登陆注册
15423600000009

第9章

And so she drove her motor forward again and then with her firm, white teeth set in grim determination she drove the steering lever far down to port with the intention of forcing the nose of her craft straight into the teeth of the wind, and the wind seized the frail thing and toppled it over upon its back, and twisted and turned it and hurled it over and over; the propellor raced for an instant in an air pocket and then the tempest seized it again and twisted it from its shaft, leaving the girl helpless upon an unmanageable atom that rose and fell, and rolled and tumbled--the sport of the elements she had defied.Tara of Helium's first sensation was one of surprise--that she had failed to have her own way.Then she commenced to feel concern--not for her own safety but for the anxiety of her parents and the dangers that the inevitable searchers must face.She reproached herself for the thoughtless selfishness that had jeopardized the peace and safety of others.She realized her own grave danger, too; but she was still unterrified, as befitted the daughter of Dejah Thoris and John Carter.She knew that her buoyancy tanks might keep her afloat indefinitely, but she had neither food nor water, and she was being borne toward the least-known area of Barsoom.

Perhaps it would be better to land immediately and await the coming of the searchers, rather than to allow herself to be carried still further from Helium, thus greatly reducing the chances of early discovery; but when she dropped toward the ground she discovered that the violence of the wind rendered an attempt to land tantamount to destruction and she rose again, rapidly.

Carried along a few hundred feet above the ground she was better able to appreciate the Titanic proportions of the storm than when she had flown in the comparative serenity of the zone above the clouds, for now she could distinctly see the effect of the wind upon the surface of Barsoom.The air was filled with dust and flying bits of vegetation and when the storm carried her across an irrigated area of farm land she saw great trees and stone walls and buildings lifted high in air and scattered broadcast over the devastated country; and then she was carried swiftly on to other sights that forced in upon her consciousness a rapidly growing conviction that after all Tara of Helium was a very small and insignificant and helpless person.It was quite a shock to her self-pride while it lasted, and toward evening she was ready to believe that it was going to last forever.There had been no abatement in the ferocity of the tempest, nor was there indication of any.She could only guess at the distance she had been carried for she could not believe in the correctness of the high figures that had been piled upon the record of her odometer.

They seemed unbelievable and yet, had she known it, they were quite true--in twelve hours she had flown and been carried by the storm full seven thousand haads.Just before dark she was carried over one of the deserted cities of ancient Mars.It was Torquas, but she did not know it.Had she, she might readily have been forgiven for abandoning the last vestige of hope, for to the people of Helium Torquas seems as remote as do the South Sea Islands to us.And still the tempest, its fury unabated, bore her on.

All that night she hurtled through the dark beneath the clouds, or rose to race through the moonlit void beneath the glory of Barsoom's two satellites.She was cold and hungry and altogether miserable, but her brave little spirit refused to admit that her plight was hopeless even though reason proclaimed the truth.Her reply to reason, sometime spoken aloud in sudden defiance, recalled the Spartan stubbornness of her sire in the face of certain annihilation: "I still live!"That morning there had been an early visitor at the palace of The Warlord.It was Gahan, Jed of Gathol.He had arrived shortly after the absence of Tara of Helium had been noted, and in the excitement he had remained unannounced until John Carter had happened upon him in the great reception corridor of the palace as The Warlord was hurrying out to arrange for the dispatch of ships in search of his daughter.

Gahan read the concern upon the face of The Warlord."Forgive me if I intrude, John Carter," he said."I but came to ask the indulgence of another day since it would be fool-hardy to attempt to navigate a ship in such a storm.""Remain, Gahan, a welcome guest until you choose to leave us,"replied The Warlord; "but you must forgive any seeming inattention upon the part of Helium until my daughter is restored to us.""You daughter! Restored! What do you mean?" exclaimed the Gatholian."I do not understand.""She is gone, together with her light flier.That is all we know.

We can only assume that she decided to fly before the morning meal and was caught in the clutches of the tempest.You will pardon me, Gahan, if I leave you abruptly--I am arranging to send ships in search of her;" but Gahan, Jed of Gathol, was already speeding in the direction of the palace gate.There he leaped upon a waiting thoat and followed by two warriors in the metal of Gathol, he dashed through the avenues of Helium toward the palace that had been set aside for his entertainment.

