Thuvia, Maid of Mars

by Edgar Rice Burroughs

  CHAPTER VIII

  THE HALL OF DOOM

  As Thuvia of Ptarth saw Carthoris depart from the presence of Tario,leaving her alone with the man, a sudden qualm of terror seizedher.

  There was an air of mystery pervading the stately chamber. Itsfurnishings and appointments bespoke wealth and culture, andcarried the suggestion that the room was often the scene of royalfunctions which filled it to its capacity.

  And yet nowhere about her, in antechamber or corridor, was theresign of any other being than herself and the recumbent figure ofTario, the jeddak, who watched her through half-closed eyes fromthe gorgeous trappings of his regal couch.

  For a time after the departure of Jav and Carthoris the man eyedher intently. Then he spoke.

  "Come nearer," he said, and, as she approached: "Whose creatureare you? Who has dared materialize his imaginings of woman? It iscontrary to the customs and the royal edicts of Lothar. Tell me,woman, from whose brain have you sprung? Jav's? No, do not denyit. I know that it could be no other than that envious realist. Heseeks to tempt me. He would see me fall beneath the spell of yourcharms, and then he, your master, would direct my destiny and--myend. I see it all! I see it all!"

  The blood of indignation and anger had been rising to Thuvia'sface. Her chin was up, a haughty curve upon her perfect lips.

  "I know naught," she cried, "of what you are prating! I am Thuvia,Princess of Ptarth. I am no man's 'creature.' Never before to-daydid I lay eyes upon him you call Jav, nor upon your ridiculous city,of which even the greatest nations of Barsoom have never dreamed.

  "My charms are not for you, nor such as you. They are not forsale or barter, even though the price were a real throne. And asfor using them to win your worse than futile power--" She endedher sentence with a shrug of her shapely shoulders, and a littlescornful laugh.

  When she had finished Tario was sitting upon the edge of hiscouch, his feet upon the floor. He was leaning forward with eyesno longer half closed, but wide with a startled expression in them.

  He did not seem to note the LESE MAJESTE of her words and manner.There was evidently something more startling and compelling abouther speech than that.

  Slowly he came to his feet.

  "By the fangs of Komal!" he muttered. "But you are REAL! A REALwoman! No dream! No vain and foolish figment of the mind!"

  He took a step toward her, with hands outstretched.

  "Come!" he whispered. "Come, woman! For countless ages have Idreamed that some day you would come. And now that you are hereI can scarce believe the testimony of my eyes. Even now, knowingthat you are real, I still half dread that you may be a lie."

  Thuvia shrank back. She thought the man mad. Her hand stole tothe jewelled hilt of her dagger. The man saw the move, and stopped.A cunning expression entered his eyes. Then they became at oncedreamy and penetrating as they fairly bored into the girl's brain.

  Thuvia suddenly felt a change coming over her. What the cause ofit she did not guess; but somehow the man before her began to assumea new relationship within her heart.

  No longer was he a strange and mysterious enemy, but an old andtrusted friend. Her hand slipped from the dagger's hilt. Tariocame closer. He spoke gentle, friendly words, and she answeredhim in a voice that seemed hers and yet another's.

  He was beside her now. His hand was up her shoulder. His eyeswere down-bent toward hers. She looked up into his face. Hisgaze seemed to bore straight through her to some hidden spring ofsentiment within her.

  Her lips parted in sudden awe and wonder at the strange revealmentof her inner self that was being laid bare before her consciousness.She had known Tario for ever. He was more than friend to her.She moved a little closer to him. In one swift flood of light sheknew the truth. She loved Tario, Jeddak of Lothar! She had alwaysloved him.

  The man, seeing the success of his strategy, could not restrain afaint smile of satisfaction. Whether there was something in theexpression of his face, or whether from Carthoris of Helium in afar chamber of the palace came a more powerful suggestion, who maysay? But something there was that suddenly dispelled the strange,hypnotic influence of the man.

  As though a mask had been torn from her eyes, Thuvia suddenly sawTario as she had formerly seen him, and, accustomed as she was tothe strange manifestations of highly developed mentality which arecommon upon Barsoom, she quickly guessed enough of the truth toknow that she was in grave danger.

