'A Princess of Mars,' by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Part Four
2023-02-04
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1JOHN CARTER: The huge green warrior Tars Tarkas came slowly toward me with his thin sword.
2I backed away.
3I did not want to fight him.
4I did not wish his death. He had been as kind to me as a green Martian can be.
5As I stood watching him, a rifle fired in the distance, then another and another.
6Tars Tarkas and his warriors were under attack from another tribe of green warriors.
7Within seconds, a terrible battle raged.
8As I watched, three of the attackers fell on Tars Tarkas.
9He killed one and was fighting with the other two when he slipped and fell.
10I ran to his aid, swinging my sword.
11He was on his feet.
12Shoulder-to-shoulder, we fought against the attackers.
13They finally withdrew after an hour of fierce fighting.
14TARS TARKAS: John Carter, I think I understand the meaning of the word "friend."
15You saved my life when I was about to take yours.
16From this day, you are no longer a captive among our people, but a leader and great warrior among us.
17JOHN CARTER: There was a smile on his face.
18Once again, he took off a metal band from his arm and gave it to me.
19TARS TARKAS: I have a question for you John Carter.
20I understand why you took the red woman with you.
21But why did Sola leave her people and go with you?
22JOHN CARTER: She did not want to see me or the Princess harmed.
23She does not like the great games held by your people where captives are led to die.
24She knows if she is caught, she too will die in the games.
25She told me she hates the games because her mother died there.
26TARS TARKAS: What? How could she know her mother?
27JOHN CARTER: She told me her mother was killed in the games because she had hidden the egg that produced her.
28Her mother hid Sola among other children before she was captured.
29Sola said she was a kind woman, not like others of your tribe.
30Tars Tarkas grew angry as I was speaking.
31But I could see past his anger.
32I could see pain in his eyes.
33I immediately knew Sola's great secret.
34I have a question for you, Tars Tarkas. Did you know Sola's mother?
35TARS TARKAS: Yes... and if I could have, I would have prevented her death.
36I know this story to be true.
37I have always known the woman who died in those games had a child.
38I never knew the child.
39I do now.
40Sola is also my child.
41JOHN CARTER: For three days, we followed the trail left by the Princess Dejah Thoris, Sola and poor ugly Woola.
42At last, we could see them in the distance.
43Their animal could no longer be ridden.
44They were talking.
45When we came near, Woola turned to fight us.
46I slowly walked to him with my hand out.
47Sola was standing nearby.
48She was armed and prepared to fight.
49The princess was lying next to her feet.
50Sola, what is wrong with the princess?
51SOLA: She has been crying much these past few days, John Carter.
52We believed you died so we could escape.
53The thought of your death was very heavy on this woman...my friend Dejah Thoris.
54Come and tell her you are among the living. Perhaps that will stop her crying.
55JOHN CARTER: I walked to where the Princess Dejah Thoris was lying on the ground.
56She looked at me with eyes that were red from crying.
57Princess, you are no longer in danger.
58Tars Tarkas has come with me as a friend.
59He and his warriors will help to see you safely home.
60And ... Sola! I would have you greet your father -- Tars Tarkas -- a great leader among your people.
61Your secret no longer means death to anyone.
62He already knows you are his daughter.
63The two of you have nothing to fear.
64Sola turned and looked at Tars Tarkas.
65She held out her hand.
66He took it.
67It was a new beginning for them.
68DEJAH THORIS: I know our world has never before seen anyone like you, John Carter.
69Can it be that all Earthmen are like you?
70I was alone, a stranger, hunted, threatened.
71Yet you would freely give your life to save me.
72You come to me now with a tribe of green warriors who offer their friendship.
73You are no longer a captive but wear the metal of great rank among their people. No man has ever done this.
74JOHN CARTER: Princess, I have done many strange things in my life, many things much smarter men would not have done.
75And now, before my courage fails, I would ask you, to be mine in marriage.
76She smiled at me for a moment and then her dark eyes flashed in the evening light.
77DEJAH THORIS: You have no need of your courage, John Carter, because you already knew the answer before you asked the question.
78JOHN CARTER: Several days later, we reached the city of Helium.
79At first, the red men of Helium thought we were an attacking army.
80But they soon saw their Princess.
81We were greeted with great joy.
82Tars Tarkas and his green warriors caused the greatest excitement.
83This huge group of green warriors entered the city as friends and allies.
84I soon met Tardos Mors, the grandfather of Dejah Thoris.
85He tried several times to thank me for saving the life of the Princess.
