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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
Vas Kor； dreaming no treachery； nodded his head； and for a moment
succeeded in holding Carthoris at bay。 Then the Heliumite and the girl saw
the Dusarian prince run swiftly to the opposite side of the chamber； touch
something in the wall that sent a great panel swinging inward； and
disappear into the black vault beyond。
It was done so quickly that by no possibility could they have
intercepted him。 Carthoris； fearful lest Vas Kor might similarly elude
him； or Astok return immediately with reinforcements； sprang viciously in
upon his antagonist； and a moment later the headless body of the Dusarian
noble rolled upon the ersite floor。
〃Come！〃 cried Carthoris。 〃There is no time to be lost。 Astok will be
back in a moment with enough warriors to overpower me。〃
But Astok had no such plan in mind； for such a move would have
meant the spreading of the fact among the palace gossips that the Ptarthian
princess was a prisoner in the east tower。 Quickly would the word have
come to his father； and no amount of falsifying could have explained away
the facts that the jeddak's investigation would have brought to light。
Instead Astok was racing madly through a long corridor to reach the
door of the tower…room before Carthoris and Thuvia left the apartment。
He had seen the girl remove the key and place it in her pocket…pouch； and
he knew that a dagger point driven into the keyhole from the opposite side
would imprison them in the secret chamber till eight dead worlds circled a
cold； dead sun。
As fast as he could run Astok entered the main corridor that led to the
tower chamber。 Would he reach the door in time？ What if the
Heliumite should have already emerged and he should run upon him in the
passageway？ Astok felt a cold chill run up his spine。 He had no
stomach to face that uncanny blade。
He was almost at the door。 Around the next turn of the corridor it
stood。 No； they had not left the apartment。 Evidently Vas Kor was still
holding the Heliumite！
Astok could scarce repress a grin at the clever manner in which he had
outwitted the noble and disposed of him at the same time。 And then he
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rounded the turn and came face to face with an auburn…haired； white giant。
The fellow did not wait to ask the reason for his coming； instead he
leaped upon him with a long…sword； so that Astok had to parry a dozen
vicious cuts before he could disengage himself and flee back down the
runway。
A moment later Carthoris and Thuvia entered the corridor from the
secret chamber。
〃Well； Kar Komak？〃 asked the Heliumite。
〃It is fortunate that you left me here； red man；〃 said the bowman。 〃I
but just now intercepted one who seemed over…anxious to reach this door
it was he whom they call Astok； Prince of Dusar。〃
Carthoris smiled。
〃Where is he now？〃 he asked。
〃He escaped my blade； and ran down this corridor；〃 replied Kar
Komak。
〃We must lose no time； then！〃 exclaimed Carthoris。 〃He will have the
guard upon us yet！〃
Together the three hastened along the winding passages through which
Carthoris and Kar Komak had tracked the Dusarians by the marks of the
latter's sandals in the thin dust that overspread the floors of these seldom…
used passage…ways。
They had come to the chamber at the entrances to the lifts before they
met with opposition。 Here they found a handful of guardsmen； and an
officer； who； seeing that they were strangers； questioned their presence in
the palace of Astok。
Once more Carthoris and Kar Komak had recourse to their blades； and
before they had won their way to one of the lifts the noise of the conflict
must have aroused the entire palace； for they heard men shouting； and as
they passed the many levels on their quick passage to the landing…stage
they saw armed men running hither and thither in search of the cause of
the commotion。
Beside the stage lay the Thuria； with three warriors on guard。 Again
the Heliumite and the Lotharian fought shoulder to shoulder； but the battle
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THUVIA； MAID OF MARS
was soon over； for the Prince of Helium alone would have been a match
for any three that Dusar could produce。
Scarce had the Thuria risen from the ways ere a hundred or more
fighting men leaped to view upon the landing…stage。 At their head was
Astok of Dusar； and as he saw the two he had thought so safely in his
power slipping from his grasp； he danced with rage and chagrin； shaking
his fists and hurling abuse and vile insults at them。
With her bow inclined upward at a dizzy angle； the Thuria shot
meteor…like into the sky。 From a dozen points swift patrol boats darted
after her； for the scene upon the landing…stage above the palace of the
Prince of Dusar had not gone unnoticed。
A dozen times shots grazed the Thuria's side； and as Carthoris could
not leave the control levers； Thuvia of Ptarth turned the muzzles of the
craft's rapid…fire guns upon the enemy as she clung to the steep and
slippery surface of the deck。
It was a noble race and a noble fight。 One against a score now； for
other Dusarian craft had joined in the pursuit； but Astok； Prince of Dusar；
had built well when he built the Thuria。 None in the navy of his sire
possessed a swifter flier； no other craft so well armoured or so well armed。
One by one the pursuers were distanced； and as the last of them fell
out of range behind； Carthoris dropped the Thuria's nose to a horizontal
plane； as with lever drawn to the last notch； she tore through the thin air of
dying Mars toward the east and Ptarth。
Thirteen and a half thousand haads away lay Ptartha stiff thirty…hour
journey for the swiftest of fliers； and between Dusar and Ptarth might lie
half the navy of Dusar； for in this direction was the reported seat of the
great naval battle that even now might be in progress。
Could Carthoris have known precisely where the great fleets of the
contending nations lay； he would have hastened to them