  Quickly she took a step backward, tearing herself from his grasp.But the momentary contact had aroused within Tario all the long-buriedpassions of his loveless existence.

  With a muffled cry he sprang upon her, throwing his arms about herand attempting to drag her lips to his.

  "Woman!" he cried. "Lovely woman! Tario would make you queen ofLothar. Listen to me! Listen to the love of the last of thejeddaks of Barsoom."

  Thuvia struggled to free herself from his embrace.

  "Stop, creature!" she cried. "Stop! I do not love you. Stop, orI shall scream for help!"

  Tario laughed in her face.

  "'Scream for help,'" he mimicked. "And who within the halls ofLothar is there who might come in answer to your call? Who woulddare enter the presence of Tario, unsummoned?"

  "There is one," she replied, "who would come, and, coming, dareto cut you down upon your own throne, if he thought that you hadoffered affront to Thuvia of Ptarth!"

  "Who, Jav?" asked Tario.

  "Not Jav, nor any other soft-skinned Lotharian," she replied; "buta real man, a real warrior--Carthoris of Helium!"

  Again the man laughed at her.

  "You forget the bowmen," he reminded her. "What could your redwarrior accomplish against my fearless legions?"

  Again he caught her roughly to him, dragging her towards his couch.

  "If you will not be my queen," he said, "you shall be my slave."

  "Neither!" cried the girl.

  As she spoke the single word there was a quick move of her righthand; Tario, releasing her, staggered back, both hands pressed tohis side. At the same instant the room filled with bowmen, andthen the jeddak of Lothar sank senseless to the marble floor.

  At the instant that he lost consciousness the bowmen were about torelease their arrows into Thuvia's heart. Involuntarily she gavea single cry for help, though she knew that not even Carthoris ofHelium could save her now.

  Then she closed her eyes and waited for the end. No slender shaftspierced her tender side. She raised her lids to see what stayedthe hand of her executioners.

  The room was empty save for herself and the still form of the jeddakof Lothar lying at her feet, a little pool of crimson staining thewhite marble of the floor beside him. Tario was unconscious.

  Thuvia was amazed. Where were the bowmen? Why had they not loosedtheir shafts? What could it all mean?

  An instant before the room had been mysteriously filled witharmed men, evidently called to protect their jeddak; yet now, withthe evidence of her deed plain before them, they had vanished asmysteriously as they had come, leaving her alone with the body oftheir ruler, into whose side she had slipped her long, keen blade.

  The girl glanced apprehensively about, first for signs of the returnof the bowmen, and then for some means of escape.

  The wall behind the dais was pierced by two small doorways, hiddenby heavy hangings. Thuvia was running quickly towards one ofthese when she heard the clank of a warrior's metal at the end ofthe apartment behind her.

  Ah, if she had but an instant more of time she could have reachedthat screening arras and, perchance, have found some avenue ofescape behind it; but now it was too late--she had been discovered!

  With a feeling that was akin to apathy she turned to meet her fate,and there, before her, running swiftly across the broad chamber toher side, was Carthoris, his naked long-sword gleaming in his hand.

  For days she had doubted the intentions of the Heliumite. Shehad thought him a party to her abduction. Since Fate had thrownthem
together she had scarce favoured him with more than the mostperfunctory replies to his remarks, unless at such times as theweird and uncanny happenings at Lothar had surprised her out ofher reserve.

  She knew that Carthoris of Helium would fight for her; but whetherto save her for himself or another, she was in doubt.

  He knew that she was promised to Kulan Tith, Jeddak of Kaol, butif he had been instrumental in her abduction, his motives couldnot be prompted by loyalty to his friend, or regard for her honour.

  And yet, as she saw him coming across the marble floor of the audiencechamber of Tario of Lothar, his fine eyes filled with apprehensionfor her safety, his splendid figure personifying all that is finestin the fighting men of martial Mars, she could not believe thatany faintest trace of perfidy lurked beneath so glorious an exterior.

  Never, she thought, in all her life had the sight of any man beenso welcome to her. It was with difficulty that she refrained fromrushing forward to meet him.

