[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
had
continued on with it, following me as I had directed.
Instantly, I centered my thoughts upon the mechanical brain and directed it to
bring the ship back to the window and stop there. Self-reproach now was useless
but I could not help but be cognizant of the fact that my carelessness had
jeopardized the safety of my princess and those others who had looked to me for
protection.
I could now plainly hear the warriors approaching. They were coming swiftly.
From the window, I could see both ships turning now. Would they reach us
before
it was too late? I commanded the brain to return at the highest speed compatible
with safety. It leaped forward in response to my wishes. The warriors were very
close now. I judged that they were approaching the next level below. In another
moment they would be at the door.
I carried the long sword of one of the Tarid warriors that we had overpowered in
the cabin of the craft, but could a single sword for long prevail over the many
that I knew must be coming?
The ships drew closer, Gar Nal's almost abreast of mine. I saw Jat Or and Ur Jan
standing in the doorway of Fal Sivas's ship.
"The alarm has been raised and warriors are almost at the door," I called to
them. "I will try to hold them off while you get the women aboard."
Even as I spoke, I heard the enemy just outside the door of the chamber. "Stay
close to the window," I directed the three women, "and board the boat the
moment
it touches the sill;" then I crossed the room quickly to the door, the Tarid
long sword ready in my hand.
I had scarcely reached it, when it was thrown open; a dozen warriors crowded in
the corridor beyond. The first one to leap into the room leaped full upon the
point of my blade. With a single, piercing scream he died; and as I jerked my
steel from his heart, he lunged forward at my feet.
In the brief instant that my weapon was thus engaged, three men forced
themselves into the room, pushed forward by those behind.
One thrust at me, and another swung a terrific cut at my head. I parried the
thrust and dodged the cut, and then my blade clove the skull of one of them.
For a moment I forgot everything in the joy of battle. I felt my lips tense in
the fighting smile that is famous in two worlds. Again, as upon so many other
fields, my sword seemed inspired; but the Tarids were no mean swordsmen, nor
were they cowards. They pushed forward into the room over the bodies of their
a
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2
2
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B
B
A
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Click here to buy
Click here to buy
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dead companions.
I think that I could have accounted for them all singlehanded, with such fierce
enthusiasm did I throw my whole being into the defense of my princess; but now
from below I heard the tramp of many feet and the rattling of accouterments.
Reinforcements were coming!
It had been a glorious fight so far. Six lay dead upon the floor about me; but
now the other six were all in the room, yet I would have felt no discouragement
had I not heard the thunderous pounding of those many feet leaping rapidly
upward from below.
I was engaged with a strapping fellow who sought to push me back, when one of
his companions attempted to reach my side and distract my attention, while
another edged to my opposite side.
My situation at that moment was embarrassing, to say the least, for the man who
engaged me in front was not only a powerful fellow but a splendid swordsman;
and
then I saw a sword flash at my right and another at my left. Two of my
adversaries went down, and in the next instant a quick glance showed me that Ur
Jan and Jat Or were fighting at my side.
As the three remaining Tarids bravely leaped in to take the places of their
fallen comrades, the van of their reinforcements arrived; and a perfect
avalanche of yelling warriors burst into the apartment.
As I finally succeeded in spitting my antagonist, I snatched a momentary
opportunity to glance behind me.
I saw the three women and Umka in the room and Gar Nal standing upon the sill
of
the window.
"Quick, Gar Nal," I cried, "get the women aboard."
For the next few minutes I was about as busy as I can remember ever having been
before in my life. The Tarids were all around us. They had succeeded in
encircling us. I was engaged constantly with two or three swordsmen at a time. I
could not see what was taking place elsewhere in the room, but my thoughts were
always of Dejah Thoris and her safety; and suddenly it occurred to me that if
all of us who were fighting there in the room should be destroyed, she would be [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl akte20.pev.pl
had
continued on with it, following me as I had directed.