同类推荐
  • 谈苑

    谈苑

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 紫闺秘书

    紫闺秘书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 救荒活民书

    救荒活民书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • American Civil War

    American Civil War

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 兵典

    兵典

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 在异世界召唤DNF怪物

    在异世界召唤DNF怪物

    刘峰,一个平平凡凡的高中生。在一天DNF游戏中,莫名的穿越到了剑与魔法的世界。带着DNF系统的他,走向了一条升级之路……PS:新书上传,大家多多支持。
  • 云火传奇

    云火传奇

    华夏大学生李天阳,意外穿越异世,还没体验生活,却被迫卷入了一桩桩凶险的事件之中不能自拔,他能否逢凶化吉,拨开重重迷雾,找出事件元凶?五大圣兽,五大凶兽同时现身大陆,引领纷争的高潮,各国为利益你争我夺,国内亦是暗流涌动。天地玄黄,宇宙洪荒,上古时代未完的棘手事件接踵而来,他能否带领大陆逢凶化吉,让天道回归正途?两个世界,两种文明,却被数股腐化之气纠缠在了一起,不能善存,这背后到底又隐藏着怎样的故事?重生异世,步步为营,且看天阳翻云覆雨,对抗各路猛人,踏足巅峰,成为神之所在!
  • 十二星座物语

    十二星座物语

    本书有十二星座的传说,特点等,还有就是作者是初次起步,请多多包涵
  • 哑舍——甘之如饴

    哑舍——甘之如饴

    【一柄木勺,何以千年不朽?一柄木勺,封印着怎样可爱又可惧的灵魂?一柄木勺,如何为爱逆转乾坤?一柄木勺,一勺清水,只为他而甘甜!】千年之后,你站在一家古董店门外,抬头静静地看着那对小篆——“哑舍”。提着小笼包的青年推推眼镜,问:“你叫什么名字?”“如饴。”“如饴?”你望着店中那抹熟悉的身影,嫣然一笑:“甘之如饴。”
  • 灵签系统

    灵签系统

    啥?你还在修炼啊?切,我很忙,要泡妞要赚钱,忙着踩人,哪有时间呀……!!别以为我好欺负,洪爷我有灵签系统,瞬间就能学会各种技法,虐死你。啥?你很有钱?别在我面前炫富,洪爷到异界随便弄点东西过来,换成钱能砸死你……PS:人气新书,重磅出击,欢迎大家品鉴支持。
  • 穿回石器时代

    穿回石器时代

    暴龙忙着偷蛋,剑齿虎在勾妹,长毛象嗷嗷嗷叫着练铁头功。石矛投射,石斧乱砸,部落在为了水源和食物而战。篝火在升腾,不眠之夜的部落少年少女,在到处啪啪啪。这就是石器时代!虽然玄幻又不科学了点!【作者脑袋里被植入了一个系统,系统只发布了一个任务:全文免费】(每周一到三章更新)
  • 相思谋:妃常难娶

    相思谋:妃常难娶

    某日某王府张灯结彩,婚礼进行时,突然不知从哪冒出来一个小孩,对着新郎道:“爹爹,今天您的大婚之喜,娘亲让我来还一样东西。”说完提着手中的玉佩在新郎面前晃悠。此话一出,一府宾客哗然,然当大家看清这小孩与新郎如一个模子刻出来的面容时,顿时石化。此时某屋顶,一个绝色女子不耐烦的声音响起:“儿子,事情办完了我们走,别在那磨矶,耽误时间。”新郎一看屋顶上的女子,当下怒火攻心,扔下新娘就往女子所在的方向扑去,吼道:“女人,你给本王站住。”一场爱与被爱的追逐正式开始、、、、、、、
  • TFBOYS之遇见

    TFBOYS之遇见

    每个人在生命中都会遇到那个一辈子相守到老的人。一开始,我们便注定在命运安排中相遇。茫茫人海相遇不易,今生你是我的最爱,我是你的心脏。
  • 走进怀仁堂(上卷)

    走进怀仁堂(上卷)

    记述了近30位极富个性和传奇色彩的共和国开国将帅的故事。作者董保存通过亲身采访获取的一手资料,辅以收集的上百幅珍贵私人照片,以生动的笔触和大量鲜为人知的细节,讲述了这些开国将帅在建立及建设共和国过程中的卓著功勋,及其在共和国重大历史事件中的特殊作用,生动地再现了历史的真实情景,也展示了传主的独特个性,让读者认识一个又一个蜚声中外的军事和政治人物……
  • 祸国妖姬之风华蝶舞

    祸国妖姬之风华蝶舞

    十年前,随着天子议会的裁决书昭告天下,随着上至皇室贵族,下至平民百姓的团结一致的声讨,“祸国妖姬”被施以酷刑,绑上石头推下了冥渊崖,死无全尸。自此,天下太平。十年后,墨回国的大将军在大街上捡到了一个全身罩着黑布的“妹妹”。样貌丑陋,沉默寡言,柔弱无能。同时,不受欢迎,最终被人驱逐出了墨回。她默不作声,继续辗转在世界各国间,希望能找一个依靠,希望能进入“那个地方”。——“我会将一切献给神府,献给她……!”——“因为……这是我唯一能给她的谢礼啊!”