  She knew that he loved her; but, in time, she recalled that she waspromised to Kulan Tith. Not even might she trust herself to showtoo great gratitude to the Heliumite, lest he misunderstand.

  Carthoris was by her side now. His quick glance had taken in thescene within the room--the still figure of the jeddak sprawled uponthe floor--the girl hastening toward a shrouded exit.

  "Did he harm you, Thuvia?" he asked.

  She held up her crimsoned blade that he might see it.

  "No," she said, "he did not harm me."

  A grim smile lighted Carthoris' face.

  "Praised be our first ancestor!" he murmured. "And now let us seeif we may not make good our escape from this accursed city beforethe Lotharians discover that their jeddak is no more."

  With the firm authority that sat so well upon him in whose veinsflowed the blood of John Carter of Virginia and Dejah Thorisof Helium, he grasped her hand and, turning back across the hall,strode toward the great doorway through which Jav had brought theminto the presence of the jeddak earlier in the day.

  They had almost reached the threshold when a figure sprang into theapartment through another entrance. It was Jav. He, too, took inthe scene within at a glance.

  Carthoris turned to face him, his sword ready in his hand, and hisgreat body shielding the slender figure of the girl.

  "Come, Jav of Lothar!" he cried. "Let us face the issue at once,for only one of us may leave this chamber alive with Thuvia ofPtarth." Then, seeing that the man wore no sword, he exclaimed:"Bring on your bowmen, then, or come with us as my prisoner untilwe have safely passed the outer portals of thy ghostly city."

  "You have killed Tario!" exclaimed Jav, ignoring the other'schallenge. "You have killed Tario! I see his blood upon thefloor--real blood--real death. Tario was, after all, as real as I.Yet he was an etherealist. He would not materialize his sustenance.Can it be that they are right? Well, we, too, are right. And allthese ages we have been quarrelling--each saying that the otherwas wrong!

  "However, he is dead now. Of that I am glad. Now shall Jav comeinto his own. Now shall Jav be Jeddak of Lothar!"

  As he finished, Tario opened his eyes and then quickly sat up.

  "Traitor! Assassin!" he screamed, and then: "Kadar! Kadar!"which is the Barsoomian for guard.

  Jav went sickly white. He fell upon his belly, wriggling towardTario.

  "Oh, my Jeddak, my Jeddak!" he whimpered. "Jav had no hand inthis. Jav, your faithful Jav, but just this instant entered theapartment to find you lying prone upon the floor and these twostrangers about to leave. How it happened I know not. Believe me,most glorious Jeddak!"

  "Cease, knave!" cried Tario. "I heard your words: 'However, heis dead now. Of that I am glad. Now shall Jav come into his own.Now shall Jav be Jeddak of Lothar.'

  "At last, traitor, I have found you out. Your own words havecondemned you as surely as the acts of these red creatures havesealed their fates--unless--" He paused. "Unless the woman--"

  But he got no further. Carthoris guessed what he would have said,and before the words could be uttered he had sprung forward andstruck the man across the mouth with his open palm.

  Tario frothed in rage and mortification.

  "And should you again affront the Princess of Ptarth," warned theHeliumite, "I shall forget that you wear no sword--not for evermay I control my itching sword hand."

  Tario shrank back toward the little doorways behind the dais. Hewas trying to speak, but so hideously were the muscles of his faceworking that he could utter no word for several minutes. At lasthe managed to articulate intelligibly.

  "Die!" he shrieked. "Die!" and then he turned toward the exit athis back.

  Jav leaped forward, screaming in terror.

  "Have pity, Tario! Have pity! Remember the long ages that I haveserved you faithfully. Remember all that I have done for Lothar.Do not condemn me now to the death hideous. Save me! Save me!"

  But Tario only laughed a mocking laugh and continued to back towardthe hangings that hid the little doorway.

  Jav turned toward Carthoris.

  "Stop him!" he screamed. "Stop him! If you love life, let himnot leave this room," and as he spoke he leaped in pursuit of hisjeddak.

  Carthoris followed Jav's example, but the "last of the jeddaksof Barsoom" was too quick for them. By the time they reached thearras behind which he had disappeared, they found a heavy stonedoor blocking their further progress.

