| 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 |
| 1 | 50 | 99 | 149 | 198 |
|
www.freeclassicebooks.com
a different device, while upon the walls of the larger tunnels at all intersections
and points of convergence hieroglyphics appeared. These the girl could not read
though she guessed that they were the names of the tunnels, or notices
indicating the points to which they led. She tried to study some of them out, but
there was not a character that was familiar to her, which seemed strange, since,
while the written languages of the various nations of Barsoom differ, it still is true
that they have many characters and words in common.
She had tried to converse with her guard but he had not seemed inclined to talk
with her and she had finally desisted. She could not but note that he had offered
her no indignities, nor had he been either unnecessarily rough or in any way
cruel. The fact that she had slain two of the bodies with her dagger had
apparently aroused no animosity or desire for revenge in the minds of the strange
heads that surmounted the bodies--even those whose bodies had been killed. She
did not try to understand it, since she could not approach the peculiar
relationship between the heads and the bodies of these creatures from the basis
of any past knowledge or experience of her own. So far their treatment of her
seemed to augur naught that might arouse her fears. Perhaps, after all, she had
been fortunate to fall into the hands of these strange people, who might not only
protect her from harm, but even aid her in returning to Helium. That they were
repulsive and uncanny she could not forget, but if they meant her no harm she
could, at least, overlook their repulsiveness. Renewed hope aroused within her a
spirit of greater cheerfulness, and it was almost blithely now that she moved at
the side of her weird companion. She even caught herself humming a gay little
tune that was then popular in Helium. The creature at her side turned its
expressionless eyes upon her.
"
"
"
What is that noise that you are making?" it asked.
I was but humming an air," she replied.
'Humming an air,'" he repeated. "I do not know what you mean; but do it again, I
like it."
This time she sang the words, while her companion listened intently. His face
gave no indication of what was passing in that strange head. It was as devoid of
expression as that of a spider. It reminded her of a spider. When she had finished
he turned toward her again.
"
That was different," he said. "I liked that better, even, than the other. How do
you do it?"
"
Why," she said, "it is singing. Do you not know what song is?"
3
7
Page
Quick Jump
|