登陆注册
15299500000032

第32章 WITH THE YELLOW MEN(1)

Thuvan Dihn was not long in joining me; and, though we found the hooked weapon a strange and savage thing with which to deal, the three of us soon despatched the five black-bearded warriors who opposed us.

When the battle was over our new acquaintance turned to me, and removing the shield from his wrist, held it out.I did not know the significance of his act, but judged that it was but a form of expressing his gratitude to me.

I afterward learned that it symbolized the offering of a man's life in return for some great favor done him; and my act of refusing, which I had immediately done, was what was expected of me.

"Then accept from Talu, Prince of Marentina," said the yellow man, "this token of my gratitude," and reaching beneath one of his wide sleeves he withdrew a bracelet and placed it upon my arm.

He then went through the same ceremony with Thuvan Dihn.

Next he asked our names, and from what land we hailed.

He seemed quite familiar with the geography of the outerworld, and when I said I was from Helium he raised his brows.

"Ah," he said, "you seek your ruler and his company?""Know you of them?" I asked.

"But little more than that they were captured by my uncle, Salensus Oll, Jeddak of Jeddaks, Ruler of Okar, land of the yellow men of Barsoom.

As to their fate I know nothing, for I am at war with my uncle, who would crush my power in the principality of Marentina.

"These from whom you have just saved me are warriors he has sent out to find and slay me, for they know that often I come alone to hunt and kill the sacred apt which Salensus Oll so much reveres.

It is partly because I hate his religion that Salensus Oll hates me;but mostly does he fear my growing power and the great faction which has arisen throughout Okar that would be glad to see me ruler of Okar and Jeddak of Jeddaks in his place.

"He is a cruel and tyrannous master whom all hate, and were it not for the great fear they have of him I could raise an army overnight that would wipe out the few that might remain loyal to him.My own people are faithful to me, and the little valley of Marentina has paid no tribute to the court of Salensus Oll for a year.

"Nor can he force us, for a dozen men may hold the narrow way to Marentina against a million.But now, as to thine own affairs.

How may I aid you? My palace is at your disposal, if you wish to honor me by coming to Marentina.""When our work is done we shall be glad to accept your invitation,"I replied."But now you can assist us most by directing us to the court of Salensus Oll, and suggesting some means by which we may gain admission to the city and the palace, or whatever other place we find our friends to be confined."Talu gazed ruefully at our smooth faces and at Thuvan Dihn's red skin and my white one.

"First you must come to Marentina," he said, "for a great change must be wrought in your appearance before you can hope to enter any city in Okar.You must have yellow faces and black beards, and your apparel and trappings must be those least likely to arouse suspicion.In my palace is one who can make you appear as truly yellow men as does Salensus Oll himself."His counsel seemed wise; and as there was apparently no other way to insure a successful entry to Kadabra, the capital city of Okar, we set out with Talu, Prince of Marentina, for his little, rock-bound country.

The way was over some of the worst traveling I have ever seen, and I do not wonder that in this land where there are neither thoats nor fliers that Marentina is in little fear of invasion; but at last we reached our destination, the first view of which I had from a slight elevation a half-mile from the city.

Nestled in a deep valley lay a city of Martian concrete, whose every street and plaza and open space was roofed with glass.

All about lay snow and ice, but there was none upon the rounded, domelike, crystal covering that enveloped the whole city.

Then I saw how these people combatted the rigors of the arctic, and lived in luxury and comfort in the midst of a land of perpetual ice.Their cities were veritable hothouses, and when Ihad come within this one my respect and admiration for the scientific and engineering skill of this buried nation was unbounded.

The moment we entered the city Talu threw off his outer garments of fur, as did we, and I saw that his apparel differed but little from that of the red races of Barsoom.Except for his leathern harness, covered thick with jewels and metal, he was naked, nor could one have comfortably worn apparel in that warm and humid atmosphere.

For three days we remained the guests of Prince Talu, and during that time he showered upon us every attention and courtesy within his power.He showed us all that was of interest in his great city.

The Marentina atmosphere plant will maintain life indefinitely in the cities of the north pole after all life upon the balance of dying Mars is extinct through the failure of the air supply, should the great central plant again cease functioning as it did upon that memorable occasion that gave me the opportunity of restoring life and happiness to the strange world that I had already learned to love so well.