86But tears filled his eyes and he could not speak.
87JOHN CARTER: For nine years, I served in the government and fought in the armies of Helium as a Prince of the royal family.
88It was a happy time.
89The Princess Dejah Thoris and I were expecting a child.
90Then, one day, a soldier returned from a long flight.
91When he landed he hurried to the great meeting room.
92Tardos Mors met with the soldier and reported that every creature on the planet had but three days to live.
93He said the great machines that produced the atmosphere on the planet had stopped producing oxygen.
94He said no one knew why this had happened, but there was nothing that could be done.
95The air grew thin within a day.
96Many people could do nothing but sleep.
97I watched as my Princess was slowly dying.
98I had to try something.
99I could still move with great difficulty.
100I went to our airport and chose a fast aircraft.
101I flew as fast as I could to the building that produced the atmosphere of the planet.
102Workers were trying to enter.
103I tried to help.
104With a great effort I opened a hole.
105I grew very weak.
106I asked one of the workers if he could start the engines.
107He said he would try.
108I fell asleep on the ground.
109It was dark when I opened my eyes again.
110My clothing felt stiff and strange.
111I sat up. I could see light from an opening.
112I walked outside.
113The land looked strange to me.
114I looked up to the sky and saw the Red Planet Mars.
115I was once again on Earth in the desert of Arizona.
116I cried out with deep emotion.
117Did the worker reach the machines to renew the atmosphere?
118Did the air reach the people of that planet in time to save them?
119Was my Princess Dejah Thoris alive or did she lie cold in death?
120For ten years now, I have watched the night sky, looking for an answer.
121I believe she and our child are waiting there for me.
122Something tells me that I shall soon know.
1Editor's note: This is the fourth in our series of programs called "A Princess of Mars." The story is from a series of books by Edgar Rice Burroughs. 2Last week, we told how John Carter observed a fierce battle between the green Martians and a race of red, human-like creatures. He also saw the beautiful Princess Dejah Thoris being captured after the battle. Shep O'Neal is the voice of John Carter. Steve Ember is Tars Tarkas. Barbara Klein is Sola. And Gwen Outen is Princess Dejah Thoris. Paul Thompson adapted this story for VOA Learning English. Paul Thompson and Mario Ritter produced it. 3A short time later, John Carter, the Princess and their friend, the green Martian woman Sola, attempt to escape rather than face death. The Princess and Sola must flee while John Carter tries to slow the green warriors who are chasing them. John Carter continues to tell what happens in Edgar Rice Burroughs' story, "A Princess of Mars." 4JOHN CARTER: The huge green warrior Tars Tarkas came slowly toward me with his thin sword. I backed away. I did not want to fight him. I did not wish his death. He had been as kind to me as a green Martian can be. 5As I stood watching him, a rifle fired in the distance, then another and another. Tars Tarkas and his warriors were under attack from another tribe of green warriors. 6Within seconds, a terrible battle raged. As I watched, three of the attackers fell on Tars Tarkas. He killed one and was fighting with the other two when he slipped and fell. 7I ran to his aid, swinging my sword. He was on his feet. Shoulder-to-shoulder, we fought against the attackers. They finally withdrew after an hour of fierce fighting. 8TARS TARKAS: John Carter, I think I understand the meaning of the word "friend." You saved my life when I was about to take yours. From this day, you are no longer a captive among our people, but a leader and great warrior among us. 9JOHN CARTER: There was a smile on his face. Once again, he took off a metal band from his arm and gave it to me. 10TARS TARKAS: I have a question for you John Carter. I understand why you took the red woman with you. But why did Sola leave her people and go with you? 11JOHN CARTER: She did not want to see me or the Princess harmed. She does not like the great games held by your people where captives are led to die. She knows if she is caught, she too will die in the games. She told me she hates the games because her mother died there. 12TARS TARKAS: What? How could she know her mother? 13JOHN CARTER: She told me her mother was killed in the games because she had hidden the egg that produced her. Her mother hid Sola among other children before she was captured. Sola said she was a kind woman, not like others of your tribe. 14Tars Tarkas grew angry as I was speaking. But I could see past his anger. I could see pain in his eyes. I immediately knew Sola's great secret. 15I have a question for you, Tars Tarkas. Did you know Sola's mother? 16TARS TARKAS: Yes... and if I could have, I would have prevented her death. I know this story to be true. I have always known the woman who died in those games had a child. I never knew the child. I do now. Sola is also my child. 