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！
〃You stand already self…condemned。 It but remains to determine the
manner of your death。 Even the service that you rendered the arms
of Kaol shall avail you naught； it was but a base subterfuge whereby
you might win your way into my favor and reach the side of this holy
man whose life you craved。 To the pits with him！〃 he concluded；
addressing the officer of my guard。
Here was a pretty pass； indeed！ What chance had I against a
whole nation？ What hope for me of mercy at the hands of the
fanatical Kulan Tith with such advisers as Matai Shang and Thurid。
The black grinned malevolently in my face。
〃You shall not escape this time； Earth man；〃 he taunted。
The guards closed toward me。 A red haze blurred my vision。
The fighting blood of my Virginian sires coursed hot through
my veins。 The lust of battle in all its mad fury was upon me。
With a leap I was beside Thurid； and ere the devilish smirk
had faded from his handsome face I had caught him full upon the
mouth with my clenched fist； and as the good； old American blow
landed； the black dator shot back a dozen feet； to crumple in a
heap at the foot of Kulan Tith's throne； spitting blood and teeth
from his hurt mouth。
Then I drew my sword and swung round； on guard； to face a nation。
In an instant the guardsmen were upon me； but before a blow
had been struck a mighty voice rose above the din of shouting
warriors； and a giant figure leaped from the dais beside Kulan Tith
and； with drawn long…sword； threw himself between me and my adversaries。
It was the visiting jeddak。
〃Hold！〃 he cried。 〃If you value my friendship； Kulan Tith；
and the age…old peace that has existed between our peoples；
call off your swordsmen； for wherever or against whomsoever
fights John Carter； Prince of Helium； there beside him and
to the death fights Thuvan Dihn； Jeddak of Ptarth。〃
The shouting ceased and the menacing points were lowered as a
thousand eyes turned first toward Thuvan Dihn in surprise and then
toward Kulan Tith in question。 At first the Jeddak of Kaol went white
in rage； but before he spoke he had mastered himself； so that his tone
was calm and even as befitted intercourse between two great jeddaks。
〃Thuvan Dihn；〃 he said slowly； 〃must have great provocation
thus to desecrate the ancient customs which inspire the deportment
of a guest within the palace of his host。 Lest I； too； should
forget myself as has my royal friend； I should prefer to remain
silent until the Jeddak of Ptarth has won from me applause for his
action by relating the causes which provoked it。〃
I could see that the Jeddak of Ptarth was of half a mind to
throw his metal in Kulan Tith's face； but he controlled himself
even as well as had his host。
〃None knows better than Thuvan Dihn；〃 he said； 〃the laws which
govern the acts of men in the domains of their neighbors； but
Thuvan Dihn owes allegiance to a higher law than thesethe
law of gratitude。 Nor to any man upon Barsoom does he owe a
greater debt of gratitude than to John Carter； Prince of Helium。
〃Years ago； Kulan Tith；〃 he continued； 〃upon the occasion of
your last visit to me； you were greatly taken with the charms and
graces of my only daughter； Thuvia。 You saw how I adored her； and
later you learned that； inspired by some unfathomable whim； she had
taken the last； long； voluntary pilgrimage upon the cold bosom of
the mysterious Iss； leaving me desolate。
〃Some months ago I first heard of the expedition which John Carter had
led against Issus and the Holy Therns。 Faint rumors of the atrocities
reported to have been committed by the therns upon those who for
countless ages have floated down the mighty Iss came to my ears。
〃I heard that thousands of prisoners had been released； few of
whom dared to return to their own countries owing to the mandate of
terrible death which rests against all who return from the Valley Dor。
〃For a time I could not believe the heresies which I heard；
and I prayed that my daughter Thuvia might have died before she
ever committed the sacrilege of returning to the outer world。
But then my father's love asserted itself； and I vowed that I
would prefer eternal damnation to further separation from her
if she could be found。
〃So I sent emissaries to Helium； and to the court of Xodar；
Jeddak of the First Born； and to him who now rules those of the
