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！
prided himself upon his ability with it； and I wished； if I
worsted him at all； to do it with his own weapon。 The fight
that followed was a long one and delayed the resumption of
the march for an hour。 The entire community surrounded
us； leaving a clear space about one hundred feet in diameter
for our battle。
Zad first attempted to rush me down as a bull might a
wolf； but I was much too quick for him； and each time I
side…stepped his rushes he would go lunging past me； only
to receive a nick from my sword upon his arm or back。 He
was soon streaming blood from a half dozen minor wounds；
but I could not obtain an opening to deliver an effective
thrust。 Then he changed his tactics； and fighting warily and
with extreme dexterity； he tried to do by science what he
was unable to do by brute strength。 I must admit that he was
a magnificent swordsman； and had it not been for my greater
endurance and the remarkable agility the lesser gravitation
of Mars lent me I might not have been able to put up the
creditable fight I did against him。
We circled for some time without doing much damage on
either side； the long； straight； needle…like swords flashing in
the sunlight； and ringing out upon the stillness as they
crashed together with each effective parry。 Finally Zad；
realizing that he was tiring more than I； evidently decided to
close in and end the battle in a final blaze of glory for himself；
just as he rushed me a blinding flash of light struck full
in my eyes； so that I could not see his approach and could
only leap blindly to one side in an effort to escape the
mighty blade that it seemed I could already feel in my vitals。
I was only partially successful； as a sharp pain in my left
shoulder attested； but in the sweep of my glance as I sought
to again locate my adversary； a sight met my astonished
gaze which paid me well for the wound the temporary blindness
had caused me。 There； upon Dejah Thoris' chariot
stood three figures； for the purpose evidently of witnessing
the encounter above the heads of the intervening Tharks。
There were Dejah Thoris； Sola； and Sarkoja； and as my
fleeting glance swept over them a little tableau was presented
which will stand graven in my memory to the day of my death。
As I looked； Dejah Thoris turned upon Sarkoja with the
fury of a young tigress and struck something from her
upraised hand； something which flashed in the sunlight as
it spun to the ground。 Then I knew what had blinded me at
that crucial moment of the fight； and how Sarkoja had found
a way to kill me without herself delivering the final thrust。
Another thing I saw； too； which almost lost my life for me
then and there； for it took my mind for the fraction of an
instant entirely from my antagonist； for； as Dejah Thoris
struck the tiny mirror from her hand； Sarkoja； her face livid
with hatred and baffled rage； whipped out her dagger and
aimed a terrific blow at Dejah Thoris； and then Sola； our dear
and faithful Sola； sprang between them； the last I saw was
the great knife descending upon her shielding breast。
My enemy had recovered from his thrust and was making it
extremely interesting for me； so I reluctantly gave my
attention to the work in hand； but my mind was not upon the
battle。
We rushed each other furiously time after time； 'til suddenly；
feeling the sharp point of his sword at my breast in a thrust
I could neither parry nor escape； I threw myself upon him
with outstretched sword and with all the weight of my
body； determined that I would not die alone if I could
prevent it。 I felt the steel tear into my chest； all went
black before me； my head whirled in dizziness； and I felt my
knees giving beneath me。
CHAPTER XV
SOLA TELLS ME HER STORY
When consciousness returned； and； as I soon learned； I was
down but a moment； I sprang quickly to my feet searching
for my sword； and there I found it； buried to the hilt in the
green breast of Zad； who lay stone dead upon the ochre
moss of the ancient sea bottom。 As I regained my full senses
I found his weapon piercing my left breast； but only through
the flesh and muscles which cover my ribs； entering near
the center of my chest and coming out below the shoulder。
As I had lunged I had turned so that his sword merely
passed beneath the muscles； inflicting a painful but not
dangerous wound。
Removing the blade from my body I also regained my
own； and turning my back upon his ugly carcass； I moved；
sick； sore； and disgusted； toward the chariots which bore my
retinue and my belongings。 A murmur of Martian applause
greeted me； but I cared not for it。
Bleeding and weak I reached my women； who； accustomed to
such happenings； dressed my wounds； applying the wonderful
healing and remedial agents which make only the most
instantaneous of death blows fatal。 Give a Martian woman
a chance and death must take a back seat。 They soon had
me patched up so that； except for weakness from loss of
blood and a little soreness around the wound； I suffered no
great distress from this thrust which； under earthly treatment；
undoubtedly would have put me flat on my back for days。
As soon as they were through with me I hastened to the
chariot of Dejah Thoris； where I found my poor Sola with
her chest swathed in bandages； but apparently little the
worse for her encounter with Sarkoja； whose dagger it seemed
had struck the edge of one of Sola's metal breast ornaments
and； thus deflected； had inflicted but a slight flesh wound。
As I approached I found Dejah Thoris lying prone upon
her silks and furs； her lithe form wracked with sobs。 She did
not notice my presence； nor did she hear me speaking with
Sola； who was standing a short distance from the vehicle。
〃Is she injured？〃 I asked of Sola； indicating Dejah Thoris
by an inclination of my head。
〃No；〃 she answered； 〃she thinks that you are dead。〃
〃And that her grandmother's cat may now have no one to
polish its teeth？〃 I queried； smiling。
〃I think you wrong her； John Carter；〃 said Sola。 〃I do not
understand either her ways or yours； but I am sure the
granddaughter of ten thousand jeddaks would never grieve
like this over any who held but the highest claim upon her
affections。 They are a proud race； but they are just； as are
all Barsoomians； and you must have hurt or wronged her
grievously that she will not admit your existence living；
though she mourns you dead。
〃Tears are a strange sight upon Barsoom；〃 she continued；
〃and so it is difficult for me to interpret them。 I have seen
but two people weep in all my life； other than Dejah Thoris；
one wept from sorrow； the other from baffled rage。 The first
was my mother； years ago before they killed her； the other
was Sarkoja； when they dragged her from me today。〃
〃Your mother！〃 I exclaimed； 〃but； Sola； you could not
have known your mother； child。〃
〃But I did。 And my fa