He showed us the heating system that stores the sun's rays in great reservoirs beneath the city, and how little is necessary to maintain the perpetual summer heat of the glorious garden spot within this arctic paradise.

Broad avenues of sod sewn with the seed of the ocher vegetation of the dead sea bottoms carried the noiseless traffic of light and airy ground fliers that are the only form of artificial transportation used north of the gigantic ice-barrier.

The broad tires of these unique fliers are but rubber-like gas bags filled with the eighth Barsoomian ray, or ray of propulsion--that remarkable discovery of the Martians that has made possible the great fleets of mighty airships that render the red man of the outer world supreme.It is this ray which propels the inherent or reflected light of the planet off into space, and when confined gives to the Martian craft their airy buoyancy.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 多难兴邦:中华民族复兴的历史经验与人文启示

    多难兴邦:中华民族复兴的历史经验与人文启示

    本书系中国历史知识读物,以牛津大学教授汤因比的历史观点为理论基础,讲述中华民族如何应对各种天灾人祸,并分析共对思想文化的繁荣、民族的形成与发展、民族优良本质的形成,政府执政能力的提高等方面的积极影响,以及多难兴邦对企业和个人发展的启示。
  • 折翼孤女封后记

    折翼孤女封后记

    故事发生在弘瀚王朝第一百五十年,新皇宇文拓野登基已经十年了,亲政四年。别看他年仅19岁,却已是一个让大臣又敬又畏的主子了。他性格冷傲却又孤寂,直到遇到了她。一个天生不能走路的少女,不知道是不是老天的垂怜,让她有着天赋异禀的本事。可她一出生就被亲生父母所抛弃,幸亏她师父救了她,给她取名叫:君思。一个是高高在上的皇上,一个却是断了翅的少女,两个人有着云泥之别,怎么会走到一起的?这其中的酸甜苦辣也只有慢慢品味才知人生的奇妙……
  • 穿越四十世纪

    穿越四十世纪

    21世纪修真世家女孩儿穿越到高科技的40世纪,在这个对她来说陌生而神奇的世界,且看她如何风生水起,收获事业和爱情。
  • 中医食疗

    中医食疗

    《中国传统中医史话:中医食疗》是在传播中华五千年优秀传统文化,提高全民文化修养的大型知识读本。该书在深入挖掘和整理中国传统中医文化成果的同时,结合社会发展,注入了时代精神。书中优美生动的文字、简明通俗的语言、图文并茂的形式,把中国文化中的物态文化、制度文化、行为文化、精神文化等知识要点全面展示给读者。点点滴滴的文化知识仿佛颗颗繁星,组成了灿烂辉煌的中国文化的天穹。
  • 僵尸兄妹

    僵尸兄妹

    远古时期蚩尤同儿女大战炎黄。蚩尤战死沙场。炎黄因杀死蚩尤,已无力杀死蚩尤儿女,只能将其儿女一南一北镇压由其后人看守。……万年以后不料一伙盗贼撕开封印。将其放出,蚩尤儿女得知炎黄已死,便决定不复仇,想生活在这个繁华的城市…………
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 龙氏神兵

    龙氏神兵

    他们是千年神话的奇人,他们是千年神龙的化身。他们是千年伟大的战神,他们是千年邪魔的克星。
  • 萌鸟快逃

    萌鸟快逃

    一打造史上最离奇的女主,一直坚强萌呆的吃货鸟。蠢蠢的季沫沫觉得如果她的运气和她的肥肉一样坚挺就好了,这样就不会每次考倒数第一,迷路找不到学校。好不容易遇上一个不嫌弃她的墨染,却没想到有一天自己会穿越时候穿越种类。不过都说能吃的妹子运气都不会太坏且看她季沫沫如何逆袭
  • 晋楚风云

    晋楚风云

    春秋时期,各国争霸,其中晋、楚两个超级大国人才辈出,冲突不断。两国亦开始了八十多年的争霸之战,道德与诡诈;忠诚与背叛;真实与虚伪;善良与残忍;阳谋与阴谋,在这段历史时期表现的淋漓尽致。这段尘封的历史背后则蕴含了无数先人智慧的结晶:生存之道、治国之道、为人之道。
  • 逆逍遥

    逆逍遥

    一怒风云变,一剑苍穹破。看新生代屌丝的异界游。圣阶?老子一剑一个!美女?当然全是我的!高手?我可是高高手来着!敌人太强?废话,当然是跑路,等打得过来回来报仇啊