  Jav sank to the floor in a spasm of terror.

  "Come, man!" cried Carthoris. "We are not dead yet. Let ushasten to the avenues and make an attempt to leave the city. Weare still alive, and while we live we may yet endeavour to directour own destinies. Of what avail, to sink spineless to the floor?Come, be a man!"

  Jav but shook his head.

  "Did you not hear him call the guards?" he moaned. "Ah, if wecould have but intercepted him! Then there might have been hope;but, alas, he was too quick for us."

  "Well, well," exclaimed Carthoris impatiently. "What if he didcall the guards? There will be time enough to worry about thatafter they come--at present I see no indication that they have anyidea of over-exerting themselves to obey their jeddak's summons."

  Jav shook his head mournfully.

  "You do not understand," he said. "The guards have alreadycome--and gone. They have done their work and we are lost. Lookto the various exits."

  Carthoris and Thuvia turned their eyes in the direction of theseveral doorways which pierced the walls of the great chamber.Each was tightly closed by huge stone doors.

  "Well?" asked Carthoris.

  "We are to die the death," whispered Jav faintly.

  Further than that he would not say. He just sat upon the edge ofthe jeddak's couch and waited.

  Carthoris moved to Thuvia's side, and, standing there with nakedsword, he let his brave eyes roam ceaselessly about the greatchamber, that no foe might spring upon them unseen.

  For what seemed hours no sound broke the silence of their livingtomb. No sign gave their executioners of the time or manner oftheir death. The suspense was terrible. Even Carthoris of Heliumbegan to feel the terrible strain upon his nerves. If he couldbut know how and whence the hand of death was to strike, he couldmeet it unafraid, but to suffer longer the hideous tension of thisblighting ignorance of the plans of their assassins was tellingupon him grievously.

  Thuvia of Ptarth drew quite close to him. She felt safer with thefeel of his arm against hers, and with the contact of her the mantook a new grip upon himself. With his old-time smile he turnedtoward her.

  "It would seem that they are trying to frighten us to death," hesaid, laughing; "and, shame be upon me that I should confess it,I think they were close to accomplishing their designs upon me."

  She was about to make some reply when a fearful shriek broke fromthe lips of the Lotharian.

  "The end is coming!" he cried. "The end is coming! The floor!The floor! Oh, Komal, be merciful!"

  Thuvia and Carthoris did not need
to look at the floor to be awareof the strange movement that was taking place.

  Slowly the marble flagging was sinking in all directions towardthe centre. At first the movement, being gradual, was scarcenoticeable; but presently the angle of the floor became such thatone might stand easily only by bending one knee considerably.

  Jav was shrieking still, and clawing at the royal couch that hadalready commenced to slide toward the centre of the room, where bothThuvia and Carthoris suddenly noted a small orifice which grew indiameter as the floor assumed more closely a funnel-like contour.

  Now it became more and more difficult to cling to the dizzyinclination of the smooth and polished marble.

  Carthoris tried to support Thuvia, but himself commenced to slideand slip toward the ever-enlarging aperture.

  Better to cling to the smooth stone he kicked off his sandalsof zitidar hide and with his bare feet braced himself against thesickening tilt, at the same time throwing his arms supportinglyabout the girl.

  In her terror her own hands clasped about the man's neck. Hercheek was close to his. Death, unseen and of unknown form, seemedclose upon them, and because unseen and unknowable infinitely moreterrifying.

  "Courage, my princess," he whispered.

  She looked up into his face to see smiling lips above hers andbrave eyes, untouched by terror, drinking deeply of her own.

  Then the floor sagged and tilted more swiftly. There was a suddenslipping rush as they were precipitated toward the aperture.

  Jav's screams rose weird and horrible in their ears, and then thethree found themselves piled upon the royal couch of Tario, whichhad stuck within the aperture at the base of the marble funnel.

  For a moment they breathed more freely, but presently they discoveredthat the aperture was continuing to enlarge. The couch slippeddownward. Jav shrieked again. There was a sickening sensation asthey felt all let go beneath them, as they fell through darknessto an unknown death.