Instantly, I centered my thoughts upon the mechanical brain and directed it to
bring the ship back to the window and stop there. Self-reproach now was useless
but I could not help but be cognizant of the fact that my carelessness had
jeopardized the safety of my princess and those others who had looked to me for
protection.
I could now plainly hear the warriors approaching. They were coming swiftly.
From the window, I could see both ships turning now. Would they reach us
before
it was too late? I commanded the brain to return at the highest speed compatible
with safety. It leaped forward in response to my wishes. The warriors were very
close now. I judged that they were approaching the next level below. In another
moment they would be at the door.
I carried the long sword of one of the Tarid warriors that we had overpowered in
the cabin of the craft, but could a single sword for long prevail over the many
that I knew must be coming?
The ships drew closer, Gar Nal's almost abreast of mine. I saw Jat Or and Ur Jan
standing in the doorway of Fal Sivas's ship.
"The alarm has been raised and warriors are almost at the door," I called to
them. "I will try to hold them off while you get the women aboard."
Even as I spoke, I heard the enemy just outside the door of the chamber. "Stay
close to the window," I directed the three women, "and board the boat the
moment
it touches the sill;" then I crossed the room quickly to the door, the Tarid
long sword ready in my hand.
I had scarcely reached it, when it was thrown open; a dozen warriors crowded in
the corridor beyond. The first one to leap into the room leaped full upon the
point of my blade. With a single, piercing scream he died; and as I jerked my
steel from his heart, he lunged forward at my feet.
In the brief instant that my weapon was thus engaged, three men forced
themselves into the room, pushed forward by those behind.
One thrust at me, and another swung a terrific cut at my head. I parried the
thrust and dodged the cut, and then my blade clove the skull of one of them.
For a moment I forgot everything in the joy of battle. I felt my lips tense in
the fighting smile that is famous in two worlds. Again, as upon so many other
fields, my sword seemed inspired; but the Tarids were no mean swordsmen, nor
were they cowards. They pushed forward into the room over the bodies of their
a
a
T
T
n
n
s
s
F
F
f
f
o
o
D
D
r
r
P
P
m
m
Y
Y
e
e
Y
Y
r
r
B
B
2
2
.
.
B
B
A
A
Click here to buy
Click here to buy
w
w
m
m
w
w
o
o
w
w
c
c
.
.
.
.
A
A
Y
Y
B
B
Y
Y
B
B
r r
dead companions.
I think that I could have accounted for them all singlehanded, with such fierce
enthusiasm did I throw my whole being into the defense of my princess; but now
from below I heard the tramp of many feet and the rattling of accouterments.
Reinforcements were coming!
It had been a glorious fight so far. Six lay dead upon the floor about me; but
now the other six were all in the room, yet I would have felt no discouragement
had I not heard the thunderous pounding of those many feet leaping rapidly
upward from below.
I was engaged with a strapping fellow who sought to push me back, when one of
his companions attempted to reach my side and distract my attention, while
another edged to my opposite side.
My situation at that moment was embarrassing, to say the least, for the man who
engaged me in front was not only a powerful fellow but a splendid swordsman;
and
then I saw a sword flash at my right and another at my left. Two of my
adversaries went down, and in the next instant a quick glance showed me that Ur
Jan and Jat Or were fighting at my side.
As the three remaining Tarids bravely leaped in to take the places of their
fallen comrades, the van of their reinforcements arrived; and a perfect
avalanche of yelling warriors burst into the apartment.
As I finally succeeded in spitting my antagonist, I snatched a momentary
opportunity to glance behind me.
I saw the three women and Umka in the room and Gar Nal standing upon the sill
of
the window.
"Quick, Gar Nal," I cried, "get the women aboard."
For the next few minutes I was about as busy as I can remember ever having been
before in my life. The Tarids were all around us. They had succeeded in
encircling us. I was engaged constantly with two or three swordsmen at a time. I
could not see what was taking place elsewhere in the room, but my thoughts were
always of Dejah Thoris and her safety; and suddenly it occurred to me that if
all of us who were fighting there in the room should be destroyed, she would be [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]