there； but instead
walked quietly in the shadows of the buildings toward an
unfrequented avenue which led toward the point I had arranged
to meet Dejah Thoris and Sola。 With the noiselessness
of disembodied spirits we moved stealthily along the
deserted streets； but not until we were within sight of
the plain beyond the city did I commence to breathe freely。
I was sure that Sola and Dejah Thoris would find no difficulty
in reaching our rendezvous undetected； but with my great thoats
I was not so sure for myself； as it was quite unusual for warriors
to leave the city after dark； in fact there was no place for them
to go within any but a long ride。
I reached the appointed meeting place safely； but as Dejah
Thoris and Sola were not there I led my animals into the
entrance hall of one of the large buildings。 Presuming that
one of the other women of the same household may have
come in to speak to Sola； and so delayed their departure；
I did not feel any undue apprehension until nearly an hour
had passed without a sign of them； and by the time another
half hour had crawled away I was becoming filled with grave
anxiety。 Then there broke upon the stillness of the night
the sound of an approaching party； which； from the noise； I
knew could be no fugitives creeping stealthily toward liberty。
Soon the party was near me； and from the black shadows of my
entranceway I perceived a score of mounted warriors； who；
in passing； dropped a dozen words that fetched my heart clean
into the top of my head。
〃He would likely have arranged to meet them just without
the city； and so〃 I heard no more； they had passed on；
but it was enough。 Our plan had been discovered； and
the chances for escape from now on to the fearful end
would be small indeed。 My one hope now was to return
undetected to the quarters of Dejah Thoris and learn what
fate had overtaken her； but how to do it with these great
monstrous thoats upon my hands； now that the city probably
was aroused by the knowledge of my escape was a problem
of no mean proportions。
Suddenly an idea occurred to me； and acting on my knowledge
of the construction of the buildings of these ancient
Martian cities with a hollow court within the center of each
square； I groped my way blindly through the dark chambers；
calling the great thoats after me。 They had difficulty in
negotiating some of the doorways； but as the buildings fronting
the city's principal exposures were all designed upon a
magnificent scale； they were able to wriggle through without
sticking fast； and thus we finally made the inner court where
I found； as I had expected； the usual carpet of moss…like
vegetation which would prove their food and drink until I
could return them to their own enclosure。 That they would
be as quiet and contented here as elsewhere I was confident；
nor was there but the remotest possibility that they would
be discovered； as the green men had no great desire to enter
these outlying buildings； which were frequented by the
only thing； I believe； which caused them the sensation of
fearthe great white apes of Barsoom。
Removing the saddle trappings； I hid them just within
the rear doorway of the building through which we had
entered the court； and； turning the beasts loose； quickly
made my way across the court to the rear of the buildings
upon the further side； and thence to the avenue beyond。
Waiting in the doorway of the building until I was assured
that no one was approaching； I hurried across to the opposite
side and through the first doorway to the court beyond；
thus； crossing through court after court with only the slight
chance of detection which the necessary crossing of the
avenues entailed； I made my way in safety to the courtyard
in the rear of Dejah Thoris' quarters。
Here； of course； I found the beasts of the warriors who
quartered in the adjacent buildings； and the warriors
themselves I might expect to meet within if I en