17JOHN CARTER: For three days, we followed the trail left by the Princess Dejah Thoris, Sola and poor ugly Woola. At last, we could see them in the distance. Their animal could no longer be ridden. They were talking. When we came near, Woola turned to fight us. I slowly walked to him with my hand out. 18Sola was standing nearby. She was armed and prepared to fight. The princess was lying next to her feet. 19Sola, what is wrong with the princess? 20SOLA: She has been crying much these past few days, John Carter. We believed you died so we could escape. The thought of your death was very heavy on this woman...my friend Dejah Thoris. Come and tell her you are among the living. Perhaps that will stop her crying. 21JOHN CARTER: I walked to where the Princess Dejah Thoris was lying on the ground. She looked at me with eyes that were red from crying. 22Princess, you are no longer in danger. Tars Tarkas has come with me as a friend. He and his warriors will help to see you safely home. 23And ... Sola! I would have you greet your father -- Tars Tarkas -- a great leader among your people. Your secret no longer means death to anyone. He already knows you are his daughter. The two of you have nothing to fear. 24Sola turned and looked at Tars Tarkas. She held out her hand. He took it. It was a new beginning for them. 25DEJAH THORIS: I know our world has never before seen anyone like you, John Carter. Can it be that all Earthmen are like you? I was alone, a stranger, hunted, threatened. Yet you would freely give your life to save me. 26You come to me now with a tribe of green warriors who offer their friendship. You are no longer a captive but wear the metal of great rank among their people. No man has ever done this. 27JOHN CARTER: Princess, I have done many strange things in my life, many things much smarter men would not have done. And now, before my courage fails, I would ask you, to be mine in marriage. She smiled at me for a moment and then her dark eyes flashed in the evening light. 28DEJAH THORIS: You have no need of your courage, John Carter, because you already knew the answer before you asked the question. 29JOHN CARTER: And so Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium, a daughter of the Red Planet Mars, promised herself in marriage to John Carter, a gentleman of Virginia. 30JOHN CARTER: Several days later, we reached the city of Helium. At first, the red men of Helium thought we were an attacking army. But they soon saw their Princess. We were greeted with great joy. Tars Tarkas and his green warriors caused the greatest excitement. This huge group of green warriors entered the city as friends and allies. 31I soon met Tardos Mors, the grandfather of Dejah Thoris. He tried several times to thank me for saving the life of the Princess. But tears filled his eyes and he could not speak. 32JOHN CARTER: For nine years, I served in the government and fought in the armies of Helium as a Prince of the royal family. It was a happy time. The Princess Dejah Thoris and I were expecting a child. 33Then, one day, a soldier returned from a long flight. When he landed he hurried to the great meeting room. 34Tardos Mors met with the soldier and reported that every creature on the planet had but three days to live. He said the great machines that produced the atmosphere on the planet had stopped producing oxygen. He said no one knew why this had happened, but there was nothing that could be done. 35The air grew thin within a day. Many people could do nothing but sleep. I watched as my Princess was slowly dying. I had to try something. 36I could still move with great difficulty. I went to our airport and chose a fast aircraft. I flew as fast as I could to the building that produced the atmosphere of the planet. 37Workers were trying to enter. I tried to help. With a great effort I opened a hole. 38I grew very weak. I asked one of the workers if he could start the engines. He said he would try. I fell asleep on the ground. 39It was dark when I opened my eyes again. My clothing felt stiff and strange. I sat up. I could see light from an opening. I walked outside. The land looked strange to me. I looked up to the sky and saw the Red Planet Mars. I was once again on Earth in the desert of Arizona. I cried out with deep emotion. 40Did the worker reach the machines to renew the atmosphere? Did the air reach the people of that planet in time to save them? Was my Princess Dejah Thoris alive or did she lie cold in death? 41For ten years now, I have watched the night sky, looking for an answer. I believe she and our child are waiting there for me. Something tells me that I shall soon know. 42Download activities to help you understand this story here. 43Now it's your turn to use these Words in This Story. In the comments section, write a sentence using one of these words and we will provide feedback on your use of vocabulary and grammar. 44________________________________________________________________ 45This lesson, based on the CALLA Approach, teaches the strategy of predicting to help students understand the final part of the story, A Princess of Mars. 46________________________________________________________________ 47Words in This Story 48aid - n. the act of helping someone : help or assistance given to someone 49fierce - adj. very violent 50stiff - adj. difficult to bend or move 51atmosphere - n. a mass of gases that surround a planet or star