thern nation that have renounced their religion； and from each
and all I heard the same story of unspeakable cruelties and
atrocities perpetrated upon the poor defenseless victims of
their religion by the Holy Therns。
〃Many there were who had seen or known my daughter； and from
therns who had been close to Matai Shang I learned of the
indignities that he personally heaped upon her； and I was glad
when I came here to find that Matai Shang was also your guest；
for I should have sought him out had it taken a lifetime。
〃More； too； I heard； and that of the chivalrous kindness that
John Carter had accorded my daughter。 They told me how he fought
for her and rescued her； and how he spurned escape from the savage
Warhoons of the south； sending her to safety upon his own
thoat and remaining upon foot to meet the green warriors。
〃Can you wonder； Kulan Tith； that I am willing to jeopardize
my life； the peace of my nation； or even your friendship； which I
prize more than aught else； to champion the Prince of Helium？〃
For a moment Kulan Tith was silent。 I could see by the expression
of his face that he was sore perplexed。 Then he spoke。
〃Thuvan Dihn；〃 he said； and his tone was friendly though sad；
〃who am I to judge my fellow…man？ In my eyes the Father of Therns
is still holy； and the religion which he teaches the only true religion；
but were I faced by the same problem that has vexed you I doubt not
that I should feel and act precisely as you have。
〃In so far as the Prince of Helium is concerned I may act； but between
you and Matai Shang my only office can be one of conciliation。
The Prince of Helium shall be escorted in safety to the boundary
of my domain ere the sun has set again； where he shall be free
to go whither he will； but upon pain of death must he never
again enter the land of Kaol。
〃If there be a quarrel between you and the Father of Therns；
I need not ask that the settlement of it be deferred until both
have passed beyond the limits of my power。 Are you satisfied；
Thuvan Dihn？〃
The Jeddak of Ptarth nodded his assent； but the ugly scowl that
he bent upon Matai Shang harbored ill for that pasty…faced godling。
〃The Prince of Helium is far from satisfied；〃 I cried；
breaking rudely in upon the beginnings of peace； for I
had no stomach for peace at the price that had been named。
〃I have escaped death in a dozen forms to follow Matai Shang
and overtake him； and I do not intend to be led； like a decrepit
thoat to the slaughter； from the goal that I have won by the
prowess of my sword arm and the might of my muscles。
〃Nor will Thuvan Dihn； Jeddak of Ptarth； be satisfied when he
has heard me through。 Do you know why I have followed Matai Shang
and Thurid； the black dator； from the forests of the Valley Dor
across half a world through almost insurmountable difficulties？
〃Think you that John Carter； Prince of Helium； would stoop to
assassination？ Can Kulan Tith be such a fool as to believe
that lie； whispered in his ear by the Holy Thern or Dator Thurid？
〃I do not follow Matai Shang to kill him； though the God of
mine own planet knows that my hands itch to be at his throat。
I follow him； Thuvan Dihn； because with him are two prisoners
my wife； Dejah Thoris； Princess of Helium； and your daughter；
Thuvia of Ptarth。
〃Now think you that I shall permit myself to be led beyond
the walls of Kaol unless the mother of my son accompanies me；
and thy daughter be restored？〃
Thuvan Dihn turned upon Kulan Tith。 Rage flamed in his keen eyes；
but by the masterfulness of his self…control he kept his tones level
as he spoke。
〃Knew you this thing； Kulan Tith？〃 he asked。 〃Knew you that
my daughter lay a prisoner in your palace？〃
〃He could not know it；〃 interrupted Matai Shang； white with
what I am sure was more fear than rage。 〃He could not know it；
for it is a lie。〃
I would have had his life for that upon the spot； but even as
I sprang toward him Thuvan Dihn laid a heavy hand upon my shoulder。
〃Wait；〃 he said to me； and then to Kulan Tith。 〃It is not a lie。
This much have I learned of the Prince of Heliumhe does not lie。
Answer me； Kulan TithI have asked you a question。〃
〃Three women came with the Father of Therns；〃 replied Kulan Tith。
〃Phaidor； his daughter； and two who were reported to be her slaves。
If these be Thuvia of Ptarth and Dejah Thoris of Helium I did not
know itI have seen neither。 But if they be； then shal